CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 396,089	$ 382,958	$ 170,766
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	353,492	319,179	283,284
Recognition of stock-based compensation expense	81,405	76,230	104,609
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries		23,944	18,671
Settlement of receivables and related charges		12,673
Other, net	15,477	12,804	20,036
Change in operating assets and liabilities, exclusive of net assets acquired:
Accounts receivable	(22,626)	48,232	(247,133)
Inventories	(53,268)	(158,545)	(969,348)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(141,526)	(212,265)	(143,639)
Other assets	(2,745)	3,205	448
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	21,955	305,814	1,172,770
Income taxes payable	(14,027)	13,780	16,946
Net cash provided by operating activities	634,226	828,009	427,410
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(497,697)	(458,989)	(398,425)
Cash paid for business and intangible asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(125,098)	3,985
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	16,408	23,483	10,280
Proceeds from disposal of available for sale investments		5,800
Cost of receivables acquired, net of cash collections	517	(557)
Notes receivable from sale			(24,972)
Proceeds from disposal of subsidiaries, net of cash			(27,140)
Net cash used in investing activities	(605,870)	(426,278)	(440,257)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements	9,233,414	7,572,157	5,374,479
Payments toward debt agreements	(8,748,420)	(7,586,754)	(5,423,914)
Payments to acquire treasury stock	(70,991)	(200,226)
Dividends paid to stockholders	(65,240)	(60,411)	(59,869)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest	(333)
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options and issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	26,003	31,644	10,744
Debt issuance costs	(6,254)	(14,549)
Treasury stock minimum tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock	(31,205)	(9,763)	(5,505)
Excess tax benefit related to stock awards	885	180	132
Cash paid to purchase noncontrolling interest	(20,501)
Net proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares of certain subsidiaries			586
Bank overdraft of subsidiary			3,067
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	317,358	(267,722)	(100,280)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(17,069)	10,273	(18,816)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	328,645	144,282	(131,943)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	888,611	744,329	876,272
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	1,217,256	888,611	744,329
Supplemental disclosure information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	95,488	84,956	73,423
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received	$ 139,094	$ 81,228	$ 57,656