Boots agree £10.6bn takeover

Health and beauty giant Alliance Boots today backed a £10.6bn (€15.6bn) takeover by its deputy chairman Stefano Pessina and private equity group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.

The retail and pharmaceutical group, which has several outlets in Ireland, looks set to be the first FTSE 100 firm to fall into private equity hands after agreeing the £10.90p-a-share offer.