Exit and disposal activities

6 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2022

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Note 4. Exit and disposal activities

Transformational Cost Management Program

On December 20, 2018, the Company announced a transformational cost management program that was expected to deliver in excess of $2.0 billion of annual cost savings by fiscal year 2022 (the “Transformational Cost Management Program”). The Company achieved this goal at the end of fiscal year 2021.

On October 12, 2021, the Company expanded and extended the Transformational Cost Management Program through the end of fiscal 2024. As a result, the Company increased its annual cost savings target to $3.3 billion by the end of fiscal 2024. The Company is on track to achieve the savings target.

The Transformational Cost Management Program, which is multi-faceted and includes divisional optimization initiatives, global smart spending, global smart organization and the transformation of the Company’s information technology (IT) capabilities, is designed to help the Company achieve increased cost efficiencies. To date, the Company has taken actions across all aspects of the Transformational Cost Management Program which focus on the United States and International reportable segments along with the Company’s global functions. Divisional optimization within the Company’s segments includes activities such as optimization of stores. As a result of the expanded program, the Company plans to reduce its presence by up to 150 Boots stores in the UK and up to 150 stores in the United States over the next three years which are incremental to the previously planned reductions of approximately 200 Boots stores in the UK and approximately 250 stores in the U.S.

The Company currently estimates that the Transformational Cost Management Program will result in cumulative pre-tax charges to its GAAP financial results of approximately $3.6 billion to $3.9 billion, of which $3.3 billion to $3.6 billion are expected to be recorded as exit and disposal activities. In addition to these impacts, as a result of the actions related to store closures taken under the Transformational Cost Management Program, the Company recorded $508 million of transition adjustments to decrease retained earnings due to the adoption of the new lease accounting standard (Topic 842) that became effective on September 1, 2019.

Since the inception of the Transformational Cost Management Program to February 28, 2022, the Company has recognized cumulative pre-tax charges to its financial results in accordance with GAAP of $1.5 billion, which were primarily recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses. These charges included $448 million related to lease obligations and other real estate costs, $296 million in asset impairments, $592 million in employee severance and business transition costs and $175 million of information technology transformation and other exit costs.

Costs related to exit and disposal activities under the Transformational Cost Management Program for the three and six months ended February 28, 2022 and 2021 were as follows (in millions):


Three months ended February 28, 2022	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	5	$	1	$	—	$	5
Asset impairments	1		3		—		4
Employee severance and business transition costs	36		—		5		41
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	1		4		—		5
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	43	$	8	$	5	$	56


Six months ended February 28, 2022	United States		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	91	$	3	$	—	$	95
Asset impairments	16		28		—		44
Employee severance and business transition costs	56		9		14		79
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	2		11		—		13
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	166	$	51	$	14	$	231


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 impairments	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 charges	$	170	$	36	$	29	$	235

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, 2021	$	17	$	—	$	77	$	20	$	114
Costs	95		44		79		13		231
Payments	(39)		—		(104)		(18)		(160)
Other	(55)		(44)		(3)		—		(102)

Balance at February 28, 2022	$	18	$	—	$	50	$	16	$	83