Changes to UK pension arrangements

29 April 2010

In January 2010, Alliance Boots announced that it was entering into consultation with employees of our UK businesses about a proposal to introduce a new defined contribution pension scheme and close our UK defined benefit schemes to future accrual for active members.

Following an extensive consultation process with employees, the Group announces today that the new defined contribution scheme is to be implemented with effect from 1 July 2010 with a number of significant enhancements to that originally proposed.  As a result, the existing schemes will close to future accrual from that date.

ENDS

Editor's Notes:

Alliance Boots is a leading international pharmacy-led health and beauty group offering a wide range of products and services to our customers working in close partnership with manufacturers and pharmacists. Our two core business activities are pharmacy-led health and beauty retailing and pharmaceutical wholesaling. Alliance Boots is privately-owned and employs over 115,000* people. Its wholesale and distribution network serves over 140,000* pharmacies, doctors, health centres and hospitals from over 370* pharmaceutical wholesale distribution centres in 16* countries. We operate more than 3,200* health and beauty retail stores in nine* countries, of which just under 3,000* have a pharmacy.

 * Figures stated are as at 31 March 2009, are approximate and include associates and joint ventures.

For further information, please contact:

Yves Romestan /Zoe Farthing, Alliance Boots. Tel: +44 (0) 1932 871569
 
Kirsty Flockhart, Finsbury. Tel: +44 (0) 207 251 3801