Boots owner revisits talks on selling off €8bn pharmacy chain

Sale process was scrapped last year after company failed to secure the desired valuation for the business

Boots has about 80 outlets in the Republic.

The owner of Boots is reviving discussions on a potential exit from the pharmacy chain, nearly 18 months after a sale process was scrapped, people with knowledge of the matter said.

Walgreens Boots Alliance has been holding early talks about ways to separate Boots, which could be valued at about £7bn (€8bn), the sources said, and is studying a London initial public offering of its shares as one possibility.