 Alliance experienced a slowdown in the second half of this year |
Alliance Unichem, the chemist firm that is merging with UK health and beauty retailer Boots, has said its business has "continued to perform strongly". Leading growth has been the firm's wholesale division, though in the second half of 2005 it experienced a slowdown in Spain and the UK.
The same pattern was seen in the retail business, the firm said.
Alliance said its focus on cost control and a tight rein on its finances should help it benefit from a pick up in 2006.
"The balance of our activities and geographical spread has once again provided resilience to short-term fluctuations in individual markets," the company said in a statement.
"We remain confident that Alliance will deliver the strong financial performance for the year, as anticipated at the interim stage."
In October, the firm announced it would merge with Boots in a deal worth �7bn.
The deal will create one of Europe's largest drugs, beauty and healthcare groups with sales of more than �13bn and 2,600 stores across the UK.
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