<ARTICLE> 5

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-1999
<CASH>                                      44,759,579
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                              689,534,981
<ALLOWANCES>                                23,244,410
<INVENTORY>                                513,814,855
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         1,323,768,319
<PP&E>                                   1,724,097,716
<DEPRECIATION>                             768,030,025
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           2,761,628,721
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    1,034,512,878
<BONDS>                                    655,908,616
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                               1,118,253,180
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             2,761,628,721
<SALES>                                  4,839,773,940
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         4,929,948,668
<CGS>                                    4,717,476,840
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             2,028,918
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          31,480,982
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             60,954,908
<INCOME-TAX>                                 5,375,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         55,579,908
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                55,579,908
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0