Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2023	Nov. 30, 2022	Nov. 30, 2023	Nov. 30, 2022
Operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 28,167	$ 19,505	$ 127,870	$ 84,749
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	28,007	28,354	56,332	56,355
Impairment of long-lived assets			1,401	312
Provision for (benefit from) deferred income taxes	1,968	(3,617)	(3,485)	(14,673)
Loss on extinguishment of debt			1,534
Bad debt expense (income)	345	1,098	(454)	1,440
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates, net of distributions	(4,129)	18,352	6,096	61,197
Net gain on sale of assets	(439)	(4,265)	(334)	(5,034)
Stock-based compensation	6,175	4,547	10,691	8,783
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of impact of acquisitions:
Receivables	76,704	119,674	67,861	157,093
Inventories	103,150	72,293	38,823	113,460
Accounts payable	(75,373)	(100,535)	(75,095)	(202,116)
Accrued compensation and employee benefits	2,794	3,336	(9,220)	(30,532)
Income taxes payable	(35,428)	(7,629)	(6,966)	(300)
Other operating items, net	3,049	(18,172)	(20,368)	(16,755)
Net cash provided by operating activities	134,990	132,941	194,686	213,979
Investing activities:
Investment in property, plant and equipment	(32,876)	(24,490)	(62,174)	(45,967)
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of selling costs	751	23,739	802	35,494
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(21,013)		(21,013)	(56,088)
Investment in note receivable			(15,000)
Investment in non-marketable equity securities	(1,500)	(140)	(1,540)	(250)
Proceeds from the sale of investment in ArtiFlex, net of selling costs				36,095
Distribution from unconsolidated affiliate	1,085		1,085
Net cash used by investing activities	(53,553)	(891)	(97,840)	(30,716)
Financing activities:
Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term borrowings	175,000	(10,619)	172,187	(43,062)
Principal payments on long-term obligations		(13)	(243,757)	(150)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net of tax withholdings	(9,207)	(649)	(14,337)	(4,115)
Payments to noncontrolling interests		(11,760)	(1,921)	(11,760)
Dividends paid	(17,333)	(15,181)	(33,058)	(29,065)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	148,460	(38,222)	(120,886)	(88,152)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	229,897	93,828	(24,040)	95,111
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	201,009	35,768	454,946	34,485
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 430,906	$ 129,596	$ 430,906	$ 129,596