Headline: Boots Sold to Canada’s Weston Family in £6.7 Billion Deal

Headline: Boots Sold to Canada’s Weston Family in £6.7 Billion Deal

Date: 7 October 2026Tags: UK Business, Retail, Boots, Healthcare

Summary:

• Boots has been sold to Canada’s billionaire Weston family in a deal valued at $8.9bn (£6.7bn).

• Wittington Investments agreed to acquire the 177-year-old retailer from US private equity firm Sycamore Partners.

• Sycamore had owned Boots for approximately 18 months before agreeing to the sale.

• The acquisition includes Boots UK and Ireland, Boots Opticians, No7 Beauty Company and operations in Thailand and other franchises.

• Boots currently operates around 1,800 stores and employs approximately 51,000 people.

• The retailer has closed hundreds of branches following changing shopping habits and reduced town and city-centre footfall.

• Galen Weston will become Boots chairman and plans further investment, store upgrades and expanded healthcare services.

• Wittington is acquiring Boots alongside Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings and will retain operational control.

• Sycamore and Stefano Pessina’s family will retain separate pharmacy and healthcare operations in Mexico and Germany.

• The acquisition is expected to be completed in early 2027.

Why this matters: Boots is one of Britain’s largest pharmacy and retail chains, making the acquisition a significant change in ownership for a major UK employer and healthcare provider.

What’s next: The new owners plan to invest in Boots stores and expand healthcare services after the transaction is completed in early 2027.