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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

Commission File Number: 1-5057

OFFICEMAX INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(630) 438-7800
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

         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 ý    No o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o    No o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "accelerated filer", "large accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.) Yes o    No ý

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

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

OfficeMax Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(thousands, except per-share amounts)

See accompanying notes to quarterly consolidated financial statements

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OfficeMax Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(thousands, except per-share amounts)

See accompanying notes to quarterly consolidated financial statements

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OfficeMax Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(thousands, except share and per-share amounts)

See accompanying notes to quarterly consolidated financial statements

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OfficeMax Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(thousands, except share and per-share amounts)

See accompanying notes to quarterly consolidated financial statements

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OfficeMax Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(thousands)

See accompanying notes to quarterly consolidated financial statements

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Notes to Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1. Basis of Presentation

        OfficeMax Incorporated ("OfficeMax," the "Company" or "we") is a leader in both business-to-business and retail office products distribution. The Company provides office supplies and paper, print and document services, technology products and solutions and furniture to large, medium and small businesses, government offices, and consumers. OfficeMax customers are serviced by over 30,000 associates through direct sales, catalogs, the Internet and a network of retail stores located throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.

        The accompanying quarterly consolidated financial statements include the accounts of OfficeMax and all majority-owned subsidiaries as well as those of variable interest entities in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These financial statements are for the thirteen-week and thirty-nine week periods ended on September 26, 2009 (also referred to as the "third quarter of 2009" and "first nine months of 2009", respectively) and the thirteen-week and thirty-nine week periods ended on September 27, 2008 (also referred to as the "third quarter of 2008" and "first nine months of 2008", respectively). The Company's fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in December. Due primarily to statutory reporting requirements, the Company's international businesses end their quarters on the last calendar day of the month, with our majority-owned joint venture in Mexico reporting one month in arrears.

        The Company manages its business using three reportable segments: OfficeMax, Contract ("Contract segment" or "Contract"); OfficeMax, Retail ("Retail segment" or "Retail"); and Corporate and Other. Management reviews the performance of the Company based on these segments. We present information pertaining to our segments in Note 13. Segment Information.

        The Company has prepared the quarterly consolidated financial statements included herein pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Some information and note disclosures, which would normally be included in comprehensive annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations. These quarterly consolidated financial statements should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2008.

        The quarterly consolidated financial statements included herein have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm, but in the opinion of management, include all adjustments necessary to present fairly the results for the periods. Except as disclosed within these "Notes to Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)," the adjustments made were of a normal, recurring nature. Quarterly results are not necessarily indicative of results which may be expected for a full year.

        In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued a statement establishing the FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ ("the ASC" or "the Codification"). Effective for interim and annual periods ended after September 15, 2009, the Codification became the source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. This statement is not intended to change existing GAAP and as such did not have an impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company. The Company has updated its references to reflect the Codification.

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        In September 2006, the FASB issued guidance which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 for financial assets and liabilities, as well as for any other assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value on a recurring basis in the financial statements. In November 2007, the FASB provided a one year deferral for the implementation of this guidance for other nonfinancial assets and liabilities. The Company adopted this guidance for financial assets and liabilities effective at the beginning of fiscal year 2008 and for non-financial assets and liabilities effective at the beginning of fiscal year 2009. The adoption of this guidance had no significant impact on our financial statements for either fiscal year 2008 or 2009.

        In December 2007, the FASB issued updated guidance which changed the presentation and disclosure requirements for noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as minority interests). This updated guidance is effective for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and is to be applied prospectively to all noncontrolling interests, including those that arose prior to the effective date. While the accounting requirements are to be applied prospectively, prior period financial information must be recast to attribute net income and other comprehensive income to noncontrolling interests and provide other disclosures. The Company adopted this guidance for all noncontrolling interests effective at the beginning of fiscal year 2009, and has revised its prior period financial statements to reflect the required change in presentation and additional disclosures. The adoption of this accounting change and the retrospective impact to the Company's prior year financial statements was immaterial.

        In December 2008, the FASB issued updated guidance related to an employer's disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan. This updated guidance requires enhanced disclosures about the fair value of plan assets including major categories of plan assets, inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value, significant concentrations of risk, the method used to allocate investments and the effect of fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs. The disclosures about plan assets must be provided for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. The Company will make the required disclosures in the notes to its annual consolidated financial statements.

        In April 2009, the FASB issued updated guidance related to fair-value measurements to clarify the guidance related to measuring fair-value in inactive markets, modify the recognition and measurement of other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities, and require public companies to disclose the fair values of financial instruments in interim periods. The updated guidance is effective for interim and annual periods ended after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted for periods ended after March 15, 2009. The Company adopted the updated guidance in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, which required certain additional disclosures regarding the fair value of financial instruments in the financial statements.

        In May 2009, the FASB issued guidance which establishes accounting and disclosure requirements for subsequent events. This guidance details the period after the balance sheet date during which the Company should evaluate events or transactions that occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, the circumstances under which the Company should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements and the required disclosures for such events. The Company adopted this guidance prospectively for the period ended June 27, 2009.

        In June 2009, the FASB issued guidance which eliminates previous exceptions to rules requiring the consolidation of qualifying special-purpose entities (the "QSPE"), which will result in more entities being subject to consolidation assessments and reassessments. This guidance requires ongoing reassessment of whether a company is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity ("VIE") and clarifies characteristics that identify a VIE. In addition, additional disclosures are required about a

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company's involvement with a VIE and any significant changes in risk exposure due to that involvement. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance (which is required beginning in 2010) but does not anticipate it will have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.

2. Facility Closure Reserves

        The Company conducts regular reviews of its real estate portfolio to identify underperforming facilities and closes those facilities that are no longer strategically viable or economically beneficial. The Company records a liability for the cost associated with a facility closure at its fair value in the period in which the liability is incurred, primarily the location's cease-use date. Upon closure, unrecoverable costs are included in facility closure reserves and include provisions for the present value of future lease obligations, less contractual or estimated sublease income. Accretion expense is recognized over the life of the required payments.

        During the first nine months of 2009, the Company recorded charges of $31.2 million (all in the first six months) related to the closing of 20 underperforming stores prior to the end of their lease terms, of which 16 were in the U.S. and four were in Mexico. These charges were included in other operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        Facility closure reserve account activity during the first nine months of 2009 and 2008 was as follows:

        At September 26, 2009, approximately $19.7 million of the facility closure liability was included in other accrued liabilities and $47.1 million was included in other long-term liabilities. At September 26, 2009, the facility closure reserve included approximately $130 million for estimated future lease obligations, net of anticipated sublease income of approximately $63 million.

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3. Severance and Other Charges

        During the first nine months of 2009, we recorded $8.4 million of severance and other charges in the Contract segment, $1.5 million of which was recorded in the third quarter related to the reorganization of our customer service centers and $6.9 million of which was recorded in the second quarter principally related to U.S. and Canadian sales force reorganizations. These charges were included in other operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In the first nine months of 2008, we recorded $14.4 million of severance and other charges relating to the reorganization of Retail store and field management and the consolidation of the Contract segment's manufacturing facility in New Zealand. As of September 26, 2009, $3.9 million of severance charges recorded in 2009 and 2008 remain unpaid and are included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

4. Timber Notes

        In October 2004, we sold our timberland assets in exchange for $15 million in cash plus credit-enhanced timber installment notes in the amount of $1,635 million (the "Installment Notes"). The Installment Notes were issued by single-member limited liability companies formed by Boise Cascade, L.L.C. (the "Note Issuers"). The Installment Notes are 15-year non-amortizing obligations and were issued in two equal $817.5 million tranches bearing interest at 5.11% and 4.98%, respectively. In order to support the issuance of the Installment Notes, the Note Issuers transferred a total of $1,635 million in cash ($817.5 million each) to Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. ("Lehman") and Wachovia Corporation ("Wachovia") (which was later purchased by Wells Fargo & Co.). Lehman and Wachovia issued collateral notes (the "Collateral Notes") to the Note Issuers. Concurrently with the issuance of the Installment and Collateral Notes, Lehman and Wachovia guaranteed the respective Installment Notes and the Note Issuers pledged the Collateral Notes as security for the performance of the Installment Note obligations.

        In December 2004, we completed a securitization transaction in which the Company's interests in the Installment Notes and related guarantees were transferred to wholly-owned bankruptcy remote subsidiaries. The subsidiaries pledged the Installment Notes and related guarantees and issued securitized notes (the "Securitization Notes") in the amount of $1,470 million ($735 million through the structure supported by the Lehman guaranty and $735 million through the structure supported by the Wachovia guaranty). Recourse on the Securitization Notes is limited to the applicable pledged Installment Notes and underlying Lehman or Wachovia guaranty. The Securitization Notes are 15-year non-amortizing, and were issued in two equal $735 million tranches paying interest of 5.54% and 5.42%, respectively.

        As a result of these transactions, we received $1,470 million in cash. The subsidiaries were expected to earn approximately $82.5 million per year in interest income on the Installment Notes receivable and expected to incur annual interest expense of approximately $80.5 million on the Securitization Notes. The pledged Installment Notes receivable and Securitization Notes payable were scheduled to mature in 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Securitization Notes have an initial term that is approximately three months shorter than the Installment Notes. We expected to refinance our ownership of the Installment Notes in 2019 with a short-term secured borrowing to bridge the period from initial maturity of the Securitization Notes to the maturity of the Installment Notes.

        On September 15, 2008, Lehman, the guarantor of half of the Installment Notes and the Securitization Notes, filed a petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York seeking relief under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Lehman's bankruptcy filing constituted an event of default under the $817.5 million Installment Note guaranteed by Lehman.

        We are required for accounting purposes to assess the carrying value of assets whenever circumstances indicate that a decline in value may have occurred. After evaluating the situation, we

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concluded in late October 2008 that as a result of the Lehman bankruptcy, it was probable that we would be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the Installment Note guaranteed by Lehman (the "Lehman Guaranteed Installment Note"). Accordingly, we evaluated the carrying value of the Lehman Guaranteed Installment Note and reduced it to the estimated amount we expect to collect ($81.8 million) by recording a non-cash impairment charge of $735.8 million, pre-tax, in the third quarter of 2008. We based our estimate of the recoverable amount of the Lehman Guaranteed Installment Note on a variety of factors, including consultations with financial advisors and review of the trading prices on outstanding Lehman debt instruments with similar contractual interest rates and maturities.

        Measuring impairment of a loan requires judgment and estimates, and the eventual outcome may differ from our estimate by a material amount. The Lehman Guaranteed Installment Note has been pledged as collateral for the related Securitization Notes, and therefore it may not be freely transferred to any party other than the indenture trustee for the Securitization Note holders. Accordingly, the ultimate amount to be realized on the Lehman Guaranteed Installment Note depends entirely on the proceeds from the Lehman bankruptcy estate, which may not be finally determined for several years. At September 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008, the carrying value of the Lehman Guaranteed Installment Note was $81.8 million. Going forward, we intend to adjust the carrying value of the Lehman Guaranteed Installment Note as further information regarding our share of the proceeds, if any, from the Lehman bankruptcy estate becomes available.

        Recourse on the Securitization Notes is limited to the proceeds from the applicable pledged Installment Notes and underlying Lehman and Wachovia guaranty. Accordingly, the Lehman Guaranteed Installment Note and underlying guarantees by Lehman will be transferred to the holders of the Securitization Notes guaranteed by Lehman in order to settle and extinguish that liability. However, under current generally accepted accounting principles, we are required to continue to recognize the liability related to the Securitization Notes guaranteed by Lehman until such time as the liability has been extinguished. This will occur when the Lehman Guaranteed Installment Note and the guaranty are transferred to and accepted by the Securitization Note holders. We expect that this will occur no later than the date when the assets of Lehman are distributed and the bankruptcy is finalized. Accordingly, we expect to recognize a non-cash gain equal to the difference between the carrying amount of the Securitization Notes guaranteed by Lehman ($735.0 million at September 26, 2009) and the carrying value of the Lehman Guaranteed Installment Note ($81.8 million at September 26, 2009) in a later period when the liability is legally extinguished. The actual gain to be recognized in the future will be measured based on the carrying amounts of the Lehman Guaranteed Installment Note and the Securitization Notes guaranteed by Lehman at the date of settlement.

        On October 29, 2008, Lehman failed to pay the $21.5 million interest payment due to the Note Issuer. As a result, the Note Issuer did not make the $20.9 million interest payment due to us and because we are only obligated to make interest payments on the Securitization Notes supported by the Lehman guarantee to the extent that we receive interest payments on the related Lehman Guaranteed Installment Note from the Note Issuer, we did not pay the interest payment due on the Securitization Notes supported by the Lehman guarantee. We did, however, record the ongoing interest expense on the Securitization Notes guaranteed by Lehman until the default date, October 29, 2008. This resulted in $20.4 million of additional interest expense (recorded for the full year of 2008) that will only be paid if the corresponding interest income is collected. We ceased recording interest expense on the Securitization Notes guaranteed by Lehman on the default date pursuant to the terms of the Securitization Note indenture.

        At the time of the sale of the timberlands in 2004, we generated a tax gain and recognized the related deferred tax liability. The timber installment note structure allowed the Company to defer the resulting tax liability of $543 million until 2020, the maturity date for the Installment Notes. Due to the Lehman bankruptcy and note defaults, the recognition of the Lehman portion of the gain will be

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triggered when the Installment Note is transferred to the Securitization Note holders as payment and/or when the Lehman bankruptcy is resolved.

        Through September 26, 2009, we have received all payments due under the Installment Note guaranteed by Wachovia, which have consisted only of interest due on the notes, and made all payments due on the related Securitization Notes guaranteed by Wachovia, again consisting only of interest due. As all amounts due on the Installment Notes guaranteed by Wachovia ("Wachovia Guaranteed Installment Note") are current and we have no reason to believe that we will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the Wachovia Guaranteed Installment Note, the note is stated in our Consolidated Balance Sheet at its original principal amount of $817.5 million.

5. Debt

Credit Agreements

        On July 12, 2007, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the "U.S. Credit Agreement") with a group of banks. The U.S. Credit Agreement permits the Company to borrow up to a maximum of $700 million subject to a borrowing base calculation that limits availability to a percentage of eligible accounts receivable plus a percentage of the value of eligible inventory less certain reserves. The U.S. Credit Agreement may be increased (up to a maximum of $800 million) at the Company's request or reduced from time to time, in each case according to the terms detailed in the U.S. Credit Agreement. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Company's U.S. Credit Agreement as of the end of the third quarter of 2009 or the end of fiscal year 2008, and there were no borrowings outstanding under this facility during the first nine months of 2009 or 2008. Letters of credit, which may be issued under the U.S. Credit Agreement up to a maximum of $250 million, reduce available borrowing capacity. Stand-by letters of credit issued under the U.S. Credit Agreement totaled $65.0 million as of the end of the third quarter of 2009 and $66.7 million as of the end of fiscal year 2008. As of the end of the third quarter of 2009, the maximum aggregate borrowing amount available under the U.S. Credit Agreement was $522.3 million and excess availability under the U.S. Credit Agreement totaled $457.3 million. As of the end of the third quarter of 2009, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the U.S. Credit Agreement. The U.S. Credit Agreement expires on July 12, 2012.

        Borrowings under the U.S. Credit Agreement bear interest at rates based on either the prime rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"). Margins are applied to the applicable borrowing rates and letter of credit fees under the U.S. Credit Agreement depending on the level of average availability. Fees on letters of credit issued under the U.S. Credit Agreement were charged at a weighted average rate of 0.875% during the first nine months of 2009. The Company is also charged an unused line fee of 0.25% on the amount by which the maximum available credit exceeds the average daily outstanding borrowings and letters of credit.

        On September 30, 2009, Grand & Toy Limited, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary in Canada, entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the "Canadian Credit Agreement") with a group of banks. The Canadian Credit Agreement permits Grand & Toy Limited to borrow up to a maximum of C$60 million subject to a borrowing base calculation that limits availability to a percentage of eligible accounts receivable plus a percentage of the value of eligible inventory less certain reserves. The Canadian Credit Agreement may be increased (up to a maximum of C$80 million) at Grand & Toy Limited's request or reduced from time to time, in each case according to the terms detailed in the Canadian Credit Agreement. There were no borrowings outstanding under the facility at the end of the third quarter of 2009. Letters of credit, which may be issued under the Canadian Credit Agreement up to a maximum of C$10 million, reduce available borrowing capacity under the Canadian Credit Agreement. There were no letters of credit at the end of the third quarter of 2009. The maximum

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aggregate borrowing amount available under the Canadian Credit Agreement was $47.6 million (C$51.3 million) at the end of the third quarter of 2009. Grand & Toy Limited was in compliance with all covenants under the Canadian Credit Agreement at the end of the third quarter of 2009. The Canadian Credit Agreement expires on July 12, 2012.

        At the end of the third quarter, Grupo OfficeMax, our 51% owned joint venture in Mexico, had total outstanding borrowings of $16.4 million. This included $10.2 million under an installment loan agreement which is due in 60 monthly payments that started in the second quarter of 2009. In the third quarter of 2009, Grupo OfficeMax entered into a second installment loan agreement for $6.0 million due in 54 monthly payments beginning in the second quarter of 2010. The remaining $0.2 million of borrowings is a simple revolving loan. No Grupo OfficeMax loans have recourse against the Company. The $6.0 million installment loan is secured by certain owned property of Grupo OfficeMax. All other Grupo OfficeMax loan facilities are unsecured.

Other

        We have various unsecured debt outstanding, including approximately $189.9 million of revenue bonds due in varying amounts through 2029. Approximately $69.2 million of these obligations may be called in the near future in the event that a preliminary adverse determination from the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") regarding the exempt status of interest on the bonds is upheld. We have appealed the proposed IRS determination. The $69.2 million of debt is classified as long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as the bonds are not currently redeemable, pending the outcome of the appeal.

Cash Paid for Interest

        Cash payments for interest, net of interest capitalized and excluding payments related to the timber notes, were $4.4 million and $21.6 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 26, 2009, respectively, and $4.2 million and $18.9 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 27, 2008, respectively. Cash interest payments made on the Securitization Notes are completely offset by interest payments received on the Installment Notes.

6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Prior-year Impairment of Assets

        During the second and fourth quarters of 2008, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges associated with goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets of $935.3 million and $429.1 million, respectively, thereby reducing the carrying values of these assets reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets by $1,364.4 million. The combination of second and fourth quarter charges resulted in a full impairment of our goodwill balance as of the end of 2008.

        During the second quarter of 2008, the Company completed the first of two required tests related to the interim impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets and recorded an estimate of the impairment charge. The components of the estimated non-cash impairment charge consisted of $850 million of goodwill, $80 million of trade names and $5.3 million of fixed assets, comprised primarily of impairments of leasehold improvements at certain underperforming retail stores. The charge was recorded in the Retail segment ($471 million) and the Contract segment ($464 million). The impairment charge included a portion of goodwill that was not deductible for tax purposes, resulting in a tax benefit of $26.1 million or approximately three percent of the pre-tax charge amount.

        During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company completed the final analysis of the second quarter impairment and recorded an additional non-cash, pre-tax impairment charge of $103.8 million. Also in

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the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company recorded non-cash, pre-tax charges of $325.3 million associated with an interim impairment test of goodwill and intangible assets performed in that period.

Identifiable Intangible Assets

        Identifiable intangible assets consist of the values assigned to trade names, customer lists and relationships, noncompete agreements and exclusive distribution rights of businesses acquired. The trade name assets have an indefinite life and are not amortized, but are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if indicators of impairment are present. All other intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their expected useful lives. Customer lists and relationships are amortized over three to 20 years, noncompete agreements over their terms, which are generally three to five years, and exclusive distribution rights over ten years. In 2008, the carrying value of the Company's trade name assets was reduced by $107.2 million ($80.0 million in the second quarter and $27.2 million in the fourth quarter) as a result of the impairment reviews discussed above. No impairments of intangible assets were required or recorded in the first nine months of 2009. Intangible assets consisted of the following:

        Intangible asset amortization expense totaled $0.4 million and $1.1 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 26, 2009, respectively. Intangible asset amortization expense totaled $1.4 million and $4.3 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 27, 2008, respectively.

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        The changes in the gross carrying amounts of identifiable intangible assets during 2009 were as follows:

7. Investments in Affiliates

        In connection with the sale of the paper, forest products and timberland assets in 2004, the Company invested $175 million in the equity units of the buyer, Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. A portion of the equity units received in exchange for the Company's investment carry no voting rights. This investment is accounted for under the cost method as Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. does not maintain separate ownership accounts for its affiliate's members, and the Company does not have the ability to significantly influence its operating and financial policies. This investment is included in investments in affiliates in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

        The investment in Boise Cascade Holdings L.L.C. represented a continuing involvement in the operations of the business we sold in 2004. Therefore, approximately $180 million of gain realized from the sale was deferred. This gain is expected to be recognized in earnings as the Company's investment is reduced.

        We review the carrying value of this investment whenever events or circumstances indicate that its fair value may be less than its carrying amount. At December 27, 2008 and again at June 27, 2009, the Company requested and reviewed certain financial information of Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C., including estimated future cash flows as well as data regarding the valuation of comparable companies, and determined that there was no impairment of this investment. There were no current indicators of impairment in the third quarter of 2009. However, the Company will continue to monitor and assess this investment.

        The non-voting equity units accrue dividends daily at the rate of 8% per annum on the liquidation value plus accumulated dividends. Dividends accumulate semiannually to the extent not paid in cash on the last day of June and December. The Company recognized dividend income on this investment of $1.7 million and $1.5 million in the third quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $5.0 million and $4.7 million in the first nine months of 2009 and 2008, respectively. These amounts were recorded as a reduction of general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The dividend receivable was $21.2 million at September 26, 2009 and was recorded in other non-current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

        The Company receives distributions from Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. for the income tax liability associated with its share of allocated earnings of Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. During the first nine months of 2009 and 2008, the Company received tax-related distributions of $2.6 million and $23.0 million, respectively. The larger distribution in 2008 reflected the gain on the sale by Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. of a majority interest in its paper and packaging and newsprint businesses. The distributions are reported as other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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8. Income Taxes

        As of September 26, 2009, the Company had $23.2 million of total gross unrecognized tax benefits, which represents the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would favorably affect the Company's effective income tax rate in future periods. It is possible that the Company's liability for uncertain tax positions will be reduced by as much as $16.1 million by the end of 2009. Such reduction would result from the effective settlement of tax positions with various tax authorities. Income tax expense for the first nine months of 2008 included a discrete benefit from the recognition of previously unrecognized tax benefits due to the effective settlement of a federal income tax audit covering certain periods through the 2005 tax year. The Company recognized $6.8 million of benefit from this settlement in 2008.

        A reconciliation of the beginning and ending gross unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

        As discussed in Note 4, Timber Notes, at the time of the sale of the timberlands in 2004, we generated a tax gain and recognized the related deferred tax liability. The timber installment note structure allowed the Company to defer the resulting tax liability of $543 million until 2020, the maturity date for the Installment Notes. Due to the Lehman bankruptcy and note defaults, we initially concluded that approximately half of this gain would be accelerated into 2008 for tax purposes and we estimated and paid taxes on this gain in 2008. In estimating the cash taxes, we considered our available alternative minimum tax credits, a portion of which resulted from prior tax payments related to the sale of the timberlands in 2004, which were used to reduce the net cash payments. After extensive review with our outside tax advisors, we concluded that the recognition of the Lehman portion of the gain was not triggered in 2008, but instead will be triggered when the Installment Note is transferred to the Securitization Note holders as payment and/or when the Lehman bankruptcy is resolved. Accordingly, we appropriately modified our position as we finalized the 2008 tax return, and have requested and received refunds of taxes paid in 2008 from the federal government, and anticipate state refunds within the next twelve months. Accordingly, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 26, 2009, the Company has reestablished both the deferred tax liability related to the full deferred gain from the sale of the timberlands and the deferred tax assets relative to available alternative minimum tax credits.

        The Company or its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction, and multiple state and foreign jurisdictions. Years prior to 2006 are no longer subject to U.S. Federal income tax examination, and the Company is no longer subject to major state income tax examinations for years before 2002.

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9. Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest

        The following table reflects changes in shareholders' equity and noncontrolling interest for the first nine months of 2009.

        The Company intends to make a voluntary excess contribution of approximately $100 million of OfficeMax common stock to the Company's qualified pension plans. At the time of the contribution, the shares will be unregistered with an agreement to have them subsequently registered.

        In accordance with an amended and restated joint venture agreement, the minority owner of our subsidiary in Mexico, Grupo OfficeMax, can elect to put its remaining 49% interest in the subsidiary to OfficeMax if earnings targets are achieved. As such, the noncontrolling interest has been presented outside of permanent equity. Earnings targets are calculated quarterly on a rolling four-quarter basis. Accordingly, the targets can be achieved in one quarter but not in the next. If the earnings targets are achieved and the minority owner elects to put its ownership interest, the purchase price would be equal to fair value, calculated based on both the subsidiary's earnings for the last four quarters before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization, and the current market multiples of similar companies. At September 26, 2009, Grupo OfficeMax did not meet the earnings targets.

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10. Comprehensive Income

        Comprehensive income includes the following:

11. Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

        The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, other assets (non-derivatives), short-term borrowings and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company's other financial instruments at September 26, 2009 and December 27, 2008. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties.

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