The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, Oct. 14, edition that the Weston family holding company, Wittington Investments -- with the backing of Fairfax Financial Holdings -- is looking to acquire "the UK's most iconic pharmacy, health and beauty business" Boots for $8.9-billion (U.S.). The Globe's Susan Krashinsky Robertson writes that according to industry experts, Boots is also a retailer in need of attention after years of underinvestment. Boots has had a succession of owners over the past two decades. British retail consultant Richard Hyman says with so many shifts at the top, Boots has not benefited from the attention and investment that steady ownership brings. He says, "It needs some love, and it needs a longer-term view." Wittington intends to invest in the store network, where refurbishments could improve customers' perception of the brand. Other areas of focus will be improving the on-line shopping experience and investing in the loyalty program, which has 17 million members but could benefit from better tailoring of promotions to customers based on their buying habits. Mr. Hyman calls Boots "a gold mine." Mr. Hyman says the customer data in Boots' loyalty program "needs to be leveraged properly."