Oct 1, 2026 - Business

Sycamore seeks to break up the Walgreens Boots Alliance

Dan Primack

Boots pharmacy in the U.K. — Photo: Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images

Private equity firm Sycamore Partners reportedly is in talks to sell British pharmacy chain Boots to part of the billionaire Weston family for around $9 billion (including debt).

Why it matters: Sycamore isn't wasting any time breaking up the Walgreens Boots Alliance, believing that it's worth less than the sum of its parts.

Catch up quick: Sycamore acquired Boots as part of last year's $24 billion takeover of Walgreens, which previously had acquired Boots from KKR and Stefano Pessina for around $22 billion via a multi-year process.

Go deeper, via the WSJ: "Selling Boots at the price being discussed would be an early win for Sycamore, which is poised to make a sizable return on the sale. It would also allow the firm to focus on reviving Walgreen's U.S. operations."

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Sycamore seeks to break up the Walgreens Boots Alliance

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