Business Segments (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2013

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 28, 2013
	Americas							International
(in thousands)	Recycling		Mills		Fabrication			Mill			Marketing and Distribution		Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	301,035	$	285,302	$	314,389		$	179,842		$	645,445	$	3,661		$	—		$	1,729,674
Intersegment sales	50,339		191,292		3,577			(77		)	4,491		—			(249,622		)	—
Net sales	351,374		476,594		317,966			179,765			649,936		3,661			(249,622		)	1,729,674
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	2,243		48,769		(3,812		)	(4,153		)	3,948		(19,194		)	(1,084		)	26,717
	Three Months Ended February 29, 2012
	Americas							International
(in thousands)	Recycling		Mills		Fabrication			Mill			Marketing and Distribution		Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	376,597	$	344,625	$	298,226		$	216,177		$	715,828	$	5,291		$	—		$	1,956,744
Intersegment sales	43,047		181,260		3,367			913			7,527		—			(236,114		)	—
Net sales	419,644		525,885		301,593			217,090			723,355		5,291			(236,114		)	1,956,744
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	6,389		54,401		(9,969		)	6,592			26,554		(20,936		)	(2,346		)	60,685
	Six Months Ended February 28, 2013
	Americas							International
(in thousands)	Recycling		Mills		Fabrication			Mill			Marketing and Distribution		Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	608,506	$	592,118	$	667,136		$	395,700		$	1,248,980	$	6,460		$	—		$	3,518,900
Intersegment sales	94,829		380,925		7,422			6,132			9,544		—			(498,852		)	—
Net sales	703,335		973,043		674,558			401,832			1,258,524		6,460			(498,852		)	3,518,900
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	6,737		101,291		6,380			(3,277		)	44,109		(36,564		)	(1,744		)	116,932
Total assets*	297,604		664,628		631,393			513,525			913,921		916,921			(532,385		)	3,405,607
	Six Months Ended February 29, 2012
	Americas							International
(in thousands)	Recycling		Mills		Fabrication			Mill			Marketing and Distribution		Corporate			Eliminations			Continuing Operations
Net sales-unaffiliated customers	$	749,990	$	689,191	$	613,743		$	469,098		$	1,416,191	$	5,351		$	—		$	3,943,564
Intersegment sales	84,459		362,190		7,618			44,173			17,235		—			(515,675		)	—
Net sales	834,449		1,051,381		621,361			513,271			1,433,426		5,351			(515,675		)	3,943,564
Adjusted operating profit (loss)	27,205		112,332		(17,349		)	16,414			22,453		(44,204		)	(8,491		)	108,360
Total assets at August 31, 2012*	285,136		676,909		629,970			529,160			870,933		961,654			(519,117		)	3,434,645

* Excludes total assets from discontinued operations of $3.9 million at February 28, 2013 and $6.6 million at August 31, 2012.

Reconciliation of consolidated adjusted operating profit to net earnings from continuing operations

The following table provides a reconciliation of consolidated adjusted operating profit to net earnings from continuing operations:

	Three Months Ended					Six Months Ended
(in thousands)	February 28, 2013			February 29, 2012		February 28, 2013		February 29, 2012
Earnings from continuing operations	$	4,607		$	27,829	$	54,074	$	152,874
Income taxes (benefit)	4,717			15,015		27,232		(80,312		)
Interest expense	16,490			16,043		33,514		32,340
Discounts on sales of accounts receivable	903			1,798		2,112		3,458
Adjusted operating profit from continuing operations	26,717			60,685		116,932		108,360
Adjusted operating profit (loss) from discontinued operations	(46		)	2,387		342		(24,165		)
Adjusted operating profit	$	26,671		$	63,072	$	117,274	$	84,195