BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May. 31, 2015

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, 2015
	Americas								International
(in thousands)	Recycling			Mills		Fabrication			Mill		Marketing and Distribution		Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	194,081		$	244,632	$	415,763		$	156,286	$	494,639	$	601		$	—		$	1,506,002
Intersegment sales	31,015			202,189		2,132			32		23,605		—			(258,973		)	—
Net sales	225,096			446,821		417,895			156,318		518,244		601			(258,973		)	1,506,002
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	(1,970		)	84,237		22,878			6,146		37,669		(19,502		)	(3,480		)	125,978
	Three Months Ended May 31, 2014
	Americas								International
(in thousands)	Recycling			Mills		Fabrication			Mill		Marketing and Distribution		Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	287,533		$	308,878	$	406,066		$	207,364	$	528,559	$	193		$	—		$	1,738,593
Intersegment sales	47,571			218,696		3,359			194		21,186		—			(291,006		)	—
Net sales	335,104			527,574		409,425			207,558		549,745		193			(291,006		)	1,738,593
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	(1,085		)	74,063		1,244			2,047		2,023		(18,227		)	(1,930		)	58,135
	Nine Months Ended May 31, 2015
	Americas								International
(in thousands)	Recycling			Mills		Fabrication			Mill		Marketing and Distribution		Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	691,382		$	796,218	$	1,165,679		$	472,364	$	1,447,316	$	4,150		$	—		$	4,577,109
Intersegment sales	108,852			604,299		9,114			32		73,972		—			(796,269		)	—
Net sales	800,234			1,400,517		1,174,793			472,396		1,521,288		4,150			(796,269		)	4,577,109
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	(3,285		)	258,108		31,642			11,188		71,599		(55,513		)	(2,248		)	311,491
Total assets at May 31, 2015*	266,913			706,229		730,285			414,914		953,750		1,001,085			(571,535		)	3,501,641
	Nine Months Ended May 31, 2014
	Americas								International
(in thousands)	Recycling			Mills		Fabrication			Mill		Marketing and Distribution		Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	874,155		$	878,013	$	1,082,630		$	617,101	$	1,489,686	$	11,544		$	—		$	4,953,129
Intersegment sales	141,419			587,561		10,903			969		43,865		—			(784,717		)	—
Net sales	1,015,574			1,465,574		1,093,533			618,070		1,533,551		11,544			(784,717		)	4,953,129
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	(1,109		)	183,939		(1,869		)	25,647		8,552		(51,340		)	88			163,908
Total assets at August 31, 2014*	296,564			647,437		691,765			466,449		949,016		1,100,995			(470,716		)	3,681,510

* Excludes total assets from discontinued operations of $78.1 million at May 31, 2015 and $7.0 million at August 31, 2014.

Reconciliations of earnings from continuing operations to adjusted operating profit

Reconciliations of earnings from continuing operations to adjusted operating profit are provided below:

	Three Months Ended May 31,				Nine Months Ended May 31,
(in thousands)	2015		2014		2015		2014
Earnings from continuing operations	$	67,128	$	24,468	$	167,181	$	71,423
Income taxes	37,964		13,700		84,252		32,657
Interest expense	20,519		18,849		58,828		57,234
Discounts on sales of accounts receivable	367		1,118		1,230		2,594
Adjusted operating profit	$	125,978	$	58,135	$	311,491	$	163,908