Office Depot, Inc.
 

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report: April 29, 2008
Commission file number 1-10948
OFFICE DEPOT, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   59-2663954
     
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
2200 Old Germantown Road, Delray Beach, Florida   33445
     
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
(561) 438-4800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Former name or former address, if changed since last report: N/A
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 


 

ITEM 2.02. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.1 and incorporated by reference herein is Office Depot, Inc.’s news release dated April 29, 2008, announcing its financial results for its fiscal first quarter 2008. This release also contains forward-looking statements relating to Office Depot’s fiscal year 2008.
This information is furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K. The information in this report shall not be treated as filed for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
ITEM 7.01 REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE
The latest Investor Relations presentation that management of Office Depot, Inc. (the “Company”) intends to cover in any meetings with shareholders during the quarter is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.2. The presentation provides an overview of the Company, perspective on the office supply market and the Company’s operating results for the quarter ended April 29, 2008. In addition, the presentation provides information on strategy, action plans and outlook. The Company will also post the attached materials on its web site (www.OfficeDepot.com) located in the Investor Relations section of that site.
ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
Exhibit 99.1.1     News release of Office Depot, Inc. issued on April 29, 2008.
Exhibit 99.1.2     Presentation Materials for Investor Relations Conferences for Office Depot, Inc.

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SIGNATURE
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
  OFFICE DEPOT, INC.
 
 
Date: April 29, 2008  By:   /S/ ELISA D. GARCIA C.    
    Elisa D. Garcia C.   
    Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary   
 

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EX-99.1.1 News Release
 

Exhibit 99.1.1
(OFFICE LETTERHEAD)
CONTACTS:
Brian Turcotte
Investor Relations
561-438-3657

brian.turcotte@officedepot.com
Brian Levine
Public Relations
561-438-2895

brian.levine@officedepot.com
OFFICE DEPOT EARNINGS IMPROVE VERSUS PRIOR QUARTER
Delray Beach, Fla., April 29, 2008 — Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE: ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, today announced improved first quarter results for the fiscal period ending March 29, 2008, versus the fourth quarter results for the fiscal period ending December 29, 2007.
FIRST QUARTER RESULTS 1
Total Company sales for the first quarter decreased 3% to $4.0 billion. Total Company operating expenses represented 26.8% of sales, an increase of 130 basis points over the first quarter of 2007. EBIT, adjusted for Charges, was $124 million in the first quarter of 2008 or 3.1% as a percentage of sales, compared to $246 million or 6.0% in the prior-year period.
Net earnings were $69 million in the first quarter of 2008, compared to $154 million in the same period of 2007. Earnings per share on a diluted basis were $0.25 for the quarter, versus $0.55 in the first quarter of 2007 and $0.07 for the fourth quarter of 2007. On an adjusted basis, diluted earnings per share were $0.29 for the first quarter, versus $0.59 in the same period one year ago and $0.10 for the fourth quarter of 2007.
FIRST QUARTER DIVISION RESULTS
North American Retail Division
First quarter sales in the North American Retail Division were down 7% to $1.7 billion. Comparable store sales in the 1,169 stores in the U.S. and Canada that have been open for more than one year decreased 9% for the first quarter. Florida and California continue to weigh heavily on reported results, as small business customers in these two markets continue to be disproportionately impacted by difficult housing-related economic conditions. Combined, these two states represented approximately 26% of total store sales and about 35% of the total comparable sales decrease in the first quarter. Outside of Florida and California, deterioration has occurred over the last couple of quarters in other markets with housing-related issues. Other drivers negatively impacting comparable sales included competitive intrusion, cannibalization from the new store build out and a shift of the Easter holiday from the second quarter of 2007 to the first quarter of 2008.
 
1   Includes non-GAAP information. First and fourth quarter results include impacts of previously announced programs (“Charges” or “Charges and Credits”). Additional information is provided in our Form 10-Q filing. Reconciliations from GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures can be found in this release, as well as on the corporate web site, www.officedepot.com, under the category Investor Relations.

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Operating profit in the North American Retail Division was $82 million for the first quarter, a decline from the record high $152 million in the same period of the prior year, but $59 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2007. Operating profit as a percentage of sales decreased 340 basis points to 4.8% versus 8.2% in the first quarter of 2007, but was 340 basis points higher than the fourth quarter of 2007. Operating margin was negatively impacted by lower product margins, inventory-related items, a de-leveraging of fixed property costs and an increase in operating expenses due to a higher rate of store openings versus the prior year. Partially offsetting this margin decline was increased private brand penetration and the impact of controlling payroll and advertising expenses.
Comparable average sales per square foot were $233 in the first quarter 2008 and average order value remained relatively flat compared to the first quarter of 2007.
During the first quarter, Office Depot opened 45 new stores, most delayed from 2007, and relocated one store, bringing the total store count to 1,267. The Company remodeled one store in the first quarter of 2008. As of the end of the first quarter, approximately 55% of the chain or 690 stores were operating under the M2 format.
Inventory per store was $864 thousand at the end of the first quarter of 2008, down approximately 9% from the prior year. This decrease is a result of inventory management and the mitigation of inventory risk through clearance activities.
North American Business Solutions Division
First quarter sales in the North American Business Solutions Division were $1.1 billion, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Sales to small- to medium-sized customers were down 12%. This decrease overshadowed 3% sales growth among large, national account customers and 4% public sector sales growth in the first quarter of 2008. Sales were also negatively impacted by continued softness among customers in Florida and California, which accounted for about 30% of the Division’s sales in the quarter and nearly two-thirds of the decline.
The North American Business Solutions Division operating profit was $60 million for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $72 million for the same period of the prior year, but $59 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2007. Operating margin declined by 80 basis points to 5.4% versus 6.2% in the first quarter 2007, but was 530 basis points higher than the fourth quarter of 2007. Approximately 70 basis points of the decrease in operating margin reflects a combination of higher incentives, some cost increases that could not be fully passed along to customers and a shift in the sales mix to lower margin customers and products. Partially offsetting this margin decline was a reduction in selling costs and lower advertising expenses.
International Division
The International Division reported a sales increase of 6% in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the same period last year, while sales in local currency decreased by 4%. The local currency sales decline was driven by lower sales mostly in the U.K. and France. Customer service levels have shown steady improvement in the U.K., but the economic slowdown continues to impact operations in that country. The sales comparison to last year also was negatively impacted by the timing of Easter, reducing the number of selling days in 2008.
Division operating profit was $60 million in the first quarter of 2008 compared to $82 million in the same period of the prior year, and flat with the fourth quarter of 2007. Operating profit margin declined by 230 basis points to 5.3%, from 7.6% in the prior year, due primarily to the negative impact of the U.K. business, and was flat with the fourth quarter of 2007. While the U.K. business has stabilized, it accounted for much of the profit decline and operating margin compression in the first quarter.

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Continued investment, including establishing regional offices in Asia and Latin America, centralization of certain support functions in Europe, and consolidation of warehouse facilities to better support the multi-channel business portfolio in Europe, accounted for the remainder of the margin decline.
Other Matters
Subsequent to first quarter end, the Company acquired the remaining ownership interest in its operations in China and Israel, and acquired a business in India through a newly-formed joint venture.
Non-GAAP Reconciliation
A reconciliation of GAAP results to non-GAAP results excluding certain items is presented in this release and also may be accessed on the corporate website, www.officedepot.com, under the category Company Info.

Conference Call Information
Office Depot will hold a conference call for investors and analysts at 9 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) today. The conference call will be available to all investors via Web cast at http://investor.officedepot.com. Interested parties may contact Investor Relations at 561-438-7893 for further information.
About Office Depot
Every day, Office Depot is Taking Care of Business for millions of customers around the globe. For the local corner store as well as Fortune 500 companies, Office Depot provides products and services to its customers through 1,670 worldwide retail stores, a dedicated sales force, top-rated catalogs and a $4.9 billion e-commerce operation. Office Depot has annual sales of approximately $15.5 billion, and employs about 49,000 associates around the world. The Company provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company, and currently sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 43 countries.
Office Depot’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index. Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended (the “Act”) provides protection from liability in private lawsuits for “forward-looking” statements made by public companies under certain circumstances, provided that the public company discloses with specificity the risk factors that may impact its future results. We want to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Act. Certain statements made in this press release are ‘forward-looking’ statements under the Act. Except for historical financial and business performance information, statements made in this press release should be considered ‘forward-looking’ as referred to in the Act. Much of the information that looks towards future performance of our company is based on various factors and important assumptions about future events that may or may not actually come true. As a result, our operations and financial results in the future could differ materially and substantially from those we have discussed in the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Certain risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). You are strongly urged to review all such filings for a more detailed discussion of such risks and uncertainties. The Company’s SEC filings are readily obtainable at no charge at www.sec.gov and at www.freeEDGAR.com, as well as on a number of other commercial web sites.

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OFFICE DEPOT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
                         
    As of     As of     As of  
    March 29,     December 29,     March 31,  
    2008     2007     2007  
Assets
                       
 
                       
Current assets:
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 181,524     $ 222,954     $ 194,178  
Receivables, net
    1,573,663       1,511,681       1,506,592  
Inventories
    1,644,090       1,717,662       1,558,760  
Deferred income taxes
    110,903       120,162       118,831  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    155,942       143,255       144,295  
 
                 
Total current assets
    3,666,122       3,715,714       3,522,656  
Property and equipment, net
    1,669,078       1,588,958       1,449,037  
Goodwill
    1,329,554       1,282,457       1,216,525  
Other intangible assets
    110,395       107,987       111,210  
Other assets
    577,903       561,424       421,328  
 
                 
Total assets
  $ 7,353,052     $ 7,256,540     $ 6,720,756  
 
                 
 
                       
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
                       
 
                       
Current liabilities:
                       
Trade accounts payable
  $ 1,540,042     $ 1,591,154     $ 1,682,696  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
    1,213,248       1,170,775       1,153,561  
Income taxes payable
    10,283       3,491       47,899  
Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt
    125,597       207,996       42,121  
 
                 
Total current liabilities
    2,889,170       2,973,416       2,926,277  
 
                       
Deferred income taxes and other long-term liabilities
    572,577       576,254       503,986  
Long-term debt, net of current maturities
    623,246       607,462       568,079  
Minority interest
    16,278       15,564       16,102  
 
                       
Commitments and contingencies
                       
 
                       
Stockholders’ equity:
                       
Common stock — authorized 800,000,000 shares of $.01 par value; issued and outstanding shares - 428,993,252 in 2008, 428,777,625 in December 2007 and 427,494,407 in March 2007
    4,290       4,288       4,275  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,795,905       1,784,184       1,723,959  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    584,225       495,916       309,769  
Retained earnings
    3,852,578       3,783,805       3,541,961  
Treasury stock, at cost — 155,889,488 shares in 2008, 155,819,358 shares in December 2007 and 152,697,854 shares in March 2007
    (2,985,217 )     (2,984,349 )     (2,873,652 )
 
                 
Total stockholders’ equity
    3,251,781       3,083,844       2,706,312  
 
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 7,353,052     $ 7,256,540     $ 6,720,756  
 
                 

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OFFICE DEPOT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
                 
    13 Weeks Ended  
    March 29,     March 31,  
    2008     2007  
Sales
  $ 3,962,017     $ 4,093,600  
Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs
    2,793,337       2,824,492  
 
           
 
               
Gross profit
    1,168,680       1,269,108  
 
               
Store and warehouse operating and selling expenses
    866,806       885,692  
General and administrative expenses
    198,550       161,530  
Amortization of deferred gain on building sale
    (1,873 )     (1,873 )
 
           
 
               
Operating profit
    105,197       223,759  
 
               
Other income (expense):
               
Interest income
    905       860  
Interest expense
    (14,820 )     (12,640 )
Miscellaneous income, net
    8,441       9,821  
 
           
 
               
Earnings before income taxes
    99,723       221,800  
 
               
Income taxes
    30,950       68,029  
 
           
 
               
Net earnings
  $ 68,773     $ 153,771  
 
           
 
               
Earnings per common share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.25     $ 0.56  
Diluted
    0.25       0.55  
 
               
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
               
Basic
    272,394       275,501  
Diluted
    272,840       280,130  

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OFFICE DEPOT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
                 
    13 Weeks Ended  
    March 29,     March 31,  
    2008     2007  
Cash flow from operating activities:
               
Net earnings
  $ 68,773     $ 153,771  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    63,567       71,710  
Charges for losses on inventories and receivables
    27,569       24,651  
Changes in working capital and other
    (32,780 )     (19,100 )
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    127,129       231,032  
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Capital expenditures
    (105,853 )     (104,078 )
Acquisition related payments
    (270 )     (22,050 )
Release of restricted cash
    18,100        
Purchase of assets subsequently sold
    (25,668 )      
Proceeds from assets sold and other
    33,756       12,969  
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (79,935 )     (113,159 )
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans
    54       9,333  
Tax benefits from employee share-based payments
          5,728  
Acquisition of treasury stock under approved repurchase plans
          (90,275 )
Treasury stock additions from employee related plans
    (880 )     (9,801 )
Net payments on long- and short-term borrowings
    (90,764 )     (10,130 )
 
           
Net cash used in financing activities
    (91,590 )     (95,145 )
 
           
 
               
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    2,966       (2,102 )
 
           
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (41,430 )     20,626  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    222,954       173,552  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 181,524     $ 194,178  
 
           

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OFFICE DEPOT, INC.
Comparative Trailing Four Quarters Data and
GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations
(Unaudited)
                 
Total Company   Trailing 4 Quarters  
(Dollars in millions)   March 29,     March 31,  
    2008     2007  
Sales
  $ 15,396.0     $ 15,288.7  
 
               
EBIT1
  $ 392.3     $ 772.3  
% of sales
    2.5%       5.1%  
EBIT — as adjusted1
  $ 429.5     $ 829.7  
% of sales
    2.8%       5.4%  
 
               
Net earnings
  $ 310.6     $ 527.7  
Net earnings — as adjusted1
  $ 336.5     $ 567.3  
 
               
Diluted Earnings Per Share
  $ 1.13     $ 1.86  
Diluted Earnings Per Share — as adjusted1
  $ 1.23     $ 2.00  
 
               
EBITDA — as adjusted1
  $ 692.1     $ 1,079.6  
% of sales
    4.5%       7.1%  
 
               
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) — as adjusted 1
    9.8%       15.8%  
 
               
Average shares
    274.1       283.2  
 
1   EBIT and EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures; EBIT — as adjusted and EBITDA — as adjusted exclude the Charges. (bps = basis points)
The Company is committed to measuring and reporting results in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). However, management also recognizes that some financial measures other than those prepared in accordance with GAAP (“non-GAAP”) can provide meaningful and useful information about performance and allow for an informed assessment of possible future performance. Certain non-GAAP performance measures (e.g. EBIT and ROIC) are used to determine variable pay awards throughout our Company.
Non-GAAP measures in these tables exclude certain charges (“Charges”) that are important and required under GAAP but that may not clearly convey the on-going results of operating the business during the period. These measures also exclude a gain on sale of a building and a legal settlement, both recognized in the fourth quarter of 2006.

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OFFICE DEPOT, INC.
GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations
The non-GAAP numbers presented along with the most closely related GAAP numbers, and the reconciliations are provided in the following tables. ($ in millions)
                                         
Q1 2008   GAAP     % of Sales     Charges     Non-GAAP     % of Sales  
Gross Profit
  $ 1,168.7       29.5 %   $     $ 1,168.7       29.5 %
Operating Expenses
  $ 1,063.5       26.8 %   $ (10.7 )   $ 1,052.8       26.6 %
Operating Profit
  $ 105.2       2.7 %   $ 10.7     $ 115.9       2.9 %
Net Earnings
  $ 68.8       1.7 %   $ 9.3     $ 78.1       2.0 %
 
                                 
Diluted Earnings Per Share
  $ 0.25             $ 0.04     $ 0.29          
 
                                 
                                         
Q1 2007   GAAP     % of Sales     Charges     Non-GAAP     % of Sales  
Gross Profit
  $ 1,269.1       31.0 %   $ 0.1     $ 1,269.2       31.0 %
Operating Expenses
  $ 1,045.3       25.5 %   $ (12.0 )   $ 1,033.3       25.2 %
Operating Profit
  $ 223.8       5.5 %   $ 12.1     $ 235.9       5.8 %
Net Earnings
  $ 153.8       3.8 %   $ 11.7     $ 165.5       4.0 %
 
                                 
Diluted Earnings Per Share
  $ 0.55             $ 0.04     $ 0.59          
 
                                 
                                         
Q4 2007   GAAP     % of Sales     Charges     Non-GAAP     % of Sales  
Gross Profit
  $ 1,022.5       26.4 %   $ 0.1     $ 1,022.6       26.4 %
Operating Expenses
  $ 1,033.6       26.7 %   $ (13.6 )   $ 1,020.0       26.3 %
Operating Profit
  $ (11.1 )     -0.3 %   $ 13.7     $ 2.6       0.1 %
Net Earnings
  $ 18.8       0.5 %   $ 7.8     $ 26.6       0.7 %
 
                                 
Diluted Earnings Per Share
  $ 0.07             $ 0.03     $ 0.10          
 
                                 

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Office Depot, Inc.
DIVISION INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
North American Retail Division
                         
    First Quarter     Fourth Quarter  
(Dollars in millions)   2008     2007     2007  
Sales
  $ 1,713.5     $ 1,848.6     $ 1,667.7  
% change
    (7 )%     3 %     (3 )%
 
                       
Division operating profit
  $ 82.5     $ 152.3     $ 23.5  
% of sales
    4.8 %     8.2 %     1.4 %
North American Business Solutions Division
                         
    First Quarter     Fourth Quarter  
(Dollars in millions)   2008     2007     2007  
Sales
  $ 1,104.0     $ 1,162.4     $ 1,064.7  
% change
    (5 )%     3 %     (4 )%
 
                       
Division operating profit
  $ 59.6     $ 72.2     $ 0.8  
% of sales
    5.4 %     6.2 %     0.1 %
International Division
                         
    First Quarter     Fourth Quarter  
(Dollars in millions)   2008     2007     2007  
Sales
  $ 1,144.5     $ 1,082.7     $ 1,134.6  
% change
    6 %     21 %     12 %
% change in local currency sales
    (4 )%     11 %     2 %
 
                       
Division operating profit
  $ 60.2     $ 82.1     $ 59.6  
% of sales
    5.3 %     7.6 %     5.3 %
Division operating profit excludes Charges from the Division performance, as those Charges are evaluated at a corporate level.

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Office Depot, Inc.
SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
(Unaudited)
Other Selected Financial Information
(In thousands, except operational data)
                 
    13 Weeks Ended     13 Weeks Ended  
    March 29, 2008     March 31, 2007  
Cumulative share repurchases under approved repurchase plans ($):
  $     $ 90,275  
 
               
Cumulative share repurchases under approved repurchase plans (shares):
          2,614  
 
               
Shares outstanding, end of quarter
    273,104       274,797  
 
               
Amount authorized for future share repurchases, end of quarter ($):
  $ 500,000          
Selected Operating Highlights
                 
    13 Weeks Ended     13 Weeks Ended  
    March 29, 2008     March 31, 2007  
Store Statistics
               
 
               
United States and Canada:
               
Store count:
               
Stores opened
    45       16  
Stores closed
           
Stores relocated
    1        
Total U.S. and Canada stores
    1,267       1,174  
 
               
North American Retail Division square footage:
    30,744,621       28,841,187  
Average square footage per NAR store
    24,266       24,567  
Inventory per store (end of period)
  $ 864,000     $ 946,000  
 
               
International Division company-owned:
               
Store count:
               
Stores opened
    1       11  
Stores closed
    1        
Total International company-owned stores
    148       136  

10

EX-99.1.2 Presentation Materials for Investor Rela
 

Exhibit 99.1.2
Investor Presentation April / May 2008


 

Office Depot Overview


 

Office Depot is a leading global provider of office products and services 2007 sales of over $15.5 billion and EBITDA1 of over $800 million Supplies: 63% of sales Technology: 26% of sales Furniture and Other: 11% of Sales Market capitalization of over $3 billion as of April 28, 2008 Multi-channel - stores, catalog, Internet and contract serve business customers of any size, from small home office to Fortune 500 accounts 56% of 2007 Sales were not North American Retail One of the world's largest e-commerce retailers - $4.9 billion in sales in 2007 Office Depot - Business Overview 1 Non-GAAP numbers. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP numbers can be found on the Office Depot web site at www.officedepot.com Artistree N.A. Business Solutions (29% of 2007 Sales) Artistree International (27% of 2007 Sales) Artistree North American Retail (44% of 2007 Sales) Over 1,200 stores in U.S. and Canada Largest concentration of stores in California, Florida and Texas Catalog, contract and e- commerce Dedicated sales force works with medium sized to Fortune 100 customers Orders serviced through 21 distribution centers Catalog, contract, e-commerce and retail Sells to customer directly and through affiliates in 43 countries 35+ websites and 397 stores


 

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 East Office Depot Timeline Founded in Florida with the first store opening in Fort Lauderdale, FL Listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol "ODEP" Listed on the NYSE under the symbol "ODP" Acquired The Great Canadian Office Supplies warehouse chain Acquired six additional contract stationers in North America Opened licensed Office Depot stores in Colombia and Israel. Announced retail joint venture agreement in Mexico and licensing agreement in Poland Entered the contract stationer business via the acquisition of two industry leaders: Wilson Stationery & Printing Company and Eastman Office Products Corporation Staples / Office Depot merger fails Merged with Viking Office Products, the leading direct marketer of office products in Europe and Australia Office Depot added to S&P 500 Acquired Guilbert S.A., a leading European contract stationer, doubling the size of the Company's European business Acquired Allied Office Products, Best Office Co., Ltd., Papirius, and AsiaEC Acquired Axidata, a Canada-based office products delivery company Completed merger with Office Club Inc.


 

Issues Facing The Company Entering 2005 Functionally-aligned organization with no divisional leadership Non-integrated acquisitions Duplicate overhead Cost and complexity of multiple systems Information technology systems impeding growth Duplicate supply chain Operating margin gap versus largest competitor and no plan to close gap Declining market share Inconsistency in shopping experience and service, and lack of differentiation Aging store portfolio with no proven new store format 700 different store sets and at least five different retail formats Asset impairments, exit costs and other operating decisions contributed to $396M in charges from inception in 2005 through the end of the first quarter 2008


 

Successful Turnaround Begins North American Retail North American Business Solutions International Improve profitability while continuing store build out program Finalize new format (M2) for the remodeled stores Improve service in stores Grow market share organically and through acquisitions Expand large contract sales, add sales force Complete integration of Viking acquisition Expand product / service portfolio Improve profitability by growing European contract business, tightening cost control Use telephone account managers to acquire new customers in Europe Integrate various operations around the globe Expand geographic reach into developing areas New Management talent was added across the organization


 

EBIT 04 SL05 EBIT 05 SL 06 Shortfall EBIT 06 SL 1 07 Volume 07 F3 07 Saule 1 576 654 802 802 551 Saule 2 576 654 802 551 Saule 3 50 488 366 0 110 380 Column 4 28 26 26 2004 Mix / Margin Investment 2006 2007 Initiatives Successful in Reducing Costs In excess of $600 million in costs eliminated between 2004 and 2007 Cost Savings / Volume 2005 Cost Savings / Volume Mix / Margin Investment Cost Savings / Volume EBIT Margin1 4.6% 5.3% 3.5% 4.2% 1 Non-GAAP numbers. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP numbers can be found on the Office Depot web site at www.officedepot.com


 

2004 2005 2006 First Half 2007 Sales $ 13,565 $ 14,279 $ 15,011 $ 7,725 EBIT1 $ 576 $ 654 $ 802 $ 416 EPS1 $ 1.18 $ 1.41 $ 1.90 $ 1.00 EBIT Margin1 4.2% 4.6% 5.3% 5.4% EPS Growth1 19.2% 19.5% 34.8% 8.7% Positive Impact From Turnaround (Dollars in millions, except per share data) Stock Performance January 2004 - June 2007 $16.71 $30.30 +81% Company announces Steve Odland hired as new CEO 1 Non-GAAP numbers. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP numbers can be found on the Office Depot web site at www.officedepot.com Nine strong consecutive quarters under new Management team, with improving performance and increased shareholder value, including record sales and earnings in Q1 2007 Approximately $2 billion of capital returned to stockholders through share repurchases from 2005 through 2007 (represented approximately 20% of outstanding shares, 140% of adjusted after-tax earnings and 106% of operating cash flow)


 

2007 2007 2007 First Half Second Half Full Year Sales $ 7,725 $ 7,802 $15,528 EBIT1 $ 416 $ 135 $ 551 EPS1 $ 1.00 $ 0.53 $ 1.54 EBIT Margin1 5.4% 1.7% 3.5% EPS Growth1 8.7% (45.9%) (18.9%) Macroeconomic And Business Conditions Shift (Dollars in millions, except per share data) Stock Performance July 2007 - December 2007 $30.30 $13.91 (54%) Weakening housing-related economic conditions and a heavy sales concentration in Florida and California (approximately 30% of North American sales in 2007) negatively impacted results in the second half of 2007 Heavier mix of both lower margin technology product sales in North American Retail and lower margin customers in North American Business Solutions contributed to margin declines Declining vendor program support due to industry slowdown also impacted margins Weaker U.K. performance negatively affected International results 1 Non-GAAP numbers. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP numbers can be found on the Office Depot web site at www.officedepot.com


 

Strategic Priorities


 

North American Retail North American Business Solutions International Expanding product offerings to micro-business customers (<10 employees) Growing loyalty programs Enhancing service offerings to complement product offerings Implementing customer contact strategy Redesigning the telephone account management (TAM) program New catalog/direct marketing team Executing plan to improve performance in the U.K. Sharp focus on improving productivity in existing businesses Leveraging global sourcing to increase direct import and private brand penetration in Europe and Asia Strategic Priorities - Taking Care of Business


 

North American Retail Expanding product offerings to micro- business customers (<10 employees) Having the products in stock to meet customer demand Modifying assortment to deliver increased value Growing loyalty programs Membership grew approximately 30% in the first quarter Instituting new customer service programs Enhancing service offerings to complement product offerings Tech Depot service rolling out nationally at the customers' work or home locations Design, Print & Ship continues to offer new services N. A. Retail - Taking Care of Business Update


 

North American Business Solutions Implementing customer contact strategy Successfully tested National rollout implementation completed by end of the third quarter Implementing redesigned telephone account management (TAM) program TAM organization performing better Key performance indicators New catalog / direct marketing team Increased catalog circulation to drive revenue Revamped online advertising strategies N.A. Business Solutions - Taking Care of Business Update


 

International Improving performance in the U.K. Warehouse and call center consolidation and back office transition complete Mobilecast implemented to improve delivery Improving productivity in existing businesses Transition back office accounting functions to service center for second country (France) Consolidation of three more European call centers Close four warehouses in 2008 Leveraging global sourcing office Launched Central Distribution Center in Antwerp for direct import to Europe International - Taking Care of Business Update


 

Normalized Private Brand Direct Import Centralization Supply Chain Procurement IT Conversion Mix / Margin Investment 2010 East 4.6 4.6 6.1 7.3 7.9 7.6 7.6 1.5 1.2 0.6 0.4 0.7 +150bps +120bps +60bps +40bps - -70bps Long-Term Global Margin Improvement Initiative Identified 300 basis points of potential margin improvement ~5% ~8% EBIT Margin1 2 1 Non-GAAP numbers. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP numbers can be found on the Office Depot web site at www.officedepot.com 2 Represents rolling four quarter average EBIT margin from Q1 2006 - Q4 2007.


 

Private Brand/Global Sourcing Initiative Private brand penetration percentage is currently in the high 20's Private Brand Penetration/Global Sourcing to improve margin Opened Office Depot sourcing office in Shenzhen, China in 2007 Supplemented with third-party sourcing resources Expanding categories of products sourced and countries utilized Independent audits of all factories and chain of custody of goods for environmental, social, and quality issues All Private Brand meets or exceeds industry testing requirements Private Brand/Global Sourcing


 

Centralization Financial Back Office Call Center North America-Utilize third parties for a number of financial functions Some in North America, some offshore Assign credit Collections and cash application International-Near Shoring financial functions into Office Depot in Eastern Europe Credit, collections, cash applications North America-Global Accounts, Executive Customer Service, E- Commerce handled in 2 centers in US Balance of inbound calls near shore and offshore International-In the process of consolidating EU call centers


 

Global Supply Chain Initiative North America Two separate NA Supply Chains 12 cross docks (NA Retail) 21 distribution centers (NA Business Solutions) 7.2M square feet over 33 buildings Environment Initiative International Convert to 12 combination facilities with about 7M square feet as leases expire Capacity for approximately 9M square feet Each facility will have pick/pack and flow through capability to optimize service for Retail and Business Solutions Improve global supply chain expense as a percent of sales by 50 basis points Global Benefits Environment Initiative Reduce supply chain network to 15 facilities Consolidate to one warehouse management system Open two facilities, close four in 2008 Supply chain network of 22 facilities 7 warehouse management systems


 

Global Information Technology Initiative Environment Initiative Benefits Costly and complex: Historical "home grown" legacy systems Acquired systems through past major acquisitions Multiple channels No single global integrated system - an expensive environment to operate Minimal process definition and sophistication Simplify, consolidate, globalize and standardize processes and practices, and support them with common applications and platforms Install Oracle ERP system to replace many separate platforms utilized to run the entire corporation Narrow the Company's many different warehouse management systems to one (Manhattan Associates) Reduce IT costs as a percent of sales from current level of 1.7% and, coupled with other benefits, reduce costs by 40 bps+ Enable faster and easier integration of future business expansions and acquisitions Provide a consistent customer experience across the globe Provide better business data, information and tools


 

First Quarter 2008 Results


 

First Quarter 2008 Summary Results were better than expected and consistent with the outlook provided during fourth quarter of 2007 earnings call Business environment remained challenging in first quarter of 2008 but roughly comparable to fourth quarter of 2007 Despite a challenging economic environment, continued to execute strategic initiatives Total company sales declined approximately 3% versus first quarter of 2007 GAAP earnings of $69 million, earnings per share on a diluted basis of $0.25 Adjusted earnings of $78 million, adjusted earnings per share on a diluted basis of $0.29


 

2008 Outlook Second quarter outlook Sales to date still remain sluggish in the U.S. and U.K. Second quarter EBIT margins should be down versus one year ago but a lower year-over-year decline than first quarter Third and fourth quarter EBIT margins should improve versus last year Longer term, business model can deliver improved results Mid-single digit top-line growth Mid-teens earnings per share growth Total margin expansion of up to 300 basis points from key initiatives possible


 

1Non-GAAP numbers. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP numbers can be found on the Office Depot web site at www.officedepot.com. Consolidated Financials - First Quarter 2008 in millions, except ratios, returns and per share data Q1 2008 Q1 2008 Q1 2008 Q4 2007 Q4 2007 Q4 2007 Q1 2007 Q1 2007 Q1 2007 Amount % Sales Amount % Sales Amount % Sales Sales $ 3,962 -- $ 3,867 -- $ 4,094 -- Operating Expenses(1) $ 1,053 26.6% $ 1,020 26.3% $ 1,033 25.2% EBIT(1) $ 124 3.1% $ 6 0.2% $ 246 6.0% Net Earnings (1) $ 78 2.0% $ 27 0.7% $ 166 4.0% Net Earnings - GAAP $ 69 1.7% $ 19 0.5% $ 154 3.8% Diluted Shares 272.8 -- 273.3 -- 280.1 -- EPS - GAAP $ 0.25 -- $ 0.07 -- $ 0.55 -- EPS(1) $ 0.29 -- $ 0.10 -- $ 0.59 --


 

North American Retail - Results in millions, except ratios and statistics Q1 08 Q4 07 Q1 07 Sales $ 1,713 $ 1,668 $ 1,849 Comparable Sales -9% -7% -3% Division Operating Profit $ 82 $ 23 $ 152 Division Operating Margin 4.8% 1.4% 8.2%


 

North American Retail - Results & Variance Analysis Operating margin improvement of 340 bps versus fourth quarter of 2007 Sales were down 7% and comparable store sales were 9% lower in first quarter of 2008 Operating profit of $82 million versus $152 million one year ago Broader economic factors continued to challenge profit margins Lower product margins due to a more promotional sales environment De-leveraging of fixed property costs as sales declined Operating Margin Q1 2007 8.2% Product margins -200 bps Fixed property de-leveraging -110 bps Operating expenses -30 bps Q1 2008 4.8% Q4 2007 1.4%


 

North American Business Solutions - Results in millions, except ratios and statistics Q1 08 Q4 07 Q1 07 Sales $ 1,104 $ 1,065 $ 1,162 Division Operating Profit $ 60 $ 1 $ 72 Division Operating Margin 5.4% 0.1% 6.2%


 

N.A. Business Solutions - Results & Variance Analysis Operating margin improvement of 530 bps versus fourth quarter of 2007 Sales were down 5% in first quarter of 2008 Sales to small- to mid-size customers down 12% Partially offset by 3% sales growth with large, national account customers and 4% growth in sales to public sector Operating profit of $60 million versus $72 million one year ago Due primarily to lower product margins Operating Margin Q1 2007 6.2% Product margins -70 bps Operating expenses -10 bps Q1 2008 5.4% Q4 2007 0.1%


 

International - Results In millions, except ratios and statistics Q1 08 Q4 07 Q1 07 Sales $ 1,145 $ 1,135 $ 1,083 Change in Local Currency Sales -4% 2% 11% Division Operating Profit $ 60 $ 60 $ 82 Division Operating Margin 5.3% 5.3% 7.6%


 

International - Results & Variance Analysis Operating Margin Q1 2007 7.6% U.K. performance -160 bps Investment spending -60 bps Other -10 bps Q1 2008 5.3% Q4 2007 5.3% Operating margin flat versus fourth quarter of 2007 Sales were up 6% in first quarter of 2008 Local currency sales were down 4% Operating profit was $60 million versus $82 million one year ago Weaker U.K. performance due to slowing economy Strategic investments in regional offices; the centralization of support functions; the consolidation of warehouses


 

Charges from 2005 Plan During the third quarter of 2005, we announced a number of material charges relating to asset impairments, exit costs and other operating decisions (the "Charges"). This announcement followed a wide-ranging assessment of assets and commitments which began in the second quarter of 2005. We indicated that these actions would continue to impact our results for several years, and expenses associated with future activities would be recognized as the individual plans are implemented and the applicable accounting recognition criteria are met. As with any estimate, the amounts may change when expenses are incurred. in millions Q1 Q1 Q1 Q1 Q1 Projected Projected Projected Projected Projected Projected 2008 2007 Program to Date Program to Date 2008 Q2-Q4 2008 Q2-Q4 2008 Q2-Q4 2009 Total Income Statement Charges $ 11 $ 12 $ 396 $ 396 $ 54 $ 54 $ 54 $ 23 $ 473 Cash Flow Impact Cash $ 10 $ 3 $ 141 $ 141 $ 37 $22 $ 200 Non-Cash $ 1 $ 9 $ 255 $ 255 $ 17 $ 1 $ 273


 

Cash Flow Highlights 1Non-GAAP numbers. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP numbers can be found on the Office Depot web site at www.officedepot.com. in millions 2008 2007 % Change Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $ 127 $ 231 -45% Depreciation & Amortization $ 64 $ 72 -11% EBITDA1 $ 177 $ 305 -42% CAPEX $ 106 $ 104 2% Free Cash Flow (Use) - - (Before Share Repurchases) $ 21 $ 127 -83% Share Repurchases $ - $ 90 -100% Acquisitions $ - $ 22 -100%


 

Balance Sheet Highlights 1 WC = (current assets - cash and short-term investments) - (current liabilities - current maturities of long-term debt) 2 WC as % of Sales = ((WC Q1 current year + WC Q1 prior year) / 2) / Trailing four quarter sales 3 Non-GAAP numbers. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP numbers can be found on the Office Depot web site at www.officedepot.com. in millions, except ratios and returns 2008 2007 % Change Inventory Per Store (end of period) $ 0.864 $ 0.946 -9% Inventories $ 1,644 $ 1,559 5% Working Capital1 $ 721 $ 444 62% Working Capital as a % of Sales2 3.8% 2.6% 46% Net Debt (end of period) $ 567 $ 416 36% Return on Invested Capital, Adjusted3 9.8% 15.8% -600 bps


 

1Non-GAAP numbers. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP numbers can be found on the Office Depot web site at www.officedepot.com. Consolidated Financials - Trailing Four Quarters in millions, except ratios, returns and per share data Trailing Four Quarters (Ending Q1 2008) Trailing Four Quarters (Ending Q1 2008) Trailing Four Quarters (Ending Q1 2008) Trailing Four Quarters (Ending Q1 2007) Trailing Four Quarters (Ending Q1 2007) Trailing Four Quarters (Ending Q1 2007) Amount % Sales Amount % Sales Sales $ 15,396 -- $ 15,289 -- EBIT(1) $ 430 2.8% $ 830 5.4% Net Earnings (1) $ 337 2.2% $ 567 3.7% Diluted Shares 274.1 -- 283.2 -- EPS(1) $ 1.23 -- $ 2.00 -- ROIC(1) 9.8% 15.8% --


 

Competitive Performance


 

Same Store Sales Comparison Note: Selected competitors. For illustrative purposes only. Source: Companies' Form 10-Ks. OfficeMax Office Depot Staples 2004 1.3% 3.0% 4.0% 2005 -1.0% 3.0% 3.0% 2006 0.1% 2.0% 3.0% 2007 -1.2% -5.0% -3.0% Q4 2007 -7.3% -7.0% -6.0% North America Growth has outpaced OfficeMax and is comparable to Staples


 

Operating Margin Comparison - Total Company Note: Selected competitors. For illustrative purposes only. 1 Represents Adjusted Operating Income Margin, a non-GAAP number; adjusted for special items. Source: Earnings press releases and Office Max - March 19, 2008 Investor Day Presentation. 2 Financial information for Office Depot adjusted for certain charges and credits. Represents a Non-GAAP number. A reconciliation of GAAP to non- GAAP numbers can be found on the Office Depot web site at www.officedepot.com 3 Represents Operating Margin, a non-GAAP number, adjusted for certain nonrecurring items. Source: Earnings press releases and Form 10-Ks. OfficeMax1 Office Depot2 Staples3 2004 0.6% 4.1% 7.3% 2005 1.1% 4.4% 7.7% 2006 3.5% 5.1% 8.1% 1H 2007 3.6% 5.1% 6.8% 2H 2007 3.9% 1.6% 9.4% FY 2007 3.8% 3.4% 8.2% Margins are a historical opportunity


 

Operating Margin Comparison - Divisions Note: Selected competitors. For illustrative purposes only. Source: OfficeMax - Investor Day Presentations of March 19, 2008 and March 20, 2007. Adjusted for special items. Staples and Office Depot - Companies' Form 10-Ks. 2004 2005 2006 2007 Retail OfficeMax 0.5% 1.0% 4.1% 4.1% Office Depot 4.9% 6.0% 6.7% 5.2% Staples 8.5% 9.3% 9.7% 9.5% Contract / Direct OfficeMax 2.4% 2.5% 4.4% 4.3% Office Depot 6.8% 8.2% 8.0% 4.9% Staples 9.4% 10.3% 10.6% 10.8% International Office Depot 7.8% 6.0% 6.8% 5.5% Staples 3.6% 0.6% 2.1% 3.6% Margins exceeded OfficeMax in N. America and Staples in International


 

Channel Mix Comparison - Divisions Note: Selected competitors. For illustrative purposes only. Figures represent channel mix as a percent of total sales. Source: Office Depot, Staples and OfficeMax - Companies' Form 10-Ks. OfficeMax 2004 results exclude sales from Paper and Building Solutions businesses 2004 2005 2006 2007 North American Retail OfficeMax 49.4% 50.5% 52.6% 53.0% Office Depot 43.8% 45.6% 45.2% 43.9% Staples 57.6% 56.1% 54.7% 51.7% North American Contract / Direct North American Contract / Direct OfficeMax 50.6% 49.5% 47.4% 47.0% Office Depot 29.8% 30.1% 30.5% 29.1% Staples 29.0% 30.9% 32.5% 34.1% International Office Depot 26.4% 24.3% 24.3% 27.0% Staples 13.3% 13.0% 13.0% 14.1% Each Company competes in multiple business lines


 

E.P.S. Growth Comparison Note: Selected competitors. For illustrative purposes only. 1 Earnings per diluted share adjusted for special items. Source: Earnings press releases and Office Max - Investor Day Presentations of March 19, 2008 and March 20, 2007. 2 Financial information for Office Depot adjusted for certain charges and credits. Represents a Non-GAAP number. A reconciliation of GAAP to non- GAAP numbers can be found on the Office Depot web site at www.officedepot.com 3 Diluted earnings per common share adjusted for nonrecurring items. Source: Earnings press releases and Staples web site at www.staples.com OfficeMax1 Office Depot2 Staples3 2004 -- 19.2% 16.0% 2005 -76.0% 19.5% 19.5% 2006 775.0% 34.8% 23.1% 1H 2007 7.7% 8.7% 12.8% 2H 2007 ~24.0% -45.9% ~8.5% FY 2007 14.8% -18.9% 10.9% Growth equaled or exceeded Staples in 2004, 2005 and 2006


 

Relative Stock Price Performance Stock price outperformed Staples and OfficeMax in 2005 and 2006 and dropped in the second half of 2007 ODP (16.8%) SPLS 26.8% OMX (37.1%) Note: Selected competitors. For illustrative purposes only. Source: Bloomberg.


 

Management, Board of Directors and Corporate Governance


 

Experienced Senior Management Team Name / Title Relevant Experience Company Steve Odland Chairman and CEO Office Depot: 3 yrs. AutoZone: 4 yrs. Ahold: 3 yrs. Former Chairman, CEO and President - AutoZone, Inc. 17 years as vendor to retail Director - General Mills, Inc. Charles Brown President - International and Acting CFO Office Depot: 10 yrs. Denny's: 3 yrs. Pizza Hut: 8 yrs. Former CFO, Senior VP - Denny's, Inc. Former CFO, VP - ARAMARK International Former Controller, VP - Pizza Hut Int'l. Elisa Garcia Exec. VP, General Counsel and Corp. Secretary Office Depot: Started July 2007 Domino's Pizza: 7 yrs. Former EVP, General Counsel, Secretary - Domino's Pizza Former Regional Counsel Latin America - Philip Morris, Int'l. Monica Luechtefeld Exec. VP - Supply Chain and IT Office Depot and predecessor companies: 27 yrs. Former EVP, Global E Commerce - Office Depot Former VP, Sales Planning &Systems - Office Depot Former VP and General Manager, Furniture Division - Eastman Former VP, Sales - Eastman Chuck Rubin President - NA Retail Office Depot: 4 yrs. Accenture: 6 yrs Federated: 11 yrs. Other retail: 6 yrs. Former Partner (Retail Practice) - Accenture, Ltd. Former Merchandising, Marketing, Store Operations Management - Federated Department Stores, Specialty Stores Director and Exec. Committee Member - National Retail Federation Steve Schmidt President - North American Business Solutions Office Depot: Started August 2007 ACNielsen: 12 yrs. Pillsbury: 8 yrs. Former President and CEO - ACNielsen Corporation Former President of Canada and Southeast Asia - Pillsbury Food Management Positions - PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble Daisy Vanderlinde Exec. VP - Human Resources Office Depot: 3 yrs. AutoZone: 4 yrs. Tractor Supply: 5 yrs. Marshalls: 5 yrs. Broadway Stores: 11 yrs. Former Senior VP - AutoZone, Inc. Former Senior HR Officer - Tractor Supply Co., Marshalls, Inc., The Broadway Stores


 

Name / Title Relevant Experience Company Brad Bacon Exec. VP - Store Operations Office Depot: 1 yr. AutoZone: 4 yrs. Supermarket industry: 34 yrs. Former Executive VP - AutoZone, Inc. Former Executive VP of Operations - Tops Markets Richard Diamond VP - Merchandising (Furniture) Office Depot: Started July 2007 Harvey Lewis: 2 yrs. OfficeMax: 6 yrs. Burdines: 16 yrs. Former Chief Operating Officer - Harvey Lewis Designs Former VP and General Manager, Furniture - OfficeMax Former VP, Home Furnishings - Burdines (Federated) Steve Mahurin Exec. VP - Merchandising Office Depot: Started March 31, 2008 True Value: 4 yrs. Home Depot: 13 yrs. Other retail: 10 yrs. Former Senior VP, Chief Merchandising Officer - True Value Former Senior VP - The Home Depot Former VP - PGA Tour Superstore Kevin Peters Exec. VP - Supply Chain Office Depot: Started October 2007 W.W. Grainger: 5 yrs. Home Depot: 11 yrs. Former Senior VP of Supply Chain - W.W. Grainger, Inc. Former VP and General Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Toronto/San Diego - The Home Depot Management Positions - McMaster-Carr Supply Co. Randy Wick VP - Merchandising Services Office Depot: Started November 2007 Circuit City: 2 yrs. Petters Group: 1 yr. Best Buy: 8 yrs. Former Senior VP and General Merchandise Manager for Consumer Electronics - Circuit City Former Executive VP of Sales and Marketing - Petters Group Worldwide Former VP of Retail Strategies - Best Buy Former Sales and Merchandising Manager - Fretter Super Stores Talented Recent Additions to Senior Management Team


 

Highly Qualified, Independent Board With Significant Public Company Experience Proven executive leaders Five Directors have significant experience as retail operators Four additional Directors have significant relevant experience as operators 11 of 12 Directors are independent under NYSE standards Three members of the Audit Committee qualify as financial experts within SEC regulations Experienced as public company directors All Directors have served on other public company Boards Extensive new strength and talent added to Board in recent years Six Directors have joined Board in last four years Two Directors have joined in the last two years


 

Directors With Significant Retail Experience Name / Committee(s) Retail Experience Company David W. Bernauer Compensation, Finance Walgreens: 40 yrs. Former Chairman & CEO - Walgreen Co. Director - Lowe's Companies, Inc. David I. Fuente Finance (C) Office Depot: 13 yrs. Sherwin-Williams: 8 yrs. Former Chairman and CEO - Office Depot, Inc. Former President - Sherwin-Williams Paint Stores Group Director - Ryder System Inc. and Dicks Sporting Goods Myra M. Hart Audit Staples: 5 yrs. Founding Officer - Staples, Inc. Senior Faculty Member - Harvard Business School Director - Nina McLemore Inc., Kraft Foods, Inc., Summer Infant, Inc. and IntelliVid Corporation Former Director - Royal Ahold Kathleen Mason Audit Tuesday Morning: 7 yrs. Cherry & Webb: 9 yrs. More than 35 years of retail experience President and CEO - Tuesday Morning Corporation Former Chairman and CEO - Cherry & Webb Director - Genesco, Inc. Former Director - Men's Warehouse, Hot Topic Steve Odland Office Depot: 3 yrs. AutoZone: 4 yrs. Ahold: 3 yrs. Chairman and CEO - Office Depot (March 2005) Former Chairman, CEO and President - AutoZone, Inc. 17 years as vendor to retail Director - General Mills, Inc.


 

Other Directors' Experience Name / Committee(s) Company Lee A. Ault, III Compensation (C), Corporate Governance and Nominating Telecredit: 24 yrs. Former Chairman and CEO - Telecredit, Inc. Former Director - Viking Office Products, Alex Brown and Bankers Trust Director - Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation Neil R. Austrian Lead Director Corporate Governance and Nominating (C), Finance NFL: 9 yrs. DDB: 10 yrs. Former President and COO - NFL Former CEO - Doyle, Dane, Bernbach Former Chairman and CEO - Showtime/The Movie Channel Former Director - Viking Office Products, Alex Brown and Bankers Trust Director - The DirecTV Group Abelardo E. Bru Compensation, Finance PepsiCo: 28 yrs. Former Vice Chairman - PepsiCo Former Chairman and CEO - Frito-Lay North America Former Executive - PepsiCo Foods International Director - Kimberly-Clark Corporation and S.C. Johnson, Inc. Marsha Evans Compensation American Red Cross: 3 yrs. U.S. Navy: 30 yrs. Former President and CEO - American Red Cross Director - May Department Stores Co., Huntsman Corporation, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Weight Watchers International Former Director - AutoZone, Inc. Brenda Gaines Audit (C), Corporate Governance and Nominating Citigroup: 16 yrs. Former President and CEO - Diner's Club North America Former Deputy Chief of Staff - City of Chicago Director - NICOR, Inc., Fannie Mae, Tenet Healthcare Corporation W. Scott Hedrick Compensation, Corporate Governance and Nominating InterWest Partners: 29 yrs. Former Director - The Office Club, Inc. Founder and Former Partner - InterWest Partners Director - Hot Topic, Inc., Il Fornaio Corp., American Funds Insurance Series Michael Myers Audit Smith Barney: 20 yrs. First Century : 37 yrs. Founder and Former Managing General Partner - First Century Partners President and Director - Smith Barney Venture Corp. Former Director - Entre Computer Centers, Inc. Relevant Experience


 

Board is Active And Engaged 39 Board and Board Committee meetings last 12 months Four standing committees: Corporate Governance and Nominating, Compensation, Audit and Finance Members have frequent in-depth meetings with business unit leaders Actively engaged in development and monitoring of turnaround plan Actively engaged in recruitment of Steve Odland and new Management team Committed to enhancing stockholder value Regularly analyze capital structure and strategic opportunities for the Company


 

Strong Corporate Governance Practices Full Board elected annually to one-year terms Alignment with stockholders through Director ownership requirements Majority stockholder vote required to approve a merger Stockholders may act by written consent No poison pill Executive pay/compensation aligned with performance Long-term equity incentive plans are all approved by stockholders Office Depot, Inc.'s Corporate Governance Quotient (CGQ(r))1 is better than 96.2% of Retailing companies and 80.1% of S&P 500 companies 1 As of April 1, 2008.


 

Safe Harbor Statement The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended (the "Act"), provides protection from liability in private lawsuits for "forward-looking" statements made by public companies under certain circumstances, provided that the public company discloses with specificity the risk factors that may impact its future results. We want to take advantage of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Act. Certain statements made in this presentation are "forward-looking" statements under the Act. Except for historical financial and business performance information, statements made in this presentation should be considered 'forward-looking' as referred to in the Act. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this presentation; we disclaim any obligation to update these statements, and we caution you not to rely on them unduly. Much of the information that looks towards future performance of our company is based on various factors and important expectations and assumptions about future events that may or may not actually come true. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. As a result, our operations and financial results in the future could differ materially and substantially from those we have discussed in the forward-looking statements made in this presentation. Certain risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC. You are strongly urged to review all such filings for a more detailed discussion of such risks and uncertainties. The Company's SEC filings are readily obtainable at no charge at www.sec.gov and at www.freeEDGAR.com, as well as on a number of other commercial web sites.


 

Taking Care of Business