Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2020	May 31, 2019	May 31, 2018
Operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 84,444	$ 163,273	$ 200,850
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	92,678	95,602	103,359
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	82,690	7,817	61,208
Provision for (benefit from) deferred income taxes	(1,309)	17,435	(38,237)
Bad debt expense	580	659	11
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates, net of distributions	8,106	7,347	(13,352)
Net gain on sale of assets	(5,057)	(7,059)	(10,522)
Stock-based compensation	11,883	11,733	13,758
Loss on extinguishment of debt	4,034
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of impact of acquisitions:
Receivables	147,225	73,346	(53,066)
Inventories	62,126	(33,649)	(84,654)
Accounts payable	(142,684)	(93,294)	83,053
Accrued compensation and employee benefits	(11,878)	(19,159)	11,615
Other operating items, net	3,888	(26,192)	7,322
Net cash provided by operating activities	336,726	197,859	281,345
Investing activities:
Investment in property, plant and equipment	(95,503)	(84,499)	(76,088)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(30,748)	(10,402)	(285,028)
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliate		56,693	2,400
Proceeds from sale of assets	10,036	49,683	21,311
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	(116,215)	11,475	(337,405)
Financing activities:
Net repayments of short-term borrowings, net of issuance costs			(948)
Proceeds from long-term debt, net of issuance costs	101,464		197,685
Principal payments on long-term debt	(154,913)	(1,394)	(31,130)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net of tax withholdings	(6,513)	(6,371)	(2,120)
Payments to noncontrolling interests	(1,453)	(10,726)	(7,915)
Repurchase of common shares	(50,972)	(168,113)	(204,267)
Dividends paid	(53,289)	(52,334)	(51,359)
Net cash used by financing activities	(165,676)	(238,938)	(100,054)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	54,835	(29,604)	(156,114)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	92,363	121,967	278,081
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 147,198	$ 92,363	$ 121,967