PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2016

NOTE 3 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment are stated at historical cost. The historical cost of acquiring an asset includes the costs incurred to bring it to the condition and location necessary for its intended use. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The useful life of fixtures and equipment ranges from three to 15 years and that of certain components of building improvements and buildings from 10 to 25 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the improvement or the expected term of the lease. In some locations, leasehold improvements are amortized over a period longer than the initial lease term where management believes it is reasonably assured that the renewal option in the underlying lease will be exercised as an economic penalty may be incurred if the option is not exercised. The sale or purchase of property and equipment is recognized upon legal transfer of property. For property and equipment sales, if any long-term notes are carried by the Company as part of the sales terms, the sale is reflected at the net present value of current and future cash streams.

Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):



	May 31,		August 31,
	2016		2015
Land	$	131,073	$	128,071
Building and improvements		297,569		278,982
Fixtures and equipment		183,858		164,916
Construction in progress		34,780		26,679
Total property and equipment, historical cost		647,280		598,648
Less: accumulated depreciation		(190,696)		(165,608)
Property and equipment, net	$	456,584	$	433,040

Depreciation and amortization expense (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31,		May 31,		May 31,		May 31,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Depreciation and amortization expense	$	10,271	$	8,740	$	29,003	$	25,173

The Company capitalizes interest on expenditures for qualifying assets over a period that covers the duration of the activities required to get the asset ready for its intended use, provided that expenditures for the asset have been made and interest cost is being incurred. Interest capitalization continues as long as those activities and the incurrence of interest cost continues. The amount capitalized in an accounting period is determined by applying the capitalization rate (average interest rate) to the average amount of accumulated expenditures for the qualifying asset during the period. The capitalization rates are based on the interest rates applicable to borrowings outstanding during the period.

Total interest capitalized (in thousands):



	Balance as of
	May 31,		August 31,
	2016		2015
Total interest capitalized	$	7,318	$	6,961

Total interest capitalized (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31,		May 31,		May 31,		May 31,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Interest capitalized	$	146	$	148	$	580	$	911

The Company also recorded within accounts payable and other accrued expenses approximately $777,000 and $1.7 million as of May 31, 2016 and $458,000 and $1.5 million as of August 31, 2015 of liabilities related to the acquisition and/or construction of property and equipment, respectively.