(Reuters) -Sycamore Partners is planning a three-way split of Walgreens Boots Alliance if a deal to take the struggling pharmacy chain private is reached, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Walgreens’ three businesses – U.S. retail pharmacy, Boots UK and U.S. healthcare – will be separated and have distinct […]
Business
Sycamore planning a three-way split of Walgreens after buyout, FT reports
Audio By Carbonatix
(Reuters) -Sycamore Partners is planning a three-way split of Walgreens Boots Alliance if a deal to take the struggling pharmacy chain private is reached, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Walgreens’ three businesses – U.S. retail pharmacy, Boots UK and U.S. healthcare – will be separated and have distinct capital structures, according to the report. Sycamore and Walgreens both declined to comment on the report.
Shares of the Deerfield, Illionois-based company rose 5% to $11.62 in early trading.
The report “marks another twist in the potential go-private story” for Walgreens, Leerink analyst Michael Cherny said.
Walgreens has reportedly been in talks to sell itself to private equity firm Sycamore since December, but a deal is yet to be reached.
Media reports have also pointed to issues with financing for a buyout and discussion with Sycamore briefly falling out.
The financing of the take-private deal is not expected to be an obstacle, according to the FT report.
Walgreens’ executive chairman Stefano Pessina, who currently holds a 17% stake, is expected to maintain a significant share of the company, it added.
(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija and Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid and Shailesh Kuber)