To: All Mandate Members
Boots Retail Ireland
JH/LF
10 December 2021
Dear Member
Please see below correspondence sent to the company today regarding recent media reports in relation to the possible sale of the Boots business. We will of course update you when we receive a response from Boots in this regard.
Yours fraternally
For Mandate Trade Union
Jonathan Hogan
National Coordinator
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Ms Rachel Nolan
HR Manager
Boots Retail Ireland
2nd Floor
5 River Walk
Citywest Business Campus
Dublin 24
JH/LF
10 December 2021
RE: Press/Media Reports of Walgreens Boots Alliance Considering Selling Boots
Dear Ms Nolan,
I am writing to you regarding recent international press and media reports of an alleged potential sale by Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) of the Boots business. It is also reported that WBA has hired Goldman Sachs to explore a potential sale of the pharmacy chain, which is reportedly valued at a possible £10 billion. Mandate also understands, given the limited information reported in the press on this matter, that a number of private equity firms may be amongst possible bidders.
As a result of these developments being articulated in the press with no advance communication to Mandate Trade Union or the members we represent, the news comes as both shocking and unnerving to the workers across the stores nationwide. Mandate has received calls from members worried about their jobs and the news that has broken across media platforms during the past number of days.
While the process highlighted above may be exploratory in nature and may not lead to the sale of the business, our concerns are for our members working across the Boots business at the most difficult time of the year in retail, who are amongst the key frontline workers delivering essential services, all of whom have tirelessly contributed to the success of the business particularly throughout the pandemic. In light of the above Mandate is seeking assurances from the company regarding the future of the business and the job security of our members.
Mandate is also requesting that should the sale of the business take place at any stage in the future, that appropriate and timely communications are conveyed to all our members and their Mandate representatives in the first instance, before any of the developments are reported in the press.
Yours sincerely
For Mandate Trade Union
Jonathan Hogan
National Coordinator