<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998 <CASH> 112,485,699 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 436,869,609 <ALLOWANCES> 23,314,558 <INVENTORY> 478,997,710 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,096,520,796 <PP&E> 1,640,026,424 <DEPRECIATION> 724,350,985 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,466,952,648 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 821,392,778 <BONDS> 456,986,102 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1,067,176,956 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,466,952,648 <SALES> 1,518,252,644 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,550,813,285 <CGS> 1,485,322,219 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 31,105,355 <LOSS-PROVISION> 872,578 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 12,303,315 <INCOME-PRETAX> 18,831,374 <INCOME-TAX> 2,895,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 15,936,374 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 15,936,374 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0