BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Reconciliations of Earnings from Continuing Operations to Adjusted Operating Profit) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
May. 31, 2015	May. 31, 2014	May. 31, 2015	May. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
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

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

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-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

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 19

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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 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a),(b)

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-Section S99

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Income Tax Expense (or Benefit)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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- Definition

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

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 20

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

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-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

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- References

No definition available.

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