Seizing the Spotlight: Major Acquisitions by the Private Equity Sector
The latest major private equity acquisition news involves Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) agreeing to a $10 billion private equity buyout led by Sycamore Partners, officially approved by shareholders in August 2025. This deal will take Walgreens private, delisting it from the Nasdaq, and is expected to close soon, marking a significant shift for the company and the retail pharmacy sector.
Key details about the Walgreens buyout: - Deal value: $10 billion including assumed debt. - Lead investor: Sycamore Partners, an American private equity firm. - The deal aims to help Walgreens restructure away from public market pressures and facilitate cost-cutting, store closures, and operational changes. - Boots, WBA’s U.K.-based beauty and pharmacy chain, is included and may face restructuring, though specifics are not confirmed. - Financing for Sycamore's acquisition included a dual-currency EUR 650 million and GBP 375 million senior secured notes issuance.
Regarding other companies:
- Assura and Gerresheimer AG: No recent or credible private equity acquisition news was found for these companies as of August 2025. There appear to be no major updates regarding private equity takeovers similar to Walgreens Boots Alliance.
- The market value of Gerresheimer AG stands at approximately €2.7bn ($2.9bn).
- The deal for Gerresheimer AG could still fall apart.
- Bain Capital and other bidders have exited the race for Gerresheimer AG, positioning the Warburg Pincus-KKR consortium as the frontrunner.
- Assura is poised to accept a £1.61 billion private equity takeover bid.
It's worth noting that Gerresheimer AG is a key supplier of packaging solutions for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, while Assura owns more than 600 buildings, including doctors' surgeries across the UK. The Wall Street Journal reported the news about the Walgreens acquisition. Walgreens shares surged as much as 8.2% following the news, with shares closing at $10.84, up 5% for the day.
[1] The Wall Street Journal. (2025). Walgreens Boots Alliance Agrees to $10 Billion Buyout by Sycamore Partners. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/walgreens-boots-alliance-agrees-to-10-billion-buyout-by-sycamore-partners-11658224400 [2] CNBC. (2025). Walgreens Boots Alliance to be taken private in $10 billion deal backed by Sycamore Partners. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/01/walgreens-boots-alliance-to-be-taken-private-in-10-billion-deal-backed-by-sycamore-partners.html [3] Reuters. (2025). Sycamore Partners to buy Walgreens Boots Alliance in $10 billion deal. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/sycamore-partners-to-buy-walgreens-boots-alliance-in-10-billion-deal-2025-08-01/ [4] Financial Times. (2025). Sycamore Partners agrees $10bn deal to buy Walgreens Boots Alliance. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/7177609c-d05e-4320-9715-350987429e7b
- The latest private equity deal, valued at $10 billion, involves the buyout of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) by Sycamore Partners, which was officially approved by shareholders in August 2025.
- Sycamore Partners, an American private equity firm, will take Walgreens private through this deal, leading to delisting from the Nasdaq and potential store closures and operational changes.
- Financing for this transaction included a dual-currency EUR 650 million and GBP 375 million senior secured notes issuance.
- There has been no credible private equity acquisition news for companies like Assura and Gerresheimer AG as of August 2025.
- Bain Capital and other bidders have exited the race for Gerresheimer AG, leaving Warburg Pincus-KKR as the frontrunner, while Assura is poised to accept a £1.61 billion private equity takeover bid.
