Alliance UniChem, Boots Confirm Merger
October 3, 2005
British pharmacy and retail chain Boots Group PLC confirmed Monday it is merging with European drug distributor Alliance UniChem PLC.
Boots runs pharmacies that also sell general health and beauty products, well as sandwiches and gift items, and a few other countries. Alliance UniChem has a big pharmaceutical-distribution business but also operates 1,251 retail outlets in Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Italy and Switzerland.
The combined entity, to be called Alliance Boots, will be worth about $5.29 billion and have more than 2,000 retail pharmacies and a wholesale drug-distribution business.
Alliance Boots will operate in 11 countries.