CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 115,552	$ 77,319	$ 207,490
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	136,004	136,548	137,310
Provision for losses on receivables, net	(1,760)	4,430	(2,463)
Share-based compensation	18,051	18,693	13,125
Amortization of interest rate swaps termination gain	(7,597)	(12,470)	(5,815)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	4,758	0
Deferred income taxes (benefit)	32,348	54,655	(59,999)
Tax expense (benefit) from stock-based plans	4,426	1,444	(1,968)
Net gain on sale of a subsidiary, cost method investment and other	(31,356)	(25,371)	(11,932)
Write-down of inventory	4,000	3,003	13,917
Asset impairments	3,498	17,270	3,316
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(143,397)	11,065	68,260
Accounts receivable sold, net	120,957	(80,580)	(77,116)
Inventories	(177,331)	26,459	53,449
Other assets	(20,516)	2,894	5,001
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other payables	90,604	(87,375)	(157,025)
Other long-term liabilities	(6,543)	(5,010)	10,443
Net cash flows from operating activities	136,940	147,732	195,993
Cash flows from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(101,749)	(89,035)	(113,853)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other	17,572	13,904	55,360
Proceeds from the sale of subsidiaries	52,609	0	0
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(15,693)	0	0
Proceeds from the sale of cost method investment	0	28,995	0
Decrease in deposit for letters of credit	0	0	31,053
Net cash flows used by investing activities	(47,261)	(46,136)	(27,440)
Cash flows from (used by) financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in documentary letters of credit, net	11,753	(6,221)	(74,493)
Short-term borrowings, net change	6,315	(19,524)	18,607
Repayments on long-term debt	(7,677)	(204,856)	(64,801)
Proceeds from termination of interest rate swaps	0	0	52,733
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	0	330,000	0
Payments for debt issuance costs	(431)	(4,684)	0
Debt extinguishment costs	0	(4,557)	0
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	18,000	(18,620)	0
Stock issued under incentive and purchase plans, net of forfeitures	(1,488)	951	(81)
Cash dividends	(56,428)	(56,028)	(55,617)
Tax benefit (expense) from stock-based plans	(4,426)	(1,444)	1,968
Contribution from (purchase of) noncontrolling interests	(15)	13	(55)
Net cash flows from (used by) financing activities	(34,397)	15,030	(121,739)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	873	(278)	(6,782)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	56,155	116,348	40,032
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	378,770	262,422	222,390
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 434,925	$ 378,770	$ 262,422