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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| KKR raises Boots offer to £11.1bn | KKR raises Boots offer to £11.1bn |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The takeover battle for Alliance Boots has hotted up after one of the chemist chain's main suitors raised its offer. | The takeover battle for Alliance Boots has hotted up after one of the chemist chain's main suitors raised its offer. |
| Private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and Boots' deputy boss Stefano Pessina have upped their bid for Boots to £11.1bn ($22.2bn). | Private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and Boots' deputy boss Stefano Pessina have upped their bid for Boots to £11.1bn ($22.2bn). |
| The move comes after a rival group said on Friday that it was interested in buying the retailer for about £10.8bn and set up talks with Boots' board. | The move comes after a rival group said on Friday that it was interested in buying the retailer for about £10.8bn and set up talks with Boots' board. |
| Whoever wins, it will be the UK's biggest private equity acquisition. | Whoever wins, it will be the UK's biggest private equity acquisition. |
| Head to head | Head to head |
| Boots' board of directors has already backed the takeover offer from KKR and Mr Pessina, who owns 15% of Boots, and analysts say that they are favourites to win control of the firm. | Boots' board of directors has already backed the takeover offer from KKR and Mr Pessina, who owns 15% of Boots, and analysts say that they are favourites to win control of the firm. |
| The rival consortium consists of private equity firm Terra Firma, which was founded by UK investor Guy Hands, medical charity the Wellcome Trust, and banking group HBOS. | The rival consortium consists of private equity firm Terra Firma, which was founded by UK investor Guy Hands, medical charity the Wellcome Trust, and banking group HBOS. |
| One of the UK's oldest retailers is set to be owned by the American founder of the modern private-equity industry BBC business editor Robert Peston href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/2007/04/boots_knockout_1.html">Peston on Boots battle class="" href="http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/fds/hi/business/market_data/shares/3/37894/intraday.stm">Alliance Boots' share price | |
| According to the Terra Firma group there was no guarantee that they would table a firm offer. The group is expected to meet with the Boots board of directors on Tuesday. | According to the Terra Firma group there was no guarantee that they would table a firm offer. The group is expected to meet with the Boots board of directors on Tuesday. |
| KKR's new bid is worth 1,139 pence per share to Boots investors. | KKR's new bid is worth 1,139 pence per share to Boots investors. |
| The private equity firm and Mr Pessina said that they tabled the offer after buying 49.7 million shares at the higher price. | The private equity firm and Mr Pessina said that they tabled the offer after buying 49.7 million shares at the higher price. |
| "Overnight, KKR, in partnership with Mr Pessina, spent more than £1bn buying almost 10% of Alliance Boots's shares," said BBC business editor Robert Peston. | "Overnight, KKR, in partnership with Mr Pessina, spent more than £1bn buying almost 10% of Alliance Boots's shares," said BBC business editor Robert Peston. |
| "Their share raid has probably defeated the rival group of Terra Firma and the charity Wellcome Trust, which also wants to buy Alliance Boots. | "Their share raid has probably defeated the rival group of Terra Firma and the charity Wellcome Trust, which also wants to buy Alliance Boots. |
| "It's history: Boots, one of the UK's oldest retailers, is set to be owned by the American founder of the modern private-equity industry, KKR," he said. Broad reach | "It's history: Boots, one of the UK's oldest retailers, is set to be owned by the American founder of the modern private-equity industry, KKR," he said. Broad reach |
| KKR first made an approach in early March, but was turned down because the offer price was too low. | KKR first made an approach in early March, but was turned down because the offer price was too low. |
| Alliance Boots is best known in the UK for its 2,600 Boots the Chemist shops, and it also has 400 overseas outlets in countries including Thailand and Italy. | Alliance Boots is best known in the UK for its 2,600 Boots the Chemist shops, and it also has 400 overseas outlets in countries including Thailand and Italy. |
| As well as the High Street retail arm, the company is a wholesale supplier to more than 125,000 pharmacies, health centres and hospitals. | As well as the High Street retail arm, the company is a wholesale supplier to more than 125,000 pharmacies, health centres and hospitals. |