Exit and disposal activities (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2021

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Restructuring and Related Costs

Costs related to exit and disposal activities under the Transformational Cost Management Program for the three and six months ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020 were as follows (in millions):

Three months ended February 28, 2021	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	18	$	—	$	—	$	18
Asset impairment	1		3		—		4
Employee severance and business transition costs	99		6		17		122
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	4		7		—		11
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	122	$	16	$	17	$	154

Six months ended February 28, 2021	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	40	$	—	$	—	$	40
Asset impairments	5		—		—		5
Employee severance and business transition costs	111		34		29		174
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	14		2		—		15
Total pre-tax exit and disposal costs	$	170	$	36	$	29	$	235

Three months ended February 29, 2020	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	9	$	1	$	—	$	10
Asset impairment	3		—		—		3
Employee severance and business transition costs	34		32		6		71
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	1		7		13		21
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	47	$	40	$	18	$	105

Six months ended February 29, 2020	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	10	$	3	$	—	$	13
Asset impairments	11		3		—		14
Employee severance and business transition costs	65		34		7		106
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	9		10		13		31
Total pre-tax exit and disposal costs	$	95	$	50	$	20	$	164

Change in Restructuring Liabilities

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, 2020	$	19	$	—	$	166	$	14	$	199
Costs	40		5		174		15		235
Payments	(36)		—		(135)		(22)		(193)
Other	(6)		(5)		(3)		(3)		(17)
Currency	1		—		3		(1)		3
Balance at February 28, 2021	$	19	$	—	$	206	$	3	$	228