Health and beauty giant focuses on core business
Boots has disposed of its loss-making dental and laser eye-correction operations to Optical Express.

Last month, Boots announced its decision to close the remainder of the Wellbeing division, which spanned dentistry, chiropody and laser hair removal.

Boots did not disclose the value of the deal but expects exiting services to result in exceptional costs of£55 million, of which£29 million will be asset write-down.

The handover is being phased. Optical Express takes control of the laser eye business on October 25, followed by the dental practices on December 31.

The deal frees up 161,465 sq ft (15,000 sq m) of trading space that will be converted in the next financial year.

Topics