CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	May. 31, 2015	May. 31, 2014
Cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 147,385	$ 80,626
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	99,829	101,130
Provision for losses on receivables, net	2,525	(1,705)
Stock-based compensation	18,288	16,054
Amortization of interest rate swaps termination gain	(5,698)	(5,698)
Deferred income taxes	26,396	28,560
Tax benefits from stock plans	(122)	(625)
Net gain on sale of a subsidiary and other	(1,737)	(28,032)
Write-down of inventory	11,697	0
Asset impairment	3,390	1,227
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	90,412	(59,479)
Accounts receivable sold, net	(98,033)	124,415
Inventories	(111,675)	(176,766)
Other assets	11,055	(18,486)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other payables	(129,322)	38,328
Other long-term liabilities	(5,601)	(5,244)
Net cash flows from (used by) operating activities	58,789	94,305
Cash flows from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(75,976)	(67,718)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other	10,143	6,773
Proceeds from the sale of a subsidiary	2,354	52,276
Net cash flows from (used by) investing activities	(63,479)	(8,669)
Cash flows from (used by) financing activities:
Documentary letters of credit, net change	51,722	2,985
Short-term borrowings, net change	(7,492)	(1,333)
Repayments on long-term debt	(8,038)	(4,826)
Stock issued under incentive and purchase plans, net of forfeitures	(1,389)	(860)
Treasury stock acquired	(41,806)	0
Cash dividends	(42,073)	(42,290)
Tax benefits from stock plans	122	625
Decrease in restricted cash	3,630	18,037
Contribution from (purchase of) noncontrolling interests	38	(37)
Payments for debt issuance costs	0	(430)
Net cash flows from (used by) financing activities	(45,286)	(28,129)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(3,943)	933
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(53,919)	58,440
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	434,925	378,770
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	381,006	437,210
Noncash activities:
Capital lease additions and changes in accounts payable related to purchases of property, plant and equipment	$ 11,882	$ 9,143