Goodwill and other intangible assets (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2021

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:	United States		International		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
August 31, 2020	$	10,553	$	1,460	$	12,013
Acquisitions	394		12		406
Currency translation adjustments	—		51		51
February 28, 2021	$	10,947	$	1,521	$	12,468

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	February 28, 2021		August 31, 2020
Gross amortizable intangible assets
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders1	$	3,570	$	3,502
Trade names and trademarks	364		348
Purchasing and payer contracts	337		337
Non-compete agreements and others	62		60
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	$	4,333	$	4,247
Accumulated amortization
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders1	$	1,234	$	1,089
Trade names and trademarks	215		196
Purchasing and payer contracts	125		95
Non-compete agreements and others	27		26
Total accumulated amortization	1,601		1,406
Total amortizable intangible assets, net	$	2,732	$	2,841
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Trade names and trademarks	$	5,626	$	5,203
Pharmacy licenses	2,127		2,028
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	$	7,753	$	7,231
Total intangible assets, net	$	10,486	$	10,072

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 February 28, 2021 is as follows (in millions):

	2022		2023		2024		2025		2026
Estimated annual amortization expense	$	419	$	308	$	290	$	257	$	239