<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLAR <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JUN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> FEB-29-2000 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.0 <CASH> 15,923 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 325,330 <ALLOWANCES> 19,034 <INVENTORY> 255,074 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 660,293 <PP&E> 645,641 <DEPRECIATION> 253,878 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,003,056 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 282,131 <BONDS> 877,411 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,615 <OTHER-SE> 679,093 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,003,056 <SALES> 1,407,357 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,407,357 <CGS> 792,835 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,273,247 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 45,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 35,958 <INCOME-PRETAX> 53,152 <INCOME-TAX> 21,793 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 31,359 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 31,359 <EPS-BASIC> 0.29 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.29