Business Segments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Summary of certain financial information from continuing operations by reportable segment

The following is a summary of certain financial information from continuing operations by reportable segment:

	Three Months Ended May 31, 2013
	Americas							International
(in thousands)	Recycling		Mills		Fabrication			Mill			Marketing and Distribution		Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	300,866	$	315,185	$	380,629		$	200,750		$	592,988	$	3,888		$	—		$	1,794,306
Intersegment sales	40,877		188,507		3,171			2			816		—			(233,373		)	—
Net sales	341,743		503,692		383,800			200,752			593,804		3,888			(233,373		)	1,794,306
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	3,155		47,511		13,499			(3,831		)	7,728		(14,834		)	2,524			55,752
	Three Months Ended May 31, 2012
	Americas							International
(in thousands)	Recycling		Mills		Fabrication			Mill			Marketing and Distribution		Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	364,195	$	343,700	$	375,097		$	246,553		$	677,859	$	(675	)	$	—		$	2,006,729
Intersegment sales	48,217		221,425		4,229			5,285			5,549		—			(284,705		)	—
Net sales	412,412		565,125		379,326			251,838			683,408		(675		)	(284,705		)	2,006,729
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	3,895		59,285		199			1,277			23,346		(20,110		)	(122		)	67,770
	Nine Months Ended May 31, 2013
	Americas							International
(in thousands)	Recycling		Mills		Fabrication			Mill			Marketing and Distribution		Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	909,372	$	907,303	$	1,047,765		$	596,450		$	1,841,968	$	10,348		$	—		$	5,313,206
Intersegment sales	135,706		569,432		10,593			6,134			10,360		—			(732,225		)	—
Net sales	1,045,078		1,476,735		1,058,358			602,584			1,852,328		10,348			(732,225		)	5,313,206
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	9,892		148,802		19,879			(7,108		)	51,837		(51,398		)	780			172,684
Total assets*	272,678		665,405		649,338			456,093			868,978		1,215,106			(543,772		)	3,583,826
	Nine Months Ended May 31, 2012
	Americas							International
(in thousands)	Recycling		Mills		Fabrication			Mill			Marketing and Distribution		Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	1,114,185	$	1,032,891	$	988,840		$	715,651		$	2,094,050	$	4,676		$	—		$	5,950,293
Intersegment sales	132,676		583,615		11,847			49,458			22,784		—			(800,380		)	—
Net sales	1,246,861		1,616,506		1,000,687			765,109			2,116,834		4,676			(800,380		)	5,950,293
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	31,100		171,617		(17,150		)	17,691			45,799		(64,314		)	(8,613		)	176,130
Total assets at August 31, 2012*	285,136		676,909		629,970			529,160			870,933		961,654			(519,117		)	3,434,645

* Excludes total assets from discontinued operations of $3.8 million at May 31, 2013 and $6.6 million at August 31, 2012.

Reconciliation of consolidated adjusted operating profit to net earnings from continuing operations

The following table provides a reconciliation of consolidated adjusted operating profit to net earnings from continuing operations:

	Three Months Ended May 31,				Nine Months Ended May 31,
(in thousands)	2013		2012		2013		2012
Earnings from continuing operations	$	18,962	$	39,066	$	73,036	$	191,940
Income taxes (benefit)	17,737		7,488		44,969		(72,824		)
Interest expense	18,043		19,605		51,557		51,945
Discounts on sales of accounts receivable	1,010		1,611		3,122		5,069
Adjusted operating profit from continuing operations	55,752		67,770		172,684		176,130