For the Boots Group as a whole, revenues were up 1.9% on a year earlier.

BBC: NEWS | Business | Boots hit by 'difficult' trading

Many big firms, such as Alliance Boots (a health-and-beauty group) have abandoned public stockmarkets and embraced private equity.

ECONOMIST: Traditional listed firms are facing competition

Also, there is continuing speculation among the British press that Alliance Boots could yet receive rival offers from private-equity rivals Blackstone Group and Britain's Apax Partners .

FORBES: Magazine Article