<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1998 <CASH> 58,401,934 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 641,889,536 <ALLOWANCES> 23,061,610 <INVENTORY> 514,391,984 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,230,218,174 <PP&E> 1,670,377,218 <DEPRECIATION> 741,380,272 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,620,290,808 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 979,080,106 <BONDS> 482,248,322 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1,067,883,554 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,620,290,808 <SALES> 1,755,731,074 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,783,410,865 <CGS> 1,725,866,083 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 82,416 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,549,782 <INCOME-PRETAX> 10,314,723 <INCOME-TAX> 2,000,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,314,723 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,314,723 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0