Dive Brief: Walgreens has completed the sale of its Alliance Healthcare businesses to drug wholesaler AmerisourceBergen for $6.5 billion, the retail behemoth announced Wednesday.

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA) is an American multinational holding company headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, which owns the retail pharmacy chains Walgreens in the US and Boots in the UK, as well as several pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution companies.

Name. The company was founded as the Walgreen Drug Co., and did business under that name from 1901 to 1931. It was known as Walgreen Drug Stores from 1931 to 1948, and Walgreen's from 1948 to 1955. In 1955 the apostrophe was dropped from the name on retail outlets, which began using the "Walgreens" name.

The chain signs a deal with Fareva to take over its contract manufacturing business. Walgreens Boots Alliance announced today that it has made a 10-year deal with Fareva to take over its manufacturing business. Fareva is a French manufacturer operating in 11 countries.