View Filing Data

Print Document View Excel Document

Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	Aug. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Feb. 28, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001618921
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--08-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Aug. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		949,164,514
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 58.2

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 785	$ 3,301
Accounts receivable, net	6,573	6,528
Inventories	9,565	8,899
Other current assets	923	1,025
Total current assets	17,846	19,753
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net	13,911	13,642
Goodwill	16,914	15,632
Intangible assets, net	11,783	10,156
Equity method investments (see note 5)	6,610	6,320
Other non-current assets	1,060	506
Total non-current assets	50,278	46,256
Total assets	68,124	66,009
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt	1,966	251
Trade accounts payable (see note 17)	13,566	12,494
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	5,862	5,473
Income taxes	273	329
Total current liabilities	21,667	18,547
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term debt	12,431	12,684
Deferred income taxes	1,815	2,281
Other non-current liabilities	5,522	4,223
Total non-current liabilities	19,768	19,188
Commitments and contingencies (see note 10)
Equity:
Preferred stock $.01 par value; authorized 32 million shares, none issued	0	0
Common stock $.01 par value; authorized 3.2 billion shares; issued 1,172,513,618 at August 31, 2018 and 2017	12	12
Paid-in capital	10,493	10,339
Retained earnings	33,551	30,137
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,002)	(3,051)
Treasury stock, at cost; 220,380,200 shares at August 31, 2018 and 148,664,548 at August 31, 2017	(15,047)	(9,971)
Total Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. shareholders’ equity	26,007	27,466
Noncontrolling interests	682	808
Total equity	26,689	28,274
Total liabilities and equity	$ 68,124	$ 66,009

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, authorized (in shares)	32,000,000	32,000,000
Preferred stock, issued (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, authorized (in shares)	3,200,000,000	3,200,000,000
Common stock, issued (in shares)	1,172,513,618	1,172,513,618
Treasury stock, issued (in shares)	220,380,200	148,664,548

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common stock	Treasury stock	Paid-in capital	Employee stock loan receivable	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Retained earnings	Noncontrolling interests
Beginning Balance at Aug. 31, 2015	$ 31,300	$ 12	$ (3,977)	$ 9,953	$ (2)	$ (214)	$ 25,089	$ 439
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2015		1,089,910,344
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	4,191						4,173	18
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,834)					(2,778)		(56)
Dividends declared and distributions	(1,578)						(1,578)
Treasury stock purchases	(1,152)		(1,152)
Treasury stock purchases (in shares)		(13,815,558)
Employee stock purchase and option plans	238		195	43
Employee stock purchase and option plans (in shares)		6,891,805
Stock-based compensation	115			115
Employee stock loan receivable	1				1
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2016	30,281	$ 12	(4,934)	10,111	(1)	(2,992)	27,684	401
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2016		1,082,986,591
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	4,101						4,078	23
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(95)					(59)		(36)
Dividends declared and distributions	(1,723)						(1,625)	(98)
Treasury stock purchases	(5,220)		(5,220)
Treasury stock purchases (in shares)		(64,589,677)
Employee stock purchase and option plans	218		183	34	1
Employee stock purchase and option plans (in shares)		5,452,156
Stock-based compensation	91			91
Noncontrolling interests acquired and arising on business combinations	621			103				518
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2017	28,274	$ 12	(9,971)	10,339	0	(3,051)	30,137	808
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2017		1,023,849,070
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	5,031						5,024	7
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	50					49		1
Dividends declared and distributions	(1,748)						(1,610)	(138)
Treasury stock purchases	(5,228)		(5,228)
Treasury stock purchases (in shares)		(76,069,557)
Employee stock purchase and option plans	174		152	22
Employee stock purchase and option plans (in shares)		4,353,905
Stock-based compensation	130			130
Noncontrolling interests contribution and other	6			2				4
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2018	$ 26,689	$ 12	$ (15,047)	$ 10,493	$ 0	$ (3,002)	$ 33,551	$ 682
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2018		952,133,418

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 131,537	$ 118,214	$ 117,351
Cost of sales	100,745	89,052	87,477
Gross profit	30,792	29,162	29,874
Selling, general and administrative expenses	24,569	23,740	23,910
Equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen	191	135	37
Operating income	6,414	5,557	6,001
Other income (expense)	177	(11)	(261)
Earnings before interest and income tax provision	6,591	5,546	5,740
Interest expense, net	616	693	596
Earnings before income tax provision	5,975	4,853	5,144
Income tax provision	998	760	997
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments	54	8	44
Net earnings	5,031	4,101	4,191
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	7	23	18
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$ 5,024	$ 4,078	$ 4,173
Net earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 5.07	$ 3.80	$ 3.85
Diluted (in dollars per share)	5.05	3.78	3.82
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.640	$ 1.525	$ 1.455
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	991.0	1,073.5	1,083.1
Diluted (in shares)	995.0	1,078.5	1,091.1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	$ 5,031	$ 4,101	$ 4,191
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Pension/postretirement obligations	240	73	(241)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges	3	4	3
Unrecognized (loss) on available-for-sale investments	0	(2)	(257)
Share of other comprehensive income (loss) of equity method investments	5	(1)	(1)
Currency translation adjustments	(198)	(169)	(2,338)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	50	(95)	(2,834)
Total comprehensive income	5,081	4,006	1,357
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	8	(13)	(39)
Comprehensive income attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$ 5,073	$ 4,019	$ 1,396

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 5,031,000,000	$ 4,101,000,000	$ 4,191,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,770,000,000	1,654,000,000	1,718,000,000
Change in fair value of warrants and related amortization	0	0	516,000,000
Gain on previously held equity interest	(337,000,000)	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(322,000,000)	(434,000,000)	(442,000,000)
Stock compensation expense	130,000,000	91,000,000	115,000,000
Equity earnings from equity method investments	(244,000,000)	(143,000,000)	(81,000,000)
Other	296,000,000	364,000,000	148,000,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(391,000,000)	(153,000,000)	115,000,000
Inventories	331,000,000	98,000,000	(644,000,000)
Other current assets	(22,000,000)	0	66,000,000
Trade accounts payable	1,323,000,000	1,690,000,000	1,572,000,000
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	281,000,000	(128,000,000)	313,000,000
Income taxes	694,000,000	44,000,000	202,000,000
Other non-current assets and liabilities	(275,000,000)	67,000,000	58,000,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	8,265,000,000	7,251,000,000	7,847,000,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(1,367,000,000)	(1,351,000,000)	(1,325,000,000)
Proceeds from sale leaseback transactions	0	444,000,000	60,000,000
Proceeds from sale of businesses	0	0	74,000,000
Proceeds from sale of other assets	655,000,000	59,000,000	155,000,000
Business, investment and asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(4,793,000,000)	(88,000,000)	(126,000,000)
Investment in AmerisourceBergen	0	0	(2,360,000,000)
Other	4,000,000	93,000,000	5,000,000
Net cash used for investing activities	(5,501,000,000)	(843,000,000)	(3,517,000,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in short-term debt with maturities of 3 months or less	586,000,000	33,000,000	29,000,000
Proceeds from debt	5,900,000,000	0	5,991,000,000
Payments of debt	(4,890,000,000)	(6,196,000,000)	(791,000,000)
Stock purchases	(5,228,000,000)	(5,220,000,000)	(1,152,000,000)
Proceeds related to employee stock plans	174,000,000	217,000,000	235,000,000
Cash dividends paid	(1,739,000,000)	(1,723,000,000)	(1,563,000,000)
Other	(98,000,000)	(45,000,000)	(143,000,000)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(5,295,000,000)	(12,934,000,000)	2,606,000,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	15,000,000	20,000,000	(129,000,000)
Changes in cash and cash equivalents:
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(2,516,000,000)	(6,506,000,000)	6,807,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	3,301,000,000	9,807,000,000	3,000,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 785,000,000	$ 3,301,000,000	$ 9,807,000,000

Summary of major accounting policies

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of major accounting policies

Organization

Walgreens Boots Alliance and its subsidiaries are a global, pharmacy-led health and wellbeing enterprise. Its operations are conducted through three reportable segments: Retail Pharmacy USA, Retail Pharmacy International and Pharmaceutical Wholesale. See note 16, segment reporting, for further information.

Basis of presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include all subsidiaries in which the Company holds a controlling interest. The Company uses the equity-method of accounting for equity investments in less than majority-owned companies if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. The Company bases its estimates on the information available at the time, its experience and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Adjustments may be made in subsequent periods to reflect more current estimates and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain. Actual results may differ.

The influence of certain holidays, seasonality, foreign currency rates, changes in vendor, payer and customer relationships and terms, strategic transactions including acquisitions, changes in laws and general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates and other factors on the Company’s operations and net earnings for any period may not be comparable to the same period in previous years.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. Credit and debit card receivables, which generally settle within two to seven business days, of $127 million and $98 million were included in cash and cash equivalents at August 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Restricted cash

The Company is required to maintain cash deposits with certain banks which consist of deposits restricted under contractual agency agreements and cash restricted by law and other obligations. At August 31, 2018 and 2017, the amount of such restricted cash was $190 million and $202 million, respectively, and is reported in other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable balances primarily consist of trade receivables due from customers, including amounts due from third-party payers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies), clients and members. Trade receivables were $5.4 billion and $5.5 billion at August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2017, respectively. Other accounts receivable balances, which consist primarily of receivables from vendors and manufacturers, including receivables from AmerisourceBergen (see note 17, related parties), were $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion at August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2017, respectively.

Charges to allowance for doubtful accounts are based on estimates of recoverability using both historical write-offs and specifically identified receivables. The allowance for doubtful accounts at August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2017 was $75 million and $158 million, respectively.

Inventories

The Company values inventories on a lower of cost and net realizable value or market. Inventories include product costs, inbound freight, direct labor, warehousing costs for retail pharmacy operations, overhead costs relating to the manufacture and distribution of products and vendor allowances not classified as a reduction of advertising expense.

The Company’s Retail Pharmacy USA segment inventory is accounted for using the last-in-first-out (“LIFO”) method. The total carrying value of the segment inventory accounted for under the LIFO method was $6.7 billion and $5.9 billion at August 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. At August 31, 2018 and 2017, Retail Pharmacy USA segment inventory would have been greater by $3.0 billion, if they had been valued on a lower of first-in-first-out (“FIFO”) cost and net realizable value.

The Company’s Retail Pharmacy International and Pharmaceutical Wholesale segments’ inventory is primarily accounted for using the FIFO method. The total carrying value of the inventory for Retail Pharmacy International and Pharmaceutical Wholesale segments was $2.8 billion and $3.0 billion at August 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Major repairs, which extend the useful life of an asset, are capitalized; routine maintenance and repairs are charged against earnings. Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of owned assets. Leasehold improvements, equipment under capital lease and capital lease properties are amortized over their respective estimate of useful life or over the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. The majority of the Company’s fixtures and equipment uses the composite method of depreciation. Therefore, gains and losses on retirement or other disposition of such assets are included in earnings only when an operating location is closed, substantially remodeled or impaired. The following table summarizes the Company’s property, plant and equipment (in millions) and estimated useful lives (in years):



	Estimated useful life	2018		2017
Land and land improvements	20	$	3,593	$	3,470
Buildings and building improvements	3 to 50	7,874		7,431
Fixtures and equipment	3 to 20	9,750		9,209
Capitalized system development costs and software	3 to 8	2,464		2,105
Capital lease properties		743		745
		24,424		22,960
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		10,513		9,318
Balance at end of year		$	13,911	$	13,642

The Company capitalizes application development stage costs for internally developed software. These costs are amortized over a three to eight year period. Amortization expense for capitalized system development costs and software was $254 million in fiscal 2018, $245 million in fiscal 2017 and $238 million in fiscal 2016. Unamortized costs at August 31, 2018 and 2017 were $1.5 billion and $895 million, respectively.

Depreciation and amortization expense for property, plant and equipment including capitalized system development costs and software was $1.4 billion in fiscal 2018, $1.3 billion in fiscal 2017 and $1.3 billion in fiscal 2016.

Leases

Initial terms for leased premises in the U.S. are typically 15 to 25 years, followed by additional terms containing renewal options at five-year intervals, and may include rent escalation clauses. Non-U.S. leases are typically for shorter terms and may include cancellation clauses or renewal options. The commencement date of all lease terms is the earlier of the date the Company becomes legally obligated to make rent payments or the date the Company has the right to control the property. In addition to minimum fixed rentals, some leases provide for contingent rentals based upon a portion of sales.

Capital leases are recognized within property, plant and equipment and as a capital lease liability within accrued expenses and other liabilities and other non-current liabilities. Operating leases are expensed on a straight line basis over the lease term.

See note 4, leases, for further information.

Business combinations

The Company allocates the fair value of purchase consideration to the tangible and intangible assets purchased and the liabilities assumed on the basis of their fair values at the date of acquisition. The determination of fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires estimates and the use of valuation techniques when a market value is not readily available. Any excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired is allocated to goodwill. If the Company obtains new information about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations. Acquired intangible assets are recorded at fair value.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or intangible asset below its carrying value. As part of the Company’s impairment analysis, fair value of a reporting unit is determined using both the income and market approaches. The income approach requires management to estimate a number of factors for each reporting unit, including projected future operating results, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and discount rates. The market approach estimates fair value using comparable marketplace fair value data from within a comparable industry grouping.

Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. See note 6, goodwill and other intangible assets, for additional disclosure regarding the Company’s intangible assets.

Equity method investments

The Company uses the equity method of accounting for equity investments in companies if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over operating and financial policies of the investee. The Company’s proportionate share of the net income or loss of these companies is included in consolidated net earnings. Judgment regarding the level of influence over each equity method investment includes considering key factors such as the Company’s ownership interest, representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making decisions and material intra-entity transactions.

The Company evaluates equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable. Factors considered by the Company when reviewing an equity method investment for impairment include the length of time (duration) and the extent (severity) to which the fair value of the equity method investment has been less than cost, the investee’s financial condition and near-term prospects and the intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery. An impairment that is other-than-temporary is recognized in the period identified.

See note 5, equity method investments, for further information.

Financial instruments

The Company uses derivative instruments to hedge its exposure to interest rate and currency risks arising from operating and financing activities. In accordance with its risk management policies, the Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Derivatives are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values. When the Company becomes a party to a derivative instrument and intends to apply hedge accounting, it formally documents the hedge relationship and the risk management objective for undertaking the hedge which includes designating the instrument for financial reporting purposes as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, or a net investment hedge. The accounting for changes in fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether the Company had designated it in a qualifying hedging relationship and on the type of hedging relationship. The Company applies the following accounting policies:


•	Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings in the same line item, generally interest expense, net.


•	Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and reclassified into earnings in the period or periods during which the hedged item affects earnings and is presented in the same line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item.

•

Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation are recorded in cumulative translation adjustments within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Recognition in earnings of amounts previously recorded in cumulative translation adjustments is limited to circumstances such as complete or substantially complete liquidation of the net investment in the hedged investments in foreign operations.


•	Changes in the fair value of a derivative not designated in a hedging relationship are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Cash receipts or payments on a settlement of a derivative contract are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows consistent with the nature of the underlying hedged item.

For derivative instruments designated as hedges, the Company assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. Highly effective means that cumulative changes in the fair value of the derivative are between 80% and 125% of the cumulative changes in the fair value of the hedged item. In addition, when the Company determines that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, hedge accounting is discontinued. When it is probable that a hedged forecasted transaction will not occur, the Company discontinues hedge accounting for the affected portion of the forecasted transaction and reclassifies any gains or losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to earnings in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings. When a derivative in a hedge relationship is terminated or the hedged item is sold, extinguished or terminated, hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively.

Liabilities for facility closings

The Company provides for future costs related to closed locations. The liability is based on the present value of future rent obligations and other related costs (net of estimated sublease rent) to the first lease option date. The liability for facility closings, including locations closed under the Company’s restructuring actions, was $964 million as of August 31, 2018 and $718 million as of August 31, 2017. See note 4, leases, for further information.

Pension and postretirement benefits

The Company has various defined benefit pension plans that cover some of its non-U.S. employees. The Company also has a postretirement healthcare plan that covers qualifying U.S. employees. Eligibility and the level of benefits for these plans vary depending on participants’ status, date of hire and or length of service. Pension and postretirement plan expenses and valuations are dependent on assumptions used by third-party actuaries in calculating those amounts. These assumptions include discount rates, healthcare cost trends, long-term return on plan assets, retirement rates, mortality rates and other factors. The Company funds its pension plans in accordance with applicable regulations. See note 13, retirement benefits, for further information.

Noncontrolling interests

The Company presents noncontrolling interests as a component of equity on its Consolidated Balance Sheets and reports the portion of its earnings or loss for noncontrolling interest as net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings.

Currency

Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. dollar functional currency operations are translated into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates while revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated at average monthly exchange rates over the period. Equity is translated at historical exchange rates and the resulting cumulative translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Assets and liabilities not denominated in the functional currency are remeasured into the functional currency at end-of-period exchange rates, except for nonmonetary balance sheet amounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are recorded at average monthly exchange rates over the period, except for those expenses related to nonmonetary balance sheet amounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Gains or losses from foreign currency remeasurement are generally included in selling, general and administrative expenses within the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. For all periods presented, there were no material operational gains or losses from foreign currency transactions.

Commitments and contingencies

On a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies for outstanding legal proceedings and reserves are established on a case-by-case basis for those legal claims for which management concludes that it is probable that a loss will be incurred and that the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. Substantially all of these contingencies are subject to significant uncertainties and, therefore, determining the likelihood of a loss and/or the measurement of any loss can be complex. With respect to litigation and other legal proceedings where the Company has determined that a loss is reasonably possible, the Company may be unable to estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible loss due to the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of and uncertainties regarding such litigation and legal proceedings. The Company’s assessments are based on estimates and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management, but that may prove to be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that might cause the Company to change those estimates and assumptions. Therefore, it is possible that an unfavorable resolution of one or more pending litigation or other contingencies could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in a future fiscal period. Management’s assessment of current litigation and other legal proceedings, including the corresponding accruals, could change because of the discovery of facts with respect to legal actions or other proceedings pending against the Company which are not presently known. Adverse rulings or determinations by judges, juries, governmental authorities or other parties could also result in changes to management’s assessment of current liabilities and contingencies. Accordingly, the ultimate costs of resolving these claims may be substantially higher or lower than the amounts reserved. See note 10, commitments and contingencies, for further information.

Revenue recognition

Revenue is recognized when: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. The following revenue recognition policies have been established for the Company’s reportable segments.

Retail Pharmacy USA and Retail Pharmacy International

The Company recognizes revenue, net of taxes and estimated returns, at the time it sells merchandise or dispenses prescription drugs to the customer. Returns are estimated using historical experience. The Company initially estimates revenue based on expected reimbursements from third-party payers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies) for dispensing prescription drugs. The estimates are based on historical experience and are updated to actual reimbursement amounts.

Pharmaceutical Wholesale

Wholesale revenue is recognized, net of taxes, upon shipment of goods, which is generally also the day of delivery. When the Company acts in the capacity of an agent or a logistics service provider, revenue is the fee received for the service and is recognized when the services have been performed.

Cost of sales

Cost of sales includes the purchase price of goods and cost of services rendered, store and warehouse inventory loss, inventory obsolescence, manufacturing costs and supplier rebates. In addition to product costs, cost of sales includes warehousing costs for retail operations, purchasing costs, freight costs, cash discounts and vendor allowances.

Vendor allowances and supplier rebates

Vendor allowances are principally received as a result of purchases, sales or promotion of vendors’ products. Allowances are generally recorded as a reduction of inventory and are recognized as a reduction of cost of sales when the related merchandise is sold. Allowances received for promoting vendors’ products are offset against advertising expense and result in a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses to the extent of advertising costs incurred, with the excess treated as a reduction of inventory costs.

Rebates or refunds received by the Company from its suppliers, mostly in cash, are considered as an adjustment of the prices of the supplier’s products purchased by the Company.

Loyalty programs

The Company’s loyalty rewards programs are accrued as a charge to cost of sales at the time a point is earned. Points are funded internally and through vendor participation and are credited to cost of sales at the time a vendor-sponsored point is earned. Breakage is recorded as points expire as a result of a member’s inactivity or if the points remain unredeemed after a certain period in accordance with the terms of the loyalty rewards program. Breakage income, which is reported in cost of sales, was not significant in fiscal 2018, 2017 or 2016.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses mainly consist of salaries and employee costs, occupancy costs, depreciation and amortization, credit and debit card fees and expenses directly related to stores. In addition, other costs included are headquarters’ expenses, advertising costs (net of vendor advertising allowances), wholesale warehousing costs and insurance.

Advertising costs

Advertising costs, which are reduced by the portion funded by vendors, are expensed as incurred or when services have been received. Net advertising expenses, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, were $665 million in fiscal 2018, $571 million in fiscal 2017 and $598 million in fiscal 2016.

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company tests long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that a certain asset or asset group may be impaired. Once identified, the amount of the impairment is computed by comparing the carrying value of the assets to the fair value, which is primarily based on the discounted estimated future cash flows. Impairment charges included in selling, general and administrative expenses were $57 million in fiscal 2018. Impairment charges recognized in fiscal 2017 and 2016 were $234 million and $305 million, respectively.

Stock compensation plans

Stock based compensation is measured at fair value at the grant date. The Company grants stock options, performance shares and restricted units to the Company’s non-employee directors, officers and employees. The Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the substantive service period. See note 12, stock compensation plans, for more information on the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.

Warrants

Until their exercise in fiscal 2016, the warrants to acquire shares of AmerisourceBergen Corporation were accounted for as a derivative under ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The Company reports its warrants at fair value within other non-current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and changes in the fair value of warrants are recognized in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. A deferred credit from the day-one valuation attributable to the warrants granted to Walgreens was amortized over the life of the warrants. See note 8, financial instruments, for additional disclosure regarding the Company’s warrants.

Insurance

The Company obtains insurance coverage for catastrophic exposures as well as those risks required by law to be insured. In general, the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries retain a significant portion of losses related to workers’ compensation, property, comprehensive general, pharmacist and vehicle liability, while non-U.S. subsidiaries manage their exposures through insurance coverage with third-party carriers. Management regularly reviews the probable outcome of claims and proceedings, the expenses expected to be incurred, the availability and limits of the insurance coverage and the established accruals for liabilities. Liabilities for losses are recorded based upon the Company’s estimates for both claims incurred and claims incurred but not reported. The provisions are estimated in part by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors and other actuarial assumptions.

Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes according to the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based upon the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured pursuant to tax laws using rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rate is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely than not to be realized.

In determining the provision for income taxes, the Company uses income, permanent differences between book and tax income, the relative proportion of foreign and domestic income, enacted statutory income tax rates, projections of income subject to Subpart F rules and unrecognized tax benefits related to current year results. Discrete events such as the assessment of the ultimate outcome of tax audits, audit settlements, recognizing previously unrecognized tax benefits due to lapsing of the applicable statute of limitations, recognizing or de-recognizing benefits of deferred tax assets due to future year financial statement projections and changes in tax laws are recognized in the period in which they occur.

The Company is subject to routine income tax audits that occur periodically in the normal course of business. U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax authorities raise questions regarding the Company’s tax filing positions, including the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. In evaluating the tax benefits associated with the various tax filing positions, the Company records a tax benefit for uncertain tax positions using the highest cumulative tax benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. Adjustments are made to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the period in which the Company determines the issue is effectively settled with the tax authorities, the statute of limitations expires for the return containing the tax position or when more information becomes available.

Earnings per share

The dilutive effect of outstanding stock options on earnings per share is calculated using the treasury stock method. Stock options are anti-dilutive and excluded from the earnings per share calculation if the exercise price exceeds the average market price of the common shares. Outstanding options to purchase common shares that were anti-dilutive and excluded from earnings per share totaled 10.1 million, 3.9 million and 2.5 million in fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

New accounting pronouncements

Adoption of new accounting pronouncements

Accounting for hedging activities

In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-12, Derivative and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. This ASU expands an entity’s ability to hedge nonfinancial and financial risk components and reduces complexity in fair value hedges of interest rate risk. It eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and generally requires the entire change in the fair value of a hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line as the hedged item. It also eases certain documentation and assessment requirements and modifies the accounting for components excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (fiscal 2020), and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted this guidance during the third fiscal quarter of 2018. The adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Measurement of inventory

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. This ASU simplifies current accounting treatments by requiring entities to measure most inventories at “the lower of cost and net realizable value” rather than using lower of cost or market. This guidance does not apply to inventories measured using last-in, first-out method or the retail inventory method. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 (fiscal 2018), and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this guidance on a prospective basis at the beginning of fiscal 2018 and adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

New accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

Intangibles – goodwill and other – internal-use software

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other- Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40). This ASU addresses customer’s accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract and also adds certain disclosure requirements related to implementation costs incurred for internal-use software and cloud computing arrangements. The amendment aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 (fiscal 2021), and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The amendments in this ASU can be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance, but does not expect adoption will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Compensation – retirement benefits – defined benefit plans

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement benefits (Topic 715-20). This ASU amends ASC 715 to add, remove and clarify disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The ASU eliminates the requirement to disclose the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as part of net periodic benefit cost over the next year. The ASU also removes the disclosure requirements for the effects of a one-percentage-point change on the assumed health care costs and the effect of this change in rates on service cost, interest cost and the benefit obligation for postretirement health care benefits. This ASU is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022) and must be applied on a retrospective basis. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance, but does not expect adoption will have a material impact on the Company's financial position.

Fair value measurement

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820). The ASU eliminates such disclosures as the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The ASU adds new disclosure requirements for Level 3 measurements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 (fiscal 2021), and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted for any eliminated or modified disclosures. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance, but does not expect adoption will have a material impact on the Company's disclosures.

Compensation – stock compensation

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718). This ASU eliminated most of the differences between accounting guidance for share-based compensation granted to nonemployees and the guidance for share-based compensation granted to employees. The ASU supersedes the guidance for nonemployees and expands the scope of the guidance for employees to include both. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 (fiscal 2020), and interim periods within those years. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance, but does not expect adoption will have a material impact on the Company's financial position.

Accounting for reclassification of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income

In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This ASU addresses the income tax effects of items in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) which were originally recognized in other comprehensive income, rather than in income from continuing operations. Specifically, it permits a reclassification from AOCI to retained earnings for the adjustment of deferred taxes due to the reduction of the historical corporate income tax rate to the newly enacted corporate income tax rate resulting from the U.S. tax law changes enacted in December 2017. It also requires certain disclosures about these reclassifications. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (fiscal 2020), and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The new guidance must be applied either on a prospective basis in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the U.S. tax law changes are recognized. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance, but does not expect adoption will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position.

Presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. This ASU requires an employer to report the service cost component of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement cost in the same line item in the statement of earnings as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the related employees during the period. The other net cost components are required to be presented in the statement of earnings separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations. Additionally, the line item used in the statement of earnings to present the other net cost components must be disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019), and interim periods within those fiscal years, and must be applied on a retrospective basis. The Company has evaluated the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance and determined that adoption will not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations. The Company will adopt this new accounting guidance as of September 1, 2018 (fiscal 2019).

Restricted cash

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. This ASU requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the Statement of Cash Flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019), and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The new guidance must be applied on a retrospective basis. The Company has evaluated the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance and determined that adoption will not have a material impact on the Company’s Statement of Cash Flows. The Company will adopt this new accounting guidance as of September 1, 2018 (fiscal 2019).

Tax accounting for intra-entity asset transfers

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. Topic 740, Income Taxes, prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party. In addition, interpretations of this guidance have developed in practice for transfers of certain intangible and tangible assets. This prohibition on recognition is an exception to the principle of comprehensive recognition of current and deferred income taxes in GAAP. To more faithfully represent the economics of intra-entity asset transfers, the amendments in this ASU require that entities recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The amendments in this ASU do not change GAAP for the pre-tax effects of an intra-entity asset transfer under Topic 810, Consolidation, or for an intra-entity transfer of inventory. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019), including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The new guidance must be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative effect adjustment recognized directly to retained earnings as of the date of adoption. The Company has evaluated the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance and determined that adoption will not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations. The Company will adopt this new accounting guidance as of September 1, 2018 (fiscal 2019).

Classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This ASU addresses the classification of certain specific cash flow issues including debt prepayment or extinguishment costs, settlement of certain debt instruments, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of certain insurance claims and distributions received from equity method investees. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019), and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. An entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period and the new guidance must be applied on a retrospective basis. The Company has evaluated the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance and determined that adoption will not have a material impact on the Company’s Statement of Cash Flows. The Company will adopt this new accounting guidance as of September 1, 2018 (fiscal 2019).

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes Topic 840, Leases. Subsequently, the FASB has issued additional ASUs which further clarify this guidance. This ASU increases the transparency and comparability of organizations by requiring the capitalization of substantially all leases on the balance sheet and disclosures of key information about leasing arrangements. Under this new guidance, at the lease commencement date, a lessee recognizes a right- of-use asset and lease liability, which is initially measured at the present value of the future lease payments. For income statement purposes, a dual model was retained for lessees, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance leases. Under the operating lease model, lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Under the finance lease model, interest on the lease liability is recognized separately from amortization of the right-of-use asset. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (fiscal 2020), and interim periods within those fiscal years. In transition, lessees are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented (fiscal 2018) using a modified retrospective approach which includes a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply. In July 2018, a new ASU was issued to provide relief to the companies from restating the comparative period. Pursuant to this ASU, WBA will not restate comparative periods presented in the Company’s financial statements in the period of adoption.

The Company will adopt this ASU on September 1, 2019 (fiscal 2020). The Company has begun evaluating and planning for adoption and implementation of this ASU, including implementing a new global lease accounting system, evaluating practical expedient and accounting policy elections and assessing the overall financial statement impact. This ASU will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position. The impact on the Company’s results of operations is being evaluated. The impact of this ASU is non-cash in nature and will not affect the Company’s cash flows.

Classification and measurement of financial instruments

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. Subsequently, the FASB has issued additional ASUs which further clarify this guidance. This ASU requires equity investments (except those under the equity method of accounting or those that result in the consolidation of an investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. However, an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost less impairment, if any, and changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. This simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments previous held at cost. Separate presentation of financial assets and liabilities by measurement category is required. This ASU is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019), and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted, for fiscal years or interim periods that have not yet been issued as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The new guidance must be applied on a modified retrospective basis, with the exception of the amendments related to the measurement alternative for equity investments without readily determinable fair values, which must be applied on a prospective basis. The Company has evaluated the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance and determined that adoption will not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations. The Company will adopt this new accounting guidance as of September 1, 2018 (fiscal 2019).

Revenue recognition on contracts with customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This ASU provides a single principles-based revenue recognition model with a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Subsequently, the FASB has issued additional ASUs which further clarify this guidance and also defer the effective date by one year to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (fiscal 2019), and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company will use the modified retrospective method as the transition approach when adopting this new accounting guidance on September 1, 2018 (fiscal 2019). The Company has evaluated the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance, the related amendments and the interpretive guidance on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and determined that adoption will not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations and will be limited to immaterial changes to recognition of revenues related to loyalty programs and gift cards, in addition to disaggregated revenue disclosures. Specifically, the Company currently uses the cost approach to account for loyalty programs. Upon adoption, the Company will use the deferred revenue approach. Additionally, gift card breakage currently is recognized at point of sale by the Retail Pharmacy USA segment and upon expiration primarily within the Retail Pharmacy International segment. Upon adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance, all breakage will be recognized based on the pattern in which the customer redeems the gift cards.

Acquisitions

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Acquisitions

Acquisition of certain Rite Aid assets

On September 19, 2017, the Company announced that it had secured regulatory clearance for an amended and restated asset purchase agreement to purchase 1,932 stores, three distribution centers and related inventory from Rite Aid for $4.375 billion in cash and other consideration. The purchases of these stores have been accounted for as business combinations and occurred in waves during fiscal 2018. The Company purchased 1,932 stores for total cash consideration of $4.2 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018. The transition of the first distribution center and related inventory occurred in September 2018 and the transition of the remaining two distribution centers and related inventory remains subject to closing conditions set forth in the amended and restated asset purchase agreement.

As of August 31, 2018, the Company had not completed the analysis to assign fair values to all assets acquired and liabilities assumed and therefore the purchase price allocation has not been finalized. The preliminary purchase price allocation will be subject to further refinement and may result in material changes as the Company is awaiting additional information to complete its assessment. During the twelve months ended August 31, 2018, the Company recorded certain measurement period adjustments based on additional information primarily to deferred income taxes, other non-current liabilities and inventories, which did not have a material impact on goodwill. The following table summarizes the consideration for the purchases and the preliminary amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018.



Consideration	$	4,330

Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Inventories	$	1,171
Property, plant and equipment	490
Intangible assets	2,054
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(54		)
Deferred income taxes	285
Other non-current liabilities	(960		)
Total identifiable net assets	2,986
Goodwill	$	1,344

The preliminary identified definite-lived intangible assets were as follows:



Definite-lived intangible assets	Weighted-average useful life (in years)	Amount (in millions)
Customer relationships	12	$	1,810
Favorable lease interests	10	224
Trade names	2	20
Total		$	2,054

Consideration includes cash of $4,157 million and the fair value of the option granted to Rite Aid to become a member of the Company’s group purchasing organization, Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH. The fair value for this option was determined using the income approach methodology. The fair value estimates are based on the market compensation for such services and appropriate discount rate, as relevant, that market participants would consider when estimating fair values.

The goodwill of $1,344 million arising from the business combinations primarily reflects the expected operational synergies and cost savings generated from the Store Optimization Program as well as the expected growth from new customers. See note 3, exit and disposal activities, for additional information. The goodwill was allocated to the Retail Pharmacy USA segment. Substantially all of the goodwill recognized is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

The fair value for customer relationships was determined using the multi-period excess earnings method, a form of the income approach. Real property fair values were determined using primarily the income approach and sales comparison approach. The fair value measurements of the intangible assets are based on significant inputs not observable in the market and thus represent Level 3 measurements. The fair value estimates for the intangible assets are based on projected discounted cash flows, historical and projected financial information and attrition rates, as relevant, that market participants would consider when estimating fair values.

The following table presents supplemental unaudited condensed pro forma consolidated sales for the fiscal years ended 2018 and 2017 as if all 1,932 stores were acquired on September 1, 2016. Pro forma net earnings of the Company, assuming these purchases had occurred at the beginning of each period presented, would not be materially different from the results reported. See note 3, exit and disposal activities, for additional information. The unaudited condensed pro forma information has been prepared for comparative purposes only and is not intended to be indicative of what the Company’s results would have been had the purchases occurred at the beginning of the periods presented or results which may occur in the future.



(in millions)	2018¹		2017
Sales	$	135,503	$	127,893


¹	Impacted by store closures due to the Store Optimization Program.

Actual sales from acquired Rite Aid stores for the fiscal year ended 2018 included in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings are as follows:



(in millions)	2018
Sales	$	5,112

The 1,932 Rite Aid stores acquired did not have a material impact on net earnings of the Company for the fiscal year ended 2018.

AllianceRx Walgreens Prime

On March 31, 2017, Walgreens Boots Alliance and pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics LLC (“Prime”) closed a transaction to form a combined central specialty pharmacy and mail services company AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, as part of a strategic alliance. AllianceRx Walgreens Prime is consolidated by Walgreens Boots Alliance and reported within the Retail Pharmacy USA division in its financial statements. The Company accounted for this acquisition of Prime’s specialty pharmacy and mail services business as a business combination involving noncash purchase consideration of $720 million consisting of the issuance of an equity interest in AllianceRx Walgreens Prime.

The Company has completed the purchase accounting for the AllianceRx Walgreens Prime transaction. The following table summarizes the consideration for the acquisition and the amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the transaction (in millions).



Total consideration	$	720

Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Accounts receivable	$	217
Inventories	149
Property, plant and equipment	11
Intangible assets	331
Trade accounts payable	(90		)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(1		)
Total identifiable net assets	617
Goodwill	$	103

The identified intangible assets primarily include payer contracts. These contracts are estimated to have a weighted average useful life of 15 years. The goodwill of $103 million arising from the transaction consists of expected purchasing synergies, operating efficiencies by benchmarking performance and applying best practices across the combined company, consolidation of operations, reductions in selling, general and administrative expenses and combining workforces. Substantially all of the goodwill recognized is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

In accordance with ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, the noncontrolling interest was recognized based on its proportionate interest in the identifiable net assets of AllianceRx Walgreens Prime. The difference between the carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest and the fair value recognized as consideration in the business combination is recognized as additional paid in capital.

Pro forma net earnings and sales of the Company, assuming the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of each period presented, would not be materially different from the results reported. The acquisition did not have a material impact on net earnings or sales of the Company for fiscal 2017.

Exit and disposal activities

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Exit and disposal activities

Store Optimization Program

On October 24, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to implement a program (the “Store Optimization Program”) as part of an initiative to optimize store locations through the planned closure of approximately 600 stores and related assets within the Company’s Retail Pharmacy USA segment upon completion of the acquisition of certain stores and related assets from Rite Aid. The actions under the Store Optimization Program commenced in March 2018 and are expected to take place over an 18 month period.

The Company currently estimates that it will recognize cumulative pre-tax charges to its GAAP financial results of approximately $450 million, including costs associated with lease obligations and other real estate costs, employee severance and other exit costs. The Company expects to incur pre-tax charges of approximately $270 million for lease obligations and other real estate costs and approximately $180 million for employee severance and other exit costs. The Company estimates that substantially all of these cumulative pre-tax charges will result in cash expenditures.

Costs related to the Store Optimization Program, which were primarily recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses for the Company's Retail Pharmacy USA segment included in the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018, are as follows (in millions):



Fiscal year ended August 31, 2018
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	19
Employee severance and other exit costs	81
Total costs	$	100

The changes in liabilities related to the Store Optimization Program for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018 include the following (in millions):



	Lease obligations and other real estate costs			Employee severance and other exit costs			Total
Balance at August 31, 2017	$	—		$	—		$	—
Costs	19			81			100
Payments	(18		)	(60		)	(78		)
Other - non cash¹	307			—			307
Balance at August 31, 2018	$	308		$	21		$	329


¹	Primarily represents unfavorable lease liabilities from acquired Rite Aid stores.

Cost Transformation Program

On April 8, 2015, the Walgreens Boots Alliance Board of Directors approved a plan to implement a restructuring program (the “Cost Transformation Program”) as part of an initiative to reduce costs and increase operating efficiencies. The Cost Transformation Program implemented and built on the cost-reduction initiative previously announced by the Company on August 6, 2014 and included plans to close stores across the U.S.; reorganize corporate and field operations; drive operating efficiencies; and streamline information technology and other functions. The actions under the Cost Transformation Program focused primarily on the Retail Pharmacy USA segment, but included activities from all segments. The Company completed the Cost Transformation Program in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

The changes in liabilities related to the Cost Transformation Program include the following (in millions):



	Real estate costs			Severance and other business transition and exit costs			Total
Balance at August 31, 2017	$	521		$	79		$	600
Payments	(139		)	(68		)	(207		)
Other - non cash	32			(3		)	29
Currency translation adjustments	—			(1		)	(1		)
Balance at August 31, 2018	$	414		$	7		$	421

Total costs by segment, which were primarily recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses included in the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016, are as follows (in millions):



Fiscal year ended 2017	Retail Pharmacy USA		Retail Pharmacy International		Pharmaceutical Wholesale		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Asset impairments	$	272	$	21	$	2	$	295
Real estate costs	372		—		—		372
Severance and other business transition and exit costs	87		46		35		168
Total costs	$	731	$	67	$	37	$	835



Fiscal year ended 2016	Retail Pharmacy USA		Retail Pharmacy International		Pharmaceutical Wholesale		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Asset impairments	$	215	$	10	$	—	$	225
Real estate costs	89		1		1		91
Severance and other business transition and exit costs	70		18		20		108
Total costs	$	374	$	29	$	21	$	424

Leases

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

Annual minimum rental commitments for all leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable term of more than one year are shown below (in millions):



	Finance lease obligation		Capital lease		Operating lease¹
2019	$	18	$	63	$	3,528
2020	18		63		3,304
2021	18		62		3,028
2022	18		58		2,762
2023	18		57		2,522
Later	216		864		17,592
Total minimum lease payments	$	306	$	1,167	$	32,736


¹	Includes $1.6 billion of minimum rental commitments on closed locations

The capital and finance lease amounts include $813 million of imputed interest. Total minimum lease payments have not been reduced by minimum sublease rentals of $331 million due in the future under non-cancelable subleases.

The Company continuously evaluates its real estate portfolio in conjunction with its capital needs. Historically, the Company has entered into several sale-leaseback transactions. In fiscal 2018, the Company did not record any proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions. In fiscal 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions of $444 million and $60 million, respectively.

In fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded charges of $129 million, $394 million and $127 million, respectively, for facilities that were closed or relocated. These charges are reported in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

The changes in liability for facility closings and related lease termination charges include the following (in millions):



	2018			2017
Balance at beginning of period	$	718		$	466
Provision for present value of non-cancelable lease payments on closed facilities	52			344
Changes in assumptions	19			13
Accretion expense	58			37
Other - non cash¹	338			—
Cash payments, net of sublease income	(221		)	(142		)
Balance at end of period	$	964		$	718


¹	Represents unfavorable lease liabilities from acquired Rite Aid stores.

The Company remains secondarily liable on 16 leases for which the maximum potential undiscounted future payments are $22 million at August 31, 2018. These lease option dates vary, with some lease terms extending up to 2039.

Rental expense, which includes common area maintenance, insurance and taxes, where appropriate, was as follows (in millions):



	2018			2017			2016
Minimum rentals	$	3,447		$	3,259		$	3,355
Contingent rentals	68			59			60
Less: sublease rental income	(67		)	(55		)	(49		)
	$	3,448		$	3,263		$	3,366

Equity method investments

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Equity method investments

Equity method investments as of August 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in millions, except percentages):



	2018			2017
	Carrying value		Ownership percentage	Carrying value		Ownership percentage
AmerisourceBergen	$	5,138	26%	$	5,024	26%
Others	1,472		8% - 50%	1,296		8% - 50%
Total	$	6,610		$	6,320

AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen”) investment

As of August 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company owned 56,854,867 AmerisourceBergen common shares, representing approximately 26% of the outstanding AmerisourceBergen common stock. The Company accounts for its equity investment in AmerisourceBergen using the equity method of accounting, with the net earnings attributable to the Company’s investment being classified within the operating income of its Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment. Due to the timing and availability of financial information of AmerisourceBergen, the Company accounts for this equity method investment on a financial reporting lag of two months. Equity earnings from AmerisourceBergen are reported as a separate line in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The Level 1 fair market value of the Company’s equity investment in AmerisourceBergen common stock at August 31, 2018 was $5.1 billion.

As of August 31, 2018, the Company’s investment in AmerisourceBergen carrying value exceeded its proportionate share of the net assets of AmerisourceBergen by $4.3 billion. This premium of $4.3 billion was recognized as part of the carrying value in the Company’s equity investment in AmerisourceBergen. The difference was primarily related to goodwill and the fair value of AmerisourceBergen intangible assets.

Other investments

The Company’s other equity method investments include its investments in Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation (“Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals”) and Nanjing Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited, the Company’s pharmaceutical wholesale investments in China; its investment in Sinopharm Holding Guoda Drugstores Co., Ltd., the Company's retail pharmacy investment in China and the Company’s investment in Option Care Inc. in the U.S.

The Company reported $53 million, $8 million and $44 million of post-tax equity earnings from other equity method investments, including equity method investments classified as operating, for the fiscal years ended 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018, the Company recorded an impairment of $170 million in its equity interest in Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals, which was included in other income (expense) in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings. The fair value of the Company’s equity interest in Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals was determined using the proposed sale price and thus represents Level 3 measurement. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018, the Company completed the sale of a 30 percent interest in Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals to its joint venture partner Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings resulting in a $172 million reduction in carrying value and a $8 million cumulative translation adjustment loss. In July 2018, the Company completed the sale of its minority equity interest in Premise Health, resulting in an after-tax gain on disposition of $245 million and a reduction in carrying value of $76 million.

Summarized financial information

Summarized financial information for the Company’s equity method investments in aggregate is as follows:

Balance sheet (in millions)



	Year ended August 31,
	2018		2017
Current assets	$	34,493	$	29,707
Non-current assets	14,971		12,999
Current liabilities	34,055		30,559
Non-current liabilities	8,759		7,362
Shareholders’ equity¹	6,650		4,785

Statements of earnings (in millions)



	Year ended August 31,
	2018		2017		2016
Sales	$	179,887	$	164,844	$	55,153
Gross profit	6,875		5,958		2,672
Net earnings	1,315		1,040		534
Share of earnings from equity method investments	245		143		81

The summarized financial information for equity method investments has been included on an aggregated basis for all investments as reported at the end of each fiscal year end.


¹	Shareholders’ equity at August 31, 2018 and 2017 includes $445 million and $204 million, respectively, related to noncontrolling interests.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and other intangible assets

The fair values of the Company’s reporting units exceeded their carrying amounts ranging from approximately 11% to approximately 312%. The fair value of the Boots reporting unit, within the Retail Pharmacy International segment, is in excess of its carrying value by approximately 11%. The Company will continue to monitor the UK industry and market trends and the impact it may have on the Boots reporting unit. The determination of the fair value of the reporting units requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions. Although the Company believes its estimates of fair value are reasonable, actual financial results could differ from those estimates due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making such estimates. Changes in assumptions concerning future financial results or other underlying assumptions could have a significant impact on either the fair value of the reporting units, the amount of the goodwill impairment charge, or both.

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment consist of the following activity (in millions):



	Retail Pharmacy USA		Retail Pharmacy International			Pharmaceutical Wholesale			Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
August 31, 2016	$	9,036	$	3,369		$	3,122		$	15,527
Acquisitions	103		—			1			104
Currency translation adjustments	—		23			(22		)	1
August 31, 2017	$	9,139	$	3,392		$	3,101		$	15,632
Acquisitions	1,344		—			4			1,348
Currency translation adjustments	—		(22		)	(44		)	(66		)
August 31, 2018	$	10,483	$	3,370		$	3,061		$	16,914

In fiscal 2018, the Company purchased 1,932 stores from Rite Aid for total consideration of $4.3 billion, resulting in an increase of $1,344 million to goodwill and $2,054 million to intangible assets. In fiscal 2017, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Prime closed a transaction to form a combined central specialty pharmacy and mail services company AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, resulting in an increase of $103 million to goodwill and $331 million to intangible assets. See note 2, acquisitions, for additional information.

The carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets consists of the following (in millions):



	August 31, 2018		August 31, 2017
Gross amortizable intangible assets
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders¹	$	4,235	$	2,510
Favorable lease interests and non-compete agreements	680		523
Trade names and trademarks	489		504
Purchasing and payer contracts	390		391
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	5,794		3,928

Accumulated amortization
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders¹	$	997	$	780
Favorable lease interests and non-compete agreements	359		355
Trade names and trademarks	206		155
Purchasing and payer contracts	78		51
Total accumulated amortization	1,640		1,341
Total amortizable intangible assets, net	$	4,154	$	2,587

Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Trade names and trademarks	$	5,557	$	5,514
Pharmacy licenses	2,072		2,055
Total indefinite lived intangible assets	$	7,629	$	7,569

Total intangible assets, net	$	11,783	$	10,156


¹	Includes purchased prescription files.

Amortization expense for intangible assets was $493 million, $385 million and $396 million in fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Estimated future annual amortization expense for the next five fiscal years for intangible assets recorded at August 31, 2018 is as follows (in millions):



	2019		2020		2021		2022		2023
Estimated annual amortization expense	$	531	$	461	$	410	$	390	$	354

Debt

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

Debt consists of the following (all amounts are presented in millions of U.S. dollars and debt issuances are denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)



	August 31, 2018		August 31, 2017
Short-term debt ¹
Commercial paper	$	430	$	—
Credit facilities ²	999		—
$1 billion note issuance ^3,4
5.250% unsecured notes due 2019 ⁵	249		—
Other ⁶	288		251
Total short-term debt	$	1,966	$	251



Long-term debt ¹
$6 billion note issuance ^3,7
3.450% unsecured notes due 2026	$	1,888	$	1,887
4.650% unsecured notes due 2046	590		590
$8 billion note issuance ^3,7
2.700% unsecured notes due 2019	1,248		1,246
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021	1,245		1,244
3.800% unsecured notes due 2024	1,990		1,988
4.500% unsecured notes due 2034	495		495
4.800% unsecured notes due 2044	1,492		1,492
£700 million note issuance ^3,7
2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020	517		513
3.600% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2025	387		384
€750 million note issuance ^3,7
2.125% unsecured Euro notes due 2026	868		884
$4 billion note issuance ^3,4
3.100% unsecured notes due 2022	1,196		1,195
4.400% unsecured notes due 2042	492		492
$1 billion note issuance ^3,4
5.250% unsecured notes due 2019 ⁵	—		250
Other ⁸	23		24
Total long-term debt, less current portion	$	12,431	$	12,684


¹	Carry values are presented net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs, where applicable, and foreign currency denominated borrowings have been translated using the spot rates at August 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Credit facilities includes borrowings outstanding under the February 2017 Revolving Credit Agreement, the August 2017 Revolving Credit Agreement and the 2017 Term Loan Credit Agreement, which are described in more detail below. From time to time, the Company may also enter into other credit facilities, including in March 2018, a $350 million short-term unsecured revolving credit facility which was undrawn as of August 31, 2018.

The $6 billion, $8 billion, £0.7 billion, €0.75 billion, $4 billion and $1 billion note issuances as of August 31, 2018 had a fair value and carrying value of $2.4 billion and $2.5 billion, $6.3 billion and $6.5 billion, $0.9 billion and $0.9 billion, $0.9 billion and $0.9 billion, $1.7 billion and $1.7 billion, and $0.3 billion and $0.2 billion, respectively. The fair values of the notes outstanding are Level 1 fair value measures and determined based on quoted market price and translated at the August 31, 2018 spot rate, as applicable. The fair values and carrying values of these issuances do not include notes that have been redeemed or repaid as of August 31, 2018.

⁴

Notes are senior debt obligations of Walgreen Co. and rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Walgreen Co. On December 31, 2014, Walgreens Boots Alliance fully and unconditionally guaranteed the outstanding notes on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis. The guarantee, for so long as it is in place, is an unsecured, unsubordinated debt obligation of Walgreens Boots Alliance and will rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Walgreens Boots Alliance.


⁵	Includes interest rate swap fair market value adjustments. See note 9, fair value measurements, for additional fair value disclosures.


⁶	Other short-term debt represents a mix of fixed and variable rate borrowings with various maturities and working capital facilities denominated in various currencies.


⁷	Notes are unsubordinated debt obligations of Walgreens Boots Alliance and rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Walgreens Boots Alliance from time to time outstanding.


⁸	Other long-term debt represents a mix of fixed and variable rate borrowings in various currencies with various maturities.

At August 31, 2018, the future maturities of short-term and long-term debt, excluding debt discounts and issuance costs and financing and capital lease obligations (see note 4, leases, for the future lease obligation maturities), consisted of the following (in millions):



	Amount
2019	$	1,969
2020	1,277
2021	519
2022	1,250
2023	1,200
Later	8,262
Total estimated future maturities	$	14,477

August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement

On August 29, 2018, the Company entered into a revolving credit agreement (the “2018 Revolving Credit Agreement”) with the lenders and letter of credit issuers from time to time party thereto. The 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement is an unsecured revolving credit facility with an aggregate commitment in the amount of $3.5 billion, with a letter of credit subfacility commitment amount of $500 million. The facility termination date is the earlier of (a) August 29, 2023, subject to the extension thereof pursuant to the 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the revolving commitments pursuant to the 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement.

August 2017 Credit Agreements

On August 24, 2017, the Company entered into a $1.0 billion revolving credit agreement with the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “August 2017 Revolving Credit Agreement”) and a $1.0 billion term loan credit agreement with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (the “2017 Term Loan Credit Agreement”).

The August 2017 Revolving Credit Agreement is an unsecured revolving credit facility with a facility termination date of the earlier of (a) January 31, 2019, subject to any extension thereof pursuant to the terms of the August 2017 Revolving Credit Agreement and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate commitments provided by the lenders thereunder. As of August 31, 2018, there were no borrowings outstanding under the August 2017 Revolving Credit Agreement. The 2017 Term Loan Credit Agreement is an unsecured “multi-draw” term loan facility which matures on March 30, 2019. As of August 31, 2018, Walgreens Boots Alliance had $1.0 billion of borrowings outstanding under the 2017 Term Loan Credit Agreement, and no additional commitments were available.

February 2017 Revolving Credit Agreement

On February 1, 2017, the Company entered into a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility (as amended, the “February 2017 Revolving Credit Agreement”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto and, on August 1, 2017, the Company entered into an amendment agreement thereto. The terms and conditions of the February 2017 Revolving Credit Agreement were unchanged by the amendment other than the extension of the facility termination date to the earlier of (a) January 31, 2019 and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate commitments provided by the lenders thereunder. As of August 31, 2018, there were no borrowings outstanding under the February 2017 Revolving Credit Agreement.

$6.0 billion note issuance

On June 1, 2016, Walgreens Boots Alliance received net proceeds of $6.0 billion from a public offering of five series of U.S. dollar notes with varying maturities and interest rates. Because the merger with Rite Aid was not consummated on or prior to June 1, 2017, the 2018 notes, the 2021 notes and the 2023 notes were redeemed on June 5, 2017 under the special mandatory redemption terms of the indenture governing such notes. Walgreens Boots Alliance was required to redeem all of the 2018 notes, the 2021 notes and the 2023 notes then outstanding, at a special mandatory redemption price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest of approximately $1 million to, but excluding, the date of redemption. The 2026 notes and 2046 notes remain outstanding in accordance with their respective terms.

Debt covenants

Each of the Company’s credit facilities contain a covenant to maintain, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of consolidated debt to total capitalization not to exceed 0.60:1.00. The credit facilities contain various other customary covenants.

Commercial paper

The Company periodically borrows under its commercial paper program and may borrow under it in future periods. The Company had average daily short-term borrowings of $1.4 billion of commercial paper outstanding at a weighted average interest rate of 2.11% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018. The Company had no activity under its commercial paper program for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017.

Interest

Interest paid was $577 million in fiscal 2018, $643 million in fiscal 2017 and $580 million in fiscal 2016.

Financial instruments

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Financial instruments

The Company uses derivative instruments to manage its exposure to interest rate and foreign currency exchange risks.

The notional amount and fair value of derivative instruments outstanding were as follows (in millions):



August 31, 2018	Notional		Fair value		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets
Derivatives designated as hedges:
Interest rate swaps	$	250	$	1	Other current liabilities
Foreign currency forwards	15		—		Other current assets
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
Foreign currency forwards	3,273		52		Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	825		4		Other current liabilities



August 31, 2017	Notional		Fair value		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets
Derivatives designated as hedges:
Interest rate swaps	$	250	$	—	Other non-current assets
Foreign currency forwards	24		—		Other current assets
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
Foreign currency forwards	221		—		Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	2,816		19		Other current liabilities

The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage the interest rate exposure associated with some of its fixed-rate borrowings and designates them as fair value hedges. From time to time, the Company uses forward starting interest rates swaps to hedge its interest rate exposure of some of its anticipated debt issuance.

The Company utilizes foreign currency forward contracts and other foreign currency derivatives to hedge significant committed and highly probable future transactions and cash flows denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the Company or its subsidiaries. The Company has significant non-US dollar denominated net investments and uses foreign currency denominated financial instruments, specifically foreign currency derivatives and foreign currency denominated debt, to hedge its foreign currency risk.

Fair value hedges

The Company holds an interest rate swap converting $250 million of its 5.250% fixed rate notes to a floating interest rate based on the six-month LIBOR in arrears plus a constant spread. All swap termination dates coincide with the notes’ maturity date, January 15, 2019. These swaps were designated as fair value hedges.

The gains and losses due to changes in fair value on the swaps and on the hedged notes attributable to interest rate risk did not have a material impact on the Company’s Financial Statements. The changes in fair value of the Company’s debt that was swapped from fixed to variable rate and designated as fair value hedges are included in long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (see note 7, debt). No material gain or losses were recorded for ineffectiveness during fiscal 2018, 2017, or 2016.

Derivatives not designated as hedges

The Company enters into derivative transactions that are not designated as accounting hedges. These derivative instruments are economic hedges of foreign currency risks. The income and (expense) due to changes in fair value of these derivative instruments were recognized in earnings as follows (in millions):



	Location in Consolidated Statements of Earnings	2018		2017			2016
Foreign currency forwards	Selling, general and administrative expense	$	17	$	11		$	19
Foreign currency forwards	Other income (expense)	22		(48		)	(12		)

Warrants

On March 18, 2016, the Company exercised warrants to purchase 22,696,912 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock at an exercise price of $51.50 per share for an aggregate exercise price payment of $1.17 billion. On August 25, 2016, the Company exercised additional warrants to purchase 22,696,912 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock at an exercise price of $52.50 per share for an aggregate exercise price payment of $1.19 billion. See note 5, equity method investments, for further information.

The Company reported its warrants at fair value. The income and (expense) due to changes in fair value of the warrants recognized in earnings were as follows (in millions):



	Location in Consolidated Statements of Earnings	2018		2017		2016
Warrants	Other income (expense)	$	—	$	—	$	(546	)

The Company held no warrants to purchase AmerisourceBergen common stock on August 31, 2018 and 2017.

Derivatives credit risk

Counterparties to derivative financial instruments expose the Company to credit-related losses in the event of counterparty nonperformance, and the Company regularly monitors the credit worthiness of each counterparty.

Derivatives offsetting

The Company does not offset the fair value amounts of derivative instruments subject to master netting agreements in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Fair value measurements

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair value measurements

The Company measures certain assets and liabilities in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In addition, it establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad Levels:


Level 1 -	Quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets and liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.


Level 2 -	Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets.


Level 3 -	Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows (in millions):



	August 31, 2018		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds¹	$	227	$	227	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale investments²	1		1		—		—
Foreign currency forwards³	52		—		52		—
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps⁴	1		—		1		—
Foreign currency forwards³	4		—		4		—



	August 31, 2017		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds¹	$	2,096	$	2,096	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale investments²	1		1		—		—
Liabilities:
Foreign currency forwards³	19		—		19		—


¹	Money market funds are valued at the closing price reported by the fund sponsor.


²	Fair values of quoted investments are based on bid prices as of August 31, 2018 and 2017.


³	The fair value of forward currency contracts is estimated by discounting the difference between the contractual forward price and the current available forward price for the residual maturity of the contract using observable market rates.


⁴	The fair value of interest rate swaps is calculated by discounting the estimated future cash flows based on the applicable observable yield curves. See note 8, financial instruments, for additional information.

There were no transfers between Levels in fiscal 2018 or 2017.

The Company reports its debt instruments under the guidance of ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, which requires disclosure of the fair value of the Company’s debt in the footnotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Unless otherwise noted, the fair value for all notes was determined based upon quoted market prices and therefore categorized as Level 1. See note 7, debt, for further information. The carrying values of accounts receivable and trade accounts payable approximated their respective fair values due to their short-term nature.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details

Commitments and contingencies	12 Months Ended
Commitments and contingencies	Aug. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and contingencies	Commitments and contingencies The Company is involved in legal proceedings, including litigation, arbitration and other claims, and investigations, inspections, audits, claims, inquiries and similar actions by pharmacy, healthcare, tax and other governmental authorities, arising in the normal course of the Company’s business, including the matters described below. Legal proceedings, in general, and securities, class action and multi-district litigation, in particular, can be expensive and disruptive. Some of these suits may purport or may be determined to be class actions and/or involve parties seeking large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive or exemplary damages, and may remain unresolved for several years. The Company also may be named from time to time in qui tam actions initiated by private third parties. In such actions, the private parties purport to act on behalf of federal or state governments, allege that false claims have been submitted for payment by the government and may receive an award if their claims are successful. After a private party has filed a qui tam action, the government must investigate the private party's claim and determine whether to intervene in and take control over the litigation. These actions may remain under seal while the government makes this determination. If the government declines to intervene, the private party may nonetheless continue to pursue the litigation on his or her own purporting to act on behalf of the government. From time to time, the Company is also involved in legal proceedings as a plaintiff involving antitrust, tax, contract, intellectual property and other matters. Gain contingencies, if any, are recognized when they are realized. The results of legal proceedings are often uncertain and difficult to predict, and the costs incurred in litigation can be substantial, regardless of the outcome. With respect to litigation and other legal proceedings where the Company has determined that a loss is reasonably possible, the Company is unable to estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible loss due to the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of and uncertainties regarding such litigation and legal proceedings. The Company believes that its defenses and assertions in pending legal proceedings have merit, and does not believe that any of these pending matters, after consideration of applicable reserves and rights to indemnification, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position. However, substantial unanticipated verdicts, fines and rulings do sometimes occur. As a result, the Company could from time to time incur judgments, enter into settlements or revise its expectations regarding the outcome of certain matters, and such developments could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations in the period in which the amounts are accrued and/or its cash flows in the period in which the amounts are paid. On December 29, 2014, a putative shareholder filed a derivative action in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois against certain current and former directors and officers of Walgreen Co., and Walgreen Co. as a nominal defendant, arising out of certain public statements the Company made regarding its former fiscal 2016 goals. The action asserts claims for breach of fiduciary duty, waste and unjust enrichment. On April 10, 2015, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss. On May 18, 2015, the case was stayed in light of a securities class action that was filed on April 10, 2015. After a ruling issued on September 30, 2016 in the securities class action, which is described below, on November 3, 2016, the Court entered a stipulation and order extending the stay until the securities case is fully resolved. On April 10, 2015, a putative shareholder filed a securities class action in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois against Walgreen Co. and certain former officers of Walgreen Co. The action asserts claims for violation of the federal securities laws arising out of certain public statements the Company made regarding its former fiscal 2016 goals. On June 16, 2015, the Court entered an order appointing a lead plaintiff. Pursuant to the Court’s order, lead plaintiff filed an amended complaint on August 17, 2015, and defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint on October 16, 2015. On September 30, 2016, the Court issued an order granting in part and denying in part defendants’ motion to dismiss. Defendants filed their answer to the amended complaint on November 4, 2016 and filed an amended answer on January 16, 2017. Plaintiff filed its motion for class certification on April 21, 2017. The Court granted plaintiff’s motion on March 29, 2018 and merits discovery is proceeding. As of August 31, 2017, the Company was aware of two putative class action lawsuits filed by purported Rite Aid stockholders against Rite Aid and its board of directors, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Victoria Merger Sub, Inc. for claims arising out of the transactions contemplated by the original Merger Agreement (prior to its amendment on January 29, 2017) (such transactions, the “Rite Aid Transactions”). One Rite Aid action was filed in the State of Pennsylvania in the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County (the “Pennsylvania action”), and one action was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (the “federal action”). The Pennsylvania action primarily alleged that the Rite Aid board of directors breached its fiduciary duties in connection with the Rite Aid Transactions by, among other things, agreeing to an unfair and inadequate price, agreeing to deal protection devices that preclude other bidders from making successful competing offers for Rite Aid, and failing to disclose all allegedly material information concerning the proposed merger, and also alleged that Walgreens Boots Alliance and Victoria Merger Sub, Inc. aided and abetted these alleged breaches of fiduciary duty. There has been no activity in this lawsuit since the complaint was filed. The federal action alleged, among other things, that Rite Aid and its board of directors disseminated an allegedly false and misleading proxy statement in connection with the Rite Aid Transactions. The plaintiffs in the federal action also filed a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to enjoin the Rite Aid shareholder vote relating to the Rite Aid Transactions. That motion was denied, and the matter was stayed. On March 17, 2017, plaintiffs moved to lift the stay to allow plaintiffs to file an amended complaint. That motion was granted, and plaintiffs filed their amended complaint on December 11, 2017, alleging that the Company and certain of its officers made false or misleading statements regarding the Rite Aid Transactions. On July 11, 2018, the Court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss, but narrowed the time scope of the subject statements. The Company filed an answer and affirmative defenses on August 8, 2018, and on August 24, 2018 filed a new motion to dismiss based on the named plaintiff’s lack of standing. The Company was also named as a defendant in eight putative class action lawsuits filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware actions”). Those actions were consolidated, and plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to enjoin the Rite Aid shareholder vote relating to the Rite Aid Transactions. That motion was denied and the plaintiffs in the Delaware actions agreed to settle this matter for an immaterial amount. The Delaware actions all have been dismissed. In December 2017, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated numerous cases filed against an array of defendants by various plaintiffs such as counties, cities, hospitals, Indian tribes and others, alleging claims generally concerning the impacts of widespread opioid abuse. The consolidated multidistrict litigation, captioned In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation (MDL No. 2804), is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The Company is named as a defendant in a subset of the cases included in this multidistrict litigation. The Company also has been named as a defendant in several lawsuits brought in state courts relating to opioid matters. The relief sought by various plaintiffs is compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief. Additionally, the Company has received from the Attorney Generals of several states subpoenas, civil investigative demands, and/or other requests concerning opioid matters. On September 28, 2018, the Company announced that it had reached an agreement with the SEC to fully resolve an investigation into certain forward-looking financial goals and related disclosures by Walgreens. The disclosures at issue were made prior to the strategic combination with Alliance Boots and the merger pursuant to which Walgreens Boots Alliance became the parent holding company on December 31, 2014. The settlement does not involve any of the Company’s current officers or executives, nor does it allege intentional or reckless conduct by the Company. In agreeing to the settlement, the Company neither admitted nor denied the SEC’s allegations. Pursuant to the agreement with the SEC, the Company consented to the SEC’s issuance of an administrative order, and the Company paid a $34.5 million penalty, which was fully reserved for in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as of August 31, 2018. The Company has been responding to a civil investigation involving allegations under the False Claims Act by a United States Attorney’s Office, working in conjunction with several states, regarding certain dispensing practices. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses against any action that might be brought against it. The Company is cooperating with this investigation, has entered into discussions with the government concerning a potential resolution of the matter, and has established reserves in relation to such a potential resolution.

Income taxes

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income taxes

U.S. tax law changes

The United States government enacted comprehensive tax legislation in December 2017. The accounting guidance on income taxes generally requires the effects of new tax legislation to be recognized in the period of enactment. The SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (“SAB 118”), which provides for a measurement period of up to one year from the enactment date for companies to complete their accounting for the U.S. tax law changes. In accordance with the SEC staff guidance, companies must reflect the income tax effects of those aspects of the U.S. tax law changes for which the accounting is complete. To the extent a company’s accounting for the income tax effect of certain provisions of the U.S. tax law changes is incomplete but the Company is able to determine a reasonable estimate, a provisional estimate must be recorded in the Company’s financial statements. If companies cannot determine a provisional estimate for the effects of an aspect of the U.S. tax law changes, they should continue applying the accounting guidance on income taxes on the basis of the provisions of the tax laws in effect immediately before the U.S. tax law changes were enacted.

The U.S. tax law changes include broad and complex changes affecting the Company’s fiscal 2018 results. Among other things, the U.S. tax law changes reduce the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 and require companies to immediately accrue for a one-time transition tax on certain un-repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries, which is payable over an eight year period. The U.S. tax law changes modify the taxation of foreign earnings, repeal of the deduction for domestic production activities, limit interest deductibility and establish a global intangible low tax income (GILTI) regime.

The lower corporate income tax rate of 21% became effective January 1, 2018, resulting in a U.S. statutory federal tax rate of approximately 26% for fiscal 2018 and 21% for subsequent fiscal years, which provided a benefit to the Company’s fiscal 2018 tax provision of approximately $307 million.

In connection with the Company’s ongoing analysis of the impact of the U.S. tax law changes, which is provisional and subject to change, the Company recorded a net tax benefit of $125 million during fiscal 2018. This provisional net tax benefit arises from a benefit of $648 million from re-measuring the Company’s net U.S. deferred tax liabilities, partially offset by the Company’s accrual for the transition tax and other U.S. tax law changes of $523 million. The Company’s estimated accrual for transition tax and other U.S. tax law changes decreased from $679 million as at May 31, 2018 to $523 million as at August 31, 2018 due to additional foreign tax credits and refinement of the Company’s estimated impact of tax law changes.

Based on the effective dates of certain aspects of the U.S. tax law changes as well as estimated data required to be used in the corresponding measurement calculations, the Company’s analysis of the income tax effects of the U.S. tax law changes could not be finalized as of August 31, 2018. While the Company made reasonable estimates of the impact of the transition tax and the remeasurement of its deferred tax assets and liabilities, the final impact of the U.S. tax law changes may differ from these estimates, due to, among other things, changes in its interpretations and assumptions, technical clarifications from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS and actions the Company may take. The Company expects to finalize such provisional amounts within the time period prescribed by SAB 118. The U.S. tax law changes created new rules that allow the Company to make an accounting policy election to either treat taxes due on future GILTI inclusions in taxable income as either a current period expense or reflect such inclusions related to temporary basis differences in the Company’s measurement of deferred taxes. The Company’s analysis of the new GILTI rules is not complete; therefore, the Company has not made a policy election regarding the tax accounting treatment of the GILTI tax.

The U.S. tax law changes have the potential to change the Company’s assertions with respect to whether earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries should remain indefinitely reinvested. The Company continues to evaluate these changes, therefore, the Company has not made any changes to its indefinite reinvestment assertions.

The components of earnings before income tax provision were (in millions):



	2018		2017		2016
U.S.	$	3,292	$	1,953	$	2,577
Non–U.S.	2,683		2,900		2,567
Total	$	5,975	$	4,853	$	5,144

The provision for income taxes consists of the following (in millions):



	2018			2017			2016
Current provision
Federal	$	866		$	759		$	999
State	103			45			56
Non–U.S.	353			390			371
	1,322			1,194			1,426
Deferred provision
Federal – tax law change	(648		)	—			—
Federal – excluding tax law change	304			(306		)	(183		)
State	78			(24		)	6
Non–U.S. – tax law change	—			(80		)	(182		)
Non–U.S. – excluding tax law change	(58		)	(24		)	(70		)
	(324		)	(434		)	(429		)
Income tax provision	$	998		$	760		$	997

The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate is as follows:



	2018		2017		2016
Federal statutory rate	25.7	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	2.3		0.3		0.8
Foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates	(12.2	)	(11.8	)	(7.8	)
Non-taxable income	(5.2	)	(5.3	)	(4.4	)
Non-deductible expenses	2.1		1.5		1.1
Transition tax	12.4		—		—
Tax law changes	(10.9	)	(1.6	)	(3.5	)
Change in valuation allowance	8.7		0.7		1.7
Tax credits	(6.9	)	(2.9	)	(1.5	)
Other	0.7		(0.2	)	(2.0	)
Effective income tax rate	16.7	%	15.7	%	19.4	%

The deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following (in millions):



	2018		2017
Deferred tax assets:
Postretirement benefits	$	—	$	134
Compensation and benefits	152		207
Insurance	74		109
Accrued rent	271		174
Outside basis difference	—		55
Allowance for doubtful accounts	27		55
Tax attributes	2,351		555
Stock compensation	44		73
Deferred income	110		220
Other	44		88
	3,073		1,670
Less: valuation allowance	2,226		408
Total deferred tax assets	847		1,262
Deferred tax liabilities:
Accelerated depreciation	603		841
Inventory	301		416
Intangible assets	1,234		1,277
Equity method investment	459		1,002
	2,597		3,536
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	1,750	$	2,274

As of August 31, 2018, the Company has recorded deferred tax assets for tax attributes of $2.4 billion, primarily reflecting the benefit of $426 million in U.S. federal, $43 million in state and $8.5 billion in non-U.S. ordinary and capital losses. In addition, these deferred tax assets include $58 million of income tax credits. Of these deferred tax assets, $2.1 billion will expire at various dates from 2019 through 2035. The residual deferred tax assets of $227 million have no expiry date.

The Company believes it is more likely than not that the benefit from certain deferred tax assets will not be realized. In recognition of this risk, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $2.2 billion against those deferred tax assets as of August 31, 2018.

Income taxes paid, net of refunds were $0.6 billion, $1.1 billion and $1.1 billion for fiscal years 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, provides guidance regarding the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure in the financial statement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return, including the decision whether to file in a particular jurisdiction. As of August 31, 2018, unrecognized tax benefits of $482 million were reported as long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets while $61 million were reported as current tax liabilities. Both of these amounts include interest and penalties, when applicable.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits (in millions):



	2018			2017			2016
Balance at beginning of year	$	409		$	269		$	261
Gross increases related to tax positions in a prior period	123			151			21
Gross decreases related to tax positions in a prior period	(15		)	(36		)	(47		)
Gross increases related to tax positions in the current period	29			33			68
Settlements with taxing authorities	(87		)	(2		)	(17		)
Currency	—			(1		)	(11		)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(3		)	(5		)	(6		)
Balance at end of year	$	456		$	409		$	269

At August 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, $331 million, $286 million and $237 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits would favorably impact the effective tax rate if recognized. During the next twelve months, based on current knowledge, it is reasonably possible the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by up to $24 million due to anticipated tax audit settlements and the expirations of statutes of limitations associated with tax positions related to multiple tax jurisdictions.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties in the income tax provision in its Consolidated Statements of Earnings. At August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2017, the Company had accrued interest and penalties of $87 million and $43 million, respectively. For the year ended August 31, 2018, the amount reported in income tax expense related to interest and penalties was $44 million.

The Company files a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return as well as income tax returns in various states and multiple foreign jurisdictions. It is generally no longer under audit examinations for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any years prior to fiscal 2014. With few exceptions, it is no longer subject to state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before fiscal 2007. In foreign tax jurisdictions, the Company is generally no longer subject to examination by the tax authorities in Luxembourg prior to 2013, in Germany prior to 2014, in France prior to 2008 and in Turkey prior to 2014. With respect to the United Kingdom, a number of specific issues remain open to examination by the tax authorities back to 2000.

The Company has received tax holidays from Swiss cantonal income taxes relative to certain of its Swiss operations. The income tax holidays are expected to extend through September 2022. The holidays had a beneficial impact of $127 million and $142 million during fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively. This benefit is primarily included as part of the foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates line in the effective tax rate reconciliation table above.

At August 31, 2018, it is not practicable for the Company to determine the amount of the unrecognized deferred tax liability it has with respect to temporary differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries and foreign corporate joint ventures that are essentially permanent in duration.

Stock compensation plans	12 Months Ended
Stock compensation plans	Aug. 31, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock compensation plans	Stock compensation plans The Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”) which became effective in fiscal 2013, provides for incentive compensation to the Company’s non-employee directors, officers and employees and consolidates several previously existing equity compensation plans into a single plan. The Company grants stock options, performance shares and restricted units under the Omnibus Plan. Performance shares issued under the Omnibus Plan offer performance-based incentive awards and equity-based awards to key employees. The fair value of each performance share granted assumes that performance goals will be achieved at 100 percent. If such goals are not met, no compensation expense is recognized and any recognized compensation expense is reversed. Restricted stock units are also equity-based awards with performance requirements that are granted to key employees. The performance shares and restricted stock unit awards are both subject to restrictions as to continuous employment except in the case of death, normal retirement or total and permanent disability. Total stock-based compensation expense for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $130 million, $91 million and $115 million, respectively. The recognized tax benefit was $43 million, $78 million and $21 million for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested awards at August 31, 2018 was $147 million, which will be recognized over three years.

Retirement benefits

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Retirement benefits

The Company sponsors several retirement plans, including defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans and a postretirement health plan.

Defined benefit pension plans (non-U.S. plans)

The Company has various defined benefit pension plans outside the United States. The principal defined benefit pension plan is the Boots Pension Plan (the “Boots Plan”), which covers certain employees in the United Kingdom. The Boots Plan is a funded final salary defined benefit plan providing pensions and death benefits to members. The Boots Plan was closed to future accrual effective July 1, 2010, with pensions calculated based on salaries up until that date. The Boots Plan is governed by a trustee board, which is independent of the Company. The plan is subject to a full funding actuarial valuation on a triennial basis.

The investment strategy of the principal defined benefit pension plan is to hold approximately 85% of its assets in a diverse portfolio which aims to broadly match the characteristics of the plan’s liabilities by investing in bonds, derivatives and other fixed income assets, with the remainder invested in predominantly return-seeking assets. Interest rate and inflation rate swaps are also employed to complement the role of fixed and index-linked bond holdings in liability risk management.

The following tables present classes of defined benefit pension plan assets by fair value hierarchy (in millions):



	August 31, 2018		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity securities:
Equity securities¹	$	1,030	$	—	$	1,030	$	—

Debt securities:
Fixed interest government bonds²	901		—		901		—
Index linked government bonds²	2,880		—		2,880		—
Corporate bonds³	2,542		—		2,536		6

Real estate:
Real estate⁴	501		—		—		501

Other:
Other investments⁵	822		64		531		227

Total	$	8,676	$	64	$	7,878	$	734



	August 31, 2017		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity securities:
Equity securities¹	$	956	$	—	$	956	$	—

Debt securities:
Fixed interest government bonds²	217		—		217		—
Index linked government bonds²	3,354		—		3,354		—
Corporate bonds³	3,251		—		3,251		—

Real estate:
Real estate⁴	461		—		—		461

Other:
Other investments⁵	741		58		583		100

Total	$	8,980	$	58	$	8,361	$	561


¹	Equity securities, which mainly comprise investments in commingled funds, are valued based on quoted prices and are primarily exchange-traded. Securities for which official close or last trade pricing on an active exchange is available are classified as Level 1 investments. If closing prices are not available, or the investments are in a commingled fund,

securities are valued at the last quoted bid price and typically are categorized as Level 2 investments.

Debt securities: government bonds comprise fixed interest and index linked bonds issued by central governments and are valued based on quotes received from independent pricing services or from dealers who make markets in such securities. Pricing services utilize pricing which considers readily available inputs such as the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type, as well as dealer-supplied prices. Government bonds are classified as Level 2 investments.


³	Debt securities: corporate bonds comprise bonds issued by corporations in both segregated and commingled funds

and are valued using recently executed transactions, or quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active. If there have been no market transactions in a particular fixed income security, its fair value is calculated by pricing models that benchmark the security against other securities with actual market prices. Corporate bonds are categorized as Level 2 investments.

⁴

Real estate comprises investments in certain property funds which are valued based on the underlying properties. These properties are valued using a number of standard industry techniques such as cost, discounted cash flows, independent appraisals and market based comparable data. Real estate investments are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2018 were driven by actual return on plan assets still held at August 31, 2018 and purchases during the year.

⁵

Other investments mainly comprise cash and cash equivalents, derivatives and direct private placements. Cash is categorized as a Level 1 investment and cash in commingled funds is categorized as Level 2 investments. Cash equivalents are valued using observable yield curves, discounting and interest rates and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Derivatives which are exchange-traded and for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sale price or official closing price as reported by an independent pricing service on the primary market, or exchange on which they are traded, and are categorized as Level 1 investments. Over-the-counter derivatives typically are valued by independent pricing services and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Direct private placements are typically bonds valued by reference to comparable bonds and are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2018 were primarily driven by purchases during the year.

Components of net periodic pension costs for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions):



	Boots and other pension plans
	2018			2017			2016
Service costs	$	5		$	5		$	4
Interest costs	193			174			308
Expected returns on plan assets/other	(209		)	(146		)	(249		)
Total net periodic pension (income) cost	$	(11	)	$	33		$	63

Change in benefit obligations for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions):



	2018			2017
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	8,880		$	9,463
Service costs	5			5
Interest costs	193			174
Amendments/other	(4		)	(11		)
Net actuarial gain	(466		)	(295		)
Benefits paid	(398		)	(298		)
Currency translation adjustments	83			(158		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	8,293		$	8,880

Change in plan assets for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions):



	2018			2017
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of year	$	8,980		$	9,428
Employer contributions	65			70
Benefits paid	(398		)	(298		)
Return on assets/other	(55		)	(52		)
Currency translation adjustments	84			(168		)
Plan assets at fair value at end of year	$	8,676		$	8,980

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):



	2018			2017
Other non-current assets	$	554		$	278
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(7		)	(7		)
Other non-current liabilities	(164		)	(171		)
Net asset (liability) recognized at end of year	$	383		$	100

Cumulative pre-tax amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss (in millions):



	2018			2017
Net actuarial (gain) loss	$	(27	)	$	171

The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for all pension plans, including accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets, at August 31 were as follows (in millions):



	2018		2017
Projected benefit obligation	$	8,293	$	8,880
Accumulated benefit obligation	8,285		8,861
Fair value of plan assets	8,676		8,980

Estimated future benefit payments for the next 10 years from defined benefit pension plans to participants are as follows (in millions):



	Estimated future benefit payments
2019	$	396
2020	259
2021	271
2022	287
2023	302
2024-2028	1,699

The assumptions used in accounting for the defined benefit pension plans were as follows:



	2018		2017
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations
Discount rate	2.67	%	2.41	%
Rate of compensation increase	2.68	%	2.83	%

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate	2.12	%	2.16	%
Expected long-term return on plan assets	2.27	%	1.69	%
Rate of compensation increase	2.64	%	2.44	%

Based on current actuarial estimates, the Company plans to make contributions of $29 million to its defined benefit pension plans in fiscal 2019 and expects to make contributions beyond 2019, which will vary based upon many factors, including the performance of the defined benefit pension plan assets.

Defined contribution plans

The principal retirement plan for U.S. employees is the Walgreen Profit-Sharing Retirement Trust, to which both the Company and participating employees contribute. The Company’s contribution is in the form of a guaranteed match which is approved annually by the Walgreen Co. Board of Directors and reviewed by the Compensation Committee and Finance Committee of the Walgreens Boots Alliance Board of Directors. The profit-sharing provision was an expense of $217 million, $221 million and $226 million in fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company’s contributions were $366 million, $220 million and $225 million in fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Company also has certain contract based defined contribution arrangements. The principal one is the Alliance Healthcare & Boots Retirement Savings Plan, which is United Kingdom based and to which both the Company and participating employees contribute. The cost recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings was $142 million in fiscal 2018, $112 million in fiscal 2017 and $130 million in fiscal 2016.

Postretirement healthcare plan

The Company provides certain health insurance benefits to retired U.S. employees who meet eligibility requirements, including age, years of service and date of hire. The costs of these benefits are accrued over the service life of the employee. An amendment to this plan during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 resulted in a reduction in the benefit plan obligation of $201 million and the recognition of a curtailment gain of $112 million. An amendment during the third quarter of fiscal 2017 resulted in the recognition of a curtailment gain of $109 million. The Company’s postretirement health benefit plan obligation was $146 million and $361 million in fiscal 2018 and 2017 respectively and is not funded. The expected benefit to be paid net of the estimated federal subsidy during fiscal year 2019 is $11 million.

Capital stock	12 Months Ended
Capital stock	Aug. 31, 2018
Capital Stock [Abstract]
Capital stock	Capital stock In connection with the Company’s capital policy, the Board of Directors has authorized share repurchase programs. In April 2017, Walgreens Boots Alliance authorized a stock repurchase program (the “April 2017 stock repurchase program”), which authorized the repurchase of up to $1.0 billion of Walgreens Boots Alliance common stock prior to the program’s expiration on December 31, 2017. In May 2017, the Company completed the April 2017 stock repurchase program, purchasing 11.8 million shares. In June 2017, Walgreens Boots Alliance authorized a new stock repurchase program, which authorized the repurchase of up to $5.0 billion of Walgreens Boots Alliance common stock prior to the program’s expiration on August 31, 2018, which authorization was increased by an additional $1.0 billion in October 2017 (as expanded, the “June 2017 stock repurchase program”). The June 2017 stock repurchase program was completed in October 2017. In June 2018, Walgreens Boots Alliance authorized a new stock repurchase program, which authorized the repurchase of up to $10.0 billion of Walgreens Boots Alliance common stock, which program has no specified expiration date. The Company purchased 72 million and 59 million shares under stock repurchase programs in fiscal 2018 and 2017 at a cost of $4.9 billion and $4.8 billion, respectively. The Company determines the timing and amount of repurchases based on its assessment of various factors including prevailing market conditions, alternate uses of capital, liquidity, the economic environment and other factors. The timing and amount of these purchases may change at any time and from time to time. The Company has repurchased, and may from time to time in the future repurchase, shares on the open market through Rule 10b5-1 plans, which enable a company to repurchase shares at times when it otherwise might be precluded from doing so under insider trading laws. In addition, the Company continued to repurchase shares to support the needs of the employee stock plans. Shares totaling $289 million were purchased to support the needs of the employee stock plans during fiscal 2018 as compared to $457 million and $1 billion in fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively. At August 31, 2018, 33 million shares of common stock were reserved for future issuances under the Company’s various employee benefit plans.

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

The following is a summary of net changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component and net of tax for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016 (in millions):



	Pension/post-retirement obligations			Unrecognized gain (loss) on available-for- sale investments			Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges			Share of OCI of equity method investments			Cumulative translation adjustments			Total
Balance at August 31, 2015	$	29		$	259		$	(40	)	$	—		$	(462	)	$	(214	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(303		)	(148		)	—			(1		)	(2,279		)	(2,731		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI	—			(268		)	5			—			(3		)	(266		)
Tax benefit (provision)	62			159			(2		)	—			—			219
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(241		)	(257		)	3			(1		)	(2,282		)	(2,778		)
Balance at August 31, 2016	$	(212	)	$	2		$	(37	)	$	(1	)	$	(2,744	)	$	(2,992	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(34		)	(2		)	—			(1		)	(133		)	(170		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI¹	109			—			5			—			—			114
Tax benefit (provision)	(2		)	—			(1		)	—			—			(3		)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	73			(2		)	4			(1		)	(133		)	(59		)
Balance at August 31, 2017	$	(139	)	$	—		$	(33	)	$	(2	)	$	(2,877	)	$	(3,051	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	417			—			—			(4		)	(207		)	206
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI¹	(120		)	—			4			11			8			(97		)
Tax benefit (provision)	(57		)	—			(1		)	(2		)	—			(60		)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	240			—			3			5			(199		)	49
Balance at August 31, 2018	$	101		$	—		$	(30	)	$	3		$	(3,076	)	$	(3,002	)


¹	Includes amendment to U.S. postretirement healthcare plan resulting in a curtailment gain. See note 13, retirement benefits.

Segment reporting

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment reporting

The Company has aligned its operations into three reportable segments: Retail Pharmacy USA, Retail Pharmacy International and Pharmaceutical Wholesale. The operating segments have been identified based on the financial data utilized by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the chief operating decision maker) to assess segment performance and allocate resources among the Company’s operating segments. The chief operating decision maker uses adjusted operating income to assess segment profitability. The chief operating decision maker does not use total assets by segment to make decisions regarding resources, therefore the total asset disclosure by segment has not been included.

•

The Retail Pharmacy USA segment consists of the Walgreens business, which includes the operation of retail drugstores, convenient care clinics and mail and central specialty pharmacy services. Sales for the segment are principally derived from the sale of prescription drugs and a wide assortment of retail products, including health and wellness, beauty and personal care and consumables and general merchandise.

•

The Retail Pharmacy International segment consists of pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses and optical practices. These businesses include Boots branded stores in the United Kingdom, Thailand, Norway, the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands, Benavides in Mexico and Ahumada in Chile. Sales for the segment are principally derived from the sale of prescription drugs and health and wellness, beauty and personal care and other consumer products.

•

The Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment consists of the Alliance Healthcare pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution businesses and an equity method investment in AmerisourceBergen. Wholesale operations are located in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Turkey, Spain, the Netherlands, Egypt, Norway, Romania, Czech Republic and Lithuania. Sales for the segment are principally derived from the wholesaling and distribution of a comprehensive offering of brand-name pharmaceuticals (including specialty pharmaceutical products) and generic pharmaceuticals, health and beauty products, home healthcare supplies and equipment and related services to pharmacies and other healthcare providers.

The results of operations for each reportable segment includes procurement benefits and an allocation of corporate-related overhead costs. The “Eliminations” column contains items not allocable to the reportable segments, as the information is not utilized by the chief operating decision maker to assess segment performance and allocate resources.

The following table reflects results of operations of the Company’s reportable segments (in millions):



	Retail Pharmacy USA		Retail Pharmacy International		Pharmaceutical Wholesale		Eliminations			Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
For the year ended August 31, 2018
Sales to external customers	$	98,392	$	12,281	$	20,864	$	—		$	131,537
Intersegment sales	—		—		2,142		(2,142		)	—
Sales	$	98,392	$	12,281	$	23,006	$	(2,142	)	$	131,537

Adjusted operating income	$	5,923	$	947	$	934	$	—		$	7,804

Depreciation and amortization	$	1,196	$	419	$	155	$	—		$	1,770
Additions to property, plant and equipment	1,022		241		104		—			1,367

For the year ended August 31, 2017
Sales to external customers	$	87,302	$	11,813	$	19,099	$	—		$	118,214
Intersegment sales	—		—		2,089		(2,089		)	—
Sales	$	87,302	$	11,813	$	21,188	$	(2,089	)	$	118,214

Adjusted operating income	$	5,707	$	909	$	924	$	—		$	7,540

Depreciation and amortization	$	1,090	$	414	$	150	$	—		$	1,654
Additions to property, plant and equipment	860		384		107		—			1,351

For the year ended August 31, 2016
Sales to external customers	$	83,802	$	13,256	$	20,293	$	—		$	117,351
Intersegment sales	—		—		2,278		(2,278		)	—
Sales	$	83,802	$	13,256	$	22,571	$	(2,278	)	$	117,351

Adjusted operating income	$	5,357	$	1,155	$	708	$	(12	)	$	7,208

Depreciation and amortization	$	1,134	$	401	$	166	$	17		$	1,718
Additions to property, plant and equipment	777		444		104		—			1,325

The following table reconciles adjusted operating income to operating income (in millions):



	Retail Pharmacy USA		Retail Pharmacy International		Pharmaceutical Wholesale		Eliminations			Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
For the year ended August 31, 2018
Adjusted operating income	$	5,923	$	947	$	934	$	—		$	7,804
Acquisition-related amortization										(448		)
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements¹										(284		)
Acquisition-related costs										(231		)
Adjustments to equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen										(175		)
Store optimization										(100		)
LIFO provision										(84		)
Hurricane-related costs										(83		)
Asset recovery										15
Operating income										$	6,414

For the year ended August 31, 2017
Adjusted operating income	$	5,707	$	909	$	924	$	—		$	7,540
Acquisition-related amortization										(332		)
Acquisition-related costs										(474		)
Adjustments to equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen										(187		)
LIFO provision										(166		)
Cost transformation										(835		)
Asset recovery										11
Operating income										$	5,557

For the year ended August 31, 2016
Adjusted operating income	$	5,357	$	1,155	$	708	$	(12	)	$	7,208
Acquisition-related amortization										(369		)
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements										(47		)
Acquisition-related costs										(102		)
Adjustments to equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen										(21		)
LIFO provision										(214		)
Cost transformation										(424		)
Asset recovery										(30		)
Operating income										$	6,001


¹	Beginning in the quarter ended August 31, 2018, management reviewed and refined its practice to include all charges related to the matters included in certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements. This non-GAAP measure is presented on a consistent basis for fiscal year 2018.

No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated sales for any of the periods presented. In fiscal 2018, substantially all of our retail pharmacy sales were to customers covered by third-party payers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies) that agree to pay for all or a portion of a customer's eligible prescription purchases. Three third-party payers, in the Retail Pharmacy USA segment, in the aggregate accounted for approximately 32% of the Company’s consolidated sales in fiscal 2018. No third-party payer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated sales in fiscal 2017 or fiscal 2016.

Geographic data for sales is as follows (in millions):



	2018		2017		2016
United States of America	$	98,392	$	87,302	$	83,802
United Kingdom	13,297		12,552		14,081
Europe (excluding the United Kingdom)	17,594		16,224		16,793
Other	2,254		2,136		2,675
Sales	$	131,537	$	118,214	$	117,351

Geographic data for long-lived assets, defined as property, plant and equipment, is as follows (in millions):



	2018		2017
United States of America	$	10,678	$	10,344
United Kingdom	2,458		2,502
Europe (excluding the United Kingdom)	576		616
Other	199		180
Total long-lived assets	$	13,911	$	13,642

Related parties

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Related parties

The Company has a long-term pharmaceutical distribution agreement with AmerisourceBergen pursuant to which the Company sources branded and generic pharmaceutical products from AmerisourceBergen principally for its U.S. operations. Additionally, AmerisourceBergen receives sourcing services for generic pharmaceutical products.

Related party transactions with AmerisourceBergen (in millions):



	2018		2017		2016
Purchases, net	$	53,161	$	43,571	$	41,889

Trade accounts payable, net	$	6,274	$	4,384	$	3,456

Supplementary financial information

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]

Supplementary financial information

Summary of Quarterly Results (Unaudited)

(in millions, except per share amounts)



	Quarter ended
	November		February		May		August		Fiscal year
Fiscal 2018
Sales	$	30,740	$	33,021	$	34,334	$	33,442	$	131,537
Gross profit	7,341		8,096		7,780		7,575		30,792
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	821		1,349		1,342		1,512		5,024

Net earnings per common share:
Basic	$	0.82	$	1.36	$	1.35	$	1.55	$	5.07
Diluted	0.81		1.36		1.35		1.55		5.05

Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.400	$	0.400	$	0.400	$	0.440	$	1.640

Fiscal 2017
Sales	$	28,501	$	29,446	$	30,118	$	30,149	$	118,214
Gross profit	7,116		7,561		7,145		7,340		29,162
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	1,054		1,060		1,162		802		4,078

Net earnings per common share:
Basic	$	0.97	$	0.98	$	1.08	$	0.76	$	3.80
Diluted	0.97		0.98		1.07		0.76		3.78

Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.375	$	0.375	$	0.375	$	0.400	$	1.525

Summary of major accounting policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of presentation

Cash and cash equivalents

Restricted cash

The Company is required to maintain cash deposits with certain banks which consist of deposits restricted under contractual agency agreements and cash restricted by law and other obligations.

Accounts receivable

Charges to allowance for doubtful accounts are based on estimates of recoverability using both historical write-offs and specifically identified receivables.

Inventories

The Company’s Retail Pharmacy International and Pharmaceutical Wholesale segments’ inventory is primarily accounted for using the FIFO method.

Property, plant and equipment

The Company capitalizes application development stage costs for internally developed software.

Leases

Business combinations

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations. Acquired intangible assets are recorded at fair value.

Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.

Equity method investments

Financial instruments


•	Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings in the same line item, generally interest expense, net.


•	Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and reclassified into earnings in the period or periods during which the hedged item affects earnings and is presented in the same line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item.

•


•	Changes in the fair value of a derivative not designated in a hedging relationship are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Cash receipts or payments on a settlement of a derivative contract are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows consistent with the nature of the underlying hedged item.

Liabilities for facility closings

Pension and postretirement benefits

Noncontrolling interests

Currency

Commitments and contingencies

Revenue recognition

Retail Pharmacy USA and Retail Pharmacy International

Pharmaceutical Wholesale

Cost of sales

Vendor allowances and supplier rebates

Rebates or refunds received by the Company from its suppliers, mostly in cash, are considered as an adjustment of the prices of the supplier’s products purchased by the Company.

Loyalty programs

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Advertising costs

Advertising costs, which are reduced by the portion funded by vendors, are expensed as incurred or when services have been received.

Impairment of long-lived assets

Stock compensation plans

New accounting pronouncements

Adoption of new accounting pronouncements

Accounting for hedging activities

Measurement of inventory

New accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

Intangibles – goodwill and other – internal-use software

Compensation – retirement benefits – defined benefit plans

Fair value measurement

Compensation – stock compensation

Accounting for reclassification of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income

Presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost

Restricted cash

Tax accounting for intra-entity asset transfers

Classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments

Leases

Classification and measurement of financial instruments

Revenue recognition on contracts with customers

Summary of major accounting policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

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	2018		2017
Land and land improvements	20	$	3,593	$	3,470
Buildings and building improvements	3 to 50	7,874		7,431
Fixtures and equipment	3 to 20	9,750		9,209
Capitalized system development costs and software	3 to 8	2,464		2,105
Capital lease properties		743		745
		24,424		22,960
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		10,513		9,318
Balance at end of year		$	13,911	$	13,642

Acquisitions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Schedule of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed

The following table summarizes the consideration for the acquisition and the amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the transaction (in millions).



Total consideration	$	720

Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Accounts receivable	$	217
Inventories	149
Property, plant and equipment	11
Intangible assets	331
Trade accounts payable	(90		)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(1		)
Total identifiable net assets	617
Goodwill	$	103

The following table summarizes the consideration for the purchases and the preliminary amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018.



Consideration	$	4,330

Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Inventories	$	1,171
Property, plant and equipment	490
Intangible assets	2,054
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(54		)
Deferred income taxes	285
Other non-current liabilities	(960		)
Total identifiable net assets	2,986
Goodwill	$	1,344

Schedule of identified definite and indefinite-lived assets

The preliminary identified definite-lived intangible assets were as follows:



Definite-lived intangible assets	Weighted-average useful life (in years)	Amount (in millions)
Customer relationships	12	$	1,810
Favorable lease interests	10	224
Trade names	2	20
Total		$	2,054

Schedule of pro forma information

The unaudited condensed pro forma information has been prepared for comparative purposes only and is not intended to be indicative of what the Company’s results would have been had the purchases occurred at the beginning of the periods presented or results which may occur in the future.



(in millions)	2018¹		2017
Sales	$	135,503	$	127,893


¹	Impacted by store closures due to the Store Optimization Program.

Actual sales from acquired Rite Aid stores for the fiscal year ended 2018 included in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings are as follows:



(in millions)	2018
Sales	$	5,112

Exit and disposal activities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Restructuring costs and reserves



Fiscal year ended August 31, 2018
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	19
Employee severance and other exit costs	81
Total costs	$	100

The changes in liabilities related to the Cost Transformation Program include the following (in millions):



	Real estate costs			Severance and other business transition and exit costs			Total
Balance at August 31, 2017	$	521		$	79		$	600
Payments	(139		)	(68		)	(207		)
Other - non cash	32			(3		)	29
Currency translation adjustments	—			(1		)	(1		)
Balance at August 31, 2018	$	414		$	7		$	421



Fiscal year ended 2017	Retail Pharmacy USA		Retail Pharmacy International		Pharmaceutical Wholesale		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Asset impairments	$	272	$	21	$	2	$	295
Real estate costs	372		—		—		372
Severance and other business transition and exit costs	87		46		35		168
Total costs	$	731	$	67	$	37	$	835



Fiscal year ended 2016	Retail Pharmacy USA		Retail Pharmacy International		Pharmaceutical Wholesale		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Asset impairments	$	215	$	10	$	—	$	225
Real estate costs	89		1		1		91
Severance and other business transition and exit costs	70		18		20		108
Total costs	$	374	$	29	$	21	$	424

Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost

The changes in liabilities related to the Store Optimization Program for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018 include the following (in millions):



	Lease obligations and other real estate costs			Employee severance and other exit costs			Total
Balance at August 31, 2017	$	—		$	—		$	—
Costs	19			81			100
Payments	(18		)	(60		)	(78		)
Other - non cash¹	307			—			307
Balance at August 31, 2018	$	308		$	21		$	329


¹	Primarily represents unfavorable lease liabilities from acquired Rite Aid stores.

Leases (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Leases [Abstract]

Schedule of future minimum rental payments for operating leases

Annual minimum rental commitments for all leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable term of more than one year are shown below (in millions):



	Finance lease obligation		Capital lease		Operating lease¹
2019	$	18	$	63	$	3,528
2020	18		63		3,304
2021	18		62		3,028
2022	18		58		2,762
2023	18		57		2,522
Later	216		864		17,592
Total minimum lease payments	$	306	$	1,167	$	32,736


¹	Includes $1.6 billion of minimum rental commitments on closed locations

Schedule of future minimum lease payments for capital leases

Annual minimum rental commitments for all leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable term of more than one year are shown below (in millions):



	Finance lease obligation		Capital lease		Operating lease¹
2019	$	18	$	63	$	3,528
2020	18		63		3,304
2021	18		62		3,028
2022	18		58		2,762
2023	18		57		2,522
Later	216		864		17,592
Total minimum lease payments	$	306	$	1,167	$	32,736


¹	Includes $1.6 billion of minimum rental commitments on closed locations

Reserve for facility closings and related lease termination charges

The changes in liability for facility closings and related lease termination charges include the following (in millions):



	2018			2017
Balance at beginning of period	$	718		$	466
Provision for present value of non-cancelable lease payments on closed facilities	52			344
Changes in assumptions	19			13
Accretion expense	58			37
Other - non cash¹	338			—
Cash payments, net of sublease income	(221		)	(142		)
Balance at end of period	$	964		$	718


¹	Represents unfavorable lease liabilities from acquired Rite Aid stores.

Schedule of rental expense

Rental expense, which includes common area maintenance, insurance and taxes, where appropriate, was as follows (in millions):



	2018			2017			2016
Minimum rentals	$	3,447		$	3,259		$	3,355
Contingent rentals	68			59			60
Less: sublease rental income	(67		)	(55		)	(49		)
	$	3,448		$	3,263		$	3,366

Equity method investments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Equity method investment

Equity method investments as of August 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in millions, except percentages):



	2018			2017
	Carrying value		Ownership percentage	Carrying value		Ownership percentage
AmerisourceBergen	$	5,138	26%	$	5,024	26%
Others	1,472		8% - 50%	1,296		8% - 50%
Total	$	6,610		$	6,320

Summarized financial information of equity method investees

Summarized financial information for the Company’s equity method investments in aggregate is as follows:

Balance sheet (in millions)



	Year ended August 31,
	2018		2017
Current assets	$	34,493	$	29,707
Non-current assets	14,971		12,999
Current liabilities	34,055		30,559
Non-current liabilities	8,759		7,362
Shareholders’ equity¹	6,650		4,785

Statements of earnings (in millions)



	Year ended August 31,
	2018		2017		2016
Sales	$	179,887	$	164,844	$	55,153
Gross profit	6,875		5,958		2,672
Net earnings	1,315		1,040		534
Share of earnings from equity method investments	245		143		81

The summarized financial information for equity method investments has been included on an aggregated basis for all investments as reported at the end of each fiscal year end.


¹	Shareholders’ equity at August 31, 2018 and 2017 includes $445 million and $204 million, respectively, related to noncontrolling interests.

Goodwill and other intangible assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of goodwill

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment consist of the following activity (in millions):



	Retail Pharmacy USA		Retail Pharmacy International			Pharmaceutical Wholesale			Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
August 31, 2016	$	9,036	$	3,369		$	3,122		$	15,527
Acquisitions	103		—			1			104
Currency translation adjustments	—		23			(22		)	1
August 31, 2017	$	9,139	$	3,392		$	3,101		$	15,632
Acquisitions	1,344		—			4			1,348
Currency translation adjustments	—		(22		)	(44		)	(66		)
August 31, 2018	$	10,483	$	3,370		$	3,061		$	16,914

Schedule of finite-lived intangible assets by major class

The carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets consists of the following (in millions):



	August 31, 2018		August 31, 2017
Gross amortizable intangible assets
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders¹	$	4,235	$	2,510
Favorable lease interests and non-compete agreements	680		523
Trade names and trademarks	489		504
Purchasing and payer contracts	390		391
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	5,794		3,928

Accumulated amortization
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders¹	$	997	$	780
Favorable lease interests and non-compete agreements	359		355
Trade names and trademarks	206		155
Purchasing and payer contracts	78		51
Total accumulated amortization	1,640		1,341
Total amortizable intangible assets, net	$	4,154	$	2,587

Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Trade names and trademarks	$	5,557	$	5,514
Pharmacy licenses	2,072		2,055
Total indefinite lived intangible assets	$	7,629	$	7,569

Total intangible assets, net	$	11,783	$	10,156


¹	Includes purchased prescription files.

Schedule of finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense

Estimated future annual amortization expense for the next five fiscal years for intangible assets recorded at August 31, 2018 is as follows (in millions):



	2019		2020		2021		2022		2023
Estimated annual amortization expense	$	531	$	461	$	410	$	390	$	354

Debt (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Short-term borrowings

Debt consists of the following (all amounts are presented in millions of U.S. dollars and debt issuances are denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)



	August 31, 2018		August 31, 2017
Short-term debt ¹
Commercial paper	$	430	$	—
Credit facilities ²	999		—
$1 billion note issuance ^3,4
5.250% unsecured notes due 2019 ⁵	249		—
Other ⁶	288		251
Total short-term debt	$	1,966	$	251

Long-term debt



Long-term debt ¹
$6 billion note issuance ^3,7
3.450% unsecured notes due 2026	$	1,888	$	1,887
4.650% unsecured notes due 2046	590		590
$8 billion note issuance ^3,7
2.700% unsecured notes due 2019	1,248		1,246
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021	1,245		1,244
3.800% unsecured notes due 2024	1,990		1,988
4.500% unsecured notes due 2034	495		495
4.800% unsecured notes due 2044	1,492		1,492
£700 million note issuance ^3,7
2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020	517		513
3.600% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2025	387		384
€750 million note issuance ^3,7
2.125% unsecured Euro notes due 2026	868		884
$4 billion note issuance ^3,4
3.100% unsecured notes due 2022	1,196		1,195
4.400% unsecured notes due 2042	492		492
$1 billion note issuance ^3,4
5.250% unsecured notes due 2019 ⁵	—		250
Other ⁸	23		24
Total long-term debt, less current portion	$	12,431	$	12,684


¹	Carry values are presented net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs, where applicable, and foreign currency denominated borrowings have been translated using the spot rates at August 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

⁴


⁵	Includes interest rate swap fair market value adjustments. See note 9, fair value measurements, for additional fair value disclosures.


⁶	Other short-term debt represents a mix of fixed and variable rate borrowings with various maturities and working capital facilities denominated in various currencies.


⁷	Notes are unsubordinated debt obligations of Walgreens Boots Alliance and rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Walgreens Boots Alliance from time to time outstanding.


⁸	Other long-term debt represents a mix of fixed and variable rate borrowings in various currencies with various maturities.

Future maturities of long-term debt



	Amount
2019	$	1,969
2020	1,277
2021	519
2022	1,250
2023	1,200
Later	8,262
Total estimated future maturities	$	14,477

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of long-debt instruments or arrangements, including identification, terms, features, collateral requirements and other information necessary to a fair presentation. These are debt arrangements that originally required repayment more than twelve months after issuance or greater than the normal operating cycle of the entity, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28541-108399

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21506-112644

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(e),(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 6: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21521-112644

Reference 7: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21538-112644

Reference 8: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75038535&loc=d3e64711-112823

Reference 9: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 10: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21475-112644

+ Details

Financial instruments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Derivative [Line Items]

Notional Amounts of Derivative Instruments Outstanding

The notional amount and fair value of derivative instruments outstanding were as follows (in millions):



August 31, 2018	Notional		Fair value		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets
Derivatives designated as hedges:
Interest rate swaps	$	250	$	1	Other current liabilities
Foreign currency forwards	15		—		Other current assets
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
Foreign currency forwards	3,273		52		Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	825		4		Other current liabilities



August 31, 2017	Notional		Fair value		Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets
Derivatives designated as hedges:
Interest rate swaps	$	250	$	—	Other non-current assets
Foreign currency forwards	24		—		Other current assets
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
Foreign currency forwards	221		—		Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards	2,816		19		Other current liabilities

Derivatives not designated as hedges:

Derivative [Line Items]

Gains and Losses due to Changes in Fair Value Recognized in Earnings

These derivative instruments are economic hedges of foreign currency risks. The income and (expense) due to changes in fair value of these derivative instruments were recognized in earnings as follows (in millions):



	Location in Consolidated Statements of Earnings	2018		2017			2016
Foreign currency forwards	Selling, general and administrative expense	$	17	$	11		$	19
Foreign currency forwards	Other income (expense)	22		(48		)	(12		)

Warrants | Derivatives not designated as hedges:

Derivative [Line Items]

Gains and Losses due to Changes in Fair Value Recognized in Earnings

The income and (expense) due to changes in fair value of the warrants recognized in earnings were as follows (in millions):



	Location in Consolidated Statements of Earnings	2018		2017		2016
Warrants	Other income (expense)	$	—	$	—	$	(546	)

Fair value measurements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows (in millions):



	August 31, 2018		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds¹	$	227	$	227	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale investments²	1		1		—		—
Foreign currency forwards³	52		—		52		—
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps⁴	1		—		1		—
Foreign currency forwards³	4		—		4		—



	August 31, 2017		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds¹	$	2,096	$	2,096	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale investments²	1		1		—		—
Liabilities:
Foreign currency forwards³	19		—		19		—


¹	Money market funds are valued at the closing price reported by the fund sponsor.


²	Fair values of quoted investments are based on bid prices as of August 31, 2018 and 2017.


³	The fair value of forward currency contracts is estimated by discounting the difference between the contractual forward price and the current available forward price for the residual maturity of the contract using observable market rates.


⁴	The fair value of interest rate swaps is calculated by discounting the estimated future cash flows based on the applicable observable yield curves. See note 8, financial instruments, for additional information.

Income taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of income before income tax, domestic and foreign

The components of earnings before income tax provision were (in millions):



	2018		2017		2016
U.S.	$	3,292	$	1,953	$	2,577
Non–U.S.	2,683		2,900		2,567
Total	$	5,975	$	4,853	$	5,144

Provisions for income taxes

The provision for income taxes consists of the following (in millions):



	2018			2017			2016
Current provision
Federal	$	866		$	759		$	999
State	103			45			56
Non–U.S.	353			390			371
	1,322			1,194			1,426
Deferred provision
Federal – tax law change	(648		)	—			—
Federal – excluding tax law change	304			(306		)	(183		)
State	78			(24		)	6
Non–U.S. – tax law change	—			(80		)	(182		)
Non–U.S. – excluding tax law change	(58		)	(24		)	(70		)
	(324		)	(434		)	(429		)
Income tax provision	$	998		$	760		$	997

Difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate

The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate is as follows:



	2018		2017		2016
Federal statutory rate	25.7	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	2.3		0.3		0.8
Foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates	(12.2	)	(11.8	)	(7.8	)
Non-taxable income	(5.2	)	(5.3	)	(4.4	)
Non-deductible expenses	2.1		1.5		1.1
Transition tax	12.4		—		—
Tax law changes	(10.9	)	(1.6	)	(3.5	)
Change in valuation allowance	8.7		0.7		1.7
Tax credits	(6.9	)	(2.9	)	(1.5	)
Other	0.7		(0.2	)	(2.0	)
Effective income tax rate	16.7	%	15.7	%	19.4	%

Deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the consolidated balance sheet

The deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following (in millions):



	2018		2017
Deferred tax assets:
Postretirement benefits	$	—	$	134
Compensation and benefits	152		207
Insurance	74		109
Accrued rent	271		174
Outside basis difference	—		55
Allowance for doubtful accounts	27		55
Tax attributes	2,351		555
Stock compensation	44		73
Deferred income	110		220
Other	44		88
	3,073		1,670
Less: valuation allowance	2,226		408
Total deferred tax assets	847		1,262
Deferred tax liabilities:
Accelerated depreciation	603		841
Inventory	301		416
Intangible assets	1,234		1,277
Equity method investment	459		1,002
	2,597		3,536
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	1,750	$	2,274

Reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits

The following table provides a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits (in millions):



	2018			2017			2016
Balance at beginning of year	$	409		$	269		$	261
Gross increases related to tax positions in a prior period	123			151			21
Gross decreases related to tax positions in a prior period	(15		)	(36		)	(47		)
Gross increases related to tax positions in the current period	29			33			68
Settlements with taxing authorities	(87		)	(2		)	(17		)
Currency	—			(1		)	(11		)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(3		)	(5		)	(6		)
Balance at end of year	$	456		$	409		$	269

Retirement benefits (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Schedule of defined benefit plans using fair value hierarchy

The following tables present classes of defined benefit pension plan assets by fair value hierarchy (in millions):



	August 31, 2018		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity securities:
Equity securities¹	$	1,030	$	—	$	1,030	$	—

Debt securities:
Fixed interest government bonds²	901		—		901		—
Index linked government bonds²	2,880		—		2,880		—
Corporate bonds³	2,542		—		2,536		6

Real estate:
Real estate⁴	501		—		—		501

Other:
Other investments⁵	822		64		531		227

Total	$	8,676	$	64	$	7,878	$	734



	August 31, 2017		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity securities:
Equity securities¹	$	956	$	—	$	956	$	—

Debt securities:
Fixed interest government bonds²	217		—		217		—
Index linked government bonds²	3,354		—		3,354		—
Corporate bonds³	3,251		—		3,251		—

Real estate:
Real estate⁴	461		—		—		461

Other:
Other investments⁵	741		58		583		100

Total	$	8,980	$	58	$	8,361	$	561


¹	Equity securities, which mainly comprise investments in commingled funds, are valued based on quoted prices and are primarily exchange-traded. Securities for which official close or last trade pricing on an active exchange is available are classified as Level 1 investments. If closing prices are not available, or the investments are in a commingled fund,

securities are valued at the last quoted bid price and typically are categorized as Level 2 investments.


³	Debt securities: corporate bonds comprise bonds issued by corporations in both segregated and commingled funds

⁴

⁵

Components of net periodic benefit costs

Components of net periodic pension costs for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions):



	Boots and other pension plans
	2018			2017			2016
Service costs	$	5		$	5		$	4
Interest costs	193			174			308
Expected returns on plan assets/other	(209		)	(146		)	(249		)
Total net periodic pension (income) cost	$	(11	)	$	33		$	63

Accumulated and projected benefit obligations

Change in benefit obligations for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions):



	2018			2017
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	8,880		$	9,463
Service costs	5			5
Interest costs	193			174
Amendments/other	(4		)	(11		)
Net actuarial gain	(466		)	(295		)
Benefits paid	(398		)	(298		)
Currency translation adjustments	83			(158		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	8,293		$	8,880

Changes in fair value of plan assets

Change in plan assets for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions):



	2018			2017
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of year	$	8,980		$	9,428
Employer contributions	65			70
Benefits paid	(398		)	(298		)
Return on assets/other	(55		)	(52		)
Currency translation adjustments	84			(168		)
Plan assets at fair value at end of year	$	8,676		$	8,980

Amounts recognized in balance sheet

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):



	2018			2017
Other non-current assets	$	554		$	278
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(7		)	(7		)
Other non-current liabilities	(164		)	(171		)
Net asset (liability) recognized at end of year	$	383		$	100

Pre-tax amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss

Cumulative pre-tax amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss (in millions):



	2018			2017
Net actuarial (gain) loss	$	(27	)	$	171

Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to be recognized over next fiscal year



	2018		2017
Projected benefit obligation	$	8,293	$	8,880
Accumulated benefit obligation	8,285		8,861
Fair value of plan assets	8,676		8,980

Estimated future benefit payments

Estimated future benefit payments for the next 10 years from defined benefit pension plans to participants are as follows (in millions):



	Estimated future benefit payments
2019	$	396
2020	259
2021	271
2022	287
2023	302
2024-2028	1,699

Schedule of assumptions used

The assumptions used in accounting for the defined benefit pension plans were as follows:



	2018		2017
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations
Discount rate	2.67	%	2.41	%
Rate of compensation increase	2.68	%	2.83	%

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate	2.12	%	2.16	%
Expected long-term return on plan assets	2.27	%	1.69	%
Rate of compensation increase	2.64	%	2.44	%

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]

Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

The following is a summary of net changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component and net of tax for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016 (in millions):



	Pension/post-retirement obligations			Unrecognized gain (loss) on available-for- sale investments			Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges			Share of OCI of equity method investments			Cumulative translation adjustments			Total
Balance at August 31, 2015	$	29		$	259		$	(40	)	$	—		$	(462	)	$	(214	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(303		)	(148		)	—			(1		)	(2,279		)	(2,731		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI	—			(268		)	5			—			(3		)	(266		)
Tax benefit (provision)	62			159			(2		)	—			—			219
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(241		)	(257		)	3			(1		)	(2,282		)	(2,778		)
Balance at August 31, 2016	$	(212	)	$	2		$	(37	)	$	(1	)	$	(2,744	)	$	(2,992	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(34		)	(2		)	—			(1		)	(133		)	(170		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI¹	109			—			5			—			—			114
Tax benefit (provision)	(2		)	—			(1		)	—			—			(3		)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	73			(2		)	4			(1		)	(133		)	(59		)
Balance at August 31, 2017	$	(139	)	$	—		$	(33	)	$	(2	)	$	(2,877	)	$	(3,051	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	417			—			—			(4		)	(207		)	206
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI¹	(120		)	—			4			11			8			(97		)
Tax benefit (provision)	(57		)	—			(1		)	(2		)	—			(60		)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	240			—			3			5			(199		)	49
Balance at August 31, 2018	$	101		$	—		$	(30	)	$	3		$	(3,076	)	$	(3,002	)


¹	Includes amendment to U.S. postretirement healthcare plan resulting in a curtailment gain. See note 13, retirement benefits.

Segment reporting (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Reconciliation of revenue from segments to consolidated

The following table reflects results of operations of the Company’s reportable segments (in millions):



	Retail Pharmacy USA		Retail Pharmacy International		Pharmaceutical Wholesale		Eliminations			Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
For the year ended August 31, 2018
Sales to external customers	$	98,392	$	12,281	$	20,864	$	—		$	131,537
Intersegment sales	—		—		2,142		(2,142		)	—
Sales	$	98,392	$	12,281	$	23,006	$	(2,142	)	$	131,537

Adjusted operating income	$	5,923	$	947	$	934	$	—		$	7,804

Depreciation and amortization	$	1,196	$	419	$	155	$	—		$	1,770
Additions to property, plant and equipment	1,022		241		104		—			1,367

For the year ended August 31, 2017
Sales to external customers	$	87,302	$	11,813	$	19,099	$	—		$	118,214
Intersegment sales	—		—		2,089		(2,089		)	—
Sales	$	87,302	$	11,813	$	21,188	$	(2,089	)	$	118,214

Adjusted operating income	$	5,707	$	909	$	924	$	—		$	7,540

Depreciation and amortization	$	1,090	$	414	$	150	$	—		$	1,654
Additions to property, plant and equipment	860		384		107		—			1,351

For the year ended August 31, 2016
Sales to external customers	$	83,802	$	13,256	$	20,293	$	—		$	117,351
Intersegment sales	—		—		2,278		(2,278		)	—
Sales	$	83,802	$	13,256	$	22,571	$	(2,278	)	$	117,351

Adjusted operating income	$	5,357	$	1,155	$	708	$	(12	)	$	7,208

Depreciation and amortization	$	1,134	$	401	$	166	$	17		$	1,718
Additions to property, plant and equipment	777		444		104		—			1,325

Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated

The following table reconciles adjusted operating income to operating income (in millions):



	Retail Pharmacy USA		Retail Pharmacy International		Pharmaceutical Wholesale		Eliminations			Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
For the year ended August 31, 2018
Adjusted operating income	$	5,923	$	947	$	934	$	—		$	7,804
Acquisition-related amortization										(448		)
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements¹										(284		)
Acquisition-related costs										(231		)
Adjustments to equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen										(175		)
Store optimization										(100		)
LIFO provision										(84		)
Hurricane-related costs										(83		)
Asset recovery										15
Operating income										$	6,414

For the year ended August 31, 2017
Adjusted operating income	$	5,707	$	909	$	924	$	—		$	7,540
Acquisition-related amortization										(332		)
Acquisition-related costs										(474		)
Adjustments to equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen										(187		)
LIFO provision										(166		)
Cost transformation										(835		)
Asset recovery										11
Operating income										$	5,557

For the year ended August 31, 2016
Adjusted operating income	$	5,357	$	1,155	$	708	$	(12	)	$	7,208
Acquisition-related amortization										(369		)
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements										(47		)
Acquisition-related costs										(102		)
Adjustments to equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen										(21		)
LIFO provision										(214		)
Cost transformation										(424		)
Asset recovery										(30		)
Operating income										$	6,001


¹	Beginning in the quarter ended August 31, 2018, management reviewed and refined its practice to include all charges related to the matters included in certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements. This non-GAAP measure is presented on a consistent basis for fiscal year 2018.

Geographic data for net sales

Geographic data for sales is as follows (in millions):



	2018		2017		2016
United States of America	$	98,392	$	87,302	$	83,802
United Kingdom	13,297		12,552		14,081
Europe (excluding the United Kingdom)	17,594		16,224		16,793
Other	2,254		2,136		2,675
Sales	$	131,537	$	118,214	$	117,351

Geographic data for long-lived assets

Geographic data for long-lived assets, defined as property, plant and equipment, is as follows (in millions):



	2018		2017
United States of America	$	10,678	$	10,344
United Kingdom	2,458		2,502
Europe (excluding the United Kingdom)	576		616
Other	199		180
Total long-lived assets	$	13,911	$	13,642

Related parties (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Schedule of related party transactions

Related party transactions with AmerisourceBergen (in millions):



	2018		2017		2016
Purchases, net	$	53,161	$	43,571	$	41,889

Trade accounts payable, net	$	6,274	$	4,384	$	3,456

Supplementary financial information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]

Summary of quarterly results

Summary of Quarterly Results (Unaudited)

(in millions, except per share amounts)



	Quarter ended
	November		February		May		August		Fiscal year
Fiscal 2018
Sales	$	30,740	$	33,021	$	34,334	$	33,442	$	131,537
Gross profit	7,341		8,096		7,780		7,575		30,792
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	821		1,349		1,342		1,512		5,024

Net earnings per common share:
Basic	$	0.82	$	1.36	$	1.35	$	1.55	$	5.07
Diluted	0.81		1.36		1.35		1.55		5.05

Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.400	$	0.400	$	0.400	$	0.440	$	1.640

Fiscal 2017
Sales	$	28,501	$	29,446	$	30,118	$	30,149	$	118,214
Gross profit	7,116		7,561		7,145		7,340		29,162
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	1,054		1,060		1,162		802		4,078

Net earnings per common share:
Basic	$	0.97	$	0.98	$	1.08	$	0.76	$	3.80
Diluted	0.97		0.98		1.07		0.76		3.78

Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.375	$	0.375	$	0.375	$	0.400	$	1.525

Summary of major accounting policies - additional information (Details) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($) segment shares	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| segment	3
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Minimum number of days for settlement of credit and debit charges	2 days
Maximum number of days for settlement of credit and debit charges	7 days
Credit and debit card receivables	$ 127	$ 98
Restricted Cash [Abstract]
Restricted cash	$ 190	202
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Interval period of renewal options	5 years
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 75	158
Advertising Costs [Abstract]
Advertising Expense	$ 665	$ 571	$ 598
Net earnings per common share:
Outstanding options to purchase common shares excluded from earnings per share calculations (in shares) \| shares	10.1	3.9	2.5
Trade Accounts Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 5,400	$ 5,500
Other Accounts Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 1,200	$ 1,100
Minimum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Initial term of operating lease	15 years
Maximum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Initial term of operating lease	25 years

Summary of major accounting policies - inventory (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Inventory [Line Items]
Inventories	$ 9,565	$ 8,899
Retail Pharmacy USA \| Operating Segments
Inventory [Line Items]
Inventories	6,700	5,900
LIFO Reserve	3,000	3,000
Retail Pharmacy International and Pharmaceutical Wholesale \| Operating Segments
Inventory [Line Items]
Inventories	$ 2,800	$ 3,000

Summary of major accounting policies - property plant and equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 24,424	$ 22,960
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	10,513	9,318
Property and equipment, net	13,911	13,642
Depreciation	$ 1,400	1,300	$ 1,300
Land and land improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life of assets	20 years
Property and equipment	$ 3,593	3,470
Buildings and building improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 7,874	7,431
Buildings and building improvements \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life of assets	3 years
Buildings and building improvements \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life of assets	50 years
Fixtures and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 9,750	9,209
Fixtures and equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life of assets	3 years
Fixtures and equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life of assets	20 years
Capitalized system development costs and software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 2,464	2,105
Internally developed software amortization	254	245	$ 238
Unamortized capitalized software costs	$ 1,500	895
Capitalized system development costs and software \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life of assets	3 years
Useful life of capitalized software costs	3 years
Capitalized system development costs and software \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life of assets	8 years
Useful life of capitalized software costs	8 years
Capital lease properties
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 743	$ 745

Summary of major accounting policies - financial instruments (Details)	Aug. 31, 2018
Minimum
Derivative [Line Items]
Highly effective hedging percentage	80.00%
Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Highly effective hedging percentage	125.00%

Summary of major accounting policies - liabilities for store closings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Reserve for store closings	$ 964	$ 718

Summary of major accounting policies - impaired assets (Details) - Selling, general and administrative expense - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Impairment charges		$ 234	$ 305
Cost Transformation Program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Impairment charges	$ 57

Acquisitions - narrative (Details) $ in Millions			12 Months Ended
Acquisitions - narrative (Details) $ in Millions	Sep. 19, 2017 USD ($) distribution_center store	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($) distribution_center store	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 16,914	$ 15,632	$ 15,527
Rite Aid
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of stores expected to be acquired \| store	1,932
Number of distribution centers expected to be acquired \| distribution_center	3		2
Consideration to be transferred	$ 4,375
Number of stores acquired \| store			1,932
Consideration	4,330		$ 4,157
Goodwill	$ 1,344
AllianceRx Walgreens Prime
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 103
Total consideration		$ 720
Customer Contracts \| AllianceRx Walgreens Prime
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life		15 years

Acquisitions - summary of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 19, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Goodwill			$ 16,914	$ 15,632	$ 15,527
Rite Aid
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration	$ 4,330		$ 4,157
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Inventories	1,171
Property, plant and equipment	490
Intangible assets	2,054
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(54)
Deferred income taxes	285
Other non-current liabilities	(960)
Total identifiable net assets	2,986
Goodwill	$ 1,344
AllianceRx Walgreens Prime
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total consideration		$ 720
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Accounts receivable		217
Inventories		149
Property, plant and equipment		11
Intangible assets		331
Trade accounts payable		(90)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		(1)
Total identifiable net assets		617
Goodwill		$ 103

Acquisitions - identified definite-lived intangible assets (Details) - Rite Aid $ in Millions	Sep. 19, 2017 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amount	$ 2,054
Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted-average useful life	12 years
Amount	$ 1,810
Favorable lease interests
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted-average useful life	10 years
Amount	$ 224
Trade names
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted-average useful life	2 years
Amount	$ 20

Acquisitions - pro forma results (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Rite Aid
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sales	$ 135,503	$ 127,893

Acquisitions - actual results (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Acquisitions - actual results (Details) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Rite Aid
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sales	$ 5,112

Exit and disposal activities - narrative (Details) - Store Optimization Program $ in Millions	Oct. 24, 2017 store	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of locations closed \| store	600
Duration of restructuring plan	18 months
Expected restructuring costs		$ 450
Lease obligations and other real estate costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs		270
Employee severance and other exit costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs		$ 180

Exit and disposal activities - restructuring costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		$ 835	$ 424
Operating Segments \| Retail Pharmacy USA
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		731	374
Operating Segments \| Retail Pharmacy International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		67	29
Operating Segments \| Pharmaceutical Wholesale
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		37	21
Employee severance and other exit costs
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		168	108
Employee severance and other exit costs \| Operating Segments \| Retail Pharmacy USA
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		87	70
Employee severance and other exit costs \| Operating Segments \| Retail Pharmacy International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		46	18
Employee severance and other exit costs \| Operating Segments \| Pharmaceutical Wholesale
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		35	20
Asset impairments
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		295	225
Asset impairments \| Operating Segments \| Retail Pharmacy USA
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		272	215
Asset impairments \| Operating Segments \| Retail Pharmacy International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		21	10
Asset impairments \| Operating Segments \| Pharmaceutical Wholesale
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		2	0
Real estate costs
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		372	91
Real estate costs \| Operating Segments \| Retail Pharmacy USA
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		372	89
Real estate costs \| Operating Segments \| Retail Pharmacy International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		0	1
Real estate costs \| Operating Segments \| Pharmaceutical Wholesale
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs		$ 0	$ 1
Store Optimization Program
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs	$ 100
Store Optimization Program \| Lease obligations and other real estate costs
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs	19
Store Optimization Program \| Employee severance and other exit costs
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total restructuring costs	$ 81

Exit and disposal activities - restructuring reserve activity (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Store Optimization Program
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
August 31, 2017	$ 0
Restructuring costs	100
Payments	(78)
Other - non cash	307
August 31, 2018	329
Store Optimization Program \| Lease obligations and other real estate costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
August 31, 2017	0
Restructuring costs	19
Payments	(18)
Other - non cash	307
August 31, 2018	308
Store Optimization Program \| Employee severance and other exit costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
August 31, 2017	0
Restructuring costs	81
Payments	(60)
Other - non cash	0
August 31, 2018	21
Cost Transformation Program
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
August 31, 2017	600
Payments	(207)
Other - non cash	29
Currency translation adjustments	(1)
August 31, 2018	421
Cost Transformation Program \| Employee severance and other exit costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
August 31, 2017	79
Payments	(68)
Other - non cash	(3)
Currency translation adjustments	(1)
August 31, 2018	7
Cost Transformation Program \| Real estate costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
August 31, 2017	521
Payments	(139)
Other - non cash	32
Currency translation adjustments	0
August 31, 2018	$ 414

Leases - additional information (Details)	12 Months Ended
Leases - additional information (Details)	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($) lease	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Total minimum lease payments	$ 32,736,000,000
Imputed interest and executory costs	813,000,000
Sublease rentals	331,000,000
Proceeds from sale leaseback transactions	0	$ 444,000,000	$ 60,000,000
Charges related to facilities that were closed or relocated	$ 129,000,000	$ 394,000,000	$ 127,000,000
Number of leases \| lease	16
Maximum
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Potential undiscounted future payments	$ 22,000,000
Facility Closing
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Total minimum lease payments	$ 1,600,000,000

Leases - annual minimum rental commitments (Details) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Finance Lease Obligation [Abstract]
2019	$ 18
2020	18
2021	18
2022	18
2023	18
Later	216
Total minimum lease payments	306
Capital Lease [Abstract]
2019	63
2020	63
2021	62
2022	58
2023	57
Later	864
Total minimum lease payments	1,167
Operating Lease [Abstract]
2019	3,528
2020	3,304
2021	3,028
2022	2,762
2023	2,522
Later	17,592
Total minimum lease payments	$ 32,736

Leases - changes in reserve for facility closings and related lease termination (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Changes in Reserve for Facility Closing and Related Lease Termination Charges [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 718	$ 466
Provision for present value of non-cancelable lease payments on closed facilities	52	344
Changes in assumptions	19	13
Accretion expense	58	37
Other - non cash	338	0
Cash payments, net of sublease income	(221)	(142)
Balance at end of period	$ 964	$ 718

Leases - rental expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Leases - rental expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Leases [Abstract]
Minimum rentals	$ 3,447	$ 3,259	$ 3,355
Contingent rentals	68	59	60
Less: sublease rental income	(67)	(55)	(49)
Total rental expense	$ 3,448	$ 3,263	$ 3,366

- Definition

The increases or decreases in lease payments that result from changes occurring after the inception of the lease in the factors (other than the passage of time) on which lease payments are based, except that any escalation of minimum lease payments relating to increases in construction or acquisition cost of the leased property or for increases in some measure of cost or value during the construction or preconstruction period, are excluded from contingent rentals. Contingent rentals also may include amounts for which the triggering events have not yet occurred or the specified targets for which have not yet been achieved (such as sales based percentage rent), but which events are considered probable of occurring or which specified targets are considered probable of being achieved.

+ References + Details

Equity method investments - carrying value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 6,610	$ 6,320
AmerisourceBergen
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 5,138	$ 5,024
Ownership percentage	26.00%	26.00%
Others
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 1,472	$ 1,296
Others \| Minimum
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	8.00%	8.00%
Others \| Maximum
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	50.00%	50.00%

Equity method investments - additional information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity earnings		$ 245	$ 143	$ 81
Equity investment, noncontrolling interest		$ 445	$ 204
AmerisourceBergen
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Outstanding shares owned (in shares)		56,854,867	56,854,867
Percentage of outstanding common shares owned		26.00%	26.00%
Equity investment, exceeded its proportionate share of net assets		$ 4,300
Ownership percentage		26.00%	26.00%
Others
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity earnings		$ 53	$ 8	$ 44
Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments, percent of investment sold		30.00%
Equity method investment, amount sold		$ 172
Cumulative translation adjustment loss		8
Premise Health
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, amount sold	$ 76
Gain disposition of minority equity interest	$ 245
Level 1 \| AmerisourceBergen
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Fair value of assets		5,100
Other income (expense) \| Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment impairment		$ 170

Equity method investments - summarized financial information of equity method investees (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]
Current assets	$ 34,493	$ 29,707
Non-current assets	14,971	12,999
Current liabilities	34,055	30,559
Non-current liabilities	8,759	7,362
Shareholders’ equity	6,650	4,785
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	179,887	164,844	$ 55,153
Gross profit	6,875	5,958	2,672
Net earnings	1,315	1,040	534
Share of earnings from equity method investments	$ 245	$ 143	$ 81

Goodwill and other intangible assets - additional information (Details) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 19, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($) store	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 16,914	$ 15,632	$ 15,527
Amortization expense for intangible assets		$ 493	$ 385	$ 396
Rite Aid
Goodwill [Line Items]
Number of stores acquired \| store		1,932
Consideration	$ 4,330	$ 4,157
Goodwill	1,344
Intangible assets	$ 2,054
AllianceRx Walgreens Prime
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill					$ 103
Intangible assets					$ 331
Minimum
Goodwill [Line Items]
Reporting unit fair value in excess of carrying amount (as a percent)		11.00%
Maximum
Goodwill [Line Items]
Reporting unit fair value in excess of carrying amount (as a percent)		312.00%

Goodwill and other intangible assets - schedule of goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 15,632	$ 15,527
Acquisitions	1,348	104
Currency translation adjustments	(66)	1
Ending balance	16,914	15,632
Operating Segments \| Retail Pharmacy USA
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	9,139	9,036
Acquisitions	1,344	103
Currency translation adjustments	0	0
Ending balance	10,483	9,139
Operating Segments \| Retail Pharmacy International
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	3,392	3,369
Acquisitions	0	0
Currency translation adjustments	(22)	23
Ending balance	3,370	3,392
Operating Segments \| Pharmaceutical Wholesale
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	3,101	3,122
Acquisitions	4	1
Currency translation adjustments	(44)	(22)
Ending balance	$ 3,061	$ 3,101

Goodwill and other intangible assets - schedule of finite-lived intangible assets by major class (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross amortizable intangible assets	$ 5,794	$ 3,928
Accumulated amortization	1,640	1,341
Total amortizable intangible assets, net	4,154	2,587
Total indefinite lived intangible assets	7,629	7,569
Total intangible assets, net	11,783	10,156
Trade names and trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total indefinite lived intangible assets	5,557	5,514
Pharmacy licenses
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total indefinite lived intangible assets	2,072	2,055
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross amortizable intangible assets	4,235	2,510
Accumulated amortization	997	780
Favorable lease interests and non-compete agreements
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross amortizable intangible assets	680	523
Accumulated amortization	359	355
Trade names and trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross amortizable intangible assets	489	504
Accumulated amortization	206	155
Total gross amortizable intangible assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross amortizable intangible assets	390	391
Accumulated amortization	$ 78	$ 51

Goodwill and other intangible assets - schedule of finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense (Details) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Estimated annual intangible assets amortization expense [Abstract]
2019	$ 531
2020	461
2021	410
2022	390
2023	$ 354

Debt - short-term borrowings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Short-Term Borrowings [Abstract]
Total short-term debt	$ 1,966	$ 251
5.250% unsecured notes due 2019
Short-Term Borrowings [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.25%
Other Short Term Debt
Short-Term Borrowings [Abstract]
Total short-term debt	$ 288	251
Commercial Paper
Short-Term Borrowings [Abstract]
Total short-term debt	430	0
Credit facilities
Short-Term Borrowings [Abstract]
Total short-term debt	999	0
Notes Payable \| 5.250% unsecured notes due 2019
Short-Term Borrowings [Abstract]
Total short-term debt	$ 249	$ 0

Debt - long-term debt (Details)	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018 GBP (£)	Aug. 31, 2018 EUR (€)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Other	$ 23,000,000				$ 24,000,000
Total long-term debt, less current portion	$ 12,431,000,000				12,684,000,000
3.450% unsecured notes due 2026
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	3.45%	3.45%	3.45%
3.450% unsecured notes due 2026 \| Unsecured Debt
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Carrying value of notes, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap FMV adjustment	$ 1,888,000,000				1,887,000,000
4.650% unsecured notes due 2046
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.65%	4.65%	4.65%
4.650% unsecured notes due 2046 \| Unsecured Debt
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Carrying value of notes, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap FMV adjustment	$ 590,000,000				590,000,000
2.700% unsecured notes due 2019
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	2.70%	2.70%	2.70%
2.700% unsecured notes due 2019 \| Unsecured Debt
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Carrying value of notes, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap FMV adjustment	$ 1,248,000,000				1,246,000,000
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	3.30%	3.30%	3.30%
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021 \| Unsecured Debt
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Carrying value of notes, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap FMV adjustment	$ 1,245,000,000				1,244,000,000
3.800% unsecured notes due 2024
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	3.80%	3.80%	3.80%
3.800% unsecured notes due 2024 \| Unsecured Debt
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Carrying value of notes, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap FMV adjustment	$ 1,990,000,000				1,988,000,000
4.500% unsecured notes due 2034
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.50%	4.50%	4.50%
4.500% unsecured notes due 2034 \| Unsecured Debt
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Carrying value of notes, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap FMV adjustment	$ 495,000,000				495,000,000
4.800% unsecured notes due 2044
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.80%	4.80%	4.80%
4.800% unsecured notes due 2044 \| Unsecured Debt
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Carrying value of notes, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap FMV adjustment	$ 1,492,000,000				1,492,000,000
2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	2.875%	2.875%	2.875%
2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020 \| Unsecured Debt
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Carrying value of notes, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap FMV adjustment	$ 517,000,000				513,000,000
3.600% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2025
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	3.60%	3.60%	3.60%
3.600% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2025 \| Unsecured Debt
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Carrying value of notes, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap FMV adjustment	$ 387,000,000				384,000,000
2.125% unsecured Euro notes due 2026
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	2.125%	2.125%	2.125%
2.125% unsecured Euro notes due 2026 \| Unsecured Debt
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Carrying value of notes, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap FMV adjustment	$ 868,000,000				884,000,000
3.100% unsecured notes due 2022
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	3.10%	3.10%	3.10%
3.100% unsecured notes due 2022 \| Unsecured Debt
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Carrying value of notes, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap FMV adjustment	$ 1,196,000,000				1,195,000,000
4.400% unsecured notes due 2042
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.40%	4.40%	4.40%
4.400% unsecured notes due 2042 \| Unsecured Debt
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Carrying value of notes, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap FMV adjustment	$ 492,000,000				492,000,000
5.250% unsecured notes due 2019
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.25%	5.25%	5.25%
5.250% unsecured notes due 2019 \| Unsecured Debt
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Carrying value of notes, net of unamortized discount and interest rate swap FMV adjustment	$ 0				$ 250,000,000
Total $6.0 billion debt issuance
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Face amount	6,000,000,000
Fair value of the notes	2,400,000,000
Carrying value of notes	2,500,000,000
Total $8.0 billion debt Issuance
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Face amount	8,000,000,000
Fair value of the notes	6,300,000,000
Carrying value of notes	6,500,000,000
Total 700 million pounds debt issuance
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Face amount \| £		£ 700,000,000.0
Fair value of the notes	900,000,000
Carrying value of notes	900,000,000
Total 750 million euros debt issuance
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Face amount \| €			€ 750,000,000.00
Fair value of the notes	900,000,000
Carrying value of notes	900,000,000
Total $4.0 billion debt issuance
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Face amount	4,000,000,000
Fair value of the notes	1,700,000,000
Carrying value of notes	1,700,000,000
Total $1.0 billion debt issuance
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Face amount	1,000,000,000
Fair value of the notes	300,000,000
Carrying value of notes	$ 200,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility \| March 2018 Revolving Credit Facility
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity				$ 350,000,000

Debt - long-term debt by future maturity (Details) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Long Term Debt by Future Maturity [Abstract]
2019	$ 1,969
2020	1,277
2021	519
2022	1,250
2023	1,200
Later	8,262
Total estimated future maturities	$ 14,477

Debt - narrative (Details)			12 Months Ended
Debt - narrative (Details)	Jun. 05, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2016 USD ($) tranche	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 29, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 24, 2017 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2017 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Proceeds from notes payable		$ 6,000,000,000
Number of tranches \| tranche		5
Redemption price, percentage of principal amount redeemed	101.00%
Redemption price, accrued and unpaid interest	$ 1,000,000
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest			$ 577,000,000	$ 643,000,000	$ 580,000,000
Commercial Paper
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Average daily short-term borrowings			$ 1,400,000,000
Weighted-average interest rate			2.11%
Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt to total capitalization ratio			0.60
Term Loan \| February 2017 Revolving Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity									$ 1,000,000,000.0
Borrowings outstanding			$ 0
Term Loan \| August 2017 Revolving Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity								$ 1,000,000,000.0
Borrowings outstanding			0
Term Loan \| 2017 Term Loan Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity								$ 1,000,000,000.0
Borrowings outstanding			$ 1,000,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility \| March 2018 Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity							$ 350,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility \| 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Face amount						$ 3,500,000,000.0
Letter of Credit \| 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Face amount						$ 500,000,000

Financial instruments - derivative instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Interest rate swaps \| Six-month LIBOR
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value	$ 250
Fixed interest rate percentage	5.25%
Interest rate swaps \| Derivatives designated as hedges: \| Other non-current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional		$ 250
Fair value		0
Interest rate swaps \| Derivatives designated as hedges: \| Other current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional	$ 250
Fair value	1
Foreign currency forwards \| Derivatives designated as hedges: \| Other current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional	15	24
Fair value	0	0
Foreign currency forwards \| Derivatives not designated as hedges: \| Selling, general and administrative expense
Effect of Fair Value Hedges on Results of Operations [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments	17	11	$ 19
Foreign currency forwards \| Derivatives not designated as hedges: \| Other income (expense)
Effect of Fair Value Hedges on Results of Operations [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments	22	(48)	$ (12)
Foreign currency forwards \| Derivatives not designated as hedges: \| Other current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional	3,273	221
Fair value	52	0
Foreign currency forwards \| Derivatives not designated as hedges: \| Other current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional	825	2,816
Fair value	$ 4	$ 19

Financial instruments - warrants (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions			12 Months Ended
	Aug. 25, 2016	Mar. 18, 2016	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
AmerisourceBergen
Warrants [Abstract]
Warrant to purchase common stock (in shares)	22,696,912	22,696,912
Warrant exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 52.50	$ 51.50
Warrants aggregate exercise price payment	$ 1,190	$ 1,170
Warrants \| Other income (expense)
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments			$ 0	$ 0	$ (546)

Fair value measurements (Details) - Recurring - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Money Market Funds
Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of assets	$ 227	$ 2,096
Available-for-sale investments
Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of assets	1	1
Foreign currency forwards
Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of assets	52
Liabilities [Abstract]
Fair value of liabilities	4	19
Interest rate swaps
Liabilities [Abstract]
Fair value of liabilities	1
Level 1 \| Money Market Funds
Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of assets	227	2,096
Level 1 \| Available-for-sale investments
Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of assets	1	1
Level 1 \| Foreign currency forwards
Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of assets	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Fair value of liabilities	0	0
Level 1 \| Interest rate swaps
Liabilities [Abstract]
Fair value of liabilities	0
Level 2 \| Money Market Funds
Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 2 \| Available-for-sale investments
Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 2 \| Foreign currency forwards
Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of assets	52
Liabilities [Abstract]
Fair value of liabilities	4	19
Level 2 \| Interest rate swaps
Liabilities [Abstract]
Fair value of liabilities	1
Level 3 \| Money Market Funds
Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3 \| Available-for-sale investments
Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of assets	0	0
Level 3 \| Foreign currency forwards
Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of assets	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Fair value of liabilities	0	$ 0
Level 3 \| Interest rate swaps
Liabilities [Abstract]
Fair value of liabilities	$ 0

Commitments and contingencies (Details) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
Commitments and contingencies (Details) $ in Millions	Sep. 28, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018 lawsuit	Aug. 31, 2017 lawsuit
Rite Aid Transactions
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits filed			2
Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits filed			1
Middle District of Pennsylvania
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits filed			1
Delaware Court of Chancery
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Lawsuits filed and dismissed		8
Subsequent Event
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for legal settlements \| $	$ 34.5

Income taxes - additional information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
U.S. statutory federal tax rate			25.70%	35.00%	35.00%
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Of 2017, discrete tax benefit			$ 307
Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of 2017, provisional income tax expense (benefit)			(125)
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, provisional income tax benefit due to remeasurement of deferred tax liabilities			648
Transition tax, provisional discrete tax expense	$ 679		523
Tax attributes			2,351	$ 555
Income tax credits			58
Deferred tax assets operating loss carryforwards subject to expiration			2,100
Deferred tax assets operating loss carryforwards not subject to expiration			227
Valuation allowance			2,226	408
Income taxes paid			600	1,100	$ 1,100
Unrecognized tax benefits			456	409	269	$ 261
Unrecognized tax benefits would favorably impact the effective tax rate if recognized			331	286	$ 237
Decrease in unrecognized tax benefits is reasonably possible			24
Accrued Interest and penalties in income tax provision			87	43
Interest and penalties included in income tax expense			44
Unrecorded deferred tax liability for temporary differences related to foreign subsidiaries			127	$ 142
U.S. Federal
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards			426
State
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards			43
Non-U.S.
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards			8,500
Long-term liabilities
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Unrecognized tax benefits			482
Current liabilities
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Unrecognized tax benefits			$ 61
Scenario, Forecast
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
U.S. statutory federal tax rate		21.00%

Income taxes - components of earnings before income tax provision (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
U.S.	$ 3,292	$ 1,953	$ 2,577
Non–U.S.	2,683	2,900	2,567
Earnings before income tax provision	$ 5,975	$ 4,853	$ 5,144

Income taxes - provision for income taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Current provision
Federal	$ 866	$ 759	$ 999
State	103	45	56
Non–U.S.	353	390	371
Total current provisions for income taxes	1,322	1,194	1,426
Deferred provision
Federal – tax law change	(648)	0	0
Federal – excluding tax law change	304	(306)	(183)
State	78	(24)	6
Non–U.S. – tax law change	0	(80)	(182)
Non–U.S. – excluding tax law change	(58)	(24)	(70)
Total non-current provisions for income taxes	(324)	(434)	(429)
Income tax provision	$ 998	$ 760	$ 997

Income taxes - reconciliation to effective tax rate (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal statutory rate	25.70%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	2.30%	0.30%	0.80%
Foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates	(12.20%)	(11.80%)	(7.80%)
Non-taxable income	(5.20%)	(5.30%)	(4.40%)
Non-deductible expenses	2.10%	1.50%	1.10%
Transition tax	12.40%	0.00%	0.00%
Tax law changes	(10.90%)	(1.60%)	(3.50%)
Change in valuation allowance	8.70%	0.70%	1.70%
Tax credits	(6.90%)	(2.90%)	(1.50%)
Other	0.70%	(0.20%)	(2.00%)
Effective income tax rate	16.70%	15.70%	19.40%

Income taxes - deferred tax assets and liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Deferred tax assets:
Postretirement benefits	$ 0	$ 134
Compensation and benefits	152	207
Insurance	74	109
Accrued rent	271	174
Outside basis difference	0	55
Allowance for doubtful accounts	27	55
Tax attributes	2,351	555
Stock compensation	44	73
Deferred income	110	220
Other	44	88
Subtotal deferred tax assets	3,073	1,670
Less: valuation allowance	2,226	408
Total deferred tax assets	847	1,262
Deferred tax liabilities:
Accelerated depreciation	603	841
Inventory	301	416
Intangible assets	1,234	1,277
Equity method investment	459	1,002
Total deferred tax liabilities	2,597	3,536
Net deferred tax liabilities	$ 1,750	$ 2,274

Income taxes - unrecognized tax benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits
Balance at beginning of year	$ 409	$ 269	$ 261
Gross increases related to tax positions in a prior period	123	151	21
Gross decreases related to tax positions in a prior period	(15)	(36)	(47)
Gross increases related to tax positions in the current period	29	33	68
Settlements with taxing authorities	(87)	(2)	(17)
Currency	0	(1)	(11)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(3)	(5)	(6)
Balance at end of year	$ 456	$ 409	$ 269

Stock compensation plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Stock compensation plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Expected performance goal achievement rate	100.00%
Total stock-based compensation expense	$ 130	$ 91	$ 115
Stock-based compensation, recognized tax benefit,	43	$ 78	$ 21
Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested awards	$ 147
Compensation cost not yet recognized period for recognition	3 years

Retirement benefits - additional information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	May 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan, investments holding percentage	85.00%		85.00%
Cash contributions to defined benefit pension plans			$ 29
Profit sharing provision expense			217	$ 221	$ 226
Contributions to profit sharing			366	220	225
Cost recognized in the consolidated condensed statements of earnings			142	112	$ 130
Postretirement Health Benefit Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, benefit obligation, period increase (decrease)	$ 201
Curtailment gain	112	$ 109
Defined benefit plan obligation	146		146	$ 361
Expected benefit to be paid net of estimated federal subsidy during fiscal year 2017	$ 11		$ 11

Retirement benefits - fair value hierarchy (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	$ 8,676	$ 8,980	$ 9,428
Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	64	58
Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	7,878	8,361
Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	734	561
Equity securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1,030	956
Equity securities \| Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Equity securities \| Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1,030	956
Equity securities \| Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Real estate
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	501	461
Real estate \| Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Real estate \| Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Real estate \| Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	501	461
Other
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	822	741
Other \| Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	64	58
Other \| Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	531	583
Other \| Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	227	100
Fixed Interest Government Bonds \| Debt securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	901	217
Fixed Interest Government Bonds \| Debt securities \| Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Fixed Interest Government Bonds \| Debt securities \| Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	901	217
Fixed Interest Government Bonds \| Debt securities \| Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Index Linked Government Bonds \| Debt securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	2,880	3,354
Index Linked Government Bonds \| Debt securities \| Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Index Linked Government Bonds \| Debt securities \| Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	2,880	3,354
Index Linked Government Bonds \| Debt securities \| Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Corporate Bonds \| Debt securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	2,542	3,251
Corporate Bonds \| Debt securities \| Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Corporate Bonds \| Debt securities \| Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	2,536	3,251
Corporate Bonds \| Debt securities \| Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	$ 6	$ 0

Retirement benefits - components of net periodic pension costs (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Service costs	$ 5	$ 5	$ 4
Interest costs	193	174	308
Expected returns on plan assets/other	(209)	(146)	(249)
Total net periodic pension (income) cost	$ (11)	$ 33	$ 63

Retirement benefits - changes in benefit obligations (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$ 8,880	$ 9,463
Service costs	5	5	$ 4
Interest costs	193	174	308
Amendments/other	(4)	(11)
Net actuarial gain	(466)	(295)
Benefits paid	(398)	(298)
Currency translation adjustments	83	(158)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$ 8,293	$ 8,880	$ 9,463

Retirement benefits - change in plan assets (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of year	$ 8,980	$ 9,428
Employer contributions	65	70
Benefits paid	(398)	(298)
Return on assets/other	(55)	(52)
Currency translation adjustments	84	(168)
Plan assets at fair value at end of year	$ 8,676	$ 8,980

Retirement benefits - balance sheet (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Other non-current assets	$ 554	$ 278
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(7)	(7)
Other non-current liabilities	(164)	(171)
Net asset (liability) recognized at end of year	$ 383	$ 100

Retirement benefits - accumulated other comprehensive income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net actuarial (gain) loss	$ (27)	$ 171

Retirement benefits - accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Projected benefit obligation	$ 8,293	$ 8,880
Accumulated benefit obligation	8,285	8,861
Fair value of plan assets	$ 8,676	$ 8,980

Retirement benefits - expected future benefit payments (Details) - Pension Plan $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2019	$ 396
2020	259
2021	271
2022	287
2023	302
2024-2028	$ 1,699

Retirement benefits - assumptions (Details) - Pension Plan	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Defined Benefit Plan, Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Benefit Obligation [Abstract]
Discount rate	2.67%	2.41%
Rate of compensation increase	2.68%	2.83%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate	2.12%	2.16%
Expected long-term return on plan assets	2.27%	1.69%
Rate of compensation increase	2.64%	2.44%

Capital stock (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Capital stock (Details) - USD ($)	May 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Purchase of shares under stock repurchase program (in shares)		72,000,000	59,000,000.0
Value of shares purchased under stock repurchase program		$ 4,900,000,000	$ 4,800,000,000
Stock repurchased during current fiscal year, value		$ 289,000,000	$ 457,000,000	$ 1,000,000,000
Shares of common stock reserved for future issuances (in shares)		33,000,000
April 2017 Stock Repurchase Program
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Share repurchase program, authorized maximum amount								$ 1,000,000,000.0
Shares repurchased during period (in shares)	11,800,000.0
June 2017 Stock Repurchase Program
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Share repurchase program, authorized maximum amount							$ 5,000,000,000.0
Stock repurchase program, increase in authorized maximum amount						$ 1,000,000,000.0
June 2018 Stock Repurchase Program
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Share repurchase program, authorized maximum amount					$ 10,000,000,000.0

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 28,274	$ 30,281	$ 31,300
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	50	(95)	(2,834)
Ending Balance	26,689	28,274	30,281
Pension/post-retirement obligations
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(139)	(212)	29
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	417	(34)	(303)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI	(120)	109	0
Tax benefit (provision)	(57)	(2)	62
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	240	73	(241)
Ending Balance	101	(139)	(212)
Unrecognized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0	2	259
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	0	(2)	(148)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI	0	0	(268)
Tax benefit (provision)	0	0	159
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	0	(2)	(257)
Ending Balance	0	0	2
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(33)	(37)	(40)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI	4	5	5
Tax benefit (provision)	(1)	(1)	(2)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	3	4	3
Ending Balance	(30)	(33)	(37)
Share of OCI of equity method investments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(2)	(1)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(4)	(1)	(1)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI	11	0	0
Tax benefit (provision)	(2)	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	5	(1)	(1)
Ending Balance	3	(2)	(1)
Cumulative translation adjustments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(2,877)	(2,744)	(462)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(207)	(133)	(2,279)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI	8	0	(3)
Tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(199)	(133)	(2,282)
Ending Balance	(3,076)	(2,877)	(2,744)
Total
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(3,051)	(2,992)	(214)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	206	(170)	(2,731)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI	(97)	114	(266)
Tax benefit (provision)	(60)	(3)	219
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	49	(59)	(2,778)
Ending Balance	$ (3,002)	$ (3,051)	$ (2,992)

Segment reporting - results of operations of reportable segments (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)	May 31, 2018 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2018 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)	May 31, 2017 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($) segment	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments \| segment									3
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales to external customers	$ 33,442	$ 34,334	$ 33,021	$ 30,740	$ 30,149	$ 30,118	$ 29,446	$ 28,501	$ 131,537	$ 118,214	$ 117,351
Adjusted operating income									7,804	7,540	7,208
Depreciation and amortization									1,770	1,654	1,718
Additions to property, plant and equipment									1,367	1,351	1,325
Acquisition-related amortization									(448)	(332)	(369)
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements									(284)		(47)
Acquisition-related costs									(231)	(474)	(102)
Adjustments to equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen									(175)	(187)	(21)
Store optimization									(100)
LIFO provision									(84)	(166)	(214)
Hurricane-related costs									(83)
Cost transformation										(835)	(424)
Asset recovery									15	11	(30)
Operating income									$ 6,414	5,557	6,001
Three Third-Party Payers \| Revenues
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Concentration risk (as a percent)									32.00%
Retail Pharmacy USA
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales to external customers									$ 98,392	87,302	83,802
Adjusted operating income									5,923	5,707	5,357
Retail Pharmacy International
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales to external customers									12,281	11,813	13,256
Adjusted operating income									947	909	1,155
Pharmaceutical Wholesale
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales to external customers									20,864	19,099	20,293
Adjusted operating income									934	924	708
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales to external customers									131,537	118,214	117,351
Operating Segments \| Retail Pharmacy USA
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales to external customers									98,392	87,302	83,802
Adjusted operating income									5,923	5,707	5,357
Depreciation and amortization									1,196	1,090	1,134
Additions to property, plant and equipment									1,022	860	777
Operating Segments \| Retail Pharmacy International
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales to external customers									12,281	11,813	13,256
Adjusted operating income									947	909	1,155
Depreciation and amortization									419	414	401
Additions to property, plant and equipment									241	384	444
Operating Segments \| Pharmaceutical Wholesale
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales to external customers									23,006	21,188	22,571
Adjusted operating income									934	924	708
Depreciation and amortization									155	150	166
Additions to property, plant and equipment									104	107	104
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales to external customers									(2,142)	(2,089)	(2,278)
Adjusted operating income									0	0	(12)
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	17
Additions to property, plant and equipment									0	0	0
Intersegment Eliminations \| Retail Pharmacy USA
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales to external customers									0	0	0
Intersegment Eliminations \| Retail Pharmacy International
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales to external customers									0	0	0
Intersegment Eliminations \| Pharmaceutical Wholesale
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales to external customers									$ 2,142	$ 2,089	$ 2,278

Segment reporting - geographic data (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	May 31, 2018	Feb. 28, 2018	Nov. 30, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	May 31, 2017	Feb. 28, 2017	Nov. 30, 2016	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales	$ 33,442	$ 34,334	$ 33,021	$ 30,740	$ 30,149	$ 30,118	$ 29,446	$ 28,501	$ 131,537	$ 118,214	$ 117,351
Long-Lived Assets	13,911				13,642				13,911	13,642
Other
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales									2,254	2,136	2,675
Long-Lived Assets	199				180				199	180
Reportable Geographical Components \| United States of America
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales									98,392	87,302	83,802
Long-Lived Assets	10,678				10,344				10,678	10,344
Reportable Geographical Components \| United Kingdom
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales									13,297	12,552	14,081
Long-Lived Assets	2,458				2,502				2,458	2,502
Reportable Geographical Components \| Europe (excluding the United Kingdom)
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales									17,594	16,224	$ 16,793
Long-Lived Assets	$ 576				$ 616				$ 576	$ 616

Related parties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Related parties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Purchases, net	$ 53,161	$ 43,571	$ 41,889
Trade accounts payable, net	$ 6,274	$ 4,384	$ 3,456

Supplementary financial information - summary of quarterly results (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	May 31, 2018	Feb. 28, 2018	Nov. 30, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	May 31, 2017	Feb. 28, 2017	Nov. 30, 2016	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]
Sales	$ 33,442	$ 34,334	$ 33,021	$ 30,740	$ 30,149	$ 30,118	$ 29,446	$ 28,501	$ 131,537	$ 118,214	$ 117,351
Gross profit	7,575	7,780	8,096	7,341	7,340	7,145	7,561	7,116	30,792	29,162	29,874
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$ 1,512	$ 1,342	$ 1,349	$ 821	$ 802	$ 1,162	$ 1,060	$ 1,054	$ 5,024	$ 4,078	$ 4,173
Net earnings per common share [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.55	$ 1.35	$ 1.36	$ 0.82	$ 0.76	$ 1.08	$ 0.98	$ 0.97	$ 5.07	$ 3.80	$ 3.85
Diluted (in dollars per share)	1.55	1.35	1.36	0.81	0.76	1.07	0.98	0.97	5.05	3.78	3.82
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.440	$ 0.400	$ 0.400	$ 0.400	$ 0.400	$ 0.375	$ 0.375	$ 0.375	$ 1.640	$ 1.525	$ 1.455

- Definition

The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(19))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873790&loc=SL114874131-224263

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109260490&loc=d3e1337-109256

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 52
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109256448&loc=d3e4984-109258

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(21))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109234566&loc=d3e22694-107794

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109260490&loc=d3e1252-109256

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(23))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873765&loc=SL114874048-224260

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 60B
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109260490&loc=SL5780133-109256

+ Details

- Definition

The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 52
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109256448&loc=d3e4984-109258

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109260490&loc=d3e1252-109256

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(23))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873765&loc=SL114874048-224260

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109234566&loc=d3e22694-107794

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109260490&loc=d3e1337-109256

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(21))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 60B
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109260490&loc=SL5780133-109256

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(19))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873790&loc=SL114874131-224263

+ Details

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References + Details