SALES OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE (Activity of Deferred Purchase Price Receivables) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2015		Nov. 30, 2014	Nov. 30, 2015		Nov. 30, 2014
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 900,619
Transfers of accounts receivable	24,900		$ 63,600
Collections	(12,300)		(60,500)
Ending balance	900,619			$ 715,030
Deferred purchase price receivables
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	339,547		385,169
Transfers of accounts receivable	588,419		1,128,244
Collections	(699,104)		(1,041,573)
Ending balance	339,547		385,169	228,862		$ 471,840
Deferred purchase price receivables | U.S.
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	269,778		329,797
Transfers of accounts receivable	486,523		949,163
Collections	(560,171)		(870,640)
Ending balance	269,778		329,797	196,130		408,320
Deferred purchase price receivables | Australia
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	18,038	[1]	34,071
Transfers of accounts receivable	46,074	[1]	90,729
Collections	(48,826)	[1]	(102,424)
Ending balance	18,038	[1]	34,071	15,286	[1]	22,376
Deferred purchase price receivables | Europe
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	51,731		21,301
Transfers of accounts receivable	55,822		88,352
Collections	(90,107)		(68,509)
Ending balance	$ 51,731		$ 21,301	$ 17,446		$ 41,144

[1] Includes the sales of accounts receivable activities related to discontinued operations and businesses held for sale (transfers of accounts receivable of $12.3 million and $60.5 million, and collections of $24.9 million and $63.6 million for the three months ended November 30, 2015 and November 30, 2014, respectively).