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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2019
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Matters

The Company is involved in litigation arising in the normal course of business. While, from time to time, claims are asserted that make demands for a large sum of money (including, from time to time, actions which are asserted to be maintainable as class action suits), the Company does not believe that contingent liabilities related to these matters (including the matters discussed below), either individually or in the aggregate, will materially affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In addition, in the ordinary course of business, sales to and transactions with government customers may be subject to lawsuits, investigations, audits and review by governmental authorities and regulatory agencies, with which the Company cooperates. Many of these lawsuits, investigations, audits and reviews are resolved without material impact to the Company. While claims in these matters may at times assert large demands, the Company does not believe that contingent liabilities related to these matters, either individually or in the aggregate, will materially affect its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In December 2016, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC'') issued a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) to the Company requiring the Company to produce certain documents and materials and to answer certain interrogatories relating to the Company’s use of the product PC Healthcheck, a software program manufactured by a third-party vendor and provided to the Company for its customers prior to December 31, 2016. Since issuing the CID, the FTC has sought additional written and testimonial evidence from the Company, and the Company has cooperated with the investigation from its inception.

On July 19, 2018, the Company was notified by the FTC that it would like to engage in settlement discussions. Based on the ongoing discussions with the FTC, on December 29, 2018, the Company accrued $25 million for potential liabilities associated with this claim.

In March 2019, the FTC Commissioners approved the proposed settlement between the FTC and the Company.  The Stipulation to Entry of Order for Permanent Injunction and Monetary Judgment, or the “Consent Order,” was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (the “Court”) and entered by the Court on March 29, 2019.

Under the terms of the Consent Order, wherein the Company neither admitted nor denied the FTC’s allegations (except as to the Court having jurisdiction over the matter), the FTC Commissioners agreed to accept payment of $25 million to compensate affected Company customers (the “settlement payment”). The settlement payment was paid on April 12, 2019, fourteen (14) days after final entry of the Consent Order by the Court. The Consent Order also requires the Company to implement a compliance certification, record creation and maintenance program.

 

Additionally, in January 2017 and May 2017, the Consumer Protection Divisions of each of the Office of Attorney General, State of Washington ("Washington AG'') and the Office of Attorney General, State of Texas (''Texas AG''), respectively, each issued a CID to the Company requiring the Company to produce certain documents and materials and to answer certain interrogatories relating to PC Healthcheck. The Company is cooperating with the Washington AG and Texas AG with respect to these matters. At this time, it is difficult to predict the timing, the likely outcome, and/or potential range of loss, if any, of these state matters.

In addition to the foregoing, OfficeMax is named as a defendant in a number of lawsuits, claims, and proceedings arising out of the operation of certain paper and forest products assets prior to those assets being sold in 2004, for which OfficeMax agreed to retain responsibility. Also, as part of that sale, OfficeMax agreed to retain responsibility for all pending or threatened proceedings and future proceedings alleging asbestos-related injuries arising out of the operation of the paper and forest products assets prior to the closing of the sale. The Company has made provision for losses with respect to the pending proceedings. Additionally, as of March 30, 2019, the Company has made provision for environmental liabilities with respect to certain sites where hazardous substances or other contaminants are or may be located. For these liabilities, our estimated range of reasonably possible losses was approximately $10 million to $25 million. The Company regularly monitors its estimated exposure to these liabilities. As additional information becomes known, these estimates may change, however, the Company does not believe any of these OfficeMax retained proceedings are material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.