NOTTINGHAM, UK, 2014-12-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Alliance Boots notes that Walgreens has today announced that, subject to shareholder approval, the second step of the Alliance Boots transaction is expected to close on 31 December 2014, ahead of the original goal.
As previously disclosed, Walgreens will hold a special Meeting of shareholders on 29 December in New York City.
Walgreens shareholders will be asked to consider and vote upon the following items, among others:
- the establishment of Walgreens Boots Alliance as the new publicly-traded holding company of the new combined enterprise, and
- the issuance of Walgreens Boots Alliance shares
The transaction will fully combine the two companies to form the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
About Alliance Boots
Alliance Boots is a leading international pharmacy-led health and beauty group delivering a range of products and services to customers. Working in close partnership with manufacturers and pharmacists, we are committed to improving health in the local communities we serve and helping our customers and patients to look and feel their best. Our focus is on growing our two core business activities of: pharmacy-led health and beauty retailing and pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution, while increasingly developing and internationalising our product brands.
Alliance Boots has a presence in more than 26* countries and employs over 120,000* people. We have pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses in 10* countries and operate more than 4,550* health and beauty retail stores, of which just under 4,450* have a pharmacy, with a fast growing online presence. In addition, Alliance Boots has around 600* optical practices, of which around 180* operate on a franchise basis, and hearingcare services in around 430* locations. Our pharmaceutical wholesale businesses deliver over 4.3* billion units each year to more than 175,000* pharmacies, doctors, health centres and hospitals from over 340* distribution centres in 19* countries.
In June 2012, Alliance Boots announced that it had entered into a strategic partnership with Walgreen Co. (Walgreens), the largest drugstore chain in the US. In August 2014, Alliance Boots and Walgreens communicated that they plan to merge in the first quarter of calendar 2015 to create the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise, which will be named Walgreens Boots Alliance.
* Figures are approximations as at 31 March 2014, with the addition of Farmacias Ahumada data at the date of its acquisition on 11 August 2014, and include associates and joint ventures.
For further information, please contact:
Media relations:
Yves Romestan/Laura Vergani/Katie Johnson/Julie Longton, Alliance Boots: +44 (0)207 980 8585
James Murgatroyd/Claire Scicluna, Finsbury: +44 (0)207 251 3801
Investor relations:
Gerald Gradwell, Alliance Boots: +44 (0)207 980 8527 (UK)/+1 646 688 1336 (US)