| Administrative History | In 1991 Boots established a new company structure. The former Pharmaceuticals Division was reorganised into three new businesses - Boots Pharmaceuticals, Boots Contract Manufacturing and Boots Healthcare International (BHI) which was responsible for the marketing of consumer healthcare products in the UK and Europe and for exports to other markets. Crookes Healthcare became the UK arm of BHI.
In 1993/94, Boots sold Farley's infant milk and food business and adult nutrition business to subsidiaries of H J Heinz for £94 million. In 1995/96 BHI Kenya was sold for £3.6 million and Laboratories Lutsia (leading French skincare specialist) was acquired from Roussel Uclaf for £115 million. The Strepsils brand was launched into Russia.
On 21 March 1997, The Queen officially opened BHI's new head office at D6 in Nottingham and Hermal (leading dermatological specialist) was acquired from Merck for £175 million and Italy's Farmila Dermical skincare brand for £4.1 million. Strepsils Sugar Free was launched in New Zealand and Strepsils Singles launched by BH Philippines in selected drugstores and supermarkets.
In 1997/98 BHI moved into operating profit. Managing Director Barry Clare officially opened a new raw materials warehouse in Thailand on 9 March 1998, continuing the expansion of manufacturing facilities wiht the growth of Strepsils throughout Asia. A Strepsils website launched in the UK.
Nurofen became the UK's leading over-the-counter analgesic in 1998 and two years later BHI bought Clearasil, the world's leading brand in acne prevention and treatment.
In May 2000 Strepsils launched in Latin America and later the same year, the website throatcare.com launched.
In 2005, BHI was put up for sale after being faced with the prospect of a predatory buyer. At the time it included brands Optrex, Nurofen., E45, Strepsils and Clearasil. BHI was purchased by Reckitt Benckiser for £1.926bn and the deal completed in February 2006. At the time, BHI had five manufacturing units - 3 in Nottingham, one near Hamburg and one in Bangkok. |