Walgreens to acquire three El Amal pharmacies in Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Walgreens announced Friday it will acquire three pharmacies from a drug store chain in Puerto Rico.
The El Amal pharmacies are expected to transition to the U.S. drug store chain by the end of February, Walgreens said.
Additionally, Walgreens also agreed to purchase prescription files associated with 11 El Amal pharmacies. Patients currently served by these 11 pharmacies will see notices in the stores and receive letters notifying them of the change. These locations, listed below, are expected to close by the end of the month. Patients will have immediate access to their prescription histories at a nearby Walgreens, or any of the Walgreens stores on the island:
- Mayaguez Shopping Center, Mayaguez
- Santa Maria Shopping Center, Ponce
- Centro Del Sur Shopping Center, Ponce
- Miramar #540, Arecibo
- Valle Real Shopping Center, Ponce
- Yauco Plaza, Yauco
- Dorado Shopping Center, Dorado
- Berwind Shopping Center, Rio Piedras
- Corozal Plaza, Corozal
- Bayamon Oeste Shopping Center, Bayamon
- Ave. Sanchez Osorio, Carolina
“Pharmacy is the heart of our business and is a service we take great pride in providing,” said Nivia Santiago, Puerto Rico market VP for Walgreens. “This agreement allows us to quickly provide our innovative pharmacy services to more of the Island’s population. Lastly, we strongly believe in Puerto Rico’s potential for long-term economic growth. We’ve been a part of Puerto Rico for five decades and have witnessed Puerto Rico’s capacity to overcome difficult economic periods.”
The proposed transaction remains subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
After the transaction closes, Walgreens will re-merchandise and refresh the acquired stores, incorporating new signage and displays as well as high quality, value-priced Walgreens-brand products and services including complete online and digital photo offerings. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of calendar 2010, with the store transitions expected to be completed by this fall.