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Boots sold to Canada's Weston family in £6.7bn deal
Overview
High Street pharmacy and retail chain Boots has been sold in an £6.7bn ($8.9bn) deal to Wittington Investments, the holding company of Canada's billionaire Weston family. The transaction, agreed with US private equity firm Sycamore Partners after 18 months of ownership, covers operations in the UK, Ireland, Boots Opticians, No7 Beauty Company, and international franchises. The deal is expected to be completed in early 2027.
Key points
- Boots has been sold in a £6.7bn ($8.9bn) deal to Wittington Investments, the holding company of Canada's Weston family.
- The seller was US private equity firm Sycamore Partners, which had owned the retailer for 18 months.
- The transaction includes UK and Ireland retail operations, Boots Opticians, No7 Beauty Company, and Thailand and franchised businesses.
- Galen Weston, chairman of Wittington, will become chairman of Boots.
- The acquisition is expected to be completed in early 2027.