Alliance Boots is Europe's foremost international pharmacy led health and beauty group.

Geographical coverage:

  • Alliance Boots pharmaceutical wholesaling businesses: Czech Republic, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain and the UK.
  • Associate pharmaceutical wholesaling interests: Egypt, Germany, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland and Turkey.
  • Alliance Boots retail healthcare outlets: Republic of Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Thailand, and the UK
  • Associate retail healthcare outlets: Italy and Switzerland.
  • Alliance Boots own brand products sold through wholesale and to selected retail partners: Canada, Czech Republic, Dubai, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Kuwait, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK and the USA.

Scale of business:

  • A full-line wholesale and distribution network serving over 125,000*† outlets in 14 countries from over 380*† depots
  • 3,000*†‡ retail outlets (2,700*†‡ of which have a pharmacy)
    • 2,600*‡ healthcare outlets in the UK of which:
      • ­1,500*‡ community pharmacies
      • ­800* destination health and beauty stores
      • ­300* other retail outlets, including free standing Boots Opticians practices
    • 400*† pharmacies operating outside the UK
  • Market-leading own brand products including "No 7", "Soltan", "Botanics" and "Almus"
  • Over 100,000*† employees

*approximate numbers .
† including associates where applicable.
‡ prior to the disposal of 96 pharmacies required by the Office of Fair Trading as a condition of the merger.

Alliance Boots' management team offers a strong combination of retail pharmacy, pharmaceutical wholesale distribution, acquisition and brand management experience.

The "Boots" brand is expected to increase the Group's appeal to potential partners, customers and pharmacists. In addition, the sale of Alliance Boots' extensive proprietary product range (e.g. "No 7", "Soltan", "Botanics" and "Almus") in international markets is expected to provide incremental benefits.

Alliance Boots has a pipeline of attractive opportunities in new geographical markets for the expansion of both our retail pharmacy network and our wholesale and distribution activities. The Group's ability to access new markets and its attractiveness to potential partners are expected to be enhanced significantly by the management expertise, internationally recognised brands and balance sheet strength.