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Borrowings
12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2016
Borrowings [Abstract]  
Borrowings
9. Borrowings
Borrowings consist 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, 2016
  
August 31, 2015
 
Short-Term Borrowings(1)
      
Unsecured Pound Sterling variable rate term loan due 2019
 
$
63
  
$
-
 
Unsecured variable rate notes due 2016
  
-
   
747
 
Other(2)
  
260
   
321
 
Total short-term borrowings
 
$
323
  
$
1,068
 
 
Long-Term Debt(1)
      
Unsecured Pound Sterling variable rate term loan due 2019
 
$
1,833
  
$
2,229
 
$6 Billion Note Issuance(7)(9)
        
1.750% unsecured notes due 2018
  
1,246
   
-
 
2.600% unsecured notes due 2021
  
1,493
   
-
 
3.100% unsecured notes due 2023
  
744
   
-
 
3.450% unsecured notes due 2026
  
1,885
   
-
 
4.650% unsecured notes due 2046
  
590
   
-
 
$8 Billion Note Issuance(7)(9)
        
1.750% unsecured notes due 2017
  
746
   
746
 
2.700% unsecured notes due 2019
  
1,244
   
1,243
 
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021
  
1,242
   
1,241
 
3.800% unsecured notes due 2024
  
1,987
   
1,985
 
4.500% unsecured notes due 2034
  
494
   
494
 
4.800% unsecured notes due 2044
  
1,492
   
1,491
 
£700 Million Note Issuance(3)(7)(9)
        
2.875% unsecured Pound Sterling notes due 2020
  
521
   
612
 
3.600% unsecured Pound Sterling notes due 2025
  
391
   
459
 
€750 Million Note Issuance(5)(7)(9)
        
2.125% unsecured Euro notes due 2026
  
830
   
836
 
$4 Billion Note Issuance(7)(8)(9)
        
3.100% unsecured notes due 2022
  
1,194
   
1,193
 
4.400% unsecured notes due 2042
  
492
   
492
 
$1 Billion Note Issuance(8)(9)
        
5.250% unsecured notes due 2019(4)
  
249
   
250
 
Other(6)
  
32
   
44
 
Total long-term debt, less current portion
 
$
18,705
  
$
13,315
 

(1)
All notes are presented net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs, where applicable.
(2)
Other short-term borrowings represent a mix of fixed and variable rate borrowings with various maturities and working capital facilities denominated in various foreign currencies including bank overdrafts.
(3)
Pound Sterling denominated notes are translated at the spot rates at August 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
(4)
Includes interest rate swap fair market value adjustments. See Note 11, Fair Value Measurements for additional fair value disclosures.
(5)
Euro denominated notes are translated at the spot rate at August 31, 2016 and 2015.
(6)
Other long-term debt represents a mix of fixed and variable rate borrowings in various foreign currencies with various maturities.
(7)
Notes are unsubordinated debt obligations of Walgreens Boots Alliance and rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Walgreens Boots Alliance from time to time outstanding.
(8)
Notes are senior debt obligations of Walgreens and rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Walgreens. On December 31, 2014, Walgreens Boots Alliance 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 Walgreens Boots Alliance and will rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Walgreens Boots Alliance.
(9)
The fair value of the $6 billion, $8 billion, £0.7 billion, €0.75 billion, $4 billion and $1 billion note issuances as of August 31, 2016 was $6.2 billion, $7.7 billion, $1.0 billion, $0.9 billion, $1.8 billion and $0.3 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, 2016 spot rate, as applicable.

At August 31, 2016, the future maturities of long-term debt, excluding debt discounts and issuance costs and financing and capital lease obligations (see Note 4, Leases, for the future lease obligation maturities), consisted of the following ($ in millions):

Year ended August 31,
 
Amount
 
2017
 
$
323
 
2018
  
2,137
 
2019
  
416
 
2020
  
2,808
 
2021
  
2,024
 
Later
  
11,442
 
Total estimated future maturities
 
$
19,150
 

$6.0 Billion Note Issuance
On June 1, 2016, Walgreens Boots Alliance received net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses) of $6.0 billion from a public offering of five series of U.S. dollar notes with varying maturities and interest rates. Total issuance costs relating to the notes, including underwriting discounts and offering expenses, were $30 million. In the event that the merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement with Rite Aid is not consummated on or prior to June 1, 2017 (the first anniversary of the issuance date of the notes) or if the Merger Agreement is terminated at any time on or prior to June 1, 2017, then Walgreens Boots Alliance will be required to redeem the notes due 2018, the notes due 2021 and the notes due 2023 (but not the notes due 2026 or notes due 2046) on the date described in the applicable note at a redemption price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest from and including the date of initial issuance, or the most recent date to which interest has been paid, whichever is later, to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

£700 Million and €750 Million Notes Issuance
On November 20, 2014, Walgreens Boots Alliance received net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses) of $2.0 billion from a public offering of three series of notes denominated in Euros and Pound Sterling with varying maturities and interest rates. The notes were fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis by Walgreens until August 10, 2015, when such guarantees were unconditionally released and discharged. Total issuance costs relating to the notes, including underwriting discounts and offering expenses, were $11 million.
                                                      
$8.0 Billion Note Issuance
On November 18, 2014, Walgreens Boots Alliance received net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses) of $7.9 billion from a public offering of seven series of U.S. dollar notes with varying maturities and interest rates, the majority of which are fixed rate. The notes were fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis by Walgreens until August 10, 2015, when such guarantees were unconditionally released and discharged. Total issuance costs relating to the notes, including underwriting discounts and offering expenses, were $42 million. The Company repaid the $750 million variable rate notes on their May 18, 2016 maturity date.
 
The notes issued on June 1, 2016, November 20, 2014 and November 18, 2014 contain redemption terms which allow or require the Company to redeem the notes at defined redemption prices plus accrued and unpaid interest at redemption dates set forth in the applicable series of notes. Interest on the notes issued on June 1, 2016 and November 18, 2014 is payable semi-annually and interest on the notes issued on November 20, 2014 is payable annually.

Bridge Credit Agreement, 2015 Term Loan Credit Agreement and 2016 Term Loan Credit Agreement
On October 27, 2015, in connection with the pending acquisition of Rite Aid Corporation (the “Acquisition”), the Company entered into a $12.8 billion bridge credit facility commitment letter (as amended and restated, the “Bridge Commitment Letter”).

On December 18, 2015, the Company entered into a Bridge Term Loan Credit Agreement (as amended, the “Bridge Credit Agreement”) and a Term Loan Credit Agreement (as amended, the “2015 Term Loan Credit Agreement). The Bridge Commitment Letter and the commitments contemplated thereby terminated upon entering into the Bridge Credit Agreement and 2015 Term Loan Credit Agreement. The Bridge Credit Agreement is a 364-day unsecured bridge term loan facility and had initial aggregate commitments of $7.8 billion, which may be increased by the Company prior to the funding of the loans thereunder by up to $2.0 billion in certain circumstances. The Company can extend up to $3.0 billion of the loans under the Bridge Credit Agreement for an additional 90-day period if desired. The 2015 Term Loan Credit Agreement is a $5.0 billion unsecured term loan facility comprising two tranches with maturities three and five years following the funding date or, if earlier, three and five years after October 27, 2016. The obligations of the lenders party to each of the Bridge Credit Agreement and the Term Loan Credit Agreement become effective upon the date of closing of the Rite Aid Acquisition. Upfront fees paid to date in connection with the Bridge Credit Agreement and 2015 Term Loan Credit Agreement total $30 million.
 
On June 1, 2016, in connection with the $6.0 billion note issuance on the same date, the aggregate commitments under the Bridge Credit Agreement were reduced by $6.0 billion to $1.8 billion.

On August 30, 2016, the Company entered into a $1.0 billion senior unsecured term loan facility (the “2016 Term Loan Credit Agreement”) comprising two tranches with maturities on March 30, 2017 and one year after the funding date, respectively. The obligations of the lender under the 2016 Term Loan Credit Agreement become effective upon the date of closing of the Acquisition. No upfront fees were paid in connection to the 2016 Term Loan Agreement. As a result of entering into the 2016 Term Loan Credit Agreement, the aggregate commitments under the Bridge Credit Agreement were reduced by $1.0 billion to $0.8 billion.

As of August 31, 2016, there were no borrowings under the Bridge Credit Agreement, the 2015 Term Loan Credit Agreement or the 2016 Term Loan Credit Agreement.

2014 Term Loan Agreement and Revolving Credit Agreement
On November 10, 2014, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Walgreens entered into a term loan credit agreement (the “Term Loan Agreement”), which provided Walgreens Boots Alliance and Walgreens with the ability to borrow up to £1.45 billion on an unsecured basis. As of August 31, 2016, Walgreens Boots Alliance had borrowed £1.45 billion ($1.9 billion) under the Term Loan Agreement.

On November 10, 2014, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Walgreens entered into a five-year unsecured, multicurrency revolving credit agreement (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), with available credit of $3.0 billion, of which $500 million is available for the issuance of letters of credit. As of August 31, 2016, there were no borrowings or letters of credit issued pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement.

On December 19, 2014, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Walgreens entered into a Revolving Credit Agreement (as amended, the “364-Day Credit Agreement”). The 364-Day Credit Agreement was a $750 million, 364-day unsecured, multicurrency revolving facility. On July 9, 2015, the 364-Day Credit Agreement was amended to remove Walgreens as a borrower thereunder, eliminate Walgreens’ guarantee of all obligations of Walgreens Boots Alliance thereunder and make certain conforming changes to effectuate those modifications, including modifications and deletions of certain definitions and cross-references. On December 17, 2015, the Company terminated the 364-Day Credit Agreement. The 364-Day Credit Agreement remained undrawn as of the date of termination and would have matured on December 30, 2015.

Debt covenants
The Company’s credit facilities 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. The credit facilities contain various other customary covenants. In the case of the Bridge Credit Agreement, the 2015 Term Loan Credit Agreement and the 2016 Term Loan Credit Agreement, such covenants are not in effect until the loans under each such credit facility are funded.
 
Other Borrowings
The Company periodically borrows under its commercial paper program and may borrow under it in future periods. There were no commercial paper borrowings outstanding as of August 31, 2016 or August 31, 2015, respectively. The Company had weighted average daily short-term borrowings of $14 million of commercial paper outstanding at a weighted average interest rate of 0.66% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2016. The Company had average daily short-term borrowings of $82 million of commercial paper outstanding at a weighted average interest rate of 0.52% in fiscal 2015. 
 
Interest
Interest paid, which is net of capitalized interest, was $580 million in fiscal 2016, $472 million in fiscal 2015 and $161 million in fiscal 2014. Interest capitalized as a part of significant construction projects during fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014 was immaterial.