OMX Officemax Incorporated

ITASCA, Ill., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- OfficeMax(R) Incorporated (NYSE:OMX), a leader in office products and services, today announced that it will locate its new corporate headquarters at 263 Shuman Boulevard in Naperville, Illinois. The company will begin developing build-out designs and floor plans to accommodate approximately 1,500 associates and is due to begin occupying the building in late Spring 2006. As previously announced, OfficeMax plans to consolidate its headquarters in Illinois to strengthen operational efficiencies, enhance collaboration among departments, and reduce costs over time. "The consolidation of our company's headquarters has been a key milestone in our integration plan, with the evaluation of potential headquarters sites representing the bulk of the effort in accomplishing that goal," said Sam Duncan, chairman and chief executive officer for OfficeMax. "The conclusion of the site evaluation efforts and the selection of our Naperville address marks significant progress in our integration efforts." The City of Naperville, which has gained national acclaim for its business and residential communities, was selected following a review of various Midwest locations. "OfficeMax's decision to relocate to Naperville confirms this is a great place to live, work and do business," said Naperville Mayor George Pradel. "We are grateful to the State of Illinois and the Governor's Office for partnering with us to keep and attract new jobs in our region." "We commend all of the local city representatives who participated in the evaluation process for their responsiveness and dedication to providing viable options for our review and consideration," said Duncan. "The Illinois governor's office was an invaluable resource throughout our entire headquarters location review process and their dedicated efforts to ensuring a successful outcome for all parties involved were instrumental in concluding our evaluation." "We have a very simple philosophy here in Illinois to continue growing our economy and creating more good jobs," said Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. "By investing in companies that invest in Illinois, we are creating a business environment that is ensuring that companies, such as OfficeMax, have all the tools they need to compete and thrive. Illinois' greatest asset is our people, and many successful companies are recognizing that fact by making significant private investments across the state. By forging these public- private partnerships, we are providing more and more opportunities for our hardworking men and women to get ahead." The 361,000-square-foot Naperville building, owned by a joint venture of GlenStar Properties LLC and Prudential Real Estate Investors, provides the local infrastructure to meet OfficeMax's requirements for a corporate headquarters. Building features include 60,000-square-foot floor plates designed for flexible space planning and an atrium extending the building's full five stories. Located in Naperville Office Park on I-88, the property has prominent tollway visibility and is convenient to area amenities. The facility, built in 1986, was leased first by AT&T then by Lucent Technologies, which was its single occupant until 2003. "When we acquired 263 Shuman late last year, we were confident it would make an excellent corporate headquarters facility," said GlenStar Principal Michael A. Klein. "OfficeMax is an ideal fit for the property, and the company's decision to locate here validates both our vision and the long-term strength and appeal of the area." The new OfficeMax corporate headquarters will be home to the company's retail and contract operations, executive staff and corporate support functions. OfficeMax plans to begin to occupy its new Naperville headquarters location starting late Spring 2006 and expects to complete the transition to its new headquarters by Fall 2006. About OfficeMax OfficeMax is a leader in both business-to-business and retail office products distribution. OfficeMax delivers an unparalleled customer experience -- in service, in product, in time savings, and in value -- through a relentless focus on its customers. The company provides office supplies and paper, print and document services, technology products and solutions, and furniture to large, medium and small businesses and consumers. OfficeMax customers are served by approximately 40,000 associates through direct sales, catalogs, Internet and approximately 950 superstores. OfficeMax trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol OMX. More information can be found at http://www.officemax.com/ . OfficeMax Media Contact OfficeMax Investor Relations Contact Susan Heymann John Jennings Bader Rutter Public Relations 630 438 8760 262 938-5443 for Sept. 29 only: 262 993 9875 DATASOURCE: OfficeMax CONTACT: Media, Susan Heymann of Bader Rutter Public Relations, +1-262-938-5443, for Sept. 29 only: +1-262-993-9875; or Investor Relations, John Jennings of OfficeMax, +1-630-438-8760 Web site: http://www.officemax.com/

Copyright