BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Feb. 29, 2016

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 February 29, 2016
	Americas								International
(in thousands)	Recycling			Mills		Fabrication			Mill		Marketing and Distribution			Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	119,641		$	189,549	$	333,961		$	107,458	$	271,955		$	(2,867	)	$	—		$	1,019,697
Intersegment sales	28,705			146,880		2,183			—		4,921			—			(182,689		)	—
Net sales	148,346			336,429		336,144			107,458		276,876			(2,867		)	(182,689		)	1,019,697
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	(7,645		)	50,699		14,825			1,951		(2,293		)	(28,801		)	1,232			29,968
	Three Months Ended February 28, 2015
	Americas								International
(in thousands)	Recycling			Mills		Fabrication			Mill		Marketing and Distribution			Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	227,499		$	247,727	$	341,679		$	138,449	$	433,046		$	2,717		$	—		$	1,391,117
Intersegment sales	31,580			181,118		2,731			—		32,192			—			(247,621		)	—
Net sales	259,079			428,845		344,410			138,449		465,238			2,717			(247,621		)	1,391,117
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	(9,657		)	59,470		(5,769		)	819		7,385			(16,400		)	2,037			37,885
	Six Months Ended February 29, 2016
	Americas								International
(in thousands)	Recycling			Mills		Fabrication			Mill		Marketing and Distribution			Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	274,477		$	407,190	$	713,442		$	227,906	$	552,017		$	(476	)	$	—		$	2,174,556
Intersegment sales	53,076			313,771		5,016			—		7,896			—			(379,759		)	—
Net sales	327,553			720,961		718,458			227,906		559,913			(476		)	(379,759		)	2,174,556
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	(14,193		)	109,763		36,170			4,722		(4,462		)	(46,873		)	902			86,029
Total assets at February 29, 2016*	215,705			764,480		652,267			349,463		642,286			849,478			(446,319		)	3,027,360
	Six Months Ended February 28, 2015
	Americas								International
(in thousands)	Recycling			Mills		Fabrication			Mill		Marketing and Distribution			Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	497,301		$	551,586	$	749,916		$	316,078	$	952,677		$	3,549		$	—		$	3,071,107
Intersegment sales	77,837			402,110		6,982			—		50,367			—			(537,296		)	—
Net sales	575,138			953,696		756,898			316,078		1,003,044			3,549			(537,296		)	3,071,107
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	(11,609		)	132,118		(9,950		)	5,042		24,054			(36,011		)	1,232			104,876
Total assets at August 31, 2015*	261,676			738,669		713,860			403,706		798,914			1,049,815			(552,577		)	3,414,063

* Excludes total assets from discontinued operations of $16.2 million at February 29, 2016 and $31.5 million at August 31, 2015.

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				Six Months Ended
(in thousands)	February 29, 2016		February 28, 2015		February 29, 2016		February 28, 2015
Earnings from continuing operations	$	10,849	$	13,465	$	36,482	$	47,730
Income taxes	2,064		4,756		13,836		17,974
Interest expense	16,625		19,252		34,929		38,309
Discounts on sales of accounts receivable	430		412		782		863
Adjusted operating profit	$	29,968	$	37,885	$	86,029	$	104,876