Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2014
Nov. 30, 2013
Operating Activities    
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ (25,118)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities $ 32,946us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
Investing Activities    
Capital expenditures (7,986)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets (11,257)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 225us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment 1,913us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Cash used in investing activities (7,761)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities (9,344)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
Financing Activities    
Net borrowings (repayments) on revolver 123,869us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit (12,000)us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
Intercompany loan activity 0atu_Changesinreceivablesandpayablestosubsidiaries 0atu_Changesinreceivablesandpayablestosubsidiaries
Purchase of treasury shares (104,415)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock (15,352)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
Payment of contingent acquisition consideration 0atu_PaymentOfContingentConsideration (414)atu_PaymentOfContingentConsideration
Stock option exercises, related tax benefits and other 2,287atu_StockOptionExercisesRelatedTaxBenefitsAndOther 10,562atu_StockOptionExercisesRelatedTaxBenefitsAndOther
Cash dividend (2,598)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends (2,919)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities 19,143us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities (20,123)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (8,001)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents 2,077us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (21,737)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease 5,556us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period 109,012us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 103,986us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period 87,275us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 109,542us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Parent    
Operating Activities    
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities 5,024us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
17,415us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Investing Activities    
Capital expenditures (226)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(1,208)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
0us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Cash used in investing activities (226)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(1,208)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Financing Activities    
Net borrowings (repayments) on revolver 121,875us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(12,000)us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Intercompany loan activity (47,192)atu_Changesinreceivablesandpayablestosubsidiaries
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(9,951)atu_Changesinreceivablesandpayablestosubsidiaries
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Purchase of treasury shares (104,415)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(15,352)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Payment of contingent acquisition consideration   0atu_PaymentOfContingentConsideration
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Stock option exercises, related tax benefits and other 2,287atu_StockOptionExercisesRelatedTaxBenefitsAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
10,562atu_StockOptionExercisesRelatedTaxBenefitsAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Cash dividend (2,598)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(2,919)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities (30,043)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(29,660)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 0us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
0us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (25,245)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
(13,453)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period 27,931us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
16,122us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period 2,686us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
2,669us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Guarantors    
Operating Activities    
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities (28,333)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
3,461us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Investing Activities    
Capital expenditures (1,140)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(1,270)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 1us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
36us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash used in investing activities (1,139)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(1,234)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Financing Activities    
Net borrowings (repayments) on revolver 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
0us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Intercompany loan activity 27,281atu_Changesinreceivablesandpayablestosubsidiaries
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(2,227)atu_Changesinreceivablesandpayablestosubsidiaries
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Purchase of treasury shares 0us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
0us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Payment of contingent acquisition consideration   0atu_PaymentOfContingentConsideration
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Stock option exercises, related tax benefits and other 0atu_StockOptionExercisesRelatedTaxBenefitsAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
0atu_StockOptionExercisesRelatedTaxBenefitsAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash dividend 0us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
0us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities 27,281us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(2,227)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 0us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
0us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (2,191)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period 3,325us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period 1,134us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Non-Guarantors    
Operating Activities    
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities (1,809)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
12,070us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Investing Activities    
Capital expenditures (6,620)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(8,779)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 224us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
1,877us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash used in investing activities (6,396)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
(6,902)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Financing Activities    
Net borrowings (repayments) on revolver 1,994us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
0us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Intercompany loan activity 19,911atu_Changesinreceivablesandpayablestosubsidiaries
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
12,178atu_Changesinreceivablesandpayablestosubsidiaries
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Purchase of treasury shares 0us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
0us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Payment of contingent acquisition consideration   (414)atu_PaymentOfContingentConsideration
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Stock option exercises, related tax benefits and other 0atu_StockOptionExercisesRelatedTaxBenefitsAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
0atu_StockOptionExercisesRelatedTaxBenefitsAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash dividend 0us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
0us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities 21,905us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
11,764us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (8,001)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
2,077us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents 5,699us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
19,009us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period 77,756us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
87,864us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period 83,455us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
106,873us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Eliminations    
Operating Activities    
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities 0us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
0us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Investing Activities    
Capital expenditures 0us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
0us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
0us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Cash used in investing activities 0us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
0us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Financing Activities    
Net borrowings (repayments) on revolver 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
0us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Intercompany loan activity 0atu_Changesinreceivablesandpayablestosubsidiaries
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
0atu_Changesinreceivablesandpayablestosubsidiaries
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Purchase of treasury shares 0us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
0us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Payment of contingent acquisition consideration   0atu_PaymentOfContingentConsideration
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Stock option exercises, related tax benefits and other 0atu_StockOptionExercisesRelatedTaxBenefitsAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
0atu_StockOptionExercisesRelatedTaxBenefitsAndOther
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Cash dividend 0us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
0us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities 0us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
0us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 0us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
0us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents 0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period 0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period $ 0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
$ 0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember