Skip to main content
BoF Logo

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

Walgreens Shelves Pharmacy Boots’ Sale as Market Turmoil Hits Dealmaking

Walgreens Boots Alliance on Tuesday scrapped the plan to sell its UK high street pharmacy chain, Boots, saying no third party was able to make an adequate offer due to the turmoil in global financial markets.
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has begun a strategic review of its Boots drugstore business, chief executive officer Rosalind Brewer said.
Walgreens shelves boots sale. (Shutterstock)

Walgreens Boots Alliance on Tuesday scrapped the plan to sell its UK high street pharmacy chain, Boots, saying no third party was able to make an adequate offer due to the turmoil in global financial markets.

Walgreens’ move to call off the sale comes as private equity bidders Apollo Global and TDR faced headwinds in raising financing for the deal, several sources told Reuters, as banks were wary of underwriting large chunks of the financing due to tough market conditions.

Boots was initially valued at as much as 8 billion pounds, or $10.88 billion, with the auction process being led by Goldman Sachs, sources told Reuters in February.

Global economic uncertainty and rising inflation have triggered a spike in interest rates as central banks have rushed to take action in the most widespread tightening of monetary policy for more than two decades, making deal financing costlier and harder to access.

ADVERTISEMENT

In Britain, supermarket chain Morrisons’ 7-billion-pound takeover by US buyout fund CD&R is the most notable debt financing deal to have hit a snag due to a delay in raising $6.6 billion in debt to fund the deal.

Walgreens had put its Boots business up for sale after announcing a strategic review in January as the second-largest US pharmacy chain renewed its focus on domestic healthcare.

The company said the decision to retain Boots and No7 Beauty Company was also underpinned by their ongoing strong performance.

Brokerage Evercore ISI said the announcement was not a surprise, noting it was likely disappointing to the management team that had hoped to refocus the company on its U.S. pharmacy and healthcare businesses.

“We see a potential future sale as still likely within the next few years if macro environment becomes more stable,” Evercore said in its note.

The 173-year-old Boots business includes 2,200 stores in the United Kingdom, including pharmacies, health and beauty stores.

By Mrinalika Roy, Ankur Banerjee and Pamela Barbaglia; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi

Learn more:

ADVERTISEMENT

Walgreens Is Exploring Options for Its Boots Business, CEO Says

The review is in the exploratory stage, chief executive Rosalind Brewer said, though she expects the process to move quickly.

In This Article
Topics

© 2024 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions

More from Beauty
Analysis and advice on the fast-evolving beauty business.

The Many Faces of Clean Beauty

In an increasingly crowded space, makeup brands that prioritise natural ingredients are finding new ways to get their message across.


view more

Subscribe to the BoF Daily Digest

The essential daily round-up of fashion news, analysis, and breaking news alerts.

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
CONNECT WITH US ON
The Business of Beauty Global Awards - Deadline 30 April 2024
© 2024 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy and Accessibility Statement.
The Business of Beauty Global Awards - Deadline 30 April 2024