CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 285,612	$ 242,265	$ 370,091
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	529,176	487,278	418,117
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	300	(230,878)
Restructuring and related charges	4,445	42,534	2,058
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts	9,752	16,268
Recognition of stock-based compensation expense	62,560	10,624	68,383
Deferred income taxes	(10,912)	(38,971)	(123,165)
Impairment of notes receivable and related charges			25,597
Excess tax benefit related to stock awards	(246)	(782)	(14,605)
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries		7,962
Loss (gain) on sale of property, plant and equipment	12,316	(1,773)	1,679
Other, net	659	8,689	8,879
Change in operating assets and liabilities, exclusive of net assets acquired:
Accounts receivable	(292,706)	(116,458)	750
Inventories	(483,071)	160,790	50,229
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	113,012	73,492	(75,962)
Other assets	25,034	6,552	(7,052)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	984,651	(168,735)	488,890
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,240,282	498,857	1,213,889
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for business and intangible asset acquisitions, net of cash	(177,632)		(650,054)
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations and subsidiaries, net of cash	10,191	531,189
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(963,145)	(624,060)	(736,858)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	15,784	161,138	15,792
Investments in non-marketable equity securities	(11,939)	(3,600)	(3,342)
Other, net	5,294	(4,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(1,121,447)	60,667	(1,374,462)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements	5,966,937	6,175,953	5,764,400
Payments toward debt agreements	(5,988,232)	(6,400,089)	(5,586,738)
Payments to acquire treasury stock	(85,576)	(260,274)	(129,262)
Dividends paid to stockholders	(63,138)	(68,211)	(67,181)
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options and issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	18,062	15,771	18,285
Treasury stock minimum tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock	(7,606)	(34,312)	(20,290)
Cash paid to purchase noncontrolling interest	(345)	(1,720)	(17,500)
Excess tax benefit related to stock awards	246	782	14,605
Other, net	(2,897)	(4,719)	688
Net cash used in financing activities	(162,549)	(576,819)	(22,993)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(42,572)	6,171	(22,317)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(86,286)	(11,124)	(205,883)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	1,000,249	1,011,373	1,217,256
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	913,963	1,000,249	1,011,373
Supplemental disclosure information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	118,891	118,689	102,614
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received	$ 143,580	$ 118,271	$ 128,780