<ARTICLE> 5 <RESTATED> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1998 <CASH> 83,531,702 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 564,737,263 <ALLOWANCES> 24,187,392 <INVENTORY> 523,019,559 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,207,732,602 <PP&E> 1,601,762,789 <DEPRECIATION> 708,231,731 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,543,962,336 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 979,779,768 <BONDS> 468,247,804 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1,058,266,381 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,543,962,336 <SALES> 6,275,301,705 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 6,393,272,534 <CGS> 6,127,149,472 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,073,910 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 28,498,897 <INCOME-PRETAX> 128,299,352 <INCOME-TAX> 13,865,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 114,434,352 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 114,434,352 <EPS-BASIC> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0