<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA). </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000 <CASH> 5,245 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 143,979 <ALLOWANCES> (9,102) <INVENTORY> 44,922 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 214,908 <PP&E> 7,106 <DEPRECIATION> (1,846) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 351,641 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 152,023 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 312 <OTHER-SE> 186,690 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 351,641 <SALES> 387,006 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 387,006 <CGS> 247,796 <TOTAL-COSTS> 247,796 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 15,473 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,069 <INCOME-PRETAX> 38,229 <INCOME-TAX> 13,266 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 24,963 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 24,963 <EPS-BASIC> 0.91 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.88