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Walgreens Boots Alliance shareholders have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the company’s £18.3bn takeover by private equity firm Sycamore Partners.

P3pharmacy has seen an email from WBA chief operating officer Ornella Barra from earlier today (July 11) in which she revealed that roughly 96 per cent of votes cast at a recent special meeting of shareholders were in favour of the merger proposal, “a percentage that speaks for itself” as she described it. 

Barra confirmed rumours that current WBA executive chairman Stefano Pessina “will continue to be a significant owner of the business” alongside Sycamore. 

“For now, nothing changes,” Barra told colleagues in WBA’s ‘international’ segment which includes Boots. 

She continued: “WBA remains a public company and International will continue to operate just as we do today.

“I strongly encourage all of you across International to keep your focus on your day-to-day activities and projects so together we can conclude fiscal year 2025 on a high note.

“As we move through the next steps of the transaction process, we will ensure we continue to communicate directly with you, and you will hear more from your respective leaders.”

Barra made no reference to rumours that the acquisition will lead to an attempt to sell off WBA’s European businesses including Boots. 

The transaction is expected to complete “in the third or fourth quarter of calendar year 2025,” she said.