Walgreens Boots Alliance is going private after Sycamore Partners sealed a $10 billion deal, ending nearly a century on public markets. Struggling with competition and changing consumer habits, Walgreens aims to reinvent itself away from the pressures of being publicly traded.
"Walgreens closes chapter on public markets as Sycamore partners seals $10 billion deal"
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) is set to be taken private by private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a monumental $10 billion deal, marking the end of its nearly century-long presence in the public markets. The pharmacy giant, which was once a proud member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, has struggled in recent years, seeing its stock value decline amid rising competition and changing consumer habits.
The acquisition follows a series of challenges, including weak retail sales, an overhaul of its U.K.-based Boots business, and cost-cutting measures aimed at reviving the company’s fortunes. Walgreens had previously explored private ownership and held talks with several large private equity firms.
Founded in 1901, Walgreens became a household name, with over 9,000 stores across the U.S. By 2018, the company reached its peak, joining the Dow Jones, but recent years have been marked by struggles, including a significant drop in profits and an ongoing shift in its business strategy.
Now, under the leadership of Sycamore Partners, Walgreens aims to pivot and reinvent itself, stepping away from the pressures of the public markets.
A new business partnership between the European Union and Ukraine has been launched in Brussels where the EU-Ukraine Business Summit took place from April 10 to 11.
Wikimedia Foundation has appealed an Indian court ruling that ordered the removal of allegedly defamatory content about ANI. This follows ANI's lawsuit over a Wikipedia description labelling it a "government propaganda tool", highlighting tensions in content regulation.
Global stock markets plummeted on Monday as tariff fears triggered panic among investors. With uncertainty over U.S. trade policies, futures markets priced in multiple interest rate cuts, heightening recession concerns. Major global indices saw sharp losses, while safe-haven assets surged.
Tesco is set to respond to Asda’s price-cutting strategy as it reports full-year results. While Asda aims to reclaim market share with lower prices, analysts question its sustainability. Tesco, with a strong balance sheet, expects steady growth despite rising costs.
China has escalated its control over vital mineral exports in retaliation to U.S. tariffs, intensifying global supply chain fears as it tightens curbs on rare earths, battery metals, and strategic technologies critical for defence and green energy.
Ukraine is ready to negotiate but not to surrender, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said on Wednesday as details emerged in media reports of a U.S. proposal for a deal which would see Ukraine give up almost all territory currently occupied by Russia.
The chief architect of China's lunar exploration programme has accused Washington of interfering in Beijing's space diplomacy efforts with international partners.
A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.2 has struck Türkiye, with its epicenter located in the Silivri district of Istanbul, according to the country’s disaster management agency, AFAD.
On April 23, a ceremony for the signing of documents between Azerbaijan and China was held in Beijing, with the participation of Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China.
Beijing has criticized Washington's pressure tactics, warning that threats and coercion are not conducive to resolving trade tensions between the two countries.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Pope Francis's relationship with Azerbaijan has evolved significantly over the years, characterized by diplomatic exchanges, promotion of religious tolerance, and peace advocacy in the Caucasus region.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope and a transformative figure in the Roman Catholic Church, has passed away at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed in a video statement on Monday.
The global economy, already fragile, now faces a new shock—this time from the United States. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff wave has dragged average U.S. duties to levels unseen in over a century. The trade war with China is escalating fast.
Sam Altman has stepped down as chair of nuclear start-up Oklo, citing a potential conflict of interest ahead of talks with OpenAI over a future energy supply deal. The move comes as the pressure mounts to power artificial intelligence with stable, low-carbon energy sources.
Toyota has signed a $2 billion deal to build a wholly-owned electric vehicle plant in Shanghai, as the Japanese automaker strengthens its position in China’s growing EV market during heightened US-China trade tensions.
The IMF has lowered global and U.S. economic growth forecasts, citing Trump-era tariffs and rising uncertainty. Global growth is expected at 2.8% this year, while U.S. growth may slow to 1.8%, with heightened recession and inflation risks.
The 18th meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between Iran and Russia is scheduled to take place in Moscow from April 23 to 25. The event aims to strengthen bilateral collaboration across a wide range of sectors.
Ukraine is ready to negotiate but not to surrender, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said on Wednesday as details emerged in media reports of a U.S. proposal for a deal which would see Ukraine give up almost all territory currently occupied by Russia.
The chief architect of China's lunar exploration programme has accused Washington of interfering in Beijing's space diplomacy efforts with international partners.
A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.2 has struck Türkiye, with its epicenter located in the Silivri district of Istanbul, according to the country’s disaster management agency, AFAD.
On April 23, a ceremony for the signing of documents between Azerbaijan and China was held in Beijing, with the participation of Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China.
Beijing has criticized Washington's pressure tactics, warning that threats and coercion are not conducive to resolving trade tensions between the two countries.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment