CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 313,624	$ 267,417
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	262,186	234,312
Recognition of stock-based compensation expense	59,857	59,854
Settlement of receivables and related charges		12,673
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries		23,944
Other, net	6,959	8,062
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, exclusive of net assets acquired:
Accounts receivable	(22,634)	100,226
Inventories	(162,076)	(187,146)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(201,715)	(145,384)
Other assets	(3,302)	(10,011)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(52,439)	148,289
Income taxes payable	(8,933)	12,181
Net cash provided by operating activities	191,527	524,417
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for business and intangible asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(125,098)	3,985
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(291,792)	(320,965)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	12,555	13,669
Proceeds from disposal of available for sale investments		5,800
Cost of receivables acquired, net of cash collections	517	(521)
Net cash used in investing activities	(403,818)	(298,032)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements	7,033,854	5,706,610
Payments toward debt agreements	(6,783,726)	(5,714,853)
Dividends paid to stockholders	(48,716)	(45,306)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest	(333)
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options and issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	18,576	17,778
Payments to acquire treasury stock	(70,991)
Treasury stock minimum tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock	(31,181)	(9,739)
Debt issuance costs	(5,014)	(14,549)
Excess tax benefit related to stock awards	750	179
Cash paid to purchase noncontrolling interest	(20,501)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	92,718	(59,880)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(26,909)	311
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(146,482)	166,816
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	888,611	744,329
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 742,129	$ 911,145