Exit and disposal activities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 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 nine months ended May 31, 2021 and May 31, 2020 were as follows (in millions):

Three months ended May 31, 2021	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	15	$	6	$	—	$	21
Asset impairments	5		9		—		14
Employee severance and business transition costs	(19)		2		14		(2)
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	1		10				11
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	2	$	27	$	14	$	44

Nine months ended May 31, 2021	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	56	$	6	$	—	$	62
Asset impairments	9		10		—		19
Employee severance and business transition costs	92		36		44		172
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	14		11		1		26
Total pre-tax exit and disposal costs	$	172	$	63	$	44	$	279

Three months ended May 31, 2020	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	170	$	3	$	—	$	173
Asset impairments	19		10		—		29
Employee severance and business transition costs	47		(2)		11		56
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	17		16		—		33
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	253	$	27	$	11	$	290

Nine months ended May 31, 2020	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	179	$	5	$	—	$	184
Asset impairments	31		13		—		44
Employee severance and business transition costs	111		33		18		162
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	27		26		12		65
Total pre-tax exit and disposal costs	$	348	$	76	$	31	$	455

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	62		19		172		26		279
Payments	(47)		—		(183)		(18)		(249)
Other	(9)		(19)		(4)		(12)		(43)
Currency	1		(1)		4		(2)		3
Balance at May 31, 2021	$	26	$	—	$	155	$	9	$	190