XML 93 R78.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.8.0.1
Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits (Fair Value of Plan Assets) (Details 5) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Aug. 31, 2017
Aug. 31, 2016
Aug. 31, 2015
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Fair value of plan assets $ 146,698 $ 143,702 $ 134,808
Fair value of plan assets allocation 100.00% 100.00%  
Cash and Cash Equivalents | Level 1      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Fair value of plan assets [1] $ 5,760 $ 3,565  
Fair value of plan assets allocation [1] 4.00% 3.00%  
Global equity securities | Level 2      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Fair value of plan assets [2],[3] $ 41,971 $ 41,515  
Fair value of plan assets allocation [2],[3] 29.00% 29.00%  
Debt Securities | Level 2 | Corporate bonds      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Fair value of plan assets [3] $ 41,987 $ 41,993  
Fair value of plan assets allocation [3] 29.00% 29.00%  
Debt Securities | Level 2 | Government bonds      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Fair value of plan assets [3] $ 41,738 $ 40,495  
Fair value of plan assets allocation [3] 28.00% 28.00%  
Insurance Contracts | Level 3      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Fair value of plan assets [4] $ 15,242 $ 16,134  
Fair value of plan assets allocation [4] 10.00% 11.00%  
[1]

(1)   Carrying value approximates fair value.

[2]

( 2 )   Investments in equity securities by companies incorporated, listed or domiciled in developed and/or emerging market countries.

[3]

( 3 ) Investments in global equity securities, corporate bonds, government securities and government bonds are valued using the quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics

[4]

( 4 )   C onsist of an insurance contract that guarantees the payment of the funded pension entitlements, as well as provides a profit share to the Company. The profit share in this contract is not based on actual investments, but, instead on a notional investment portfolio that is expected to return a pre-defined rate. Insurance contract assets are recorded at fair value and is determined based on th e cash surrender value of the insured benefits which is the present value of the guaranteed funded benefits. Insurance contracts are valued using unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs), primarily by discounting expected future cash flows relating to benefits paid from a notional investment portfolio in order to determine the cash surrender value of the policy. The unobservable inputs consist of estimated future benefits to be paid throughout the duration of the policy and estimated discount rates, which both have an immaterial impact on the fair value estimate of the contract.