Enerpac Tool (EPAC) 10-K 29 Oct 18 2018 Q4 Annual report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Feb. 28, 2018
Document Documentand Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Aug. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q4
Trading Symbol	ATU
Entity Registrant Name	ACTUANT CORP
Entity Central Index Key	6,955
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--08-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		61,016,012
Entity Public Float			$ 1,371,573,067

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPER

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Net sales	$ 1,182,611	$ 1,095,784	$ 1,149,410
Cost of products sold	767,351	716,067	746,013
Gross profit	415,260	379,717	403,397
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	291,444	277,488	274,497
Amortization of intangible assets	20,565	20,474	22,943
Loss on product line divestiture	0	0	5,092
Director & officer transition charges	0	7,784	0
Restructuring charges	11,995	7,228	14,571
Impairment and divestiture charges	73,058	116,979
Impairment charge			186,511
Operating profit (loss)	18,198	(50,236)	(100,217)
Financing costs, net	31,491	29,703	28,768
Other expense, net	(621)	2,752	1,359
Earnings (loss) before income tax expense	(12,672)	(82,691)	(130,344)
Income tax expense	8,976	(16,478)	(25,170)
Net (loss) earnings	$ (21,648)	$ (66,213)	$ (105,174)
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.36)	$ (1.11)	$ (1.78)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.36)	$ (1.11)	$ (1.78)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	60,441	59,436	59,010
Diluted (in shares)	60,441	59,436	59,010

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net (loss) earnings	$ (21,648)	$ (66,213)	$ (105,174)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments	49,307	20,470	(32,203)
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans	3,709	4,092	(6,003)
Cash flow hedges	0	0	23
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	53,016	24,562	(38,183)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 31,368	$ (41,651)	$ (143,357)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 250,490	$ 229,571
Accounts receivable, net	187,749	190,206
Inventories, net	156,356	143,651
Assets held-for-sale	23,573	21,835
Other current assets	42,732	61,663
Total current assets	660,900	646,926
Property, plant and equipment
Land, buildings and improvements	47,468	43,737
Machinery and equipment	229,445	227,535
Gross property, plant and equipment	276,913	271,272
Less: Accumulated depreciation	(186,693)	(176,751)
Property, plant and equipment, net	90,220	94,521
Goodwill	512,412	530,081
Other intangible assets, net	181,037	220,489
Other long-term assets	36,769	24,938
Total assets	1,481,338	1,516,955
Current liabilities
Trade accounts payable	130,838	133,387
Accrued compensation and benefits	54,508	50,939
Current maturities of debt	30,000	30,000
Income taxes payable	4,091	6,080
Liabilities held for sale	44,225	101,083
Other current liabilities	67,299	57,445
Total current liabilities	330,961	378,934
Long-term Debt, net	502,695	531,940
Deferred income taxes	21,933	29,859
Pension and postretirement benefit liabilities	14,869	19,862
Other long-term liabilities	52,168	55,821
Total liabilities	922,626	1,016,416
Shareholders’ equity
Class A common stock, $0.20 par value per share, authorized 168,000,000 shares, issued 81,423,584 and 80,200,110 shares, respectively	16,285	16,040
Additional paid-in capital	167,448	138,449
Treasury stock, at cost, 20,439,434 shares	(617,731)	(617,731)
Retained earnings	1,166,955	1,191,042
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(174,245)	(227,261)
Stock held in trust	(2,450)	(2,696)
Deferred compensation liability	2,450	2,696
Total shareholders’ equity	558,712	500,539
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 1,481,338	$ 1,516,955

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Treasury stock, shares	20,439,434	20,439,434
Common stock, par value	$ 0.20	$ 0.20
Common stock, shares authorized	168,000,000	168,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	81,423,584	80,200,110
Common Class A
Common stock, par value	$ 0.2
Common stock, shares authorized	168,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	81,423,584

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Operating Activities
Net (loss) earnings	$ (21,648)	$ (66,213)	$ (105,174)
Non-cash items:
Impairment and other divestiture charges	75,334	108,860
Asset Impairment Charges, Net of Tax			169,056
Depreciation and amortization	40,707	43,110	47,777
Stock-based compensation expense	14,457	16,733	10,442
Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes	(6,890)	(8,956)	(17,403)
Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs	2,399	1,657	1,652
Other non-cash adjustments	619	1,202	(517)
Gain on disposal of business, net of tax benefit	0	0	(1,557)
Changes in components of working capital and other:
Accounts receivable	(3,093)	(3,475)	20,261
Inventories	(18,704)	(11,277)	10,202
Trade accounts payable	2,593	18,117	(7,727)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(10,625)	(5,367)	(3,291)
Income taxes payable	16,785	(10,646)	(7,916)
Accrued compensation and benefits	4,827	3,752	3,912
Other accrued liabilities	9,332	1,002	(2,020)
Cash provided by operating activities	106,093	88,499	117,697
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(20,870)	(28,195)	(20,209)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	153	570	9,296
Rental asset buyout for Viking divestiture	(27,718)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction costs	8,902	0	9,695
Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(23,218)	0	(81,916)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(62,751)	(27,625)	(83,134)
Financing Activities
Net repayments on revolving credit facility			(210)
Principal Repayments on Term Loan	(30,000)	(18,750)	(3,750)
Redemption of 5.625% Senior Notes		(500)
Purchase of treasury shares	0	0	(17,101)
Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards	(1,284)	(1,065)	(1,409)
Stock Option Exercises Related Tax Benefits And Other	15,681	8,265	6,416
Payment of deferred acquisition consideration	0	742	0
Cash dividend	(2,390)	(2,358)	(2,376)
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(17,993)	(15,150)	(18,430)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash	(4,430)	4,243	(5,375)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	20,919	49,967	10,758
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	229,571	179,604	168,846
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	250,490	229,571	179,604
Senior Credit Facility | Senior Credit Facility - Revolver
Financing Activities
Net repayments on revolving credit facility	0	0	(210)
Senior Credit Facility | Senior Credit Facility - Term Loan
Financing Activities
Principal Repayments on Term Loan	(30,000)	(18,750)	(3,750)
Senior Notes | 5.625% Senior Notes
Financing Activities
Redemption of 5.625% Senior Notes	$ 0	$ (500)	$ 0

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CA_2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical)	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Apr. 16, 2012
Senior Notes | 5.625% Senior Notes
Debt instrument, interest rate	5.625%	5.625%	5.625%	5.625%

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAR

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Treasury Stock	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Stock Held in Trust	Deferred Compensation Liability
Shares, Issued at Aug. 31, 2015		78,933
Beginning Balance at Aug. 31, 2015	$ 673,001	$ 15,787	$ 104,308	$ (600,630)	$ 1,367,176	$ (213,640)	$ (4,292)	$ 4,292
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) earnings	(105,174)				(105,174)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(38,183)					(38,183)
Company stock contribution to employee benefit plans and other (in shares)		20
Company stock contribution to employee benefit plans and other	453	$ 4	449
Restricted stock awards, vesting and withhold to cover (in shares)		235
Restricted stock awards issuance and vesting	0	$ 47	(47)
Cash dividend ($0.04 per share)	(2,357)				(2,357)
Treasury stock repurchases	(17,101)			(17,101)
Stock based compensation expense	10,442		10,442
Stock option exercises (in shares)		175
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	3,564	$ 35	3,529
Cash receipts from exercise of options	3,564
Excess tax benefit (shortfall) on stock option exercises	(3,943)		(3,943)
Stock issued to, acquired for and distributed from rabbi trust (in shares)		30
Stock issued to, acquired for and distributed from rabbi trust	248	$ 6	242				1,646	(1,646)
Shares, Issued at Aug. 31, 2016		79,393
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2016	520,950	$ 15,879	114,980	(617,731)	1,259,645	(251,823)	(2,646)	2,646
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) earnings	(66,213)				(66,213)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	24,562					24,562
Company stock contribution to employee benefit plans and other (in shares)		17
Company stock contribution to employee benefit plans and other	893	$ 3	890
Restricted stock awards, vesting and withhold to cover (in shares)		397
Restricted stock awards issuance and vesting	0	$ 79	(79)
Cash dividend ($0.04 per share)	(2,390)				(2,390)
Stock based compensation expense	16,733		16,733
Stock option exercises (in shares)		374
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	7,762	$ 75	7,687
Cash receipts from exercise of options	7,762
Excess tax benefit (shortfall) on stock option exercises	(2,042)		(2,042)
Stock issued to, acquired for and distributed from rabbi trust (in shares)		19
Stock issued to, acquired for and distributed from rabbi trust	284	$ 4	280				(50)	50
Shares, Issued at Aug. 31, 2017		80,200
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2017	500,539	$ 16,040	138,449	(617,731)	1,191,042	(227,261)	(2,696)	2,696
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) earnings	(21,648)				(21,648)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	53,016					53,016
Company stock contribution to employee benefit plans and other (in shares)		20
Company stock contribution to employee benefit plans and other	539	$ 4	535
Restricted stock awards, vesting and withhold to cover (in shares)		400
Restricted stock awards issuance and vesting	0	$ 80	(80)
Cash dividend ($0.04 per share)	(2,439)				(2,439)
Stock based compensation expense	14,457		14,457
Stock option exercises (in shares)		780
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised		$ 156	14,984
Cash receipts from exercise of options	15,140
Adjustment to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Effect from Net Settlement of Equity Awards	(1,281)		(1,281)
Stock issued to, acquired for and distributed from rabbi trust (in shares)		25
Stock issued to, acquired for and distributed from rabbi trust	389	$ 5	384				246	(246)
Shares, Issued at Aug. 31, 2018		81,424
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2018	$ 558,712	$ 16,285	$ 167,448	$ (617,731)	$ 1,166,955	$ (174,245)	$ (2,450)	$ 2,450

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SH_2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Cash dividend, per share	$ 0.04	$ 0.04	$ 0.04

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Nature of Operations: Actuant Corporation (“Actuant” or the “Company”) is a global manufacturer of a broad range of industrial products and systems, organized into two reportable segments. The Industrial Tools & Services segment is primarily engaged in the design, manufacture and distribution of branded hydraulic and mechanical tools and in providing joint integrity services and tool rental to the industrial, maintenance, infrastructure, oil & gas, energy and other markets. The Engineered Components & Systems segment provides highly engineered components for on-highway, off-highway, agriculture, energy, medical, construction and other vertical markets. Consolidation and Presentation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. The results of companies acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated financial statements from the effective date of acquisition or until the date of divestiture. All intercompany balances, transactions and profits have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation, as discussed in the New Accounting Pronouncements section. As part of our ongoing assessment of segment reporting, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company’s financial reporting segments were modified to reflect changes in the operating structure of the Company, with the combination of our tools and services businesses and all OEM-related businesses into two operating segments: Industrial Tools & Services and Engineered Components & Systems. All prior period disclosures have been adjusted to reflect the two reportable segments. Cash Equivalents: The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. Inventories: Inventories are comprised of material, direct labor and manufacturing overhead, and are stated at the lower of cost or market. Inventory cost is determined using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method for a portion of the U.S. owned inventory ( 16.8% and 18.0% of total inventories in 2018 and 2017 , respectively). The first-in, first-out or average cost methods are used for all other inventories. If the LIFO method were not used, inventory balances would be higher than reported amounts in the consolidated balance sheets by $6.0 million and $3.9 million at August 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The nature of the Company’s products is such that they generally have a very short production cycle. Consequently, the amount of work-in-process at any point in time is minimal. In addition, many parts or components are ultimately either sold individually or assembled with other parts making a distinction between raw materials and finished goods impractical to determine. Other locations maintain and manage their inventories using a job cost system where the distinction of categories of inventory by state of completion is also not available. As a result of these factors, it is neither practical nor cost effective to segregate the amounts of raw materials, work-in-process or finished goods inventories at the respective balance sheet dates, as segregation would only be possible as the result of physical inventories which are taken at dates different from the balance sheet dates. Property, Plant and Equipment: Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Plant and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from ten to forty years for buildings and improvements and two to fifteen years for machinery and equipment. Equipment includes assets (joint integrity tools) which are rented to customers of our Industrial Tools & Services segment businesses. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the related asset or the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. Depreciation expense was $ 20 million , $23 million and $25 million for the years ended August 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Other intangible assets with definite lives, consisting primarily of purchased customer relationships, patents, trademarks and non-compete agreements, are amortized over periods from one to twenty-five years. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are not subject to amortization, but are subject to annual impairment testing. The Company’s goodwill is tested for impairment annually, during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. The Company performs impairment reviews for its reporting units using a fair value method based on management’s judgments and assumptions. In estimating the fair value, the Company utilizes a discounted cash flow model, which is dependent on a number of assumptions including estimated future revenues and expenses, weighted average cost of capital, capital expenditures and other variables. The estimated fair value of the reporting unit is compared to the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recorded and should not exceed the total amount of the goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. Indefinite lived intangible assets are also subject to an annual impairment test. On an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired, the fair value of the indefinite lived intangible assets are evaluated by the Company to determine if an impairment charge is required. A considerable amount of management judgment is required in performing impairment tests, principally in determining the fair value of each reporting unit and the indefinite lived intangible assets. Product Warranty Costs : The Company generally offers its customers a warranty on products sold, although warranty periods may vary by product type and application. The reserve for future warranty claims, which is recorded within the "Other current liabilities" line on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, is based on historical claim rates and current warranty cost experience. The following is a rollforward of the changes in product warranty reserves for fiscal years 2018 and 2017 (in thousands): 2018 2017 Beginning balance $ 6,616 $ 5,592 Provision for warranties 5,522 5,608 Warranty payments and costs incurred (7,263 ) (4,714 ) Acquisitions/divestitures (376 ) — Impact of changes in foreign currency rates (82 ) 130 Ending balance $ 4,417 $ 6,616 Revenue Recognition: The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability of the sales price is reasonably assured. For product sales, delivery does not occur until the passage of title and risk of loss have transferred to the customer (generally when products are shipped). Revenue from services and rental contracts are recognized when the services are provided or ratably over the contract term. Revenue for highly custom product sales with a project duration greater than three months and exceeding a value of approximately $0.5 million is generally recognized under the percentage-of-completion method utilizing efforts expended or cost-to-cost input measures. Revenues for long-term contracts that do not meet these criteria are recognized under the completed contract method once delivery has occurred and passage of title and risk of loss have transferred to the customer. Unearned revenue related to long-term customer contracts, which is recorded within the "Other current liabilities" line on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, was $16.5 million and $10.1 million at August 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Customer sales are recorded net of allowances for returns and discounts, which are recognized as a deduction from sales at the time of sale. The Company commits to one-time or on-going trade discounts and promotions with customers that require the Company to estimate and accrue the ultimate costs of such programs. The Company generally does not require collateral or other security for receivables and provides for an allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical experience and a review of its existing receivables. Accounts receivable are stated net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $5.4 million and $11.2 million at August 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Shipping and Handling Costs: The Company records costs associated with shipping its products in cost of products sold. Research and Development Costs: Research and development costs consist primarily of an allocation of overall engineering and development resources and are expensed as incurred. Such costs incurred in the development of new products or significant improvements to existing products were $25.9 million , $21.9 million and $18.3 million in fiscal 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. The Company also incurs significant costs in connection with fulfilling custom orders and developing solutions for unique customer needs which are not included in these research and development expense totals. Other Income/Expense: Other income and expense primarily consists of net foreign currency exchange transaction gains of $0.4 million in fiscal 2018 and losses of $3.1 million and $1.3 million in fiscal 2017 and 2016 , respectively. Financing Costs: Financing costs represent interest expense, financing fees and amortization of debt issuance costs, net of interest income. Interest income was $1.2 million , $1.2 million and $1.7 million for fiscal 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. Income Taxes: The provision for income taxes includes federal, state, local and non-U.S. taxes on income. Tax credits, primarily for non-U.S. earnings, are recognized as a reduction of the provision for income taxes in the year in which they are available for U.S. tax purposes. Deferred taxes are provided on temporary differences between assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting purposes as measured by enacted tax rates expected to apply when temporary differences are settled or realized. Future tax benefits are recognized to the extent that realization of those benefits is considered to be more likely than not. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets for which realization is not more likely than not of being realized. Prior to tax reform and through August 31, 2018, the Company has not provided for any residual U.S. income taxes on unremitted earning of non-U.S. subsidiaries, as such, earnings are intended to be indefinitely reinvested. The Company is currently reviewing the impact of tax reform on the policy for unremitted earnings and considers our position to be a provisional estimate. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Foreign Currency Translation: The financial statements of the Company’s foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at each balance sheet date for assets and liabilities and an appropriate weighted average exchange rate for each applicable period for revenues and expenses. Translation adjustments are reflected in the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of shareholders' equity caption “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss.” Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss: The following is a summary of the components included within accumulated other comprehensive loss (in thousands): August 31, 2018 2017 Foreign currency translation adjustments $ 158,497 $ 207,804 Pension and other postretirement benefit plans, net 15,748 19,457 Accumulated other comprehensive loss $ 174,245 $ 227,261 Use of Estimates: The Company has recorded reserves for customer rebates, returns and discounts, doubtful accounts, inventory, incurred but not reported medical claims, environmental matters, warranty claims, workers compensation claims, product and non-product litigation and incentive compensation. These reserves require the use of estimates and judgment. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company believes that such estimates are made with consistent and appropriate assumptions. Actual results may differ from these estimates. New Accounting Pronouncements In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplified several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions. The guidance required, among other items, that all excess tax deficiencies or benefits be recorded as income tax expense or benefit in the consolidated statement of operations and not in additional paid-in capital (shareholder's equity). This guidance was adopted on September 1, 2017 and the impact of adopting this guidance had the following effects: • for the year-ended August 31, 2018 , we recorded $1.5 million in excess tax deficiency as an increase to our income tax expense. This requirement was applied prospectively; • excess tax benefits are now presented as operating activities in the statement of cash flows, rather than as financing activities. The Company chose to apply this requirement retrospectively, and as a result, reclassified approximately $0.6 million of excess tax benefits during the year-ended August 31, 2017 from financing activities to operating activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows; • our computation of diluted earnings per share now excludes the excess tax benefits or deficiencies from the assumed proceeds available to repurchase shares. This requirement was applied prospectively. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers . Under ASU 2014-09 and subsequent updates included in ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12, ASU 2017-13 and ASU 2017-14, an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects to receive in exchange for the goods or services. It also requires more detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019 for the Company). The Company has completed its assessment of its various revenue streams to identify performance obligations under these ASUs and the key aspects of the standard that impact the Company’s revenue recognition process. Based upon our assessment, the impact to allocation of contract revenue between various products and services and the timing of when those revenues are recognized is not materially significant. In conjunction with the evaluation, the Company has identified and implemented changes to its current accounting policies, business processes, systems and controls as necessary to support the new guidance. The guidance will be adopted by the Company beginning September 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. As such, we will recognize the cumulative effect of the adoption, which is not material, as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which changes how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plans present the net periodic benefit cost in the income statement. The new guidance requires the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost to be presented in the same income statement line items as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. Other components of the net periodic benefit cost are to be stated separately from service cost and outside of operating income. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019 for the Company) and interim periods within those annual periods. The amendment is to be applied retrospectively. Due to a majority of the Company's defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plans being frozen and the net periodic benefit pension cost not being significant, the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the financial statements of the Company. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments , to address how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. This update addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. This update will require adoption on a retrospective basis unless it is impracticable to apply. The Company does not believe that this guidance will have a material impact on its presentation of the statement of cash flows. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (and subsequently ASU 2018-01) , to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing all lease transactions (with terms in excess of 12 months) on the balance sheet as a lease liability and a right-of-use asset. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (fiscal 2020 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. Upon adoption, the lessee will apply the new standard retrospectively to all periods presented under a modified retrospective approach using a cumulative effect adjustment in the year of adoption. The Company is currently gathering, documenting and analyzing lease agreements subject to this ASU and anticipates material additions to the balance sheet (upon adoption) of right-of-use assets, offset by the associated liabilities, due to our routine use of operating leases over time. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows companies to reclassify stranded income tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in their consolidated financial statements. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (fiscal 2020 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard and whether we will elect to reclassify the stranded income taxes.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Other intangible assets with definite lives, consisting primarily of purchased customer relationships, patents, trademarks and non-compete agreements, are amortized over periods from one to twenty-five years. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are not subject to amortization, but are subject to annual impairment testing. The Company’s goodwill is tested for impairment annually, during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. The Company performs impairment reviews for its reporting units using a fair value method based on management’s judgments and assumptions. In estimating the fair value, the Company utilizes a discounted cash flow model, which is dependent on a number of assumptions including estimated future revenues and expenses, weighted average cost of capital, capital expenditures and other variables. The estimated fair value of the reporting unit is compared to the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recorded and should not exceed the total amount of the goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. Indefinite lived intangible assets are also subject to an annual impairment test. On an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired, the fair value of the indefinite lived intangible assets are evaluated by the Company to determine if an impairment charge is required. A considerable amount of management judgment is required in performing impairment tests, principally in determining the fair value of each reporting unit and the indefinite lived intangible assets.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy	New Accounting Pronouncements In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplified several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions. The guidance required, among other items, that all excess tax deficiencies or benefits be recorded as income tax expense or benefit in the consolidated statement of operations and not in additional paid-in capital (shareholder's equity). This guidance was adopted on September 1, 2017 and the impact of adopting this guidance had the following effects: • for the year-ended August 31, 2018 , we recorded $1.5 million in excess tax deficiency as an increase to our income tax expense. This requirement was applied prospectively; • excess tax benefits are now presented as operating activities in the statement of cash flows, rather than as financing activities. The Company chose to apply this requirement retrospectively, and as a result, reclassified approximately $0.6 million of excess tax benefits during the year-ended August 31, 2017 from financing activities to operating activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows; • our computation of diluted earnings per share now excludes the excess tax benefits or deficiencies from the assumed proceeds available to repurchase shares. This requirement was applied prospectively. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers . Under ASU 2014-09 and subsequent updates included in ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12, ASU 2017-13 and ASU 2017-14, an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects to receive in exchange for the goods or services. It also requires more detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019 for the Company). The Company has completed its assessment of its various revenue streams to identify performance obligations under these ASUs and the key aspects of the standard that impact the Company’s revenue recognition process. Based upon our assessment, the impact to allocation of contract revenue between various products and services and the timing of when those revenues are recognized is not materially significant. In conjunction with the evaluation, the Company has identified and implemented changes to its current accounting policies, business processes, systems and controls as necessary to support the new guidance. The guidance will be adopted by the Company beginning September 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. As such, we will recognize the cumulative effect of the adoption, which is not material, as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which changes how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plans present the net periodic benefit cost in the income statement. The new guidance requires the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost to be presented in the same income statement line items as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. Other components of the net periodic benefit cost are to be stated separately from service cost and outside of operating income. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019 for the Company) and interim periods within those annual periods. The amendment is to be applied retrospectively. Due to a majority of the Company's defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plans being frozen and the net periodic benefit pension cost not being significant, the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the financial statements of the Company. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments , to address how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. This update addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. This update will require adoption on a retrospective basis unless it is impracticable to apply. The Company does not believe that this guidance will have a material impact on its presentation of the statement of cash flows. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (and subsequently ASU 2018-01) , to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing all lease transactions (with terms in excess of 12 months) on the balance sheet as a lease liability and a right-of-use asset. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (fiscal 2020 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. Upon adoption, the lessee will apply the new standard retrospectively to all periods presented under a modified retrospective approach using a cumulative effect adjustment in the year of adoption. The Company is currently gathering, documenting and analyzing lease agreements subject to this ASU and anticipates material additions to the balance sheet (upon adoption) of right-of-use assets, offset by the associated liabilities, due to our routine use of operating leases over time. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows companies to reclassify stranded income tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in their consolidated financial statements. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (fiscal 2020 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard and whether we will elect to reclassify the stranded income taxes.

Director & Officer Transition C

Director & Officer Transition Charges (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Compensation Related Costs [Abstract]
Compensation Related Costs, General [Text Block]	Note 2. Director & Officer Transition Charges During the year-ended August 31, 2017 , the Company recorded separation and transition charges of $7.8 million in connection with the retirement of one director of the Company's Board of Directors and the transition of the Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. The charges were mainly comprised of compensation expense for accelerated equity vesting, severance, outplacement, legal, signing bonus and relocation costs.

Restructuring Charges (Notes)

Restructuring Charges (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 3. Restructuring Charges The Company has undertaken or committed to various restructuring initiatives including workforce reductions, leadership changes, plant consolidations to reduce manufacturing overhead, satellite office closures, the continued movement of production and product sourcing to low cost alternatives and the centralization and standardization of certain administrative functions. Total restructuring charges for these activities were $12.8 million and $7.2 million for the year-ended August 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and impacted all segments. Approximately $0.9 million of the restructuring charges recognized for the year-ended August 31, 2018 were reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in “Cost of products sold,” with the balance of the charges reported in “Restructuring charges.” Liabilities for severance will generally be paid during the next twelve months, while future lease payments related to facilities vacated as a result of restructuring will be paid over the underlying remaining lease terms. The following rollforwards summarize restructuring reserve activity by segment (in thousands): Year Ended August 31, 2018 Industrial Tools & Services Engineered Components & Systems Corporate Total Balance as of August 31, 2017 $ 1,499 $ 4,108 $ 30 $ 5,637 Restructuring charges 4,286 3,713 4,845 12,844 Cash payments (3,375 ) (4,652 ) (2,357 ) (10,384 ) Other non-cash uses of reserve (1) (635 ) (1,412 ) (2,103 ) (4,150 ) Impact of changes in foreign currency rates (88 ) (165 ) — (253 ) Balance as of August 31, 2018 $ 1,687 $ 1,592 $ 415 $ 3,694 (1) Majority of non-cash uses of reserve represents accelerated equity vesting with employee severance agreements. Year Ended August 31, 2017 Industrial Tools & Services Engineered Components & Systems Corporate Total Balance as of August 31, 2016 $ 1,626 $ 4,601 $ 46 $ 6,273 Restructuring charges 2,652 4,465 111 7,228 Cash payments (2,568 ) (4,858 ) (83 ) (7,509 ) Other non-cash uses of reserve (198 ) (285 ) (44 ) (527 ) Impact of changes in foreign currency rates (13 ) 185 — 172 Balance as of August 31, 2017 $ 1,499 $ 4,108 $ 30 $ 5,637

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions	Note 4. Acquisitions The Company completed four business acquisitions during the last three years. These acquisitions resulted in the recognition of goodwill in the Company’s consolidated financial statements because their purchase prices reflected the future earnings and cash flow potential of the acquired companies, as well as the complementary strategic fit and resulting synergies. The Company makes an initial allocation of the purchase price, at the date of acquisition, based upon the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities. The Company obtains this information during due diligence and through other sources. If additional information is obtained about these assets and liabilities within the measurement period (not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition), the Company will refine its estimates of fair value and adjust the purchase price allocation as appropriate. Fiscal 2018 Acquisitions: The Company acquired the stock and certain assets of Mirage Machines, Ltd. ("Mirage") on December 1, 2017 for a purchase price of $17.4 million , net of cash acquired. This Industrial Tools & Service segment tuck-in acquisition is a provider of industrial and energy maintenance tools. The preliminary purchase price allocation resulted in $9.9 million of goodwill (which is not deductible for tax purposes) and $4.1 million of intangible assets, including $2.3 million of indefinite lived tradenames and $1.8 million of amortizable customer relationships. The Company acquired the stock and certain assets of Equalizer International, Limited ("Equalizer") on May 11, 2018 for a purchase price of $5.8 million , net of cash acquired. This Industrial Tools & Services segment tuck-in is a provider of industrial and energy maintenance tools, expanding our pipe and flange alignment offerings. The preliminary purchase price allocation resulted in $2.6 million of goodwill (a portion of which is not deductible for tax purposes) and $1.9 million of intangible assets, including $0.8 million of indefinite lived tradenames and $1.1 million of amortizable customer relationships. The Company incurred acquisition transaction costs of $1.1 million and $0.7 million for the year ended August 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively (included in "Selling, administrative and engineering expenses" in the Consolidated Statement of Operations) related to these two acquisitions. Net sales in fiscal 2018 for these two acquisitions were $8.2 million . Because the net sales and earnings impact of both acquisitions are not material to the year-ended August 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , the Company has not included the pro forma operating result disclosures otherwise required for acquisitions. The following table summarizes the combined estimated fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed for Mirage and Equalizer (in thousands): Total Accounts receivable, net $ 2,324 Inventories, net 4,388 Other current assets 263 Property, plant & equipment 2,064 Goodwill 12,441 Other intangibles 6,049 Trade accounts payable (2,090 ) Accrued compensation and benefits (175 ) Income taxes payable (779 ) Other current liabilities (239 ) Deferred income taxes (1,028 ) Cash paid for business acquisition $ 23,218 Fiscal 2016 Acquisitions: The Company acquired the stock of Larzep, S.A. ("Larzep") on February 17, 2016 for a purchase price of $15.9 million , net of cash acquired. This Industrial Tools & Services segment tuck-in acquisition is headquartered in Mallabia, Spain and is a supplier of hydraulic tools and solutions. The purchase price allocation resulted in $9.7 million of goodwill (which is not deductible for tax purposes) and $4.8 million of intangible assets, including $3.6 million of amortizable customer relationships and $1.2 million of indefinite-lived tradenames. The Company also acquired the assets of the Middle East, Caspian and the North African business of FourQuest Energy Inc. ("Pipeline and Process Services") for $65.5 million on March 30, 2016 . This Industrial Tools & Services segment tuck-in acquisition was funded with existing cash and expands the geographic presence and service offerings of the segment, including pipeline pre-commissioning, engineering, chemical cleaning and leak testing. The purchase price resulted in $37.4 million of goodwill (which is not deductible for tax purposes) and $8.7 million of intangible assets, including $8.0 million of amortizable customer relationships and $0.7 million of amortizable non-compete agreements. During fiscal 2017, goodwill related to this acquisition increased by $1.1 million as a result of adjustments to reflect the fair value of acquired accounts receivable and accounts payable. Net sales in fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016 for these two acquired businesses were $44.7 million , $32.8 million and $19.1 million , respectively. The Company incurred acquisition transaction costs of $2.1 million in fiscal 2016 (included in "Selling, administrative and engineering expenses" in the Consolidated Statement of Operations), related to these two acquisitions. The following unaudited pro forma operating results give effect to these two acquisitions as though the transactions and related financing activities had occurred on September 1, 2015 (in thousands, except per share amounts). 2016 Net Sales As reported $ 1,149,410 Pro Forma 1,175,304 Net Loss As reported $ (105,174 ) Pro Forma (100,927 ) Basic loss per share As reported $ (1.78 ) Pro Forma (1.71 ) Diluted loss per share As reported $ (1.78 ) Pro Forma (1.71 )

Divestiture Activities

Divestiture Activities	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Discontinued Operations	Note 5. Divestiture Activities At August 31, 2018, the Cortland Fibron business (Engineered Components & Systems segment) met the criteria for assets held for sale treatment. The Cortland Fibron business provides customized umbilical and tether solutions to the global oil & gas market. Since the Cortland Fibron business was classified as held for sale, the related assets and liabilities of the business to be sold are classified as assets/liabilities held for sale in the consolidated balance sheet as of August 31, 2018 and approximated the estimated fair value, less cost to sell. As a result, the Company recognized impairment and divestiture charges in fiscal 2018 of $46.3 million , comprised of a: (i) $10.5 million charge representing the excess of the net book value of assets held for sale to the anticipated proceeds; (ii) non-cash impairment charge of $35.3 million related to the recognition in earnings of the cumulative effect of foreign currency rate changes since acquisition and (iii) $0.5 million of other divestiture charges. These charges generated an income tax benefit of $1.4 million in fiscal 2018. During fiscal 2017 , the Company committed on a plan to sell the Viking business (Engineered Components & Systems segment) resulting in the Company's exit from the offshore mooring market. As a result, the Company recognized impairment and divestiture charges in fiscal 2017 of $117.0 million , comprised of a: (i) $16.1 million charge representing the excess of the net book value of assets held for sale to the anticipated proceeds; (ii) non-cash impairment charge of $69.0 million related to the recognition in earnings of the cumulative effect of foreign currency rate changes since acquisition; (iii) $28.6 million cash charge related to the operating lease buyout of certain rental assets and (iv) $3.3 million of other divestiture charges. The write down of net assets generated an income tax benefit of $8.1 million in fiscal 2017. On December 1, 2017 , the Company completed the sale of the Viking business for net cash proceeds of $8.8 million , which resulted in an after-tax impairment and divestiture charge of $12.4 million in fiscal 2018, comprised of real estate lease exit charges of $3.0 million related to retained facilities that became vacant as a result of the Viking divestiture and approximately $9.4 million of associated discrete income tax expense. The following is a summary of the assets and liabilities held for sale (in thousands): Cortland Fibron Viking August 31, 2018 August 31, 2017 Accounts receivable, net $ 2,924 $ 2,426 Inventories, net 2,597 190 Other current assets 3,267 1,927 Property, plant & equipment, net 2,186 7,534 Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 12,464 — Other long-term assets 135 9,758 Assets held for sale $ 23,573 $ 21,835 Trade accounts payable $ 3,915 $ 1,883 Accrued compensation and benefits 1,414 — Lease buyout accrual — 28,644 Reserve for cumulative translation adjustment 35,346 68,919 Other current liabilities 1,269 1,637 Deferred income taxes 2,281 — Liabilities held for sale $ 44,225 $ 101,083 The historic results of the Cortland Fibron and Viking businesses are not material to the consolidated financial results of the Company and are included in continuing operations. These two businesses had net sales of $23.9 million , $34.4 million and $58.0 million for the year-ended August 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company's anticipated sale of Cortland Fibron and the Viking divestiture will substantially reduce our exposure to upstream oil & gas. On August 25, 2016 , the Company completed the divestiture of its Sanlo business (Engineered Components & Systems segment) for $9.7 million in cash, net of transaction costs. This divestiture resulted in a $5.1 million pre-tax loss, but a $1.6 million gain, net of tax. The results of the Sanlo business (which had net sales of $10.8 million in fiscal 2016) are not material to the consolidated financial results and are included in continuing operations.

Goodwill and Other Intangible A

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	Note 6. Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Long-Lived Assets Changes in the gross carrying value of intangible assets and goodwill result from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, business acquisitions, divestitures and impairment charges. The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended August 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows (in thousands): Industrial Tools & Services Engineered Components & Systems Total Balance as of August 31, 2016 $ 235,457 $ 283,819 $ 519,276 Purchase accounting adjustments 1,085 — 1,085 Impact of changes in foreign currency rates 2,165 7,555 9,720 Balance as of August 31, 2017 238,707 291,374 530,081 Business acquisitions 12,441 — 12,441 Impairment charge — (21,227 ) (21,227 ) Impact of changes in foreign currency rates (2,443 ) (4,940 ) (7,383 ) Reclassification of assets held for sale — (1,500 ) (1,500 ) Balance as of August 31, 2018 $ 248,705 $ 263,707 $ 512,412 The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of the Company’s intangible assets are as follows (in thousands): Weighted Average Amortization Period (Year) August 31, 2018 August 31, 2017 Gross Accumulated Amortization Net Book Value Gross Accumulated Amortization Net Book Value Amortizable intangible assets: Customer relationships 15 $ 230,601 $ 147,451 $ 83,150 $ 263,498 $ 153,003 $ 110,495 Patents 11 30,355 25,327 5,028 30,401 24,027 6,374 Trademarks and tradenames 18 20,823 15,347 5,476 21,498 9,396 12,102 Non-compete agreements & other 3 5,946 5,816 130 6,672 6,234 438 Indefinite lived intangible assets: Tradenames N/A 87,253 — 87,253 91,080 — 91,080 $ 374,978 $ 193,941 $ 181,037 $ 413,149 $ 192,660 $ 220,489 Amortization expense for future years is estimated to be: $17.2 million in fiscal year 2019 , $16.6 million in fiscal 2020 , $15.7 million in fiscal 2021 , $13.7 million in fiscal 2022 , $10.6 million in fiscal 2023 and $20.0 million in aggregate thereafter. The future amortization expense amounts represent estimates and may be impacted by future acquisitions, divestitures or changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Fiscal 2018 Impairment Charge During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recognized impairment charges related to the Cortland Fibron business (Engineered Components & Systems segment and a component of the Cortland reporting unit) in conjunction with meeting the classification assets of held for sale criteria. Accordingly, the Company recognized a $10.5 million impairment charge, representing the excess of the net book value of assets held for sale over the anticipated proceeds. See Note 5, “Divestiture Activates” for further discussion of impairment and divestiture charges not related to long-lived assets for the Cortland Fibron business. The Precision-Hayes International business (Engineered Components & Systems segment) primarily designs, manufactures, and distributes concrete tensioning products. Changes in certain assumptions used in our annual goodwill impairment analysis, which are linked, in part, to recent market share losses, resulted in a fair value estimate of the reporting unit lower than its carrying value. As a result, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recognized a $23.7 million impairment charge. A summary of the fiscal 2018 impairment charge by reporting unit is as follows (in thousands): Cortland Precision-Hayes International Total Goodwill $ 3,770 $ 17,457 $ 21,227 Indefinite lived intangible assets 6,710 — 6,710 Amortizable intangible assets — 5,076 5,076 Fixed assets — 1,207 1,207 $ 10,480 $ 23,740 $ 34,220 Fiscal 2017 Impairment Charge: In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, related to the then-pending sale of the Viking business, we recognized a $16.1 million long-lived asset impairment, representing the excess of the net book value of assets held for sale over the anticipated proceeds. See Note 5. “Divestiture Activates” for further discussion of impairment and divestiture charges not related to long-lived assets for the Viking business. Fiscal 2016 Impairment Charge The prolonged unfavorable conditions in the global oil & gas markets, including additional cuts in projected capital spending by customers, reduced exploration, drilling and commissioning activities and excess capacity in the industry (given continued low oil & gas prices) were expected to have an adverse impact on the future financial results of the Cortland and Viking businesses. Accordingly, during fiscal 2016, the Company recognized a $140.8 million impairment charge (as a result of lower projected future sales and profits) related to the Cortland and Viking businesses. In addition, the maximatecc business manufactures severe-duty electronic instrumentation including displays and clusters, machine controls and sensors. During fiscal 2016, weakness in off-highway vehicle and agricultural markets, coupled with challenging overall industrial fundamentals, reductions in OEM customer build rates and production schedules (in order to reduce inventory levels) and delays in the start of production by certain European OEMs for new or updated design models resulted in reduced sales and profitability of the maximatecc business. As a result of lower projected sales and profits, the Company recognized a $45.7 million impairment charge related to the goodwill and intangible assets of the maximatecc business in fiscal 2016. A summary of the fiscal 2016 impairment charge by reporting unit is as follows (in thousands): Cortland Viking maximatecc Total Goodwill $ 34,502 $ 39,099 $ 44,521 $ 118,122 Indefinite lived intangible assets 2,211 13,289 1,153 16,653 Amortizable intangible assets — 27,952 — 27,952 Fixed assets — 23,784 — 23,784 $ 36,713 $ 104,124 $ 45,674 $ 186,511

Debt

Debt	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Note 7. Debt The following is a summary of the Company’s long-term indebtedness (in thousands): August 31, 2018 2017 Senior Credit Facility Revolver $ — $ — Term Loan 247,500 277,500 247,500 277,500 5.625% Senior Notes 287,559 287,559 Total Senior Indebtedness 535,059 565,059 Less: current maturities of long-term debt (30,000 ) (30,000 ) Debt issuance costs (2,364 ) (3,119 ) Total long-term debt, less current maturities $ 502,695 $ 531,940 The Company’s Senior Credit Facility matures on May 8, 2020 , provides a $300 million revolver, a $300 million term loan and a $450 million expansion option, subject to certain conditions. Borrowings are subject to a pricing grid, which can result in increases or decreases to the borrowing spread, depending on the Company’s leverage ratio, ranging from a spread of 1.00% to 2.25% in the case of loans bearing interest at LIBOR and from 0.00% to 1.25% in the case of loans bearing interest at the base rate. As of August 31, 2018 , the borrowing spread on LIBOR based borrowings was 2.00% (aggregating to a 4.13% variable rate borrowing cost on the outstanding term loan balance). In addition, a non-use fee is payable quarterly on the average unused credit line under the revolver ranging from 0.15% to 0.35% per annum. As of August 31, 2018 , the unused credit line under the revolver was $298.8 million , of which $255.7 million was available for borrowings. Quarterly term loan principal payments of $3.8 million began on June 30, 2016 , increased to $7.5 million per quarter on June 30, 2017 and extend through March 31, 2020, with the remaining principal due at maturity. The Senior Credit Facility, which is secured by substantially all of the Company’s domestic personal property assets, also contains customary limits and restrictions concerning investments, sales of assets, liens on assets, dividends and other payments. The two financial covenants included in the Senior Credit Facility agreement are a maximum leverage ratio of 3.75 :1 and a minimum interest coverage ratio of 3.50 :1. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants at August 31, 2018 . During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 and pursuant to the provisions of the Senior Credit Facility, the Company reduced the borrowing capacity on the revolver from the previous $600 million to $300 million . This reduction in borrowing capacity is expected to reduce the non-use fee on the average unused credit line under the revolver. The Company recorded a charge of $0.8 million , recorded in "Financing costs, net" in the Consolidated Statement of Operations, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 for the write-off of deferred financing costs associated with the reduced borrowing capacity. On April 16, 2012 , the Company issued $300 million of 5.625% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Senior Notes”). The Senior Notes require no principal installments prior to their June 15, 2022 maturity, require semiannual interest payments in December and June of each year and contain certain financial and non-financial covenants. The Senior Notes include a call feature that allows the Company to repurchase them anytime on or after June 15, 2017 at stated redemption prices (ranging from 100.0% to 102.8% ), plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Company repurchased $0.5 million of the Senior Notes during fiscal 2017. The Company made cash interest payments of $28.8 million , $27.1 million and $27.2 million in fiscal 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Note 8. Fair Value Measurements The Company assesses the inputs used to measure the fair value of financial assets and liabilities using a three-tier hierarchy. Level 1 inputs include quoted prices for identical instruments and are the most observable. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and observable inputs such as interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity rates and yield curves. Level 3 inputs are not observable in the market and include management’s own judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The fair value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and its variable rate long-term debt approximated book value at August 31, 2018 and 2017 due to their short-term nature and the fact that the interest rates approximated year-end market rates. Foreign currency exchange contracts are recorded at fair value. The fair value of the Company's foreign currency exchange contracts was a net asset of $0.4 million at August 31, 2018 and a net liability of $0.2 million at August 31, 2017 . The fair value of the foreign currency exchange contracts was based on quoted inactive market prices and is therefore classified as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy. The fair value of the Company’s outstanding 5.625% Senior Notes was $293.5 million and $295.8 million at August 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The fair value of the Senior Notes was based on quoted inactive market prices and are therefore classified as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy.

Derivatives

Derivatives	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivatives	Note 9. Derivatives All derivatives are recognized in the balance sheet at their estimated fair value. On the date the Company enters into a derivative contract, it designates the derivative as a hedge of a recognized asset or liability (fair value hedge) or a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (cash flow hedge). The Company does not enter into derivatives for speculative purposes. Changes in the value of fair value hedges and non-designated hedges are recorded in earnings along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability, while changes in the value of cash flow hedges are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows. The Company is exposed to market risk for changes in foreign currency exchange rates due to the global nature of its operations. In order to manage this risk the Company has historically hedged portions of its forecasted inventory purchases and other cash flows that are denominated in non-functional currencies (cash flow hedges). However, there were no cash flow hedges outstanding at August 31, 2018 and 2017 . The Company also utilizes foreign currency exchange contracts to reduce the exchange rate risk associated with recognized non-functional currency balances. The effects of changes in exchange rates are reflected concurrently in earnings for both the fair value of the foreign currency exchange contracts and the related non-functional currency asset or liability. The U.S. dollar equivalent notional value of these short duration foreign currency exchange contracts (fair value hedges or non-designated hedges) was $17.0 million and $22.0 million , at August 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The fair value of outstanding foreign currency exchange contracts was an asset of $0.4 million at August 31, 2018 and a liability of $0.2 million at August 31, 2017 . Net foreign currency gains (losses) (included in "Other (income) expense" in the Consolidated Statement of Operations) related to these derivative instruments are as follows (in thousands): Year Ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Foreign currency gains (losses), net $ 1,423 $ (2,962 ) $ (1,520 )

Leases

Leases	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Leases [Abstract]
Leases	Note 10. Leases The Company leases certain facilities, computers, equipment and vehicles under various lease agreements generally over periods of one to twenty years. Under most arrangements, the Company pays the property taxes, insurance, maintenance and expenses related to the leased property. Many of the leases include provisions that enable the Company to renew the lease based upon fair value rental rates on the date of expiration of the initial lease. As of August 31, 2018 , future obligations under non-cancelable operating leases were as follows: $29.4 million in fiscal 2019 ; $20.6 million in fiscal 2020 ; $15.3 million in fiscal 2021 ; $13.1 million in fiscal 2022 ; $10.8 million in fiscal 2023 ; and $35.0 million in aggregate thereafter. Total rental expense under operating leases was $34.9 million , $37.4 million and $37.6 million in fiscal 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. As discussed in Note 16, “Commitments and Contingencies” the Company remains contingently liable for lease payments under leases of businesses that it previously divested or spun off.

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	Note 11. Employee Benefit Plans U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plans All of the U.S. defined benefit pension plans are frozen, and as a result, plan participants no longer earn additional benefits. The following table provides detail of changes in the projected benefit obligations, the fair value of plan assets and the funded status of the Company’s U.S. defined benefit pension plans as of the respective August 31 measurement date (in thousands): 2018 2017 Reconciliation of benefit obligations: Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 46,806 $ 50,409 Interest cost 1,633 1,690 Actuarial gain (2,330 ) (1,997 ) Benefits paid (2,829 ) (3,296 ) Benefit obligation at end of year $ 43,280 $ 46,806 Reconciliation of plan assets: Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 40,027 $ 39,489 Actual return on plan assets 2,938 3,599 Company contributions 108 235 Benefits paid from plan assets (2,829 ) (3,296 ) Fair value of plan assets at end of year 40,244 40,027 Funded status of the plans (underfunded) $ (3,036 ) $ (6,779 ) The following table provides detail on the Company’s domestic net periodic benefit expense (income) (in thousands): Year ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Interest cost $ 1,633 $ 1,690 $ 1,970 Expected return on assets (2,668 ) (2,867 ) (2,997 ) Amortization of actuarial loss 1,127 1,141 837 Net periodic benefit expense (income) $ 92 $ (36 ) $ (190 ) As of August 31, 2018 and 2017 , $13.2 million and $16.0 million , respectively, of pension plan actuarial losses, which have not yet been recognized in net periodic benefit cost, were included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes. During fiscal 2019 , $0.8 million of these actuarial losses, net of tax, are expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost. Weighted-average assumptions used to determine U.S. pension plan obligations as of August 31 and weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the years ended August 31 are as follows: 2018 2017 2016 Assumptions for benefit obligations: Discount rate 4.05 % 3.60 % 3.45 % Assumptions for net periodic benefit cost: Discount rate 3.60 % 3.45 % 4.45 % Expected return on plan assets 7.00 % 7.15 % 7.40 % The Company employs a total return on investment approach for its pension plan assets whereby a mix of equity and fixed income investments are used to maximize the long-term return for plan assets, at a prudent level of risk. The investment portfolio contains a blend of equity and fixed income investments. Within the equity allocation, a blend of growth and value investments is maintained in a variety of market capitalizations and diversified between U.S. and non-U.S. stocks. Currently, the Company’s targeted asset allocation as a percentage of total plan assets is approximately half in equity securities, with the remainder invested in fixed income securities and cash. Cash balances are maintained at levels adequate to meet near-term plan expenses and benefit payments. Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis. At August 31, 2018 , the Company’s overall expected long-term rate of return for assets in U.S. pension plans was 5.75% . The expected long-term rate of return is based on the portfolio as a whole and not on the sum of the returns on individual asset categories. The target return is based on historical returns adjusted to reflect the current view of the long-term investment market. The fair value of all U.S. pension plan assets is determined based on quoted market prices and therefore all plan assets are determined based on Level 1 inputs, except for fixed income securities which are valued based on Level 2 inputs, as defined in Note 8, “Fair Value Measurements.” The U.S. pension plan investment allocations by asset category were as follows (in thousands): Year Ended August 31, 2018 % 2017 % Cash and cash equivalents $ 559 1.4 % $ 395 1.0 % Fixed income securities: Corporate bonds 19,107 47.5 8,475 21.2 Mutual funds 814 2.0 3,139 7.8 19,921 49.5 11,614 29.0 Equity securities: Mutual funds 19,764 49.1 28,018 70.0 Total plan assets $ 40,244 100.0 % $ 40,027 100.0 % Projected benefit payments from plan assets to participants in the Company’s U.S. pension plans are $3.0 million per year for each of the next five years and $14.6 million in aggregate for the following five years. The Company does not anticipate making a material contribution to the U.S. pension plans in fiscal 2019. Foreign Defined Benefit Pension Plans The Company has ten foreign defined benefit pension plans which cover certain existing and former employees of businesses outside the U.S. Most of the participants in the foreign defined benefit pension plans are current employees and are earning additional benefits. The funded status of these plans is summarized as follows (in thousands): August 31, 2018 2017 Benefit obligation $ 13,936 $ 14,645 Fair value of plan assets 7,938 7,950 Funded status of plans (underfunded) $ (5,998 ) $ (6,695 ) Net periodic benefit cost for these foreign plans was $0.7 million , $1.0 million and $0.7 million in fiscal 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. The weighted average discount rate utilized for determining the benefit obligation at August 31, 2018 and 2017 was 2.2% and 2.3% , respectively. The plan assets of these foreign pension plans consist primarily of participating units in fixed income and equity securities and insurance contracts. The Company’s overall expected long-term rate of return on these investments is 4.4% . During fiscal 2019 , the Company anticipates contributing $0.3 million to these pension plans. Projected benefit payments from plan assets to participants in the these foreign plans are $0.3 million for both fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2020 , $0.4 million for fiscal 2021 , $0.5 million for fiscal 2022 , $0.4 million for fiscal 2023 and $2.4 million in aggregate for the following five years. Other Postretirement Health Benefit Plans The Company provides other postretirement health benefits (“OPEB”) to certain existing and former employees of domestic businesses it acquired, who were entitled to such benefits prior to acquisition. These unfunded plans had a benefit obligation of $2.9 million and $3.8 million at August 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. These obligations are determined utilizing assumptions consistent with those used for our U.S. pension plans and a health care cost trend rate of 7.0% , trending downward to 5.0% by the year 2026, and remaining level thereafter. Net periodic benefit costs for other postretirement benefits was $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the year-ended August 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively and less than $0.1 million for the year-ended August 31, 2016 . Benefit payments from the plan are funded through participant contributions and Company contributions, which are projected to be $0.2 million in fiscal 2019 . Defined Contribution Benefit Plans The Company maintains a 401(k) plan for substantially all full time U.S. employees (the “401(k) Plan”). Under plan provisions, the Company can fund either cash or issue new shares of Class A common stock for its contributions. Amounts are allocated to accounts set aside for each employee’s retirement. Employees generally may contribute up to 50% of their compensation to individual accounts within the 401(k) Plan. While contributions vary, the Company generally makes core contributions to employee accounts equal to 3% of each employee’s eligible annual cash compensation, subject to IRS limitations. In addition, the Company matches approximately 25% of each employee’s contribution up to 6% of the employee’s eligible compensation. The Company also maintains a Restoration Plan that allows eligible highly compensated employees (as defined by the Internal Revenue Code) to receive a core contribution as if no IRS limits were in place. Company contributions to the Restoration Plan are made in the form of Actuant common stock and are contributed into each eligible participant’s deferred compensation plan account. Expense recognized related to the 401(k) plan totaled $4.7 million for both years ended August 31, 2018 and 2017 and $4.4 million for the year ended August 31, 2016 . In addition to the 401(k) plan, the Company sponsors a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan (“the SERP Plan”). The SERP Plan is an unfunded defined contribution plan that covers certain current and former executive employees and has an annual contribution formula based on age and years of service (with Company contributions ranging from 3% to 6% of eligible wages). This unfunded plan had a $1.7 million obligation at both August 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Expense recognized for the SERP Plan was $0.3 million per year for fiscal 2018 , 2017 and 2016 . Deferred Compensation Plan The Company maintains a deferred compensation plan to allow eligible U.S. employees to defer receipt of current cash compensation in order to provide future savings benefits. Eligibility is limited to employees that earn compensation that exceeds certain pre-defined levels. Participants have the option to invest their deferrals in a fixed income investment, in Company common stock, or a combination of the two. The fixed income portion of the plan is unfunded, and therefore all compensation deferred under the plan is held by the Company and commingled with its general assets. Liabilities of $20.1 million and $20.9 million are included in the consolidated balance sheets at August 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, to reflect the unfunded portion of the deferred compensation liability. The Company recorded expense in "Financing costs, net" of $1.5 million , $1.6 million and $1.6 million for the years ended August 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively, for non-funded interest on participant deferrals in the fixed income investment option. Company common stock contributions to fund the plan are held in a rabbi trust, accounted for in a manner similar to treasury stock and are recorded at cost in “Stock held in trust” within shareholders’ equity with the corresponding deferred compensation liability also recorded within shareholders’ equity. Since no investment diversification is permitted within the trust, changes in fair value of Actuant common stock are not recognized.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Note 12. Income Taxes Income tax expense (benefit) is summarized as follows (in thousands): Year ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Currently payable: Federal $ 919 $ (14,769 ) $ 2,205 Foreign 12,532 15,665 11,838 State 120 (850 ) 912 13,571 46 14,955 Deferred: Federal (7,837 ) 603 (12,470 ) Foreign 3,905 (16,837 ) (23,797 ) State (663 ) (290 ) (3,858 ) (4,595 ) (16,524 ) (40,125 ) Income tax expense (benefit) $ 8,976 $ (16,478 ) $ (25,170 ) Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations differs from the amounts computed by applying the federal income tax rate to (loss) earnings from continuing operations before income tax expense. 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, 2018 2017 2016 Federal statutory rate (1) 25.7 % 35.0 % 35.0 % State income taxes, net of Federal effect 5.1 1.1 1.2 Net effects of foreign tax rate differential and credits (2) (8) 26.9 (3.5 ) 2.4 Domestic manufacturing deduction 3.9 0.6 0.3 Foreign branch currency losses 3.2 (0.3 ) 4.9 Compensation adjustment (3) (11.1 ) — — Impairment and other divestiture charges (4) (125.9 ) (11.2 ) (27.0 ) Valuation allowance additions and releases (5) (31.7 ) (16.2 ) (0.7 ) Changes in liability for unrecognized tax benefits (6) 51.7 (3.7 ) (0.9 ) U.S. tax reform, net impact (3.9 ) — — Taxable liquidation of foreign subsidiaries (7) (11.7 ) 22.1 — Foreign non-deductible expenses (8) (18.2 ) (4.6 ) (1.7 ) Changes in tax rates (8) 2.2 (2.1 ) 0.9 Business divestitures — — 3.9 U.S. credits and adjustments (8) 11.4 2.5 1.3 Other items (8) 1.6 0.2 (0.3 ) Effective income tax rate (70.8 )% 19.9 % 19.3 % (1) The Federal statutory rate is a blended rate which reflects 35% through December 31, 2017 and the lowered rate of 21% beginning on January 1, 2018 due to tax reform. (2) During fiscal 2018, the Company generated $10.3 million of foreign tax credits, excluding the impact of tax reform and had a higher proportion of non-U.S. earnings. (3) The adoption of ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation resulted in the recognition of excess tax expense in the Company’s provision for income taxes within the Consolidated Statement of Earnings rather than paid-in capital of $1.5 million for the fiscal year 2018. (4) Fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016 pretax (loss) earnings include $73.1 million , $117.0 million and $186.5 million , respectively, in impairment and other divestiture charges related to goodwill, intangible assets, tangible assets and the cumulative effect of foreign currency rate changes of which $45.1 million , $69.0 million and $118.5 million , respectively, are not deductible for income tax purposes. (5) Incremental valuation allowances of $18.1 million , which excludes $7.1 million of valuation allowances related to foreign tax credits that are categorized with tax reform and $15.1 million were recorded in fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively, due to uncertainty regarding utilization of foreign operating loss carryforwards, which were partially offset by a reduction of $12.8 million and $0.6 million of valuation allowances for fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively. (6) The liability for unrecognized tax benefits decreased $6.6 million in fiscal 2018 primarily due to settlements and lapsing of tax audit statutes. (7) During fiscal 2018 and 2017, the Company generated a net expense of $1.5 million and a net benefit of $14.9 million , the result of taxable liquidations of foreign subsidiaries. (8) Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was enacted into law. The Act includes significant changes to the U.S. corporate income tax system which reduces the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0% as of January 1, 2018; shifts to a modified territorial tax regime which requires companies to pay a transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously deferred from U.S. income tax; and creates new taxes on certain foreign-sourced earnings. The decrease in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0% results in a blended statutory tax rate of 25.7% for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2018. The new taxes for certain foreign-sourced earnings under the Act are effective for the Company in fiscal 2019. Income tax effects resulting from changes in tax laws are accounted for by the Company in the period in which the law is enacted and the effects are recorded as a component of income tax expense or benefit. As a result, the Company recorded provisional income tax expense resulting from the Act totaling $0.5 million during the year ended August 31, 2018, which includes (i) a transition tax of $5.3 million on the Company’s total post-1986 earnings and profits (“E&P”) which, prior to the Act, were previously deferred from U.S. income tax, (ii) a $11.9 million decrease in income tax expense as a result of the re-measurement of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities to the new corporate tax rate of 21.0% and (iii) $7.1 million in valuation allowances recorded against foreign tax credits as future utilization is now uncertain. The Securities and Exchange Commission staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 118 to provide guidance on accounting for various effects of the Act that may be at different stages of completion. To the extent that a company’s accounting for a certain income tax effect of the Act is incomplete, but it is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial statements. The final impact may differ from these provisional amounts, possibly materially, due to, among other things, issuance of additional regulatory guidance, changes in interpretations and assumptions the Company has made, and actions the Company may take as a result of the Act. In accordance with SAB 118, the financial reporting impact of the Act will be completed no later than the second quarter of fiscal 2019. As of August 31, 2018, the tax effects related to the Act are provisional and represent the Company’s best estimate. Amounts recorded are based in part on a reasonable estimate of the effects on its transition tax and existing deferred tax balances which are subject to change and modification. Provisional amounts recorded may change as a result of the following: • The amount recorded for the transition tax liability is a provisional amount and based on current estimates of total post-1986 foreign E&P and the income tax pools for all foreign subsidiaries which will continue to be refined over the coming periods. Further, the transition tax is based in part on the amount of those earnings held in cash and other specified assets. This amount may change when the Company finalizes the calculation of post-1986 foreign E&P previously deferred from U.S. federal taxation and finalizes the amounts held in cash or other specified assets as of August 31, 2018. Further interpretations from U.S. federal and state governments and regulatory organizations may change the provisional tax liability or the accounting treatment of the provisional tax liability. It is anticipated that the amounts resulting from the transition tax will be fully offset by available foreign tax credits and will not result in future cash tax payments. In addition, there is a foreign tax credit carryforward on the balance sheet after the calculation of the transition tax liability. The Company is continuing to analyze the new provisions in order to determine future utilization of the credits and is anticipating further interpretive guidance in connection with the utilization of foreign tax credits going forward. As such, we are not yet able to reasonably estimate the future utilization of the foreign tax credits and have recorded a corresponding valuation allowance. • The Company is still analyzing certain aspects of the Act and refining the estimate of the expected revaluation of its deferred tax balances. This can potentially affect the measurement of these balances or potentially give rise to new deferred tax amounts. In addition, the Act provides for accelerated first year expensing of certain capital expenditures for which an estimate has been included in the estimated deferred balances for the year but will continue to be refined through the filing of the tax return. The Act also provides changes related to the limits of deduction for employee compensation. The Company is treating any future non-deductible compensation as impacting compensation expenses in the period incurred and will review further guidance and the related impact as provided through the second quarter of fiscal 2019. • The Act also includes a provision designed to tax global intangible low taxed income (GILTI) and benefit foreign-derived intangible income (FDII) which will be effective in fiscal 2019. Under the provision, a U.S. shareholder is required to include in gross income the amount of its GILTI, which is generally the net income of its controlled foreign corporations in excess of a 10% return on depreciable tangible assets after identification of other income subject to non-deferral rules. Due to the complexity of the new GILTI tax rules and uncertainty of the application of the foreign tax credit rules in relation to GILTI and FDII, we are continuing to evaluate this provision of the Act, the application of ASC 740, and are considering available accounting policy alternatives to either record the U.S. income tax effect of future GILTI inclusions in the period in which they arise or establish deferred taxes with respect to the expected future tax liabilities associated with future GILTI inclusions. Our accounting policies depend, in part, on analyzing our global income to determine whether we expect a tax liability resulting from the application of this provision, and, if so, whether and when to record related current and deferred income taxes. Whether we intend to recognize deferred tax liabilities related to the GILTI provisions is dependent, in part, on our assessment of the Company's future operating structure. In addition, we are awaiting further interpretive guidance in connection with the computation of the GILTI tax. For these reasons, we are not yet able to reasonably estimate the effect of this provision of the Act. Therefore, we have not made any adjustments relating to potential GILTI tax in our consolidated financial statements and have not made a policy decision regarding our accounting for GILTI. • Prior to the Act, our practice and intention was to reinvest the earnings in our non-U.S. subsidiaries outside of the U.S., and no U.S. deferred income taxes or foreign withholding taxes were recorded. The transition tax noted above will result in the previously untaxed foreign earnings being included in the federal and state fiscal 2018 taxable income. We are currently analyzing our global working capital requirements and the potential tax liabilities that would be incurred if the non-U.S. subsidiaries distribute cash to the U.S. parent, which may include withholding taxes, local country taxes and potential U.S. state taxation. Furthermore, the transition tax will close a majority of the outside basis differences in our foreign corporations and any remaining temporary difference will potentially have some interaction with the GILTI tax noted above. For these reasons, we are not yet able to reasonably estimate the effect of this provision of the Act and have not recorded any withholding or state tax liabilities, any deferred taxes attributable to GILTI (as noted above) or any deferred taxes attributable to our investment in our foreign subsidiaries. • We are also currently analyzing certain additional provisions of the Act that come into effect in fiscal 2019 and will determine if and how these items would impact the effective tax rate in the year the income or expense occurs. These provisions include the Base Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT), eliminating U.S. federal income taxes on dividends from foreign subsidiaries, the new provision that could limit the amount of deductible interest expense, and the limitations on the deductibility of certain executive compensation. Temporary differences and carryforwards that gave rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities include the following items (in thousands): August 31, 2018 2017 Deferred income tax assets: Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards $ 45,947 $ 41,985 Compensation related liabilities 10,450 17,319 Postretirement benefits 8,813 14,359 Inventory 2,081 2,958 Book reserves and other items 18,986 14,224 Total deferred income tax assets 86,277 90,845 Valuation allowance (35,076 ) (22,671 ) Net deferred income tax assets 51,201 68,174 Deferred income tax liabilities: Depreciation and amortization (48,148 ) (77,548 ) Other items (633 ) (1,910 ) Deferred income tax liabilities (48,781 ) (79,458 ) Net deferred income tax asset (liability) (1) $ 2,420 $ (11,284 ) (1) The net deferred income tax liability is reflected on the balance sheet in two categories: an asset of $24.3 million and $ 18.6 million for fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively, is included in other long-term assets and a liability of $21.9 million and $29.9 million for fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively, is included in deferred income taxes. The Company has $60.8 million of state loss carryforwards, which are available to reduce future state tax liabilities. These state net operating loss carryforwards expire at various times through 2038. The Company also has $125.9 million of foreign loss carryforwards which are available to reduce certain future foreign tax liabilities. Approximately one-half of the foreign loss carryforwards are not subject to any expiration dates, while the other balances expire at various times through 2028. The valuation allowance represents a reserve for deferred tax assets, including loss carryforwards and foreign tax credits, for which utilization is uncertain. Changes in the Company’s gross liability for unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, are as follows (in thousands): 2018 2017 2016 Beginning balance $ 31,446 $ 29,174 $ 29,924 Increases based on tax positions related to the current year 2,599 6,057 1,050 Increase for tax positions taken in a prior period 359 297 475 Decrease for tax positions taken in a prior period (349 ) (627 ) — Decrease due to lapse of statute of limitations (9,163 ) (4,008 ) (1,027 ) Decrease due to settlements — — — Changes in foreign currency exchange rates (533 ) 553 (1,248 ) Ending balance $ 24,359 $ 31,446 $ 29,174 Substantially all of these unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would impact the effective income tax rate. As of August 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , the Company recognized $3.0 million , $2.9 million and $2.3 million , respectively for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to underpayment of income taxes as a component of income tax expense. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and foreign income tax examinations by tax authorities in major tax jurisdictions for years prior to fiscal 2008. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by up to $3.4 million throughout fiscal 2019. The Company’s policy is to remit earnings from foreign subsidiaries only to the extent the remittance does not result in an incremental U.S. tax liability. The Company is reviewing the impact of tax reform on this policy and does not currently provide for the additional U.S. and foreign income taxes which would become payable upon remission of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. If all undistributed earnings were remitted, an additional income tax provision of $2.2 million would have been necessary as of August 31, 2018 . (Loss) earnings before income taxes, are summarized as follows (in thousands): Year Ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Domestic $ (11,325 ) $ 12,635 $ (19,182 ) Foreign (1,347 ) (95,326 ) (111,162 ) $ (12,672 ) $ (82,691 ) $ (130,344 ) Both domestic and foreign pre-tax earnings are impacted by changes in operating earnings, acquisition and divestiture activities, restructuring charges and the related benefits, growth investments, debt levels and the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In fiscal 2018 , domestic and foreign earnings included non-cash impairment and other divestiture costs of $23.7 million and $49.3 million , respectively. In fiscal 2017 , domestic earnings included $7.8 million of transition costs while foreign earnings included $117.0 million of non-cash impairment and other divestiture charges. In fiscal 2016 , domestic earnings included a non-cash impairment charge of $49.0 million and a $5.1 million loss on the Sanlo divestiture while foreign earnings included a $137.5 million non-cash impairment charge. Approximately 79% , 63% and 53% of pre-tax earnings (excluding impairment and other divestiture charges) were generated in foreign jurisdictions with tax rates different than the U.S. federal income tax rate during fiscal 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds, was a net refund of $1.5 million during the year ended August 31, 2018 and a net payment of $11.8 million and $21.4 million during the years ended August 31, 2017 and 2016 , respectively.

Capital Stock and Share Repurch

Capital Stock and Share Repurchases	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Capital Stock and Share Repurchases	Note 13. Capital Stock and Share Repurchases The authorized common stock of the Company as of August 31, 2018 consisted of 168,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.20 par value, of which 81,423,584 and 60,984,150 shares were issued and outstanding, respectively; 1,500,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.20 par value, none of which have been issued; and 160,000 shares of cumulative preferred stock, $1.00 par value (“preferred stock”), none of which have been issued. Holders of both classes of the Company’s common stock are entitled to dividends, as the Company’s Board of Directors may declare out of funds legally available, subject to any contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on the common stock. If the Company were to issue any of its preferred stock, no dividends could be paid or set apart on shares of common stock, unless paid in common stock, until dividends on all of the issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock had been paid or set apart for payment and provision had been made for any mandatory sinking fund payments. The Company's Board of Directors approved four separate authorizations (September 2011, March 2014, October 2014 and March 2015) to repurchase up to 7,000,000 shares each of the Company’s outstanding common stock. At August 31, 2018 , cumulative shares repurchased under these authorizations totaled 20,439,434 , leaving 7,560,566 shares authorized for future buy backs. Earnings Per Share The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted loss per share (in thousands, except per share amounts): Year Ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Numerator: Net loss $ (21,648 ) $ (66,213 ) $ (105,174 ) Denominator: Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic 60,441 59,436 59,010 Net effect of dilutive securities - stock based compensation plans — — — Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted 60,441 59,436 59,010 Basic Loss Per Share: $ (0.36 ) $ (1.11 ) $ (1.78 ) Diluted Loss Per Share: $ (0.36 ) $ (1.11 ) $ (1.78 ) Anti-dilutive securities- stock based compensation plans (excluding from earnings per share calculation ) (1) 2,923 4,482 4,832 (1) As a result of the impairment and divestiture charges which caused a net loss in fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, shares from stock based compensation plans are excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share, as the result would be anti-dilutive.

Stock Plans

Stock Plans	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock Plans	Note 14. Stock Plans Share based awards may be granted to key employees and directors under the Actuant Corporation 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). At August 31, 2018 , 4,325,000 shares of Class A common stock were authorized for issuance under the Plan plus an additional 1,800,000 shares being registered to cover shares, if any, that become issuable, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, upon the expiration, cancellation or forfeiture of existing awards under our previously registered stock plans, of which 4,408,499 shares were available for future award grants. The Plan permits the Company to grant share-based awards, including stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance shares (the "Performance Shares") to employees and directors. Options generally have a maximum term of ten years, an exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant and generally vest 50% after three years and 100% after five years. The Company’s restricted stock grants prior to 2017 generally have similar vesting provisions as options while grants thereafter generally vests in equal installments over a three-year period. The Performance Shares include a three -year performance period, with vesting based 50% on achievement of an absolute free cash flow conversion target and 50% on the Company’s total shareholder return ("TSR") relative to the S&P 600 SmallCap Industrial index. The provisions of share-based awards may vary by individual grant with respect to vesting period, dividend and voting rights, performance conditions and forfeitures. A summary of restricted stock and performance shares activity during fiscal 2018 is as follows: Number of Weighted-Average Fair Value at Grant Date (Per Share) Outstanding on August 31, 2017 1,290,448 $24.95 Granted 525,541 26.20 Forfeited (197,771 ) 25.05 Vested (464,481 ) 25.60 Outstanding on August 31, 2018 1,153,737 $25.25 A summary of stock option activity during fiscal 2018 is as follows: Shares Weighted-Average Weighted-Average Aggregate Outstanding on September 1, 2017 3,191,630 $ 24.40 Granted — — Exercised (833,377 ) 19.96 Forfeited (119,527 ) 23.98 Expired (469,650 ) 28.59 Outstanding on August 31, 2018 1,769,076 $ 25.40 4.8 $ 7.9 million Exercisable on August 31, 2018 1,285,352 $ 25.52 3.8 $ 5.9 million Intrinsic value is the difference between the market value of the stock at August 31, 2018 and the exercise price which is aggregated for all options outstanding and exercisable. A summary of the weighted-average grant-date fair value of options, total intrinsic value of options exercised, and cash receipts from options exercised is summarized below (in thousands, except per share amounts): Year Ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Weighted-average fair value of options granted (per share) N/A $ 11.88 $ 8.63 Intrinsic value of options exercised $ 5,284 2,208 989 Cash receipts from exercise of options 15,140 7,762 3,564 The Company generally records compensation expense over the vesting period for restricted stock awards based on the market value of Actuant common stock on the grant date and utilized an expected forfeiture rate of 10% , 11% and 13% , for fiscal years ended August 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The fair value of Performance Shares with market vesting conditions is determined utilizing a Monte Carlo simulation model. Stock based compensation expense is determined using a binomial pricing model for options. Assumptions used to determine the fair value of each option were based upon historical data and standard industry valuation practices and methodology. There were no options granted in fiscal 2018. The following weighted-average assumptions were used in each fiscal year 2017 and 2016: Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2017 2016 Dividend yield 0.15 % 0.19 % Expected volatility 38.12 % 38.06 % Risk-free rate of return 2.42 % 2.06 % Expected forfeiture rate 11 % 13 % Expected life 7.4 years 6.1 years As of August 31, 2018 , there was $19.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based awards, including stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance shares, which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.1 years. The total fair value of share-based awards that vested during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2018 and 2017 was $14.3 million and $16.1 million , respectively.

Business Segment, Geographic an

Business Segment, Geographic and Customer Information	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Business Segment, Geographic and Customer Information	Note 15. Business Segment, Geographic and Customer Information The Company is a global manufacturer of a broad range of industrial products and systems. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company’s financial reporting segments were modified to reflect changes in the operating structure of the Company. The Company considered these changes as part of its ongoing assessment of segment reporting, and changed its operating and reportable segments to reflect two reportable segments: Industrial Tools & Services and Engineered Components & Systems. All prior period amounts and disclosures have been adjusted to reflect the current reportable segments. The Industrial Tools & Services segment is primarily engaged in the design, manufacture and distribution of branded hydraulic and mechanical tools and in providing services and tool rental to the industrial, maintenance, infrastructure, oil & gas, energy and other markets. The Engineered Components & Systems segment provides highly engineered components for on-highway, off-highway agriculture, medical, concrete tensioning and other vertical markets. All of the aforementioned markets are supported through our various segment product lines outlined below. The following tables summarize financial information by reportable segment and product line (in thousands): Year Ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Net Sales by Reportable Segment & Product Line: Industrial Tools & Services Segment: Product $ 439,405 $ 396,381 $ 400,780 Service & Rental 151,680 156,201 187,427 591,085 552,582 588,207 Engineered Components & Systems Segment: On-Highway 248,083 215,831 209,575 Agriculture, Off-Highway and Other 215,487 190,604 187,287 Rope & Cable Solutions 76,011 65,169 73,813 Concrete Tensioning 49,198 52,889 50,491 Off Shore Mooring 2,747 18,709 40,037 591,526 543,202 561,203 $ 1,182,611 $ 1,095,784 $ 1,149,410 Operating Profit (Loss): Industrial Tools & Services $ 99,432 $ 95,825 $ 119,922 Engineered Components & Systems (1) (51,982 ) (113,030 ) (190,654 ) General Corporate (29,252 ) (33,031 ) (29,485 ) $ 18,198 $ (50,236 ) $ (100,217 ) Depreciation and Amortization: Industrial Tools & Services $ 15,301 $ 15,025 $ 15,173 Engineered Components & Systems 23,424 26,072 30,855 General Corporate 1,982 2,013 1,749 $ 40,707 $ 43,110 $ 47,777 Capital Expenditures: Industrial Tools & Services $ 7,799 $ 8,614 $ 5,502 Engineered Components & Systems 11,653 16,884 12,397 General Corporate 1,418 2,697 2,310 $ 20,870 $ 28,195 $ 20,209 (1) Engineered Components & Systems segment operating loss includes impairment and divestiture charges of $73.1 million , $117.0 million and $186.6 million in fiscal 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. August 31, 2018 2017 Assets: Industrial Tools & Services $ 589,932 $ 599,321 Engineered Components & Systems 657,370 713,083 General Corporate 234,036 204,551 $ 1,481,338 $ 1,516,955 In addition to the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, the comparability of segment and product line information is impacted by acquisition/divestiture activities, impairment and divestiture charges, restructuring costs and related benefits. Corporate assets, which are not allocated, principally represent cash and cash equivalents, capitalized debt issuance costs and deferred income taxes. The following tables summarize net sales and long-lived assets (fixed assets and other long-term assets, excluding deferred tax assets and debt issuance cots) by geographic region (in thousands): Year Ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Net Sales: United States $ 509,952 $ 480,801 $ 477,670 Netherlands 166,542 130,724 143,517 United Kingdom 87,182 84,106 115,183 China 64,031 68,373 47,312 Sweden 50,517 37,813 35,424 United Arab Emirates 43,707 39,974 55,906 France 40,351 39,563 42,780 Australia 28,510 38,924 62,779 All other 191,819 175,506 168,839 $ 1,182,611 $ 1,095,784 $ 1,149,410 August 31, 2018 2017 Long-lived Assets: United States $ 42,563 $ 36,254 China 14,909 16,332 Netherlands 12,200 9,134 United Arab Emirates 7,876 8,451 United Kingdom 4,076 5,467 All other 20,111 22,696 $ 101,735 $ 98,334 The Company’s largest customer accounted for less than 3% of sales in each of the last three fiscal years. Export sales from domestic operations were approximately 7% of total net sales in each of the periods presented. In fiscal 2018, sales of products contributed approximately 84% of consolidated net sales, with the remaining revenue generated from engineering and technical manpower services, rental contracts and other sources. We provide certain Industrial Tools & Services segment customers both products, services and rentals; however, since our systems do not allocate costs between these sales categories, it is neither practical nor cost effective to disaggregate cost of sales separately for product sales and rental and service revenue.

Comitments and Contingencies

Comitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies and Litigation	Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies The Company had outstanding letters of credit of $23.6 million and $22.1 million at August 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, the majority of which relate to commercial contracts and self-insured workers compensation programs. The Company is a party to various legal proceedings that have arisen in the normal course of its business. These legal proceedings typically include product liability, environmental, labor, patent and other disputes. The Company has recorded reserves for loss contingencies based on the specific circumstances of each case. Such reserves are recorded when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and can be reasonably estimated. In the opinion of management, the resolution of these contingencies are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company remains contingently liable for lease payments under leases of businesses that it previously divested or spun-off, in the event that such businesses are unable to fulfill their future lease payment obligations. The discounted present value of future minimum lease payments for these leases was $11.0 million using a weighted average discount rate of 3.24% at August 31, 2018 . The Company has facilities in numerous geographic locations that are subject to a range of environmental laws and regulations. Environmental expenditures over the past three years have not been material. Management believes that such costs will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In March 2018, the Company filed an Initial Notice of Voluntary Self-Disclosure ("VSD") with the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) regarding transactions related to otherwise authorized sales of tools and other products by certain of its foreign subsidiaries to two Iranian distributors totaling approximately $0.5 million . While the Company undertook efforts to ensure that those sales were conducted entirely consistent with General License H under the Iranian Transaction and Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 560, it is possible that certain limited transactions relating to the authorized sales in question fell outside the scope of General License H. The Company immediately determined to cease doing business in Iran and continues not to transact there. With the assistance of its external counsel, the Company undertook an investigation of those Iran-related transactions and, more generally, the adequacy and effectiveness of its procedures to ensure compliance with trade and export requirements. The investigation was completed in October 2018 and resulted in the filing of a final VSD with OFAC on October 26, 2018. The final VSD also included information about additional transactions by certain of the Company's Dutch subsidiaries, with a counterparty in Estonia that may have been in violation of E.O. 13685. Those transactions involved wire remittances totaling approximately $3.2 million for sales of products and services that may have been diverted to the Crimea region of Ukraine. OFAC is currently reviewing the Company’s disclosure to determine whether any violations of U.S. economic sanctions laws may have occurred and, if so, to determine the appropriate enforcement response. At this time, the Company cannot predict when OFAC will conclude its review of the VSD or the nature of its enforcement response. Additionally, the Company has self-disclosed the sales to its Estonian customer to relevant authorities in the Netherlands as potentially violating applicable sanctions laws in that country and the European Union. The investigation by authorities in the Netherlands is ongoing and also may result in penalties. At this time, the Company cannot predict when the investigation will be completed or reasonably estimate what penalties, if any, will be assessed. While there can be no assurance of the ultimate outcome of the above matters, the Company currently believes that there will be no material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Guarantor Subsidiaries

Guarantor Subsidiaries	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Guarantor Subsidiaries	Note 17. Guarantor Subsidiaries On April 16, 2012, Actuant Corporation (the “Parent”) issued $300.0 million of 5.625% Senior Notes, of which $287.6 million remains outstanding as of August 31, 2018 . All of our material domestic wholly owned subsidiaries (the “Guarantors”) fully and unconditionally guarantee the 5.625% Senior Notes on a joint and several basis. There are no significant restrictions on the ability of the Guarantors to make distributions to the Parent. Certain assets, liabilities and expenses have not been allocated to the Guarantors and non-Guarantors and therefore are included in the Parent column in the accompanying consolidating financial statements. These items are of a corporate or consolidated nature and include, but are not limited to, tax provisions and related assets and liabilities, certain employee benefit obligations, prepaid and accrued insurance and corporate indebtedness. Intercompany activity in the consolidating financial statements primarily includes loan activity, purchases and sales of goods or services, investments and dividends. Intercompany balances also reflect certain non-cash transactions including transfers of assets and liabilities between the Parent, Guarantor and non-Guarantor, allocation of non-cash expenses from the Parent to the Guarantors and non-Guarantors, non-cash intercompany dividends and the impact of foreign currency rate changes. The following tables present the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of Actuant Corporation and its subsidiaries, the Guarantor and non-Guarantor entities, and the eliminations necessary to arrive at the information for the Company on a consolidated basis. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (in thousands) Year Ended August 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 159,411 $ 371,890 $ 651,310 $ — $ 1,182,611 Cost of products sold 29,619 275,280 462,452 — 767,351 Gross profit 129,792 96,610 188,858 — 415,260 Selling, administrative and engineering expenses 81,194 72,688 137,562 — 291,444 Amortization of intangible assets 1,272 11,394 7,899 — 20,565 Restructuring charges 6,433 1,398 4,164 — 11,995 Impairment & divestiture charges 4,217 23,740 45,101 — 73,058 Operating profit (loss) 36,676 (12,610 ) (5,868 ) — 18,198 Financing costs (income), net 31,752 81 (342 ) — 31,491 Intercompany (income) expense, net (17,042 ) 26,596 (9,554 ) — — Intercompany dividends — (28,822 ) — 28,822 — Other (income) expense, net (1,200 ) 57 522 — (621 ) Earnings (loss) before income tax (benefit) expense 23,166 (10,522 ) 3,506 (28,822 ) (12,672 ) Income tax (benefit) expense (25,380 ) 17,921 16,435 — 8,976 Net earnings (loss) before equity in (loss) earnings of subsidiaries 48,546 (28,443 ) (12,929 ) (28,822 ) (21,648 ) Equity in (loss) earnings of subsidiaries (70,194 ) (15,652 ) 2,103 83,743 — Net loss (21,648 ) (44,095 ) (10,826 ) 54,921 (21,648 ) Comprehensive income (loss) $ 31,368 $ (44,095 ) $ 40,800 $ 3,295 $ 31,368 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (in thousands) Year Ended August 31, 2017 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 145,223 $ 355,989 $ 594,572 $ — $ 1,095,784 Cost of products sold 34,300 260,700 421,067 — 716,067 Gross profit 110,923 95,289 173,505 — 379,717 Selling, administrative and engineering expenses 74,996 69,826 132,666 — 277,488 Amortization of intangible assets 1,272 11,715 7,487 — 20,474 Director & officer transition charges 7,784 — — — 7,784 Restructuring charges 826 1,359 5,043 — 7,228 Impairment & divestiture charges — — 116,979 — 116,979 Operating profit (loss) 26,045 12,389 (88,670 ) — (50,236 ) Financing costs, net 30,005 35 (337 ) — 29,703 Intercompany (income) expense, net (22,941 ) 22,066 875 — — Intercompany dividends 5,353 (59,401 ) (5,353 ) 59,401 — Other expense (income), net 2,690 87 (25 ) — 2,752 Earnings (loss) before income tax benefit 10,938 49,602 (83,830 ) (59,401 ) (82,691 ) Income tax benefit (782 ) (14,574 ) (1,122 ) — (16,478 ) Net earnings (loss) before equity in (loss) earnings of subsidiaries 11,720 64,176 (82,708 ) (59,401 ) (66,213 ) Equity in (loss) earnings of subsidiaries (77,933 ) (81,389 ) 3,335 155,987 — Net loss (66,213 ) (17,213 ) (79,373 ) 96,586 (66,213 ) Comprehensive loss $ (41,651 ) $ (35,121 ) $ (39,942 ) $ 75,063 $ (41,651 ) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (in thousands) Year Ended August 31, 2016 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 135,679 $ 361,209 $ 652,522 $ — $ 1,149,410 Cost of products sold 34,576 263,197 448,240 — 746,013 Gross profit 101,103 98,012 204,282 — 403,397 Selling, administrative and engineering expenses 69,677 69,382 135,438 — 274,497 Amortization of intangible assets 1,272 13,287 8,384 — 22,943 Loss on product line divestiture — 5,092 — — 5,092 Restructuring charges 2,426 3,455 8,690 — 14,571 Impairment charges — 49,012 137,499 — 186,511 Operating profit (loss) 27,728 (42,216 ) (85,729 ) — (100,217 ) Financing costs, net 30,123 — (1,355 ) — 28,768 Intercompany (income) expense, net (20,445 ) (9,999 ) 30,444 — — Intercompany dividends — — (5,338 ) 5,338 — Other expense, net 914 54 391 — 1,359 Earnings (loss) before income taxes 17,136 (32,271 ) (109,871 ) (5,338 ) (130,344 ) Income tax (benefit) expense (8,729 ) 519 (17,046 ) 86 (25,170 ) Net earnings (loss) before equity in (loss) earnings of subsidiaries 25,865 (32,790 ) (92,825 ) (5,424 ) (105,174 ) Equity in (loss) earnings of subsidiaries (131,037 ) (83,747 ) 3,024 211,760 — Net loss (105,174 ) (116,537 ) (89,801 ) 206,336 (105,174 ) Comprehensive loss $ (143,357 ) $ (157,344 ) $ (83,802 ) $ 241,146 $ (143,357 ) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) August 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 67,649 $ — $ 182,841 $ — $ 250,490 Accounts receivable, net 19,969 54,822 112,958 — 187,749 Inventories, net 22,570 59,391 74,395 — 156,356 Assets held for sale — — 23,573 — 23,573 Other current assets 7,358 4,759 30,615 — 42,732 Total current assets 117,546 118,972 424,382 — 660,900 Property, plant & equipment, net 7,937 26,408 55,875 — 90,220 Goodwill 38,847 203,543 270,022 — 512,412 Other intangible assets, net 6,884 121,793 52,360 — 181,037 Investment in subsidiaries 1,836,954 1,211,781 789,917 (3,838,652 ) — Intercompany receivables — 622,646 200,173 (822,819 ) — Other long-term assets 12,955 366 23,448 — 36,769 Total assets $ 2,021,123 $ 2,305,509 $ 1,816,177 $ (4,661,471 ) $ 1,481,338 LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Trade accounts payable $ 15,890 $ 29,022 $ 85,926 $ — $ 130,838 Accrued compensation and benefits 22,171 9,804 22,533 — 54,508 Current maturities of debt 30,000 — — — 30,000 Income taxes payable — — 4,091 — 4,091 Liabilities held for sale — — 44,225 — 44,225 Other current liabilities 17,379 11,078 38,842 — 67,299 Total current liabilities 85,440 49,904 195,617 — 330,961 Long-term debt 502,695 — — — 502,695 Deferred income taxes 17,467 — 4,466 — 21,933 Pension and post-retirement benefit liabilities 7,765 — 7,104 — 14,869 Other long-term liabilities 45,483 359 6,326 — 52,168 Intercompany payable 803,561 19,258 — (822,819 ) — Shareholders’ equity 558,712 2,235,988 1,602,664 (3,838,652 ) 558,712 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 2,021,123 $ 2,305,509 $ 1,816,177 $ (4,661,471 ) $ 1,481,338 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) August 31, 2017 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 34,715 $ — $ 194,856 $ — $ 229,571 Accounts receivable, net 17,498 50,749 121,959 — 190,206 Inventories, net 23,308 48,492 71,851 — 143,651 Assets held for sale — — 21,835 — 21,835 Other current assets 23,576 3,619 34,468 — 61,663 Total current assets 99,097 102,860 444,969 — 646,926 Property, plant & equipment, net 7,049 26,130 61,342 — 94,521 Goodwill 38,847 200,499 290,735 — 530,081 Other intangible assets, net 8,156 138,042 74,291 — 220,489 Investment in subsidiaries 1,832,472 1,186,715 805,016 (3,824,203 ) — Intercompany receivable — 589,193 205,183 (794,376 ) — Other long-term assets 8,377 812 15,749 — 24,938 Total assets $ 1,993,998 $ 2,244,251 $ 1,897,285 $ (4,618,579 ) $ 1,516,955 LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Trade accounts payable $ 15,412 $ 27,168 $ 90,807 $ — $ 133,387 Accrued compensation and benefits 19,082 7,672 24,185 — 50,939 Current maturities of debt 30,000 — — — 30,000 Income taxes payable 153 — 5,927 — 6,080 Liabilities held for sale — — 101,083 — 101,083 Other current liabilities 18,512 7,169 31,764 — 57,445 Total current liabilities 83,159 42,009 253,766 — 378,934 Long-term debt 531,940 — — — 531,940 Deferred income taxes 24,164 — 5,695 — 29,859 Pension and post-retirement benefit liabilities 12,540 — 7,322 — 19,862 Other long-term liabilities 48,692 352 6,777 — 55,821 Intercompany payable 792,964 — 1,412 (794,376 ) — Shareholders’ equity 500,539 2,201,890 1,622,313 (3,824,203 ) 500,539 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 1,993,998 $ 2,244,251 $ 1,897,285 $ (4,618,579 ) $ 1,516,955 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) Year Ended August 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities $ 63,264 $ 27,673 $ 15,156 $ — $ 106,093 Investing Activities Capital expenditures (2,822 ) (8,015 ) (10,033 ) — (20,870 ) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment — 99 54 — 153 Rental asset buyout for Viking divestiture — — (27,718 ) — (27,718 ) Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction costs 198 — 8,704 — 8,902 Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired — (1,732 ) (21,486 ) — (23,218 ) Intercompany investment (11,754 ) (1 ) — 11,755 — Cash used in investing activities (14,378 ) (9,649 ) (50,479 ) 11,755 (62,751 ) Financing Activities Principal repayment on term loan (30,000 ) — — — (30,000 ) Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards (1,284 ) — — — (1,284 ) Stock option exercises, related tax benefits and other 15,681 — — — 15,681 Cash dividend (2,390 ) — — — (2,390 ) Changes in receivables and payable to subsidiaries 2,041 (18,024 ) 15,983 — — Intercompany capital contribution — — 11,755 (11,755 ) — Cash (used in) provided by financing activities (15,952 ) (18,024 ) 27,738 (11,755 ) (17,993 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash — — (4,430 ) — (4,430 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 32,934 — (12,015 ) — 20,919 Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period 34,715 — 194,856 — 229,571 Cash and cash equivalents—end of period $ 67,649 $ — $ 182,841 $ — $ 250,490 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) Year Ended August 31, 2017 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities $ 99,241 $ 14,340 $ 39,672 $ (64,754 ) $ 88,499 Investing Activities Capital expenditures (3,391 ) (9,265 ) (15,539 ) — (28,195 ) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment — 207 363 — 570 Intercompany investment (6,900 ) — — 6,900 — Cash used in investing activities (10,291 ) (9,058 ) (15,176 ) 6,900 (27,625 ) Financing Activities Principal repayment on term loan (18,750 ) — — — (18,750 ) Redemption on 5.625% Senior Notes (500 ) — — — (500 ) Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards (1,065 ) — — — (1,065 ) Stock option exercises, related tax benefits and other 8,265 — — — 8,265 Payment of deferred acquisition consideration — — (742 ) — (742 ) Cash dividend (2,358 ) (5,353 ) (59,401 ) 64,754 (2,358 ) Intercompany loan activity (47,780 ) — 47,780 — — Intercompany capital contributions — — 6,900 (6,900 ) — Cash used in financing activities (62,188 ) (5,353 ) (5,463 ) 57,854 (15,150 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash — — 4,243 — 4,243 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 26,762 (71 ) 23,276 — 49,967 Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period 7,953 71 171,580 — 179,604 Cash and cash equivalents—end of period $ 34,715 $ — $ 194,856 $ — $ 229,571 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) Year Ended August 31, 2016 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated Operating Activities Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 58,926 $ (1,953 ) $ 66,062 $ (5,338 ) $ 117,697 Investing Activities Capital expenditures (2,135 ) (6,781 ) (11,293 ) — (20,209 ) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 13 7,000 2,283 — 9,296 Intercompany investment (339 ) (3,458 ) — 3,797 — Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired — — (81,916 ) — (81,916 ) Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction costs — 9,695 — — 9,695 Cash (used in) provided by investing activities (2,461 ) 6,456 (90,926 ) 3,797 (83,134 ) Financing Activities Net repayments on revolving credit facility — — (210 ) — (210 ) Principal repayments on term loan (3,750 ) — — — (3,750 ) Purchase of treasury shares (17,101 ) — — — (17,101 ) Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards (1,409 ) — — — (1,409 ) Stock option exercises, related tax benefits and other 6,416 — — — 6,416 Cash dividend (2,376 ) (5,338 ) — 5,338 (2,376 ) Intercompany loan activity (48,980 ) — 48,980 — — Intercompany capital contributions — 339 3,458 (3,797 ) — Cash (used in) provided by financing activities (67,200 ) (4,999 ) 52,228 1,541 (18,430 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash — — (5,375 ) — (5,375 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (10,735 ) (496 ) 21,989 — 10,758 Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period 18,688 567 149,591 — 168,846 Cash and cash equivalents—end of period $ 7,953 $ 71 $ 171,580 $ — $ 179,604

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaud

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)	Note 18. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) Quarterly financial data for fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2017 is as follows: Year Ended August 31, 2018 First Second Third Fourth Total Net sales $ 288,955 $ 275,165 $ 317,096 $ 301,395 $ 1,182,611 Gross profit 100,911 89,696 116,509 108,144 415,260 Net earnings (loss) 5,226 (18,221 ) 29,012 (37,665 ) (21,648 ) Net earnings per share: Basic $ 0.09 $ (0.30 ) $ 0.48 $ (0.62 ) $ (0.36 ) Diluted $ 0.09 $ (0.30 ) $ 0.48 $ (0.62 ) $ (0.36 ) Year Ended August 31, 2017 First Second Third Fourth Total Net sales $ 265,793 $ 258,869 $ 295,427 $ 275,695 $ 1,095,784 Gross profit 93,067 87,327 102,804 96,519 379,717 Net earnings (loss) 4,966 5,074 22,511 (98,764 ) (66,213 ) Net earnings (loss) per share: Basic $ 0.08 $ 0.09 $ 0.38 $ (1.65 ) $ (1.11 ) Diluted $ 0.08 $ 0.08 $ 0.37 $ (1.65 ) $ (1.11 ) The sum of the quarters may not equal the total of the respective year’s earnings (loss) per share on either a basic or diluted basis due to changes in the weighted average shares outstanding during the year. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recognized impairment and divestiture charges of $73.1 million (see Note 5, "Divestiture Activities" and Note 6, "Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Long-Lived Assets"). During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company recognized impairment and divestiture charges of $117.0 million (see Note 5, "Divestitures Activities" and Note 6, "Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Long-Lived Assets").

Valuation and Qualifying Accoun

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block]	ACTUANT CORPORATION SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS (in thousands) Additions Deductions Balance at Charged to Acquisition/ (Divestiture) Accounts Other Balance at Allowance for losses—Trade accounts receivable August 31, 2018 $ 11,229 $ 1,389 $ 76 $ (6,856 ) $ (437 ) $ 5,401 August 31, 2017 7,762 3,112 1,452 (1,422 ) 325 11,229 August 31, 2016 3,970 2,274 3,090 (1,580 ) 8 7,762 Valuation allowance—Income taxes August 31, 2018 $ 22,671 $ 25,209 $ — $ (12,804 ) $ — $ 35,076 August 31, 2017 8,147 15,144 — (620 ) — 22,671 August 31, 2016 8,053 852 — (1,026 ) 268 8,147

Summary of Significant Accounti

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	Nature of Operations: Actuant Corporation (“Actuant” or the “Company”) is a global manufacturer of a broad range of industrial products and systems, organized into two reportable segments. The Industrial Tools & Services segment is primarily engaged in the design, manufacture and distribution of branded hydraulic and mechanical tools and in providing joint integrity services and tool rental to the industrial, maintenance, infrastructure, oil & gas, energy and other markets. The Engineered Components & Systems segment provides highly engineered components for o
Consolidation and Presentation	Consolidation and Presentation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. The results of companies acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated financial statements from the effective date of acquisition or until the date of divestiture. All intercompany balances, transactions and profits have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation, as discussed in the New Accounting Pronouncements section. As part of our ongoing assessment of segment reporting, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company’s financial reporting segments were modified to reflect changes in the operating structure of the Company, with the combination of our tools and services businesses and all OEM-related businesses into two operating segments: Industrial Tools & Services and Engineered Components & Systems. All prior period disclosures have been adjusted to reflect the two reportable segments.
Cash Equivalents	Cash Equivalents: The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents.
Inventories	Inventories: Inventories are comprised of material, direct labor and manufacturing overhead, and are stated at the lower of cost or market. Inventory cost is determined using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method for a portion of the U.S. owned inventory ( 16.8% and 18.0% of total inventories in 2018 and 2017 , respectively). The first-in, first-out or average cost methods are used for all other inventories. If the LIFO method were not used, inventory balances would be higher than reported amounts in the consolidated balance sheets by $6.0 million and $3.9 million at August 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The nature of the Company’s products is such that they generally have a very short production cycle. Consequently, the amount of work-in-process at any point in time is minimal. In addition, many parts or components are ultimately either sold individually or assembled with other parts making a distinction between raw materials and finished goods impractical to determine. Other locations maintain and manage their inventories using a job cost system where the distinction of categories of inventory by state of completion is also not available. As a result of these factors, it is neither practical nor cost effective to segregate the amounts of raw materials, work-in-process or finished goods inventories at the respective balance sheet dates, as segregation would only be possible as the result of physical inventories which are taken at dates different from the balance sheet dates.
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, Plant and Equipment: Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Plant and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from ten to forty years for buildings and improvements and two to fifteen years for machinery and equipment. Equipment includes assets (joint integrity tools) which are rented to customers of our Industrial Tools & Services segment businesses. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the related asset or the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. Depreciation expense was $ 20 million , $23 million and $25 million for the years ended August 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Other intangible assets with definite lives, consisting primarily of purchased customer relationships, patents, trademarks and non-compete agreements, are amortized over periods from one to twenty-five years. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are not subject to amortization, but are subject to annual impairment testing. The Company’s goodwill is tested for impairment annually, during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. The Company performs impairment reviews for its reporting units using a fair value method based on management’s judgments and assumptions. In estimating the fair value, the Company utilizes a discounted cash flow model, which is dependent on a number of assumptions including estimated future revenues and expenses, weighted average cost of capital, capital expenditures and other variables. The estimated fair value of the reporting unit is compared to the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recorded and should not exceed the total amount of the goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. Indefinite lived intangible assets are also subject to an annual impairment test. On an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired, the fair value of the indefinite lived intangible assets are evaluated by the Company to determine if an impairment charge is required. A considerable amount of management judgment is required in performing impairment tests, principally in determining the fair value of each reporting unit and the indefinite lived intangible assets.
Product Warranty Costs	Product Warranty Costs : The Company generally offers its customers a warranty on products sold, although warranty periods may vary by product type and application. The reserve for future warranty claims, which is recorded within the "Other current liabilities" line on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, is based on historical claim rates and current warranty cost experience. The following is a rollforward of the changes in product warranty reserves for fiscal years 2018 and 2017 (in thousands): 2018 2017 Beginning balance $ 6,616 $ 5,592 Provision for warranties 5,522 5,608 Warranty payments and costs incurred (7,263 ) (4,714 ) Acquisitions/divestitures (376 ) — Impact of changes in foreign currency rates (82 ) 130 Ending balance $ 4,417 $ 6,616
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition: The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability of the sales price is reasonably assured. For product sales, delivery does not occur until the passage of title and risk of loss have transferred to the customer (generally when products are shipped). Revenue from services and rental contracts are recognized when the services are provided or ratably over the contract term. Revenue for highly custom product sales with a project duration greater than three months and exceeding a value of approximately $0.5 million is generally recognized under the percentage-of-completion method utilizing efforts expended or cost-to-cost input measures. Revenues for long-term contracts that do not meet these criteria are recognized under the completed contract method once delivery has occurred and passage of title and risk of loss have transferred to the customer. Unearned revenue related to long-term customer contracts, which is recorded within the "Other current liabilities" line on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, was $16.5 million and $10.1 million at August 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Customer sales are recorded net of allowances for returns and discounts, which are recognized as a deduction from sales at the time of sale. The Company commits to one-time or on-going trade discounts and promotions with customers that require the Company to estimate and accrue the ultimate costs of such programs. The Company generally does not require collateral or other security for receivables and provides for an allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical experience and a review of its existing receivables. Accounts receivable are stated net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $5.4 million and $11.2 million at August 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively.
Shipping and Handling Costs	Shipping and Handling Costs: The Company records costs associated with shipping its products in cost of products sold.
Research and Development Costs	Research and Development Costs: Research and development costs consist primarily of an allocation of overall engineering and development resources and are expensed as incurred. Such costs incurred in the development of new products or significant improvements to existing products were $25.9 million , $21.9 million and $18.3 million in fiscal 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. The Company also incurs significant costs in connection with fulfilling custom orders and developing solutions for unique customer needs which are not included in these research and development expense totals.
Other Income/Expense	Other Income/Expense: Other income and expense primarily consists of net foreign currency exchange transaction gains of $0.4 million in fiscal 2018 and losses of $3.1 million and $1.3 million in fiscal 2017 and 2016 , respectively.
Financing Costs	Financing Costs: Financing costs represent interest expense, financing fees and amortization of debt issuance costs, net of interest income. Interest income was $1.2 million , $1.2 million and $1.7 million for fiscal 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes: The provision for income taxes includes federal, state, local and non-U.S. taxes on income. Tax credits, primarily for non-U.S. earnings, are recognized as a reduction of the provision for income taxes in the year in which they are available for U.S. tax purposes. Deferred taxes are provided on temporary differences between assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting purposes as measured by enacted tax rates expected to apply when temporary differences are settled or realized. Future tax benefits are recognized to the extent that realization of those benefits is considered to be more likely than not. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets for which realization is not more likely than not of being realized. Prior to tax reform and through August 31, 2018, the Company has not provided for any residual U.S. income taxes on unremitted earning of non-U.S. subsidiaries, as such, earnings are intended to be indefinitely reinvested. The Company is currently reviewing the impact of tax reform on the policy for unremitted earnings and considers our position to be a provisional estimate. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.
Foreign Currency Translation	Foreign Currency Translation: The financial statements of the Company’s foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at each balance sheet date for assets and liabilities and an appropriate weighted average exchange rate for each applicable period for revenues and expenses. Translation adjustments are reflected in the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of shareholders' equity caption “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss.”
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss: The following is a summary of the components included within accumulated other comprehensive loss (in thousands): August 31, 2018 2017 Foreign currency translation adjustments $ 158,497 $ 207,804 Pension and other postretirement benefit plans, net 15,748 19,457 Accumulated other comprehensive loss $ 174,245 $ 227,261
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates: The Company has recorded reserves for customer rebates, returns and discounts, doubtful accounts, inventory, incurred but not reported medical claims, environmental matters, warranty claims, workers compensation claims, product and non-product litigation and incentive compensation. These reserves require the use of estimates and judgment. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company believes that such estimates are made with consistent and appropriate assumptions. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy	New Accounting Pronouncements In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplified several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions. The guidance required, among other items, that all excess tax deficiencies or benefits be recorded as income tax expense or benefit in the consolidated statement of operations and not in additional paid-in capital (shareholder's equity). This guidance was adopted on September 1, 2017 and the impact of adopting this guidance had the following effects: • for the year-ended August 31, 2018 , we recorded $1.5 million in excess tax deficiency as an increase to our income tax expense. This requirement was applied prospectively; • excess tax benefits are now presented as operating activities in the statement of cash flows, rather than as financing activities. The Company chose to apply this requirement retrospectively, and as a result, reclassified approximately $0.6 million of excess tax benefits during the year-ended August 31, 2017 from financing activities to operating activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows; • our computation of diluted earnings per share now excludes the excess tax benefits or deficiencies from the assumed proceeds available to repurchase shares. This requirement was applied prospectively. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers . Under ASU 2014-09 and subsequent updates included in ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12, ASU 2017-13 and ASU 2017-14, an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects to receive in exchange for the goods or services. It also requires more detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019 for the Company). The Company has completed its assessment of its various revenue streams to identify performance obligations under these ASUs and the key aspects of the standard that impact the Company’s revenue recognition process. Based upon our assessment, the impact to allocation of contract revenue between various products and services and the timing of when those revenues are recognized is not materially significant. In conjunction with the evaluation, the Company has identified and implemented changes to its current accounting policies, business processes, systems and controls as necessary to support the new guidance. The guidance will be adopted by the Company beginning September 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. As such, we will recognize the cumulative effect of the adoption, which is not material, as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which changes how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plans present the net periodic benefit cost in the income statement. The new guidance requires the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost to be presented in the same income statement line items as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. Other components of the net periodic benefit cost are to be stated separately from service cost and outside of operating income. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019 for the Company) and interim periods within those annual periods. The amendment is to be applied retrospectively. Due to a majority of the Company's defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plans being frozen and the net periodic benefit pension cost not being significant, the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the financial statements of the Company. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments , to address how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. This update addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. This update will require adoption on a retrospective basis unless it is impracticable to apply. The Company does not believe that this guidance will have a material impact on its presentation of the statement of cash flows. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (and subsequently ASU 2018-01) , to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing all lease transactions (with terms in excess of 12 months) on the balance sheet as a lease liability and a right-of-use asset. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (fiscal 2020 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. Upon adoption, the lessee will apply the new standard retrospectively to all periods presented under a modified retrospective approach using a cumulative effect adjustment in the year of adoption. The Company is currently gathering, documenting and analyzing lease agreements subject to this ASU and anticipates material additions to the balance sheet (upon adoption) of right-of-use assets, offset by the associated liabilities, due to our routine use of operating leases over time. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows companies to reclassify stranded income tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in their consolidated financial statements. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (fiscal 2020 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard and whether we will elect to reclassify the stranded income taxes.

Summary of Significant Accoun_2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Changes in Accrued Product Warranty	Product Warranty Costs : The Company generally offers its customers a warranty on products sold, although warranty periods may vary by product type and application. The reserve for future warranty claims, which is recorded within the "Other current liabilities" line on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, is based on historical claim rates and current warranty cost experience. The following is a rollforward of the changes in product warranty reserves for fiscal years 2018 and 2017 (in thousands): 2018 2017 Beginning balance $ 6,616 $ 5,592 Provision for warranties 5,522 5,608 Warranty payments and costs incurred (7,263 ) (4,714 ) Acquisitions/divestitures (376 ) — Impact of changes in foreign currency rates (82 ) 130 Ending balance $ 4,417 $ 6,616

Restructuring Charges (Tables)

Restructuring Charges (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Costs	The following rollforwards summarize restructuring reserve activity by segment (in thousands): Year Ended August 31, 2018 Industrial Tools & Services Engineered Components & Systems Corporate Total Balance as of August 31, 2017 $ 1,499 $ 4,108 $ 30 $ 5,637 Restructuring charges 4,286 3,713 4,845 12,844 Cash payments (3,375 ) (4,652 ) (2,357 ) (10,384 ) Other non-cash uses of reserve (1) (635 ) (1,412 ) (2,103 ) (4,150 ) Impact of changes in foreign currency rates (88 ) (165 ) — (253 ) Balance as of August 31, 2018 $ 1,687 $ 1,592 $ 415 $ 3,694 (1) Majority of non-cash uses of reserve represents accelerated equity vesting with employee severance agreements. Year Ended August 31, 2017 Industrial Tools & Services Engineered Components & Systems Corporate Total Balance as of August 31, 2016 $ 1,626 $ 4,601 $ 46 $ 6,273 Restructuring charges 2,652 4,465 111 7,228 Cash payments (2,568 ) (4,858 ) (83 ) (7,509 ) Other non-cash uses of reserve (198 ) (285 ) (44 ) (527 ) Impact of changes in foreign currency rates (13 ) 185 — 172 Balance as of August 31, 2017 $ 1,499 $ 4,108 $ 30 $ 5,637

Acquisitions (Tables)

Acquisitions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block]	The following table summarizes the combined estimated fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed for Mirage and Equalizer (in thousands): Total Accounts receivable, net $ 2,324 Inventories, net 4,388 Other current assets 263 Property, plant & equipment 2,064 Goodwill 12,441 Other intangibles 6,049 Trade accounts payable (2,090 ) Accrued compensation and benefits (175 ) Income taxes payable (779 ) Other current liabilities (239 ) Deferred income taxes (1,028 ) Cash paid for business acquisition $ 23,218
Proforma Results of Operations	The following unaudited pro forma operating results give effect to these two acquisitions as though the transactions and related financing activities had occurred on September 1, 2015 (in thousands, except per share amounts). 2016 Net Sales As reported $ 1,149,410 Pro Forma 1,175,304 Net Loss As reported $ (105,174 ) Pro Forma (100,927 ) Basic loss per share As reported $ (1.78 ) Pro Forma (1.71 ) Diluted loss per share As reported $ (1.78 ) Pro Forma (1.71 )

Acquisitions Schedule of Recogn

Acquisitions Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block]	The following table summarizes the combined estimated fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed for Mirage and Equalizer (in thousands): Total Accounts receivable, net $ 2,324 Inventories, net 4,388 Other current assets 263 Property, plant & equipment 2,064 Goodwill 12,441 Other intangibles 6,049 Trade accounts payable (2,090 ) Accrued compensation and benefits (175 ) Income taxes payable (779 ) Other current liabilities (239 ) Deferred income taxes (1,028 ) Cash paid for business acquisition $ 23,218

Divestitures Activities Schedul

Divestitures Activities Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale [Abstract]
Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale [Table Text Block]	The following is a summary of the assets and liabilities held for sale (in thousands): Cortland Fibron Viking August 31, 2018 August 31, 2017 Accounts receivable, net $ 2,924 $ 2,426 Inventories, net 2,597 190 Other current assets 3,267 1,927 Property, plant & equipment, net 2,186 7,534 Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 12,464 — Other long-term assets 135 9,758 Assets held for sale $ 23,573 $ 21,835 Trade accounts payable $ 3,915 $ 1,883 Accrued compensation and benefits 1,414 — Lease buyout accrual — 28,644 Reserve for cumulative translation adjustment 35,346 68,919 Other current liabilities 1,269 1,637 Deferred income taxes 2,281 — Liabilities held for sale $ 44,225 $ 101,083

Goodwill and Other Intangible_2

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2016
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Changes in Carrying Value of Goodwill	The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended August 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows (in thousands): Industrial Tools & Services Engineered Components & Systems Total Balance as of August 31, 2016 $ 235,457 $ 283,819 $ 519,276 Purchase accounting adjustments 1,085 — 1,085 Impact of changes in foreign currency rates 2,165 7,555 9,720 Balance as of August 31, 2017 238,707 291,374 530,081 Business acquisitions 12,441 — 12,441 Impairment charge — (21,227 ) (21,227 ) Impact of changes in foreign currency rates (2,443 ) (4,940 ) (7,383 ) Reclassification of assets held for sale — (1,500 ) (1,500 ) Balance as of August 31, 2018 $ 248,705 $ 263,707 $ 512,412
Gross Carrying Amount and Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets	The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of the Company’s intangible assets are as follows (in thousands): Weighted Average Amortization Period (Year) August 31, 2018 August 31, 2017 Gross Accumulated Amortization Net Book Value Gross Accumulated Amortization Net Book Value Amortizable intangible assets: Customer relationships 15 $ 230,601 $ 147,451 $ 83,150 $ 263,498 $ 153,003 $ 110,495 Patents 11 30,355 25,327 5,028 30,401 24,027 6,374 Trademarks and tradenames 18 20,823 15,347 5,476 21,498 9,396 12,102 Non-compete agreements & other 3 5,946 5,816 130 6,672 6,234 438 Indefinite lived intangible assets: Tradenames N/A 87,253 — 87,253 91,080 — 91,080 $ 374,978 $ 193,941 $ 181,037 $ 413,149 $ 192,660 $ 220,489
Schedule of Impairment Charge [Table Text Block]	A summary of the fiscal 2018 impairment charge by reporting unit is as follows (in thousands): Cortland Precision-Hayes International Total Goodwill $ 3,770 $ 17,457 $ 21,227 Indefinite lived intangible assets 6,710 — 6,710 Amortizable intangible assets — 5,076 5,076 Fixed assets — 1,207 1,207 $ 10,480 $ 23,740 $ 34,220	A summary of the fiscal 2016 impairment charge by reporting unit is as follows (in thousands): Cortland Viking maximatecc Total Goodwill $ 34,502 $ 39,099 $ 44,521 $ 118,122 Indefinite lived intangible assets 2,211 13,289 1,153 16,653 Amortizable intangible assets — 27,952 — 27,952 Fixed assets — 23,784 — 23,784 $ 36,713 $ 104,124 $ 45,674 $ 186,511

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-Term Indebtedness	The following is a summary of the Company’s long-term indebtedness (in thousands): August 31, 2018 2017 Senior Credit Facility Revolver $ — $ — Term Loan 247,500 277,500 247,500 277,500 5.625% Senior Notes 287,559 287,559 Total Senior Indebtedness 535,059 565,059 Less: current maturities of long-term debt (30,000 ) (30,000 ) Debt issuance costs (2,364 ) (3,119 ) Total long-term debt, less current maturities $ 502,695 $ 531,940

Derivatives Gain (Loss) (Tables

Derivatives Gain (Loss) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Table Text Block]	Net foreign currency gains (losses) (included in "Other (income) expense" in the Consolidated Statement of Operations) related to these derivative instruments are as follows (in thousands): Year Ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Foreign currency gains (losses), net $ 1,423 $ (2,962 ) $ (1,520 )

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Changes in Projected Benefit Obligations, Fair Value of Plan Assets	The following table provides detail of changes in the projected benefit obligations, the fair value of plan assets and the funded status of the Company’s U.S. defined benefit pension plans as of the respective August 31 measurement date (in thousands): 2018 2017 Reconciliation of benefit obligations: Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 46,806 $ 50,409 Interest cost 1,633 1,690 Actuarial gain (2,330 ) (1,997 ) Benefits paid (2,829 ) (3,296 ) Benefit obligation at end of year $ 43,280 $ 46,806 Reconciliation of plan assets: Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 40,027 $ 39,489 Actual return on plan assets 2,938 3,599 Company contributions 108 235 Benefits paid from plan assets (2,829 ) (3,296 ) Fair value of plan assets at end of year 40,244 40,027 Funded status of the plans (underfunded) $ (3,036 ) $ (6,779 )
Net Periodic Benefit Costs	The following table provides detail on the Company’s domestic net periodic benefit expense (income) (in thousands): Year ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Interest cost $ 1,633 $ 1,690 $ 1,970 Expected return on assets (2,668 ) (2,867 ) (2,997 ) Amortization of actuarial loss 1,127 1,141 837 Net periodic benefit expense (income) $ 92 $ (36 ) $ (190 )
Weighted Average Assumption used to Determine Benefit Obligations and Net Periodic Benefit Cost	Weighted-average assumptions used to determine U.S. pension plan obligations as of August 31 and weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the years ended August 31 are as follows: 2018 2017 2016 Assumptions for benefit obligations: Discount rate 4.05 % 3.60 % 3.45 % Assumptions for net periodic benefit cost: Discount rate 3.60 % 3.45 % 4.45 % Expected return on plan assets 7.00 % 7.15 % 7.40 %
U.S. Pension Plan Investment Allocations by Asset Category	The fair value of all U.S. pension plan assets is determined based on quoted market prices and therefore all plan assets are determined based on Level 1 inputs, except for fixed income securities which are valued based on Level 2 inputs, as defined in Note 8, “Fair Value Measurements.” The U.S. pension plan investment allocations by asset category were as follows (in thousands): Year Ended August 31, 2018 % 2017 % Cash and cash equivalents $ 559 1.4 % $ 395 1.0 % Fixed income securities: Corporate bonds 19,107 47.5 8,475 21.2 Mutual funds 814 2.0 3,139 7.8 19,921 49.5 11,614 29.0 Equity securities: Mutual funds 19,764 49.1 28,018 70.0 Total plan assets $ 40,244 100.0 % $ 40,027 100.0 %
Other Pension Plans, Defined Benefit
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Changes in Projected Benefit Obligations, Fair Value of Plan Assets	The funded status of these plans is summarized as follows (in thousands): August 31, 2018 2017 Benefit obligation $ 13,936 $ 14,645 Fair value of plan assets 7,938 7,950 Funded status of plans (underfunded) $ (5,998 ) $ (6,695 )

Income Taxes (Tables)

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Tax Expense from Continuing Operations	Income tax expense (benefit) is summarized as follows (in thousands): Year ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Currently payable: Federal $ 919 $ (14,769 ) $ 2,205 Foreign 12,532 15,665 11,838 State 120 (850 ) 912 13,571 46 14,955 Deferred: Federal (7,837 ) 603 (12,470 ) Foreign 3,905 (16,837 ) (23,797 ) State (663 ) (290 ) (3,858 ) (4,595 ) (16,524 ) (40,125 ) Income tax expense (benefit) $ 8,976 $ (16,478 ) $ (25,170 )
Reconciliation of Income Taxes at Federal Statutory Rate to Effective Tax Rate	Year ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Federal statutory rate (1) 25.7 % 35.0 % 35.0 % State income taxes, net of Federal effect 5.1 1.1 1.2 Net effects of foreign tax rate differential and credits (2) (8) 26.9 (3.5 ) 2.4 Domestic manufacturing deduction 3.9 0.6 0.3 Foreign branch currency losses 3.2 (0.3 ) 4.9 Compensation adjustment (3) (11.1 ) — — Impairment and other divestiture charges (4) (125.9 ) (11.2 ) (27.0 ) Valuation allowance additions and releases (5) (31.7 ) (16.2 ) (0.7 ) Changes in liability for unrecognized tax benefits (6) 51.7 (3.7 ) (0.9 ) U.S. tax reform, net impact (3.9 ) — — Taxable liquidation of foreign subsidiaries (7) (11.7 ) 22.1 — Foreign non-deductible expenses (8) (18.2 ) (4.6 ) (1.7 ) Changes in tax rates (8) 2.2 (2.1 ) 0.9 Business divestitures — — 3.9 U.S. credits and adjustments (8) 11.4 2.5 1.3 Other items (8) 1.6 0.2 (0.3 ) Effective income tax rate (70.8 )% 19.9 % 19.3 % (1) The Federal statutory rate is a blended rate which reflects 35% through December 31, 2017 and the lowered rate of 21% beginning on January 1, 2018 due to tax reform. (2) During fiscal 2018, the Company generated $10.3 million of foreign tax credits, excluding the impact of tax reform and had a higher proportion of non-U.S. earnings. (3) The adoption of ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation resulted in the recognition of excess tax expense in the Company’s provision for income taxes within the Consolidated Statement of Earnings rather than paid-in capital of $1.5 million for the fiscal year 2018. (4) Fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016 pretax (loss) earnings include $73.1 million , $117.0 million and $186.5 million , respectively, in impairment and other divestiture charges related to goodwill, intangible assets, tangible assets and the cumulative effect of foreign currency rate changes of which $45.1 million , $69.0 million and $118.5 million , respectively, are not deductible for income tax purposes. (5) Incremental valuation allowances of $18.1 million , which excludes $7.1 million of valuation allowances related to foreign tax credits that are categorized with tax reform and $15.1 million were recorded in fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively, due to uncertainty regarding utilization of foreign operating loss carryforwards, which were partially offset by a reduction of $12.8 million and $0.6 million of valuation allowances for fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively. (6) The liability for unrecognized tax benefits decreased $6.6 million in fiscal 2018 primarily due to settlements and lapsing of tax audit statutes. (7) During fiscal 2018 and 2017, the Company generated a net expense of $1.5 million and a net benefit of $14.9 million , the result of taxable liquidations of foreign subsidiaries.
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, 2018 2017 Deferred income tax assets: Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards $ 45,947 $ 41,985 Compensation related liabilities 10,450 17,319 Postretirement benefits 8,813 14,359 Inventory 2,081 2,958 Book reserves and other items 18,986 14,224 Total deferred income tax assets 86,277 90,845 Valuation allowance (35,076 ) (22,671 ) Net deferred income tax assets 51,201 68,174 Deferred income tax liabilities: Depreciation and amortization (48,148 ) (77,548 ) Other items (633 ) (1,910 ) Deferred income tax liabilities (48,781 ) (79,458 ) Net deferred income tax asset (liability) (1) $ 2,420 $ (11,284 )
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): 2018 2017 2016 Beginning balance $ 31,446 $ 29,174 $ 29,924 Increases based on tax positions related to the current year 2,599 6,057 1,050 Increase for tax positions taken in a prior period 359 297 475 Decrease for tax positions taken in a prior period (349 ) (627 ) — Decrease due to lapse of statute of limitations (9,163 ) (4,008 ) (1,027 ) Decrease due to settlements — — — Changes in foreign currency exchange rates (533 ) 553 (1,248 ) Ending balance $ 24,359 $ 31,446 $ 29,174
Earnings before Income Taxes, Including both Continuing and Discontinued Operations	(Loss) earnings before income taxes, are summarized as follows (in thousands): Year Ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Domestic $ (11,325 ) $ 12,635 $ (19,182 ) Foreign (1,347 ) (95,326 ) (111,162 ) $ (12,672 ) $ (82,691 ) $ (130,344 )

Capital Stock (Tables)

Capital Stock (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted loss per share (in thousands, except per share amounts): Year Ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Numerator: Net loss $ (21,648 ) $ (66,213 ) $ (105,174 ) Denominator: Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic 60,441 59,436 59,010 Net effect of dilutive securities - stock based compensation plans — — — Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted 60,441 59,436 59,010 Basic Loss Per Share: $ (0.36 ) $ (1.11 ) $ (1.78 ) Diluted Loss Per Share: $ (0.36 ) $ (1.11 ) $ (1.78 ) Anti-dilutive securities- stock based compensation plans (excluding from earnings per share calculation ) (1) 2,923 4,482 4,832

Stock Plans (Tables)

Stock Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Summary Of Restricted Stock and Performance Shares Activity	A summary of restricted stock and performance shares activity during fiscal 2018 is as follows: Number of Weighted-Average Fair Value at Grant Date (Per Share) Outstanding on August 31, 2017 1,290,448 $24.95 Granted 525,541 26.20 Forfeited (197,771 ) 25.05 Vested (464,481 ) 25.60 Outstanding on August 31, 2018 1,153,737 $25.25
Summary Stock option Activity	A summary of stock option activity during fiscal 2018 is as follows: Shares Weighted-Average Weighted-Average Aggregate Outstanding on September 1, 2017 3,191,630 $ 24.40 Granted — — Exercised (833,377 ) 19.96 Forfeited (119,527 ) 23.98 Expired (469,650 ) 28.59 Outstanding on August 31, 2018 1,769,076 $ 25.40 4.8 $ 7.9 million Exercisable on August 31, 2018 1,285,352 $ 25.52 3.8 $ 5.9 million
Summary of Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value Of options, Total Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised, and Cash Receipts from Options Exercised	A summary of the weighted-average grant-date fair value of options, total intrinsic value of options exercised, and cash receipts from options exercised is summarized below (in thousands, except per share amounts): Year Ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Weighted-average fair value of options granted (per share) N/A $ 11.88 $ 8.63 Intrinsic value of options exercised $ 5,284 2,208 989 Cash receipts from exercise of options 15,140 7,762 3,564
Weighted Average Assumptions	The following weighted-average assumptions were used in each fiscal year 2017 and 2016: Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2017 2016 Dividend yield 0.15 % 0.19 % Expected volatility 38.12 % 38.06 % Risk-free rate of return 2.42 % 2.06 % Expected forfeiture rate 11 % 13 % Expected life 7.4 years 6.1 years As of August 31, 2018 , there was $19.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based awards, including stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance shares, which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.1 years. The total fair value of share-based awards that vested during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2018 and 2017 was $14.3 million and $16.1 million , respectively.

Business Segment, Geographic _2

Business Segment, Geographic and Customer Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Summary of Financial Information by Reportable Segment and Product Line	The following tables summarize financial information by reportable segment and product line (in thousands): Year Ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Net Sales by Reportable Segment & Product Line: Industrial Tools & Services Segment: Product $ 439,405 $ 396,381 $ 400,780 Service & Rental 151,680 156,201 187,427 591,085 552,582 588,207 Engineered Components & Systems Segment: On-Highway 248,083 215,831 209,575 Agriculture, Off-Highway and Other 215,487 190,604 187,287 Rope & Cable Solutions 76,011 65,169 73,813 Concrete Tensioning 49,198 52,889 50,491 Off Shore Mooring 2,747 18,709 40,037 591,526 543,202 561,203 $ 1,182,611 $ 1,095,784 $ 1,149,410 Operating Profit (Loss): Industrial Tools & Services $ 99,432 $ 95,825 $ 119,922 Engineered Components & Systems (1) (51,982 ) (113,030 ) (190,654 ) General Corporate (29,252 ) (33,031 ) (29,485 ) $ 18,198 $ (50,236 ) $ (100,217 ) Depreciation and Amortization: Industrial Tools & Services $ 15,301 $ 15,025 $ 15,173 Engineered Components & Systems 23,424 26,072 30,855 General Corporate 1,982 2,013 1,749 $ 40,707 $ 43,110 $ 47,777 Capital Expenditures: Industrial Tools & Services $ 7,799 $ 8,614 $ 5,502 Engineered Components & Systems 11,653 16,884 12,397 General Corporate 1,418 2,697 2,310 $ 20,870 $ 28,195 $ 20,209 (1) Engineered Components & Systems segment operating loss includes impairment and divestiture charges of $73.1 million , $117.0 million and $186.6 million in fiscal 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. August 31, 2018 2017 Assets: Industrial Tools & Services $ 589,932 $ 599,321 Engineered Components & Systems 657,370 713,083 General Corporate 234,036 204,551 $ 1,481,338 $ 1,516,955
Financial Information From Continuing Operations By Geographic Region	The following tables summarize net sales and long-lived assets (fixed assets and other long-term assets, excluding deferred tax assets and debt issuance cots) by geographic region (in thousands): Year Ended August 31, 2018 2017 2016 Net Sales: United States $ 509,952 $ 480,801 $ 477,670 Netherlands 166,542 130,724 143,517 United Kingdom 87,182 84,106 115,183 China 64,031 68,373 47,312 Sweden 50,517 37,813 35,424 United Arab Emirates 43,707 39,974 55,906 France 40,351 39,563 42,780 Australia 28,510 38,924 62,779 All other 191,819 175,506 168,839 $ 1,182,611 $ 1,095,784 $ 1,149,410 August 31, 2018 2017 Long-lived Assets: United States $ 42,563 $ 36,254 China 14,909 16,332 Netherlands 12,200 9,134 United Arab Emirates 7,876 8,451 United Kingdom 4,076 5,467 All other 20,111 22,696 $ 101,735 $ 98,334

Guarantor Subsidiaries (Tables)

Guarantor Subsidiaries (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Earnings	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (in thousands) Year Ended August 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 159,411 $ 371,890 $ 651,310 $ — $ 1,182,611 Cost of products sold 29,619 275,280 462,452 — 767,351 Gross profit 129,792 96,610 188,858 — 415,260 Selling, administrative and engineering expenses 81,194 72,688 137,562 — 291,444 Amortization of intangible assets 1,272 11,394 7,899 — 20,565 Restructuring charges 6,433 1,398 4,164 — 11,995 Impairment & divestiture charges 4,217 23,740 45,101 — 73,058 Operating profit (loss) 36,676 (12,610 ) (5,868 ) — 18,198 Financing costs (income), net 31,752 81 (342 ) — 31,491 Intercompany (income) expense, net (17,042 ) 26,596 (9,554 ) — — Intercompany dividends — (28,822 ) — 28,822 — Other (income) expense, net (1,200 ) 57 522 — (621 ) Earnings (loss) before income tax (benefit) expense 23,166 (10,522 ) 3,506 (28,822 ) (12,672 ) Income tax (benefit) expense (25,380 ) 17,921 16,435 — 8,976 Net earnings (loss) before equity in (loss) earnings of subsidiaries 48,546 (28,443 ) (12,929 ) (28,822 ) (21,648 ) Equity in (loss) earnings of subsidiaries (70,194 ) (15,652 ) 2,103 83,743 — Net loss (21,648 ) (44,095 ) (10,826 ) 54,921 (21,648 ) Comprehensive income (loss) $ 31,368 $ (44,095 ) $ 40,800 $ 3,295 $ 31,368 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (in thousands) Year Ended August 31, 2017 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 145,223 $ 355,989 $ 594,572 $ — $ 1,095,784 Cost of products sold 34,300 260,700 421,067 — 716,067 Gross profit 110,923 95,289 173,505 — 379,717 Selling, administrative and engineering expenses 74,996 69,826 132,666 — 277,488 Amortization of intangible assets 1,272 11,715 7,487 — 20,474 Director & officer transition charges 7,784 — — — 7,784 Restructuring charges 826 1,359 5,043 — 7,228 Impairment & divestiture charges — — 116,979 — 116,979 Operating profit (loss) 26,045 12,389 (88,670 ) — (50,236 ) Financing costs, net 30,005 35 (337 ) — 29,703 Intercompany (income) expense, net (22,941 ) 22,066 875 — — Intercompany dividends 5,353 (59,401 ) (5,353 ) 59,401 — Other expense (income), net 2,690 87 (25 ) — 2,752 Earnings (loss) before income tax benefit 10,938 49,602 (83,830 ) (59,401 ) (82,691 ) Income tax benefit (782 ) (14,574 ) (1,122 ) — (16,478 ) Net earnings (loss) before equity in (loss) earnings of subsidiaries 11,720 64,176 (82,708 ) (59,401 ) (66,213 ) Equity in (loss) earnings of subsidiaries (77,933 ) (81,389 ) 3,335 155,987 — Net loss (66,213 ) (17,213 ) (79,373 ) 96,586 (66,213 ) Comprehensive loss $ (41,651 ) $ (35,121 ) $ (39,942 ) $ 75,063 $ (41,651 ) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (in thousands) Year Ended August 31, 2016 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 135,679 $ 361,209 $ 652,522 $ — $ 1,149,410 Cost of products sold 34,576 263,197 448,240 — 746,013 Gross profit 101,103 98,012 204,282 — 403,397 Selling, administrative and engineering expenses 69,677 69,382 135,438 — 274,497 Amortization of intangible assets 1,272 13,287 8,384 — 22,943 Loss on product line divestiture — 5,092 — — 5,092 Restructuring charges 2,426 3,455 8,690 — 14,571 Impairment charges — 49,012 137,499 — 186,511 Operating profit (loss) 27,728 (42,216 ) (85,729 ) — (100,217 ) Financing costs, net 30,123 — (1,355 ) — 28,768 Intercompany (income) expense, net (20,445 ) (9,999 ) 30,444 — — Intercompany dividends — — (5,338 ) 5,338 — Other expense, net 914 54 391 — 1,359 Earnings (loss) before income taxes 17,136 (32,271 ) (109,871 ) (5,338 ) (130,344 ) Income tax (benefit) expense (8,729 ) 519 (17,046 ) 86 (25,170 ) Net earnings (loss) before equity in (loss) earnings of subsidiaries 25,865 (32,790 ) (92,825 ) (5,424 ) (105,174 ) Equity in (loss) earnings of subsidiaries (131,037 ) (83,747 ) 3,024 211,760 — Net loss (105,174 ) (116,537 ) (89,801 ) 206,336 (105,174 ) Comprehensive loss $ (143,357 ) $ (157,344 ) $ (83,802 ) $ 241,146 $ (143,357 )
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) August 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 67,649 $ — $ 182,841 $ — $ 250,490 Accounts receivable, net 19,969 54,822 112,958 — 187,749 Inventories, net 22,570 59,391 74,395 — 156,356 Assets held for sale — — 23,573 — 23,573 Other current assets 7,358 4,759 30,615 — 42,732 Total current assets 117,546 118,972 424,382 — 660,900 Property, plant & equipment, net 7,937 26,408 55,875 — 90,220 Goodwill 38,847 203,543 270,022 — 512,412 Other intangible assets, net 6,884 121,793 52,360 — 181,037 Investment in subsidiaries 1,836,954 1,211,781 789,917 (3,838,652 ) — Intercompany receivables — 622,646 200,173 (822,819 ) — Other long-term assets 12,955 366 23,448 — 36,769 Total assets $ 2,021,123 $ 2,305,509 $ 1,816,177 $ (4,661,471 ) $ 1,481,338 LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Trade accounts payable $ 15,890 $ 29,022 $ 85,926 $ — $ 130,838 Accrued compensation and benefits 22,171 9,804 22,533 — 54,508 Current maturities of debt 30,000 — — — 30,000 Income taxes payable — — 4,091 — 4,091 Liabilities held for sale — — 44,225 — 44,225 Other current liabilities 17,379 11,078 38,842 — 67,299 Total current liabilities 85,440 49,904 195,617 — 330,961 Long-term debt 502,695 — — — 502,695 Deferred income taxes 17,467 — 4,466 — 21,933 Pension and post-retirement benefit liabilities 7,765 — 7,104 — 14,869 Other long-term liabilities 45,483 359 6,326 — 52,168 Intercompany payable 803,561 19,258 — (822,819 ) — Shareholders’ equity 558,712 2,235,988 1,602,664 (3,838,652 ) 558,712 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 2,021,123 $ 2,305,509 $ 1,816,177 $ (4,661,471 ) $ 1,481,338 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) August 31, 2017 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 34,715 $ — $ 194,856 $ — $ 229,571 Accounts receivable, net 17,498 50,749 121,959 — 190,206 Inventories, net 23,308 48,492 71,851 — 143,651 Assets held for sale — — 21,835 — 21,835 Other current assets 23,576 3,619 34,468 — 61,663 Total current assets 99,097 102,860 444,969 — 646,926 Property, plant & equipment, net 7,049 26,130 61,342 — 94,521 Goodwill 38,847 200,499 290,735 — 530,081 Other intangible assets, net 8,156 138,042 74,291 — 220,489 Investment in subsidiaries 1,832,472 1,186,715 805,016 (3,824,203 ) — Intercompany receivable — 589,193 205,183 (794,376 ) — Other long-term assets 8,377 812 15,749 — 24,938 Total assets $ 1,993,998 $ 2,244,251 $ 1,897,285 $ (4,618,579 ) $ 1,516,955 LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Trade accounts payable $ 15,412 $ 27,168 $ 90,807 $ — $ 133,387 Accrued compensation and benefits 19,082 7,672 24,185 — 50,939 Current maturities of debt 30,000 — — — 30,000 Income taxes payable 153 — 5,927 — 6,080 Liabilities held for sale — — 101,083 — 101,083 Other current liabilities 18,512 7,169 31,764 — 57,445 Total current liabilities 83,159 42,009 253,766 — 378,934 Long-term debt 531,940 — — — 531,940 Deferred income taxes 24,164 — 5,695 — 29,859 Pension and post-retirement benefit liabilities 12,540 — 7,322 — 19,862 Other long-term liabilities 48,692 352 6,777 — 55,821 Intercompany payable 792,964 — 1,412 (794,376 ) — Shareholders’ equity 500,539 2,201,890 1,622,313 (3,824,203 ) 500,539 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 1,993,998 $ 2,244,251 $ 1,897,285 $ (4,618,579 ) $ 1,516,955
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) Year Ended August 31, 2018 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities $ 63,264 $ 27,673 $ 15,156 $ — $ 106,093 Investing Activities Capital expenditures (2,822 ) (8,015 ) (10,033 ) — (20,870 ) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment — 99 54 — 153 Rental asset buyout for Viking divestiture — — (27,718 ) — (27,718 ) Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction costs 198 — 8,704 — 8,902 Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired — (1,732 ) (21,486 ) — (23,218 ) Intercompany investment (11,754 ) (1 ) — 11,755 — Cash used in investing activities (14,378 ) (9,649 ) (50,479 ) 11,755 (62,751 ) Financing Activities Principal repayment on term loan (30,000 ) — — — (30,000 ) Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards (1,284 ) — — — (1,284 ) Stock option exercises, related tax benefits and other 15,681 — — — 15,681 Cash dividend (2,390 ) — — — (2,390 ) Changes in receivables and payable to subsidiaries 2,041 (18,024 ) 15,983 — — Intercompany capital contribution — — 11,755 (11,755 ) — Cash (used in) provided by financing activities (15,952 ) (18,024 ) 27,738 (11,755 ) (17,993 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash — — (4,430 ) — (4,430 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 32,934 — (12,015 ) — 20,919 Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period 34,715 — 194,856 — 229,571 Cash and cash equivalents—end of period $ 67,649 $ — $ 182,841 $ — $ 250,490 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) Year Ended August 31, 2017 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities $ 99,241 $ 14,340 $ 39,672 $ (64,754 ) $ 88,499 Investing Activities Capital expenditures (3,391 ) (9,265 ) (15,539 ) — (28,195 ) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment — 207 363 — 570 Intercompany investment (6,900 ) — — 6,900 — Cash used in investing activities (10,291 ) (9,058 ) (15,176 ) 6,900 (27,625 ) Financing Activities Principal repayment on term loan (18,750 ) — — — (18,750 ) Redemption on 5.625% Senior Notes (500 ) — — — (500 ) Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards (1,065 ) — — — (1,065 ) Stock option exercises, related tax benefits and other 8,265 — — — 8,265 Payment of deferred acquisition consideration — — (742 ) — (742 ) Cash dividend (2,358 ) (5,353 ) (59,401 ) 64,754 (2,358 ) Intercompany loan activity (47,780 ) — 47,780 — — Intercompany capital contributions — — 6,900 (6,900 ) — Cash used in financing activities (62,188 ) (5,353 ) (5,463 ) 57,854 (15,150 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash — — 4,243 — 4,243 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 26,762 (71 ) 23,276 — 49,967 Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period 7,953 71 171,580 — 179,604 Cash and cash equivalents—end of period $ 34,715 $ — $ 194,856 $ — $ 229,571 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) Year Ended August 31, 2016 Parent Guarantors Non-Guarantors Eliminations Consolidated Operating Activities Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 58,926 $ (1,953 ) $ 66,062 $ (5,338 ) $ 117,697 Investing Activities Capital expenditures (2,135 ) (6,781 ) (11,293 ) — (20,209 ) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 13 7,000 2,283 — 9,296 Intercompany investment (339 ) (3,458 ) — 3,797 — Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired — — (81,916 ) — (81,916 ) Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction costs — 9,695 — — 9,695 Cash (used in) provided by investing activities (2,461 ) 6,456 (90,926 ) 3,797 (83,134 ) Financing Activities Net repayments on revolving credit facility — — (210 ) — (210 ) Principal repayments on term loan (3,750 ) — — — (3,750 ) Purchase of treasury shares (17,101 ) — — — (17,101 ) Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards (1,409 ) — — — (1,409 ) Stock option exercises, related tax benefits and other 6,416 — — — 6,416 Cash dividend (2,376 ) (5,338 ) — 5,338 (2,376 ) Intercompany loan activity (48,980 ) — 48,980 — — Intercompany capital contributions — 339 3,458 (3,797 ) — Cash (used in) provided by financing activities (67,200 ) (4,999 ) 52,228 1,541 (18,430 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash — — (5,375 ) — (5,375 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (10,735 ) (496 ) 21,989 — 10,758 Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period 18,688 567 149,591 — 168,846 Cash and cash equivalents—end of period $ 7,953 $ 71 $ 171,580 $ — $ 179,604

Quarterly Financial Data (Una_2

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Quarterly Financial Data	Quarterly financial data for fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2017 is as follows: Year Ended August 31, 2018 First Second Third Fourth Total Net sales $ 288,955 $ 275,165 $ 317,096 $ 301,395 $ 1,182,611 Gross profit 100,911 89,696 116,509 108,144 415,260 Net earnings (loss) 5,226 (18,221 ) 29,012 (37,665 ) (21,648 ) Net earnings per share: Basic $ 0.09 $ (0.30 ) $ 0.48 $ (0.62 ) $ (0.36 ) Diluted $ 0.09 $ (0.30 ) $ 0.48 $ (0.62 ) $ (0.36 ) Year Ended August 31, 2017 First Second Third Fourth Total Net sales $ 265,793 $ 258,869 $ 295,427 $ 275,695 $ 1,095,784 Gross profit 93,067 87,327 102,804 96,519 379,717 Net earnings (loss) 4,966 5,074 22,511 (98,764 ) (66,213 ) Net earnings (loss) per share: Basic $ 0.08 $ 0.09 $ 0.38 $ (1.65 ) $ (1.11 ) Diluted $ 0.08 $ 0.08 $ 0.37 $ (1.65 ) $ (1.11 )

Reconciliation of Changes in Ac

Reconciliation of Changes in Accrued Product Warranty (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Accounts Receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 5,400	$ 11,200
Movement in Standard and Extended Product Warranty Accrual, Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	6,616	5,592
Standard and Extended Product Warranty Accrual, Increase for Warranties Issued	5,522	5,608
Warranty payments and costs incurred	(7,263)	(4,714)
Standard and Extended Product Warranty Accrual, Decrease for Business Divestitures	(376)	0
Standard and Extended Product Warranty Accrual, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	(82)	130
Ending balance	$ 4,417	$ 6,616

Summary of Significant Accoun_3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018USD ($)Segment	Aug. 31, 2017USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2015USD ($)
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Deficiency from Share-based Compensation	$ 1,500
Revenue Threshold for Percentage of Completion	$ 500
Number of reportable segments | Segment	2
Portion of inventory determined using last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method	16.80%	18.00%
Inventory LIFO reserve	$ 6,000	$ 3,900
Standard and Extended Product Warranty Accrual	4,417	6,616	$ 5,592
Standard and Extended Product Warranty Accrual, Increase for Warranties Issued	5,522	5,608
Standard and Extended Product Warranty Accrual, Decrease for Payments	(7,263)	(4,714)
Standard and Extended Product Warranty Accrual, Decrease for Business Divestitures	(376)	0
Standard and Extended Product Warranty Accrual, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	(82)	130
Unearned Revenue	16,500	10,100
Accounts Receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	5,400	11,200
Research and development costs	25,900	21,900	18,300
Foreign exchange transaction (gains)/losses	(400)	3,100	1,300
Interest Income, Other	1,200	1,200	1,700
AOCI - Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	158,497	207,804
AOCI - Pension and other postretirement benefit plans, net of tax	(15,748)	(19,457)
Total shareholders’ equity	558,712	500,539	520,950	$ 673,001
Debt Issuance Costs, Net	(2,364)	(3,119)
Depreciation Expense	$ 20,000	23,000	25,000
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities		600
Minimum | Buildings and improvements
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	10 years
Minimum | Machinery and equipment
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	2 years
Maximum | Buildings and improvements
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	40 years
Maximum | Machinery and equipment
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	15 years
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Total shareholders’ equity	$ (174,245)	$ (227,261)	$ (251,823)	$ (213,640)

Director & Officer Transition_2

Director & Officer Transition Charges (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Compensation Related Costs [Abstract]
Director & officer transition charges	$ 0	$ 7,784	$ 0

Restructuring Charges (Details)

Restructuring Charges (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	$ 3,694	$ 5,637	$ 6,273
Restructuring charges	11,995	7,228	14,571
Restructuring Charges, including recorded in Cost of Product Sold	12,844
Restructuring costs recorded in cost of products sold	900
Restructuring Reserve, Cash Payments	(10,384)	(7,509)
Restructuring Reserve, Settled without Cash	(4,150)	(527)
Restructuring Reserve, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	(253)	172
Industrial Tools & Services [Member] [Domain]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	1,687	1,499	1,626
Restructuring charges	4,286	2,652
Restructuring Reserve, Cash Payments	(3,375)	(2,568)
Restructuring Reserve, Settled without Cash	(635)	(198)
Restructuring Reserve, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	(88)	(13)
Engineered Components & Systems [Member] [Domain]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	1,592	4,108	4,601
Restructuring charges	3,713	4,465
Restructuring Reserve, Cash Payments	(4,652)	(4,858)
Restructuring Reserve, Settled without Cash	(1,412)	(285)
Restructuring Reserve, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	(165)	185
Corporate Segment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	415	30	$ 46
Restructuring charges	4,845	111
Restructuring Reserve, Cash Payments	(2,357)	(83)
Restructuring Reserve, Settled without Cash	(2,103)	(44)
Restructuring Reserve, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	$ 0	$ 0

Proforma Results of Operations

Proforma Results of Operations (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales, As reported	$ 1,182,611,000	$ 1,095,784,000	$ 1,149,410,000
Net sales, Pro forma			1,175,303,915
Earnings from continuing operations			(105,174,000)
Earnings from continuing operations, Pro forma			$ (100,926,578)
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations, As reported			$ (1.78)
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations, Pro forma			(1.71)
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, As reported			(1.78)
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, Pro forma			$ (1.71)
Fiscal 2016 acquisitions [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales, As reported	$ 44,700,000	$ 32,800,000	$ 19,100,000

Acquisitions - Additional Infor

Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	May 11, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 02, 2017USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)	Feb. 18, 2016USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016acquisition	Aug. 31, 2018USD ($)acquisition	Aug. 31, 2017USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016USD ($)acquisition	Dec. 01, 2017USD ($)	Mar. 30, 2016USD ($)	Feb. 17, 2016USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired						$ 23,218	$ 0	$ 81,916
Recognition of Goodwill due to Business acquired						$ 12,441
Number of businesses acquired | acquisition					0	2		2
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments							(1,085)
Net sales						$ 1,182,611	1,095,784	$ 1,149,410
Mirage Machines [Domain]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Date of Acquisition Agreement		Dec. 1, 2017
Mirage Machines [Member] [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired		$ 17,400
Recognition of Goodwill due to Business acquired		$ 9,900
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill									$ 4,100
Equalizer [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Date of Acquisition Agreement	May 11, 2018
Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	$ 5,800
Recognition of Goodwill due to Business acquired	2,600
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill	1,900
FY18 Acquisitions (Mirage Machines and Equalizer) [Domain]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Receivables						2,324
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill						6,049
Acquisition Costs, Period Cost						1,100	700
Business Acquisition, Net Revenue						8,200
Larzep
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Date of Acquisition Agreement				Feb. 17, 2016
Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired				$ 15,900
Recognition of Goodwill due to Business acquired				$ 9,700
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill											$ 4,800
Pipeline and Process Services
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Date of Acquisition Agreement			Mar. 30, 2016
Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired			$ 65,500
Recognition of Goodwill due to Business acquired			37,400
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill										$ 8,700
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments			$ 1,100
Fiscal 2016 acquisitions [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales						$ 44,700	$ 32,800	19,100
Acquisition Costs, Period Cost								$ 2,100
Customer Relationships | Mirage Machines [Domain]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill									1,800
Customer Relationships | Equalizer [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill	1,100
Customer Relationships | Larzep
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill											3,600
Customer Relationships | Pipeline and Process Services
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill										8,000
Non-compete Agreements | Pipeline and Process Services
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill										$ 700
Trade Names | Mirage Machines [Member] [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill									$ 2,300
Trade Names | Equalizer [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill	$ 800
Trade Names | Larzep
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill											$ 1,200

Acquisitions Schedule of Reco_2

Acquisitions Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018USD ($)
Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed as Part of Business Combination [Line Items]
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net	$ (23,218)
FY18 Acquisitions (Mirage Machines and Equalizer) [Domain]
Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed as Part of Business Combination [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Receivables	2,324
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Inventory	4,388
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Other	263
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment	2,064
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Goodwill	12,441
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill	6,049
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Accounts Payable	(2,090)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Accrued Compensation and Benefits	(175)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Income Taxes Payable	(779)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, other current liabilities	(239)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Deferred Tax Liabilities	$ (1,028)

Divestiture Activities- Additio

Divestiture Activities- Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 01, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 25, 2016	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Impairment and divestiture charges					$ 73,058	$ 116,979
Asset Impairment Charges							$ 186,511
Loss on product line divestiture					0	0	(5,092)
Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction costs					8,902	0	9,695
Gain on disposal of business, net of tax benefit					0	0	(1,557)
Cortland Fibron [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Impairment and divestiture charges					46,331
Impairment Charge Representing Excess of the Net Book Value of Assets Held for Sale to the Anticipated Proceeds					10,500
Cumulative Effect of Foreign Currency Rate Change Since Acquisition					35,300
Other Divestiture Charges					500
Income Tax Benefit Related to Write Down of Assets					1,400
Viking [Domain]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Cash Charge Related to Operating Lease Buyout		$ 28,600				28,600
Asset Impairment Charges						16,100
Cumulative Effect of Foreign Currency Rate Change Since Acquisition						69,000
Other Divestiture Charges		$ 3,300
Income Tax Benefit Related to Write Down of Assets						8,100
Disposal Date	Dec. 1, 2017
Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction costs					8,780
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current [Abstract]
Divestiture Charges					12,400
Business Exit Costs					3,000
Discrete Income Tax Expense					9,400
FY18 Divestiture Businesses [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, annual revenue					$ 23,900	$ 34,400	$ 58,000
Sanlo [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Date			Aug. 25, 2016
Loss on product line divestiture			$ (5,092)
Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction costs			9,700
Gain on disposal of business, net of tax benefit			$ 1,600
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, annual revenue				$ 10,800

Divestitures Activities Sched_2

Divestitures Activities Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale [Line Items]
Assets held-for-sale	$ 23,573	$ 21,835
Liabilities held for sale	44,225	101,083
Viking [Member]
Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accounts, Notes and Loans Receivable, Net		2,426
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Inventory, Current		190
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Assets, Current		1,927
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Property, Plant and Equipment, Noncurrent		7,534
Divestiture Activity, Asset Held for Sale, Goodwill and other Intangible Assets		0
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Assets, Noncurrent		9,758
Assets held-for-sale		21,835
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accounts Payable, Current		1,883
Divestiture Activity, Liability Held for Sale, Accrued Compensation		0
Divestiture Activities, Liability Held for Sale - Rental Asset Lease Buyout Liability		28,644
Divestiture Activity, Liability Held for Sale, Reserve for Cumulative Translation Adjustment		68,919
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Liabilities, Current		1,637
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accrued Income Tax Payable, Noncurrent		0
Liabilities held for sale		$ 101,083
Cortland Fibron [Member]
Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accounts, Notes and Loans Receivable, Net	2,924
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Inventory, Current	2,597
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Assets, Current	3,267
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Property, Plant and Equipment, Noncurrent	2,186
Divestiture Activity, Asset Held for Sale, Goodwill and other Intangible Assets	12,464
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Assets, Noncurrent	135
Assets held-for-sale	23,573
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accounts Payable, Current	3,915
Divestiture Activity, Liability Held for Sale, Accrued Compensation	1,414
Divestiture Activities, Liability Held for Sale - Rental Asset Lease Buyout Liability	0
Divestiture Activity, Liability Held for Sale, Reserve for Cumulative Translation Adjustment	35,346
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Liabilities, Current	1,269
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accrued Income Tax Payable, Noncurrent	2,281
Liabilities held for sale	$ 44,225

Changes in Carrying Value of Go

Changes in Carrying Value of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 530,081	$ 519,276
Recognition of Goodwill due to Business acquired	12,441
Goodwill, Impairment Charge	(21,227)		$ (118,122)
Goodwill, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	(7,383)	9,720
Goodwill, Reclassification of Assets Held for Sale	(1,500)
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments		1,085
Ending Balance	512,412	530,081	519,276
Industrial Tools & Services [Member] [Domain]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	238,707	235,457
Recognition of Goodwill due to Business acquired	12,441
Goodwill, Impairment Charge	0
Goodwill, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	(2,443)	2,165
Goodwill, Reclassification of Assets Held for Sale	0
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments		1,085
Ending Balance	248,705	238,707	235,457
Engineered Components & Systems [Member] [Domain]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	291,374	283,819
Recognition of Goodwill due to Business acquired	0
Goodwill, Impairment Charge	21,227
Goodwill, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	(4,940)	7,555
Goodwill, Reclassification of Assets Held for Sale	(1,500)
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments		0
Ending Balance	$ 263,707	$ 291,374	$ 283,819

Gross Carrying Value and Accumu

Gross Carrying Value and Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Accumulated Amortization	$ 193,941	$ 192,660
Net Book Value	181,037	220,489
Intangible assets, gross	374,978	413,149
Trade Names
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	87,253	91,080
Finite-Lived Accumulated Amortization	0	0
Net Book Value	87,253	91,080
Customer Relationships
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	230,601	263,498
Finite-Lived Accumulated Amortization	147,451	153,003
Net Book Value	$ 83,150	110,495
Weighted Average Amortization Period	15 years
Patents
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 30,355	30,401
Finite-Lived Accumulated Amortization	25,327	24,027
Net Book Value	$ 5,028	6,374
Weighted Average Amortization Period	11 years
Trademarks and Tradenames
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 20,823	21,498
Finite-Lived Accumulated Amortization	15,347	9,396
Net Book Value	$ 5,476	12,102
Weighted Average Amortization Period	18 years
Non-Compete Agreements and Other
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 5,946	6,672
Finite-Lived Accumulated Amortization	5,816	6,234
Net Book Value	$ 130	$ 438
Weighted Average Amortization Period	3 years

Goodwill and Other Intangible_3

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment charge		$ 186,511
Goodwill, Impairment Charge	$ 21,227	118,122
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	6,710	16,653
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	5,076	27,952
Tangible Asset Impairment Charges	1,207	23,784
Future amortization expense, 2019	17,200
Future amortization expense, 2020	16,600
Future amortization expense, 2021	15,700
Future amortization expense, 2022	13,700
Future amortization expense, 2023	10,600
Future amortization expense, thereafter	20,000
Viking and Cortland [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment charge		140,837
Precision-Hayes International [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment charge	23,740
Goodwill, Impairment Charge	17,457
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	0
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	5,076
Tangible Asset Impairment Charges	1,207
maximatecc
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment charge		45,674
Goodwill, Impairment Charge		44,521
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)		1,153
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived		0
Tangible Asset Impairment Charges		0
Viking [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment charge		104,124
Goodwill, Impairment Charge		39,099
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)		13,289
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived		27,952
Tangible Asset Impairment Charges		23,784
Cortland
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment charge		36,713
Goodwill, Impairment Charge		34,502
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)		2,211
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived		0
Tangible Asset Impairment Charges		$ 0
Cortland Fibron and Precision Hayes [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment charge	34,220
Cortland Fibron [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment charge	10,480
Goodwill, Impairment Charge	3,770
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	6,710
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	0
Tangible Asset Impairment Charges	$ 0

Long-Term Indebtedness (Detail)

Long-Term Indebtedness (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Senior Indebtedness	$ 535,059	$ 565,059
Less: current maturities of long-term debt	(30,000)	(30,000)
Debt Issuance Costs, Net	(2,364)	(3,119)
Long-term Debt, net	502,695	531,940
Senior Credit Facility | Senior Credit Facility - Revolver
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Senior Indebtedness	0	0
Senior Credit Facility | Senior Credit Facility - Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Senior Indebtedness	247,500	277,500
Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Senior Indebtedness	247,500	277,500
Senior Notes | 5.625% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
5.625% Senior Notes Carrying Value	$ 287,559	$ 287,559

Debt - Additional Information (

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018USD ($)covenant	Aug. 31, 2017USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016USD ($)	May 31, 2018USD ($)	Apr. 16, 2012USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt			$ 535,059	$ 535,059	$ 565,059
Write off of deferred financing costs				800
Repayments of Senior Debt					500
Cash interest payments				28,800	27,100	$ 27,200
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities			(30,000)	(30,000)	(30,000)
Long-term Debt, net			502,695	502,695	531,940
Senior Credit Facility - Revolver | Senior Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt			0	0	0
Senior Credit Facility - Term Loan | Senior Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt			$ 247,500	$ 247,500	$ 277,500
5.625% Senior Notes | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date				Jun. 15, 2022
Face amount								$ 300,000
Debt instrument, interest rate			5.625%	5.625%	5.625%	5.625%		5.625%
Repayments of Senior Debt				$ 0	$ 500	$ 0
5.625% Senior Notes Carrying Value			$ 287,559	$ 287,559	$ 287,559
Minimum | 5.625% Senior Notes | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Redemption Price As Percentage Of Principal								100.00%
Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Leverage ratio			3.75	3.75
Maximum | 5.625% Senior Notes | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Redemption Price As Percentage Of Principal								102.80%
Senior Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior credit facility expansion option, available			$ 450,000	$ 450,000
Number of financial covenants | covenant				2
Senior Credit Facility | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage ratio			3.50	3.50
Senior Credit Facility | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate over variable rate				2.00%
Debt instrument actual interest rate			4.13%	4.13%
Senior Credit Facility | LIBOR | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate over variable rate				1.00%
Senior Credit Facility | LIBOR | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate over variable rate				2.25%
Senior Credit Facility | Base Rate | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate over variable rate				0.00%
Senior Credit Facility | Base Rate | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate over variable rate				1.25%
Senior Credit Facility - Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 300,000	$ 300,000
Senior Credit Facility - Term Loan | Starting on June 30, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Quarterly installments, payable on term loan		$ 3,800
Senior Credit Facility - Term Loan | Starting on June 30, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Quarterly installments, payable on term loan	$ 7,500
Senior Credit Facility - Revolver
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity			300,000	300,000			$ 600,000
Unused credit line			298,800	298,800
Unused Borrowing Capacity Available for Borrowing			$ 255,700	$ 255,700
Senior Credit Facility - Revolver | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of non-use fee, annually			0.15%
Senior Credit Facility - Revolver | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of non-use fee, annually			0.35%

Fair Value Measurements - Addit

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Apr. 16, 2012
5.625% Senior Notes | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	5.625%	5.625%	5.625%	5.625%
Fair value of long-term debt	$ 293,500	$ 295,800
5.625% Senior Notes Carrying Value	287,559	287,559
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Foreign Currency Contracts Net Assets (Liabilities) Fair Value Disclosure	$ 400	$ (200)

Derivatives - Additional Inform

Derivatives - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge Derivatives and Not Designated as Hedging Instruments at Fair Value	$ 1,423	$ (2,962)	$ (1,520)
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2
Derivative [Line Items]
Foreign Currency Contracts Net Assets (Liabilities) Fair Value Disclosure	400	(200)
Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 17,000	$ 22,000

Leases - Additional Information

Leases - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Leases Disclosure [Line Items]
Due in 2019	$ 29.4
Due in 2020	20.6
Due in 2021	15.3
Due in 2022	13.1
Due in 2023	10.8
Due thereafter	35
Operating lease, rental expense	$ 34.9	$ 37.4	$ 37.6
Minimum
Leases Disclosure [Line Items]
Lease agreements period	1 year
Maximum
Leases Disclosure [Line Items]
Lease agreements period	20 years

Changes in Projected Benefit Ob

Changes in Projected Benefit Obligations, Fair Value of Plan Assets and Funded Status of Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Reconciliation of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$ 40,027
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	40,244	$ 40,027
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Fixed Income Securities
Reconciliation of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	11,614
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	19,921	11,614
Domestic Plan [Member]
Reconciliation of benefit obligations:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	46,806	50,409
Interest cost	1,633	1,690	$ 1,970
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Actuarial Gain (Loss)	(2,330)	(1,997)
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Benefits Paid	(2,829)	(3,296)
Benefit obligation at end of year	43,280	46,806	50,409
Reconciliation of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	40,027	39,489
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Increase (Decrease) for Actual Return (Loss)	2,938	3,599
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Contributions by Employer	108	235
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Benefits Paid	(2,829)	(3,296)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	40,244	40,027	$ 39,489
Funded status of the plans (underfunded)	$ (3,036)	$ (6,779)

Net Periodic Benefit Costs (Det

Net Periodic Benefit Costs (Detail) - Domestic Plan [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest cost	$ 1,633	$ 1,690	$ 1,970
Expected return on assets	(2,668)	(2,867)	(2,997)
Amortization of actuarial loss	$ 1,127	$ 1,141	$ 837

Weighted Average Assumptions Us

Weighted Average Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligations and Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Detail) - Domestic Plan [Member]	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Assumptions for benefit obligations:
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate	4.05%	3.60%	3.45%
Assumptions for net periodic benefit cost:
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Discount Rate	3.60%	3.45%	4.45%
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Expected Long-term Rate of Return on Plan Assets	7.00%	7.15%	7.40%

U.S. Pension Plan Investment Al

U.S. Pension Plan Investment Allocations by Asset Category (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Schedule of Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 40,244	$ 40,027
Percentage of fair value of pension plan assets	100.00%	100.00%
Cash and cash equivalents | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1
Schedule of Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 559	$ 395
Percentage of fair value of pension plan assets	1.40%	1.00%
Fixed Income Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2
Schedule of Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 19,921	$ 11,614
Percentage of fair value of pension plan assets	49.50%	29.00%
Fixed Income Securities | Corporate Bond Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2
Schedule of Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 19,107	$ 8,475
Percentage of fair value of pension plan assets	47.50%	21.20%
Fixed Income Securities | Mutual Funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2
Schedule of Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 814	$ 3,139
Percentage of fair value of pension plan assets	2.00%	7.80%
Equity Securities | Mutual Funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1
Schedule of Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 19,764	$ 28,018
Percentage of fair value of pension plan assets	49.10%	70.00%

Funded Status of Defined Benefi

Funded Status of Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 40,244	$ 40,027
Foreign Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in fiscal 2019	300
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in fiscal 2020	300
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in fiscal 2021	400
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in, fiscal 2022	500
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in, fiscal 2023	400
Amount of benefits expected to be paid fiscal 2024 through fiscal 2027	2,400
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	13,936	14,645
Fair value of plan assets	7,938	7,950
Funded status of the plans (underfunded)	$ (5,998)	$ (6,695)

Employee Benefit Plans Employee

Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Compensation Expense		$ 1,500	$ 1,600	$ 1,600
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation		2,900	3,800
Foreign Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost		100	200	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Employer Contributions, Next Fiscal Year		$ 200
Defined Benefit Plan, Ultimate Health Care Cost Trend Rate		7.00%
Defined Benefit Plan Health Care Cost Trend Rate In Future Period		5.00%
Other Current Liabilities and Other Long-term Liabilities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Liability, Current and Noncurrent		$ 20,100	20,900
Domestic Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in fiscal 2019		3,000
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in fiscal 2020		3,000
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in fiscal 2021		2,900
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in, fiscal 2022		2,900
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in, fiscal 2023		2,900
Amount of benefits expected to be paid fiscal 2024 through fiscal 2027		14,600
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	$ 50,409	43,280	46,806	50,409
Foreign Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost		$ 92	$ (36)	$ (190)
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate	3.45%	4.05%	3.60%	3.45%
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Plan, Gain (Loss), after Tax		$ (13,200)	$ (16,000)
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Amortization, Next Fiscal Year		$ 800
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Long Term Rate Of Returns On Assets Assumption		5.75%
Foreign Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in fiscal 2019		$ 300
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in fiscal 2020		300
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in fiscal 2021		400
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in, fiscal 2022		500
Amount of benefits expected to be paid in, fiscal 2023		400
Amount of benefits expected to be paid fiscal 2024 through fiscal 2027		2,400
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation		13,936	14,645
Foreign Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost		$ 700	$ 1,000	$ 700
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate		2.20%	2.30%
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Employer Contributions, Next Fiscal Year		$ 300
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Long Term Rate Of Returns On Assets Assumption		4.40%
401(k) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match		25.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay		6.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost		$ 4,700	$ 4,700	4,400
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent		50.00%
Maximum Percentage Of Core Contributions Made By Employer		3.00%
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation		$ 1,700	$ 1,600
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost	$ 300	$ 300		$ 300
Minimum | Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan Employer Contribution Percentage		3.00%
Maximum | Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan Employer Contribution Percentage		6.00%

Income Tax Expense from Continu

Income Tax Expense from Continuing Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Currently payable:
Currently payable, Federal	$ 919	$ (14,769)	$ 2,205
Currently payable, Foreign	12,532	15,665	11,838
Currently payable, State	120	(850)	912
Currently payable	13,571	46	14,955
Deferred:
Deferred, Federal	(7,837)	603	(12,470)
Deferred, Foreign	3,905	(16,837)	(23,797)
Deferred, State	(663)	(290)	(3,858)
Benefit for deferred income taxes	(4,595)	(16,524)	(40,125)
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ 8,976	$ (16,478)	$ (25,170)

Reconciliation of Income Taxes

Reconciliation of Income Taxes at Federal Statutory Rate to Effective Tax Rate (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	4 Months Ended	8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal statutory rate	35.00%	21.00%	25.70%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of federal effect			5.10%	1.10%	1.20%
Net effects of foreign tax rate differential and credits			26.90%	(3.50%)	2.40%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Domestic Manufacturing Deduction			3.90%	0.60%	0.30%
Foreign Branch Currency Losses			3.20%	(0.30%)	4.90%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Compensation Adjustment			(11.10%)	0.00%	0.00%
Impairment and divestiture charges			(125.90%)	(11.20%)	(27.00%)
Valuation allowance additions and releases			(31.70%)	(16.20%)	(0.70%)
Changes in liability for unrecognized tax benefits			51.70%	(3.70%)	(0.90%)
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, U.S. Tax Reform, Net Impact			(3.90%)	0.00%	0.00%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Changes in Liability for Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Percent			(11.70%)	22.10%	0.00%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Nondeductible Expense, Percent			(18.20%)	(4.60%)	(1.70%)
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Enacted Tax Rate, Percent			2.20%	(2.10%)	0.90%
Business divestiture			0.00%	0.00%	3.90%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Adjustment to Tax Accruals			11.40%	2.50%	1.30%
Other items			1.60%	0.20%	(0.30%)
Effective income tax rate			(70.80%)	19.90%	19.30%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Credit, Foreign, Amount			$ 10,300
Impairment and divestiture charges			73,058	$ 116,979
Impairment charge					$ 186,511
Impairment, Non-Deductible for Income Tax Purposes			45,100	69,000	$ 118,500
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Additions for Charges to Cost and Expense			18,100	15,100
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance			7,100
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions			12,800	600
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Period Increase (Decrease)			6,600
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Deficiency from Share-based Compensation			1,500
Net Benefit, Taxable Liquidations of Foreign Subsidiaries			$ 1,500	$ 14,900

Temporary Differences and Carry

Temporary Differences and Carryforwards of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Deferred income tax assets:
Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss And Tax Credit Carryforwards	$ 45,947	$ 41,985
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Compensation and Benefits	10,450	17,319
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Compensation and Benefits, Postretirement Benefits	8,813	14,359
Deferred Tax Assets, Inventory	2,081	2,958
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Reserves and Accruals, Other	18,986	14,224
Total deferred income tax assets	86,277	90,845
Valuation allowance	(35,076)	(22,671)
Net deferred income tax assets	51,201	68,174
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Depreciation and amortization	(48,148)	(77,548)
Other items	(633)	(1,910)
Deferred income tax liabilities	(48,781)	(79,458)
Net deferred income tax liability	(2,420)	(11,284)
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	24,300	18,600
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities, Net	$ 21,900	$ 29,900

Changes in Gross Liability for

Changes in Gross Liability for Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Interest and Penalties (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 31,446	$ 29,174	$ 29,924
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increase Resulting from Current Period Tax Positions	2,599	6,057	1,050
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increase Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions	359	297	475
Decrease for tax positions taken in a prior period	(349)	(627)	0
Decrease due to lapse of statute of limitations	(9,163)	(4,008)	(1,027)
Decrease due to settlements	0	0	0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increase (Decrease) Resulting from Foreign Currency Translation	(533)	553	(1,248)
Ending balance	$ 24,359	$ 31,446	$ 29,174

Earnings before Income Taxes, I

Earnings before Income Taxes, Including both Continuing and Discontinued Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	$ (11,325)	$ 12,635	$ (19,182)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Foreign	(1,347)	(95,326)	(111,162)
Earnings (loss) before income tax expense	$ (12,672)	$ (82,691)	$ (130,344)

Income Taxes - Additional Infor

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	4 Months Ended	8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure Additional Details [Table] [Line Items]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Expense			$ 3,000	$ 2,900	$ 2,300
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Period Increase (Decrease), Reasonably Possible in Future Period			$ (3,400)
Federal statutory rate	35.00%	21.00%	25.70%	35.00%	35.00%
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance			$ 500
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Reserves and Accruals, Other			5,300
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross			(11,900)
Director & officer transition charges			0	$ 7,784	$ 0
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Additions for Charges to Cost and Expense			18,100	15,100
Impairment, Non-Deductible for Income Tax Purposes			45,100	69,000	118,500
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Credit, Foreign, Amount			10,300
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Period Increase (Decrease)			(6,600)
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions			12,800	600
Net Benefit, Taxable Liquidations of Foreign Subsidiaries			1,500	14,900
Operating Loss Carryforward		$ 60,800	60,800
Loss on product line divestiture			$ 0	$ 0	$ 5,092
Percent of Revenue (excluding impairment charge) from foreign jurisdictions			79.00%	63.00%	53.00%
Income taxes, net of refunds			$ (1,500)	$ 11,800	$ 21,400
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Foreign		$ 125,900	125,900
Change in valuation allowances			7,100
Additional Income Tax Provision			2,200
Domestic Destination
Income Tax Disclosure Additional Details [Table] [Line Items]
Non-cash impairment charge					49,000
Foreign Destination
Income Tax Disclosure Additional Details [Table] [Line Items]
Non-cash impairment charge			49,318		137,500
Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets
Income Tax Disclosure Additional Details [Table] [Line Items]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Additions for Charges to Cost and Expense			25,209	15,144	852
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions			$ 12,804	$ 620	$ 1,026

Capital Stock (Details)

Capital Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net (loss) earnings	$ (21,648)	$ (66,213)	$ (105,174)
Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic earnings per share	60,441	59,436	59,010
Net effect of dilutive securities-employee stock compensation plans	0	0	0
Weighted average common and equivalent shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share	60,441	59,436	59,010
Basic Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share):	$ (0.36)	$ (1.11)	$ (1.78)
Diluted Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share):	$ (0.36)	$ (1.11)	$ (1.78)
Anti-dilutive securities-equity based compensation plans (excluded from earnings per share calculation)	2,923	4,482	4,832

Capital Stock Share Repurchases

Capital Stock Share Repurchases - Additional Information (Details) - $ / shares	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Mar. 16, 2015	Oct. 01, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Sep. 28, 2011
Capital Unit [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized	168,000,000	168,000,000
Common stock, par value	$ 0.20	$ 0.20
Common stock, shares issued	81,423,584	80,200,110
Cumulative Preferred Stock, shares authorized share	160,000
Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value	$ 1
Cumulative Preferred Stock, issued	0
Shares authorized in buyback program			7,000,000	7,000,000	7,000,000	7,000,000
Treasury stock, shares	20,439,434	20,439,434
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased	7,560,566
Common Class A
Capital Unit [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized	168,000,000
Common stock, par value	$ 0.2
Common stock, shares issued	81,423,584
Common stock, shares outstanding	60,984,150
Common Class B
Capital Unit [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized	1,500,000
Common stock, par value	$ 0.2
Common stock, shares issued	0
Common stock, shares outstanding		0

Summary of Stock Option Activit

Summary of Stock Option Activity (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018USD ($)$ / sharesshares
Number of Stock Option Outstanding
Beginning Balance | shares	3,191,630
Granted | shares	0
Exercised | shares	(833,377)
Forfeited | shares	(119,527)
Expired | shares	(469,650)
Ending Balance | shares	1,769,076
Options exercisable at end of Period | shares	1,285,352
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Beginning Balance | $ / shares	$ 24.40
Granted | $ / shares	0
Exercised | $ / shares	19.96
Forfeited | $ / shares	23.98
Expired | $ / shares	28.59
Ending Balance | $ / shares	25.40
Options exercisable at end of Period | $ / shares	$ 25.52
Option Outstanding weighted average remaining term	4 years 9 months
Option exercisable weighted average remaining term	3 years 9 months
Stock option, aggregate intrinsic Value | $	$ 7.9
Stock option, aggregate intrinsic Value | $	$ 5.9

Summary of Weighted-Average Gra

Summary of Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value of Options, Total Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised, and Cash Receipts from Options Exercised (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Weighted-average fair value of options granted (per share)		$ 11.88	$ 8.63
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value	$ 5,284	$ 2,208	$ 989
Cash receipts from exercise of options	$ 15,140	$ 7,762	$ 3,564
Expected forfeiture rate	10.00%	11.00%	13.12%

Summary Of Restricted Stock Act

Summary Of Restricted Stock Activity (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018$ / sharesshares
Aggregate Number of Restricted Shares
Beginning Balance | shares	1,290,448
Granted | shares	525,541
Forfeited | shares	(197,771)
Vested | shares	(464,481)
Ending Balance | shares	1,153,737
Weighted Average Fair Value at Grant Date
Beginning Balance | $ / shares	$ 24.95
Granted | $ / shares	26.20
Forfeited | $ / shares	25.05
Vested | $ / shares	25.60
Ending Balance | $ / shares	$ 25.25

Weighted-Average Assumptions (D

Weighted-Average Assumptions (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Dividend yield		0.15%	0.19%
Expected volatility		38.12%	38.06%
Risk-free rate of return		2.42%	2.06%
Expected forfeiture rate	10.00%	11.00%	13.12%
Expected life		7 years 5 months	6 years 1 month

Stocks Plans - Additional Infor

Stocks Plans - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Class A Common Stock were authorized for issuance	4,325,000
Common Stock Registered to Cover Shares that Become Issuable	1,800,000
Shares available for future grants	4,408,499
Exercise price as percentage of fair market value at grant date	100.00%
Unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based compensation for stock options and restricted stock outstanding	$ 19.1
Unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based compensation for stock options and restricted stock outstanding, recognition period	2 years 1 month
Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance period	3 years
Performance Shares | Free Cash Flow Conversion Target
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage	50.00%
Performance Shares | Total Shareholders Return
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage	50.00%
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Fair value of shares vested	$ 14.3	$ 16.1
After Three Years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage	50.00%
After Five Years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage	100.00%
Maximum | Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options term	10 years

Summary of Financial Informatio

Summary of Financial Information by Reportable Segment and Product Line (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,182,611	$ 1,095,784	$ 1,149,410
Operating profit (loss)	18,198	(50,236)	(100,217)
Depreciation and amortization	40,707	43,110	47,777
Capital Expenditure	20,870	28,195	20,209
Assets	1,481,338	1,516,955
Impairment and divestiture charges	73,058	116,979
Impairment charge			186,511
Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	439,405	396,381	400,780
Service & Rental [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	151,680	156,201	187,427
Industrial Tools & Services [Member] [Domain]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	591,085	552,582	588,207
Operating profit (loss)	99,432	95,825	119,922
Depreciation and amortization	15,301	15,025	15,173
Capital Expenditure	7,799	8,614	5,502
Assets	589,932	599,321
On-Highway [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	248,083	215,831	209,575
Agriculture, Off-Highway and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	215,487	190,604	187,287
Rope & Cable Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	76,011	65,169	73,813
Concrete Tensioning [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	49,198	52,889	50,491
Off-Shore Mooring [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,747	18,709	40,037
Engineered Components & Systems [Member] [Domain]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	591,526	543,202	561,203
Operating profit (loss)	(51,982)	(113,030)	(190,654)
Depreciation and amortization	23,424	26,072	30,855
Capital Expenditure	11,653	16,884	12,397
Assets	657,370	713,083
Impairment and divestiture charges	73,058	117,000
Impairment charge			186,634
General Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	(29,252)	(33,031)	(29,485)
Depreciation and amortization	1,982	2,013	1,749
Capital Expenditure	1,418	2,697	$ 2,310
Assets	$ 234,036	$ 204,551

Financial Information from Cont

Financial Information from Continuing Operations By Geographic Region (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage Of Export Sales From Domestic To Total Net Sales	7.00%
Assets	$ 1,481,338	$ 1,516,955
Net sales	1,182,611	1,095,784	$ 1,149,410
Long-Lived Assets	101,735	98,334
United States
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Net sales	509,952	480,801	477,670
Long-Lived Assets	42,563	36,254
Netherlands
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Net sales	166,542	130,724	143,517
Long-Lived Assets	12,200	9,134
FRANCE
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Net sales	40,351	39,563	42,780
AUSTRALIA
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Net sales	28,510	38,924	62,779
UNITED KINGDOM
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Net sales	87,182	84,106	115,183
Long-Lived Assets	4,076	5,467
China
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Net sales	64,031	68,373	47,312
Long-Lived Assets	14,909	16,332
SWEDEN
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Net sales	50,517	37,813	35,424
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Net sales	43,707	39,974	55,906
Long-Lived Assets	7,876	8,451
All other
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Net sales	191,819	175,506	$ 168,839
Long-Lived Assets	20,111	22,696
General Corporate
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Assets	$ 234,036	$ 204,551

Business Segment, Geographic _3

Business Segment, Geographic and Customer Information - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments	2
Largest customer sales in fiscal year, percent	3.00%
Percentage Of Export Sales From Domestic To Total Net Sales	7.00%
Percentage of Product Sales to Consolidated Net Sales	84.00%

Commitments and Contingencies -

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Outstanding letters of credit	$ 23.6	$ 22.1
Discounted present value of future minimum lease payments	$ 11
Weighted Average Discount Rate on Future Minimum Lease Payments	3.20%
Sales to Iranian Distributors	$ 0.5
Sales possibly diverted to Crimea region of Ukraine	$ 3.2

Condensed Consolidating Stateme

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Earnings (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,182,611	$ 1,095,784	$ 1,149,410
Cost of products sold	767,351	716,067	746,013
Gross profit	415,260	379,717	403,397
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	291,444	277,488	274,497
Amortization of intangible assets	20,565	20,474	22,943
Loss on product line divestiture	0	0	5,092
Director & officer transition charges	0	7,784	0
Restructuring charges	11,995	7,228	14,571
Impairment and divestiture charges	73,058	116,979
Impairment charge			186,511
Operating profit (loss)	18,198	(50,236)	(100,217)
Financing costs, net	31,491	29,703	28,768
Intercompany expense (income), net	0	0	0
Intercompany Dividends	0	0	0
Other expense (income), net	(621)	2,752	1,359
Earnings (loss) before income tax expense	(12,672)	(82,691)	(130,344)
Income tax expense	8,976	(16,478)	(25,170)
Earnings (loss) Before Equity In (Loss) Earnings Of Subsidiaries	(21,648)	(66,213)	(105,174)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	0	0	0
Net (loss) earnings	(21,648)	(66,213)	(105,174)
Comprehensive income (loss)	31,368	(41,651)	(143,357)
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	159,411	145,223	135,679
Cost of products sold	29,619	34,300	34,576
Gross profit	129,792	110,923	101,103
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	81,194	74,996	69,677
Amortization of intangible assets	1,272	1,272	1,272
Loss on product line divestiture			0
Director & officer transition charges		7,784
Restructuring charges	6,433	826	2,426
Impairment and divestiture charges	4,217	0
Impairment charge			0
Operating profit (loss)	36,676	26,045	27,728
Financing costs, net	31,752	30,005	30,123
Intercompany expense (income), net	(17,042)	(22,941)	(20,445)
Intercompany Dividends	0	5,353	0
Other expense (income), net	(1,200)	2,690	914
Earnings (loss) before income tax expense	23,166	10,938	17,136
Income tax expense	(25,380)	(782)	(8,729)
Earnings (loss) Before Equity In (Loss) Earnings Of Subsidiaries	48,546	11,720	25,865
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	(70,194)	(77,933)	(131,037)
Net (loss) earnings	(21,648)	(66,213)	(105,174)
Comprehensive income (loss)	31,368	(41,651)	(143,357)
Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	371,890	355,989	361,209
Cost of products sold	275,280	260,700	263,197
Gross profit	96,610	95,289	98,012
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	72,688	69,826	69,382
Amortization of intangible assets	11,394	11,715	13,287
Loss on product line divestiture			5,092
Director & officer transition charges		0
Restructuring charges	1,398	1,359	3,455
Impairment and divestiture charges	23,740	0
Impairment charge			49,012
Operating profit (loss)	(12,610)	12,389	(42,216)
Financing costs, net	81	35	0
Intercompany expense (income), net	26,596	22,066	(9,999)
Intercompany Dividends	(28,822)	(59,401)	0
Other expense (income), net	57	87	54
Earnings (loss) before income tax expense	(10,522)	49,602	(32,271)
Income tax expense	17,921	(14,574)	519
Earnings (loss) Before Equity In (Loss) Earnings Of Subsidiaries	(28,443)	64,176	(32,790)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	(15,652)	(81,389)	(83,747)
Net (loss) earnings	(44,095)	(17,213)	(116,537)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(44,095)	(35,121)	(157,344)
Non-Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	651,310	594,572	652,522
Cost of products sold	462,452	421,067	448,240
Gross profit	188,858	173,505	204,282
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	137,562	132,666	135,438
Amortization of intangible assets	7,899	7,487	8,384
Loss on product line divestiture			0
Director & officer transition charges		0
Restructuring charges	4,164	5,043	8,690
Impairment and divestiture charges	45,101	116,979
Impairment charge			137,499
Operating profit (loss)	(5,868)	(88,670)	(85,729)
Financing costs, net	(342)	(337)	(1,355)
Intercompany expense (income), net	(9,554)	875	30,444
Intercompany Dividends	0	(5,353)	(5,338)
Other expense (income), net	522	(25)	391
Earnings (loss) before income tax expense	3,506	(83,830)	(109,871)
Income tax expense	16,435	(1,122)	(17,046)
Earnings (loss) Before Equity In (Loss) Earnings Of Subsidiaries	(12,929)	(82,708)	(92,825)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	2,103	3,335	3,024
Net (loss) earnings	(10,826)	(79,373)	(89,801)
Comprehensive income (loss)	40,800	(39,942)	(83,802)
Consolidation, Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0
Cost of products sold	0	0	0
Gross profit	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	0	0	0
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0
Loss on product line divestiture			0
Director & officer transition charges		0
Restructuring charges	0	0	0
Impairment and divestiture charges	0	0
Impairment charge			0
Operating profit (loss)	0	0	0
Financing costs, net	0	0	0
Intercompany expense (income), net	0	0	0
Intercompany Dividends	28,822	59,401	5,338
Other expense (income), net	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) before income tax expense	(28,822)	(59,401)	(5,338)
Income tax expense	0	0	86
Earnings (loss) Before Equity In (Loss) Earnings Of Subsidiaries	(28,822)	(59,401)	(5,424)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	83,743	155,987	211,760
Net (loss) earnings	54,921	96,586	206,336
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 3,295	$ 75,063	$ 241,146

Condensed Consolidating Balance

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 250,490	$ 229,571	$ 179,604	$ 168,846
Accounts receivable, net	187,749	190,206
Inventories, net	156,356	143,651
Assets held-for-sale	23,573	21,835
Other current assets	42,732	61,663
Total current assets	660,900	646,926
Property, plant & equipment, net	90,220	94,521
Goodwill	512,412	530,081	519,276
Other intangible assets, net	181,037	220,489
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany receivable	0	0
Other long-term assets	36,769	24,938
Total assets	1,481,338	1,516,955
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Trade accounts payable	130,838	133,387
Accrued Compensation and benefits	54,508	50,939
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	30,000	30,000
Income Taxes Payable	4,091	6,080
Liabilities held for sale	44,225	101,083
Other current liabilities	67,299	57,445
Total current liabilities	330,961	378,934
Long-term Debt, net	502,695	531,940
Deferred income taxes	21,933	29,859
Pension and postretirement benefit liabilities	14,869	19,862
Other long-term liabilities	52,168	55,821
Intercompany payable	0	0
Total shareholders’ equity	558,712	500,539	520,950	673,001
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	1,481,338	1,516,955
Parent
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	67,649	34,715	7,953	18,688
Accounts receivable, net	19,969	17,498
Inventories, net	22,570	23,308
Assets held-for-sale	0	0
Other current assets	7,358	23,576
Total current assets	117,546	99,097
Property, plant & equipment, net	7,937	7,049
Goodwill	38,847	38,847
Other intangible assets, net	6,884	8,156
Investment in subsidiaries	1,836,954	1,832,472
Intercompany receivable	0	0
Other long-term assets	12,955	8,377
Total assets	2,021,123	1,993,998
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Trade accounts payable	15,890	15,412
Accrued Compensation and benefits	22,171	19,082
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	30,000	30,000
Income Taxes Payable	0	153
Liabilities held for sale	0	0
Other current liabilities	17,379	18,512
Total current liabilities	85,440	83,159
Long-term Debt, net	502,695	531,940
Deferred income taxes	17,467	24,164
Pension and postretirement benefit liabilities	7,765	12,540
Other long-term liabilities	45,483	48,692
Intercompany payable	803,561	792,964
Total shareholders’ equity	558,712	500,539
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	2,021,123	1,993,998
Guarantors
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	71	567
Accounts receivable, net	54,822	50,749
Inventories, net	59,391	48,492
Assets held-for-sale	0	0
Other current assets	4,759	3,619
Total current assets	118,972	102,860
Property, plant & equipment, net	26,408	26,130
Goodwill	203,543	200,499
Other intangible assets, net	121,793	138,042
Investment in subsidiaries	1,211,781	1,186,715
Intercompany receivable	622,646	589,193
Other long-term assets	366	812
Total assets	2,305,509	2,244,251
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Trade accounts payable	29,022	27,168
Accrued Compensation and benefits	9,804	7,672
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	0	0
Income Taxes Payable	0	0
Liabilities held for sale	0	0
Other current liabilities	11,078	7,169
Total current liabilities	49,904	42,009
Long-term Debt, net	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Pension and postretirement benefit liabilities	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	359	352
Intercompany payable	19,258	0
Total shareholders’ equity	2,235,988	2,201,890
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	2,305,509	2,244,251
Non-Guarantors
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	182,841	194,856	171,580	149,591
Accounts receivable, net	112,958	121,959
Inventories, net	74,395	71,851
Assets held-for-sale	23,573	21,835
Other current assets	30,615	34,468
Total current assets	424,382	444,969
Property, plant & equipment, net	55,875	61,342
Goodwill	270,022	290,735
Other intangible assets, net	52,360	74,291
Investment in subsidiaries	789,917	805,016
Intercompany receivable	200,173	205,183
Other long-term assets	23,448	15,749
Total assets	1,816,177	1,897,285
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Trade accounts payable	85,926	90,807
Accrued Compensation and benefits	22,533	24,185
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	0	0
Income Taxes Payable	4,091	5,927
Liabilities held for sale	44,225	101,083
Other current liabilities	38,842	31,764
Total current liabilities	195,617	253,766
Long-term Debt, net	0		0
Deferred income taxes	4,466	5,695
Pension and postretirement benefit liabilities	7,104	7,322
Other long-term liabilities	6,326	6,777
Intercompany payable	0	1,412
Total shareholders’ equity	1,602,664	1,622,313
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	1,816,177	1,897,285
Consolidation, Eliminations
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	$ 0	$ 0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Inventories, net	0	0
Assets held-for-sale	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Total current assets	0	0
Property, plant & equipment, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Other intangible assets, net	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(3,838,652)	(3,824,203)
Intercompany receivable	(822,819)	(794,376)
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	(4,661,471)	(4,618,579)
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Trade accounts payable	0	0
Accrued Compensation and benefits	0	0
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	0	0
Income Taxes Payable	0	0
Liabilities held for sale	0	0
Other current liabilities	0	0
Total current liabilities	0	0
Long-term Debt, net	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Pension and postretirement benefit liabilities	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Intercompany payable	(822,819)	(794,376)
Total shareholders’ equity	(3,838,652)	(3,824,203)
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ (4,661,471)	$ (4,618,579)

Condensed Consolidating State_2

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 106,093	$ 88,499	$ 117,697
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(20,870)	(28,195)	(20,209)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	153	570	9,296
Rental asset buyout for Viking divestiture	(27,718)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction costs	8,902	0	9,695
Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(23,218)	0	(81,916)
Intercompany investment	0	0	0
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(62,751)	(27,625)	(83,134)
Financing Activities
Net repayments on revolving credit facility			(210)
Principal Repayments on Term Loan	(30,000)	(18,750)	(3,750)
Purchase of treasury shares	0	0	(17,101)
Redemption of 5.625% Senior Notes		(500)
Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards	(1,284)	(1,065)	(1,409)
Stock Option Exercises Related Tax Benefits And Other	15,681	8,265	6,416
Payment of deferred acquisition consideration	0	(742)	0
Cash dividend	(2,390)	(2,358)	(2,376)
Changes in Receivables and Payable to Subsidiaries	0
Intercompany loan activity		0	0
Intercompany capital contributions	0	0	0
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities	17,993	15,150	18,430
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash	(4,430)	4,243	(5,375)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	20,919	49,967	10,758
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	229,571	179,604	168,846
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	250,490	229,571	179,604
Parent
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	63,264	99,241	58,926
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(2,822)	(3,391)	(2,135)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	0	0	13
Rental asset buyout for Viking divestiture	0
Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction costs	198		0
Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0		0
Intercompany investment	(11,754)	(6,900)	(339)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(14,378)	(10,291)	(2,461)
Financing Activities
Net repayments on revolving credit facility			0
Principal Repayments on Term Loan	(30,000)	(18,750)	(3,750)
Purchase of treasury shares			(17,101)
Redemption of 5.625% Senior Notes		(500)
Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards	(1,284)	(1,065)	(1,409)
Stock Option Exercises Related Tax Benefits And Other	15,681	8,265	6,416
Payment of deferred acquisition consideration		0
Cash dividend	(2,390)	(2,358)	(2,376)
Changes in Receivables and Payable to Subsidiaries	2,041
Intercompany loan activity		(47,780)	(48,980)
Intercompany capital contributions	0	0	0
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities	15,952	62,188	67,200
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash	0	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	32,934	26,762	(10,735)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	34,715	7,953	18,688
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	67,649	34,715	7,953
Guarantors
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	27,673	14,340	(1,953)
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(8,015)	(9,265)	(6,781)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	99	207	7,000
Rental asset buyout for Viking divestiture	0
Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction costs	0		9,695
Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,732)		0
Intercompany investment	(1)	0	(3,458)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(9,649)	(9,058)	6,456
Financing Activities
Net repayments on revolving credit facility			0
Principal Repayments on Term Loan	0	0	0
Purchase of treasury shares			0
Redemption of 5.625% Senior Notes		0
Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards	0	0	0
Stock Option Exercises Related Tax Benefits And Other	0	0	0
Payment of deferred acquisition consideration		0
Cash dividend	0	(5,353)	(5,338)
Changes in Receivables and Payable to Subsidiaries	(18,024)
Intercompany loan activity		0	0
Intercompany capital contributions	0	0	339
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities	18,024	5,353	4,999
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash	0	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	0	(71)	(496)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	0	71	567
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	0	0	71
Non-Guarantors
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	15,156	39,672	66,062
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(10,033)	(15,539)	(11,293)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	54	363	2,283
Rental asset buyout for Viking divestiture	(27,718)
Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction costs	8,704		0
Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(21,486)		(81,916)
Intercompany investment	0	0	0
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(50,479)	(15,176)	(90,926)
Financing Activities
Net repayments on revolving credit facility			(210)
Principal Repayments on Term Loan	0	0	0
Purchase of treasury shares			0
Redemption of 5.625% Senior Notes		0
Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards	0	0	0
Stock Option Exercises Related Tax Benefits And Other	0	0	0
Payment of deferred acquisition consideration		(742)
Cash dividend	0	(59,401)	0
Changes in Receivables and Payable to Subsidiaries	15,983
Intercompany loan activity		47,780	48,980
Intercompany capital contributions	11,755	6,900	3,458
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(27,738)	(5,463)	(52,228)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash	(4,430)	4,243	(5,375)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	(12,015)	23,276	21,989
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	194,856	171,580	149,591
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	182,841	194,856	171,580
Consolidation, Eliminations
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	0	(64,754)	(5,338)
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	0	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	0	0	0
Rental asset buyout for Viking divestiture	0
Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction costs	0		0
Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0		0
Intercompany investment	11,755	6,900	3,797
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	11,755	6,900	3,797
Financing Activities
Net repayments on revolving credit facility			0
Principal Repayments on Term Loan	0	0	0
Purchase of treasury shares			0
Redemption of 5.625% Senior Notes		0
Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards	0	0	0
Stock Option Exercises Related Tax Benefits And Other	0	0	0
Payment of deferred acquisition consideration		0
Cash dividend	0	64,754	5,338
Changes in Receivables and Payable to Subsidiaries	0
Intercompany loan activity		0	0
Intercompany capital contributions	(11,755)	(6,900)	(3,797)
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities	11,755	(57,854)	(1,541)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash	0	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	0	0	0
Senior Notes | 5.625% Senior Notes
Financing Activities
Redemption of 5.625% Senior Notes	$ 0	$ (500)	$ 0

Guarantor Subsidiaries - Additi

Guarantor Subsidiaries - Additional Information (Detail) - Senior Notes - 5.625% Senior Notes - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Apr. 16, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt				$ 300,000
5.625% Senior Notes Carrying Value	$ 287,559	$ 287,559
Debt instrument, interest rate	5.625%	5.625%	5.625%	5.625%

Quarterly Financial Data (Detai

Quarterly Financial Data (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	May 31, 2018	Feb. 28, 2018	Nov. 30, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	May 31, 2017	Feb. 28, 2017	Nov. 30, 2016	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Line Items]
Net sales									$ 1,182,611	$ 1,095,784	$ 1,149,410
Gross profit									415,260	379,717	403,397
Net (loss) earnings									$ (21,648)	$ (66,213)	$ (105,174)
Net earnings (loss) per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)									$ (0.36)	$ (1.11)	$ (1.78)
Diluted (in dollars per share)									$ (0.36)	$ (1.11)	$ (1.78)
Quarterly unaudited data [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 301,395	$ 317,096	$ 275,165	$ 288,955	$ 275,695	$ 295,427	$ 258,869	$ 265,793
Gross profit	108,144	116,509	89,696	100,911	96,519	102,804	87,327	93,067
Net (loss) earnings	$ (37,665)	$ 29,012	$ (18,221)	$ 5,226	$ (98,764)	$ 22,511	$ 5,074	$ 4,966
Net earnings (loss) per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.62)	$ 0.48	$ (0.30)	$ 0.09	$ (1.65)	$ 0.38	$ 0.09	$ 0.08
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.62)	$ 0.48	$ (0.30)	$ 0.09	$ (1.65)	$ 0.37	$ 0.08	$ 0.08

Quarterly Financial Data - Addi

Quarterly Financial Data - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Impairment and divestiture charges	$ 73,058	$ 116,979

Valuation and Qualifying Acco_2

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Additions for Charges to Cost and Expense	$ 18,100	$ 15,100
Deductions Accounts Written Off Less Recoveries	(12,800)	(600)
Allowance for losses -Trade accounts receivable
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	11,229	7,762	$ 3,970
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Additions for Charges to Cost and Expense	1,389	3,112	2,274
Additions Acquired/ (Divested)/ (Discontinued)	76	1,452	3,090
Deductions Accounts Written Off Less Recoveries	(6,856)	(1,422)	(1,580)
Other	(437)	325	8
Ending Balance	5,401	11,229	7,762
Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	22,671	8,147	8,053
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Additions for Charges to Cost and Expense	25,209	15,144	852
Additions Acquired/ (Divested)/ (Discontinued)	0	0	0
Deductions Accounts Written Off Less Recoveries	(12,804)	(620)	(1,026)
Other	0	0	268
Ending Balance	$ 35,076	$ 22,671	$ 8,147