Alliance Boots has taken one step closer to becoming the first FTSE 100 company to be taken private, after the UK healthcare group agreed to open its books to an increased £10.1bn (€14.8bn) private equity-backed bid fronted by its executive deputy chairman.

The Boots board this morning said in a statement that it "has agreed to grant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Stefano Pessina a limited period to undertake confirmatory due diligence".