Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization and Sale Programs	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2014
Transfers and Servicing [Abstract]
Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization and Sale Programs	3. Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization and Sale Programs The Company regularly sells designated pools of trade accounts receivable under two asset-backed securitization programs, a factoring agreement and three uncommitted trade accounts receivable sale programs (collectively referred to herein as the “programs”). The Company continues servicing the receivables sold and in exchange receives a servicing fee under each of the programs. Servicing fees related to each of the programs recognized during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were not material. The Company does not record a servicing asset or liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as the Company estimates that the fee it receives to service these receivables approximates the fair market compensation to provide the servicing activities. Transfers of the receivables under the programs are accounted for as sales and, accordingly, net receivables sold under the programs are excluded from accounts receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are reflected as cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. *a. Asset-Backed Securitization Programs* The Company continuously sells designated pools of trade accounts receivable under its North American asset-backed securitization program, currently scheduled to expire on October 20, 2017 (as the program was renewed on October 21, 2014), and its foreign asset-backed securitization program, currently scheduled to expire on May 15, 2015, (collectively referred to herein as the “asset-backed securitization programs”) to special purpose entities, which in turn sell 100% of the receivables to conduits administered by unaffiliated financial institutions (for the North American asset-backed securitization program) and an unaffiliated financial institution (for the foreign asset-backed securitization program). The special purpose entity in the North American asset-backed securitization program is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The special purpose entity in the foreign asset-backed securitization program is a separate bankruptcy-remote entity whose assets would be first available to satisfy the creditor claims of the unaffiliated financial institution. The Company is deemed the primary beneficiary of this special purpose entity as the Company has both the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive the benefits that could potentially be significant to the entity from the transfer of the trade accounts receivable into the special purpose entity. Accordingly, the special purpose entities associated with these asset-backed securitization programs are included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Any portion of the purchase price for the receivables which is not paid in cash upon the sale taking place is recorded as a deferred purchase price receivable, which is paid as payments on the receivables are collected. Net cash proceeds of up to a maximum of $200.0 million for the North American asset-backed securitization program are available at any one time. The Company decreased its North American asset-backed securitization program’s facility limit from $300.0 million to $200.0 million during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014. In connection with the AMS transaction, on January 31, 2014, certain subsidiaries of the Company terminated their sale of receivables under the North American asset-backed securitization program. Net cash proceeds of up to a maximum of $75.0 million for the foreign asset-backed securitization program are available at any one time. The Company decreased its foreign asset-backed securitization program’s facility limit from $200.0 million to $75.0 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014. In connection with the asset-backed securitization programs, the Company sold $8.0 billion, $9.0 billion and $8.4 billion of eligible trade accounts receivable during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In exchange, the Company received cash proceeds of $7.4 billion, $8.5 billion and $8.0 billion during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, (of which approximately $4.0 million, $54.2 million and $0.0 million, respectively, represented new transfers and the remainder represented proceeds from collections reinvested in revolving-period transfers) and a deferred purchase price receivable. At August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the net deferred purchase price receivables recorded in connection with the asset-backed securitization programs totaled approximately $513.0 million, $541.2 million and $477.5 million, respectively. The asset-backed securitization programs require compliance with several covenants. The North American asset-backed securitization program covenants include compliance with the interest coverage ratio and debt to EBITDA ratio of the five year unsecured credit facility amended as of July 25, 2014 (the “Amended and Restated Credit Facility”). The foreign asset-backed securitization program covenants include limitations on certain corporate actions such as mergers and consolidations. The Company recognized pretax losses on the sales of receivables under the asset-backed securitization programs of approximately $3.6 million, $4.3 million and $5.6 million during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which are recorded to other expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The deferred purchase price receivables recorded under the asset-backed securitization programs are recorded initially at fair value as prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are valued using unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs), primarily discounted cash flows, and due to their credit quality and short-term maturity the fair values approximated book values. The unobservable inputs consist of estimated credit losses and estimated discount rates, which both have an immaterial impact on the fair value calculations of the deferred purchase price receivables. *b. Trade Accounts Receivable Factoring Agreement* In connection with a factoring agreement, the Company transfers ownership of eligible trade accounts receivable of a foreign subsidiary without recourse to a third party purchaser in exchange for cash. Proceeds from the transfer reflect the face value of the account less a discount. The discount is recorded as a loss to other expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period of the sale. In April 2014, the factoring agreement was extended through September 30, 2014, at which time it was automatically renewed for an additional six-month period. The Company sold $1.1 million, $31.2 million and $76.0 million of trade accounts receivable during fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and in exchange, received cash proceeds of $1.1 million, $31.2 million and $76.0 million, respectively. The resulting losses on the sales of trade accounts receivables sold under this factoring agreement for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012 were not material, and were recorded to other expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations. *c. Trade Accounts Receivable Sale Programs* In connection with three separate trade accounts receivable sale agreements with unaffiliated financial institutions, the Company may elect to sell, at a discount, on an ongoing basis, up to a maximum of $350.0 million, $150.0 million and $100.0 million, respectively, of specific trade accounts receivable at any one time. The $350.0 million trade accounts receivable sale agreement is an uncommitted facility that was renewed during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 and is scheduled to expire on November 28, 2014 (during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014, the Company increased its uncommitted capacity from $150.0 million to $350.0 million). The $150.0 million trade accounts receivable sale agreement is an uncommitted facility that was entered into during the second quarter of fiscal year 2014 and is subject to expiration on August 31, 2015 as it was extended during the fourth quarter. The $100.0 million trade accounts receivable sale agreement is an uncommitted facility that was entered into during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 and is scheduled to expire on November 1, 2014, although any party may elect to terminate the agreement upon 15 days prior notice. The agreement will be automatically extended each year for additional 365 day periods until November 1, 2018, unless any party gives no less than 30 days prior notice that the agreement should not be extended. A $200.0 million committed trade accounts receivable sale agreement was amended during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 to decrease the committed capacity from $200.0 million to $0.0 million. A $40.0 million uncommitted trade accounts receivable sale agreement, which the Company was previously party to, was terminated effective March 19, 2014. During fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company sold $1.9 billion, $2.4 billion and $2.1 billion of trade accounts receivable under these programs, respectively. In exchange, the Company received cash proceeds of $1.9 billion, $2.4 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively. The resulting losses on the sales of trade accounts receivable during fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012 were not material, and were recorded to other expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

3. Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization and Sale Programs

The Company regularly sells designated pools of trade accounts receivable under two asset-backed securitization programs, a factoring agreement and three uncommitted trade accounts receivable sale programs (collectively referred to herein as the “programs”). The Company continues servicing the receivables sold and in exchange receives a servicing fee under each of the programs. Servicing fees related to each of the programs recognized during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were not material. The Company does not record a servicing asset or liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as the Company estimates that the fee it receives to service these receivables approximates the fair market compensation to provide the servicing activities.

Transfers of the receivables under the programs are accounted for as sales and, accordingly, net receivables sold under the programs are excluded from accounts receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are reflected as cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

a. Asset-Backed Securitization Programs

The Company continuously sells designated pools of trade accounts receivable under its North American asset-backed securitization program, currently scheduled to expire on October 20, 2017 (as the program was renewed on October 21, 2014), and its foreign asset-backed securitization program, currently scheduled to expire on May 15, 2015, (collectively referred to herein as the “asset-backed securitization programs”) to special purpose entities, which in turn sell 100% of the receivables to conduits administered by unaffiliated financial institutions (for the North American asset-backed securitization program) and an unaffiliated financial institution (for the foreign asset-backed securitization program). The special purpose entity in the North American asset-backed securitization program is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The special purpose entity in the foreign asset-backed securitization program is a separate bankruptcy-remote entity whose assets would be first available to satisfy the creditor claims of the unaffiliated financial institution. The Company is deemed the primary beneficiary of this special purpose entity as the Company has both the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive the benefits that could potentially be significant to the entity from the transfer of the trade accounts receivable into the special purpose entity. Accordingly, the special purpose entities associated with these asset-backed securitization programs are included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Any portion of the purchase price for the receivables which is not paid in cash upon the sale taking place is recorded as a deferred purchase price receivable, which is paid as payments on the receivables are collected. Net cash proceeds of up to a maximum of $200.0 million for the North American asset-backed securitization program are available at any one time. The Company decreased its North American asset-backed securitization program’s facility limit from $300.0 million to $200.0 million during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014. In connection with the AMS transaction, on January 31, 2014, certain subsidiaries of the Company terminated their sale of receivables under the North American asset-backed securitization program. Net cash proceeds of up to a maximum of $75.0 million for the foreign asset-backed securitization program are available at any one time. The Company decreased its foreign asset-backed securitization program’s facility limit from $200.0 million to $75.0 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014.

In connection with the asset-backed securitization programs, the Company sold $8.0 billion, $9.0 billion and $8.4 billion of eligible trade accounts receivable during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In exchange, the Company received cash proceeds of $7.4 billion, $8.5 billion and $8.0 billion during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, (of which approximately $4.0 million, $54.2 million and $0.0 million, respectively, represented new transfers and the remainder represented proceeds from collections reinvested in revolving-period transfers) and a deferred purchase price receivable. At August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the net deferred purchase price receivables recorded in connection with the asset-backed securitization programs totaled approximately $513.0 million, $541.2 million and $477.5 million, respectively. The asset-backed securitization programs require compliance with several covenants. The North American asset-backed securitization program covenants include compliance with the interest coverage ratio and debt to EBITDA ratio of the five year unsecured credit facility amended as of July 25, 2014 (the “Amended and Restated Credit Facility”). The foreign asset-backed securitization program covenants include limitations on certain corporate actions such as mergers and consolidations.

The Company recognized pretax losses on the sales of receivables under the asset-backed securitization programs of approximately $3.6 million, $4.3 million and $5.6 million during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which are recorded to other expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The deferred purchase price receivables recorded under the asset-backed securitization programs are recorded initially at fair value as prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are valued using unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs), primarily discounted cash flows, and due to their credit quality and short-term maturity the fair values approximated book values. The unobservable inputs consist of estimated credit losses and estimated discount rates, which both have an immaterial impact on the fair value calculations of the deferred purchase price receivables.

b. Trade Accounts Receivable Factoring Agreement

In connection with a factoring agreement, the Company transfers ownership of eligible trade accounts receivable of a foreign subsidiary without recourse to a third party purchaser in exchange for cash. Proceeds from the transfer reflect the face value of the account less a discount. The discount is recorded as a loss to other expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period of the sale. In April 2014, the factoring agreement was extended through September 30, 2014, at which time it was automatically renewed for an additional six-month period.

The Company sold $1.1 million, $31.2 million and $76.0 million of trade accounts receivable during fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and in exchange, received cash proceeds of $1.1 million, $31.2 million and $76.0 million, respectively. The resulting losses on the sales of trade accounts receivables sold under this factoring agreement for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012 were not material, and were recorded to other expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

c. Trade Accounts Receivable Sale Programs

In connection with three separate trade accounts receivable sale agreements with unaffiliated financial institutions, the Company may elect to sell, at a discount, on an ongoing basis, up to a maximum of $350.0 million, $150.0 million and $100.0 million, respectively, of specific trade accounts receivable at any one time. The $350.0 million trade accounts receivable sale agreement is an uncommitted facility that was renewed during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 and is scheduled to expire on November 28, 2014 (during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014, the Company increased its uncommitted capacity from $150.0 million to $350.0 million). The $150.0 million trade accounts receivable sale agreement is an uncommitted facility that was entered into during the second quarter of fiscal year 2014 and is subject to expiration on August 31, 2015 as it was extended during the fourth quarter. The $100.0 million trade accounts receivable sale agreement is an uncommitted facility that was entered into during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 and is scheduled to expire on November 1, 2014, although any party may elect to terminate the agreement upon 15 days prior notice. The agreement will be automatically extended each year for additional 365 day periods until November 1, 2018, unless any party gives no less than 30 days prior notice that the agreement should not be extended. A $200.0 million committed trade accounts receivable sale agreement was amended during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 to decrease the committed capacity from $200.0 million to $0.0 million. A $40.0 million uncommitted trade accounts receivable sale agreement, which the Company was previously party to, was terminated effective March 19, 2014.

During fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company sold $1.9 billion, $2.4 billion and $2.1 billion of trade accounts receivable under these programs, respectively. In exchange, the Company received cash proceeds of $1.9 billion, $2.4 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively. The resulting losses on the sales of trade accounts receivable during fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012 were not material, and were recorded to other expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations.