Goodwill and other intangible assets (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2017

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Goodwill

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

	Retail Pharmacy USA		Retail Pharmacy International		Pharmaceutical Wholesale		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
August 31, 2017	$	9,139	$	3,392	$	3,101	$	15,632
Acquisitions	101		—		—		101
Currency translation adjustments	—		103		95		198
November 30, 2017	$	9,240	$	3,495	$	3,196	$	15,931

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class

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

	November 30, 2017		August 31, 2017
Gross amortizable intangible assets
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders	$	1,910	$	1,851
Purchased prescription files	716		659
Favorable lease interests and non-compete agreements	499		523
Trade names and trademarks	513		504
Purchasing and payer contracts	390		391
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	4,028		3,928
Accumulated amortization
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders	$	397	$	409
Purchased prescription files	420		371
Favorable lease interests and non-compete agreements	335		355
Trade names and trademarks	169		155
Purchasing and payer contracts	57		51
Total accumulated amortization	1,378		1,341
Total amortizable intangible assets, net	$	2,650	$	2,587
Indefinite lived intangible assets
Trade names and trademarks	$	5,783	$	5,514
Pharmacy licenses	2,155		2,055
Total indefinite lived intangible assets	$	7,938	$	7,569
Total intangible assets, net	$	10,588	$	10,156

Schedule of Future Amortization Expense

Estimated future annual amortization expense for the next five fiscal years for intangible assets recorded at November 30, 2017 is as follows (in millions):

	2019		2020		2021		2022		2023
Estimated annual amortization expense	$	350	$	295	$	244	$	218	$	197