CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 141,634	$ 115,552	$ 77,319
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	132,779	136,004	136,548
Provision for losses on receivables, net	3,481	(1,760)	4,430
Share-based compensation	23,484	18,051	18,693
Amortization of interest rate swaps termination gain	(7,597)	(7,597)	(12,470)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	0	4,758
Deferred income taxes	23,291	32,348	54,655
Tax expense from stock-based plans	1,213	4,426	1,444
Net gain on sale of a subsidiary, cost method investment and other	(8,489)	(31,356)	(25,371)
Write-down of inventory	15,935	4,000	3,003
Asset impairments	14,610	3,498	17,270
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	206,633	(143,397)	11,065
Advance payments on sale of accounts receivable programs, net	(117,753)	120,957	(80,580)
Inventories	50,747	(177,331)	26,459
Other assets	23,674	(20,516)	2,894
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other payables	(180,517)	90,604	(87,375)
Other long-term liabilities	(9,664)	(6,543)	(5,010)
Net cash flows from operating activities	313,461	136,940	147,732
Cash flows from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(119,580)	(101,749)	(89,035)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other	14,925	17,572	13,904
Proceeds from the sale of subsidiaries	27,831	52,609	0
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	(15,693)	0
Proceeds from the sale of cost method investment	0	0	28,995
Net cash flows used by investing activities	(76,824)	(47,261)	(46,136)
Cash flows from (used by) financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in documentary letters of credit, net	(80,482)	11,753	(6,221)
Short-term borrowings, net change	7,802	6,315	(19,524)
Repayments on long-term debt	(11,335)	(7,677)	(204,856)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	0	0	330,000
Payments for debt issuance costs	0	(431)	(4,684)
Debt extinguishment costs	0	0	(4,557)
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	3,742	18,000	(18,620)
Stock issued under incentive and purchase plans, net of forfeitures	(1,492)	(1,488)	951
Treasury stock acquired	(41,806)	0	0
Cash dividends	(55,945)	(56,428)	(56,028)
Tax expense from stock-based plans	(1,213)	(4,426)	(1,444)
Contribution from (purchase of) noncontrolling interests	38	(15)	13
Net cash flows from (used by) financing activities	(180,691)	(34,397)	15,030
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(5,548)	873	(278)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	50,398	56,155	116,348
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	434,925	378,770	262,422
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	485,323	434,925	378,770
Noncash activities:
Capital lease additions and changes in accounts payable related to purchases of property, plant and equipment	$ 19,921	$ 21,207	$ 9,781