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March 7 (Reuters) - Walgreens Boots Alliance ( WBA ) is

being taken private by Sycamore Partners for $10 billion,

bringing to a close the pharmacy chain operator's nearly

century-long association with the public markets.

The following is a timeline of key events in the history of

the storied company, which was briefly part of the bluechip Dow

Jones Industrial Average index but has seen its shares languish

in recent years:

1901

Charles R. Walgreen Sr. purchases the Chicago drugstore

where he worked as a pharmacist to start the Walgreens chain.

1909

The second Walgreens store opens.

1926

The 100th store opens in Chicago.

1927

Walgreens' stock goes public.

1950

Walgreens begins to build self-service instead of

clerk-service stores in the Midwest.

1975

Walgreens reaches $1 billion in sales.

1984

Walgreens opens its 1,000th store in Chicago.

1999

Walgreens launches an online pharmacy.

2009

Walgreens opens its first store in Alaska, marking its

presence in all 50 states of the United States.

2014

Walgreens completes its merger with health and beauty

retailer Alliance Boots to form Walgreens Boots Alliance ( WBA ).

2016

Walgreens enters partnerships with pharmacy benefit managers

such as Express Scripts and OptumRx and insurer

UnitedHealthcare.

2017

Walgreens scraps deal to acquire Rite Aid after failing to

win antitrust approval, but buys nearly half of the smaller

rival's U.S. stores.

2018

Walgreens joins the Dow Jones Industrial Average, replacing

industrial conglomerate General Electric ( GE ).

Walgreens reports weak retail sales, has its biggest

intraday percentage loss in more than two years, raising doubts

about its Rite Aid move.

2019

Walgreens explores a deal to go private and holds

preliminary discussions with some of the world's largest private

equity firms, according to media reports.

2022

Walgreens begins strategic review of its U.K.-based Boots

business.

Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd and

U.S. buyout firm Apollo Global Management ( APO ) reportedly

plan a joint bid for Boots. Subsequently, Walgreens scraps the

plan to sell the business, saying no third party was able to

make an adequate offer due to the turmoil in global financial

markets.

2023

In October, Walgreens appoints Tim Wentworth as its CEO,

pinning hopes on the healthcare industry veteran to boost the

company's lagging stock price and reverse a recent drop in

profits.

The company also targets $1 billion in cost cutting measures

for 2024 as part of its ongoing efforts, which include shutting

unprofitable stores.

2024

Walgreens nearly halves its dividend payout in January to

conserve cash amid low consumer spending and intense

competition, wiping out more than $2 billion of its market

capitalization.

In February, it loses its spot on the Dow to Amazon ( AMZN )

. Eight months later, Walgreens says it would shut 1,200

stores over the next three years.

WSJ and other media outlets including Reuters report in

December that Walgreens is in talks to sell itself to private

equity firm Sycamore Partners.

2025

Walgreens strikes a deal to be taken private by Sycamore for $10

billion in March.