Thread regarding Office Depot Inc. layoffs

Office Depot, said Tuesday that it is accelerating its store-closure plan and expects to close about 175 stores this year and at least 60 in 2016, for a total of at least 400 closures by the end of 2016. Smith said he was “pleased with our performance in light of the inherent disruption associated with the pending acquisition by Staples.” He said the acquisition of Office Depot, which includes OfficeMax, is “on track.” OD says results are in line with analysts’ expectations given the store closures and disruption due to the proposed merger, which Staples and Office Depot hope to close by year’s end. Office Depot employs about 2,000 at its headquarters in Boca Raton. If the merger is completed, Staples has said the headquarters of the combined companies would be in Massachusetts.