Reconciliation of Change in Benefit Obligations for Plans (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Beginning projected benefit obligation	$ 137,874	$ 133,683
Service cost	1,224	1,494	1,389
Interest cost	7,494	5,715	5,681
Actuarial (gain) loss	26,748	(5,502)
Curtailment gain		(597)
Total benefits paid	(6,264)	(4,236)
Plan participants' contributions	213	69
Acquisitions	28,122	2,073
Effect of conversion to U.S. dollars	(5,091)	5,175
Ending projected benefit obligation	$ 190,320	$ 137,874	$ 133,683

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Amount of gain (loss) from a decision to temporarily deviate from the substantive plan, or from a change in benefit obligation or plan asset value from changes in actuarial assumptions, for example, but not limited to, interest, mortality, employee turnover or salary scale.

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1) For defined benefit pension plans, the benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation, which is the actuarial present value as of a date of all benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to employee service rendered prior to that date. 2) For other postretirement defined benefit plans, the benefit obligation is the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, which is the actuarial present value of benefits attributed to employee service rendered to a particular date.

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The amount of payments made for which participants are entitled under a pension plan, including pension benefits, death benefits, and benefits due on termination of employment. Also includes payments made under a postretirement benefit plan, including prescription drug benefits, health care benefits, life insurance benefits, and legal, educational and advisory services. This item represents a periodic decrease to the plan obligations and a decrease to plan assets.

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The amount of increase in the benefit obligation attributed to business combinations.

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The amount of contributions made by plan participants. This item represents a periodic increase to the plan obligation and an increase to plan assets.

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The amount of decrease that is related to an event that significantly reduces the expected years of future service of present employees or eliminates for a significant number of employees the accrual of defined benefits for some or all of their future services.

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Amount of gain (loss) from foreign currency exchange rate changes for benefit obligation for plans of a foreign operation whose functional currency is not the reporting currency.

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The increase in a defined benefit pension plan's projected benefit obligation or a defined benefit postretirement plan's accumulated postretirement benefit obligation due to the passage of time.

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The actuarial present value of benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to services rendered by employees during the period. The portion of the expected postretirement benefit obligation attributed to employee service during the period. The service cost component is a portion of the benefit obligation and is unaffected by the funded status of the plan.

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