Bid speculation fuels increase
Alliance Boots shares have soared this morning following speculation in the Sunday papers that private equity firm KKR is considering raising its bid for the retailer from£10.00 to£10.60.

In early trading, the shares increased by 27p to£10.31, a rise of 2.6 per cent.

The Alliance Boots board rejected KKR's approach of£10.00 a share early last week, when it said that the offer undervalued the company.

Shares in Alliance Boots have risen by almost 25 per cent since the Alliance Boots deal was completed in July.