Talk:Alliance Boots

Article Improvements

Hello. As some of you may be aware, there are a number of factual inaccuracies that should be reviewed and corrected in this article. In the interest of transparency I am declaring that I work for Alliance Boots. I hope to work with external editors to ensure that this Wikipedia article is accurate. Please feel free to contact me on my Talk Page if you have any questions. Many thanks.

Second paragraph

A few points within this section of the article that talk about ownership of the company are factually inaccurate and should be deleted in order to maintain factual accuracy.

Please delete this part of the paragraph:

“In 2007 it was bought out in a private equity transaction, and in 2008 the trading business was transferred to a Swiss GmbH, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of a British company, AB Acquisitions Holdings. AB Acquisitions Holdings is owned by the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and the Italian businessman Stefano Pessina, who built Alliance UniChem and is now the executive chairman of Alliance Boots. In 2012, the American retailer Walgreens purchased a 45% stake in the business, as part of a three-year merger plan.”

This section of the paragraph above is incorrect because Alliance Boots did not transfer the trading business to Switzerland but only inserted a holding company above the trading companies, thus leaving the trading businesses unchanged. Also, the ownership of Alliance Boots is incorrect.

I suggest replacing it with the following, which is reflective of the facts:

“In 2007 it was bought out in a private equity transaction by AB Acquisitions Limited. Alliance Boots GmbH was established in Switzerland during 2008 and is a direct subsidiary of AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited, a company which owns 55% of Alliance Boots GmbH’s shares. AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited is jointly controlled by Alliance Santé Participations and three private equity investment vehicles advised by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR). Stefano Pessina and Ornella Barra, who serve on the Board of Alliance Boots GmbH, are also Directors of Alliance Santé Participations. The remaining 45% of the Company’s shares were acquired by Walgreens on 2 August 2012.”

Side Bar

Several details included in the article side bar are incorrect. Here are the changes to be made with relevant references for verification:

Headquarters: Please replace “Zug, Switzerland” with “Bern, Switzerland”. (Reference: http://m.drugstorenews.com/article/double-digit-profit-gains-alliance-boots)

Employees: Please replace “108,500” with, “over 108,000”. (Reference: http://www.corporateregister.com/reviews/item/?n=155)

Acquisition by Stefano Pessina & KKR

Several details in this section of the article are incorrect and should be replaced in order to maintain factual accuracy. See the below amendment with relevant reference for verification.

Please delete this part of the paragraph:

“On 31 March 2008 Alliance Boots GmbH, of Zug, Switzerland, acquired the trading business from AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited (KKR and Pessina's acquisition vehicle) in exchange for the issue of share capital, and became a subsidiary of that company.”

And replace with:

“Alliance Boots GmbH was established in Switzerland during 2008 and is a direct subsidiary of AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited, a company which owns 55% of Alliance Boots GmbH’s shares.”

Walgreens stake purchase

In the second paragraph, please replace “The two companies established Walgreens Boots Alliance Development Company in late 2012 to further their integration.” with “The two companies established a joint venture, Walgreens Boots Alliance Development in late 2012 to further their integration.” Please replace “April 2014.” with “November 2012.” Please change the sentence “Boots-branded cosmetic products went on sale in selected Walgreens stores in New York.” with “branded skincare and cosmetic products went on sale in a new Walgreens flagship store in Los Angeles.” (Reference: http://news.walgreens.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5682) — Preceding unsigned comment added by SourcingABC (talk • contribs) 13:50, 28 May 2014 (UTC)

Operations

The introductory sentence of this section of the article is incorrect and should be amended in order to maintain factual accuracy. Here is the change with relevant reference for verification:

Please delete:

“Alliance Boots operations are split into three areas, Health and Beauty Retail, Pharmaceutical Wholesale, and Contract Manufacturing.”

Please replace with this sentence:

“Alliance Boots operations are split into two areas, pharmacy-led health and beauty retailing and pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution. The Group also has a stand alone contract manufacturing business called BCM.” (Reference: http://www.chaindrugreview.com/front-page/newsbreaks/alliance-boots-good-progress-with-walgreens)

Boots UK

One detail included in this section of the article is incorrect. Here is the change with relevant reference for verification:

In the final paragraph beginning “The company’s loyalty…” the figure for the number of Boots Advantage Card members is incorrect. Please change to “17.9 million” (Reference: http://www.retail-week.com/city-and-finance/financial-results/boots-full-year-profits-soar-despite-sales-fall/5049149.article)

Internationally

This section is missing key information about the scale of Boots presence internationally. See following additional information in bold with relevant references for verification.

Second paragraph:

"Much of the Irish chain was acquired by purchasing Hayes Conyngham Robinson in 1998, although Boots had been present in Ireland prior to this. In 2012/13, there were 74 stores in the Republic". (http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2014/0411/608274-boots-expansion/)

Third paragraph:

"In 2008, Boots started opening pharmacies in Norway. In 2012/13, there were about 155 outlets known as Boots Apotek. (The name means Boots Pharmacy.)" (http://www.allianceboots.com/health-and-beauty/boots-norge.aspx)

Fifth paragraph:

"In Europe, Alliance Boots claims to be the clear market leader in pharmacy with stores in the UK, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Italy and Russia. It also has pharmacies in Thailand and its associates and joint ventures operate pharmacies in China, Lithuania and Italy." (Reference: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industries/health/article3786855.ece )

Please delete “Switzerland” from the list – Alliance Boots GmbH does not have Boots branded stores in Switzerland and in May 2013, Galenica (Swiss healthcare company) ceased to be an associate of the Group.

Alliance Boots has a Swiss associate called Galenica which is a diversified Group that develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products but Alliance Boots does not have pharmacies in this country.

Alliance Healthcare

Several figures included in this section of the article are incorrect and should be amended in order to maintain factual accuracy. Here are the changes with relevant references for verification:

First paragraph:

In first sentence, please replace “around 5,700 pharmacy shops in the UK alone” with “more than 15,800 delivery points in the UK alone.” (Reference: http://www.retail-week.com/people/analysis-walgreens-executive-vice-president-alex-gourlay-profiled/5053550.article)

In second sentence, the number of Alliance Healthcare countries is incorrect. It should be 20 rather than 21. (Reference: http://www.german-retail-blog.com/topic/past-blogs/ever-bigger-alliance-boots-237)

This section of the article would also benefit from the inclusion of additional information about important service brands of the Group that are currently not mentioned. I've written content which I think should be included within the current “Alliance Healthcare” section under “Wholesale” alongside relevant references for verification. Could someone please review these points and let me know their feedback. Thank you.

Alphega Pharmacy: Alphega Pharmacy offers a comprehensive range of added-value services to independent pharmacy customers, including branding, professional training and patient care, retail support services and supply benefits together with pharmacy and IT support. Alphega Pharmacy is focused on building a network of independent pharmacists across Europe under a shared brand. (Reference: http://www.retail-week.com/sectors/health-and-beauty/alliance-boots-targets-uk-independent-pharmacies-with-alphega-pharmacy-brand/5055728.article)

Contract manufacturing

The description of Alliance Boots’ contract manufacturing business is factually inaccurate. Please see below amend with relevant reference for verification:

Please replace the first sentence with the following (changes in bold)

BCM Limited is the contract manufacturing business of Alliance Boots and manufactures a range of own-brand and third-party medicines, and cosmetic product ranges. (http://www.bcm-manufacturing.com/about-bcm)

Please note that BCM is not a subsidiary of Alliance Boots Gmbh. It became a standalone business in 2009.

Product brands

This section of the article would benefit from the inclusion of additional information about important product brands of the Group that are currently not mentioned. See below additional info with relevant references for verification:

Insert the wording in bold:

“Boots Laboratories skincare range for independent pharmacy customers was launched in France and Portugal in 2008/09. The Boots Laboratories skincare range is sold in Spain, Italy and Germany.” (http://www.allianceboots.com/our-product-brands/boots-laboratories.aspx)

“Soltan is known for its UVA 5-star protection, a standard of protection developed by Boots and now adopted as the benchmark for suncare products in the UK.” (http://www.mumsnet.com/qanda/mike-brown)

Subsidiary companies

The list of subsidiaries is factually inaccurate. Here are the changes to be made with relevant references for verification: - Please replace “Boots apotek (Norway)” with “Boots Norge” - Please capitalise the “a” on ‘apotheek’ for “Alliance Apotheek (The Netherlands)” - Please delete “BCM” from list – this is a standalone, not a subsidiary

Please contact me on my Talk Page if you have any questions. Many thanks. SourcingABC (talk) 18:56, 16 April 2014 (UTC)

Note: Having flagged these proposed factual changes for 7 days without comment, I have now updated the article. Please contact me on my Talk Page if you have any questions. Many thanks. SourcingABC (talk) 18:48, 23 April 2014 (UTC)

SourcingABC (talk) 17:06, 28 May 2014 (UTC)

Note: Having flagged these proposed factual changes for 26 days without comment, I have now updated the article. Please contact me on my Talk Page if you have any questions. Many thanks. SourcingABC (talk) — Preceding unsigned comment added by SourcingABC (talk • contribs) 16:24, 23 June 2014 (UTC)

SourcingABC (talk) 16:20, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

Hello. As some of you may be aware, there are a number of factual inaccuracies that should be reviewed and corrected in this article. In the interest of transparency I am declaring that I work for Alliance Boots. I hope to work with external editors to ensure that this Wikipedia article is accurate. Please feel free to contact me on my Talk Page if you have any questions. Many thanks.

Alliance Boots

First paragraph: I would suggest replacing the phrase “multinational” with “leading international”. I would suggest updating the second sentence to say “It has two core business activities – pharmacy-led health and beauty retailing and pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution – and also increasingly develops and internationalises its product brands.” The third sentence is incorrect. Please update by replacing “25” with “27” as this is reflective of the facts.

Fourth Paragraph:

Please replace “108,000” with “120,000” Please replace “3,150” with “4,600” Please replace “3,050” with “4,450” These changes will be reflective of the facts

Fifth paragraph:

I would suggest updating it to say “On 6 August 2014 Walgreens exercised their right to purchase the remaining 55% of shares held by AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited, that it did not already own, to take full control of the group subject to shareholder and various regulatory approvals.” This would be reflective of the facts of the deal.

Walgreens stake purchase

Please remove “paid a further $9.5 billion to take full control of Alliance Boots” and replace it with “Walgreens exercised its option to complete the second step of its strategic transaction with Alliance Boots” Please remove “world's largest” and replace with “first global” Please replace “11,000” with “12,000”

Internationally

Second paragraph:

Please update the second sentence by replacing “2012/2013” with “2013/2014” and “74” with “64”

Fourth paragraph:

Please remove the sentence “In 2008, Boots started opening pharmacies in Norway. In 2013/14, there were about 153 outlets known as Boots Apotek. (The name means Boots Pharmacy.)” as the information is incorrect

Wholesale

Product Brands

Second paragraph:

Please remove “No7 was launched in 1935: it continues to launch products.” I would suggest updating the paragraph with the following, so that it is reflective of the facts about the No7 range. “Launched in 1935, No7 is best known for its anti-ageing beauty serums, developed in Nottingham and all indepently scientifically tested. The range of anti-aging serums first appeared in 2007. The range is comprised of four clinically proven anti-aging serums designed to target the ageing concerns of a specific age group. In May 2014, two new No7 Protect & Perfect ADVANCED Serums were launched for women aged between 35 and 45 years. No7 also gas a skincare range for men and a range of cosmetics. No7 is not only sold in Boots stores, but is also internationally available through third party retailers.”

Third paragraph:

I would suggest removing “Soltan is one of the UK's biggest selling suncare ranges and is also available in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. It is known for its UVA 5-star protection, a standard of protection developed by Boots and now adopted as the benchmark for suncare products in the UK.” and updating this with “Launched in 1939, Soltan is known for its UVA 5-star protection, a standard of protection developed by Boots and now adopted as the benchmark for suncare products in the UK.”

Fourth paragraph:

I would suggest removing “Botanics was first launched in the UK in 1995. It is a range of skin, hair, bath and body products.” and replacing it with “First launched in 1995, the Botanics range, developed in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London, uses high quality plant extracts combined with the latest skincare technology in a variety of products, including skincare, haircare, men’s toiletries, baby and indulgent bathing. Botanics includes a range of organic products, The Botanics range is not only sold in Boots stores, but is also internationally available through third party retailers.”

Subsidiaries

This section is inaccurate, please remove “Boots UK” “Boots Opticians (UK)” “Boots Norge” “Boots Ireland” “Alliance Apotheek (The Netherlands)” “Boots Thailand” “Alliance Healthcare France” “Alliance Healthcare (Distribution) Ltd (UK)” “Hedef Alliance (Turkey, Egypt)” “Alliance Healthcare España (Spain)” “Alliance Healthcare Nederland (The Netherlands)” “Alliance Healthcare Russia” “Alliance Healthcare Czech Republic” “Alliance Healthcare Norge (Norway)” “Alliance Healthcare Deutchland rebranded from ANZAG” “Megapharm (Germany)”

Please update with the following:

“Alliance Healthcare Czech Republic” “Alliance Healthcare Deutschland” “Alliance Healthcare Distribution (UK)” “Alliance Healthcare España” “Alliance Healthcare France” “Alliance Healthcare Nederland” “Alliance Healthcare Norge” “Alliance Healthcare Russia” “Armila UAB (Lithuania)” “Boots Ireland” “Boots Norge” “Boots Opticians (UK)” “Boots Thailand” “Boots UK” “Farmacias Ahumada (Chile)” “Farmacias Benavides (Mexico)” “Farmexpert (Romania)” “Hedef Alliance (Turkey/Egypt)” “Megapharm (Germany)”

Alliance Boots also has associates and joint ventures in:

Please remove “Galenica (Switzerland)” and “Amopharm (Moldova)” and update to include “Boots Hearingcare”, “Oktal Pharma (Croatia)”, “Walgreens Boots Alliance Development Company”

Employees

Please replace “108,000” with over “120,000”

Parent

Please update to say “Walgreens (45% Shareholding)”

Please contact me on my Talk Page if you have any questions. Many thanks. SourcingABC

Article Improvements

First paragraph

Please replace “multinational” with “leading international“

Please update the third sentence to say “The company has a presence in over 25 countries including associates and joint ventures and in 2013/14 reported revenue in excess of £23.4 billion.“

Please update to say “Alliance Boots employs over 108,000 staff and operates more than 3,150 retail stores, of which just over 3,050 have pharmacies. Alliance Boots pharmaceutical wholesale division serves over 180,000 pharmacies, doctors, hospitals and health centres from over 370 distribution centres in 20 countries. ”, which is reflective of the facts

Walgreens stake purchase

In the second paragraph, please replace “The two companies established Walgreens Boots Alliance Development Company in late 2012 to further their integration.” with “The two companies established a joint venture, Walgreens Boots Alliance Development in late 2012 to further their integration.” Please replace “April 2014.” with “November 2012.” Please change the sentence “Boots-branded cosmetic products went on sale in selected Walgreens stores in New York.” with “branded skincare and cosmetic products went on sale in a new Walgreens flagship store in Los Angeles.” (Reference: http://news.walgreens.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5682)

Operations

Please update the second sentence to say “The Group also has a stand alone contract manufacturing business called BCM.[10] and increasingly develops and internationalises its product brands.”

Interior of a Boots store

Please update the fifth paragraph to say “claims 17.8 million regular users.”

Internationally

Please replace the second sentence “A new roll-out started in 1997 with the Netherlands, Thailand, Taiwan and Japan but only Thailand survives, as an independent chain.” with “There are Boots branded stores in several countries including the UK, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Thailand, as well as the Middle East.”

Fourth paragraph: please remove “Switzerland” and the lines “A new store has also opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and in Qatar.” and “In Europe, Alliance Boots claims to be the clear market leader in pharmacy with stores in the UK, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Italy and Russia. It also has pharmacies in Thailand and its associates and joint ventures operate pharmacies in China, Lithuania and Italy.”

Alliance Healthcare

Please update the second sentence to say “more than 16,000 delivery points in the UK alone” and the third sentence to say “services to over 180,000 pharmacies, doctors, health centres and hospitals”

Contract manufacturing

Please remove the sentence “No7 was launched in 1935: it continues to launch products” and replace with “Launched in 1935, No7 is best known for its anti-ageing beauty serums, developed in Nottingham and all independently scientifically tested. The range of anti-ageing serums first appeared in 2007. The range is comprised of four clinically proven anti-ageing serums designed to target the ageing concerns of a specific age group. In May 2014, two new No7 Protect & Prefect ADVANCED Serums were launched for women aged between 25 and 35 years and women aged between 35 and 45 years. No7 also has a skincare range for men and a range of cosmetics.

Please remove the sentence “Soltan is one of the UK's biggest selling suncare ranges and is also available in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. It is known for its UVA 5-star protection, a standard of protection developed by Boots and now adopted as the benchmark for suncare products in the UK.” and replace with “Launched in 1939, Soltan is known for its UVA 5-star protection, a standard of protection developed by Boots and now adopted as the benchmark for suncare products in the UK.”

Please remove the sentence “Botanics was first launched in the UK in 1995. It is a range of skin, hair, bath and body products.” and replace with “First launched in 1995, the Botanics range, developed in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London, uses high quality plant extracts combined with the latest skincare technology in a variety of products, including skincare, haircare, men’s toiletries, baby and indulgent bathing. Botanics includes a range of organic products.”

Side Bar

Founded: Please update to say “2007” (Alliance Boots)

SourcingABC (talk) 16:19, 30 May 2014 (UTC)

External Links

Please add this link: Reference:http://www.stefanopessina.com/

Having flagged these proposed factual changes for 72 days without comment, I have now updated the article. Please contact me on my Talk Page if you have any questions. Many thanks. SourcingABC (talk) 15.05, 15 December 2014  — Preceding unsigned comment added by SourcingABC (talk • contribs) 15:04, 15 December 2014 (UTC) 

External links modified

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• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20070305063047/http://production.investis.com/allianceboots/merger_arch/summ/ to http://production.investis.com/allianceboots/merger_arch/summ/
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120228/http://www.chaindrugreview.com/front-page/newsbreaks/alliance-boots-good-progress-with-walgreens to http://www.chaindrugreview.com/front-page/newsbreaks/alliance-boots-good-progress-with-walgreens
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20090206164953/http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2001/11/25/story437502828.asp to http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2001/11/25/story437502828.asp
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20070211030256/http://www.almuspharmaceuticals.co.uk/content/en/mediaCentre/mediaCentreHome.html to http://www.almuspharmaceuticals.co.uk/content/en/mediaCentre/mediaCentreHome.html
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20121007054855/http://www.allianceboots.com/our-product-brands/boots-laboratories.aspx to http://www.allianceboots.com/our-product-brands/boots-laboratories.aspx

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External links modified

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