The private equity firm Sycamore Partners, which acquired Walgreens Boots Alliance in 2025 for $23.7 billion, is reportedly nearing an agreement to sell the Boots pharmacy chain. According to reports, the buyer is the Canadian branch of the Weston family, a prominent retail dynasty with a history of ownership in the UK market, including the former ownership of the Selfridges department store chain.

Negotiations are described as being in an advanced stage, with the possibility of a final agreement being reached as early as next week. The deal is valued at roughly $9 billion (£7 billion). While the sale would represent a significant shift in ownership for the high-street pharmacy brand, neither Sycamore Partners nor the Weston family has issued a formal statement confirming the transaction details or the timeline for completion. The move follows a period of consolidation in the retail pharmacy sector and marks a potential return for the Weston family to the British retail landscape.