Exit and disposal activities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2021

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Restructuring costs and reserves

Costs related to exit and disposal activities under the Transformational Cost Management Program for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were as follows (in millions):

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2021	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	103	$	6	$	—	$	108
Asset impairments	15		9		—		24
Employee severance and business transition costs	79		40		45		165
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	20		17		—		38
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	217	$	72	$	46	$	335

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2020	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	191	$	9	$	14	$	215
Asset impairments	51		19		2		72
Employee severance and business transition costs	132		93		45		270
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	70		42		(4)		108
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	444	$	163	$	58	$	665

Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2019	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	5	$	26	$	—	$	30
Asset impairments	95		61		—		156
Employee severance and business transition costs	41		37		1		78
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	6		10		—		17
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	147	$	134	$	1	$	282

Schedule of restructuring reserve by type of cost

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, 2019	$	17	$	—	$	27	$	3	$	47
Costs	215		72		270		108		665
Payments	(44)		—		(146)		(86)		(276)
Other - non cash	(166)		(72)		13		(11)		(236)
ASC 842 Leases adoption	(4)		—		—		—		(4)
Currency	1		—		2		—		3
Balance at August 31, 2020	$	19	$	—	$	166	$	14	$	199
Costs	108		24		165		38		335
Payments	(69)		—		(252)		(31)		(351)
Other - non cash	(42)		(24)		(4)		—		(70)
Currency	—		—		2		(1)		1
Balance at August 31, 2021	$	17	$	—	$	77	$	20	$	114