CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 242,265	$ 370,091	$ 396,089
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	487,278	418,117	353,492
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	(230,878)
Restructuring and related charges	42,534	2,058
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts	16,268		15,427
Recognition of stock-based compensation expense and related charges	10,624	68,383	81,405
Deferred income taxes	(38,971)	(123,165)	(9,201)
Impairment of notes receivable and related charges		25,597
Excess tax benefit related to stock awards	(782)	(14,605)	(885)
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries	7,962
Other, net	6,916	10,558	10,136
Change in operating assets and liabilities, exclusive of net assets acquired:
Accounts receivable	(116,458)	750	(22,626)
Inventories	160,790	50,229	(53,268)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	83,128	(82,756)	(141,526)
Other assets	(5,038)	(5,025)	(2,745)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(177,586)	485,972	21,955
Income taxes	10,805	7,685	(14,027)
Net cash provided by operating activities	498,857	1,213,889	634,226
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations and subsidiaries, net of cash	531,189
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(624,060)	(736,858)	(497,697)
Cash paid for business and intangible asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(650,054)	(125,098)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	161,138	15,792	16,408
Cost of receivables acquired, net of cash collections			517
Issuance of notes receivable	(4,000)
Investments in non-marketable equity securities	(3,600)	(3,342)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	60,667	(1,374,462)	(605,870)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements	6,175,953	5,764,400	9,233,414
Payments toward debt agreements	(6,400,089)	(5,586,738)	(8,748,420)
Payments to acquire treasury stock	(260,274)	(129,262)	(70,991)
Dividends paid to stockholders	(68,211)	(67,181)	(65,240)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest			(333)
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options and issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	15,771	18,285	26,003
Debt issuance costs	(2,936)		(6,254)
Treasury stock minimum tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock	(34,312)	(20,290)	(31,205)
Sale of noncontrolling interest, net of cash	(1,783)
Cash paid to purchase noncontrolling interest	(1,720)	(17,500)	(20,501)
Excess tax benefit related to stock awards	782	14,605	885
Capital contribution to noncontrolling interest		316
Bank overdraft		372
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(576,819)	(22,993)	317,358
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	6,171	(22,317)	(17,069)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(11,124)	(205,883)	328,645
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	1,011,373	1,217,256	888,611
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	1,000,249	1,011,373	1,217,256
Supplemental disclosure information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	118,689	102,614	95,488
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received	$ 118,271	$ 128,780	$ 139,094