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Investments - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
May 31, 2017 | May 31, 2016 | May 31, 2015
Investments [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Investments | $ 164,788,000 | [1] | $ 124,952,000 | [2] |
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies | 144,000,000 |  | 108,100,000 |  |
Equity method investments | 15,800,000 |  | 14,500,000 |  |
Cost method investments | 5,000,000 |  | 2,400,000 |  |
Dividends received on equity method investment | 0 |  | 0 |  | $ 5,247,000
Cash received from sale of equity method investment |  |  |  |  | 35,200,000
Gain on sale of stock of an equity method investment, net of tax |  |  |  |  | 13,600,000
Losses due to impairment | $ 0 |  | $ 0 |  | $ 0
[1] | Investments include inter company investment activity. Corp 2 and Subsidiary Guarantors hold $29.0 million and $135.8 million, respectively, of the $164.8 million consolidated net investments.
[2] | Investments include inter company investment activity. Corp 2 and Subsidiary Guarantors hold $15.5 million and $109.5 million, respectively, of the $125.0 million consolidated net investments.

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- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of amounts which could be received based on the terms of the insurance contract upon surrendering life policies owned by the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82887183&loc=d3e6812-107765 + Details
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- Definition Amount, after adjustment, of cost-method investment. Adjustments include, but are not limited to, dividends received in excess of earnings after date of investment that are considered a return of investment and other than temporary impairments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 325 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75025870&loc=d3e40691-111596 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 325 -SubTopic 20 -Section 35 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75027002&loc=d3e40346-111594 + Details
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