Summary of major accounting policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2022

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents

The following represents a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to total cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as of August 31, 2022 and 2021, (in millions):

	August 31, 2022		August 31, 2021
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,358	$	559
Marketable securities	1,114		634
Restricted cash - (included in other current assets)	86		77
Cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash	$	2,558	$	1,270

Schedule of property, plant and equipment

The following table summarizes the Company’s property, plant and equipment (in millions) and estimated useful lives (in years):

	Estimated useful life	2022		2021
Land and land improvements	20	$	2,333	$	2,782
Buildings and building improvements	3 to 50	6,996		7,453
Fixtures and equipment	3 to 20	9,375		9,974
Capitalized system development costs and software	3 to 10	3,087		2,802
Assets under construction 1		1,785		1,294
Finance lease properties		996		1,016
		$	24,572	$	25,321
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		12,843		13,073
Balance at end of year		$	11,729	$	12,247

Temporary Equity

The following is a roll forward of the redeemable non-controlling interests in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

	Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
August 31, 2020	$	—
Recognition upon acquisition of subsidiary	309
Redemption price adjustments 1	19
Net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests	(3)
Currency translation adjustments and other	(6)
August 31, 2021	$	319
Recognition upon acquisition of subsidiary 2	2,684
Acquisition of non-controlling interests 3	(2,047)
Redemption price adjustments 1	179
Net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests	(73)
Currency translation adjustments and other	(20)
August 31, 2022 4	$	1,042

1.Remeasurement of non-controlling interests, probable of redemption but not currently redeemable, to their redemption value, is recorded to Paid in capital in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

2.Includes, $1.9 billion of redeemable non-controlling interests, representing the maximum purchase price to redeem non-controlling units in VillageMD for cash, and redeemable non-controlling interests in Shields Health Solutions Parent, LLC (“Shields”) and CCX Next, LLC (“CareCentrix”).

3.Includes, $1.9 billion paid to existing shareholders of VillageMD as part of the fully subscribed tender offer and the acquisition of the remaining 30% non-controlling equity interests in the pharmaceutical wholesale business in Germany.

4.Redeemable non-controlling interests primarily relates to Shields, CareCentrix, and Innovation Associates, Inc.