It started as a corner shop herbalist in Nottingham in 1849, and grew to become one of the most recognisable names on the British high street. Now Boots the chemist is the latest home-grown brand to be sold off to an American firm – in a deal worth nearly £6billion. US giant Walgreens already owns a 45 per cent stake in the British chain, which it acquired for £4billion in 2012. It is now set to buy the remaining 55 per cent to become the sole owner. End of an era: Boots is the latest British brand to be sold off to a U.S. firm – in a deal worth nearly £6billion
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US chain Walgreens is set to buy the 55 per cent of Boots is doesn't yet own
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Italian tycoon Stefano Pessina, Boots chairman, set to make abound £1.5bn
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Boots’ HQ will stay in Nottingham, where business was founded in 1849
After the @placeholder-Walgreens merger they will be able to hand in medicine orders together, putting them in a very strong position to achieve the lowest prices.