Fair Value
9 Months Ended
May 31, 2011
Fair Value [Abstract]  
FAIR VALUE
NOTE 10 — FAIR VALUE
The Company has established a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels. These levels are determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The following table summarizes information regarding the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
                                 
            Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
            Quoted Prices in        
            Active Markets for   Significant Other   Significant
    May 31,   Identical Assets   Observable Inputs   Unobservable Inputs
(in thousands)   2011   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3)
Money market investments
  $ 205,425     $ 205,425     $     $  
Derivative assets
    27,348       1,967       25,381        
Nonqualified benefit plan assets *
    55,444       55,444              
Derivative liabilities
    14,285       2,353       11,932        
Nonqualified benefit plan liabilities *
    87,859             87,859        
                                 
    August 31,                        
    2010                        
Money market investments
  $ 352,881     $ 352,881     $     $  
Derivative assets
    35,052       911       34,141        
Nonqualified benefit plan assets *
    43,681       43,681              
Derivative liabilities
    5,758       2,817       2,941        
Nonqualified benefit plan liabilities *
    86,043             86,043        
 
*   The Company provides a nonqualified benefit restoration plan to certain eligible executives equal to amounts that would have been available under tax qualified ERISA plans but for limitations of ERISA, tax laws and regulations. Though under no obligation to fund this plan, the Company has segregated assets in a trust. The plan assets and liabilities consist of securities included in various mutual funds.
The Company’s long-term debt is predominantly publicly held. The fair value was approximately $1.25 billion at May 31, 2011 and $1.29 billion at August 31, 2010. Fair value was determined by indicated market values.