<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY>U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAY-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          33,596
<SECURITIES>                                    12,525
<RECEIVABLES>                                  264,345
<ALLOWANCES>                                    12,801
<INVENTORY>                                    233,027
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               563,955
<PP&E>                                         516,423
<DEPRECIATION>                                 224,691
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,587,697
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          204,957
<BONDS>                                        785,469
<COMMON>                                         1,426
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     474,734
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,587,697
<SALES>                                        942,484
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               942,484
<CGS>                                          539,949
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  831,236
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              24,296
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 86,952
<INCOME-TAX>                                    36,955
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             49,997
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    49,997
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.64
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.61