CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 127,167	$ 254,896	$ 285,612
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	760,405	696,752	529,176
Restructuring and related charges	94,346	1,170	4,445
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts	10,112	919	9,752
Recognition of stock-based compensation expense and related charges	48,544	58,997	62,560
Deferred income taxes	(63,001)	(23,155)	(10,912)
Loss (gain) on sale of property, plant and equipment	1,989	12,921	12,316
Other, net	20,120	8,448	659
Change in operating assets and liabilities, exclusive of net assets acquired:
Accounts receivable	(31,353)	122,115	(292,706)
Inventories	(445,089)	67,966	(483,071)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	19,346	(194,337)	113,012
Other assets	(30,413)	(4,425)	25,034
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	744,470	(86,060)	984,651
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,256,643	916,207	1,240,528
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for business and intangible asset acquisitions, net of cash	(36,620)	(242,143)	(177,632)
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations and subsidiaries, net of cash			10,191
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(716,485)	(924,239)	(963,145)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	175,000	26,031	15,784
Issuance of notes receivable		(29,380)
Investments in non-marketable equity securities	(2,033)	(10,250)	(11,939)
Other, net	673		5,294
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(579,465)	(1,179,981)	(1,121,447)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements	7,434,107	6,904,215	5,966,937
Payments toward debt agreements	(7,479,150)	(6,445,922)	(5,988,232)
Payments to acquire treasury stock	(306,640)	(148,340)	(85,576)
Dividends paid to stockholders	(59,959)	(62,436)	(63,138)
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options and issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	21,791	20,910	18,062
Treasury stock minimum tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock	(12,268)	(10,656)	(7,606)
Other, net	(2,427)	(4,259)	(3,242)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(404,546)	253,512	(162,795)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	5,228	8,358	(42,572)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	277,860	(1,904)	(86,286)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	912,059	913,963	1,000,249
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	1,189,919	912,059	913,963
Supplemental disclosure information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	130,635	128,013	118,891
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received	$ 187,871	$ 140,704	$ 143,580