Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail)

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Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2014
Aug. 31, 2013
Aug. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Pension plan actuarial gain losses, not yet recognized in net periodic benefit cost $ (12,600,000) $ (12,000,000)  
Pension plan actuarial gain losses, expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost in 2015 500,000    
Net periodic benefit costs (credit) (146,000) 338,000 366,000
Weighted average discount rate for determining benefit obligation 4.15% 4.90% 3.90%
Expense on participant deferrals in fixed income investment option 1,700,000 1,600,000 1,500,000
Cost of stock held in trust for deferred compensation plan 2,900,000 1,900,000  
Other Current Liabilities and Other Long-term Liabilities
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Deferred compensation liability 22,800,000 23,200,000  
U.S. defined benefit pension plans
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Expected long term rate of return for assets 7.50%    
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in fiscal 2015 2,700,000    
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in fiscal 2016 2,700,000    
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in fiscal 2017 2,700,000    
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in, fiscal 2018 2,700,000    
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in, fiscal 2019 2,700,000    
Amount of benefits expected to be paid fiscal 2020 through fiscal 2024 15,000,000    
Benefit obligation 47,545,000 45,046,000 50,870,000
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Net periodic benefit costs (credit) (200,000) (200,000) (200,000)
Define benefit plan Company contributions, year 2015 300,000    
Benefit obligation 3,100,000 2,900,000  
Health care cost trend rate 8.00%    
Health care cost trending downward rate by 2022 5.00%    
Non-US Pension Plans, Defined Benefit
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Expected long term rate of return for assets 4.60%    
Net periodic benefit costs (credit) 1,300,000 800,000 500,000
Weighted average discount rate for determining benefit obligation 3.20% 4.30%  
Define benefit plan Company contributions, year 2015 900,000    
Benefit obligation 18,599,000 12,912,000  
401(k) [Member]
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Maximum employee contribution to defined contribution benefit plans 50.00%    
Maximum Company contribution to defined contribution benefit plans 3.00%    
Employer matching contribution to employee contribution percentage 25.00%    
Expense recognized related to defined contribution plan 4,500,000 4,500,000 5,100,000
401(k) [Member] | Maximum
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Employee contribution percentage of eligible compensation 6.00%    
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Benefit obligation 2,000,000 1,700,000  
Expense recognized related to defined contribution plan $ 400,000 $ 600,000 $ 700,000
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan | Maximum
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Employer contribution to defined contribution benefit plans 6.00%    
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan | Minimum
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Employer contribution to defined contribution benefit plans 3.00%    
Equity Securities
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Asset allocation in equity securities minimum 60.00%    
Asset allocation in equity securities maximum 80.00%