Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)

Reporting Entity [Axis]

0000006955 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK)

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	Period [Axis]
	2015-09-01 - 2016-08-31
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Tax Expense from Continuing Operations	Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations is summarized as follows (in thousands):   Year Ended August 31,   2016   2015   2014 Current:           Federal $ 2,205   $ (126 )   $ 23,211 Foreign 11,838   21,200   9,059 State 912   (1,616 )   (657 )   14,955   19,458   31,613 Deferred:           Federal (12,470 )   (4,416 )   4,224 Foreign (23,797 )   (9,199 )   (4,130 ) State (3,858 )   (324 )   866   (40,125 )   (13,939 )   960 Income tax expense (benefit) $ (25,170 )   $ 5,519   $ 32,573
Reconciliation of Income Taxes at Federal Statutory Rate to Effective Tax Rate	A reconciliation of income taxes at the federal statutory rate to the effective tax rate is summarized in the following table:           Year Ended August 31,   2016   2015   2014 Federal statutory rate 35.0  %   35.0  %   35.0  % State income taxes, net of Federal effect 1.2   (0.2 )   0.8 Net effects of foreign tax rate differential and credits (1) 1.6   (58.4 )   (10.5 ) Domestic manufacturing deduction 0.3   (5.1 )   (1.0 ) Foreign branch currency losses 4.9   —   — Goodwill impairment (2) (27.0 )   78.6   — Valuation allowance additions and releases (3) (0.7 )   15.5   (8.0 ) Changes in liability for unrecognized tax benefits (4) (0.9 )   (42.1 )   3.2 Change in income tax accounting method, net —   —   (5.6 ) Business divestitures 3.9   —   3.0 Other items 1.0   (1.6 )   1.8 Effective income tax rate 19.3  %   21.7  %   18.7  % (1) During fiscal 2015, the Company generated $10.0 million of foreign tax credits, the result of a non-recurring non-permanent loan from a foreign subsidiary (which were utilized to reduce fiscal 2015 tax obligations) and had a higher proportion of non-U.S. earnings. (2) Fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 net earnings include a $186.5 million and $84.4 million, respectively, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, of which $68.0 million and $6.3 million, respectively, are deductible for income tax purposes. (3) Additional valuation allowances of $5.7 million were established in fiscal 2015 due to uncertainty regarding utilization of foreign operating loss carryforwards, which were partially offset by the reversal of $2.3 million of previously established reserves. (4) The liability for unrecognized tax benefits decreased $9.5 million in fiscal 2015 primarily due to settlements and lapsing of tax audit statutes.
Temporary Differences and Carryforwards of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	Temporary differences and carryforwards that gave rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities include the following items (in thousands):   August 31,   2016   2015 Deferred income tax assets:       Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards $ 36,761   $ 19,419 Compensation related liabilities 25,086   27,047 Postretirement benefits 8,727   6,778 Inventory 3,044   3,253 Book reserves and other items 8,317   11,976 Total deferred income tax assets 81,935   68,473 Valuation allowance (8,147 )   (8,053 ) Net deferred income tax assets 73,788   60,420 Deferred income tax liabilities:       Depreciation and amortization (83,020 )   (110,763 ) Other items (5,493 )   (4,539 ) Deferred income tax liabilities (88,513 )   (115,302 ) Net deferred income tax liability $ (14,725 )   $ (54,882 )
Changes in Gross Liability for Unrecognized Tax benefits, Excluding Interest and Penalties	Changes in the Company’s gross liability for unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, are as follows (in thousands):   2016   2015   2014 Beginning balance $ 29,924   $ 39,509   $ 18,006 Increases based on tax positions related to the current year 1,050   2,183   28,053 Increase for tax positions taken in a prior period 475   8,935   — Decrease for tax positions taken in a prior period —   (633 )   — Decrease due to lapse of statute of limitations (1,027 )   (4,464 )   (7,030 ) Decrease due to settlements —   (14,180 )   — Changes in foreign currency exchange rates (1,248 )   (1,426 )   480 Ending balance $ 29,174   $ 29,924   $ 39,509
Earnings before Income Taxes, Including both Continuing and Discontinued Operations	Earnings (loss) before income taxes from continuing operations, are summarized as follows (in thousands):    Year Ended August 31,   2016   2015   2014 Domestic $ (19,182 )   $ 14,593   $ 84,854 Foreign (111,162 )   10,798   89,172   $ (130,344 )   $ 25,391   $ 174,026