Boots eyed up in takeover war

Healthcare retailer and pharmaceutical giant Alliance Boots is reportedly being eyed for a potential takeover by private equity firm Terra Firma in a move which could spark an all-out bidding war for the group, a report said today.

Terra Firma, which is run by wealthy British financier Guy Hands, is thought to be planning a £10bn (€14.7bn) bid for the group to trump any further offer from fellow private equity group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Boots chairman Stefano Pessina, according to the Sunday Express.