Goodwill and other intangible assets (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2020

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):

Goodwill rollforward:	Retail Pharmacy USA		Retail Pharmacy International		Pharmaceutical Wholesale		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
August 31, 2020	$	10,553	$	1,593	$	3,122	$	15,268
Acquisitions	1		—		3		4
Currency translation adjustments	—		18		9		27
November 30, 2020	$	10,554	$	1,612	$	3,133	$	15,299

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	November 30, 2020		August 31, 2020
Gross amortizable intangible assets
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders1	$	4,409	$	4,389
Trade names and trademarks	419		410
Purchasing and payer contracts	337		337
Non-compete agreements and others	61		61
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	5,226		5,197
Accumulated amortization
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders1	$	1,603	$	1,511
Trade names and trademarks	242		228
Purchasing and payer contracts	101		95
Non-compete agreements and others	26		26
Total accumulated amortization	1,972		1,860
Total amortizable intangible assets, net	$	3,254	$	3,337
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Trade names and trademarks	$	5,410	$	5,388
Pharmacy licenses	2,042		2,028
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	$	7,452	$	7,416
Total intangible assets, net	$	10,706	$	10,753

1Includes purchased prescription files.

Schedule of Future Amortization Expense

Estimated future annual amortization expense for the next five fiscal years for intangible assets recorded at November 30, 2020 is as follows (in millions):

	2022		2023		2024		2025		2026
Estimated annual amortization expense	$	434	$	400	$	381	$	348	$	328