Speculation about the future of the Boots boss has revived hopes of a return to the London stock market.
Walgreens Boots Alliance of America, which owns the grocery chain, is in talks to sell itself to private equity group Sycamore Partners.
New York-based Walgreens is worth around £5 billion.
Sycamore is thought to be keen to ditch Boots, leaving a London listing on the cards.
This is important for the city amid concerns about the health of the UK market.
And analysts think Boots is more attractive to consumers and investors now than it was when it was sold two years ago.
America’s Walgreens Boots Alliance, which owns the Boots grocery chain, is in talks to sell itself to private equity group Sycamore Partners.
Sycamore is in talks with Walgreens about a deal that could be completed early next year, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Stefano Pessina, the chairman of Walgreens, has a 17 percent stake and will end up as the boss of Boots, Sky News reported.
Another option would see Boots roll out and be listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Independent retail analyst Nick Bubb said: ‘The question is: can Boots be liquidated now? And I was skeptical about that a year ago, because the business recovery was not sustained, but Boots is still growing in 2024.
‘Entrepreneurs need to support a big game on that market, the general commercial sector can do it with another big company in it. So, yes, I think Boots may be listed again.’
In 2022, Walgreens abandoned the sale of Boots after alleging a ‘sudden and significant change’ in market conditions.
Jonathan De Mello, co-founder and chief executive of JDM Retail, said: ‘Boots has reduced the pension scheme and delivered better results than ever before.
there are very few commercial opportunities, which may lead to a more successful list than two years ago.’
If Boots, which started as a family-run drugstore in Nottingham in 1849, makes a comeback, it would be a bold vote as firms move their London inventory to New York or become a takeover target. their prices are low. Walgreens bought the chain in 2014.
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