Pre-Close Period Announcement

RNS Number:5992J
Alliance Boots plc
28 September 2006



28 September 2006



                               ALLIANCE BOOTS plc
                         PRE-CLOSE PERIOD ANNOUNCEMENT


Alliance Boots plc, an international pharmacy-led health and beauty group,
advises that it is briefing the financial community prior to entering its close
period on 1 October 2006.  The company intends to announce its half year results
in mid November 2006.

The company issued a Merger Completion and Trading Statement on 31 July in which
it indicated that in the periods leading up to the completion of the merger
between Alliance UniChem Plc and Boots Group PLC both businesses performed on
track. Since that time trading has continued in line with our expectations.

Commenting today, Alliance Boots Chief Executive Richard Baker said:

"Since the merger was completed on 31 July, trading has continued in line with
our expectations. The integration programme is proceeding to plan and the group
is in good shape going forward."


Retail

Our retail businesses are on track, with continued expansion in the
international and UK community pharmacy businesses.  Our UK businesses have
maintained good sales growth with a further month of good weather in July and
continued strong performance from the Health category.  The Health category has
benefited from increased membership of the Boots Health Club and increased
provision of services such as Medicine Usage Reviews.  Within the Beauty and
Toiletries category, cosmetics and fragrance sales continue to grow strongly.
In England and Wales, adjustments have recently been announced to the clawback
rate in relation to generic drug reimbursement from the beginning of October.
This action was expected and we are taking steps to mitigate the impact of these
changes.


Wholesale

Our wholesale businesses have continued overall to perform well, as indicated in
the 31 July trading statement.  We have recently signed an agreement with Pfizer
to be their sole logistics services provider for the distribution of
prescription medicines to pharmacies in the UK.  Regulatory approval has
recently been received for the acquisition of the UK short-line pharmaceutical
wholesale business of Cardinal Health; this transaction is therefore expected to
complete shortly.  In France, following the completion of the review of our
service offering referred to in July, some restructuring of the warehouse
network is underway.  This action will improve operational efficiency and leave
the French business better placed to adapt as the market continues to evolve.
Costs associated with this process will be treated as exceptional.  Looking
ahead there is a possibility of further government action in France to contain
healthcare expenditure in the second half of the current year.


Integration

Following the completion of the merger at the end of July the integration
programme is underway, with the initial focus being on implementing our new
organisational structure and on accessing the anticipated cost synergies.



Richard Baker, Chief Executive and George Fairweather, Group Finance Director,
will host a conference call for analysts at 08.00 BST.



UK dial in number   020 7190 1596

International dial in number   [phone]


Quote conference title - Alliance Boots pre-close statement




A replay facility will be available for seven days:


UK dial in number   020 8515 2499
International dial in number   [phone]
Access number   330506#




For further information, please contact:



Investor Relations

Gerald Gradwell/Chris Laud
Tel: [phone]


Media

Donal McCabe
Tel: [phone]



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