Weston Family Buys Boots for $12.7B — Loblaws Money Goes British

The Weston family's Wittington Investments is buying British pharmacy-and-beauty giant Boots for $12.7 billion US including debt — extending a Canadian retail empire across the Atlantic.

Why Boots

Britain's most prominent drugstore chain: thousands of shops, deep loyalty, private-equity seller eager to exit. The Westons buy Canada-tested retail models and export them.

Toronto shoppers fund this how?

Every Loblaws receipt and Shoppers points haul flows uphill to deals like this. Canadians financed an empire; now it shops in London.

Sources: CBC News. Context from the Young Hadene newsroom.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the Westons buy?

UK chain Boots — stores, beauty and pharmacy.

For how much?

$12.7 billion US including debt.