10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

☑ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021  

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period From ____________ to ___________

Commission file number 001-36759

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware	47-1758322
(State of incorporation)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
108 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, Illinois	60015
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (847) 315-3700

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value	WBA	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
3.600% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. notes due 2025	WBA25	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
2.125% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. notes due 2026	WBA26	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:    None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.      Yes ☑          No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes ☐         No ☑

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).      Yes  ☑   No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☑	Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐	Smaller reporting company ☐
	Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☑

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).          Yes ☐          No ☑

As of February 28, 2021, the aggregate market value of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. common stock held by non-affiliates (based on the closing transaction price on Friday, February 26, 2021) was approximately $34.3 billion. 

As of September 30, 2021, there were 865,612,358 shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. common stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the definitive proxy statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders planned to be held on January 27, 2022 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K as indicated herein.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K

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Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

Annual Report on Form 10-K

Table of Contents

Part I
		Page
Item 1.	Business	1
	Information about our executive officers	10
Item 1A.	Risk factors	12
Item 1B.	Unresolved staff comments	26
Item 2.	Properties	26
Item 3.	Legal proceedings	27
Item 4.	Mine safety disclosures	27
Part II
Item 5.	Market for registrant’s common equity, related stockholder matters and issuer purchases of equity securities	27
Item 6.	Reserved	28
Item 7.	Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations	29
Item 7A.	Quantitative and qualitative disclosure about market risk	52
Item 8.	Financial statements and supplementary data	54
Item 9.	Changes in and disagreements with accountants on accounting and financial disclosure	107
Item 9A.	Controls and procedures	107
Item 9B.	Other information	108
Part III
Item 10.	Directors, executive officers and corporate governance	108
Item 11.	Executive compensation	108
Item 12.	Security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and related stockholder matters	109
Item 13.	Certain relationships and related transactions and director independence	109
Item 14.	Principal accounting fees and services	109
Part IV
Item 15.	Exhibits and financial statement schedules	109
Item 16.	Form 10-K summary	119
	Signatures	120

References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Form 10-K”) to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and its subsidiaries and in each case do not include unconsolidated partially-owned entities, except as otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires. Our fiscal year ends on August 31, and references herein to “fiscal 2021” refer to our fiscal year ended August 31, 2021.

This Form 10-K includes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. See cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements in Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations in Part II, Item 7 below.

All trademarks, trade names and service marks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

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PART I

Item 1. Business

Overview

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Walgreens Boots Alliance” or the “Company”), is a global leader in retail pharmacy, impacting millions of lives every day through dispensing medicines, and providing accessible high-quality care. With more than 170 years of trusted healthcare heritage and innovation in community pharmacy, the Company is meeting customers' and patients' needs through its convenient retail locations, digital platforms and health and beauty products. The Company is proud of its contributions to healthy communities, a healthy planet, an inclusive workplace and a sustainable marketplace. Walgreens Boots Alliance is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business.

Walgreens Boots Alliance is the largest retail pharmacy, health and daily living destination across the United States (“U.S.”) and Europe with sales of $132.5 billion in the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021. Walgreens Boots Alliance has a presence in 9 countries and employs more than 315,000 people. The Company has approximately 13,000 stores within the U.S., Europe and Latin America. In addition, Walgreens Boots Alliance is one of the world’s largest purchasers of prescription drugs and many other health and well-being products. The Company’s size, scale and expertise will help it expand the supply of, and address the rising cost of, prescription drugs in the U.S. and worldwide.

The Company provides customers with convenient, omni-channel access through its portfolio of retail and business brands which includes Walgreens, Duane Reade and Boots as well as increasingly global health and beauty product brands, such as No7, NICE!, Soap & Glory, Finest Nutrition, Liz Earle, Botanics, Sleek MakeUP and YourGoodSkin. The Company's global brands portfolio is enhanced by its in-house product research and development capabilities. The Company seeks to drive further innovative ways to address global health and wellness challenges. Strategic partnerships with some of the world’s leading companies enable the Company to extend its healthcare solutions and convenience offerings to the communities it serves. We believe the Company is well positioned to expand customer offerings in existing markets and become a health and well-being partner of choice in emerging markets. Additionally, through its strategic partnerships, the Company will be able to dramatically enhance Walgreens Boots Alliance's marketing effectiveness and power the Company's strategic initiative around mass personalization - delivering the right offers and content to customers.

Walgreens Boots Alliance was incorporated in Delaware in 2014 and is the successor of Walgreen Co., an Illinois corporation, which was formed in 1909 as a successor to a business founded in 1901. Our principal executive offices are located at 108 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, Illinois 60015. Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “WBA”.

Strategic Update

In October 2021, the Company announced the launch of its new healthcare strategy. The Company plans to become a leading provider of local clinical care services by leveraging its consumer-centric technology and pharmacy network to deliver value-based care. The Company also plans to continue to transform its core pharmacy and retail business. The Company’s goal is to provide better consumer experiences, improve health outcomes and lower costs. At the center of the Company’s healthcare strategy is Walgreens Health, a technology-enabled care model powered by a nationally scaled, locally delivered healthcare platform. To advance its strategy, the Company announced majority investments in Village Practice Management Company, LLC (“VillageMD”) and CareCentrix, Inc. (“CareCentrix”) which it believes will strengthen Walgreens Health capabilities in primary care, post-acute care and home care.

See Note 21. Subsequent events to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 herein for further information.

Recent Transactions

Pharmaceutical Wholesale Transaction

On January 6, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen”). Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement, AmerisourceBergen agreed to purchase the majority of the Company's Alliance Healthcare business as well as a portion of the Company’s retail pharmacy international businesses in Europe (“Disposal Group”) for approximately $6.5 billion, comprised of $6.275 billion in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, and 2 million shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock (the “Alliance Healthcare Sale”). Alliance Healthcare’s investment in China and Italy and its operations in Germany were not included in the Disposal Group, and the Company's retail pharmacy international operations in The Netherlands, Norway and Lithuania were included in the Disposal Group. The Disposal Group met the criteria to be reported as discontinued operations.

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Therefore, the related assets, liabilities and operating results of the Disposal Group are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

On June 1, 2021 the Company completed the Alliance Healthcare Sale, for total consideration of $6.9 billion, which includes cash consideration of $6.7 billion, subject to net cash and working capital adjustments. The Company recorded a gain before currency translation adjustments of $1.1 billion and a net gain on disposal of $0.3 billion. The gain on sale was presented as part of results of the discontinued operations. After giving effect to the Alliance Healthcare Sale, the Company beneficially owns approximately 28.5% of AmerisourceBergen’s outstanding common stock, based on the share count publicly reported by AmerisourceBergen in its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

In connection with the Alliance Healthcare Sale, the Company and AmerisourceBergen also agreed to (i) a three-year extension through 2029 of the U.S. pharmaceutical distribution agreement pursuant to which branded and generic pharmaceutical products are sourced from AmerisourceBergen in the U.S., (ii) a three-year extension of the agreement, that provides AmerisourceBergen the ability to access generics pharmaceutical products through Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH, the Company’s global sourcing enterprise, (iii) a distribution agreement pursuant to which AmerisourceBergen will supply branded and generic pharmaceutical products to the Company’s Boots UK business following the closing of the Alliance Healthcare Sale and (iv) a commitment to pursue a series of strategic initiatives designed to create incremental growth and efficiencies in sourcing, logistics and distribution.

See Note 2 Discontinued operations, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 below for additional information.

VillageMD investment

In July 2020, the Company and VillageMD announced an expansion of their partnership and the intent to open 500 to 700 “Village Medical at Walgreens” physician-led primary care clinics over a five-year period. This expanded partnership was supported by the Company’s investment in VillageMD over three years of $1.0 billion in equity and convertible debt, which included an initial $250 million equity investment.

On January 6, 2021, the Company and VillageMD announced the acceleration of the Company's investment in VillageMD. The Company completed the remaining $750 million investment during the twelve months ended August 31, 2021, which will support the opening of 600 to 700 clinics in more than 30 U.S. markets over a four-year period, with the intent to build hundreds more thereafter.

The Company held approximately 22% ownership interest in VillageMD as of August 31, 2021 and accounted for it using the equity method of accounting. It was anticipated, assuming full conversion of the debt, that the Company would hold approximately 30% ownership interest in VillageMD upon conversion.

On October 14, 2021 the Company announced that it has agreed to make an additional $5.2 billion investment in VillageMD to advance its strategic position in the delivery of value-based primary care. The incremental investment increases the Company’s ownership stake in VillageMD to approximately 63% from approximately 30% on a fully diluted basis, and increases the number of co-located clinics from 600 primary care clinics to 1,000 by the year 2027. The investment will be comprised of $4.0 billion in cash, to be paid by the Company to VillageMD at the closing of the transaction, and a promissory note in the principal amount of $1.2 billion to VillageMD at the closing of the transaction. The Company expects to fund the cash portion of the investment through a combination of cash on hand and available credit facilities

See Note 21. Subsequent events to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 herein for further information.

iA acquisition

On December 29, 2020, the Company acquired a majority equity interest in Innovation Associates, Inc. (“iA”) for a cash consideration of $451 million. iA is a leading-edge provider of software enabled automation solutions for retail, hospital, federal healthcare and mail-order pharmacy markets. The Company accounted for this acquisition as a business combination and consolidates iA within the United States segment in its financial statements.

Pharmaceutical Wholesale business in Germany

On November 1, 2020, the Company and McKesson Corporation closed a transaction to form a combined pharmaceutical wholesale business in Germany, as part of a strategic alliance. The Company owns a 70% controlling equity interest in the combined business which is consolidated by the Company and reported within the International segment in its financial statements. The Company accounted for this acquisition as a business combination involving noncash purchase consideration of

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$296 million consisting of the issuance of an equity interest in the combined business. See Note 3 Acquisitions, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 below for additional information.

Relationship with AmerisourceBergen

Walgreens is party to various agreements and arrangements with AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen”) including (a) a pharmaceutical distribution agreement under which the Company sources branded and generic pharmaceutical products from AmerisourceBergen in the United States and (b) an agreement under which AmerisourceBergen accesses generic pharmaceutical products through the Company’s global sourcing enterprise, Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH. These agreements have been amended multiple times, most recently in June 2021, in connection with the Company's sale of its Alliance Healthcare business to AmerisourceBergen (the “Alliance Healthcare Sale”). Pursuant to those amendments, the U.S. distribution agreement was extended through 2029 and the parties committed to pursue additional opportunities in sourcing and distribution. The parties also agreed that Alliance Healthcare UK will remain the distribution partner of Boots until 2031.

The Company also holds a substantial investment in AmerisourceBergen. As of August 31, 2021, the Company owned 58,854,867 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock, representing approximately 28.5% of its outstanding common stock based on the share count most recently reported by AmerisourceBergen. The Company has a shareholders agreement with AmerisourceBergen, which was most recently amended and restated in connection with the Alliance Healthcare Sale (the “A&R Shareholders Agreement”). Pursuant to the A&R Shareholders Agreement, the Company has designated one member of AmerisourceBergen’s board of directors. The Company is also permitted, subject to certain conditions, to acquire up to an additional 8,398,752 AmerisourceBergen shares in the open market, and thereafter to designate another member of AmerisourceBergen’s board of directors. The amount of permitted open market purchases is subject to increase or decrease in certain circumstances.

The Company accounts for its investment in AmerisourceBergen using the equity method of accounting, subject to a two-month reporting lag, with the net earnings attributable to the investment classified within the operating income of the Company’s United States segment.

See Management’s discussion and analysis in Part II, Item 7 and Note 2 Discontinued operations, Note 6 Equity method investments and Note 19 Related parties, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, below for additional information.

Industry overview

The retail pharmacy industry across the globe is highly competitive and dynamic and has experienced consolidation and an evolving competitive landscape in recent years. Prescription drugs play a significant role in healthcare and constitute a first line of treatment for many medical conditions. The Company believes the long-term outlook for prescription drug utilization is strong due, in part, to aging populations, increases in life expectancy, increases in the availability of generic drugs, the continued development of innovative drugs that improve quality of life and control healthcare costs and increases in the number of persons with insurance coverage for prescription drugs, including, in the U.S., “baby boomers” increasingly becoming eligible for the federally funded Medicare Part D prescription program. Pharmaceutical wholesalers act as a vital link between drug manufacturers and pharmacies and healthcare providers in supplying pharmaceuticals to patients.

The retail pharmacy industry across the globe relies significantly on private and governmental third-party payers. Many private organizations throughout the healthcare industry, including pharmacy benefit management (“PBM”) companies and health insurance companies, have consolidated in recent years to create larger healthcare enterprises with greater bargaining power. Third-party payers, including the Medicare Part D plans and the state-sponsored Medicaid and related managed care Medicaid agencies in the U.S., can change eligibility requirements or reduce certain reimbursement rates. In addition, in many European countries, the government provides or subsidizes healthcare to consumers and regulates pharmaceutical prices, patient eligibility and reimbursement levels to control costs for the government-sponsored healthcare system. Changes in law or regulation also can impact reimbursement rates and terms. For example, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “ACA”) was enacted to help control federal healthcare spending, including for prescription drugs, in the U.S. These changes generally are expected to reduce Medicaid reimbursements in the U.S. State Medicaid programs are also expected to continue to seek reductions in reimbursements. When third-party payers or governmental authorities take actions that restrict eligibility or reduce prices or reimbursement rates, sales and margins in the retail pharmacy industry could be reduced, which would adversely affect industry profitability. In some cases, these possible adverse effects may be partially or entirely offset by controlling inventory costs and other expenses, dispensing more higher margin generics, finding new revenue streams through pharmacy services or other offerings and/or dispensing a greater volume of prescriptions.

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These industry dynamics and challenges are continuous and have intensified in recent years. Since the completion of the strategic combination of Walgreens and Alliance Boots in December 2014, the Company has had a continuous focus on operational efficiencies and cost reduction.

Generic prescription drugs have continued to help lower overall costs for customers and third-party payers. The Company expects the utilization of generic pharmaceuticals to continue to increase. In general, in the U.S., generic versions of drugs generate lower sales dollars per prescription, but higher gross profit dollars, as compared with patent-protected brand name drugs. The impact on retail pharmacy gross profit dollars can be significant in the first several months after a generic version of a drug is first allowed to compete with the branded version, which is generally referred to as a “generic conversion”. In any given year, the number of major brand name drugs that undergo a conversion from branded to generic status can vary and the timing of generic conversions can be difficult to predict, which can have a significant impact on retail pharmacy sales and gross profit dollars. In general, in the U.S., the specialty prescription business is also growing and generates higher sales dollars per prescription, but lower gross margin, as compared to generic prescription drugs.

The Company expects that market demand, government regulation, third-party reimbursement policies, government contracting requirements and other pressures will continue to cause the industries in which the Company competes to evolve. Pharmacists are on the frontlines of the healthcare delivery system, and the Company believes rising healthcare costs and the limited access to primary care physicians present opportunities for pharmacists and retail pharmacies to play an even greater role in driving positive outcomes for patients and payers through expanded service offerings.

Segments

The Company's operations are conducted through two reportable segments:

•United States; and

•International

For fiscal 2021, our segment sales were: United States, $112.0 billion and International $20.5 billion. Additional information relating to our segments is included in Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations in Part II, Item 7 below and in Note 17 Segment reporting and Note 18 Sales, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 below for additional information.

United States

The United States segment includes the Company's Walgreens business, which includes the operations of retail drugstores, health and wellness services, and mail and central specialty pharmacy services, and its equity method investment in AmerisourceBergen.

Sales for the segment are principally derived from the sale of prescription drugs and a wide assortment of retail products, including health and wellness, beauty, personal care and consumables and general merchandise. The United States segment (excluding equity method investments) has pharmacy-led health and beauty retail offerings in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, each focused on helping people feel happy and healthy. The Company operated 8,965 retail stores in the segment as of August 31, 2021. The principal retail pharmacy brands in the segment are Walgreens and Duane Reade. The Company is a market leader in the U.S. and, as of August 31, 2021, approximately 78% of the population of the U.S. lived within five miles of a Walgreens or Duane Reade retail pharmacy.

The Company is focused on creating a neighborhood health destination and a more modern pharmacy aligned to a wider range of healthcare services. Significant investments in fiscal 2021 have accelerated the Company's customer-centric approach, with specific focus on transforming omni-channel capabilities and offerings across retail and healthcare. The Company’s services help improve health outcomes for patients and manage costs for payers, including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, PBM companies and the public sector. The Company utilizes its retail network as a channel to provide health and wellness services to its customers and patients, as illustrated by the Company’s ability to play a significant role in providing vaccinations. Additionally, through our key collaborations, we aim to develop new health care delivery models and to improve the speed, efficiency and safety of the prescription fulfillment process. We have taken further steps to develop our neighborhood health destinations, working with our healthcare strategic partners such as VillageMD to provide an integrated primary care and pharmacy model that aims to drive better health outcomes, reduce costs and provide a differentiated patient experience to the communities we serve.

The Company also provides specialty pharmacy and mail services and offers other health and wellness services throughout the U.S., most of which are operated by our strategic healthcare partners. The Company has more than 85,000 healthcare service providers, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurse practitioners and other health related professionals.

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The segment provides customers with convenient, omni-channel access to consumer goods and services, including own branded general merchandise, such as NICE!, Finest Nutrition, No7, and Soap & Glory, as well as pharmacy and health and wellness services in communities across the U.S. Integrated with the Company’s e-commerce platform, the Walgreens mobile application allows customers to refill prescriptions through scan technology, receive notifications when a refill is due and choose their delivery option, which includes in-store pick up, drive-through or delivery to their home.

In fiscal 2021, we launched myWalgreens, replacing the former Balanced Rewards customer loyalty program, to provide a new interface for customers to access the enhanced and growing Walgreens digital offering. The new program simplifies how customers accumulate and use rewards. Points have been replaced by Walgreens Cash, reflecting the actual value of the reward and allowing the cash benefit to be applied as the customer chooses, not just to future transactions at Walgreens but even in support of their favorite charity or community cause. The number of myWalgreens members continue to grow and as of August 31, 2021, totaled approximately 85 million.

The Walgreens Find Care platform also includes telehealth service providers, connecting patients and customers with options to access convenient and affordable care from their mobile devices. Additionally, the Company has expanded the retail functionality of its mobile application, such as extending drive-through service to include retail products, curbside collection for online orders and same day offerings including pick up orders within 30 minutes. The Company also offers on-demand delivery to its customers through its collaborations with DoorDash and Postmates. The segment is also implementing new approaches to promotions, product selection and other areas to deliver greater value to its customers in its stores, including an enhanced beauty offering.

The components of the segment’s sales are Pharmacy (the sale of prescription drugs and provision of pharmacy-related services) and Retail (the sale of healthcare and retail products including non-prescription drugs, health and wellness, beauty and personal care, and consumables and general merchandise). The segment’s sales are subject to the influence of seasonality, particularly the cough, cold and flu seasons and winter holiday. This seasonality also can affect the segment’s proportion of sales between Retail and Pharmacy during certain periods. The components of the segment’s fiscal year sales were as follows:

	Fiscal 2021		Fiscal 2020		Fiscal 2019
Pharmacy	76	%	75	%	74	%
Retail	24	%	25	%	26	%
Total	100	%	100	%	100	%

The Company filled 827.5 million prescriptions (including vaccinations) in the segment in fiscal 2021. Adjusted to 30-day equivalents, prescriptions filled were 1.2 billion in fiscal 2021. The Company fills prescriptions under Medicare, Medicaid and other publicly financed or sponsored health benefit and prescription drug plans and programs, including the federal 340B drug pricing program. Sales where reimbursement is received from managed care organizations, governmental agencies, PBM companies and private insurance were approximately 97% of the segment’s fiscal 2021 Pharmacy sales.

The Company fills prescriptions for many state Medicaid public assistance programs. Sales from all such Medicaid plans were approximately 4% of the segment’s fiscal 2021 sales. Sales from Medicare Part D plans were approximately 20% of the segment’s fiscal 2021 sales.

In fiscal 2021, the Company also introduced the new myWalgreens Credit Card program, featuring two industry-first retail health and wellness credit cards. The myWalgreens Mastercard and the myWalgreens Credit Card are the first ever of their kind to reward more personalized wellbeing choices and offer industry-leading rewards at Walgreens locations, Walgreens.com, Duane Reade stores, via the Walgreens mobile app, and wherever Mastercard is accepted.

AmerisourceBergen supplies and distributes a significant amount of generic and branded pharmaceutical products to the segment’s pharmacies. The Company purchases its non-pharmaceutical merchandise from numerous manufacturers and wholesalers.

The segment’s sales, gross profit margin and gross profit are impacted by, among other things, both the percentage of prescriptions filled that are generic and the rate at which new generic drugs are introduced to the market. Because any number of factors outside of the Company’s control can affect timing for a generic conversion, the Company faces substantial uncertainty in predicting when such conversions will occur and what effect they will have on particular future periods.

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The current environment of the Company’s pharmacy business also includes ongoing reimbursement pressure, a shift in pharmacy mix towards 90-day at retail (one prescription that is the equivalent of three 30-day prescriptions), an increased volume of Medicare Part D prescriptions and increased consumer use of prescription discount cards. Further consolidation among generic manufacturers coupled with changes in the number of major brand name drugs anticipated to undergo a conversion from branded to generic status may also result in gross margin pressures within the industry.

The Company continuously faces reimbursement pressure from PBM companies, government, health maintenance organizations, managed care organizations and other commercial third-party payers; agreements with these payers are regularly subject to expiration, termination or renegotiation. In addition, plan changes with rate adjustments often occur in January and the Company’s reimbursement arrangements may provide for rate adjustments at prescribed intervals during their term. The Company experienced lower reimbursement rates in fiscal 2021 as compared to the same period in the prior year. The Company expects these pressures to continue.

The Company has also worked to develop and expand its relationships with commercial third-party payers to enable new and/or improved market access via participation in pharmacy provider networks they offer. The prescription volume impact of new agreements and relationships typically is incremental over time.

The Company’s 90-day at retail prescription drug offering is typically at a lower margin than comparable 30-day prescriptions, but provides the Company with the opportunity to increase business with patients with chronic prescription needs while offering increased convenience, helping facilitate improved prescription adherence and resulting in a lower cost to fill the 90-day prescription. Similarly, the specialty prescription business, which generates higher sales dollars per prescription, may result in gross margin pressures within the industry, as compared to generic prescription drugs. The segment’s performance is also impacted by the current environment, including the uncertainty as a result of COVID-19. For more information, see Risk factors in Item 1A below.

International

The International segment consists of pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses outside the U.S. and the pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution business in Germany.

Pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses include Boots branded stores in the United Kingdom (“UK”), the Republic of Ireland and Thailand, the Benavides brand in Mexico and the Ahumada brand in Chile. Sales for these businesses are principally derived from the sale of prescription drugs and health and wellness, beauty, personal care and other consumer products. The Company operated 4,031 retail stores in the segment as of August 31, 2021 (see properties in Part I, Item 2 below for information regarding geographic coverage) and has grown its omni-channel platform, including its online presence, in recent years. In the UK, the Company is a market leader and its retail stores are conveniently located with pharmacists well placed to provide a significant role in the provision of healthcare services, working closely with other primary healthcare providers in the communities the Company serves.

The Boots omni-channel offering is differentiated from that of competitors due to the product brands the Company owns, such as No7, Liz Earle, Soap & Glory, Botanics, Sleek MakeUp, Boots Pharmaceuticals and ‘only at Boots’ exclusive products, together with its long established reputation for trust and customer care. The Company’s brands portfolio is enhanced by its in-house product research and development capabilities. The Company has introduced new beauty brands and beauty halls in key locations. Certain of the product brands of the Company are also sold by third-party retailers.

The Company’s retail store networks are typically complemented by online platforms. In the UK, through the boots.com website and integrated mobile application, the ‘order and collect’ service normally allows customers to order from a range of over 37,000 products by 8:00 p.m. and collect the following day from approximately 74% of the UK’s retail stores.

The Boots Advantage Card loyalty program, where customers earn points on purchases for redemption at a later date, continues to be a key element of the Boots offering. As of August 31, 2021, the number of active Boots Advantage Card members (members who have used their card in the last six months) totaled approximately 12 million.

In addition, Boots in the UK is one of the leaders in the optical market with 548 practices, of which 160 operated on a franchise basis as of August 31, 2021. Approximately 30% of these optical practices are located in Boots stores with the balance being standalone optical practices.

The components of the segment’s sales are Pharmacy (typically the sale of prescription drugs and provision of pharmacy-related services, subject to variation in particular jurisdictions depending upon regulatory and other factors) and Retail

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(primarily the sale of health and beauty products including beauty, toiletries and lifestyle merchandising, non-prescription drugs and, in the UK, the provision of optical services). Further, the segment also has a wholesale business in Germany with 41 distribution centers which distribute prescription medicines to pharmacies and other similar health care facilities.

The segment’s sales are subject to the influence of seasonality, with the second fiscal quarter typically the strongest as a result of the winter holiday period. This seasonality affects the segment’s proportion of sales between Retail and Pharmacy during certain periods. The components of the segment’s fiscal year sales were as follows:

	Fiscal 2021		Fiscal 2020		Fiscal 2019
Pharmacy	19	%	25	%	24	%
Retail	30	%	41	%	46	%
Wholesale	51	%	34	%	30	%
Total	100	%	100	%	100	%

The segment’s Pharmacy sales, gross margin and gross profit dollars are impacted by governmental agencies and other third-party payers seeking to minimize increases in the costs of healthcare, including pharmaceutical drug reimbursement rates. In the UK, which is the segment’s largest market for Pharmacy sales, the amount of government funding available for pharmacy services is typically reviewed and agreed with the pharmacy industry on an annual basis.

The segment’s Retail sales, gross profit margin and gross profit dollars are impacted by, among other things, the highly competitive nature of the health and beauty category, specifically the Company and its competitors’ pricing actions, promotional offers and events and the customer’s desire for value and convenience.

The segment’s Wholesale sales, gross profit margin and gross profit dollars are impacted by, among other things, government actions, which typically seek to reduce the growth in prescription drug consumption, reduce reimbursement rates and increase generic drug utilization. A greater proportion of generic drugs, whether as a result of government actions, generic conversions or other factors, typically has an adverse effect on the Company’s revenues.

In addition, performance as measured in U.S. dollars is impacted by the exchange rates used to translate these amounts into U.S. dollars, the exchange rate of British pound sterling being the most significant.

The segment’s performance and relevant exchange rates are also impacted by the current environment, including the uncertainty as a result of COVID-19. For more information relating to these topics, see Risk factors in Item 1A below.

Intellectual property and licenses

The Company markets products and services under various trademarks, trade dress and tradenames and relies on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark, service mark and trade secret laws, as well as contractual restrictions to establish and protect its proprietary rights. The Company owns numerous domain names, holds numerous patents, has registered numerous trademarks and has filed applications for the registration of a number of other trademarks and service marks in various jurisdictions. The Company holds assorted business licenses (such as pharmacy, occupational, liquor and cigarette) having various lives within multiple legal jurisdictions, which are necessary for the normal operation of the business.

Seasonal variations in business

The Company’s business is affected by a number of factors including, among others, COVID-19, its sales performance during holiday periods (including particularly the winter holiday season) and during the cough, cold and flu season (the timing and severity of which is difficult to predict), significant weather conditions, the timing of its own or competitor discount programs and pricing actions and the timing of changes in levels of reimbursement from governmental agencies and other third-party payers. See the summary of quarterly results (unaudited) in Note 20 Supplementary financial information, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 below.

Sources and availability of raw materials

Inventories are purchased from numerous domestic and foreign suppliers. The Company does not believe that the loss of any one supplier or group of suppliers under common control would have a material adverse effect on its business or that of any of its segments.

Working capital practices

Effective inventory management is important to the Company’s operations. The Company uses various inventory management techniques, including demand forecasting and planning and various forms of replenishment management. Its working capital

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needs typically are greater in the months leading up to the winter holiday season. The Company generally finances its inventory and expansion needs with internally-generated funds and short-term debt. For additional information, see the liquidity and capital resources section in Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations in Part II, Item 7, below.

Customers

The Company sells to numerous retail and wholesale customers. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated sales for any of the periods presented. In fiscal 2021, substantially all of our retail pharmacy sales were to customers covered by third-party payers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies) that agree to pay for all or a portion of a customer's eligible prescription purchases. Three third-party payers accounted for approximately 33% of the Company’s consolidated sales in fiscal 2021.

See Note 17 Segment reporting, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 below for additional information.

Regulation

In the countries in which the Company does business, the Company is subject to national, state and local laws, regulations and administrative practices concerning retail and wholesale pharmacy operations, including regulations relating to the Company’s filling of prescriptions under Medicare, Medicaid and other publicly financed or sponsored health benefit plan and prescription drug plans and programs including the federal 340B drug pricing program; regulations prohibiting kickbacks, beneficiary inducement and the submission of false claims; the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”); the ACA; licensure and registration requirements concerning the operation of pharmacies and the practice of pharmacy; and regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, as well as regulations promulgated by comparable foreign, state and local governmental authorities concerning the operation of the Company’s businesses. The Company is also subject to laws and regulations relating to licensing, tax, foreign trade, intellectual property, privacy and data protection, currency, political and other business restrictions.

The Company is also governed by national, state and local laws of general applicability in the countries in which it does business, including laws regulating matters of working conditions, health and safety and equal employment opportunity. In connection with the operation of its businesses, the Company is subject to laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and health and safety matters, including those governing exposure to, and the management and disposal of, hazardous substances.

Competitive conditions

The industries in which the Company operates are highly competitive. As a leader in the retail pharmacy industry and as a retailer of general merchandise, the Company competes with various local, regional, national and global retailers, including chain and independent pharmacies, mail order prescription providers, grocery stores, convenience stores, mass merchants, online and omni-channel pharmacies and retailers, warehouse clubs, dollar stores and other discount merchandisers. The Company's wholesale offerings and related investments compete with pharmaceutical wholesalers as well as alternative supply sources such as importers and manufacturers who supply directly to pharmacies. The Company competes primarily on the basis of service, convenience, variety and price. Its geographic dispersion helps mitigate the impact of temporary, localized economic and competitive conditions in individual markets. See “Properties” in Part I, Item 2, below for further information regarding the Company’s geographic dispersion.

Human Capital Management

The Company’s purpose is to help people across the world lead healthier and happier lives. The Company recognizes that building healthier, happier communities starts with healthy, happy employees and is committed to: attracting, developing and retaining employees to deliver the highest levels of service to our customers and patients, supporting the personal health and well-being of employees, investing in talent development and employee engagement, fostering a diverse and inclusive culture for all, and implementing a robust approach to health and safety. Since most employees work directly with patients and customers to provide essential services, supporting the health of employees took on particular urgency with COVID-19.

Employees

As of August 31, 2021, the Company employed approximately 315,000 persons globally, of which approximately 113,000 were part-time employees working less than 30 hours per week. Employees based in the U.S. and the UK account for 77% and 18% of the Company’s total workforce, respectively. The foregoing does not include employees of equity method investments.

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Oversight and governance

The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), through its Compensation and Leadership Performance Committee (the “CLP Committee”), provides oversight of human capital matters, including the Company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. The CLP Committee is also responsible for periodically reviewing the Company’s compensation and benefits programs as well as management development and succession planning practices and strategies. The reports and recommendations to the Board via the CLP Committee underpin the broader framework that guides how the Company attracts, retains and develops its workforce in line with Company values.

Compensation, benefits and well-being

The Company’s compensation and benefits are designed to support the financial, mental, and physical well-being of employees and their families. The Company offers a comprehensive range of benefits to full- and part-time employees. In the U.S. the Company offers healthcare coverage, insurance benefits, access to a digital well-being program and an employee assistance program. In addition, the Company provides benefits such as paid time off, defined contribution plans, paid maternity and paternal leave, and a stock purchase plan. The Company continuously evaluates its wellness offerings through competitive benchmarking and bi-annual employee surveys. Certain information related to retirement related benefit plans is included in Note 14 Retirement benefits, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 below for additional information.

On August 31, 2021, the Company announced that its subsidiary, Walgreen Co., will increase the starting hourly wage for its team members to $15.00 per hour, which will take effect in phases beginning in October 2021. The increase in starting hourly wage is expected to be fully implemented by November 1, 2022.

Talent management and engagement

The Company has a talent management process that is designed to identify and assess talent across the organization and provide equal and consistent opportunities for employees to develop their skills. Several levels of employees participate in the Company’s annual performance management process to create development plans that support their particular career objectives. The Company offers numerous resources and programs to attract, engage, develop, advance and retain colleagues. Training and development programs provide employees the support they need to perform in their current roles while planning and preparing for future opportunities. In the U.S. the Company has created Walgreens University which provides training, leadership development and career advancement programs to employees at all levels. Walgreens University is a multi-channel platform that offers U.S. employees access to instructor-led classroom training, online learning, personal and professional development tools. In the UK, an apprenticeship program focused on developing career aspirations and fundamental skills is offered to Boots UK employees. Across the globe, the Company offers on-demand self-paced learning resources for all employees regardless of role or location.

The Company believes engaged employees translate directly to business success. The Company conducts global employee engagement surveys that provide colleagues with an opportunity to share their opinions and helps the Company measure and improve engagement.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (“DE&I”)

A diverse, equitable and inclusive organization is an essential part of the Company’s business strategy, as we believe it positively impacts Company performance, growth and employee engagement. The Company’s policies strictly prohibit any form of discrimination or racial profiling, and the Company has several training programs in place which help identify and eliminate unconscious bias towards women and minority groups. The Company launched a global Diversity & Inclusion Report in September 2020 and recently released its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report in September 2021, on the Company’s website, detailing its commitment to DE&I by highlighting the Company's DE&I strategy, initiatives, and key metrics. In addition to the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, the Company also released the fiscal 2020 EEO-1 Form in September 2021, on the Company's website, a report filed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on the racial, ethnic and gender composition of its U.S. work force.

The Company established a Global Inclusion Council comprised of senior leaders from across its divisions and functions to drive a culture of diversity and inclusivity throughout the Company. It also developed a Leadership Accountability Model to ensure that managers are held accountable for recruitment, retention and development of people of color and women at every level of the organization. Beginning in fiscal 2021, a portion of the bonus incentive for all bonus eligible employees has been linked to the Company’s performance on the Leadership Accountability Model goals.

The Company’s Board of Directors corporate governance guidelines include provisions to actively seek out women and individuals from minority groups to include in the pool from which Board nominees are chosen.

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In fiscal 2020, the Board reaffirmed its commitment to diversity, when it amended the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charter of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board to provide that when searching for new directors, the Nominating and Governance Committee will actively seek out women and individuals from minority groups to include in the pool from which Board nominees are chosen. In October 2020, the Board appointed Valerie B. Jarrett, who is the Company’s first female African American director and the fourth woman on the current Board. Further, in March 2021, the Company appointed Rosalind G. Brewer as a director and the Company’s first African American and first female Chief Executive Officer.

Workplace Health and Safety

The Company is committed to creating and upholding safe environments for employees, customers, contractors and patients across all of its business operations. The Company has a Health, Safety and Environmental Committee which works to continuously improve the management of health and safety. To create a safe and productive workplace, employees across the Company are offered avenues to report incidents including calling a toll-free, confidential hotline, submitting an online report, emailing the compliance officer and contacting human resources.

COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company implemented several measures to help ensure the health, safety and security of employees and customers. It implemented social distancing practices and enhanced cleaning protocols at all locations. It deployed a pandemic response system and team to manage and mitigate employee exposure cases, provide timely reporting of cases, and establish clinical and safety guidelines. The Company distributed personal protective equipment based on its safety professionals’ assessment of various activities employees perform. It added engineering controls and enhanced safety features in retail locations, including protective panels at pharmacy counters and front store checkout stations. The Company provided enhanced pay and benefits, including bonuses to frontline employees, financial assistance for those facing financial hardship and paid sick leave for employees who tested positive or were quarantined due to exposure. In addition, employees who work in support offices were provided with the tools to work from home and the flexibility to do so.

For more information on COVID-19 workplace and community response, see COVID-19 disclosures in Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations in Part II, Item 7, below.

Available information

The Company makes available free of charge on or through its website at http://investor.walgreensbootsalliance.com its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company files or furnishes them to the SEC. The contents of the website are not, however, a part of this Form 10-K or the Company’s other SEC filings.

Information about our executive officers

The following table sets forth, for each person currently serving as an executive officer of the Company, the name, age (as of October 14, 2021) and office(s) held by such person:

Name	Age	Office(s) held
Stefano Pessina	80	Executive Chairman of the Board
Rosalind Brewer	58	Chief Executive Officer
Ornella Barra	67	Chief Operating Officer, International
James Kehoe	58	Executive Vice President and Global Chief Financial Officer
Danielle Gray	43	Executive Vice President, Global Chief Legal Officer
John Standley	58	Executive Vice President and President, Walgreen Co.

Set forth below is information regarding the principal occupations and employment and business experience over the past five years for each executive officer. Executive officers are elected by, and serve at the discretion of, the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise stated, employment is by Walgreens Boots Alliance.

Mr. Pessina has served as Executive Chairman of the Board since March 2021. Mr. Pessina served as Chief Executive Officer from July 2015 to March 2021 and as Executive Vice Chairman from January 2015 to March 2021. He also served as Acting Chief Executive Officer from January 2015 to July 2015. Previously, he served as Executive Chairman of Alliance Boots from July 2007 to December 2014. Prior to that, Mr. Pessina served as Executive Deputy Chairman of Alliance Boots. Prior to the merger of Alliance UniChem and Boots Group, Mr. Pessina was Executive Deputy Chairman of Alliance UniChem, previously having been its Chief Executive for three years through December 2004. Mr. Pessina was appointed to the Alliance UniChem

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Board in 1997 when UniChem merged with Alliance Santé, the Franco-Italian pharmaceutical wholesale group which he established in Italy in 1977. Mr. Pessina also serves on the Board of Directors of a number of private companies, and, from 2000 to 2017, served on the Board of Directors of Galenica AG, a publicly-traded Swiss healthcare group.

Ms. Brewer has served as Chief Executive Officer since March 2021. Ms. Brewer joined the Company from Starbucks Corporation, where she served as Group President, Americas and Chief Operating Officer from October 2017 to February 2021 and as a director from March 2017 to February 2021. Prior to that, Ms. Brewer served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sam’s Club, a membership-only retail warehouse club and a division of Walmart Inc. (“Walmart”), a multinational retail corporation, from February 2012 to February 2017. From 2006 to 2012, Ms. Brewer served in a number of roles at Walmart, from Regional General Manager, Georgia Operations to Executive Vice President and President of Walmart’s East Business Unit. Ms. Brewer was President of the Global Nonwovens Division for Kimberly-Clark Corporation (“Kimberly-Clark”), a global health and hygiene products company, from 2004 to 2006 and held various management positions at Kimberly-Clark from 1984 to 2006. Ms. Brewer serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Spelman College. Ms. Brewer served on the board of directors of Amazon.com, Inc. from February 2019 until February 2021. She also formerly served on the boards of directors for Lockheed Martin Corporation from April 2011 until October 2017 and Molson Coors Brewing Company from 2006 until 2011.

Ms. Barra has served as Chief Operating Officer, International since April 2021. Ms. Barra served as Co-Chief Operating Officer from June 2016 to April 2021. She served as Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive of Global Wholesale and International Retail from December 2014 to June 2016. Previously, she served as the Chief Executive, Wholesale and Brands of Alliance Boots from September 2013 to December 2014 and Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Wholesale Division of Alliance Boots from January 2009 to September 2013, and before that, Wholesale & Commercial Affairs Director of Alliance Boots. Since January 2015, Ms. Barra has served as a director of AmerisourceBergen and from April 2013 to April 2019, served as a director of Assicurazioni Generali, the parent company of Generali Group, a global insurance group. Ms. Barra also serves as a director of a number of private companies, and, until February 2015, served as a director of Alliance Boots.

Mr. Kehoe has served as Executive Vice President and Global Chief Financial Officer since June 2018. Previously, he served Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited as Global Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Officer from June 2016 to March 2018 and as a board director June 2017 to May 2018. He previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Kraft Foods Group, Inc. from February 2015 to July 2015. Previously, he worked for Gildan Activewear Inc., a supplier of branded family apparel in Canada, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer earlier in 2015. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President, Operating Excellence at Mondelēz International, Inc. from November 2013 until December 2014. Mr. Kehoe joined Kraft in 1988 and held a variety of senior-level positions, including serving as Senior Vice President, Corporate Finance from October 2012 to October 2013, and Senior Vice President, Finance of Kraft Foods North America from November 2010 until September 2012.

Ms. Gray has served as Executive Vice President, Global Chief Legal Officer since September 2021. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina from March 2018 to September 2021 and as a Litigation Partner with O’Melveny & Myers LLP from April 2014 to March 2018. Prior to this, Ms. Gray held a number of public service roles in the White House and U.S. Department of Justice from 2009 to 2014, including Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary from 2013 to 2014, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council from 2011 to 2013, Senior Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice from 2010 to 2011 and Associate Counsel to the President in the White House Counsel's Office from 2009 to 2010. Ms. Gray began her career serving as a law clerk to Judge Merrick Garland on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit and Justice Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Standley has served as Executive Vice President and President, Walgreen Co. since August 2020. Previously, Mr. Standley served as Chief Executive Officer of Rite Aid Corporation (“Rite Aid”) from June 2010 to August 2019 and was President from September 2008 to June 2013. Mr. Standley served as Chairman of the Board of Rite Aid from June 2012 to October 2018 and was the Chief Operating Officer from September 2008 to June 2010. He also served as a consultant to Rite Aid from July 2008 to September 2008. From August 2005 through December 2007, Mr. Standley served as Chief Executive Officer and was a member of the board of directors of Pathmark Stores, Inc. From June 2002 to August 2005, he served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Rite Aid and, in addition, in January 2004 was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Rite Aid. He had served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Rite Aid from September 2000 to June 2002 and had served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Rite Aid from December 1999 until September 2000. Mr. Standley served on the SUPERVALU INC. board of directors from May 2013 to July 2015 and on the board of directors of CarMax, Inc. from August 2017 to January 2018.

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Mr. Pessina and Ms. Barra are partners and share a private residence. There are no other family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

Other Officers

Manmohan Mahajan, 42, has served as Senior Vice President, Global Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since July 2021. Mr. Mahajan served as Vice President, Global Reporting and Technical Accounting from February 2016 to September 2019 and as Vice President, Assistant Global Controller from October 2019 to July 2021. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Mahajan served in positions of increasing responsibility with GE Capital, a former subsidiary of General Electric Company, most recently serving as Controller at GE Capital Americas from March 2011 until January 2016.

Item 1A. Risk factors

In addition to the other information in this report and our other filings with the SEC, you should carefully consider the risks described below, which could materially and adversely affect our business operations, financial condition and results of operations. COVID-19 amplifies and exacerbates many of the risks we face in our business operations, including those discussed below. These risks are not the only risks that we face. Our business operations could also be affected by additional factors that are not presently known to us or that we currently consider to be immaterial.

Risks Relating to COVID-19

Global health developments and economic uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have adversely impacted, and may continue to adversely impact, our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted, and may continue to severely impact, the economies of the U.S., the UK and other countries around the world. Over the course of fiscal 2021, governmental authorities imposed a variety of restrictions on people and businesses and public health authorities offered regular guidance on health and safety, all of which had an adverse impact on footfall in our stores, general economic activity and consumer behavior and spending patterns. COVID-19 has created significant public health concerns as well as significant volatility, uncertainty and economic disruption in every region in which we operate, all of which have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Even as efforts to contain the pandemic, including vaccinations, have made progress and some restrictions have relaxed, new variants of the virus are causing additional outbreaks and there is substantial uncertainty about the nature and degree of the continued effects of COVID-19 over time.

The pandemic and related measures have impacted and may continue to impact many aspects of our business, financial condition and results of operations in a number of ways, including but not limited to our growth, product costs, supply chain disruptions and the potential for inventory spoilage, labor shortages and costs, operating costs, logistics constraints, customer demand for our products and industry demand generally, consumer spending, our liquidity, the price of our securities, our ability to access capital markets, and the global economy and financial markets generally.

We have incurred and continue to incur additional costs to protect the health and well-being and meet the needs of our customers and team members. These measures may not be sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among our customers and employees. Illness, travel restrictions, absenteeism, or other workforce disruptions could negatively affect our business operations. Further, the shift to a remote working environment and other policies has, and will continue to have, impacts on our business, including increased costs related to information technology infrastructure and the ability of our business and that of our suppliers to work with the same productivity. The increase in remote work arrangements has increased certain operational risks, including but not limited to cybersecurity risks, and could adversely affect our ability to manage our business.

We are continuing to monitor the pandemic and take appropriate actions in accordance with the recommendations and requirements of relevant authorities. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our future operational and financial performance is currently uncertain and will depend on many factors outside our control, including, without limitation, the timing, extent, trajectory and duration of the pandemic, the development and availability of effective treatments and vaccines, the imposition of public safety measures, and the impact of the pandemic on the global economy. Potential negative impacts of these external factors include, but are not limited to, material adverse effects on demand for our products and services; our supply chain and sales and distribution channels; our ability to execute strategic plans; impairments; and our profitability and cost structure. To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our business, results of operations and financial condition, it may also have the effect of exacerbating the other risks discussed in this “Risk Factors” section.

Risks Relating to Our Business

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Reductions in third-party reimbursement levels, from private or governmental agency plans, and potential changes in industry pricing benchmarks for prescription drugs could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.

The substantial majority of the prescriptions we fill are reimbursed by third-party payers, including private and governmental agency payers. The continued efforts of health maintenance organizations, managed care organizations, PBM companies, governmental agencies, and other third-party payers to reduce prescription drug costs and pharmacy reimbursement rates, as well as litigation and other legal proceedings relating to how drugs are priced, may adversely impact our results of operations. In the U.S., plan changes with rate adjustments often occur in January and our reimbursement arrangements may provide for rate adjustments at prescribed intervals during their term. In addition, the timing and amount of periodic contractual reconciliations payments can vary significantly and may not follow a predictable path. Further, in an environment where some PBM clients utilize narrow or restricted pharmacy provider networks, some of these entities may offer pricing terms that we may not be willing to accept or otherwise restrict our participation in their networks of pharmacy providers.

In addition, many payers in the U.S. are increasingly considering new metrics as the basis for reimbursement rates. It is possible that the pharmaceutical industry or regulators may evaluate and/or develop an alternative pricing reference to replace average wholesale price, which is the pricing reference used for many of our contracts. In addition, many state Medicaid fee-for-service programs have established pharmacy network payments on the basis of actual acquisition cost, which could have an impact on reimbursement practices in other commercial and governmental arrangements. Future changes to the pricing benchmarks used to establish pharmaceutical pricing, including changes in the basis for calculating reimbursement by third-party payers, could adversely affect us.

A shift in pharmacy mix toward lower margin plans, products and programs could adversely affect our results of operations.

Our United States segment seeks to grow prescription volume while operating in a marketplace with continuous reimbursement pressure. A shift in the mix of pharmacy prescription volume towards programs offering lower reimbursement rates could adversely affect our results of operations. For example, our United States segment has experienced a shift in pharmacy mix towards 90-day at retail in recent years and more recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, and specialty pharmacy represents a significant and growing proportion of prescription drug spending in the U.S. and a larger proportion of our revenues. Our 90-day at retail offering for patients with chronic prescription needs typically is at a lower margin than comparable 30-day prescriptions, and specialty pharmacy sales are generally also lower margin. Our United States segment also has experienced a shift in pharmacy mix towards Medicare Part D prescriptions in recent years, and that trend may continue. Preferred Medicare Part D networks have increased in number in recent years; however, we do not participate in all such networks. We have accepted market competitive reimbursement rates in order to secure preferred relationships with Medicare Part D plans serving senior patients with significant pharmacy needs. We also have worked to develop and expand our relationships with commercial third-party payers to enable new and/or improved market access via participation in the pharmacy provider networks they offer. If we are not able to generate additional prescription volume and other business from patients participating in these programs that is sufficient to offset the impact of lower reimbursement, or if the degree or terms of our participation in such preferred networks declines from current levels in future years, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

We derive a significant portion of our sales in the U.S. from prescription drug sales reimbursed by a limited number of pharmacy benefit management companies.

We derive a significant portion of our sales in the U.S. from prescription drug sales reimbursed through prescription drug plans administered by a limited number of PBM companies. PBM companies typically administer multiple prescription drug plans that expire at various times and provide for varying reimbursement rates, and often limit coverage to specific drug products on an approved list, known as a formulary, which might not include all of the approved drugs for a particular indication. Changes in pricing and other terms of our contracts with PBM companies can significantly impact our results of operations. There can be no assurance that we will continue to participate in any particular PBM company’s pharmacy provider network in any particular future time period or on terms reasonably acceptable to us. If our participation in the pharmacy provider network for a prescription drug plan administered by one or more of the large PBM companies is restricted or terminated, we expect that our sales would be adversely affected, at least in the short-term. If we are unable to replace any such lost sales, either through an increase in other sales or through a resumption of participation in those plans, our operating results could be materially and adversely affected. If we exit a pharmacy provider network and later resume participation, there can be no assurance that we will achieve any particular level of business on any particular pace, or that all clients of the PBM company will choose to include us again in the pharmacy network for their plans, initially or at all. In addition, in such circumstances we may incur increased marketing and other costs in connection with initiatives to regain former patients and attract new patients covered by such plans.

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We could be adversely affected by a decrease in the introduction of new brand name and generic prescription drugs as well as increases in the cost to procure prescription drugs.

The profitability of our pharmacy businesses depends upon the utilization of prescription drugs. Utilization trends are affected by, among other factors, the introduction of new and successful prescription drugs as well as lower-priced generic alternatives to existing brand name drugs. Inflation in the price of drugs also can adversely affect utilization, particularly given the increased prevalence of high-deductible health insurance plans and related plan design changes. New brand name drugs can result in increased drug utilization and associated sales, while the introduction of lower priced generic alternatives typically results in relatively lower sales, but relatively higher gross profit margins. Accordingly, a decrease in the number or magnitude of significant new brand name drugs or generics successfully introduced, delays in their introduction, or a decrease in the utilization of previously introduced prescription drugs, could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.

In addition, if we experience an increase in the amounts we pay to procure pharmaceutical drugs, including generic drugs, our gross profit margins would be adversely affected to the extent we are not able to offset such cost increases. Any failure to fully offset any such increased prices and costs or to modify our activities to mitigate the impact could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Also, any future changes in drug prices could be significantly different than our expectations.

Consolidation and strategic alliances in the healthcare industry could adversely affect our business operations, competitive positioning, financial condition and results of operations.

Many organizations in the healthcare industry, including PBM companies, have consolidated in recent years to create larger healthcare enterprises with greater bargaining power, which has resulted in greater pricing pressures. If this consolidation trend continues, it could give the resulting enterprises even greater bargaining power, which may lead to further pressure on the prices for our products and services. If these pressures result in reductions in our prices, our businesses would become less profitable unless we are able to achieve corresponding reductions in costs or develop profitable new revenue streams.

Our business results depend on our ability to successfully manage ongoing organizational change and business transformation and achieve cost savings and operating efficiency initiatives.

Our Board of Directors approved the plans to increase the Transformational Cost Management Program described in "Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations" in Part II, Item 7 below as part of an initiative to reduce costs and increase operating efficiencies. There can be no assurance that we will realize, in full or in part, the anticipated benefits of these programs. Our financial goals assume a level of productivity improvement, including those reflected in the Transformational Cost Management Program and other business optimization initiatives. If we are unable to implement the programs or deliver these expected productivity improvements, while continuing to invest in business growth, or if the volume and nature of change overwhelms available resources, our business operations, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely impacted.

Changes in economic conditions could adversely affect consumer buying practices.

Our performance has been, and may continue to be, adversely impacted by changes in global, national, regional or local economic conditions and consumer confidence. These conditions can also adversely affect our key vendors and customers. External factors that affect consumer confidence and over which we exercise no influence include unemployment rates, inflation, levels of personal disposable income, levels of taxes and interest and global, national, regional or local economic conditions, health epidemics or pandemics (such as COVID-19), as well as looting, vandalism, acts of war or terrorism. Changes in economic conditions and consumer confidence could adversely affect consumer preferences, purchasing power and spending patterns, which could lead to a decrease in overall consumer spending as well as in prescription drug and health services utilization and which could be exacerbated by the increasing prevalence of high-deductible health insurance plans and related plan design changes. In addition, reduced or flat consumer spending may drive us and our competitors to offer additional products at promotional prices. All of these factors could materially and adversely impact our business operations, financial condition and results of operations.

The industries in which we operate are highly competitive and constantly evolving and changes in market dynamics could adversely impact us.

The level of competition in the retail pharmacy and pharmaceutical wholesale industries is high. Changes in market dynamics or actions of competitors or manufacturers, including industry consolidation and the emergence of new competitors and strategic alliances, could materially and adversely impact us. Disruptive innovation, or the perception of potentially disruptive

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innovation, by existing or new competitors could alter the competitive landscape in the future and require us to accurately identify and assess such changes and if required make timely and effective changes to our strategies and business model to compete effectively. All of our businesses face intense competition from multiple existing and new businesses, some of which are aggressively expanding in markets we serve. We continue to develop our offerings to respond to market dynamics; however, if our customers are not receptive to these changes, if we are unable to expand successful programs in a timely manner, or we otherwise do not effectively respond to changes in market dynamics, our businesses and financial performance could be materially and adversely affected.

Specialty pharmacy represents a significant and growing proportion of prescription drug spending in the U.S., a significant portion of which is dispensed outside of traditional retail pharmacies. Because our specialty pharmacy business focuses on complex and high-cost medications, many of which are made available by manufacturers to a limited number of pharmacies (so-called limited distribution drugs), that serve a relatively limited universe of patients, the future growth of this business depends to a significant extent upon expanding our ability to access key drugs and successfully penetrate key treatment categories. Accordingly, it is important that we and our affiliates compete effectively in this evolving and highly competitive market, or our business operations, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. To better serve this evolving market, in March 2017, we and Prime Therapeutics LLC, a PBM, closed a transaction to form a combined central specialty pharmacy and mail services company, AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, using an innovative model that seeks to align pharmacy, PBM and health plans to coordinate patient care, improve health outcomes and deliver cost of care opportunities. Certain clients of our joint venture were and are not obligated to contract through our joint venture, and have in the past, and may in the future, enter into specialty pharmacy and other agreements without involving our joint venture. If this joint venture is not able to compete effectively in this evolving and highly competitive market and successfully adapt to changing market conditions, our business operations, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

If we do not successfully develop and maintain a relevant omni-channel experience for our customers, our businesses and results of operations could be adversely impacted.

The portion of total consumer expenditures with retailers occurring online and through mobile applications has continued to increase and has accelerated significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pace of this increase could further accelerate in the future. Our business has evolved from an in-store experience to interaction with customers across numerous channels, including in-store, online, mobile and social media, among others. Omni-channel and differentiated retail models are rapidly evolving and we must keep pace with changing customer expectations and new developments by our competitors. We must compete by offering a consistent and convenient shopping experience for our customers regardless of the ultimate sales channel and by investing in, providing and maintaining digital tools for our customers. If we are unable to make, improve, or develop relevant customer-facing technology in a timely manner that keeps pace with technological developments and dynamic customer expectations, our ability to compete and our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, if our online activities or our other customer-facing technology systems do not function as designed, we may experience a loss of customer confidence, data security breaches, lost sales, or be exposed to fraudulent purchases, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business operations, reputation and results of operations.

If the merchandise and services that we offer fail to meet customer needs, our sales may be adversely affected.

The success of our retail pharmacy businesses depends on our ability to offer a superior shopping experience, engaging customer service and a quality assortment of available merchandise that differentiates us from other retailers, including enhanced health and beauty product offerings. We must identify, obtain supplies of, and offer to our customers attractive, innovative and high-quality merchandise on a continuous basis. It is difficult to predict consistently and successfully the products and services our customers will demand. If we misjudge the demand for products and services we sell or our customers’ purchasing habits, we may be faced with sales declines, excess product inventories and missed opportunities for products and services we chose not to offer, which could materially and adversely impact our results of operations.

Our substantial international business operations subject us to a number of operating, economic, political, regulatory and other international business risks.

Our substantial international business operations are important to our growth and prospects, including particularly those of our International segment, and are subject to a number of risks, including, without limitation, compliance with a wide variety of foreign laws and regulations; potential difficulties in managing foreign operations, mitigating credit risks in foreign markets, enforcing agreements and collecting receivables through foreign legal systems; varying regional and geopolitical business conditions and demands; tax and trade policies, tariffs and other government regulations affecting trade between the U.S. and other countries; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; the impact of recessions and economic slowdowns in economies

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outside the U.S.; and the instability of foreign economies, governments and currencies and unexpected regulatory, economic or political changes in foreign markets.

These factors can also adversely affect our payers, vendors and customers in international markets, which in turn can negatively impact our businesses. We cannot assure you that one or more of these factors will not have a material adverse effect on our business operations, results of operation and financial condition.

Risks Related to Our Operations

Disruption in our global supply chain could negatively impact our businesses.

The products we sell are sourced from a wide variety of domestic and international vendors, and any future disruption in our supply chain or inability to find qualified vendors and access products that meet requisite quality and safety standards in a timely and efficient manner could adversely impact our businesses. The loss or disruption of such supply arrangements for any reason, including for issues such as COVID-19 or other health epidemics or pandemics, labor disputes, loss or impairment of key manufacturing sites, inability to procure sufficient raw materials, quality control issues, ethical sourcing issues, a supplier’s financial distress, natural disasters, looting, vandalism or acts of war or terrorism, trade sanctions or other external factors over which we have no control, could interrupt product supply and, if not effectively managed and remedied, have a material adverse impact on our business operations, financial condition and results of operations.

We outsource certain business processes to third-party vendors that subject us to risks, including disruptions in business and increased costs.

We outsource certain business and administrative functions and rely on third parties to perform certain services on our behalf. We rely on these third parties to meet our quality and performance requirements and to timely perform as expected. If our continuing relationship with certain third-party providers is interrupted, or if such third-party providers experience disruptions or do not perform as anticipated, or we experience problems with any transition, we may experience operational difficulties, reputational harm, and increased costs that could materially and adversely affect our business operations and results of operations.

We use a single wholesaler of branded and generic pharmaceutical drugs as our primary source of such products.

The Company and AmerisourceBergen are parties to various agreements and arrangements, including a pharmaceutical distribution agreement between the Company and AmerisourceBergen pursuant to which we source branded and generic pharmaceutical products from AmerisourceBergen in the U.S. and an agreement which provides AmerisourceBergen the ability to access generic pharmaceutical products through our global sourcing enterprise. These agreements were amended in June 2021 in connection with the Alliance Healthcare Sale. Pursuant to those amendments, the U.S. distribution agreement was extended through 2029 and the parties committed to pursue additional opportunities in sourcing and distribution. The parties also agreed that Alliance Healthcare UK will remain the distribution partner of Boots until 2031. As of the date of this report, AmerisourceBergen distributes substantially all of our branded and generic pharmaceutical products. Consequently, our business may be adversely affected by any operational, financial or regulatory difficulties that AmerisourceBergen experiences, including those resulting from COVID-19. For example, if AmerisourceBergen’s operations are seriously disrupted for any reason, whether due to a natural disaster, pandemic, labor disruption, regulatory action, computer or operational systems or otherwise, it could adversely affect our business and our results of operations.

Our distribution agreement with AmerisourceBergen is subject to early termination in certain circumstances and, upon the expiration or termination of the agreement, there can be no assurance that we or AmerisourceBergen will be willing to renew the agreement or enter into a new agreement, on terms favorable to us or at all. If such expiration or termination occurred, we believe that alternative sources of supply for most generic and brand-name pharmaceuticals are readily available and that we could obtain and qualify alternative sources, which may include self-distribution in some cases, for substantially all of the prescription drugs we sell on an acceptable basis, such that the impact of any such expiration or termination would be temporary. However, there can be no assurance we would be able to engage alternative supply sources or implement self-distribution processes on a timely basis or on terms favorable to us, or effectively manage these transitions, any of which could adversely affect our business operations, financial condition and results of operations.

Failure to retain and recruit, or failure to manage succession of, key personnel could have an adverse impact on our future performance.

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Our ability to attract, engage, develop and retain qualified and experienced employees at all levels, including in executive and other key strategic positions, is essential for us to meet our objectives. Competition among potential employers might result in increased salaries, benefits or other employee-related costs, or in our failure to recruit and retain employees which could have a materially adverse impact on our business operations, financial condition and results of operations.

Additionally, any failure to adequately plan for and manage succession of key management roles or the failure of key employees to successfully transition into new roles could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. While we have succession plans in place and employment arrangements with certain key executives, these do not guarantee the services of these executives will continue to be available to us.

We may be unable to keep existing store locations or open new locations in desirable places on favorable terms, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.

We compete with other retailers and businesses for suitable locations for our stores. Local land use and zoning regulations, environmental regulations and other regulatory requirements may impact our ability to find suitable locations and influence the cost of constructing, renovating and operating our stores. In addition, real estate, zoning, construction and other delays may adversely affect store openings and renovations and increase our costs. Further, changing local demographics at existing store locations may adversely affect revenue and profitability levels at those stores. The terms of leases at existing store locations may adversely affect us if the renewal terms of, or requested modifications to, those leases are unacceptable to us and we are forced to close or relocate stores. If we are unable to maintain our existing store locations or open new locations in desirable places and on favorable terms, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Our business and operations are subject to risks related to climate change.

The long-term effects of global climate change present both physical risks (such as extreme weather conditions or rising sea levels) and transition risks (such as regulatory or technology changes), which are expected to be widespread and unpredictable. These changes could over time affect, for example, the availability and cost of products, commodities and energy (including utilities), which in turn may impact our ability to procure goods or services required for the operation of our business at the quantities and levels we require. In addition, many of our operations and facilities around the world are in locations that may be impacted by the physical risks of climate change, and we face the risk of losses incurred as a result of physical damage to stores, distribution or fulfillment centers, loss or spoilage of inventory and business interruption caused by such events. We also use natural gas, diesel fuel, gasoline and electricity in our operations, all of which could face increased regulation as a result of climate change or other environmental concerns. Regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions and energy inputs may also increase in coming years, which may increase our costs associated with compliance and merchandise. These events and their impacts could otherwise disrupt and adversely affect our operations and could materially adversely affect our financial performance.

Risks Relating to Our Business Strategy

We may not be successful in executing elements of our business strategy, which may have a material adverse impact on our business and financial results.

We engage in strategic initiatives to, among other reasons, maximize long-term shareholder value, expand on our consumer-centric approach, strengthen our partnerships with local healthcare providers and improve health outcomes. These strategic initiatives may not result in improvements in future financial performance. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to successfully execute these strategic initiatives, or that these initiatives will not result in additional unanticipated costs. The failure to realize the benefits of any strategic initiatives or successfully structure our business to meet market conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

Our growth strategy is partially dependent upon our ability to identify and successfully complete acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic partnerships and alliances.

A significant element of our growth strategy is to identify, pursue and successfully complete and integrate acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic partnerships and alliances that either expand or complement our existing operations. Acquisitions and other strategic transactions involve numerous risks, including difficulties in successfully integrating the operations and personnel, navigating the necessary regulatory approval requirements, distraction of management from overseeing, and disruption of, our existing operations, difficulties in entering markets or lines of business in which we have no or limited direct prior experience, the possible loss of key employees and customers, and difficulties in achieving the synergies we anticipated. Any failure to select suitable opportunities at fair prices, conduct appropriate due diligence, acquire and successfully integrate

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the acquired company, including particularly when acquired businesses operate in new geographic markets or areas of business, could materially and adversely impact our growth strategies, financial condition and results of operations.

These transactions may also cause us to significantly increase our interest expense, leverage and debt service requirements if we incur additional debt to pay for an acquisition or investment, issue common stock that would dilute our current stockholders’ percentage ownership, or incur asset write-offs and restructuring costs and other related expenses that could have a material adverse impact on our operating results. Acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic investments also involve numerous other risks, including potential exposure to assumed litigation and unknown environmental and other liabilities, as well as undetected internal control, regulatory or other issues, or additional costs not anticipated at the time the transaction was completed.

The anticipated strategic and financial benefits of our relationship with AmerisourceBergen may not be realized.

As of August 31, 2021, we beneficially owned approximately 28.5% of the outstanding AmerisourceBergen common stock and had designated one nominee for election to AmerisourceBergen’s board of directors. The Company accounts for its investment in AmerisourceBergen using the equity method of accounting, subject to a two-month reporting lag, with the net earnings attributable to the investment classified within the operating income of the Company’s United States segment. The financial performance of AmerisourceBergen, including any charges which may arise relating to its ongoing opioid litigation matters, will impact the Company’s results of operations. Additionally, a substantial and sustained decline in the price of AmerisourceBergen’s common stock could trigger an impairment evaluation of our investment. Further, our ability to transact in AmerisourceBergen securities is subject to certain restrictions set forth in our agreements with AmerisourceBergen and arising under applicable laws and regulations, which in some circumstances could adversely our ability to transact in AmerisourceBergen securities in amounts and at the times desired. These considerations may materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

From time to time, we make investments in companies over which we do not have sole control and some of these companies may operate in sectors that differ from our current operations and have different risks.

From time to time, we make debt or equity investments in companies that we may not control or over which we may not have sole control. Some of the businesses in which we have made noncontrolling investments operate in markets or industries that are different from our primary lines of business and/or operate in different geographic markets than we do. Investments in these businesses, among other risks, subject us to the operating and financial risks of the businesses we invest in and to the risk that we do not have sole control over the operations of these businesses. We rely on the internal controls and financial reporting controls of these entities and their failure to maintain effectiveness or comply with applicable standards may materially and adversely affect us. Investments in entities over which we do not have sole control, including joint ventures and strategic partnerships and alliances, present additional risks such as having differing objectives from our partners or the entities in which we are invested, becoming involved in disputes, or competing with those persons.

Cybersecurity, Data Privacy and Information Security Risks

A significant disruption in our information technology and computer systems or those of businesses we rely on could harm us.

We rely extensively on our computer systems to manage our ordering, pricing, point-of-sale, pharmacy fulfillment, inventory replenishment, customer loyalty programs, finance and other processes. Our systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, facility damage, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, security breaches including credit card or personally identifiable information breaches, vandalism, theft, natural disasters, catastrophic events, human error and potential cyber threats, including malicious codes, worms, phishing attacks, denial of service attacks, ransomware and other sophisticated cyber-attacks, and our disaster recovery planning cannot account for all eventualities. If any of our systems are damaged, fail to function properly or otherwise become unavailable, we may incur substantial costs to repair or replace them, and may experience loss or corruption of critical data and interruptions or disruptions and delays in our ability to perform critical functions, which could materially and adversely affect our businesses and results of operations.

In addition, we are currently making, and expect to continue to make, substantial investments in our information technology systems and infrastructure, some of which are significant. Implementing new systems carries significant potential risks, including failure to operate as designed, potential loss or corruption of data or information, changes in security processes, cost overruns, implementation delays, disruption of operations, and the potential inability to meet business and reporting requirements. We rely on strategic partners and other service providers to help us with certain significant information technology projects and services. Information technology projects or services frequently are long-term in nature and may take longer to complete and cost more than we expect and may not deliver the benefits we project once they are complete. Any system implementation and transition difficulty may result in operational challenges, reputational harm, and increased costs that

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could materially and adversely affect our business operations and results of operations. We also could be adversely affected by any significant disruption in the systems of third parties we interact with, including strategic and business partners, key payers and vendors.

Privacy and data protection laws increase our compliance burden and any failure to comply could harm us.

The regulatory environment surrounding data security and privacy is increasingly demanding, with the frequent imposition of new and changing requirements across businesses and geographic areas. We are required to comply with increasingly complex and changing data security and privacy regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate that regulate the collection, use and transfer of personal data, including the transfer of personal data between or among countries. In the U.S., for example, HIPAA imposes extensive privacy and security requirements governing the transmission, use and disclosure of health information by covered entities in the health care industry, including health care providers such as pharmacies. In addition, the California Consumer Privacy Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2020, imposes stringent requirements on the use and treatment of “personal information” of California residents, and other jurisdictions have enacted, or are proposing similar laws related to the protection of personal data. Outside the U.S., for example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, which became effective in May 2018, greatly increased the jurisdictional reach of European Union data protection laws and added a broad array of requirements for handling personal data, including the public disclosure of significant data breaches, and provides for greater penalties for noncompliance. Other countries have enacted or are considering enacting data localization laws that require certain data to stay within their borders.

Compliance with changes in privacy and information security laws and standards may result in significant expense due to increased investment in technology and the development of new operational processes. Failure to comply with these laws subjects us to potential regulatory enforcement activity, fines, private litigation including class actions, and other costs. We also have contractual obligations that might be breached if we fail to comply. A significant privacy breach or failure to comply with privacy and information security laws could have a materially adverse impact on our reputation, business operations, financial position and results of operations.

We and businesses we interact with experience cybersecurity incidents and might experience significant computer system compromises or data breaches.

The protection of customer, employee and Company data is critical to our businesses. Cybersecurity and other information technology security risks, such as a significant breach or theft of customer, employee, or company data, could create significant workflow disruption, attract media attention, damage our customer relationships, reputation and brand, and result in lost sales, fines or lawsuits. Throughout our operations, we receive, retain and transmit certain personal information that our customers and others provide to purchase products or services, fill prescriptions, enroll in promotional programs, participate in our customer loyalty programs and banking and credit programs, register on our websites, or otherwise communicate and interact with us. In addition, aspects of our operations depend upon the secure transmission of confidential information over public networks. We also depend on and interact with the information technology networks and systems of third-parties for many aspects of our business operations, including payers, strategic partners and cloud service providers. These third parties may have access to information we maintain about our company, operations, customers, employees and vendors, or operating systems that are critical to or can significantly impact our business operations. Like other global companies, we and businesses we interact with have experienced threats to data and systems, including from vandalism or theft of physical systems or media and from perpetrators of random or targeted malicious cyber-attacks, computer viruses, worms, phishing attacks, bot attacks or other destructive or disruptive software and attempts to misappropriate customer information, including credit card information, and cause system failures and disruptions.

Compromises of our data security systems or of those of businesses with which we interact that result in confidential information being accessed, obtained, damaged or used by unauthorized or improper persons, have in the past and could in the future adversely impact us. Any such compromise could harm our reputation and expose us to regulatory actions, customer attrition, remediation expenses, and claims from customers, financial institutions, payment card associations and other persons, any of which could materially and adversely affect our reputation, business operations, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, security incidents may require that we expend substantial additional resources related to the security of information systems and disrupt our businesses. The risks associated with data security and cybersecurity incidents have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic given the increased reliance on remote work arrangements.

We are subject to payment-related and other financial services risks that could increase our operating costs, expose us to fraud or theft, subject us to potential liability and potentially disrupt our business operations.

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We accept payments using a variety of methods, including cash, checks, credit and debit cards, gift cards and mobile payment technologies such as Apple Pay™, and we may offer new payment options over time. Acceptance of these payment options subjects us to rules, regulations, contractual obligations and compliance requirements, including payment network rules and operating guidelines, data security standards and certification requirements, and rules governing electronic funds transfers. These requirements and related interpretations may change over time, which has made and could continue to make compliance more difficult or costly. For certain payment methods, including credit and debit cards, we pay interchange and other fees, which could increase over time and raise our operating costs. We rely on third parties to provide payment processing services, including the processing of credit cards, debit cards, and other forms of electronic payment. If these companies become unable to provide these services to us, or if their systems are compromised, it could disrupt our business. The payment methods that we offer also subject us to potential fraud and theft by persons who seek to obtain unauthorized access to or exploit any weaknesses that may exist in the payment systems. If we fail to comply with applicable rules or requirements, or if data is compromised due to a breach or misuse of data relating to our payment systems, we may be liable for costs incurred by payment card issuing banks and other third parties or subject to fines and higher transaction fees, or our ability to accept or facilitate certain types of payments could be impaired. In addition, our reputation could suffer and our customers could lose confidence in certain payment types, which could result in higher costs and/or reduced sales and materially and adversely affect our results of operations.

Additionally, we offer branded credit cards, money (wire) transfer services and sell prepaid debit, credit and gift cards at certain business units. These products and services require us to comply with global anti-money laundering laws and regulations. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in fines, sanctions, penalties and damage to our reputation.

Financial and Accounting Risks

We have significant outstanding debt; our debt and associated payment obligations could significantly increase in the future if we incur additional debt and do not retire existing debt.

We have outstanding debt and other financial obligations. As of August 31, 2021, we had approximately $9.0 billion of outstanding indebtedness, including short-term debt. Our debt level and related debt service obligations could have negative consequences, including:

•requiring us to dedicate significant cash flow from operations to amounts payable on our debt, which would reduce the funds we have available for other purposes;

•making it more difficult or expensive for us to obtain any necessary future financing;

•reducing our flexibility in planning for or reacting to changes in our industry and market conditions and making us more vulnerable in the event of a downturn in our business operations; and

•exposing us to interest rate risk given that a portion of our debt obligations and undrawn revolving credit facilities is at variable interest rates.

We may incur or assume significantly more debt in the future, including in connection with acquisitions, strategic investments or joint ventures. If we add new debt and do not retire existing debt, the risks described above could increase. Incurrence of additional debt by us and changes in our operating performance could also adversely affect our credit ratings. Any actual or anticipated downgrade of our credit ratings, including any announcement that our ratings are under review for a downgrade or have been assigned a negative outlook, could adversely affect our cost of funds, liquidity, financial covenants, competitive position and access to capital markets and increase the cost of existing facilities, which could materially and adversely affect our business operations, financial condition, and results of operations. We also could be adversely impacted by any failure to renew or replace, on terms acceptable to us or at all, existing funding arrangements when they expire, and any failure to satisfy applicable covenants.

Our long-term debt obligations include covenants that may adversely affect our ability, and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries, to incur secured indebtedness or engage in certain types of transactions. In addition, our existing credit agreements require us to maintain as of the last day of each fiscal quarter a ratio of consolidated debt to total capitalization not to exceed a certain level. Our ability to comply with these restrictions and covenants may be affected by events beyond our control. If we breach any of these restrictions or covenants and do not obtain a waiver from the lenders, then, subject to applicable cure periods, our outstanding indebtedness could be declared immediately due and payable. This could have a material adverse effect on our business operations and financial condition.

As a holding company, we are dependent on funding from our operating subsidiaries to pay dividends and other obligations.

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The Company is a holding company with no business operations of its own. Its assets primarily consist of direct and indirect ownership interests in, and its business is conducted through, subsidiaries which are separate legal entities. As a result, it is dependent on funding from its subsidiaries, including Walgreens and international subsidiaries, to pay dividends and meet its obligations. The Company’s subsidiaries may be restricted in their ability to pay cash dividends or to make other distributions to the Company, which may limit the payment of cash dividends or other distributions to the holders of the Company's common stock. Credit facilities and other debt obligations of the Company, as well as statutory provisions, may further limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to pay dividends. Payments to the Company by its subsidiaries are also contingent upon its subsidiaries’ earnings and business considerations. Future dividends to the Company will be determined based on earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other factors considered relevant by its Board of Directors.

Our quarterly results may fluctuate significantly based on seasonality and other factors.

Our operating results have historically varied on a quarterly basis, including increased variability during the COVID-19 pandemic, and may continue to fluctuate significantly in the future. For instance, our businesses are seasonal in nature, with the second fiscal quarter (December, January and February), which falls during the holiday season, typically generating a higher proportion of retail sales and earnings than other fiscal quarters. In addition, both prescription and non-prescription drug sales are affected by the timing and severity of the cough, cold and flu season, which can vary considerably from year to year. Other factors that may affect our quarterly operating results, some of which are beyond the control of management, include, but are not limited to the impact and duration of COVID-19, the timing of the introduction of new generic and brand name prescription drugs; inflation, including with respect to generic drug procurement costs; seasonality, including the timing and severity of the cough, cold and flu season; changes or rates of change in payer reimbursement rates and terms; the timing and amount of periodic contractual reconciliation payments, fluctuations in inventory, energy, transportation, labor, healthcare and other costs; significant acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and other strategic initiatives; asset impairment charges, including the performance of and impairment charges related to our equity method investments; the relative magnitude of our LIFO provision in any particular quarter; foreign currency fluctuations; market conditions, widespread looting or vandalism; and many of the other risk factors discussed herein. Accordingly, we believe that quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating results are not necessarily meaningful and investors should not place undue reliance on the results of any particular quarter as an indication of our future performance.

We have a substantial amount of goodwill and other intangible assets which could, in the future, become impaired and result in material non-cash charges to our results of operations.

As of August 31, 2021, we had $12.4 billion of goodwill and $9.9 billion of other intangible assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We evaluate this goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that could more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible asset below its carrying value. As part of this impairment analysis, we determine fair value for each reporting unit using both the income and market approaches. We determine fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets using the relief from royalty method and excess earnings method of the income approach. Definite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment if an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Estimated fair values could change if, for example, there are changes in the business climate, changes in the competitive environment, adverse legal or regulatory actions or developments, changes in capital structure, cost of debt and equity, capital expenditure levels, operating cash flows, or market capitalization, whether due to COVID-19 or otherwise. There can be no assurance that impairments will not occur, and any impairment may have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

We are exposed to risks associated with foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

We operate or have equity method investments in several countries across the globe which expose us to currency exchange rate fluctuations and related risks, including transaction currency exposures relating to the import and export of goods in currencies other than businesses’ functional currencies as well as currency translation exposures relating to profits and net assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. We present our financial statements in U.S. dollars and have a significant proportion of net assets and income in non-U.S. dollar currencies, primarily the British pound sterling, as well as a range of other foreign currencies. Our results of operations and capital ratios can therefore be sensitive to movements in foreign exchange rates. Due to the constantly changing currency exposures to which we are subject and the volatility of currency exchange rates, we cannot predict the effect of exchange rate fluctuations upon our future results of operations. In addition, fluctuations in currencies relative to the U.S. dollar may make it more difficult to perform period-to-period comparisons of our reported results of operations. A depreciation of non-U.S. dollar currencies relative to the U.S. dollar could have a significant adverse impact on our results of operations.

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We may from time to time, in some instances, enter into foreign currency contracts or other derivative instruments intended to hedge a portion of our foreign currency fluctuation risks, which subjects us to additional risks, such as the risk that counterparties may fail to honor their obligations to us, that could materially and adversely affect us. Additionally, we may (and currently do) use foreign currency debt to hedge some of our foreign currency fluctuation risks. The periodic use of such hedging activities may not offset any or more than a portion of the adverse financial effects of unfavorable movements in foreign exchange rates over the limited time the hedges are in place. We cannot assure you that fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates will not materially affect our consolidated financial results.

We could be adversely impacted by changes in assumptions used in calculating pension assets and liabilities.

We operate certain defined benefit pension plans in the UK, which were closed to new entrants in 2010, as well as smaller plans in other jurisdictions. The valuation of the pension plans’ assets and liabilities depends in part on assumptions, which are primarily based on the financial markets as well as longevity and employee retention rates. This valuation is particularly sensitive to material changes in the value of equity, bond and other investments held by the pension plans, changes in the corporate bond yields which are used in the measurement of the liabilities, changes in market expectations for long-term price inflation, and new evidence on projected longevity rates. Funding requirements and the impact on the statement of earnings relating to these pension plans are also influenced by these factors. Adverse changes in the assumptions used to calculate the value of pension assets and liabilities, including lower than expected pension fund investment returns and/or increased life expectancy of plan participants, or regulatory change could require us to increase the funding of its defined benefit pension plans or incur higher expenses, which would adversely impact our results of operations and financial position.

Risks from Changes in Public Policy and Other Legal and Regulatory Risks

Changes in the healthcare industry and regulatory environments may adversely affect our businesses.

Political, economic and regulatory influences are subjecting the healthcare industry to significant changes that could adversely affect our results of operations. In recent years, the healthcare industry has undergone significant changes in an effort to reduce costs and government spending. These changes include an increased reliance on managed care; cuts in certain Medicare and Medicaid funding in the U.S. and the funding of governmental payers in foreign jurisdictions; consolidation of competitors, suppliers and other market participants; and the development of large, sophisticated purchasing groups. We expect the healthcare industry to continue to change significantly in the future. Some of these potential changes, such as a reduction in governmental funding for certain healthcare services or adverse changes in legislation or regulations governing prescription drug pricing, healthcare services or mandated benefits, may cause customers to reduce the amount of our products and services they purchase or the price they are willing to pay for our products and services. We expect continued governmental and private payer pressure to reduce pharmaceutical pricing, and these pressures could be further exacerbated if payer deficits or shortfalls increase due to COVID-19 or otherwise. Changes in pharmaceutical manufacturers’ pricing or distribution policies and practices as well as applicable government regulations, including, for example, in connection with the federal 340B drug pricing program, could also significantly reduce our profitability.

We are exposed to risks related to litigation and other legal proceedings.

We operate in a highly regulated and litigious environment. We are involved in legal proceedings, including litigation, arbitration and other claims, and investigations, inspections, audits, claims, inquiries and similar actions by pharmacy, healthcare, tax and other governmental authorities, including those contained in Note 11 Commitments and contingencies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 for additional information. For example, in January 2019, Walgreen Co., on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and certain identified affiliates, resolved matters regarding certain dispensing practices by entering into, among other things, a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The Corporate Integrity Agreement has a five-year term and provides that Walgreen Co. shall, among other things, continue the compliance program it created to address compliance with federal health care program requirements, provide annual certifications of compliance and provide training and education for certain covered employees. Failure to meet the Corporate Integrity Agreement obligations could have material adverse consequences for us, including reputational harm and monetary penalties for each instance of non-compliance. In addition, in the event of a breach or deliberate violation of the Corporate Integrity Agreement, we could be excluded from participation in federal healthcare programs, or subjected to other significant penalties, which could seriously harm our results of operations, liquidity and financial results.

Legal proceedings, in general, and securities, derivative action and class action and multi-district litigation, in particular, can be expensive and disruptive. Some of these suits may purport or may be determined to be class actions and/or involve parties seeking large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive or exemplary damages, and may remain unresolved for several

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years. For example, we are a defendant in numerous litigation proceedings relating to opioid matters, including federal multidistrict litigation that consolidated numerous cases filed against an array of defendants by various plaintiffs such as counties, cities, hospitals, Indian tribes, and others, as well as numerous lawsuits brought in state courts. Additionally, the Company has received from the Department of Justice and the Attorney Generals of numerous states subpoenas, civil investigative demands and/or other requests concerning opioid matters. From time to time, the Company is also involved in legal proceedings as a plaintiff involving antitrust, tax, contract, intellectual property and other matters. See Note 11 Commitments and contingencies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 below for additional information.

The Company’s financial results may also be adversely affected by the litigation and other legal proceedings of companies in which it has an equity method investment. For example, AmerisourceBergen is involved in litigation and legal proceeding, including those relating to opioid matters. Any unfavorable outcome or settlement related to these proceedings could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial results.

Like other companies in the retail pharmacy and pharmaceutical wholesale industries, the Company is subject to extensive regulation by national, state and local government agencies in the U.S. and other countries in which it operates. There continues to be a heightened level of review and/or audit by regulatory authorities of, and increased litigation regarding business, compliance and reporting practices of the Company and other industry participants. As a result, the Company regularly is the subject of government actions of the types described above. In addition, under the qui tam or “whistleblower” provisions of the federal and various state false claims acts, persons may bring lawsuits alleging that a violation of the federal anti-kickback statute or similar laws has resulted in the submission of “false” claims to federal and/or state healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. After a private party has filed a qui tam action, the government must investigate the private party's claim and determine whether to intervene in and take control over the litigation. These actions may remain under seal while the government makes this determination.

We cannot predict with certainty the outcomes of these legal proceedings and other contingencies, and the costs incurred in litigation can be substantial, regardless of the outcome. Substantial unanticipated verdicts, fines and rulings do sometimes occur. As a result, we could from time to time incur judgments, enter into settlements or revise our expectations regarding the outcome of certain matters, and such developments could harm our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the period in which the amounts are accrued and/or our cash flows in the period in which the amounts are paid. In addition, as a result of governmental investigations or proceedings, the Company may be subject to damages, civil or criminal fines or penalties, or other sanctions, including the possible suspension or loss of licensure and/or suspension or exclusion from participation in government programs. The outcome of some of these legal proceedings and other contingencies could require us to take, or refrain from taking, actions which could negatively affect our operations. Additionally, defending against these lawsuits and proceedings may involve significant expense and diversion of management’s attention and resources.

A significant change in, or noncompliance with, governmental regulations and other legal requirements could have a material adverse effect on our reputation and profitability.

We operate in complex, highly regulated environments around the world and could be materially and adversely affected by changes to applicable legal requirements including the related interpretations and enforcement practices, new legal requirements and/or any failure to comply with applicable regulations. Our retail pharmacy and health and wellness services businesses are subject to numerous country, state and local regulations including licensing, billing practices, utilization and other requirements for pharmacies and reimbursement arrangements. The regulations to which we are subject include, but are not limited to: country and state registration and regulation of pharmacies and drug discount card programs; dispensing and sale of controlled substances and products containing pseudoephedrine; applicable governmental payer regulations including Medicare and Medicaid; data privacy and security laws and regulations including HIPAA; the ACA or any successor thereto; laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and health and safety matters, each of which continues to evolve, including those governing exposure to, and the management and disposal of, hazardous substances; regulations regarding food and drug safety including those of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), trade regulations including those of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and consumer protection and safety regulations including those of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, as well as state regulatory authorities, governing the availability, sale, advertisement and promotion of products we sell as well as our loyalty and drug discount card programs; anti-kickback laws; false claims laws; laws against the corporate practice of medicine; and foreign, national and state laws governing health care fraud and abuse and the practice of the profession of pharmacy. For example, in the U.S., the DEA, FDA and various other regulatory authorities regulate the distribution and dispensing of pharmaceuticals and controlled substances. We are required to hold valid DEA and state-level licenses, meet various security and operating standards and comply with the federal and various state controlled substance acts and related regulations governing the sale, dispensing, disposal, holding and distribution of controlled substances. The DEA, FDA and state regulatory authorities have broad enforcement powers, including

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the ability to seize or recall products and impose significant criminal, civil and administrative sanctions for violations of these laws and regulations. We are also governed by foreign, national and state laws of general applicability, including laws regulating matters of working conditions, health and safety and equal employment opportunity and other labor and employment matters as well as employee benefit, competition and antitrust matters. In addition, we could have significant exposure if we are found to have infringed another party’s intellectual property rights.

Changes in laws, regulations and policies and the related interpretations and enforcement practices may alter the landscape in which we do business and may significantly affect our cost of doing business. The impact of new laws, regulations and policies and the related interpretations and enforcement practices generally cannot be predicted, and changes in applicable laws, regulations and policies and the related interpretations and enforcement practices may require extensive system and operational changes, be difficult to implement, increase our operating costs and require significant capital expenditures. Untimely compliance or noncompliance with applicable laws and regulations could result in the imposition of civil and criminal penalties that could adversely affect the continued operation of our businesses, including: suspension of payments from government programs; loss of required government certifications; loss of authorizations to participate in or exclusion from government programs, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs in the U.S. and the National Health Service in the UK; loss of licenses; and significant fines or monetary penalties. Any failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements in the U.S. or in any of the countries in which we operate could result in significant legal and financial exposure, damage to our reputation and brand, and have a material adverse effect on our business operations, financial condition and results of operations.

We could be adversely affected by violations of anti-bribery, anti-corruption and/or international trade laws.

We are subject to laws concerning our business operations and marketing activities in foreign countries where we conduct business. For example, we are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”), U.S. export control, anti-money laundering and economic and trade sanction laws, and similar anti-corruption and international trade laws in certain foreign countries, such as the UK Bribery Act, any violation of which could create substantial liability for us and also harm our reputation. Violations of these laws and regulations or any other anti-bribery, anti-corruption or international trade laws may subject us to penalties, sanctions, including civil and criminal fines, disgorgement of profits, and suspension or debarment of our ability to contract with governmental agencies or receive export licenses. From time to time, we may face audits or investigations by one or more domestic or foreign governmental agencies relating to our international business activities, compliance with which could be costly and time-consuming, and could divert our management and key personnel from our business operations. An adverse outcome under any such investigation or audit could damage our reputation and subject us to fines or other penalties, which could materially and adversely affect our business operations, financial condition, and results of operations.

We could be adversely affected by product liability, product recall, personal injury or other health and safety issues.

We could be adversely impacted by the supply of defective or expired products, including the infiltration of counterfeit products into the supply chain, errors in re-labeling of products, product tampering, product recall and contamination or product mishandling issues. Through our pharmacies and specialist packaging sites, including through services provided by third-party health care providers, we are also exposed to risks relating to the products and services we offer. Errors in the dispensing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, including related counseling, and in the provision of other healthcare services could lead to serious injury or death. Product liability or personal injury claims may be asserted against us and mandatory or voluntary product recalls may apply to us with respect to any of the retail products or pharmaceuticals we sell or services we provide, particularly with regard to our private branded products that are not available from other retailers. For example, from time to time, the FDA issues statements alerting patients that products in our supply chain may contain impurities or harmful substances, and claims relating to the sale or distribution of such products may be asserted against us or arise from these statements. Our healthcare clinics also increase our exposure to professional liability claims related to medical care. We could suffer significant reputational damage and financial liability if we, or any affiliated entities or third-party healthcare providers that we do business with, experience any of the foregoing health and safety issues or incidents, which could have a material adverse effect on our business operations, financial condition and results of operations.

We could be subject to adverse changes in tax laws, regulations and interpretations or challenges to our tax positions.

As a large corporation with operations in the U.S. and numerous other jurisdictions, from time to time, changes in tax laws or regulations may be proposed or enacted that could adversely affect our overall tax liability. For example, the U.S. tax legislation enacted in December 2017 represented a significant overhaul of the U.S. federal tax code that impacted our U.S. federal income tax position. There can be no assurance that changes in tax laws or regulations, both within the U.S. and the other jurisdictions in which we operate, will not materially and adversely affect our effective tax rate, tax payments, financial condition and results

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of operations. Similarly, changes in tax laws and regulations that impact our customers and counterparties or the economy generally may also impact our financial condition and results of operations.

Tax laws and regulations are complex and subject to varying interpretations, and we are subject to regular review and audit by both domestic and foreign tax authorities. Any adverse outcome of such a review or audit could have a negative impact on our effective tax rate, tax payments, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the determination of our income tax provision and other tax liabilities requires significant judgment, and there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. The ultimate tax determination may differ from the amounts recorded in our financial statements and may materially affect our results of operations in the period or periods for which such determination is made. Any significant failure to comply with applicable tax laws and regulations in all relevant jurisdictions could give rise to substantial penalties and liabilities. Any changes in enacted tax laws (such as the recent U.S. tax legislation), rules or regulatory or judicial interpretations; or any change in the pronouncements relating to accounting for income taxes could materially and adversely impact our effective tax rate, tax payments, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to Our Structure and Organization

Certain stockholders may have significant voting influence over matters requiring stockholder approval.

As of August 31, Stefano Pessina, our Executive Chairman (together with his affiliates, the “SP Investors”), had sole or shared voting power, directly or indirectly, over an aggregate of approximately 16.9% of our outstanding common stock. The SP Investors have agreed to, for so long as they have the right to designate a nominee for election to the Board, to vote all of their shares of common stock in accordance with the Board’s recommendation on matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders (including with respect to the election of directors). The SP Investors’ significant interest in our common stock potentially could determine the outcome of matters submitted to a vote by our stockholders. The influence of the SP Investors could result in the Company taking actions that other stockholders do not support or failing to take actions that other stockholders support. In addition, issuances or sales of our common stock (or the exercise of related registration rights), including sales of shares by our directors and officers or key investors, including the SP Investors and certain other former Alliance Boots stockholders, are subject to restrictions in the case of shares held by persons deemed to be our affiliates and to certain obligations pursuant to the Company Shareholders Agreement (as defined herein). As a result, the market price of our common stock could be adversely affected.

Conflicts of interest, or the appearance of conflicts of interest, may arise because certain of our directors and officers are also owners or directors of companies we may have dealings with.

Conflicts of interest, or the appearance of conflicts of interest, could arise between our interests and the interests of the other entities and business activities in which our directors or officers are involved. For example, potential conflicts of interest could arise if a dispute were to arise between the Company and other parties to the shareholders agreement (the “Company Shareholders Agreement”) with certain SP Investors. Mr. Pessina, our Executive Chairman, indirectly controls Alliance Santé Participations S.A. (“ASP”), a privately-held company which is a party to the Company Shareholders Agreement, and he and his partner Ornella Barra, our Chief Operating Officer, International serve as directors of ASP. There are other arrangements between affiliates of Mr. Pessina and the Company, with required disclosures included in the Company’s annual proxy statement, including with respect to Alliance Healthcare Italia SpA, which is an entity indirectly owned and controlled by Mr. Pessina and in which the Company has an indirect 9% interest, which operates Boots branded stores in Italy. Conflicts of interest, or the appearance of conflicts of interest, or similar issues could arise in connection with these or other transactions in the future. While our contractual arrangements place restrictions on the parties’ conduct in certain situations, and related party transactions are subject to independent review and approval in accordance with our related party transactions approval procedures and applicable law, the potential for a conflict of interest exists and such persons may have conflicts of interest, or the appearance of conflicts of interest, with respect to matters involving or affecting both companies.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, Delaware law or our agreements with certain stockholders may impede the ability of our stockholders to make changes to our Board or impede a takeover.

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), could make it difficult for stockholders to change the composition of the Board or discourage, delay, or prevent a merger, consolidation, or acquisitions that stockholders may otherwise consider favorable. These provisions include the authorization of the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock that could be issued by the Board, limitations on the ability of stockholders to call special meetings, and advance notice requirements for nomination for election to the Board or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings. We are also subject to the provisions of Section 203 of

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the DGCL, which prohibits us, except under specified circumstances, from engaging in any mergers, significant sales of stock or assets, or business combinations with any stockholder or group of stockholders who own 15% or more of our common stock.

Under the Company Shareholders Agreement, the SP Investors are entitled to designate one nominee to the Board (currently Stefano Pessina) for so long as the SP Investors continue to meet certain beneficial ownership thresholds and subject to certain other conditions. Pursuant to the Company Shareholders Agreement, the SP Investors have agreed that, for so long as they have the right to designate a nominee to the Board, they will vote all of their shares of common stock in accordance with the Board’s recommendation on matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders (including with respect to the election of directors).

While these provisions do not make us immune from takeovers or changes in the composition of the Board, and are intended to protect our stockholders from, among other things, coercive or otherwise unfair tactics, these provisions could have the effect of making it difficult for stockholders to change the composition of the Board or discouraging, delaying, or preventing a merger, consolidation, or acquisitions that stockholders may otherwise consider favorable.

We cannot guarantee that our stock repurchase program will be fully implemented or that it will enhance long-term stockholder value.

In June 2018, our Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $10 billion of our common stock. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date and we are not obligated to repurchase a specified number or dollar value of shares, on any particular timetable or at all. There can be no assurance that we will repurchase stock at favorable prices. Activity under this program was suspended in July 2020 and there can be no assurance whether or when activity will resume. If resumed, the repurchase program may be suspended or terminated at any time and, even if fully implemented, may not enhance long-term stockholder value.

Item 1B. Unresolved staff comments

There are no unresolved written comments that were received from the SEC Staff 180 days or more before the end of the fiscal year relating to the Company’s periodic or current reports under the Exchange Act.

Item 2. Properties

The following information regarding the Company’s properties is provided as of August 31, 2021 and does not include properties of unconsolidated, partially-owned entities.

The United States segment operated 8,965 retail stores and five specialty pharmacies. The International segment operated 4,031 retail stores. In addition, the International segment also owned or leased 343 standalone Boots Opticians locations. The Company’s domestic and international retail locations, which included Boots Opticians and specialty pharmacy locations, covered approximately 140 million square feet. The Company owned approximately 10% and 4% of these United States segment and International segment locations, respectively. The remaining locations were leased or licensed. For more information on leases, see Note 5 Leases, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 below for additional information.

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The following is a breakdown of the Company’s retail stores:

	Retail stores
United States:
United States	8,860
Puerto Rico	104
U.S. Virgin Islands	1
	8,965
International:
United Kingdom	2,276
Mexico	1,110
Chile	302
Thailand	253
The Republic of Ireland	90
	4,031
Walgreens Boots Alliance total	12,996

The Company operated 22 retail distribution centers with a total of approximately 14 million square feet of space, of which 13 locations were owned. Geographically, 17 of these retail distribution centers were located in the U.S. and five were located outside of the U.S. In addition, the Company used public warehouses and third-party distributors to handle certain retail distribution needs. The Company’s United States segment also operated three prescription mail service facilities which occupied approximately 280 thousand square feet. The Company's United States segment also operated one manufacturing facility, which occupied approximately 6.1 million square feet.

The Company operated 41 pharmaceutical distribution centers in Germany, of which 40 were owned. These pharmaceutical distribution centers occupied approximately 4 million square feet.

The Company operated 21 principal office facilities, which occupied 5.8 million square feet. Four of these principal office facilities were owned, and eight of which were located in the U.S.

Item 3. Legal proceedings

The information in response to this item is included in Note 11 Commitments and contingencies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 below for additional information.

As previously disclosed, the Company has been under investigation by certain counties within the State of California for alleged noncompliance with state hazardous waste regulations. The Company has worked with state and local officials in an effort to resolve this matter. The Company executed a settlement agreement in October 2020 which includes a monetary payment and injunctive provisions, including funding of supplemental environmental projects. The total settlement value is $3.5 million. On December 17, 2020, the settlement was approved by a California state court in Alameda County (People of the State of California v. Walgreen Co., Case No. RG20081172), and its injunctive provisions will be in effect for three years.

Item 4. Mine safety disclosures

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5. Market for registrant’s common equity, related stockholder matters and issuer purchases of equity securities

Walgreens Boots Alliance’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol WBA. As of August 31, 2021, there were approximately 48,077 holders of record of Walgreens Boots Alliance common stock.

The Company has paid cash dividends every quarter since 1933. Future dividends will be determined based on earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other factors considered relevant by the Company's Board of Directors.

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The following table provides information about purchases made by the Company during the quarter ended August 31, 2021 of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act. Subject to applicable law, share purchases may be made from time to time in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions including accelerated share repurchase agreements, or pursuant to instruments and plans complying with Rule 10b5-1, among other types of transactions and arrangements.

	Issuer purchases of equity securities
Period	Total number of shares purchased	Average price paid per share		Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced repurchase programs1	Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs1
6/1/21 - 6/30/21	—	$	—	—	$	2,003,419,960
7/1/21 - 7/31/21	—	—		—	2,003,419,960
8/1/21 - 8/31/21	—	—		—	2,003,419,960
	—	$	—	—	$	2,003,419,960

1In June 2018, Walgreens Boots Alliance authorized a stock repurchase program, which authorized the repurchase of up to $10.0 billion of Walgreens Boots Alliance common stock. This program has no specified expiration date. In July 2020, the Company announced that it had suspended activities under this program.

Item 6. Reserved

Not applicable.

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Item 7. Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations

The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere herein and the description of the Company’s business and reportable segments in Item 1 above. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed under cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements below and in risk factors in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K. References herein to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and its subsidiaries, and in each case do not include unconsolidated partially-owned entities, except as otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires.

Certain amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements and associated notes may not add due to rounding. All percentages have been calculated using unrounded amounts for each of the periods presented.

INTRODUCTION AND SEGMENTS

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and its subsidiaries is a global leader in retail pharmacy. Its operations are conducted through two reportable segments:

•United States; and

•International

See Note 17 Segment reporting and Note 18 Sales, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 below for additional information.

FACTORS, TRENDS AND UNCERTAINTIES AFFECTING OUR RESULTS AND COMPARABILITY

The Company has been, and we expect it to continue to be affected by a number of factors that may cause actual results to differ from our historical results or current expectations. These factors include: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (“COVID-19”) on our operations and financial results; the financial performance of our equity method investees, including AmerisourceBergen; the influence of certain holidays; seasonality; foreign currency rates; changes in vendor, payer and customer relationships and terms and associated reimbursement pressure; strategic transactions and acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and other strategic collaborations; changes in laws, including U.S. tax law changes; changes in trade tariffs, including trade relations between the U.S. and China, and international relations, including the UK's withdrawal from the European Union and its impact on our operations and prospects, and those of our customers and counterparties; the timing and magnitude of cost reduction initiatives, including under our Transformational Cost Management Program (as defined below); the timing and severity of the cough, cold and flu season; fluctuations in variable costs; the impacts of looting, natural disasters, war, terrorism and other catastrophic events, and changes in general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates.

Specialty pharmacy represents a significant and growing proportion of prescription drug spending in the U.S., a significant portion of which is dispensed outside of traditional retail pharmacies. To better serve the evolving specialty pharmacy market, in March 2017, we and Prime Therapeutics LLC, a PBM, closed a transaction to form a combined central specialty pharmacy and mail services company, AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, using an innovative model that seeks to align pharmacy, PBM and health plans to coordinate patient care, improve health outcomes and deliver cost of care opportunities. Certain clients of our joint venture were and are not obligated to contract through our joint venture, and have in the past, and may in the future, enter into specialty pharmacy and other agreements without involving our joint venture. Over the last year, certain clients have chosen not to renew their contracts through our joint venture which will impact gross sales. However, considering the relatively low margin nature of this business, we do not anticipate this having a material impact on operating income.

These and other factors can affect the Company’s operations and net earnings for any period and may cause such results not to be comparable to the same period in previous years. The results presented in this report are not necessarily indicative of future operating results.

COVID-19

COVID-19 has severely impacted, and may continue to impact, the economies of the U.S., the UK and other countries around the world. COVID-19 has created significant public health concerns as well as significant volatility, uncertainty and economic disruption in every region in which we operate, which has adversely affected, and may again adversely affect, our industries and our business operations. Further, financial and credit markets experienced, and may again experience, volatility. Policies and initiatives designed to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 have resulted in, among other things, temporary closure or reduced hours of operation of certain store locations in the U.S., the UK and other countries, reduced customer traffic and sales in our retail pharmacies and the adoption of work-from-home policies.

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In response to COVID-19, various domestic and foreign federal, state and local governmental legislation, regulations, orders, policies and initiatives have been implemented that are designed to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, as well as to help address economic and market volatility and instability resulting from COVID-19. The Company has assessed and will continue to assess the impact of these governmental actions on the Company. The Company has participated in certain of these programs, including for example availing itself to certain tax deferrals which were introduced by the CARES Act in the U.S. and certain tax deferral and benefit and employee wage support in the UK, and if available, may continue to do so in the future.

During the first half of fiscal 2021, the Company experienced certain adverse impacts of COVID-19. Sales were negatively impacted within the United States segment driven by low level of flu incidences as social distancing measures continued to remain in place across the U.S. Sales were also negatively impacted within the International segment, which reflected a reduction in footfall in Boots UK stores as a second national lockdown was declared in November 2020. The Company took measures to keep stores open, incurring incremental selling, general and administrative expenses including higher employee costs and store expenses related to social distancing and incremental cleaning, COVID-19 drive-through testing sites expenses, safeguarding store environments as well as preparing for the rollout of mass vaccinations. In the beginning of fiscal 2021, the Company also took certain actions to partly mitigate the impact of COVID-19 through cost containment across the Company including temporary store closures and decreasing store hours and reducing rent at some locations. The Company's operating income was significantly and adversely impacted during the first half of fiscal 2021 as a result of COVID-19.

During the second half of fiscal 2021, the Company experienced sequential improvement compared to the first half of fiscal 2021 as sales and comparable scripts were positively impacted within the United States segment due to the acceleration of COVID-19 vaccination rollout and a recovery in retail. The United States segment’s operating income was also positively impacted as a result of COVID-19 vaccines administered, net of incremental labor and other costs related to the vaccination program. The International segment experienced a rebound in retail sales and operating income during the second half of fiscal 2021 resulting from the phased reopening of the UK high street and less severe COVID-19 restrictions. However, despite these improvements during the second half of fiscal 2021, store footfall in the UK remained below pre-COVID-19 levels.

The Company has taken a number of proactive actions consistent with regulatory directives, such as digital 'order ahead' drive-through offering services with an increased range of products available for drive-through pick-up and curbside collection and put in place new delivery options available nationwide in the U.S during fiscal 2021. To continue to work with customers and manage operations through the pandemic, the Company launched a new COVID-19 testing program for businesses in fiscal 2020. As of August 31, 2021, the Company has administered 12.9 million COVID-19 tests in the U.S. as part of its Test & Protect efforts. In the International segment, Boots administered more than 3.7 million COVID-19 tests in the UK, mostly undertaken in partnership with the National Health Service (“NHS”). Boots UK has a growing private test offering with several at home and in-store tests available, in addition to testing partnerships with several major airlines.

The Company has worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) and the U.S. government to help administer COVID-19 vaccines to high priority groups, including long-term care facility residents and staff. The United States segment also expanded vaccination models to ensure convenient access, including same-day and walk-in appointments, mobile clinics, employer partnerships and extended hours. As of August 31, 2021, the United States segment had administered approximately 34.6 million COVID-19 vaccinations, including 13.5 million in the three months ended August 31, 2021.

The situation surrounding COVID-19 remains fluid, and could result in additional mandates and directives, including revisions thereto, from foreign, federal, state, county and city authorities throughout the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and for some time thereafter. The impact on the U.S. and global economies and consumer, customer and health care utilization patterns depends upon the evolving factors and future developments related to COVID-19. As a result, the financial and/or operational impact on the Company, operating results, cash flows and/or financial condition is uncertain, but the impact, singularly or collectively, could be material and adverse.

The Company’s current expectations described above are forward-looking statements and our actual results may differ. Factors that might cause a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed below under “Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements” and in Item 1A, Risk factors.

STRATEGIC UPDATE

In October 2021, the Company announced the launch of its new healthcare strategy. The Company plans to become a leading provider of local clinical care services by leveraging its consumer-centric technology and pharmacy network to deliver value-based care. The Company also plans to continue to transform its core pharmacy and retail business. The Company’s goal is to provide better consumer experiences, improve health outcomes and lower costs. At the center of the Company’s healthcare strategy is Walgreens Health, a technology-enabled care model powered by a nationally scaled, locally delivered healthcare

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platform. To advance its strategy, the Company announced majority investments in Village Practice Management Company, LLC (“VillageMD”) and CareCentrix, which it believes will strengthen Walgreens Health capabilities in primary care, post-acute care and home care.

See Note 21. Subsequent events to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 herein for further information.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Wholesale Transaction

On June 1, 2021, the Company completed the Alliance Healthcare Sale. See Item 1. Business. Recent Transactions for further details on the Alliance Healthcare Sale.

The Disposal Group in the Alliance Healthcare Sale met the criteria to be reported as discontinued operations. Therefore, the related assets, liabilities and operating results of the Disposal Group are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

See Note 2 Discontinued operations, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 below for additional information.

VillageMD investment

In July 2020, the Company and VillageMD announced an expansion of their partnership and the intent to open 500 to 700 “Village Medical at Walgreens” physician-led primary care clinics over a five-year period. This expanded partnership was supported by the Company’s investment in VillageMD over three years of $1.0 billion in equity and convertible debt, which included an initial $250 million equity investment.

On January 6, 2021, the Company and VillageMD announced the acceleration of the Company's investment in VillageMD. The Company completed the remaining $750 million investment during the twelve months ended August 31, 2021, which will support the opening of 600 to 700 clinics in more than 30 U.S. markets over a four-year period, with the intent to build hundreds more thereafter.

The Company held approximately 22% ownership interest in VillageMD as of August 31, 2021 and accounted for it using the equity method of accounting. It was anticipated, assuming full conversion of the debt, that the Company would hold approximately 30% ownership interest in VillageMD upon conversion.

On October 14, 2021 the Company announced that it has agreed to make an additional $5.2 billion investment in VillageMD to advance its strategic position in the delivery of value-based primary care. The incremental investment increases the Company’s ownership stake in VillageMD to approximately 63% from approximately 30% on a fully diluted basis, and increases the number of co-located clinics from 600 primary care clinics to 1,000 by the year 2027. The investment will be comprised of $4.0 billion in cash, to be paid by the Company to VillageMD at the closing of the transaction, and a promissory note in the principal amount of $1.2 billion to VillageMD at the closing of the transaction. The Company expects to fund the cash portion of the investment through a combination of cash on hand and available credit facilities

See Note 21. Subsequent events to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 herein for further information.

iA acquisition

On December 29, 2020, the Company acquired a majority equity interest in Innovation Associates, Inc. (“iA”) for a cash consideration of $451 million. iA is a leading-edge provider of software enabled automation solutions for retail, hospital, federal healthcare and mail-order pharmacy markets. The Company accounted for this acquisition as a business combination and consolidates iA within the United States segment in its financial statements.

Pharmaceutical Wholesale business in Germany

On November 1, 2020, the Company and McKesson Corporation closed a transaction to form a combined pharmaceutical wholesale business in Germany, as part of a strategic alliance. The Company owns a 70% controlling equity interest in the combined business which is consolidated by the Company and reported within the International segment in its financial statements. The Company accounted for this acquisition as a business combination involving noncash purchase consideration of $296 million consisting of the issuance of an equity interest in the combined business. See Note 3 Acquisitions, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 below for additional information.

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TRANSFORMATIONAL COST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

On December 20, 2018, the Company announced a transformational cost management program that was expected to deliver in excess of $2.0 billion of annual cost savings by fiscal 2022 (the “Transformational Cost Management Program”). At the end of fiscal 2021, the Company had delivered this annual cost savings goal.

Building on the successful implementation of the Transformational Cost Management Program to date and as part of the Company's strategic realignment to create even greater focus on the Company’s core business, on October 12, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an expansion and extension of the Transformational Cost Management Program through the end of fiscal 2024. The expanded Transformational Cost Management Program is expected to deliver incremental savings from existing programs and a comprehensive funnel of new initiatives which are intended to improve operating effectiveness and better position the core business for the future. The expansion of the program reflects further strategic initiatives to optimize real estate, implement a global business and centralized services model, as well as leverage technology and new business models to streamline processes across the organization. As a result, the Company is increasing its annual savings target to $3.3 billion of annual cost savings by fiscal 2024.

The Transformational Cost Management Program, which is multi-faceted and includes divisional optimization initiatives, global smart spending, global smart organization and the transformation of the Company’s information technology (IT) capabilities, is designed to help the Company achieve increased cost efficiencies. To date, the Company has taken actions across all aspects of the Transformational Cost Management Program. The actions under the Transformational Cost Management Program focus on all reportable segments and the Company’s global functions. Divisional optimization within each of the Company’s segments includes activities such as optimization of stores. As a result of the expanded program, the Company now plans to reduce its presence by up to 150 Boots stores in the UK and up to 150 stores in the United States over the next three years, which are incremental to the previously planned reduction of approximately 200 Boots stores in the UK and approximately 250 stores in the United States.

The Company currently estimates that the Transformational Cost Management Program will result in cumulative pre-tax charges to its GAAP financial results of approximately $3.6 billion to $3.9 billion, of which $3.3 billion to $3.6 billion are expected to be recorded as exit and disposal activities. The Company estimates that approximately 85% of the cumulative pre-tax charges relating to the Transformational Cost Management Program represent current or future cash expenditures, primarily related to employee severance and business transition costs, IT transformation and lease and other real estate payments.

The Company currently estimates that it will recognize aggregate pre-tax charges to its GAAP financial results related to the Transformational Cost Management Program as follows:

Transformational Cost Program Activities	Range of Charges
Lease obligations and other real estate costs1	$1,250 to 1,350 million
Asset impairments2	$525 to 575 million
Employee severance and business transition costs	$1,150 to 1,200 million
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	$400 to 450 million
Total cumulative pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$3.3 to 3.6 billion
Other IT transformation costs	$275 to 325 million
Total estimated pre-tax charges	$3.6 to 3.9 billion

1Includes impairments relating to operating lease right-of-use and finance lease assets.

2Primarily related to store closures and other asset impairments.

In addition to the impacts discussed above, as a result of the actions related to store closures taken under the Transformational Cost Management Program, the Company recorded $508 million of transition adjustments to decrease retained earnings due to the adoption of the new lease accounting standard (Topic 842) that became effective on September 1, 2019. See Note 1 Summary of major accounting policies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements additional information.

Since the inception of the Transformational Cost Management Program to August 31, 2021, the Company has recognized aggregate cumulative pre-tax charges to its financial results in accordance with GAAP of $1.5 billion, of which $1.3 billion is recorded as exit and disposal activities. See Note 4 Exit and disposal activities, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 below for additional information. These charges included $353 million related to lease obligations and other real estate costs, $252 million in asset impairments, $513 million in employee severance and business transition costs, $163 million of information technology transformation and other exit costs, and $200 million in other information technology costs.

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Costs under the Transformational Cost Management Program, which were primarily recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses and included in the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively were as follows (in millions):

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2021	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	103	$	6	$	—	$	108
Asset impairments	15		9		—		24
Employee severance and business transition costs	79		40		45		165
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	20		17		—		38
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	217	$	72	$	46	$	335
Other IT transformation costs	63		19		—		82
Total pre-tax charges	$	279	$	91	$	46	$	417

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2020	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	191	$	9	$	14	$	215
Asset impairments	51		19		2		72
Employee severance and business transition costs	132		93		45		270
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	70		42		(4)		108
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	444	$	163	$	58	$	665
Other IT transformation costs	55		18		—		73
Total pre-tax charges	$	498	$	182	$	58	737

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2019	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	5	$	26	$	—	$	30
Asset impairments	95		61		—		156
Employee severance and business transition costs	41		37		1		78
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	6		10		—		17
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	147	$	134	$	1	$	282
Other IT transformation costs	42		3		—		45
Total pre-tax charges	$	189	$	137	$	1	327

Transformational Cost Management Program charges are recognized as the costs are incurred over time in accordance with GAAP. The Company treats charges related to the Transformational Cost Management Program as special items impacting comparability of results in its earnings disclosures.

The amounts and timing of all estimates are subject to change until finalized. The actual amounts and timing may vary materially based on various factors. See “cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements” below.

STORE OPTIMIZATION PROGRAM

On October 24, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to implement a program (the “Store Optimization Program”) to optimize store locations through the planned closure of approximately 600 stores and related assets within the Company’s United States segment upon completion of the acquisition of certain stores and related assets from Rite Aid. The Company closed 769 stores and related assets. The actions under the Store Optimization Program commenced in March 2018 and were completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.

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Costs related to Store Optimization Program for the twelve months ended August 2020 were $22 million for lease obligation and other real estate costs and $31 million for employee severance and other exit costs, respectively. The liabilities related to Store Optimization Program as of August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020 were not material.

INVESTMENT IN AMERISOURCEBERGEN

As of August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020, respectively, the Company owned 58,854,867 and 56,854,867 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock, representing approximately 28.5% and 27.9% of its outstanding common stock based on the share count publicly reported by AmerisourceBergen in its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

The Company has a shareholders agreement with AmerisourceBergen, which was most recently amended and restated in connection with the Alliance Healthcare Sale (the “A&R Shareholders Agreement”). Pursuant to the A&R Shareholders Agreement, the Company has designated one member of AmerisourceBergen’s board of directors. The Company is also permitted, subject to certain conditions, to acquire up to an additional 8,398,752 AmerisourceBergen shares in the open market, and thereafter to designate another member of AmerisourceBergen’s board of directors. The amount of permitted open market purchases is subject to increase or decrease in certain circumstances.

The Company accounts for its investment in AmerisourceBergen using the equity method of accounting, subject to a two-month reporting lag, with the net earnings (loss) attributable to the investment classified within the operating income of the Company’s United States segment. During the twelve months ended August 31, 2021, the Company recognized equity losses in AmerisourceBergen of $1,139 million, which included a loss of $1,373 million recognized during the three months ended November 30, 2020. These equity losses were primarily due to AmerisourceBergen's recognition of a $5.6 billion, net of tax charge related to its ongoing opioid litigation in its financial statements for the three month period ended September 30, 2020.

As discussed above in Item 1, Recent Transactions, on June 1, 2021 the Company completed the previously announced Alliance Healthcare Sale per the Share Purchase Agreement with AmerisourceBergen. See Note 2 Discontinued operations, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 below for additional information.

The financial performance of AmerisourceBergen will impact the Company’s results of operations. Additionally, a substantial and sustained decline in the price of AmerisourceBergen’s common stock could trigger an impairment evaluation of our investment. These considerations may materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. For more information, see Part I. Item 1. Business “Relationship with AmerisourceBergen” and Note 6 Equity method investments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The following table presents certain key financial statistics for the Company for fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019:

	(in millions, except per share amounts)
	2021		2020		2019
Sales	$	132,509	$	121,982	$	120,074
Gross profit	28,067		26,078		28,159
Selling, general and administrative expenses	24,586		25,436		23,557
Equity earnings (loss) in AmerisourceBergen	(1,139)		341		164
Operating income	2,342		982		4,766
Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP measure)1	5,117		4,730		6,481
Earnings (loss) before interest and income tax provision	2,900		1,060		5,009
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. - continuing operations (GAAP)	1,994		180		3,816
Adjusted net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. - continuing operations (Non-GAAP measure)1	4,256		3,772		5,169
Diluted net earnings (loss) per common share - continuing operations (GAAP)	2.30		0.20		4.13
Adjusted diluted net earnings per common share - continuing operations (Non-GAAP measure)1	4.91		4.28		5.60

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	Percentage increases (decreases)
	2021	2020	2019
Sales	8.6	1.6	6.1
Gross profit	7.6	(7.4)	(2.3)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(3.3)	8.0	1.8
Operating income	138.4	(79.4)	(18.7)
Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP measure)1	8.2	(27.0)	(9.7)
Earnings before interest and income tax provision	173.7	(78.8)	(10.5)
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. - continuing operations (GAAP)	NM	(95.3)	(18.6)
Adjusted net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. - continuing operations (Non-GAAP measure)1	12.8	(27.0)	(7.1)
Diluted net earnings per common share - continuing operations (GAAP)	NM	(95.1)	(12.3)
Adjusted diluted net earnings per common share - continuing operations (Non-GAAP measure)1	14.6	(23.5)	0.1

	Percent to sales
	2021	2020	2019
Gross margin	21.2	21.4	23.5
Selling, general and administrative expenses	18.6	20.9	19.6

1See “--Non-GAAP Measures” below for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and related disclosures.

NM - Not meaningful. Percentage increases above 200% or when one period includes income and other period includes loss are considered not meaningful.

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following information summarizes our results of operations for fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019. In fiscal 2021, the Company completed the Alliance Healthcare Sale, pursuant to which the Disposal Group is reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented. The Company also eliminated the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment and aligned into two reportable segments: United States and International, as further described below.

Net earnings from continuing operations fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020

Fiscal 2021 net earnings attributable to the Company was $2.0 billion compared to $180 million for the prior year period. Diluted net earnings per share was $2.30 compared to $0.20 for the prior year period. The increase in net earnings and diluted net earnings per share are primarily due to $2.0 billion non-cash impairment charges in the International segment, related to goodwill and intangible assets in the prior year period, earnings related to the Company's equity method investee HC Group Holdings I, LLC (“HC Group Holdings”) and gain on partial sale of ownership interest in Option Care Health by the Company's equity method investee HC Group Holdings, partially offset by equity losses in AmerisourceBergen during the three months ended November 30, 2020. Diluted net earnings per share was positively affected by a lower number of shares outstanding compared with the prior year.

Other income for fiscal 2021 was $558 million compared to $77 million for fiscal 2020. The increase in other income is mainly due to a partial sale of ownership interest in Option Care Health by the Company's equity method investee HC Group Holdings.

Net Interest expense was $905 million and $613 million in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in interest expense included $414 million related to the early extinguishment of debt related to the Company's cash tender offer to partially purchase and retire $3.3 billion of long-term debt in advance of its maturity.

The Company's effective tax rate for fiscal 2021 and 2020 was 33.4% and 76.0%, respectively. The net decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily attributable to prior year non-deductible goodwill impairment charge and the discrete tax effect of equity losses in AmerisourceBergen, partially offset by the tax effect of equity earnings of HC Group Holdings.

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Adjusted diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations (Non-GAAP measure) fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020 Adjusted net earnings attributable to the Company in fiscal 2021 increased 12.8 percent to $4.3 billion compared with the prior year. Adjusted diluted net earnings per share in fiscal 2021 increased 14.6 percent to $4.91 compared with the prior year. Adjusted net earnings and adjusted diluted earnings per share were both positively impacted by 0.9 percentage points as a result of currency translation.

Excluding the impact of currency translation, the increase in adjusted net earnings for fiscal 2021 primarily reflects increased adjusted operating income across the United States and International segments, and cost savings from the Transformational Cost Management Program. Adjusted diluted net earnings per share was positively affected by a lower number of shares outstanding compared with the prior year. See “--Non-GAAP Measures” below for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and related disclosures.

Net earnings from continuing operations fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019

Fiscal 2020 net earnings attributable to the Company decreased 95.3 percent to $180 million, while diluted net earnings per share decreased 95.1 percent to $0.20 compared with the prior year. The decrease primarily reflects third quarter non-cash impairment charges, adverse COVID-19 impacts, lower U.S. pharmacy gross profit, and year on year bonus changes partially offset by savings from Transformational Cost Management Program. Diluted net earnings per share was positively affected by a lower number of shares outstanding compared with the prior year.

Other income for fiscal 2020 was $77 million compared to $243 million for fiscal 2019. The decrease primarily reflects gains resulting from the termination of the option granted to Rite Aid to become a member of the Company’s group purchasing organization in fiscal 2019.

Net interest expense was $613 million and $650 million in fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Company's effective tax rate for fiscal 2020 and 2019 was 76.0% and 13.2%, respectively. The net increase in the effective tax rate was primarily attributable to third quarter fiscal 2020 non-tax deductible impairment charges and deferred tax impact of the UK rate change.

Adjusted diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations (Non-GAAP measure) fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019

Adjusted net earnings attributable to the Company in fiscal 2020 decreased 27.0 percent to $3.8 billion compared with the prior year. Adjusted diluted net earnings per share in fiscal 2020 decreased 23.5 percent to $4.28 compared with the prior year. Adjusted net earnings and adjusted diluted earnings per share were both negatively impacted by 8.7 and 9.1 percentage points, respectively, as a result of currency translation.

Excluding the impact of currency translation, the decrease in adjusted net earnings for fiscal 2020 was primarily due to COVID-19 adverse impacts, lower U.S. pharmacy gross profit and year on year bonus changes partially offset by savings from the Transformational Cost Management Program. Adjusted diluted net earnings per share was positively affected by a lower number of shares outstanding compared with the prior year. See “--Non-GAAP Measures” below for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and related disclosures.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT

In fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company eliminated the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment and aligned into two reportable segments: United States and International. The following information summarizes our results of operations by segment for fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019.

United States

The Company's United States segment includes the Walgreens business which includes the operations of retail drugstores, health and wellness services, and mail and central specialty pharmacy services, and its equity method investment in AmerisourceBergen. Sales for the segment are principally derived from the sale of prescription drugs and a wide assortment of retail products, including health and wellness, beauty, personal care and consumables and general merchandise.

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FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

	(in millions, except location amounts)
	2021		2020		2019
Sales	$	112,005	$	107,701	$	104,532
Gross profit	23,736		22,302		23,618
Selling, general and administrative expenses	20,042		19,331		19,307
Equity earnings (loss) in AmerisourceBergen	(1,139)		341		164
Operating income	2,554		3,312		4,475
Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP measure)1	5,019		4,761		5,873
Number of prescriptions2	827.5		818.0		843.7
30-day equivalent prescriptions2,3	1,210.6		1,165.3		1,150.1
Number of locations at period end	8,973		9,028		9,285

	Percentage increases (decreases)
	2021	2020	2019
Sales	4.0	3.0	6.2
Gross profit	6.4	(5.6)	(1.0)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	3.7	0.1	2.9
Operating income	(22.9)	(26.0)	(15.3)
Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP measure)1	5.4	(18.9)	(9.0)
Comparable sales4	5.1	2.8	2.0
Pharmacy sales	5.5	4.3	8.6
Comparable pharmacy sales4	6.7	3.2	4.0
Retail sales	(0.4)	(0.4)	—
Comparable retail sales4	1.2	1.6	(2.4)
Comparable number of prescriptions2,4	2.4	(1.3)	(0.1)
Comparable 30-day equivalent prescriptions2,3,4	5.0	2.9	3.0

	Percent to sales
	2021	2020	2019
Gross margin	21.2	20.7	22.6
Selling, general and administrative expenses	17.9	17.9	18.5

1See “--Non-GAAP Measures” below for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and related disclosures.

2Includes vaccinations, including COVID-19.

3Includes the adjustment to convert prescriptions greater than 84 days to the equivalent of three 30-day prescriptions. This adjustment reflects that these prescriptions include approximately three times the amount of product days supplied compared to a normal prescription.

4Comparable sales are defined as sales from stores that have been open for at least twelve consecutive months without closure for seven or more consecutive days, including due to looting or store damage, and without a major remodel or being subject to a natural disaster, in the past twelve months as well as e-commerce sales. E-commerce sales include digitally initiated sales online or through mobile applications. Relocated stores are not included as comparable sales for the first twelve months after the relocation. Acquired stores are not included as comparable sales for the first twelve months after acquisition or conversion, when applicable, whichever is later. Comparable sales, comparable pharmacy sales, comparable retail sales, comparable number of prescriptions and comparable number of 30-day equivalent prescriptions refer to total sales, pharmacy sales, retail sales, number of prescriptions and number of 30-day equivalent prescriptions, respectively. Comparable retail sales for previous periods have been restated to include e-commerce sales. The method of calculating comparable sales varies across the retail industry and our method of calculating comparable sales may not be the same as other retailers’ methods.

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Sales fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020

The United States segment’s sales for fiscal 2021 increased by 4.0% to $112.0 billion. Comparable sales increased by 5.1% in fiscal 2021.

Pharmacy sales increased by 5.5% in fiscal 2021 and represented 75.8% of the segment’s sales. The increase in fiscal 2021 is due to higher brand inflation and favorable COVID-19 vaccines and testing. In fiscal 2020, pharmacy sales increased 4.3% and represented 74.7% of the segment’s sales. Comparable pharmacy sales increased 6.7% in fiscal 2021 compared to an increase of 3.2% in fiscal 2020. The effect of generic drugs, which have a lower retail price, replacing brand name drugs reduced prescription sales by 0.5% in fiscal 2021 compared to a reduction of 2.4% in fiscal 2020. The effect of generics on segment sales was a reduction of 0.4% in fiscal 2021 compared to a reduction of 1.7% for fiscal 2020. Third-party sales, where reimbursement is received from managed care organizations, governmental agencies, employers or private insurers, were 97.4% of prescription sales for fiscal 2021 compared to 97.2% for fiscal 2020. The total number of prescriptions (including vaccinations) filled in fiscal 2021 was 827.5 million compared to 818.0 million in fiscal 2020. Prescriptions (including vaccinations) adjusted to 30-day equivalents were 1,210.6 million in fiscal 2021 compared to 1,165.3 million in fiscal 2020.

Retail sales decreased by 0.4% in fiscal 2021 and were 24.2% of the segment’s sales. In comparison, fiscal 2020 retail sales decreased by 0.4% and comprised 25.3% of the segment’s sales. Comparable retail sales increased 1.2% in fiscal 2021 and increased 1.6% in fiscal 2020. The increase in comparable retail sales in fiscal 2021 was primarily driven by health & wellness, including favorable vitamins and at-home COVID-19 tests, and beauty categories partially offset by the continued de-emphasis of tobacco.

Operating income fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020

The United States segment’s operating income for fiscal 2021 decreased 22.9% to $2.6 billion. The decrease was primarily due to the Company's share of equity loss in AmerisourceBergen and pharmacy reimbursement pressure, partially offset by COVID-19 vaccines and testing, and savings related to the Company's Transformational Cost Management Program.

Gross margin was 21.2% in fiscal 2021 compared to 20.7% in fiscal 2020. Gross margin was positively impacted in fiscal 2021 by pharmacy margins, primarily due to COVID-19 vaccines and testing. The increase in pharmacy margins was partially offset by reimbursement pressure.

Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales were flat at 17.9% in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020. Savings related to the Company's Transformational Cost Management Program were offset by incremental COVID-19 related costs, mainly related to the vaccination program, as well as higher growth investments.

Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP measure) fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020

United States segment’s adjusted operating income for fiscal 2021 increased 5.4% to $5.0 billion. The increase was primarily due to COVID-19 vaccines and testing, savings related to the Company's Transformational Cost Management Program and retail performance, partially offset by pharmacy reimbursement pressure and COVID-19 related costs.

See “--Non-GAAP Measures” below for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and related disclosures.

Sales fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019

The United States segment’s sales for fiscal 2020 increased by 3.0% to $107.7 billion. Comparable sales increased by 2.8% in fiscal 2020.

Pharmacy sales increased by 4.3% in fiscal 2020 and represented 74.7% of the segment’s sales. The increase in fiscal 2020 was due to higher brand inflation and growth in specialty sales. In fiscal 2019, pharmacy sales increased 8.6% and represented 73.8% of the segment’s sales. Comparable pharmacy sales increased 3.2% in fiscal 2020 compared to an increase of 4.0% in fiscal 2019. The effect of generic drugs, which have a lower retail price, replacing brand name drugs reduced prescription sales by 2.4% in fiscal 2020 compared to a reduction of 1.2% in fiscal 2019. The effect of generics on segment sales was a reduction of 1.7% in fiscal 2020 compared to a reduction of 0.8% for fiscal 2019. Third-party sales, where reimbursement is received from managed care organizations, governmental agencies, employers or private insurers, were 97.2% of prescription sales for fiscal 2020 compared to 97.1% for fiscal 2019. The total number of prescriptions (including vaccinations) filled in fiscal 2020 was 818.0 million compared to 843.7 million in fiscal 2019. Prescriptions (including vaccinations) adjusted to 30-day equivalents were 1,165.3 million in fiscal 2020 compared to 1,150.1 million in fiscal 2019.

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Retail sales decreased by 0.4% in fiscal 2020 and were 25.3% of the segment’s sales. In comparison, fiscal 2019 retail sales were flat and comprised 26.2% of the segment’s sales. Comparable retail sales increased 1.6% in fiscal 2020 and decreased 2.4% in fiscal 2019. The increase in comparable retail sales in fiscal 2020 was primarily driven by health & wellness, including a favorable cough cold and flu season and personal care categories partially offset by the continued de-emphasis of tobacco.

Operating income fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019

The United States segment’s operating income for fiscal 2020 decreased 26.0% to $3.3 billion. The decrease was primarily due to U.S pharmacy reimbursement pressure and COVID-19 adverse impacts partially offset by a reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales.

Gross margin was 20.7% in fiscal 2020 compared to 22.6% in fiscal 2019. Gross margin was negatively impacted in fiscal 2020 by pharmacy margins, which were negatively impacted by reimbursement pressure. The decrease in pharmacy margins was partially offset by the favorable impact of procurement efficiencies. 

Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales were 17.9% in fiscal 2020 compared to 18.5% in fiscal 2019. As a percentage of sales, expenses were lower in fiscal 2020 primarily due to savings related to the Transformational Cost Management Program and gains on sale-leaseback transactions in fiscal 2020, partially offset by costs related to the Company's Transformational Cost Management Program and year-on-year bonus impact.

Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP measure) fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019

The United States segment’s adjusted operating income for fiscal 2020 decreased 18.9% to $4.8 billion. The decrease was primarily due to lower pharmacy margins, which were negatively impacted by reimbursement pressure, and COVID-19 adverse impacts partially offset by a reduction in selling, general, and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales.

See “--Non-GAAP Measures” below for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and related disclosures.

International

The Company's International segment consists of pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses outside the U.S. and the Company's pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution business in Germany. Pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses include Boots branded stores in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and Thailand, the Benavides brand in Mexico and the Ahumada brand in Chile. Sales for these businesses are principally derived from the sale of prescription drugs and health and wellness, beauty, personal care and other consumer products.

The International segment operates in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, including the British pound sterling, Euro, Chilean peso and Mexican peso and therefore the segment’s results are impacted by movements in foreign currency exchange rates. See Item 3, “Quantitative and qualitative disclosure about market risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk”, for further information on currency risk.

The Company presents certain information related to operating results in “constant currency,” which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Comparable sales in constant currency, comparable pharmacy sales in constant currency and comparable retail sales in constant currency exclude the effects of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. See “--Non-GAAP Measures.”

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

	(in millions, except location amounts)
	2021		2020		2019
Sales	$	20,505	$	14,281	$	15,542
Gross profit	4,328		3,774		4,540
Selling, general and administrative expenses	4,101		5,863		4,091
Operating income (loss)	227		(2,090)		448
Adjusted operating income (loss) (Non-GAAP measure)1	466		157		759
Number of locations at period end	4,031		4,192		4,360

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	Percentage increases (decreases)
	2021	2020	2019
Sales	43.6	(8.1)	(5.9)
Gross profit	14.7	(16.9)	(8.5)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(30.1)	43.3	(1)
Operating income (loss)	110.9	NM	(46.1)
Adjusted operating income (loss) (Non-GAAP measure)1	197.2	(79.4)	(19.2)
Comparable sales in constant currency2	3.9	(8.8)	(1.6)
Pharmacy sales	8.7	(4.1)	(6.4)
Comparable pharmacy sales in constant currency2	6.7	—	(0.9)
Retail sales	5.5	(17.8)	(6.8)
Comparable retail sales in constant currency2	2.0	(13.9)	(2.0)

	Percent to sales
	2021	2020	2019
Gross margin	21.1	26.4	29.2
Selling, general and administrative expenses	20.0	41.1	26.3

1See “--Non-GAAP Measures” below for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and related disclosures.

2Comparable sales in constant currency are defined as sales from stores that have been open for at least twelve consecutive months without closure for seven or more consecutive days, including due to looting or store damage, and without a major remodel or being subject to a natural disaster, in the past twelve months as well as e-commerce sales. Comparable sales in constant currency exclude wholesale sales. E-commerce sales include digitally initiated sales online or through mobile applications. Relocated stores are not included as comparable sales for the first twelve months after the relocation. Acquired stores are not included as comparable sales for the first twelve months after acquisition or conversion, when applicable, whichever is later. Comparable sales in constant currency, comparable pharmacy sales in constant currency and comparable retail sales in constant currency refer to total sales, pharmacy sales and retail sales, respectively. Comparable retail sales in constant currency for previous periods have been restated to include e-commerce sales. The method of calculating comparable sales in constant currency varies across the retail industry and our method of calculating comparable sales in constant currency may not be the same as other retailers’ methods.

NM - Not meaningful. Percentage increases/decreases when one period includes income and other period includes loss are considered not meaningful.

Sales fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020

The International segment’s sales for fiscal 2021 increased 43.6% to $20.5 billion. The favorable impact of currency translation on sales was 9.5 percentage points. Comparable sales in constant currency, which excludes sales from the Company's pharmaceutical wholesale combined business in Germany, increased 3.9 percent mainly due to higher sales in Boots UK as well as higher sales in Latin America and Ireland. Following the adverse impact of COVID-19 restrictions in the UK during the first half of the year, sales in the second half recovered, reflecting increased store foot traffic.

Pharmacy sales increased 8.7% in fiscal 2021 and represented 18.6% of the segment’s sales. The favorable impact of currency translation on pharmacy sales was 6.8 percentage points. Comparable pharmacy sales in constant currency increased 6.7 percent primarily in the UK due to stronger pharmacy services (notably COVID-19 testing) and favorable National Health Service ("NHS") reimbursement levels, partially offset by lower prescription volume in the UK. In addition, Latin America showed strong pharmacy volume growth.

Retail sales increased 5.5% for fiscal 2021 and represented 30.4% of the segment’s sales. The favorable impact of currency translation on retail sales was 6.5 percentage points. Comparable retail sales in constant currency increased 2.0 percent reflecting higher retail sales in the UK and Ireland, including a recovery during the second half of the year, as COVID-19 restrictions eased.

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Operating income fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020

The International segment’s operating income for fiscal 2021 was $227 million, compared to an operating loss of $2.1 billion in fiscal 2020. Operating income was favorably impacted by 1.0 percentage points ($21 million) of currency translation. Excluding the impact of currency translation, the increase in operating income was primarily in the UK, due to goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges in the Boots reporting unit in the prior fiscal year, as well as the recovery in the UK in the second half of the year following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions supported by operational improvements.

Gross profit increased 14.7% in fiscal 2021. Gross profit was favorably impacted by 7.3 percentage points ($277 million) of currency translation. The remaining increase was primarily due to incremental gross profit associated with the formation of the Company's pharmaceutical wholesale combined business in Germany, higher gross profit in Boots UK pharmacy services together with pharmacy growth in Latin America and volume growth in Ireland, partially offset by the impact of lower UK store foot traffic compared to the prior fiscal year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 30.1% in fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020. Expenses were adversely impacted by 4.4 percentage points ($256 million) as a result of currency translation. Excluding the impact of currency translation, the decrease was almost entirely due to goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges in the Boots reporting unit in the prior fiscal year. Incremental selling, general and administrative expenses associated with the formation of the Company's combined business in Germany were largely offset by cost savings from the Transformational Cost Management Program. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 20.0% in fiscal 2021, compared to 41.1% in the prior fiscal year.

Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP measure) fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020

The International segment’s adjusted operating income for fiscal 2021 increased $309 million to $466 million. Adjusted operating income was positively impacted by 17.9 percentage points ($28 million) of currency translation. Excluding the impact of currency translation, the increase in adjusted operating income was primarily due to sales growth in the UK during the second half of the year, supported by operational improvements in a recovering UK market. See “--Non-GAAP Measures” below for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and related disclosures.

Sales fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019

The International segment’s sales for fiscal 2020 decreased 8.1% to $14.3 billion. The negative impact of currency translation on sales was 1.5 percentage points. Comparable sales in constant currency decreased 8.8% mainly due to lower retail sales in Boots UK, driven by a reduction in store foot traffic due to the impact of COVID-19.

Pharmacy sales decreased 4.1% in fiscal 2020 and represented 24.5% of the segment’s sales. The negative impact of currency translation on pharmacy sales was 2.2 percentage points. Comparable pharmacy sales in constant currency were flat as favorable National Health Service reimbursement levels mitigated the impact of lower prescription volume and reduced demand for services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Boots UK.

Retail sales decreased 17.8% for fiscal 2020 and represented 41.3% of the segment’s sales. The negative impact of currency translation on retail sales was 0.8 percentage points. Comparable retail sales in constant currency decreased 13.9% reflecting lower Boots UK retail sales, as footfall in stores in the second half of the year was significantly reduced due to COVID-19, particularly in major high street, train station and airport locations.

Operating income fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019

The International segment’s operating loss for fiscal 2020 was $2.1 billion, compared to an operating income of $448 million in fiscal 2019. Operating income was positively impacted by 2.3 percentage points ($10 million) of currency translation. Excluding the impact of currency translation, the decrease in operating income was primarily in the UK, due to goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges in the Boots reporting unit and lower gross profit reflecting lower sales from COVID-19 restrictions in Boots UK and Opticians.

Gross profit decreased 16.9% in fiscal 2020. Gross profit was negatively impacted by 1.1 percentage points ($51 million) of currency translation. The remaining decrease was mainly due to lower retail sales in Boots UK and Opticians, higher fulfillment costs and lower supplier contributions.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 43.3 percent from fiscal 2019. Expenses were positively impacted by 1.5 percentage points ($61 million) as a result of currency translation. Excluding the impact of currency translation, the increase was almost entirely due to goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges in the Boots reporting unit partially offset by short term cost mitigation initiatives. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 41.1% in fiscal 2020, compared to 26.3% in the prior fiscal year.

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Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP measure) fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019

The International segment’s adjusted operating income for fiscal 2020 decreased 79.4% to $157 million. Adjusted operating income was positively impacted by 1.1 percentage points ($9 million) of currency translation. Excluding the impact of currency translation, the decrease in adjusted operating income was primarily due to lower retail sales in the UK including the impact of COVID-19. See “--Non-GAAP Measures” below for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and related disclosures.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

The following information provides reconciliations of the supplemental non-GAAP financial measures, as defined under SEC rules, presented herein to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The Company has provided the non-GAAP financial measures herein, which are not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP, as supplemental information and in addition to the financial measures that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

These supplemental non-GAAP financial measures are presented because management has evaluated the Company’s financial results both including and excluding the adjusted items or the effects of foreign currency translation, as applicable, and believes that the supplemental non-GAAP financial measures presented provide additional perspective and insights when analyzing the core operating performance of the Company’s business from period to period and trends in the Company’s historical operating results. These supplemental non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the GAAP financial measures presented herein.

The Company does not provide a reconciliation for non-GAAP estimates on a forward-looking basis where it is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of various items that have not yet occurred, are out of the Company’s control or cannot be reasonably predicted, and that would impact the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measure. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures may vary materially from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.

NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS

Operating income to Adjusted operating income by segments

	(in millions)
	Twelve months ended August 31, 2021
	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Operating income (GAAP)	$	2,554	$	227	$	(439)	$	2,342
Adjustments to equity (loss) earnings in AmerisourceBergen	1,645		—		—		1,645
Acquisition-related amortization	448		75		—		523
Transformational cost management	279		91		46		417
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements	75		—		—		75
Acquisition-related costs	6		24		24		54
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	—		49		—		49
LIFO provision	13		—		—		13
Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP measure)	$	5,019	$	466	$	(368)	$	5,117

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	(in millions)
	Twelve months ended August 31, 2020
	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Operating income (GAAP)	$	3,312	$	(2,090)	$	(239)	$	982
Adjustments to equity (loss) earnings in AmerisourceBergen	97		—		—		97
Acquisition-related amortization	309		75		—		384
Transformational cost management	498		182		40		719
Acquisition-related costs	296		6		12		315
LIFO provision	95		—		—		95
Store damage and inventory losses	68		—		—		68
Store optimization	53		—		—		53
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	32		1,984		—		2,016
Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP measure)	$	4,761	$	157	$	(187)	$	4,730

	(in millions)
	Twelve months ended August 31, 2019
	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Operating income (GAAP)	$	4,475	$	448	$	(157)	$	4,766
Adjustments to equity (loss) earnings in AmerisourceBergen	233		—		—		233
Acquisition-related amortization	315		101		—		416
Transformational cost management	189		137		1		327
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements	31		—		—		31
Acquisition-related costs	299		—		5		303
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	—		73		—		73
LIFO provision	136		—		—		136
Store optimization	196		—		—		196
Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP measure)	$	5,873	$	759	$	(152)	$	6,481

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Net Earnings to Adjusted net earnings & Earnings per share to Adjusted Earnings per share

	(in millions)
	2021		2020		2019
Net Earnings From Continuing Operations (GAAP)	$	1,994	$	180	$	3,816
Adjustments to operating income:
Adjustments to equity (loss) earnings in AmerisourceBergen 1	1,645		97		233
Acquisition-related amortization 2	523		384		416
Transformational cost management 3	417		719		327
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements 4	75		—		31
Acquisition-related costs 5	54		315		303
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets 6	49		2,016		73
LIFO provision 7	13		95		136
Store damage and inventory losses 8	—		68		—
Store optimization 3	—		53		196
Total adjustments to operating income	2,775		3,747		1,715
Adjustments to other income:
Net investment hedging (gain) loss 9	8		(11)		18
Impairment of equity method investment	—		71		—
Termination of option granted to Rite Aid 14	—		—		(173)
Gain on sale of equity method investment 10	(290)		(1)		—
Total adjustments to other income	(281)		59		(155)
Adjustments to interest expense, net:
Early debt extinguishment 11	414		—		—
Total adjustments to interest expense, net	414		—		—
Adjustments to income tax provision:
UK tax rate change 12	378		139		—
U.S. tax law changes 12	—		(6)		(8)
Equity method non-cash tax 12	(161)		60		18
Tax impact of adjustments 12	(283)		(433)		(257)
Total adjustments to income tax provision	(65)		(240)		(247)
Adjustments to post-tax equity earnings from other equity method investments:
Adjustments to equity earnings in other equity method investments 13	(504)		54		40
Total adjustments to post-tax equity earnings from other equity method investments	(504)		54		40
Adjustments to net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Acquisition-related amortization 2	(75)		(4)		—
Transformational cost management 3	1		(10)		—
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets 6	—		(14)		—
LIFO provision 7	(2)		(1)		—
Total adjustments to net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(77)		(29)		—
Adjusted net earnings attributable to Continuing Operations (Non-GAAP measure)	$	4,256	$	3,772	$	5,169

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	2021		2020		2019
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. - discontinued operations (GAAP)	$	548	$	277	$	166
Acquisition-related amortization 2	28		76		78
Transformational cost management 3	1		73		151
Acquisition-related costs 5	92		1		—
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations	(322)		—		—
Tax impact of adjustments 12	(6)		(25)		(34)
Total adjustments to net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. - discontinued operations	$	(206)	126		195
Adjusted net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. - discontinued operations (Non-GAAP measure)	$	342	$	403	$	360
Adjusted net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Non-GAAP measure)	$	4,598	$	4,175	$	5,529
Diluted net earnings per common share - continuing operations (GAAP)	$	2.30	$	0.20	$	4.13
Adjustments to operating income	3.20		4.26		1.86
Adjustments to other income (expense)	(0.32)		0.07		(0.17)
Adjustments to interest expense, net	0.48		—		—
Adjustments to income tax provision	(0.08)		(0.27)		(0.27)
Adjustments to earnings from other equity method investments 13	(0.58)		0.06		0.04
Adjustments to net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.09)		(0.03)		—
Adjusted diluted net earnings per common share - continuing operations (Non-GAAP measure)	$	4.91	$	4.28	$	5.60
Diluted net earnings per common share - discontinued operations (GAAP)	0.63		0.31		0.18
Total adjustments to net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. – discontinued operations	(0.24)		0.14		0.21
Adjusted diluted net earnings per common share - discontinued operations (Non-GAAP measure)	$	0.39	$	0.46	$	0.39
Adjusted diluted net earnings per common share (Non-GAAP measure)	$	5.31	$	4.74	$	5.99
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted (in millions)	866.4		880.3		923.5

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1	Adjustments to equity earnings (loss) in AmerisourceBergen consist of the Company’s proportionate share of non-GAAP adjustments reported by AmerisourceBergen consistent with the Company’s non-GAAP measures. The Company recognized equity losses in AmerisourceBergen of $1,373 million during the three months ended November 30, 2020. These equity losses are primarily due to AmerisourceBergen's recognition of $5.6 billion, net of tax, charges related to its ongoing opioid litigation in its financial statements for the three months period ended September 30, 2020.
2	Acquisition-related amortization includes amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets and inventory valuation adjustments. Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets includes amortization of intangibles assets such as customer relationships, trade names, trademarks and contract intangibles. Intangible asset amortization excluded from the related non-GAAP measure represents the entire amount recorded within the Company’s GAAP financial statements. The revenue generated by the associated intangible assets has not been excluded from the related non-GAAP measures. Amortization expense, unlike the related revenue, is not affected by operations of any particular period unless an intangible asset becomes impaired or the estimated useful life of an intangible asset is revised. These charges are primarily recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses. Business combination accounting principles require us to measure acquired inventory at fair value. The fair value of the inventory reflects cost of acquired inventory and a portion of the expected profit margin. The acquisition-related inventory valuation adjustments exclude the expected profit margin component from cost of sales recorded under the business combination accounting principles.
3	Transformational Cost Management Program and Store Optimization Program charges are costs associated with a formal restructuring plan. These charges are primarily recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses. These costs do not reflect current operating performance and are impacted by the timing of restructuring activity.
4	Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements relate to significant charges associated with certain legal proceedings. The Company excludes these charges when evaluating operating performance because it does not incur such charges on a predictable basis and exclusion of such charges enables more consistent evaluation of the Company’s operating performance. These charges are recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses.
5	Acquisition-related costs are transaction and integration costs associated with certain merger, acquisition and divestitures related activities. These costs include all charges incurred on certain mergers, acquisition and divestitures related activities, for example, including costs related to integration efforts for successful merger, acquisition and divestitures activities. These charges are primarily recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses. These costs are significantly impacted by the timing and complexity of the underlying merger, acquisition and divestitures related activities and do not reflect the Company’s current operating performance.
6	Goodwill and intangible assets arising from acquisition related activities are recorded by the Company following the analysis to determine the fair value of consideration paid and the assignment of fair values to all tangible and intangible assets acquired. Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets do not relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business. The Company excludes these charges when evaluating operating performance because it does not incur such charges on a predictable basis and exclusion of such charges enables more consistent evaluation of the Company’s operating performance. These charges are recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses.
7	The Company’s United States segment inventory is accounted for using the last-in-first-out (“LIFO”) method. This adjustment represents the impact on cost of sales as if the United States segment inventory is accounted for using first-in first-out (“FIFO”) method. The LIFO provision is affected by changes in inventory quantities, product mix, and manufacturer pricing practices, which may be impacted by market and other external influences. Therefore, the Company cannot control the amounts recognized or timing of these items.
8	Store damage and inventory losses as a result of looting in the U.S., net of insurance recoveries.
9	Gain or loss on certain derivative instruments used as economic hedges of the Company’s net investments in foreign subsidiaries. These charges are recorded within other income (expense). We do not believe this volatility related to mark-to-market adjustment on the underlying derivative instruments reflects the Company’s operational performance.
10	Includes significant gain on sale of equity method investment. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company recorded a gain of $290 million in Other income due to a partial sale of ownership interests in Option Care Health by the Company's equity method investee HC Group Holdings.
11	Loss on early extinguishment of debt related to the Company's cash tender offers to partially purchase and retire $3.3 billion of long term U.S. denominated notes. The Company excludes these charges to enable a more consistent evaluation of the Company's financial performance.
12	Adjustments to income tax provision include adjustments to the GAAP basis tax provision commensurate with non-GAAP adjustments and certain discrete tax items including tax law changes and equity method non-cash tax. These charges are recorded within income tax provision (benefit).
13	Adjustments to post tax equity earnings from other equity method investments consist of the proportionate share of certain equity method investees’ non-cash items or unusual or infrequent items consistent with the Company’s non-GAAP adjustments. These charges are recorded within post tax earnings (loss) from other equity method investments. Although the Company may have shareholder rights and board representation commensurate with its ownership interests in these equity method investees, adjustments relating to equity method investments are not intended to imply that the Company has direct control over their operations and resulting revenue and expenses. Moreover, these non-GAAP financial measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all revenue and expenses of these equity method investees. In the three months ended May 31, 2021 due to partial sales of ownership interests in Option Care Health, our equity method investee HC Group Holdings lost the ability to control Option Care Health and, therefore, deconsolidated Option Care Health in its financial statements. As a result of this deconsolidation, HC Group Holdings recognized a gain of $1.2 billion and the Company recorded its share of equity earnings in HC Group Holdings of $576 million during the three months ended May 31, 2021.
14	The option granted to Rite Aid to become a member of the Company’s group purchasing organization was terminated during fiscal 2019, resulting in recognition of a gain in other income (expense).

The Company considers certain metrics presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, such as comparable sales, comparable pharmacy sales, comparable retail sales, comparable number of prescriptions, and comparable 30-day equivalent prescriptions, to be key performance indicators because the Company’s management has evaluated its results of operations using these metrics and believes that these key performance indicators presented provide additional perspective and insights when analyzing the core operating performance of the Company from period to period and trends in its historical operating results. These key performance indicators should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the GAAP financial measures presented herein. These measures, which are described in more detail in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, may not be comparable to similarly-titled performance indicators used by other companies.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company’s long-term capital policy is to: maintain a strong balance sheet and financial flexibility; reinvest in its core strategies; invest in strategic opportunities that reinforce its core strategies and meet return requirements; and return surplus cash flow to stockholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases over the long term. In June 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors reviewed and refined the Company’s dividend policy to set forth the Company’s current intention to increase its dividend each year.

The Company’s cash requirements are subject to change as business conditions warrant and opportunities arise. The timing and size of any new business ventures or acquisitions that the Company may complete may also impact its cash requirements. Additionally, the Company's cash requirements, and its ability to generate cash flow, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by COVID-19 and the resulting market volatility and instability.

The Company expects to fund its working capital needs, capital expenditures, pending acquisitions, dividend payments and debt service obligations from liquidity sources including cash flow from operations, availability under existing credit facilities, commercial paper programs, working capital financing arrangements and current cash and investment balances. The Company believes that these sources, and the ability to obtain other financing will provide adequate cash funds for the Company's foreseeable working capital needs, capital expenditures, pending acquisitions, dividend payments and debt service obligations for at least the next 12 months. See Part II. Item 7A, Qualitative and quantitative disclosures about market risk, below for a discussion of certain financing and market risks.

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $1.3 billion (including $0.2 billion in non-U.S. jurisdictions) as of August 31, 2021, compared to $0.7 billion (including $0.4 billion in non-U.S. jurisdictions) as of August 31, 2020. Short-term investment objectives are primarily to minimize risk and maintain liquidity. To attain these objectives, investment limits are placed on the amount, type and issuer of securities. Investments are principally in U.S. Treasury money market funds.

On August 17, 2021, the Company provided notice to the Trustee and the Holders of its 3.3% notes due 2021 issued by the Company on November 18, 2014 that it will redeem in full the $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding of the notes on September 18, 2021. These notes were redeemed in full as of that date. The Company has also announced its intention to make cash investments aggregating approximately $5.3 billion for certain acquisitions. Additionally, these acquisitions include certain put options which may be exercised in the future. The Company currently expects the incremental investment resulting from the exercise of the put options in future could be between approximately $1.3 billion and $1.6 billion. See Note 21. Subsequent events, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 herein for further information.

As of August 31, 2021 the Company had an aggregate borrowing capacity of $7 billion including funds already drawn. At August 31, 2021, the Company had no guarantees outstanding and no amounts issued under letters of credit. For details of the Company’s debt instruments and its recent financing actions, see Note 8. Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 herein.

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash provided by operations and the incurrence of debt are the principal sources of funds for expansion, investments, acquisitions, remodeling programs, dividends to stockholders and stock repurchases. Net cash provided by operating activities was $5.6 billion in fiscal 2021 compared to $5.5 billion in fiscal 2020 and $5.6 billion in fiscal 2019. The $0.1 billion increase in cash provided by operating activities fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020, is mainly due to higher cash inflows from trade accounts payable, net earnings, and inventory, partially offset by lower cash inflows from accounts receivable. Changes in trade accounts payable and inventory are mainly driven by working capital initiatives and timing of collections and payments. Changes in accounts receivable are mainly driven by timing of collections and payments.

Cash flows from investing activities

Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities was $4.1 billion in fiscal 2021 compared to $(1.3) billion in fiscal 2020 and $(2.3) billion in fiscal 2019. The increase in cash provided by investing activities in fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020 was primarily driven by higher cash inflows from proceeds from sale of business and assets offset by investment and asset acquisitions. Proceeds from sale of business, net of cash in fiscal 2021 include net cash proceeds of $5.5 billion related to the disposition of Alliance Healthcare business. Proceeds from sale of assets in fiscal 2021 were $453 million compared to $90 million in fiscal 2020 and $117 million in fiscal 2019. Changes in proceeds from sale of assets in fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020 was primarily driven by partial sale of ownership interest in Option Care Health by the Company's equity method investee HC Group Holdings. Business, investment and asset acquisitions in fiscal 2021 were $1.4 billion compared to $0.7 billion in fiscal 2020 and $0.7 billion in fiscal 2019. The increase in business, investment and asset acquisitions in fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020 was primarily driven by the Company's acquisition of Innovation Associates and increased investment in

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VillageMD. Additionally, investing activities for fiscal 2021 included proceeds related to sale leaseback transactions of $856 million, compared to $724 million in fiscal 2020 and $3 million in fiscal 2019.

Capital Expenditure

Capital expenditure includes information technology projects and other growth initiatives. Additions to property, plant and equipment were as follows (in millions): 

	2021		2020		2019
United States	$	1,030	$	1,040	$	1,318
International	243		235		272
Corporate and Other	39		12		8
Discontinued operations	67		86		104
Total additions to property, plant and equipment	$	1,379	$	1,374	$	1,702

Cash flows from financing activities

Net cash (used for) financing activities in fiscal 2021 was $(9.0) billion compared to $(4.6) billion in fiscal 2020 and $(3.0) billion in fiscal 2019. In fiscal 2021 we recognized $12.7 billion in net proceeds from financing activities compared to $20.4 billion in fiscal 2020 and $12.4 billion in fiscal 2019 primarily from revolving facilities and commercial paper debt. In fiscal 2021, the Company completed the Alliance Healthcare Sale and used a portion of the Alliance Healthcare Sale proceeds to repay certain borrowings. In fiscal 2021 the Company made $15.3 billion in payments of debt primarily for revolving facilities and commercial paper debt and retirement of $3.7 billion of long term debt (including $0.4 billion of charges on early debt extinguishment) compared to payments of debt made primarily for revolving facilities and commercial paper debt of $21.4 billion in fiscal 2020 and $10.5 billion in fiscal 2019. See Note 8. Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 herein for further information. The Company repurchased shares as part of the stock repurchase programs described below and to support the needs of the employee stock plans totaling $0.1 billion in fiscal 2021 compared to $1.6 billion in fiscal 2020 and $4.2 billion in fiscal 2019. Proceeds related to employee stock plans were $59 million in fiscal 2021 compared to $55 million in fiscal 2020 and $174 million in fiscal 2019. Cash dividends paid were $1.6 billion in fiscal 2021 compared to $1.7 billion in fiscal 2020 and $1.6 billion in fiscal 2019.

Stock repurchase program

In June 2018, the Company authorized a stock repurchase program (the “June 2018 stock repurchase program”), which authorized the repurchase of up to $10.0 billion of the Company's common stock of which the Company had repurchased $8.0 billion as of August 31, 2021. The June 2018 stock repurchase program has no specified expiration date. In July 2020, the Company announced that it was suspending activities under the June 2018 stock repurchase program. The Company may continue to repurchase stock to offset anticipated dilution from its equity incentive plans.

The Company determines the timing and amount of repurchases, including repurchases to offset anticipated dilution from equity incentive plans, based on its assessment of various factors, including prevailing market conditions, alternate uses of capital, liquidity and the economic environment. The Company has repurchased, and may from time to time in the future repurchase, shares on the open market through Rule 10b5-1 plans, which enable the Company to repurchase shares at times when it otherwise might be precluded from doing so under federal securities laws.

Debt covenants

Each of the Company’s credit facilities described above contains a covenant to maintain, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of consolidated debt to total capitalization not to exceed 0.60:1.00, subject to increase in certain circumstances set forth in the applicable credit agreement. As of August 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with all such applicable covenants.

Credit ratings

As of October 13, 2021, the credit ratings of Walgreens Boots Alliance were:

Rating agency	Long-term debt rating	Commercial paper rating	Outlook
Fitch	BBB-	F3	Negative
Moody’s	Baa2	P-2	Negative
Standard & Poor’s	BBB	A-2	Negative

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In assessing the Company’s credit strength, each rating agency considers various factors including the Company’s business model, capital structure, financial policies and financial performance. There can be no assurance that any particular rating will be assigned or maintained. The Company’s credit ratings impact its borrowing costs, access to capital markets and operating lease costs. The rating agency ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold the Company’s debt securities or commercial paper. Each rating may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency and should be evaluated independently of any other rating.

AmerisourceBergen relationship

On January 6, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with AmerisourceBergen pursuant to which AmerisourceBergen agreed to purchase the majority of the Company's Alliance Healthcare business as well as a portion of the Company’s retail pharmacy international businesses in Europe for approximately $6.5 billion, comprised of $6.275 billion in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, and 2 million shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock. After giving effect to the Alliance Healthcare Sale and as of August 31, 2021, the Company beneficially owns approximately 28.5% of AmerisourceBergen’s outstanding common stock, based on the share count publicly reported by AmerisourceBergen in its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. See Part I. Item 1. Business “Recent Transactions” above and Note 2 Discontinued operations, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 below for additional information.

On June 1, 2021 the Company completed the Alliance Healthcare Sale, for total consideration of $6.9 billion, which includes estimated cash consideration of $6.7 billion, subject to net working capital and net cash adjustments. The Company recorded a gain before currency translation adjustments of $1.1 billion and a net gain on disposal of $0.3 billion. The gain on sale was presented as part of results of the discontinued operations.

As of August 31, 2021, the Company can acquire up to an additional 8,398,752 AmerisourceBergen shares in the open market and thereafter designate another member of AmerisourceBergen’s board of directors, subject in each case to applicable legal and contractual requirements. The amount of permitted open market purchases is subject to increase or decrease in certain circumstances. Subject to applicable legal and contractual requirements, share purchases may be made from time to time in open market transactions or pursuant to instruments and plans complying with Rule 10b5-1. See Note 6 Equity method investments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 herein for further information.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The information set forth in Note 11 Commitments and contingencies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include amounts based on management’s prudent judgments and estimates. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Management believes that any reasonable deviation from those judgments and estimates would not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. To the extent that the estimates used differ from actual results, however, adjustments to the Consolidated Statements of Earnings and corresponding Consolidated Balance Sheets accounts would be necessary. These adjustments would be made in future periods. Some of the more significant estimates include business combinations, leases, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment, long-lived assets impairment, cost of sales and inventory, equity method investments, pension and postretirement benefits and income taxes. The Company uses the following methods to determine its estimates:

Business combinations – The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires that once control is obtained, all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests, be recorded at their respective fair values at the date of acquisition. The determination of fair values of assets and liabilities acquired requires estimates and the use of valuation techniques when market value is not readily available.

For intangible assets, the Company generally uses the income approach to determine fair value. The income approach requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions primarily include, but are not limited to: discount rates, terminal growth rates, royalty rates, forecasts of revenue, operating income, depreciation, amortization and capital expenditures. The discount rates applied to the projections reflect the risk factors associated with those projections.

Although the Company believes its estimates of fair value are reasonable, actual financial results could differ from those estimates due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making such estimates. Changes in assumptions concerning future

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financial results or other underlying assumptions could have a significant impact on the determination of the fair value of the intangible assets acquired.

Judgment is also required in determining the intangible asset’s useful life.

Leases - The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at the inception of a contract. The lease classification is determined at the commencement date. Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease during the lease term. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of the remaining future minimum lease payments during the lease term. Lease commencement is the date the Company has the right to control the property. The Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate to discount the lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is based on the Company's estimated rate of interest for a collateralized borrowing over a similar term as the lease term. The operating lease right-of-use assets also include lease payments made before commencement, lease incentives and are recorded net of impairment. Operating leases are expensed on a straight line basis over the lease term.

The lease term of real estate leases includes renewal options that are reasonably certain of being exercised. Options to extend are considered reasonably certain of being exercised based on evaluation if there are significant investments within the leased property which have useful lives greater than the non-cancelable lease term, performance of the underlying store and the Company’s economic and strategic initiatives. Short-term leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheets.

The Company accounts for lease components and non-lease components as a single lease component. Variable lease payment amounts that cannot be determined at the commencement of the lease such as increases in lease payments based on changes in index rates or usage, are not included in the right-of-use assets or lease liabilities. These are expensed as incurred. The Company has real estate leases which require additional payments based on sales volume, as well as reimbursement for real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance, which are expensed as incurred as variable lease costs and hence are not included in the lease payments used to calculate lease liability. Other real estate leases contain one fixed lease payment that includes real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance. These fixed payments are considered part of the lease payment and included in the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. The Company does not separately account for the land portion of the leases involving land and building.

Finance leases are recognized within property, plant and equipment and as a finance lease liability within accrued expenses and other liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment – Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that could more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or intangible asset below its carrying value. As part of the Company’s impairment analysis, fair value of a reporting unit is determined using both the income and market approaches. The income approach requires management to estimate a number of factors for each reporting unit, including projected future operating results, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and discount rates. The market approach estimates fair value using comparable marketplace fair value data from within a comparable industry grouping.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of the asset to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recognized and the asset is written down to its estimated fair value. Indefinite-lived intangible assets fair values are estimated using the relief from royalty method and excess earnings method of the income approach. The determination of the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangibles requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions primarily include, but are not limited to: forecasts of revenue, the selection of appropriate royalty rate and discount rates.

The determination of the fair value of the reporting units requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions with respect to the business and financial performance of the Company’s reporting units, as well as how such performance may be impacted by COVID-19. These estimates and assumptions primarily include, but are not limited to: the selection of appropriate peer group companies, control premiums appropriate for acquisitions in the industries in which we compete, discount rates, terminal growth rates, forecasts of revenue, operating income, depreciation, amortization and capital expenditures, including considering the impact of COVID-19.

Although the Company believes its estimates of fair value are reasonable, actual financial results could differ from those estimates due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making such estimates. Changes in assumptions concerning future financial results or other underlying assumptions, including the impact of COVID-19, could have a significant impact on either

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the fair value of the reporting units and indefinite-lived intangibles, the amount of any goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible impairment charges, or both. These estimates can be affected by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the impact of COVID-19, its severity, duration and its impact on global economies, general economic conditions as well as our profitability. The Company will continue to monitor these potential impacts, including the impact of COVID-19 and economic, industry and market trends and the impact these may have on Boots and Other international reporting units.

The Company also compares the sum of estimated fair values of reporting units to the Company’s fair value as implied by the market value of its equity securities. This comparison provides an indication that, in total, assumptions and estimates are reasonable. Future declines in the overall market value of the Company’s equity securities may provide an indication that the fair value of one or more reporting units has declined below its carrying value.

See Note 7 Goodwill and other intangible assets, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 for additional information.

Impairment of long lived assets - The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such an asset may not be recoverable. The evaluation of long-lived assets is performed at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows. Long-lived assets related to the Company’s retail operations include property, plant and equipment, definite-lived intangibles, right of use asset as well as operating lease liability. If the asset group fails the recoverability test, then an impairment charge is determined based on the difference between the fair value of the asset group compared to its carrying value. Fair value of the asset group is generally determined using income approach based on cash flows expected from the use and eventual disposal of the asset group.

The determination of the fair value of the asset group requires management to estimate a number of factors including anticipated future cash flows and discount rates. Although we believe these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from those estimates due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making such estimates.

Cost of sales and inventory – Cost of sales includes the purchase price of goods and cost of services rendered, store and warehouse inventory loss, inventory obsolescence and supplier rebates. In addition to product costs, cost of sales includes warehousing costs for retail operations, purchasing costs, freight costs, cash discounts and vendor allowances.

Cost of sales is derived based upon point-of-sale scanning information with an estimate for shrinkage and is adjusted based on periodic inventory counts. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market determined by the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method for the United States segment and on an average cost and first-in first-out (“FIFO”) basis for inventory in the International segment.

Equity method investments – The Company uses the equity method of accounting for equity investments if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over operating and financial policies of the investee. The Company’s proportionate share of the net income or loss of these investees is included in consolidated net earnings. Judgment regarding the level of influence over each equity method investment includes considering key factors such as the Company’s ownership interest, legal form of the investee (e.g. limited liability partnership), representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making decisions and material intra-entity transactions.

The Company evaluates equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable. Factors considered by the Company when reviewing an equity method investment for impairment include the length of time (duration) and the extent (severity) to which the fair value of the equity method investment has been less than cost, the investee’s financial condition and near-term prospects and the intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery. An impairment that is other-than-temporary is recognized in the period identified.

Pension and postretirement benefits – The Company has various defined benefit pension plans that cover some of its non-U.S. employees. The Company also has a postretirement healthcare plan that covers qualifying U.S. employees. Eligibility and the level of benefits for these plans vary depending on participants’ status, date of hire and or length of service. Pension and postretirement healthcare plan expenses and valuations are dependent on assumptions used by third-party actuaries in calculating those amounts. These assumptions include discount rates, healthcare cost trends, long-term return on plan assets, retirement rates, mortality rates and other factors.

In determining long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption, the Company considers both the historical performance of the investment portfolio as well as the long-term market return expectations based on the investment mix of the portfolio. A change in any of these assumptions would have an effect on its pension expense. A 25 basis point increase in the discount rate

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would result in a decline of $443 million to the Company’s pension benefit obligation. A 25 basis point decrease on the expected return on plan assets assumption would increase the Company’s pension expense by $26 million.

The Company funds its pension plans in accordance with applicable regulations. The postretirement healthcare plan is not funded.

Income taxes –The Company is subject to routine income tax audits that occur periodically in the normal course of business. U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax authorities raise questions regarding the Company’s tax filing positions, including the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. In evaluating the tax benefits associated with the various tax filing positions, the Company records a tax benefit for uncertain tax positions using the highest cumulative tax benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. Adjustments are made to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the period in which the Company determines the issue is effectively settled with the tax authorities, the statute of limitations expires for the return containing the tax position or when more information becomes available. The liability for unrecognized tax benefits, including accrued penalties and interest, is primarily included in other non-current liabilities and current income taxes on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and in income tax provision in its Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

In determining its provision for income taxes, the Company uses income, permanent differences between book and tax income and enacted statutory income tax rates. The provision for income taxes rate also reflects its assessment of the ultimate outcome of tax audits in addition to any foreign-based income deemed to be taxable in the U.S. Discrete events such as audit settlements or changes in tax laws are recognized in the period in which they occur.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

See “new accounting pronouncements” within Note 1 Summary of major accounting policies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 below for information regarding recent accounting pronouncements.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report and other documents that we file or furnish with the SEC contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include, without limitation, any statements regarding the Company's future operations, financial or operating results, capital allocation, anticipated debt levels and ratios, future earnings, planned activities, anticipated growth, market opportunities, strategies, competition, and other expectations and targets for future periods. Words such as “expect,” “likely,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “preliminary,” “pilot,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “target,” “aim,” “continue,” “ “believe,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “upcoming,” “may,” “possible,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, known or unknown, that could cause actual results to vary materially from those indicated or anticipated. These risks, assumptions and uncertainties include those described in Item 1A, Risk factors, above, which are incorporated herein by reference, and in other documents that we file or furnish with the SEC. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materializes, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements we make or that are made on our behalf are qualified by these cautionary statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.

We do not undertake, and expressly disclaim, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the date of this report, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Item 7A. Quantitative and qualitative disclosure about market risk

Interest rate risk

The Company is exposed to interest rate volatility with regard to existing variable-rate debt instruments and future incurrences of fixed or variable-rate debt, which exposure primarily relates to movements in various interest rates, such as U.S treasury rates and commercial paper rates. From time to time, the Company uses interest rate swaps and forward-starting interest rate swaps to hedge its exposure to the impact of interest rate changes on existing debt and future debt issuances respectively, to reduce the volatility of financing costs and, based on current and projected market conditions, achieve a desired proportion of fixed-rate versus floating-rate debt. Generally, under these swaps, the Company agrees with a counterparty to exchange the difference between fixed-rate and floating-rate interest amounts based on an agreed upon notional principal amount.

On March 5, 2021, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), which regulates the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, issued an announcement on the future cessation or loss of representativeness of LIBOR benchmark settings currently

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published by ICE Benchmark Administration. That announcement confirmed that LIBOR will either cease to be provided by any administrator or will no longer be representative after December 31, 2021 for all non-USD LIBOR reference rates, and for 1W and 2M USD LIBOR and after June 30, 2023 for other USD LIBOR reference rates.

Certain of our credit facilities provide that, under certain circumstances set forth in such credit facilities, we and the administrative agent may amend the applicable credit facility to replace LIBOR with an alternate benchmark rate, giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar syndicated credit facilities in the U.S. market for alternative benchmarks. Such an alternative benchmark rate could include the secured overnight financing rate, also known as SOFR, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Information regarding the Company’s transactions are set forth in Note 9 Financial instruments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8. These financial instruments are sensitive to changes in interest rates. On August 31, 2021, the Company had no material long-term debt obligations that had floating interest rates. The amounts exclude the impact of any associated derivative contracts.

Foreign currency exchange rate risk

The Company is exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, primarily with respect to the British pound sterling and certain other foreign currencies, which may affect its net investment in foreign subsidiaries and may cause fluctuations in cash flows related to foreign denominated transactions. The Company is also exposed to the translation of foreign currency earnings to the U.S. dollar. The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge against the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on non-functional currency cash flows. These transactions are almost exclusively less than 12 months in maturity. In addition, the Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts that are not designated in hedging relationships to offset, in part, the impacts of certain intercompany activities (primarily associated with intercompany financing transactions).

The Company’s foreign currency derivative instruments are sensitive to changes in exchange rates. A hypothetical 1% change in foreign currency exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar would change the fair value of the foreign currency derivatives held as of August 31, 2021, by approximately $53 million. The foreign currency derivatives are intended to partially hedge anticipated transactions, foreign currency trade payables and receivables and net investments in foreign subsidiaries.

Equity price risk

Changes in AmerisourceBergen common stock price may have a significant impact on the fair value of the equity investment in AmerisourceBergen described in Note 6 Equity method investments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 below. See Part I. Item 1. Business “Investment in AmerisourceBergen” above.

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Item 8. Financial statements and supplementary data

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

At August 31, 2021 and 2020

(in millions, except shares and per share amounts)

	2021		2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,193	$	469
Accounts receivable, net	5,663		4,110
Inventories	8,159		7,917
Other current assets	800		598
Assets of discontinued operations - current (see Note 2)	—		4,979
Total current assets	15,814		18,073
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net	12,247		12,796
Operating lease right-of-use asset	21,893		21,453
Goodwill	12,421		12,013
Intangible assets, net	9,936		10,072
Equity method investments (see Note 6)	6,987		7,204
Other non-current assets	1,987		581
Assets of discontinued operations - non-current (see Note 2)	—		4,983
Total non-current assets	65,471		69,101
Total assets	$	81,285	$	87,174
Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt	$	1,305	$	3,265
Trade accounts payable (see Note 19)	11,136		10,145
Operating lease obligation	2,259		2,358
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	7,260		5,861
Income taxes	94		95
Liabilities of discontinued operations - current (see Note 2)	—		5,347
Total current liabilities	22,054		27,070
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term debt	7,675		12,203
Operating lease obligation	22,153		21,765
Deferred income taxes	1,850		1,367
Other non-current liabilities	3,413		3,222
Liabilities of discontinued operations - non-current (see Note 2)	—		412
Total non-current liabilities	35,091		38,968
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 11)
Total liabilities	57,145		66,038
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	319		—
Equity:
Preferred stock $.01 par value; authorized 32 million shares, none issued	—		—
Common stock $.01 par value; authorized 3.2 billion shares; issued 1,172,513,618 at August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020	12		12
Paid-in capital	10,988		10,761
Retained earnings	35,121		34,210
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,109)		(3,771)
Treasury stock, at cost; 307,139,982 shares at August 31, 2021 and 306,910,099 shares at August 31, 2020	(20,593)		(20,575)
Total Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. shareholders’ equity	23,419		20,637
Noncontrolling interests	402		498
Total equity	23,822		21,136
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity	$	81,285	$	87,174

The accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these Statements.

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WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

For the years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019

(in millions, except shares)

		Equity attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
	Common stock shares	Common stock amount		Treasury stock amount		Paid-in capital		Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		Retained earnings		Noncontrolling interests		Total equity
August 31, 2018	952,133,418	$	12	$	(15,047)	$	10,493	$	(3,002)	$	33,551	$	682	$	26,689
Net earnings	—	—		—		—		—		3,982		(20)		3,962
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	—	—		—		—		(896)		—		(13)		(909)
Dividends declared and distributions	—	—		—		—		—		(1,629)		(3)		(1,632)
Treasury stock purchases	(61,723,456)	—		(4,160)		—		—		—		—		(4,160)
Employee stock purchase and option plans	4,977,540	—		150		24		—		—		—		174
Stock-based compensation	—	—		—		119		—		—		—		119
Adoption of new accounting standards	—	—		—		—		—		(88)		—		(88)
Noncontrolling interests contribution and other	—	—		—		3		—		(1)		(5)		(3)
August 31, 2019	895,387,502	$	12	$	(19,057)	$	10,639	$	(3,897)	$	35,815	$	641	$	24,152
Net earnings	—	—		—		—		—		456		(32)		424
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	—	—		—		—		126		—		22		148
Dividends declared and distributions	—	—		—		—		—		(1,618)		(133)		(1,751)
Treasury stock purchases	(32,055,576)	—		(1,589)		—		—		—		—		(1,589)
Employee stock purchase and option plans	2,271,593	—		72		(17)		—		—		—		55
Stock-based compensation	—	—		—		137		—		—		—		137
Adoption of new accounting standards	—	—		—		—		—		(442)		—		(442)
Noncontrolling interests contribution and other	—	—		—		2		—		—		—		2
August 31, 2020	865,603,519	$	12	$	(20,575)	$	10,761	$	(3,771)	$	34,210	$	498	$	21,136
Net earnings	—	—		—		—		—		2,542		(31)		2,512
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	—	—		—		—		1,663		—		6		1,669
Dividends declared and distributions	—	—		—		—		—		(1,629)		—		(1,629)
Treasury stock purchases	(3,000,000)	—		(110)		—		—		—		—		(110)
Employee stock purchase and option plans	2,770,117	—		92		(33)		—		—		—		59
Stock-based compensation	—	—		—		155		—		—		—		155
Adoption of new accounting standards	—	—		—		—		—		(3)		(3)		(6)
Business combination	—	—		—		120		—		—		—		120
Noncontrolling interests contribution and other	—	—		—		(15)		—		—		(69)		(84)
August 31, 2021	865,373,636	$	12	$	(20,593)	$	10,988	$	(2,109)	$	35,121	$	402	$	23,822

The accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these Statements.

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WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

For the years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019

(in millions, except per share amounts)

	2021		2020		2019
Sales	$	132,509	$	121,982	$	120,074
Cost of sales	104,442		95,905		91,915
Gross profit	28,067		26,078		28,159
Selling, general and administrative expenses	24,586		25,436		23,557
Equity (loss) earnings in AmerisourceBergen	(1,139)		341		164
Operating income	2,342		982		4,766
Other income	558		77		243
Earnings before interest and income tax provision	2,900		1,060		5,009
Interest expense, net	905		613		650
Earnings before income tax provision	1,995		446		4,359
Income tax provision	667		339		577
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments	627		31		8
Net earnings from continuing operations	1,955		138		3,790
Net earnings from discontinued operations	557		286		172
Net earnings	2,512		424		3,962
Net (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests - continuing operations	(39)		(42)		(26)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests - discontinued operations	9		9		6
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	2,542	$	456	$	3,982
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.:
Continuing operations	$	1,994	$	180	$	3,816
Discontinued operations	548		277		166
Total	$	2,542	$	456	$	3,982
Basic net earnings per common share:
Continuing operations	$	2.31	$	0.20	$	4.14
Discontinued operations	0.63		0.31		0.18
Total	$	2.94	$	0.52	$	4.32
Diluted net earnings per common share:
Continuing operations	$	2.30	$	0.20	$	4.13
Discontinued operations	0.63		0.31		0.18
Total	$	2.93	$	0.52	$	4.31
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	864.8		879.4		921.5
Diluted	866.4		880.3		923.5

The accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these Statements.

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WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019

(in millions)

	2021		2020		2019
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	$	2,512	$	424	$	3,962
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Pension/postretirement obligations	389		(700)		(149)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	21		(6)		5
Net investment hedges	(1)		(90)		55
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities	96		—		—
Share of other comprehensive (loss) of equity method investments	(18)		(14)		(1)
Currency translation adjustments	1,182		958		(820)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,669		148		(909)
Total comprehensive income	4,181		572		3,053
Comprehensive (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(25)		(10)		(33)
Comprehensive income attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	4,205	$	582	$	3,086

The accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these Statements.

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Table of Content

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019

(in millions)

	2021		2020		2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$	2,512	$	424	$	3,962
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,973		1,927		2,038
Deferred income taxes	233		(43)		100
Stock compensation expense	155		137		119
Equity loss (earnings) from equity method investments	498		(382)		(187)
Goodwill and intangible impairments	49		2,016		—
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	414		—		—
Gain on sale of business	(322)		—		—
Gain on sale of equity method investment	(321)		—		—
Other	(64)		464		302
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(1,451)		163		(789)
Inventories	165		63		141
Other current assets	(46)		(31)		(112)
Trade accounts payable	842		(25)		954
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,046		1,008		(374)
Income taxes	160		(221)		(406)
Other non-current assets and liabilities	(288)		(16)		(154)
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,555		5,484		5,594
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(1,379)		(1,374)		(1,702)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	856		724		3
Proceeds from sale of business, net of cash disposed	5,527		—		—
Proceeds from sale of other assets	453		90		117
Business, investment and asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,431)		(718)		(741)
Other	46		(19)		16
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	4,072		(1,297)		(2,307)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in short-term debt with maturities of 3 months or less	(909)		(161)		536
Proceeds from debt	12,726		20,367		12,433
Payments of debt	(15,257)		(21,414)		(10,461)
Stock purchases	(110)		(1,589)		(4,160)
Proceeds related to employee stock plans	59		55		174
Cash dividends paid	(1,617)		(1,747)		(1,643)
Early debt extinguishment	(3,687)		—		—
Other	(241)		(157)		75
Net cash used for financing activities	(9,036)		(4,647)		(3,047)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(66)		(1)		(9)
Changes in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	525		(460)		232
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	746		1,207		975
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	1,270	$	746	$	1,207

The accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these Statements.

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WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. Summary of major accounting policies

Organization

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a global leader in retail pharmacy. Its operations are conducted through two reportable segments: United States and International. See Note 17 Segment reporting and Note 18 Sales, for further information.

Basis of presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include all subsidiaries in which the Company holds a controlling interest. The Company uses the equity-method of accounting for equity investments in less than majority-owned companies if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. The Company bases its estimates on the information available at the time, its experiences and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic (“COVID-19”) has severely impacted the economies of the United States (“U.S.”), the United Kingdom (“UK”) and other countries around the world. The impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s businesses, financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, as well as information regarding certain expected or potential impacts of COVID-19 on the Company, is discussed throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company’s future assessment of the magnitude and duration of COVID-19, as well as other factors, could result in material impacts to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods. Adjustments may be made in subsequent periods to reflect more current estimates and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain. Actual results may differ.

The impact of COVID-19, the influence of certain holidays, seasonality, foreign currency rates, changes in vendor, payer and customer relationships and terms, strategic transactions including acquisitions, changes in laws and general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates and other factors on the Company’s operations and net earnings for any period may not be comparable to the same period in previous years.

On January 6, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen”). Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement, AmerisourceBergen agreed to purchase the majority of the Company's Alliance Healthcare business as well as a portion of the Company’s retail pharmacy international businesses in Europe (“Disposal Group”) for approximately $6.5 billion, comprised of $6.275 billion in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, and 2 million shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock (the “Alliance Healthcare Sale”). Alliance Healthcare’s investment in China and Italy and its operations in Germany were not included in the Disposal Group, and the Company's retail pharmacy international operations in The Netherlands, Norway and Lithuania were included in the Disposal Group. The Disposal Group met the criteria to be reported as discontinued operations. Therefore, the related assets, liabilities and operating results of the Disposal Group are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented. The majority of the Disposal Group was previously included in the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment. Effective as of the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company eliminated the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment and aligned into two reportable segments: United States and International. See Note 17 Segment reporting, for additional information on the segments. On June 1, 2021 the Company completed the Alliance Healthcare Sale.

Unless otherwise specified, disclosures in these Consolidated Financial Statements reflect continuing operations only. Certain prior period data, primarily related to discontinued operations, have been reclassified in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes to conform to the current period presentation. See Note 2 Discontinued operations, for further information.

Certain amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements and associated notes may not add due to rounding. Percentages have been calculated using unrounded amounts for all periods presented.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. Credit and debit card receivables, which generally settle within one to seven business days, of $146 million and $101 million were included in cash and cash equivalents at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Restricted cash and other cash flows from operating activities

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Restricted cash

The Company is required to maintain cash deposits with certain banks which consist of deposits restricted under contractual agreements and cash restricted by law and other obligations.

The following represents a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as of August 31, 2021 and 2020, (in millions):

	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents - continuing operations	$	1,193	$	469
Cash and cash equivalents - discontinued operations	—		47
Restricted cash - continuing operations (included in other current assets)	77		62
Restricted cash - discontinued operations	—		168
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	1,270	$	746

Other cash flows from operating activities

Other cash flows from operating activities of $(64) million for fiscal 2021 include asset impairment of $203 million offset by gains on sales-leaseback transactions of $367 million. Other cash flows from operating activities of $464 million for fiscal 2020 include asset impairments of $462 million offset by gains on sales-leaseback transactions of $308 million. Other cash flows from operating activities of $302 million for fiscal 2019 include asset impairments of $328 million.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable balances primarily consist of trade receivables due from customers, including amounts due from third-party providers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies). Trade receivables were $4.5 billion and $3.0 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Other accounts receivable balances, which consist primarily of receivables from vendors and manufacturers, including receivables from AmerisourceBergen (see Note 19 Related parties), were $1.1 billion and $1.1 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Charges for the Company’s expected credit losses are recognized based upon all available relevant information regarding the collectability of receivables, including historical information, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions over the short contractual life of the receivable. The allowance for expected credit losses for trade receivables at August 31, 2021 and 2020 were $53 million and $26 million, respectively.

Inventories

The Company values inventories on a lower of cost and net realizable value or market basis. Inventories include product costs, inbound freight, direct labor, warehousing costs for retail pharmacy operations and distribution of products and vendor allowances not classified as a reduction of advertising expense.

The Company’s United States segment inventory is accounted for using the last-in-first-out (“LIFO”) method. The total carrying value of the segment inventory accounted for under the LIFO method was $6.2 billion and $6.4 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. At August 31, 2021 and 2020, United States segment inventory would have been greater by $3.3 billion and $3.3 billion, respectively, if they had been valued on a lower of first-in-first-out (“FIFO”) cost and net realizable value.

The Company’s International segment inventory is accounted for using average cost and the FIFO method. The total carrying value of the inventory for International segment was $2.0 billion and $1.5 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Major repairs, which extend the useful life of an asset, are capitalized; routine maintenance and repairs are charged against earnings. Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of owned assets. Leasehold improvements, equipment under finance lease and finance lease properties are amortized over their respective estimate of useful life or over the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. The majority of the Company’s fixtures and equipment uses the composite method of depreciation.

The following table summarizes the Company’s property, plant and equipment (in millions) and estimated useful lives (in years):

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

	Estimated useful life	2021		2020
Land and land improvements	20	$	2,798	$	3,157
Buildings and building improvements	3 to 50	7,569		7,795
Fixtures and equipment	3 to 20	10,314		9,904
Capitalized system development costs and software	3 to 10	3,624		3,061
Finance lease properties		1,016		1,011
		$	25,321	$	24,927
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		13,073		12,131
Balance at end of year		$	12,247	$	12,796

The Company capitalizes application development stage costs for internally developed software. These costs are amortized over a three to ten year period. Amortization expense for capitalized system development costs and software was $284 million in fiscal 2021, $300 million in fiscal 2020 and $260 million in fiscal 2019. Unamortized costs were $1.9 billion and $1.6 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Depreciation and amortization expense for property, plant and equipment including capitalized system development costs and software was $1.4 billion in fiscal 2021, $1.4 billion in fiscal 2020 and $1.4 billion in fiscal 2019.

Leases

The Company leases certain retail stores, warehouses, distribution centers, office space, land and equipment. Initial terms for leased premises in the United States are typically 15 to 25 years, followed by additional terms containing renewal options at five-year intervals, and may include rent escalation clauses. Non-U.S. leases are typically for shorter terms and may include cancellation clauses or renewal options. The lease term of real estate leases includes renewal options that are reasonably certain of being exercised. Options to extend are considered reasonably certain of being exercised based on evaluation if there are significant investments within the leased property which have useful lives greater than the non-cancelable lease term, performance of the underlying store and the Company’s economic and strategic initiatives. Short-term leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheets.

The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at the inception of a contract. The lease classification is determined at the commencement date. Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease during the lease term. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of the remaining future minimum lease payments during the lease term. Lease commencement is the date the Company has the right to control the property. The Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate to discount the lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is based on the Company's estimated rate of interest for a collateralized borrowing over a similar term as the lease term. The operating lease right-of-use assets also include lease payments made before commencement, lease incentives and are recorded net of impairment. Operating leases are expensed on a straight line basis over the lease term.

The Company accounts for lease components and non-lease components as a single lease component. Variable lease payment amounts that cannot be determined at the commencement of the lease such as increases in lease payments based on changes in index rates or usage, are not included in the right-of-use assets or lease liabilities. These are expensed as incurred. The Company has real estate leases which require additional payments based on sales volume, as well as reimbursement for real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance, which are expensed as incurred as variable lease costs and hence are not included in the lease payments used to calculate lease liability. Other real estate leases contain one fixed lease payment that includes real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance. These fixed payments are considered part of the lease payment and included in the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. The Company does not separately account for the land portion of the leases involving land and building.

Finance leases are recognized within property, plant and equipment and as a finance lease liability within accrued expenses and other liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities.

See Note 5 Leases, for further information.

Business combinations

The Company allocates the fair value of purchase consideration to the tangible and intangible assets purchased and the liabilities assumed on the basis of their fair values at the date of acquisition. The determination of fair values of assets acquired

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

and liabilities assumed requires estimates and the use of valuation techniques when a market value is not readily available. Any excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired is allocated to goodwill. If the Company obtains new information about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations. Acquired intangible assets are recorded at fair value.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that could more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or intangible asset below its carrying value. As part of the Company’s impairment analysis, fair value of a reporting unit is determined using both the income and market approaches. The income approach requires management to estimate a number of factors for each reporting unit, including projected future operating results, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and discount rates. The market approach estimates fair value using comparable marketplace fair value data from within a comparable industry grouping. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of the asset to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recognized and the asset is written down to its estimated fair value

See Note 7 Goodwill and other intangible assets, for additional disclosure regarding the Company’s intangible assets.

Equity method investments

The Company uses the equity method of accounting for equity investments if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over operating and financial policies of the investee. The Company’s proportionate share of the net income or loss of these investees is included in consolidated net earnings. Judgment regarding the level of influence over each equity method investment includes considering key factors such as the Company’s ownership interest, legal form of the investee (e.g. limited liability partnership), representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making decisions and material intra-entity transactions.

The Company evaluates equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable. Factors considered by the Company when reviewing an equity method investment for impairment include the length of time (duration) and the extent (severity) to which the fair value of the equity method investment has been less than cost, the investee’s financial condition and near-term prospects and the intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery. An impairment that is other-than-temporary is recognized in the period identified.

See Note 6 Equity method investments, for further information.

Financial instruments

The Company uses derivative instruments to hedge its exposure to market risks, including interest rate and currency risks, arising from operating and financing risks. In accordance with its risk management policies, the Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Derivatives are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values. When the Company becomes a party to a derivative instrument and intends to apply hedge accounting, it formally documents the hedge relationship and the risk management objective for undertaking the hedge which includes designating the instrument for financial reporting purposes as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, or a net investment hedge. The accounting for changes in fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether the Company had designated it in a qualifying hedging relationship and on the type of hedging relationship. The Company applies the following accounting policies:

•Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings in the same line item, generally interest expense, net.

•Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and reclassified into earnings in

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

the period or periods during which the hedged item affects earnings and is presented in the same line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item.

•Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation are recorded in cumulative translation adjustments within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Recognition in earnings of amounts previously recorded in cumulative translation adjustments is limited to circumstances such as complete or substantially complete liquidation of the net investment in the hedged investments in foreign operations.

•Changes in the fair value of a derivative not designated in a hedging relationship are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Cash receipts or payments on a settlement of a derivative contract are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows consistent with the nature of the underlying hedged item.

For derivative instruments designated as hedges, the Company assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. Highly effective means that cumulative changes in the fair value of the derivative are between 80% and 125% of the cumulative changes in the fair value of the hedged item. In addition, when the Company determines that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, hedge accounting is discontinued. When it is probable that a hedged forecasted transaction will not occur, the Company discontinues hedge accounting for the affected portion of the forecasted transaction and reclassifies any gains or losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to earnings in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings. When a derivative in a hedge relationship is terminated or the hedged item is sold, extinguished or terminated, hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively.

Pension and postretirement benefits

The Company has various defined benefit pension plans that cover some of its non-U.S. employees. The Company also has a postretirement healthcare plan that covers qualifying U.S. employees. Eligibility and the level of benefits for these plans vary depending on participants’ status, date of hire and or length of service. Pension and postretirement healthcare plan expenses and valuations are dependent on assumptions used by third-party actuaries in calculating those amounts. These assumptions include discount rates, healthcare cost trends, long-term return on plan assets, retirement rates, mortality rates and other factors.

The Company funds its pension plans in accordance with applicable regulations. The Company records the service cost component of net pension cost and net postretirement healthcare benefit cost in selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company records all other net cost components of net pension cost and net postretirement benefit cost in other income (expense). The postretirement healthcare plan is not funded.

See Note 14 Retirement benefits, for further information.

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

The Company presents non-controlling interest in temporary equity within its Consolidated Balance Sheets if it is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date on the option of the holder, or upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the Company. The carrying amount of the redeemable non-controlling interest is equal to the greater of the carrying value of non-controlling interest adjusted each reporting period for income (or loss) attributable to the non-controlling interest as well as any applicable distributions made or the redemption value. Re-measurements to the redemption value of the redeemable non-controlling interest are recognized in additional paid in capital. The redeemable noncontrolling interest balance as of August 31, 2021 was $319 million primarily due to acquisitions during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021.

See Note 3 Acquisitions, for further details.

Noncontrolling interests

The Company presents noncontrolling interests as a component of equity on its Consolidated Balance Sheets and reports the portion of its earnings or loss for noncontrolling interest as net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Currency

Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. dollar functional currency operations are translated into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates while revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated at average monthly exchange rates over the period. Equity is translated at historical exchange rates and the resulting cumulative translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Assets and liabilities not denominated in the functional currency are remeasured into the functional currency at end-of-period exchange rates, except for nonmonetary balance sheet amounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are recorded at average monthly exchange rates over the period, except for those expenses related to nonmonetary balance sheet amounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Gains or losses from foreign currency remeasurement are generally included in selling, general and administrative expenses within the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Commitments and contingencies

On a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies for outstanding legal proceedings and reserves are established on a case-by-case basis for those legal claims for which management concludes that it is probable that a loss will be incurred and that the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. Substantially all of these contingencies are subject to significant uncertainties and, therefore, determining the likelihood of a loss and/or the measurement of any loss can be complex. With respect to litigation and other legal proceedings where the Company has determined that a loss is reasonably possible, the Company may be unable to estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible loss due to the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of and uncertainties regarding such litigation and legal proceedings. The Company’s assessments are based on estimates and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management, but that may prove to be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that might cause the Company to change those estimates and assumptions. Therefore, it is possible that an unfavorable resolution of one or more pending litigation or other contingencies could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in a future fiscal period. Management’s assessment of current litigation and other legal proceedings, including the corresponding accruals, could change because of the discovery of facts with respect to legal actions or other proceedings pending against the Company which are not presently known. Adverse rulings or determinations by judges, juries, governmental authorities or other parties could also result in changes to management’s assessment of current liabilities and contingencies. Accordingly, the ultimate costs of resolving these claims may be substantially higher or lower than the amounts reserved. See Note 11 Commitments and contingencies, for further information.

Revenue recognition

Sales are recognized at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring control of goods or services to the customer. Sales are reported on the gross amount billed to a customer less discounts if it has earned revenue as a principal from the sale of goods and services. Sales are reported on the net amount retained (that is, the amount billed to the customer less the amount paid to a vendor) if it has earned a commission or a fee as an agent.

The Company recognizes revenue, net of taxes and expected returns, at the time it sells merchandise or dispenses prescription drugs to the customer. The Company estimates revenue based on expected reimbursements from third-party payers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies) for dispensing prescription drugs. The estimates are based on all available information including historical experience and are updated to actual reimbursement amounts. Wholesale revenue is recognized, net of taxes and expected returns, upon shipment of goods, which is generally also the day of delivery.

Loyalty programs and gift cards

The Company’s loyalty rewards programs represent a separate performance obligation and are accounted for using the deferred revenue approach. When goods are sold, the transaction price is allocated between goods sold and loyalty points awarded based upon the relative standalone selling price. The revenue allocated to the loyalty points is recognized upon redemption. Loyalty programs breakage is recognized as revenue based on the redemption pattern.

Customer purchases of gift cards are not recognized as revenue until the card is redeemed. Gift card breakage (i.e., unused gift card) is recognized as revenue based on the redemption pattern.

Contract balances with customers

The Company recognizes contract liabilities to record the Company’s obligation to transfer additional goods or services to a customer for which the Company has received consideration, for example the Company’s myWalgreens and Boots Advantage

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Card loyalty programs. Under such programs, customers earn Walgreens Cash or reward points on purchases for redemption at a later date.

Cost of sales

Cost of sales includes the purchase price of goods and cost of services rendered, store and warehouse inventory loss, inventory obsolescence and supplier rebates. In addition to product costs, cost of sales includes warehousing costs for retail operations, purchasing costs, freight costs, cash discounts and vendor allowances.

Vendor allowances and supplier rebates

Vendor allowances are principally received as a result of purchases, sales or promotion of vendors’ products. Allowances are generally recorded as a reduction of inventory and are recognized as a reduction of cost of sales when the related merchandise is sold. Allowances received for promoting vendors’ products are offset against advertising expense and result in a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses to the extent of advertising costs incurred, with the excess treated as a reduction of inventory costs.

Rebates or refunds received by the Company from its suppliers, mostly in cash, are considered as an adjustment of the prices of the supplier’s products purchased by the Company.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses mainly consist of salaries and employee costs, occupancy costs, depreciation and amortization, credit and debit card fees and expenses directly related to stores. In addition, other costs included are headquarters’ expenses, advertising costs (net of vendor advertising allowances), wholesale warehousing costs and insurance.

Advertising costs

Advertising costs are reduced by the portion funded by vendors, if reimbursement represents a specific, incremental, identifiable cost, and expensed as incurred or when services have been received. Net advertising expenses, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, were $772 million in fiscal 2021, $532 million in fiscal 2020 and $582 million in fiscal 2019.

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such an asset may not be recoverable. The evaluation of long-lived assets is performed at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows. Long-lived assets related to the Company’s retail operations include property, plant and equipment, definite-lived intangibles, right of use asset as well as operating lease liability. If the asset group fails the recoverability test, then an impairment charge is determined based on the difference between the fair value of the asset group compared to its carrying value. Fair value of the asset group is generally determined using income approach based on cash flows expected from the use and eventual disposal of the asset group.

Impairment charges for definite-lived assets included in selling, general and administrative expenses were $182 million, $401 million and $163 million for fiscal years 2021, 2020 and 2019 respectively.

The determination of the fair value of the asset group requires management to estimate a number of factors including anticipated future cash flows and discount rates. Although we believe these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from those estimates due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making such estimates.

Stock compensation plans

Stock based compensation is measured at fair value at the grant date. The Company grants stock options, performance shares and restricted units to the Company’s non-employee directors, officers and employees. The Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the substantive service period. The fair value of each performance share granted assumes that performance goals will be achieved at 100 percent. If such goals are not met, no compensation expense is recognized and any recognized compensation expense is reversed. See Note 13 Stock compensation plans, for more information on the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.

Insurance

The Company obtains insurance coverage for catastrophic exposures as well as those risks required by law to be insured. In general, the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries retain a significant portion of losses related to workers’ compensation, property, comprehensive general, pharmacist and vehicle liability, while non-U.S. subsidiaries manage their exposures through insurance coverage with third-party carriers. Management regularly reviews the probable outcome of claims and proceedings, the

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

expenses expected to be incurred, the availability and limits of the insurance coverage and the established accruals for liabilities. Liabilities for losses are recorded based upon the Company’s estimates for both claims incurred and claims incurred but not reported. The provisions are estimated in part by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors and other actuarial assumptions.

Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes according to the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based upon the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured pursuant to tax laws using rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rate is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely than not to be realized.

In determining the provision for income taxes, the Company uses income, permanent differences between book and tax income, the relative proportion of foreign and domestic income, enacted statutory income tax rates, projections of income subject to Subpart F rules and unrecognized tax benefits related to current year results. Discrete events such as the assessment of the ultimate outcome of tax audits, audit settlements, recognizing previously unrecognized tax benefits due to lapsing of the applicable statute of limitations, recognizing or de-recognizing benefits of deferred tax assets due to future year financial statement projections and changes in tax laws are recognized in the period in which they occur.

The Company is subject to routine income tax audits that occur periodically in the normal course of business. U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax authorities raise questions regarding the Company’s tax filing positions, including the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. In evaluating the tax benefits associated with the various tax filing positions, the Company records a tax benefit for uncertain tax positions using the highest cumulative tax benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. Adjustments are made to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the period in which the Company determines the issue is effectively settled with the tax authorities, the statute of limitations expires for the return containing the tax position or when more information becomes available.

Earnings per share

The dilutive effect of outstanding stock options on earnings per share is calculated using the treasury stock method. Stock options are anti-dilutive and excluded from the earnings per share calculation if the exercise price exceeds the average market price of the common shares. Outstanding options to purchase common shares that were anti-dilutive and excluded from earnings per share totaled 17.2 million, 19.0 million and 14.9 million in fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

New accounting pronouncements

Adoption of new accounting pronouncements

Financial instruments

In March 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-03, Codification Improvement to Financial Instruments. This ASU improves and clarifies various financial instruments topics. The ASU includes seven different issues that describe the areas of improvement and the related amendments to GAAP, intended to make the standards easier to understand and apply by eliminating inconsistencies and providing clarifications. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Investments - equity securities

In April 2019, the “FASB” issued “ASU” 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Financial Instruments (Topic 825). This extensive ASU provides clarifications for three topics related to financial instruments accounting, some of which apply to the Company. For example, this ASU clarifies the disclosure requirements that apply to equity securities without a readily determinable fair value for which the measurement alternative is elected. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Collaborative arrangements

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-18, Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808). This ASU clarifies the interaction between Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements, and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The

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Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Compensation – retirement benefits – defined benefit plans

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement benefits (Topic 715-20). This ASU amends ASC 715 to add, remove and clarify disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The ASU eliminates the requirement to disclose the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as part of net periodic benefit cost over the next year. The ASU also removes the disclosure requirements for the effects of a one-percentage-point change on the assumed health care costs and the effect of this change in rates on service cost, interest cost and the benefit obligation for postretirement health care benefits. The Company adopted the new standard effective August 31, 2021 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Fair value measurement

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820). The ASU eliminates such disclosures as the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The ASU adds new disclosure requirements for Level 3 measurements. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 on a retrospective basis and the adoption of this ASU did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Financial instruments - credit losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326), which amends the Board’s guidance on the impairment of financial instruments. The ASU adds to U.S. GAAP an impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses, which is known as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model. The CECL model applies to most debt instruments (other than those measured at fair value), trade and other receivables, financial guarantee contracts, and loan commitments. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020, using a modified retrospective transition method, which requires a cumulative-effect adjustment, if any, to the opening balance of retained earnings to be recognized on the date of adoption with prior periods not restated. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

New accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

Receivables - nonrefundable fees and others

In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-08, Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables—Nonrefundable Fees and Other. This ASU clarifies the accounting for the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium by giving consideration to securities which have multiple call dates. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022). The Company does not expect adoption will have any impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This ASU provides optional expedient and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. In response to the concerns about structural risks of interbank offered rates ("IBORs") and, particularly, the risk of cessation of the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), regulators in several jurisdictions around the world have undertaken reference rate reform initiatives to identify alternative reference rates that are more observable or transaction based and less susceptible to manipulation. The ASU provides companies with optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates that are expected to be discontinued. The FASB further issued ASU 2021-01 in January 2021, to clarify the scope of Topic 848. The ASU can be adopted no later than December 1, 2022 (fiscal 2023) with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption will have any material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Investments - equity securities; Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures; Derivatives and Hedging

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, Investments—Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). The amendments in this ASU clarify the interaction between the accounting for investments in equity securities, investment in equity method and certain derivatives instruments.

The ASU is expected to reduce diversity in practice and increase comparability of the accounting for these interactions. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022). The Company does not expect adoption will

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

have any impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Income taxes - simplifying the accounting for income taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12: Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740), which removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and improves consistent application of and simplifies GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022), and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption will have any material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Note 2. Discontinued operations

On January 6, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen”). Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement, AmerisourceBergen agreed to purchase the majority of the Company's Alliance Healthcare business as well as a portion of the Company’s retail pharmacy international businesses in Europe (“Disposal Group”) for approximately $6.5 billion, comprised of $6.275 billion in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, and 2 million shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock (the “Alliance Healthcare Sale”). Alliance Healthcare’s investment in China and Italy and its operations in Germany were not included in the Disposal Group, and the Company's retail pharmacy international operations in The Netherlands, Norway and Lithuania were included in the Disposal Group.

On June 1, 2021 the Company completed the Alliance Healthcare Sale, for total consideration of $6.9 billion, which includes estimated cash consideration of $6.7 billion, subject to net working capital and net cash adjustments. The Company recorded a gain before currency translation adjustments of $1.1 billion and a net gain on disposal of $322 million. The gain on sale was presented as part of results of the discontinued operations.

The following table shows the fair value of proceeds from the Alliance Healthcare Sale and net carrying value of the assets disposed. As of the date of this report, the Company had not finalized net working capital and net cash adjustments for discontinued operations and therefore proceeds and gain amounts presented are subject to further refinement and may result in changes.

Transaction proceeds and net assets disposed ($ in billions)
Estimated fair value of proceeds from disposition 1	$	6.9
Estimated net assets disposed	5.8
Estimated gain before currency translation adjustments	1.1
Estimated amount of currency translation loss released due to disposition	(0.8)
Net gain on disposal of discontinued operation 2	$	0.3

1Includes base consideration of $6.275 billion adjusted for net working capital and net cash adjustments as set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement.

2The Company recorded insignificant amount of tax expense due to utilization of capital losses.

As of August 31, 2021, the Company recorded a $98 million receivable for purchase price consideration due from AmerisourceBergen that is subject to change upon the finalization of net working capital and net cash adjustments.

The assets and liabilities and operating results of the Disposal Group are reported as discontinued operations, for all periods presented, as the disposition reflects a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results. The Company classified assets and liabilities of the Disposal Group as held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Depreciation and amortization ceased on assets classified as held for sale. The Company allocated goodwill to the Disposal Group using relative fair value of the Disposal Group and businesses retained within the respective reporting units.

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Results of discontinued operations were as follows (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Sales	$	16,070	$	19,349	$	18,618
Cost of sales	14,486		17,409		16,701
Gross profit	1,584		1,940		1,917
Selling, general and administrative expense 1	1,254		1,610		1,685
Operating income from discontinued operations	329		330		232
Other income (expense) 2	314		(8)		(11)
Interest expense, net	(23)		(25)		(54)
Earnings before income tax – discontinued operations	621		297		168
Income tax provision	78		21		11
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments	15		10		15
Net earnings from discontinued operations	$	557	$	286	$	172

1 Includes $44 million of divestiture related costs incurred post completion of the Alliance Healthcare Sale.

2 Includes $322 million of gain on sale of discontinued operations.

Sales from the Disposal Group to the Company's continuing operations aggregate to (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021 1		2020		2019
Sales	$	1,385	$	1,794	$	1,826

1 Sales in Fiscal 2021 until date of disposal.

The following table presents cash flows from operating and investing activities for discontinued operations (in millions):

	Twelve months ended August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities - discontinued operations	$	(132)	$	334	$	302
Cash (used in) provided by for investing activities - discontinued operations	(58)		(80)		(97)

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Asset and liabilities of discontinued operations were as follows (in millions):

	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents	$	—	$	47
Accounts receivable, net	—		3,022
Inventories	—		1,534
Other current assets	—		376
Assets of discontinued operations - current	$	—	$	4,979
Property, plant and equipment, net 1	$	—	$	816
Goodwill and intangibles	—		3,936
Other non-current assets	—		230
Assets of discontinued operations - non-current	$	—	$	4,983
Short term debt	$	—	$	273
Trade accounts payables	—		4,313
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	—		746
Income taxes	—		14
Liabilities of discontinued operations - current	$	—	$	5,347
Deferred income taxes	$	—	$	131
Other non-current liabilities	—		280
Liabilities of discontinued operations - non-current	$	—	$	412

1 Includes Operating lease right-of-use assets.

See Note 6 Equity method investments and Note 19 Related parties, for more information on the Company's equity method investment in AmerisourceBergen and the Company's continuing involvement.

Note 3. Acquisitions

iA acquisition

On December 29, 2020, the Company acquired a majority equity interest in Innovation Associates, Inc. for a cash consideration of $451 million. Innovation Associates, Inc. is a leading-edge provider of software enabled automation solutions for retail, hospital and federal healthcare and mail-order pharmacy markets. The Company accounted for this acquisition as a business combination and consolidates Innovation Associates, Inc. within the United States segment in its financial statements. Considering the contractual terms related to the noncontrolling interest, it is classified as redeemable noncontrolling interest in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The goodwill arising from this acquisition reflects the expected operational synergies and cost savings to be derived as a result of this acquisition.

As of August 31, 2021, the Company has completed the analysis to determine the fair value of the consideration paid or to assign fair values to all tangible and intangible assets acquired, and therefore the purchase price allocation has been completed.

The following table summarizes the consideration for the acquisition and the amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the transaction (in millions):

Purchase Price Allocation:
Total Consideration	$	477
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Tangible assets	$	58
Developed technology and other intangibles	202
Liabilities	(74)
Total identifiable net assets	$	186
Non-controlling interest	103
Goodwill	$	394

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Pro forma net earnings and sales of the Company, assuming the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of each period presented, would not be materially different from the results reported. The acquisition did not have a material impact on net earnings or sales of the Company for the twelve months ended August 31, 2021.

Pharmaceutical Wholesale business in Germany

On November 1, 2020, the Company and McKesson Corporation closed a transaction to form a combined pharmaceutical wholesale business in Germany, as part of a strategic alliance. The Company owns a 70% controlling equity interest in the combined business which is consolidated by the Company and reported within the International segment in its financial statements. The Company accounted for this acquisition as a business combination involving noncash purchase consideration of $296 million consisting of the issuance of an equity interest in the combined business.

As of August 31, 2021, the Company has completed the analysis to determine the fair value of the consideration paid or to assign fair values to all tangible and intangible assets acquired, and therefore the purchase price allocation has been completed.

The following table summarizes the consideration for the acquisition and the amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the transaction (in millions):

Purchase Price Allocation:
Total Consideration	$	331
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Accounts receivable, cash and other assets	$	582
Inventories	470
Property, plant and equipment	125
Short term debt	(296)
Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(374)
Other noncurrent liabilities	(197)
Total identifiable net assets	$	311
Goodwill	$	21

The Company recognized a noncontrolling interest of $175 million based on the Company's proportionate interest in the identifiable net assets of the combined business. The difference between the carrying amount of the non-controlling interest and the fair value of the consideration in the business combination is recognized as additional paid in capital. Considering the contractual terms related to the noncontrolling interest, it is classified as redeemable noncontrolling interest in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table represents supplemental pro forma consolidated sales for the twelve months ended August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020, respectively as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of each period. The pro forma information has been prepared for comparative purposes only and is not intended to be indicative of what the Company's results would have been had the acquisition occurred at the beginning of the periods presented or results which may occur in the future.

	Twelve months ended August 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Sales	$	133,553	$	127,817

Actual sales for the twelve months ended August 31, 2021 included in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings are as follows:    

(in millions)	2021
Sales	$	5,099

Pro forma net earnings of the Company, assuming the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of each period presented, would not be materially different from the results reported.

Other acquisitions

The Company acquired certain prescription files and related pharmacy inventory primarily in the U.S. for the aggregate purchase price of $108 million and $258 million during the fiscal year ended 2021 and 2020, respectively.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 4. Exit and disposal activities

Transformational Cost Management Program

On December 20, 2018, the Company announced a transformational cost management program that was expected to deliver in excess of $2.0 billion of annual cost savings by fiscal 2022 (the “Transformational Cost Management Program”). At the end of fiscal 2021, the Company had delivered this annual cost savings goal.

Building on the successful implementation of the Transformational Cost Management Program to date and as part of the Company's strategic realignment to create even greater focus on the Company’s core business, on October 12, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an expansion and extension of the Transformational Cost Management Program through the end of fiscal 2024. The expanded Transformational Cost Management Program is expected to deliver incremental savings from existing programs and a comprehensive funnel of new initiatives which are intended to improve operating effectiveness and better position the core business for the future. The expansion of the program reflects further strategic initiatives to optimize real estate, implement a global business and centralized services model, as well as leverage technology and new business models to streamline processes across the organization. As a result, the Company is increasing its annual savings target to $3.3 billion of annual cost savings by fiscal 2024.

The Transformational Cost Management Program, which is multi-faceted and includes divisional optimization initiatives, global smart spending, global smart organization and the transformation of the Company’s information technology (IT) capabilities, is designed to help the Company achieve increased cost efficiencies. To date, the Company has taken actions across all aspects of the Transformational Cost Management Program. The actions under the Transformational Cost Management Program focus on all reportable segments and the Company’s global functions. Divisional optimization within each of the Company’s segments includes activities such as optimization of stores. As a result of the expanded program, the Company now plans to reduce its presence by up to 150 Boots stores in the UK and up to 150 stores in the United States over the next three years which are incremental to the previously planned reductions of approximately 200 Boots stores in the UK and approximately 250 stores in the United States.

The Company currently estimates that the Transformational Cost Management Program will result in cumulative pre-tax charges to its GAAP financial results of approximately $3.6 billion to $3.9 billion, of which $3.3 billion to $3.6 billion are expected to be recorded as exit and disposal activities. In addition to these impacts, as a result of the actions related to store closures taken under the Transformational Cost Management Program, the Company recorded $508 million of transition adjustments to decrease retained earnings due to the adoption of the new lease accounting standard (Topic 842) that became effective on September 1, 2019. See Note 1 Summary of major accounting policies, for additional information.

Since the inception of the Transformational Cost Management Program to August 31, 2021, the Company has recognized cumulative pre-tax charges to its financial results in accordance with GAAP of $1.3 billion, which were primarily recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses. These charges included $353 million related to lease obligations and other real estate costs, $252 million in asset impairments, $513 million in employee severance and business transition costs and $163 million of information technology transformation and other exit costs.

Costs related to exit and disposal activities under the Transformational Cost Management Program for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were as follows (in millions):

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2021	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	103	$	6	$	—	$	108
Asset impairments	15		9		—		24
Employee severance and business transition costs	79		40		45		165
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	20		17		—		38
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	217	$	72	$	46	$	335

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2020	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	191	$	9	$	14	$	215
Asset impairments	51		19		2		72
Employee severance and business transition costs	132		93		45		270
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	70		42		(4)		108
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	444	$	163	$	58	$	665

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2019	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	5	$	26	$	—	$	30
Asset impairments	95		61		—		156
Employee severance and business transition costs	41		37		1		78
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	6		10		—		17
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	147	$	134	$	1	$	282

The changes in liabilities and assets related to the exit and disposal activities under Transformational Cost Management Program include the following (in millions):

	Lease obligations and other real estate costs		Asset Impairments		Employee severance and business transition costs		Information technology transformation and other exit costs		Total
Balance at August 31, 2019	$	17	$	—	$	27	$	3	$	47
Costs	215		72		270		108		665
Payments	(44)		—		(146)		(86)		(276)
Other - non cash	(166)		(72)		13		(11)		(236)
ASC 842 Leases adoption	(4)		—		—		—		(4)
Currency	1		—		2		—		3
Balance at August 31, 2020	$	19	$	—	$	166	$	14	$	199
Costs	108		24		165		38		335
Payments	(69)		—		(252)		(31)		(351)
Other - non cash	(42)		(24)		(4)		—		(70)
Currency	—		—		2		(1)		1
Balance at August 31, 2021	$	17	$	—	$	77	$	20	$	114

Store Optimization Program

On October 24, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to implement a program (the “Store Optimization Program”) to optimize store locations through the planned closure of approximately 600 stores and related assets within the Company’s United States segment upon completion of the acquisition of certain stores and related assets from Rite Aid. The Company closed 769 stores and related assets. The actions under the Store Optimization Program commenced in March 2018 and were completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.

Costs related to Store Optimization Program for the twelve months ended August 2020 were $22 million for lease obligation and other real estate costs and $31 million for employee severance and other exit costs, respectively. The liabilities related to Store Optimization Program as of August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020 were not material.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 5. Leases

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases were as follows (in millions):

Balance Sheet supplemental information:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Operating Leases:
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$	21,893	$	21,453
Operating lease obligations - current	$	2,259	$	2,358
Operating lease obligations - non current	22,153		21,765
Total operating lease obligations	$	24,412	$	24,123
Finance Leases:
Right-of-use assets included in:
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	725	$	766
Lease obligations included in:
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	$	37	$	31
Other non-current liabilities	974		1,013
Total finance lease obligations	$	1,010	$	1,044

Supplemental income statement information related to leases were as follows (in millions):

Statement of Earnings supplemental information:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Operating lease cost
Fixed	$	3,219	$	3,252
Variable 1	664		750
Finance lease cost
Amortization	$	45	$	40
Interest	52		54
Sublease income	$	84	$	75
Impairment of right-of-use assets	86		213
Impairment of finance lease assets	—		24
Gains on sale-leaseback transactions 2	367		308

1Includes real estate property taxes, common area maintenance, insurance and rental payments based on sales volume.

2Recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses.

Rental expense for fiscal 2019 prior to the adoption of ASC 842 Leases, which includes common area maintenance, insurance and taxes, where appropriate, was $3,552 million, comprising minimum rentals of $3,550 million, contingent rentals of $67 million and sub lease rental income of $66 million.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Other supplemental information was as follows (in millions):

Other Supplemental Information:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease obligations
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	3,414	$	3,251
Operating cash flows from finance leases	48		48
Financing cash flows from finance leases	42		47
Total	$	3,503	$	3,346
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new lease obligations:
Operating leases	$	2,765	$	2,443
Finance leases	—		65
Total	$	2,765	$	2,508

Average lease term and discount rate as of August 31, 2021 were as follows:

Weighted average terms and discount rates:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Weighted average remaining lease term in years:
Operating leases	10.3		10.7
Finance leases	20.2		20.6
Weighted average discount rate
Operating leases	4.77	%	4.97	%
Finance leases	5.18	%	5.14	%

The aggregate future lease payments for operating and finance leases as of August 31, 2021 were as follows (in millions):

Future lease payments (Fiscal years):	Finance lease		Operating lease
2022	$	89	$	3,439
2023	88		3,342
2024	88		3,224
2025	87		3,102
2026	86		2,982
Later	1,142		15,210
Total undiscounted minimum lease payments	$	1,580	$	31,299
Less: Present value discount	(570)		(6,887)
Lease liability	$	1,010	$	24,412

Note 6. Equity method investments

Equity method investments as of August 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in millions, except percentages):

	2021			2020
	Carrying value		Ownership percentage	Carrying value		Ownership percentage
AmerisourceBergen	$	4,407	28%	$	5,446	28%
Others	2,580		8% - 50%	1,758		8% - 50%
Total	$	6,987		$	7,204

AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen”) investment

As of August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020, respectively, the Company owned 58,854,867 and 56,854,867 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock, representing approximately 28.5% and 27.9% of its outstanding common stock based on the share count publicly reported by AmerisourceBergen in its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. As of August 31, 2021, the Company has designated one member of AmerisourceBergen’s board of directors. The Company accounts for its

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

equity investment in AmerisourceBergen using the equity method of accounting, with the net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company’s investment being classified within the operating income of its United States segment. Due to the timing and availability of financial information of AmerisourceBergen, the Company accounts for this equity method investment on a financial reporting lag of two months. Equity earnings (loss) from AmerisourceBergen are reported as a separate line in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. During the twelve months ended August 31, 2021, the Company recognized equity losses in AmerisourceBergen of $1,139 million. These equity losses were primarily due to AmerisourceBergen's recognition of $5.6 billion, net of tax charge related to its ongoing opioid litigation in its financial statements for the three months period ended September 30, 2020.

The Level 1 fair market value of the Company’s equity investment in AmerisourceBergen common stock at August 31, 2021 and 2020 was $7.2 billion and $5.5 billion, respectively. As of August 31, 2021, the carrying value of Company’s investment in AmerisourceBergen exceeded its proportionate share of the net assets of AmerisourceBergen by $4.4 billion. This premium of $4.4 billion was recognized as part of the carrying value in the Company’s equity investment in AmerisourceBergen. The difference was primarily related to goodwill and the fair value of AmerisourceBergen intangible assets.

Other investments

The Company’s other equity method investments include its investments in the U.S. which include the Company's investment in HC Group Holdings I, LLC (“HC Group Holdings”) which owns equity interest in Option Care Health, Village Practice Management Company, LLC (“VillageMD”), BrightSpring Health Services (previously PharMerica Corporation) and Shields Health Solutions and the Company's investments in China through Sinopharm Medicine Holding Guoda Drugstores Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Nanjing Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

The Company reported $627 million, $31 million and $8 million of post-tax equity earnings from other equity method investments, for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company recorded a gain of $290 million in Other income due to a partial sale of ownership interest in Option Care Health by the Company's equity method investee HC Group Holdings. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, as a result of partial sales of ownership interest in Option Care Health, our equity method investee HC Group Holdings lost the ability to control Option Care Health and, therefore, deconsolidated Option Care Health in its financial statements. As a result of this deconsolidation, HC Group Holdings recognized a gain of $1.2 billion and the Company recorded its share of equity earnings in HC Group Holdings $576 million during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, respectively, in post tax earnings from other equity method investments.

During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company made an additional investment of $750 million in VillageMD, $250 million of which is recorded as an equity method investment and $500 million of which is recorded as an investment in convertible debt securities within Other non-current assets. See Note 21. Subsequent events, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 herein for further information.

Summarized financial information

Summarized financial information for the Company’s equity method investments in aggregate is as follows:

Balance sheet (in millions)

	Year ended August 31,
	2021		2020
Current assets	$	49,538	$	39,167
Non-current assets	27,442		18,138
Current liabilities	48,766		38,034
Non-current liabilities	22,046		10,600
Shareholders’ equity1	6,168		8,671

1Shareholders’ equity at August 31, 2021 and 2020 includes $646 million and $387 million, respectively, related to noncontrolling interests.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 76

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Statements of earnings (in millions)

	Year ended August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Sales	$	232,719	$	208,625	$	195,540
Gross profit	10,889		8,707		7,303
Net earnings (loss)	(3,475)		1,624		997
Share of earnings (loss) from equity method investments	(512)		372		172

The summarized financial information for equity method investments has been included on an aggregated basis for all investments as reported at the end of each fiscal year end.

Note 7. Goodwill and other intangible assets

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or intangible asset below its carrying value.

Based on the annual evaluation as of the June 1, 2021 valuation date, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units exceeded their carrying amounts ranging from approximately 18% to approximately 195%. Boots reporting unit's fair value was in excess of its carrying value by approximately 18%, compared to a nominal amount as of June 1, 2020, mainly due to decline in the carrying amounts of net assets of the reporting unit. Other international reporting unit's fair value was in excess of its carrying value by approximately 29% compared to 4% as of June 1, 2020, due to improvement in business conditions of the countries within the reporting unit. As of August 31, 2021, the carrying values of goodwill were $1.1 billion and $0.4 billion for Boots reporting unit and Other international reporting unit, respectively.

During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021 the Company recorded an impairment of $49 million on certain indefinite-lived Boots tradename assets. The fair values of indefinite-lived intangibles within the Boots reporting unit exceeded their carrying value amounts ranging from approximately 5% to approximately 27%, except for certain Boots indefinite lived Boots tradename assets which were impaired during the year. As of August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020, the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangibles within the Boots reporting unit was $7.3 billion and $7.2 billion, respectively.

During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, the Company completed a quantitative impairment analysis for goodwill and certain indefinite-lived intangible assets related to its two reporting units within the International segment, Boots and Other international, as a result of the significant impact of COVID-19 on their financial performance. Based on this analysis, the Company recorded impairment charges of $1.7 billion on Boots goodwill and $0.3 billion on certain indefinite-lived Boots tradename assets.

During the fiscal year ended August 31 2019, the Company recorded an impairment of $73 million on its pharmacy licenses in the Boots reporting unit.

As part of the Company’s impairment analysis, fair value of a reporting unit is determined using both the income and market approaches. The income approach requires management to estimate a number of factors for each reporting unit, including the projected future operating results, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and discount rates considering the impact of COVID-19, among other potential impacts. The market approach estimates fair value using comparable marketplace fair value data from within a comparable industry grouping. The determination of the fair value of the reporting units requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions with respect to the business and financial performance of the Company’s reporting units, as well as how such performance may be impacted by COVID-19. These estimates and assumptions primarily include, but are not limited to: the selection of appropriate peer group companies, control premiums appropriate for acquisitions in the industries in which we compete, discount rates, terminal growth rates, and forecasts of revenue, operating income, depreciation, amortization and capital expenditures, including considering the impact of COVID-19.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets fair values are estimated using the relief from royalty method and excess earnings method of the income approach. The determination of the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangibles requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions primarily include, but are not limited to: forecasts of revenue, the selection of appropriate royalty rate and discount rates. Although the Company believes its estimates of fair value

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 77

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

are reasonable, actual financial results could differ from those estimates due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making such estimates. Changes in assumptions concerning future financial results or other underlying assumptions, including the impact of COVID-19, could have a significant impact on either the fair value of the reporting units and indefinite-lived intangibles, the amount of any goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible impairment charges, or both. These estimates can be affected by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the impact of COVID-19, its severity, duration and its impact on global economies, general economic conditions as well as our profitability. The Company will continue to monitor these potential impacts, including the impact of economic, industry and market trends and the impact these may have on Boots and Other international reporting units.

Definite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that a certain asset or asset group may be impaired. During the year ended August 31, 2020, the Company evaluated certain definite-lived intangibles for impairment resulting in an impairment charge of $47 million. No impairment was recorded for definite-lived intangibles in the year ended August 31, 2021.

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment consist of the following activity (in millions):

Goodwill rollforward:	United States		International		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
August 31, 2019	$	10,491	$	3,051	$	13,542
Acquisitions 1	62		—		62
Impairment	—		(1,675)		(1,675)
Currency translation adjustments	—		83		83
August 31, 2020	$	10,553	$	1,460	$	12,013
Acquisitions 2	$	394	$	21	$	414
Currency translation adjustments	—		(7)		(7)
August 31, 2021	$	10,947	$	1,474	$	12,421

1    During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, the Company acquired the remaining two of three Rite Aid distribution centers including related inventory for cash consideration of $91 million resulting in an increase to goodwill of $62 million.

2    During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company acquired a controlling equity interest in Innovation Associates, Inc. and a joint venture with McKesson which resulted in an increase to goodwill of $394 million and $21 million, respectively.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 78

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets consist of the following (in millions):

Intangible assets:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Gross amortizable intangible assets
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders 1	$	3,522	$	3,502
Tradenames and trademarks	361		348
Purchasing and payer contracts	317		337
Others 2	221		60
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	$	4,421	$	4,247
Accumulated amortization
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders 1	$	1,335	$	1,089
Tradenames and trademarks	226		196
Purchasing and payer contracts	227		95
Others 2	37		26
Total accumulated amortization	1,826		1,406
Total amortizable intangible assets, net	$	2,595	$	2,841
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Tradenames and trademarks	$	5,276	$	5,203
Pharmacy licenses	2,066		2,028
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	$	7,342	$	7,231
Total intangible assets, net	$	9,936	$	10,072

1Includes purchased prescription files.

2Includes acquired developed technology and non-compete agreements.

Amortization expense for intangible assets was $523 million, $384 million and $473 million in fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Estimated future annual amortization expense for the next five fiscal years for intangible assets recorded at August 31, 2021 is as follows (in millions):

	2022		2023		2024		2025		2026
Estimated annual amortization expense	$	444	$	330	$	311	$	276	$	258

Note 8. Debt

Debt carrying values are presented net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs, where applicable, and foreign currency denominated debt is translated using the spot rates as of the balance sheet date. Debt consists of the following (all amounts are presented in millions of U.S. dollars and debt issuances are denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted):

	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Short-term debt
Commercial paper	$	—	$	1,517
Credit facilities 6	—		1,071
£700 million note issuance 1,2
2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020	—		533
$8 billion note issuance 1
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021 3	1,250		—
Other 4	56		144
Total short-term debt	$	1,305	$	3,265

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 79

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Long-term debt
$1.5 billion note issuance 1
3.200% unsecured notes due 2030	$	497	$	497
4.100% unsecured notes due 2050 6	792		990
$6 billion note issuance 1
3.450% unsecured notes due 2026 6	1,442		1,891
4.650% unsecured notes due 2046 6	318		591
$8 billion note issuance 1
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021	—		1,248
3.800% unsecured notes due 2024 6	1,154		1,993
4.500% unsecured notes due 2034 6	301		496
4.800% unsecured notes due 2044 6	868		1,493
£700 million note issuance, 1
3.600% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2025	408		398
€750 million note issuance 1
2.125% unsecured Euro notes due 2026	873		891
$4 billion note issuance 5
3.100% unsecured notes due 2022 6	731		1,198
4.400% unsecured notes due 2042 6	263		493
Other 4	29		24
Total long-term debt, less current portion	$	7,675	$	12,203

1Notes are unsubordinated debt obligations of the Company and rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company from time to time outstanding.

2On October 20, 2020, the Company redeemed in full the £400 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020 issued by the Company on November 20, 2014.

3On August 17, 2021, the Company provided notice to the Trustee and the Holders of its 3.300% notes due 2021 issued by the Company on November 18, 2014 that it will redeem in full the $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding of the notes on September 18, 2021. These notes were redeemed in full as of that date.

4Other debt represents a mix of fixed and variable rate debt with various maturities and working capital facilities denominated in various currencies.

5Notes are senior debt obligations of Walgreen Co. and rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Walgreen Co. On December 31, 2014, the Company fully and unconditionally guaranteed the outstanding notes on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis. The guarantee, for so long as it is in place, is an unsecured, unsubordinated debt obligation of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.

6On April 26, 2021, the Company entered into a cash tender offer to partially purchase and retire $3.3 billion of long term U.S. dollar denominated notes with a weighted average interest rate of 4.02%, using funds drawn down from the $3.8 billion April 2021 Credit Agreement (as defined below). The Company recognized a loss of $414 million related to the early extinguishment of debt, within Interest expense, which includes $386 million of redemption premium paid in cash. The cash payments related to the early extinguishment of debt are classified as cash outflows from financing activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 80

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

At August 31, 2021, the future maturities of short-term and long-term debt, excluding debt discounts and issuance costs and finance lease obligations (See Note 5 Leases, for the future lease payments), consisted of the following (in millions):

	Amount
2022	$	1,305
2023	733
2024	2
2025	1,163
2026	1,858
Later	3,957
Total estimated future maturities	$	9,018

$1.5 Billion Note Issuance

On April 15, 2020, the Company issued in an underwritten public offering $0.5 billion of 3.20% notes due 2030 and $1.0 billion of 4.10% notes due 2050. Total issuance costs relating to the notes, including underwriting discounts and offering expenses were $13 million. The Company partially purchased and retired $0.2 billion of its outstanding $1.0 billion, 4.10% notes due 2050 pursuant to the debt tender offer completed on April 26, 2021.

Credit facilities

April 9, 2021 Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Agreement

On April 9, 2021, the Company entered into a delayed draw term loan credit agreement (the “April 2021 Credit Agreement”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto. The purpose of the loan was to fund the Company's April 26, 2021 cash tender offer to partially purchase and retire $3.3 billion of long term U.S. dollar denominated notes. The April 2021 Credit Agreement was initially a $2.8 billion senior unsecured delayed draw term loan facility, with an original facility termination date (the “Initial Maturity Date”) of the earliest of (x) October 9, 2021, (y) the date of acceleration of all term loans and termination of all commitments pursuant to the April 2021 Credit Agreement and (z) the date of prepayment of all loans and the termination of all commitments pursuant to the April 2021 Credit Agreement. On April 23, 2021, the April 2021 Credit Agreement term loan facility amount was increased to $3.8 billion. On June 1, 2021 the Company completed the previously announced sale of the Company’s Alliance Healthcare business and used a portion of the Alliance Healthcare Sale proceeds to repay all borrowings outstanding under the April 2021 Credit Agreement.

December 23, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement

On December 23, 2020, the Company entered into a $1.25 billion senior unsecured 364-day revolving credit agreement and a $2.25 billion senior unsecured 18-month revolving credit facility, with a swing line sub-facility commitment amount of $350 million, with designated borrowers from time to time party thereto and lenders from time to time party thereto (the “2020 Revolving Credit Agreement”). The 364-Day Facility’s termination date is the earlier of (i) 364 days from December 23, 2020, the effective date (subject to the extension thereof pursuant to the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement) and (ii) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the revolving commitments under the 364-Day Facility pursuant to the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. The 18-Month Facility’s termination date is the earlier of (i) 18 months from the effective date (subject to the extension thereof pursuant to the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement) and (ii) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the revolving commitments under the 18-Month Facility pursuant to the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. As of August 31, 2021, there were no borrowings outstanding under the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement.

April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement

On April 7, 2020, the Company entered into a $500 million revolving credit agreement (the “April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement”) with its subsidiary, WBA Financial Services Limited, a private limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“WBAFSL”), and the lenders from time to time party thereto. The April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement is a senior unsecured revolving credit facility, with a facility termination date of the earlier of (a) 364-days from April 7, 2020 and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the commitments pursuant to the April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. The Company and WBAFSL are co-borrowers under the April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement, the Company provides a guarantee of any obligations of WBAFSL under the April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. This revolving credit agreement was terminated in full on December 23, 2020.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 81

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

April 2020 Revolving Bilateral and Club Credit Agreements

The Company entered into a $750 million revolving credit agreement on April 1, 2020 (the “April 2020 Revolving Bilateral Credit Agreement”) and a $1.325 billion revolving credit agreement on April 2, 2020 (the “April 2020 Revolving Club Credit Agreement” and together with the April 2020 Revolving Bilateral Credit Agreement, the “Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreements”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto. Each of the Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreements is a senior unsecured revolving credit facility, with a facility termination date of the earlier of (a) March 31, 2021 (which date shall be shortened pursuant to the terms of the applicable Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement if the Company does not extend the maturity date of certain of its existing credit agreements or enter into new bank or bond financings with a certain maturity date and above an aggregate principal amount as described in the applicable Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement) and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the commitments pursuant to the applicable Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. This revolving credit agreement was terminated in full on December 23, 2020.

August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreements

On August 30, 2019, the Company entered into three $500 million revolving credit agreements (together, the “August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreements” and each individually, an “August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreement”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto. Each of the August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreements are senior unsecured revolving credit facilities, with facility termination dates of the earlier of (a) 18 months following August 30, 2019, subject to extension thereof pursuant to the applicable August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreement and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the commitments pursuant to the applicable August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreement. This revolving credit agreement was terminated in full on December 23, 2020.

January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement

On January 18, 2019, the Company entered into a $2.0 billion 364-day revolving credit agreement (as extended, the “January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto. The January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement is a senior unsecured 364-day revolving credit facility, with an original facility termination date of 364 days following January 31, 2019, subject to extension. On December 18, 2019, the Company entered into an Extension Agreement (the “Extension Agreement”) relating to the January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement with the lenders party thereto and Mizuho, as administrative agent. The Extension Agreement extended the Maturity Date (as defined in the January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement) for an additional period of 364 days to January 28, 2021. Such extension became effective on January 30, 2020. The January 2019 364 Day Revolving Credit Agreement was partially terminated on December 23, 2020, reducing the amount available to $0.5 billion. The outstanding facility amount was terminated on January 28, 2021.

A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement

On December 5, 2018, the Company entered into a $1.0 billion term loan credit agreement with the lenders from time to time party thereto and, on August 9, 2019, the Company entered into an amendment to such credit agreement (such credit agreement as so amended, the “December 2018 Credit Agreement”) to permit the Company to borrow, repay and reborrow amounts borrowed thereunder prior to the maturity date. On April 2, 2020, the Company amended and restated the December 2018 Credit Agreement (such credit agreement as so amended and restated, the “A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement”). The A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement governs a $2.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility, consisting of the initial $1.0 billion senior unsecured revolving facility previously governed by the December 2018 Credit Agreement and a new $1.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility. The facility termination date is the earlier of (a) January 29, 2021 (which date shall be extended to February 26, 2021 or July 31, 2021 pursuant to the terms of the A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement if the Company extends the maturity date of certain of its existing credit agreements or enters into new bank or bond financings with a certain maturity date and above an aggregate principal amount as described in the A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement ) and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the commitments pursuant to the A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement. The A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement was further amended on December 23, 2020 whereby the new facility was terminated in full and the existing facility matured in January 2021.

Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement

On November 30, 2018, the Company entered into a credit agreement with the lenders from time to time party thereto, on March 25, 2019, the Company entered into an amendment to such credit agreement (such credit agreement as so amended, the “November 2018 Credit Agreement”) reflecting certain changes to the borrowing notice provisions thereto, and on April 2, 2020, the Company entered into a second amendment to the November 2018 Credit Agreement (such credit agreement as so further amended, the “Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement”) which second amendment became effective as of May 29, 2020. As of May 29, 2020, the $500 million revolving credit facility portion of the November 2018 Credit Agreement was converted into a term loan facility, such that the Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement consists of a $1.0 billion senior

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 82

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

unsecured term loan facility. The facility termination date is the earlier of (a) May 29, 2021 and (b) the date of acceleration of all loans under the Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement pursuant to its terms. The November 2018 Credit Agreement was repaid in full on April 23, 2021.

August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement

On August 29, 2018, the Company entered into a revolving credit agreement (the “August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement”) with the lenders and letter of credit issuers from time to time party thereto. The August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement is an unsecured revolving credit facility with an aggregate commitment in the amount of $3.5 billion, with a letter of credit sub-facility commitment amount of $500 million. The facility termination date is the earlier of (a) August 29, 2023, subject to extension thereof pursuant to the August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the revolving commitments pursuant to the August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement. As of August 31, 2021, there were no borrowings outstanding under the August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement.

Debt covenants

Each of the Company’s credit facilities described above contain a covenant to maintain, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of consolidated debt to total capitalization not to exceed 0.60:1.00, subject to increase in certain circumstances set forth in the applicable credit agreement. The credit facilities contain various other customary covenants.

Commercial paper

The Company periodically borrows under its commercial paper program and may borrow under it in future periods. The Company had average daily commercial paper outstanding of $1.9 billion at a weighted average interest rate of 0.45% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021. The Company had average daily commercial paper outstanding of $2.5 billion at a weighted average interest rate of 2.15% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020. As of August 31, 2021, there were no borrowings outstanding under the commercial paper program.

A subsidiary of the Company borrowed under the Joint HM Treasury and Bank of England's COVID Corporate Financing Facility commercial paper program, for average daily commercial paper outstanding, until paid, of £300 million or approximately $424 million at a weighted average interest rate of 0.43% during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021. The subsidiary of the Company repaid the commercial paper issued on May 14, 2021.

Interest

Interest paid by the Company was $916 million in fiscal 2021, $584 million in fiscal 2020 and $676 million in fiscal 2019. Interest paid in the twelve months ended August 31, 2021 of $916 million includes charges on early extinguishment of debt of $387 million.

Note 9. Financial instruments

The Company uses derivative instruments to hedge its exposure to market risks, including interest rate and currency risks, arising from operating and financing risks.

The Company has non-U.S. dollar denominated net investments and uses foreign currency denominated financial instruments, specifically foreign currency derivatives and foreign currency denominated debt, to hedge its foreign currency risk.

The notional amounts and fair value of derivative instruments outstanding were as follows (in millions):

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 83

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2021	Notional		Fair value		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets
Derivatives designated as hedges:
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	155	$	1	Other non-current assets
Foreign currency forwards	6		—		Other non-current assets
Foreign currency forwards	23		1		Other non-current liabilities
Cross currency interest rate swaps	801		23		Other non-current liabilities
Foreign currency forwards	575		7		Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	31		1		Other current liabilities
Cross currency interest rate swaps	109		9		Other current liabilities
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
Foreign currency forwards	$	3,636	$	38	Other current assets
Total return swap	224		2		Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	808		3		Other current liabilities
Total return swap	37		—		Other current liabilities

August 31, 2020	Notional		Fair value		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets
Derivatives designated as hedges:
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	722	$	16	Other non-current assets
Foreign currency forwards	49		1		Other non-current liabilities
Cross currency interest rate swaps	318		13		Other non-current liabilities
Interest rate swaps	1,000		10		Other non-current liabilities
Foreign currency forwards	100		1		Other current assets
Cross currency interest rate swaps	50		—		Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	671		23		Other current liabilities
Cross currency interest rate swaps	103		3		Other current liabilities
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
Foreign currency forwards	$	1,930	$	19	Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	2,934		56		Other current liabilities
Total return swap	205		1		Other current liabilities

Net investment hedges

The Company uses cross currency interest rate swaps as hedges and foreign currency forward contracts to hedge net investments in subsidiaries with non-U.S. dollar functional currencies. For qualifying net investment hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recorded in the currency translation adjustment within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Cash flow hedges

From time to time the Company uses interest rate swaps to hedge the variability in forecasted cash flows of certain floating-rate debt. For qualifying cash flow hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), and released to the Consolidated Statements of Earnings when the hedged cash flows affect earnings.

Derivatives not designated as hedges

The Company enters into derivative transactions that are not designated as accounting hedges. These derivative instruments are economic hedges of foreign currency risks. The Company also utilizes total return swaps to economically hedge variability in compensation charges related to certain deferred compensation obligations. The income and (expense) due to changes in fair value of these derivative instruments were recognized in earnings as follows (in millions):

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 84

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

	Location in Consolidated Statements of Earnings	2021		2020		2019
Foreign currency forwards	Selling, general and administrative expense	$	(75)	$	(63)	$	139
Total return swap	Selling, general and administrative expense	58		24		—
Foreign currency forwards	Other income (expense)	(8)		11		(18)

Derivatives credit risk

Counterparties to derivative financial instruments expose the Company to credit-related losses in the event of counterparty nonperformance, and the Company regularly monitors the credit worthiness of each counterparty.

Derivatives offsetting

The Company does not offset the fair value amounts of derivative instruments subject to master netting agreements in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Note 10. Fair value measurements

The Company measures certain assets and liabilities in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In addition, it establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad Levels:

Level 1 -Quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets and liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.

Level 2 -Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets.

Level 3 -Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows (in millions):

	August 31, 2021		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds 1	$	634	$	634	$	—	$	—
Investments in equity securities 2	2		2		—		—
Investments in debt securities 3	663		—		—		663
Foreign currency forwards 4	46		—		46		—
Cross currency interest rate swaps 5	1		—		1		—
Total return swaps	2		—		2		—
Liabilities:
Foreign currency forwards4	$	5	$	—	$	5	$	—
Cross currency interest rate swaps5	32		—		32		—

	August 31, 2020		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds¹	$	6	$	6	$	—	$	—
Investments in equity securities²	1		1		—		—
Foreign currency forwards4	20		—		20		—
Cross Currency interest rate swaps5	16		—		16		—
Liabilities:
Foreign currency forwards4	$	80	$	—	$	80	$	—
Cross currency interest rate swaps5	16		—		16		—
Interest rate swaps5	10		—		10		—
Total return swap	1		—		1		—

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 85

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1Money market funds are valued at the closing price reported by the fund sponsor.

2Fair values of quoted investments are based on current bid prices as of August 31, 2021 and 2020.

3Level 3 debt securities include investments in convertible debt securities of VillageMD which are valued on a quarterly basis using the Probability Weighted Expect Return Method with gains or losses recorded in Other Comprehensive Income. Inputs include the enterprise value, expected holding term of the investment, volatility and risk-free interest rates.

4The fair value of forward currency contracts is estimated by discounting the difference between the contractual forward price and the current available forward price for the residual maturity of the contract using observable market rates. See Note 9 Financial instruments, for additional information.

5The fair value of interest rate swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps is calculated by discounting the estimated future cash flows based on the applicable observable yield curves. See Note 9 Financial instruments, for additional information.

There were no transfers between Levels in fiscal 2021 or 2020.

The carrying value of the Company's commercial paper and credit facilities approximated their respective fair values due to their short-term nature.

The Company reports its debt instruments under the guidance of ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, which requires disclosure of the fair value of the Company’s debt in the footnotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. As of August 31, 2021, the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long term notes outstanding including the current portion were $8.9 billion and $9.8 billion, respectively. The fair values of the notes outstanding are Level 1 fair value measures and determined based on quoted market price and translated at the August 31, 2021 rate, as applicable. The fair values and carrying values of these issuances do not include notes that have been redeemed or repaid as of August 31, 2021. See Note 8 Debt, for further information.

The carrying values of accounts receivable and trade accounts payable approximated their respective fair values due to their short-term nature.

Note 11. Commitments and contingencies

The Company is involved in legal proceedings, including litigation, arbitration and other claims, and investigations, inspections, subpoenas, audits, claims, inquiries and similar actions by pharmacy, healthcare, tax and other governmental authorities, arising in the normal course of the Company’s business, including the matters described below. Legal proceedings, in general, and securities, class action and multi-district litigation, in particular, can be expensive and disruptive. Some of these suits may purport or may be determined to be class actions and/or involve parties seeking large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive or exemplary damages, and may remain unresolved for several years. From time to time, the Company is also involved in legal proceedings as a plaintiff involving antitrust, tax, contract, intellectual property and other matters. Gain contingencies, if any, are recognized when they are realized.

Like other companies in the retail pharmacy and pharmaceutical wholesale industries, the Company is subject to extensive regulation by national, state and local government agencies in the U.S. and other countries in which it operates. There continues to be a heightened level of review and/or audit by regulatory authorities of, and increased litigation regarding, the Company’s and the rest of the health care and related industry’s business, compliance and reporting practices. As a result, the Company regularly is the subject of government actions of the types described above. The Company also may be named from time to time in qui tam actions initiated by private third parties. In such actions, the private parties purport to act on behalf of federal or state governments, allege that false claims have been submitted for payment by the government and may receive an award if their claims are successful. After a private party has filed a qui tam action, the government must investigate the private party's claim and determine whether to intervene in and take control over the litigation. These actions may remain under seal while the government makes this determination. If the government declines to intervene, the private party may nonetheless continue to pursue the litigation on his or her own purporting to act on behalf of the government.

The results of legal proceedings, including government investigations, are often uncertain and difficult to predict, and the costs incurred in these matters can be substantial, regardless of the outcome. With respect to litigation and other legal proceedings where the Company has determined that a material loss is reasonably possible, the Company is unable to estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible loss due to the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of and uncertainties regarding such litigation and legal proceedings. The Company believes that its defenses and assertions in pending legal proceedings have merit and does not believe that any of these pending matters, after consideration of applicable reserves and rights to indemnification,

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 86

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position. However, substantial unanticipated verdicts, fines and rulings do sometimes occur. As a result, the Company could from time to time incur judgments, enter into settlements or revise its expectations regarding the outcome of certain matters, and such developments could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations in the period in which the amounts are accrued and/or its cash flows in the period in which the amounts are paid. In addition, as a result of governmental investigations or proceedings, the Company may be subject to damages, civil or criminal fines or penalties, or other sanctions, including the possible suspension or loss of licensure and/or suspension or exclusion from participation in government programs.

On December 29, 2014, a putative shareholder filed a derivative action in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois against certain current and former directors and officers of Walgreen Co. and Walgreen Co., as a nominal defendant, arising out of certain public statements the Company made regarding its former fiscal 2016 goals. (Cutler v. Wasson et al., No. 1:14-cv-10408 (N.D. Ill.)) The action asserts claims for breach of fiduciary duty, waste and unjust enrichment. On May 18, 2015, the case was stayed in light of a securities class action that was filed on April 10, 2015, described below. On November 3, 2016, the Court entered a stipulation and order extending the stay until the resolution of the securities class action.

On April 10, 2015, a putative shareholder filed a securities class action in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois against Walgreen Co. and certain former officers of Walgreen Co. (Washtenaw County Employees’ Retirement System v. Walgreen Co. et al., No. 1:15-cv-3187 (N.D. Ill.)) The action asserts claims for violation of the federal securities laws arising out of certain public statements the Company made regarding its former fiscal 2016 goals. A motion to dismiss a consolidated class action complaint filed on August 17, 2015 was granted in part and denied in part on September 30, 2016. The court granted plaintiff’s motion for class certification on March 29, 2018 and plaintiff filed a first amended complaint on December 19, 2018. A motion to dismiss the first amended complaint was granted in part and denied in part on September 23, 2019. Fact discovery and expert discovery have concluded. Motions for summary judgment have been fully briefed.

On December 11, 2017, purported Rite Aid shareholders filed an amended complaint in a putative class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (the “M.D. Pa. action”) arising out of transactions contemplated by the merger agreement between the Company and Rite Aid. The amended complaint alleged that the Company and certain of its officers made false or misleading statements regarding the transactions. The Court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint on April 15, 2019. The Company filed an answer and affirmative defenses, and the Court granted plaintiffs' motion for class certification. Fact discovery is ongoing. In October and December 2020, two separate purported Rite Aid Shareholders filed lawsuits in the same court as the M.D. Pa. action opting out of the class in the M.D. Pa. action making nearly identical allegations as those in the M.D. Pa. action (the “Direct Actions”). On December 24, 2020, the parties to the Direct Actions filed a joint stipulation to stay the Direct Actions until the earlier of (a) 30 days after the entry of an order resolving any pre-trial dispositive motions in the M.D. Pa. action, or (b) 30 days after the entry of an order of final approval of any settlement of the M.D. Pa. action. The court so ordered the joint stipulation on December 28, 2020.

In June 2019, a Fred’s, Inc. shareholder filed a nearly identical lawsuit to the M.D. Pa. action in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, except naming Fred’s, Inc. and one of its former officers along with the Company and certain of its officers. Lead plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on November 4, 2019, which is substantially the same as the original complaint. The court granted the Company's motion to dismiss to the amended complaint on March 31, 2021.

In December 2017, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated numerous cases filed against an array of defendants by various plaintiffs such as counties, cities, hospitals, Indian tribes, and others, alleging claims generally concerning the impacts of widespread opioid abuse. The consolidated multidistrict litigation, captioned In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation (MDL No. 2804, Case No. 17-md-2804), is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio ("N.D. Ohio"). The Company is involved in the following multidistrict litigation (MDL) bellwether cases: (1) two consolidated cases in N.D. Ohio (Cnty. of Summit, Ohio, et al v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 18-op-45090; Cnty. of Cuyahoga, Ohio, et al. v. Purdue Pharma L.P., Case No. 18-op-45004), previously scheduled for trial in November 2020 but postponed indefinitely; (2) one remanded to the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma (The Cherokee Nation v. McKesson Corp., et al., Case No. 18-CV-00056-RAW-SPS), scheduled for trial in September 2022; (3) one remanded to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (City and Cnty. of San Francisco, et al. v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 3:18-cv-07591-CRB), originally scheduled for trial in October 2021, but rescheduled for April 2022; and (4) two additional consolidated cases in N.D. Ohio (Cnty. of Lake, Ohio v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 18-op-45032; Cnty. of Trumbull, Ohio v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 18-op-45079), initially scheduled for trial in May 2021 but continued until October 2021. In April 2021, the MDL court selected five additional bellwether cases involving the Company, all currently pending in N.D. Ohio: (1) Cobb Cnty. v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 18-op-45817; (2) Durham Cnty. v. AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp., et al., Case No. 19-op-45346; (3) Montgomery Cnty. Bd. of Cnty. Commrs., et al. v. Cardinal

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 87

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Health, Inc., et al., Case No. 18-op-46326; (4) Board of Cnty. Commrs. of the Cnty. of Santa Fe v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 18-op-45776; and (5) Cnty. of Tarrant v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 18-op-45274.

The Company also has been named as a defendant in numerous lawsuits brought in state courts relating to opioid matters. Trial dates have been set in cases pending in state courts in New Mexico (State of New Mexico, ex rel. Hector Balderas, Attorney General v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. D-101-cv-2017-02541, First Judicial District Court, Santa Fe County, New Mexico - September 2022); West Virginia (State of West Virginia, ex rel. Patrick Morrisey, Attorney General v. Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., et al.,Civil Action No.20-C-82 PNM, Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, - September 2022; Missouri (Jefferson County, Missouri v. Dannie E. Williams, M.D., et al., Cause No. 20JE-CC00029, Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit, Jefferson County, Missouri - April 2023); Florida (State of Florida, Office of the Attorney General, Department of Legal Affairs v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 2018-CA-001438, Sixth Judicial Circuit in and for Pasco County, Florida - April 2022); Nevada (State of Nevada v. McKesson Corporation, et al., Case No. A-19-796755-B, Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada - January 2023); Michigan (State of Michigan, ex rel. Dana Nessel, Attorney General v. Cardinal Health, Inc., et al., Case No. 19-016896-NZ, Circuit Court for Wayne County, Michigan - October 2022); and Alabama (The DCH Health Care Authority, et al. v. Purdue Pharma LP, et al., Cause No. CV-2019-000007.00, Circuit Court of Conecuh County, Alabama - July 2022). Two consolidated cases in New York state court (County of Suffolk v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Index No. 400001/2017; County of Nassau v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Index No. 400008/2017, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Suffolk County, New York) were resolved as to the Company after jury selection began in June 2021.

The relief sought by various plaintiffs in these matters includes compensatory, abatement and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief. Additionally, the Company has received from the Department of Justice and the Attorney Generals of numerous states subpoenas, civil investigative demands, and/or other requests concerning opioid matters. The Company has also had communications with the Department of Justice with respect to purported violations of the federal Controlled Substances Act and the federal False Claims Act in dispensing prescriptions at certain Walgreens locations. As discussed above, legal proceedings, including government investigations, are often uncertain and difficult to predict, and the costs and penalties incurred in these matters can be substantial.

Note 12. Income taxes

U.S. tax law changes

During 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department issued regulations to apply retroactively covering certain components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Certain guidance included in these regulations is inconsistent with the Company’s interpretation that led to the recognition of $247 million of tax benefits in prior periods. The tax benefits relate to the Company’s one-time transition tax on certain un-repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries, which was enacted as part of the 2017 U.S. tax law changes. Despite this guidance, the Company remains confident in its interpretation of the U.S. tax law changes and intends to defend this position through litigation, if necessary. However, if the Company is ultimately unsuccessful in defending its position, it may be required to reverse all or a portion of the benefits previously recorded.

UK tax law changes

On June 10, 2021 the UK Finance Act 2021 was enacted increasing the UK tax rate from 19% to 25% effective April 1, 2023. The Company recorded tax expense of $344 million from re-measuring the net UK deferred tax liability in fiscal 2021. On July 22, 2020 the UK Finance Bill 2020 was enacted increasing the UK tax rate from 17% to 19% effective April 1, 2020. The Company recorded tax expense of $139 million from re-measuring the net UK deferred tax liability in fiscal 2020.

The components of earnings from continuing operations before income tax provision were (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
U.S.	$	61	$	759	$	1,898
Non–U.S.	1,934		(313)		2,461
Total	$	1,995	$	446	$	4,359

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 88

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The provision for income taxes from continuing operations consists of the following (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
Current provision
Federal	$	79	$	184	$	228
State	115		49		46
Non–U.S.	234		135		183
	$	428	$	368	$	457
Deferred provision
Federal	$	(10)	$	(83)	$	151
State	(46)		2		4
Non–U.S. – tax law change	344		139		—
Non–U.S. – excluding tax law change	(49)		(87)		(35)
	239		(29)		120
Income tax provision	$	667	$	339	$	577

The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate from continuing operations is as follows:

	2021		2020		2019
Federal statutory rate	21.0	%	21.0	%	21.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	3.5		8.8		0.9
Foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates	(4.4)		(17.0)		(1.9)
Non-taxable income	(5.0)		(47.5)		(3.6)
Non-deductible expenses	0.3		9.0		0.2
Tax law changes	17.3		31.3		(0.4)
Change in valuation allowance 1	(4.7)		4.1		2.1
Tax benefits from restructuring	(4.2)		—		—
Tax expense on non-operating equity earnings	6.1		—		—
Uncertain tax positions	6.2		7.5		(0.8)
Goodwill impairment	—		72.5		—
Tax credits	(1.8)		(10.3)		(4.4)
Other	(0.9)		(3.4)		0.1
Effective income tax rate	33.4	%	76.0	%	13.2	%

1Net of changes in related tax attributes and tax benefits from capital losses generated and utilized in FY21.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 89

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following (in millions):

	2021		2020
Deferred tax assets:
Compensation and benefits	$	175	$	176
Postretirement benefits	—		88
Insurance	103		98
Accrued rent & lease obligations	5,372		5,187
Allowance for doubtful accounts	34		9
Tax attributes	7,467		6,781
Stock compensation	88		47
Deferred income	34		18
Other	—		50
	$	13,273	$	12,454
Less: valuation allowance	7,239		6,490
Total deferred tax assets	$	6,034	$	5,964
Deferred tax liabilities:
Accelerated depreciation	$	896	$	683
Inventory	377		345
Intangible assets	1,465		1,130
Equity method investment	236		542
Lease right-of-use asset	4,792		4,589
Other	30		—
Total deferred tax liabilities	7,796		7,289
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	1,762	$	1,325

As of August 31, 2021, the Company has recorded deferred tax assets for tax attributes of $7.5 billion, primarily reflecting the benefit of $670 million in U.S. federal, $75 million in state and $6.6 billion in non-U.S. ordinary and capital losses. In addition, these deferred tax assets include $97 million of income tax credits. Of these deferred tax assets, $7.1 billion will expire at various dates from 2022 through 2038. The residual deferred tax assets of $398 million have no expiration date.

The Company believes it is more likely than not that the benefit from certain deferred tax assets will not be realized. The assessment of realization of deferred tax assets is performed based on the weight of the positive and negative evidence available to indicate whether the asset is recoverable, including tax planning strategies that are prudent and feasible. In recognition of this risk, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $7.2 billion against those deferred tax assets as of August 31, 2021.

Income taxes paid, net of refunds were $336 million, $626 million and $893 million for fiscal years 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, provides guidance regarding the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure in the financial statement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return, including the decision whether to file in a particular jurisdiction. As of August 31, 2021, unrecognized tax benefits of $594 million were reported as long-term liabilities, $475 million were reported against deferred taxes, and $114 million were reported against related tax receivables in other non-current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These amounts include interest and penalties, when applicable.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 90

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following table provides a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
Balance at beginning of year	$	494	$	455	$	456
Gross increases related to tax positions in a prior period	229		60		33
Gross decreases related to tax positions in a prior period	(52)		(23)		(53)
Gross increases related to tax positions in the current period	446		9		26
Settlements with taxing authorities	(13)		(4)		(2)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(6)		(3)		(5)
Balance at end of year	$	1,098	$	494	$	455

At August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, $524 million, $353 million and $311 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits would favorably impact the effective tax rate if recognized. During the next twelve months, based on current knowledge, it is reasonably possible the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by up to $132 million due to anticipated federal tax audit settlements and the expirations of statutes of limitations associated with tax positions related to multiple state tax jurisdictions.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties in the income tax provision in its Consolidated Statements of Earnings. At August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020, the Company had accrued interest and penalties of $84 million and $58 million, respectively. For the year ended August 31, 2021, and August 31, 2020, the amount reported in income tax expense related to interest and penalties was $26 million and $11 million income tax expense, respectively.

The Company files a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return as well as income tax returns in various states and multiple foreign jurisdictions. It is generally no longer under audit examinations for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any years prior to fiscal 2014. With few exceptions, it is no longer subject to state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before fiscal 2008. In foreign tax jurisdictions, the Company is generally no longer subject to examination by the tax authorities in the UK prior to 2015, Luxembourg prior to 2016 and in Germany prior to 2014.

The Company has received tax holidays from Swiss cantonal income taxes relative to certain of its Swiss operations. The income tax holidays are set to expire in September 2022. Upon expiration, a reduced tax rate will extend through December 2029. The holidays had a beneficial impact of $118 million and $124 million (inclusive of capital GILTI tax cost) during fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively. This benefit is primarily included as part of the foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates line in the effective tax rate reconciliation table above.

At August 31, 2021, it is not practicable for the Company to determine the amount of the unrecognized deferred tax liability it has with respect to temporary differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries and foreign corporate joint ventures that are essentially permanent in duration.

Note 13. Stock compensation plans

In fiscal 2021, the Company's Board of Directors approved the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2021 Omnibus Plan”). The 2021 Omnibus Plan replicates the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan and provides incentive compensation to the Company’s non-employee directors, officers and other eligible employees.

The Company grants stock options, performance shares and restricted units under the 2021 Omnibus Plan. Performance shares issued under the 2021 Omnibus Plan offer performance-based incentive awards to certain employees. Restricted stock units are also equity-based awards with vesting requirements that are granted to key employees. The performance shares and restricted stock unit awards are both subject to restrictions as to continuous employment except in the case of death, normal retirement or total and permanent disability.

Total stock-based compensation expense for fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $155 million, $137 million and $119 million, respectively. Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested awards at August 31, 2021 was $151 million, which will be fully recognized over the next three years.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 91

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 14. Retirement benefits

The Company sponsors several retirement plans, including defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans and a postretirement health plan.

Defined benefit pension plans (non-U.S. plans)

The Company has various defined benefit pension plans outside the U.S. The principal defined benefit pension plan is the Boots Pension Plan (the “Boots Plan”), which covers certain employees in the UK. The Boots Plan is a funded final salary defined benefit plan providing pensions and death benefits to members. The Boots Plan was closed to future accrual effective July 1, 2010, with pensions calculated based on salaries up until that date. The Boots Plan is governed by a trustee board, which is independent of the Company. The plan is subject to a full funding actuarial valuation on a triennial basis. The investment strategy of the principal defined benefit pension plan is to hold the majority of its assets in a diverse portfolio ("Matching Portfolio") which aims to broadly match the characteristics of the plan’s liabilities by investing in bonds, derivatives and other fixed income assets, with the remainder invested in predominantly return-seeking assets. Interest rate and inflation rate swaps are also employed to complement the role of fixed and index-linked bond holdings in liability risk management.

The following tables present classes of defined benefit pension plan assets by fair value hierarchy (in millions):

	August 31, 2021		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity securities:
Equity securities 1	$	1,316	$	—	$	1,316	$	—
Debt securities:
Fixed interest government bonds 2	514		101		412		—
Index linked government bonds 2	3,521		3,486		35		—
Corporate bonds 3	2,851		1		2,850		—
Real estate:
Real estate 4	513		—		—		513
Other:
Other investments, net 5	1,761		107		1,024		629
Total	$	10,475	$	3,696	$	5,637	$	1,142

	August 31, 2020		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity securities:
Equity securities 1	$	1,505	$	—	$	1,505	$	—
Debt securities:
Fixed interest government bonds 2	515		111		404		—
Index linked government bonds 2	4,168		2,936		1,232		—
Corporate bonds3	2,730		1		2,729		—
Real estate:
Real estate 4	492		—		—		492
Other:
Other investments, net 5	204		152		(347)		399
Total	$	9,614	$	3,200	$	5,523	$	891

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 92

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1Equity securities, which mainly comprise of investments in commingled funds, are valued based on quoted prices and are primarily exchange-traded. Securities for which official close or last trade pricing on an active exchange is available are classified as Level 1 investments. If closing prices are not available, or the investments are in a commingled fund, securities are valued at the last quoted bid price and typically are categorized as Level 2 investments.

2Debt securities: government bonds comprise of fixed interest and index linked bonds issued by central governments and are valued based on quotes received from independent pricing services or from dealers who make markets in such securities. Pricing services utilize pricing which considers readily available inputs such as the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type, as well as dealer-supplied prices.

3Debt securities: corporate bonds comprise bonds issued by corporations in both segregated and commingled funds

and are valued using recently executed transactions, or quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active. If there have been no market transactions in a particular fixed income security, its fair value is calculated by pricing models that benchmark the security against other securities with actual market prices.

4Real estate comprise of investments in certain property funds which are valued based on the underlying properties. These properties are valued using a number of standard industry techniques such as cost, discounted cash flows, independent appraisals and market based comparable data. Real estate investments are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were driven by actual return on plan assets still held at August 31, 2021 and purchases during the year.

5Other investments mainly comprise of net receivable (payable) amounts for unsettled transactions, cash and cash equivalents, derivatives, insurance linked securities and direct private placements. Cash is categorized as a Level 1 investment and cash in commingled funds is categorized as Level 2 investments. Amounts receivable (payable) are categorized as level 2 investments. Cash equivalents are valued using observable yield curves, discounting and interest rates and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Derivatives which are exchange-traded and for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sale price or official closing price as reported by an independent pricing service on the primary market, or exchange on which they are traded, and are categorized as Level 1 investments. Over-the-counter derivatives typically are valued by independent pricing services and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Insurance lined securities are categorized as Level 2. Direct private placements are typically bonds valued by reference to comparable bonds and are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were primarily driven by purchases during the year.

Components of net periodic pension costs for the defined benefit pension plans and cumulative pre-tax amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss are as follows (in millions):

	Boots and other pension plans
	2021		2020		2019
Service costs (Selling, general and administrative expenses)	$	6	$	2	$	2
Interest costs (Other income)	139		141		195
Expected returns on plan assets/other (Other income)	(332)		(285)		(245)
Total net periodic pension (income) cost	$	(188)	$	(142)	$	(48)
Net actuarial (gain) loss	$	(506)	$	856	$	90
Prior service cost	(1)		(1)		24
Total pre-tax comprehensive (income) expense	$	(507)	$	855	$	114

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 93

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Change in benefit obligations for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions):

	2021		2020
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	9,905	$	8,795
Service costs	6		2
Interest costs	139		141
Settlements	(2)		—
Net actuarial loss	75		491
Benefits paid	(320)		(330)
Acquisitions	182		—
Currency translation adjustments	223		806
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	10,206	$	9,905

Change in plan assets for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions):

	2021		2020
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of year	$	9,614	$	9,131
Employer contributions	53		35
Benefits paid	(320)		(330)
Return on assets/other	906		(31)
Settlements	(2)		—
Currency translation adjustments	223		810
Plan assets at fair value at end of year	$	10,475	$	9,614

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

	2021		2020
Other non-current assets	$	602	$	—
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(9)		(6)
Other non-current liabilities	(324)		(285)
Net asset (liability) recognized at end of year	$	269	$	(291)

The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for all pension plans, including accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets, at August 31 were as follows (in millions):

	2021		2020
Projected benefit obligation	$	10,206	$	9,905
Accumulated benefit obligation	10,200		9,901
Fair value of plan assets 1	10,475		9,614

1 Represents plan assets of The Boots plan, the Company's only funded defined benefit pension plan.

Estimated future benefit payments for the next 10 years from defined benefit pension plans to participants are as follows (in millions):

	Estimated future benefit payments
2022	$	291
2023	302
2024	311
2025	326
2026	344
2027-2031	1,868

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 94

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The assumptions used in accounting for the defined benefit pension plans were as follows:

	2021		2020
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations
Discount rate	1.71	%	1.63	%
Rate of compensation increase	2.80	%	3.10	%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate	1.39	%	1.58	%
Expected long-term return on plan assets	3.50	%	3.10	%
Rate of compensation increase	2.77	%	2.91	%

Based on current actuarial estimates, the Company plans to make contributions of $41 million to its defined benefit pension plans in fiscal 2022 and expects to make contributions beyond 2022, which will vary based upon many factors, including the performance of the defined benefit pension plan assets.

Defined contribution plans

The principal retirement plan for U.S. employees is the Walgreen Profit-Sharing Retirement Trust, to which both the Company and participating employees contribute. The Company’s contribution is in the form of a guaranteed match which is made pursuant to the applicable plan document approved by the Walgreen Co. Board of Directors. Plan activity is reviewed periodically by certain Committees of the Walgreens Boots Alliance Board of Directors. The profit-sharing provision was an expense of $221 million, $227 million and $239 million in fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company’s contributions were $222 million, $226 million and $234 million in fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Company also has certain contract based defined contribution arrangements. The principal one is the UK based to which both the Company and participating employees contribute. The cost recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings was $101 million, $91 million and $101 million in fiscal 2021, fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, respectively.

Postretirement healthcare plan

The Company provides certain health insurance benefits to retired U.S. employees who meet eligibility requirements, including age, years of service and date of hire. The costs of these benefits are accrued over the service life of the employee. The Company’s postretirement health benefit plan obligation was $154 million and $182 million in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively and is not funded. The expected benefit to be paid net of the estimated federal subsidy during fiscal 2022 is $9.5 million.

Note 15. Capital stock

In June 2018, Walgreens Boots Alliance authorized a stock repurchase program (the “June 2018 stock repurchase program”), which authorized the repurchase of up to $10.0 billion of the Company's common stock, which program has no specified expiration date. The Company purchased 30 million shares under the June 2018 stock repurchase program in fiscal 2020 at a cost of $1.5 billion. In July 2020, the Company announced that it had suspended activities under this program and no shares were repurchased in fiscal 2021. As of August 31, 2021, the Company had approximately $2.0 billion remaining under the June 2018 stock repurchase program.

The Company determines the timing and amount of repurchases based on its assessment of various factors including prevailing market conditions, alternate uses of capital, liquidity, the economic environment and other factors. The timing and amount of these purchases may change at any time and from time to time. The Company has repurchased, and may from time to time in the future repurchase, shares on the open market through Rule 10b5-1 plans, which enable a company to repurchase shares at times when it otherwise might be precluded from doing so under insider trading laws.

In addition, the Company continued to repurchase shares to support the needs of the employee stock plans. Shares totaling $110 million were purchased to support the needs of the employee stock plans during fiscal 2021 as compared to $103 million and $339 million in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, respectively. As of August 31, 2021, 71 million shares of common stock were reserved for future issuances under the Company’s various employee benefit plans.

Note 16. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 95

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following is a summary of net changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component and net of tax for fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):

	Pension/post-retirement obligations		Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges		Net investment hedges			Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities			Share of AOCI of equity method investments		Cumulative translation adjustments		Total
Balance at August 31, 2018	$	101	$	(30)	$	—		$	—		$	3	$	(3,076)	$	(3,002)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(162)		1		73			—			(1)		(801)		(889)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(17)		5		—			—			—		—		(12)
Tax benefit (provision)	30		(1)		(18)			—			—		(6)		5
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	(149)		5		55			—			(1)		(807)		(896)
Balance at August 31, 2019	$	(48)	$	(24)	$	55		$	—		$	3	$	(3,884)	$	(3,897)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(861)		(12)		(113)			—			(16)		934		(69)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(8)		5		—			—			—		3		—
Tax benefit (provision)	169		1		23			—			3		(1)		195
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	(700)		(6)		(90)			—			(13)		936		126
Balance at August 31, 2020	$	(748)	$	(31)	$	(34)		$	—		$	(10)	$	(2,948)	$	(3,771)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	532		10		(6)			127			(24)		384		1,022
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(8)		17		—			—			—		(3)		6
Business disposal	(4)		—		—		0	—		0	—		795		792
Tax benefit (provision)	(132)		(6)		6			(31)			6		—		(157)
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	389		21		(1)			96			(18)		1,176		1,663
Balance at August 31, 2021	$	(359)	$	(10)	$	(35)		$	96		$	(29)	$	(1,772)	$	(2,109)

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 96

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 17. Segment reporting

On January 6, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with AmerisourceBergen. Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement, AmerisourceBergen agreed to purchase the majority of the Company's Alliance Healthcare business as well as a portion of the Company’s retail pharmacy international businesses in Europe. The majority of the Disposal Group was previously included in the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment. Effective as of the second quarter of fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company eliminated the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment and is aligned into two reportable segments: United States and International. The operating segments have been identified based on the financial data utilized by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the chief operating decision maker) to assess segment performance and allocate resources among the Company’s operating segments. The chief operating decision maker uses adjusted operating income to assess segment profitability. The chief operating decision maker does not use total assets by segment to make decisions regarding resources; therefore, the total asset disclosure by segment has not been included.

United States

The Company's United States segment includes the Company's Walgreens business which includes the operations of retail drugstores, health and wellness services, and mail and central specialty pharmacy services, and the Company's equity method investment in AmerisourceBergen. Sales for the segment are principally derived from the sale of prescription drugs and a wide assortment of retail products, including health and wellness, beauty, personal care and consumables and general merchandise.

International

The Company's International segment consists of pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses outside the U.S. and pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution business in Germany. Pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses include Boots branded stores in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and Thailand, the Benavides brand in Mexico and the Ahumada brand in Chile. Sales for these businesses are principally derived from the sale of prescription drugs and health and wellness, beauty, personal care and other consumer products.

The results of operations for reportable segments include procurement benefits. Corporate-related overhead costs are not allocated to reportable segments and are reported in the “Corporate and Other”.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 97

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following table reflects results of operations of the Company's reportable segments (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Sales:
United States	$	112,005	$	107,701	$	104,532
International	20,505		14,281		15,542
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	132,509	$	121,982	$	120,074
Adjusted Operating income:
United States	$	5,019	$	4,761	$	5,873
International	466		157		759
Corporate and Other	(368)		(187)		(152)
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	5,117	$	4,730	$	6,481
Depreciation and amortization:
United States	$	1,513	$	1,376	$	1,454
International	399		400		433
Corporate and Other	11		10		8
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	1,923	$	1,786	$	1,894
Capital expenditures:
United States	$	1,030	$	1,040	$	1,318
International	243		235		272
Corporate and Other	39		12		8
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	1,312	$	1,287	$	1,598

The following table reconciles adjusted operating income to operating income (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Adjusted operating income	$	5,117	$	4,730	$	6,481
Adjustments to equity earnings (loss) in AmerisourceBergen	(1,645)		(97)		(233)
Transformational cost management	(417)		(719)		(327)
Acquisition-related amortization	(523)		(384)		(416)
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements	(75)		—		(31)
LIFO provision	(13)		(95)		(136)
Acquisition-related costs	(54)		(315)		(303)
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	(49)		(2,016)		(73)
Store optimization	—		(53)		(196)
Store damage and inventory losses	—		(68)		—
Operating income	$	2,342	$	982	$	4,766

No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated sales for any of the periods presented. Substantially all of our retail pharmacy sales are to customers covered by third-party payers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies) that agree to pay for all or a portion of a customer's eligible prescription purchases. In the United States segment, three third-party payers accounted for approximately 33%, 35%, and 35% of the Company's consolidated sales in fiscal 2021, fiscal 2020, and fiscal 2019 respectively.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 98

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Geographic data for sales is as follows (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
United States	$	112,005	$	107,701	$	104,532
United Kingdom	8,298		7,830		8,947
Germany	10,472		4,876		4,713
Other	1,734		1,575		1,882
Sales	$	132,509	$	121,982	$	120,074

Geographic data for long-lived assets, defined as property, plant and equipment, is as follows (in millions):

	2021		2020
United States	$	9,665	$	10,344
United Kingdom	2,205		2,203
Other	377		250
Total long-lived assets	$	12,247	$	12,796

Note 18. Sales

The following table summarizes the Company’s sales by segment and by major source (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
United States
Pharmacy	$	84,892	$	80,481	$	77,299
Retail	27,113		27,220		27,233
Total	$	112,005	$	107,701	$	104,532
International
Pharmacy	$	3,808	$	3,503	$	3,653
Retail	6,225		5,902		7,177
Wholesale	10,472		4,876		4,713
Total	$	20,505	$	14,281	$	15,542
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	132,509	$	121,982	$	120,074

Note 19. Related parties

The Company has a long-term pharmaceutical distribution agreement with AmerisourceBergen pursuant to which the Company sources branded and generic pharmaceutical products from AmerisourceBergen principally for its U.S. operations. Additionally, AmerisourceBergen receives sourcing services for generic pharmaceutical products.

Related party transactions with AmerisourceBergen (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
Purchases, net	$	62,513	$	59,569	$	57,429
Trade accounts payable, net	$	6,589	$	6,390	$	6,484

See Note 2 Discontinued operations, for further information.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 99

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 20. Supplementary financial information

Summary of Quarterly Results (Unaudited)

(in millions, except per share amounts)

	Quarter ended
	November		February		May		August		Fiscal year
Fiscal 2021
Sales	$	31,438	$	32,779	$	34,030	$	34,262	$	132,509
Gross profit	$	6,630	$	6,781	$	7,153	$	7,503	$	28,067
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Continuing operations	$	(391)	$	922	$	1,105	$	358	$	1,994
Discontinued operations	83		104		92		268		548
Total	$	(308)	$	1,026	$	1,197	$	627	$	2,542
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	(0.45)	$	1.07	$	1.28	$	0.41	$	2.31
Discontinued operations	0.10		0.12		0.11		0.31		0.63
Total	$	(0.36)	$	1.19	$	1.38	$	0.72	$	2.94
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	(0.45)	$	1.06	$	1.27	$	0.41	$	2.30
Discontinued operations	0.10		0.12		0.11		0.31		0.63
Total	$	(0.36)	$	1.19	$	1.38	$	0.72	$	2.93
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.4675	$	0.4675	$	0.4675	$	0.4775	$	1.8800
Fiscal 2020
Sales	$	29,912	$	31,336	$	30,364	$	30,371	$	121,982
Gross profit	$	6,777	$	7,017	$	5,959	$	6,324	$	26,078
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Continuing operations	$	769	$	867	$	(1,794)	$	337	$	180
Discontinued operations	76		79		86		36		277
Total	$	845	$	946	$	(1,708)	$	373	$	456
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.86	$	0.98	$	(2.05)	$	0.39	$	0.20
Discontinued operations	0.08		0.09		0.10		0.04		0.31
Total	$	0.95	$	1.07	$	(1.95)	$	0.43	$	0.52
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.86	$	0.98	$	(2.05)	$	0.39	$	0.20
Discontinued operations	0.08		0.09		0.10		0.04		0.31
Total	$	0.95	$	1.07	$	(1.95)	$	0.43	$	0.52
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.4575	$	0.4575	$	0.4575	$	0.4675	$	1.8400

See Note 2 Discontinued operations, for additional details on discontinued operations.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 100

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 21. Subsequent events

On September 4, 2021 the Company executed a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement to acquire a majority equity interest in CareCentrix, Inc. (“CareCentrix”), a leading player in the post-acute and home care management sectors, for consideration of approximately $330 million, subject to a net debt adjustment. The investment will result in the Company owning approximately 55% controlling equity interest in CareCentrix. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company has an option to acquire the remaining equity interests of CareCentrix in the future. CareCentrix’ other equity holders will also have an option to require the Company to purchase the remaining equity interests. The transaction is subject to the receipt of required regulatory clearances and approvals and other customary closing conditions. Upon closing, the Company will account for this acquisition as a business combination and consolidate CareCentrix in its financial statements.

On September 17, 2021 the Company entered into an agreement to acquire a majority equity interest in Shields Health Solutions (“Shields”), an industry leader in integrated, health system-owned specialty pharmacy care, for a cash consideration of approximately $970 million. The additional equity interest, combined with the Company's current minority equity investment, will result in the Company owning approximately 71% controlling equity interest in Shields. Under the terms of the transaction agreements, the Company has an option to acquire the remaining equity interests of Shields in the future. Shields’ other equity holders will also have an option to require the Company to purchase the remaining equity interests. The transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of calendar 2021. At close of the transaction, the Company will account for this acquisition of the majority equity interest as a business combination and consolidate Shields in its financial statements, remeasuring its current minority equity interest at fair value with resulting gain to be recognized in Other income in the Statement of Earnings.

On October 14, 2021 the Company announced that it has agreed to make an additional $5.2 billion investment in VillageMD to advance its strategic position in the delivery of value-based primary care. The incremental investment increases the Company’s ownership stake in VillageMD to approximately 63% from approximately 30% on a fully diluted basis, and increases the number of co-located clinics from 600 primary care clinics to 1,000 by the year 2027. The investment will be comprised of $4.0 billion in cash, to be paid by the Company to VillageMD at the closing of the transaction, and a promissory note in the principal amount of $1.2 billion to VillageMD at the closing of the transaction. The Company expects to fund the cash portion of the investment through a combination of cash on hand and available credit facilities. The transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of calendar 2021. Upon closing, the Company will account for this transaction as a business combination and consolidate VillageMD in its financial statements. The Company will remeasure its current minority equity interest and debt security at fair value with resulting gain recognized in Other income in the Statement of Earnings.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 101

Management’s Report on Internal Control

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). As permitted by the SEC, our assessment of internal controls over financial reporting excludes internal control over financial reporting of equity method investees. However, our assessment of internal control over financial reporting with respect to equity method investees did include controls over the recording of amounts related to our investment that are recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements, including controls over the selection of accounting methods for our investments, the recognition of equity method earnings and losses and the determination, valuation and recording of our investment account balances.

Additionally, the scope of management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal control over financial reporting of the acquisition of the pharmaceutical wholesale business in Germany as described in Note 3 Acquisitions, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8. This exclusion is in accordance with the SEC Staff’s general guidance that an assessment of a business may be omitted from management’s report on internal control over financial reporting for one year following the acquisition. The recognition of goodwill, however, is covered by our internal controls over mergers and acquisitions, which were included in management's assessment of the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2021. The acquisition of the pharmaceutical wholesale business in Germany represented approximately 0.4% of the Company’s total assets as of August 31, 2021 after excluding goodwill recorded and 3.8% of the Company’s sales for the year ended August 31, 2021.

Based on our evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of August 31, 2021. Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our internal control over financial reporting, as stated in its report which is included herein.

 

/s/	Rosalind Brewer	/s/	James Kehoe
	Rosalind Brewer		James Kehoe
	Chief Executive Officer		Executive Vice President and Global Chief Financial Officer

October 14, 2021

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 102

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of August 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of August 31, 2021 and 2020 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated October 14, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Change in Accounting Principle

The Company adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) effective September 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective approach which does not require prior periods to be restated.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets Impairment –Boots Reporting Unit and Boots Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets – Refer to Notes 1 and 7 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Company’s evaluation of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment involves the comparison of the fair value of each reporting unit or asset to its carrying value. The Company uses the income and the market approaches to estimate the fair value of its reporting units in its goodwill impairment analysis. The income approach requires management to estimate a number of factors for each reporting unit, including projected future operating results, economic projections anticipated future cash flows and discount rates. The market approach requires management to estimate fair value using comparable marketplace fair value data from within a comparable industry grouping. The Company primarily uses the multi-period excess earnings

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 103

model and the relief from royalty model to estimate the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets. Changes in assumptions or the selection of companies in the comparable industry group could have a significant impact on the valuation of the reporting units and the amount of a goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment charge, if any.

We identified the valuation of the Boots Reporting Unit and Boots indefinite-lived intangible assets as a critical audit matter due to the materiality of the assets’ carrying values, the difference between the fair values and the carrying values, and because the current economic environment, including the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic, has affected the business. Auditing management’s judgments used in the quantitative assessment regarding significant assumptions related to future revenue growth, EBITDA margins, the selection of the discount rate, the selection of the royalty rates for the Boots trade name indefinite-lived intangible assets, and the market multiples selected for the Boots Reporting Unit requires a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialists.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the fair value of goodwill for the Boots Reporting Unit and the Boots indefinite-lived intangible assets included the following, among others:

•We tested the effectiveness of controls over the goodwill and intangible asset impairment analyses, including those over the development of forecasts of future revenues, EBITDA margins, and the selection of royalty rates, market multiples, and discount rates.

•We evaluated management’s ability to accurately forecast future revenues and EBITDA margins by comparing actual results to management’s historical forecasts.

•We evaluated the reasonableness of management’s forecasts of future revenues and EBITDA margins by performing certain procedures, including:

◦Comparing the forecasts to internal communications to management and the Board of Directors.

◦Comparing the business forecasts and planned initiatives to third-party economic and industry data.

•We performed sensitivity analyses to evaluate the risk of impairment if key assumptions are changed.

•We evaluated, with the assistance of our fair value specialists, the (1) valuation methodology used for the Boots Reporting Unit’s goodwill and the Boots indefinite-lived intangible assets, and (2) the reasonableness of the related discount rates, by performing certain procedures, including:

◦Comparing the valuation methodologies used to generally accepted valuation practices for each asset type.

◦Evaluating the appropriateness of the Company’s selection of companies in its industry comparable group for comparability to the Reporting Unit.

◦Testing the source information underlying the determination of the discount rate and the mathematical accuracy of the calculation.

◦Developing an independent discount rate and comparing it to the discount rate selected by management.

Income Taxes – Uncertain Tax Positions - Refer to Notes 1 and 12 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Company has a complex legal structure involving numerous domestic and foreign locations with constantly changing tax laws and regulations. The Company’s management is required to interpret and apply these tax laws and regulations in determining the amount of its income tax liability and provision. When an uncertain tax position is identified by management, the Company must evaluate whether it is more likely to be sustained than not on the basis of its technical merits. In evaluating the tax benefits associated with the various tax filing positions, the Company records a tax benefit for uncertain tax positions using the highest cumulative tax benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. The evaluation of each uncertain tax position requires management to apply specialized skill, knowledge, and significant judgment related to the identified position. This significant judgment includes determining the correct value of the liability based on the selected method of measurement, data, and assumptions determined by management.

Because of the numerous taxing jurisdictions in which the Company files its tax returns and the complexity of tax laws and regulations, auditing uncertain tax positions and the determination of whether the more likely than not threshold was met requires a high degree of auditor judgment and increased extent of effort, including the involvement of our income tax specialists.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to unrecognized tax benefits included the following, among others:

•We tested the effectiveness of controls over income taxes, including those over identifying uncertain tax positions and measuring liabilities.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 104

•We evaluated, with the assistance of our tax specialists, a selection of underlying tax positions to evaluate the more likely than not principle as it applied to the specific underlying tax position.

•We evaluated, with the assistance of our tax specialists, the Company’s unrecognized tax positions by performing the following:

◦Obtaining management and third-party opinions or memoranda regarding the analysis of uncertain tax positions and identifying the key judgments and evaluating whether the analysis was consistent with our interpretation of the relevant laws and regulations.

◦Evaluating management’s method of measuring its liability for unrecognized tax benefits, including underlying data and assumptions.

◦Evaluating the basis for certain intercompany transactions, such as transfer pricing, as well as internal restructuring, by comparison to economic studies performed by management and third-party data.

◦Evaluating the matters raised by tax authorities in former and ongoing tax audits and considering the implications of these matters on open tax years.

◦Assessing changes and interpretation of applicable tax law.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Chicago, Illinois

October 14, 2021

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2002.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 105

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of August 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended August 31, 2021, of the Company and our report dated October 14, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

As described in Management’s Report on Internal Control, management excluded from its assessment the internal control over financial reporting of certain assets acquired from GEHE Pharma Handel GmbH, which were acquired during the year ended August 31, 2021. The certain assets acquired from GEHE represented approximately 0.4% of the Company’s total assets as of August 31, 2021 after excluding goodwill and intangible assets recorded and 3.8% of the Company’s net sales for the year ended August 31, 2021. Accordingly, our audit did not include the internal control over financial reporting for the certain assets acquired from GEHE.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Chicago, Illinois    

October 14, 2021

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Item 9. Changes in and disagreements with accountants on accounting and financial disclosure

None.

Item 9A. Controls and procedures

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-K. The controls evaluation was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”). In fiscal 2021, the Company and McKesson Corporation closed a transaction to form a combined pharmaceutical wholesale business in Germany. The Company owns a controlling equity interest in the combined business which is consolidated by the Company. The Company accounted for this acquisition as a business combination. The scope of management's assessment of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures did not include the internal controls over financial reporting of the acquired business. This exclusion is in accordance with the SEC staff's general guidance that an assessment of a recently acquired business may be omitted from the scope of management's assessment for one year following the acquisition. The recognition of goodwill and intangible assets, however, is covered by our internal controls over mergers and acquisitions, which were included in management's assessment of the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2021. Based upon the controls evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Report on internal control over financial reporting

Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting and the report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, related to their assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting are included in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K and are incorporated in this Item 9A by reference.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting

In the ordinary course of business, the Company reviews its internal control over financial reporting and makes changes to its systems and processes that are intended to enhance such controls and increase efficiency while maintaining an effective internal control environment. Changes may include such activities as updating existing systems, automating manual processes, standardizing controls and modifying monitoring controls.

As we transform our business processes, we continue to make strategic changes in how we perform certain key business functions. These changes include the continued leveraging of extended workforces via third-party outsource arrangements as well as our continued implementation of new information systems. These initiatives are not being implemented in response to any identified internal control deficiency or weakness. As these changes occur, we will evaluate quarterly whether such changes materially affect, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

In connection with the evaluation pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(d) of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) by the Company’s management, including its CEO and CFO, no changes during the quarter ended August 31, 2021 were identified that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Inherent limitations on effectiveness of controls

Our management, including the CEO and CFO, do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 107

effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

Item 9B. Other information

Transformational Cost Management Program

On October 12, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an expansion and extension of the Transformational Cost Management Program through the end of fiscal 2024. The expanded Transformational Cost Management Program will deliver incremental savings from existing programs and a comprehensive funnel of new initiatives which will improve operating effectiveness and better position the core business for the future. The expansion of the program reflects further strategic initiatives to optimize real estate, implement global business and centralized services models, as well as leverage technology and new business models to streamline processes across the organization.

See Transformational Cost Management Program described in Management’s discussion and analysis in Part II, Item 7 for additional details.

Supplemental indenture

On October 13, 2021, the Company entered into a supplemental indenture (the “First Supplemental Indenture”) to the indenture dated as of December 17, 2015, as thereafter supplemented and amended (the “Indenture”) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, relating to the Company’s 3.450% Notes due 2026, 3.200% Notes due 2030, 4.650% Notes due 2046 and 4.100% Notes due 2050 (collectively, the “Notes”). The First Supplemental Indenture amended the Indenture by decreasing the number of rating agencies that must lower the ratings on the Notes to two in order to trigger a “Rating Event” for purposes of the definition of “Change of Control Triggering Event” and the corresponding removal of one of the rating agencies from the definition of “Rating Agencies.” The First Supplemental Indenture was entered into in satisfaction of the conditions set forth under Section 9.1 of the Indenture and was effective upon execution.

PART III

The Company intends to file with the SEC a definitive proxy statement for its next Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”) pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after August 31, 2021. The information required by Part III (Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) is incorporated by reference to the disclosure in that Proxy Statement. The Company’s next Annual Meeting of Stockholders is scheduled to be held on January 27, 2022.

Item 10. Directors, executive officers and corporate governance

The information required by Item 10, with the exception of the information relating to the executive officers of the Company, which is presented in part I above under the heading “Information about our executive officers,” is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement, including the following sections: Proposal–1 Election of Directors; and Governance.

The Company has adopted a Code of Conduct and Business Ethics applicable to all employees, officers and directors that incorporates policies and guidelines designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote honest and ethical conduct and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Company has also adopted a Code of Ethics for CEO and Financial Executives. This Code applies to and has been signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Accounting Officer. The Company intends to promptly disclose on its website in accordance with applicable rules required disclosure of changes to or waivers, if any, of the Code of Ethics for CEO and Financial Executives or the Code of Conduct and Business Ethics for directors and executive officers.

Charters of all committees of the Company’s Board of Directors, as well as the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Ethics for CEO and Financial Executives and Code of Conduct and Business Ethics, are available on the Company’s website at investor.walgreensbootsalliance.com or, upon written request and free of charge, in printed hardcopy form. Written requests should be sent to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, Mail Stop #1833, 108 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, Illinois 60015.

Item 11. Executive compensation

The information required by Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference to the following sections of the Company’s Proxy Statement: Director Compensation; Executive Compensation; and Governance.

The material incorporated herein by reference to the material under the caption “Compensation Committee Report” in the Proxy Statement shall be deemed furnished, and not filed, in this Form 10-K and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 108

any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act as a result of this furnishing, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference.

Item 12. Security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and related stockholder matters

The information required by Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference to the following sections of the Company’s Proxy Statement: Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management; and Equity Compensation Plan Information.

Item 13. Certain relationships and related transactions and director independence

The information required by Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference to the following sections of the Company’s Proxy Statement: Related Party Transactions; Director Independence; and Governance.

Item 14. Principal accounting fees and services

The information required by Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference to the following section of the Company’s Proxy Statement: Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Services.

Item 15. Exhibits and financial statement schedules

(a)Documents filed as part of this report:

(1)Financial statements. The following financial statements, supplementary data and reports of independent public accountants appear in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

Consolidated Balance Sheets at August 31, 2021 and 2020

Consolidated Statements of Equity, Earnings, Comprehensive Income and Cash Flows for the years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Management’s Report on Internal Control

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

.

(2)Financial statement schedules and supplementary information

Schedules I, II, III, IV and V are not submitted because they are not applicable or not required or because the required information is included in the Financial Statements referenced in (1) above or the notes thereto.

(3)Exhibits. Exhibits 10.1 through 10.63 constitute management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as exhibits pursuant to Item 15(b) of this Form 10-K.

(b)Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description	SEC Document Reference
2.1*	Purchase and Option Agreement by and among Walgreen Co., Alliance Boots GmbH and AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited dated June 18, 2012 and related annexes.	Incorporated by reference to Annex B-1 to the proxy statement/prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198768) filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) on November 24, 2014.
2.2*	Amendment No. 1 to Purchase and Option Agreement and Walgreen Co. Shareholders Agreement, dated August 5, 2014, by and among Walgreen Co., Alliance Boots GmbH, AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited, Walgreen Scotland Investments LP, KKR Sprint (European II) Limited, KKR Sprint (2006) Limited and KKR Sprint (KPE) Limited, Alliance Santé Participations S.A., Stefano Pessina and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.	Incorporated by reference to Annex B-2 to the proxy statement/prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198768) filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) on November 24, 2014.
2.3	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 17, 2014, by and among Walgreen Co., Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Ontario Merger Sub, Inc.	Incorporated by reference to Annex A to the proxy statement/prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198768) filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) on November 24, 2014.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 109

2.4	Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 23, 2014, by and among Walgreen Co., Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Ontario Merger Sub, Inc.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on December 24, 2014.
2.5	Amendment No. 2 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 29, 2014, by and among Walgreen Co., Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Ontario Merger Sub, Inc.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2014 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on December 30, 2014.
2.6*	Amended and Restated Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2017, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., Walgreen Co. and Rite Aid Corporation.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on September 19, 2017.
2.7	Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 6, 2021, by and between Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., and AmerisourceBergen Corporation.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on January 8, 2021.
3.1	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on December 31, 2014.
3.2	Amended and Restated By-laws of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on June 10, 2016.
4.1**	Indenture, dated as of July 17, 2008, between Walgreen Co. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Walgreen Co.’s registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-152315) filed with the SEC on July 14, 2008.
4.2	Form of Walgreen Co. 3.100% Note due 2022.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on September 13, 2012.
4.3	Form of Walgreen Co. 4.400% Note due 2042.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on September 13, 2012.
4.4	Form of Guarantee of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on December 31, 2014.
4.5	Indenture dated November 18, 2014 among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on November 18, 2014.
4.6	Form of 3.300% Notes due 2021.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on November 18, 2014.
4.7	Form of 3.800% Notes due 2024.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on November 18, 2014.
4.8	Form of 4.500% Notes due 2034.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on November 18, 2014.
4.9	Form of 4.800% Notes due 2044.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on November 18, 2014.
4.10	Form of 3.600% Notes due 2025 (£).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on November 20, 2014.
4.11	Form of 2.125% Notes due 2026 (€).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on November 20, 2014.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 110

4.12	Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2015, between Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-208587) filed with the SEC on December 17, 2015.
4.13	First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 13, 2021, by and between Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.	Filed herewith.
4.14	Form of 3.450% Notes due 2026.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on June 1, 2016.
4.15	Form of 4.650% Notes due 2046.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on June 1, 2016.
4.16	Form of 3.200% Notes due 2030.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 15, 2020.
4.17	Form of 4.100% Notes due 2050.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 15, 2020.
4.18	Walgreen Co. Shareholders Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2012, among Walgreen Co., Stefano Pessina, KKR Sprint (European II) Limited, KKR Sprint (2006) Limited and KKR Sprint (KPE) Limited, Alliance Santé Participations S.A., Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. and certain other investors party thereto.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on August 6, 2012.
4.19	Letter Agreement between Stefano Pessina and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., dated July 23, 2020.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on July 27, 2020.
4.20	Amendment No. 1 to Purchase and Option Agreement and Walgreen Co. Shareholders Agreement, dated August 5, 2014, by and among Walgreen Co., Alliance Boots GmbH, AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited, Walgreen Scotland Investments LP, KKR Sprint (European II) Limited, KKR Sprint (2006) Limited and KKR Sprint (KPE) Limited, Alliance Santé Participations S.A., Stefano Pessina and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.	Incorporated by reference to Annex B-2 to the proxy statement/prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198768) filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) on November 24, 2014.
4.21	Amendment No. 2 to Purchase and Option Agreement and Walgreen Co. Shareholders Agreement, dated December 31, 2014, as Amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of August 5, 2014, by and among Walgreen Co., Alliance Boots GmbH, AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited, Ontario Holdings WBS Limited, KKR Sprint (European II) Limited, KKR Sprint (2006) Limited and KKR Sprint (KPE) Limited, Alliance Santé Participations S.A., Stefano Pessina and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit E to the Schedule 13D filed by Alliance Santé Participations S.A. (File No. 005-88481) filed with the SEC on December 31, 2014).
4.22	Description of Registered Securities.	Filed herewith.
10.1	Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Management Incentive Plan (as amended and restated effective July 1, 2016).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2016 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 20, 2016.
10.2	Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on February 2, 2021.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 111

10.3	Form of Performance Share Award agreement (effective January 2021).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on February 2, 2021.
10.4	Form of Stock Option Award agreement (effective January 2021).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on February 2, 2021.
10.5	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award agreement (effective January 2021).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on February 2, 2021.
10.6	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award agreement.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 26, 2021.
10.7	Amendment to the amended and restated Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on February 2, 2021.
10.8	Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (as amended and restated).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on January 19, 2018.
10.9	Form of Performance Share Award agreement (effective October 2020).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 30, 2020.
10.10	Form of Performance Share Award agreement (effective October 2019).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2019.
10.11	Form of Performance Share Award agreement (effective October 2018).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2018 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on December 20, 2018.
10.12	Form of Stock Option Award agreement (effective October 2020).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 30, 2020.
10.13	Form of Stock Option Award agreement (effective October 2019).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2019.
10.14	Form of Stock Option Award agreement (effective October 2018).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2018 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on December 20, 2018.
10.15	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award agreement (effective October 2020).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 30, 2020.
10.16	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award agreement (effective October 2019).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2019.
10.17	Form of Performance Share Award agreement for CEO (November 2019).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2019.

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10.18	Form of Performance Share Award agreement for CEO (November 2018).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2018 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on December 20, 2018.
10.19	Form of Stock Option Award agreement for CEO (November 2019).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2019.
10.20	Form of Stock Option Award agreement for CEO (November 2018).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2018 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on December 20, 2018.
10.21	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award agreement for CEO (November 2019).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2019.
10.22	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award agreement for Executive Chairman (effective October 2020).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 30, 2020.
10.23	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award agreement for Executive Chairman (November 2019).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2019.
10.24	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award agreement for Executive Chairman (November 2018).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2018 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on December 20, 2018.
10.25	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award agreement (September 2019).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2019
10.26	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award agreement for James Kehoe (June 2018).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 11, 2018.
10.27	Form of Amendment to Stock Option Award agreements.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to Walgreen Co.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on October 20, 2014.
10.28	Amendments to certain Omnibus Plan Award agreements (October 2018).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 26, 2018.
10.29	UK Sub-Plan under the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2015.
10.30	Form of Stock Option Award agreement under UK Sub-plan (effective October 2020).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 30, 2020.
10.31	Form of Stock Option Award agreement under UK Sub-plan (effective October 2019).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2019.
10.32	Form of Stock Option Award agreement under UK Sub-plan (effective October 2018).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2018 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on December 20, 2018.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 113

10.33	Walgreen Co. Executive Stock Option Plan (as amended and restated effective January 13, 2010).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on January 20, 2010.
10.34	Walgreen Co. 2002 Executive Deferred Compensation/Capital Accumulation Plan.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(g) to Walgreen Co.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2002 (File No. 1-00604).
10.35	Amendment to the Walgreen Co. 2002 et. al. Executive Deferred Compensation/Capital Accumulation Plans.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Walgreen Co.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2009 (File No. 1-00604).
10.36	Walgreen Co. 2006 Executive Deferred Compensation/Capital Accumulation Plan (effective January 1, 2006).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to Walgreen Co.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2005 (File No. 1-00604).
10.37	Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Executive Retirement Savings Plan (as amended and restated effective January 1, 2020).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2019.
10.38	First Amendment to the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Executive Retirement Savings Plan (as amended and restated effective January 1, 2020).	Filed herewith.
10.39	Share Walgreens Stock Purchase/Option Plan (effective October 1, 1992), as amended.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d) to Walgreen Co.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2003 (File No. 1-00604).
10.40	Share Walgreens Stock Purchase/Option Plan Amendment No. 4 (effective July 15, 2005), as amended.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(h)(ii) to Walgreen Co.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005 (File No. 1-00604).
10.41	Share Walgreens Stock Purchase/Option Plan Amendment No. 5 (effective October 11, 2006).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to Walgreen Co.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2006 (File No. 1-00604).
10.42	Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Executive Severance and Change in Control Plan (as amended and restated effective August 6, 2019).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.47 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2019.
10.43	Offer Letter agreement between Stefano Pessina and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2015 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 9, 2015.
10.44	Offer Letter between Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Rosalind G. Brewer dated January 26, 2021.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on February 1, 2021.
10.45	Offer letter agreement dated as of March 6, 2018 between James Kehoe and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on March 8, 2018.
10.46	Offer letter agreement dated as of August 27, 2020 between John Standley and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	Filed herewith.
10.47	Employment Agreement dated as of January 17, 2020 between Marco Pagni and Walgreens Boots Alliance Services Limited.	Filed herewith.
10.48	Agreement between Walgreens Boots Alliance Services Limited and Marco Pagni, dated June 16, 2021.	Filed herewith.
10.49	Service Agreement between Boots UK Limited and Alex Gourlay, dated January 29, 2009.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2015 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 9, 2015.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 114

10.50	Letter Agreement between Alliance Boots Management Services Limited and Alex Gourlay, dated June 28, 2010.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2015 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 9, 2015.
10.51	Agreement between Walgreens Boots Alliance Services Limited and Alexander W. Gourlay, dated June 30, 2021.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 31, 2021 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on July 1, 2021.
10.52	Employment Agreement between Alliance UniChem Plc and Ornella Barra dated December 10, 2002.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2015 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 9, 2015.
10.53	Agreement among Alliance Boots plc, Alliance UniChem Plc and Ornella Barra, dated July 31, 2006.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2015 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 9, 2015.
10.54	Novation of Service Agreement among Alliance Boots Holdings Limited, Alliance Boots Management Services MC S.A.M and Ornella Barra, dated June 1, 2013.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2015 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 9, 2015.
10.55	Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Long-Term Global Assignment Relocation Policy.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.68 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2015.
10.56	Secondment Agreement dated September 27, 2013 between Alliance Boots Management Services Limited and Walgreen Co.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.52 to Walgreen Co.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013 (File No. 1-00604).
10.57	Assignment Letter dated September 27, 2013 between Alexander Gourlay and Alliance Boots Management Services Ltd.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.53 to Walgreen Co.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013 (File No. 1-00604).
10.58	Extension, dated January 27, 2016, to Assignment Letter between Alexander Gourlay and Walgreens Boots Alliance Services Limited (formerly Alliance Boots Management Services Ltd.).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on February 1, 2016.
10.59	Extension, dated as of March 27, 2017, to Assignment Letter between Alexander Gourlay and Walgreens Boots Alliance Services Limited (formerly Alliance Boots Management Services Ltd.).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2017 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 5, 2017.
10.60	Extension, dated as of July 13, 2017, to Assignment Letter between Alexander Gourlay and Walgreens Boots Alliance Services Limited (formerly Alliance Boots Management Services Ltd.).	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.62 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2017 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 25, 2017.
10.61	Extension, dated as of August 1, 2018, to Assignment Letter between Alexander Gourlay and Walgreens Boots Alliance Services Limited.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 26, 2018.
10.62	Extension, effective as of October 22, 2019, to Assignment Letter between Alexander Gourlay and Walgreens Boots Alliance Services Limited.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.62 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on October 28, 2019.
10.63	Extension, dated as of July 1, 2020, to Assignment Letter between Alexander Gourlay and Walgreens Boots Alliance Services Limited.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 31, 2020 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on July 9, 2020.
10.64	Shareholders’ Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2012, by and among Alliance Boots GmbH, AB Acquisition Holdings Limited and Walgreen Co.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on August 6, 2012.
10.65	Framework Agreement, dated as of March 18, 2013, by and among Walgreen Co., Alliance Boots GmbH and AmerisourceBergen Corporation.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on March 20, 2013.

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10.66	Shareholders Agreement, dated as of March 18, 2013, by and among Walgreen Co., Alliance Boots GmbH and AmerisourceBergen Corporation.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Walgreen Co.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604) filed with the SEC on March 20, 2013.
10.67	Amended and Restated AmerisourceBergen Shareholders Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2021, between AmerisourceBergen Corporation and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on June 4, 2021.
10.68	Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 29, 2018, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the lenders and letter of credit issuers from time to time party thereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the joint lead arrangers, joint bookrunners and co-syndication.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36759) filed with the SEC on August 30, 2018.
10.69	Credit Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2018, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the lenders from time to time party thereto and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, as sole lead arranger and administrative agent.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36759) filed with the SEC on December 6, 2018.
10.70	Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2019, by and between Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, as sole lead arranger and administrative agent, amending that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2018, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the lenders from time to time party thereto, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, as sole lead arranger and administrative agent.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2019 (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 2, 2019.
10.71	Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement, dated as of April 2, 2020, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, as administrative agent and sole lender.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 6, 2020.
10.72	Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2018, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the lenders from time to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36759) filed with the SEC on December 26, 2018.
10.73	364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2019, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the lenders from time to time party thereto and Mizuho Bank, Ltd., as administrative agent.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36759) filed with the SEC on January 22, 2019.
10.74	Extension Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2019, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the lenders party thereto and Mizuho Bank, Ltd., as administrative agent.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36759) filed with the SEC on December 18, 2019.
10.75	Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 30, 2019, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the lenders from time to time party thereto and HSBC Bank USA, N.A., as administrative agent, and HSBC Securities (USA), Inc., as sole lead arranger.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36759) filed with the SEC on September 4, 2019.
10.76	Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 30, 2019, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the lenders from time to time party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and sole lead arranger.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36759) filed with the SEC on September 4, 2019.
10.77	Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 30, 2019, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the lenders from time to time party thereto and UniCredit Bank AG, New York Branch, as administrative agent.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36759) filed with the SEC on September 4, 2019.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 116

10.78	Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2020, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 6, 2020.
10.79	Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of April 2, 2020, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 6, 2020.
10.80	Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of April 2, 2020, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and sole lender.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 6, 2020.
10.81	Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2020, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and as sole lender, amending that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of April 2, 2020, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and as sole lender.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 8-K for the quarter ended November 30, 2020 (File1-36759) filed with the SEC on January 7, 2021.
10.82	Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of April 7, 2020, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., WBA Financial Services Limited, the lenders from time to time party thereto and HSBC Bank plc, as administrative agent.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on April 7, 2020.
10.83	Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2020, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the Designated Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-36759) filed with the SEC on December 28, 2020.
10.84	Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of April 9, 2021, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1- 36759) filed with the SEC on April 9, 2021.
10.85	Increase Amendment, dated April 23, 2021, to the Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Agreement.	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1- 36759) filed with the SEC on April 23, 2021.
21	Subsidiaries of the Registrant.	Filed herewith.
23.1	Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.	Filed herewith.
31.1	Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	Filed herewith.
31.2	Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	Filed herewith.
32.1	Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.	Furnished herewith.
32.2	Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.	Furnished herewith.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 117

101.INS	XBRL Instance Document (The following financial information from this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021 formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensive Business Reporting Language) includes: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Equity; (iii) the Consolidated Statement of Earnings; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) Notes to Financial Statements).	Filed herewith.
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document	Filed herewith.
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document	Filed herewith.
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document	Filed herewith.
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document	Filed herewith.
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document	Filed herewith.
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL document and included in Exhibit 101)	Filed herewith.

*Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Copies of any omitted schedule or exhibit will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon request.

**Other instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of the registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries may be omitted from Exhibit 4 in accordance with Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K. Copies of any such agreements will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon request.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 118

PART IV

Item 16. Form 10-K summary

None.

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 119

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.
October 14, 2021	By:	/s/ James Kehoe
	James Kehoe
	Executive Vice President and Global Chief Financial Officer

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 120

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name	Title	Date
/s/ Rosalind Brewer	Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director	October 14, 2021
Rosalind Brewer
/s/ James Kehoe	Executive Vice President and Global Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)	October 14, 2021
James Kehoe
/s/  Manmohan Mahajan	Senior Vice President, Global Controller and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)	October 14, 2021
Manmohan Mahajan
/s/  Stefano Pessina	Executive Chairman of the Board	October 14, 2021
Stefano Pessina
/s/  José E. Almeida	Director	October 14, 2021
José E. Almeida
/s/  Janice M. Babiak	Director	October 14, 2021
Janice M. Babiak
/s/  David J. Brailer	Director	October 14, 2021
David J. Brailer
/s/  William C. Foote	Director	October 14, 2021
William C. Foote
/s/  Ginger L. Graham	Director	October 14, 2021
Ginger L. Graham
/s/  Valerie Jarrett	Director	October 14, 2021
Valerie Jarrett
/s/  John A. Lederer	Director	October 14, 2021
John A. Lederer
/s/  Dominic P. Murphy	Director	October 14, 2021
Dominic P. Murphy
/s/  Nancy M. Schlichting	Director	October 14, 2021
Nancy M. Schlichting
/s/  James Skinner	Director	October 14, 2021
James Skinner

WBA Fiscal 2021 Form 10-K 121

EX-21

Exhibit 21

Certain subsidiaries of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. as of August 31, 2021 and their respective state of incorporation or organization are listed below. The names of certain other subsidiaries have been omitted because, considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, they would not constitute, as of August 31, 2021, a “significant subsidiary” as that term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X.

Name	State or Country of Incorporation
Walgreen Arizona Drug Co.	Arizona
Walgreens Boots Alliance Holdings LLC	Delaware
Waltrust Properties, Inc.	Delaware
Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, LLC	Delaware
Prime Therapeutics Specialty Pharmacy LLC	Delaware
WBA Investments, Inc.	Delaware
WBA Financial, LLC	Delaware
Alliance Healthcare Deutschland AG	Germany
Walgreens Boots Alliance (Hong Kong) Investments Limited	Hong Kong
Walgreen Co.	Illinois
Bond Drug Company of Illinois, LLC	Illinois
Boots Retail (Ireland) Limited	Ireland
Walgreen Louisiana Co., Inc.	Louisiana
Walgreen International S.à r.l.	Luxembourg
Superior Luxco 1 S.à r.l.	Luxembourg
Walgreen Investments Luxembourg S.à r.l.	Luxembourg
WBA Luxembourg 7 S.à.r.l.	Luxembourg
WBA Luxembourg 6 S.à r.l.	Luxembourg
Farmacias Benavides S.A.B. de C.V.	Mexico
Walgreen Eastern Co., Inc.	New York
Duane Reade	New York
Walgreen of Puerto Rico, Inc.	Puerto Rico
Boots UK Limited	United Kingdom
The Boots Company PLC	United Kingdom
Alliance Boots Holdings Limited	United Kingdom
WBA Acquisitions UK Holdco 7 Limited	United Kingdom
Superior Acquisitions Limited	United Kingdom
WBAD Holdings Limited	United Kingdom
WBA International Limited	United Kingdom
Walgreens Boots Alliance Limited	United Kingdom
WBA Acquisitions UK Topco Limited	United Kingdom
Superior Holdings Limited	United Kingdom
Boots Opticians Professional Services Limited	England & Wales
Boots Properties Limited	England & Wales
Boots Property Partnerships	Scotland
Boots Retail (Thailand) Limited	Thailand

EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-201327 and 333-198768 on Form S-8 and Registration Statement Nos. 333-228923 on Form S-3 of our reports dated October 14, 2021 related to the consolidated financial statements of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (the “Company”) and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended August 31, 2021.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Chicago, Illinois

October 14, 2021

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, James Kehoe, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;    

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

/s/	James Kehoe	Global Chief Financial Officer	Date: October 14, 2021
	James Kehoe

EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

(18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)

In connection with the Annual Report of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2021 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Report"), I, James Kehoe, Global Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge:

(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ James Kehoe

James Kehoe

Global Chief Financial Officer

Dated: October 14, 2021

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and will be retained by Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

EX-10.46

EXHIBIT 10.46

August 27, 2020

Mr. John Standley

Dear John,

We are pleased to offer you the position of EVP and President, Walgreen Co., reporting to Alex Gourlay, Co-COO and hope you will find your employment with Walgreens both challenging and rewarding. We look forward to you joining our team. The terms of this offer are subject to the final approval of the Compensation and Leadership Performance Committee of the Board of Directors of WBA. Below are the terms of your offer:

Base Salary. Your salary will be at the annualized rate of $950,000, less all applicable tax withholdings and benefit deductions - paid monthly in accordance with our salaried employee payroll cycle.

Annual Bonus Opportunity. Based on your position, you will be eligible for annual bonuses under the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA) corporate bonus program, which is based on the Company's fiscal year running from September 1 through August 31. You will be eligible for a pro-rated bonus for the remainder of the current fiscal year. The current bonus target for your position is 100% of your eligible earnings. Your actual bonus each year is subject to Company performance and your individual performance, and all bonuses are subject to the discretion and approval of the Compensation and Leadership Performance Committee of the WBA Board of Directors.

Long-Term Incentives. You will also be eligible for long-term incentives granted under the terms and conditions of the WBA 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan. You will be eligible for market competitive award levels granted at the discretion of the Compensation and Leadership Performance Committee of the WBA Board of Directors. For your position, long-term incentives currently consist of the programs listed below and a combined target award equal in economic value to $4,000,000 annually. You will receive your first awards on the next annual grant date following your hire date, subject to approval by the Compensation and Leadership Performance Committee of the WBA Board of Directors. As shown below, the current allocation among the three types of awards is roughly 25% in stock options, 25% in restricted stock units and 50% in performance shares. In making award decisions each year, this Committee considers target award levels, budget levels, relative individual performance, and other factors.

Stock Options: Stock options are currently awarded annually. Stock options provide you with the right to purchase shares at a future vesting date at a set exercise price. The exercise price is the closing price of WBA stock on the date of grant. Subject to continued employment, stock options vest 1/3 per year over a three-year period and then you have up to 10 years from the date of grant to choose to exercise the right to purchase the

shares. Stock options currently make up 25% of your total annual target award value described above.

Restricted Stock Units: Restricted stock units (RSUs) are also awarded annually. RSUs provide you with units of stock that are converted to shares at vesting and appreciate in value as the stock price increases. Subject to continued employment, 1/3 of the award vests each year for three years after the grant date, and the vested RSUs are settled in shares of WBA stock. RSUs currently make up 25% of your total annual target award value described above.

Performance Shares: Performance shares are stock awards that are contingent upon the performance of the Company. You are awarded a number of "contingent shares" on the date of grant, and then a percentage of these contingent shares are earned and settled in shares of WBA stock at the end of a three-year period, based on the performance of the Company over that period, and subject to your continued employment. Performance shares currently make up 50% of your total target award value described above.

The annual and long-term incentives described above, including program components and target award levels, are subject to adjustments over time, as we continually review our program features to align with market practices and other total rewards objectives.

Other Employee Benefits. See the attached "Overview of Management Benefits," briefly describing the Walgreens employee benefits that are applicable.

Relocation. You will be eligible for relocation benefits in accordance with Company policy for management employees . To align with the 15-month period described below under ''Termination of Employment for Good Reason," and due to COVID-19 circumstances, the standard deadline for you to initiate relocation benefits is extended from 12 months following your start date to 18 months following your start date. Also, as part of this policy, you will be required to sign an agreement spelling out the circumstances under which you would be required to repay certain relocation benefits (i.e., upon termination of employment prior to the 24-month anniversary of your hire date). For the avoidance of doubt, this confirms that such repayment obligation would only apply upon your voluntary termination of employment (not for "good reason" to the extent applicable as described below) or involuntary termination of employment for "cause" - using the definitions of cause and good reason in the WBA Executive Severance and Change in Control Plan, as modified below in the case of the cause definition.

Other Compensation. In consideration for your overall benefit package with your prior employer, you will receive the following sign-on incentives:

•Special Restricted Stock Unit ("RSU") Award: A one-time award of RSUs equal in economic value to $1,500,000. This special award will be granted on the first day of the quarter on or next following your date of hire and will vest 1/3 on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. This award will be subject to the

terms and conditions of the WBA 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the applicable award agreement.

•Special Retention RSU Award: A one-time award of RSUs equal in economic value to $500,000. This special award will be granted on the first day of the quarter on or next following your date of hire and will vest on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant. The award will be subject to the terms and conditions of the WBA 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the applicable award agreement.

Termination of Employment for "Cause." Currently, termination of employment for "cause" is a relevant provision in the WBA 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (and award agreements issued thereunder), as well the WBA Executive Severance and Change in Control Plan. Per your request, this confirms that, in applying those and any other Company definitions of cause to you in any applicable contexts (including the relocation repayment context described above), the following shall apply:

•Any references to "dishonesty" as a stand-alone basis for termination for cause shall be revised to refer to "fraud"; and

•The requirements of Company notice and affording you a reasonable opportunity to cure or correct the situation in question shall apply not only to the component of the cause definition addressing job performance, but also to any other components where the actions or omissions in question are reasonably capable of being cured or corrected in an expedient and effective manner.

Termination of Employment for "Good Reason." Under the WBA Executive Severance and Change in Control Plan, good reason termination rights apply only following a change in control of WBA (all as defined in that Plan). As a further accommodation to you for accepting this offer of employment, for the 15-month period following your start date listed below, such good reason termination rights shall also apply to you for purposes of this Plan and the relocation repayment topic noted above (but not any other Company benefits or awards) outside the context of a change in control. To provide for this good reason termination right, the following modifications of this Plan would be applied in your case during the 15-month period following your start date:

•The definition of "Involuntary Termination" in Section 2.22 shall be applied by deleting the words "During the Post-Change Period" from the second sentence thereof and by adding the parenthetical "(other than for Good Reason)" after the words "voluntarily resigns."

•The definition of "Good Reason" in Section 2.20 shall be applied by deleting the references to "during the Post-Change Period" from the introductory sentence.

•Section 4.01(a)(iii) shall be applied by adding the following phrase at the end of the first sentence thereof: "; provided, however, that any reduction in the Participant's Base Salary or Target Annual Incentive that would qualify as Good Reason shall be disregarded for this purpose."

•Section 4.02 shall be applied by changing the phrase "whether or not for Good Reason" to "without Good Reason."

Non-Compete. As a condition to this offer of employment, and in consideration of your employment with the Company and certain compensation and benefits provided hereunder, you

will be required to sign a Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Agreement when you begin employment. This is a standard agreement, with certain terms tailored to your area and position. A copy of this Agreement can be provided in advance upon request. A similar agreement may also be included as part of stock option award agreements.

Your start date will be August 31, 2020. On your first day, please bring proof of your identity and eligibility for employment, a list of acceptable documents is enclosed.

Our offer of employment will remain open for seven days from the date of this letter, and is contingent on your passing a pre-employment applicant background check and a pre employment drug screen under our Drug Free Work Place Policy. It is our policy that the pre employment drug screen test be completed within 48 hours of receiving this offer packet. You can find your nearest drug testing location by calling 1-800-877-7484 or at questdiaqnostics com. Enclosed are the "Forensic Drug Testing Custody and Control Form" and the "Drug Test Consent/Release Form". Please complete and return the consent/release form with the offer letter. Please bring the Forensic Drug Testing Custody and Control Form with you to the drug test facility along with a valid photo I.D. accepted by the state.

If you want to accept this offer of employment, please sign your name on the line below, fill in the date, and return the signed letter in the enclosed envelope. The duplicate of this letter is for your records. By signing below, you are confirming that no actual breach, threatened breach or other violation of any past, current or contemplated oral or written contractual arrangement to which you are a party (including, but not limited to, any non-compete, non-solicitation or confidentiality agreement with any former employer) has or will occur by virtue of your acceptance of this offer of employment or your performing services for Walgreens. Failure to comply can result in the rescission of this offer or termination of employment.

You should not consider our offer of employment to be a contract or guarantee of indefinite employment. Employment at the Company is at will, for no definite term, and is subject to Company policies, which can be changed from time to time. Understanding the Company's right to make changes to Company plans and policies at any time, any waiver, amendment, termination or other change in any of following customized terms of this offer letter requires the written approval of both you and the Company: relocation extension and repayment requirements, modifications to cause definition and temporarily expanded good reason rights.

If you have any questions please call me at 847-315-3070.

Sincerely,

/s/ Kathleen Wilson-Thompson

Kathleen Wilson-Thompson

EVP, Global Chief Human Resources Officer

Walgreens Boots Alliance

Enclosures

cc: Alex Gourlay

I accept the offer of employment and understand that the offer is not intended to be a guarantee of continued employment.

/s/ John Standley Date: August 28, 2020

John Standley

EX-4.22

Exhibit 4.22

DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES REGISTERED

PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

As of August 31, 2021, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (“Walgreens Boots Alliance,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer solely to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and not its subsidiaries and any person that succeeds thereto) has three classes of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”): (1) our common stock; (2) our €750,000,000 of 2.125% notes due 2026 (the “notes due 2026” or the “euro notes”) and (3) £300,000,000 of 3.600% notes due 2025 (the “notes due 2025” or the “sterling notes,” and the sterling notes together with the euro notes, the “notes”).

Description of Common Stock

The following description of our common stock is a summary and does not purport to be complete. It is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and our Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “By-Laws”), each of which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K. We encourage you to read our Certificate of Incorporation, our By-Laws and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, for additional information.

General

The authorized capital stock of Walgreens Boots Alliance consists of 3,200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, which is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. All of the shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and nonassessable. As of August 31, 2021, the total number of outstanding shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance was 871,158,058.

Dividends; Liquidation. Subject to the preferences of any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of common stock of Walgreens Boots Alliance have equal ratable rights to dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) out of funds legally available for that purpose, when and if dividends are declared by the Board of Walgreens Boots Alliance (the “Board of Directors”). Holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably, as a single class, in all of Walgreens Boots Alliance’s assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock upon Walgreens Boots Alliance’s liquidation or dissolution or the winding up of Walgreens Boots Alliance’s affairs, after payment of Walgreens Boots Alliance’s liabilities and any amounts to holders of outstanding shares of preferred stock.

Voting Rights. Generally, holders of Walgreens Boots Alliance’s common stock vote together as a single class on every matter acted upon by the shareholders. Holders of Walgreens Boots Alliance common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, except that in all elections of directors, holders of Walgreens Boots Alliance common stock will be entitled to cumulate their votes for one or more than one candidate. A majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on a matter, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on a matter will be the act of the shareholders, unless the vote of a greater or different number or voting by classes is required by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws. Except as otherwise provided by law, or by the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors designating the rights, powers and preferences of any series and/or class of preferred stock, the holders of Walgreens Boots Alliance common stock have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes, and holders of preferred stock are not entitled to receive notice of any meeting of stockholders at which they are not entitled to vote.

Other. The holders of Walgreens Boots Alliance common stock have no preferences or rights of conversion, exchange, pre-emption or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. The rights and preferences of holders of common stock are subject to the rights of any series of preferred stock that Walgreens Boots Alliance may issue.

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Listing. Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the trading symbol “WBA.”

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute

Delaware corporations may elect not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL, i.e., Delaware’s anti-takeover law. Walgreens Boots Alliance has not made this election. Delaware’s anti-takeover law provides that an “interested stockholder,” defined as a person who owns 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation or a person who is an associate or affiliate of the corporation and, within the preceding three-year period, owned 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock, may not engage in specified business combinations with the corporation for a period of three years after the date on which the person became an interested stockholder. The law defines the term “business combination” to encompass a wide variety of transactions with or caused by an interested stockholder, including mergers, asset sales and transactions in which the interested stockholder receives or could receive a benefit on other than a pro rata basis with other shareholders. With the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, Walgreens Boots Alliance may amend its Certificate of Incorporation in the future to no longer be governed by the anti-takeover law. This amendment would have the effect of allowing any person who owns at least 15% of our outstanding voting stock to pursue a takeover transaction that was not approved by the Board of Directors. However, because Walgreens Boots Alliance has not elected to opt-out of this provision, for transactions not approved in advance by the Board of Directors, the provision might discourage takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance’s common stock.

Limitations of Director Liability and Indemnification

The Certificate of Incorporation provides that directors shall not be personally liable to the corporation or to its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL.

Delaware law currently provides that this waiver may not apply to liability:

•for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our shareholders;

•for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

•under Section 174 of the DGCL (governing distributions to shareholders); or

•for any transaction from which the director derived any improper personal benefit.

In the event the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of our directors will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended. The bylaws of Walgreens Boots Alliance further provide that we will indemnify each of our directors and officers, trustees, fiduciaries, employees and agents to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

Transfer Agent

EQ Shareowner Services serves as the transfer agent and registrar for Walgreens Boots Alliance’s common stock.

Description of the Notes

The following description of our notes is a summary and does not purport to be complete. The summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the indenture between the Walgreens Boots Alliance and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, dated as of November 18, 2014 and the forms of the notes due 2025 and the notes due 2026, each of which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K. We encourage you to read the above referenced indenture for additional information.

General

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The notes due 2025 were initially issued in an aggregate principal amount of £300,000,000. The notes due 2026 were initially issued in an aggregate principal amount of €750,000,000 aggregate principal amount. As of August 31, 2021, no such additional notes have been issued.

The notes do not have the benefit of any sinking fund. The notes will not be convertible or exchangeable.

The provisions of the indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance as described in the indenture apply to the notes.

The euro notes were issued in minimum denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof. The sterling notes were issued in minimum denominations of £100,000 and integral multiples of £1,000 in excess thereof.

The notes due 2025 and the notes due 2026 are each traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the bond trading symbols of “WBA25” and “WBA26” respectively.

Ranking

Each series of notes are our unsecured, unsubordinated debt obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding.

Interest Payments and Maturity

The notes due 2025 bear interest at a rate of 3.600% and the notes due 2026 bear interest at a rate of 2.125%, each accruing from November 20, 2014 or the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for.

We will pay, or cause the paying agent to pay, interest on the notes annually in arrears on November 20 of each year, in each case, to persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business on the preceding November 6 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be. We will calculate the amount of interest payable on the notes on the basis of the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the notes, to but excluding the next scheduled interest payment date. This payment convention is referred to as ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Market Association. If the date on which a payment of interest or principal on the notes is scheduled to be paid is not a Business Day, then that interest or principal will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day but no further interest will be paid in respect of the delay in such payment.

“Business Day” means any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday which is not a day when banking institutions are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to be closed in New York City or London and, for any place of payment outside of New York City or London, in such place of payment, and on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer system (the TARGET2 system), or any successor thereto, operates.

Payments of principal, interest and Additional Amounts (as defined below), if any, in respect of (i) the euro notes are payable in euro and (ii) the sterling notes, are payable in sterling. If euro or sterling, as the case may be, is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control (including the dissolution of the euro) or if the euro is no longer being used by the thenmember states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the applicable notes will be made in U.S. dollars until the euro or sterling, as applicable, is again available to us or so used. The amount payable on any date in euro or sterling, as applicable, will be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate mandated by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board as of the close of business on the second business day prior to the relevant payment date or, in the event the U.S. Federal Reserve Board has not mandated a rate of conversion, on the basis of the then most recent U.S. dollar/euro exchange rate or U.S. dollar/sterling exchange rate, as applicable, available on or prior to the second business day prior to the relevant payment date as determined by us in our sole discretion. Any payment in respect of the notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the notes or the indenture governing the notes. Neither the trustee nor the paying agent shall have any responsibility for any calculation or conversion in connection with the foregoing.

The notes will cease to bear interest upon maturity unless, upon due presentation, payment of the amount due is improperly withheld or refused, in which case the notes will continue to bear interest (before as well as after judgment) until

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the day on which all sums due in respect of such notes up to that day are received by or on behalf of the relevant holder of such notes.

Investors are subject to foreign exchange risks as to payments of principal, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, that may have important economic and tax consequences to them.

Optional Redemption

We may redeem (i) the notes due 2025, at any time prior to August 20, 2025 (three months prior to the maturity date of the notes due 2025) in part and (ii) the notes due 2026, at any time prior to August 20, 2026 (three months prior to the maturity date of the notes due 2026) in whole or from time to time prior to August 20, 2026 in part, in each case, at our option at a redemption price equal to the greater of (the “Applicable Premium”):

(1)100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed; or

(2)the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the redemption date), discounted to the redemption date on an annual basis (ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA)) at the applicable Comparable Government Bond Rate, plus 20 basis points for the euro notes, and plus 20 basis points for the notes due 2025, plus, in every case, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date.

In addition, at any time on or after August 20, 2025 (three months prior to the maturity date of the notes due 2025), with respect to the notes due 2025, or August 20, 2026 (three months prior to the maturity date of the notes due 2026) with respect to the notes due 2026, we may redeem some or all of the applicable series of notes at our option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the applicable notes to be redeemed, plus, in every case, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date.

In any case, the principal amount of a note remaining outstanding after a redemption in part shall be €100,000 or £100,000 or an integral multiple of €1,000 or £1,000 in excess thereof.

Further, installments of interest on notes to be redeemed that are due and payable on interest payment dates falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable on the applicable interest payment date to the registered holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to such notes and the indenture.

For purposes of the optional redemption provisions of the notes, the following terms are applicable:

“Comparable Government Bond” means, in relation to any Comparable Government Bond Rate calculation, at the discretion of an independent investment bank selected by us, (i) with respect to any series of euro notes, a German federal government bond whose maturity is closest to the maturity of the euro notes to be redeemed, or if such independent investment bank in its discretion determines that such similar bond is not in issue, such other German federal government bond as such independent investment bank may, with the advice of three brokers of, and/or market makers in, German federal government bonds selected by us, determine to be appropriate for determining the Comparable Government Bond Rate and (ii) with respect to the sterling notes, the United Kingdom government security or securities whose maturity is closest to the maturity of the sterling notes to be redeemed, or if such independent investment bank in its discretion determines that such similar bond is not in issue, such other United Kingdom government security or securities as such independent investment bank may, with the advice of three brokers of, and/or market makers in, United Kingdom government securities selected by us, determine to be appropriate for determining the Comparable Government Bond Rate.

“Comparable Government Bond Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the price, expressed as a percentage (rounded to three decimal places, with 0.0005 being rounded upwards), at which the gross redemption yield on the notes to be redeemed, if they were to be purchased at such price on the third business day prior to the redemption date, would be equal to the gross redemption yield on such Business Day of the Comparable Government Bond (as defined above) on the basis of the middle market price of the Comparable Government Bond prevailing at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Business Day as determined by an independent investment bank selected by us.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed, or delivered electronically if held by any depositary in accordance with such depositary’s customary procedures, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each registered holder of the notes to be redeemed. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date,

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interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption. If less than all of the notes of any series are to be redeemed, the notes to be redeemed shall be selected by the securities registrar in accordance with applicable procedures of Clearstream or Euroclear.

The notes are also subject to redemption if certain events occur involving United States taxation.

Additional Amounts

All payments of principal and interest in respect of the notes by us or a paying agent on our behalf will be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or other similar governmental charges imposed or levied by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States (collectively, “Taxes”), unless such withholding or deduction is required by law.

In the event such withholding or deduction for Taxes is required by law, subject to the limitations described below, we will pay to any beneficial owner of a note that is neither a U.S. Holder (as defined below) nor a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary to ensure that the net amount received by such person, afterwithholding or deduction for such Taxes, will be equal to the amount such person would have received in the absence of such withholding or deduction.

However, no Additional Amounts shall be payable with respect to any Taxes if such Taxes are imposed or levied for reasons unrelated to the holder’s or beneficial owner’s ownership or disposition of notes, nor shall Additional Amounts be payable for or on account of:

(a)any Taxes which would not have been so imposed, withheld or deducted but for:

(i)the existence of any present or former connection between the holder or beneficial owner (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder or other equity owner of, or a person having a power over, such holder or beneficial owner, if such holder or beneficial owner is an estate, a trust, a limited liability company, a partnership, a corporation or other entity) and the United States, including, without limitation, such holder or beneficial owner (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or other equity owner or person having such a power) being or having been a citizen or resident or treated as a resident of the United States, being or having been engaged in a trade or business in the United States, being or having been present in the United States, or having or having had a permanent establishment in the United States;

(ii)the failure of the holder or beneficial owner to comply with any applicable certification, information, documentation or other reporting requirement, if compliance is required under the tax laws and regulations of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States to establish entitlement to a partial or complete exemption from such Taxes (including, but not limited to, the requirement to provide Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN,

Form W-8BEN-E, Form W-8ECI, or any subsequent versions thereof or successor thereto); or

(iii)the holder’s or beneficial owner’s present or former status as a personal holding company or a foreign personal holding company with respect to the United States, as a controlled foreign corporation with respect to the United States, as a passive foreign investment company with respect to the United States, as a foreign tax exempt organization with respect to the United States or as a corporation that accumulates earnings to avoid United States federal income tax;

(b)any Taxes which would not have been imposed, withheld or deducted but for the failure of the holder or beneficial owner to meet the requirements (including the certification requirements) of Section 871(h) or Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”);

(c)any Taxes which would not have been imposed, withheld or deducted but for the presentation by the holder or beneficial owner of such note for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment of the note is duly provided for and notice is given to holders, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that the holder or beneficial owner would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on presenting such note on any date during such 30-day period;

(d)any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, excise, transfer, personal property, wealth or similar Taxes;

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(e)any Taxes which are payable otherwise than by withholding or deduction from a payment on such note;

(f)any Taxes which are imposed, withheld or deducted with respect to, or payable by, a holder that is not the beneficial owner of the note, or a portion of the note, or that is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or other similar entity, but only to the extent that a beneficial owner, a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or member of such partnership, limited liability company or similar entity would not have been entitled to the payment of an Additional Amount had such beneficial owner, settlor, beneficiary or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment;

(g) any Taxes required to be withheld or deducted by any paying agent from any payment on any note, if such payment can be made without such withholding or deduction by at least one other paying agent;

(h)any Taxes required to be withheld or deducted where such withholding or deduction is imposed pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income, or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such European Council Directive;

(i)any Taxes imposed, withheld or deducted under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (or any amended or successor provisions), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such sections of the Code;

(j)any Taxes that would not have been imposed, withheld or deducted but for a change in any law, treaty, regulation, or administrative or judicial interpretation that becomes effective more than 15 days after the applicable payment becomes due or is duly provided for, whichever occurs later; or

(k)any combination of items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (j).

Any Additional Amounts paid on the euro notes will be paid in euro and any Additional Amounts paid on the sterling notes will be paid in sterling.

For purposes of this section, the acquisition, ownership, enforcement, or holding of or the receipt of any payment with respect to a note will not constitute a connection (1) between the holder or beneficial owner and the United States or (2) between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder or other equity owner of, or a person having a power over, such holder or beneficial owner if such holder or beneficial owner is an estate, a trust, a limited liability company, a partnership, a corporation or other entity and the United States.

Except as specifically provided under this section “Additional Amounts,” we will not be required to make any payment with respect to any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by any government or any political subdivision or taxing authority.

If we are required to pay Additional Amounts with respect to the notes, we will notify the trustee and paying agent pursuant to an officers’ certificate that specifies the Additional Amounts payable and when the Additional Amounts are payable. If the trustee and the paying agent do not receive such an officers’ certificate from us, the trustee and paying agent may rely on the absence of such an officers’ certificate in assuming that no such Additional Amounts are payable.

In addition, we undertake that, to the extent permitted by law, we will maintain a paying agent that will not require withholding or deduction of tax pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such European Council Directive.

As used herein, a “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a note that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

•an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

•a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state within the United States, or the District of Columbia;

•an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

•a trust if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (ii) the trust validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person under applicable Treasury regulations.

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Redemption for Tax Reasons

We may redeem each series of the notes at our option, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, together with any accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date, at any time, if:

(i)we have or will become obliged to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such series of notes as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws, regulations, treaties, or rulings of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States or any taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation, or any change in, or amendment to, the application, official interpretation, administration or enforcement of such laws, regulations, treaties or rulings (including a holding by a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States), which change or amendment is enacted, adopted, announced or becomes effective on or after November 10, 2014; or

(ii)on or after November 10, 2014, any action is taken by a taxing authority of, or any action has been brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in, the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States or any taxing authority thereof or therein, including any of those actions specified in clause (i) above, whether or not such action was taken or brought with respect to us, or there is any change, amendment, clarification, application or interpretation of such laws, regulations, treaties or rulings, which in any such case, will result in a material probability that we will be required to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such notes (it being understood that such material probability will be deemed to result if the written opinion of independent tax counsel described in clause (b) below to such effect is delivered to the trustee and the paying agent).

    Notice of any redemption will be mailed, or delivered electronically if held by any depositary in accordance with such depositary’s customary procedures, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each registered holder of the notes to be redeemed; provided, however, that the notice of redemption shall not be given earlier than 90 days before the earliest date on which we would be obligated to pay such Additional Amounts if a payment in respect of the notes was then due.

    Prior to the mailing or delivery of any notice of redemption pursuant to this section, in case of a redemption for the reasons specified in clause (i) or (ii) above, we will deliver to the trustee and the paying agent:

    (a) a certificate signed by one of our officers stating that we are entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to our rights to so redeem have occurred, and

    (b) a written opinion of independent tax counsel of nationally recognized standing to the effect that we have or will become obligated to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of such change or amendment or that there is a material probability that we will be required to pay Additional Amounts as a result of such action, change, amendment, clarification, application or interpretation, as the case may be.

    Such notice, once delivered by us will be irrevocable.

Change of Control

If a change of control triggering event occurs with respect to the notes, unless we have exercised our option to redeem the notes as described above or have defeased the notes as described in the indenture, we will be required to make an offer (a “change of control offer”) to each holder of the notes to repurchase all or any part (equal, in respect of the euro notes, to €100,000 or an integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof, and in respect of the sterling notes, to £100,000 or an integral multiple of £1,000 in excess thereof) of that holder’s notes on the terms set forth in such notes. In a change of control offer, we will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to, but excluding, the date of repurchase (a “change of control payment”). Within 30 days following any change of control triggering event or, at our option, prior to any change of control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the change of control, a notice willbe mailed to the trustee and the paying agent and mailed, or delivered electronically if still held in Clearstream or Euroclear in accordance with Clearstream’s or Euroclear’s customary procedures, to holders of the notes, describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the change of control triggering event and offering to repurchase the notes on the date specified in the applicable notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (or delivered electronically) (a “change of control payment date”). The notice will, if mailed (or delivered

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electronically) prior to the date of consummation of the change of control, state that the change of control offer is conditioned on the change of control triggering event occurring on or prior to the applicable change of control payment date.

On each change of control payment date, we will, to the extent lawful:

•accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered pursuant to the applicable change of control offer;

•deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the change of control payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and

•deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted together with an officers’ certificate (with a copy to the paying agent) stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being repurchased.

We will not be required to make a change of control offer upon the occurrence of a change of control triggering event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us and such third party purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, we will not repurchase any notes if there has occurred and is continuing on the change of control payment date an event of default under the indenture, other than a default in the payment of the change of control payment upon a change of control triggering event.

We will be required to comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a change of control triggering event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the change of control offer provisions of the notes, we will be required to comply with such securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the change of control offer provisions of the notes by virtue of any such conflict and compliance.

For purposes of the change of control offer provisions of the notes, the following terms are applicable:

“Board of Directors” means our board of directors or any authorized committee thereof.

“Change of control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than us or one of our subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of our outstanding voting stock or other voting stock into which our voting stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) we consolidate with, or merge with or into, any person, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, us, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of our outstanding voting stock or the voting stock of such other person isconverted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of our voting stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the voting stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person immediately after giving effect to such transaction, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (4) the first day on which a majority of the members of our Board of Directors are not continuing directors; or (5) the adoption of a plan relating to our liquidation or dissolution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the reorganization (and each transaction in connection therewith or related thereto) shall not constitute a change of control, (ii) the Walgreens Merger (and each transaction in connection therewith or related thereto) shall not constitute a change of control and (iii) a transaction will not be deemed to involve a change of control under clause (2) above if (1) we become a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company and (2)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the voting stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of our voting stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the voting stock of such holding company. The term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

The definition of change of control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of our assets and those of our subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law.

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Accordingly, the ability of a holder of notes to require us to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of our assets and of those of our subsidiaries taken as a whole to another person or group may be uncertain.

“Change of control triggering event” means the occurrence of both a change of control and a rating event.

“Continuing directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of our Board of Directors who (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date the notes were issued or

(2) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the continuing directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of our proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).

“Investment grade rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by us.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

“Rating agencies” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if either of Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined under Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by us (as certified by a resolution of our Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both of them, as the case may be.

“Rating event” means the rating on the notes is lowered by both rating agencies and the notes are rated below an investment grade rating by both rating agencies, in any case on any day during the period (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the notes is under publicly announcedconsideration for a possible downgrade by any of the rating agencies) commencing upon the first public notice of the occurrence of a change of control or our intention to effect a change of control and ending 60 days following the consummation of the change of control.

“Reorganization” means the reorganization of Walgreen Co. into a holding company structure under which Ontario Merger Sub, Inc., a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. will merge with and into Walgreen Co. (subject to the satisfaction or waiver of specified closing conditions) and Walgreen Co. will survive such merger as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

    “Second Step Transaction” means the acquisition by Walgreen Co., Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. or any of their respective consolidated subsidiaries of the remaining 55% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Alliance Boots GmbH in exchange for £3.133 billion in cash, payable in British pounds sterling, and 144,333,468 shares of Walgreen Co. common stock (or, if the Reorganization is consummated, 144,333,468 shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.’s common stock rather than Walgreen Co. common stock), subject to certain specified adjustments.

“Voting stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in

Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

“Walgreens Merger” is the merger of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. into Walgreen Co., with Walgreen Co. surviving such merger, if after the consummation of the Second Step Transaction, the Reorganization is not consummated on or prior to the date of the consummation of the Second Step Transaction.

Certain Covenants

Limitation on Liens

    We agree that we will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary (as defined below) to, create, incur, issue, assume or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money (“Debt”), secured by a Mortgage (as defined below) upon any Operating Property (as defined below) owned by, or leased to, us or any of our Restricted Subsidiaries, or upon shares of capital

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stock or Debt issued by any Restricted Subsidiary and owned by us or any Restricted Subsidiary, at the issue date of each applicable series of outstanding debt securities or thereafter acquired, without effectively providing concurrently that such outstanding debt securities authenticated and delivered under the indenture (together with, if we so determine, any other Debt of ours or any Restricted Subsidiary then existing or thereafter created which is not subordinate in right of payment to such outstanding debt securities) are secured equally and ratably with, or at our option, prior to such Debt so long as such Debt is so secured. The foregoing restrictions will not apply to Debt secured by the following, and the Debt so secured will be excluded from any computation under the next succeeding paragraph below:

    1. Mortgages on property existing at the time of the acquisition thereof;

    2. Mortgages on property of a corporation or other entity existing at the time such corporation or other entity is merged into or consolidated with us or a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of the properties of such corporation or other entity (or a division of such corporation 7 or other entity) as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to us or a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that any such Mortgage does not extend to any property owned by us or any Restricted Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, sale, lease or disposition;

    3. Mortgages on property of a corporation or other entity existing at the time such corporation or other entity becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;

    4. Mortgages in favor of us or a Restricted Subsidiary;

    5. Mortgages to secure all or part of the cost of acquisition, construction, development or improvement of the underlying property, or to secure Debt incurred to provide funds for any such purpose, provided that the commitment of the creditor to extend the credit secured by any such Mortgage shall have been obtained not later than 365 days after the later of (a) the completion of the acquisition, construction, development or improvement of such property or (b) the placing in operation of such property;

    6. Mortgages in favor of the United States or any state thereof, or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of the United States or any state thereof, or in favor of any other country, or any department, agency or instrumentality or any political subdivision thereof, to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments; and

    7. Mortgages existing on the issue date of the applicable series of outstanding debt securities or any extension, renewal, replacement or refunding of any Debt secured by a Mortgage existing on the issue date of the applicable series of outstanding debt securities or referred to in clauses (1) to (3) or (5), provided that the principal amount of Debt secured thereby and not otherwise authorized by clauses (1) to (3) or (5) shall not exceed the principal amount of Debt, plus any premium or fee payable in connection with any such extension, renewal, replacement or refunding, so secured at the time of such extension, renewal, replacement or refunding.

    Notwithstanding the restrictions described above, we and our Restricted Subsidiaries may create, incur, issue, assume or guarantee Debt secured by Mortgages without equally and ratably securing the outstanding debt securities authenticated and delivered under the indenture if, at the time of such creation, incurrence, issuance, assumption or guarantee, after giving effect thereto and to the retirement of any Debt which is concurrently being retired, the aggregate amount of all such Debt secured by Mortgages (other than (i) any Debt secured by Mortgages permitted as described in clauses (1) through (7) of the immediately preceding paragraph and (ii) any Debt secured in compliance with the first paragraph of this covenant) that would otherwise be subject to these restrictions, together with all Attributable Debt (as defined below) with respect to Sale and Leaseback Transactions (as defined below) (other than with respect to certain Sale and Leaseback Transactions that are permitted as described in the second full paragraph under the caption “-Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions” below) does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as defined below).

    “Board of Directors” means our board of directors or any authorized committee thereof.

    “Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, at any date, the total amount, as shown on or reflected in our (or, if applicable at such date, our predecessor’s) most recent consolidated balance sheet as at the end of our fiscal quarter ending not more than 135 days prior to such date, of all assets of the Company and our consolidated subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (giving pro forma effect to any acquisition or disposition of assets of the Company or any of our subsidiaries with fair value in excess of $100,000,000 that has occurred since the end of such fiscal quarter as if such acquisition or disposition had occurred on the last day of such fiscal quarter), less (i) all current liabilities (due within one year) as shown on such balance sheet, except for current maturities of long-term debt and of obligations under capital leases, (ii) investments in and advances to Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (iii) Intangible Assets.

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    “Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of ours that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

    “Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of ours that is not organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States and any direct or indirect Subsidiary thereof.

    “Intangible Assets” means, at any date, the value, as shown on or reflected in our (or, if applicable at such date, our predecessor’s) most recent consolidated balance sheet as at the end of our fiscal quarter ending not more than 135 days prior to such date, of all trade names, trademarks, licenses, patents, copyrights, service marks, goodwill and other like intangibles of the Company and our consolidated subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (and giving pro forma effect to any acquisition or disposition of assets of the Company or any of our subsidiaries with fair value in excess of $100,000,000 that has occurred since the end of such fiscal quarter as if such acquisition or disposition had occurred on the last day of such fiscal quarter).

    “Mortgage” means, with respect to any property or assets, any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, security interest, lien, encumbrance, or other security arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever on or with respect to such property or assets (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

    “Operating Property” means any real property or equipment located within the United States and owned by, or leased to, us or any of our Subsidiaries that has a net book value (after deduction of accumulated depreciation) in excess of 1.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

    “Restricted Subsidiary” means any Domestic Subsidiary other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, the Board of Directors of the Company may declare any such Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary effective as of the date such resolution is adopted.

    “Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity of which at least a majority of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors, managers or trustees of such corporation or other entity, irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock or other equity securities of any other class or classes of such corporation or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency, is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by us or by one or more of our Subsidiaries, or by us and one or more of our Subsidiaries.

    “Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Domestic Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary from time to time by our Board of Directors; provided, however, that our Board of Directors (i) will not designate as an Unrestricted Subsidiary any of our Domestic Subsidiaries that owns any Operating Property or any capital stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) will not continue the designation of any of our Domestic Subsidiaries as an Unrestricted Subsidiary at any time that such Domestic Subsidiary owns any Operating Property, and (iii) will not, nor will it cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Operating Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary (unless such Unrestricted Subsidiary will in connection therewith be redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary and any pledge, mortgage, security interest or other lien arising in connection with any Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary so redesignated does not extend to such Operating Property (unless the existence of such pledge, mortgage, security interest or other lien would otherwise be permitted under the indenture)).

Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

    We agree that we will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement with any person providing for the leasing by us or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Operating Property that has been or is to be sold or transferred by us or such Restricted Subsidiary to such person with the intention of taking back a lease of such property (a “Sale and Leaseback Transaction”), unless the terms of such sale or transfer have been determined by our Board of Directors to be fair and arm’s-length and either:

     within 180 days after the receipt of the proceeds of the sale or transfer, we or any Restricted Subsidiary apply an amount equal to the greater of the net proceeds of the sale or transfer or the fair value of such Operating Property at the time of such sale or transfer to either (or a combination of) (i) the prepayment 9 or retirement (other than any mandatory prepayment or retirement of unsecured Debt) of Senior Funded Debt (as defined below) or (ii) the purchase, construction or development of other comparable property; or

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     we or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled, at the effective date of the sale or transfer, to incur Debt secured by a Mortgage on such Operating Property, in an amount at least equal to the Attributable Debt in respect of the Sale and Leaseback Transaction, without equally and ratably securing the debt securities pursuant to the covenant described under “-Limitation on Liens” above.

    The foregoing restriction in the paragraph above will not apply to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction (i) for a term of not more than three years including renewals or (ii) between us and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries, provided that the lessor is us or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary.

    “Attributable Debt” in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction means, at the time of determination, the amount of future minimum operating lease payments required to be disclosed by United States generally accepted accounting principles, less any amounts required to be paid on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates and similar charges, discounted using the methodology used to calculate the present value of operating lease payments in our (or, if applicable at such date, our predecessor’s) most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K preceding the date of determination reflecting that calculation.

    “Funded Debt” means Debt which matures more than one year from the date of creation, or which is extendable or renewable at the sole option of the obligor so that it may become payable more than one year from such date or which is classified, in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, as long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheet for the most-recently ended fiscal quarter (or if incurred subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, would have been so classified) of the person for which the determination is being made. Funded Debt does not include (1) obligations created pursuant to leases, (2) any Debt or portion thereof maturing by its terms within one year from the time of any computation of the amount of outstanding Funded Debt unless such debt shall be extendable or renewable at the sole option of the obligor in such manner that it may become payable more than one year from such time, or (3) any Debt for which money in the amount necessary for the payment or redemption of such Debt is deposited in trust either at or before the maturity date thereof.

    “Senior Funded Debt” means all Funded Debt of ours or any person (except Funded Debt, the payment of which is subordinated to the payment of the debt securities authenticated and delivered under the indenture).

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

    We covenant not to (1) consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any other person (whether or not affiliated with us) or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other person (whether or not affiliated with us) or (2) permit any other person (whether or not affiliated with us) to consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into us, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to us, unless (a) in the case of (1) above, the person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which we are merged or the person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, our properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety is a person organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the trustee, executed by the successor person and delivered to the trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to all of the debt securities authenticated and delivered under the indenture, and the performance of our obligations under the indenture and the outstanding debt securities authenticated and delivered thereunder and shall provide for conversion or exchange rights in accordance with the provisions of the debt securities authenticated and delivered under the indenture of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into common stock or other securities; (b) immediately after giving 10 effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of ours or a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by us or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default, has occurred and is continuing; and (c) we or the successor person have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each satisfactory to the trustee and stating that such transaction and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture, comply with this covenant and that all conditions precedent in the indenture provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, any conveyance, transfer or lease of assets between or among the Company, Walgreens Co. and their respective subsidiaries shall not be prohibited under the indenture.

Defeasance; Satisfaction and Discharge

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The notes are subject to defeasance and discharge, as set forth in the indenture, provided, that (i) upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of the indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the trustee or the paying agent, as applicable, equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption (and calculated as though the redemption date were the date of such notice of redemption), with any deficit as of the redemption date only required to be deposited with the trustee or the paying agent, as applicable, on or prior to the redemption date and (ii) any reference to “Government Obligations” in respect of the euro notes shall refer to “Federal Republic of Germany Obligations” and “Federal Republic of Germany Obligations” shall mean (1) direct obligations of the Federal Republic of Germany, where the payment or payment thereunder are supported by the full faith and credit of the Federal Republic of Germany or (2) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the Federal Republic of Germany, where the timely payment or payments thereunder are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the Federal Republic of Germany, which, in either case under clauses (1) or (2) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Federal Republic of Germany Obligations or a specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to any such Federal Republic of Germany Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Federal Republic of Germany Obligations or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to the Federal Republic of Germany Obligations evidenced by such depositary receipt.

Events of Default

Each of the following events will constitute an event of default under the indenture with respect to the notes issued:

•default in the payment of any interest on any debt security of such series, or any additional amounts payable with respect thereto, when interest or additional amounts become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

•default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any debt security of such series, or any additional amounts payable with respect thereto, when such principal, premium or such additional amounts become due and payable at their maturity, upon any redemption, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

•default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of any debt security of such series; or

•default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of ours contained in the indenture for the benefit of such series or in the debt securities of such series (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance or the breach of which is dealt with elsewhere in the indenture or which is expressly included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than such series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after written notice as provided in the indenture;

•if any event of default as defined in any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any of our debt (including any event of default under any other series of debt securities), whether such debt now exists or is created or incurred, shall happen and shall consist of default in the payment of more than $200 million of such debt at its maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace period) or shall result in more than $200 million in principal amount of such debt becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable; provided, however, that, if such default under such mortgage, indenture or instrument is cured by us, or waived by the holders of such debt, in each case as may be permitted by such mortgage, indenture or instrument, then the event of default under the indenture caused by such default will be deemed likewise to be cured or waived;

•particular events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; or

•any other event of default provided in or pursuant to the indenture with respect to debt securities of such series.

No event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities issued under the indenture necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities issued thereunder. Any modifications to the foregoing events of default will be described in any prospectus supplement.

The indenture provides that if an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any series at the time outstanding (other than an event of default described in the sixth bullet above) occurs and is continuing, either Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Trustee”) or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such

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series may declare the principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of such series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt securities of such series, to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to us (and to the Trustee if given by the holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser amount shall become immediately due and payable.

If an event of default described in the sixth bullet above (relating to events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us) occurs, all unpaid principal of and accrued interest on the outstanding debt securities of that series (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt securities of such series) shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holder of any debt security of that series.

At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the debt securities of any series is made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due is obtained by the Trustee, and subject to particular other provisions of the indenture, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, by written notice to us and the Trustee, may, under some circumstances, rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences.

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series, the Trustee shall deliver to all holders of debt securities of such series notice of such default hereunder actually known to a responsible officer of the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest, if any, on, or additional amounts or any sinking fund or purchase fund installment with respect to, any debt security of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the best interest of the holders of debt securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in the fourth bullet of the first paragraph above with respect to debt securities of such series, no such notice to holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this paragraph, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default with respect to debt securities of such series.

Concerning the Trustee and Paying Agent

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the trustee. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas is the paying agent and authenticating agent for the notes. Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. is the securities registrar for the notes. We entered into a registrar and paying agent agreement in relation to the notes between us, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as paying agent, and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., as securities registrar. Payment of principal of and interest on the notes are made through the office of the paying agent. Each of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., each in each of its capacities, including without limitation as trustee, paying agent and securities registrar, as applicable, assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this document or the related documents or for any failure by us or any other party to disclose events that may have occurred and may affect the significance or accuracy of such information. We maintain banking relationships in the ordinary course of business with the trustee and its affiliates, the paying agent and its affiliates and the securities registrar and its affiliates.

Book-entry System

Global Notes

We issued the notes in the form of one or more global notes (the “global notes”) in definitive, fully registered, book-entry form without coupons. The global notes were deposited with a common depositary (and registered in the name of its nominee) for, and in respect of interests held through, Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, which we refer to as “Clearstream,” or Euroclear Bank S.A./ N.V., which we refer to as “Euroclear.”

Except as set forth below, the global notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to a common depository for Clearstream and Euroclear or its nominee. No link is expected to be established among The Depository Trust Company and Clearstream or Euroclear in connection with the issuance of the notes.

Clearstream and Euroclear

Beneficial interests in the global notes are represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in Clearstream or Euroclear. Those beneficial interests are in denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof with respect to the euro notes and in

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denominations of £100,000 and integral multiples of £1,000 in excess thereof with respect to the sterling notes. Should certificates be issued to individual holders of the notes, a holder of notes who, as a result of trading or otherwise, holds a principal amount of notes of a specified series that is less than the minimum denomination of notes specified for such series would be required to purchase an additional principal amount of notes such that its holding of notes of such series amounts to the minimum specified denomination. Investors may hold interests in the global notes through Clearstream or Euroclear either directly if they are participants in such systems or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems.

Except as set forth in the indenture, owners of beneficial interests in the global notes will not be entitled to have notes registered in their names, and will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of notes in definitive form. Except as provided below, beneficial owners will not be considered the owners or holders of the notes under the indenture. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of the clearing systems and, if such person is not a participant of the clearing systems, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture. Under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or a beneficial owner desires to give or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the clearing systems would authorize their participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take action and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through the participants to give or take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners. Conveyance of notices and other communications by the clearing systems to their participants, by the participants to indirect participants and by the participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Persons who are not Euroclear or Clearstream participants may beneficially own notes held by the common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream only through direct or indirect participants in Euroclear and Clearstream.

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EX-10.38

EXHIBIT 10.38

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2020

I.

Effective February 1, 2021, the Walgreen Co. 2011 Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the “2011 Plan”) is discontinued as a separate plan, and the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Executive Retirement Savings Plan (the “ERSP”) is amended by adding the following Appendix A thereto, to incorporate the 2011 Plan into the ERSP:

“APPENDIX A

Effective February 1, 2021, this Appendix A covers the administration of remaining accounts under the Walgreen Co. 2011 Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the “2011 Plan”), as follows:

1.ARTICLE VI – PLAN ACCOUNTING. These ERSP provisions covering Accounts and investments shall apply to all accounts previously maintained under the 2011 Plan (“2011 Plan Accounts”) in the same fashion as they apply to Employee Deferral Subaccounts under the Plan.

2.ARTICLE VII – PAYMENT OF BENEFITS. These Plan provisions covering payment of Accounts shall apply to 2011 Plan Accounts in the same fashion as they apply to Non-Grandfathered Accounts that are credited to Employee Deferral Subaccounts under Section 7.3(b) of the Plan.

3.ARTICLES VIII - X. These ERSP provisions shall apply to 2011 Plan Accounts, just as they apply to other Accounts under the Plan.”

II.

Effective retroactive to January 1, 2020 (to correct a drafting error in the Plan as restated as of that date), Section 6.2(c) of the Plan is amended to read as follows:

“Investment Options. For purposes of this Section 6.2, “Investment Options” shall mean the investment funds offered under the Retirement Savings Plan from time to time, except

– with respect to the Employee Deferral Subaccounts – for any such funds investing primarily in Company stock.”

EX-4.13

EXHIBIT 4.13

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of October 13, 2021 (this “Supplemental Indenture”), by and between WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC., a Delaware corporation, as issuer (the “Company”) and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the “Trustee”), supplements the Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2015, as thereafter supplemented and amended (the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and the Trustee.

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore issued its 3.450% Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) and 4.650% Notes due 2046 (the “2046 Notes”) pursuant to the Indenture dated December 17, 2015, as supplemented by the Officers’ Certificate, dated as of June 1, 2016 (the “2016 Officers’ Certificate”);

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore issued its 3.200% Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”) and 4.100% Notes due 2050 (the “2050 Notes”), pursuant to the Indenture dated December 17, 2015, as supplemented by the Officers’ Certificate, dated April 15, 2020 (the “2020 Officers’ Certificate”, and together with the 2016 Officers’ Certificate, the “Officers’ Certificates”), and together with the 2026 Notes, 2046 Notes, and the 2030 Notes, the “Notes”;

WHEREAS, Section 9.1(12) of the Indenture provides that, without the consent of any Holder of Securities, the Company and the Trustee may enter into one or more indentures supplemental to the Indenture to amend or supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture, including with respect to any Security, the terms and provisions of such Security established pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Indenture, provided that no such amendment or supplement shall materially adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of each applicable series then Outstanding;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has duly adopted resolutions authorizing the Company to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture and has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel; and

WHEREAS, all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the execution of this Supplemental Indenture have been fulfilled and the execution of the Supplemental Indenture is authorized and permitted under the Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH, for and in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto mutually covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the Holders as follows:

1ARTICLE 1

Terms

Section 1.01.     Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.

2ARTICLE 2

Amendments

Section 2.01.     Definition of “Fitch.” The definition of “Fitch” in each of the Notes and Officers’ Certificates is hereby deleted in its entirety.

Section 2.02.     Definition of “Investment Grade Rating.” The definition of “Investment Grade Rating” in each of the Notes and Officers’ Certificates is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s (as defined below) and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P (as defined below), and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement Rating Agency or Rating Agencies (as defined below) selected by the Company.

Section 2.03.    Definition of “Rating Agencies.” The definition of “Rating Agencies” in each of the Notes and Officers’ Certificates is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if either of Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined under Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or either of them, as the case may be.

Section 2.04.    Definition of “Rating Event.” The definition of “Rating Event” in each of the Notes and Officers’ Certificates is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“Rating Event” means the rating on the Notes is lowered by each of the two Rating Agencies and the Notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the two Rating Agencies, in any case on any day during the period (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for

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a possible downgrade by either of the Rating Agencies) commencing upon the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following the consummation of the Change of Control; provided, however, that a Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if such Rating Agency making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply does not announce or publicly confirm that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the rating event).

3ARTICLE 3

Acceptance Of Supplemental Indenture

Section 3.01.     Trustee’s Acceptance. The Trustee hereby accepts this Supplemental Indenture and agrees to perform the same under the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture.

4ARTICLE 4

Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 4.01.     Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 4.02.     Benefits of Supplemental Indenture. Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture, expressed or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the Holders, the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent, any Security Registrar and their successors hereunder, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Supplemental Indenture.

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Section 4.03.     Execution in Counterparts. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Any signature to this Supplemental Indenture may be delivered by facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf) or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000 or the New York Electronic Signature and Records Act or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants to the other parties that it has the corporate or other capacity and authority to execute this Agreement through electronic means and there are no restrictions for doing so in that party’s constitutive documents.

Section 4.04.     Ratification of Indenture. The Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein provided.

Section 4.05.     The Trustee. The Trustee makes no representations as to and shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture. The recitals in this Supplemental Indenture are made by the Company only and not by the Trustee, and all of the indemnities, rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits afforded to the Trustee under the Indenture are deemed to be incorporated herein, and shall be enforceable by the Trustee hereunder, including, but not limited to, in connection with the execution of this Supplemental Indenture by the Trustee and any action or inaction of the Trustee taken in accordance herewith, in each of its capacities hereunder as if set forth herein in full.

Section 4.06.     Effect on Successors and Assigns. All agreements of the Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar and the Paying Agent in this Supplemental Indenture will bind their respective successors.

Section 4.07.     Headings, Etc. The titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

[Signature Pages Follow]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first written above.

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.
By:	/s/ Aidan Clare
	Name:    Aidan Clare
	Title:    Senior Vice President and     Global Treasurer
By:	/s/ John Devlin
	Name:    John Devlin
	Title:    Vice President, Global Treasury

[Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture]

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:	/s/ Katherine M. O’Brien Mathis
	Name:    Katherine M. O’Brien Mathis
	Title:    Vice President

[Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture]

EX-10.47

EXHIBIT 10.47

DATED     11 January 2020

Walgreens Boots Alliance Services Limited

and

Marco Pagni

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

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AN AGREEMENT made this 11 day of January 2020

BETWEEN:

1.'the Company': Walgreens Boots Alliance Services Limited (registered number: 7073433) whose registered office is at 2 The Heights, Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 ONY

2.'You': Marco Pagni of Maslack, Downings, Co. Donegal, Ireland

1.Effect of certain words and expressions

Certain words and expressions have particular meanings in this Agreement. Please refer to Schedule 1.

2.Appointment

2.1.In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein, the Company appoints you and you agree to act as Executive Vice President & Global Chief Legal & Administrative Officer. You agree that the Company may at its discretion require you to perform, for the Company or any Group Company without additional remuneration, other lawful duties or reasonable tasks not specifically within the scope of your normal duties but consistent with your seniority and professional skills and you agree to perform those duties/tasks. The Company may appoint someone to act jointly with you in the performance of your duties.

2.2.You shall at all times during this Agreement comply with all policies, procedures and practices of the Company from time to time notified by the Company to you.

2.3.You represent that you are free to take up this employment and that you are not subject to any restriction that might hinder or prevent the full performance of your duties.

2.4.You affirm that you will advise the Company immediately of any circumstances that may prevent the continuation of your employment on the terms outlined in this agreement. Such matters will include but are not limited to legal or work visa restrictions.

2.5.Your continuous period of employment with the Company commenced on 15/07/2003.

2.6.You shall:

2.6.1.hold such Office as the Company may from time to time reasonably require;

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2.6.2.(if the Company so requests and in any event on termination of this Agreement) immediately resign without claim for compensation from any Office held in any Group Company (but without prejudice to any rights you may have to claim compensation in respect of termination of this Agreement);

2.6.3.not do anything that would cause you to be disqualified from holding any Office;

2.6.4.not (without the prior written approval of the Board) resign from any Office held in any Group Company or any trusteeship which is held as a result of this Agreement.

3.Hours of Work, Place of Work and Salary

3.1.Your hours of work shall be from 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. You may also be required to work such additional hours without additional remuneration as are necessary for the proper performance of your duties.

3.2.Your current salary is £677,166 gross per year, paid on or about the 28th day of each month in arrears. Salary includes any fees receivable by you as an officer, nominee or representative of the Company or any Group Company. No overtime pay will be paid for work outside normal hours. Salary will be reviewed annually, although you have no entitlement to a salary increase in any year. Subject to clause 3.4, you shall perform your duties at the Sedley Place office from time to time, and may be required to travel abroad in the performance of your duties.

3.3.The Company shall be entitled at any time during your employment, or in any event on termination, to deduct from your remuneration any monies due from you to the Company.

3.4.Due to the nature of the Company's business and the work you will be required to do, the Company may from time to time, on giving you reasonable notice, require you to work on a temporary or permanent basis at any of its offices or those of its Group Companies. The Company will pay you your reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any temporary or permanent relocation . Any additional terms or conditions will be in accordance with the Company's standard International Assignment Policy, as from time to time in force.

4.Discretionary Bonus

4.1.You may be eligible for a discretionary bonus determined by the Company in accordance with the Company's discretionary bonus arrangements from time to time, such arrangements to be communicated to you from time to time. No bonus is payable:

4.1.1.during or in respect of any period: (a) whilst you are suspended under clause 13.10 of this Agreement; or (b) in which the Company exercises its rights under clause 13.11 of this Agreement;

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4.1.2.if on the date of payment your employment has terminated (for any reason) or you are serving any notice period.

4.2.Payment of bonus on one occasion shall not give rise to any right to or expectation of payment of any bonus thereafter.

4.3.Announcement of a bonus scheme on one occasion shall not give rise to any right to or expectation of an announcement of any bonus scheme or schemes thereafter.

5.Pension

Subject to clause 7, you have the option to join the Alliance Healthcare and Boots Retirement Savings Plan ('AHBRSP') which is a Group Personal Pension scheme. If you decide not to join the AHBRSP you will be automatically enrolled into the Company's workplace pension scheme, referred to as the Auto-Enrolment Scheme ('AE Scheme'), providing you meet the necessary criteria. Details of both schemes are attached at Schedule 2.

6.Insurance and Other Benefits

6.1.Subject to clause 7, you shall be entitled to participate at the Company's expense for your own, your spouse's and your dependent children's benefit in the Company's private medical expenses insurance scheme.

6.2.Subject to clause 7, if you are a member of the AHBRSP referred to in clause 5, the Company will provide you with a life assurance benefit equal to four times (4x) your annual Retirement Savings Pay, rising to five times (5x) after you have been an AHBRSP member for five years (subject to an upper age limit of 75 at which time the benefit will cease).

7.Provisions applicable to clauses 5 and 6

7.1.Your entitlement (if any) to be a member of, receive benefits under the AHBRSP, private medical expenses insurance and life assurance scheme referred to in clauses 5 and 6 (“the Schemes") is subject to all rules and terms and conditions of the relevant Scheme from time to time in force and as the same may be varied and/or replaced by the Company and/or the provider of the relevant benefit. Further details regarding the Schemes are available from the Company. Reference to "the Schemes" includes the same as varied and/or replaced from time to time.

7.2.The Company is entitled:

7.2.1.to terminate all or any of the Schemes or related benefits (with or without any replacement) and/or to replace the provider of and/or the nature or type of any benefits provided thereunder;

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7.2.2.to terminate your employment notwithstanding that such termination may result in you ceasing to be entitled to and/or being entitled only to reduced benefits under the Schemes.

8.Company Car/ Car Allowance

8.1.You are entitled to be provided with a car or car allowance on the terms set out in the Company Car Policy in force and as amended from time to time, a copy of which is available from Human Resources.

8.2.Subject to the Company Car Policy, the Company shall bear all insurance costs standing and servicing expenses of the car with the exception of the cost of fuel for non business use and recovery where the car is used outside the United Kingdom for private purposes.

9.Expenses

9.1.Subject to the Company's guidelines in relation to reimbursement of expenses, the Company shall reimburse to you expenses reasonably incurred by you in the proper performance of your duties.

9.2.Any Company sponsored credit or charge card shall be used only for expenses reimbursable under clause 9.1 and shall be returned to the Company when requested.

10.Holiday

10.1.In addition to the public holidays normally applicable in England and Wales, you are entitled to 30 working days paid holiday in each holiday year to be taken at such time or times as are agreed with the person to whom you report.

10.2.The holiday year is 1 April to 31 March.

10.3.You will forfeit any accrued but untaken holiday which has not been taken at the end of the holiday year but you will be entitled to carry forward up to one week's accrued but untaken holiday into the next holiday year. Any additional carry forward of accrued but untaken holiday requires the prior agreement of your functional leader.

10.4.If your employment is terminated for whatever reason during a holiday year, your holiday entitlement will be calculated as being 1/12th of your annual holiday entitlement for each completed calendar month worked prior to termination.

10.5.The Company reserves the right to deduct any amount of holiday pay paid in excess of accrued entitlement from any sums due at termination, or to require the reimbursement of any such amounts.

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10.6.If either party serves notice to terminate this Agreement, the Company may require you to take any accrued but unused holiday entitlement during the notice period (whether or not you are on Garden Leave).

10.7.Further details regarding your holiday entitlement are set out in the Handbook.

11.Illness, injury or incapacity

11.1.If you are prevented by illness injury or other incapacity from properly performing your duties, you shall comply with the notification and certification procedure detailed in the Handbook from time to time.

11.2.Information relating to the Company's non-contractual and discretionary Company Sick Pay scheme is contained within the Handbook.

11.3.In the event that you are unable to attend work due to illness or injury because of the actionable negligence of a third party in respect of which damages are recoverable, you shall advise the Company forthwith and all payments made by the Company to you during such incapacity shall constitute a loan to you to the extent that any compensation recovered from the third party shall be repaid by you to the Company.

11.4.If you are absent from work due to illness, injury or incapacity for a consecutive period of 90 working days the Company may (without prejudice to the provisions of clause 2.1) appoint another person or persons to perform your duties until you return to work.

12.Intellectual Property Rights

12.1.You acknowledge that whilst employed by the Company (whether or not in the course of your duties) you, whether alone or jointly, make or develop or modify any Intellectual Property in connection with or relating to or capable of being used or adapted for use in the business of the Company or any Group Company:

12.1.1.all rights to the Intellectual Property which subsist (or which may in the future subsist) will on creation, rest in and be the exclusive property of the Company;

12.1.2.to the extent necessary to vest the Intellectual Property in the Company and subject to section 42 of the Patents Act 1977, you will hereby assign to the Company all rights to the Intellectual Property, whether future or subsisting, for the full term throughout the world.

12.2.Where you alone or jointly make or develop or modify any Intellectual Property, you shall promptly disclose to the Company full details of the Intellectual Property and shall not disclose the Intellectual Property to any third party before so doing.

12.3.You shall maintain adequate written records and memoranda of all Intellectual Property and these will remain the sole property of the Company and:

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12.3.1.you shall, at the request and expense of the Company, do everything necessary to enable the Company or its nominee to obtain the benefit of the Intellectual Property including, without limitation, securing patent or other protection in the United Kingdom or any part of the world; and

12.3.2.you waive any rights you may have in respect of the Intellectual Property under sections 77 to 86 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, including the right to object to derogatory treatment.

13.Covenants during employment and confidential information

13.1.You agree that during your employment you have a general duty to act in good faith with respect to the Company.

13.2.You agree that during your employment you will not:

13.2.1.(subject as otherwise provided in this clause 13.2.1) have any Material Interest in any other business and including in any business which is in competition (in whole or in part) with any business carried on by the Company or any Group Company and/or which may require the disclosure or use of Confidential Information. You may have a Material Interest in another business (which is not in competition, as aforesaid, and will not require the disclosure or use of Confidential Information), if you obtain the prior written consent of the Company, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld;

13.2.2.other than for the proper performance of your duties remove from the Company's and/or any Group Company's premises or copy or allow others to remove or copy any Confidential Information or any other information which belongs to or relates to the businesses of the Company or any Group Company;

13.2.3.directly or indirectly (on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person) solicit or entice away any employee or consultant of the Company or any Group Company, or discourage any prospective employee or consultant from being employed or engaged by the Company or by any Group Company;

13.2.4.directly or indirectly (on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person) solicit the business or custom of any past current or prospective customer or supplier of the Company and/or any Group Company; and

13.2.5.directly or indirectly (on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person) provide services and/or products to any past current or prospective customer of the Company and/or of any Group Company.

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13.3.You shall not either during your employment (save only in the proper performance of your duties) or at any time (without limit) after its termination, directly or indirectly:

13.3.1.disclose any Confidential Information to any person, company, business entity or other organisation whatsoever; or

13.3.2.use any Confidential Information for your own purposes or those of any other person, company, business entity or other organisation whatsoever.

13.4.You shall use all due care and diligence to prevent any loss, unauthorised disclosure or use of any Confidential Information.

13.5.You shall not during your employment directly or indirectly make publish or otherwise communicate any disparaging or derogatory statements whether in writing or otherwise concerning the Company or any Group Company, their officers, consultants, agents, shareholders, employees, suppliers or customers.

13.6.Nothing in this Agreement will prevent the disclosure or use of Confidential Information pursuant to an order of a court of competent jurisdiction or regulatory body with powers to compel disclosure, provided that you shall, unless prohibited by law, give the Company as much notice as is reasonably practicable if:

13.6.1.any application is made to the court of which you are aware which relates to Confidential Information. You shall also, unless prohibited by applicable law, notify the Company of the making of any such court order;

13.6.2.any regulatory body has requested disclosure of Confidential Information by you and, unless prohibited by applicable law, you shall consult with the Company prior to making any disclosure pursuant to any court order and/or requirement of a regulatory body and take all steps reasonably required by the Company to disclose Confidential Information in a manner reasonably designed to preserve its confidential nature as far as reasonably practicable.

13.7.Neither you (nor any person in whom you have a Material Interest) shall without prior consent of the Company receive any money or other benefit from any customer or supplier of the Company or of any Group Company, which is in excess of the limits set out in the Company's Anti-bribery and Anti-corruption policy in force from time to time. You will immediately advise the Company if any such money or other benefit in excess of those limits is received.

13.8.You agree to abide by the Company's Code of Conduct and Business Ethics in force as amended from time to time a copy which is available from Human Resources.

13.9.Nothing in this Agreement shall be taken to mean that the Company is obliged to provide you with any work or that you are entitled to perform work for the Company and/or any Group Company.

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13.10.The Company shall be entitled at any time and from time to time to suspend you and require you not to attend work for such period as the Company, acting reasonably, may specify in order to investigate a suspected disciplinary matter or for any other reason considered appropriate by the Company (acting reasonably).

13.11.At any time during a notice given by either party to terminate your employment and at any time during this Agreement (in particular if you purport to terminate your employment in breach of this Agreement) and for a period not exceeding 6 months:

13.11.1.the Company may in its absolute discretion elect not to provide you with any work (and you shall have no right to perform any work) and the Company may in its absolute discretion require you to perform such duties (if any) commensurate with your role as it thinks fit during normal working hours; and

13.11.2.the Company may in its absolute discretion exclude you from its premises and the premises of any Group Company and may direct you to cease all contact with any customers, suppliers, contractors or employees of the Company or any Group Company.

13.12.You shall at all times when rights are exercised under clause 13.11 remain readily accessible and available for work and otherwise comply with this Agreement and in particular this clause 13.

13.13.The exercise by the Company of any rights under clause 13.11 shall not constitute a breach of this agreement of any kind whatsoever in respect of which you have any claim against the Company. The Company's rights under clause 13.11 are without prejudice to any other rights and remedies available to the Company.

13.14.Throughout any period in which the Company exercises its rights under clause 13.11 you shall continue to receive salary and other contractual benefits (but subject to clause 4.1.1), provided that if you are not accessible and available for work, all rights to salary and other benefits in respect of the period of non-availability shall be forfeited.

14.Termination of agreement

14.1.Subject to clauses 14.2 and 14.3 this Agreement may be terminated:

14.1.1.by the Company giving you not less than 6 months prior written notice; or

14.1.2.by you giving the Company not less than 6 months prior written notice.

14.2.The Company has rights to terminate your employment as set out in the Handbook (e.g. for gross misconduct). In addition, the Company may terminate this Agreement (without notice or payment in lieu of notice) if you:

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14.2.1.seriously fail or neglect to discharge your duties effectively and diligently or to carry out all lawful directions of the Company and/or your line manager;

14.2.2.commit any act of dishonesty or any act which may bring the Company into disrepute;

14.2.3.become bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with your creditors generally; or

14.2.4.seriously contravene any model code or relevant legislation or regulatory rules from time to time applicable to directors and/or employees of the Company and/or any Group Company.

14.3.On the giving of notice to terminate your employment or at any time during any notice period, the Company may in its absolute discretion (but is not obliged to) terminate your employment immediately by notifying you that it will make a payment to you in lieu of basic salary under clause 3.2 (less such deductions as the Company is required to make by law or as authorised by you (pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise)) for any unexpired portion of the notice period. Your employment will terminate on the date that such notice is given or such later date as the Company may state in that notice.

14.4.The Company may pay the payment in lieu of basic salary referred to in clause 14.3 above in equal monthly instalments, commencing in the calendar month immediately after the Termination Date, until such time as you secure alternative employment or the notice period to which the instalments relate expires (whichever is earlier), subject to you providing to the Company such evidence as it may reasonably require on a monthly basis to show that you are making reasonable endeavours to secure alternative employment. You will not, however, be obliged to accept alternative employment which is not appropriate to your status and skills. In the event that you do secure alternative employment but at a lower basic salary, then subsequent instalments of basic salary in lieu of notice shall be reduced by an amount equivalent to such lower basic salary, provided that the remuneration arrangements agreed by you and your new employer are appropriately balanced between basic salary and other benefits in accordance with market practice. In the absence of such evidence or if the Company is not reasonably satisfied that the evidence provided shows that you are making reasonable endeavours to secure alternative employment, the Company may cease making payment of the monthly instalments referred to in this clause after giving you one month's written notice of such cessation and the reasons for it. In such circumstances, you will have no rights to any compensation whatsoever in respect of the loss of any further instalments of the payment of basic salary in lieu of notice that would otherwise be due to you. For the purposes of this clause, "alternative employment" means any office, appointment, employment or self-employment under the terms of a contract of service or contract for services or otherwise.

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14.5.On the termination of this Agreement for whatever reason, you shall at the request of the Company resign from all and any offices which you may hold as a director, nominee or representative of the Company or any Group Company and if you should fail to do so within seven days the Company is hereby irrevocably authorised to appoint some person in your name and on your behalf to sign any documents or do any things necessary or requisite to effect such resignation(s) and/or transfer(s).

14.6.On the termination of this Agreement (or if earlier requested by the Company) you shall immediately return to the Company all Confidential Information and all other information property equipment and materials of any nature (whether copies, originals or extracts) in your possession or control relating to the Company, any Group Company and/or any customer, supplier or contact of the Company and/or any Group Company (without keeping any copies) including relating to any intellectual property of the Company and/or any Group Company, any such information made or compiled by you, keys, correspondence, documents, files, papers, diagrams, books, records , security passes, computer disks, tapes, software, telephones and computers. In particular, if any information is held in electronic form you shall (a) if the medium on which the stored belongs to the Company (and/or any Group Company) return that medium (with all such information) to the Company; and (b) if the medium on which the same is stored belongs to you, provide a copy of all such information to the Company and when so requested to do so by the Company, permanently delete the same from the medium on which it is stored.

14.7.Where the Company exercises its rights pursuant to clause 13.11, you agree to comply forthwith with the provisions of clause 14.6 above. However, you shall not be obliged to return any property provided to you as a contractual benefit in those circumstances.

14.8.lf so required by the Company, you shall on each occasion you are obliged to deliver up property or delete information pursuant to this clause 14 provide to the Company a signed statement identifying the property returned and confirming that you have fully complied with your obligations under this clause.

15.Obligations after employment

Non-compete covenants

15.1.You shall not during the Restricted Period engage in any Restricted Activity for the purposes of a Competing Business.

15.2.You shall not during the Restricted Period have a Shareholding in any entity which engages in Competing Business.

Customer covenants

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15.3.You shall not during the Restricted Period, for the purposes of a Competing Business, engage in any business with or accept an order or custom from any Customer or Prospective Customer.

15.4.You should not during the Restricted Period, for the purpose of a Competing Business engage in any business with or accept an order or custom from an Customer or Prospective Customer.

15.5.You shall not during the Restricted Period encourage or do any act which would have the effect of encouraging any Customer or Prospective Customer to reduce the amount of business conducted with the Company or any Group Company, or adversely affect the terms on which a Customer or a Prospective Customer conducts its business with the Company or any Group Company.

Supplier covenants

15.6.You shall not during the Restricted Period in relation to any contract or arrangement which the Company or any Group Company has with any Supplier for the supply of goods or services to the Company and/or any Group Company;

15.6.1.interfere with the supply of goods and services to the Company and/or any Group Company by any Supplier (including, without limitation, inducing or encouraging the Supplier adversely to vary the terms on which it conducts business with the Company and/or any Group Company); or

15.6.2.induce or encourage any Supplier of goods or services to the Company or any Group Company to cease or decline to supply such goods or services in the future.

15.7.You shall not during the Restricted Period provide advice, assistance or service whether as a director, officer, employee, consultant, partner or LLP member, contractor or sub-contractor, principal or agent, and whether on your account or with or on behalf of any person or entity for a Supplier in the Restricted Area. This prohibition shall only apply where (i) you have acquired knowledge of Confidential Information in respect of and unknown to the Supplier during the Lookback Period, and (ii) that Confidential Information would be materially relevant to the advice, assistance or service to be provided to the Supplier by You.

Employee non-solicitation covenants

15.8.You shall not during the Restricted Period solicit or entice away or attempt to solicit or entice away from the Company or any Group Company any Employee or Contractor.

15.9.You shall not during the Restricted Period be personally involved to a material extent in recruiting, engaging or employing (whether on his or her own behalf or on behalf of any other person) any Employee or Contractor.

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15.10.You acknowledge that any and all of your relationships from time to time with customers of the Company and/or any Group Company are the property of the Company and/or its Group Companies, and may represent Confidential Information of the Company and/or any Group Company and that you have no interest, right or entitlement to maintain particular relationships or accounts with any particular customer of the Company and/or its Group Companies. You shall not exploit your relationships with the customers of the Company and/or any Group Company except in the proper course of your duties for the Company. You agree that the Company or its Group Companies shall be entitled in its sole discretion from time to time (including during any period of notice) to require you to terminate any or all such relationships, hand over any or all such relationships or accounts to persons nominated by the Company or its Group Companies (including to other employees of the Company or its Group Companies) and/or to seek to generate and maintain relationships or accounts with other existing or new customers.

15.11.The parties agree that the restrictions contained in clauses 13 and 15 are without prejudice to any other duties (fiduciary or otherwise) owed to the Company or any Group Company and are reasonable and necessary for the protection of legitimate business interests of the Company and any Group Company and that, having regard to those interests, those restrictions do not work unreasonably on you. It is nevertheless agreed that if any of those restrictions shall taken together or separately be held to be void or ineffective for any reason but would be held to be valid and effective if any restriction or restrictions or part of the wording were deleted then the said restriction shall apply with such deletions as may be necessary to make the same valid and effective.

15.12.The restrictions contained in clauses 13 and 15, including each sub-clause thereof and each of the restrictions listed by roman numerals, shall be construed as separate, severable and individual restrictions. If any restriction is found to be invalid this will not affect the validity or enforceability of any of the other covenants.

15.13.The restrictions contained in clauses 13 and 15 are given for the benefit of the Company and all other Group Companies and may be enforced by the Company on its own behalf or behalf of any Group Company.

15.14.Each of the sub-paragraphs of the definitions contain in Schedule 1 of this Agreement including the matters identified by roman numerals, constitutes as separate, severable and independent part of the definition. If any such part of a definition would render a covenant invalid, this will not affect the validity or enforceability of the covenant by reference to any part of the definition.

15.15.You acknowledge and agree that if you breach any of your obligations contained in this Agreement (including those contained in clauses 13 and 15) then the Company may seek damages from you for any loss or damage suffered by the Company as a result of your breach. You also acknowledge and agree that damages alone would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of clauses 13 and 15 and that for any breach of such obligations, the Company and its Group Companies will, in addition to other remedies as may be available to it, or as provided for in the Agreement, be

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entitled to an injunction, restraining order, or other equitable relief, restraining you from committing or continuing to commit any breach of the covenants. You agree that proof will not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of clauses 13 and 15 would be difficult to calculate and would be an inadequate remedy.

15.16.You have given the undertakings contained in clauses 13 and 15 to the Company for itself and as trustee for each Group Company and you will at the request and cost of the Company enter into direct undertakings with any Group Company which correspond to the undertakings in clauses 13 and 15, or which are less onerous only to the extent necessary (in the opinion of the Company or its legal advisors) to ensure that such undertakings are valid and enforceable.

15.17.If the Company transfers all or any part of its business to a third party ("the transferee"), the restrictions contained in clauses 13 and 15 shall, with effect from you becoming an employee of the transferee, apply to you as if references to the Company included the transferee and references to any Group Company were construed accordingly and as if references to customers were to customers of the Company and/or the transferee and their respective group companies.

15.18.You agree that if your employment is transferred to any other person, firm, company or other entity, pursuant to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, you will, if required, enter into an agreement with such other person, firm, company or other entity, that will contain provisions that provide protection to the new employer equivalent to that provided to the Company and any Group Company in this clause 15.

15.19.None of the restrictions in clause 15 shall prevent you from doing anything for which the Company has given its prior written consent (such consent to not be unreasonably withheld) and the Company encourages you to seek such consent.

16.Data Protection

16.1.By entering into this contract of employment the Company (or its agents) will hold and process, both electronically and manually, the personal and sensitive data it collects in relation to you and this Agreement for legal, personnel, administrative and management purposes.

16.2.The Company (or its agents) may transfer, store and process your data in and outside of the EEA (European Economic Area). Adequate protections are in place for any data stored outside of the EEA.

16.3.The Company will treat all personal data as confidential and will not use or process it other than for contractual, legal or legitimate purposes. Steps will be taken to ensure that the information is accurate, kept up to date and not be kept for longer than is necessary. Measures will also be taken to safeguard against unauthorised or unlawful processing and accidental loss or destruction or damage to the data.

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16.4.Subject to certain exceptions as permitted by law, you are entitled to have access to your personal data, amend your data and also request the erasure of your data held by the Company.

16.5.It is the Company's policy to take all reasonable steps to protect its interests. This includes ensuring that systems and equipment are used for the proper purposes and they will be monitored regularly. Therefore, you should not have any expectation of privacy in respect of Company systems and equipment. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes but is not limited to telephone systems, computer systems, use of email and internet and the postal system

17.General

17.1.This Agreement (and other matters referred to the in the Handbook as having contractual effect) constitute the entire employment contract between the Company and you and supersede and replace: (a) any and all previous terms and conditions of employment or for services between the Company and Group Company and you (all of which shall be deemed to have terminated with immediate effect by mutual consent, but without prejudice to any liability for any prior breach) and (b) all other correspondence between you and the Company relating to your employment. If there are any inconsistencies between the provisions of this Agreement and the Handbook, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail. The provisions of Schedules 1 and 2 and any additional terms endorsed in writing by or on behalf of the parties will be read and constructed as part of this Agreement and will be enforceable accordingly.

17.2.This Agreement sets out all of the salary and other benefits to which you are entitled. Any other benefits provided are non-contractual and if provided are provided in the absolute discretion of the Company and may be withdrawn at any time.

17.3.The expiration or termination of this Agreement shall not affect the provisions of this Agreement as expressly or by implication are intended to have effect after that time and shall be without prejudice to any accrued rights or remedies of the parties.

17.4.The Company and you agree that the Company may at any time on written notice to you assign the benefit and the burden of this Agreement to another person being a Group Company at the time of such assignment. In so far as permitted by law, you hereby waive any right or rights you may have, whether statutory or otherwise, to object to being employed by such new employer.

17.5.The disciplinary and grievance procedures which apply to you are contained in the Handbook, a copy of which has been provided to you.

17.6.If you are dissatisfied with any disciplinary decision relating to you or wish to appeal any decision to dismiss you or if you have any grievance relating to your employment this must be raised with your line manager or any person senior to them (either orally or in writing). The further steps in relation thereto are explained in the Handbook.

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17.7.Nothing in the Agreement or otherwise will affect any statutory dispute resolution procedures which the law requires the Company to comply with. The relevant provisions of the Handbook will apply to the extent that they are additional to and not inconsistent with the requirements of any such statutory procedure.

17.8.The existence, effect and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of England and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.

IN WITNESSwhereof the duly authorised signatory of the Company has executed this Agreement the day and year first before written and you have executed this Agreement the day and year first before written.

SIGNED by:                SIGNED by:

/s/ Marco Pagni            /s/ Frank Standish

Marco Pagni            Frank Standish

For and on behalf of Walgreens Boots Alliance Services Ltd.

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SCHEDULE 1

1.1    In this Agreement:
‘Business’	means the activity or activities of the Company or any Group Company in which you were materially engaged at any time during the Lookback Period or about which you have obtained Confidential Information during the Lookback Period and shall include any activity or activities that the Company or any Group Company is proposing to carry out where you were materially engaged in the preparations for such activity or activities during the Lookback Period.
‘Competing Business	means any activity or activities which compete with or are for the purposes of preparations to compete with the Business in the Restricted Area.
‘Confidential Information’	means all confidential and/or trade secret information of the Company and/or any Group Company (whether or not recorded in any permanent, written or electronic form and whether or not marked as confidential) including marketing information, information relating to planned products/services, distribution techniques, sales, merchandising and pricing information, information relating to customers/suppliers (including names, contact details and actual or proposed business and terms of business), financial corporate and strategic information, business projections and targets, business methods or plans, technical information, know how, inventions, research and development information, information relating to senior management succession details, employee records and other information in respect of which the Company or any Group Company owes an obligation of confidentiality to any third party, but shall not include any information which is in or comes into the public domain otherwise than as a result of any unauthorised disclosure by you or any other person who owes the Company and/or any Group Company an obligation of confidentiality in relation to the information disclosed

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‘Customer’	means any customer of the Company or of any Group Company: (a)with whom you have had material dealings; or (b)in respect of whom you have obtained Confidential Information in each case at any time during the Lookback Period.
‘Employee or Contractor’	means any director, officer, employee or consultant, in each case of the Company or any Group Company, with whom you had material dealings at any time during the Lookback Period and who is of the same or similar status as you or is otherwise employed or engaged in a senior managerial, senior technical or senior buying/selling role.
‘Excluded Activity’	means any advice, assistance or service which is of a materially different nature to that in which you were materially engaged during the Lookback Period.
‘Garden Leave’	means any period during which the Company exercised its rights under clause 13.11.
‘Group Company’	means any parent undertaking of the Company or any subsidiary undertaking of the Company or of any parent undertaking of the Company and for these purposes “parent undertaking” and “subsidiary undertaking” have the meanings given by Part 38 of the Companies Act 2006.
‘Handbook’	means the Walgreens Boots Alliance Services Staff Handbook, as from time to time amended or replace

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‘Lookback Period’	means the period of 12 months prior to the earlier of the Termination Date or the commencement of Garden Leave, or your period of employment if less than that.
‘Material Interest’	means: (a)the holding of any position as director, officer, employee, consultant, partner, sub-contractor, principal or agent; or any other position in or control over any person which enables you directly or indirectly to exercise influence; or (b)a Shareholding.
‘Office’	means such offices commensurate with your position as a director or secretary in the Company or any Group Company.
‘Products’	means products in the range of products supplied by the Company or any Group Company in the period of 12 months prior to the Termination Date.
‘Prospective Customer’	means any person, firm, company or other entity with whom the Company or any Group Company has had any negotiations or material discussions for the provision or potential provision of Products or Services by the Company or any Group Company and: (a)with whom you had been materially concerned (directly or indirectly) in such negotiations; or (b)in respect of whom you had obtained Confidential Information in each case during the Lookback Period.
‘Restricted Activity’	means the active provision of advice, assistance or service, whether as a director, officer, employee, consultant, partner or LLP member, contractor or sub contractor, principal or agent, and whether on your own account or with or on behalf of any person or entity, but shall not include Excluded Activity.

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‘Restricted Area’	means any country in which the Business offered products or services or was proposing to offer products or services, but this defined term shall only to apply to proposed products or services if you were materially engaged in the preparations for such proposed offering of products or services during the Lookback Period.
‘Restricted Period’	means 12 months from the Termination Date less any period of Garden Leave.
‘Retirement Savings Pay’	means contractual basic salary, company sick pay and statutory payments (e.g., Statutory Sick Pay and Statutory Maternity Pay). It does not include exceptional payments (e.g., unsocial hours premia, shift pay, bonus, honoraria, overtime and car allowance).
‘Services’	means services in the range of services supplied by the Company or any Group Company in the period of 12 months prior to the Termination Date.
‘Shareholding’	means the direct or indirect control or ownership (whether jointly or alone) of any shares (or any voting rights attached to them) or debentures save for the ownership for investment purposes only of not more than 5 per cent of the issued ordinary shares of any company whose shares are listed on any recognised investment exchange (as defined in section 285 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000).

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‘Supplier’	means any person, firm, company, or other entity who:(i) has supplied goods or services to the Company or any Group Company during the period of 12 months ending on the Termination Date; or (ii) has agreed prior to the Termination Date to supply goods or services to the Company or any Group Company, with such supply to commence at any time in the twelve months following the Termination Date; or (iii) as at the Termination Date, supplies goods or services to the Company or any Group Company under a contract or arrangement between that supplier and the Company or the relevant Group Company; and (a)with whom you have had material dealings; or (b)in respect of whom you have obtained Confidential Information in each case at any time during the Lookback Period.
‘Termination Date’	means the date of termination of your employment with the Company.
1.2     In this Agreement any phase introduced by the terms “including”, “include”, “in particular” or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms.

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SCHEDULE 2

Pensions

The scheme is called the Alliance Healthcare and Boots Retirement Savings Plan (AHBRSP). It has three Sections, the Auto-Enrolment Section (AE Section), the Base Section and the Standard Section. The AHBRSP is managed by Legal & General (L&G), one of the UK's largest insurance companies.

The key features of the AHBRSP can be found on our pension website www.ahbukpensionportal.co.uk. It is the Plan guide and includes details of the three Sections and what you and the employer will pay as well as contact details for further information. You will also find the online AHBRSP Contribution Option form to select contribution rates for the Base or Standard Sections, which you can submit.

Current legislation requires all UK businesses to enroll eligible employees into a qualifying workplace pension scheme. Both the employer and employee then make contributions into that scheme. This is known as 'auto-enrolment'.

If you meet all of the following eligibility criteria, you will be automatically enrolled into the AE Section of AHBRSP:

•are not currently a member of a qualifying scheme;

•earn over £10,000 a year, or £833 a month (the Government's thresholds for 2019/20);

•are aged 22 or over but under State Pension Age; and

•work, or usually work, in the UK.

If you meet these criteria, at the end of your third monthly pay period (or 13 weeks if paid weekly) following your start date you will be automatically enrolled into the AE Section. You will be notified by letter (so please make sure your contact details are kept up-to-date) and your options explained, including your option to leave - known as 'opting-out'.

If you do not initially meet the eligibility conditions, you will not be enrolled. We will continue to check at the beginning of each following pay period to see if you meet the eligibility conditions at that point. If you do, you will be automatically enrolled after three months (or 13 weeks) assuming you continue to meet the eligibility conditions at that later date. You can also opt-in in to the AE Section by either:

send a letter, signed by you, with your request to Auto-Enrolment Pensions, D80 Room T11, Nottingham NG90 1LP, or email: autoenrolment@boots.co.ukyour request, which must include the phrase "/confirm I personally submitted this notice to join a workplace pension scheme".

If you have been automatically enrolled, or you have opted-in to the AE Section you can change to either the Base or Standard Section at any time. Make sure you check the website www.ahb-ukpensionportal.co.ukto find out what employer and employee contributions apply and to complete the Contribution Option form to change Sections.

As a member of the Base or Standard Sections, you not only build up savings for your retirement but could also be eligible for life assurance cover.

Please note that the legislation requires UK businesses to periodically re-assess anyone (currently every three years) who has opted out of a qualifying workplace pension scheme to see if they

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should be automatically re-enrolled . If this were to apply to you in future, you will be notified and the impact of such re-enrolment explained, including your option to opt-out again.

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EX-10.48

EXHIBIT 10.48

WITHOUT PREJUDICE & SUBJECT TO CONTRACT

THIS AGREEMENT is made on the 16th day of June 2021 between MARCO PAGNI of [Address] ("the Employee") and WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE SERVICES LIMITED of 2 The Heights, Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0NY ("the Company").

INTRODUCTION

A.The Employee's employment with the Company will end on 30 November 2021.

B.The parties wish to record the terms agreed between them on which the Employee's employment will come to an end.

C.The Employee agrees that he accepts the payments and other arrangements detailed below and will not make any complaint or claim concerning his employment and/or its termination in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

D.The Company acknowledges and confirms that all appropriate processes have been carried out and approvals obtained to make the payments under this Agreement.

E.The Employee will complete the Reaffirmation Letter on or around the Termination Date.

AGREEMENT

It is agreed between the parties as follows:

1.The Employee's employment by the Company shall terminate on 30 November 2021 ("the Termination Date"). The Employee will be paid his contractual salary and benefits (less such deductions for income tax and employee's National Insurance contributions as the Company is required to make by law) up to and including that date. The Employee will be paid in lieu of any accrued but untaken annual leave (21 days as at the end of June 2021). However, the Parties may mutually agree to a period before the Termination Date being spent on annual leave in order to discharge some or all of the Employee's annual leave, with the balance (if any) being paid in lieu. Any payment will be subject to such deductions for income tax and employee's National Insurance contributions and such other tax withholdings as the Company is required to make by law.

2.The Company will pay the Employee in lieu of 6 months' notice (£338,583) in 6 equal monthly instalments of £56,430.50 (less such deductions for income tax and employee's National Insurance contributions and such other tax withholdings as the Company is required to make by law) each month commencing in December 2021

("Notice Payments").

3.The Notice Payments will be made on or around the last day in each month and will continue until May 2022. The parties agree that the Notice Payments shall not be impacted or reduced if the Employee secures alternative employment or other work before the end of May 2022 and that the Employee shall not be under a duty to make reasonable efforts to secure such alternative employment or work of any kind. As such, the relevant provisions in the Contract of Employment shall have no effect.

4.    The parties accordingly believe that the Employee's Post-Employment Notice Period and Post-Employment Notice Pay are nil.

5.    Subject to clause 1, the Company will pay to the Employee within 28 days of (1) the Termination Date or (2) receipt by the Company of a copy of this Agreement signed by the Employee and a copy of the Reaffirmation Letter signed by the Employee (whichever is later) a payment (less such deductions for income tax and employee's National Insurance contributions and such other tax withholdings as the Company is required to make by law) as pay in lieu of outstanding holiday entitlement as at the Termination Date.

6.Subject and conditional on the Employee complying with the terms of this Agreement the Company will pay (less such deductions for income tax and employee's National Insurance contributions and such other tax withholdings as the Company is required to make by law) to the Employee in December 2021 provided the Company has received both a copy of this Agreement and the Reaffirmation Letter signed by the Employee:

a.the sum of £681,565 (which includes the Employee's Statutory Redundancy Payment) ("the Severance Payment"); and

b.An ex-gratia payment of £1,229,852 (the "Ex-Gratia Payment")

7.In this regard, the Company and the Employee believe the following to be correct:

(a)The first £30,000 of the combined Severance Payment and Ex-Gratia Payment will be tax free, as a termination award under the threshold within the meaning of sections 402A(1) and 403 of ITEPA.

(b)The balance of the combined Severance Payment and Ex-Gratia Payment will be taxable as a termination award exceeding the threshold within the meaning of sections 402A(1) and 403 of ITEPA. The Company shall accordingly deduct income tax from it at the appropriate rate.

8.The Company will procure the provision of professional assistance (including associated advice) in the preparation and filing of US, UK and Irish tax returns (including

any queries in relation to those returns) for all tax years associated with employment income, including equity, where a filing requirement arises. At minimum this would cover 2021, 2022 and 2023 US and Irish along with 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 UK tax return support. In addition, this will include support in relation to any queries on these returns and any prior year returns. The level of such support will be decided at the Company's discretion, acting reasonably. The Employee shall retain access to any Company documentation relating to his personal tax affairs which his tax advisors may reasonably require to assist in the preparation and filing of his US, Irish and/or UK tax returns and in relation to any queries on current year returns and any prior year returns.

9.The Employee will be eligible for a bonus in relation to the fiscal year 2021 and pro rata bonus for fiscal year 2022. Any such bonus payment will be subject to the terms of the WBA Management Incentive Plan (the "MIP") and subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of WBA. Any bonus payable will be subject to deductions for income tax and National Insurance contributions as required by law. For the avoidance of doubt, any individual performance adjustments for such bonuses shall be strictly based on the assessment of the Employee's performance and contributions during the relevant bonus periods, and without regard to the pending or actual termination of employment of the Employee.

10.Pursuant to the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan Amended and Restated Effective July 11, 2017 ("the Plan"), the treatment of the Employee's existing awards will be as set out in Schedule B to this letter. For the avoidance of doubt, no awards will be made to the Employee under the Plan in 2021. The treatment of any awards will be subject to the terms of the Plan.

11.The Company will on request from a bona fide potential employer provide a written reference for the Employee in accordance with the draft in Schedule A attached. Oral requests for a reference will be responded to in similar terms.

12.    The Company agrees and undertakes that it will not make or cause to be made or publish or cause to be published nor authorise, facilitate or condone and will use reasonable endeavours to procure that all directors and senior employees will not make or cause to be made or publish or cause to be published nor authorise, facilitate or condone any derogatory or disparaging comments or remarks about the Employee.

13.The Employee undertakes that he will not at any time make any disparaging or derogatory comments or statements concerning the Company, any Associated Company or their directors or senior employees.

14.The Employee agrees to keep confidential and not to disclose or reveal the fact or terms of this Agreement to any third party, other than his immediate family, professional or legal advisers, a government authority or as required by law.

15.In consideration of the terms of this Agreement, the Employee will refrain from instituting a complaint against the Company or any Associated Company or any officer, employee or agent thereof before an Employment Tribunal in respect of any claim arising out of his employment by the Company or its termination including but not limited to any claim:

•for a redundancy payment

•for breach of contract and/or in relation to any unpaid salary or benefits and/or payment for accrued but untaken holiday

•that the Company dismissed him unfairly (including any claim relating to the circumstances and/or the manner of the termination of the Employee's employment)

•for discrimination, harassment and/or victimisation on grounds related to or arising from age, sex (including equal pay or equality of terms), maternity or pregnancy, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, gender re-assignment, religion or belief

•for unlawful deductions from wages

•for failure to pay national minimum wage

•for failure to provide adequate rest breaks or holiday

•for less favourable treatment on the grounds of part time status or fixed term status

•for being subjected to a detriment on the grounds of zero hours

•in relation to parental rights or flexible working

•for failure to inform and consult in accordance with the law

•relating to his personal data.

16.The Employee accepts the payments made by the Company and described above in full and final settlement of all claims that he has or may have against the Company or any Associated Company arising out of his employment or its

termination including any claims in respect of which an Employment Tribunal has no jurisdiction. This provision shall not affect any claim by the Employee for breach of this Agreement, for damages for personal injury or his accrued rights under any pension scheme (except where any such claim relates to or arises out of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, gender re-assignment, religion or belief discrimination; or any claim relating to the circumstances and/or manner of the termination of the Employee's employment) although the Employee warrants that as at the date of this Agreement he is not aware of any circumstances which could give rise to such a claim.

17.The Employee further confirms that he has not commenced and will not commence any proceedings in the Employment Tribunals, High Court, County Court or otherwise in any jurisdiction against the Company or any Associated Company or any of its or their respective officers, employees or agents in respect of any claim which is settled by this Agreement.

18.The Employee warrants that as at the date of this Agreement he is not aware of any other claim or claims that he has or may have against the Company or any Associated Company than those set out in this Agreement.

19.The Employee's release of claims is intended to include the release of any claims the Employee may have against the Company or its affiliates, subsidiaries or any Associated Company in any jurisdiction, including but not limited to claims arising under the laws of the United States, the State of Illinois or any individual state or local jurisdiction. In particular and without waiver, the Employee specifically releases claims he may have pursuant the United States Age Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA''), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII"), or any United States federal, state or local law governing employment including the Illinois Human Rights Act ("IHRA"), the Employee has been provided with at least 21 days to consider his release of claims under United States federal and state law and may revoke his release of claims under ADEA and IHRA only by sending written notice of such revocation addressed to the Walgreens General Counsel within eight days of this Agreement's execution.

20.If the Employee breaches any material provision of this Agreement or pursues a claim against the Company or any Associated Company arising out of his employment or its termination, notwithstanding the provisions of the Agreement, he acknowledges and agrees to repay to the Company a sum equivalent to the payments paid pursuant to clause 6 (after deduction of all tax and any National Insurance contributions due) and that such sum is recoverable from him by the Company as a debt and that the Company shall be released from any continuing

obligations under this Agreement.

21.The Employee warrants that he has not at the date of this Agreement obtained employment or entered into a contract for services or a consultancy agreement with any person, firm or company.

22.The Employee understands that payments under this Agreement are taxable income to him. The Employee understands that he shall be solely responsible for all taxes that result from his receipt of the payments to be provided under this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates or subsidiaries makes or has made any representation, warranty or guarantee of any federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences to the Employee of his receipt of any payment under this Agreement. The Company will withhold all legally-required U.S. federal, state and local tax withholdings from amounts payable under this Agreement. The Employee agrees to indemnify the Company against any claim for tax or employee's National Insurance payments together with any interest or penalties thereon made by any relevant statutory authority and to which the Company is assessed in respect of the Employee in relation to any of the payments or benefits received under the terms of this Agreement. The Company shall give the Employee reasonable notice of any demand for tax which may lead to liabilities on the Employee under this indemnity and shall provide the Employee with reasonable access to any documentation the Employee may reasonably require to dispute such a claim (provided that nothing in this clause shall prevent the Company from complying with its legal obligations with regard to HM Revenue and Customs or other competent body). All payments under this Agreement are intended as separate payments and each instalment payment is a separate payment.

23.The Employee acknowledges that he has, and will continue to abide by, a continuing duty not to disclose (unless required by law) or misuse confidential information concerning the Company or any Associated Company that came into his possession whilst in its employment.

24. The Employee warrants that he will return all Company property in his possession or under his control including but not limited to all laptops, mobile telephones, keys, security cards, cars, fuel cards, credit cards, books, documents, papers, materials, computer discs and software and any copies thereof (whether in human readable or machine readable form) on or before the Termination Date.

25.     For the avoidance of any doubt, the post-termination obligations contained within the Employee's contract of employment and Annex A of the Walgreens Boots Alliance 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan shall remain in full force and effect.

26.        The Employee confirms that, before signing this Agreement, he received relevant independent advice from a relevant independent adviser, namely Ivor Adair of Fox & Partners Solicitors LLP, 4-6 Throgmorton Avenue, London, EC2N 2DL as to the terms and effect of this Agreement and in particular its effect on his ability to pursue claims before an Employment Tribunal.

27.On or shortly after the Termination Date, the Employee shall sign and date the Reaffirmation Letter. The Company's obligations under this agreement (except under Clause 1) are conditional on the Company receiving the letter referred to in this clause duly signed and dated within 21 days of the Termination Date.

28.The Employee agrees that he will provide reasonable assistance to the Company (or any group company, including Walgreen's Boots Alliance Inc. "WBA" and Walgreen Co) or its advisers in any litigation in which he is named as a Defendant or in which the company's legal advisers otherwise seek his assistance. The Company shall give reasonable notice of a request for such assistance. In such event, the Company shall pay the Employee a daily rate of £3,646 for the time spent, provided that the time required on each occasion is approved in advance by the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned). If such approval is unreasonably withheld, the Employee shall have no obligation to provide assistance on that occasion. These payments shall be subject to such deductions for income tax and employee's National Insurance contributions or other such tax withholding as the Company is required to make by law. The Employee will be responsible for any further tax or National Insurance contributions due in respect of these payments. The Company will also reimburse any reasonable expenses that the Employee incurs (and/or loss of remuneration above the daily rate noted above) as a consequence of the Employee's assistance, provided that such expenses are approved in writing in advance by the Company. To the extent that it is lawfully able to do so, and to the extent consistent with the Company's by-laws, the Company will also pay any reasonable professional (including without limitation, legal and accounting) costs and expenses properly incurred by the Employee after the Termination Date which arise from the Employee having to defend, or appear in, any administrative, regulatory, judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings as a result of the lawful performance of his duties with the Company, provided that such expenses are approved in writing in advance by the Company.

29.    For the avoidance of doubt, the Employee will be eligible to continue to benefit from WBA's officer indemnity coverage as well as WBA's D&O Insurance in place from time to time in connection with his role and activities described above, in accordance with the terms of the said indemnity coverage and D&O insurance. The Company agrees that as long as there is a policy of D&O Insurance in effect for existing directors and/officers of the Company, that this policy will be applied to the

Employee.

30. The conditions regulating compromise and/or settlement agreements contained in section 203 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, section 77 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, section 72 of the Race Relations Act 1976, section 9 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, section 288 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and Regulation 35 of the Working Time Regulations 1998, Part 1 of Schedule 4 of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003, Part 1 of Schedule 4 of the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, Part 1 of Schedule 5 of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 and section 147 of the Equality Act 2010 are satisfied in relation to this Agreement.

31.     The Company agrees to pay direct to Fox and Partners LLP within 28 days of receipt of an invoice a contribution of up to £1,000 (plus VAT) towards the cost of the Employee taking relevant independent advice on the terms and effect of this Agreement.

32.In this Agreement "Associated Company" means Alliance Boots Holdings Limited and its holding companies and subsidiaries and the subsidiaries of any such holding companies from time to time.

33.Notwithstanding that this Agreement is headed "Without Prejudice and Subject to Contract", it will once signed by all the parties and dated be regarded as an open and binding agreement.

34.Subject to clause 35 below, this Agreement and Release shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States and the State of Illinois, without giving effect to any conflict of law provisions. As Walgreens Boots Alliance, lnc.'s base of operations is in Illinois and the Employee's connections thereto, any court action instituted by the Employee or on the Employee's behalf relating in any way to this Agreement, or the Employee's employment or termination of employment with the Company, shall be filed exclusively in the Circuit Court of Cook County or in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the Employee consents to the jurisdiction and venue of these courts.

35.Notwithstanding the primary choice of law and jurisdictional provisions of clause 34 above, any provisions of this Agreement that are necessarily governed exclusively by the law of England and Wales shall remain subject to such laws and shall be enforceable by the parties in the courts of England and Wales.

EMPLOYEE SIGNATURE:            /s/ Marco Pagni

                    Marco Pagni

COMPANY SIGNATURE:            /s/ Frank Standish

                        FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY

SCHEDULE A DRAFT REFERENCE

Name Address

Dear

Further to your letter dated _____________________    I can confirm the following details

regarding:

Employee's name:        Marco Pagni

Date of joining:        15 July 2003

Date of leaving:         30 November 2021

Nature of position held:    Group General Counsel and Chief

Administrative Officer

The information above has been given in good faith, with care being taken to ensure accuracy. The Company does not accept liability for errors or omissions.

Yours sincerely

Schedule B

Equity Summary for Marco Pagni

November 30, 2021 Separation Date

				As of November 30 2021
Grant Date	Grant Type	Original # Granted	Grant Price	# Vested	# Unvested	Retirement
11/1/2015	Option-ISO	541	$84.68	541	-	1 year from November 30, 2021 to Exercise
11/1/2015	Option-NQSO	40,924	$84.68	40,924	-	1 year from November 30, 2021 to Exercise
11/1/2016	Option-NQSO	60,738	$82.46	60,738	-	1 year from November 30, 2021 to Exercise
11/1/2017	Option-NQSO	69,649	$67.01	69,649	-	1 year from November 30, 2021 to Exercise
11/1/2018	Option-NQSO	44,444	$79.90	44,444	-	11/1/2028 Expiration Date
11/1/2019	Option-NQSO	51,996	$57.38	34,629	17,367	Fully Vest at November 30, 2021, 11/1/2029 Expiration Date
11/1/2020	Option-NQSO	55,693	$34.04	18,545	37,148	Fully Vest at November 30, 2021, 11/1/2030 Expiration Date
12/1/2019	Restricted Stock Units	11,556	$0.00	6,095	-	Fully Vested on 9/1/2021
11/1/2019	Restricted Stock Units	8,614	$0.00	6,030	3,058	255 will vest on November 30, 2021, distributed within 30 days
11/1/2020	Restricted Stock Units	11,111	$0.00	3,781	7,575	315 will vest on November 30, 2021, distributed within 30 days
11/1/2018	Performance Shares	18,526	$0.00	18,526	-	Fully Vest on 8/31/2021, subject to company performance
11/1/2019	Performance Shares	17,228	$0.00	-	17,228	12,921 will vest on November 30, 2021, distribution pending company performance October 2022
11/1/2020	Performance Shares	22,222	$0.00	-	22,222	9,259 will vest on November 30, 2021, distribution pending company performance October 2023
Totals		413,242		303,901	104,599

Schedule C Reaffirmation Letter

[NAME]

[DATE]

Dear

Reaffirmation Letter

I am writing in connection with the settlement agreement between WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE SERVICES LIMITED (Company) and you dated 16 June 2021 (Agreement). This is the Reaffirmation Letter referred in the Agreement.

Defined terms have the same meaning when used in this Reaffirmation Letter as in the Agreement.

In consideration of the Company paying the Termination Payment to you in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, you expressly agree the following:

a.You agree that the terms of the Agreement are offered by the Company without any admission of liability on the part of the Company and are in full and final settlement of all and any claims or rights of action that you have or may have against the Company or any Associated Company or its officers, employees or workers whether arising out of your employment with the Company or its termination or from events occurring after the Agreement was entered into, whether under common law, contract, statute or otherwise, whether such claims are, or could be, known to or in the contemplation of the Company or you at the date of this Reaffirmation Letter in any jurisdiction and including, but not limited to, the claims specified in the Agreement (each of which is waived by this clause).

b.This waiver shall not affect any claim by you for breach of the Agreement, for damages for personal injury or accrued rights under any pension scheme (except where any such claim relates to or arises out of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, gender re- assignment, religion or belief discrimination; or any claim relating to the circumstances and/or manner of the termination of your employment) although you warrant that as at the date of this Reaffirmation Letter than you are not aware of any circumstances which could give rise to such a claim.

c.You warrant that:

i.before entering into this Reaffirmation Letter you received independent advice from Ivor Adair of Fox & Partners LLP (the Adviser) as to the terms and effect of this Reaffirmation Letter and, in particular, on its effect on your ability to pursue the claims specified the Agreement;

ii.the Adviser has confirmed to you that they are a solicitor advocate holding a current practising certificate and that there is in force a policy of insurance covering the risk of a claim by you in respect of any loss arising in consequence of their advice.

You acknowledge that the Company acted in reliance on these warranties when entering into this Reaffirmation Letter.

d.You acknowledge that the conditions regulating compromise and/or settlement agreements contained in section 203 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, section 77 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, section 72 of the Race Relations Act 1976, section

9 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, section 288 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and Regulation 35 of the Working Time Regulations 1998, Part 1 of Schedule 4 of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003, Part 1 of Schedule 4 of the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, Part 1 of Schedule 5 of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 and section 147 of the Equality Act 2010 are satisfied in relation to this Reaffirmation Letter.

COMPANY SIGNATURE:            ____________________________________

                    FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY

I agree to the aboveterms

EMPLOYEE SIGNATURE:        ____________________________________

MARCO PAGNI

                        Date________________________________

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Rosalind Brewer, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;    

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

/s/	Rosalind Brewer	Chief Executive Officer	Date: October 14, 2021
	Rosalind Brewer

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

(18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)

In connection with the Annual Report of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2021 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Report"), I, Rosalind Brewer, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge:

(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Rosalind Brewer

Rosalind Brewer

Chief Executive Officer

Dated: October 14, 2021

XML

Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021	Feb. 28, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Aug. 31, 2021
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--08-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-36759
Entity Registrant Name	WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	47-1758322
Entity Address, Address Line One	108 Wilmot Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Deerfield
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60015
City Area Code	847
Local Phone Number	315-3700
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 34.3
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		865,612,358
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the definitive proxy statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders planned to be held on January 27, 2022 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K as indicated herein.
Entity Central Index Key	0001618921
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	WBA
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
3.600% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. notes due 2025
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	3.600% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. notes due 2025
Trading Symbol	WBA25
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
2.125% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. notes due 2026
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	2.125% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. notes due 2026
Trading Symbol	WBA26
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ

XML

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,193	$ 469
Accounts receivable, net	5,663	4,110
Inventories	8,159	7,917
Other current assets	800	598
Assets of discontinued operations - current (see Note 2)	0	4,979
Total current assets	15,814	18,073
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net	12,247	12,796
Operating lease right-of-use asset	21,893	21,453
Goodwill	12,421	12,013
Intangible assets, net	9,936	10,072
Equity method investments (see Note 6)	6,987	7,204
Other non-current assets	1,987	581
Assets of discontinued operations - non-current (see Note 2)	0	4,983
Total non-current assets	65,471	69,101
Total assets	81,285	87,174
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt	1,305	3,265
Trade accounts payable (see Note 19)	11,136	10,145
Operating lease obligation	2,259	2,358
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	7,260	5,861
Income taxes	94	95
Liabilities of discontinued operations - current (see Note 2)	0	5,347
Total current liabilities	22,054	27,070
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term debt	7,675	12,203
Operating lease obligation	22,153	21,765
Deferred income taxes	1,850	1,367
Other non-current liabilities	3,413	3,222
Liabilities of discontinued operations - non-current (see Note 2)	0	412
Total non-current liabilities	35,091	38,968
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 11)
Total liabilities	57,145	66,038
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	319	0
Equity:
Preferred stock $.01 par value; authorized 32 million shares, none issued	0	0
Common stock $.01 par value; authorized 3.2 billion shares; issued 1,172,513,618 at August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020	12	12
Paid-in capital	10,988	10,761
Retained earnings	35,121	34,210
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,109)	(3,771)
Treasury stock, at cost; 307,139,982 shares at August 31, 2021 and 306,910,099 shares at August 31, 2020	(20,593)	(20,575)
Total Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. shareholders’ equity	23,419	20,637
Noncontrolling interests	402	498
Total equity	23,822	21,136
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity	$ 81,285	$ 87,174

XML

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Equity:
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, authorized (in shares)	32,000,000	32,000,000
Preferred stock, issued (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, authorized shares (in shares)	3,200,000,000	3,200,000,000
Common stock, issued (in shares)	1,172,513,618	1,172,513,618
Treasury stock, at cost (in shares)	307,139,982	306,910,099

XML

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Adoption of new accounting standards	Common stock	Treasury stock	Paid-in capital	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Retained earnings	Retained earnings Adoption of new accounting standards	Noncontrolling interests	Noncontrolling interests Adoption of new accounting standards
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2018			952,133,418
Beginning Balance at Aug. 31, 2018	$ 26,689	$ (88)	$ 12	$ (15,047)	$ 10,493	$ (3,002)	$ 33,551	$ (88)	$ 682
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	3,962						3,982		(20)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(909)					(896)			(13)
Dividends declared and distributions	(1,632)						(1,629)		(3)
Treasury stock purchases (in shares)			(61,723,456)
Treasury stock purchases	(4,160)			(4,160)
Employee stock purchase and option plans (in shares)			4,977,540
Employee stock purchase and option plans	174			150	24
Stock-based compensation	119				119
Noncontrolling interests contribution and other	(3)				3		(1)		(5)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2019			895,387,502
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2019	24,152	(442)	$ 12	(19,057)	10,639	(3,897)	35,815	(442)	641
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	424						456		(32)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	148					126			22
Dividends declared and distributions	(1,751)						(1,618)		(133)
Treasury stock purchases (in shares)			(32,055,576)
Treasury stock purchases	(1,589)			(1,589)
Employee stock purchase and option plans (in shares)			2,271,593
Employee stock purchase and option plans	55			72	(17)
Stock-based compensation	137				137
Noncontrolling interests contribution and other	2				2
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2020			865,603,519
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2020	21,136	$ (6)	$ 12	(20,575)	10,761	(3,771)	34,210	$ (3)	498	$ (3)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	2,512						2,542		(31)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,669					1,663			6
Dividends declared and distributions	(1,629)						(1,629)
Treasury stock purchases (in shares)			(3,000,000)
Treasury stock purchases	(110)			(110)
Employee stock purchase and option plans (in shares)			2,770,117
Employee stock purchase and option plans	59			92	(33)
Stock-based compensation	155				155
Business combination	120				120
Noncontrolling interests contribution and other	(84)				(15)				(69)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2021			865,373,636
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2021	$ 23,822		$ 12	$ (20,593)	$ 10,988	$ (2,109)	$ 35,121		$ 402

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 132,509	$ 121,982	$ 120,074
Cost of sales	104,442	95,905	91,915
Gross profit	28,067	26,078	28,159
Selling, general and administrative expenses	24,586	25,436	23,557
Equity (loss) earnings in AmerisourceBergen	(1,139)	341	164
Operating income	2,342	982	4,766
Other income	558	77	243
Earnings before interest and income tax provision	2,900	1,060	5,009
Interest expense, net	905	613	650
Earnings before income tax provision	1,995	446	4,359
Income tax provision	667	339	577
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments	627	31	8
Net earnings from continuing operations	1,955	138	3,790
Net earnings from discontinued operations	557	286	172
Net earnings	2,512	424	3,962
Net (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests - continuing operations	(39)	(42)	(26)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests - discontinued operations	9	9	6
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	2,542	456	3,982
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.:
Continuing operations	1,994	180	3,816
Discontinued operations	$ 548	$ 277	$ 166
Basic net earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 2.31	$ 0.20	$ 4.14
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.63	0.31	0.18
Total (in dollars per share)	2.94	0.52	4.32
Diluted net earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	2.30	0.20	4.13
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.63	0.31	0.18
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 2.93	$ 0.52	$ 4.31
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	864.8	879.4	921.5
Diluted (in shares)	866.4	880.3	923.5

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	$ 2,512	$ 424	$ 3,962
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Pension/postretirement obligations	389	(700)	(149)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	21	(6)	5
Net investment hedges	(1)	(90)	55
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities	96	0	0
Share of other comprehensive (loss) of equity method investments	(18)	(14)	(1)
Currency translation adjustments	1,182	958	(820)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,669	148	(909)
Total comprehensive income	4,181	572	3,053
Comprehensive (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(25)	(10)	(33)
Comprehensive income attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$ 4,205	$ 582	$ 3,086

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 2,512	$ 424	$ 3,962
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,973	1,927	2,038
Deferred income taxes	233	(43)	100
Stock compensation expense	155	137	119
Equity loss (earnings) from equity method investments	498	(382)	(187)
Goodwill and intangible impairments	49	2,016	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	414	0	0
Gain on sale of business	(322)	0	0
Gain on sale of equity method investment	(321)	0	0
Other	(64)	464	302
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(1,451)	163	(789)
Inventories	165	63	141
Other current assets	(46)	(31)	(112)
Trade accounts payable	842	(25)	954
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,046	1,008	(374)
Income taxes	160	(221)	(406)
Other non-current assets and liabilities	(288)	(16)	(154)
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,555	5,484	5,594
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(1,379)	(1,374)	(1,702)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	856	724	3
Proceeds from sale of business, net of cash disposed	5,527	0	0
Proceeds from sale of other assets	453	90	117
Business, investment and asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,431)	(718)	(741)
Other	46	(19)	16
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	4,072	(1,297)	(2,307)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in short-term debt with maturities of 3 months or less	(909)	(161)	536
Proceeds from debt	12,726	20,367	12,433
Payments of debt	(15,257)	(21,414)	(10,461)
Stock purchases	(110)	(1,589)	(4,160)
Proceeds related to employee stock plans	59	55	174
Cash dividends paid	(1,617)	(1,747)	(1,643)
Early debt extinguishment	(3,687)	0	0
Other	(241)	(157)	75
Net cash used for financing activities	(9,036)	(4,647)	(3,047)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(66)	(1)	(9)
Changes in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	525	(460)	232
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	746	1,207	975
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$ 1,270	$ 746	$ 1,207

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Summary of major accounting policies

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of major accounting policies

Summary of major accounting policies

Organization

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a global leader in retail pharmacy. Its operations are conducted through two reportable segments: United States and International. See Note 17 Segment reporting and Note 18 Sales, for further information.

Basis of presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include all subsidiaries in which the Company holds a controlling interest. The Company uses the equity-method of accounting for equity investments in less than majority-owned companies if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. The Company bases its estimates on the information available at the time, its experiences and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic (“COVID-19”) has severely impacted the economies of the United States (“U.S.”), the United Kingdom (“UK”) and other countries around the world. The impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s businesses, financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, as well as information regarding certain expected or potential impacts of COVID-19 on the Company, is discussed throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company’s future assessment of the magnitude and duration of COVID-19, as well as other factors, could result in material impacts to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods. Adjustments may be made in subsequent periods to reflect more current estimates and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain. Actual results may differ.

The impact of COVID-19, the influence of certain holidays, seasonality, foreign currency rates, changes in vendor, payer and customer relationships and terms, strategic transactions including acquisitions, changes in laws and general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates and other factors on the Company’s operations and net earnings for any period may not be comparable to the same period in previous years.

On January 6, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen”). Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement, AmerisourceBergen agreed to purchase the majority of the Company's Alliance Healthcare business as well as a portion of the Company’s retail pharmacy international businesses in Europe (“Disposal Group”) for approximately $6.5 billion, comprised of $6.275 billion in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, and 2 million shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock (the “Alliance Healthcare Sale”). Alliance Healthcare’s investment in China and Italy and its operations in Germany were not included in the Disposal Group, and the Company's retail pharmacy international operations in The Netherlands, Norway and Lithuania were included in the Disposal Group. The Disposal Group met the criteria to be reported as discontinued operations. Therefore, the related assets, liabilities and operating results of the Disposal Group are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented. The majority of the Disposal Group was previously included in the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment. Effective as of the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company eliminated the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment and aligned into two reportable segments: United States and International. See Note 17 Segment reporting, for additional information on the segments. On June 1, 2021 the Company completed the Alliance Healthcare Sale.

Unless otherwise specified, disclosures in these Consolidated Financial Statements reflect continuing operations only. Certain prior period data, primarily related to discontinued operations, have been reclassified in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes to conform to the current period presentation. See Note 2 Discontinued operations, for further information.

Certain amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements and associated notes may not add due to rounding. Percentages have been calculated using unrounded amounts for all periods presented.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. Credit and debit card receivables, which generally settle within one to seven business days, of $146 million and $101 million were included in cash and cash equivalents at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Restricted cash and other cash flows from operating activities

Restricted cash

The Company is required to maintain cash deposits with certain banks which consist of deposits restricted under contractual agreements and cash restricted by law and other obligations.

The following represents a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as of August 31, 2021 and 2020, (in millions):

	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents - continuing operations	$	1,193	$	469
Cash and cash equivalents - discontinued operations	—		47
Restricted cash - continuing operations (included in other current assets)	77		62
Restricted cash - discontinued operations	—		168
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	1,270	$	746

Other cash flows from operating activities

Other cash flows from operating activities of $(64) million for fiscal 2021 include asset impairment of $203 million offset by gains on sales-leaseback transactions of $367 million. Other cash flows from operating activities of $464 million for fiscal 2020 include asset impairments of $462 million offset by gains on sales-leaseback transactions of $308 million. Other cash flows from operating activities of $302 million for fiscal 2019 include asset impairments of $328 million.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable balances primarily consist of trade receivables due from customers, including amounts due from third-party providers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies). Trade receivables were $4.5 billion and $3.0 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Other accounts receivable balances, which consist primarily of receivables from vendors and manufacturers, including receivables from AmerisourceBergen (see Note 19 Related parties), were $1.1 billion and $1.1 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Charges for the Company’s expected credit losses are recognized based upon all available relevant information regarding the collectability of receivables, including historical information, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions over the short contractual life of the receivable. The allowance for expected credit losses for trade receivables at August 31, 2021 and 2020 were $53 million and $26 million, respectively.

Inventories

The Company values inventories on a lower of cost and net realizable value or market basis. Inventories include product costs, inbound freight, direct labor, warehousing costs for retail pharmacy operations and distribution of products and vendor allowances not classified as a reduction of advertising expense.

The Company’s United States segment inventory is accounted for using the last-in-first-out (“LIFO”) method. The total carrying value of the segment inventory accounted for under the LIFO method was $6.2 billion and $6.4 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. At August 31, 2021 and 2020, United States segment inventory would have been greater by $3.3 billion and $3.3 billion, respectively, if they had been valued on a lower of first-in-first-out (“FIFO”) cost and net realizable value.

The Company’s International segment inventory is accounted for using average cost and the FIFO method. The total carrying value of the inventory for International segment was $2.0 billion and $1.5 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Major repairs, which extend the useful life of an asset, are capitalized; routine maintenance and repairs are charged against earnings. Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of owned assets. Leasehold improvements, equipment under finance lease and finance lease properties are amortized over their respective estimate of useful life or over the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. The majority of the Company’s fixtures and equipment uses the composite method of depreciation.

The following table summarizes the Company’s property, plant and equipment (in millions) and estimated useful lives (in years):

	Estimated useful life	2021		2020
Land and land improvements	20	$	2,798	$	3,157
Buildings and building improvements	3 to 50	7,569		7,795
Fixtures and equipment	3 to 20	10,314		9,904
Capitalized system development costs and software	3 to 10	3,624		3,061
Finance lease properties		1,016		1,011
		$	25,321	$	24,927
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		13,073		12,131
Balance at end of year		$	12,247	$	12,796

The Company capitalizes application development stage costs for internally developed software. These costs are amortized over a three to ten year period. Amortization expense for capitalized system development costs and software was $284 million in fiscal 2021, $300 million in fiscal 2020 and $260 million in fiscal 2019. Unamortized costs were $1.9 billion and $1.6 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Depreciation and amortization expense for property, plant and equipment including capitalized system development costs and software was $1.4 billion in fiscal 2021, $1.4 billion in fiscal 2020 and $1.4 billion in fiscal 2019.

Leases

The Company leases certain retail stores, warehouses, distribution centers, office space, land and equipment. Initial terms for leased premises in the United States are typically 15 to 25 years, followed by additional terms containing renewal options at five-year intervals, and may include rent escalation clauses. Non-U.S. leases are typically for shorter terms and may include cancellation clauses or renewal options. The lease term of real estate leases includes renewal options that are reasonably certain of being exercised. Options to extend are considered reasonably certain of being exercised based on evaluation if there are significant investments within the leased property which have useful lives greater than the non-cancelable lease term, performance of the underlying store and the Company’s economic and strategic initiatives. Short-term leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheets.

The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at the inception of a contract. The lease classification is determined at the commencement date. Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease during the lease term. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of the remaining future minimum lease payments during the lease term. Lease commencement is the date the Company has the right to control the property. The Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate to discount the lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is based on the Company's estimated rate of interest for a collateralized borrowing over a similar term as the lease term. The operating lease right-of-use assets also include lease payments made before commencement, lease incentives and are recorded net of impairment. Operating leases are expensed on a straight line basis over the lease term.

The Company accounts for lease components and non-lease components as a single lease component. Variable lease payment amounts that cannot be determined at the commencement of the lease such as increases in lease payments based on changes in index rates or usage, are not included in the right-of-use assets or lease liabilities. These are expensed as incurred. The Company has real estate leases which require additional payments based on sales volume, as well as reimbursement for real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance, which are expensed as incurred as variable lease costs and hence are not included in the lease payments used to calculate lease liability. Other real estate leases contain one fixed lease payment that includes real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance. These fixed payments are considered part of the lease payment and included in the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. The Company does not separately account for the land portion of the leases involving land and building.

Finance leases are recognized within property, plant and equipment and as a finance lease liability within accrued expenses and other liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities.

See Note 5 Leases, for further information.

Business combinations

The Company allocates the fair value of purchase consideration to the tangible and intangible assets purchased and the liabilities assumed on the basis of their fair values at the date of acquisition. The determination of fair values of assets acquired

and liabilities assumed requires estimates and the use of valuation techniques when a market value is not readily available. Any excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired is allocated to goodwill. If the Company obtains new information about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations. Acquired intangible assets are recorded at fair value.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that could more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or intangible asset below its carrying value. As part of the Company’s impairment analysis, fair value of a reporting unit is determined using both the income and market approaches. The income approach requires management to estimate a number of factors for each reporting unit, including projected future operating results, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and discount rates. The market approach estimates fair value using comparable marketplace fair value data from within a comparable industry grouping. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of the asset to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recognized and the asset is written down to its estimated fair value

See Note 7 Goodwill and other intangible assets, for additional disclosure regarding the Company’s intangible assets.

Equity method investments

The Company uses the equity method of accounting for equity investments if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over operating and financial policies of the investee. The Company’s proportionate share of the net income or loss of these investees is included in consolidated net earnings. Judgment regarding the level of influence over each equity method investment includes considering key factors such as the Company’s ownership interest, legal form of the investee (e.g. limited liability partnership), representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making decisions and material intra-entity transactions.

The Company evaluates equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable. Factors considered by the Company when reviewing an equity method investment for impairment include the length of time (duration) and the extent (severity) to which the fair value of the equity method investment has been less than cost, the investee’s financial condition and near-term prospects and the intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery. An impairment that is other-than-temporary is recognized in the period identified.

See Note 6 Equity method investments, for further information.

Financial instruments

The Company uses derivative instruments to hedge its exposure to market risks, including interest rate and currency risks, arising from operating and financing risks. In accordance with its risk management policies, the Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Derivatives are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values. When the Company becomes a party to a derivative instrument and intends to apply hedge accounting, it formally documents the hedge relationship and the risk management objective for undertaking the hedge which includes designating the instrument for financial reporting purposes as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, or a net investment hedge. The accounting for changes in fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether the Company had designated it in a qualifying hedging relationship and on the type of hedging relationship. The Company applies the following accounting policies:

•Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings in the same line item, generally interest expense, net.

•Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and reclassified into earnings in

the period or periods during which the hedged item affects earnings and is presented in the same line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item.

•Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation are recorded in cumulative translation adjustments within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Recognition in earnings of amounts previously recorded in cumulative translation adjustments is limited to circumstances such as complete or substantially complete liquidation of the net investment in the hedged investments in foreign operations.

•Changes in the fair value of a derivative not designated in a hedging relationship are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Cash receipts or payments on a settlement of a derivative contract are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows consistent with the nature of the underlying hedged item.

For derivative instruments designated as hedges, the Company assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. Highly effective means that cumulative changes in the fair value of the derivative are between 80% and 125% of the cumulative changes in the fair value of the hedged item. In addition, when the Company determines that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, hedge accounting is discontinued. When it is probable that a hedged forecasted transaction will not occur, the Company discontinues hedge accounting for the affected portion of the forecasted transaction and reclassifies any gains or losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to earnings in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings. When a derivative in a hedge relationship is terminated or the hedged item is sold, extinguished or terminated, hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively.

Pension and postretirement benefits

The Company has various defined benefit pension plans that cover some of its non-U.S. employees. The Company also has a postretirement healthcare plan that covers qualifying U.S. employees. Eligibility and the level of benefits for these plans vary depending on participants’ status, date of hire and or length of service. Pension and postretirement healthcare plan expenses and valuations are dependent on assumptions used by third-party actuaries in calculating those amounts. These assumptions include discount rates, healthcare cost trends, long-term return on plan assets, retirement rates, mortality rates and other factors.

The Company funds its pension plans in accordance with applicable regulations. The Company records the service cost component of net pension cost and net postretirement healthcare benefit cost in selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company records all other net cost components of net pension cost and net postretirement benefit cost in other income (expense). The postretirement healthcare plan is not funded.

See Note 14 Retirement benefits, for further information.

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

The Company presents non-controlling interest in temporary equity within its Consolidated Balance Sheets if it is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date on the option of the holder, or upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the Company. The carrying amount of the redeemable non-controlling interest is equal to the greater of the carrying value of non-controlling interest adjusted each reporting period for income (or loss) attributable to the non-controlling interest as well as any applicable distributions made or the redemption value. Re-measurements to the redemption value of the redeemable non-controlling interest are recognized in additional paid in capital. The redeemable noncontrolling interest balance as of August 31, 2021 was $319 million primarily due to acquisitions during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021.

See Note 3 Acquisitions, for further details.

Noncontrolling interests

The Company presents noncontrolling interests as a component of equity on its Consolidated Balance Sheets and reports the portion of its earnings or loss for noncontrolling interest as net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Currency

Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. dollar functional currency operations are translated into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates while revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated at average monthly exchange rates over the period. Equity is translated at historical exchange rates and the resulting cumulative translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Assets and liabilities not denominated in the functional currency are remeasured into the functional currency at end-of-period exchange rates, except for nonmonetary balance sheet amounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are recorded at average monthly exchange rates over the period, except for those expenses related to nonmonetary balance sheet amounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Gains or losses from foreign currency remeasurement are generally included in selling, general and administrative expenses within the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Commitments and contingencies

On a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies for outstanding legal proceedings and reserves are established on a case-by-case basis for those legal claims for which management concludes that it is probable that a loss will be incurred and that the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. Substantially all of these contingencies are subject to significant uncertainties and, therefore, determining the likelihood of a loss and/or the measurement of any loss can be complex. With respect to litigation and other legal proceedings where the Company has determined that a loss is reasonably possible, the Company may be unable to estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible loss due to the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of and uncertainties regarding such litigation and legal proceedings. The Company’s assessments are based on estimates and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management, but that may prove to be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that might cause the Company to change those estimates and assumptions. Therefore, it is possible that an unfavorable resolution of one or more pending litigation or other contingencies could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in a future fiscal period. Management’s assessment of current litigation and other legal proceedings, including the corresponding accruals, could change because of the discovery of facts with respect to legal actions or other proceedings pending against the Company which are not presently known. Adverse rulings or determinations by judges, juries, governmental authorities or other parties could also result in changes to management’s assessment of current liabilities and contingencies. Accordingly, the ultimate costs of resolving these claims may be substantially higher or lower than the amounts reserved. See Note 11 Commitments and contingencies, for further information.

Revenue recognition

Sales are recognized at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring control of goods or services to the customer. Sales are reported on the gross amount billed to a customer less discounts if it has earned revenue as a principal from the sale of goods and services. Sales are reported on the net amount retained (that is, the amount billed to the customer less the amount paid to a vendor) if it has earned a commission or a fee as an agent.

The Company recognizes revenue, net of taxes and expected returns, at the time it sells merchandise or dispenses prescription drugs to the customer. The Company estimates revenue based on expected reimbursements from third-party payers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies) for dispensing prescription drugs. The estimates are based on all available information including historical experience and are updated to actual reimbursement amounts. Wholesale revenue is recognized, net of taxes and expected returns, upon shipment of goods, which is generally also the day of delivery.

Loyalty programs and gift cards

The Company’s loyalty rewards programs represent a separate performance obligation and are accounted for using the deferred revenue approach. When goods are sold, the transaction price is allocated between goods sold and loyalty points awarded based upon the relative standalone selling price. The revenue allocated to the loyalty points is recognized upon redemption. Loyalty programs breakage is recognized as revenue based on the redemption pattern.

Customer purchases of gift cards are not recognized as revenue until the card is redeemed. Gift card breakage (i.e., unused gift card) is recognized as revenue based on the redemption pattern.

Contract balances with customers

The Company recognizes contract liabilities to record the Company’s obligation to transfer additional goods or services to a customer for which the Company has received consideration, for example the Company’s myWalgreens and Boots Advantage

Card loyalty programs. Under such programs, customers earn Walgreens Cash or reward points on purchases for redemption at a later date.

Cost of sales

Cost of sales includes the purchase price of goods and cost of services rendered, store and warehouse inventory loss, inventory obsolescence and supplier rebates. In addition to product costs, cost of sales includes warehousing costs for retail operations, purchasing costs, freight costs, cash discounts and vendor allowances.

Vendor allowances and supplier rebates

Vendor allowances are principally received as a result of purchases, sales or promotion of vendors’ products. Allowances are generally recorded as a reduction of inventory and are recognized as a reduction of cost of sales when the related merchandise is sold. Allowances received for promoting vendors’ products are offset against advertising expense and result in a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses to the extent of advertising costs incurred, with the excess treated as a reduction of inventory costs.

Rebates or refunds received by the Company from its suppliers, mostly in cash, are considered as an adjustment of the prices of the supplier’s products purchased by the Company.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses mainly consist of salaries and employee costs, occupancy costs, depreciation and amortization, credit and debit card fees and expenses directly related to stores. In addition, other costs included are headquarters’ expenses, advertising costs (net of vendor advertising allowances), wholesale warehousing costs and insurance.

Advertising costs

Advertising costs are reduced by the portion funded by vendors, if reimbursement represents a specific, incremental, identifiable cost, and expensed as incurred or when services have been received. Net advertising expenses, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, were $772 million in fiscal 2021, $532 million in fiscal 2020 and $582 million in fiscal 2019.

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such an asset may not be recoverable. The evaluation of long-lived assets is performed at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows. Long-lived assets related to the Company’s retail operations include property, plant and equipment, definite-lived intangibles, right of use asset as well as operating lease liability. If the asset group fails the recoverability test, then an impairment charge is determined based on the difference between the fair value of the asset group compared to its carrying value. Fair value of the asset group is generally determined using income approach based on cash flows expected from the use and eventual disposal of the asset group.

Impairment charges for definite-lived assets included in selling, general and administrative expenses were $182 million, $401 million and $163 million for fiscal years 2021, 2020 and 2019 respectively.

The determination of the fair value of the asset group requires management to estimate a number of factors including anticipated future cash flows and discount rates. Although we believe these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from those estimates due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making such estimates.

Stock compensation plans

Stock based compensation is measured at fair value at the grant date. The Company grants stock options, performance shares and restricted units to the Company’s non-employee directors, officers and employees. The Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the substantive service period. The fair value of each performance share granted assumes that performance goals will be achieved at 100 percent. If such goals are not met, no compensation expense is recognized and any recognized compensation expense is reversed. See Note 13 Stock compensation plans, for more information on the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.

Insurance

The Company obtains insurance coverage for catastrophic exposures as well as those risks required by law to be insured. In general, the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries retain a significant portion of losses related to workers’ compensation, property, comprehensive general, pharmacist and vehicle liability, while non-U.S. subsidiaries manage their exposures through insurance coverage with third-party carriers. Management regularly reviews the probable outcome of claims and proceedings, the

expenses expected to be incurred, the availability and limits of the insurance coverage and the established accruals for liabilities. Liabilities for losses are recorded based upon the Company’s estimates for both claims incurred and claims incurred but not reported. The provisions are estimated in part by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors and other actuarial assumptions.

Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes according to the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based upon the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured pursuant to tax laws using rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rate is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely than not to be realized.

In determining the provision for income taxes, the Company uses income, permanent differences between book and tax income, the relative proportion of foreign and domestic income, enacted statutory income tax rates, projections of income subject to Subpart F rules and unrecognized tax benefits related to current year results. Discrete events such as the assessment of the ultimate outcome of tax audits, audit settlements, recognizing previously unrecognized tax benefits due to lapsing of the applicable statute of limitations, recognizing or de-recognizing benefits of deferred tax assets due to future year financial statement projections and changes in tax laws are recognized in the period in which they occur.

The Company is subject to routine income tax audits that occur periodically in the normal course of business. U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax authorities raise questions regarding the Company’s tax filing positions, including the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. In evaluating the tax benefits associated with the various tax filing positions, the Company records a tax benefit for uncertain tax positions using the highest cumulative tax benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. Adjustments are made to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the period in which the Company determines the issue is effectively settled with the tax authorities, the statute of limitations expires for the return containing the tax position or when more information becomes available.

Earnings per share

The dilutive effect of outstanding stock options on earnings per share is calculated using the treasury stock method. Stock options are anti-dilutive and excluded from the earnings per share calculation if the exercise price exceeds the average market price of the common shares. Outstanding options to purchase common shares that were anti-dilutive and excluded from earnings per share totaled 17.2 million, 19.0 million and 14.9 million in fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

New accounting pronouncements

Adoption of new accounting pronouncements

Financial instruments

In March 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-03, Codification Improvement to Financial Instruments. This ASU improves and clarifies various financial instruments topics. The ASU includes seven different issues that describe the areas of improvement and the related amendments to GAAP, intended to make the standards easier to understand and apply by eliminating inconsistencies and providing clarifications. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Investments - equity securities

In April 2019, the “FASB” issued “ASU” 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Financial Instruments (Topic 825). This extensive ASU provides clarifications for three topics related to financial instruments accounting, some of which apply to the Company. For example, this ASU clarifies the disclosure requirements that apply to equity securities without a readily determinable fair value for which the measurement alternative is elected. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Collaborative arrangements

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-18, Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808). This ASU clarifies the interaction between Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements, and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The

Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Compensation – retirement benefits – defined benefit plans

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement benefits (Topic 715-20). This ASU amends ASC 715 to add, remove and clarify disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The ASU eliminates the requirement to disclose the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as part of net periodic benefit cost over the next year. The ASU also removes the disclosure requirements for the effects of a one-percentage-point change on the assumed health care costs and the effect of this change in rates on service cost, interest cost and the benefit obligation for postretirement health care benefits. The Company adopted the new standard effective August 31, 2021 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Fair value measurement

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820). The ASU eliminates such disclosures as the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The ASU adds new disclosure requirements for Level 3 measurements. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 on a retrospective basis and the adoption of this ASU did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Financial instruments - credit losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326), which amends the Board’s guidance on the impairment of financial instruments. The ASU adds to U.S. GAAP an impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses, which is known as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model. The CECL model applies to most debt instruments (other than those measured at fair value), trade and other receivables, financial guarantee contracts, and loan commitments. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020, using a modified retrospective transition method, which requires a cumulative-effect adjustment, if any, to the opening balance of retained earnings to be recognized on the date of adoption with prior periods not restated. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

New accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

Receivables - nonrefundable fees and others

In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-08, Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables—Nonrefundable Fees and Other. This ASU clarifies the accounting for the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium by giving consideration to securities which have multiple call dates. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022). The Company does not expect adoption will have any impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This ASU provides optional expedient and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. In response to the concerns about structural risks of interbank offered rates ("IBORs") and, particularly, the risk of cessation of the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), regulators in several jurisdictions around the world have undertaken reference rate reform initiatives to identify alternative reference rates that are more observable or transaction based and less susceptible to manipulation. The ASU provides companies with optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates that are expected to be discontinued. The FASB further issued ASU 2021-01 in January 2021, to clarify the scope of Topic 848. The ASU can be adopted no later than December 1, 2022 (fiscal 2023) with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption will have any material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Investments - equity securities; Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures; Derivatives and Hedging

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, Investments—Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). The amendments in this ASU clarify the interaction between the accounting for investments in equity securities, investment in equity method and certain derivatives instruments.

The ASU is expected to reduce diversity in practice and increase comparability of the accounting for these interactions. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022). The Company does not expect adoption will

have any impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Income taxes - simplifying the accounting for income taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12: Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740), which removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and improves consistent application of and simplifies GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022), and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption will have any material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

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Discontinued operations

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Discontinued operations

Discontinued operations

On January 6, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen”). Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement, AmerisourceBergen agreed to purchase the majority of the Company's Alliance Healthcare business as well as a portion of the Company’s retail pharmacy international businesses in Europe (“Disposal Group”) for approximately $6.5 billion, comprised of $6.275 billion in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, and 2 million shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock (the “Alliance Healthcare Sale”). Alliance Healthcare’s investment in China and Italy and its operations in Germany were not included in the Disposal Group, and the Company's retail pharmacy international operations in The Netherlands, Norway and Lithuania were included in the Disposal Group.

On June 1, 2021 the Company completed the Alliance Healthcare Sale, for total consideration of $6.9 billion, which includes estimated cash consideration of $6.7 billion, subject to net working capital and net cash adjustments. The Company recorded a gain before currency translation adjustments of $1.1 billion and a net gain on disposal of $322 million. The gain on sale was presented as part of results of the discontinued operations.

The following table shows the fair value of proceeds from the Alliance Healthcare Sale and net carrying value of the assets disposed. As of the date of this report, the Company had not finalized net working capital and net cash adjustments for discontinued operations and therefore proceeds and gain amounts presented are subject to further refinement and may result in changes.

Transaction proceeds and net assets disposed ($ in billions)
Estimated fair value of proceeds from disposition 1	$	6.9
Estimated net assets disposed	5.8
Estimated gain before currency translation adjustments	1.1
Estimated amount of currency translation loss released due to disposition	(0.8)
Net gain on disposal of discontinued operation 2	$	0.3

1Includes base consideration of $6.275 billion adjusted for net working capital and net cash adjustments as set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement.

2The Company recorded insignificant amount of tax expense due to utilization of capital losses.

As of August 31, 2021, the Company recorded a $98 million receivable for purchase price consideration due from AmerisourceBergen that is subject to change upon the finalization of net working capital and net cash adjustments.

The assets and liabilities and operating results of the Disposal Group are reported as discontinued operations, for all periods presented, as the disposition reflects a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results. The Company classified assets and liabilities of the Disposal Group as held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Depreciation and amortization ceased on assets classified as held for sale. The Company allocated goodwill to the Disposal Group using relative fair value of the Disposal Group and businesses retained within the respective reporting units.

Results of discontinued operations were as follows (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Sales	$	16,070	$	19,349	$	18,618
Cost of sales	14,486		17,409		16,701
Gross profit	1,584		1,940		1,917
Selling, general and administrative expense 1	1,254		1,610		1,685
Operating income from discontinued operations	329		330		232
Other income (expense) 2	314		(8)		(11)
Interest expense, net	(23)		(25)		(54)
Earnings before income tax – discontinued operations	621		297		168
Income tax provision	78		21		11
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments	15		10		15
Net earnings from discontinued operations	$	557	$	286	$	172

1 Includes $44 million of divestiture related costs incurred post completion of the Alliance Healthcare Sale.

2 Includes $322 million of gain on sale of discontinued operations.

Sales from the Disposal Group to the Company's continuing operations aggregate to (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021 1		2020		2019
Sales	$	1,385	$	1,794	$	1,826

1 Sales in Fiscal 2021 until date of disposal.

The following table presents cash flows from operating and investing activities for discontinued operations (in millions):

	Twelve months ended August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities - discontinued operations	$	(132)	$	334	$	302
Cash (used in) provided by for investing activities - discontinued operations	(58)		(80)		(97)

Asset and liabilities of discontinued operations were as follows (in millions):

	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents	$	—	$	47
Accounts receivable, net	—		3,022
Inventories	—		1,534
Other current assets	—		376
Assets of discontinued operations - current	$	—	$	4,979
Property, plant and equipment, net 1	$	—	$	816
Goodwill and intangibles	—		3,936
Other non-current assets	—		230
Assets of discontinued operations - non-current	$	—	$	4,983
Short term debt	$	—	$	273
Trade accounts payables	—		4,313
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	—		746
Income taxes	—		14
Liabilities of discontinued operations - current	$	—	$	5,347
Deferred income taxes	$	—	$	131
Other non-current liabilities	—		280
Liabilities of discontinued operations - non-current	$	—	$	412

1 Includes Operating lease right-of-use assets.

See Note 6 Equity method investments and Note 19 Related parties, for more information on the Company's equity method investment in AmerisourceBergen and the Company's continuing involvement.

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Acquisitions

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Business Combination and Asset Acquisition [Abstract]

Acquisitions

Acquisitions

iA acquisition

On December 29, 2020, the Company acquired a majority equity interest in Innovation Associates, Inc. for a cash consideration of $451 million. Innovation Associates, Inc. is a leading-edge provider of software enabled automation solutions for retail, hospital and federal healthcare and mail-order pharmacy markets. The Company accounted for this acquisition as a business combination and consolidates Innovation Associates, Inc. within the United States segment in its financial statements. Considering the contractual terms related to the noncontrolling interest, it is classified as redeemable noncontrolling interest in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The goodwill arising from this acquisition reflects the expected operational synergies and cost savings to be derived as a result of this acquisition.

As of August 31, 2021, the Company has completed the analysis to determine the fair value of the consideration paid or to assign fair values to all tangible and intangible assets acquired, and therefore the purchase price allocation has been completed.

The following table summarizes the consideration for the acquisition and the amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the transaction (in millions):

Purchase Price Allocation:
Total Consideration	$	477
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Tangible assets	$	58
Developed technology and other intangibles	202
Liabilities	(74)
Total identifiable net assets	$	186
Non-controlling interest	103
Goodwill	$	394

Pro forma net earnings and sales of the Company, assuming the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of each period presented, would not be materially different from the results reported. The acquisition did not have a material impact on net earnings or sales of the Company for the twelve months ended August 31, 2021.

Pharmaceutical Wholesale business in Germany

On November 1, 2020, the Company and McKesson Corporation closed a transaction to form a combined pharmaceutical wholesale business in Germany, as part of a strategic alliance. The Company owns a 70% controlling equity interest in the combined business which is consolidated by the Company and reported within the International segment in its financial statements. The Company accounted for this acquisition as a business combination involving noncash purchase consideration of $296 million consisting of the issuance of an equity interest in the combined business.

As of August 31, 2021, the Company has completed the analysis to determine the fair value of the consideration paid or to assign fair values to all tangible and intangible assets acquired, and therefore the purchase price allocation has been completed.

The following table summarizes the consideration for the acquisition and the amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the transaction (in millions):

Purchase Price Allocation:
Total Consideration	$	331
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Accounts receivable, cash and other assets	$	582
Inventories	470
Property, plant and equipment	125
Short term debt	(296)
Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(374)
Other noncurrent liabilities	(197)
Total identifiable net assets	$	311
Goodwill	$	21

The Company recognized a noncontrolling interest of $175 million based on the Company's proportionate interest in the identifiable net assets of the combined business. The difference between the carrying amount of the non-controlling interest and the fair value of the consideration in the business combination is recognized as additional paid in capital. Considering the contractual terms related to the noncontrolling interest, it is classified as redeemable noncontrolling interest in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table represents supplemental pro forma consolidated sales for the twelve months ended August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020, respectively as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of each period. The pro forma information has been prepared for comparative purposes only and is not intended to be indicative of what the Company's results would have been had the acquisition occurred at the beginning of the periods presented or results which may occur in the future.

	Twelve months ended August 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Sales	$	133,553	$	127,817

Actual sales for the twelve months ended August 31, 2021 included in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings are as follows:    

(in millions)	2021
Sales	$	5,099

Pro forma net earnings of the Company, assuming the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of each period presented, would not be materially different from the results reported.

Other acquisitions

The Company acquired certain prescription files and related pharmacy inventory primarily in the U.S. for the aggregate purchase price of $108 million and $258 million during the fiscal year ended 2021 and 2020, respectively.

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Exit and disposal activities

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Exit and disposal activities

Exit and disposal activities

Transformational Cost Management Program

On December 20, 2018, the Company announced a transformational cost management program that was expected to deliver in excess of $2.0 billion of annual cost savings by fiscal 2022 (the “Transformational Cost Management Program”). At the end of fiscal 2021, the Company had delivered this annual cost savings goal.

Building on the successful implementation of the Transformational Cost Management Program to date and as part of the Company's strategic realignment to create even greater focus on the Company’s core business, on October 12, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an expansion and extension of the Transformational Cost Management Program through the end of fiscal 2024. The expanded Transformational Cost Management Program is expected to deliver incremental savings from existing programs and a comprehensive funnel of new initiatives which are intended to improve operating effectiveness and better position the core business for the future. The expansion of the program reflects further strategic initiatives to optimize real estate, implement a global business and centralized services model, as well as leverage technology and new business models to streamline processes across the organization. As a result, the Company is increasing its annual savings target to $3.3 billion of annual cost savings by fiscal 2024.

The Transformational Cost Management Program, which is multi-faceted and includes divisional optimization initiatives, global smart spending, global smart organization and the transformation of the Company’s information technology (IT) capabilities, is designed to help the Company achieve increased cost efficiencies. To date, the Company has taken actions across all aspects of the Transformational Cost Management Program. The actions under the Transformational Cost Management Program focus on all reportable segments and the Company’s global functions. Divisional optimization within each of the Company’s segments includes activities such as optimization of stores. As a result of the expanded program, the Company now plans to reduce its presence by up to 150 Boots stores in the UK and up to 150 stores in the United States over the next three years which are incremental to the previously planned reductions of approximately 200 Boots stores in the UK and approximately 250 stores in the United States.

The Company currently estimates that the Transformational Cost Management Program will result in cumulative pre-tax charges to its GAAP financial results of approximately $3.6 billion to $3.9 billion, of which $3.3 billion to $3.6 billion are expected to be recorded as exit and disposal activities. In addition to these impacts, as a result of the actions related to store closures taken under the Transformational Cost Management Program, the Company recorded $508 million of transition adjustments to decrease retained earnings due to the adoption of the new lease accounting standard (Topic 842) that became effective on September 1, 2019. See Note 1 Summary of major accounting policies, for additional information.

Since the inception of the Transformational Cost Management Program to August 31, 2021, the Company has recognized cumulative pre-tax charges to its financial results in accordance with GAAP of $1.3 billion, which were primarily recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses. These charges included $353 million related to lease obligations and other real estate costs, $252 million in asset impairments, $513 million in employee severance and business transition costs and $163 million of information technology transformation and other exit costs.

Costs related to exit and disposal activities under the Transformational Cost Management Program for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were as follows (in millions):

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2021	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	103	$	6	$	—	$	108
Asset impairments	15		9		—		24
Employee severance and business transition costs	79		40		45		165
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	20		17		—		38
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	217	$	72	$	46	$	335

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2020	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	191	$	9	$	14	$	215
Asset impairments	51		19		2		72
Employee severance and business transition costs	132		93		45		270
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	70		42		(4)		108
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	444	$	163	$	58	$	665

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2019	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	5	$	26	$	—	$	30
Asset impairments	95		61		—		156
Employee severance and business transition costs	41		37		1		78
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	6		10		—		17
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	147	$	134	$	1	$	282

The changes in liabilities and assets related to the exit and disposal activities under Transformational Cost Management Program include the following (in millions):

	Lease obligations and other real estate costs		Asset Impairments		Employee severance and business transition costs		Information technology transformation and other exit costs		Total
Balance at August 31, 2019	$	17	$	—	$	27	$	3	$	47
Costs	215		72		270		108		665
Payments	(44)		—		(146)		(86)		(276)
Other - non cash	(166)		(72)		13		(11)		(236)
ASC 842 Leases adoption	(4)		—		—		—		(4)
Currency	1		—		2		—		3
Balance at August 31, 2020	$	19	$	—	$	166	$	14	$	199
Costs	108		24		165		38		335
Payments	(69)		—		(252)		(31)		(351)
Other - non cash	(42)		(24)		(4)		—		(70)
Currency	—		—		2		(1)		1
Balance at August 31, 2021	$	17	$	—	$	77	$	20	$	114

Store Optimization Program

On October 24, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to implement a program (the “Store Optimization Program”) to optimize store locations through the planned closure of approximately 600 stores and related assets within the Company’s United States segment upon completion of the acquisition of certain stores and related assets from Rite Aid. The Company closed 769 stores and related assets. The actions under the Store Optimization Program commenced in March 2018 and were completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.

Costs related to Store Optimization Program for the twelve months ended August 2020 were $22 million for lease obligation and other real estate costs and $31 million for employee severance and other exit costs, respectively. The liabilities related to Store Optimization Program as of August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020 were not material.

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Leases

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

Leases

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases were as follows (in millions):

Balance Sheet supplemental information:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Operating Leases:
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$	21,893	$	21,453
Operating lease obligations - current	$	2,259	$	2,358
Operating lease obligations - non current	22,153		21,765
Total operating lease obligations	$	24,412	$	24,123
Finance Leases:
Right-of-use assets included in:
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	725	$	766
Lease obligations included in:
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	$	37	$	31
Other non-current liabilities	974		1,013
Total finance lease obligations	$	1,010	$	1,044

Supplemental income statement information related to leases were as follows (in millions):

Statement of Earnings supplemental information:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Operating lease cost
Fixed	$	3,219	$	3,252
Variable 1	664		750
Finance lease cost
Amortization	$	45	$	40
Interest	52		54
Sublease income	$	84	$	75
Impairment of right-of-use assets	86		213
Impairment of finance lease assets	—		24
Gains on sale-leaseback transactions 2	367		308

1Includes real estate property taxes, common area maintenance, insurance and rental payments based on sales volume.

2Recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses.

Rental expense for fiscal 2019 prior to the adoption of ASC 842 Leases, which includes common area maintenance, insurance and taxes, where appropriate, was $3,552 million, comprising minimum rentals of $3,550 million, contingent rentals of $67 million and sub lease rental income of $66 million.

Other supplemental information was as follows (in millions):

Other Supplemental Information:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease obligations
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	3,414	$	3,251
Operating cash flows from finance leases	48		48
Financing cash flows from finance leases	42		47
Total	$	3,503	$	3,346
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new lease obligations:
Operating leases	$	2,765	$	2,443
Finance leases	—		65
Total	$	2,765	$	2,508

Average lease term and discount rate as of August 31, 2021 were as follows:

Weighted average terms and discount rates:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Weighted average remaining lease term in years:
Operating leases	10.3		10.7
Finance leases	20.2		20.6
Weighted average discount rate
Operating leases	4.77	%	4.97	%
Finance leases	5.18	%	5.14	%

The aggregate future lease payments for operating and finance leases as of August 31, 2021 were as follows (in millions):

Future lease payments (Fiscal years):	Finance lease		Operating lease
2022	$	89	$	3,439
2023	88		3,342
2024	88		3,224
2025	87		3,102
2026	86		2,982
Later	1,142		15,210
Total undiscounted minimum lease payments	$	1,580	$	31,299
Less: Present value discount	(570)		(6,887)
Lease liability	$	1,010	$	24,412

Leases

Leases

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases were as follows (in millions):

Balance Sheet supplemental information:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Operating Leases:
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$	21,893	$	21,453
Operating lease obligations - current	$	2,259	$	2,358
Operating lease obligations - non current	22,153		21,765
Total operating lease obligations	$	24,412	$	24,123
Finance Leases:
Right-of-use assets included in:
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	725	$	766
Lease obligations included in:
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	$	37	$	31
Other non-current liabilities	974		1,013
Total finance lease obligations	$	1,010	$	1,044

Supplemental income statement information related to leases were as follows (in millions):

Statement of Earnings supplemental information:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Operating lease cost
Fixed	$	3,219	$	3,252
Variable 1	664		750
Finance lease cost
Amortization	$	45	$	40
Interest	52		54
Sublease income	$	84	$	75
Impairment of right-of-use assets	86		213
Impairment of finance lease assets	—		24
Gains on sale-leaseback transactions 2	367		308

1Includes real estate property taxes, common area maintenance, insurance and rental payments based on sales volume.

2Recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses.

Rental expense for fiscal 2019 prior to the adoption of ASC 842 Leases, which includes common area maintenance, insurance and taxes, where appropriate, was $3,552 million, comprising minimum rentals of $3,550 million, contingent rentals of $67 million and sub lease rental income of $66 million.

Other supplemental information was as follows (in millions):

Other Supplemental Information:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease obligations
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	3,414	$	3,251
Operating cash flows from finance leases	48		48
Financing cash flows from finance leases	42		47
Total	$	3,503	$	3,346
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new lease obligations:
Operating leases	$	2,765	$	2,443
Finance leases	—		65
Total	$	2,765	$	2,508

Average lease term and discount rate as of August 31, 2021 were as follows:

Weighted average terms and discount rates:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Weighted average remaining lease term in years:
Operating leases	10.3		10.7
Finance leases	20.2		20.6
Weighted average discount rate
Operating leases	4.77	%	4.97	%
Finance leases	5.18	%	5.14	%

The aggregate future lease payments for operating and finance leases as of August 31, 2021 were as follows (in millions):

Future lease payments (Fiscal years):	Finance lease		Operating lease
2022	$	89	$	3,439
2023	88		3,342
2024	88		3,224
2025	87		3,102
2026	86		2,982
Later	1,142		15,210
Total undiscounted minimum lease payments	$	1,580	$	31,299
Less: Present value discount	(570)		(6,887)
Lease liability	$	1,010	$	24,412

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Equity method investments

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Equity method investments

Equity method investments

Equity method investments as of August 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in millions, except percentages):

	2021			2020
	Carrying value		Ownership percentage	Carrying value		Ownership percentage
AmerisourceBergen	$	4,407	28%	$	5,446	28%
Others	2,580		8% - 50%	1,758		8% - 50%
Total	$	6,987		$	7,204

AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen”) investment

As of August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020, respectively, the Company owned 58,854,867 and 56,854,867 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock, representing approximately 28.5% and 27.9% of its outstanding common stock based on the share count publicly reported by AmerisourceBergen in its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. As of August 31, 2021, the Company has designated one member of AmerisourceBergen’s board of directors. The Company accounts for its

equity investment in AmerisourceBergen using the equity method of accounting, with the net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company’s investment being classified within the operating income of its United States segment. Due to the timing and availability of financial information of AmerisourceBergen, the Company accounts for this equity method investment on a financial reporting lag of two months. Equity earnings (loss) from AmerisourceBergen are reported as a separate line in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. During the twelve months ended August 31, 2021, the Company recognized equity losses in AmerisourceBergen of $1,139 million. These equity losses were primarily due to AmerisourceBergen's recognition of $5.6 billion, net of tax charge related to its ongoing opioid litigation in its financial statements for the three months period ended September 30, 2020.

The Level 1 fair market value of the Company’s equity investment in AmerisourceBergen common stock at August 31, 2021 and 2020 was $7.2 billion and $5.5 billion, respectively. As of August 31, 2021, the carrying value of Company’s investment in AmerisourceBergen exceeded its proportionate share of the net assets of AmerisourceBergen by $4.4 billion. This premium of $4.4 billion was recognized as part of the carrying value in the Company’s equity investment in AmerisourceBergen. The difference was primarily related to goodwill and the fair value of AmerisourceBergen intangible assets.

Other investments

The Company’s other equity method investments include its investments in the U.S. which include the Company's investment in HC Group Holdings I, LLC (“HC Group Holdings”) which owns equity interest in Option Care Health, Village Practice Management Company, LLC (“VillageMD”), BrightSpring Health Services (previously PharMerica Corporation) and Shields Health Solutions and the Company's investments in China through Sinopharm Medicine Holding Guoda Drugstores Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Nanjing Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

The Company reported $627 million, $31 million and $8 million of post-tax equity earnings from other equity method investments, for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company recorded a gain of $290 million in Other income due to a partial sale of ownership interest in Option Care Health by the Company's equity method investee HC Group Holdings. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, as a result of partial sales of ownership interest in Option Care Health, our equity method investee HC Group Holdings lost the ability to control Option Care Health and, therefore, deconsolidated Option Care Health in its financial statements. As a result of this deconsolidation, HC Group Holdings recognized a gain of $1.2 billion and the Company recorded its share of equity earnings in HC Group Holdings $576 million during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, respectively, in post tax earnings from other equity method investments.

During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company made an additional investment of $750 million in VillageMD, $250 million of which is recorded as an equity method investment and $500 million of which is recorded as an investment in convertible debt securities within Other non-current assets. See Note 21. Subsequent events, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 herein for further information.

Summarized financial information

Summarized financial information for the Company’s equity method investments in aggregate is as follows:

Balance sheet (in millions)

	Year ended August 31,
	2021		2020
Current assets	$	49,538	$	39,167
Non-current assets	27,442		18,138
Current liabilities	48,766		38,034
Non-current liabilities	22,046		10,600
Shareholders’ equity1	6,168		8,671

1Shareholders’ equity at August 31, 2021 and 2020 includes $646 million and $387 million, respectively, related to noncontrolling interests.

Statements of earnings (in millions)

	Year ended August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Sales	$	232,719	$	208,625	$	195,540
Gross profit	10,889		8,707		7,303
Net earnings (loss)	(3,475)		1,624		997
Share of earnings (loss) from equity method investments	(512)		372		172

The summarized financial information for equity method investments has been included on an aggregated basis for all investments as reported at the end of each fiscal year end.

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Goodwill and other intangible assets

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or intangible asset below its carrying value.

Based on the annual evaluation as of the June 1, 2021 valuation date, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units exceeded their carrying amounts ranging from approximately 18% to approximately 195%. Boots reporting unit's fair value was in excess of its carrying value by approximately 18%, compared to a nominal amount as of June 1, 2020, mainly due to decline in the carrying amounts of net assets of the reporting unit. Other international reporting unit's fair value was in excess of its carrying value by approximately 29% compared to 4% as of June 1, 2020, due to improvement in business conditions of the countries within the reporting unit. As of August 31, 2021, the carrying values of goodwill were $1.1 billion and $0.4 billion for Boots reporting unit and Other international reporting unit, respectively.

During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021 the Company recorded an impairment of $49 million on certain indefinite-lived Boots tradename assets. The fair values of indefinite-lived intangibles within the Boots reporting unit exceeded their carrying value amounts ranging from approximately 5% to approximately 27%, except for certain Boots indefinite lived Boots tradename assets which were impaired during the year. As of August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020, the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangibles within the Boots reporting unit was $7.3 billion and $7.2 billion, respectively.

During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, the Company completed a quantitative impairment analysis for goodwill and certain indefinite-lived intangible assets related to its two reporting units within the International segment, Boots and Other international, as a result of the significant impact of COVID-19 on their financial performance. Based on this analysis, the Company recorded impairment charges of $1.7 billion on Boots goodwill and $0.3 billion on certain indefinite-lived Boots tradename assets.

During the fiscal year ended August 31 2019, the Company recorded an impairment of $73 million on its pharmacy licenses in the Boots reporting unit.

As part of the Company’s impairment analysis, fair value of a reporting unit is determined using both the income and market approaches. The income approach requires management to estimate a number of factors for each reporting unit, including the projected future operating results, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and discount rates considering the impact of COVID-19, among other potential impacts. The market approach estimates fair value using comparable marketplace fair value data from within a comparable industry grouping. The determination of the fair value of the reporting units requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions with respect to the business and financial performance of the Company’s reporting units, as well as how such performance may be impacted by COVID-19. These estimates and assumptions primarily include, but are not limited to: the selection of appropriate peer group companies, control premiums appropriate for acquisitions in the industries in which we compete, discount rates, terminal growth rates, and forecasts of revenue, operating income, depreciation, amortization and capital expenditures, including considering the impact of COVID-19.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets fair values are estimated using the relief from royalty method and excess earnings method of the income approach. The determination of the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangibles requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions primarily include, but are not limited to: forecasts of revenue, the selection of appropriate royalty rate and discount rates. Although the Company believes its estimates of fair value

are reasonable, actual financial results could differ from those estimates due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making such estimates. Changes in assumptions concerning future financial results or other underlying assumptions, including the impact of COVID-19, could have a significant impact on either the fair value of the reporting units and indefinite-lived intangibles, the amount of any goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible impairment charges, or both. These estimates can be affected by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the impact of COVID-19, its severity, duration and its impact on global economies, general economic conditions as well as our profitability. The Company will continue to monitor these potential impacts, including the impact of economic, industry and market trends and the impact these may have on Boots and Other international reporting units.

Definite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that a certain asset or asset group may be impaired. During the year ended August 31, 2020, the Company evaluated certain definite-lived intangibles for impairment resulting in an impairment charge of $47 million. No impairment was recorded for definite-lived intangibles in the year ended August 31, 2021.

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment consist of the following activity (in millions):

Goodwill rollforward:	United States		International		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
August 31, 2019	$	10,491	$	3,051	$	13,542
Acquisitions 1	62		—		62
Impairment	—		(1,675)		(1,675)
Currency translation adjustments	—		83		83
August 31, 2020	$	10,553	$	1,460	$	12,013
Acquisitions 2	$	394	$	21	$	414
Currency translation adjustments	—		(7)		(7)
August 31, 2021	$	10,947	$	1,474	$	12,421

1    During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, the Company acquired the remaining two of three Rite Aid distribution centers including related inventory for cash consideration of $91 million resulting in an increase to goodwill of $62 million.

2    During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company acquired a controlling equity interest in Innovation Associates, Inc. and a joint venture with McKesson which resulted in an increase to goodwill of $394 million and $21 million, respectively.

The carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets consist of the following (in millions):

Intangible assets:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Gross amortizable intangible assets
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders 1	$	3,522	$	3,502
Tradenames and trademarks	361		348
Purchasing and payer contracts	317		337
Others 2	221		60
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	$	4,421	$	4,247
Accumulated amortization
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders 1	$	1,335	$	1,089
Tradenames and trademarks	226		196
Purchasing and payer contracts	227		95
Others 2	37		26
Total accumulated amortization	1,826		1,406
Total amortizable intangible assets, net	$	2,595	$	2,841
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Tradenames and trademarks	$	5,276	$	5,203
Pharmacy licenses	2,066		2,028
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	$	7,342	$	7,231
Total intangible assets, net	$	9,936	$	10,072

1Includes purchased prescription files.

2Includes acquired developed technology and non-compete agreements.

Amortization expense for intangible assets was $523 million, $384 million and $473 million in fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Estimated future annual amortization expense for the next five fiscal years for intangible assets recorded at August 31, 2021 is as follows (in millions):

	2022		2023		2024		2025		2026
Estimated annual amortization expense	$	444	$	330	$	311	$	276	$	258

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Debt

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

Debt

Debt carrying values are presented net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs, where applicable, and foreign currency denominated debt is translated using the spot rates as of the balance sheet date. Debt consists of the following (all amounts are presented in millions of U.S. dollars and debt issuances are denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted):

	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Short-term debt
Commercial paper	$	—	$	1,517
Credit facilities 6	—		1,071
£700 million note issuance 1,2
2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020	—		533
$8 billion note issuance 1
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021 3	1,250		—
Other 4	56		144
Total short-term debt	$	1,305	$	3,265

Long-term debt
$1.5 billion note issuance 1
3.200% unsecured notes due 2030	$	497	$	497
4.100% unsecured notes due 2050 6	792		990
$6 billion note issuance 1
3.450% unsecured notes due 2026 6	1,442		1,891
4.650% unsecured notes due 2046 6	318		591
$8 billion note issuance 1
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021	—		1,248
3.800% unsecured notes due 2024 6	1,154		1,993
4.500% unsecured notes due 2034 6	301		496
4.800% unsecured notes due 2044 6	868		1,493
£700 million note issuance, 1
3.600% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2025	408		398
€750 million note issuance 1
2.125% unsecured Euro notes due 2026	873		891
$4 billion note issuance 5
3.100% unsecured notes due 2022 6	731		1,198
4.400% unsecured notes due 2042 6	263		493
Other 4	29		24
Total long-term debt, less current portion	$	7,675	$	12,203

1Notes are unsubordinated debt obligations of the Company and rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company from time to time outstanding.

2On October 20, 2020, the Company redeemed in full the £400 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020 issued by the Company on November 20, 2014.

3On August 17, 2021, the Company provided notice to the Trustee and the Holders of its 3.300% notes due 2021 issued by the Company on November 18, 2014 that it will redeem in full the $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding of the notes on September 18, 2021. These notes were redeemed in full as of that date.

4Other debt represents a mix of fixed and variable rate debt with various maturities and working capital facilities denominated in various currencies.

5Notes are senior debt obligations of Walgreen Co. and rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Walgreen Co. On December 31, 2014, the Company fully and unconditionally guaranteed the outstanding notes on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis. The guarantee, for so long as it is in place, is an unsecured, unsubordinated debt obligation of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.

6On April 26, 2021, the Company entered into a cash tender offer to partially purchase and retire $3.3 billion of long term U.S. dollar denominated notes with a weighted average interest rate of 4.02%, using funds drawn down from the $3.8 billion April 2021 Credit Agreement (as defined below). The Company recognized a loss of $414 million related to the early extinguishment of debt, within Interest expense, which includes $386 million of redemption premium paid in cash. The cash payments related to the early extinguishment of debt are classified as cash outflows from financing activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

At August 31, 2021, the future maturities of short-term and long-term debt, excluding debt discounts and issuance costs and finance lease obligations (See Note 5 Leases, for the future lease payments), consisted of the following (in millions):

	Amount
2022	$	1,305
2023	733
2024	2
2025	1,163
2026	1,858
Later	3,957
Total estimated future maturities	$	9,018

$1.5 Billion Note Issuance

On April 15, 2020, the Company issued in an underwritten public offering $0.5 billion of 3.20% notes due 2030 and $1.0 billion of 4.10% notes due 2050. Total issuance costs relating to the notes, including underwriting discounts and offering expenses were $13 million. The Company partially purchased and retired $0.2 billion of its outstanding $1.0 billion, 4.10% notes due 2050 pursuant to the debt tender offer completed on April 26, 2021.

Credit facilities

April 9, 2021 Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Agreement

On April 9, 2021, the Company entered into a delayed draw term loan credit agreement (the “April 2021 Credit Agreement”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto. The purpose of the loan was to fund the Company's April 26, 2021 cash tender offer to partially purchase and retire $3.3 billion of long term U.S. dollar denominated notes. The April 2021 Credit Agreement was initially a $2.8 billion senior unsecured delayed draw term loan facility, with an original facility termination date (the “Initial Maturity Date”) of the earliest of (x) October 9, 2021, (y) the date of acceleration of all term loans and termination of all commitments pursuant to the April 2021 Credit Agreement and (z) the date of prepayment of all loans and the termination of all commitments pursuant to the April 2021 Credit Agreement. On April 23, 2021, the April 2021 Credit Agreement term loan facility amount was increased to $3.8 billion. On June 1, 2021 the Company completed the previously announced sale of the Company’s Alliance Healthcare business and used a portion of the Alliance Healthcare Sale proceeds to repay all borrowings outstanding under the April 2021 Credit Agreement.

December 23, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement

On December 23, 2020, the Company entered into a $1.25 billion senior unsecured 364-day revolving credit agreement and a $2.25 billion senior unsecured 18-month revolving credit facility, with a swing line sub-facility commitment amount of $350 million, with designated borrowers from time to time party thereto and lenders from time to time party thereto (the “2020 Revolving Credit Agreement”). The 364-Day Facility’s termination date is the earlier of (i) 364 days from December 23, 2020, the effective date (subject to the extension thereof pursuant to the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement) and (ii) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the revolving commitments under the 364-Day Facility pursuant to the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. The 18-Month Facility’s termination date is the earlier of (i) 18 months from the effective date (subject to the extension thereof pursuant to the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement) and (ii) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the revolving commitments under the 18-Month Facility pursuant to the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. As of August 31, 2021, there were no borrowings outstanding under the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement.

April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement

On April 7, 2020, the Company entered into a $500 million revolving credit agreement (the “April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement”) with its subsidiary, WBA Financial Services Limited, a private limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“WBAFSL”), and the lenders from time to time party thereto. The April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement is a senior unsecured revolving credit facility, with a facility termination date of the earlier of (a) 364-days from April 7, 2020 and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the commitments pursuant to the April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. The Company and WBAFSL are co-borrowers under the April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement, the Company provides a guarantee of any obligations of WBAFSL under the April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. This revolving credit agreement was terminated in full on December 23, 2020.

April 2020 Revolving Bilateral and Club Credit Agreements

The Company entered into a $750 million revolving credit agreement on April 1, 2020 (the “April 2020 Revolving Bilateral Credit Agreement”) and a $1.325 billion revolving credit agreement on April 2, 2020 (the “April 2020 Revolving Club Credit Agreement” and together with the April 2020 Revolving Bilateral Credit Agreement, the “Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreements”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto. Each of the Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreements is a senior unsecured revolving credit facility, with a facility termination date of the earlier of (a) March 31, 2021 (which date shall be shortened pursuant to the terms of the applicable Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement if the Company does not extend the maturity date of certain of its existing credit agreements or enter into new bank or bond financings with a certain maturity date and above an aggregate principal amount as described in the applicable Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement) and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the commitments pursuant to the applicable Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. This revolving credit agreement was terminated in full on December 23, 2020.

August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreements

On August 30, 2019, the Company entered into three $500 million revolving credit agreements (together, the “August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreements” and each individually, an “August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreement”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto. Each of the August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreements are senior unsecured revolving credit facilities, with facility termination dates of the earlier of (a) 18 months following August 30, 2019, subject to extension thereof pursuant to the applicable August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreement and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the commitments pursuant to the applicable August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreement. This revolving credit agreement was terminated in full on December 23, 2020.

January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement

On January 18, 2019, the Company entered into a $2.0 billion 364-day revolving credit agreement (as extended, the “January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto. The January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement is a senior unsecured 364-day revolving credit facility, with an original facility termination date of 364 days following January 31, 2019, subject to extension. On December 18, 2019, the Company entered into an Extension Agreement (the “Extension Agreement”) relating to the January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement with the lenders party thereto and Mizuho, as administrative agent. The Extension Agreement extended the Maturity Date (as defined in the January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement) for an additional period of 364 days to January 28, 2021. Such extension became effective on January 30, 2020. The January 2019 364 Day Revolving Credit Agreement was partially terminated on December 23, 2020, reducing the amount available to $0.5 billion. The outstanding facility amount was terminated on January 28, 2021.

A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement

On December 5, 2018, the Company entered into a $1.0 billion term loan credit agreement with the lenders from time to time party thereto and, on August 9, 2019, the Company entered into an amendment to such credit agreement (such credit agreement as so amended, the “December 2018 Credit Agreement”) to permit the Company to borrow, repay and reborrow amounts borrowed thereunder prior to the maturity date. On April 2, 2020, the Company amended and restated the December 2018 Credit Agreement (such credit agreement as so amended and restated, the “A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement”). The A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement governs a $2.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility, consisting of the initial $1.0 billion senior unsecured revolving facility previously governed by the December 2018 Credit Agreement and a new $1.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility. The facility termination date is the earlier of (a) January 29, 2021 (which date shall be extended to February 26, 2021 or July 31, 2021 pursuant to the terms of the A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement if the Company extends the maturity date of certain of its existing credit agreements or enters into new bank or bond financings with a certain maturity date and above an aggregate principal amount as described in the A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement ) and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the commitments pursuant to the A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement. The A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement was further amended on December 23, 2020 whereby the new facility was terminated in full and the existing facility matured in January 2021.

Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement

On November 30, 2018, the Company entered into a credit agreement with the lenders from time to time party thereto, on March 25, 2019, the Company entered into an amendment to such credit agreement (such credit agreement as so amended, the “November 2018 Credit Agreement”) reflecting certain changes to the borrowing notice provisions thereto, and on April 2, 2020, the Company entered into a second amendment to the November 2018 Credit Agreement (such credit agreement as so further amended, the “Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement”) which second amendment became effective as of May 29, 2020. As of May 29, 2020, the $500 million revolving credit facility portion of the November 2018 Credit Agreement was converted into a term loan facility, such that the Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement consists of a $1.0 billion senior

unsecured term loan facility. The facility termination date is the earlier of (a) May 29, 2021 and (b) the date of acceleration of all loans under the Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement pursuant to its terms. The November 2018 Credit Agreement was repaid in full on April 23, 2021.

August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement

On August 29, 2018, the Company entered into a revolving credit agreement (the “August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement”) with the lenders and letter of credit issuers from time to time party thereto. The August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement is an unsecured revolving credit facility with an aggregate commitment in the amount of $3.5 billion, with a letter of credit sub-facility commitment amount of $500 million. The facility termination date is the earlier of (a) August 29, 2023, subject to extension thereof pursuant to the August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the revolving commitments pursuant to the August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement. As of August 31, 2021, there were no borrowings outstanding under the August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement.

Debt covenants

Each of the Company’s credit facilities described above contain a covenant to maintain, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of consolidated debt to total capitalization not to exceed 0.60:1.00, subject to increase in certain circumstances set forth in the applicable credit agreement. The credit facilities contain various other customary covenants.

Commercial paper

The Company periodically borrows under its commercial paper program and may borrow under it in future periods. The Company had average daily commercial paper outstanding of $1.9 billion at a weighted average interest rate of 0.45% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021. The Company had average daily commercial paper outstanding of $2.5 billion at a weighted average interest rate of 2.15% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020. As of August 31, 2021, there were no borrowings outstanding under the commercial paper program.

A subsidiary of the Company borrowed under the Joint HM Treasury and Bank of England's COVID Corporate Financing Facility commercial paper program, for average daily commercial paper outstanding, until paid, of £300 million or approximately $424 million at a weighted average interest rate of 0.43% during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021. The subsidiary of the Company repaid the commercial paper issued on May 14, 2021.

Interest

Interest paid by the Company was $916 million in fiscal 2021, $584 million in fiscal 2020 and $676 million in fiscal 2019. Interest paid in the twelve months ended August 31, 2021 of $916 million includes charges on early extinguishment of debt of $387 million.

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Financial instruments

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Financial instruments

Financial instruments

The Company uses derivative instruments to hedge its exposure to market risks, including interest rate and currency risks, arising from operating and financing risks.

The Company has non-U.S. dollar denominated net investments and uses foreign currency denominated financial instruments, specifically foreign currency derivatives and foreign currency denominated debt, to hedge its foreign currency risk.

The notional amounts and fair value of derivative instruments outstanding were as follows (in millions):

August 31, 2021	Notional		Fair value		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets
Derivatives designated as hedges:
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	155	$	1	Other non-current assets
Foreign currency forwards	6		—		Other non-current assets
Foreign currency forwards	23		1		Other non-current liabilities
Cross currency interest rate swaps	801		23		Other non-current liabilities
Foreign currency forwards	575		7		Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	31		1		Other current liabilities
Cross currency interest rate swaps	109		9		Other current liabilities
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
Foreign currency forwards	$	3,636	$	38	Other current assets
Total return swap	224		2		Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	808		3		Other current liabilities
Total return swap	37		—		Other current liabilities

August 31, 2020	Notional		Fair value		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets
Derivatives designated as hedges:
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	722	$	16	Other non-current assets
Foreign currency forwards	49		1		Other non-current liabilities
Cross currency interest rate swaps	318		13		Other non-current liabilities
Interest rate swaps	1,000		10		Other non-current liabilities
Foreign currency forwards	100		1		Other current assets
Cross currency interest rate swaps	50		—		Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	671		23		Other current liabilities
Cross currency interest rate swaps	103		3		Other current liabilities
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
Foreign currency forwards	$	1,930	$	19	Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	2,934		56		Other current liabilities
Total return swap	205		1		Other current liabilities

Net investment hedges

The Company uses cross currency interest rate swaps as hedges and foreign currency forward contracts to hedge net investments in subsidiaries with non-U.S. dollar functional currencies. For qualifying net investment hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recorded in the currency translation adjustment within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Cash flow hedges

From time to time the Company uses interest rate swaps to hedge the variability in forecasted cash flows of certain floating-rate debt. For qualifying cash flow hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), and released to the Consolidated Statements of Earnings when the hedged cash flows affect earnings.

Derivatives not designated as hedges

The Company enters into derivative transactions that are not designated as accounting hedges. These derivative instruments are economic hedges of foreign currency risks. The Company also utilizes total return swaps to economically hedge variability in compensation charges related to certain deferred compensation obligations. The income and (expense) due to changes in fair value of these derivative instruments were recognized in earnings as follows (in millions):

	Location in Consolidated Statements of Earnings	2021		2020		2019
Foreign currency forwards	Selling, general and administrative expense	$	(75)	$	(63)	$	139
Total return swap	Selling, general and administrative expense	58		24		—
Foreign currency forwards	Other income (expense)	(8)		11		(18)

Derivatives credit risk

Counterparties to derivative financial instruments expose the Company to credit-related losses in the event of counterparty nonperformance, and the Company regularly monitors the credit worthiness of each counterparty.

Derivatives offsetting

The Company does not offset the fair value amounts of derivative instruments subject to master netting agreements in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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Fair value measurements

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair value measurements

Fair value measurements

The Company measures certain assets and liabilities in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In addition, it establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad Levels:

Level 1 -Quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets and liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.

Level 2 -Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets.

Level 3 -Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows (in millions):

	August 31, 2021		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds 1	$	634	$	634	$	—	$	—
Investments in equity securities 2	2		2		—		—
Investments in debt securities 3	663		—		—		663
Foreign currency forwards 4	46		—		46		—
Cross currency interest rate swaps 5	1		—		1		—
Total return swaps	2		—		2		—
Liabilities:
Foreign currency forwards4	$	5	$	—	$	5	$	—
Cross currency interest rate swaps5	32		—		32		—

	August 31, 2020		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds¹	$	6	$	6	$	—	$	—
Investments in equity securities²	1		1		—		—
Foreign currency forwards4	20		—		20		—
Cross Currency interest rate swaps5	16		—		16		—
Liabilities:
Foreign currency forwards4	$	80	$	—	$	80	$	—
Cross currency interest rate swaps5	16		—		16		—
Interest rate swaps5	10		—		10		—
Total return swap	1		—		1		—

1Money market funds are valued at the closing price reported by the fund sponsor.

2Fair values of quoted investments are based on current bid prices as of August 31, 2021 and 2020.

3Level 3 debt securities include investments in convertible debt securities of VillageMD which are valued on a quarterly basis using the Probability Weighted Expect Return Method with gains or losses recorded in Other Comprehensive Income. Inputs include the enterprise value, expected holding term of the investment, volatility and risk-free interest rates.

4The fair value of forward currency contracts is estimated by discounting the difference between the contractual forward price and the current available forward price for the residual maturity of the contract using observable market rates. See Note 9 Financial instruments, for additional information.

5The fair value of interest rate swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps is calculated by discounting the estimated future cash flows based on the applicable observable yield curves. See Note 9 Financial instruments, for additional information.

There were no transfers between Levels in fiscal 2021 or 2020.

The carrying value of the Company's commercial paper and credit facilities approximated their respective fair values due to their short-term nature.

The Company reports its debt instruments under the guidance of ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, which requires disclosure of the fair value of the Company’s debt in the footnotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. As of August 31, 2021, the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long term notes outstanding including the current portion were $8.9 billion and $9.8 billion, respectively. The fair values of the notes outstanding are Level 1 fair value measures and determined based on quoted market price and translated at the August 31, 2021 rate, as applicable. The fair values and carrying values of these issuances do not include notes that have been redeemed or repaid as of August 31, 2021. See Note 8 Debt, for further information.

The carrying values of accounts receivable and trade accounts payable approximated their respective fair values due to their short-term nature.

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Commitments and contingencies

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and contingencies

Commitments and contingencies

The Company is involved in legal proceedings, including litigation, arbitration and other claims, and investigations, inspections, subpoenas, audits, claims, inquiries and similar actions by pharmacy, healthcare, tax and other governmental authorities, arising in the normal course of the Company’s business, including the matters described below. Legal proceedings, in general, and securities, class action and multi-district litigation, in particular, can be expensive and disruptive. Some of these suits may purport or may be determined to be class actions and/or involve parties seeking large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive or exemplary damages, and may remain unresolved for several years. From time to time, the Company is also involved in legal proceedings as a plaintiff involving antitrust, tax, contract, intellectual property and other matters. Gain contingencies, if any, are recognized when they are realized.

Like other companies in the retail pharmacy and pharmaceutical wholesale industries, the Company is subject to extensive regulation by national, state and local government agencies in the U.S. and other countries in which it operates. There continues to be a heightened level of review and/or audit by regulatory authorities of, and increased litigation regarding, the Company’s and the rest of the health care and related industry’s business, compliance and reporting practices. As a result, the Company regularly is the subject of government actions of the types described above. The Company also may be named from time to time in qui tam actions initiated by private third parties. In such actions, the private parties purport to act on behalf of federal or state governments, allege that false claims have been submitted for payment by the government and may receive an award if their claims are successful. After a private party has filed a qui tam action, the government must investigate the private party's claim and determine whether to intervene in and take control over the litigation. These actions may remain under seal while the government makes this determination. If the government declines to intervene, the private party may nonetheless continue to pursue the litigation on his or her own purporting to act on behalf of the government.

The results of legal proceedings, including government investigations, are often uncertain and difficult to predict, and the costs incurred in these matters can be substantial, regardless of the outcome. With respect to litigation and other legal proceedings where the Company has determined that a material loss is reasonably possible, the Company is unable to estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible loss due to the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of and uncertainties regarding such litigation and legal proceedings. The Company believes that its defenses and assertions in pending legal proceedings have merit and does not believe that any of these pending matters, after consideration of applicable reserves and rights to indemnification,

will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position. However, substantial unanticipated verdicts, fines and rulings do sometimes occur. As a result, the Company could from time to time incur judgments, enter into settlements or revise its expectations regarding the outcome of certain matters, and such developments could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations in the period in which the amounts are accrued and/or its cash flows in the period in which the amounts are paid. In addition, as a result of governmental investigations or proceedings, the Company may be subject to damages, civil or criminal fines or penalties, or other sanctions, including the possible suspension or loss of licensure and/or suspension or exclusion from participation in government programs.

On December 29, 2014, a putative shareholder filed a derivative action in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois against certain current and former directors and officers of Walgreen Co. and Walgreen Co., as a nominal defendant, arising out of certain public statements the Company made regarding its former fiscal 2016 goals. (Cutler v. Wasson et al., No. 1:14-cv-10408 (N.D. Ill.)) The action asserts claims for breach of fiduciary duty, waste and unjust enrichment. On May 18, 2015, the case was stayed in light of a securities class action that was filed on April 10, 2015, described below. On November 3, 2016, the Court entered a stipulation and order extending the stay until the resolution of the securities class action.

On April 10, 2015, a putative shareholder filed a securities class action in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois against Walgreen Co. and certain former officers of Walgreen Co. (Washtenaw County Employees’ Retirement System v. Walgreen Co. et al., No. 1:15-cv-3187 (N.D. Ill.)) The action asserts claims for violation of the federal securities laws arising out of certain public statements the Company made regarding its former fiscal 2016 goals. A motion to dismiss a consolidated class action complaint filed on August 17, 2015 was granted in part and denied in part on September 30, 2016. The court granted plaintiff’s motion for class certification on March 29, 2018 and plaintiff filed a first amended complaint on December 19, 2018. A motion to dismiss the first amended complaint was granted in part and denied in part on September 23, 2019. Fact discovery and expert discovery have concluded. Motions for summary judgment have been fully briefed.

On December 11, 2017, purported Rite Aid shareholders filed an amended complaint in a putative class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (the “M.D. Pa. action”) arising out of transactions contemplated by the merger agreement between the Company and Rite Aid. The amended complaint alleged that the Company and certain of its officers made false or misleading statements regarding the transactions. The Court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint on April 15, 2019. The Company filed an answer and affirmative defenses, and the Court granted plaintiffs' motion for class certification. Fact discovery is ongoing. In October and December 2020, two separate purported Rite Aid Shareholders filed lawsuits in the same court as the M.D. Pa. action opting out of the class in the M.D. Pa. action making nearly identical allegations as those in the M.D. Pa. action (the “Direct Actions”). On December 24, 2020, the parties to the Direct Actions filed a joint stipulation to stay the Direct Actions until the earlier of (a) 30 days after the entry of an order resolving any pre-trial dispositive motions in the M.D. Pa. action, or (b) 30 days after the entry of an order of final approval of any settlement of the M.D. Pa. action. The court so ordered the joint stipulation on December 28, 2020.

In June 2019, a Fred’s, Inc. shareholder filed a nearly identical lawsuit to the M.D. Pa. action in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, except naming Fred’s, Inc. and one of its former officers along with the Company and certain of its officers. Lead plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on November 4, 2019, which is substantially the same as the original complaint. The court granted the Company's motion to dismiss to the amended complaint on March 31, 2021.

In December 2017, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated numerous cases filed against an array of defendants by various plaintiffs such as counties, cities, hospitals, Indian tribes, and others, alleging claims generally concerning the impacts of widespread opioid abuse. The consolidated multidistrict litigation, captioned In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation (MDL No. 2804, Case No. 17-md-2804), is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio ("N.D. Ohio"). The Company is involved in the following multidistrict litigation (MDL) bellwether cases: (1) two consolidated cases in N.D. Ohio (Cnty. of Summit, Ohio, et al v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 18-op-45090; Cnty. of Cuyahoga, Ohio, et al. v. Purdue Pharma L.P., Case No. 18-op-45004), previously scheduled for trial in November 2020 but postponed indefinitely; (2) one remanded to the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma (The Cherokee Nation v. McKesson Corp., et al., Case No. 18-CV-00056-RAW-SPS), scheduled for trial in September 2022; (3) one remanded to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (City and Cnty. of San Francisco, et al. v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 3:18-cv-07591-CRB), originally scheduled for trial in October 2021, but rescheduled for April 2022; and (4) two additional consolidated cases in N.D. Ohio (Cnty. of Lake, Ohio v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 18-op-45032; Cnty. of Trumbull, Ohio v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 18-op-45079), initially scheduled for trial in May 2021 but continued until October 2021. In April 2021, the MDL court selected five additional bellwether cases involving the Company, all currently pending in N.D. Ohio: (1) Cobb Cnty. v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 18-op-45817; (2) Durham Cnty. v. AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp., et al., Case No. 19-op-45346; (3) Montgomery Cnty. Bd. of Cnty. Commrs., et al. v. Cardinal

Health, Inc., et al., Case No. 18-op-46326; (4) Board of Cnty. Commrs. of the Cnty. of Santa Fe v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 18-op-45776; and (5) Cnty. of Tarrant v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 18-op-45274.

The Company also has been named as a defendant in numerous lawsuits brought in state courts relating to opioid matters. Trial dates have been set in cases pending in state courts in New Mexico (State of New Mexico, ex rel. Hector Balderas, Attorney General v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. D-101-cv-2017-02541, First Judicial District Court, Santa Fe County, New Mexico - September 2022); West Virginia (State of West Virginia, ex rel. Patrick Morrisey, Attorney General v. Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., et al.,Civil Action No.20-C-82 PNM, Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, - September 2022; Missouri (Jefferson County, Missouri v. Dannie E. Williams, M.D., et al., Cause No. 20JE-CC00029, Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit, Jefferson County, Missouri - April 2023); Florida (State of Florida, Office of the Attorney General, Department of Legal Affairs v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Case No. 2018-CA-001438, Sixth Judicial Circuit in and for Pasco County, Florida - April 2022); Nevada (State of Nevada v. McKesson Corporation, et al., Case No. A-19-796755-B, Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada - January 2023); Michigan (State of Michigan, ex rel. Dana Nessel, Attorney General v. Cardinal Health, Inc., et al., Case No. 19-016896-NZ, Circuit Court for Wayne County, Michigan - October 2022); and Alabama (The DCH Health Care Authority, et al. v. Purdue Pharma LP, et al., Cause No. CV-2019-000007.00, Circuit Court of Conecuh County, Alabama - July 2022). Two consolidated cases in New York state court (County of Suffolk v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Index No. 400001/2017; County of Nassau v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Index No. 400008/2017, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Suffolk County, New York) were resolved as to the Company after jury selection began in June 2021.

The relief sought by various plaintiffs in these matters includes compensatory, abatement and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief. Additionally, the Company has received from the Department of Justice and the Attorney Generals of numerous states subpoenas, civil investigative demands, and/or other requests concerning opioid matters. The Company has also had communications with the Department of Justice with respect to purported violations of the federal Controlled Substances Act and the federal False Claims Act in dispensing prescriptions at certain Walgreens locations. As discussed above, legal proceedings, including government investigations, are often uncertain and difficult to predict, and the costs and penalties incurred in these matters can be substantial.

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Income taxes

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income taxes

Income taxes

U.S. tax law changes

During 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department issued regulations to apply retroactively covering certain components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Certain guidance included in these regulations is inconsistent with the Company’s interpretation that led to the recognition of $247 million of tax benefits in prior periods. The tax benefits relate to the Company’s one-time transition tax on certain un-repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries, which was enacted as part of the 2017 U.S. tax law changes. Despite this guidance, the Company remains confident in its interpretation of the U.S. tax law changes and intends to defend this position through litigation, if necessary. However, if the Company is ultimately unsuccessful in defending its position, it may be required to reverse all or a portion of the benefits previously recorded.

UK tax law changes

On June 10, 2021 the UK Finance Act 2021 was enacted increasing the UK tax rate from 19% to 25% effective April 1, 2023. The Company recorded tax expense of $344 million from re-measuring the net UK deferred tax liability in fiscal 2021. On July 22, 2020 the UK Finance Bill 2020 was enacted increasing the UK tax rate from 17% to 19% effective April 1, 2020. The Company recorded tax expense of $139 million from re-measuring the net UK deferred tax liability in fiscal 2020.

The components of earnings from continuing operations before income tax provision were (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
U.S.	$	61	$	759	$	1,898
Non–U.S.	1,934		(313)		2,461
Total	$	1,995	$	446	$	4,359

The provision for income taxes from continuing operations consists of the following (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
Current provision
Federal	$	79	$	184	$	228
State	115		49		46
Non–U.S.	234		135		183
	$	428	$	368	$	457
Deferred provision
Federal	$	(10)	$	(83)	$	151
State	(46)		2		4
Non–U.S. – tax law change	344		139		—
Non–U.S. – excluding tax law change	(49)		(87)		(35)
	239		(29)		120
Income tax provision	$	667	$	339	$	577

The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate from continuing operations is as follows:

	2021		2020		2019
Federal statutory rate	21.0	%	21.0	%	21.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	3.5		8.8		0.9
Foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates	(4.4)		(17.0)		(1.9)
Non-taxable income	(5.0)		(47.5)		(3.6)
Non-deductible expenses	0.3		9.0		0.2
Tax law changes	17.3		31.3		(0.4)
Change in valuation allowance 1	(4.7)		4.1		2.1
Tax benefits from restructuring	(4.2)		—		—
Tax expense on non-operating equity earnings	6.1		—		—
Uncertain tax positions	6.2		7.5		(0.8)
Goodwill impairment	—		72.5		—
Tax credits	(1.8)		(10.3)		(4.4)
Other	(0.9)		(3.4)		0.1
Effective income tax rate	33.4	%	76.0	%	13.2	%

1Net of changes in related tax attributes and tax benefits from capital losses generated and utilized in FY21.

The deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following (in millions):

	2021		2020
Deferred tax assets:
Compensation and benefits	$	175	$	176
Postretirement benefits	—		88
Insurance	103		98
Accrued rent & lease obligations	5,372		5,187
Allowance for doubtful accounts	34		9
Tax attributes	7,467		6,781
Stock compensation	88		47
Deferred income	34		18
Other	—		50
	$	13,273	$	12,454
Less: valuation allowance	7,239		6,490
Total deferred tax assets	$	6,034	$	5,964
Deferred tax liabilities:
Accelerated depreciation	$	896	$	683
Inventory	377		345
Intangible assets	1,465		1,130
Equity method investment	236		542
Lease right-of-use asset	4,792		4,589
Other	30		—
Total deferred tax liabilities	7,796		7,289
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	1,762	$	1,325

As of August 31, 2021, the Company has recorded deferred tax assets for tax attributes of $7.5 billion, primarily reflecting the benefit of $670 million in U.S. federal, $75 million in state and $6.6 billion in non-U.S. ordinary and capital losses. In addition, these deferred tax assets include $97 million of income tax credits. Of these deferred tax assets, $7.1 billion will expire at various dates from 2022 through 2038. The residual deferred tax assets of $398 million have no expiration date.

The Company believes it is more likely than not that the benefit from certain deferred tax assets will not be realized. The assessment of realization of deferred tax assets is performed based on the weight of the positive and negative evidence available to indicate whether the asset is recoverable, including tax planning strategies that are prudent and feasible. In recognition of this risk, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $7.2 billion against those deferred tax assets as of August 31, 2021.

Income taxes paid, net of refunds were $336 million, $626 million and $893 million for fiscal years 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, provides guidance regarding the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure in the financial statement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return, including the decision whether to file in a particular jurisdiction. As of August 31, 2021, unrecognized tax benefits of $594 million were reported as long-term liabilities, $475 million were reported against deferred taxes, and $114 million were reported against related tax receivables in other non-current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These amounts include interest and penalties, when applicable.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
Balance at beginning of year	$	494	$	455	$	456
Gross increases related to tax positions in a prior period	229		60		33
Gross decreases related to tax positions in a prior period	(52)		(23)		(53)
Gross increases related to tax positions in the current period	446		9		26
Settlements with taxing authorities	(13)		(4)		(2)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(6)		(3)		(5)
Balance at end of year	$	1,098	$	494	$	455

At August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, $524 million, $353 million and $311 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits would favorably impact the effective tax rate if recognized. During the next twelve months, based on current knowledge, it is reasonably possible the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by up to $132 million due to anticipated federal tax audit settlements and the expirations of statutes of limitations associated with tax positions related to multiple state tax jurisdictions.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties in the income tax provision in its Consolidated Statements of Earnings. At August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020, the Company had accrued interest and penalties of $84 million and $58 million, respectively. For the year ended August 31, 2021, and August 31, 2020, the amount reported in income tax expense related to interest and penalties was $26 million and $11 million income tax expense, respectively.

The Company files a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return as well as income tax returns in various states and multiple foreign jurisdictions. It is generally no longer under audit examinations for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any years prior to fiscal 2014. With few exceptions, it is no longer subject to state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before fiscal 2008. In foreign tax jurisdictions, the Company is generally no longer subject to examination by the tax authorities in the UK prior to 2015, Luxembourg prior to 2016 and in Germany prior to 2014.

The Company has received tax holidays from Swiss cantonal income taxes relative to certain of its Swiss operations. The income tax holidays are set to expire in September 2022. Upon expiration, a reduced tax rate will extend through December 2029. The holidays had a beneficial impact of $118 million and $124 million (inclusive of capital GILTI tax cost) during fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively. This benefit is primarily included as part of the foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates line in the effective tax rate reconciliation table above.

At August 31, 2021, it is not practicable for the Company to determine the amount of the unrecognized deferred tax liability it has with respect to temporary differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries and foreign corporate joint ventures that are essentially permanent in duration.

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Stock compensation plans

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Stock compensation plans

Stock compensation plans

In fiscal 2021, the Company's Board of Directors approved the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2021 Omnibus Plan”). The 2021 Omnibus Plan replicates the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan and provides incentive compensation to the Company’s non-employee directors, officers and other eligible employees.

The Company grants stock options, performance shares and restricted units under the 2021 Omnibus Plan. Performance shares issued under the 2021 Omnibus Plan offer performance-based incentive awards to certain employees. Restricted stock units are also equity-based awards with vesting requirements that are granted to key employees. The performance shares and restricted stock unit awards are both subject to restrictions as to continuous employment except in the case of death, normal retirement or total and permanent disability.

Total stock-based compensation expense for fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $155 million, $137 million and $119 million, respectively. Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested awards at August 31, 2021 was $151 million, which will be fully recognized over the next three years.

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Retirement benefits

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Retirement benefits

Retirement benefits

The Company sponsors several retirement plans, including defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans and a postretirement health plan.

Defined benefit pension plans (non-U.S. plans)

The Company has various defined benefit pension plans outside the U.S. The principal defined benefit pension plan is the Boots Pension Plan (the “Boots Plan”), which covers certain employees in the UK. The Boots Plan is a funded final salary defined benefit plan providing pensions and death benefits to members. The Boots Plan was closed to future accrual effective July 1, 2010, with pensions calculated based on salaries up until that date. The Boots Plan is governed by a trustee board, which is independent of the Company. The plan is subject to a full funding actuarial valuation on a triennial basis. The investment strategy of the principal defined benefit pension plan is to hold the majority of its assets in a diverse portfolio ("Matching Portfolio") which aims to broadly match the characteristics of the plan’s liabilities by investing in bonds, derivatives and other fixed income assets, with the remainder invested in predominantly return-seeking assets. Interest rate and inflation rate swaps are also employed to complement the role of fixed and index-linked bond holdings in liability risk management.

The following tables present classes of defined benefit pension plan assets by fair value hierarchy (in millions):

	August 31, 2021		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity securities:
Equity securities 1	$	1,316	$	—	$	1,316	$	—
Debt securities:
Fixed interest government bonds 2	514		101		412		—
Index linked government bonds 2	3,521		3,486		35		—
Corporate bonds 3	2,851		1		2,850		—
Real estate:
Real estate 4	513		—		—		513
Other:
Other investments, net 5	1,761		107		1,024		629
Total	$	10,475	$	3,696	$	5,637	$	1,142

	August 31, 2020		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity securities:
Equity securities 1	$	1,505	$	—	$	1,505	$	—
Debt securities:
Fixed interest government bonds 2	515		111		404		—
Index linked government bonds 2	4,168		2,936		1,232		—
Corporate bonds3	2,730		1		2,729		—
Real estate:
Real estate 4	492		—		—		492
Other:
Other investments, net 5	204		152		(347)		399
Total	$	9,614	$	3,200	$	5,523	$	891

1Equity securities, which mainly comprise of investments in commingled funds, are valued based on quoted prices and are primarily exchange-traded. Securities for which official close or last trade pricing on an active exchange is available are classified as Level 1 investments. If closing prices are not available, or the investments are in a commingled fund, securities are valued at the last quoted bid price and typically are categorized as Level 2 investments.

2Debt securities: government bonds comprise of fixed interest and index linked bonds issued by central governments and are valued based on quotes received from independent pricing services or from dealers who make markets in such securities. Pricing services utilize pricing which considers readily available inputs such as the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type, as well as dealer-supplied prices.

3Debt securities: corporate bonds comprise bonds issued by corporations in both segregated and commingled funds

and are valued using recently executed transactions, or quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active. If there have been no market transactions in a particular fixed income security, its fair value is calculated by pricing models that benchmark the security against other securities with actual market prices.

4Real estate comprise of investments in certain property funds which are valued based on the underlying properties. These properties are valued using a number of standard industry techniques such as cost, discounted cash flows, independent appraisals and market based comparable data. Real estate investments are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were driven by actual return on plan assets still held at August 31, 2021 and purchases during the year.

5Other investments mainly comprise of net receivable (payable) amounts for unsettled transactions, cash and cash equivalents, derivatives, insurance linked securities and direct private placements. Cash is categorized as a Level 1 investment and cash in commingled funds is categorized as Level 2 investments. Amounts receivable (payable) are categorized as level 2 investments. Cash equivalents are valued using observable yield curves, discounting and interest rates and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Derivatives which are exchange-traded and for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sale price or official closing price as reported by an independent pricing service on the primary market, or exchange on which they are traded, and are categorized as Level 1 investments. Over-the-counter derivatives typically are valued by independent pricing services and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Insurance lined securities are categorized as Level 2. Direct private placements are typically bonds valued by reference to comparable bonds and are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were primarily driven by purchases during the year.

Components of net periodic pension costs for the defined benefit pension plans and cumulative pre-tax amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss are as follows (in millions):

	Boots and other pension plans
	2021		2020		2019
Service costs (Selling, general and administrative expenses)	$	6	$	2	$	2
Interest costs (Other income)	139		141		195
Expected returns on plan assets/other (Other income)	(332)		(285)		(245)
Total net periodic pension (income) cost	$	(188)	$	(142)	$	(48)
Net actuarial (gain) loss	$	(506)	$	856	$	90
Prior service cost	(1)		(1)		24
Total pre-tax comprehensive (income) expense	$	(507)	$	855	$	114

Change in benefit obligations for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions):

	2021		2020
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	9,905	$	8,795
Service costs	6		2
Interest costs	139		141
Settlements	(2)		—
Net actuarial loss	75		491
Benefits paid	(320)		(330)
Acquisitions	182		—
Currency translation adjustments	223		806
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	10,206	$	9,905

Change in plan assets for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions):

	2021		2020
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of year	$	9,614	$	9,131
Employer contributions	53		35
Benefits paid	(320)		(330)
Return on assets/other	906		(31)
Settlements	(2)		—
Currency translation adjustments	223		810
Plan assets at fair value at end of year	$	10,475	$	9,614

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

	2021		2020
Other non-current assets	$	602	$	—
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(9)		(6)
Other non-current liabilities	(324)		(285)
Net asset (liability) recognized at end of year	$	269	$	(291)

The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for all pension plans, including accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets, at August 31 were as follows (in millions):

	2021		2020
Projected benefit obligation	$	10,206	$	9,905
Accumulated benefit obligation	10,200		9,901
Fair value of plan assets 1	10,475		9,614

1 Represents plan assets of The Boots plan, the Company's only funded defined benefit pension plan.

Estimated future benefit payments for the next 10 years from defined benefit pension plans to participants are as follows (in millions):

	Estimated future benefit payments
2022	$	291
2023	302
2024	311
2025	326
2026	344
2027-2031	1,868

The assumptions used in accounting for the defined benefit pension plans were as follows:

	2021		2020
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations
Discount rate	1.71	%	1.63	%
Rate of compensation increase	2.80	%	3.10	%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate	1.39	%	1.58	%
Expected long-term return on plan assets	3.50	%	3.10	%
Rate of compensation increase	2.77	%	2.91	%

Based on current actuarial estimates, the Company plans to make contributions of $41 million to its defined benefit pension plans in fiscal 2022 and expects to make contributions beyond 2022, which will vary based upon many factors, including the performance of the defined benefit pension plan assets.

Defined contribution plans

The principal retirement plan for U.S. employees is the Walgreen Profit-Sharing Retirement Trust, to which both the Company and participating employees contribute. The Company’s contribution is in the form of a guaranteed match which is made pursuant to the applicable plan document approved by the Walgreen Co. Board of Directors. Plan activity is reviewed periodically by certain Committees of the Walgreens Boots Alliance Board of Directors. The profit-sharing provision was an expense of $221 million, $227 million and $239 million in fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company’s contributions were $222 million, $226 million and $234 million in fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Company also has certain contract based defined contribution arrangements. The principal one is the UK based to which both the Company and participating employees contribute. The cost recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings was $101 million, $91 million and $101 million in fiscal 2021, fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, respectively.

Postretirement healthcare plan

The Company provides certain health insurance benefits to retired U.S. employees who meet eligibility requirements, including age, years of service and date of hire. The costs of these benefits are accrued over the service life of the employee. The Company’s postretirement health benefit plan obligation was $154 million and $182 million in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively and is not funded. The expected benefit to be paid net of the estimated federal subsidy during fiscal 2022 is $9.5 million.

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Capital stock

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Capital Stock [Abstract]

Capital stock

Capital stock

In June 2018, Walgreens Boots Alliance authorized a stock repurchase program (the “June 2018 stock repurchase program”), which authorized the repurchase of up to $10.0 billion of the Company's common stock, which program has no specified expiration date. The Company purchased 30 million shares under the June 2018 stock repurchase program in fiscal 2020 at a cost of $1.5 billion. In July 2020, the Company announced that it had suspended activities under this program and no shares were repurchased in fiscal 2021. As of August 31, 2021, the Company had approximately $2.0 billion remaining under the June 2018 stock repurchase program.

The Company determines the timing and amount of repurchases based on its assessment of various factors including prevailing market conditions, alternate uses of capital, liquidity, the economic environment and other factors. The timing and amount of these purchases may change at any time and from time to time. The Company has repurchased, and may from time to time in the future repurchase, shares on the open market through Rule 10b5-1 plans, which enable a company to repurchase shares at times when it otherwise might be precluded from doing so under insider trading laws.

In addition, the Company continued to repurchase shares to support the needs of the employee stock plans. Shares totaling $110 million were purchased to support the needs of the employee stock plans during fiscal 2021 as compared to $103 million and $339 million in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, respectively. As of August 31, 2021, 71 million shares of common stock were reserved for future issuances under the Company’s various employee benefit plans.

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Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

The following is a summary of net changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component and net of tax for fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):

	Pension/post-retirement obligations		Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges		Net investment hedges			Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities			Share of AOCI of equity method investments		Cumulative translation adjustments		Total
Balance at August 31, 2018	$	101	$	(30)	$	—		$	—		$	3	$	(3,076)	$	(3,002)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(162)		1		73			—			(1)		(801)		(889)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(17)		5		—			—			—		—		(12)
Tax benefit (provision)	30		(1)		(18)			—			—		(6)		5
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	(149)		5		55			—			(1)		(807)		(896)
Balance at August 31, 2019	$	(48)	$	(24)	$	55		$	—		$	3	$	(3,884)	$	(3,897)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(861)		(12)		(113)			—			(16)		934		(69)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(8)		5		—			—			—		3		—
Tax benefit (provision)	169		1		23			—			3		(1)		195
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	(700)		(6)		(90)			—			(13)		936		126
Balance at August 31, 2020	$	(748)	$	(31)	$	(34)		$	—		$	(10)	$	(2,948)	$	(3,771)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	532		10		(6)			127			(24)		384		1,022
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(8)		17		—			—			—		(3)		6
Business disposal	(4)		—		—		0	—		0	—		795		792
Tax benefit (provision)	(132)		(6)		6			(31)			6		—		(157)
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	389		21		(1)			96			(18)		1,176		1,663
Balance at August 31, 2021	$	(359)	$	(10)	$	(35)		$	96		$	(29)	$	(1,772)	$	(2,109)

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Segment reporting

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment reporting

Segment reporting

On January 6, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with AmerisourceBergen. Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement, AmerisourceBergen agreed to purchase the majority of the Company's Alliance Healthcare business as well as a portion of the Company’s retail pharmacy international businesses in Europe. The majority of the Disposal Group was previously included in the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment. Effective as of the second quarter of fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company eliminated the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment and is aligned into two reportable segments: United States and International. The operating segments have been identified based on the financial data utilized by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the chief operating decision maker) to assess segment performance and allocate resources among the Company’s operating segments. The chief operating decision maker uses adjusted operating income to assess segment profitability. The chief operating decision maker does not use total assets by segment to make decisions regarding resources; therefore, the total asset disclosure by segment has not been included.

United States

The Company's United States segment includes the Company's Walgreens business which includes the operations of retail drugstores, health and wellness services, and mail and central specialty pharmacy services, and the Company's equity method investment in AmerisourceBergen. Sales for the segment are principally derived from the sale of prescription drugs and a wide assortment of retail products, including health and wellness, beauty, personal care and consumables and general merchandise.

International

The Company's International segment consists of pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses outside the U.S. and pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution business in Germany. Pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses include Boots branded stores in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and Thailand, the Benavides brand in Mexico and the Ahumada brand in Chile. Sales for these businesses are principally derived from the sale of prescription drugs and health and wellness, beauty, personal care and other consumer products.

The results of operations for reportable segments include procurement benefits. Corporate-related overhead costs are not allocated to reportable segments and are reported in the “Corporate and Other”.

The following table reflects results of operations of the Company's reportable segments (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Sales:
United States	$	112,005	$	107,701	$	104,532
International	20,505		14,281		15,542
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	132,509	$	121,982	$	120,074
Adjusted Operating income:
United States	$	5,019	$	4,761	$	5,873
International	466		157		759
Corporate and Other	(368)		(187)		(152)
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	5,117	$	4,730	$	6,481
Depreciation and amortization:
United States	$	1,513	$	1,376	$	1,454
International	399		400		433
Corporate and Other	11		10		8
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	1,923	$	1,786	$	1,894
Capital expenditures:
United States	$	1,030	$	1,040	$	1,318
International	243		235		272
Corporate and Other	39		12		8
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	1,312	$	1,287	$	1,598

The following table reconciles adjusted operating income to operating income (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Adjusted operating income	$	5,117	$	4,730	$	6,481
Adjustments to equity earnings (loss) in AmerisourceBergen	(1,645)		(97)		(233)
Transformational cost management	(417)		(719)		(327)
Acquisition-related amortization	(523)		(384)		(416)
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements	(75)		—		(31)
LIFO provision	(13)		(95)		(136)
Acquisition-related costs	(54)		(315)		(303)
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	(49)		(2,016)		(73)
Store optimization	—		(53)		(196)
Store damage and inventory losses	—		(68)		—
Operating income	$	2,342	$	982	$	4,766

No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated sales for any of the periods presented. Substantially all of our retail pharmacy sales are to customers covered by third-party payers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies) that agree to pay for all or a portion of a customer's eligible prescription purchases. In the United States segment, three third-party payers accounted for approximately 33%, 35%, and 35% of the Company's consolidated sales in fiscal 2021, fiscal 2020, and fiscal 2019 respectively.

Geographic data for sales is as follows (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
United States	$	112,005	$	107,701	$	104,532
United Kingdom	8,298		7,830		8,947
Germany	10,472		4,876		4,713
Other	1,734		1,575		1,882
Sales	$	132,509	$	121,982	$	120,074

Geographic data for long-lived assets, defined as property, plant and equipment, is as follows (in millions):

	2021		2020
United States	$	9,665	$	10,344
United Kingdom	2,205		2,203
Other	377		250
Total long-lived assets	$	12,247	$	12,796

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Sales

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Sales

Sales The following table summarizes the Company’s sales by segment and by major source (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
United States
Pharmacy	$	84,892	$	80,481	$	77,299
Retail	27,113		27,220		27,233
Total	$	112,005	$	107,701	$	104,532
International
Pharmacy	$	3,808	$	3,503	$	3,653
Retail	6,225		5,902		7,177
Wholesale	10,472		4,876		4,713
Total	$	20,505	$	14,281	$	15,542
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	132,509	$	121,982	$	120,074

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Related parties

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related parties

Related parties

The Company has a long-term pharmaceutical distribution agreement with AmerisourceBergen pursuant to which the Company sources branded and generic pharmaceutical products from AmerisourceBergen principally for its U.S. operations. Additionally, AmerisourceBergen receives sourcing services for generic pharmaceutical products.

Related party transactions with AmerisourceBergen (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
Purchases, net	$	62,513	$	59,569	$	57,429
Trade accounts payable, net	$	6,589	$	6,390	$	6,484

See Note 2 Discontinued operations, for further information.

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Supplementary financial information

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]

Supplementary financial information

Supplementary financial information

Summary of Quarterly Results (Unaudited)

(in millions, except per share amounts)

	Quarter ended
	November		February		May		August		Fiscal year
Fiscal 2021
Sales	$	31,438	$	32,779	$	34,030	$	34,262	$	132,509
Gross profit	$	6,630	$	6,781	$	7,153	$	7,503	$	28,067
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Continuing operations	$	(391)	$	922	$	1,105	$	358	$	1,994
Discontinued operations	83		104		92		268		548
Total	$	(308)	$	1,026	$	1,197	$	627	$	2,542
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	(0.45)	$	1.07	$	1.28	$	0.41	$	2.31
Discontinued operations	0.10		0.12		0.11		0.31		0.63
Total	$	(0.36)	$	1.19	$	1.38	$	0.72	$	2.94
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	(0.45)	$	1.06	$	1.27	$	0.41	$	2.30
Discontinued operations	0.10		0.12		0.11		0.31		0.63
Total	$	(0.36)	$	1.19	$	1.38	$	0.72	$	2.93
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.4675	$	0.4675	$	0.4675	$	0.4775	$	1.8800
Fiscal 2020
Sales	$	29,912	$	31,336	$	30,364	$	30,371	$	121,982
Gross profit	$	6,777	$	7,017	$	5,959	$	6,324	$	26,078
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Continuing operations	$	769	$	867	$	(1,794)	$	337	$	180
Discontinued operations	76		79		86		36		277
Total	$	845	$	946	$	(1,708)	$	373	$	456
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.86	$	0.98	$	(2.05)	$	0.39	$	0.20
Discontinued operations	0.08		0.09		0.10		0.04		0.31
Total	$	0.95	$	1.07	$	(1.95)	$	0.43	$	0.52
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.86	$	0.98	$	(2.05)	$	0.39	$	0.20
Discontinued operations	0.08		0.09		0.10		0.04		0.31
Total	$	0.95	$	1.07	$	(1.95)	$	0.43	$	0.52
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.4575	$	0.4575	$	0.4575	$	0.4675	$	1.8400

See Note 2 Discontinued operations, for additional details on discontinued operations.

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Subsequent events

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

Subsequent events

Subsequent events

On September 4, 2021 the Company executed a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement to acquire a majority equity interest in CareCentrix, Inc. (“CareCentrix”), a leading player in the post-acute and home care management sectors, for consideration of approximately $330 million, subject to a net debt adjustment. The investment will result in the Company owning approximately 55% controlling equity interest in CareCentrix. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company has an option to acquire the remaining equity interests of CareCentrix in the future. CareCentrix’ other equity holders will also have an option to require the Company to purchase the remaining equity interests. The transaction is subject to the receipt of required regulatory clearances and approvals and other customary closing conditions. Upon closing, the Company will account for this acquisition as a business combination and consolidate CareCentrix in its financial statements.

On September 17, 2021 the Company entered into an agreement to acquire a majority equity interest in Shields Health Solutions (“Shields”), an industry leader in integrated, health system-owned specialty pharmacy care, for a cash consideration of approximately $970 million. The additional equity interest, combined with the Company's current minority equity investment, will result in the Company owning approximately 71% controlling equity interest in Shields. Under the terms of the transaction agreements, the Company has an option to acquire the remaining equity interests of Shields in the future. Shields’ other equity holders will also have an option to require the Company to purchase the remaining equity interests. The transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of calendar 2021. At close of the transaction, the Company will account for this acquisition of the majority equity interest as a business combination and consolidate Shields in its financial statements, remeasuring its current minority equity interest at fair value with resulting gain to be recognized in Other income in the Statement of Earnings.

On October 14, 2021 the Company announced that it has agreed to make an additional $5.2 billion investment in VillageMD to advance its strategic position in the delivery of value-based primary care. The incremental investment increases the Company’s ownership stake in VillageMD to approximately 63% from approximately 30% on a fully diluted basis, and increases the number of co-located clinics from 600 primary care clinics to 1,000 by the year 2027. The investment will be comprised of $4.0 billion in cash, to be paid by the Company to VillageMD at the closing of the transaction, and a promissory note in the principal amount of $1.2 billion to VillageMD at the closing of the transaction. The Company expects to fund the cash portion of the investment through a combination of cash on hand and available credit facilities. The transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of calendar 2021. Upon closing, the Company will account for this transaction as a business combination and consolidate VillageMD in its financial statements. The Company will remeasure its current minority equity interest and debt security at fair value with resulting gain recognized in Other income in the Statement of Earnings.

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Summary of major accounting policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of presentation

Basis of presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include all subsidiaries in which the Company holds a controlling interest. The Company uses the equity-method of accounting for equity investments in less than majority-owned companies if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. The Company bases its estimates on the information available at the time, its experiences and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic (“COVID-19”) has severely impacted the economies of the United States (“U.S.”), the United Kingdom (“UK”) and other countries around the world. The impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s businesses, financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, as well as information regarding certain expected or potential impacts of COVID-19 on the Company, is discussed throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company’s future assessment of the magnitude and duration of COVID-19, as well as other factors, could result in material impacts to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods. Adjustments may be made in subsequent periods to reflect more current estimates and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain. Actual results may differ.

The impact of COVID-19, the influence of certain holidays, seasonality, foreign currency rates, changes in vendor, payer and customer relationships and terms, strategic transactions including acquisitions, changes in laws and general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates and other factors on the Company’s operations and net earnings for any period may not be comparable to the same period in previous years.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. Credit and debit card receivables, which generally settle within one to seven business days, of $146 million and $101 million were included in cash and cash equivalents at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Restricted cash and other cash flows from operating activities

Restricted cash and other cash flows from operating activities

Restricted cash

The Company is required to maintain cash deposits with certain banks which consist of deposits restricted under contractual agreements and cash restricted by law and other obligations.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable balances primarily consist of trade receivables due from customers, including amounts due from third-party providers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies). Trade receivables were $4.5 billion and $3.0 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Other accounts receivable balances, which consist primarily of receivables from vendors and manufacturers, including receivables from AmerisourceBergen (see Note 19 Related parties), were $1.1 billion and $1.1 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Charges for the Company’s expected credit losses are recognized based upon all available relevant information regarding the collectability of receivables, including historical information, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions over the short contractual life of the receivable.

Inventories

Inventories

The Company values inventories on a lower of cost and net realizable value or market basis. Inventories include product costs, inbound freight, direct labor, warehousing costs for retail pharmacy operations and distribution of products and vendor allowances not classified as a reduction of advertising expense.

The Company’s United States segment inventory is accounted for using the last-in-first-out (“LIFO”) method. The total carrying value of the segment inventory accounted for under the LIFO method was $6.2 billion and $6.4 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. At August 31, 2021 and 2020, United States segment inventory would have been greater by $3.3 billion and $3.3 billion, respectively, if they had been valued on a lower of first-in-first-out (“FIFO”) cost and net realizable value.

The Company’s International segment inventory is accounted for using average cost and the FIFO method.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Major repairs, which extend the useful life of an asset, are capitalized; routine maintenance and repairs are charged against earnings. Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of owned assets. Leasehold improvements, equipment under finance lease and finance lease properties are amortized over their respective estimate of useful life or over the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. The majority of the Company’s fixtures and equipment uses the composite method of depreciation.

The following table summarizes the Company’s property, plant and equipment (in millions) and estimated useful lives (in years):

	Estimated useful life	2021		2020
Land and land improvements	20	$	2,798	$	3,157
Buildings and building improvements	3 to 50	7,569		7,795
Fixtures and equipment	3 to 20	10,314		9,904
Capitalized system development costs and software	3 to 10	3,624		3,061
Finance lease properties		1,016		1,011
		$	25,321	$	24,927
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		13,073		12,131
Balance at end of year		$	12,247	$	12,796

The Company capitalizes application development stage costs for internally developed software. These costs are amortized over a three to ten year period.

Leases

Leases

The Company leases certain retail stores, warehouses, distribution centers, office space, land and equipment. Initial terms for leased premises in the United States are typically 15 to 25 years, followed by additional terms containing renewal options at five-year intervals, and may include rent escalation clauses. Non-U.S. leases are typically for shorter terms and may include cancellation clauses or renewal options. The lease term of real estate leases includes renewal options that are reasonably certain of being exercised. Options to extend are considered reasonably certain of being exercised based on evaluation if there are significant investments within the leased property which have useful lives greater than the non-cancelable lease term, performance of the underlying store and the Company’s economic and strategic initiatives. Short-term leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheets.

The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at the inception of a contract. The lease classification is determined at the commencement date. Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease during the lease term. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of the remaining future minimum lease payments during the lease term. Lease commencement is the date the Company has the right to control the property. The Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate to discount the lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is based on the Company's estimated rate of interest for a collateralized borrowing over a similar term as the lease term. The operating lease right-of-use assets also include lease payments made before commencement, lease incentives and are recorded net of impairment. Operating leases are expensed on a straight line basis over the lease term.

The Company accounts for lease components and non-lease components as a single lease component. Variable lease payment amounts that cannot be determined at the commencement of the lease such as increases in lease payments based on changes in index rates or usage, are not included in the right-of-use assets or lease liabilities. These are expensed as incurred. The Company has real estate leases which require additional payments based on sales volume, as well as reimbursement for real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance, which are expensed as incurred as variable lease costs and hence are not included in the lease payments used to calculate lease liability. Other real estate leases contain one fixed lease payment that includes real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance. These fixed payments are considered part of the lease payment and included in the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. The Company does not separately account for the land portion of the leases involving land and building.

Finance leases are recognized within property, plant and equipment and as a finance lease liability within accrued expenses and other liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities.

Business combinations

Business combinations

The Company allocates the fair value of purchase consideration to the tangible and intangible assets purchased and the liabilities assumed on the basis of their fair values at the date of acquisition. The determination of fair values of assets acquired

and liabilities assumed requires estimates and the use of valuation techniques when a market value is not readily available. Any excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired is allocated to goodwill. If the Company obtains new information about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations. Acquired intangible assets are recorded at fair value.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that could more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or intangible asset below its carrying value. As part of the Company’s impairment analysis, fair value of a reporting unit is determined using both the income and market approaches. The income approach requires management to estimate a number of factors for each reporting unit, including projected future operating results, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and discount rates. The market approach estimates fair value using comparable marketplace fair value data from within a comparable industry grouping. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of the asset to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recognized and the asset is written down to its estimated fair value

Equity method investments

Equity method investments

The Company uses the equity method of accounting for equity investments if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over operating and financial policies of the investee. The Company’s proportionate share of the net income or loss of these investees is included in consolidated net earnings. Judgment regarding the level of influence over each equity method investment includes considering key factors such as the Company’s ownership interest, legal form of the investee (e.g. limited liability partnership), representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making decisions and material intra-entity transactions.

The Company evaluates equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable. Factors considered by the Company when reviewing an equity method investment for impairment include the length of time (duration) and the extent (severity) to which the fair value of the equity method investment has been less than cost, the investee’s financial condition and near-term prospects and the intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery. An impairment that is other-than-temporary is recognized in the period identified.

Financial instruments

Financial instruments

The Company uses derivative instruments to hedge its exposure to market risks, including interest rate and currency risks, arising from operating and financing risks. In accordance with its risk management policies, the Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Derivatives are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values. When the Company becomes a party to a derivative instrument and intends to apply hedge accounting, it formally documents the hedge relationship and the risk management objective for undertaking the hedge which includes designating the instrument for financial reporting purposes as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, or a net investment hedge. The accounting for changes in fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether the Company had designated it in a qualifying hedging relationship and on the type of hedging relationship. The Company applies the following accounting policies:

•Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings in the same line item, generally interest expense, net.

•Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and reclassified into earnings in

the period or periods during which the hedged item affects earnings and is presented in the same line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item.

•Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation are recorded in cumulative translation adjustments within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Recognition in earnings of amounts previously recorded in cumulative translation adjustments is limited to circumstances such as complete or substantially complete liquidation of the net investment in the hedged investments in foreign operations.

•Changes in the fair value of a derivative not designated in a hedging relationship are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Cash receipts or payments on a settlement of a derivative contract are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows consistent with the nature of the underlying hedged item.

For derivative instruments designated as hedges, the Company assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. Highly effective means that cumulative changes in the fair value of the derivative are between 80% and 125% of the cumulative changes in the fair value of the hedged item. In addition, when the Company determines that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, hedge accounting is discontinued. When it is probable that a hedged forecasted transaction will not occur, the Company discontinues hedge accounting for the affected portion of the forecasted transaction and reclassifies any gains or losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to earnings in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings. When a derivative in a hedge relationship is terminated or the hedged item is sold, extinguished or terminated, hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively.

Pension and postretirement benefits

Pension and postretirement benefits

The Company has various defined benefit pension plans that cover some of its non-U.S. employees. The Company also has a postretirement healthcare plan that covers qualifying U.S. employees. Eligibility and the level of benefits for these plans vary depending on participants’ status, date of hire and or length of service. Pension and postretirement healthcare plan expenses and valuations are dependent on assumptions used by third-party actuaries in calculating those amounts. These assumptions include discount rates, healthcare cost trends, long-term return on plan assets, retirement rates, mortality rates and other factors.

The Company funds its pension plans in accordance with applicable regulations. The Company records the service cost component of net pension cost and net postretirement healthcare benefit cost in selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company records all other net cost components of net pension cost and net postretirement benefit cost in other income (expense). The postretirement healthcare plan is not funded.

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

Redeemable noncontrolling interestThe Company presents non-controlling interest in temporary equity within its Consolidated Balance Sheets if it is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date on the option of the holder, or upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the Company. The carrying amount of the redeemable non-controlling interest is equal to the greater of the carrying value of non-controlling interest adjusted each reporting period for income (or loss) attributable to the non-controlling interest as well as any applicable distributions made or the redemption value. Re-measurements to the redemption value of the redeemable non-controlling interest are recognized in additional paid in capital.

Noncontrolling interests

Noncontrolling interestsThe Company presents noncontrolling interests as a component of equity on its Consolidated Balance Sheets and reports the portion of its earnings or loss for noncontrolling interest as net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings

Currency

Currency

Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. dollar functional currency operations are translated into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates while revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated at average monthly exchange rates over the period. Equity is translated at historical exchange rates and the resulting cumulative translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Assets and liabilities not denominated in the functional currency are remeasured into the functional currency at end-of-period exchange rates, except for nonmonetary balance sheet amounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are recorded at average monthly exchange rates over the period, except for those expenses related to nonmonetary balance sheet amounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Gains or losses from foreign currency remeasurement are generally included in selling, general and administrative expenses within the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Commitments and contingencies

Commitments and contingenciesOn a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies for outstanding legal proceedings and reserves are established on a case-by-case basis for those legal claims for which management concludes that it is probable that a loss will be incurred and that the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. Substantially all of these contingencies are subject to significant uncertainties and, therefore, determining the likelihood of a loss and/or the measurement of any loss can be complex. With respect to litigation and other legal proceedings where the Company has determined that a loss is reasonably possible, the Company may be unable to estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible loss due to the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of and uncertainties regarding such litigation and legal proceedings. The Company’s assessments are based on estimates and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management, but that may prove to be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that might cause the Company to change those estimates and assumptions. Therefore, it is possible that an unfavorable resolution of one or more pending litigation or other contingencies could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in a future fiscal period. Management’s assessment of current litigation and other legal proceedings, including the corresponding accruals, could change because of the discovery of facts with respect to legal actions or other proceedings pending against the Company which are not presently known. Adverse rulings or determinations by judges, juries, governmental authorities or other parties could also result in changes to management’s assessment of current liabilities and contingencies. Accordingly, the ultimate costs of resolving these claims may be substantially higher or lower than the amounts reserved.

Revenue recognition, Loyalty programs and gift card, Cost of sales

Revenue recognition

Sales are recognized at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring control of goods or services to the customer. Sales are reported on the gross amount billed to a customer less discounts if it has earned revenue as a principal from the sale of goods and services. Sales are reported on the net amount retained (that is, the amount billed to the customer less the amount paid to a vendor) if it has earned a commission or a fee as an agent.

The Company recognizes revenue, net of taxes and expected returns, at the time it sells merchandise or dispenses prescription drugs to the customer. The Company estimates revenue based on expected reimbursements from third-party payers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies) for dispensing prescription drugs. The estimates are based on all available information including historical experience and are updated to actual reimbursement amounts. Wholesale revenue is recognized, net of taxes and expected returns, upon shipment of goods, which is generally also the day of delivery.

Loyalty programs and gift cards

The Company’s loyalty rewards programs represent a separate performance obligation and are accounted for using the deferred revenue approach. When goods are sold, the transaction price is allocated between goods sold and loyalty points awarded based upon the relative standalone selling price. The revenue allocated to the loyalty points is recognized upon redemption. Loyalty programs breakage is recognized as revenue based on the redemption pattern.

Customer purchases of gift cards are not recognized as revenue until the card is redeemed. Gift card breakage (i.e., unused gift card) is recognized as revenue based on the redemption pattern.

Contract balances with customers

The Company recognizes contract liabilities to record the Company’s obligation to transfer additional goods or services to a customer for which the Company has received consideration, for example the Company’s myWalgreens and Boots Advantage

Card loyalty programs. Under such programs, customers earn Walgreens Cash or reward points on purchases for redemption at a later date.

Cost of sales

Cost of sales includes the purchase price of goods and cost of services rendered, store and warehouse inventory loss, inventory obsolescence and supplier rebates. In addition to product costs, cost of sales includes warehousing costs for retail operations, purchasing costs, freight costs, cash discounts and vendor allowances.

Vendor allowances and supplier rebates

Vendor allowances are principally received as a result of purchases, sales or promotion of vendors’ products. Allowances are generally recorded as a reduction of inventory and are recognized as a reduction of cost of sales when the related merchandise is sold. Allowances received for promoting vendors’ products are offset against advertising expense and result in a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses to the extent of advertising costs incurred, with the excess treated as a reduction of inventory costs.

Rebates or refunds received by the Company from its suppliers, mostly in cash, are considered as an adjustment of the prices of the supplier’s products purchased by the Company.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses mainly consist of salaries and employee costs, occupancy costs, depreciation and amortization, credit and debit card fees and expenses directly related to stores. In addition, other costs included are headquarters’ expenses, advertising costs (net of vendor advertising allowances), wholesale warehousing costs and insurance.

Advertising costs

Advertising costs

Advertising costs are reduced by the portion funded by vendors, if reimbursement represents a specific, incremental, identifiable cost, and expensed as incurred or when services have been received. Net advertising expenses, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, were $772 million in fiscal 2021, $532 million in fiscal 2020 and $582 million in fiscal 2019.

Impairment of long-lived assets

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such an asset may not be recoverable. The evaluation of long-lived assets is performed at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows. Long-lived assets related to the Company’s retail operations include property, plant and equipment, definite-lived intangibles, right of use asset as well as operating lease liability. If the asset group fails the recoverability test, then an impairment charge is determined based on the difference between the fair value of the asset group compared to its carrying value. Fair value of the asset group is generally determined using income approach based on cash flows expected from the use and eventual disposal of the asset group.

Stock compensation plans

Stock compensation plansStock based compensation is measured at fair value at the grant date. The Company grants stock options, performance shares and restricted units to the Company’s non-employee directors, officers and employees. The Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the substantive service period.

Insurance

Insurance

The Company obtains insurance coverage for catastrophic exposures as well as those risks required by law to be insured. In general, the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries retain a significant portion of losses related to workers’ compensation, property, comprehensive general, pharmacist and vehicle liability, while non-U.S. subsidiaries manage their exposures through insurance coverage with third-party carriers. Management regularly reviews the probable outcome of claims and proceedings, the

expenses expected to be incurred, the availability and limits of the insurance coverage and the established accruals for liabilities. Liabilities for losses are recorded based upon the Company’s estimates for both claims incurred and claims incurred but not reported. The provisions are estimated in part by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors and other actuarial assumptions.

Income taxes

Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes according to the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based upon the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured pursuant to tax laws using rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rate is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely than not to be realized.

In determining the provision for income taxes, the Company uses income, permanent differences between book and tax income, the relative proportion of foreign and domestic income, enacted statutory income tax rates, projections of income subject to Subpart F rules and unrecognized tax benefits related to current year results. Discrete events such as the assessment of the ultimate outcome of tax audits, audit settlements, recognizing previously unrecognized tax benefits due to lapsing of the applicable statute of limitations, recognizing or de-recognizing benefits of deferred tax assets due to future year financial statement projections and changes in tax laws are recognized in the period in which they occur.

The Company is subject to routine income tax audits that occur periodically in the normal course of business. U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax authorities raise questions regarding the Company’s tax filing positions, including the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. In evaluating the tax benefits associated with the various tax filing positions, the Company records a tax benefit for uncertain tax positions using the highest cumulative tax benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. Adjustments are made to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the period in which the Company determines the issue is effectively settled with the tax authorities, the statute of limitations expires for the return containing the tax position or when more information becomes available.

Earnings per share

Earnings per shareThe dilutive effect of outstanding stock options on earnings per share is calculated using the treasury stock method. Stock options are anti-dilutive and excluded from the earnings per share calculation if the exercise price exceeds the average market price of the common shares.

New accounting pronouncements

New accounting pronouncements

Adoption of new accounting pronouncements

Financial instruments

In March 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-03, Codification Improvement to Financial Instruments. This ASU improves and clarifies various financial instruments topics. The ASU includes seven different issues that describe the areas of improvement and the related amendments to GAAP, intended to make the standards easier to understand and apply by eliminating inconsistencies and providing clarifications. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Investments - equity securities

In April 2019, the “FASB” issued “ASU” 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Financial Instruments (Topic 825). This extensive ASU provides clarifications for three topics related to financial instruments accounting, some of which apply to the Company. For example, this ASU clarifies the disclosure requirements that apply to equity securities without a readily determinable fair value for which the measurement alternative is elected. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Collaborative arrangements

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-18, Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808). This ASU clarifies the interaction between Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements, and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The

Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Compensation – retirement benefits – defined benefit plans

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement benefits (Topic 715-20). This ASU amends ASC 715 to add, remove and clarify disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The ASU eliminates the requirement to disclose the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as part of net periodic benefit cost over the next year. The ASU also removes the disclosure requirements for the effects of a one-percentage-point change on the assumed health care costs and the effect of this change in rates on service cost, interest cost and the benefit obligation for postretirement health care benefits. The Company adopted the new standard effective August 31, 2021 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Fair value measurement

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820). The ASU eliminates such disclosures as the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The ASU adds new disclosure requirements for Level 3 measurements. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 on a retrospective basis and the adoption of this ASU did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Financial instruments - credit losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326), which amends the Board’s guidance on the impairment of financial instruments. The ASU adds to U.S. GAAP an impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses, which is known as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model. The CECL model applies to most debt instruments (other than those measured at fair value), trade and other receivables, financial guarantee contracts, and loan commitments. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020, using a modified retrospective transition method, which requires a cumulative-effect adjustment, if any, to the opening balance of retained earnings to be recognized on the date of adoption with prior periods not restated. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

New accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

Receivables - nonrefundable fees and others

In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-08, Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables—Nonrefundable Fees and Other. This ASU clarifies the accounting for the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium by giving consideration to securities which have multiple call dates. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022). The Company does not expect adoption will have any impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This ASU provides optional expedient and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. In response to the concerns about structural risks of interbank offered rates ("IBORs") and, particularly, the risk of cessation of the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), regulators in several jurisdictions around the world have undertaken reference rate reform initiatives to identify alternative reference rates that are more observable or transaction based and less susceptible to manipulation. The ASU provides companies with optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates that are expected to be discontinued. The FASB further issued ASU 2021-01 in January 2021, to clarify the scope of Topic 848. The ASU can be adopted no later than December 1, 2022 (fiscal 2023) with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption will have any material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Investments - equity securities; Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures; Derivatives and Hedging

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, Investments—Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). The amendments in this ASU clarify the interaction between the accounting for investments in equity securities, investment in equity method and certain derivatives instruments.

The ASU is expected to reduce diversity in practice and increase comparability of the accounting for these interactions. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022). The Company does not expect adoption will

have any impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Income taxes - simplifying the accounting for income taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12: Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740), which removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and improves consistent application of and simplifies GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022), and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption will have any material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

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Summary of major accounting policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents

The following represents a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as of August 31, 2021 and 2020, (in millions):

	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents - continuing operations	$	1,193	$	469
Cash and cash equivalents - discontinued operations	—		47
Restricted cash - continuing operations (included in other current assets)	77		62
Restricted cash - discontinued operations	—		168
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	1,270	$	746

Schedule of property, plant and equipment

The following table summarizes the Company’s property, plant and equipment (in millions) and estimated useful lives (in years):

	Estimated useful life	2021		2020
Land and land improvements	20	$	2,798	$	3,157
Buildings and building improvements	3 to 50	7,569		7,795
Fixtures and equipment	3 to 20	10,314		9,904
Capitalized system development costs and software	3 to 10	3,624		3,061
Finance lease properties		1,016		1,011
		$	25,321	$	24,927
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		13,073		12,131
Balance at end of year		$	12,247	$	12,796

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Discontinued operations (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Schedules of discontinued operations

The following table shows the fair value of proceeds from the Alliance Healthcare Sale and net carrying value of the assets disposed. As of the date of this report, the Company had not finalized net working capital and net cash adjustments for discontinued operations and therefore proceeds and gain amounts presented are subject to further refinement and may result in changes.

Transaction proceeds and net assets disposed ($ in billions)
Estimated fair value of proceeds from disposition 1	$	6.9
Estimated net assets disposed	5.8
Estimated gain before currency translation adjustments	1.1
Estimated amount of currency translation loss released due to disposition	(0.8)
Net gain on disposal of discontinued operation 2	$	0.3

1Includes base consideration of $6.275 billion adjusted for net working capital and net cash adjustments as set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement.

2The Company recorded insignificant amount of tax expense due to utilization of capital losses.

Results of discontinued operations were as follows (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Sales	$	16,070	$	19,349	$	18,618
Cost of sales	14,486		17,409		16,701
Gross profit	1,584		1,940		1,917
Selling, general and administrative expense 1	1,254		1,610		1,685
Operating income from discontinued operations	329		330		232
Other income (expense) 2	314		(8)		(11)
Interest expense, net	(23)		(25)		(54)
Earnings before income tax – discontinued operations	621		297		168
Income tax provision	78		21		11
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments	15		10		15
Net earnings from discontinued operations	$	557	$	286	$	172

1 Includes $44 million of divestiture related costs incurred post completion of the Alliance Healthcare Sale.

2 Includes $322 million of gain on sale of discontinued operations.

Sales from the Disposal Group to the Company's continuing operations aggregate to (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021 1		2020		2019
Sales	$	1,385	$	1,794	$	1,826

1 Sales in Fiscal 2021 until date of disposal.

The following table presents cash flows from operating and investing activities for discontinued operations (in millions):

	Twelve months ended August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities - discontinued operations	$	(132)	$	334	$	302
Cash (used in) provided by for investing activities - discontinued operations	(58)		(80)		(97)

Asset and liabilities of discontinued operations were as follows (in millions):

	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents	$	—	$	47
Accounts receivable, net	—		3,022
Inventories	—		1,534
Other current assets	—		376
Assets of discontinued operations - current	$	—	$	4,979
Property, plant and equipment, net 1	$	—	$	816
Goodwill and intangibles	—		3,936
Other non-current assets	—		230
Assets of discontinued operations - non-current	$	—	$	4,983
Short term debt	$	—	$	273
Trade accounts payables	—		4,313
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	—		746
Income taxes	—		14
Liabilities of discontinued operations - current	$	—	$	5,347
Deferred income taxes	$	—	$	131
Other non-current liabilities	—		280
Liabilities of discontinued operations - non-current	$	—	$	412

1 Includes Operating lease right-of-use assets.

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Acquisitions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Business Combination and Asset Acquisition [Abstract]

Schedule of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed

The following table summarizes the consideration for the acquisition and the amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the transaction (in millions):

Purchase Price Allocation:
Total Consideration	$	477
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Tangible assets	$	58
Developed technology and other intangibles	202
Liabilities	(74)
Total identifiable net assets	$	186
Non-controlling interest	103
Goodwill	$	394

The following table summarizes the consideration for the acquisition and the amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the transaction (in millions):

Purchase Price Allocation:
Total Consideration	$	331
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Accounts receivable, cash and other assets	$	582
Inventories	470
Property, plant and equipment	125
Short term debt	(296)
Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(374)
Other noncurrent liabilities	(197)
Total identifiable net assets	$	311
Goodwill	$	21

Schedule of pro forma information and actual sales

The pro forma information has been prepared for comparative purposes only and is not intended to be indicative of what the Company's results would have been had the acquisition occurred at the beginning of the periods presented or results which may occur in the future.

	Twelve months ended August 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Sales	$	133,553	$	127,817

Actual sales for the twelve months ended August 31, 2021 included in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings are as follows:    

(in millions)	2021
Sales	$	5,099

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Exit and disposal activities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Restructuring costs and reserves

Costs related to exit and disposal activities under the Transformational Cost Management Program for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were as follows (in millions):

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2021	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	103	$	6	$	—	$	108
Asset impairments	15		9		—		24
Employee severance and business transition costs	79		40		45		165
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	20		17		—		38
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	217	$	72	$	46	$	335

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2020	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	191	$	9	$	14	$	215
Asset impairments	51		19		2		72
Employee severance and business transition costs	132		93		45		270
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	70		42		(4)		108
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	444	$	163	$	58	$	665

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2019	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	5	$	26	$	—	$	30
Asset impairments	95		61		—		156
Employee severance and business transition costs	41		37		1		78
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	6		10		—		17
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	147	$	134	$	1	$	282

Schedule of restructuring reserve by type of cost

The changes in liabilities and assets related to the exit and disposal activities under Transformational Cost Management Program include the following (in millions):

	Lease obligations and other real estate costs		Asset Impairments		Employee severance and business transition costs		Information technology transformation and other exit costs		Total
Balance at August 31, 2019	$	17	$	—	$	27	$	3	$	47
Costs	215		72		270		108		665
Payments	(44)		—		(146)		(86)		(276)
Other - non cash	(166)		(72)		13		(11)		(236)
ASC 842 Leases adoption	(4)		—		—		—		(4)
Currency	1		—		2		—		3
Balance at August 31, 2020	$	19	$	—	$	166	$	14	$	199
Costs	108		24		165		38		335
Payments	(69)		—		(252)		(31)		(351)
Other - non cash	(42)		(24)		(4)		—		(70)
Currency	—		—		2		(1)		1
Balance at August 31, 2021	$	17	$	—	$	77	$	20	$	114

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Leases (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Leases [Abstract]

Schedule of supplemental balance sheet information

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases were as follows (in millions):

Balance Sheet supplemental information:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Operating Leases:
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$	21,893	$	21,453
Operating lease obligations - current	$	2,259	$	2,358
Operating lease obligations - non current	22,153		21,765
Total operating lease obligations	$	24,412	$	24,123
Finance Leases:
Right-of-use assets included in:
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	725	$	766
Lease obligations included in:
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	$	37	$	31
Other non-current liabilities	974		1,013
Total finance lease obligations	$	1,010	$	1,044

Schedule of supplemental income statement and other information

Supplemental income statement information related to leases were as follows (in millions):

Statement of Earnings supplemental information:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Operating lease cost
Fixed	$	3,219	$	3,252
Variable 1	664		750
Finance lease cost
Amortization	$	45	$	40
Interest	52		54
Sublease income	$	84	$	75
Impairment of right-of-use assets	86		213
Impairment of finance lease assets	—		24
Gains on sale-leaseback transactions 2	367		308

1Includes real estate property taxes, common area maintenance, insurance and rental payments based on sales volume.

2Recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses.

Other supplemental information was as follows (in millions):

Other Supplemental Information:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease obligations
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	3,414	$	3,251
Operating cash flows from finance leases	48		48
Financing cash flows from finance leases	42		47
Total	$	3,503	$	3,346
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new lease obligations:
Operating leases	$	2,765	$	2,443
Finance leases	—		65
Total	$	2,765	$	2,508

Average lease term and discount rate as of August 31, 2021 were as follows:

Weighted average terms and discount rates:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Weighted average remaining lease term in years:
Operating leases	10.3		10.7
Finance leases	20.2		20.6
Weighted average discount rate
Operating leases	4.77	%	4.97	%
Finance leases	5.18	%	5.14	%

Schedule of future lease payments under operating leases

The aggregate future lease payments for operating and finance leases as of August 31, 2021 were as follows (in millions):

Future lease payments (Fiscal years):	Finance lease		Operating lease
2022	$	89	$	3,439
2023	88		3,342
2024	88		3,224
2025	87		3,102
2026	86		2,982
Later	1,142		15,210
Total undiscounted minimum lease payments	$	1,580	$	31,299
Less: Present value discount	(570)		(6,887)
Lease liability	$	1,010	$	24,412

Schedule of future lease payments under finance leases

The aggregate future lease payments for operating and finance leases as of August 31, 2021 were as follows (in millions):

Future lease payments (Fiscal years):	Finance lease		Operating lease
2022	$	89	$	3,439
2023	88		3,342
2024	88		3,224
2025	87		3,102
2026	86		2,982
Later	1,142		15,210
Total undiscounted minimum lease payments	$	1,580	$	31,299
Less: Present value discount	(570)		(6,887)
Lease liability	$	1,010	$	24,412

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Equity method investments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Equity method investment

Equity method investments as of August 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in millions, except percentages):

	2021			2020
	Carrying value		Ownership percentage	Carrying value		Ownership percentage
AmerisourceBergen	$	4,407	28%	$	5,446	28%
Others	2,580		8% - 50%	1,758		8% - 50%
Total	$	6,987		$	7,204

Summarized financial information of equity method investees

Summarized financial information for the Company’s equity method investments in aggregate is as follows:

Balance sheet (in millions)

	Year ended August 31,
	2021		2020
Current assets	$	49,538	$	39,167
Non-current assets	27,442		18,138
Current liabilities	48,766		38,034
Non-current liabilities	22,046		10,600
Shareholders’ equity1	6,168		8,671

1Shareholders’ equity at August 31, 2021 and 2020 includes $646 million and $387 million, respectively, related to noncontrolling interests.

Statements of earnings (in millions)

	Year ended August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Sales	$	232,719	$	208,625	$	195,540
Gross profit	10,889		8,707		7,303
Net earnings (loss)	(3,475)		1,624		997
Share of earnings (loss) from equity method investments	(512)		372		172

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Goodwill and other intangible assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of goodwill

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment consist of the following activity (in millions):

Goodwill rollforward:	United States		International		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
August 31, 2019	$	10,491	$	3,051	$	13,542
Acquisitions 1	62		—		62
Impairment	—		(1,675)		(1,675)
Currency translation adjustments	—		83		83
August 31, 2020	$	10,553	$	1,460	$	12,013
Acquisitions 2	$	394	$	21	$	414
Currency translation adjustments	—		(7)		(7)
August 31, 2021	$	10,947	$	1,474	$	12,421

1    During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, the Company acquired the remaining two of three Rite Aid distribution centers including related inventory for cash consideration of $91 million resulting in an increase to goodwill of $62 million.

2    During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company acquired a controlling equity interest in Innovation Associates, Inc. and a joint venture with McKesson which resulted in an increase to goodwill of $394 million and $21 million, respectively.

Schedule of finite-lived intangible assets by major class

The carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets consist of the following (in millions):

Intangible assets:	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Gross amortizable intangible assets
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders 1	$	3,522	$	3,502
Tradenames and trademarks	361		348
Purchasing and payer contracts	317		337
Others 2	221		60
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	$	4,421	$	4,247
Accumulated amortization
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders 1	$	1,335	$	1,089
Tradenames and trademarks	226		196
Purchasing and payer contracts	227		95
Others 2	37		26
Total accumulated amortization	1,826		1,406
Total amortizable intangible assets, net	$	2,595	$	2,841
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Tradenames and trademarks	$	5,276	$	5,203
Pharmacy licenses	2,066		2,028
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	$	7,342	$	7,231
Total intangible assets, net	$	9,936	$	10,072

1Includes purchased prescription files.

2Includes acquired developed technology and non-compete agreements.

Schedule of finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense

Estimated future annual amortization expense for the next five fiscal years for intangible assets recorded at August 31, 2021 is as follows (in millions):

	2022		2023		2024		2025		2026
Estimated annual amortization expense	$	444	$	330	$	311	$	276	$	258

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Debt (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of short-term borrowings

Debt consists of the following (all amounts are presented in millions of U.S. dollars and debt issuances are denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted):

	August 31, 2021		August 31, 2020
Short-term debt
Commercial paper	$	—	$	1,517
Credit facilities 6	—		1,071
£700 million note issuance 1,2
2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020	—		533
$8 billion note issuance 1
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021 3	1,250		—
Other 4	56		144
Total short-term debt	$	1,305	$	3,265

Schedule of long-term debt

Long-term debt
$1.5 billion note issuance 1
3.200% unsecured notes due 2030	$	497	$	497
4.100% unsecured notes due 2050 6	792		990
$6 billion note issuance 1
3.450% unsecured notes due 2026 6	1,442		1,891
4.650% unsecured notes due 2046 6	318		591
$8 billion note issuance 1
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021	—		1,248
3.800% unsecured notes due 2024 6	1,154		1,993
4.500% unsecured notes due 2034 6	301		496
4.800% unsecured notes due 2044 6	868		1,493
£700 million note issuance, 1
3.600% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2025	408		398
€750 million note issuance 1
2.125% unsecured Euro notes due 2026	873		891
$4 billion note issuance 5
3.100% unsecured notes due 2022 6	731		1,198
4.400% unsecured notes due 2042 6	263		493
Other 4	29		24
Total long-term debt, less current portion	$	7,675	$	12,203

1Notes are unsubordinated debt obligations of the Company and rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company from time to time outstanding.

2On October 20, 2020, the Company redeemed in full the £400 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020 issued by the Company on November 20, 2014.

3On August 17, 2021, the Company provided notice to the Trustee and the Holders of its 3.300% notes due 2021 issued by the Company on November 18, 2014 that it will redeem in full the $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding of the notes on September 18, 2021. These notes were redeemed in full as of that date.

4Other debt represents a mix of fixed and variable rate debt with various maturities and working capital facilities denominated in various currencies.

5Notes are senior debt obligations of Walgreen Co. and rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Walgreen Co. On December 31, 2014, the Company fully and unconditionally guaranteed the outstanding notes on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis. The guarantee, for so long as it is in place, is an unsecured, unsubordinated debt obligation of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.

6On April 26, 2021, the Company entered into a cash tender offer to partially purchase and retire $3.3 billion of long term U.S. dollar denominated notes with a weighted average interest rate of 4.02%, using funds drawn down from the $3.8 billion April 2021 Credit Agreement (as defined below). The Company recognized a loss of $414 million related to the early extinguishment of debt, within Interest expense, which includes $386 million of redemption premium paid in cash. The cash payments related to the early extinguishment of debt are classified as cash outflows from financing activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

Schedule of future maturities of long-term debt

At August 31, 2021, the future maturities of short-term and long-term debt, excluding debt discounts and issuance costs and finance lease obligations (See Note 5 Leases, for the future lease payments), consisted of the following (in millions):

	Amount
2022	$	1,305
2023	733
2024	2
2025	1,163
2026	1,858
Later	3,957
Total estimated future maturities	$	9,018

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Financial instruments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Notional amounts of derivative instruments outstanding

The notional amounts and fair value of derivative instruments outstanding were as follows (in millions):

August 31, 2021	Notional		Fair value		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets
Derivatives designated as hedges:
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	155	$	1	Other non-current assets
Foreign currency forwards	6		—		Other non-current assets
Foreign currency forwards	23		1		Other non-current liabilities
Cross currency interest rate swaps	801		23		Other non-current liabilities
Foreign currency forwards	575		7		Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	31		1		Other current liabilities
Cross currency interest rate swaps	109		9		Other current liabilities
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
Foreign currency forwards	$	3,636	$	38	Other current assets
Total return swap	224		2		Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	808		3		Other current liabilities
Total return swap	37		—		Other current liabilities

August 31, 2020	Notional		Fair value		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets
Derivatives designated as hedges:
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	722	$	16	Other non-current assets
Foreign currency forwards	49		1		Other non-current liabilities
Cross currency interest rate swaps	318		13		Other non-current liabilities
Interest rate swaps	1,000		10		Other non-current liabilities
Foreign currency forwards	100		1		Other current assets
Cross currency interest rate swaps	50		—		Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	671		23		Other current liabilities
Cross currency interest rate swaps	103		3		Other current liabilities
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
Foreign currency forwards	$	1,930	$	19	Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	2,934		56		Other current liabilities
Total return swap	205		1		Other current liabilities

Gains and losses due to changes in fair value recognized in earnings

These derivative instruments are economic hedges of foreign currency risks. The Company also utilizes total return swaps to economically hedge variability in compensation charges related to certain deferred compensation obligations. The income and (expense) due to changes in fair value of these derivative instruments were recognized in earnings as follows (in millions):

	Location in Consolidated Statements of Earnings	2021		2020		2019
Foreign currency forwards	Selling, general and administrative expense	$	(75)	$	(63)	$	139
Total return swap	Selling, general and administrative expense	58		24		—
Foreign currency forwards	Other income (expense)	(8)		11		(18)

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Fair value measurements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis

	August 31, 2021		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds 1	$	634	$	634	$	—	$	—
Investments in equity securities 2	2		2		—		—
Investments in debt securities 3	663		—		—		663
Foreign currency forwards 4	46		—		46		—
Cross currency interest rate swaps 5	1		—		1		—
Total return swaps	2		—		2		—
Liabilities:
Foreign currency forwards4	$	5	$	—	$	5	$	—
Cross currency interest rate swaps5	32		—		32		—

	August 31, 2020		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds¹	$	6	$	6	$	—	$	—
Investments in equity securities²	1		1		—		—
Foreign currency forwards4	20		—		20		—
Cross Currency interest rate swaps5	16		—		16		—
Liabilities:
Foreign currency forwards4	$	80	$	—	$	80	$	—
Cross currency interest rate swaps5	16		—		16		—
Interest rate swaps5	10		—		10		—
Total return swap	1		—		1		—

1Money market funds are valued at the closing price reported by the fund sponsor.

2Fair values of quoted investments are based on current bid prices as of August 31, 2021 and 2020.

3Level 3 debt securities include investments in convertible debt securities of VillageMD which are valued on a quarterly basis using the Probability Weighted Expect Return Method with gains or losses recorded in Other Comprehensive Income. Inputs include the enterprise value, expected holding term of the investment, volatility and risk-free interest rates.

4The fair value of forward currency contracts is estimated by discounting the difference between the contractual forward price and the current available forward price for the residual maturity of the contract using observable market rates. See Note 9 Financial instruments, for additional information.

5The fair value of interest rate swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps is calculated by discounting the estimated future cash flows based on the applicable observable yield curves. See Note 9 Financial instruments, for additional information.

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Income taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of income before income tax, domestic and foreign

The components of earnings from continuing operations before income tax provision were (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
U.S.	$	61	$	759	$	1,898
Non–U.S.	1,934		(313)		2,461
Total	$	1,995	$	446	$	4,359

Provisions for income taxes

The provision for income taxes from continuing operations consists of the following (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
Current provision
Federal	$	79	$	184	$	228
State	115		49		46
Non–U.S.	234		135		183
	$	428	$	368	$	457
Deferred provision
Federal	$	(10)	$	(83)	$	151
State	(46)		2		4
Non–U.S. – tax law change	344		139		—
Non–U.S. – excluding tax law change	(49)		(87)		(35)
	239		(29)		120
Income tax provision	$	667	$	339	$	577

Difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate

The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate from continuing operations is as follows:

	2021		2020		2019
Federal statutory rate	21.0	%	21.0	%	21.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	3.5		8.8		0.9
Foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates	(4.4)		(17.0)		(1.9)
Non-taxable income	(5.0)		(47.5)		(3.6)
Non-deductible expenses	0.3		9.0		0.2
Tax law changes	17.3		31.3		(0.4)
Change in valuation allowance 1	(4.7)		4.1		2.1
Tax benefits from restructuring	(4.2)		—		—
Tax expense on non-operating equity earnings	6.1		—		—
Uncertain tax positions	6.2		7.5		(0.8)
Goodwill impairment	—		72.5		—
Tax credits	(1.8)		(10.3)		(4.4)
Other	(0.9)		(3.4)		0.1
Effective income tax rate	33.4	%	76.0	%	13.2	%

1Net of changes in related tax attributes and tax benefits from capital losses generated and utilized in FY21.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the consolidated balance sheet

The deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following (in millions):

	2021		2020
Deferred tax assets:
Compensation and benefits	$	175	$	176
Postretirement benefits	—		88
Insurance	103		98
Accrued rent & lease obligations	5,372		5,187
Allowance for doubtful accounts	34		9
Tax attributes	7,467		6,781
Stock compensation	88		47
Deferred income	34		18
Other	—		50
	$	13,273	$	12,454
Less: valuation allowance	7,239		6,490
Total deferred tax assets	$	6,034	$	5,964
Deferred tax liabilities:
Accelerated depreciation	$	896	$	683
Inventory	377		345
Intangible assets	1,465		1,130
Equity method investment	236		542
Lease right-of-use asset	4,792		4,589
Other	30		—
Total deferred tax liabilities	7,796		7,289
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	1,762	$	1,325

Reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits

The following table provides a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
Balance at beginning of year	$	494	$	455	$	456
Gross increases related to tax positions in a prior period	229		60		33
Gross decreases related to tax positions in a prior period	(52)		(23)		(53)
Gross increases related to tax positions in the current period	446		9		26
Settlements with taxing authorities	(13)		(4)		(2)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(6)		(3)		(5)
Balance at end of year	$	1,098	$	494	$	455

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Retirement benefits (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Schedule of defined benefit plans using fair value hierarchy

The following tables present classes of defined benefit pension plan assets by fair value hierarchy (in millions):

	August 31, 2021		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity securities:
Equity securities 1	$	1,316	$	—	$	1,316	$	—
Debt securities:
Fixed interest government bonds 2	514		101		412		—
Index linked government bonds 2	3,521		3,486		35		—
Corporate bonds 3	2,851		1		2,850		—
Real estate:
Real estate 4	513		—		—		513
Other:
Other investments, net 5	1,761		107		1,024		629
Total	$	10,475	$	3,696	$	5,637	$	1,142

	August 31, 2020		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity securities:
Equity securities 1	$	1,505	$	—	$	1,505	$	—
Debt securities:
Fixed interest government bonds 2	515		111		404		—
Index linked government bonds 2	4,168		2,936		1,232		—
Corporate bonds3	2,730		1		2,729		—
Real estate:
Real estate 4	492		—		—		492
Other:
Other investments, net 5	204		152		(347)		399
Total	$	9,614	$	3,200	$	5,523	$	891

1Equity securities, which mainly comprise of investments in commingled funds, are valued based on quoted prices and are primarily exchange-traded. Securities for which official close or last trade pricing on an active exchange is available are classified as Level 1 investments. If closing prices are not available, or the investments are in a commingled fund, securities are valued at the last quoted bid price and typically are categorized as Level 2 investments.

2Debt securities: government bonds comprise of fixed interest and index linked bonds issued by central governments and are valued based on quotes received from independent pricing services or from dealers who make markets in such securities. Pricing services utilize pricing which considers readily available inputs such as the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type, as well as dealer-supplied prices.

3Debt securities: corporate bonds comprise bonds issued by corporations in both segregated and commingled funds

and are valued using recently executed transactions, or quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active. If there have been no market transactions in a particular fixed income security, its fair value is calculated by pricing models that benchmark the security against other securities with actual market prices.

4Real estate comprise of investments in certain property funds which are valued based on the underlying properties. These properties are valued using a number of standard industry techniques such as cost, discounted cash flows, independent appraisals and market based comparable data. Real estate investments are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were driven by actual return on plan assets still held at August 31, 2021 and purchases during the year.

5Other investments mainly comprise of net receivable (payable) amounts for unsettled transactions, cash and cash equivalents, derivatives, insurance linked securities and direct private placements. Cash is categorized as a Level 1 investment and cash in commingled funds is categorized as Level 2 investments. Amounts receivable (payable) are categorized as level 2 investments. Cash equivalents are valued using observable yield curves, discounting and interest rates and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Derivatives which are exchange-traded and for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sale price or official closing price as reported by an independent pricing service on the primary market, or exchange on which they are traded, and are categorized as Level 1 investments. Over-the-counter derivatives typically are valued by independent pricing services and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Insurance lined securities are categorized as Level 2. Direct private placements are typically bonds valued by reference to comparable bonds and are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were primarily driven by purchases during the year.

Components of net periodic benefit costs

Components of net periodic pension costs for the defined benefit pension plans and cumulative pre-tax amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss are as follows (in millions):

	Boots and other pension plans
	2021		2020		2019
Service costs (Selling, general and administrative expenses)	$	6	$	2	$	2
Interest costs (Other income)	139		141		195
Expected returns on plan assets/other (Other income)	(332)		(285)		(245)
Total net periodic pension (income) cost	$	(188)	$	(142)	$	(48)
Net actuarial (gain) loss	$	(506)	$	856	$	90
Prior service cost	(1)		(1)		24
Total pre-tax comprehensive (income) expense	$	(507)	$	855	$	114

Accumulated and projected benefit obligations

Change in benefit obligations for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions):

	2021		2020
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	9,905	$	8,795
Service costs	6		2
Interest costs	139		141
Settlements	(2)		—
Net actuarial loss	75		491
Benefits paid	(320)		(330)
Acquisitions	182		—
Currency translation adjustments	223		806
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	10,206	$	9,905

Changes in fair value of plan assets

Change in plan assets for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions):

	2021		2020
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of year	$	9,614	$	9,131
Employer contributions	53		35
Benefits paid	(320)		(330)
Return on assets/other	906		(31)
Settlements	(2)		—
Currency translation adjustments	223		810
Plan assets at fair value at end of year	$	10,475	$	9,614

Amounts recognized in balance sheet

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

	2021		2020
Other non-current assets	$	602	$	—
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(9)		(6)
Other non-current liabilities	(324)		(285)
Net asset (liability) recognized at end of year	$	269	$	(291)

Schedule of projected benefit obligation

The following tables present classes of defined benefit pension plan assets by fair value hierarchy (in millions):

	August 31, 2021		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity securities:
Equity securities 1	$	1,316	$	—	$	1,316	$	—
Debt securities:
Fixed interest government bonds 2	514		101		412		—
Index linked government bonds 2	3,521		3,486		35		—
Corporate bonds 3	2,851		1		2,850		—
Real estate:
Real estate 4	513		—		—		513
Other:
Other investments, net 5	1,761		107		1,024		629
Total	$	10,475	$	3,696	$	5,637	$	1,142

	August 31, 2020		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity securities:
Equity securities 1	$	1,505	$	—	$	1,505	$	—
Debt securities:
Fixed interest government bonds 2	515		111		404		—
Index linked government bonds 2	4,168		2,936		1,232		—
Corporate bonds3	2,730		1		2,729		—
Real estate:
Real estate 4	492		—		—		492
Other:
Other investments, net 5	204		152		(347)		399
Total	$	9,614	$	3,200	$	5,523	$	891

1Equity securities, which mainly comprise of investments in commingled funds, are valued based on quoted prices and are primarily exchange-traded. Securities for which official close or last trade pricing on an active exchange is available are classified as Level 1 investments. If closing prices are not available, or the investments are in a commingled fund, securities are valued at the last quoted bid price and typically are categorized as Level 2 investments.

2Debt securities: government bonds comprise of fixed interest and index linked bonds issued by central governments and are valued based on quotes received from independent pricing services or from dealers who make markets in such securities. Pricing services utilize pricing which considers readily available inputs such as the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type, as well as dealer-supplied prices.

3Debt securities: corporate bonds comprise bonds issued by corporations in both segregated and commingled funds

and are valued using recently executed transactions, or quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active. If there have been no market transactions in a particular fixed income security, its fair value is calculated by pricing models that benchmark the security against other securities with actual market prices.

4Real estate comprise of investments in certain property funds which are valued based on the underlying properties. These properties are valued using a number of standard industry techniques such as cost, discounted cash flows, independent appraisals and market based comparable data. Real estate investments are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were driven by actual return on plan assets still held at August 31, 2021 and purchases during the year.

5Other investments mainly comprise of net receivable (payable) amounts for unsettled transactions, cash and cash equivalents, derivatives, insurance linked securities and direct private placements. Cash is categorized as a Level 1 investment and cash in commingled funds is categorized as Level 2 investments. Amounts receivable (payable) are categorized as level 2 investments. Cash equivalents are valued using observable yield curves, discounting and interest rates and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Derivatives which are exchange-traded and for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sale price or official closing price as reported by an independent pricing service on the primary market, or exchange on which they are traded, and are categorized as Level 1 investments. Over-the-counter derivatives typically are valued by independent pricing services and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Insurance lined securities are categorized as Level 2. Direct private placements are typically bonds valued by reference to comparable bonds and are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were primarily driven by purchases during the year.

Schedule of projected and accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets

The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for all pension plans, including accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets, at August 31 were as follows (in millions):

	2021		2020
Projected benefit obligation	$	10,206	$	9,905
Accumulated benefit obligation	10,200		9,901
Fair value of plan assets 1	10,475		9,614

1 Represents plan assets of The Boots plan, the Company's only funded defined benefit pension plan.

Estimated future benefit payments

Estimated future benefit payments for the next 10 years from defined benefit pension plans to participants are as follows (in millions):

	Estimated future benefit payments
2022	$	291
2023	302
2024	311
2025	326
2026	344
2027-2031	1,868

Schedule of assumptions used

The assumptions used in accounting for the defined benefit pension plans were as follows:

	2021		2020
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations
Discount rate	1.71	%	1.63	%
Rate of compensation increase	2.80	%	3.10	%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate	1.39	%	1.58	%
Expected long-term return on plan assets	3.50	%	3.10	%
Rate of compensation increase	2.77	%	2.91	%

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Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]

Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

The following is a summary of net changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component and net of tax for fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):

	Pension/post-retirement obligations		Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges		Net investment hedges			Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities			Share of AOCI of equity method investments		Cumulative translation adjustments		Total
Balance at August 31, 2018	$	101	$	(30)	$	—		$	—		$	3	$	(3,076)	$	(3,002)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(162)		1		73			—			(1)		(801)		(889)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(17)		5		—			—			—		—		(12)
Tax benefit (provision)	30		(1)		(18)			—			—		(6)		5
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	(149)		5		55			—			(1)		(807)		(896)
Balance at August 31, 2019	$	(48)	$	(24)	$	55		$	—		$	3	$	(3,884)	$	(3,897)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(861)		(12)		(113)			—			(16)		934		(69)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(8)		5		—			—			—		3		—
Tax benefit (provision)	169		1		23			—			3		(1)		195
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	(700)		(6)		(90)			—			(13)		936		126
Balance at August 31, 2020	$	(748)	$	(31)	$	(34)		$	—		$	(10)	$	(2,948)	$	(3,771)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	532		10		(6)			127			(24)		384		1,022
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(8)		17		—			—			—		(3)		6
Business disposal	(4)		—		—		0	—		0	—		795		792
Tax benefit (provision)	(132)		(6)		6			(31)			6		—		(157)
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	389		21		(1)			96			(18)		1,176		1,663
Balance at August 31, 2021	$	(359)	$	(10)	$	(35)		$	96		$	(29)	$	(1,772)	$	(2,109)

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Segment reporting (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Reconciliation of revenue from segments to consolidated

The following table reflects results of operations of the Company's reportable segments (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Sales:
United States	$	112,005	$	107,701	$	104,532
International	20,505		14,281		15,542
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	132,509	$	121,982	$	120,074
Adjusted Operating income:
United States	$	5,019	$	4,761	$	5,873
International	466		157		759
Corporate and Other	(368)		(187)		(152)
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	5,117	$	4,730	$	6,481
Depreciation and amortization:
United States	$	1,513	$	1,376	$	1,454
International	399		400		433
Corporate and Other	11		10		8
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	1,923	$	1,786	$	1,894
Capital expenditures:
United States	$	1,030	$	1,040	$	1,318
International	243		235		272
Corporate and Other	39		12		8
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	1,312	$	1,287	$	1,598

Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated

The following table reconciles adjusted operating income to operating income (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Adjusted operating income	$	5,117	$	4,730	$	6,481
Adjustments to equity earnings (loss) in AmerisourceBergen	(1,645)		(97)		(233)
Transformational cost management	(417)		(719)		(327)
Acquisition-related amortization	(523)		(384)		(416)
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements	(75)		—		(31)
LIFO provision	(13)		(95)		(136)
Acquisition-related costs	(54)		(315)		(303)
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	(49)		(2,016)		(73)
Store optimization	—		(53)		(196)
Store damage and inventory losses	—		(68)		—
Operating income	$	2,342	$	982	$	4,766

Geographic data for net sales

Geographic data for sales is as follows (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
United States	$	112,005	$	107,701	$	104,532
United Kingdom	8,298		7,830		8,947
Germany	10,472		4,876		4,713
Other	1,734		1,575		1,882
Sales	$	132,509	$	121,982	$	120,074

Geographic data for long-lived assets

Geographic data for long-lived assets, defined as property, plant and equipment, is as follows (in millions):

	2021		2020
United States	$	9,665	$	10,344
United Kingdom	2,205		2,203
Other	377		250
Total long-lived assets	$	12,247	$	12,796

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Sales (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Disaggregation of revenue

The following table summarizes the Company’s sales by segment and by major source (in millions):

	For the years ending August 31,
	2021		2020		2019
United States
Pharmacy	$	84,892	$	80,481	$	77,299
Retail	27,113		27,220		27,233
Total	$	112,005	$	107,701	$	104,532
International
Pharmacy	$	3,808	$	3,503	$	3,653
Retail	6,225		5,902		7,177
Wholesale	10,472		4,876		4,713
Total	$	20,505	$	14,281	$	15,542
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$	132,509	$	121,982	$	120,074

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Related parties (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Schedule of related party transactions

Related party transactions with AmerisourceBergen (in millions):

	2021		2020		2019
Purchases, net	$	62,513	$	59,569	$	57,429
Trade accounts payable, net	$	6,589	$	6,390	$	6,484

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Supplementary financial information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]

Summary of quarterly results

Summary of Quarterly Results (Unaudited)

(in millions, except per share amounts)

	Quarter ended
	November		February		May		August		Fiscal year
Fiscal 2021
Sales	$	31,438	$	32,779	$	34,030	$	34,262	$	132,509
Gross profit	$	6,630	$	6,781	$	7,153	$	7,503	$	28,067
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Continuing operations	$	(391)	$	922	$	1,105	$	358	$	1,994
Discontinued operations	83		104		92		268		548
Total	$	(308)	$	1,026	$	1,197	$	627	$	2,542
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	(0.45)	$	1.07	$	1.28	$	0.41	$	2.31
Discontinued operations	0.10		0.12		0.11		0.31		0.63
Total	$	(0.36)	$	1.19	$	1.38	$	0.72	$	2.94
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	(0.45)	$	1.06	$	1.27	$	0.41	$	2.30
Discontinued operations	0.10		0.12		0.11		0.31		0.63
Total	$	(0.36)	$	1.19	$	1.38	$	0.72	$	2.93
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.4675	$	0.4675	$	0.4675	$	0.4775	$	1.8800
Fiscal 2020
Sales	$	29,912	$	31,336	$	30,364	$	30,371	$	121,982
Gross profit	$	6,777	$	7,017	$	5,959	$	6,324	$	26,078
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Continuing operations	$	769	$	867	$	(1,794)	$	337	$	180
Discontinued operations	76		79		86		36		277
Total	$	845	$	946	$	(1,708)	$	373	$	456
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.86	$	0.98	$	(2.05)	$	0.39	$	0.20
Discontinued operations	0.08		0.09		0.10		0.04		0.31
Total	$	0.95	$	1.07	$	(1.95)	$	0.43	$	0.52
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.86	$	0.98	$	(2.05)	$	0.39	$	0.20
Discontinued operations	0.08		0.09		0.10		0.04		0.31
Total	$	0.95	$	1.07	$	(1.95)	$	0.43	$	0.52
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.4575	$	0.4575	$	0.4575	$	0.4675	$	1.8400

See Note 2 Discontinued operations, for additional details on discontinued operations.

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Summary of major accounting policies - narrative (Details) $ in Millions		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 06, 2021 USD ($) shares	Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($) segment	Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($) shares	Aug. 31, 2020 USD ($) shares	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($) shares	Jun. 01, 2021 USD ($)
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment		2
Minimum number of days for settlement of credit and debit charges			1 day
Maximum number of days for settlement of credit and debit charges			7 days
Credit and debit card receivables		$ 146	$ 146	$ 101
Other cash flows from operating activities			(64)	464	$ 302
Asset impairment charges			203	462	328
Gains on sale-leaseback transactions			367	308
Allowance for doubtful accounts		53	53	26
Inventories		$ 8,159	8,159	7,917
Depreciation and amortization expense			$ 1,400	1,400	1,400
Term of renewal contract		5 years	5 years
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		$ 319	$ 319
Advertising expense			772	532	582
Impairment of definite-lived assets			$ 49	$ 2,016	$ 0
Expected performance goal achievement rate			100.00%
Outstanding options to purchase common shares excluded from earnings per share calculations (in shares) | shares			17,200,000	19,000,000	14,900,000
Trade Accounts Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable		4,500	$ 4,500	$ 3,000
Other Accounts Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable		$ 1,100	$ 1,100	1,100
Minimum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Term of lease		15 years	15 years
Highly effective hedging percentage		80.00%	80.00%
Maximum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Term of lease		25 years	25 years
Highly effective hedging percentage		125.00%	125.00%
Capitalized system development costs and software
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Amortization of capitalized system development costs and software			$ 284	300	$ 260
Unamortized capitalized software costs		$ 1,900	$ 1,900	1,600
Capitalized system development costs and software | Minimum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Estimated useful life			3 years
Capitalized system development costs and software | Maximum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Estimated useful life			10 years
Selling, general and administrative expense
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Impairment of definite-lived assets			$ 182	401	$ 163
United States | Reportable Segments
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Inventories		6,200	6,200	6,400
LIFO reserve		3,300	3,300	3,300
International | Reportable Segments
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Inventories		$ 2,000	$ 2,000	$ 1,500
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Alliance Healthcare
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Consideration from disposal	$ 6,500					$ 6,900
Cash portion of consideration	$ 6,275					$ 6,275
Shares issued as part of disposal (in shares) | shares	2,000,000

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Summary of major accounting policies - reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,193	$ 469
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	1,270	746	$ 1,207	$ 975
Continuing operations
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	1,193	469
Restricted cash	77	62
Discontinued operations
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	47
Restricted cash	$ 0	$ 168

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Summary of major accounting policies - property plant and equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 25,321	$ 24,927
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	13,073	12,131
Property and equipment, net	$ 12,247	12,796
Land and land improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	20 years
Property and equipment	$ 2,798	3,157
Buildings and building improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 7,569	7,795
Buildings and building improvements | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Buildings and building improvements | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	50 years
Fixtures and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 10,314	9,904
Fixtures and equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Fixtures and equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	20 years
Capitalized system development costs and software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 3,624	3,061
Capitalized system development costs and software | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Capitalized system development costs and software | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	10 years
Finance lease properties
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 1,016	$ 1,011

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Discontinued operations - narrative (Details) - Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale - Alliance Healthcare - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 01, 2021	Jan. 06, 2021	Aug. 31, 2021
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration from disposal	$ 6,900	$ 6,500
Cash portion of consideration	6,275	$ 6,275
Shares issued as part of disposal (in shares)		2,000,000
Proceeds from disposal, subject to net working capital and net cash adjustments	6,700
Estimated gain before currency translation adjustments	1,100
Net gain on disposal	$ 322
Receivable for purchase consideration			$ 98

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Discontinued operations - schedule of transaction proceeds and net assets disposed (Details) - Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale - Alliance Healthcare - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 01, 2021	Jan. 06, 2021
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of proceeds from disposition	$ 6,900
Estimated net assets disposed	5,800
Estimated gain before currency translation adjustments	1,100
Estimated amount of currency translation loss released due to disposition	(800)
Net gain on disposal of discontinued operation	322
Base consideration	$ 6,275	$ 6,275

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Discontinued operations - schedules of results from discontinued operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 01, 2021	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Net earnings from discontinued operations		$ 557	$ 286	$ 172
Gain on sale of business		322	0	0
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current [Abstract]
Assets of discontinued operations - current		0	4,979
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Assets of discontinued operations - non-current		0	4,983
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Current [Abstract]
Liabilities of discontinued operations - current		0	5,347
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Liabilities of discontinued operations - non-current		0	412
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Alliance Healthcare
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Sales		16,070	19,349	18,618
Cost of sales		14,486	17,409	16,701
Gross profit		1,584	1,940	1,917
Selling, general and administrative expense		1,254	1,610	1,685
Operating income from discontinued operations		329	330	232
Other income (expense)		314
Other income (expense)			(8)	(11)
Interest expense, net		(23)	(25)	(54)
Earnings before income tax – discontinued operations		621	297	168
Income tax provision		78	21	11
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments		15	10	15
Net earnings from discontinued operations		557	286	172
Divestiture related costs	$ 44
Gain on sale of business	$ 322
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Sales		16,070	19,349	18,618
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities - discontinued operations		(132)	334	302
Cash (used in) provided by for investing activities - discontinued operations		(58)	(80)	(97)
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Alliance Healthcare | Continuing Operations
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Sales		1,385	1,794	1,826
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Sales		1,385	1,794	$ 1,826
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale | Alliance Healthcare
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents		0	47
Accounts receivable, net		0	3,022
Inventories		0	1,534
Other current assets		0	376
Assets of discontinued operations - current		0	4,979
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, net		0	816
Goodwill and intangibles		0	3,936
Other non-current assets		0	230
Assets of discontinued operations - non-current		0	4,983
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Current [Abstract]
Short term debt		0	273
Trade accounts payables		0	4,313
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		0	746
Income taxes		0	14
Liabilities of discontinued operations - current		0	5,347
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes		0	131
Other non-current liabilities		0	280
Liabilities of discontinued operations - non-current		$ 0	$ 412

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Acquisitions - narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2020	Nov. 01, 2020	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Innovation Associates, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration	$ 451
McKesson Corporation, GEHE Pharma Handel
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Controlling interest percentage		70.00%
Noncash purchase consideration		$ 296
Noncontrolling interest recognized from acquisition		$ 175
Other Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration			$ 108	$ 258

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Acquisitions - schedule of purchase price allocation and identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 29, 2020	Nov. 01, 2020	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Goodwill			$ 12,421	$ 12,013	$ 13,542
Innovation Associates, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total Consideration	$ 477
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Tangible assets	58
Developed technology and other intangibles	202
Liabilities	(74)
Total identifiable net assets	186
Non-controlling interest	103
Goodwill	$ 394
McKesson Corporation, GEHE Pharma Handel
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total Consideration		$ 331
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Accounts receivable, cash and other assets		582
Inventories		470
Property, plant and equipment		125
Short term debt		(296)
Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		(374)
Other noncurrent liabilities		(197)
Total identifiable net assets		311
Goodwill		$ 21

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Acquisitions - schedule of pro forma and actual results (Details) - McKesson Corporation, GEHE Pharma Handel - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sales, pro forma	$ 133,553	$ 127,817
Sales, actual	$ 5,099

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Exit and disposal activities - narrative (Details) $ in Millions				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			30 Months Ended
	Oct. 12, 2021 USD ($) store	Dec. 20, 2018 USD ($)	Oct. 24, 2017 store	Jul. 31, 2021 store	Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2020 USD ($) store	Sep. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings					$ (23,822)	$ (21,136)	$ (24,152)	$ (21,136)		$ (26,689)
Adoption of new accounting standards
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings						6	442	6		88
Retained earnings
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings					(35,121)	(34,210)	(35,815)	(34,210)		(33,551)
Retained earnings | Adoption of new accounting standards
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings						3	442	$ 3		$ 88
Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Costs incurred					1,300
Restructuring costs					335	665	282
Transformational cost management program | United Kingdom
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores expected to close | store				200
Transformational cost management program | United Kingdom | Subsequent event
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores expected to close | store	150
Transformational cost management program | United States
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores expected to close | store				250
Transformational cost management program | United States | Subsequent event
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores expected to close | store	150
Transformational cost management program | Retained earnings | Adoption of new accounting standards
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings									$ 508
Store optimization program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores expected to close | store			600
Number of stores closed | store								769
Lease obligations and other real estate costs | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Costs incurred					353
Restructuring costs					108	215	30
Lease obligations and other real estate costs | Store optimization program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs						22
Asset impairments | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Costs incurred					252
Restructuring costs					24	72	156
Employee severance and business transition costs | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Costs incurred					513
Restructuring costs					165	270	78
Information technology transformation and other exit costs | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Costs incurred					163
Restructuring costs					38	108	$ 17
Employee severance and other exit costs | Store optimization program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs						$ 31
Minimum | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected annual cost savings of restructuring plan		$ 2,000
Expected restructuring costs					3,600
Minimum | Transformational cost management program | Subsequent event
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected annual cost savings of restructuring plan	$ 3,300
Minimum | Exit and disposal costs | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs					3,300
Maximum | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs					3,900
Maximum | Exit and disposal costs | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs					$ 3,600

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Exit and disposal activities - restructuring costs (Details) - Transformational cost management program - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$ 335	$ 665	$ 282
Reportable Segments | United States
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	217	444	147
Reportable Segments | International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	72	163	134
Corporate and Other
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	46	58	1
Lease obligations and other real estate costs
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	108	215	30
Lease obligations and other real estate costs | Reportable Segments | United States
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	103	191	5
Lease obligations and other real estate costs | Reportable Segments | International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	6	9	26
Lease obligations and other real estate costs | Corporate and Other
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	0	14	0
Asset impairments
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	24	72	156
Asset impairments | Reportable Segments | United States
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	15	51	95
Asset impairments | Reportable Segments | International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	9	19	61
Asset impairments | Corporate and Other
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	0	2	0
Employee severance and business transition costs
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	165	270	78
Employee severance and business transition costs | Reportable Segments | United States
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	79	132	41
Employee severance and business transition costs | Reportable Segments | International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	40	93	37
Employee severance and business transition costs | Corporate and Other
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	45	45	1
Information technology transformation and other exit costs
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	38	108	17
Information technology transformation and other exit costs | Reportable Segments | United States
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	20	70	6
Information technology transformation and other exit costs | Reportable Segments | International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	17	42	10
Information technology transformation and other exit costs | Corporate and Other
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$ 0	$ (4)	$ 0

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Exit and disposal activities - restructuring reserve activity (Details) - Transformational cost management program - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 199	$ 47
Costs	335	665
Payments	(351)	(276)
Other - non cash	(70)	(236)
ASC 842 leases adoption		(4)
Currency	1	3
Ending balance	114	199
Lease obligations and other real estate costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	19	17
Costs	108	215
Payments	(69)	(44)
Other - non cash	(42)	(166)
ASC 842 leases adoption		(4)
Currency	0	1
Ending balance	17	19
Asset impairments
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0	0
Costs	24	72
Payments	0	0
Other - non cash	(24)	(72)
ASC 842 leases adoption		0
Currency	0	0
Ending balance	0	0
Employee severance and business transition costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	166	27
Costs	165	270
Payments	(252)	(146)
Other - non cash	(4)	13
ASC 842 leases adoption		0
Currency	2	2
Ending balance	77	166
Information technology transformation and other exit costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	14	3
Costs	38	108
Payments	(31)	(86)
Other - non cash	0	(11)
ASC 842 leases adoption		0
Currency	(1)	0
Ending balance	$ 20	$ 14

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Leases - supplemental balance sheet information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Operating Leases:
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$ 21,893	$ 21,453
Operating lease obligations - current	2,259	2,358
Operating lease obligations - non current	22,153	21,765
Total operating lease obligations	24,412	24,123
Finance Leases:
Property, plant and equipment, net	725	766
Lease obligations included in:
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	37	31
Other non-current liabilities	974	1,013
Total finance lease obligations	$ 1,010	$ 1,044
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Property, Plant, and Equipment and Finance Lease Right-of-Use Asset, after Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	Property, Plant, and Equipment and Finance Lease Right-of-Use Asset, after Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization
Finance Lease, Liability, Current, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Accrued expenses and other liabilities	Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Finance Lease, Liability, Noncurrent, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other non-current liabilities	Other non-current liabilities

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Leases - supplemental income statement information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Operating lease cost
Fixed	$ 3,219	$ 3,252
Variable	664	750
Finance lease cost
Amortization	45	40
Interest	52	54
Sublease income	84	75
Impairment of right-of-use assets	86	213
Impairment of finance lease assets	0	24
Gains on sale-leaseback transactions	$ 367	$ 308

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Leases - narrative (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
Rent expense prior to adoption	$ 3,552
Minimum rentals prior to adoption	3,550
Contingent rentals prior to adoption	67
Sublease rental income prior to adoption	$ 66

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Leases - other supplemental information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease obligations
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$ 3,414	$ 3,251
Operating cash flows from finance leases	48	48
Financing cash flows from finance leases	42	47
Total	3,503	3,346
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new lease obligations:
Operating leases	2,765	2,443
Finance leases	0	65
Total	$ 2,765	$ 2,508

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Leases - average lease terms and discount rates (Details)	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Weighted average remaining lease term in years:
Operating leases	10 years 3 months 18 days	10 years 8 months 12 days
Finance leases	20 years 2 months 12 days	20 years 7 months 6 days
Weighted average discount rate
Operating leases	4.77%	4.97%
Finance leases	5.18%	5.14%

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Leases - future lease payments for operating and finance leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Finance lease
2022	$ 89
2023	88
2024	88
2025	87
2026	86
Later	1,142
Total undiscounted minimum lease payments	1,580
Less: Present value discount	(570)
Lease liability	1,010	$ 1,044
Operating lease
2022	3,439
2023	3,342
2024	3,224
2025	3,102
2026	2,982
Later	15,210
Total undiscounted minimum lease payments	31,299
Less: Present value discount	(6,887)
Lease liability	$ 24,412	$ 24,123

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Equity method investments - carrying value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 6,987	$ 7,204
AmerisourceBergen
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 4,407	$ 5,446
Ownership percentage	28.00%	28.00%
Others
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 2,580	$ 1,758
Others | Minimum
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	8.00%	8.00%
Others | Maximum
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	50.00%	50.00%

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Equity method investments - narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Loss from equity method investment		$ 1,139
Equity earnings (loss)		(498)	$ 382	$ 187
Gain on sale of equity method investment		$ 321	$ 0	0
AmerisourceBergen
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Outstanding shares owned (in shares)		58,854,867	56,854,867
Percentage of outstanding common shares owned		28.50%	27.90%
Equity investment, exceeded its proportionate share of net assets		$ 4,400
AmerisourceBergen | Opiod Litigation
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity earnings (loss)	$ (5,600)
AmerisourceBergen | Level 1
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Fair value of assets		7,200	$ 5,500
Others
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity earnings (loss)		627	$ 31	$ 8
Option Care Health
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity earnings (loss)		576
Gain on sale of equity method investment		290
Option Care Health | HC Group Holdings I, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Gain on sale of equity method investment		1,200
VillageMD
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Consideration transferred to acquire equity method investments		750
Payments to acquire equity method investments		250
Investment in convertible debt		$ 500

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Equity method investments - summarized financial information of equity method investees (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	May 31, 2021	Feb. 28, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Current assets	$ 15,814				$ 18,073				$ 15,814	$ 18,073
Non-current assets	65,471				69,101				65,471	69,101
Current liabilities	22,054				27,070				22,054	27,070
Non-current liabilities	35,091				38,968				35,091	38,968
Shareholders' equity	23,822				21,136				23,822	21,136	$ 24,152	$ 26,689
Noncontrolling interests	402				498				402	498
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	34,262	$ 34,030	$ 32,779	$ 31,438	30,371	$ 30,364	$ 31,336	$ 29,912	132,509	121,982	120,074
Gross profit	7,503	$ 7,153	$ 6,781	$ 6,630	6,324	$ 5,959	$ 7,017	$ 6,777	28,067	26,078	28,159
Net earnings (loss)									2,512	424	3,962
Share of earnings (loss) from equity method investments									(512)	372	172
Equity Method Investment
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Current assets	49,538				39,167				49,538	39,167
Non-current assets	27,442				18,138				27,442	18,138
Current liabilities	48,766				38,034				48,766	38,034
Non-current liabilities	22,046				10,600				22,046	10,600
Shareholders' equity	6,168				8,671				6,168	8,671
Noncontrolling interests	$ 646				$ 387				646	387
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales									232,719	208,625	195,540
Gross profit									10,889	8,707	7,303
Net earnings (loss)									$ (3,475)	$ 1,624	$ 997

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Goodwill and other intangible assets - narrative (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2020 USD ($) reporting_unit	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2021	Jun. 01, 2020
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 12,421	$ 12,013	$ 13,542
Indefinite lived intangible assets	7,342	$ 7,231
Number of reporting segments included in impairment analysis | reporting_unit		2
Goodwill impairment loss		$ 1,675
Impairment of definite-lived intangible assets	0	47
Amortization expense for intangible assets	523	384	473
Minimum
Goodwill [Line Items]
Percentage of reporting unit fair value in excess of carrying amount				18.00%
Maximum
Goodwill [Line Items]
Percentage of reporting unit fair value in excess of carrying amount				195.00%
Pharmacy licenses
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite lived intangible assets	2,066	2,028
Other International Reporting Unit
Goodwill [Line Items]
Percentage of reporting unit fair value in excess of carrying amount				29.00%	4.00%
Goodwill	400
Boots Reporting Unit
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,100
Impairment of intangible assets	49	300
Indefinite lived intangible assets	$ 7,300	7,200
Goodwill impairment loss		$ 1,700
Boots Reporting Unit | Trade names | Minimum
Goodwill [Line Items]
Percentage of reporting unit fair value in excess of carrying amount	5.00%
Boots Reporting Unit | Trade names | Maximum
Goodwill [Line Items]
Percentage of reporting unit fair value in excess of carrying amount	27.00%
Boots Reporting Unit | Pharmacy licenses
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible assets			$ 73

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Goodwill and other intangible assets - schedule of goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 12,013	$ 13,542
Acquisitions		414	62
Impairment			(1,675)
Currency translation adjustments		(7)	83
Ending balance		12,421	12,013
Rite Aid Corporation Distribution Centers
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			62
Payments to acquire business			91
Innovation Associates, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		394
Ending balance	$ 394
Payments to acquire business	$ 451
McKesson Corporation, GEHE Pharma Handel
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		21
Reportable Segments | United States
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		10,553	10,491
Acquisitions		394	62
Impairment			0
Currency translation adjustments		0	0
Ending balance		10,947	10,553
Reportable Segments | International
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		1,460	3,051
Acquisitions		21	0
Impairment			(1,675)
Currency translation adjustments		(7)	83
Ending balance		$ 1,474	$ 1,460

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Goodwill and other intangible assets - schedule of finite-lived intangible assets by major class (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	$ 4,421	$ 4,247
Total accumulated amortization	1,826	1,406
Total amortizable intangible assets, net	2,595	2,841
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	7,342	7,231
Total intangible assets, net	9,936	10,072
Tradenames and trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	5,276	5,203
Pharmacy licenses
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	2,066	2,028
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	3,522	3,502
Total accumulated amortization	1,335	1,089
Tradenames and trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	361	348
Total accumulated amortization	226	196
Purchasing and payer contracts
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	317	337
Total accumulated amortization	227	95
Others
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	221	60
Total accumulated amortization	$ 37	$ 26

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Goodwill and other intangible assets - schedule of finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense (Details) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Estimated annual amortization expense
2022	$ 444
2023	330
2024	311
2025	276
2026	$ 258

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Debt - short and long-term debt (Details)		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2021 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 18, 2021 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2021 GBP (£)	Aug. 31, 2021 EUR (€)	Apr. 23, 2021 USD ($)	Apr. 09, 2021 USD ($)	Oct. 20, 2020 GBP (£)	Apr. 15, 2020 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt		$ 1,305,000,000	$ 3,265,000,000
Other		29,000,000	24,000,000
Total long-term debt, less current portion		7,675,000,000	12,203,000,000
Long-term debt purchased and retired		15,257,000,000	21,414,000,000	$ 10,461,000,000
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		$ 414,000,000	0	$ 0
2.875% unsecured pound sterling notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount | £						£ 700,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		2.875%				2.875%	2.875%			2.875%
Total short-term debt		$ 0	533,000,000
Debt redeemed | £										£ 400,000,000
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount		$ 8,000,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.30%				3.30%	3.30%
Total short-term debt		$ 1,250,000,000	0
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021 | Forecast
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt redeemed					$ 1,250,000,000
Other
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt		56,000,000	144,000,000
$1.5 billion debt issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount											$ 1,500,000,000
Unsecured notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt purchased and retired	$ 3,300,000,000
Weighted average interest rate of long-term debt purchased and retired	4.02%
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	$ 414,000,000	$ 387,000,000
Redemption premiums paid in cash	386,000,000
Unsecured notes | 3.300% unsecured notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.30%				3.30%	3.30%
Long-term debt		$ 0	1,248,000,000
Unsecured notes | $1.5 billion debt issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount		$ 1,500,000,000
Unsecured notes | 3.200% unsecured notes due 2030
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount											$ 500,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.20%				3.20%	3.20%				3.20%
Long-term debt		$ 497,000,000	497,000,000
Unsecured notes | 4.100% unsecured notes due 2050
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount											$ 1,000,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		4.10%				4.10%	4.10%				4.10%
Long-term debt		$ 792,000,000	990,000,000
Debt redeemed	$ 200,000,000
Unsecured notes | Total $6 billion note issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount		$ 6,000,000,000
Unsecured notes | 3.450% unsecured notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.45%				3.45%	3.45%
Long-term debt		$ 1,442,000,000	1,891,000,000
Unsecured notes | 4.650% unsecured notes due 2046
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		4.65%				4.65%	4.65%
Long-term debt		$ 318,000,000	591,000,000
Unsecured notes | Total $8 billion note issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount		$ 8,000,000,000
Unsecured notes | 3.800% unsecured notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.80%				3.80%	3.80%
Long-term debt		$ 1,154,000,000	1,993,000,000
Unsecured notes | 4.500% unsecured notes due 2034
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		4.50%				4.50%	4.50%
Long-term debt		$ 301,000,000	496,000,000
Unsecured notes | 4.800% unsecured notes due 2044
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		4.80%				4.80%	4.80%
Long-term debt		$ 868,000,000	1,493,000,000
Unsecured notes | Total £700 million note issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount | £						£ 700,000,000
Unsecured notes | 3.600% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.60%				3.60%	3.60%
Long-term debt		$ 408,000,000	398,000,000
Unsecured notes | Total €750 million note issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount | €							€ 750,000,000
Unsecured notes | 2.125% unsecured Euro notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		2.125%				2.125%	2.125%
Long-term debt		$ 873,000,000	891,000,000
Unsecured notes | Total $4 billion note issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount		$ 4,000,000,000
Unsecured notes | 3.100% unsecured notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.10%				3.10%	3.10%
Long-term debt		$ 731,000,000	1,198,000,000
Unsecured notes | 4.400% unsecured notes due 2042
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		4.40%				4.40%	4.40%
Long-term debt		$ 263,000,000	493,000,000
Term loan | April 2021 credit agreement | Credit facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity								$ 3,800,000,000	$ 2,800,000,000
Commercial paper
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt		0	1,517,000,000
Credit facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt		$ 0	$ 1,071,000,000

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Debt - long-term debt by future maturity (Details) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Long Term Debt by Future Maturity [Abstract]
2022	$ 1,305
2023	733
2024	2
2025	1,163
2026	1,858
Later	3,957
Total estimated future maturities	$ 9,018

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Debt - narrative (Details) € in Millions			12 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 23, 2020 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2021 EUR (€)	Aug. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Apr. 23, 2021 USD ($)	Apr. 09, 2021 USD ($)	May 29, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 15, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 07, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 02, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2020 USD ($)	Aug. 30, 2019 USD ($) agreement	Jan. 18, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 05, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 29, 2018 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Long-term debt purchased and retired			$ 15,257,000,000		$ 21,414,000,000	$ 10,461,000,000
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest			916,000,000		584,000,000	676,000,000
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			414,000,000		0	$ 0
Commercial paper
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Average daily short-term borrowings			$ 1,900,000,000		$ 2,500,000,000
Weighted-average interest rate			0.45%		2.15%
Commercial paper, amount outstanding			$ 0
Commercial paper | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Average daily short-term borrowings			$ 424,000,000	€ 300
Weighted-average interest rate for subsidiaries borrowings			0.43%	0.43%
Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt to total capitalization ratio			0.60
$1.5 billion debt issuance
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Face amount										$ 1,500,000,000
Underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses			$ 13,000,000
Unsecured notes
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Long-term debt purchased and retired	$ 3,300,000,000
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	414,000,000		387,000,000
Unsecured notes | $1.5 billion debt issuance
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Face amount			$ 1,500,000,000
Unsecured notes | 3.200% unsecured notes due 2030
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Face amount										$ 500,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)			3.20%							3.20%
Unsecured notes | 4.100% unsecured notes due 2050
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Face amount										$ 1,000,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)			4.10%							4.10%
Debt retired	$ 200,000,000
Unsecured notes | December 2018 Term Loan Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Face amount																$ 1,000,000,000
Credit facilities | December 23, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement, 364-Day Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 1,250,000,000
Credit facilities | December 23, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement, 18-Month Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 2,250,000,000
Debt term		18 months
Borrowings outstanding			$ 0
Credit facilities | April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity											$ 500,000,000
Credit facilities | April 2020 Revolving Bilateral Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity													$ 750,000,000
Credit facilities | April 2020 Revolving Club Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity												$ 1,325,000,000
Credit facilities | August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreements
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity														$ 500,000,000
Number of credit agreements | agreement														3
Credit facilities | January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity															$ 2,000,000,000
Credit facilities | A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Face amount												2,000,000,000
Credit facilities | August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Face amount																	$ 3,500,000,000
Borrowings outstanding			$ 0
Credit facilities | Line of Credit | Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity									$ 500,000,000
Credit facilities | Unsecured notes | A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Face amount												$ 1,000,000,000
Credit facilities | Unsecured notes | Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity									$ 1,000,000,000
Credit facilities | Term loan | April 2021 Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity							$ 3,800,000,000	$ 2,800,000,000
Letter of Credit | August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Face amount																	$ 500,000,000
Bridge Loan | December 23, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement, 18-Month Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 350,000,000

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Financial instruments - derivative instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Cross currency interest rate swaps | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other non-current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, assets	$ 155	$ 722
Fair value, assets	1	16
Cross currency interest rate swaps | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, assets		50
Fair value, assets		0
Cross currency interest rate swaps | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other non-current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities	801	318
Fair value, liabilities	23	13
Cross currency interest rate swaps | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities	109	103
Fair value, liabilities	9	3
Foreign currency forwards | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other non-current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, assets	6
Fair value, assets	0
Foreign currency forwards | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, assets	575	100
Fair value, assets	7	1
Foreign currency forwards | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other non-current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities	23	49
Fair value, liabilities	1	1
Foreign currency forwards | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities	31	671
Fair value, liabilities	1	23
Foreign currency forwards | Derivatives not designated as hedges: | Other current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, assets	3,636	1,930
Fair value, assets	38	19
Foreign currency forwards | Derivatives not designated as hedges: | Other current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities	808	2,934
Fair value, liabilities	3	56
Interest rate swaps | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other non-current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities		1,000
Fair value, liabilities		10
Total return swap | Derivatives not designated as hedges: | Other current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, assets	224
Fair value, assets	2
Total return swap | Derivatives not designated as hedges: | Other current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities	37	205
Fair value, liabilities	$ 0	$ 1

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Financial instruments - warrants (Details) - Derivatives not designated as hedges: - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Foreign currency forwards | Selling, general and administrative expense
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains (losses) due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments	$ (75)	$ (63)	$ 139
Foreign currency forwards | Other income (expense)
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains (losses) due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments	(8)	11	(18)
Total return swap | Selling, general and administrative expense
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains (losses) due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments	$ 58	$ 24	$ 0

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Fair value measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Liabilities [Abstract]
Carrying value of long-term notes outstanding	$ 9,018
Carrying Value
Liabilities [Abstract]
Carrying value of long-term notes outstanding	8,900
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement
Liabilities [Abstract]
Fair value of long-term notes outstanding	9,800
Recurring
Assets [Abstract]
Money market funds	634	$ 6
Investment in equity securities	2	1
Investments in debt securities	663
Recurring | Level 1
Assets [Abstract]
Money market funds	634	6
Investment in equity securities	2	1
Investments in debt securities	0
Recurring | Level 2
Assets [Abstract]
Money market funds	0	0
Investment in equity securities	0	0
Investments in debt securities	0
Recurring | Level 3
Assets [Abstract]
Money market funds	0	0
Investment in equity securities	0	0
Investments in debt securities	663
Recurring | Foreign currency forwards
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	46	20
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	5	80
Recurring | Foreign currency forwards | Level 1
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	0	0
Recurring | Foreign currency forwards | Level 2
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	46	20
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	5	80
Recurring | Foreign currency forwards | Level 3
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	0	0
Recurring | Cross currency interest rate swaps
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	1	16
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	32	16
Recurring | Cross currency interest rate swaps | Level 1
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	0	0
Recurring | Cross currency interest rate swaps | Level 2
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	1	16
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	32	16
Recurring | Cross currency interest rate swaps | Level 3
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	0	0
Recurring | Total return swap
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	2
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		1
Recurring | Total return swap | Level 1
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		0
Recurring | Total return swap | Level 2
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	2
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		1
Recurring | Total return swap | Level 3
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	$ 0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		0
Recurring | Interest rate swaps
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		10
Recurring | Interest rate swaps | Level 1
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		0
Recurring | Interest rate swaps | Level 2
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		10
Recurring | Interest rate swaps | Level 3
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		$ 0

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Income taxes - narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, measurement period adjustment, income tax benefit			$ 247
Deferred tax assets, tax attributes	$ 7,467	$ 6,781
Income tax credits	97
Deferred tax assets operating loss carryforwards subject to expiration	7,100
Deferred tax assets operating loss carryforwards not subject to expiration	398
Valuation allowance	7,239	6,490
Income taxes paid	336	626	893
Unrecognized tax benefits	1,098	494	455	$ 456
Unrecognized tax benefits reported against deferred taxes	475
Unrecognized tax benefits reported against tax receivables	114
Unrecognized tax benefits would favorably impact the effective tax rate if recognized	524	353	$ 311
Decrease in unrecognized tax benefits is reasonably possible	132
Accrued interest and penalties in income tax provision	84	58
Interest and penalties included in income tax expense	26	11
Unrecorded deferred tax liability for temporary differences related to foreign subsidiaries	118	124
Long-term liabilities
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Unrecognized tax benefits	594
U.S. Federal
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards	670
State
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards	75
Non-U.S.
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards	6,600
United Kingdom
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Tax expense recorded from re-measurement of foreign deferred tax liabilities from changes in tax laws	$ 344	$ 139

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Income taxes - components of earnings before income tax provision (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
U.S.	$ 61	$ 759	$ 1,898
Non–U.S.	1,934	(313)	2,461
Earnings before income tax provision	$ 1,995	$ 446	$ 4,359

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Income taxes - provision for income taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Current provision
Federal	$ 79	$ 184	$ 228
State	115	49	46
Non–U.S.	234	135	183
Total current provisions for income taxes	428	368	457
Deferred provision
Federal	(10)	(83)	151
State	(46)	2	4
Non–U.S. – tax law change	344	139	0
Non–U.S. – excluding tax law change	(49)	(87)	(35)
Total non-current provisions for income taxes	239	(29)	120
Income tax provision	$ 667	$ 339	$ 577

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Income taxes - reconciliation to effective tax rate (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal statutory rate	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	3.50%	8.80%	0.90%
Foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates	(4.40%)	(17.00%)	(1.90%)
Non-taxable income	(5.00%)	(47.50%)	(3.60%)
Non-deductible expenses	0.30%	9.00%	0.20%
Tax law changes	17.30%	31.30%	(0.40%)
Change in valuation allowance	(4.70%)	4.10%	2.10%
Tax benefits from restructuring	(4.20%)	0.00%	0.00%
Tax expense on non-operating equity earnings	6.10%	0.00%	0.00%
Uncertain tax positions	6.20%	7.50%	(0.80%)
Goodwill impairment	0.00%	72.50%	0.00%
Tax credits	(1.80%)	(10.30%)	(4.40%)
Other	(0.90%)	(3.40%)	0.10%
Effective income tax rate	33.40%	76.00%	13.20%

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Income taxes - deferred tax assets and liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Deferred tax assets:
Compensation and benefits	$ 175	$ 176
Postretirement benefits	0	88
Insurance	103	98
Accrued rent & lease obligations	5,372	5,187
Allowance for doubtful accounts	34	9
Tax attributes	7,467	6,781
Stock compensation	88	47
Deferred income	34	18
Other	0	50
Subtotal deferred tax assets	13,273	12,454
Less: valuation allowance	7,239	6,490
Total deferred tax assets	6,034	5,964
Deferred tax liabilities:
Accelerated depreciation	896	683
Inventory	377	345
Intangible assets	1,465	1,130
Equity method investment	236	542
Lease right-of-use asset	4,792	4,589
Other	30	0
Total deferred tax liabilities	7,796	7,289
Net deferred tax liabilities	$ 1,762	$ 1,325

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Income taxes - unrecognized tax benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits
Balance at beginning of year	$ 494	$ 455	$ 456
Gross increases related to tax positions in a prior period	229	60	33
Gross decreases related to tax positions in a prior period	(52)	(23)	(53)
Gross increases related to tax positions in the current period	446	9	26
Settlements with taxing authorities	(13)	(4)	(2)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(6)	(3)	(5)
Balance at end of year	$ 1,098	$ 494	$ 455

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Stock compensation plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Total stock-based compensation expense	$ 155	$ 137	$ 119
Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested awards	$ 151
Compensation cost not yet recognized period for recognition	3 years

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Retirement benefits - fair value hierarchy (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	$ 10,475	$ 9,614	$ 9,131
Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	3,696	3,200
Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	5,637	5,523
Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1,142	891
Equity securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1,316	1,505
Equity securities | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Equity securities | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1,316	1,505
Equity securities | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Fixed interest government bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	514	515
Fixed interest government bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	101	111
Fixed interest government bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	412	404
Fixed interest government bonds | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Index linked government bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	3,521	4,168
Index linked government bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	3,486	2,936
Index linked government bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	35	1,232
Index linked government bonds | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Corporate bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	2,851	2,730
Corporate bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1	1
Corporate bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	2,850	2,729
Corporate bonds | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Real estate
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	513	492
Real estate | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Real estate | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Real estate | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	513	492
Other investments, net
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1,761	204
Other investments, net | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	107	152
Other investments, net | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1,024	(347)
Other investments, net | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	$ 629	$ 399

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Retirement benefits - components of net periodic pension costs (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Service costs (Selling, general and administrative expenses)	$ 6	$ 2	$ 2
Interest costs (Other income)	139	141	195
Expected returns on plan assets/other (Other income)	(332)	(285)	(245)
Total net periodic pension (income) cost	$ (188)	$ (142)	$ (48)

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Retirement benefits - accumulated other comprehensive income (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net actuarial (gain) loss	$ (506)	$ 856	$ 90
Prior service cost	(1)	(1)	24
Total pre-tax comprehensive (income) expense	$ (507)	$ 855	$ 114

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Retirement benefits - changes in benefit obligations (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$ 9,905	$ 8,795
Service costs	6	2	$ 2
Interest costs	139	141	195
Settlements	(2)	0
Net actuarial loss	75	491
Benefits paid	(320)	(330)
Acquisitions	182	0
Currency translation adjustments	223	806
Benefit obligation at end of year	$ 10,206	$ 9,905	$ 8,795

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Retirement benefits - change in plan assets (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of year	$ 9,614	$ 9,131
Employer contributions	53	35
Benefits paid	(320)	(330)
Return on assets/other	906	(31)
Settlements	(2)	0
Currency translation adjustments	223	810
Plan assets at fair value at end of year	$ 10,475	$ 9,614

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Retirement benefits - balance sheet (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Other non-current assets	$ 602	$ 0
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(9)	(6)
Other non-current liabilities	(324)	(285)
Net asset (liability) recognized at end of year	$ 269	$ (291)

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Retirement benefits - accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Projected benefit obligation	$ 10,206	$ 9,905
Accumulated benefit obligation	10,200	9,901
Fair value of plan assets	$ 10,475	$ 9,614

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Retirement benefits - expected future benefit payments (Details) - Pension Plan $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2022	$ 291
2023	302
2024	311
2025	326
2026	344
2027-2031	$ 1,868

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Retirement benefits - assumptions (Details) - Pension Plan	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Defined Benefit Plan, Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Benefit Obligation [Abstract]
Discount rate	1.71%	1.63%
Rate of compensation increase	2.80%	3.10%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate	1.39%	1.58%
Expected long-term return on plan assets	3.50%	3.10%
Rate of compensation increase	2.77%	2.91%

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Retirement benefits - narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Cash contributions to defined benefit pension plans	$ 41.0
Postretirement Health Benefit Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan obligation	154.0	$ 182.0
Expected benefit to be paid net of estimated federal subsidy during fiscal year 2021	9.5
United States
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Profit sharing provision expense	221.0	227.0	$ 239.0
Contributions to profit sharing	222.0	226.0	234.0
Foreign Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Cost recognized in the consolidated condensed statements of earnings	$ 101.0	$ 91.0	$ 101.0

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Capital stock (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Apr. 30, 2017
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Cost of stock repurchased	$ 110,000,000	$ 1,589,000,000	$ 4,160,000,000
Stock repurchased during current fiscal year, value	$ 110,000,000	$ 103,000,000	$ 339,000,000
Shares of common stock reserved for future issuances (in shares)	71
June 2018 Stock Repurchase Program
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Share repurchase program, authorized maximum amount				$ 10,000,000,000
Shares repurchased during period (in shares)		30
Cost of stock repurchased		$ 1,500,000,000
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized amount to be purchased	$ 2,000,000,000

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Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 21,136	$ 24,152	$ 26,689
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,669	148	(909)
Ending Balance	23,822	21,136	24,152
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(3,771)	(3,897)	(3,002)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	1,022	(69)	(889)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	6	0	(12)
Business disposal	792
Tax benefit (provision)	(157)	195	5
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,663	126	(896)
Ending Balance	(2,109)	(3,771)	(3,897)
Pension/post-retirement obligations
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(748)	(48)	101
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	532	(861)	(162)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(8)	(8)	(17)
Business disposal	(4)
Tax benefit (provision)	(132)	169	30
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	389	(700)	(149)
Ending Balance	(359)	(748)	(48)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(31)	(24)	(30)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	10	(12)	1
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	17	5	5
Business disposal	0
Tax benefit (provision)	(6)	1	(1)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	21	(6)	5
Ending Balance	(10)	(31)	(24)
Net investment hedges
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(34)	55	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(6)	(113)	73
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	0	0
Business disposal	0
Tax benefit (provision)	6	23	(18)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(1)	(90)	55
Ending Balance	(35)	(34)	55
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	127	0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	0	0
Business disposal	0
Tax benefit (provision)	(31)	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	96	0	0
Ending Balance	96	0	0
Share of AOCI of equity method investments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(10)	3	3
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(24)	(16)	(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	0	0
Business disposal	0
Tax benefit (provision)	6	3	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(18)	(13)	(1)
Ending Balance	(29)	(10)	3
Cumulative translation adjustments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(2,948)	(3,884)	(3,076)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	384	934	(801)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(3)	3	0
Business disposal	795
Tax benefit (provision)	0	(1)	(6)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,176	936	(807)
Ending Balance	$ (1,772)	$ (2,948)	$ (3,884)

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Segment reporting - narrative (Details) - segment	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	2
Three Third-Party Payers | Revenues | Customer Concentration Risk
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		33.00%	35.00%	35.00%

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Segment reporting - results of operations of reportable segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	May 31, 2021	Feb. 28, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales	$ 34,262	$ 34,030	$ 32,779	$ 31,438	$ 30,371	$ 30,364	$ 31,336	$ 29,912	$ 132,509	$ 121,982	$ 120,074
Adjusted operating income									5,117	4,730	6,481
Depreciation and amortization									1,923	1,786	1,894
Capital expenditures									1,312	1,287	1,598
Adjustments to equity earnings (loss) in AmerisourceBergen									(1,645)	(97)	(233)
Transformational cost management									(417)	(719)	(327)
Acquisition-related amortization									(523)	(384)	(416)
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements									(75)	0	(31)
LIFO provision									(13)	(95)	(136)
Acquisition-related costs									(54)	(315)	(303)
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets									(49)	(2,016)	(73)
Store optimization									0	(53)	(196)
Store damage and inventory losses									0	(68)	0
Operating income									2,342	982	4,766
Reportable Segments | United States
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales									112,005	107,701	104,532
Adjusted operating income									5,019	4,761	5,873
Depreciation and amortization									1,513	1,376	1,454
Capital expenditures									1,030	1,040	1,318
Reportable Segments | International
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales									20,505	14,281	15,542
Adjusted operating income									466	157	759
Depreciation and amortization									399	400	433
Capital expenditures									243	235	272
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Adjusted operating income									(368)	(187)	(152)
Depreciation and amortization									11	10	8
Capital expenditures									$ 39	$ 12	$ 8

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Segment reporting - geographic data (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	May 31, 2021	Feb. 28, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales	$ 34,262	$ 34,030	$ 32,779	$ 31,438	$ 30,371	$ 30,364	$ 31,336	$ 29,912	$ 132,509	$ 121,982	$ 120,074
Total long-lived assets	12,247				12,796				12,247	12,796
United States
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales									112,005	107,701	104,532
Total long-lived assets	9,665				10,344				9,665	10,344
United Kingdom
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales									8,298	7,830	8,947
Total long-lived assets	2,205				2,203				2,205	2,203
Germany
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales									10,472	4,876	4,713
Other
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales									1,734	1,575	$ 1,882
Total long-lived assets	$ 377				$ 250				$ 377	$ 250

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Sales (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	May 31, 2021	Feb. 28, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	$ 34,262	$ 34,030	$ 32,779	$ 31,438	$ 30,371	$ 30,364	$ 31,336	$ 29,912	$ 132,509	$ 121,982	$ 120,074
Reportable Segments | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									112,005	107,701	104,532
Reportable Segments | United States | Pharmacy
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									84,892	80,481	77,299
Reportable Segments | United States | Retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									27,113	27,220	27,233
Reportable Segments | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									20,505	14,281	15,542
Reportable Segments | International | Pharmacy
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									3,808	3,503	3,653
Reportable Segments | International | Retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									6,225	5,902	7,177
Reportable Segments | International | Wholesale
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									$ 10,472	$ 4,876	$ 4,713

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Related parties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Purchases, net	$ 62,513	$ 59,569	$ 57,429
Trade accounts payable, net	$ 6,589	$ 6,390	$ 6,484

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Supplementary financial information - summary of quarterly results (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	May 31, 2021	Feb. 28, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]
Sales	$ 34,262	$ 34,030	$ 32,779	$ 31,438	$ 30,371	$ 30,364	$ 31,336	$ 29,912	$ 132,509	$ 121,982	$ 120,074
Gross profit	7,503	7,153	6,781	6,630	6,324	5,959	7,017	6,777	28,067	26,078	28,159
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.:
Continuing operations	358	1,105	922	(391)	337	(1,794)	867	769	1,994	180	3,816
Discontinued operations	268	92	104	83	36	86	79	76	548	277	166
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$ 627	$ 1,197	$ 1,026	$ (308)	$ 373	$ (1,708)	$ 946	$ 845	$ 2,542	$ 456	$ 3,982
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 1.28	$ 1.07	$ (0.45)	$ 0.39	$ (2.05)	$ 0.98	$ 0.86	$ 2.31	$ 0.20	$ 4.14
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.31	0.11	0.12	0.10	0.04	0.10	0.09	0.08	0.63	0.31	0.18
Total (in dollars per share)	0.72	1.38	1.19	(0.36)	0.43	(1.95)	1.07	0.95	2.94	0.52	4.32
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.41	1.27	1.06	(0.45)	0.39	(2.05)	0.98	0.86	2.30	0.20	4.13
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.31	0.11	0.12	0.10	0.04	0.10	0.09	0.08	0.63	0.31	0.18
Total (in dollars per share)	0.72	1.38	1.19	(0.36)	0.43	(1.95)	1.07	0.95	2.93	0.52	$ 4.31
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.4775	$ 0.4675	$ 0.4675	$ 0.4675	$ 0.4675	$ 0.4575	$ 0.4575	$ 0.4575	$ 1.8800	$ 1.8400

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Subsequent events (Details) $ in Millions					12 Months Ended	63 Months Ended
	Oct. 14, 2021 USD ($)	Oct. 13, 2021 co-locatedClinic	Sep. 17, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 04, 2021 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2026 co-locatedClinic
VillageMD
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Consideration transferred to acquire equity method investments					$ 750
Payments to acquire equity method investments					$ 250
VillageMD | Forecast
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of co-located clinics | co-locatedClinic						1,000
Subsequent event | VillageMD
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Consideration transferred to acquire equity method investments	$ 5,200
Ownership percentage	63.00%	30.00%
Number of co-located clinics | co-locatedClinic		600
Payments to acquire equity method investments	$ 4,000
Subsequent event | VillageMD | Promissory Notes
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Face amount	$ 1,200
CareCentrix, Inc. | Subsequent event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Payments to acquire business				$ 330
Controlling interest percentage				55.00%
Shields Health Solutions | Subsequent event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Payments to acquire business			$ 970
Controlling interest percentage			71.00%