<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLAR
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAY-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JUN-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1995
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          24,347
<SECURITIES>                                     8,854
<RECEIVABLES>                                  178,067
<ALLOWANCES>                                    11,959
<INVENTORY>                                    168,095
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               381,585
<PP&E>                                         355,171
<DEPRECIATION>                                 157,875
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 951,712
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          124,341
<BONDS>                                        412,939
<COMMON>                                         1,292
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     332,194
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   951,712
<SALES>                                        736,509
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               736,509
<CGS>                                          427,114
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  648,808
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              16,456
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 71,245
<INCOME-TAX>                                    30,279
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             40,966
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    40,966
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.72
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.69