OMX Officemax Incorporated

- Contract Segment Gross Margin Improves NAPERVILLE, Ill., July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- OfficeMax(R) Incorporated (NYSE:OMX) today announced the results for its second quarter ended June 28, 2008. Total sales decreased 6.9% in the second quarter of 2008 to $1.98 billion compared to the second quarter of 2007. For the second quarter of 2008, OfficeMax reported a net loss of $894.2 million, or $11.79 per diluted share, compared to net income of $27.4 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2007. Results for the second quarter of 2008 included three items that are not considered indicative of core operating activities, herein referred to as unusual items, which if excluded, would increase income before taxes by $942.4 million and net income by $913.6 million, or $12.03 per diluted share. These unusual items were a non-cash expense of $935.3 million recorded in the Contract and Retail segments related to impairment of goodwill and intangible assets; an expense of $10.2 million recorded in the Retail segment related to employee severance from the reorganization of Retail store management; and a gain of $3.1 million recorded in the Corporate and Other segment related to the legacy Voyageur Panel business sold in 2004. Sam Duncan, Chairman and CEO of OfficeMax, said "In the second quarter, sales for both our Contract and Retail segments continued to reflect the weaker U.S. economic environment along with our more disciplined approach to customer acquisition and retention. While we incurred a non-cash accounting charge related to impairment in both operating segments, we were pleased with the performance of our Contract segment, as we improved gross margin rates and reduced expenses, other than those related to impairment. In our Retail segment, lower sales and gross margin rates, together with higher expenses, resulted in lower operating income margin for the quarter. Across our company, we continue to address aspects of our business that are manageable as we navigate the difficult sales environment." Non-Cash Unusual Item Related to Impairment The company is required for accounting purposes to assess the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets annually or whenever circumstances indicate that a decline in value may have occurred. Based on the company's sustained low stock price and reduced market capitalization, macroeconomic factors impacting industry business conditions, recent and forecasted segment operating performance, the competitive environment, along with other factors, the company determined that indicators of potential impairment were present during the second quarter of 2008. As a result, the company assessed the carrying value of acquired goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment. The measurement of impairment of goodwill and indefinite life intangibles consists of two steps, which require the company to determine the fair value of its reporting units and to allocate reporting unit fair value to the individual assets and liabilities, similar to a purchase price allocation. The company has not completed the fair value allocation process necessary to determine the final impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets. Accordingly, in the second quarter of 2008, OfficeMax recorded an estimate of a non-cash impairment charge associated with goodwill and other assets that reduced income before taxes by $935.3 million and net income by $909.3 million, or $11.98 per diluted share. The components of the $935.3 million estimated non-cash impairment charge consist of $850.0 million for goodwill, $80.0 million for trade names, and $5.3 million for fixed assets. The non-cash charge has been recorded in both the Contract and Retail operating segments. The estimates and assumptions made in assessing the fair value of the reporting units and the valuation of the underlying assets and liabilities are inherently subject to significant uncertainties. Accordingly, an adjustment to the estimated impairment charge will be required when the company finalizes its analysis, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2008. Any such adjustment could be material, but will be non-cash. Contract Segment Results OfficeMax Contract segment sales decreased 7.1% to $1.11 billion in the second quarter of 2008 compared to the second quarter of 2007, reflecting U.S. Contract sales decline of 12.9%, partially offset by International Contract operations sales growth of 9.4% in U.S. dollars (a sales decrease of 0.1% in local currencies). U.S. Contract sales declined compared to the prior year period primarily due to weaker sales from existing corporate customer accounts, our continued discipline in account acquisition and retention, and lower sales from small market customers. Contract segment gross margin increased to 21.7% in the second quarter of 2008 from 21.4% in the second quarter of 2007, primarily due to improved account profitability, partly offset by deleveraging of fixed delivery and occupancy costs. Contract segment operating expense as a percent of sales increased to 59.2% in the second quarter of 2008 from 18.0% in the second quarter of 2007, primarily due to the $464.0 million non-cash unusual expense item related to the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, representing 41.7% of sales. The non-impairment related Contract operating expense as a percent of sales improved from the second quarter of 2007, primarily due to targeted cost reductions and reduced incentive compensation expense, partially offset by deleveraging of fixed expenses from lower sales. For the second quarter of 2008, the Contract segment generated an operating loss of $416.8 million, or 37.5% of sales, with $464.0 million, or 41.7% of sales, due to the unusual expense item, compared to operating income of $41.0 million, or 3.4% of sales, in the second quarter of 2007. Retail Segment Results OfficeMax Retail segment sales decreased 6.7% to $872.7 million in the second quarter of 2008 compared to the second quarter of 2007, reflecting a same-store sales decrease of 10.0% partly offset by sales from new stores. Retail same-store sales for the second quarter of 2008 declined across all major product categories due to weaker U.S. consumer and small business spending. Retail segment gross margin decreased to 27.7% in the second quarter of 2008 from 29.9% in the second quarter of 2007, primarily due to deleveraging of fixed occupancy-related costs and increased inventory shrinkage, partly offset by a sales mix shift to an increased percentage of higher-margin office supplies category sales. Retail segment operating expense as a percent of sales increased to 82.8% in the second quarter of 2008 from 27.3% in the second quarter of 2007, primarily due to the $471.3 million non-cash unusual expense item related to the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets representing 54.0% of sales, and the $10.2 million unusual expense item related to employee severance from the reorganization of Retail store management representing 1.2% of sales. The remainder of the increase in Retail segment operating expense as a percent of sales from the second quarter of 2007 was primarily due to deleveraging of expenses from the same store sales decrease and new stores, partially offset by reduced incentive compensation expense. For the second quarter of 2008, the Retail segment generated an operating loss of $480.7 million, or 55.1% of sales, with $481.5 million, or 55.2% of sales, due to the two unusual expense items, compared to operating income of $24.7 million, or 2.6% of sales, in the second quarter of 2007. During the second quarter of 2008, OfficeMax opened 12 retail stores in the U.S. and 5 retail stores in Mexico. OfficeMax ended the second quarter of 2008 with a total of 999 retail stores, consisting of 920 retail stores in the U.S. and 79 retail stores in Mexico. Corporate and Other Segment Results The OfficeMax Corporate and Other segment includes support staff services and certain other expenses that are not fully allocated to the Retail and Contract segments. During the second quarter of 2008, the Corporate and Other segment benefited from a $3.1 million unusual item related to the legacy Voyageur Panel business sold in 2004. Including this unusual item, Corporate and Other segment operating expense decreased to $5.1 million in the second quarter of 2008 from $9.8 million in the second quarter of 2007, primarily due to lower incentive compensation expense. As of June 28, 2008, OfficeMax had total debt of $383.8 million, excluding $1.470 billion of timber securitization notes which have recourse limited to $1.635 billion of timber installment notes receivable. During the second quarter of 2008, OfficeMax used $7.8 million of cash from operations, a decrease of $130.9 million from the second quarter of 2007. OfficeMax invested $42.7 million for capital expenditures in the second quarter of 2008 compared to $31.3 million in the second quarter of 2007. "Despite the headwinds of a tough U.S. economy, we continued implementing our turnaround plan and operating initiatives during the second quarter," Mr. Duncan concluded. "We continue to build the foundation for OfficeMax to generate long-term shareholder value." Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this press release and other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of the company constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the company's future performance, as well as management's expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, estimates or projections relating to the future. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable. However, the company cannot guarantee that it will successfully execute its turnaround plans or that its actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on them. These statements are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date they are made. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise. Important factors regarding the company which may cause results to differ from expectations are included in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2007, under Item 1A "Risk Factors", and in the company's other filings with the SEC. Conference Call Information OfficeMax will host a conference call with analysts and investors to discuss its second quarter 2008 financial results on July 30, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (10:00 a.m. Central Time). To participate in the conference call, dial (800) 374-0165; international callers should dial (706) 634-0995. An audio webcast of the conference call can be accessed via the Internet by visiting the Investors section of the OfficeMax website at http://investor.officemax.com/. The webcast will be archived and available online for one year following the call and will be posted on the "Presentations" page located within the Investors section of the OfficeMax website. About OfficeMax OfficeMax Incorporated (NYSE:OMX) is a leader in both business-to-business office products solutions and retail office products. The OfficeMax mission is simple. We help our customers do their best work. The company provides office supplies and paper, in-store print and document services through OfficeMax ImPress(TM), technology products and solutions, and furniture to consumers and to large, medium and small businesses. OfficeMax customers are served by approximately 32,000 associates through direct sales, catalogs, e-commerce and nearly 1,000 stores. To find the nearest OfficeMax, call 1-877-OFFICEMAX. For more information, visit http://www.officemax.com/. Media Contact Investor Relations Contact Bill Bonner John Jennings 630 864 6066 630 864 6820 OFFICEMAX INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) (thousands) June 28, December 29, 2008 2007 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $155,922 $152,637 Receivables, net 667,419 720,878 Inventories 1,012,527 1,088,312 Other current assets 210,335 242,874 Total current assets 2,046,203 2,204,701 Property and equipment: Property and equipment 1,318,297 1,279,609 Accumulated depreciation (735,037) (698,954) Property and equipment, net 583,260 580,655 Goodwill and intangible assets, net 485,901 1,416,524 Timber notes receivable 1,635,000 1,635,000 Other non-current assets 440,936 446,888 Total assets $5,191,300 $6,283,768 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Short-term borrowings $31,804 $14,197 Current portion of long-term debt 17,716 34,827 Accounts payable 779,814 861,285 Accrued liabilities and other 394,591 460,400 Total current liabilities 1,223,925 1,370,709 Long-term debt: Long-term debt, less current portion 334,263 349,421 Timber notes securitized 1,470,000 1,470,000 Total long-term debt 1,804,263 1,819,421 Other long-term obligations: Compensation and benefits 186,879 200,283 Other long-term liabilities 523,243 582,741 Total other long-term liabilities 710,122 783,024 Minority interest 35,038 32,042 Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock 45,070 49,989 Common stock 189,825 188,481 Additional paid-in capital 911,841 922,414 Retained earnings 240,244 1,095,950 Accumulated other comprehensive income 30,972 21,738 Total shareholders' equity 1,417,952 2,278,572 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $5,191,300 $6,283,768 OFFICEMAX INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) (thousands, except per-share amounts) Quarter Ended June 28, June 30, 2008 2007 Sales $1,984,641 $2,132,417 Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs 1,501,063 1,596,619 Gross profit 483,578 535,798 Operating and other expenses: Operating and selling 372,709 392,581 General and administrative 72,554 88,719 Goodwill and Other Asset Impairments (a) 935,340 - Other operating, net (b) & (c) 5,540 (1,447) Operating income (loss) (902,565) 55,945 Other income (expense): Interest expense (29,642) (29,959) Interest income 21,682 21,776 Other, net 88 (2,232) (7,872) (10,415) Income (loss) before income taxes and minority interest (910,437) 45,530 Income taxes 16,320 (17,757) Income (loss) before minority interest (894,117) 27,773 Minority interest, net of income tax (103) (337) Net income (loss) (894,220) 27,436 Preferred dividends (1,052) (1,008) Net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders $(895,272) $26,428 Basic income (loss) per common share $(11.79) $0.35 Diluted income (loss) per common share $(11.79) $0.35 Weighted Average Shares Basic 75,916 75,344 Diluted 75,916 76,593 (a) Second quarter of 2008 includes a $935.3 million non-cash unusual item related to impairment of goodwill, tradenames and fixed assets. These charges are recorded by segment in the following manner: Contract $464.0 million and Retail $471.3 million. This item reduced net income by $909.3 million, or $11.98 per diluted share. (b) Second quarter of 2008 includes a $10.2 million unusual item related to employee severance from the reorganization of Retail store management. This item reduced net income by $6.2 million, or $0.08 per diluted share. (c) Second quarter of 2008 includes a $3.1 million unusual item related to the legacy Voyageur Panel business sold in 2004. This item increased net income by $1.9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. OFFICEMAX INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) (thousands, except per-share amounts) Six Months Ended June 28, June 30, 2008 2007 Sales $4,287,562 $4,568,671 Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs 3,216,156 3,409,649 Gross profit 1,071,406 1,159,022 Operating and other expenses: Operating and selling 797,098 813,349 General and administrative 154,762 182,656 Goodwill and Other Asset Impairments (a) 935,340 - Other operating, net (b), (c) & (d) 8,153 (3,023) Operating income (loss) (823,947) 166,040 Other income (expense): Interest expense (59,322) (60,075) Interest income 43,581 44,814 Other, net (e) 20,705 (5,680) 4,964 (20,941) Income (loss) before income taxes and minority interest (818,983) 145,099 Income taxes (10,935) (56,589) Income (loss) before minority interest (829,918) 88,510 Minority interest, net of income tax (f) (959) (2,535) Net income (loss) (830,877) 85,975 Preferred dividends (2,027) (2,015) Net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders $(832,904) $83,960 Basic income (loss) per common share $(10.99) $1.12 Diluted income (loss) per common share $(10.99) $1.10 Weighted Average Shares Basic 75,781 75,168 Diluted 75,781 76,168 (a) Second quarter of 2008 includes a $935.3 million non-cash unusual item related to impairment of goodwill, tradenames and fixed assets. These charges are recorded by segment in the following manner: Contract $464.0 million and Retail $471.3 million. This item reduced net income by $909.3 million or $12.00 per diluted share for the six month period. (b) First quarter of 2008 includes a $2.4 million unusual item related to the consolidation of the Contract segment's manufacturing facilities in New Zealand, and a $1.8 million unusual item related to reorganizing the Retail field and ImPress print and document services management organization. The cumulative effect of these two items was a reduction in net income of $2.7 million, or $0.03 per diluted share. (c) Second quarter of 2008 includes a $10.2 million unusual item related to employee severance from the reorganization of Retail store management. This item reduced net income by $6.2 million, or $0.08 per diluted share. (d) Second quarter of 2008 includes a $3.1 million unusual item related to the legacy Voyageur Panel business sold in 2004. This item increased net income by $1.9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. (e) First quarter of 2008 includes a $20.5 million unusual item related to the company's investment in Boise Cascade, L.L.C., primarily from their sale of a majority interest in their paper and packaging and newsprint business completed during the first quarter of 2008. This item increased net income by $12.5 million, or $0.16 per diluted share. (f) First quarter of 2007 includes a $1.1 million unusual item related to the sale of OfficeMax's Contract operations in Mexico to Grupo OfficeMax, our 51% owned joint venture. This item reduced net income by $1.1 million, or $0.01 per diluted share. OFFICEMAX INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited) (thousands) Six Months Ended June 28, June 30, 2008 2007 Cash provided by operations: Net income (loss) $(830,877) $85,975 Items in net income not using (providing) cash: Depreciation and amortization 70,141 65,106 Impairment 935,340 - Other (1,766) 18,602 Changes other than from acquisitions of business: Receivables and inventory 134,363 51,245 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (103,453) (253,383) Income taxes and other (69,114) 74,612 Cash provided by (used for) operations 134,634 42,157 Cash used for investment: Expenditures for property and equipment (75,962) (59,440) Other 9,284 (1,948) Cash used for investment (66,678) (61,388) Cash used for financing: Cash dividends paid (22,884) (24,453) Changes in debt, net (30,492) (18,489) Proceeds from exercise of stock options - 5,211 Other (11,328) (2,879) Cash used for financing (64,704) (40,610) Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents 33 (1,614) Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 3,285 (61,455) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 152,637 282,070 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $155,922 $220,615 OFFICEMAX INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES SUPPLEMENTAL SEGMENT INFORMATION (unaudited) (millions, except per-share data) Quarter Ended June 28, 2008 June 30, 2007 Segment Sales OfficeMax, Contract $1,111.9 $1,197.2 OfficeMax, Retail 872.7 935.3 1,984.6 2,132.5 Segment income (loss) OfficeMax, Contract (a) $(416.8) $41.0 OfficeMax, Retail (a) & (b) (480.7) 24.7 Corporate and Other (c) (5.1) (9.8) Operating income (loss) $(902.6) $55.9 Operating income margin (loss) -45.5% 2.6% (a) Second quarter of 2008 includes a $935.3 million non-cash unusual item related to impairment of goodwill, tradenames and fixed assets. These charges are recorded by segment in the following manner: Contract $464.0 million and Retail $471.3 million. This item reduced net income by $909.3 million, or $11.98 per diluted share. (b) Second quarter of 2008 includes a $10.2 million unusual item related to employee severance from the reorganization of Retail store management. This item reduced net income by $6.2 million, or $0.08 per diluted share. (c) Second quarter of 2008 includes a $3.1 million unusual item related to the legacy Voyageur Panel business sold in 2004. This item increased net income by $1.9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. OFFICEMAX INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES SUPPLEMENTAL SEGMENT INFORMATION (unaudited) (millions, except per-share data) Six Months Ended June 28, 2008 June 30, 2007 Segment Sales OfficeMax, Contract $2,307.0 $2,461.7 OfficeMax, Retail 1,980.6 2,107.0 4,287.6 4,568.7 Segment income (loss) OfficeMax, Contract (a) & (b) $(357.2) $100.9 OfficeMax, Retail (a), (b) & (c) (451.2) 89.3 Corporate and Other (d) (15.5) (24.1) Operating income (loss) $(823.9) $166.1 Operating income (loss) margin -19.2% 3.6% (a) Second quarter of 2008 includes a $935.3 million non-cash unusual item related to impairment of goodwill, tradenames and fixed assets. These charges are recorded by segment in the following manner: Contract $464.0 million and Retail $471.3 million. This item reduced net income by $909.3 million or $12.00 per diluted share for the six month period. (b) First quarter of 2008 includes a $2.4 million unusual item related to the consolidation of the Contract segment's manufacturing facilities in New Zealand, and a $1.8 million unusual item related to reorganizing the Retail field and ImPress print and document services management organization. The cumulative effect of these two items was a reduction in net income of $2.7 million, or $0.03 per diluted share. (c) Second quarter of 2008 includes a $10.2 million unusual item related to employee severance from the reorganization of Retail store management. This item reduced net income by $6.2 million, or $0.08 per diluted share. (d) Second quarter of 2008 includes a $3.1 million unusual item related to the legacy Voyageur Panel business sold in 2004. This item increased net income by $1.9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. DATASOURCE: OfficeMax Incorporated CONTACT: Media, Bill Bonner, +1-630-864-6066, or Investor Relations, John Jennings, +1-630-864-6820, both of OfficeMax Incorporated Web site: http://www.officemax.com/

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