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United States
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

Commission file number: 0-10653

UNITED STATIONERS INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

        Indicate by check mark whether 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 registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ý    No o

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ý    No o

        On May 14, 2003, the registrant had outstanding 32,912,687 shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share.

UNITED STATIONERS INC.
FORM 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2003

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' REVIEW REPORT

The Board of Directors
United Stationers Inc.

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of United Stationers Inc. and Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2003, and the related condensed consolidated statements of income for the three month periods ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the three month periods ended March 31, 2003 and 2002. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data, and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States, which will be performed for the full year with the objective of expressing an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

We have previously audited, in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States, the consolidated balance sheet of United Stationers Inc. as of December 31, 2002, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein) and in our report dated January 27, 2003, except for Notes 6 and 8, as to which the date was March 28, 2003, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements and included an explanatory paragraph related to a change in 2002 in the method of accounting for goodwill. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2002, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

Chicago, Illinois
April 28, 2003

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UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1.    Basis of Presentation

        The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited, except for the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2002. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Accordingly, the reader of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 for further information.

        In the opinion of the Company's management, the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the unaudited interim periods presented include all adjustments necessary to fairly present the results of such interim periods and the financial position as of the end of said periods. Certain interim estimates of a normal, recurring nature are recognized throughout the year, relating to accounts receivable, manufacturers' allowances, inventory, self-insurance, customer rebates, price changes and product mix. The Company periodically reevaluates these estimates and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate. Certain amounts from prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the 2003 presentation.

        The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements represent United Stationers Inc. ("United") with its wholly owned subsidiary United Stationers Supply Co. ("USSC") and its subsidiaries—collectively (the "Company"). The Company is the largest broadline wholesale distributor of business products and a provider of marketing and logistics services to resellers, with annual net sales of approximately $3.7 billion. The Company operates in a single reportable segment as a national wholesale distributor of business products. The Company offers approximately 40,000 items from more than 500 manufacturers. This includes a broad spectrum of office products, computer supplies, office furniture, business machines, presentation products and facilities management supplies. The Company primarily serves commercial and contract office products dealers. The Company sells its products through a national distribution network to more than 15,000 resellers, who in turn sell directly to end-users. These products are distributed through a computer-based network of 35 USSC regional distribution centers, 24 Lagasse distribution centers that serve the janitorial and sanitation industry, two Azerty distribution centers in Mexico that serve computer supply resellers, and two distribution centers that serve the Canadian marketplace.

Common Stock Repurchase

        As of March 31, 2003, the Company has authorization to repurchase approximately $27 million of its common stock. All common stock repurchases are executed under two separate authorizations given by the Company's Board of Directors on October 23, 2000 and July 1, 2002. In addition, as of March 31, 2003, the New Credit Agreement (described below) limits the Company's stock repurchases to the greater of $50 million or $50 million plus 25% of the Company's net income (or minus 25% of any loss) in each fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2003. During the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common

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stock. A summary of total shares repurchased and the remaining amounts available under each authorization is detailed as follows (amounts in millions, except share data):

        Purchases may be made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Depending on market and business conditions and other factors, the Company may continue or suspend repurchasing its own common stock at any time without notice.

        Acquired shares are included in the issued shares of the Company and treasury stock, but are not included in average shares outstanding when calculating earnings per share data. During the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company reissued 128,381 and 182,056 shares, respectively, of treasury stock primarily to fulfill its obligations under its equity compensation plans.

2.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

        The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. For all acquisitions, account balances and results of operations are included in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of the date acquired.

Use of Estimates

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

        Various assumptions and other factors underlie the determination of significant accounting estimates. The process of determining significant estimates is fact specific and takes into account factors such as historical experience, current and expected economic conditions, product mix, and in some cases, actuarial techniques. The Company periodically reevaluates these significant factors and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate. Historically, actual results have not significantly deviated from those determined using the estimates described below.

Revenue Recognition

        Revenue is recognized when a service is rendered or when title to the product has transferred to the customer. Management records an estimate for future product returns related to revenue recognized in the current period. This estimate is based on historical product return trends and the gross margin associated with those returns. Management also records an estimate for customer rebates

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which is based on estimated annual sales volume to the Company's customers. This estimate is used to determine the projected annual rebates earned by customers for growth components, volume hurdle components, and advertising allowances.

        Shipping and handling costs billed to customers are treated as revenues and recognized at the time title to the product has transferred to the customer. Shipping and handling costs are included in the Company's financial statements as a component of cost of goods sold and not netted against shipping and handling revenues.

Customer Rebates

        Customer rebates and discounts are common practice in the business products industry and have a significant impact on the Company's overall sales and gross margin. Such rebates are reported in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as a reduction of sales.

        Customer rebates include volume rebates, sales growth incentives, participation in promotions and other miscellaneous discount programs. These rebates are paid to customers monthly, quarterly and/or annually. Estimates for volume rebates and growth incentives are based on estimated annual sales volume to the Company's customers. The aggregate amount of customer rebates depends on product sales mix and customer mix changes. Reported results reflect management's best current estimate of such rebates. Further changes from those underlying current estimates of sales volumes, product mix, customer mix or sales patterns may impact future results.

Manufacturers' Allowances and Cumulative Effect of a Change in Accounting Principle

        Manufacturers' allowances (fixed and variable) are common practice in the business products industry and have a significant impact on the Company's overall gross margin. Gross margin includes, among other items, file margin (determined by reference to invoiced price), as reduced by estimated customer discounts and rebates as discussed above, and increased by estimated manufacturers' allowances and promotional incentives. These allowances and incentives are estimated on an on-going basis and the potential variation between the actual amount of these margin contribution elements and the Company's estimates of them could be material to its financial results. Reported results reflect management's best current estimate of such allowances and incentives.

        Effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted the FASB's Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue No. 02-16, Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor. As a result, the Company recorded a non-cash, cumulative after-tax charge of $6.1 million, or $0.18 per share, related to the capitalization into inventory of a portion of fixed promotional allowances received from vendors for participation in the Company's advertising publications. Adoption of EITF Issue No. 02-16 had no impact on the Company's accounting for variable promotional allowances and incentives.

        Approximately 40% to 45% of the Company's estimated annual manufacturers' allowances and incentives are fixed based on vendor participation in various Company advertising and marketing publications. Historically, these promotional incentives were recorded as a reduction to cost of goods sold over the life of the publication to reflect net advertising cost. EITF Issue No. 02-16 now requires that the cash consideration received from vendors related to these fixed advertising allowances and incentives be reflected as a reduction to the cost of inventory. As a result, fixed allowances and incentives will now be taken to income through lower cost of goods sold as inventory is sold.

        The remaining 55% to 60% of the Company's estimated annual manufacturers' allowances and incentives are variable, based on the volume of the Company's product purchases from manufacturers. As noted above, adoption of EITF Issue No. 02-16 did not impact the Company's accounting for variable allowances and incentives. These variable allowances are recorded based on the Company's

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estimated annual inventory purchase volume and are included in the Company's financial statements as a reduction to cost of goods sold to reflect the net inventory purchase cost. Manufacturers' allowances and incentives attributable to unsold inventory are carried as a component of net inventory cost. The potential amount of variable manufacturers' allowances often differs based on purchase volume by manufacturer and product category. As a result, lower Company sales volume (which reduce inventory purchase requirements) and product sales mix changes (especially as higher margin products often benefit from higher manufacturers' allowance rates) can make it difficult to reach some manufacturers' allowance growth hurdles.

Cash Equivalents

        All highly liquid debt instruments with an original maturity of three months or less are considered cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value.

Valuation of Accounts Receivable

        The Company makes judgments as to the collectibility of accounts receivable based on historical trends and future expectations. Management estimates an allowance for sales returns and doubtful accounts, which represents the collectibility of trade accounts receivable. These allowances adjust gross trade accounts receivable down to net realizable value. To determine the allowance for sales returns, management uses historical trends to estimate future period product returns. To determine the allowance for doubtful accounts, management reviews specific customers and the Company's accounts receivable aging.

Inventories

        Inventory constituting approximately 90% and 88% of total inventory at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively, has been valued under the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method. Inventory valued under the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") and LIFO accounting methods is recorded at the lower of cost or market. If the lower of FIFO cost or market method of inventory accounting had been used by the Company, inventory would have been $24.8 million and $22.9 million higher than reported at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively. In addition, inventory reserves are recorded for shrinkage, obsolete, damaged, defective, and slow-moving inventory. These reserve estimates are determined using historical trends and are adjusted, if necessary, as new information becomes available.

Property, Plant and Equipment

        Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization are determined by using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful life assigned to fixtures and equipment is from two to 10 years; the estimated useful life assigned to buildings does not exceed 40 years; leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of their useful lives or the term of the applicable lease.

Software Capitalization

        The Company capitalizes internal use software development costs in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Statement of Position No. 98-1 "Accounting for Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use." Amortization is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, generally not to exceed seven years.

Self-Insurance Liability Estimates

        The Company is primarily responsible for retained liabilities related to workers' compensation, auto and general liability and certain employee health benefits. The Company records an expense for

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claims incurred but not reported based on historical trends and certain assumptions about future events. The Company has a per claim maximum cap on employee medical benefits provided by a third-party insurance company. In addition, the Company has both an individual per claim maximum loss and an annual aggregate maximum cap on workers' compensation claims.

Stock Based Compensation

        The Company's stock based compensation includes employee stock options. As allowed under SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, the Company accounts for its stock options using the "intrinsic value" method permitted by Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. APB No. 25 requires calculation of an intrinsic value of the stock options issued in order to determine compensation expense, if any.

        In conformity with SFAS No. 123 and SFAS No. 148 supplemental disclosures are provided below. Several valuation models are available for determining fair value. For purposes of these supplemental disclosures, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of its stock options. Had compensation cost been determined on the fair value basis of SFAS No. 123, net income and earnings per share would have been adjusted as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

Income Taxes

        Income taxes are accounted for using the liability method, under which deferred income taxes are recognized for the estimated tax consequences for temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. A provision has not been made for deferred U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries because these earnings are intended to be permanently invested.

Foreign Currency Translation

        The functional currency for the Company's foreign operations is the local currency. Assets and liabilities of these operations are translated at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. The resulting translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, a separate component of stockholders' equity. Income and expense items are translated at average monthly rates of exchange. Realized gains and losses from foreign currency transactions were not material.

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3.    Restructuring and Other Charges

2002 Restructuring Plan

        The Company's Board of Directors approved a restructuring plan in the fourth quarter of 2002 (the "2002 Restructuring Plan") that included additional charges related to revised real estate sub-lease assumptions used in the 2001 Restructuring Plan (described below), further downsizing of The Order People ("TOP") operations, including severance and anticipated exit costs related to a portion of the Company's Memphis distribution center, closure of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin distribution center and the write-down of certain e-commerce-related investments. The restructuring plan included workforce reductions of 105 associates through involuntary separation programs. The restructuring plan called for all initiatives to be completed within approximately one year from the commitment date.

        Upon adoption of the 2002 Restructuring Plan in the fourth quarter of 2002, the Company recorded pre-tax restructuring and other charges of $8.9 million, or $0.17 per share (on an after-tax basis). These charges included a pre-tax cash charge of $6.9 million for employment termination and severance costs and accrued exit costs and a $2.0 million non-cash charge for the write-down of certain e-commerce-related investments. The remaining accrual balances related to the 2002 Restructuring Plan as of March 31, 2003, are included in the table below.

        As of March 31, 2003, the Company completed the closure of its Milwaukee distribution center, terminated the majority of its third-party fulfillment contracts with customers and reduced the Company's overall workforce by 63 associates through an involuntary termination program. Implementation costs associated with this restructuring plan are not material.

2001 Restructuring Plan

        The Company's Board of Directors approved a restructuring plan in the third quarter of 2001 (the "2001 Restructuring Plan") that included an organizational restructuring, a consolidation of certain distribution facilities and USSC's call center operations, an information technology platform consolidation, divestiture of TOP's call center operations and certain other assets, and a significant reduction of TOP's cost structure. The restructuring plan included workforce reductions of approximately 1,375 associates through voluntary and involuntary separation programs. All initiatives under the 2001 Restructuring Plan are complete, however, certain cash payments will continue for accrued exit costs that relate to long-term lease obligations that expire at various times over the next seven years. The Company continues to actively pursue opportunities to sublet unused facilities.

        During the third quarter 2001, the Company recorded a pre-tax restructuring charge of $47.6 million, or $0.85 per share (on an after-tax basis). This charge included a pre-tax cash charge of $31.7 million and a $15.9 million non-cash charge.

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        The remaining accrual balances related to the 2002 and 2001 Restructuring Plans as of March 31, 2003, are as follows (in thousands):