Boots firm reports 20% profits rise

The billionaire boss of Alliance Boots gave an upbeat assessment on trading today after revealing a 20% jump in profits for the healthcare group.

The trading surplus of £771m (€971m) in the year to March 31 included nine months of trading as a private company following the £11.1bn (€132.9bn) takeover by Stefano Pessina and private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.