Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 96,872	$ 135,493
Accounts receivable, net		413,943	384,444
Inventories		317,328	292,141
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		60,205	40,473
Total current assets		888,348	852,551
Property, plant and equipment, at cost:
Land and improvements		31,674	28,439
Buildings and leasehold improvements		164,759	160,858
Machinery and equipment		427,183	398,563
Furniture and fixtures		34,393	41,255
Construction in progress		23,866	16,718
Gross property, plant and equipment		681,875	645,833
Accumulated depreciation		367,381	391,912
Net property, plant and equipment		314,494	253,921
Other assets:
Deferred charges and other noncurrent assets		90,749	65,079
Goodwill		623,583	202,299
Intangible assets, net		434,537	138,634
Total assets		2,351,711	1,512,484
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		305,385	314,957
U.S. and foreign income taxes payable		4,205	6,385
Accrued payroll, taxes and related benefits		56,192	54,199
Other accrued liabilities		70,824	46,054
Short-term debt		20,710	31,748
Total current liabilities		457,316	453,343
Long-term debt		1,045,349	339,546
Pension plans		117,889	129,949
Deferred income taxes		115,537	23,826
Other long-term liabilities		22,885	29,369
Total liabilities		$ 1,758,976	$ 976,033
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Convertible special stock, no par value		$ 120,289	$ 0
Common stock, $1 par value, authorized - 75,000 shares, issued - 48,369 shares in 2015 and 48,185 shares in 2014		48,369	48,185
Additional paid-in capital		274,319	268,545
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	[1]	(83,460)	(16,691)
Retained earnings		607,690	606,898
Treasury stock, at cost, 19,077 shares in 2015 and 18,973 shares in 2014		(383,121)	(379,894)
Total A. Schulman, Inc.'s stockholders' equity		584,086	527,043
Noncontrolling interests		8,649	9,408
Total equity		592,735	536,451
Total liabilities and equity		$ 2,351,711	$ 1,512,484

[1] All amounts presented are net of tax.