Goodwill and other intangible assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2019

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):

	Retail Pharmacy USA		Retail Pharmacy International			Pharmaceutical Wholesale			Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
August 31, 2017	$	9,139	$	3,392		$	3,101		$	15,632
Acquisitions	1,344		—			4			1,348
Currency translation adjustments	—		(22		)	(44		)	(66		)
August 31, 2018	$	10,483	$	3,370		$	3,061		$	16,914
Acquisitions	8		—			—			8
Dispositions	—		(9		)	—			(9		)
Currency translation adjustments	—		(182		)	(171		)	(353		)
August 31, 2019	$	10,491	$	3,179		$	2,890		$	16,560

Schedule of finite-lived intangible assets by major class

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

	August 31, 2019		August 31, 2018
Gross amortizable intangible assets
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders1	$	4,290	$	4,235
Favorable lease interests and non-compete agreements	654		680
Trade names and trademarks	461		489
Purchasing and payer contracts	382		390
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	5,787		5,794
Accumulated amortization
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders1	$	1,262	$	997
Favorable lease interests and non-compete agreements	410		359
Trade names and trademarks	250		206
Purchasing and payer contracts	99		78
Total accumulated amortization	2,021		1,640
Total amortizable intangible assets, net	$	3,766	$	4,154
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Trade names and trademarks	$	5,232	$	5,557
Pharmacy licenses	1,878		2,072
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	$	7,110	$	7,629
Total intangible assets, net	$	10,876	$	11,783

¹ Includes purchased prescription files.

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, 2019 is as follows (in millions):

	2020		2021		2022		2023		2024
Estimated annual amortization expense	$	478	$	433	$	412	$	378	$	357