<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAY-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1997
<CASH>                                       6,568,569
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                              253,081,516
<ALLOWANCES>                                 7,484,986
<INVENTORY>                                161,564,581
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           559,266,736
<PP&E>                                     427,438,659
<DEPRECIATION>                             203,127,695
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             942,078,592
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      457,706,370
<BONDS>                                    132,398,090
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                 365,218,564
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               942,078,592
<SALES>                                  5,611,898,277
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         5,673,588,710
<CGS>                                    5,565,810,727
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               449,986
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          13,215,390
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             41,918,684
<INCOME-TAX>                                 4,950,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         36,968,684
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                36,968,684
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0