As of February 27, 2018, Walgreens announced that it had agreed to purchase Rite Aid for $17.2 billion. The deal is expected to be completed in the second half of 2018.
This purchase will create the second largest pharmacy chain in the United States, behind CVS. Walgreens has stated that the acquisition will help to improve the customer experience and expand the pharmacy’s reach across the country.
The deal has been met with some skepticism, as it is unclear how Walgreens will manage the combined company’s vast stores and brands. However, the company has pledged to keep Rite Aid’s 2,000 stores open and to offer job security to workers.
Walgreens is also expected to invest in Rite Aid’s technology and pharmacy networks.
Overall, the Walgreens/Rite Aid deal is likely to improve the customer experience and expand the reach of the pharmacies across the United States. However, there are some concerns about how Walgreens plans to manage the combined company, and it is still unclear how the new chain will be structured.
