boots In 2007, Alliance Boots was bought by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Stefano Pessina, Moving its headquarters to Switzerland, the first ever FTSE 100 company bought by A private equity firm. In 2012, Walgreens bought a 45% stake Alliance Boots, with the option to buy the rest within three years. It exercised this option in 2014, and as a result Boots became a subsidiary of the new company, Walgreens Boots Alliance, on 31 December 2014. Again Totally Out Of British Hands with Loss Of Jobs.