Feb 19 (Reuters) - Pharmacy chain Walgreens is laying

off over 600 employees across the U.S. following its ​acquisition

by private equity firm ‌Sycamore Partners, Bloomberg News

reported on Thursday, citing ⁠company letters.

Walgreens is cutting 469 jobs ⁠in Illinois and plans ‌to cut

another ‌159 positions in Texas, where it is ​closing a

distribution center, ‌the report said.

The company did not immediately respond to a ​Reuters request

for comment.

The ​distressed ‌retailer was taken private for $10 billion last

year, after a string of ⁠costly missteps and competition from

lower-priced ⁠rivals such as Amazon ( AMZN ) and Walmart ( WMT )

squeezed its margins.

Sycamore is planning to reduce costs by cutting Walgreens ⁠staff

and ‌taking away paid holidays for ‌some employees, while working

to boost ⁠store sales by adding products such as electronic

cigarettes, the report said.

The private equity firm, which specializes in retail and

consumer investments, has a track record of ​acquiring distressed

retailers for profit, including brands such as Staples, Talbots

and Nine ​West.