India’s Reliance Group eyes UK’s Boots pharmacy chain

Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd and US buyout firm Apollo Global Management are planning a joint bid for UK high street pharmacy chain Boots, a spokesperson for Apollo recently confirmed.

‘The Financial Times’, which first reported on the joint bid citing people familiar with the matter, said the deal would see Boots expand its presence into India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

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Both Reliance and Apollo would own stakes in Boots under the plan, although it is not clear whether the stakes would be of the same size, according to the FT report.

Reliance was not immediately available for comment, while Boots declined to comment.

Walgreens Boots Alliance put its Boots business up for sale after announcing a strategic review in January as the second-largest U.S. pharmacy chain renews its focus on domestic healthcare.

Gujarati-origin brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa, the owners of UK supermarket group Asda, and private equity group TDR Capital – have also made an initial bid for Boots, which is valued at between £5 billion and £6 billion, the report said.

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

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Reliance, owned by India’s second-wealthiest man Mukesh Ambani, is the country’s largest listed company by market value and operates businesses as diverse as oil and gas to retail chains and telecom networks.

Reliance, which has been on an acquisition spree over the last few years, bought iconic UK businesses including toy store Hamleys in 2019 and country club Stoke Park last year.

(Reuters)