<ARTICLE>                     5
       
                                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              FEB-28-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAY-31-1998
<CASH>                                            28056000
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    462176000
<ALLOWANCES>                                      73121000
<INVENTORY>                                      543763000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                1286903000
<PP&E>                                           564854000
<DEPRECIATION>                                   176144000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  2090121000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            817768000
<BONDS>                                          584709000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                         117625000
<OTHER-SE>                                       497613000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    2090121000
<SALES>                                          593795000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 668939000
<CGS>                                            393432000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    393432000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  23199000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                19140000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   15872000
<INCOME-TAX>                                       5678000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               10194000
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                      10194000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0.17<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.17

<FN>
<F1>  Item consists of basic earnings per share
</FN>