Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2012

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts receivable are stated net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3.5 million and $3.9 million as of August 31, 2012 and 2011.

	Years ended August 31,
(In thousands)	2012			2011			2010
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Balance at beginning of period	$	3,913		$	3,931		$	5,612
Additions, net of reversals		641			351			(385	)
Usage		(663	)		(673	)		(991	)
Currency translation effect		(366	)		304			(305	)
Balance at end of period	$	3,525		$	3,913		$	3,931

Estimated Useful Lives

Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over estimated useful lives which are as follows:

	Depreciable Life
Buildings and improvements		10 – 25 years
Machinery and equipment		3 – 15 years
Other		3 – 7 years

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax as appropriate, consisted of the following:

(In thousands)	Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Financial Instruments			Pension Adjustment			Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance August 31, 2011	$	(5,789	)	$	(195	)	$	(1,911	)	$	(7,895	)
2012 activity		5,696			(130	)		(4,040	)		1,526
Balance, August 31, 2012	$	(93	)	$	(325	)	$	(5,951	)	$	(6,369	)

Interest and Foreign Exchange

Interest and foreign exchange - Includes foreign exchange gains and losses, amortization of loan fee expense, accretion of debt discounts and external interest expense.

	Years ended August 31,
(In thousands)	2012			2011		2010
Interest and foreign exchange:
Interest and other expense	$	22,474		$	30,155	$	36,214
Accretion of term loan debt discount		–			3,564		4,377
Accretion of convertible debt discount		3,259			3,021		3,771
Foreign exchange (gain) loss		(924	)		252		842
	$	24,809		$	36,992	$	45,204