BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 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 May 31, 2016
	Americas							International
(in thousands)	Recycling			Mills		Fabrication		Mill		Marketing and Distribution			Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	156,352		$	227,736	$	382,607	$	141,043	$	315,067		$	4,585		$	—		$	1,227,390
Intersegment sales	26,125			168,745		2,473		395		4,537			—			(202,275		)	—
Net sales	182,477			396,481		385,080		141,438		319,604			4,585			(202,275		)	1,227,390
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	(1,978		)	54,976		22,794		5,467		892			(22,542		)	1,331			60,940
	Three Months Ended May 31, 2015
	Americas							International
(in thousands)	Recycling			Mills		Fabrication		Mill		Marketing and Distribution			Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	194,081		$	244,632	$	415,763	$	156,286	$	494,639		$	601		$	—		$	1,506,002
Intersegment sales	31,015			202,189		2,132		32		23,605			—			(258,973		)	—
Net sales	225,096			446,821		417,895		156,318		518,244			601			(258,973		)	1,506,002
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	(3,651		)	63,320		13,720		6,146		25,615			(19,502		)	(3,480		)	82,168
	Nine Months Ended May 31, 2016
	Americas							International
(in thousands)	Recycling			Mills		Fabrication		Mill		Marketing and Distribution			Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	430,829		$	634,926	$	1,096,049	$	368,949	$	867,084		$	4,109		$	—		$	3,401,946
Intersegment sales	79,201			482,516		7,489		395		12,433			—			(582,034		)	—
Net sales	510,030			1,117,442		1,103,538		369,344		879,517			4,109			(582,034		)	3,401,946
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	(16,171		)	164,739		58,964		10,189		(3,570		)	(69,415		)	2,233			146,969
Total assets at May 31, 2016*	229,557			758,336		656,055		360,734		591,105			1,015,991			(504,018		)	3,107,760
	Nine Months Ended May 31, 2015
	Americas							International
(in thousands)	Recycling			Mills		Fabrication		Mill		Marketing and Distribution			Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	691,382		$	796,218	$	1,165,679	$	472,364	$	1,447,316		$	4,150		$	—		$	4,577,109
Intersegment sales	108,852			604,299		9,114		32		73,972			—			(796,269		)	—
Net sales	800,234			1,400,517		1,174,793		472,396		1,521,288			4,150			(796,269		)	4,577,109
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	(15,260		)	195,438		3,770		11,188		49,669			(55,513		)	(2,248		)	187,044
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 $2.9 million at May 31, 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 May 31,				Nine Months Ended May 31,
(in thousands)	2016		2015		2016		2015
Earnings from continuing operations	$	35,111	$	39,156	$	71,593	$	86,886
Income taxes	10,676		22,126		24,512		40,100
Interest expense	14,737		20,519		49,666		58,828
Discounts on sales of accounts receivable	416		367		1,198		1,230
Adjusted operating profit	$	60,940	$	82,168	$	146,969	$	187,044