BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Reconciliations of Earnings from Continuing Operations to Adjusted Operating Profit) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 28, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations	$ 61,719	$ 13,255	$ 100,053	$ 46,955
Income taxes	30,841us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	3,866us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	46,288us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	18,957us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Interest expense	19,252us-gaap_InterestExpense	18,977us-gaap_InterestExpense	38,309us-gaap_InterestExpense	38,385us-gaap_InterestExpense
Discounts on sales of accounts receivable	412	947	863	1,476
Adjusted operating profit	$ 112,224	$ 37,045	$ 185,513	$ 105,773

It represents non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted operating profit (loss) from continuing operations.

No definition available.

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- Definition

A gain (loss) realized on a transfer, accounted for as a sale, of all or a portion of financial assets in which the transferor surrenders control and receives consideration other than a beneficial interest in the assets transferred. Reflects the amount of sales proceeds in excess of, or deficient from, the sum of the carrying amounts of transferred financial assets plus transaction costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Section S99

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7,9)

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- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

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-Section 45

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- Definition

Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h))

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-Glossary Income Tax Expense (or Benefit)

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- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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