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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-K


/X/

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

/ /

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 82-0100960
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

150 Pierce Road, Itasca, Illinois

60143
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(630) 773-5000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $2.50 par value

New York Stock Exchange
American & Foreign Power Company Inc.
    Debentures, 5% Series due 2030
New York Stock Exchange
Common Stock Purchase Rights New York Stock Exchange

        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 /X/ No / /

        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K / /.

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes /X/  No / /

        The aggregate market value of the voting common stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the price at which the common stock was sold as of the close of business on June 30, 2004, was $3,309,118,981. Registrant does not have any nonvoting common equities.

        Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.


Class
Common Stock, $2.50 par value
  Shares Outstanding
as of February 28, 2005

93,430,347

Document incorporated by reference

        Portions of the registrant's proxy statement relating to its 2005 annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 9, 2005 ("OfficeMax Incorporated's proxy statement") are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.






Table of Contents


PART I

Item 1.

 

Business

 

1
    General Overview   1
    OfficeMax, Contract   2
    OfficeMax, Retail   3
    Boise Building Solutions   3
    Boise Paper Solutions   4
    Timber Resources   4
    Competition   4
    Inflationary and Seasonal Influences   5
    Working Capital   5
    Environmental Issues   5
    Capital Investment   6
    Energy   6
    Acquisitions and Divestitures   6
    Geographic Areas   6
    Identification of Executive Officers   6
    Employees   6

Item 2.

 

Properties

 

6
    OfficeMax, Contract   7
    OfficeMax, Retail   7

Item 3.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

8

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders

 

9

PART II

Item 5.

 

Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

10
    Shareholder Rights Plan   10
    Stock Repurchases   11

Item 6.

 

Selected Financial Data

 

12

Item 7.

 

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

14
    Summary   14
    Sale of Paper, Forest Products and Timberland Assets   15
    Discontinued Operations   16
    OfficeMax, Inc. Acquisition   17
    Results of Operations, Consolidated   19
    Segment Discussion   23
    OfficeMax, Contract   24
    OfficeMax, Retail   26
    Boise Building Solutions   27
    Boise Paper Solutions   29
    Liquidity and Capital Resources   30
    Environmental   41
    Critical Accounting Estimates   42
    Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements   45

Item 7A.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

47
             

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Item 8.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

48
    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   53
    1.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies   53
    2.   Sale of Paper, Forest Products and Timberland Assets   60
    3.   Discontinued Operations   61
    4.   OfficeMax, Inc. Acquisition   62
    5.   OfficeMax, Inc. Integration   65
    6.   Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share   66
    7.   Other (Income) Expense, Net   68
    8.   Accounting Changes   68
    9.   Income Taxes   69
    10.   Leases   71
    11.   Receivables   72
    12.   Investments in Affiliates   73
    13.   Goodwill and Intangible Assets   73
    14.   Debt   75
    15.   Financial Instruments   80
    16.   Retirement and Benefit Plans   81
    17.   Shareholders' Equity   87
    18.   2003 Cost Reduction Program   90
    19.   Segment Information   91
    20.   Commitments and Guarantees   95
    21.   Legal Proceedings and Contingencies   96
    22.   Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited)   98
    Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm   99

Item 9.

 

Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

102

Item 9A.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

102

Item 9B.

 

Other Information

 

104

PART III

Item 10.

 

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

 

105

Item 11.

 

Executive Compensation

 

106

Item 12.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

106

Item 13.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

107

Item 14.

 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

107

PART IV

Item 15.

 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

108
    Signatures   109
    Index to Exhibits   111

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PART I


ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

        As used in this 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms "OfficeMax," the "company," and "we" include OfficeMax Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries and predecessors. Our Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings, which include this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and all related amendments, are available free of charge on our website at www.officemax.com and can be found by clicking on "About us," "Investors" and then "SEC filings." Our SEC filings are available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Last year, we filed our annual Chief Executive Officer certification dated May 6, 2004, with the New York Stock Exchange. Attached as exhibits to this Form 10-K, you will find certifications of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required under Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


General Overview

        OfficeMax is a leader in both business-to-business and retail office products distribution. We provide 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 more than 41,000 associates through direct sales, catalogs, the Internet and 935 superstores. Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OMX, and our corporate headquarters is in Itasca, Illinois.

        OfficeMax Incorporated (formerly Boise Cascade Corporation) was organized as Boise Payette Lumber Company, a Delaware corporation, in 1931 as a successor to an Idaho corporation formed in 1913. In 1957, the company's name was changed to Boise Cascade Corporation. On December 9, 2003, Boise Cascade Corporation acquired 100% of the voting securities of OfficeMax, Inc. That acquisition more than doubled the size of our office products distribution business and expanded that business into the retail channel. In connection with the sale of our paper, forest products and timberland assets described below, the company's name was changed from Boise Cascade Corporation to OfficeMax Incorporated, and the names of our office products segments were changed from Boise Office Solutions to OfficeMax, Contract and OfficeMax, Retail. The Boise Cascade Corporation and Boise Office Solutions names were used in documents furnished to or filed with the SEC prior to the sale.

        References made to the OfficeMax, Inc., acquisition and the OfficeMax, Inc., integration in this Form 10-K refer to Boise Cascade Corporation's acquisition of OfficeMax, Inc., in December 2003 and the related integration activities. (For more information about our acquisition of OfficeMax, Inc., see Note 4, OfficeMax, Inc., Acquisition, and Note 5, OfficeMax, Inc., Integration, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.)

        On October 29, 2004, we sold our paper, forest products and timberland assets to affiliates of Boise Cascade, L.L.C., a new company formed by Madison Dearborn Partners LLC (the "Sale"). The Sale did not include our facility near Elma, Washington. (See Note 3, Discontinued Operations, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K for more information on the Elma facility.) With the Sale, we completed the company's transition, begun in the mid-1990s, from a predominately manufacturing-based company to an independent office products distribution company. The financial data in this report include the results of the paper, forest products and timberland assets through October 28,

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2004. On October 29, 2004, as part of the Sale, we invested $175 million in the securities of affiliates of Boise Cascade, L.L.C. This investment represents continuing involvement as defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Statement 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. Accordingly, we do not show the historical results of the sold paper, forest products and timberland assets as discontinued operations. (For more information about our Sale, see Note 2, Sale of Paper, Forest Products and Timberland Assets, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.)

        We report our business results using five reportable segments: OfficeMax, Contract; OfficeMax, Retail; Boise Building Solutions; Boise Paper Solutions; and Corporate and Other. All of our segments, except OfficeMax, Retail, had a December 31 year-end. Our OfficeMax, Retail segment maintained a fiscal year that ended on the last Saturday in December, which in 2004 was December 25. Effective March 11, 2005, we amended our bylaws to make the fiscal year-end for OfficeMax Incorporated the last Saturday of December. Our international businesses will maintain the December 31 year-end. We will consolidate the calendar year-end results of our international businesses in OfficeMax Incorporated's fiscal-year results. We present information pertaining to each of our five segments and the geographic areas in which they operate in Note 19, Segment Information, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.


OfficeMax, Contract

        We distribute a broad line of items for the office, including office supplies and paper, technology products and solutions and office furniture through our OfficeMax, Contract segment. OfficeMax, Contract sells directly to large corporate, government and small and medium-sized offices in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. This segment markets and sells through field salespeople, outbound telesales, catalogs, the Internet and office products stores in Canada, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand. Substantially all products sold by this segment are purchased from outside manufacturers or from industry wholesalers, except office papers. We purchase office papers primarily from the paper operations of Boise Cascade, L.L.C., under a 12-year paper supply contract entered into as part of the Sale. (See Note 20, Commitments and Guarantees, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K for additional information related to the paper supply contract.)

        Customers with more than one location are often served under the terms of one national contract that provides consistent products, prices and service to multiple locations. If the customer desires, we also provide summary billings, usage reporting and other special services. As of February 28, 2005, OfficeMax, Contract operated 68 distribution centers and six customer service and outbound telesales centers. OfficeMax, Contract also operated 100 stores in Canada, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand. Since the acquisition of OfficeMax, Inc., in December 2003, the OfficeMax, Contract segment also included the results of the former OfficeMax Direct businesses, which included field salespeople, catalogs and a public Internet site. Throughout 2004 and continuing during 2005, the former OfficeMax Direct businesses are being integrated with the operations of the OfficeMax, Contract segment.

        OfficeMax, Contract sales for 2004, 2003 and 2002 were $4,371 million, $3,742 million and $3,546 million, respectively.

        Information regarding sales to external customers, selected components of income/loss and assets for this segment is set forth in Note 19, Segment Information, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.

2




OfficeMax, Retail

        OfficeMax, Retail is a retail distributor of office supplies and paper, print and document services, technology products and solutions and office furniture. Our retail segment has operations in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our retail segment also operates office products superstores in Mexico through a 51%-owned joint venture. In 2004, substantially all products sold by this segment were purchased from outside manufacturers or from industry wholesalers, except office papers. We purchase office papers primarily from the paper operations of Boise Cascade, L.L.C., under a 12-year paper supply contract we entered into as part of the Sale. (See Note 20, Commitments and Guarantees, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K, for additional information related to the paper supply contract.)

        As of February 28, 2005, our retail office products segment operated 935 superstores, three large distribution centers, two small-format stores and one small distribution center. Each superstore offers approximately 8,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) of name-brand and OfficeMax private-branded merchandise and a variety of business services targeted at serving the small business customer, including OfficeMax Print and Document Services.

        OfficeMax, Retail sales for 2004 were $4,481 million. Sales for the period from December 10, 2003, the date of the OfficeMax, Inc., acquisition, to December 27, 2003, the last day of our retail segment's fiscal year, were $283 million.

        Information regarding sales to external customers, selected components of income/loss and assets for this segment is set forth in Note 19, Segment Information, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.


Boise Building Solutions

        Assets of this segment were included in the October 29, 2004 Sale. Boise Building Solutions was a major producer of plywood, lumber and particleboard. This segment also manufactured engineered wood products, including laminated veneer lumber (LVL), which is a high-strength engineered structural lumber product, wood I-joists and laminated beams. Most of the production was sold to independent wholesalers and dealers and through the segment's building materials distribution outlets. Building materials manufactured by this business are used primarily in housing, industrial construction and a variety of manufactured products.

        Boise Building Solutions operated 28 building materials distribution facilities as of October 29, 2004. These operations marketed a wide range of building materials, including lumber, plywood, oriented strand board, particleboard, decking, engineered wood products, paneling, drywall, builders' hardware and metal products. These products were distributed to retail lumber dealers, home centers specializing in the do-it-yourself market and industrial customers. Through October 28, 2004, approximately 25% of the lumber, panels and engineered wood products purchased by the distribution operations were provided by this segment's manufacturing facilities, with the balance purchased from outside sources. Segment sales for January 1 through October 28, 2004, were $3,258 million. Sales for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, were $2,872 million and $2,470 million, respectively.

        Information regarding sales to external customers, selected components of income/loss and assets for this segment is set forth in Note 19, Segment Information, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.

3




Boise Paper Solutions

        Assets of this segment were included in the October 29, 2004 Sale. Boise Paper Solutions manufactured and sold uncoated free sheet papers, containerboard, corrugated containers, newsprint and market pulp. Boise Paper Solutions sales for January 1 through October 28, 2004, were $1,670 million. Sales for 2003 and 2002 were $1,853 million and $1,878 million, respectively.

        About 46% of this segments's uncoated free sheet paper, including about 83% of its office papers, was sold through the OfficeMax, Contract and OfficeMax, Retail segments from January 1 through October 28, 2004. In conjunction with the Sale, OfficeMax entered into a 12-year paper supply contract with an affiliate of Boise Cascade, L.L.C. (See Note 20, Commitments and Guarantees, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K, for additional information related to the paper supply contract.)

        Information regarding sales to external customers, selected components of income/loss and assets for this segment is set forth in Note 19, Segment Information, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.


Timber Resources

        On October 29, 2004, we sold substantially all of our timberland assets, including approximately 2.3 million acres of timberland in the United States, 35,000 acres of eucalyptus plantation land in Brazil and a 16,000-acre cottonwood fiber farm near Wallula, Washington, to affiliates of Boise Cascade, L.L.C. (For more information about our Sale, see Note 2, Sale of Paper, Forest Products and Timberland Assets, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.)


Competition

        Domestic and international office products markets are highly competitive. Our competitive position in the office products industry is influenced by many factors, including price, service, quality, product selection and convenient locations. Some of our competitors are larger than OfficeMax and have greater financial resources. These resources afford those competitors 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 can give no assurance that increased competition will not have an adverse effect on our business.

        OfficeMax, Contract.    The business-to-business office products market is highly competitive. Purchasers of office products have many options when purchasing office supplies and paper, technology products and solutions and office furniture. We are among the four largest business-to-business contract stationers in the United States. We also compete with worldwide contract stationers, large retail office products suppliers, direct-mail distributors, discount retailers, drugstores, supermarkets and thousands of local and regional contract stationers, many of whom have long-standing customer relationships.

        Increased competition in the office products industry, together with increased advertising, has heightened price awareness among end-users. Such heightened price awareness has led to margin pressure on office products. Besides price, competition is also based on customer service. We believe our excellent customer service gives us a competitive advantage among business-to-business office products distributors. Our ability to network our distribution centers into an integrated system enables us to serve, at a competitive cost, large national accounts that rely on us to deliver consistent products, prices and service to multiple locations.

4



        OfficeMax, Retail.    The office products superstore industry, which includes superstore chains, Internet merchandisers and numerous other competitors, is highly competitive. Businesses in the office products superstore industry compete on the basis of pricing, product selection, convenient locations, customer service and ancillary business offerings. We currently have two direct domestic superstore competitors, Office Depot and Staples, whose stores are similar to OfficeMax superstores in terms of store format, pricing strategy and product selection. We expect to experience increased competition from computer and electronics superstore retailers, mass merchandisers, Internet merchandisers and wholesale clubs. In particular, mass merchandisers, such as Wal-Mart, and wholesale clubs have increased their assortment of office products to attract home office customers and individual consumers. Further, various other retailers that have not historically competed with superstores, such as drugstores and grocery chains, have begun to carry at least a limited assortment of basic office supplies. We expect this trend toward a proliferation of retailers offering a limited assortment of office supplies to continue. Many of our competitors have increased their presence in our markets in recent years.

        We are subject to increasing competition from Internet merchandisers that have minimal barriers to entry. These competitors include traditional retailers that sell through the Internet, Internet sites that target the small business market with a full line of business products or service offerings and Internet sites that sell or resell office products, technology products and business services.

        We also anticipate increasing competition from our office supply superstore competitors and various other providers in the print-for-pay business, which has historically been a key point of difference for OfficeMax superstores. Such increased competition could adversely affect our results of operation and profit margins.

        We believe we compete favorably with our competitors by differentiating ourselves based on the breadth and depth of our in-stock merchandise offering, along with specialized service offerings, everyday low prices, quality customer service and the efficiencies and convenience for our customers of our combined contract and retail distribution channels.


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.


Working Capital

        We have no unusual working capital practices. We believe the management practices followed by OfficeMax with respect to working capital conform to common business practices in the United States.


Environmental Issues

        Our discussion of environmental issues is presented under the caption "Environmental" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K. In addition, environmental issues are discussed under "Item 3. Legal Proceedings" of this Form 10-K.

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Capital Investment

        Information concerning our capital expenditures is presented under the caption "Investment Activities" and in the table titled "2004 Capital Investment by Segment" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K.


Energy

        Until the Sale, the Boise Paper Solutions segment was our primary energy user. Self-generated sources of energy, such as wood wastes, pulping liquors and hydroelectric power, provided approximately 63% of total energy requirements in this segment, compared with 59% in 2003 and 57% in 2002. The remaining 2004 energy requirements were fulfilled by purchased sources as follows: natural gas, 60%; electricity, 32%; and residual fuel oil, 8%.


Acquisitions and Divestitures

        We engage in acquisition and divestiture discussions with other companies and make acquisitions and divestitures from time to time. It is our policy to review our operations periodically and to dispose of assets that fail to meet our criteria for return on investment or cease to warrant retention for other reasons. See Note 2, Sale of Paper, Forest Products and Timberland Assets; Note 4, OfficeMax, Inc., Acquisition; and Note 7, Other (Income) Expense, Net, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.


Geographic Areas

        Our discussion of financial information about geographic areas is presented in Note 19, Segment Information, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.


Identification of Executive Officers

        Information with respect to our executive officers is set forth in "Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant" of this Form 10-K.


Employees

        On December 31, 2004, we had approximately 41,000 employees, including about 15,600 part-time employees.


ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

        The majority of OfficeMax facilities are rented under operating leases. (For more information about our operating leases, see Note 10, Leases, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.) Our properties are in good operating condition and are suitable and adequate for the operations for which they are used.

        Following is a list of our facilities by segment as of February 28, 2005. In addition, our corporate headquarters is in Itasca, Illinois, and our retail operations are headquartered in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

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OfficeMax, Contract

Arizona   2   Maine   1   Pennsylvania   2
California   2   Massachusetts   2   Tennessee   2
Colorado   2   Michigan   2   Texas   3
District of Columbia   1   Minnesota   2   Utah   1
Florida   2   Missouri   3   Virginia   1
Georgia   2   New Jersey   1   Washington   1
Hawaii   4   New Mexico   1   Wisconsin   1
Idaho   1   New York   2   Canada   7
Illinois   1   North Carolina   1   Australia   8
Indiana   1   Ohio   2   New Zealand   4
Kentucky   1   Oregon   1   Mexico   1


OfficeMax, Retail

Alabama   13   Maine   1   Oregon   10  
Alaska   3   Maryland   1   Pennsylvania   28  
Arkansas   2   Massachusetts   14   Rhode Island   2  
Arizona   33   Michigan   42   South Carolina   9  
California   80   Minnesota   33   South Dakota   3  
Colorado   24   Mississippi   6   Tennessee   21  
Connecticut   9   Missouri   24   Texas   71  
Delaware   1   Montana   3   Utah   15  
Florida   55   Nebraska   7   Virginia   22  
Georgia   30   Nevada   13   Washington   19  
Hawaii   4   New Hampshire   3   West Virginia   4  
Idaho   6   New Jersey   15   Wisconsin   27  
Illinois   55   New Mexico   9   Wyoming   2  
Indiana   16   New York   35   Puerto Rico   9  
Iowa   10   North Carolina   26   U.S. Virgin Islands   1  
Kansas   11   North Dakota   3   Mexico   38 (a)
Kentucky   8   Ohio   50          
Louisiana   7   Oklahoma   2          
(a)
Represents the locations for our 51%-owned joint venture in Mexico, OfficeMax de Mexico.

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ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        OfficeMax Incorporated and certain of its subsidiaries are named as defendants in a number of lawsuits, claims and proceedings. Some of these lawsuits and proceedings arise out of the operation of the forest products assets prior to closing of the Sale, for which OfficeMax agreed to retain responsibility. Also, as part of the Sale, we agreed to retain responsibility for all pending or threatened proceedings and future proceedings alleging asbestos-related injuries arising out of the operation of the forest products assets prior to the closing of the Sale. We do not believe any of these retained proceedings are material to our business.

        We have been notified that we are a "potentially responsible party" under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") or similar federal and state laws, or have received a claim from a private party, with respect to 15 active sites where hazardous substances or other contaminants are or may be located. All 15 active sites relate to operations either no longer owned by the company or unrelated to its ongoing operations. In most cases, we are one of many potentially responsible parties, and our alleged contribution to these sites is relatively minor. For sites where a range of potential liability can be determined, we have established appropriate reserves. We believe we have minimal or no responsibility with regard to several other sites. We cannot predict with certainty the total response and remedial costs, our share of the total costs, the extent to which contributions will be available from other parties or the amount of time necessary to complete the cleanups. Based on our investigations; our experience with respect to cleanup of hazardous substances; the fact that expenditures will, in many cases, be incurred over extended periods of time; and the number of solvent potentially responsible parties, we do not believe that the known actual and potential response costs will, in the aggregate, materially affect our financial position or results of operations.

        Over the past several years and continuing into 2005, we have been named a defendant in a number of cases where the plaintiffs allege asbestos-related injuries from exposure to asbestos products or exposure to asbestos while working at job sites. The claims vary widely and often are not specific about the plaintiffs' contacts with the company. None of the claims seeks damages from us individually, and we are generally one of numerous defendants. Many of the cases filed against us have been voluntarily dismissed, although we have settled some cases. The settlements we have paid have been covered mostly by insurance, and we believe any future settlements or judgments in these cases would be similarly covered. To date, no asbestos case against us has gone to trial, and the nature of these cases makes any prediction as to the outcome of pending litigation inherently subjective. At this time, however, we believe our involvement in asbestos litigation is not material to either our financial position or our results of operations.

        Five lawsuits were filed against the company during the period from January 13, 2005, to February 18, 2005, alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. One case was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff, so the following four cases are currently pending: Roth v. OfficeMax Inc., et al.; Wing v. OfficeMax Incorporated, et al.; Noyes v. OfficeMax Inc., et al.; and Smith v. OfficeMax Inc., et al. OfficeMax is named as a defendant in each complaint. The complaint in Smith also names our chief financial officer and our former chief executive officer as defendants. In addition to the defendants named in the Smith complaint, the Wing and Noyes complaints also name our chief executive officer as a defendant. The complaint in Roth names as defendants each of the defendants named in the other three cases, as well as two former officers of OfficeMax, Inc., one of whom also served as the president of our retail division until January 2005. The lawsuits allege, among other things, that the defendants made false and misleading statements, or failed to disclose allegedly material information, with respect to the company's financial performance, prospects and internal controls. The cases were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and each allegedly is brought on behalf of a putative class comprised of persons who purchased (or otherwise acquired) the company's securities during periods specified

8



in the complaints. The complaints seek an award of an unspecified amount of compensatory damages, interest, costs, including attorneys' fees, and such equitable or other relief as the court deems just. We believe there are valid factual and legal defenses to these lawsuits and will vigorously defend all claims alleged by the plaintiffs.

        We are also involved in other 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, including those described in the preceding paragraphs, would not materially affect our financial position or results of operations.


ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

        Beginning on October 5, 2004, and ending on November 4, 2004, in connection with our offer to purchase debt securities for cash, we solicited consents from holders of our 6.50% notes, due 2010 (the "6.50% Notes") and our 7.00% notes, due 2013 (the "7.00% Notes"), to amend the indenture dated as of October 1, 1985, between OfficeMax and U.S. Bank Trust National Association (as successor in interest to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York), as amended or supplemented (the "Senior Notes Indenture"). The effect of the proposed amendments would be to eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants, some events of default and related provisions contained in the Senior Notes Indenture.

        A total of $300 million in principal amount of the 6.50% Notes was outstanding and entitled to participate in the offer to purchase and the related solicitation of consents. Of the total outstanding, holders of approximately $286 million in principal amount tendered 6.50% Notes in the offer and consented to the proposed amendments, and holders of approximately $14 million in principal amount did not tender 6.50% Notes in the offer and withheld consent to the proposed amendments. The consents received were sufficient to approve the proposed amendments with respect to the 6.50% Notes.

        A total of $200 million in principal amount of the 7.00% Notes was outstanding and entitled to participate in the offer to purchase and the related solicitation of consents. Of the total outstanding holders of approximately $94 million in principal amount tendered 7.00% Notes in the offer and consented to the proposed amendments, and holders of approximately $106 million in principal amount did not tender 7.00% Notes in the offer and withheld consent to the proposed amendments. The consents received were not sufficient to approve the proposed amendments with respect to the 7.00% Notes.

9




PART II


ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

        Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Exchange requires each listed company to distribute an annual report to its shareholders. We are distributing this Form 10-K to our shareholders in lieu of a separate annual report. The reported high and low sales prices for our common stock, as well as the frequency and amount of dividends paid on such stock, are included in Note 22, Quarterly Results of Operations, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K. We expect to continue the practice of paying regular cash dividends in 2005. Information concerning restrictions on the payment of dividends is included in Note 14, Debt, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" and in Liquidity and Capital Resources in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-K. The approximate number of common shareholders, based upon actual record holders on February 28, 2005, was 23,300.

        We maintain a corporate governance page on our website that includes key information about our corporate governance initiatives. That information includes our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Ethics and charters for our Audit, Executive Compensation and Governance and Nominating Committees, as well as our Committee of Outside Directors. The corporate governance page can be found at www.officemax.com, by clicking on "About us," "Investors" and then "Corporate Governance." You also may obtain copies of these policies and codes by contacting our Corporate Communications Department, 150 Pierce Road, Itasca, Illinois 60143, or by calling 630/773-5000.


Shareholder Rights Plan

        We have had a shareholder rights plan since January 1986. Our current plan, as amended and restated, took effect in December 1998. At that time, the rights under the previous plan expired, and we distributed to our common stockholders one new right for each common share held. The rights become exercisable ten days after a person or group acquires 15% of our outstanding voting securities or ten business days after a person or group commences or announces an intention to commence a tender or exchange offer that could result in the acquisition of 15% of these securities. Each full right, if it becomes exercisable, entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at a purchase price of $175 per share, subject to adjustment. Upon payment of the purchase price, the rights may "flip in" and entitle holders to buy common stock or "flip over" and entitle holders to buy common stock in an acquiring entity in such amount that the market value is equal to twice the purchase price. The rights are nonvoting and may be redeemed by the company for one cent per right at any time prior to the tenth day after an individual or group acquires 15% of our voting stock, unless extended. The rights expire in 2008. Additional details are set forth in the Renewed Rights Agreement which is an exhibit to this Form 10-K.

10




Stock Repurchases

        Information concerning our stock repurchases during the three months ended December 31, 2004, is as follows:

Period

  Total Number
of Shares
Purchased

  Average Price
Paid per Share

  Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as Part
of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs(a)

  Maximum Number
of Shares That May Yet
Be Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs(a)

October 1-October 31, 2004   225   $ 34.80   225   4,252,891
November 1-November 30, 2004   242   $ 31.64   242   4,252,649
December 1-December 31, 2004   129   $ 31.80   129   4,252,520
Total   596   $ 32.87   596   4,252,520
(a)
In September 1995, our board of directors authorized the purchase of up to 4.3 million shares of our common stock. As part of this authorization, we repurchase odd-lot shares (fewer than 100 shares) from shareholders wishing to exit their holdings in our common stock. We retire the shares that we repurchase under this program. This program will remain in effect until it is either terminated or suspended by our board of directors.

11



ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The following table sets forth our selected financial data for the years indicated and should be read in conjunction with the disclosures in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.

 
  2004(a)
  2003(b)
  2002(c)
  2001(d)
  2000(e)
 
 
  (millions, except per-share amounts)

 
Assets                                
Current assets   $ 3,259   $ 2,597   $ 1,387   $ 1,295   $ 1,583  
Property and equipment, net     541     2,730     2,451     2,558     2,576  
Timber, timberlands and timber deposits         331     329     322     291  
Goodwill     1,165     1,107     401     385     397  
Timber notes     1,635                  
Other     943     611     379     374     420  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    $ 7,543   $ 7,376   $ 4,947   $ 4,934   $ 5,267  
   
 
 
 
 
 

Liabilities and shareholders' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Current liabilities   $ 1,857   $ 1,986   $ 1,056   $ 1,266   $ 1,014  
Long-term debt, less current portion     585     2,000     1,387     1,063     1,715  
Timber notes     1,470                  
Adjustable conversion-rate equity security units         172     172     172      
Guarantee of ESOP debt         19     51     81     108  
Other     997     855     881     774     664  
Minority interest     23     20             9  
Shareholders' equity     2,611     2,324     1,400     1,578     1,757  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    $ 7,543   $ 7,376   $ 4,947   $ 4,934   $ 5,267  
   
 
 
 
 
 

Net sales

 

$

13,270

 

$

8,245

 

$

7,412

 

$

7,422

 

$

7,807

 
   
 
 
 
 
 

Income (loss) from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Continuing operations   $ 234   $ 35   $ 19   $ (39 ) $ 181  
Discontinued operations