Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 29, 2007
or
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                     to
Commission File Number: 1-5057
OFFICEMAX INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
  82-0100960
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
263 Shuman Boulevard
Naperville, Illinois

(Address of principal executive offices)
 
60563
(Zip Code)
(630) 438-7800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
         
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.) Yes o No þ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
     
    Shares Outstanding
Class   as of October 31, 2007
Common Stock, $2.50 par value   75,397,045
 
 

 

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
             
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
           
  Financial Statements     3  
 
           
  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     22  
 
           
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk     33  
 
           
  Controls and Procedures     34  
 
           
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
 
           
  Legal Proceedings     35  
 
           
  Risk Factors     35  
 
           
  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds     38  
 
           
  Defaults Upon Senior Securities     38  
 
           
  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders     38  
 
           
  Other Information     38  
 
           
  Exhibits     38  
 
           
 Exhibit 31.1
 Exhibit 31.2
 Exhibit 32

 

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
OfficeMax Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(thousands, except per-share amounts)
                 
    Quarter Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006  
    (unaudited)  
Sales
  $ 2,315,219     $ 2,244,414  
Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs
    1,727,161       1,659,603  
 
           
Gross profit
    588,058       584,811  
 
               
Operating expenses:
               
Operating and selling
    419,765       413,185  
General and administrative
    79,581       91,479  
Other operating (income) expense, net
    (1,521 )     17,860  
 
           
Operating income
    90,233       62,287  
 
               
Interest expense
    (31,220 )     (30,557 )
Interest income
    21,814       22,900  
Other income (expense), net
    (179 )     (1,401 )
 
           
Income from operations before income taxes and minority interest
    80,648       53,229  
 
               
Income taxes
    (29,080 )     (20,250 )
 
           
Income from operations before minority interest
    51,568       32,979  
 
               
Minority interest, net of income tax
    (1,639 )     (1,604 )
 
           
Net Income
    49,929       31,375  
 
               
Preferred dividends
    (931 )     (1,009 )
 
           
Net income applicable to common shareholders
  $ 48,998     $ 30,366  
 
               
Net income per common share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.65     $ 0.41  
 
           
Diluted
  $ 0.64     $ 0.41  
 
           
See accompanying notes to quarterly consolidated financial statements.

 

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OfficeMax Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(thousands, except per-share amounts)
                 
    Nine Months Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006  
    (unaudited)  
Sales
  $ 6,883,890     $ 6,708,902  
 
               
Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs
    5,136,809       4,978,340  
 
           
Gross profit
    1,747,081       1,730,562  
 
               
Operating expenses:
               
Operating and selling
    1,233,114       1,231,529  
General and administrative
    262,237       267,383  
Other operating (income) expense, net
    (4,543 )     131,156  
 
           
Operating income
    256,273       100,494  
 
               
Interest expense
    (91,296 )     (92,274 )
Interest income
    66,628       66,117  
Other income (expense), net
    (5,858 )     3,160  
 
           
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest
    225,747       77,497  
 
               
Income taxes
    (85,669 )     (29,540 )
 
           
Income from continuing operations before minority interest
    140,078       47,957  
 
               
Minority interest, net of income tax
    (4,174 )     (3,293 )
 
           
Income from continuing operations
    135,904       44,664  
 
               
Discontinued operations:
               
Operating loss
          (17,972 )
Income tax benefit
          6,991  
 
           
Loss from discontinued operations
          (10,981 )
 
               
Net income
    135,904       33,683  
Preferred dividends
    (2,947 )     (3,027 )
 
           
Net income applicable to common shareholders
  $ 132,957     $ 30,656  
 
           
 
               
Basic income (loss) per common share:
               
Continuing operations
  $ 1.77     $ 0.57  
Discontinued operations
          (0.15 )
 
           
Basic income (loss) per common share
  $ 1.77     $ 0.42  
 
           
 
               
Diluted income (loss) per common share:
               
Continuing operations
  $ 1.74     $ 0.57  
Discontinued operations
          (0.15 )
 
           
Diluted income (loss) per common share
  $ 1.74     $ 0.42  
 
           
See accompanying notes to quarterly consolidated financial statements.

 

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OfficeMax Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(thousands, except share and per-share amounts)
                 
    September 29,     December 30,  
    2007     2006  
    (unaudited)        
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 147,351     $ 282,070  
Receivables, net
    749,902       556,733  
Related party receivables
    7,260       5,795  
Inventories
    997,613       1,071,486  
Deferred income taxes
    69,463       129,496  
Other
    60,830       51,264  
 
           
Total current assets
    2,032,419       2,096,844  
 
               
Property and equipment:
               
Land and land improvements
    38,062       36,195  
Buildings and improvements
    389,322       359,481  
Machinery and equipment
    828,730       794,010  
 
           
Total property and equipment
    1,256,114       1,189,686  
Accumulated depreciation
    (675,130 )     (610,061 )
 
           
Net property and equipment
    580,984       579,625  
 
               
Goodwill
    1,242,095       1,216,032  
Intangible assets, net
    200,173       201,304  
Investments in affiliates
    175,000       175,000  
Timber notes receivable
    1,635,000       1,635,000  
Restricted investments
    22,377       22,292  
Deferred charges
    51,484       40,439  
Other non-current assets
    169,492       249,512  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 6,109,024     $ 6,216,048  
 
           
See accompanying notes to quarterly consolidated financial statements.

 

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OfficeMax Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(thousands, except share and per-share amounts)
                 
    September 29,     December 30,  
    2007     2006  
    (unaudited)        
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Short-term borrowings
  $ 28     $  
Current portion of long-term debt
    34,888       25,634  
Accounts payable:
               
Trade
    798,522       965,218  
Related parties
    45,920       32,482  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
               
Compensation and benefits
    141,299       172,632  
Other
    364,272       332,937  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    1,384,929       1,528,903  
 
               
Long-term debt:
               
Long-term debt, less current portion
    349,517       384,246  
Timber notes securitized
    1,470,000       1,470,000  
 
           
Total long-term debt
    1,819,517       1,854,246  
Other long-term obligations:
               
Compensation and benefits
    266,139       287,122  
Deferred gain on sale of assets
    179,757       179,757  
Other long-term obligations
    270,866       350,491  
 
           
Total other long-term obligations
    716,762       817,370  
 
               
Minority interest
    30,997       29,885  
 
               
Commitments and contingent liabilities
               
 
               
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock—no par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; Series D ESOP: $.01 stated value; 1,138,860 and 1,216,335 shares outstanding
    51,249       54,735  
Common stock—$2.50 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 75,394,765 and 74,903,220 shares outstanding
    188,462       187,226  
Additional paid-in capital
    913,079       893,848  
Retained earnings
    1,035,937       941,830  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (31,908 )     (91,995 )
 
           
Total shareholders’ equity
    2,156,819       1,985,644  
 
           
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 6,109,024     $ 6,216,048  
 
           
See accompanying notes to quarterly consolidated financial statements.

 

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OfficeMax Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(thousands)
                 
    Nine Months Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006  
    (unaudited)  
Cash provided by operations:
               
Net income
  $ 135,904     $ 33,683  
Items in net income not using (providing) cash:
               
Earnings from affiliates
    (4,543 )     (4,356 )
Depreciation and amortization
    97,512       92,570  
Minority interest, net of income tax
    4,174       3,293  
Pension and other postretirement benefits expense
    6,086       10,321  
Discontinued operations
    4       6,566  
Other
    23,453       30,997  
Changes other than from acquisition of business:
               
Receivables
    (173,568 )     48,972  
Inventories
    86,329       205,890  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (205,878 )     (133,226 )
Current and deferred income taxes
    16,641       43,911  
Other
    45,339       1,151  
 
           
Cash provided by operations
    31,453       339,772  
 
               
Cash used for investment:
               
Expenditures for property and equipment
    (101,339 )     (96,775 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
    1,200       4,438  
Other
    (1,948 )      
 
           
Cash used for investment
    (102,087 )     (92,337 )
 
               
Cash used for financing:
               
Cash dividends paid
    (35,758 )     (34,376 )
Short-term borrowings, net
    28       (18,666 )
Payments of long-term debt
    (25,510 )     (65,478 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    5,852       112,682  
Other
    (10,022 )     (34 )
 
           
Cash used for financing
    (65,410 )     (5,872 )
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
    1,325       (7 )
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (134,719 )     241,556  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    282,070       72,198  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 147,351     $ 313,754  
 
           
See accompanying notes to quarterly consolidated financial statements.

 

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Notes to Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1. Basis of Presentation
OfficeMax Incorporated (“OfficeMax”, the “Company”, “we” or “our”) is a leader in both business-to-business and retail office products distribution. The Company provides office supplies and paper, print and document services, technology products and solutions and furniture to large, medium and small businesses, governmental offices, and consumers. OfficeMax customers are served by more than 36,000 associates through direct sales, catalogs, the Internet and a network of retail stores located throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.
The accompanying quarterly consolidated financial statements include the accounts of OfficeMax and all majority-owned subsidiaries as well as those of variable interest entities in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These financial statements are for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended on September 29, 2007 (also referred to as the “third quarter of 2007” and “year-to-date 2007”) and the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended on September 30, 2006 (also referred to as the “third quarter of 2006” and “year-to-date 2006”). The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in December. Due primarily to statutory audit requirements, the Company’s international businesses maintain December 31 year-ends.
The Company has prepared the quarterly consolidated financial statements included herein pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Some information and note disclosures, which would normally be included in comprehensive annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations. These quarterly consolidated financial statements should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006.
The quarterly consolidated financial statements included herein have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm, but in the opinion of management, include all adjustments necessary to present fairly the results for the periods. Except as may be disclosed within these “Notes to Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements,” the adjustments made were of a normal, recurring nature. Quarterly results are not necessarily indicative of results which may be expected for a full year.
In 2006, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached a consensus on Issue No. 06-03, “How Sales Tax Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should be Presented in the Income Statement (That is, Gross versus Net Presentation).” This EITF Issue clarifies that the presentation of taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities on a gross (included in revenues and costs) or net (excluded from revenues) basis is an accounting policy decision that should be disclosed pursuant to Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 22, “Disclosure of Accounting Policies.” The EITF Issue is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal year 2007. We collect such taxes from our customers and account for them on a net (excluded from revenues) basis. The adoption of EITF Issue No. 06-03 did not impact our consolidated financial statements.
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued (Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions of SFAS 157 are effective beginning January 1, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of SFAS 157.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — including an amendment of SFAS 115,” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 allows entities to choose, at specific election dates, to measure eligible financial assets and liabilities at fair value that are not otherwise required to be measured at fair value. If a company elects the fair value option for an eligible item, changes in that item’s fair value in subsequent reporting periods must be recognized in current earnings. SFAS 159 is effective beginning January 1, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of SFAS 159.

 

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2. Discontinued Operations
In December 2004, the Company’s board of directors authorized management to pursue the divestiture of a facility near Elma, Washington that manufactured integrated wood-polymer building materials. The board of directors and management concluded that the operations of the facility were no longer consistent with the Company’s strategic direction. As a result of that decision, the Company recorded the facility’s assets as held for sale on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and reported the results of its operations as discontinued operations.
During 2005, the Company experienced unexpected difficulties in achieving anticipated levels of production at the facility. These issues delayed the process of identifying and qualifying a buyer for the business and as a result, the Company concluded that it was unable to attract a buyer in the near term and elected to cease operations at the facility during the first quarter of 2006.
During the first quarter of 2006, the Company recorded pre-tax expenses of $18.0 million for contract termination and other closure costs. These charges and expenses were reflected within discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
The liabilities of the Elma, Washington facility are included in current liabilities ($15.5 million at September 29, 2007 and $15.5 million at December 30, 2006, respectively) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The estimated fair value of the related assets was zero at September 29, 2007 and December 30, 2006.
See Note 3, Discontinued Operations, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006 for additional information related to the discontinued operations.
3. Integration Activities and Facility Closures
In September 2005, the board of directors approved a plan to relocate and consolidate the Company’s retail headquarters in Shaker Heights, Ohio and its existing corporate headquarters in Itasca, Illinois into a new facility in Naperville, Illinois. The Company began the consolidation and relocation process in the latter half of 2005. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2006, the Company incurred and expensed approximately $11.5 million and $38.1 million, respectively, of costs related to the headquarters consolidation, all of which were reflected in the Corporate and Other segment. The consolidation and relocation process was completed during the second half of 2006.
During the first nine months of 2006, the Company closed 109 underperforming domestic retail stores and recorded a pre-tax charge of $89.5 million ($11.3 million for employee severance, asset write-off and impairment and other closure costs and $78.2 million for estimated future lease obligations, net of estimated sublease income). Also, during the third quarter of 2006, the Company announced the reorganization of our Contract segment and recorded a pre-tax charge of $7.9 million for employee severance.
At September 29, 2007, approximately $31.3 million of the reserve for integration and facility closures was included in accrued liabilities, other, and $51.8 million was included in other long-term liabilities. At September 29, 2007, the integration and facility closure reserve included approximately $78.2 million for estimated future lease obligations, which represents the estimated net present value of the lease obligations and is net of anticipated future sublease income of approximately $86.7 million.

 

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Integration and facility closure reserve account activity during the first nine months of 2007 and 2006, including the headquarters consolidation, the 2006 store closures and the Contract segment reorganization, as well as other previously disclosed integration and facility closure activities, was as follows:
                                         
    Lease\             Asset              
    Contract     Severance\     Write-off &              
    Terminations     Retention     Impairment     Other     Total  
    (thousands)  
Balance at December 30, 2006
  $ 107,824     $ 10,838     $     $ 3,142     $ 121,804  
Charges to income
                             
Change in goodwill
                             
Changes to estimated costs included in income
                             
Cash payments
    (32,455 )     (7,462 )           (1,656 )     (41,573 )
Non-cash charges
                             
Accretion
    2,825                         2,825  
 
                             
Balance at September 29, 2007
  $ 78,194     $ 3,376     $     $ 1,486     $ 83,056  
 
                             
                                         
    Lease\             Asset              
    Contract     Severance\     Write-off &              
    Terminations     Retention     Impairment     Other     Total  
    (thousands)  
Balance at December 31, 2005
  $ 91,455     $ 21,502     $     $ 739     $ 113,696  
Charges to income
    81,830       18,801       9,089       25,792       135,512  
Change in goodwill
    (11,000 )                       (11,000 )
Changes to estimated costs included in income
          (1,080 )                 (1,080 )
Cash payments
    (55,572 )     (24,808 )           (17,988 )     (98,368 )
Non-cash charges
                (9,089 )     (5,978 )     (15,067 )
Accretion
    4,850                         4,850  
 
                             
Balance at September 30, 2006
  $ 111,563     $ 14,415     $     $ 2,565     $ 128,543  
 
                             
4. Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share
The computation of basic and diluted income (loss) per common share for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007 and 2006 is as follows:
                                 
    Quarter Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,     September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (thousands, except per-share amounts)  
Basic income (loss) per common share:
                               
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 49,929     $ 31,375     $ 135,904     $ 44,664  
Preferred dividends
    (931 )     (1,009 )     (2,947 )     (3,027 )
 
                       
Basic income (loss) before discontinued operations
    48,998       30,366       132,957       41,637  
Loss from discontinued operations
                      (10,981 )
 
                       
Basic income (loss)
  $ 48,998     $ 30,366     $ 132,957     $ 30,656  
 
                       
Average shares—basic income (loss) per common share
    75,376       74,235       75,237       72,648  
 
                       
Basic income (loss) per common share:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ 0.65     $ 0.41     $ 1.77     $ 0.57  
Discontinued operations
                      (0.15 )
 
                       
Basic income (loss) per common share
  $ 0.65     $ 0.41     $ 1.77     $ 0.42  
 
                       

 

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    Quarter Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,     September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (thousands, except per-share amounts)  
Diluted income (loss) per common share:
                               
Basic income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 48,998     $ 30,366     $ 132,957     $ 41,637  
Preferred dividends eliminated
                       
 
                       
Diluted income (loss) before discontinued operations
    48,998       30,366       132,957       41,637  
Loss from discontinued operations
                      (10,981 )
 
                       
Diluted income (loss)
  $ 48,998     $ 30,366     $ 132,957     $ 30,656  
 
                       
Average shares—basic income (loss) per common share
    75,376       74,235       75,237       72,648  
Restricted stock, stock options and other
    1,182       544       1,061       603  
 
                       
Average shares—diluted income (loss) per common share
    76,558       74,779       76,298       73,251  
 
                       
Diluted income (loss) per common share:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ 0.64     $ 0.41     $ 1.74     $ 0.57  
Discontinued operations
                      (0.15 )
 
                       
Diluted income (loss) per common share
  $ 0.64     $ 0.41     $ 1.74     $ 0.42  
 
                       
5. Other Operating (Income) Expense, Net
The components of “Other operating (income) expense, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) are as follows:
                                 
    Quarter Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,     September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (thousands)  
Integration activities and facility closures (See Note 3)
  $     $ 19,345     $     $ 135,512  
Earnings from affiliates
    (1,521 )     (1,485 )     (4,543 )     (4,356 )
 
                       
 
  $ (1,521 )   $ 17,860     $ (4,543 )   $ 131,156  
 
                       
6. Other Income (Expense), Net (non-operating)
The components of “Other income (expense), net” (non-operating) in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) are as follows:
                                 
    Quarter Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,     September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (thousands)  
Additional Consideration Agreement adjustment (See Note 16)
  $     $     $     $ 9,232  
Receivable securitization program costs
    (302 )     (2,774 )     (5,562 )     (7,929 )
Other
    123       1,373       (296 )     1,857  
 
                       
 
  $ (179 )   $ (1,401 )   $ (5,858 )   $ 3,160  
 
                       

 

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7. Income Taxes
The Company adopted FASB Interpretation (FIN) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” at the beginning of 2007. This Interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” The Interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. It also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. As a result of the implementation, the Company recognized a $4.0 million increase to reserves for uncertain tax positions. This increase was accounted for as an adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Including the cumulative effect of this increase, at the beginning of 2007, the Company had $70.2 million of total gross unrecognized tax benefits. As of September 29, 2007, the Company had $72.3 million of total gross unrecognized tax benefits. The change in gross unrecognized tax benefits during the first nine months of 2007 includes a decrease of $11.3 million from settlements with tax authorities, an increase of $10.1 million in unrecognized tax benefits and an increase of $3.3 million in penalties and interest. Of the total gross unrecognized tax benefits, approximately $32 million (net of the federal benefit on state issues) represents the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective income tax rate in any future periods. The remaining balance of approximately $40 million, if recognized, would be recorded as an adjustment to goodwill and would not affect the effective tax rate. It is possible that the Company’s liability for uncertain tax positions will be reduced by as much as $22.4 million by the end of third quarter 2008. Approximately $17.0 million of this amount would impact the Company’s effective tax rate with the remaining $5.4 million impacting goodwill. Such reductions would result from the effective settlement of tax positions with various tax authorities.
The Company or its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction, and multiple state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company has substantially concluded all U.S. Federal income tax matters for 2002 and prior years. Years prior to 2003 are no longer subject to U.S. Federal income tax examination. The Company is no longer subject to state income tax examinations by tax authorities in its major state jurisdictions for years before 2002.
The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as part of income tax expense. As of January 1, 2007, the Company had $5.8 million of accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions. Income tax expense for the nine months ended September 29, 2007 includes interest and penalties of $3.3 million.
For the nine months ended September 29, 2007, the Company paid income taxes, net of refunds received, of $68.6 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company received income tax refunds, net of income taxes paid, of $20.4 million.
8. Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) includes the following:
                                 
    Quarter Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,     September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (thousands)  
Net income
  $ 49,929     $ 31,375     $ 135,904     $ 33,683  
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                               
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    11,304       10,067       52,414       (279 )
Amortization of unrecognized retirement and benefit costs (net of tax)
    2,550             7,673        
 
                       
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 63,783     $ 41,442     $ 195,991     $ 33,404  
 
                       
9. Sales of Accounts Receivable
The Company sold, on a revolving basis, an undivided interest in a defined pool of receivables while retaining a subordinated interest in a portion of the receivables. The receivables were sold without legal recourse to third party conduits through a wholly owned bankruptcy-remote special purpose entity that was consolidated for financial reporting purposes. At December 30, 2006, $180.0 million of sold accounts receivable were excluded from receivables in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s subordinated retained interest in the transferred receivables was $111.2 million at December 30, 2006, and is included in receivables, net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
On July 12, 2007, the Company entered into a new loan agreement (See Note 13. Debt). The new loan agreement amended the Company’s existing revolving credit facility and replaced the Company’s accounts receivable securitization program. The sold accounts receivable under the accounts receivable securitization program at that date were refinanced with borrowings under the new loan agreement and excess cash. The Company no longer sells any of its accounts receivable.

 

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10. Investments in Affiliates
In October 2004, the Company sold substantially all of its paper, forest products and timberland assets for approximately $3.7 billion in cash and other consideration to affiliates of Boise Cascade, L.L.C. (the “Sale”). In conjunction with the Sale, the Company invested $175 million in the equity units of affiliates of Boise Cascade, L.L.C. A portion (approximately $66 million) of the equity units received in exchange for the Company’s investment carry no voting rights. This investment is accounted for under the cost method as Boise Cascade, L.L.C. does not maintain separate ownership accounts for its members, the Company has less than a 20 percent voting interest in Boise Cascade, L.L.C. and does not have the ability to significantly influence its operating and financial policies. This investment is included in investment in affiliates in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company has determined that it is not practicable to estimate the fair value of this investment. However, the Company has not observed any events or changes in circumstances that would have had a significant adverse effect on the fair value of the investment.
The Boise Cascade, L.L.C. non-voting equity units accrue dividends daily at the rate of 8% per annum on the liquidation value plus accumulated dividends. Dividends accumulate semiannually to the extent not paid in cash on the last day of June or December. The Company recognized dividend income on this investment of $1.5 million and $4.5 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 29, 2007, respectively, and $1.5 million and $4.4 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively.
11. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price and related costs over the value assigned to the net tangible and intangible assets of businesses acquired. In accordance with the provisions of SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” we assess our acquired goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment at least annually in the absence of an indicator of possible impairment, and immediately upon an indicator of possible impairment. We completed our annual assessment in accordance with the provisions of the standard during the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, and concluded there was no impairment. During the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, we also evaluated the remaining useful lives of our finite-lived purchased intangible assets to determine if any adjustments to the useful lives were necessary. We determined that no adjustments to the useful lives of our finite-lived purchased intangible assets were necessary.
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment were as follows:
                         
    OfficeMax,     OfficeMax,        
    Contract     Retail     Total  
    (thousands)  
Balance at December 30, 2006
  $ 528,090     $ 687,942     $ 1,216,032  
Effect of foreign currency translation
    25,147             25,147  
Businesses acquired
    916             916  
 
                 
Balance at September 29, 2007
  $ 554,153     $ 687,942     $ 1,242,095  
 
                 

 

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Acquired Intangible Assets
Intangible assets represent the values assigned to trade names, customer lists and relationships, noncompete agreements and exclusive distribution rights of businesses acquired. The trade name assets have an indefinite life and are not amortized. All other intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their expected useful lives. Customer lists and relationships are amortized over three to 20 years, noncompete agreements over their terms, which are generally three to five years, and exclusive distribution rights over ten years. Intangible assets consisted of the following:
                         
    September 29, 2007  
    Gross Carrying     Accumulated     Net Carrying  
    Amount     Amortization     Amount  
    (thousands)  
Trade names
  $ 173,150     $     $ 173,150  
Customer lists and relationships
    42,601       (21,843 )     20,758  
Noncompete agreements
    12,882       (10,187 )     2,695  
Exclusive distribution rights
    6,158       (2,588 )     3,570  
 
                 
 
  $ 234,791     $ (34,618 )   $ 200,173  
 
                 
                         
    December 30, 2006  
    Gross Carrying     Accumulated     Net Carrying  
    Amount     Amortization     Amount  
    (thousands)  
Trade names
  $ 173,150     $     $ 173,150  
Customer lists and relationships
    39,681       (17,678 )     22,003  
Noncompete agreements
    12,853       (8,213 )     4,640  
Exclusive distribution rights
    3,616       (2,105 )     1,511  
 
                 
 
  $ 229,300     $ (27,996 )   $ 201,304  
 
                 
Intangible asset amortization expense totaled $2.0 million and $5.2 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 29, 2007, respectively. Intangible asset amortization expense totaled $1.0 million and $4.8 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively.
12. Timber Notes Receivable
In October 2004, OfficeMax sold its timberlands in exchange for timber installment notes receivable in the amount of $1,635 million, which were credit enhanced with guarantees. The guarantees were issued by highly-rated financial institutions and were secured by the pledge of underlying collateral notes issued by the credit enhancement banks. The timber installment notes receivable are 15-year non-amortizing. There are two notes that total $817.5 million bearing interest at 4.982% and a third note in the amount of $817.5 million bearing interest at 5.112%. Interest earned on all of the notes is received semiannually. See sub-caption “Timber Notes” in Note 13, Debt, for additional information concerning a securitization transaction involving the timber installment notes receivable.
13. Debt
Credit Agreements
On July 12, 2007, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with a group of banks. The Loan Agreement amended the Company’s existing revolving credit facility and replaced the Company’s accounts receivable securitization program. The new Loan Agreement permits the Company to borrow up to a maximum of $700 million in accordance with a borrowing base calculation equal to a percentage of eligible accounts receivable plus a percentage of the value of eligible inventory less certain reserves. The Loan Agreement may be increased (up to a maximum of $800 million) at the Company’s request or reduced from time to time, in each case according to terms detailed in the Loan Agreement. There were no borrowings outstanding under the revolver as of September 29, 2007 and December 30, 2006. Letters of credit, which may be issued under the revolver up to a maximum of $250 million, reduce available borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility. Letters of credit issued under the revolver totaled $82.3 million as of September 29, 2007 and $75.5 million as of December 30, 2006. As of September 29, 2007, the maximum aggregate borrowing amount available under the revolver was $700.0 million and excess availability under the revolver totaled $617.7 million.

 

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Borrowings under the revolver bear interest at rates based on either the prime rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). Margins are applied to the applicable borrowing rates and letter of credit fees under the revolver depending on the level of average excess availability. Fees on letters of credit issued under the revolver were charged at a weighted average rate of 0.875% during the third quarter of 2007. The Company is also charged an unused line fee of 0.25% on the amount by which the maximum available credit exceeds the average daily outstanding borrowings and letters of credit.
Timber Notes
In October 2004, the Company sold its timberlands and received credit-enhanced timber installment notes receivable in the amount of $1,635 million. (See Note 12, Timber Notes Receivable). In December 2004, the Company completed a securitization transaction in which its interest in the timber installment notes receivable and related guarantees were transferred to wholly-owned bankruptcy remote subsidiaries that were designated to be qualifying special purpose entities (the “OMXQs”). The OMXQs pledged the timber installment notes receivable and related guarantees and issued securitization notes in the amount of $1,470 million. Recourse on the securitization notes is limited to the pledged timber installment notes receivable. The securitization notes are 15-year non-amortizing, and were issued in two equal $735 million tranches paying interest of 5.42% and 5.54%, respectively.
As a result of these transactions, OfficeMax received $1,470 million in cash from the OMXQ’s, and over 15 years will earn approximately $82.5 million per year in interest income on the timber installment notes receivable and incur interest expense of approximately $80.5 million on the securitization notes. The pledged timber installment notes receivable and nonrecourse securitization notes will mature in 2020 and 2019, respectively. The securitization notes have an initial term that is approximately three months shorter than the installment notes. The Company expects to refinance its ownership of the installment notes in 2019 with a short-term secured borrowing to bridge the period from initial maturity of the securitization notes to the maturity of the installment notes.
The original entities issuing the credit enhanced timber installment notes are variable-interest entities (the “VIE’s”) under FASB Interpretation 46R, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities”. The OMXQs are considered to be the primary beneficiary, and therefore, the VIE’s are required to be consolidated with the OMXQ’s, which are also the issuers of the securitization notes. As a result, the accounts of the OMXQ’s have been consolidated into those of their ultimate parent, OfficeMax. The effect of the Company’s consolidation of the OMXQs is that the securitization transaction is treated as a financing, and both the timber notes receivable and the securitization notes payable are reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Note Agreements
In October 2003, the Company issued $300 million of 6.50% senior notes due in 2010 and $200 million of 7.00% senior notes due in 2013. At the time of issuance, the senior note indentures contained a number of restrictive covenants, substantially all of which have been eliminated through the execution of supplemental indentures as described below. On November 5, 2004, the Company repurchased approximately $286.3 million of the 6.50% senior notes and received the requisite consents to adopt amendments to the indenture pursuant to a tender offer for these securities. As a result, the Company and the trustee executed a supplemental indenture that eliminated substantially all of the restrictive covenants, certain events of default and related provisions, and replaced them with the covenants contained in the Company’s other public debt. Those covenants include a limitation on mergers and similar transactions, a restriction on secured transactions involving Principal Properties, as defined, and a restriction on sale and leaseback transactions involving Principal Properties.
On December 23, 2004, both Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and Standard & Poor’s Rating Services upgraded the credit rating on the Company’s 7.00% senior notes to investment grade. The upgrades were the result of actions the Company took to collateralize the notes by granting the note holders a security interest in $113 million in principal amount of General Electric Capital and Bank of America Corp. notes maturing in 2008 (the “pledged instruments”). These pledged instruments are reflected as restricted investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As a result of these ratings upgrades, the original 7.00% senior note covenants have been replaced with the covenants found in the Company’s other public debt. During the first quarter of 2005, the Company purchased and cancelled $87.3 million of the 7.00% senior notes. As a result, $92.8 million of the pledged instruments were released from the security interest granted to the 7.00% senior note holders, and were sold during the second quarter of 2005. The remaining pledged instruments continue to be subject to the security interest, and are reflected as restricted investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

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Other
The Company had leased certain equipment at its integrated wood-polymer building materials facility near Elma, Washington under a capital lease. The lease agreement had a base term of seven years and an interest rate of 4.67%. During the first quarter of 2006, the Company paid $29.1 million to terminate the lease agreement.
Cash payments for interest were $5.7 million and $26.4 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 29, 2007, respectively, and $5.3 million and $27.1 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively.
14. Retirement and Benefit Plans
The following represents the components of net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit costs (income):
                                 
    Pension Benefits     Other Benefits  
    Quarter Ended     Quarter Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,     September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (thousands)  
Service cost
  $ 419     $ 400     $ 72     $ 217  
Interest cost
    19,270       18,670       314       395  
Expected return on plan assets
    (22,254 )     (21,838 )            
Recognized actuarial loss
    5,055       5,790       124       173  
Plan settlement/curtailment/closures expense
                       
Amortization of prior service costs and other
                (1,050 )     (893 )
 
                       
Net periodic benefit cost (income)
  $ 2,490     $ 3,022     $ (540 )   $ (108 )
 
                       
                                 
    Pension Benefits     Other Benefits  
    Nine Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,     September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (thousands)  
Service cost
  $ 1,257     $ 1,200     $ 237     $ 651  
Interest cost
    57,812       56,010       963       1,185  
Expected return on plan assets
    (66,763 )     (65,514 )            
Recognized actuarial loss
    15,165       17,370       369       519  
Plan settlement/curtailment/closures expense
          1,580              
Amortization of prior service costs and other
                (2,954 )     (2,680 )
 
                       
Net periodic benefit cost (income)
  $ 7,471     $ 10,646     $ (1,385 )   $ (325 )
 
                       
The minimum contribution requirement for the Company’s plans for 2007 is approximately $11 million. As of September 29, 2007, the Company has made contributions totaling $12.8 million.
15. Segment Information
The Company manages its business using three reportable segments: OfficeMax, Contract; OfficeMax, Retail; and Corporate and Other. Each of the Company’s segments represents a business with differing products, services and/or distribution channels. Each of these segments requires distinct operating and marketing strategies. Management reviews the performance of the Company based on these segments.

 

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OfficeMax, Contract distributes a broad line of items for the office, including office supplies and paper, technology products and solutions and office furniture. OfficeMax, Contract sells directly to large corporate and government offices, as well as small and medium-sized offices in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This segment markets and sells through field salespeople, outbound telesales, catalogs, the Internet and in some markets, including Canada, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, through office products stores.
OfficeMax, Retail is a retail distributor of office supplies and paper, print and document services, technology products and solutions and office furniture. OfficeMax, Retail has operations in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. OfficeMax, Retail office supply stores feature OfficeMax ImPress, an in-store module devoted to print-for-pay and related services. The retail segment also operates office supply stores in Mexico through a 51%-owned joint venture.
Substantially all products sold by OfficeMax, Contract and OfficeMax, Retail are purchased from independent third-party manufacturers or industry wholesalers, except office papers. These segments purchase office papers primarily from the paper operations of Boise Cascade, L.L.C., under a 12-year paper supply contract. (See Note 18, Commitments and Guarantees, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006 for additional information related to the paper supply contract).
Corporate and Other includes corporate support staff services and related assets and liabilities.
Management evaluates the segments based on operating profits before interest expense, income taxes, minority interest, extraordinary items and cumulative effect of accounting changes. The income and expense related to certain assets and liabilities that are reported in the Corporate and Other segment have been allocated to the Contract and Retail segments. Certain expenses that management considers unusual or non-recurring are not allocated to the Contract and Retail segments.
An analysis of our operations by segment is as follows:
                                 
                    Income (Loss) Before Taxes  
    Sales     and Minority Interest (a)  
    Quarter Ended     Quarter Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,     September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (thousands)  
OfficeMax, Contract
  $ 1,185,670     $ 1,158,273     $ 54,979     $ 37,793  
OfficeMax, Retail
    1,129,549       1,086,141       45,279       54,794  
Corporate and Other
                (10,025 )     (30,300 )
 
                       
 
  $ 2,315,219     $ 2,244,414       90,233       62,287  
 
                           
Interest expense
                    (31,220 )     (30,557 )
Interest income and other
                    21,635       21,499  
 
                           
 
                  $ 80,648     $ 53,229  
 
                           
                                 
                    Income (Loss) Before Taxes  
    Sales     and Minority Interest (a)  
    Nine Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,     September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (thousands)  
OfficeMax, Contract
  $ 3,647,331     $ 3,535,777     $ 155,875     $ 149,266  
OfficeMax, Retail
    3,236,559       3,173,125       134,572       43,988  
Corporate and Other
                (34,174 )     (92,760 )
 
                       
 
  $ 6,883,890     $ 6,708,902       256,273       100,494  
 
                           
Interest expense
                    (91,296 )     (92,274 )
Interest income and other
                    60,770       69,277  
 
                           
 
                  $ 225,747     $ 77,497  
 
                           
 
a)   See Note 3, Integration Activities and Facility Closures and Note 5, Other Operating (Income) Expense, Net for an explanation of certain unusual and/or non-recurring items affecting the segments.

 

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16. Commitments and Guarantees
In addition to commitments for leases and long-term debt, and purchase obligations for goods and services and capital expenditures entered into in the normal course of business, the Company has various other commitments, guarantees and obligations that are described in Note 18, Commitments and Guarantees, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006 (“Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”). At September 29, 2007, other than a change in the average market price per ton of the benchmark paper grade used to calculate payments under the Additional Consideration Agreement with Boise Cascade L.L.C., described below, there had not been a material change to the information regarding commitments, guarantees and contractual obligations disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006.
Pursuant to an Additional Consideration Agreement between OfficeMax and Boise Cascade, L.L.C., we may be required to make substantial cash payments to, or receive substantial cash payments from, Boise Cascade, L.L.C. Under the Additional Consideration Agreement, the Sale proceeds may be adjusted upward or downward based on paper prices during the six years following the Sale, subject to annual and aggregate caps. Specifically, we have agreed to pay Boise Cascade, L.L.C. $710,000 for each dollar by which the average market price per ton of a specified benchmark grade of cut-size office paper during any 12-month period ending on September 30 is less than $800. Boise Cascade, L.L.C. has agreed to pay us $710,000 for each dollar by which the average market price per ton exceeds $920. Under the terms of the agreement, neither party will be obligated to make a payment in excess of $45 million in any one year. Payments by either party are also subject to an aggregate cap of $125 million that declines to $115 million in the fifth year and $105 million in the sixth year.
We record changes in the fair value of the Additional Consideration Agreement in our net income (loss) in the period they occur; however, any potential payments from Boise Cascade, L.L.C. to us are not recorded in net income (loss) until all contingencies have been satisfied, which is generally at the end of a 12-month measurement period ending on September 30. As of September 30, 2007, the last day of the third 12-month measurement period, the average market price per ton of the benchmark grade used to calculate payments due under the Additional Consideration Agreement was $966. Based on this price, we expect to receive a payment of approximately $33 million from Boise Cascade L.L.C. and we will recognize income of $33 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. As of September 29, 2007 and December 30, 2006, the net amount recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheet related to the Additional Consideration Agreement (either receivable or payable) was zero.
17. Legal Proceedings and Contingencies
We are involved in litigation and administrative proceedings arising in the normal course of our business. In the opinion of management, our recovery, if any, or our liability, if any, under pending litigation or administrative proceedings would not materially affect our financial position or results of operations. For information regarding legal proceedings and contingencies, see Note 19, Legal Proceedings and Contingencies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006 and “Item 16. Legal Proceedings and Contingencies” in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007.
In June 2005, the Company announced that the SEC issued a formal order of investigation arising from the Company’s previously announced internal investigation into its accounting for vendor income. The Company launched its internal investigation in December 2004 when the Company received claims by a vendor to its retail business that certain employees acted inappropriately in requesting promotional payments and in falsifying supporting documentation. The internal investigation was conducted under the direction of the Company’s audit committee and was completed in March 2005. The Company cooperated fully with the SEC. In a letter dated October 23, 2007, the Company received notification from the SEC that it had completed its investigation against the Company and was not recommending any enforcement action.
The Company and several former officers and/or directors of the Company or its predecessor are defendants in a consolidated, putative class action proceeding (Roth v. OfficeMax Inc., et. al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois) alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Complaint alleges, in summary, that the Company failed to disclose (a) that vendor income had been improperly recorded, (b) that the Company lacked internal controls necessary to ensure the proper reporting of revenue and compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, and (c) that the Company’s 2004 and later results would be adversely affected by the Company’s allegedly improper practices. The relief sought includes unspecified compensatory damages, interest and costs, including attorneys’ fees. On September 21, 2005, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint. On September 12, 2006, the court granted the defendant group’s joint motion to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint. On November 9, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a purported amended complaint. On January 19, 2007, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On September 26, 2007, the court granted the motion to dismiss and terminated the case.
18. Share Based Payments
Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123R, “Share Based Payment” using the modified prospective transition method. Under SFAS 123R, the Company must record compensation expense for all awards granted after the adoption date and for the unvested portion of previously granted awards that remain outstanding at the adoption date, under the fair value method. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R, the Company recognized compensation expense for share-based awards to employees using the fair-value-based guidance in SFAS 123. Due to the fact that the Company had previously accounted for share-based awards using SFAS 123, the adoption of SFAS 123R did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

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The Company sponsors several share-based compensation plans, which are described below. Compensation costs related to the Company’s share-based plans were $6.9 million and $21.3 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 29, 2007, respectively. Compensation costs related to the Company’s share-based plans were $7.8 million and $18.1 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively. Compensation expense is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of grants. The total income tax benefit recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for share-based compensation arrangements was $2.7 million and $8.3 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 29, 2007, respectively. The total income tax benefit recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for share-based compensation arrangements was $3.0 million and $7.0 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively.
2003 Director Stock Compensation Plan and OfficeMax Incentive and Performance Plan
In February 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the 2003 Director Stock Compensation Plan (the “2003 DSCP”) and the 2003 OfficeMax Incentive and Performance Plan (the “2003 Plan”), which were approved by shareholders in April 2003.
A total of 57,187 shares of common stock is reserved for issuance under the 2003 DSCP. Prior to December 8, 2005, the 2003 DSCP permitted non-employee directors to elect to receive some or all of their annual retainer and meeting fees in the form of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. Non-employee directors who elected to receive a portion of their compensation in the form of stock options did not receive cash for that portion of their compensation. The difference between the $2.50-per-share exercise price of the options and the market value of the common stock on the date of grant was equal to the cash compensation that participating directors elected to forego and was recognized as compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). On December 8, 2005, the Board of Directors amended the 2003 DSCP to require the exercise price of any options issued to be fair market value. On February 14, 2007, the Board of Directors amended the 2003 DSCP to eliminate the choice to receive stock options. All options granted under the 2003 DSCP expire three years after the holder ceases to be a director.
The 2003 Plan was effective January 1, 2003, and replaced the Key Executive Performance Plan for Executive Officers, Key Executive Performance Plan for Key Executives/Key Managers, 1984 Key Executive Stock Option Plan (“KESOP”), Key Executive Performance Unit Plan (“KEPUP”) and Director Stock Option Plan (“DSOP”). No grants or awards have been made under the Key Executive Performance Plans, KESOP, KEPUP, or DSOP since 2003 and no future grants or awards will be made under these plans. A total of 5,208,024 shares of common stock is reserved for issuance under the 2003 Plan. The Company’s executive officers, key employees and nonemployee directors are eligible to receive awards under the 2003 Plan at the discretion of the Executive Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Eight types of awards may be granted under the 2003 Plan, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, performance shares, annual incentive awards and stock bonus awards.
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
In the first nine months of 2007, the Company granted to employees and independent directors 765,731 restricted stock units (“RSUs”). The weighted-average grant-date fair value of the RSUs was $50.84. As of September 29, 2007, 713,457 of these RSUs remained outstanding which vest after defined service periods as follows: 23,778 units in 2008, 344,840 in 2009 and 344,839 in 2010. The remaining compensation expense to be recognized related to this grant, net of estimated forfeitures, is $22 million.
In 2006, the Company granted to employees and independent directors 1,157,479 RSUs. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of the RSUs was $28.79. As of September 29, 2007, 971,720 of these RSUs remained outstanding which vest after defined service periods as follows: 10,808 units in 2007, 480,456 in 2008 and 480,456 in 2009. The remaining compensation expense to be recognized related to this grant, net of estimated forfeitures, is approximately $12 million.
In 2005, the Company granted to employees and independent directors 728,123 RSUs. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of the RSUs was $33.15. As of September 29, 2007, 81,566 of these RSUs remained outstanding, which vest after defined service periods as follows: 29,666 units in 2007, 45,900 units in 2008 and 3,000 units in both 2009 and 2010. The remaining compensation expense to be recognized related to this grant, net of estimated forfeitures, is $0.3 million.

 

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In 2004, the Company granted 14,765 shares of restricted stock to nonemployee directors. The restricted stock granted to directors vests nine months from their termination or retirement from board service, and 7,170 of these restricted stock shares remain outstanding at September 29, 2007.
Shares of restricted stock are restricted until they vest and cannot be sold by the recipient until the restriction has lapsed. RSUs are restricted until they vest and are convertible into one common share after the restriction has lapsed. No entries are made in the financial statements on the grant date of restricted stock and RSU awards. The Company recognizes compensation expense related to these awards over the vesting periods based on the closing prices of the Company’s common stock on the grant dates. If these awards contain performance criteria, management periodically reviews actual performance against the criteria and adjusts compensation expense accordingly. For the quarter and nine months ended September 29, 2007, the Company recognized $6.8 million and $20.9 million, respectively, of pretax compensation expense and additional paid-in capital related to restricted stock and RSU awards. For the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company recognized $7.6 million and $17.7 million, respectively, of pretax compensation expense and additional paid-in capital related to restricted stock and RSU awards.
Restricted shares and RSUs are not included as shares outstanding in the calculation of basic earnings per share, but are included in the number of shares used to calculate diluted earnings per share, if dilutive. When the restriction lapses on restricted stock, the par value of the stock is reclassified from additional paid-in-capital to common stock. When the restriction lapses on RSUs, the units are converted to unrestricted common shares, and the par value of the stock is reclassified from additional paid-in-capital to common stock. Unrestricted shares are included in shares outstanding for purposes of calculating both basic and diluted earnings per share. Restricted stock and RSUs may be eligible to receive all dividends declared on the Company’s common shares during the vesting period; however, such dividends are not paid until the restrictions lapse.
Stock Units
The Company has a shareholder approved deferred compensation program for certain of its executive officers that allows them to defer a portion of their cash compensation. Previously, these officers could allocate their deferrals to a stock unit account. The Company matched deferrals used to purchase stock units with a 25% Company allocation of stock units. As a result of an amendment to the plan, no additional deferrals can be allocated to the stock unit accounts. At September 29, 2007, 12,789 stock units were allocated to the accounts of executive officers. A stock unit is equal in value to one share of the Company’s common stock. The value of deferred stock unit accounts is paid in shares of the Company’s common stock when an officer retires or terminates employment.
Stock Options
In addition to the 2003 DSCP and the 2003 Plan discussed above, the Company has the following shareholder-approved stock option plans: the Key Executive Stock Option Plan (“KESOP”), the Director Stock Option Plan (“DSOP”) and the Director Stock Compensation Plan (“DSCP”). No further grants will be made under the KESOP, DSOP and DSCP.
The KESOP provided for the grant of options to purchase shares of common stock to key employees of the Company. The exercise price of awards under the KESOP was equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date the options were granted. Options granted under the KESOP expire, at the latest, ten years and one day following the grant date.
The DSOP, which was available only to nonemployee directors, provided for annual grants of options. The exercise price of awards under the DSOP was equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date the options were granted. The options granted under the DSOP expire upon the earlier of three years after the director ceases to be a director or ten years after the grant date.
The DSCP permitted nonemployee directors to elect to receive grants of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock in lieu of cash compensation. The difference between the $2.50-per-share exercise price of DSCP options and the market value of the common stock subject to the options was intended to offset the cash compensation that participating directors elected not to receive. Options granted under the DSCP expire three years after the holder ceases to be a director.

 

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Under the KESOP and DSOP, options may not, except under unusual circumstances, be exercised until one year following the grant date. Under the DSCP, options may be exercised nine months after the grant date.
A summary of stock option activity for the quarters ended September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006 is presented in the table below:
                                 
    2007     2006  
            Weighted Avg.             Weighted Avg.  
    Shares     Exercise Price     Shares     Exercise Price  
Balance at beginning of period
    1,753,188     $ 31.81       5,759,545     $ 32.39  
Options granted
    35,000       31.39              
Options exercised
    (185,563 )     31.53       (3,454,784 )     32.71  
Options forfeited and expired
    (1,650 )     36.88       (12,500 )     37.57  
 
                           
Balance at end of period
    1,600,975     $ 31.83       2,292,261     $ 31.88  
 
                           
Exercisable at end of period
    1,397,843               2,044,729          
The following table provides summarized information about stock options outstanding at September 29, 2007:
                                         
    Options Outstanding     Options Exercisable  
            Weighted     Weighted             Weighted  
            Average     Average             Average  
    Options     Contractual     Exercise     Options     Exercise  
Range of Exercise Prices   Outstanding     Life (Years)     Price     Exercisable     Price  
$2.50
    11,171           $ 2.50       11,171     $ 2.50  
$18.00—$28.00
    571,944       2.9       27.65       571,944       27.65  
$28.01—$39.00
    1,017,860       4.3       34.49       814,728       35.08  
The remaining compensation expense to be recognized related to outstanding stock options, net of estimated forfeitures, is approximately $0.7 million. At September 29, 2007, the aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding stock options and exercisable stock options was $5.1 million and $4.7 million, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (i.e. the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the third quarter of 2007 and the exercise price, multiplied by the quantities of in-the-money options at the end of the quarter).

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Summary
The following discussion contains statements about our future financial performance. These statements are only predictions. Our actual results may differ materially from these predictions. In evaluating these statements, you should review Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this Form 10-Q, including “Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements.”
Financial Performance
Our results for 2007 and 2006 included various items related to the Company’s previously announced restructuring activities and our transition from a commodity manufacturing-based company to an independent office products distribution company, which are not expected to be ongoing, including the following:
    Results for the first nine months of 2007 included a loss from a sale of OfficeMax, Contract’s operations in Mexico. These operations were sold to OfficeMax de Mexico, our 51% owned joint venture that operates OfficeMax stores in Mexico. The net impact of the transaction was a $1.1 million increase in minority interest, net of income tax, which is included in the Consolidated Statement of Income (Loss).
 
    In the first nine months of 2006, we recorded pre-tax charges of $89.5 million related to the closing of 109 retail stores, $7.9 million related to the reorganization of our contract segment and $38.1 million related to the consolidation of our corporate headquarters, respectively. These charges were included in Other operating (income) expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and were reflected in the Retail segment (store closures), Contract segment (reorganization) and the Corporate and Other segment (headquarters consolidation), respectively. See sub-caption “Integration Activities and Facility Closures” below for additional information regarding the store closures and the headquarters consolidation.
 
    In the first nine months of 2006, we recognized an $11 million loss from discontinued operations related to a manufacturing facility near Elma, Washington. See sub-caption “Discontinued Operations” below for more information regarding the loss from discontinued operations.
 
    During the second quarter of 2006, we reduced a liability related to the Additional Consideration Agreement that was entered into in connection with the sale of the paper, forest products and timberland assets, which resulted in a credit to Other, income (expense), net (non-operating) of $9.2 million.
We evaluate our results of operations both before and after certain gains and losses that management believes are not indicative of our core operating activities, such as the items described above. We believe our presentation of financial measures before, or excluding, these items, which are non-GAAP measures, enhances our investors’ overall understanding of the impact of the Company’s restructuring activities and our recurring operational performance and provides useful information to both investors and management to evaluate the ongoing operations and prospects of OfficeMax by providing better comparisons and information regarding significant trends and variability in our earnings. Whenever we use non-GAAP financial measures, we designate those measures as “adjusted” and provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most closely applicable GAAP financial measure. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
Although we believe the non-GAAP financial measures enhance an investor’s understanding of our performance, our management does not itself, nor does it suggest that investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures we use may not be consistent with the presentation of similar companies in our industry. However, we present such non-GAAP financial measures in reporting our financial results to provide investors with an additional tool to evaluate our operating results in a manner that focuses on what we believe to be our ongoing business operations. In addition, use of the non-GAAP measures that exclude certain gains and losses is not intended to suggest that our future financial results will not be impacted by additional unusual items.

 

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The following tables summarize the impact of the gains and losses summarized above on our results of operations for 2007 and 2006 and provide a reconciliation of our non-GAAP measures to the corresponding GAAP measure. Both GAAP and non-GAAP measures are used throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis.
                         
    Quarter Ended  
    September 30, 2006  
    As     Special     As  
    Reported     Items     Adjusted  
 
                       
Segment income (loss)
                       
OfficeMax, Contract
  $ 37.8     $ 7.9 (a)   $ 45.7  
OfficeMax, Retail
    54.8             54.8  
Corporate and Other
    (30.3 )     11.5 (c)     (18.8 )
 
                 
Operating income (loss)
    62.3       19.4       81.7  
 
                       
Operating income margin
                       
OfficeMax, Contract
    3.3 %     0.6 %     3.9 %
OfficeMax, Retail
    5.0 %           5.0 %
Consolidated
    2.8 %     0.8 %     3.6 %
 
                       
Interest expense
    (30.6 )           (30.6 )
Interest income and other
    21.5             21.5  
 
                 
 
                       
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes and minority interest
    53.2       19.4       72.6  
Income taxes
    (20.2 )     (7.6 ) (g)     (27.8 )
 
                 
Income (loss) from operations before minority interest
    33.0       11.8       44.8  
Minority interest, net of income tax
    (1.6 )           (1.6 )
 
                 
Net income
  $ 31.4     $ 11.8     $ 43.2  
 
                 
 
                       
Diluted income (loss) per common share
                       
Continuing operations
  $ 0.41     $ 0.15     $ 0.56  
Discontinued operations
                 
 
                 
Diluted income (loss) per common share
  $ 0.41     $ 0.15     $ 0.56  
 
                 

 

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    Nine Months Ended  
    September 29 , 2007     September 30, 2006  
    As     Special     As     As     Special     As  
    Reported     Items     Adjusted     Reported     Items     Adjusted  
 
                                               
Segment income (loss)
                                               
OfficeMax, Contract
  $ 155.9     $     $ 155.9     $ 149.3     $ 7.9 (a)   $ 157.2  
OfficeMax, Retail
    134.6             134.6       44.0       89.5 (b)     133.5  
Corporate and Other
    (34.2 )           (34.2 )     (92.8 )     38.1 (c)     (54.7 )
 
                                   
Operating income (loss)
    256.3             256.3       100.5       135.5       236.0  
 
                                               
Operating income margin
                                               
OfficeMax, Contract
    4.3 %             4.3 %     4.2 %     0.2 %     4.4 %
OfficeMax, Retail
    4.2 %             4.2 %     1.4 %     2.8 %     4.2 %
Consolidated
    3.7 %             3.7 %     1.5 %     2.0 %     3.5 %
 
                                               
Interest expense
    (91.3 )           (91.3 )     (92.3 )           (92.3 )
Interest income and other
    60.8             60.8       69.3       (9.2 ) (d)     60.1  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest
    225.8             225.8       77.5       126.3       203.8  
Income taxes
    (85.7 )           (85.7 )     (29.5 )     (49.2 ) (g)     (78.7 )
 
                                   
Income (loss) from continuing operations before minority interest
    140.1             140.1       48.0       77.1       125.1  
Minority interest, net of income tax
    (4.2 )     1.1 (e)     (3.1 )     (3.3 )           (3.3 )
 
                                   
 
                                               
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    135.9       1.1       137.0       44.7       77.1       121.8  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Discontinued operations
                                               
Operating loss
                      (18.0 )     18.0 (f)      
Write-down of assets
                                   
Income tax benefit
                      7.0       (7.0 ) (g)      
 
                                   
 
                                               
Loss from discontinued operations
                      (11.0 )     11.0        
 
                                   
 
                                               
Net income
  $ 135.9     $ 1.1     $ 137.0     $ 33.7     $ 88.1     $ 121.8  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Diluted income (loss) per common share
                                               
Continuing operations
  $ 1.74     $ 0.02     $ 1.76     $ 0.57     $ 1.05     $ 1.62  
Discontinued operations
                      (0.15 )     0.15        
 
                                   
Diluted income (loss) per common share
  $ 1.74     $ 0.02     $ 1.76     $ 0.42     $ 1.20     $ 1.62  
 
                                   
 
(a)   Charges associated with the reorganization of our Contract segment included in Contract segment operating expenses.
 
(b)   Charges associated with the closing of 109 retail stores included in Retail segment operating expenses.
 
(c)   Charges associated with the consolidation of our corporate headquarters included in Corporate and Other segment operating expenses.
 
(d)   Income related to the Additional Consideration Agreement adjustment included in interest income and other.
 
(e)   Loss from a sale of OfficeMax, Contract’s operations in Mexico included in minority interest, net of income tax.
 
(f)   Loss from discontinued operations related to a manufacturing facility near Elma, Washington.
 
(g)   Income tax effect of special items.

 

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Results of Operations, Consolidated
   ($ in millions, except per share amounts)
                                 
    Quarter Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,     September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
Sales
  $ 2,315.2     $ 2,244.4     $ 6,883.9     $ 6,708.9  
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest
  $ 80.6     $ 53.2     $ 225.7     $ 77.5  
Net income
  $ 49.9     $ 31.4     $ 135.9     $ 33.7  
 
                               
Diluted income (loss) per common share:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ 0.64     $ 0.41     $ 1.74     $ 0.57  
Discontinued operations
                      (0.15 )
 
                       
Diluted income per common share
  $ 0.64     $ 0.41     $ 1.74     $ 0.42  
 
                       
 
                               
    (percentage of sales)
     
Gross profit margin
    25.4 %     26.1 %     25.4 %     25.8 %
Operating and selling expenses
    18.1 %     18.4 %     17.9 %     18.4 %
General and administrative expenses
    3.4 %     4.1 %     3.8 %     4.0 %
Other operating (income) expense, net
    %     0.8 %     %     1.9 %
Operating profit margin
    3.9 %     2.8 %     3.7 %     1.5 %
Sales for the third quarter of 2007 increased 3.2% to $2,315.2 million from $2,244.4 million for the third quarter of 2006. Year-to-date, sales increased 2.6% to $6,883.9 million in 2007 from $6,708.9 million in 2006. The year-over-year sales increases reflect same-location sales growth for both our Contract and Retail segments as well as the impact of new stores. For more information about our segment results, see the discussion of segment results below.
Gross profit margin declined 0.7% of sales to 25.4% of sales for the third quarter of 2007 compared to 26.1% of sales in the previous year. The gross margin decrease for the third quarter of 2007 compared to the prior year reflects lower gross margins in both our Contract and Retail segments. Gross profit margin declined 0.4% of sales to 25.4% of sales for the first nine months of 2007 compared to 25.8% of sales in the previous year. The gross profit margin decrease for the first nine months of 2007 compared to the previous year reflects lower gross margins in our Contract segment while gross margins in our Retail segment were unchanged.
Operating and selling expenses decreased by 0.3% of sales to 18.1% of sales in the third quarter of 2007 from 18.4% of sales a year earlier. The improvements in operating and selling expenses as a percent of sales in the third quarter of 2007 compared to the previous year were primarily the result of a shift of expense to general and administrative, reduced incentive compensation expense and lower marketing expenses in the Contract segment, partially offset by higher store labor costs in the Retail segment and a write-off of software costs of $2.9 million in our international operations. Year-to-date, operating and selling expenses decreased by 0.5% of sales to 17.9% of sales in 2007 from 18.4% of sales a year earlier. The improvements in operating and selling expenses as a percent of sales were primarily the result of lower incentive compensation expense and a shift of expense to general and administrative in the Contract segment.
General and administrative expenses were 3.4% of sales for the third quarter of 2007 and 4.1% of sales for the third quarter of 2006. General and administrative expenses were 3.8% of sales for the first nine months of 2007 and 4.0% of sales for the first nine months of 2006. General and administrative expenses as a percent of sales reflect lower incentive compensation expense and legacy-related costs, partially offset by a shift in expense from operating and selling in the Contract segment.

 

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Other operating (income) expense, net includes dividends earned on our investment in affiliates of Boise Cascade, L.L.C., which were $1.5 million and $4.5 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, and $1.5 million and $4.4 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2006, respectively. In the third quarter of 2006, we reported $17.9 million of expense in Other operating (income) expense, net which included expenses of $7.9 million related to the Contract segment reorganization and $11.5 million related to the headquarters consolidation. In the first nine months of 2006, we reported $131.2 million of expense in Other operating (income) expense, net which included $89.5 million related to the 109 domestic store closures, $38.1 million related to the headquarters consolidation and the aforementioned $7.9 million related to the reorganization of the Contract segment.
Interest expense was $31.2 million in the third quarter of 2007 versus $30.6 million for the prior year. Year-to-date, interest expense was $91.3 million in 2007 and $92.3 million in 2006. Both periods in 2007 include the write-off of deferred financing fees of $1.2 million on the previous bank facility which was replaced in the third quarter of 2007 (See the caption “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Form 10-Q). Interest expense includes interest related to the timber securitization notes of approximately $20.1 million for the third quarters of 2007 and 2006 and $60.4 million for the first nine months of 2007 and 2006. The interest expense associated with the timber securitization notes is offset by interest income earned on the timber notes receivable of approximately $20.6 million for the third quarters of 2007 and 2006 and $61.9 million for the first nine months of 2007 and 2006. The interest income on the timber notes receivable is included in interest income and is not netted against the related interest expense in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
Excluding the interest income earned on the timber notes receivable, interest income was $1.2 million and $2.3 million for the quarters ended September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, respectively, and $4.7 million and $4.2 million for the nine months ended September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, respectively.
Other income (expense), net (non-operating) was ($0.2) million and $(1.4) million for the third quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively, and ($5.9) million and $3.2 million for the first nine months of 2007 and 2006, respectively. During the first nine months of 2006, we reduced a portion of the liability related to the Additional Consideration Agreement that was entered into in connection with the sale of the paper, forest products and timberland assets, which resulted in a credit to Other income (expense), net (non-operating) of $9.2 million. Other income (expense), net (non-operating) also includes costs related to the receivable securitization program, which amounted to ($0.3) million and ($2.8) million for the third quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively, and ($5.6) million and ($7.9) million for the first nine months of 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Our effective tax rate attributable to continuing operations for the third quarter of 2007 was 36.1% compared to 38.0% for the comparable period of 2006. Year-to-date, our effective tax rate attributable to continuing operations was 37.9% in 2007 compared to 38.1% in 2006. Income taxes for both periods were affected by the impact of state income taxes, non-deductible expenses and the mix of domestic and foreign sources of income.
As a result of the foregoing factors, net income for the third quarter of 2007 was $49.9 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, compared with a net income of $31.4 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2006. For the third quarter of 2006, excluding the after-tax effect of charges associated with the reorganization of our contract segment and our headquarters consolidation, adjusted net income, which is a non-GAAP measure, was $43.2 million, or $0.56 per diluted share. Net income for the first nine months of 2007 was $135.9 million, or $1.74 per diluted share, compared with net income of $33.7 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2006. For the first nine months of 2007, excluding the after-tax effect of a loss from the sale of our Contract operations in Mexico to our joint venture in Mexico, adjusted net income, which is a non-GAAP measure, was $137.0 million, or $1.76 per diluted share. For the first nine months of 2006, excluding the after-tax effect of charges associated with the store closures, charges associated with our headquarters consolidation, the income from the Additional Consideration Agreement adjustment, charges associated with the reorganization of our contract segment and the loss from discontinued operations related to the manufacturing facility, adjusted net income, which is a non-GAAP measure, was $121.8 million, or $1.62 per diluted share.

 

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OfficeMax, Contract
   ($ in millions)
                                 
    Quarter Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,     September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
Sales
  $ 1,185.7     $ 1,158.3     $ 3,647.3     $ 3,535.8  
Segment income
  $ 55.0     $ 37.8     $ 155.9     $ 149.3  
Sales by Product Line
                               
Office supplies and paper
  $ 662.8     $ 635.5     $ 2,034.2     $ 1,919.0  
Technology products
  $ 374.5     $ 378.9     $ 1,170.2     $ 1,167.9  
Office furniture
  $ 148.4     $ 143.9     $ 442.9     $ 448.9  
Sales by Geography
                               
United States
  $ 870.4     $ 887.0     $ 2,699.8     $ 2,671.6  
International
  $ 315.3     $ 271.3     $ 947.5     $ 864.2  
Sales growth
    2.4 %     1.2 %     3.2 %     3.8 %
Same-location sales growth
    2.2 %     1.2 %     3.0 %     0.4 %
 
                               
    (percentage of sales)
     
Gross profit margin
    22.1 %     22.3 %     21.8 %     22.6 %
Operating expenses
    17.5 %     19.0 %     17.5 %     18.4 %
Operating profit margin
    4.6 %     3.3 %     4.3 %     4.2 %
For the third quarter of 2007, Contract segment sales were $1,185.7 million, up 2.4% from $1,158.3 million for the third quarter of 2006. For the first nine months of 2007, Contract segment sales were $3,647.3 million, up 3.2% from $3,535.8 million for the first nine months of 2006. The year-over-year sales growth in the third quarter reflects an increase in sales from our International operations, partially offset by a decline in sales from our United States operations. The sales growth for the first nine months of 2007 was realized in both the United States and International operations, primarily in large corporate accounts. Contract segment same-location sales increased 2.2% and 3.0%, year-over-year during the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively. Same-location sales growth excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates was (0.4)% and 1.4%, year-over-year during the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively. Contract sales growth was impacted by our initiative to terminate existing unprofitable contracts and be more disciplined in new account acquisition.
Contract segment gross profit margin decreased 0.2% of sales year-over-year to 22.1% of sales for the third quarter of 2007. Contract segment gross profit margin decreased 0.8% of sales year-over-year to 21.8% of sales for the first nine months of 2007. The decreases in gross profit margin were primarily due to the continued impact of new and renewing accounts with lower gross margin rates and the impact of paper price increases.
Operating expenses for the Contract segment were 17.5% of sales for the third quarter of 2007, down from 19.0% of sales for the third quarter of 2006. Operating expenses for the Contract segment were 17.5% of sales for the first nine months of 2007, down from 18.4% in the prior year. Both periods in 2006 include costs related to the Contract reorganization of $7.9 million. Excluding these costs, adjusted operating expenses, which is a non-GAAP measure, for the Contract segment were 18.4% of sales for the third quarter of 2006 and 18.1% of sales for the first nine months of 2006. The year-over-year improvements in operating expenses as a percentage of sales were the result of targeted cost controls, including the reorganization of the Contract segment that we began in the fourth quarter of 2006 and lower incentive compensation costs. The cost savings were partially offset by a write-off of software of $2.9 million in our international operations.
Contract segment operating income increased to $55.0 million for the third quarter of 2007, or 4.6% of sales, compared to $37.8 million, or 3.3% of sales, for 2006. Contract segment operating income increased to $155.9 million for the first nine months of 2007, or 4.3% of sales, compared to $149.3 million, or 4.2% of sales, for 2006. Both periods in 2006 include costs related to the Contract reorganization of $7.9 million. Excluding these costs, Contract segment adjusted operating income, which is a non-GAAP measure, for the third quarter of 2006 was $45.7 million or 3.9% of sales and $157.2 million or 4.4% of sales for the first nine months of 2006.

 

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OfficeMax, Retail
   ($ in millions)
                                 
    Quarter Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 29,     September 30,     September 29,     September 30,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
Sales
  $ 1,129.5     $ 1,086.1     $ 3,236.6     $ 3,173.1  
Segment income (loss)
  $ 45.3     $ 54.8     $ 134.6     $ 44.0  
Sales by Product Line
                               
Office supplies and paper
  $ 468.2     $ 457.7     $ 1,261.6     $ 1,249.5  
Technology products
  $ 564.5     $ 527.0     $ 1,687.4     $ 1,620.4  
Office furniture
  $ 96.8     $ 101.4     $ 287.6     $ 303.2  
Sales by Geography
                               
United States
  $ 1,060.6     $ 1,031.3     $ 3,058.6     $ 3,028.8  
International
  $ 68.9     $ 54.8     $ 178.0     $ 144.3  
Sales growth
    4.0 %     (5.0 )%     2.0 %     (3.7 )%
Same-location sales growth
    0.8 %     0.2 %     0.9 %     0.3 %
 
                               
    (percentage of sales)
     
Gross profit margin
    28.9 %     30.1 %     29.4 %     29.4 %
Operating expenses
    24.9 %     25.1 %     25.2 %     28.0 %
Operating profit margin
    4.0 %     5.0 %     4.2 %     1.4 %
Retail segment sales were $1,129.5 million for the third quarter of 2007 compared to $1,086.1 million for the third quarter of 2006. Retail segment same-location sales increased 0.8% year-over-year. During the third quarter of 2007, we opened nine new retail stores in the U.S. and three new stores in Mexico. Since the third quarter of 2006, we opened forty-five new domestic stores and fourteen new stores in Mexico.
Retail segment sales were $3,236.6 million for the first nine months of 2007 compared to $3,173.1 million for the first nine months of 2007. Retail segment same-location sales increased 0.9% year-over-year. Adjusted for our initiative to eliminate mail-in-rebates and to provide instant rebates in lieu of national vendor sponsored mail-in-rebates, same-location sales increased approximately 1.9% year-over-year.
Retail segment gross margin decreased 1.2% of sales to 28.9% of sales for the third quarter of 2007, from 30.1% of sales for the comparable period of 2006. Retail segment gross margin was 29.4% of sales for the first nine months of 2007 which was flat with the prior year. The gross margin decline for the third quarter of 2007 compared to the previous year was primarily driven by a change in sales-mix from higher margin categories, such as core office supplies and furniture which had negative same-store sales reflecting a weakness in consumer and small business spending, to our technology category which had positive same-store sales, due primarily to our expanded assortment of laptops and computers.
Retail segment operating expenses were 24.9% of sales for the third quarter of 2007 compared to 25.1% for the third quarter of 2006. Operating expenses as a percent of sales for the third quarter of 2007 benefited from reduced incentive compensation costs partially offset by higher store labor costs.
Retail segment operating expenses were 25.2% of sales for the first nine months of 2007 compared to 28.0% for the comparable period of 2006. Excluding the impact of the store closing charges, Retail segment adjusted operating expenses, which is a non-GAAP measure, were 25.2% of sales for the first nine months of 2006.
For the third quarter of 2007, the Retail segment reported operating income of $45.3 million, or 4.0% of sales, compared to operating income of $54.8 million, or 5.0% of sales, in 2006. For the first nine months of 2007, Retail segment operating income was $134.6 million, or 4.2% of sales, compared to operating income of $44.0 million, or 1.4% of sales, in 2006. Excluding the impact of the store closing charges, Retail segment adjusted operating income, which is a non-GAAP measure, for the first nine months of 2006 was $133.5 million, or 4.2% of sales.

 

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Corporate and Other
Corporate and Other expenses were $10.0 million and $30.3 million in the third quarter of 2007 and 2006, respectively. Excluding the expenses related to headquarters consolidation, Corporate and Other adjusted expenses, which is a non-GAAP measure, were $18.8 million for the third quarter of 2006. Corporate and Other expenses were $34.2 million and $92.8 million for the first nine months of 2007 and 2006, respectively. Excluding the expenses related to headquarters consolidation, Corporate and Other adjusted expenses, which is a non-GAAP measure, were $54.7 million for the first nine months of 2006. The year-over-year decreases in our Corporate and Other expenses were primarily due to lower incentive compensation costs and legacy-related costs.
Discontinued Operations
In December 2004, the Company’s board of directors authorized management to pursue the divestiture of a facility near Elma, Washington that manufactured integrated wood-polymer building materials. The board of directors and management concluded that the operations of the facility were no longer consistent with the Company’s strategic direction. As a result of that decision, the Company recorded the facility’s assets as held for sale on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the results of its operations and planned divestiture as discontinued operations.
During 2005, the Company experienced unexpected difficulties in achieving anticipated levels of production at the facility. These issues delayed the process of identifying and qualifying a buyer for the business and as a result, the Company concluded that it was unable to attract a buyer in the near term and elected to cease operations at the facility during the first quarter of 2006.
During the first quarter of 2006, we recorded pre-tax expenses of $18.0 million for contract termination and other closure costs. These charges and expenses were reflected within discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
Integration Activities and Facility Closures
In September 2005, the board of directors approved a plan to relocate and consolidate the Company’s retail headquarters in Shaker Heights, Ohio and its existing corporate headquarters in Itasca, Illinois into a new facility in Naperville, Illinois. The Company began the consolidation and relocation process in the latter half of 2005. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2006, the Company incurred and expensed approximately $11.5 million and $38.1 million, respectively, of costs related to the headquarters consolidation, all of which were reflected in the Corporate and Other segment. The consolidation and relocation process was completed during the second half of 2006.
During the first nine months of 2006, the Company closed 109 underperforming domestic retail stores and recorded a pre-tax charge of $89.5 million ($11.3 million for employee severance, asset write-off and impairment and other closure costs and $78.2 million for estimated future lease obligations). Also, during the third quarter of 2006, the Company announced the reorganization of our Contract segment and recorded a pre-tax charge of $7.9 million for employee severance.
At September 29, 2007, approximately $31.3 million of the reserve for integration and facility closures was included in accrued liabilities, other, and $51.8 million was included in other long-term liabilities. At September 29, 2007, the integration and facility closure reserve included approximately $78.2 million for estimated future lease obligations, which represents the estimated net present value of the lease obligations and is net of anticipated future sublease income of approximately $86.7 million.

 

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Integration and facility closure reserve account activity during the first nine months of 2007 and 2006, including the headquarters consolidation, the 2006 store closures and the Contract segment reorganization, as well as other previously disclosed integration and facility closure activities, was as follows:
                                         
    Lease\             Asset              
    Contract     Severance\     Write-off &              
    Terminations     Retention     Impairment     Other     Total  
    (thousands)  
Balance at December 30, 2006
  $ 107,824     $ 10,838     $     $ 3,142     $ 121,804  
Charges to income
                             
Change in goodwill
                             
Changes to estimated costs included in income
                             
Cash payments
    (32,455 )     (7,462 )           (1,656 )     (41,573 )
Non-cash charges
                             
Accretion
    2,825                         2,825  
 
                             
Balance at September 29, 2007
  $ 78,194     $ 3,376     $     $ 1,486     $ 83,056  
 
                             
                                         
    Lease\             Asset              
    Contract     Severance\     Write-off &              
    Terminations     Retention     Impairment     Other     Total  
    (thousands)  
Balance at December 31, 2005
  $ 91,455     $ 21,502     $     $ 739     $ 113,696  
Charges to income
    81,830       18,801       9,089       25,792       135,512  
Change in goodwill
    (11,000 )                       (11,000 )
Changes to estimated costs included in income
          (1,080 )                 (1,080 )
Cash payments
    (55,572 )     (24,808 )           (17,988 )     (98,368 )
Non-cash charges
                (9,089 )     (5,978 )     (15,067 )
Accretion
    4,850                         4,850  
 
                             
Balance at September 30, 2006
  $ 111,563     $ 14,415     $     $ 2,565     $ 128,543  
 
                             
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 29, 2007, we had $147.4 million of cash and cash equivalents and $384.4 million of short-term and long-term debt, excluding the $1.5 billion of timber securitization notes. We also had $22.4 million of restricted investments on deposit which are pledged to secure a portion of the outstanding debt. As of December 30, 2006, we had $282.1 million of cash and cash equivalents, $22.3 million of restricted investments and $409.9 million of short-term and long-term debt, excluding the $1.5 billion of timber securitization notes.
Our ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 1.47:1 at September 29, 2007, compared with 1.37:1 at December 30, 2006. The increase in our ratio of current assets to current liabilities at September 29, 2007 resulted primarily from an increase in accounts receivable due to the termination of our accounts receivable securitization program and a seasonal decrease in accounts payable in the first nine months of 2007.
The Company’s primary ongoing cash requirements relate to working capital, expenditures for property and equipment, lease obligations and debt service. The Company expects to fund these requirements through a combination of cash flow from operations and seasonal borrowings under our revolving credit facility. The sections that follow discuss in more detail our operating, investing, and financing activities, as well as our financing arrangements.

 

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Operating Activities
The Company’s operating activities generated $31.5 million of cash during the first nine months of 2007 and $339.8 million of cash during the first nine months of 2006. For the first nine months of 2007, items included in net income (loss) provided $262.6 million of cash, and changes in working capital used $231.1 million, principally due to the termination of our accounts receivable securitization program and a reduction in accounts payable primarily due to lower inventory levels and reduced terms at a few key suppliers, partially offset by $82 million of cash proceeds realized from the monetization of certain company-owned life insurance assets. For the first nine months of 2006, items included in net income (loss) provided $173.1 million of cash, and changes in working capital provided $166.7 million, primarily due to the reduction in inventories as a result of closing 109 retail stores during the period.
Investment Activities
The Company’s investing activities used $102.1 million of cash during the first nine months of 2007, compared to $92.3 million during the first nine months of 2006. Investment activities during the first nine months of 2007 were primarily expenditures for property and equipment. The Company expects expenditures for property and equipment in 2007 to total between $140 and $160 million, excluding acquisitions, if any. The Company’s capital spending in 2007 is expected to be for leasehold improvements, new stores, quality and efficiency projects, replacement projects and integration projects.
Financing Activities
Our financing activities used $65.4 million of cash during the first nine months of 2007, compared with $5.9 million during the first nine months of 2006. Dividend payments totaled $35.8 million and $34.4 million during the first nine months of 2007 and 2006, respectively. In both years, the Company’s quarterly dividend was 15 cents per common share. During the first nine months of 2007, the Company used $25.5 million of cash to reduce debt as compared to $84.1 million for the same period in 2006. During the first nine months of 2007 and 2006, the Company realized $5.9 million and $112.7 million, respectively, from the exercise of stock options. Excluding the timber securitization notes, our debt-to-equity ratio was .18:1 at September 29, 2007 and .21:1 at December 30, 2006.
Our debt structure consists of credit agreements, note agreements and other borrowings. Information regarding our debt structure is included below. For additional information, see Note 13, Debt, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006.
Credit Agreements
On July 12, 2007, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with a group of banks. The Loan Agreement amended the Company’s existing revolving credit facility and replaced the Company’s accounts receivable securitization program. The new Loan Agreement permits the Company to borrow up to a maximum of $700 million in accordance with a borrowing base calculation equal to a percentage of eligible accounts receivable plus a percentage of the value of eligible inventory less certain reserves. The Loan Agreement may be increased (up to a maximum of $800 million) at the Company’s request or reduced from time to time, in each case according to terms detailed in the Loan Agreement. There were no borrowings outstanding under the revolver as of September 29, 2007 and December 30, 2006. Letters of credit, which may be issued under the revolver up to a maximum of $250 million, reduce available borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility. Letters of credit issued under the revolver totaled $82.3 million as of September 29, 2007 and $75.5 million as of December 30, 2006. As of September 29, 2007, the maximum aggregate borrowing amount available under the revolver was $700.0 million and excess availability under the revolver totaled $617.7 million.
Borrowings under the revolver bear interest at rates based on either the prime rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). Margins are applied to the applicable borrowing rates and letter of credit fees under the revolver depending on the level of average excess availability. Fees on letters of credit issued under the revolver were charged at a weighted average rate of 0.875% during the third quarter of 2007. The Company is also charged an unused line fee of 0.25% on the amount by which the maximum available credit exceeds the average daily outstanding borrowings and letters of credit.

 

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Timber Notes
In October 2004, the Company sold its timberlands and received credit-enhanced timber installment notes receivable in the amount of $1,635 million. In December 2004, the Company completed a securitization transaction in which its interest in the timber installment notes receivable and related guarantees were transferred to wholly-owned bankruptcy remote subsidiaries that were designated to be qualifying special purpose entities (the “OMXQs”). The OMXQs pledged the timber installment notes receivable and related guarantees and issued securitization notes in the amount of $1,470 million. Recourse on the securitization notes is limited to the pledged timber installment notes receivable. The securitization notes are 15-year non-amortizing, and were issued in two equal $735 million tranches paying interest of 5.42% and 5.54%, respectively.
As a result of these transactions, OfficeMax received $1,470 million in cash from the OMXQ’s, and over 15 years will earn approximately $82.5 million per year in interest income on the timber installment notes receivable and incur interest expense of approximately $80.5 million on the securitization notes. The pledged timber installment notes receivable and nonrecourse securitization notes will mature in 2020 and 2019, respectively. The securitization notes have an initial term that is approximately three months shorter than the installment notes. The Company expects to refinance its ownership of the installment notes in 2019 with a short-term secured borrowing to bridge the period from initial maturity of the securitization notes to the maturity of the installment notes.
The original entities issuing the credit enhanced timber installment notes are variable-interest entities (the “VIE’s”) under FASB Interpretation 46R, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities”. The OMXQs are considered to be the primary beneficiary, and therefore, the VIE’s are required to be consolidated with the OMXQ’s, which are also the issuers of the securitization notes. As a result, the accounts of the OMXQ’s have been consolidated into those of their ultimate parent, OfficeMax. The effect of the Company’s consolidation of the OMXQs is that the securitization transaction is treated as a financing, and both the timber notes receivable and the securitization notes payable are reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Note Agreements
In October 2003, the Company issued $300 million of 6.50% senior notes due in 2010 and $200 million of 7.00% senior notes due in 2013. At the time of issuance, the senior note indentures contained a number of restrictive covenants, substantially all of which have been eliminated through the execution of supplemental indentures as described below. On November 5, 2004, the Company repurchased approximately $286.3 million of the 6.50% senior notes and received the requisite consents to adopt amendments to the indenture pursuant to a tender offer for these securities. As a result, the Company and the trustee executed a supplemental indenture that eliminated substantially all of the restrictive covenants, certain events of default and related provisions, and replaced them with the covenants contained in the Company’s other public debt. Those covenants include a limitation on mergers and similar transactions, a restriction on secured transactions involving Principal Properties, as defined, and a restriction on sale and leaseback transactions involving Principal Properties.
On December 23, 2004, both Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and Standard & Poor’s Rating Services upgraded the credit rating on the Company’s 7.00% senior notes to investment grade. The upgrades were the result of actions the Company took to collateralize the notes by granting the note holders a security interest in $113 million in principal amount of General Electric Capital and Bank of America Corp. notes maturing in 2008 (the “pledged instruments”). These pledged instruments are reflected as restricted investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As a result of these ratings upgrades, the original 7.00% senior note covenants have been replaced with the covenants found in the Company’s other public debt. During the first quarter of 2005, the Company purchased and cancelled $87.3 million of the 7.00% senior notes. As a result, $92.8 million of the pledged instruments were released from the security interest granted to the 7.00% senior note holders, and were sold during the second quarter of 2005. The remaining pledged instruments continue to be subject to the security interest, and are reflected as restricted investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Other
The Company had leased certain equipment at its integrated wood-polymer building materials facility near Elma, Washington under a capital lease. The lease agreement had a base term of seven years and an interest rate of 4.67%. During the first quarter of 2006 the Company paid $29.1 million to terminate the lease agreement.
Cash payments for interest were $5.7 million and $26.4 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 29, 2007, respectively, and $5.3 million and $27.1 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively.

 

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Contractual Obligations
For information regarding contractual obligations, see the caption “Contractual Obligations” in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006. In addition, in the third quarter of 2007, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, see Note 13, Debt, of “Notes to Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)” in this Form 10-Q.
Off-Balance-Sheet Activities and Guarantees
For information regarding off-balance-sheet activities and guarantees, see Note 9, Sales of Accounts Receivable, of “Notes to Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)” in this Form 10-Q and the caption “Off-Balance-Sheet Activities and Guarantees” in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006. On July 12, 2007, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement. The Loan Agreement amended the Company’s existing revolving credit facility and replaced the Company’s accounts receivable securitization program. The sold accounts receivable under the accounts receivable securitization program at that date were refinanced with borrowings under the new loan agreement and excess cash. The Company no longer sells any of its accounts receivable.
Inflationary and Seasonal Influences
We believe that neither inflation nor deflation has had a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations; however, there can be no assurance that we will not be affected by inflation or deflation in the future. The Company’s business is seasonal, with OfficeMax, Retail showing a more pronounced seasonal trend than OfficeMax, Contract. Sales in the second quarter and summer months are historically the slowest of the year. Sales are stronger during the first, third and fourth quarters that include the important new-year office supply restocking month of January, the back-to-school period and the holiday selling season, respectively.
Environmental
For information regarding environmental issues, see the caption “Environmental” in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006.
Critical Accounting Estimates
For information regarding critical accounting estimates, see the caption “Critical Accounting Estimates” in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
For information regarding market risk see the caption “Disclosures of Financial Market Risk” in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006. At September 29, 2007, other than a change in the average market price per ton of the benchmark paper grade used to calculate payments under the Additional Consideration Agreement with Boise Cascade L.L.C., described below, there had not been a material change to the information regarding market risk disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006.
Pursuant to an Additional Consideration Agreement between OfficeMax and Boise Cascade, L.L.C., we may be required to make substantial cash payments to, or receive substantial cash payments from, Boise Cascade, L.L.C. Under the Additional Consideration Agreement, the Sale proceeds may be adjusted upward or downward based on paper prices during the six years following the Sale, subject to annual and aggregate caps. Specifically, we have agreed to pay Boise Cascade, L.L.C. $710,000 for each dollar by which the average market price per ton of a specified benchmark grade of cut-size office paper during any 12-month period ending on September 30 is less than $800. Boise Cascade, L.L.C. has agreed to pay us $710,000 for each dollar by which the average market price per ton exceeds $920. Under the terms of the agreement, neither party will be obligated to make a payment in excess of $45 million in any one year. Payments by either party are also subject to an aggregate cap of $125 million that declines to $115 million in the fifth year and $105 million in the sixth year.

 

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We record changes in the fair value of the Additional Consideration Agreement in our net income (loss) in the period they occur; however, any potential payments from Boise Cascade, L.L.C. to us are not recorded in net income (loss) until all contingencies have been satisfied, which is generally at the end of a 12-month measurement period ending on September 30. As of September 30, 2007, the last day of the third 12-month measurement period, the average market price per ton of the benchmark grade used to calculate payments due under the Additional Consideration Agreement was $966. Based on this price, we expect to receive a payment of approximately $33 million from Boise Cascade L.L.C. and we will recognize income of $33 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. As of September 29, 2007 and December 30, 2006, the net amount recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheet related to the Additional Consideration Agreement (either receivable or payable) was zero.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, these officers have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective for the purpose of ensuring that material information required to be included in this quarterly report is made known to them by others on a timely basis and that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b) Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-1(f) of the Exchange Act, during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are involved in litigation and administrative proceedings arising in the normal course of our business. In the opinion of management, our recovery, if any, or our liability, if any, under pending litigation or administrative proceedings would not materially affect our financial position or results of operations. For information concerning legal proceedings and contingencies, see “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” and Note 19, Legal Proceedings and Contingencies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006 and “Item 16. Legal Proceedings and Contingencies” in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007. In June 2005, the Company announced that the SEC issued a formal order of investigation arising from the Company’s previously announced internal investigation into its accounting for vendor income. The Company launched its internal investigation in December 2004 when the Company received claims by a vendor to its retail business that certain employees acted inappropriately in requesting promotional payments and in falsifying supporting documentation. The internal investigation was conducted under the direction of the Company’s audit committee and was completed in March 2005. The Company cooperated fully with the SEC. In a letter dated October 23, 2007, the Company received notification from the SEC that it had completed its investigation against the Company and was not recommending any enforcement action. The Company and several former officers and/or directors of the Company or its predecessor are defendants in a consolidated, putative class action proceeding (Roth v. OfficeMax Inc., et. al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois) alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Complaint alleges, in summary, that the Company failed to disclose (a) that vendor income had been improperly recorded, (b) that the Company lacked internal controls necessary to ensure the proper reporting of revenue and compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, and (c) that the Company’s 2004 and later results would be adversely affected by the Company’s allegedly improper practices. The relief sought includes unspecified compensatory damages, interest and costs, including attorneys’ fees. On September 21, 2005, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint. On September 12, 2006, the court granted the defendant group’s joint motion to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint. On November 9, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a purported amended complaint. On January 19, 2007, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On September 26, 2007, the court granted the motion to dismiss and terminated the case.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about our expectations, anticipated financial results and future business prospects, are forward-looking statements. You can identify these statements by our use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “should,” “plan,” “anticipate” and other similar expressions. You can find examples of these statements throughout this report, including Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We cannot guarantee that our actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking statements we make in this report. We have listed below some of the inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those we project. We do not assume an obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
Intense competition in our markets could harm our ability to maintain profitability. Domestic and international office products markets are highly and increasingly competitive. Customers have many options when purchasing office supplies and paper, print and document services, technology products and solutions and office furniture. We compete with worldwide contract stationers, office supply superstores, mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs, computer and electronics superstores, Internet merchandisers, direct-mail distributors, discount retailers, drugstores, supermarkets and thousands of local and regional contract stationers. In addition, an increasing number of manufacturers of computer hardware, software and peripherals, including some of our suppliers, have expanded their own direct marketing efforts. The other large office supply superstores have increased their presence in our markets in recent years and are expected to continue to do so in the future. In addition, many of our competitors have expanded their office products assortment, and we expect they will continue to do so. In recent years, two package delivery companies have established retail stores that compete directly with us for copy, printing, packaging and shipping business, and offer a limited assortment of office products and services similar to the ones we offer. We anticipate increasing competition from our two domestic office supply superstore competitors and various other providers, including the two package delivery companies, for print-for-pay and related services. Print-for-pay and related services have historically been a key point of difference for OfficeMax stores and are expected to become an increasingly more important part of our future strategies. Any or all of our competitors may become even more aggressive in the future. Increased competition in the office products markets, together with increased advertising, has heightened price awareness among end-users. Such heightened price awareness has led to margin pressure on office products and impacted the results of both our Retail and Contract segments. In addition to price, competition is also based on customer service, the quality and breadth of product selection, and convenient locations. Some of our competitors are larger than us and have greater financial resources, which affords them greater purchasing power, increased financial flexibility and more capital resources for expansion and improvement, which may enable them to compete more effectively than we can.
We may be unable to open and remodel stores successfully. Our business plans include the opening and remodeling of a significant number of retail stores. For these plans to be successful, we must identify and lease favorable store sites, develop remodeling plans, hire and train associates and adapt management and systems to meet the needs of these operations. These tasks are difficult to manage successfully. If we are not able to open and remodel stores as quickly as we have planned, our future financial performance could be materially and adversely affected. Further, we cannot ensure that the new or remodeled stores will achieve the sales or profit levels that we anticipate. This is particularly true as we introduce different store designs, formats and sizes or enter into new market areas. In particular, the “Advantage” prototype store format we intend to utilize for new and remodeled stores is new and there can be no assurance as to whether or to what extent that format will be successful.

 

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Economic conditions directly influence our operating results. Economic conditions, both domestically and abroad, directly influence our operating results. Current and future economic conditions, including the level of unemployment, energy costs and the financial condition and growth prospects of our Contract customers may adversely affect our business and the results of our operations.
Our quarterly operating results are subject to fluctuation. Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated in the past and are likely to do so in the future. Factors that may contribute to these quarter-to-quarter fluctuations could include the effects of seasonality, our level of advertising and marketing, new store openings, changes in product mix and competitors’ pricing. These quarterly fluctuations could have an adverse effect on both our operating results and the price of our common stock.
We may be unable to attract and retain qualified associates. We attempt to attract and retain an appropriate level of personnel in both field operations and corporate functions. As a retailer, we face the challenge of filling many positions at wage scales that are low, although appropriate for our industry and in light of competitive factors. As a result, we face many external risks and internal factors in meeting our labor needs, including competition for qualified personnel, overall unemployment levels, prevailing wage rates, as well as rising employee benefit costs, including insurance costs and compensation programs. Changes in any of these factors, including especially a shortage of available workforce in the areas in which we operate, could interfere with our ability to adequately provide services to customers and result in increasing our labor costs, which could have an adverse effect on our business and results of our operations.
We cannot assure that new associates will perform effectively. In conjunction with our headquarters consolidation, we have hired approximately 600 new employees to replace existing associates who did not relocate to the new headquarters. As a result, we now have a significant number of associates with limited experience with OfficeMax performing key functions. Although we have carefully selected and trained these associates, there is still a risk that institutional knowledge may be lost and operations may be conducted less efficiently or effectively. Also, if we are unable to continue to attract and retain qualified associates for our remaining open positions, as well as train new associates and transition them smoothly into their roles, it could adversely affect our operating results.
Our expanded offering of proprietary branded products may not improve our financial performance and may expose us to product liability claims. Our product offering includes many proprietary branded products. While we have focused on the quality of our proprietary branded products, we rely on third-party manufacturers for these products. Such third party manufacturers may prove to be unreliable, or the quality of our globally sourced products may not meet our expectations. Furthermore, economic and political conditions in areas of the world where we source such products may adversely affect the availability and cost of such products. In addition, our proprietary branded products compete with other manufacturers’ branded items that we offer. As we continue to increase the number and types of proprietary branded products that we sell, we may adversely affect our relationships with our vendors, who may decide to reduce their product offerings through OfficeMax and increase their product offerings through our competitors. Finally, if any of our customers are harmed by our proprietary branded products, they may bring product liability and other claims against us. Any of these circumstances could have an adverse effect on our business and financial performance.
We are more leveraged than some of our competitors, which could adversely affect our business plans. A relatively greater portion of our cash flow is used to service debt and other financial obligations including leases. This reduces the funds we have available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, new stores, store remodels and other purposes. Similarly, our relatively greater leverage increases our vulnerability to, and limits our flexibility in planning for, adverse economic and industry conditions and creates other competitive disadvantages compared with other companies with relatively less leverage.
We cannot ensure new systems and technology will be implemented successfully. Our acquisition of OfficeMax, Inc., in December 2003, required the integration and coordination of our existing contract stationer systems with the retail systems of the acquired company. Integrating and coordinating these systems has been complex and still requires a number of system enhancements and conversions that, if not done properly, could divert the attention of our workforce during development and implementation and constrain for some time our ability to provide the level of service our customers demand. Also, when implemented, the systems and technology enhancements may not provide the benefits anticipated and could add costs and complications to our ongoing operations. A failure to effectively implement changes to these systems or to realize the intended efficiencies could have an adverse effect on our business and results of our operations.

 

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We retained responsibility for certain liabilities of the paper, forest products and timberland businesses we sold. These obligations include liabilities related to environmental, tax, litigation and employee benefit matters. Some of these retained liabilities could turn out to be significant, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations. Our exposure to these liabilities could harm our ability to compete with other office products distributors, who would not typically be subject to similar liabilities.
Our business may be adversely affected by the actions of and risks associated with our third-party vendors. We are a reseller of other manufacturer’s branded items and are thereby dependent on the availability and pricing of key products including ink, toner, paper and technology products. As a reseller, we cannot control the supply, design, function or cost of many of the products we offer for sale. Disruptions in the availability of these products may adversely affect our sales and result in customer dissatisfaction. Further, we cannot control the cost of manufacturer’s products and cost increases must either be passed along to our customers or will result in erosion of our earnings. Failure to identify desirable products and make them available to our customers when desired and at attractive prices could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our investment in Boise Cascade, L.L.C. subjects us to the risks associated with the paper and forest products industry. When we sold our paper, forest products and timberland assets, we purchased an equity interest in affiliates of Boise Cascade, L.L.C. In addition, we have an ongoing obligation to purchase paper from an affiliate of Boise Cascade, L.L.C. These continuing interests subject us to market risks associated with the paper and forest products industry. These industries are subject to cyclical market pressures. Historical prices for products have been volatile, and industry participants have limited influence over the timing and extent of price changes. The relationship between supply and demand in these industries significantly affects product pricing. Demand for building products is driven mainly by factors such as new construction and remodeling rates, interest rates and weather. The supply of paper and building products fluctuates based on manufacturing capacity, and excess capacity, both domestically and abroad, can result in significant variations in product prices. The level of supply and demand for forest products will affect the price we pay for paper. Our ability to realize the carrying value of our equity interest in affiliates of Boise Cascade, L.L.C. is dependent upon many factors, including the operating performance of Boise Cascade, L.L.C. and other market factors that may not be specific to Boise Cascade, L.L.C., due in part to the fact that there is not a liquid market for our equity interest. Our exposure to these risks could decrease our ability to compete effectively with our competitors, who typically are not subject to such risks.
Compromises of customer debit and credit card data in 2004, regardless of the source of the breach, may damage the OfficeMax brand and our reputation. Compromises of customer debit and credit card data in 2004 were later tied to fraudulent transactions outside the U.S. While we have no knowledge of a security breach at OfficeMax, it is possible that information security compromises that involved OfficeMax customer data, including breaches that occurred at third party processors, may damage our reputation. Such damage to our reputation could adversely affect our operating results.
We have substantial business operations in states in which the regulatory environment is particularly challenging. Our operations in California and other similar states expose us to many regulations relating to the conduct of our business, including, without limitation, consumer protection laws, advertising regulations, and employment and wage and hour regulations. This regulatory environment requires the company to implement a heightened compliance effort and exposes us to defense costs, possible fines and penalties, and liability to private parties for monetary recoveries and attorneys’ fees, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
None
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
None
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibits.
Required exhibits are listed in the Index to Exhibits and are incorporated by reference.

 

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
  OFFICEMAX INCORPORATED
 
 
  /s/ Don Civgin    
  Don Civgin    
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(As Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer) 
 
 
     
  /s/ Phillip DePaul    
  Phillip DePaul    
  Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
(As Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) 
 
 
Date: November 8, 2007

 

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OFFICEMAX INCORPORATED
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Filed With the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 29, 2007
     
Number   Description
    3.1.1(1)
  Certificate of Incorporation
    3.1.2(2)   Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation
    3.2(3)   Bylaws, as amended October 20, 2006
10.1(4)   Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement by and among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries who are also borrowers, certain of its subsidiaries who are guarantors, certain lenders, and Wachovia Capital Finance Corporation (Central), which will act as agent for the lenders
10.2(5)   Form of 2007 Directors’ Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
10.3(6)   General Waiver and Release of Claims between M. Rowsey and the Company
10.4(7)   Letter Agreement dated September 12, 2007 between Mr. Martin and the Company
10.5(8)   Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement dated September 17, 2007 between the Company and Mr. Martin
10.6(9)   Nonstatutory Stock Option Award Agreement dated September 17, 2007 between the Company and Mr. Martin
10.7(10)   Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement dated September 13, 2007 between the Company and Mr. Martin
31.1*   CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*   CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32*   Section 906 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of OfficeMax Incorporated
 
*   Filed with this Form 10-Q.
 
(1)   Exhibit 3.1.1 was filed under the same exhibit number in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 24, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(2)   Exhibit 3.1.2 was filed under exhibit number 3.1 in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 1, 2007 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(3)   Exhibit 3.2 was filed under exhibit number 3.1 in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 25, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(4)   Exhibit 10.1 was filed under exhibit number 99.1 in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 18, 2007 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(5)   Exhibit 10.2 was filed under exhibit number 99.3 in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 1, 2007 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(6)   Exhibit 10.3 was filed under exhibit number 99.1 in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 16, 2007 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(7)   Exhibit 10.4 was filed under exhibit number 99.1 in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 19, 2007 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(8)   Exhibit 10.5 was filed under exhibit number 99.2 in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 19, 2007 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(9)   Exhibit 10.6 was filed under exhibit number 99.3 in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 19, 2007 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(10)   Exhibit 10.7 was filed under exhibit number 99.4 in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 19, 2007 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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