Scheme Effective

RNS Number:9595G
Alliance Boots plc
31 July 2006


                               Alliance Boots plc
                                 (the Company)

COMPLETION OF THE MERGER OF BOOTS GROUP PLC AND ALLIANCE UNICHEM PLC AND CHANGE
                         OF NAME TO ALLIANCE BOOTS PLC

                                  31 July 2006

Scheme becoming effective

The Scheme Court Order made by the High Court on 26 July 2006 sanctioning the
scheme of arrangement (the Scheme) between Alliance UniChem Plc (Alliance
UniChem) and the holders of Scheme Shares (as defined in the Scheme) and the
Reduction Court Order made by the High Court on 28 July 2006 confirming the
related reduction of capital have today been delivered to the Registrar of
Companies in England and Wales for registration and have been registered by him.
  The New Boots Shares were issued and admitted to the Official List and
dealings in the New Boots Shares commenced at 8:00 a.m. today.  Accordingly, the
Scheme has today become effective in accordance with its terms and the Merger
has been completed.

Change of name to Alliance Boots plc

The Company's name changed from Boots Group PLC to Alliance Boots plc earlier
today at the same time that the Scheme became effective.

LSE Designation

Following the change of name of the Company from Boots Group PLC to Alliance
Boots plc, the designation on trading screens of "BOOT" has changed to "AB.".

De-listing of Alliance UniChem shares

Alliance UniChem's shares were de-listed from the Official List and from the
London Stock Exchange's market for listed securities earlier today.

Payment of Merger Dividends

As set out in the Merger documentation, the Company's board has resolved to pay
the Boots Merger Dividend to those shareholders of the Company on the register
of members of the Company at the close of business on 28 July 2006 an interim
dividend of 10.0 pence per share, to be paid on 3 October 2006.  The Company's
shares commenced trading ex-dividend as from 8:00 a.m. today.

As set out in the Merger documentation, Alliance UniChem's board has resolved to
pay the Alliance UniChem Merger Dividend to those Alliance UniChem shareholders
on the register of members of Alliance UniChem at the close of business on 28
July 2006 an interim dividend of 13.25 pence per share, to be paid on 3 October
2006.

Board changes

In accordance with the Merger documentation and the resolutions passed at the
extraordinary general meeting of Boots on 4 July 2006 the board of the Company
announces the following board changes which took effect earlier today:

Paul Bateman and Jim Smart have resigned from their positions as directors; and
Stefano Pessina, Ornella Barra, Steve Duncan, George Fairweather, Scott Wheway,
Adrian Loader, Patrick Ponsolle and Manfred Stach have been appointed as
directors of the Company.

Accordingly, the board of the Company comprises the following directors:

Name                                                    Role

Sir Nigel Rudd                                          Chairman
Stefano Pessina                                         Executive Deputy Chairman
Richard Baker                                           Chief Executive
George Fairweather                                      Group Finance Director
Ornella Barra                                           Wholesale and Commercial Affairs Director
Steve Duncan                                            Community Pharmacy Director
Scott Wheway                                            Health and Beauty Retail Director
Guy Dawson                                              Non-Executive Director
Adrian Loader                                           Non-Executive Director
Tim Parker                                              Non-Executive Director
Helene Ploix                                            Non-Executive Director
Patrick Ponsolle                                        Non-Executive Director
Manfred Stach                                           Non-Executive Director

In addition, Michael Oliver has ceased to be Company Secretary of the Company
and Marco Pagni (the Company Secretary of Alliance UniChem) has become the
Company Secretary of the Company.

Other Information

Unless the context otherwise appears, terms defined in the Alliance UniChem
scheme document dated 5 June 2006 (the Scheme Document) have the same meaning in
this announcement.

The directors of Alliance Boots accept responsibility for the information
contained in this announcement and, to the best of their knowledge and belief
(having taken reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information
contained in this announcement is in accordance with the facts and does not omit
anything likely to affect the import of such information.

This announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English
law and the City Code and the information included may not be the same as that
which would have been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdiction
outside the United Kingdom.

Application has been made to the UK Listing Authority for the New Boots Shares
proposed to be issued in connection with the Merger to be admitted to the
Official List and to the London Stock Exchange for the New Boots Shares to be
admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed
securities.  Admission became effective today.  Application has not been, and
will not be, made for the New Boots Shares to be admitted to, or to be traded
on, any other stock exchange.

The New Boots Shares will not be registered under the US Securities Act and will
be issued in the United States pursuant to the Scheme in reliance on the
exemption from registration provided by Section 3(a)(10) of that Act.  In
addition, the New Boots Shares will not be registered under the securities laws
of any state of the United States, and will be issued in the United States in
reliance on available exemptions from such state law registration requirements,
subject to the restrictions described in paragraph 21 of Part 2 (Explanatory
Statement) of the Scheme Document.

The New Boots Shares issued to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Canada
will not be qualified for sale under the securities laws of any province or
territory of Canada and will be subject to resale restrictions.

The New Boots Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the
applicable laws of any Restricted Jurisdiction.  Accordingly, the New Boots
Shares may not be offered, sold, delivered or transferred, directly or
indirectly, in or into any Restricted Jurisdiction or to or for the account or
benefit of any national, resident or citizen of any Restricted Jurisdiction.

Enquiries

Investor Relations                                  Media
Gerald Gradwell/Chris Laud                          Donal McCabe
Tel: [phone] (until 12.00 pm)           Tel: [phone] (until 12.00 pm)
Tel: [phone] (after 12.00 pm)           Tel: [phone] (after 12.00 pm)


                                                    Gavin Anderson, Tel: [phone]

                                                    Finsbury, Tel [phone]



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            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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