OfficeMax Says Finalized Agreement to Extinguish Timber Notes Liability; Will Make $15M Cash Payment in Q4

OfficeMax® Incorporated

, a leader in office supplies, technology and services, today confirmed that its agreement to extinguish the non-recourse liability related to the Lehman-backed timber notes is now effective as the result of the entry of a Final Order by the United States Bankruptcy Court resolving certain claims against Lehman Brothers based on the notes. As a result, OfficeMax will recognize a non-cash, pre-tax gain of $671.1 million in the third quarter of this year.  In the fourth quarter, OfficeMax anticipates that it will make a cash payment in the amount of approximately $15 million, representing the accelerated tax liability on approximately one half of the gain on the 2004 timberlands sale transaction, mostly offset by alternative minimum tax credits. OfficeMax anticipates using available cash to fund the tax payment.