Office Depot announces sale of its stake in Office Depot De Mexico

Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office supplies and services, today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its 50% stake in Latin American Joint Venture Office Depot de Mexico S.A. de C.V. to Grupo Gigante, S.A.B. de C.V. (GIGANTE.MX) for the Mexican Peso amount of 8,777.36 million in cash.

The deal is conditional on receiving Mexican regulatory approval and Grupo Gigante S.A.B. de C.V. shareholder approval which Office Depot believes will be secured within 30 days. After the transaction closes, Grupo Gigante, S.A.B. de C.V. and its affiliates will have 100% ownership of Office Depot de Mexico.

In accordance with the terms of its planned merger agreement with OfficeMax, announced on February 20, 2013, Office Depot obtained the required consent from OfficeMax to proceed with the sale.

“Grupo Gigante has been a wonderful partner in Mexico for almost 20 years,” said Steve Schmidt, President of International for Office Depot. “Over the past year, we have been actively exploring with them ways to illuminate the value of this business through a potential IPO. Through the process, they expressed a desire to own the business outright that culminated in the sale announced today.”

“We believe that this transaction represents a very attractive value for our shareholders,” said Mike Newman, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Office Depot. “We expect to use the estimated $550 million in net after-tax proceeds from the sale to redeem 50% of the Company’s convertible preferred shares held by BC Partners, Inc. and its affiliates upon receiving shareholder approval of the planned merger with OfficeMax, as well as to redeem the $150 million of maturing 6.25% bonds due in August 2013. Importantly, this transaction will significantly enhance the liquidity position of the combined Company following the planned merger.”

Office Depot de Mexico, founded in 1994 as a joint partnership between Office Depot and Grupo Gigante, has more than 248 stores throughout Mexico and Central America and over $1.1 billion in annual sales. Office Depot accounts for its investment in Office Depot de Mexico using the equity method and the 50% share of Office Depot de Mexico’s net income is presented in the Company’s “Miscellaneous income, net” line in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The acquired stores will maintain the Office Depot brand following the closing of the transaction.

Office Depot’s exclusive financial advisor for the transaction was BofA Merrill Lynch.

Grupo Gigante has a 50-year history of expanding its business through the acquisition of commercial chains and the creation of strategic alliances, the incorporation of different formats and even entering the fields of Central and South America. Aside from Office Depot stores, the company currently runs The Home Store, Panda Express, Gigante Grupo Inmobiliario, Restaurantes Toks, PetCo, Cup Stop and Align Pro in Mexico.

About Office Depot

Office Depot provides office supplies and services through 1,628 worldwide retail stores, a dedicated sales force, top-rated catalogs, and global e-commerce operations. Office Depot has annual sales of approximately $10.7 billion, employs about 38,000 associates, and serves customers in 60 countries around the world.

Office Depot’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP. Additional press information can be found at: http://news.officedepot.com.