{"id":3005,"date":"2025-03-06T08:40:57","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T09:40:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/?p=3005"},"modified":"2025-03-06T12:51:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T12:51:29","slug":"boots-set-for-8000000000-sale-after-closing-300-stores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/06\/boots-set-for-8000000000-sale-after-closing-300-stores\/","title":{"rendered":"Boots \u2018set for \u00a38,000,000,000 sale\u2019 after closing 300 stores"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Pedestrians\t<\/div>
There are now fewer Boots stores on the high street following closures last year (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Boots<\/a> could be sold off in an \u00a38 billion deal following 300 store closures<\/a> across high streets up and down the UK.<\/p>\n

The recognised store could be handed over<\/a> to a private equity firm by its owners Walgreens Boots Alliance, which is facing financial difficulty.<\/p>\n

The sale to the firm, Sycamore Partners, could be announced as early as this week, according to Bloomberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It comes as fewer stores are now across high streets in the UK after 300 Boots shops closed at the end of 2024.<\/a><\/p>\n

Poundland\u2019s owner is also considering a possible sale of the UK discount retail chain.<\/p>\n

Walgreens Boots Alliance, announced in June last year that it would close 650 outlets<\/a> to make \u00a3618 million in savings.<\/p>\n

Across the UK right now, Boots operates around 1,800 shops.<\/p>\n

A takeover by Sycamore Partners could mean that it splits the company which means it could be floated on the London stock market.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Westfield\t<\/div>
The announcement could come as early as this week (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite the recent high street closures, retail sales have increased by 8.1% year-on-year and online sales have risen by 23%.<\/p>\n

But Walgreens has faced difficulties over recent years after its market value fell by 80%.<\/p>\n

Julie Fisher, the UK CEO at Simply Business, told Metro<\/strong> that current economic conditions are changing the face of the country’s high street.<\/p>\n

‘There are all clear signs that our high streets, as we know them, are under threat, and will become unrecognisable without intervention. <\/p>\n

‘Many high street staples could disappear – from newsagents to fishmongers, 132,945 small businesses are at risk of permanent closure within just 15 years.’<\/p>\n

She also added that the government budget is having an impact on the changing face of our high street.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Mandatory\t<\/div>
Recognised retailers are starting to disappear from the high street (Picture: Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

‘Cuts to business rates relief and increases to employers\u2019 National Insurance contributions, alongside other tax changes, are leaving many on the brink,’ she said.<\/p>\n

‘With falling footfall and rising costs, it\u2019s not just big retailers suffering \u2013 independent businesses are bearing the brunt.<\/p>\n

‘Small business owners must continue to demonstrate the adaptability, creativity, and resilience they\u2019re known for. <\/p>\n

‘With growth a key priority, what’s best for the UK\u2019s 5.5 million small businesses is best for our economy \u2013 and we urge the government to create the conditions for them to thrive.’<\/p>\n

Jonathan De Mello, boss of the JDM Retail Consultancy, said: ‘This acquisition would no doubt lead to them selling or more likely taking public, Boots.<\/p>\n

‘Boots has performed well over the past few years and is a leaner business overall now with fewer stores and staff, and no pension scheme liability. A stock market listing of Boots could potentially be quite attractive for investors at this point.’<\/p>\n

Nick Bubb, a retail analyst, said Boots is ‘very floatable’ after a post-pandemic boom in health and beauty.<\/p>\n

Boots has been a pillar of British life since opening their doors in Nottingham in 1849.<\/p>\n

The news comes after Poundland\u2019s owner is considering a possible sale of the UK discount retail chain after it struggled amid tough sales.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Shoppers\t<\/div>
Poundland stores are also at risk (Picture: Reuters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It also fears that incoming budget measures that will send wage costs soaring – another slap in the face to high street stores.<\/p>\n

Pepco said it was considering ‘all strategic options’ to help the chain that has around 800 stores across the country.<\/p>\n

Pepco said: ‘Poundland is a strong brand that serves millions of customers every week and had around 2 billion euros (\u00a31.67 billion) in annual turnover in financial year 2024, but it is also operating in an increasingly challenging UK retail landscape that is only intensifying.<\/p>\n

‘From April 2025, the UK Government\u2019s additional tax changes announced in the budget will also add further pressure to Poundland\u2019s cost base.<\/p>\n

‘Therefore, the board is actively evaluating all strategic options to separate Poundland from Group during financial year 2025, including a potential sale.’<\/p>\n

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

For more stories like this, <\/strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are now fewer Boots stores on the high street following closures last year (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images) Boots could be sold off in an \u00a38 billion deal following<\/p>\n

Continue reading <\/use> <\/svg>Boots \u2018set for \u00a38,000,000,000 sale\u2019 after closing 300 stores<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3007,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3005"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3005"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3012,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3005\/revisions\/3012"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}