OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

By Order of the Board of Directors,

N. David Bleisch

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal & Administrative Officer & Corporate Secretary

Boca Raton, Florida

March 20, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Proxy Statement Summary

This summary highlights important information you will find in this Proxy Statement. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider. We encourage you to read the entire Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018 (“2018 Annual Report”) before voting.

Your vote is very important to us and our business. Please cast your vote immediately on all of the proposals to ensure your shares are represented.

Voting Matters and Board of Directors Recommendations

Corporate Governance Highlights

We are committed to good corporate governance, which promotes the long-term interests of shareholders, strengthens Board of Directors and management accountability, and helps build public trust in the Company. The Corporate Governance section beginning on page 14 describes our governance framework, which includes the following highlights:

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PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE

2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

OF

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

6600 North Military Trail

Boca Raton, Florida 33496

Information About the Annual Meeting and Voting

The Board of Directors of Office Depot, Inc. (“Office Depot” or the “Company” or “we” or “our”) is soliciting proxies to be voted at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 7, 2019 (the “Annual Meeting”), at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, at Embassy Suites by Hilton Boca Raton, 661 NW 53rd Street, Boca Raton, FL 33487, or any postponement or adjournment of the Annual Meeting. We are making this Proxy Statement and other proxy materials available to each person who is registered as a holder of our shares in our official stock ownership records (such owners are referred to as “shareholders of record,” or “shareholder,” or “you,” or “your”) as of the close of business on March 11, 2019 (the “Record Date”) for the Annual Meeting beginning on March 20, 2019. Our shareholders of record are invited to attend the Annual Meeting and are requested to vote on the proposals described in this Proxy Statement.

Purpose of the Meeting. Important matters outlined in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be considered at our Annual Meeting. We have provided these proxy materials to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors (“Board of Directors” or “Board”, or individually, each a “Director”). This Proxy Statement describes matters on which you, as a shareholder, are entitled to vote and provides you with information so that you can make an informed decision.

Voting Your Shares. You may vote your shares via the Internet, by telephone, by mail or in person at the Annual Meeting. If you vote via the Internet, by telephone or in person at the Annual Meeting, you do not need to mail in a proxy card. If you choose to use the Internet or telephone to vote, you must do so by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on May 6, 2019, the day before our Annual Meeting takes place.

INTERNET		TELEPHONE OR CELL PHONE		MAIL		IN PERSON
Visit www.proxyvote.com. You will need the control number in your notice, proxy card or voting instruction form.		Dial toll-free (1-800-690-6903) or the telephone number on your voting instruction form. You will need the control number in your notice, proxy card or voting instruction form.		If you received a paper copy of your proxy materials, send your completed and signed proxy card or voting instruction form using the enclosed postage-paid envelope.		By following the instructions below under “Attending the Meeting” and requesting a ballot when you arrive.

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote your shares by completing and returning the proxy card or voting instruction form as promptly as possible, or by voting by telephone or via the Internet, prior to the Annual Meeting to ensure that your shares will be represented at the Annual Meeting if you are unable to attend. If your shares are held in “street name” with a broker or similar party, you have a right to direct that broker or similar party on how to vote the shares held in your account. You will need to contact your broker to determine whether you will be able to vote using one of these alternative methods.

Attending the Meeting. If you attend our Annual Meeting of Shareholders, we will require that you present a picture identification for security reasons. We reserve the right to exclude any person whose name does not appear on our official stock ownership records as of the Record Date. If you hold shares in “street name,” you must bring a letter from your

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broker, or a current brokerage statement, to indicate that the broker is holding shares for your benefit. Prior to entering the Annual Meeting, all bags will be subject to search and all persons may be subject to a metal detector and/or hand wand search. Cameras, recording devices and other electronic devices, signs and placards will NOT be permitted at the Annual Meeting. The security procedures may require additional time, so please plan accordingly. We also reserve the right to request any person to leave the Annual Meeting who is disruptive, refuses to follow the rules established for such meeting or for any other reason.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS:

Shareholders Eligible to Vote at Our Annual Meeting; List of Shareholders Available. Shareholders as of the Record Date will be entitled to vote at our Annual Meeting. If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare, you are a shareholder of record, and these proxy materials are being sent directly to you from the Company. As the shareholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to the Company or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held in “street name,” meaning your shares are held in a brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are the beneficial owner of these shares and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your broker, bank or other nominee, who is considered the shareholder of record with respect to such shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote and you will receive instructions from your broker, bank or other nominee describing how to vote your shares; however, you may not vote these shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from the shareholder of record (i.e., your broker, bank or other nominee) giving you the right to vote such shares.

A list of shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be available during our Annual Meeting and ten days prior to the Annual Meeting between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time at our corporate headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida. As of March 11, 2019, there were 543,230,611 shares of common stock outstanding and owned by shareholders (i.e., excluding shares held in treasury by Office Depot). Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter considered at our Annual Meeting.

Proxies. Our Board of Directors has appointed certain persons (“proxy holders”) to vote proxy shares in accordance with the instructions of our shareholders. If you authorize the proxy holders to vote your shares with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted in accordance with your instructions. If you are a shareholder of record and you authorize the proxy holders to vote your shares but do NOT specify how your shares should be voted on one or more matters, the proxy holders will vote your shares on those matters as our Board of Directors recommends. If any other matter properly comes before the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders will vote on that matter in their discretion.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and do not provide your broker or nominee instructions on how to vote your shares a “broker non-vote” occurs. Under the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market (the “Nasdaq Rules”), the organization that holds your shares (i.e., your broker or nominee) may generally vote on routine matters at its discretion but cannot vote on “non-routine” matters. If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and the organization that holds your shares does not receive instructions from you on how to vote your shares on a non-routine matter, the organization that holds your shares will inform the Inspector of Elections that it does not have the authority to vote on such matters with respect to your shares. Proposal No. 2 (ratification of appointment of the independent

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registered public accountant) is a matter that we believe will be designated as “routine.” A broker or nominee may generally vote on routine matters. Proposal No. 1 (election of Directors), Proposal No. 3 (approval of the 2019 Plan) and Proposal No. 4 (advisory approval of the Company’s executive compensation) are matters that we believe will be considered “non-routine.” A broker or nominee cannot vote on non-routine matters without voting instructions. We strongly encourage you to provide voting instructions to your broker or nominee so that your vote will be counted on all matters.

Effect of Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes. Brokers who hold shares for the accounts of their clients may vote such shares either as directed by their clients or in their own discretion as discussed above under “Proxies.” When a broker votes a client’s shares on some but not all of the proposals at a meeting, the missing votes are also considered broker non-votes. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast “FOR” or “AGAINST” any matter. Broker non-votes will not be counted as shares entitled to vote.

Revocation of Proxies. You can change or revoke your proxy at any time prior to the voting at the Annual Meeting by the following methods:

Establishing a Quorum. In order for us to transact business at our Annual Meeting, the shareholders of record of a majority of the issued and outstanding voting securities must be present, either in person or represented by proxy. Shareholders choosing to abstain from voting and broker “non-votes” will be treated as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.

Counting the Vote. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will act as the Inspector of Elections and will tabulate the votes.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 7, 2019.

Pursuant to rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we are furnishing the proxy materials to our shareholders using the “Notice and Access” method via the Internet instead of mailing printed copies. This process allows us to expedite our shareholders’ receipt of proxy materials, lower the costs of printing and mailing the proxy materials and reduce the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting. Accordingly, on March 20, 2019, we began sending our shareholders a Notice Regarding the Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (“Notice”). If you received a Notice, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you request one. The Notice provides instructions on how to access the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting via the Internet, how to request a printed set of proxy materials and how to vote your shares.

Solicitation of Proxies; Costs. In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, we may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or over the Internet. We have engaged MacKenzie Partners, Inc. as the proxy solicitor for the Annual Meeting for an approximate fee of $10,000 plus fees for additional services, if needed. We have also agreed to reimburse MacKenzie

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Partners, Inc. for reasonable out of pocket expenses. In addition, certain directors, officers or employees of the Company may solicit proxies by telephone, electronic communication or personal contact. Our directors, officers and employees do not receive additional compensation for their solicitation services. Certain banking institutions, brokerage firms, custodians, trustees, nominees and fiduciaries who hold shares for the benefit of another party (the “beneficial owner”) may also solicit proxies for us. If so, they will mail proxy information to, or otherwise communicate with, the beneficial owners of shares of our common stock held by them. We will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable expenses incurred in sending proxies and proxy materials to beneficial owners of our common stock in connection with this Annual Meeting.

Required Vote.

Election of Directors. In an uncontested election, each Director nominee must be elected by a majority of the votes cast. This means that the number of votes cast “FOR” a Director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “AGAINST” such nominee. A properly executed proxy marked “ABSTAIN” with respect to the election of one or more Directors or shares held by a broker for which voting instructions have not been given will not be voted with respect to the Director or Directors indicated, although it will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. In a contested election (an election in which the number of candidates exceeds the number of director positions to be filled), the number of Director nominees that equals the number of director positions to be filled receiving the greatest number of votes cast will be elected as Directors.

Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”), for the approval of the appointment of the Company’s independent public accountant, the vote required for approval shall be a majority of the votes cast on the matter. Accordingly, abstentions will NOT be counted as votes “AGAINST” the proposal.

Approval of 2019 Plan. Pursuant to the Company’s Bylaws, for the approval of the 2019 Plan, the vote required for approval shall be a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy (as counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum) and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as votes “AGAINST” the proposal.

Advisory Vote Approving the Company’s Executive Compensation. We will consider this proposal to be approved, on an advisory basis, if a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy (as counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum) and entitled to vote at the meeting cast votes “FOR” the proposal. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as votes “AGAINST” the proposal.

Other Matters. Approval of any other proposal to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting requires a majority of the votes present in person or represented by proxy (as counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum) and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting to be voted “FOR” the proposal. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as votes “AGAINST” the proposal.

Householding of Proxy Materials. The SEC rules permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements for proxy materials and notices with respect to two or more shareholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement or a single notice addressed to those shareholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” provides cost savings for companies and helps the environment by conserving natural resources. Some brokers household proxy materials, delivering a single proxy statement or notice to multiple shareholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected shareholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be householding materials to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement or notice, or if your household is receiving multiple copies of those documents and you wish to request that future deliveries be limited to a single copy, please notify your broker. You can request prompt delivery of a copy of the proxy materials by writing to: Broadridge, Attention Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717 or by calling (866) 540-7095.

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PROPOSAL No. 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Nominees for Directors of Office Depot

Under our Bylaws, the Board of Directors has the authority to determine its size and to fill any vacancies. Currently, the Board consists of eight (8) members. There are no vacancies on the Board.

The Board of Directors has nominated the eight (8) individuals listed below for election as Directors to one-year terms of office that would expire at the 2020 annual meeting, or until their successors have been elected and qualified, or until their resignation or removal. Each of the nominees is an incumbent Director of Office Depot recommended for re-election by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Biographical information regarding each of the Director nominees is set forth below.

The Board of Directors has determined that seven (7) Director nominees satisfy the definition of independent director under the Nasdaq Rules. In making these nominations, the Board reviewed the backgrounds, qualifications, attributes, experiences and contributions to the Board of the Director nominees and determined to nominate each of the current Directors for re-election.

Pursuant to our Bylaws, should any of the Director nominees be unavailable or unable to serve at the time of the Annual Meeting, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may propose a substitute nominee. If a substitute nominee is named, all proxies voting FOR the Director nominee who is unable to serve will be voted for the substitute nominee so named. If a substitute nominee is not named, all proxies will be voted for the election of the remaining Director nominees (or as directed on your proxy). Each person nominated for election has agreed to serve if elected and the Board has no reason to believe that any Director nominee would be unavailable or unable to serve.

Each Director nominee must be elected by a majority of the votes cast in an uncontested election. This means that the number of votes cast “FOR” a Director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “AGAINST” the Director nominee. If a nominee who currently serves as a Director is not re-elected, Delaware law provides that the Director would continue to serve on the Board as a “holdover director.” Under our Bylaws, if a nominee for Director who is an incumbent Director is not re-elected and no successor has been elected at such meeting, the Director is required to promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors. In that situation, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee would make a recommendation to the Board of Directors about whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether to take other action. Within 90 days from the date that the Director submitted his or her resignation, the Board of Directors would act on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee’s recommendation and publicly disclose its decision and the rationale behind it. If the Board determines that there is a compelling reason for such incumbent Director to remain on the Board and does not accept the resignation, the Director will continue to serve until the next annual meeting and until his or her successor is duly elected, or his or her earlier resignation or removal. If a Director’s resignation is accepted by the Board of Directors, then the Board, in its sole discretion, may fill any resulting vacancy.

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant, Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (“FW Cook”), reviews our non-management directors’ compensation program periodically to determine its competitiveness against the compensation of the boards of directors of our peer group (as defined in the CD&A). In May 2018, FW Cook presented its review to the Compensation Committee and recommended an increase in the amount of the annual cash retainer for the non-executive Chairman of the Board in order to move the compensation near the 75^th percentile relative to our peer group. Based on FW Cook’s recommendation, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, increased the annual cash retainer for the non-executive Chairman of the Board from $150,000 to $200,000. However, the Compensation Committee did not recommend any other changes to the compensation of our non-management Directors at that time.

Compensation for our non-management Directors consists of an annual retainer fee in the amount of $210,000 per year, of which $75,000 is payable in cash in equal installments on a quarterly basis during which the Director served. No deferrals of cash payments are permitted by the Directors. The remaining $135,000 of the annual retainer fee is granted as stock unless the Director elects to defer his/her stock in the form of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) to be distributed in shares following termination of service on the Board, with such election made by the end of the prior tax year for existing Directors and prior to appointment to the Board for new Directors. The equity portion is typically granted in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable following the release of election results from the annual shareholders’ meeting.

For fiscal year 2018, the following compensation for services as a chair or as a member of the Board committees was paid in cash on a pro-rated, quarterly basis to the incumbent Directors:

Director Stock Ownership Guidelines

Non-management Directors are required to own five times the directors’ cash portion of the annual retainer fee (equal to $375,000) in shares of our common stock. Directors must also retain 100% of net shares awarded until termination of their service on the Board.

The Compensation Committee reviews these ownership guidelines, on an annual basis, with the assistance from its independent compensation consultant, to ensure that such guidelines align with best market practices, including the practices of a majority of our peer group, and with management’s ownership guidelines. In addition, the Compensation Committee annually reviews each Director’s progress toward meeting the ownership guidelines.

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

(1)        Since February 2017, Mr. Vassalluzzo has served as the independent non-executive Chairman of the Board to lead the Board of Directors. Effective May 4, 2018, the Board of Directors, in conjunction with the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, increased the annual cash retainer for the non-executive Chairman to $200,000. The Directors excluding Mr. Vassalluzzo, receive annual compensation of: (a) $75,000 in cash, prorated for time in position, and (b) fees paid in cash for both serving as the Chair of a Committee and as the member of a Committee prorated for time in position.

(2)        The dollar amounts in column (c) reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of equity awards granted within the fiscal year in accordance with the FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 for stock-based compensation. These amounts reflect the total grant date fair value for these awards, and do not correspond to the actual cash value that will be recognized by each of the Directors when received. See Notes 1 and 14 of the consolidated financial statements in our 2018 Annual Report regarding the underlying assumptions used in the valuation of equity awards.

(3)        The “Equity Compensation Paid to Directors for Fiscal Year 2018” table that follows represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stock or RSUs granted to our Directors under the 2017 Plan. Annual awards are calculated by a dollar value that is then translated into stock or RSUs based on the closing stock price of our common stock on the date of grant. The form of award (stock or RSU) is based on the Director’s election at the end of 2017.

(4)        As of December 29, 2018, the aggregate number of RSUs convertible into shares of our common stock, outstanding for our Directors are set forth as follows: Kristin Campbell 114,984, Francesca Ruiz de Luzuriaga 376,130, Cynthia Jamison 156,399, James Marino 159,652, David Szymanski 372,584, Nigel Travis 83,280, and Joseph Vassalluzzo 170,587. All RSUs are fully vested as of December 29, 2018, but distribution is deferred until either the Director’s separation date or six months following the Director’s separation date, as applicable. Please see the table “Equity Compensation Paid to Directors for Fiscal Year 2018” that follows for all equity awards granted in fiscal year 2018.

(5)        As of December 29, 2018, the aggregate number of option awards outstanding for our Directors are set forth as follows: Francesca de Luzuriaga 12,164. All options are fully vested. There were no options granted to Directors in fiscal year 2018.

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EQUITY COMPENSATION PAID TO DIRECTORS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

(1)        Amounts are determined using the closing stock price of our common stock on the grant date. See footnote 2 in the previous “Director Compensation Table for Fiscal Year 2018” for additional information.

Indemnification Agreements

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its Directors and certain of its officers. These agreements require the Company to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to the Company, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to Directors and certain officers, the SEC’s long-standing position has been that indemnification for violation of the federal securities laws is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Corporate Governance Guidelines

Strong corporate governance principles and practices are a long-standing priority at Office Depot. The Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, which set forth a framework within which the Board, assisted by its committees, direct the affairs of Office Depot and that management can pursue strategic objectives, ensure long-term growth for the benefit of the shareholders, promote public trust in the Company, and strengthen management accountability. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews the Corporate Governance Guidelines annually to reflect evolving corporate governance principles and concerns identified by shareholders and other stakeholders, and any changes are recommended to the Board of Directors for review and approval.

The Corporate Governance Guidelines addresses, among other things, the composition and functions of the Board of Directors, Director independence, stock ownership by and compensation of Directors, management succession and review, Board leadership, Board committees, Board membership criteria, and selection of new Director candidates.

Code of Business Conduct (Code of Ethical Behavior)

The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethical Behavior which is applicable to all Company employees, including the principal executive officer, the principal finance officer, the principal accounting officer, and the Board of Directors. If the Board amends or waives the Code of Ethical Behavior with respect to the executive officers of the Company, the Company will post the amendment or waiver on its website at http://investor.officedepot.com, under the headings “Corporate Governance/Governance Documents.”

The Company has established a confidential hotline to assist its employees in complying with their ethical and legal obligations and to report suspected violations of applicable laws or Company policies or procedures. The hotline enables employees, vendors and the public to express their concerns about possible violations of law or Company policies by the Company and/or management without fear of retribution or retaliation of any kind. It is Office Depot’s express policy that no retaliatory action be taken against any employee for using the hotline procedure. The hotline is operated by an independent third party, not by Company personnel. The hotline can be accessed by either calling the following toll-free number or visiting the following website:

1-866-634-6854

www.odhotline.com

The Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Code of Ethical Behavior are available on the Company’s website at http://investor.officedepot.com, under the heading “Corporate Governance/Governance Documents.” In addition, a printed copy of such documents will be provided to any shareholder upon written request to the Corporate Secretary at Office Depot, Inc., 6600 North Military Trail, Boca Raton, Florida 33496.

Shareholder Engagement and Investor Outreach

Management and the Board of Directors are committed to a proactive shareholder engagement program. We believe that strong corporate governance should include meaningful dialogue with our shareholders and key stakeholders to obtain their input and solicit their feedback on corporate governance, executive compensation and other issues that are important to them. Engagement with shareholders builds mutual understanding and a basis for progress, and the feedback we receive from them impacts our corporate governance practices. Senior management from Legal and Investor Relations, and subject matter experts from the Company communicate with institutional investors throughout the year to gain their perspectives on current issues and address any questions or concerns. We also respond to individual shareholders and other stakeholders who provide feedback about our business. Management shares the feedback from this engagement with the Board and its committees, where applicable, for their consideration.

During the fall of 2018 and early 2019, we sought feedback from our top 20 shareholders representing approximately 66% of the Company’s outstanding common stock to discuss risk management, governance practices, executive compensation,

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board composition, environmental and social issues, and other matters that the shareholders wish to discuss. In July 2018, based on general shareholder consensus, we proactively adopted a proxy access right for shareholders by amending our Bylaws.

We will continue our shareholder engagement and investor outreach during fiscal year 2019, including our normal participation at analyst meetings and conferences. We remain committed to these ongoing discussions and welcome feedback from all shareholders, who can reach our Investor Relations team by calling (561) 438-4629 or visiting http://investor.officedepot.com  or can contact our Directors or executive officers as described on page 18.

The Role of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is responsible for oversight of management and strategic direction, and for establishment of broad corporate policies. The Board and its committees meet regularly to review and discuss operating results, financial reports, and other information about the Company’s business, and are kept informed through discussions with the Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”), other key members of management, and outside experts and advisors. Corporate review sessions are also provided to Directors to give them more detailed views of specific areas of our business, including targeted presentations, operational visits and facility tours.

The Board of Directors held five (5) meetings during fiscal year 2018. The non-management Directors met in five (5) executive sessions during fiscal year 2018. In fiscal year 2018, each of the current Directors attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and its standing committees on which each member served. Pursuant to the Corporate Governance Guidelines, each Director is expected to attend the Annual Meeting. All incumbent Directors who are up for re-election attended the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Board Leadership Structure

The Corporate Governance Guidelines specify that the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee review the Board’s leadership structure periodically, considering the Company’s circumstances from time to time. After such review and evaluation, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will make its recommendation to the full Board which will approve the leadership structure of the Board.

The Board of Directors annually elects one of its own members to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Our Bylaws provide that the Chairman of the Board may also serve as the CEO. The Board of Directors believes that there is a wide array of leadership structures that could apply to many different business models and, therefore, the Board should have the flexibility to consider the appropriate leadership structure for the Company, which leadership structure may change over time.

The Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that in the event that the offices of the CEO and the Chair of the Board of Directors are not separate, or the Chair of the Board has been determined by the non-management Directors to no longer satisfy the independence qualifications under the Nasdaq Rules, the non-management Directors shall select a Director to serve as the “Lead Director” of the Board. The Lead Director must be a non-management Director. If applicable, upon recommendation by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors annually elects the Lead Director.

The roles of Chairman and CEO have been separated since 2017, enabling the Chairman to focus on leading the Board of Directors in its responsibilities and helping the Board ensure that management is acting in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, and the CEO to focus on the Company’s day-to-day business operations. In February 2018, the Board of Directors determined that the designation of Mr. Vassalluzzo as an independent, non-executive Chairman is the current optimal leadership structure for the Company because it provides the Board of Directors with independent leadership and meaningful coordination between management and the non-management Directors. This leadership structure has no impact on the Board of Directors’ oversight of risk.

Director Independence and Independence Determinations

The Corporate Governance Guidelines require that a majority of the Board of Directors must be “independent” under the Nasdaq Rules, and all Directors who are members of the Company’s Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees, must also be independent. To maintain its objective oversight of management, the Board of Directors consists, currently, of all independent Directors, with the exception of Mr. Smith, the current CEO of the Company.

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The Board of Directors evaluates the independence of each Director nominee in accordance with the Corporate Governance Guidelines, which incorporate the Nasdaq Rules and the SEC rules. The Board considered transactions and relationships between the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates on the one hand and, on the other hand, Directors, immediate family members of Directors, or entities of which a Director or an immediate family member is an executive officer, general partner or significant equity holder. The Board also considered whether there were any transactions or relationships between any of these persons or entities and any members of the Company’s senior management or their affiliates.

Based on an annual evaluation performed by, and recommendations made by, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors affirmatively determined that all Directors serving in fiscal year 2018 or is a current Director nominee are independent of the Company and its management under the standards set forth in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, with the exception of Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith is not independent because of his role as CEO, an executive officer of the Company.

The Board also affirmatively determined that, none of its Directors has a material relationship with the Company that would impair independence from management, and that all members serving on the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees have been determined by the Board to be comprised of independent Directors. The Board of Directors’ evaluation included consideration that a relative by marriage of Ms. Campbell is a managing director of Deloitte Consulting LLP, which is a separate legal entity from the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP, and such relative does not personally perform any audit or other services for the Company while working at Deloitte Consulting LLP. In addition, none of the Directors serve as an executive officer of a charitable organization to which the Company made contributions during fiscal year 2018.

Board of Directors’ Role in Risk Oversight

Risk is an inherent part of Office Depot’s business activities and risk management is critical to the Company’s innovation and success. The Board of Directors has an active role in overseeing the management of Office Depot’s risks, directly and through its committees, and is responsible for evaluating the Company’s major risks, for determining that appropriate risk management and control procedures are in place, and ensuring that senior executives take the appropriate steps to manage all major risks. The Board oversees a formal enterprise-wide approach to risk management, designed to support the achievement of organizational and strategic objectives, to improve long-term performance and enhance shareholder value. A fundamental part of risk management is not only understanding the risks a company faces and what steps management is taking to manage those risks, but also understanding what level of risk is appropriate for Office Depot. The involvement of the Board of Directors in setting Office Depot’s business strategy is a key part of its assessment of management’s appetite for risk and determination of what constitutes an appropriate level of risk for Office Depot.

The Company conducts an annual enterprise risk management assessment, led by the Company’s senior internal audit executive, where risk is assessed periodically by a steering committee, comprised of members of management representing the Company’s business units and corporate staff. The steering committee identifies and evaluates company-wide risks in three categories: strategic risk, preventable risk, and external risk. The results of this company-wide risk portfolio is first presented to, and evaluated by, the Company’s’ executive officers, and then presented to the Board of Directors. In addition to this annual presentation made to the full Board, the Audit Committee receives periodic updates on certain risk areas the Board has identified for focus, and the independent Directors periodically discuss risk management during executive sessions without management present.

Oversight of certain specific risks is delegated to the following committees of the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee oversees risk relating to the Company’s major financial risk exposures, including cybersecurity, legal, regulatory and compliance, internal controls, financial statements and financial reporting and controls, and the steps taken by management to monitor and control such exposures. The Audit Committee also receives an annual risk assessment report from the Company’s internal audit team.

As part of overseeing risks arising from the Company’s compensation policies and programs for all employees, including annual executive compensation review and compensation of the non-management Directors, the Compensation Committee reviews management recommendations of executive compensation and retention risks and strives to create incentives that encourage a level of risk-taking behavior consistent with Office Depot’s business strategy. The Audit and Compensation Committees annually have a joint meeting to review the Company’s incentive compensation plans for a risk

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assessment conducted by the Company’s internal audit group and the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant. See “Compensation Programs Risk Assessment” on page 57.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee oversees risks related to the Company’s governance structure and potential risks arising from related person transactions.

Executive Sessions

The non-management Directors of the Company meet in executive sessions without management on a regular basis. The non-executive Chairman of the Board presides at such executive sessions. In the absence of the non-executive Chairman of the Board, the non-management Directors will designate another Director to preside over such executive sessions.

Board and Committee Evaluations

The Board and its committees are evaluated annually to assess the effectiveness of the Board and each committee. The evaluations focus on the Board’s and each committee’s and their respective members’ performances and contributions to the Company as well as provide constructive feedback. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for overseeing a formal evaluation process to assess the composition and performance of the Board and each committee on an annual basis. The assessment is conducted to identify opportunities for improvement and skill set needs, as well as to ensure that the Board, committees, and individual members have the appropriate blend of diverse experiences and backgrounds, and are effective and productive. As part of the process, each member completes an evaluation form, or participates in an interview or other method the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee utilizes to seek feedback. While results are aggregated and summarized for discussion purposes, individual responses are not attributed to any individual and are kept confidential to ensure honest and candid feedback is received. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee discusses opportunities and makes recommendations for improvement as appropriate to the full Board, which implements agreed upon improvements. A Director will not be nominated for reelection unless it is affirmatively determined that he or she is substantially contributing to the overall effectiveness of the Board.

Director Nomination Process

Pursuant to the Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee seeks to create a board of directors that represents diversity as to skills, experiences, age, race, gender and ethnicity. While the Board of Directors does not have a formal diversity policy, the Board is committed to a diversified membership. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers the Board’s overall composition when seeking a potential new candidate, including whether the Board has an appropriate combination of professional experience, skills, knowledge and variety of viewpoints and backgrounds in light of the Company’s current and future business needs. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also considers, among others, the character, expertise, sound judgement, ability to make independent analytical inquires, business experiences, understanding of the Company’s business environment, ability to make time commitments to the Company, demonstrated teamwork, and the ability to bring unique and diverse perspectives and understandings to the Board. In identifying prospective Director candidates, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may seek advice and recommendations from other Board members, management, shareholders or outside advisors. In addition, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may, but need not, retain a search firm in order to assist it in identifying candidates to serve as Directors of the Company.

Candidates Recommended by Shareholders. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider Director candidates recommended by shareholders. On July 27, 2018, the Board of Directors amended and restated the Company’s Bylaws to implement a proxy access procedure for shareholder director nominations. Accordingly, our Bylaws allow a single shareholder, or group of up to 20 shareholders, owning 3% or more of our outstanding common stock continuously for at least three years as of both the date of nomination to nominate and include in our proxy statement director nominees and the record date for determining shareholders eligible to vote at the applicable annual meeting and through the date of the annual meeting, constituting up to the greater of two individuals and 20% of the number of directors then serving, provided the shareholder(s) and the nominee(s) satisfy the requirements specified in our Bylaws, including that notice of a nomination be provided to the Corporate Secretary at the address below not less than 120 days nor more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Company’s definitive proxy statement was released to shareholders in connection with the prior year’s annual meeting. A non-proxy access director

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nomination must notify the Corporate Secretary in writing not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. Any nomination submitted to the Corporate Secretary should be in writing, satisfy the requirements contained in our Bylaws, and include any necessary supporting material in support of the nomination, but must include information that would be required under the rules of the SEC to be included in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such candidate and a written consent of the candidate to serve as one of our directors if elected. The address to submit a nomination is: Corporate Secretary, Office Depot, Inc., 6600 North Military Trail, Boca Raton, Florida 33496. All nominations received by the Corporate Secretary that satisfy our Bylaw requirements relating to director nominations will be presented to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee for consideration. Shareholders also must satisfy the notification, timeliness, consent and information requirements set forth above and in our Bylaws. These requirements also are described under the caption “2020 Shareholder Proposals.”

In making recommendations, shareholders should be mindful of the discussion of minimum qualifications set forth in the following paragraph.

Qualifications for Nomination. We believe that a director should possess the highest professional ethics, integrity and values, and be committed to representing the long-term interests of our shareholders. He or she should have an inquisitive and objective perspective, practical wisdom and mature judgment. We endeavor to have a board representing a range of experiences in business and in areas that are relevant to our business operations. We believe that directors with significant leadership experience, especially those serving in CEO positions, provide Office Depot with special insights.

As such, in identifying Director nominees, we seek individuals with:

Communicating with our Board of Directors

As stated in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, shareholders and other interested parties who wish to communicate with the Board of Directors may contact any member (or all members) of the Board of Directors, or the non-management Directors as a group, any committee of the Board or any chair of any such committee by mail. The Corporate Secretary reviews all communications sent to the Board related to the duties and responsibilities of the Board and its committees and provides these communications to the non-executive Chairman of the Board, the applicable committee chair or the full Board as necessary.

In addition, any person who desires to communicate a confidential specific matter to the Audit Committee may do so by addressing a letter to the Chair of the Audit Committee, c/o Corporate Secretary, at the corporate headquarters address below. Mark “Confidential” on the outside of the envelope. Any confidential communications submitted anonymously will not be opened for any purpose other than for appropriate security inspections. Such communications will be reviewed by the Chair of the Audit Committee with follow-up action as he or she deems appropriate.

Correspondence is to be sent “c/o Corporate Secretary,” Office Depot, Inc. located at 6600 North Military Trail, Boca Raton, Florida 33496.

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Corporate Social Responsibility

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee oversees the Company’s sustainability program. The Company is committed to operating in a socially responsible manner. The Company’s new sustainability platform focuses on conducting its business to ensure that it preserves the environment for future generations and provide a safe and healthy working environment for all its employees.

During fiscal year 2018, the Company formed a Sustainability Governance Council (the “Council”), consisting of 22 Company-wide leaders representing 12 key departments of the organization. The mission of the Council is to create integration, comprehension and communication of sustainability programs and practices across our organization. Some of the key initiatives of the Council include recycling initiatives, elimination of internal use of Styrofoam and plastic straws, reducing plastic water bottles along with defining, implementing and supporting Office Depot’s sustainability vision and mission. This includes developing and incorporating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into our goal setting process and creating metrics around material topics. The Council helps to prepare an annual sustainability report and in 2018 conducted an in-depth Materiality Assessment based on stakeholder interviews and surveys. Findings and recommendations provided from this assessment will help set the course for 2019 and beyond. A copy of our current sustainability report is available for review on our website at http://investor.officedepot.com under the heading “Corporate Sustainability.”

Related Person Transactions Policy

The Office Depot Related Person Transactions Policy sets forth the policies and procedures governing the review and approval or ratification by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of transactions between Office Depot, on the one hand, and (i) an executive officer; (ii) Director; (iii) an immediate family member of an executive officer or Director; (iv) any security holder who is known by Office Depot to own of record or beneficially more than five percent of any class of Office Depot’s voting securities at the time of the transaction; or (v) an immediate family member of such five percent security holder, on the other hand. Persons in the categories described above are collectively referred to as “related persons.”

This Policy applies to all related person transactions, and under the Policy a “related person transaction” is any transaction:

No related person transaction shall be approved or ratified if such transaction is contrary to the best interests of the Company and its stakeholders. Unless different terms are specifically approved or ratified by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, any approved or ratified transaction must be on terms that are no less favorable to Office Depot than would be obtained in a similar transaction with an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances. All related person transactions or series of similar transactions must be presented to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee for review and pre-approval or ratification. A copy of the Policy is available for review on our website at http://investor.officedepot.com under the headings “Corporate Governance/Governance Documents.”

On an annual basis, each Director and executive officer of the Company is required to complete a questionnaire which requires disclosure of any related person transaction. The Company’s Chief Legal Officer is responsible for determining whether any related person transaction is to be disclosed in the Company’s applicable SEC filings, and will ensure that such transaction or any series of similar transactions required to be disclosed will be presented to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee for pre-approval or ratification if required under the Policy. During fiscal year 2018, all transactions that were potentially subject to the Policy were reviewed and approved or ratified by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and other than as disclosed herein, there were no related person transactions that required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policies

The Company maintains anti-pledging and anti-hedging policies. See Compensation Discussion and Analysis under subheading “Important Corporate Governance Policies” for further information about these policies.

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CEO and Executive Management Succession Planning

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee oversees CEO succession planning, which is formally reviewed at least annually, in executive session with only non-management Directors present. During these executive sessions, the non-management Directors evaluates the requirements for the CEO position and regularly reviews potential permanent and interim candidates for the CEO role.

The Compensation Committee annually evaluates the succession planning process for the executive management team (other than the CEO), including the professional development of senior and midlevel management employees identified as potential successors to the executive management team to ensure that plans are in place for orderly succession of executive management.

The Board of Directors also established steps to address emergency CEO succession planning in extraordinary circumstances. Our emergency CEO succession planning is intended to enable the Company to respond in the event of our CEO’s termination of employment with the Company for any reason (including death or disability) or other sudden departure, to ensure the stability and accountability of the Company during periods of transition and minimizing potential disruption or loss of continuity to the Company’s business and operations. The Board of Directors meets at least annually to review and discuss this emergency plan.

Board Committees and their Responsibilities

The Board of Directors has established three (3) standing committees — (i) Audit, (ii) Compensation and (iii) Corporate Governance and Nominating. The Board of Directors delegates various responsibilities and authority to its Board committees. The Board committees regularly report on their activities and actions to the full Board.

Each of the Board committees operates under a written charter and annually reviews such charter in light of new developments in applicable regulations and may make additional recommendations to the Board to reflect evolving best practices. Each Board committee can engage outside experts, advisors and counsel to assist the Committee in its work. Each charter of the Board committees is posted to our website at http://investor.officedepot.com under the heading “Corporate Governance/Committee Charters.” We will also provide a printed copy of the Board committee charters to shareholders upon written request to our Corporate Secretary at Office Depot, Inc., 6600 North Military Trail, Boca Raton, Florida 33496.

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Delegation of Authority; Subcommittees

Beginning in December 2011 and from time to time, the Compensation Committee has delegated certain of its responsibilities to the Company’s internal compensation and benefits committee (the “CBC”) and employee benefits committee (the “EBC,” and together with CBC, the “subcommittees”). The subcommittees are comprised of certain senior executives of the Company. The Compensation Committee provides oversight for the establishment and termination, amendment, participating employers, administration, claims review and service provider functions of the qualified retirement, non-qualified deferred compensation and health and welfare benefit plans sponsored by the Company or its subsidiaries for eligible employees of the Company or its subsidiaries who work in North America, with the exception of all such plans sponsored separately by entities acquired by the Company or its subsidiaries other than such plans sponsored by CompuCom Systems, Inc. During fiscal year 2018, the Compensation Committee delegated authority to the CBC to make certain amendments to and carry out certain administrative responsibilities regarding the tax-qualified retirement plans, health and welfare benefit plans and nonqualified deferred compensation plans sponsored by the Company or its subsidiaries. Day-to-day administration and the authority to make certain other amendments to such plans were further delegated to the EBC.

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in its oversight of the Company’s financial reporting process. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a written charter which is reviewed annually by the Audit Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. A brief description of the primary responsibilities of the Audit Committee is included in this Proxy Statement under the heading “Corporate Governance – Board Committees and their Responsibilities.” Under the Audit Committee charter, management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the application of accounting and financial reporting principles and our internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing our financial statements and expressing an opinion as to their conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

To perform its oversight function, the Audit Committee has:

Based on the foregoing reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018 filed with the SEC.

Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors:

Cynthia T. Jamison (Chair)

V. James Marino

David M. Szymanski

Nigel Travis

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PROPOSAL No. 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”) to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit Office Depot’s consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting for the fiscal year ending December 29, 2019. D&T has served as the Company’s independent auditors each year since 1990. Although ratification is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise, the Board of Directors is submitting the appointment of D&T to our shareholders for ratification because we value our shareholders’ views on the Company’s independent auditors. In the event the shareholders do not ratify the appointment of D&T as the independent auditors to audit our financial statements for fiscal year 2019, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, will consider the voting results and evaluate whether to select a different independent auditor. Representatives of D&T will attend the Annual Meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. Although D&T has indicated that no statement will be made, an opportunity for a statement will be provided.

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

In connection with the audit of fiscal year 2018 consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, the Company entered into an agreement with D&T which sets forth the terms by which D&T will perform audit services for the Company.

The following table presents fees for professional services rendered by D&T for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for fiscal years 2018 and 2017 and fees billed for other services rendered by D&T for those periods.

Audit Fees — These amounts represent fees of D&T for professional services rendered in connection with: (i) the audits of our annual consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting for the fiscal years ended December 30, 2017 and December 29, 2018; (ii) the review of the consolidated financial statements included in each of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q during those fiscal years; (iii) consultations on accounting matters; (iv) statutory audit filings; and (v) SEC registration statements.

Audit Related Fees — Audit-Related Fees consist of fees primarily for due diligence associated with the Company’s acquisition of CompuCom Systems, Inc. in fiscal year 2017.

Tax Fees — Tax Fees consist of fees billed for professional services performed by D&T with respect to tax compliance and advisory services.

All Other Fees — All Other Fees consist of permitted services other than those that meet the criteria above and are primarily fees for advisory services.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee has established policies and procedures under which all audit and non-audit services performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm must be separately approved in advance by the Audit Committee. The policy also provides that the Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to the Chair of the Audit Committee for non-audit services provided that the pre-approval of each service permitted by the Chair is limited to a pre-established

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threshold of up to $250,000 and reported to the full Audit Committee at its next meeting. All audit and non-audit services provided in the fiscal years 2017 and 2018 have been pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with these policies and procedures.

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019.

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PROPOSAL No. 3: TO APPROVE THE OFFICE DEPOT, INC. 2019 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

Overview

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that shareholders approve the Office Depot, Inc. 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”) which will replace the Office Depot, Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”). The Board of Directors unanimously approved the 2019 Plan on March 15, 2019. The 2019 Plan will become effective on May 7, 2019 (the “Plan Effective Date”) if the Office Depot shareholders approve the 2019 Plan on that date. No awards have been made under the 2019 Plan.

Awards are currently outstanding under the 2017 Plan as well as the prior Office Depot, Inc. 2015 and 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plans and the 2003 OfficeMax Incentive and Performance Plan (referred to in this Proxy Statement, respectively, as the “2015 Plan,” “2007 Plan” and “2003 OMIPP” and, together with the 2017 Plan, as the “Prior Plans”). Outstanding awards under the Prior Plans will continue to be governed by the Prior Plans and the agreements under which they were granted. No additional awards will be granted under the 2017 Plan after the Plan Effective Date and all remaining shares available for grant under the 2017 Plan will be cancelled on the Plan Effective Date, unless the 2019 Plan is not approved by shareholders, in which case the 2017 Plan will continue in effect. No additional awards have been granted under the 2015 Plan since the Company’s shareholders approved the 2017 Plan on July 20, 2017; all remaining shares available for grant under the 2015 Plan were cancelled at that time. No additional awards have been granted under the 2007 Plan and 2003 OMIPP since the Company’s shareholders approved the 2015 Plan on April 25, 2015; all remaining shares available for grant under the 2007 Plan and 2003 OMIPP were cancelled at that time.

No awards may be granted under the 2019 Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Plan Effective Date. However, awards outstanding under the 2019 Plan at that time will continue to be governed by the 2019 Plan and the agreements under which they were granted.

The 2019 Plan is substantially similar to the 2017 Plan and, like the 2017 Plan, reflects the following equity compensation plan best practices:

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In addition, the 2019 Plan increases flexibility for design of performance-based awards following the repeal of the exemption for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code Section 162(m)”). However, despite the repeal of Code Section 162(m), the 2019 Plan contains annual limits on the number of shares or dollar value that can be granted as each award type to any participant, which we believe are consistent with the interests of our shareholders and sound corporate governance practices.

The full text of the 2019 Plan is attached as Annex 1 to this Proxy Statement, and the following summary of the 2019 Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to Annex 1.

Why Office Depot Believes You Should Vote to Approve the 2019 Plan

The 2019 Plan authorizes the grant of equity-based compensation as described above for the purpose of providing the Company’s officers and other employees, and those of its subsidiaries, non-employee directors, and non-employees who perform consulting services, incentives and rewards for performance. The details of the key design elements of the 2019 Plan are set forth in the section entitled “ — Plan Summary” beginning on page 31 of this Proxy Statement. As further described in the section entitled Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 40 of this Proxy Statement, Office Depot believes its future success depends in part on its ability to attract, motivate and retain high quality employees and non-employee directors.

The use of our common stock as part of the Company’s compensation program is also important to its continued success because the Company believes it fosters a pay-for-performance culture that is an important element of its overall compensation philosophy. The Company believes that equity-based compensation motivates employees to create shareholder value because the value employees realize from equity-based compensation is based on Office Depot’s stock price performance. Equity-based compensation aligns the compensation interests of Company employees with the investment interests of its shareholders and promotes a focus on long-term value creation because the Company’s equity-based compensation awards can be subject to vesting and/or performance criteria.

If the 2019 Plan is not approved, the Company will continue to grant awards under the 2017 Plan until there are no longer any shares available for grant, following which the Company may be compelled to increase significantly the cash component of its employee compensation, which may not necessarily align employee compensation interests with the investment interests of its shareholders as well as the alignment achieved by equity-based awards. Replacing equity-based awards with cash payments would also increase cash compensation expense and use up cash that might be better utilized if reinvested in our business or returned to our shareholders. If the 2019 Plan is not approved, Office Depot could also be at a severe competitive disadvantage as it would not be able to use stock-based awards to recruit and compensate its officers and other key employees.

Determination of Shares Available under 2019 Plan

We are requesting approval of 34,000,000 shares of its common stock for awards under the 2019 Plan (the “share pool”), subject to adjustment as described in the 2019 Plan. In particular, under the terms of the 2017 Plan the share pool will be reduced by one share for every one share subject to a stock option, stock appreciation right or similar award in the nature of an appreciation right granted after March 15, 2019 under the 2017 Plan and 1.5 shares for every one share subject to any other award granted after March 15, 2019 under the 2017 Plan. The shares of common stock issued by the Company under the 2019 Plan will be currently authorized but unissued shares or shares currently held (or subsequently acquired) as treasury shares, including shares purchased on the open market or in private transactions. In determining the number of shares to request pursuant to the 2019 Plan, the Company evaluated its share availability under the 2017 Plan, recent share usage, historical burn rate, projected burn rate under the 2019 Plan, and the potential cost and dilution to shareholders associated with the new reserve and outstanding equity-based awards that the Company previously granted.

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Recent Share Usage

In March 2019, the Company granted awards to approximately 430 employees as part of its annual long-term incentive grant from the share pool available under the 2017 Plan (which includes shares added back to the share pool after December 29, 2018 pursuant to the terms of the 2017 Plan). The Company anticipates that the share pool available under the 2017 Plan after the 2019 annual grant will not be sufficient to cover its anticipated annual grant in 2020.

Burn Rate for Fiscal 2016, 2017 and 2018

The Company anticipates that the total number of shares available for grant under the 2019 Plan will last approximately one to two years, based solely on the average rate at which it has granted equity awards over the past three fiscal years and assuming that it makes future awards under the 2019 Plan at this average rate. However, the amount of future awards is not currently known and will depend on various factors that cannot be predicted, including, but not limited to, the price of our common stock on the future grant dates, the volatility of the stock and the types of awards that will be granted.

Potential Dilution

The Company’s potential dilution, or “overhang,” from outstanding awards and its request for shares to be available for awards under the 2019 Plan is approximately 13.93%. The Board of Directors believes that the number of shares of common stock available under the 2019 Plan represents a reasonable amount of potential dilution that will allow Office Depot to continue to award equity incentive compensation. This percentage was calculated as follows:

* No additional awards will be granted under the 2017 Plan after the Plan Effective Date and all remaining shares available for grant under the 2017 Plan will be cancelled on the Plan Effective Date, unless the 2019 Plan is not approved by shareholders, in which case the 2017 Plan will continue in effect.

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Application of Share Pool

Each performance share under the 2019 Plan that may be settled in shares will be counted as 1.5 shares subject to an award (based on the number of shares that would be paid for achievement of target performance) and deducted from the share pool. Each performance unit under the 2019 Plan that may be settled in shares will be counted as a number of shares subject to an award (based on the number of shares that would be paid for achievement of target performance), with the number determined by dividing the value of the performance unit at the time of grant by the fair market value of a share at the time of grant, multiplying this quotient by 1.5 and deducting the resulting number of shares from the share pool. If a performance share or performance unit under the 2019 Plan is later settled based on above-target performance, the number of shares corresponding to the above-target performance, calculated pursuant to the applicable methodology specified above, will be deducted from the share pool at the time of settlement; in the event that the award is later settled upon below-target performance, the number of shares corresponding to the below-target performance, calculated pursuant to the applicable methodology specified above, will be added back to the share pool. Performance shares and performance units that may not be settled in shares will not result in a reduction in the share pool.

Each share of restricted stock, each share-settled restricted stock unit ( “RSU”) under the 2019 Plan, and each other stock-based/stock-settled award (“Other Award”) under the 2019 Plan will be counted as 1.5 shares subject to an award and deducted from the share pool. RSUs and Other Awards that may not be settled in shares will not result in a deduction from the share pool. Each nonqualified stock option (“NQSO”), incentive stock option (“ISO”), and SAR under the 2019 Plan that may be settled in shares will be counted as one share subject to an award and deducted from the share pool. SARs that may not be settled in shares will not result in a reduction of the share pool.

If shares awarded or subject to issuance under the 2019 Plan or the Prior Plans are not issued or are returned to the Company, that number of shares will be added to the share pool as adjusted by the factor specified above with respect to the type of award from which the shares were derived. If the tax withholding obligation under an award granted under the 2019 Plan or a Prior Plan other than an option, SAR or other award in the nature of an appreciation right is satisfied after March 15, 2019 by the Company retaining shares or by the participant tendering shares, the number of shares so retained or tendered will be added to the share pool as adjusted by the 1.5 share factor specified above. If awards are issued under the 2019 Plan in respect of awards of an entity acquired (by merger or otherwise) by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the shares subject to those awards will not increase or decrease the share pool.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if the exercise price or tax withholding obligation under an option, SAR or other award in the nature of an appreciation right granted under the 2019 Plan or a Prior Plan, is satisfied by the Company retaining shares or by the participant tendering shares, the number of shares so retained or tendered will not be available for awards under the 2019 Plan and will not be added to the share pool. To the extent a SAR granted under the 2019 or a Prior Plan that may be settled in shares of common stock is, in fact, settled in shares of common stock, the gross number of shares subject to such SAR will not be available for further awards under the 2019 Plan and will not be added to the share pool. Shares reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of options granted under the 2019 Plan or a Prior Plan will not be added back to the share pool.

Incentive Stock Options

One of the requirements for the favorable tax treatment available to ISOs under the Internal Revenue Code is that the 2019 Plan must specify, and our shareholders must approve, the number of shares available for issuance pursuant to ISOs. As a result, in order to provide flexibility to the Compensation Committee, the 2019 Plan provides that all or any portion of the share pool may be issued pursuant to ISOs.

Current Stock Price

The closing price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on March 11, 2019 was $3.35 per share.

In evaluating this proposal, shareholders should specifically consider the information set forth under the section entitled “ — Plan Summary” beginning on page 31 of this Proxy Statement.

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Code Section 162(m)

Code Section 162(m) as in effect prior to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 enacted on December 22, 2017 (the “Act”), limited to $1 million the deduction that the Company was permitted to take for annual compensation paid to each “covered employee” (at that time defined as the CEO and the three other highest paid executive officers employed at the end of the year other than the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), except to the extent the compensation qualified as “performance-based” for purposes of Code Section 162(m). The Act retained the $1 million deduction limit, but it repealed the performance-based compensation exemption and expanded the definition of “covered employees” effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. “Covered employees” for a fiscal year now include any person who served as CEO or CFO of the Company at any time during that fiscal year, the three other most highly compensated executive officers for that fiscal year (whether or not employed on the last day of that fiscal year) and any other person who was a covered employee in a previous taxable year (but not earlier than 2017) as determined pursuant to the pre-Act version of Code Section 162(m). Any awards that the Company grants pursuant to the 2019 Plan to covered employees, whether performance-based or otherwise, will be subject to the $1 million annual deduction limitation. While the Compensation Committee considers the deductibility of compensation when making equity awards, it is only one factor it considers. Because of the elimination of the performance-based compensation exemption, the Compensation Committee expects that all or a portion of the compensation paid to covered employees in the form of equity grants under the 2019 Plan may not be deductible by the Company.

Plan Summary

The following summary of the material terms of the 2019 Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2019 Plan, which is attached as Annex 1 to this Proxy Statement. The 2019 Plan is not a qualified deferred compensation plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not intended to be an employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

Purpose of the 2019 Plan

The purpose of the 2019 Plan is to promote the long-term growth and profitability of Office Depot and its subsidiaries by (i) providing certain employees, officers, non-employee directors, and consultants who perform services for Office Depot and its subsidiaries with incentives to maximize shareholder value and otherwise contribute to the success of Office Depot, and (ii) enabling Office Depot to attract, motivate, retain and reward qualified employees, officers, non-employee directors and consultants.

Administration of the 2019 Plan

The 2019 Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee or such other committee consisting of two or more independent members of the Board of Directors as may be appointed by the board to administer the 2019 Plan (the “Committee”). If any member of the Committee does not qualify as a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Board of Directors will appoint a subcommittee of the Committee, consisting of at least two members of the Board of Directors, to grant awards to officers and members of the Board of Directors who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and each member of such subcommittee must satisfy the above requirements. References to the Committee in this summary include and, as appropriate, apply to any such subcommittee. To the extent permitted by law, the Committee may also delegate its authority to one or more persons who are not members of the Board of Directors, except that no such delegation will be permitted with respect to officers who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

Certain Restrictions

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Eligible Participants

Employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, non-employee members of the Board of Directors, and any other natural person who provides bona fide services to the Company or one of its subsidiaries of Office Depot not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction (subject to certain limitations) will be eligible for selection by the Committee for the grant of awards under the 2019 Plan. As of March 15, 2019, approximately 430 employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and 7 non-employee members of the Board of Directors were eligible for awards under the 2019 Plan.

Types of Awards

The 2019 Plan provides for the grant of performance shares, performance units, restricted stock, RSUs, NQSOs, ISOs, SARs and Other Awards. ISOs may be granted only to employees of Office Depot or its subsidiaries.

Individual Limits

The Committee will determine the individuals to whom awards will be granted, the number of shares subject to an award, and the other terms and conditions of an award. Subject to adjustment as described in the 2019 Plan:

Adjustments

The Committee shall make equitable adjustments in the number and class of securities available for issuance under the 2019 Plan (including under any awards then outstanding), the number and type of securities subject to the individual limits set forth in the 2019 Plan, and the terms of any outstanding award, as it determines are necessary and appropriate, to reflect any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off combination, exchange of shares, distribution to shareholders (other than an ordinary cash dividend), or similar corporate transaction or event.

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Performance Shares and Units

The Committee will specify the terms of a performance share or performance unit award in the award agreement. A performance share will have an initial value equal to the fair market value of a share on the date of grant. A performance unit will have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. In addition to any non-performance terms applicable to the performance share or performance unit, the Committee will set one or more performance goals which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of the performance share or unit that will be paid out to the participant. The Committee may provide for payment of earned performance shares/units in cash, shares of our common stock, other Office Depot securities or any combination thereof. The Committee will also specify any restrictions applicable to the performance share or performance unit award such as continued service, the length of the restriction period (subject to the one-year minimum described above) and whether any circumstances, such as death, disability, or a change in control, shorten or terminate the restriction period.

Performance shares/units will not possess voting rights and will accrue dividend equivalents only to the extent provided in the award agreement evidencing the award; provided, however, that rights to dividend equivalents are permitted only to the extent they comply with, or are exempt from, Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 409A”). Any rights to dividends or dividend equivalents on performance shares/units or any other award subject to performance conditions will be subject to the same restrictions on vesting and payment as the underlying award.

Performance Measures

A performance objective may be described in terms of company-wide objectives or objectives that are related to a specific division, subsidiary, employer, department, region, or function in which the participant is employed or as some combination of these (as alternatives or otherwise). A performance objective may be measured on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, results for a previous year, the performance of other corporations, or a stock market or other index. The Committee will specify the period over which the performance goals for a particular award will be measured and will determine whether the applicable performance goals have been met with respect to a particular award following the end of the applicable performance period.

In determining whether any performance goal has been satisfied, the Committee may include or exclude any or all items that are unusual or infrequent, including but not limited to (i) charges, costs, benefits, gains or income associated with reorganizations or restructurings of the Company and its subsidiaries, discontinued operations, goodwill, other intangible assets, long-lived assets (non-cash), real estate strategy (e.g., costs related to lease terminations or facility closure obligations), litigation or the resolution of litigation (e.g., attorneys’ fees, settlements or judgments), or currency or commodity fluctuations; and (ii) the effects of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles. In addition, the Committee may adjust any performance goal for a performance period as it deems equitable to recognize unusual or infrequent events affecting the Company and its subsidiaries, changes in laws or regulations or accounting principles, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, or any other factors as the Committee may determine.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

The Committee will specify the terms of a restricted stock or RSU award in the award agreement, including the number of shares of restricted stock or number of RSUs; the purchase price, if any, to be paid for such restricted stock or RSU (which may be equal to or less than the fair market value of a share and may be zero, subject to such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law); any restrictions applicable to the restricted stock or RSUs such as continued service or achievement of performance goals; the length of the restriction period (subject to the one-year minimum described above) and whether any circumstances, such as death, disability, or a change in control, shorten or terminate the restriction period; the rights of the participant during the restriction period to vote and receive dividends in the case of restricted stock or to receive dividend equivalents in the case of RSUs that accrue dividend equivalents (subject to the limitations described below); and whether RSUs will be settled in cash, shares of our common stock, other Office Depot securities or any combination thereof.

Generally, a participant who receives a restricted stock award will have (during and after the restriction period), all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company with respect to that award, including the right to vote the shares and the right to

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receive dividends and other distributions to the extent, if any, such shares possess such rights and subject to the limitations described in this paragraph. However, any dividends and other distributions payable on shares of restricted stock during the restriction period shall be either automatically reinvested in additional shares of restricted stock or paid to the Company for the account of the participant, in either case subject to the same vesting restrictions as the underlying award. All terms and conditions for the payment of dividends and other distributions will be included in the award agreement and, to the extent required, comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

A participant receiving an RSU award will not possess voting rights and will accrue dividend equivalents on such units only to the extent provided in the award agreement evidencing the award; provided, however, that any dividend equivalents will be subject to the same vesting restrictions as the underlying award. All terms and conditions for payment of dividends equivalents will be included in the award agreement and, to the extent required, comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

Stock Options

An option provides the participant with the right to buy a specified number of shares at a specified price (the “exercise price”) after certain conditions have been met. The Committee may grant both NQSOs and ISOs under the 2019 Plan. The tax treatment of NQSOs is different from the tax treatment of ISOs as explained below. The Committee will determine and specify in the award agreement evidencing an option whether the option is an NQSO or ISO, the number of shares subject to the option, the exercise price of the option and the period of time during which the option may be exercised, any restrictions applicable to the option such as continued service, the length of the restriction period (subject to the one-year minimum described above) and whether any circumstances, such as death, disability, or a change in control, shorten or terminate the restriction period. Generally (except as otherwise described in the 2019 Plan), no option can be exercisable more than 10 years after the date of grant and the exercise price of a stock option must be at least equal to the fair market value of a share on the date of grant of the option. However, with respect to an ISO granted to a participant who is a shareholder holding more than 10% of Office Depot’s total voting stock, the ISO cannot be exercisable more than five years after the date of grant and the exercise price must be at least equal to 110% of the fair market value of a share on the date of grant. ISOs cannot be granted under the 2019 Plan after March 15, 2029. Dividend equivalents will not be paid with respect to options. A participant may pay the exercise price under an option in cash; in a cash equivalent approved by the Committee; if approved by the Committee, by tendering previously acquired shares (or delivering a certification or attestation of ownership of such shares) having an aggregate fair market value at the time of exercise equal to the total option exercise price (provided that the tendered shares must have been held by the participant for any period required by the Committee); or by a combination of these payment methods. The Committee may also allow cashless exercises as permitted under the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation T, subject to applicable securities law restrictions, or by any other means which the Committee determines to be consistent with the 2019 Plan’s purpose and applicable law. No certificate representing a share (to the extent shares are so evidenced) will be delivered until the full option price has been paid.

Stock Appreciation Rights

A SAR entitles the participant to receive cash, shares of Office Depot’s common stock, other company securities or any combination thereof, as the Committee may determine, in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of a share on the exercise date over the exercise price for the SAR, after certain conditions have been met. The Committee will determine and specify in the SAR award agreement the number of shares subject to the SAR, the SAR price (which generally must be at least equal to the fair market value of a share on the date of grant of the SAR) and the period of time during which the SAR may be exercised, any restrictions applicable to the SAR such as continued service, the length of the restriction period (subject to the one-year minimum described above) and whether any circumstances, such as death, disability, or a change in control, shorten or terminate the restriction period. Generally, no SAR can be exercisable more than 10 years after the date of grant. SARs may be granted in tandem with a stock option or independently. If a SAR is granted in tandem with a stock option, the participant may exercise the stock option or the SAR, but not both. Dividend equivalents will not be paid with respect to SARs.

Other Awards

The Committee may grant other forms of equity-based or equity-related awards that the Committee determines to be consistent with the purpose of the 2019 Plan and the interests of Office Depot. These Other Awards may provide for cash payments based in whole or in part on the value or future value of shares, for the issuance or future issuance of shares of

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Office Depot common stock, or any combination thereof. Where the value of such an award is based on the difference in the value of a share at different points in time, the grant or exercise price must generally not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share on the date of grant.

Termination of Employment

Subject to certain exceptions, generally, if a participant ceases to perform services for Office Depot and its subsidiaries for any reason (i) all of the participant’s restricted stock, RSUs, performance shares, performance units and Other Awards that were not vested on the date of such cessation shall be forfeited immediately upon such cessation, (ii) all of the participant’s stock options and SARs that were exercisable on the date of such cessation shall remain exercisable for, and shall otherwise terminate at the end of, a period of 90 days after the date of such cessation, but in no event after the expiration date of the stock options or SARs, and (iii) all of the participant’s stock options and SARs that were not exercisable on the date of such cessation shall be forfeited immediately upon such cessation. The Committee may provide that a participant shall be eligible for a full or prorated award upon a cessation of the participant’s service relationship due to death, disability, involuntary termination without cause or resignation for good reason. For an award subject to one or more performance objectives, the Committee may provide for payment of any such full or prorated award prior to certification of such performance objectives or without regard to whether they are certified.

Change in Control

The Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide that any time-based vesting requirement applicable to an Award shall be deemed satisfied in full in the event that both a change in control and a cessation of the participant’s service relationship with Office Depot and its subsidiaries occurs or if the surviving entity in such change in control does not assume or replace the award in the change in control. With respect to an Award that is subject to one or more performance objectives, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide that in the event of a change in control, achievement of such performance objective shall be determined as of the effective date of the Change in Control or such performance objective shall be deemed achieved at the target level of performance.

Transferability

No ISO may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than upon the participant’s death to a beneficiary or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. However, a participant who is an officer, including, but not limited to, a participant with the title: Vice President, Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President, President or Chief Executive Officer of Office Depot (collectively referred to herein as “Officers”) or a non-employee director may transfer NQSOs to a Permitted Transferee (as defined in the 2019 Plan document) in accordance with procedures approved by the Committee. Except for a transfer of NQSOs by an Officer or non-employee director to a Permitted Transferee, unless the Committee determines otherwise consistent with securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, (i) no award shall be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated by a participant other than upon the participant’s death, to a beneficiary or by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and (ii) each option and SAR outstanding to a participant may be exercised during the participant’s lifetime only by the participant or his or her guardian or legal representative (provided that an ISO may be exercised by such guardian or legal representative only if permitted by the Internal Revenue Code and any regulations promulgated thereunder). In the event of a transfer to a Permitted Transferee or a transfer otherwise permitted by the Committee, appropriate evidence of any transfer to the Permitted Transferee shall be delivered to Office Depot at its principal executive office. If all or part of an Award is transferred to a Permitted Transferee, the Permitted Transferee’s rights thereunder shall be subject to the same restrictions and limitations with respect to the award as the participant. Any permitted transfer of an award will be without payment of consideration by the Permitted Transferee.

Amendment and Termination

The Board of Directors or the Committee may at any time terminate and from time to time amend the 2019 Plan in whole or in part, but no such action shall materially adversely affect any rights or obligations with respect to any awards previously granted under the 2019 Plan unless such action is required by applicable law or any listing standards applicable to our common stock or the affected participants consent in writing. To the extent required by Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, other applicable law, or any such listing standards that the shareholders are required to approve a specific type of amendment to the 2019 Plan, no such amendment shall be effective unless approved by the Company’s shareholders.

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The Committee may amend an outstanding award agreement in a manner not inconsistent with the terms of the 2019 Plan, but the amendment will not be effective without the participant’s written consent if the amendment is materially adverse to the participant. However, the Committee cannot reprice a stock option or SAR except in accordance with the adjustment provisions of the 2019 Plan (as described above) or in connection with a change in control. For this purpose, a repricing generally is an amendment to the terms of an outstanding stock option or SAR that would reduce the exercise price of that stock option or SAR or a cancellation of an outstanding stock option or SAR with a per share exercise price that is more than fair market value at the time of such cancellation in exchange for cash, another award or a stock option or SAR with an exercise price or SAR price that is less than the option exercise price or SAR price of the original stock option or SAR.

The Committee may provide in award agreements or in a separate policy that if a participant engages in detrimental activity, as defined in such award agreement or separate policy, the Committee may cancel, rescind, suspend, withhold or otherwise restrict or limit any unexpired, unexercised, unpaid or deferred award as of the first date the participant engages in the detrimental activity. The award agreement or separate policy may also provide that if the participant exercises an option or SAR, receives an RSU, performance share, performance unit, Other Award payout, or receives or vests in shares of our common stock under an award at any time during a time specified in such award agreement or separate policy, the participant shall be required to pay to Office Depot the excess of the then fair market value of the shares that were received with respect to the award (or if the participant previously disposed of such shares, the fair market value of such shares at the time of the disposition) over the total price paid by the participant for such shares.

Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is intended only as a brief summary of the federal income tax rules relevant to the primary types of awards available for issuance under the 2019 Plan and is based on the terms of the Internal Revenue Code as currently in effect. The applicable statutory provisions are subject to change in the future (possibly with retroactive effect), as are their interpretations and applications. Because federal income tax consequences may vary as a result of individual circumstances, participants are encouraged to consult their personal tax advisors with respect to their tax consequences. The following summary is limited only to United States federal income tax treatment. It does not address state, local, gift, estate, social security or foreign tax consequences, which may be substantially different. Certain intended 2019 Plan participants are residents of foreign countries.

Performance Share/Unit Awards

A participant generally is not taxed upon the grant of a performance share/unit. The participant will recognize taxable income at the time of settlement of the performance share/unit in an amount equal to the amount of cash and the fair market value of the shares received upon settlement (subject to the short swing profits rule). The income recognized will be taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Office Depot generally will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant, subject to the requirements of Code Section 162(m), as applicable. Any gain or loss recognized upon the disposition of the shares acquired pursuant to settlement of a performance share/unit will qualify as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year after settlement.

Awards of Shares; Restricted Stock Awards

A participant generally will recognize taxable ordinary income upon the receipt of shares as a stock award or restricted stock award if the shares are not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. The income recognized will be equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time of receipt less any purchase price paid for the shares. If the shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the participant generally will recognize taxable ordinary income when the substantial risk of forfeiture lapses. If the substantial risk of forfeiture lapses in increments over several years, the participant will recognize income in each year in which the substantial risk of forfeiture lapses as to an increment. If the participant cannot sell the shares without being subject to suit under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (the short swing profits rule), the shares will be treated as subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. The income recognized upon lapse of a substantial risk of forfeiture will be equal to the fair market value of the shares determined as of the time that the substantial risk of forfeiture lapses less any purchase price paid for the shares. Office Depot generally will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant, subject to the requirements of Code Section 162(m), as applicable.

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Alternatively, if the shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the participant may make a timely election under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 83(b)”) to recognize ordinary income for the taxable year in which the participant received the shares in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares at that time. That income will be taxable at ordinary income tax rates. If a participant makes a timely Section 83(b) election, the participant will not recognize income at the time the substantial risk of forfeiture lapses with respect to the shares. At the time of disposition of the shares, a participant who has made a timely Section 83(b) election will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon sale and the ordinary income recognized upon receipt of the share (increased by the amount paid for the shares, if any). If the participant forfeits the shares after making a Section 83(b) election, the participant is not entitled to a deduction with respect to the income recognized as a result of the election but will be entitled to a capital loss equal to the excess (if any) of the amount paid for the shares (if any) over the amount realized upon forfeiture (if any). To be timely, the Section 83(b) election must be made within thirty (30) days after the participant receives the shares. Office Depot will generally be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant at the time of the election.

Restricted Stock Units

A participant generally is not taxed upon the grant of an RSU. Generally, if an RSU is designed to be paid on or shortly after the RSU is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, then at the time of payment the participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the amount of cash and the fair market value of the shares received by the participant (subject to the short swing profits rule) and Office Depot will be entitled to an income tax deduction for the same amount, subject to the requirements of Code Section 162(m), as applicable. However, if an RSU is not designed to be paid on or shortly after the RSU is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the RSU may be deemed a nonqualified deferred compensation plan under Section 409A. In that case, if the RSU is designed to meet the requirements of Section 409A, then at the time of payment the participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the amount of cash and the fair market value of the shares received by the participant, and Office Depot will be entitled to an income tax deduction for the same amount. However, if the RSU is not designed to meet the requirements of Section 409A, the participant will be subject to ordinary income when the substantial risk of forfeiture lapses as well as an additional twenty percent (20%) excise tax, and additional tax could be imposed each following year.

Nonqualified Stock Options; Stock Appreciation Rights

A participant generally is not taxed upon the grant of an NQSO or SAR, unless the NQSO or SAR has a readily ascertainable fair market value. However, the participant must recognize ordinary income upon exercise of the NQSO or SAR in an amount equal to the difference between the NQSO or SAR exercise price and the fair market value of the shares acquired on the date of exercise (subject to the short swing profits rule). Office Depot generally will have a deduction in an amount equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant in Office Depot’s tax year during which the participant recognizes ordinary income.

Upon the sale of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an NQSO or SAR, the participant will recognize capital gain or loss to the extent that the amount realized from the sale is different than the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise (or, if the participant was subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and did not make a timely election under Section 83(b), the fair market value on the delayed determination date, if applicable). This gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year after exercise.

Incentive Stock Options

A participant is not taxed on the grant or exercise of an ISO. The difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares covered by the ISO on the exercise date will, however, be a preference item for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. If a participant holds the shares acquired upon exercise of an ISO for at least two years following the ISO grant date and at least one year following exercise, the participant’s gain or loss, if any, upon a subsequent disposition of the shares is long-term capital gain or loss. The amount of the gain or loss is the difference between the proceeds received on disposition and the participant’s basis in the shares (which generally equals the ISO exercise price). If a participant disposes of shares acquired pursuant to exercise of an ISO before satisfying these holding periods and realizes an amount in excess of the exercise price, the amount realized will be taxed to the participant as ordinary income up to the fair market value of the shares on the exercise date and any additional amount realized will be taxable to the participant as capital gain in the year of disposition; however, if the exercise price exceeds the amount realized on sale, the difference will

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be taxed to the participant as a capital loss. Office Depot is not entitled to a federal income tax deduction on the grant or exercise of an ISO or on the participant’s disposition of the shares after satisfying the holding period requirement described above. If the holding periods are not satisfied, Office Depot will be entitled to a deduction in the year the participant disposes of the shares in an amount equal to any ordinary income recognized by the participant.

In order for an option to qualify as an ISO for federal income tax purposes, the grant of the option must satisfy various other conditions specified in the Internal Revenue Code. In the event an option intended to be an ISO fails to qualify as an ISO, it will be taxed as an NQSO as described above.

Golden Parachute Payments

The terms of the award agreement evidencing an award under the 2019 Plan may provide for accelerated vesting or accelerated payout of the award in connection with a change in ownership or control of Office Depot. In such event, certain amounts with respect to the award may be characterized as “parachute payments” under the golden parachute provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, no federal income tax deduction is allowed to Office Depot for “excess parachute payments” made to “disqualified individuals,” and receipt of such payments subjects the recipient to a 20% excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code. For this purpose, “disqualified individuals” are generally officers, shareholders or highly compensated individuals performing services for Office Depot, and the term “excess parachute payments” includes payments in the nature of compensation which are contingent on a change in ownership or effective control of Office Depot, to the extent that such payments (in present value) equal or exceed three times the recipient’s average annual taxable compensation from Office Depot for the previous five years. Certain payments for reasonable compensation for services rendered after a change of control and payments from tax-qualified plans are generally not included in determining “excess parachute payments.” If payments or accelerations may occur with respect to awards granted under the 2019 Plan, certain amounts in connection with such awards may possibly constitute “parachute payments” and be subject to these “golden parachute” tax provisions.

New 2019 Plan Benefits

Any future awards to executive officers, non-employee directors, employees and consultants of Office Depot under the 2019 Plan are discretionary and cannot be determined at this time because the amount and form of grants to be made to any eligible participant in any year is determined at the discretion of the Committee or Board of Directors, as applicable. As a result, the benefits and amounts that will be received or allocated under the 2019 Plan are not determinable at this time, and Office Depot has not included a table that reflects such future awards.

The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock present in person or represented by proxy (as counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum) and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the 2019 Plan.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE OFFICE DEPOT, INC. 2019 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN.

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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

This compensation discussion and analysis (the “CD&A”) describes our executive compensation programs and explains how the Compensation Committee made its compensation decisions for our named executive officers (also referred to in this CD&A as “NEOs”) for fiscal year 2018.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Strategic Initiatives

Fiscal Year 2018 marked the second year of the Company’s transformation to becoming a more powerful B2B integrated distribution company providing business services and supplies, products and technology solutions through our fully integrated omni-channel platform. We continued to invest in our service capabilities making it easier for our customers to access our services with ease and confidence. Services revenue has nearly doubled from what it was in 2017. While much of this increase came from the CompuCom acquisition, we also accelerated services revenue growth outside of CompuCom. Services revenue across our BSD and Retail Divisions, combined, grew 13% over 2017. This strong performance is a result of the traction in the enhanced services and subscription-based offerings that we began rolling out earlier this year and our efforts to drive demand and continued improvements. To strengthen our core operations, over the last two years we have expanded the reach of our distribution network by identifying and acquiring profitable regional distribution companies in geographic areas that were previously underserved by our network. This allows for an effective and accretive means to expand our distribution reach and target new business customers. We also invested in our supply chain network to further enhance our capabilities and to increase efficiency and lower costs. We grew our private fleet and made upgrades to our facilities with new automated technology and robotics. We implemented new logistics and supply chain software to gain better visibility into our system and to improve performance, providing the ability to make more informed decisions and improve profitability.

In our Retail Division, we invested in store refreshes and layouts to improve customer experience, including new, more energy efficient LED lighting, technology upgrades and point of sale improvements in our stores. In addition to leveraging the investments we’ve made in our business, the actions we are taking to drive greater profitability include:

2018 Financial Highlights

For the 2018 fiscal year, we made tremendous progress on our plans to transform our Company and extend our leadership position in the market. For the year, we grew our business, invested in our distribution platform, generated strong free cash flow, and returned capital to shareholders. Some of the specific highlights from 2018 were as follows:

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These results provide tangible evidence that we are well on our way to enhancing our position as a leading integrated B2B distribution platform providing business services and supplies, products and technology solutions.

  Key 2018 Compensation Actions

The primary elements of our total direct compensation program for the NEOs and a summary of the actions taken by the Compensation Committee during fiscal year 2018 are set forth below.

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2018 Management Changes

During 2018, we made several strategic hires and promotions including the following:

During 2018, the following officers left the Company:

The NEOs for fiscal year 2018 are:

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What were the results of our advisory vote to approve executive compensation?

At our May 2018 annual shareholder meeting, our shareholders were given the opportunity to cast an advisory vote “for” or “against” the compensation of our NEOs in fiscal year 2017. On the advisory “say-on-pay” vote, our shareholders approved the compensation of our NEOs with approximately 71.17% of the votes cast voted “for” our executive compensation. The Compensation Committee considers this approval level as reflective of continued shareholder support of our pay-for-performance compensation philosophy and program.

Throughout fiscal year 2018, we continued our shareholder engagement and investor outreach program, including an investor day in May 2018 dedicated to reviewing our multi-year strategic plan. We have a proactive investor outreach program, which includes meetings with the investment community, particularly our top 20 investors who collectively represent approximately 66% of our outstanding common stock, to obtain feedback on our progress and strategy as well as executive compensation design, board composition, risk management and other environmental, social, and corporate governance issues. Management also holds conference calls and participates in in-person meetings with investors following our quarterly earnings release as another way to seek feedback and respond to questions from investors about specific matters of importance such as executive compensation design.

Based on feedback received from our largest shareholders, we:

Compensation Philosophy

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What are the elements of our NEO compensation packages?

The various elements of compensation paid by the Company are intended to reflect our compensation philosophy and: (i) provide an appropriate level of financial certainty through fixed compensation, (ii) ensure that at least 60% of equity compensation is performance-based, and (iii) create a balance of short-term and long-term incentives.

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Important Corporate Governance Policies

Our 2018 executive compensation program was based on a compensation philosophy adopted by our Compensation Committee and reflected the advice of the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant, FW Cook. The Compensation Committee considered the independence of FW Cook under applicable SEC and the Nasdaq Rules, and concluded there was no conflict of interest. The Compensation Committee is guided by the following key principles in determining the compensation structure for our executives:

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How does our compensation program support pay-for-performance?

The Compensation Committee annually reviews the total mix of compensation for our NEOs, which includes a significant portion of variable performance-based incentives that are linked to the attainment of critical performance targets and changes in shareholder value. The Compensation Committee believes that each of these elements provides a meaningful reward opportunity to the NEOs, focuses our leadership team on the key drivers of success for the near- and long- term, and therefore supports our short-term and long-term strategic objectives and links realized pay directly to performance.

With respect to our CEO’s compensation, 88% of Mr. Smith’s target compensation was “at risk” in 2018 based on operating performance, relative TSR, and/or changes in stock price while target compensation for our other NEOs in 2018 was 76% “at risk.” The illustration below excludes sign-on bonuses and any one-time equity grants.

What was the total direct compensation for our NEOs during fiscal 2018?

Base Salaries

The Compensation Committee performed its annual review of executive compensation considering external market data, as well as scope of role, individual performance, and internal equity and then determined to adjust the following NEOs’ base salaries during fiscal year 2018:

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There were no other changes to any of the other NEOs’ base salaries in fiscal year 2018. For the base salaries of all the NEOs as of December 29, 2018, please refer to the Summary Compensation Table.

2018 Annual Cash Bonus Plan

The Compensation Committee reviewed our 2018 Annual Operating Plan approved by our Board and the key performance measures for our business and decided to retain the general bonus metrics from 2017 when designing our 2018 bonus plan except for the weighting of each of the metrics. The Compensation Committee approved shifting the weighting of the metrics from 80% total Company AOI and 20% total Company net sales to 50% weighting on each. The Compensation Committee believes that the metrics selected for 2018 and the shift in weighting to be critical to the continued stability of the organization with an emphasis on growing top line sales. The increased weighting on the net sales metric focused management on regaining traction on sales growth, which has been our number one priority during the initial phase of our transformation plan. The Compensation Committee focused on net sales and AOI results at the total Company level as we continue to invest in our omnichannel platform. Additionally, the 2018 bonus performance metrics were designed to allow for payouts to be determined within the range of threshold and maximum, with maximum targets reflecting stretch goals that aligned with our 2018 Annual Operating Plan. The 2018 Annual Cash Bonus Plan payout was capped at 150% of target payout as the Compensation Committee believed this cap was market competitive for short-term incentives. Actual payouts were to be based on the level of achievement of the performance metrics subject to the Compensation Committee’s ability to exercise “negative discretion” to decrease payouts if necessary or desirable to give effect to the intent of the plan or the best interests of the Company. Further details on each of these components of the 2018 Annual Cash Bonus Plan are described below.

When designing the 2018 Annual Cash Bonus Plan and when considering whether we have reached the target performance metric for a payout under the 2018 Annual Cash Bonus Plan, the Compensation Committee determined the categories of significant, unplanned and unusual items that would be excluded from AOI, whether the resulting impact was positive or negative, because they distort our operating performance. This practice ensures that our executives will not be unduly influenced in their day-to-day decision-making because they would neither benefit, nor be penalized, as a result of certain unexpected and uncontrollable events or strategic initiatives that may positively or negatively affect the performance metric in the short-term. For 2018, the categories of excludable items included: merger-related expenses; impacts of unplanned acquisitions and divestitures; impacts of change in classification from discontinued operations to continuing operations (and vice versa); restructuring charges; impairment charges related to goodwill, other intangible assets, and long-lived assets (non-cash); and unplanned costs and benefits related to real estate strategy, including, but not limited to lease terminations or facility closure obligations; and other unplanned and unusual adjustments approved by the Compensation Committee.

The total Company net sales goal for fiscal year 2018 was set at a target of $10.600 billion, an increase of $550 million over our 2017 actual total Company net sales of $10.050 billion. This increase was primarily driven by the additional revenue brought on by the CompuCom acquisition in addition to other organic and inorganic growth initiatives included in the 2018 Annual Operating Plan. By increasing the weighting to 50%, equal prominence was given to the net sales and AOI metrics to reinforce management’s priority to growing topline revenue profitably. The total Company AOI target goal for fiscal year 2018 was set at $350 million, a decrease of $101 million below our 2017 actual total Company AOI of $451 million. The decrease from prior year actual results reflected the reset to the business strategy that the new management team put in place and excluded the benefit of continued cost synergy savings from the prior OfficeMax merger which the Company was no longer realizing. The 2018 Annual Operating Plan also reflected the cost of investing in and executing on our new transformation strategy. The maximum total Company AOI goal of $378 million and total company net sales goal of $11.024 billion were intended to be stretch goals and considered to be very challenging to achieve.

The following table summarizes the thresholds, targets, and maximum parameters and actual 2018 performance for each of the applicable metrics selected under the 2018 Annual Cash Bonus Plan:

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For purposes of determining the level of achievement for each of the bonus metrics under the 2018 Annual Cash Bonus Plan, the Compensation Committee reviewed the applicable financial metrics, as derived from our 2018 audited financial statements approved by the Audit Committee. For fiscal year 2018, the Compensation Committee certified achievement of the AOI and net sales performance results as reflected in the table above. In reviewing the AOI and net sales performance results for purposes of determining final payouts, the Compensation Committee approved a negative adjustment of $1 million to the AOI metric and $39 million to the net sales metric to exclude the impacts of unplanned acquisitions. In addition, the Compensation Committee reduced bonus payouts to NEOs under the 2018 Annual Cash Bonus Plan to 75% of target to reflect underachievement of profit relative to the Company’s most recent investor guidance.

On February 19, 2019, the Compensation Committee authorized bonuses to our NEOs under the 2018 Annual Cash Bonus Plan to be paid at 75% of target, reflecting the adjustments described above.

The threshold, target and maximum payout for each NEO are disclosed in  the “Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards” column of the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table below. The actual dollar amounts earned by our NEOs in fiscal year 2018, pursuant to the 2018 Annual Cash Bonus Plan, are disclosed in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table below.

2018 Long-Term Incentive Program

Our 2018 Long-Term Incentive Program (“2018 LTIP”) includes performance metrics through the end of 2020 based on FCF and TSR relative to our executive compensation peer group. FCF is defined as cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations less capital expenditures. In fiscal year 2018 the Compensation Committee approved a change in metrics to move away from the AOI growth design that the Company had used the previous two years. Taking feedback from investors into consideration, the Compensation Committee determined that removing the redundancy in metrics between the annual and long-term incentive plans would allow management to be measured on another critical financial metric, FCF, which will be integral to the investment in the ongoing transformation of the business and our commitment to continue to strengthen our core business. FCF generation will also provide financial flexibility for future debt repayments and capital returns to shareholders. Going forward, we plan to continue a balanced approach in our capital deployment by addressing our business, shareholders and lenders. Relative TSR remained as a key metric under the 2018 LTIP. In conjunction with the move to FCF, the Compensation Committee also approved increasing the percentage of long-term incentive awards considered performance-based from 50% in fiscal year 2017 to 60% in fiscal year 2018 in an effort to reinforce our pay-for-performance philosophy.

The purpose of our long-term incentive program is to further align the long-term interests of management with those of our shareholders and help retain our key talent. These objectives must be balanced such that successful, high-achieving employees remain motivated and committed even in periods of temporary market downturns or volatility in our performance as well as the periods where we have strategic transactions that create uncertainty. In support of these objectives, the 2018 LTIP award includes both time and performance-based components to promote long-term retention and achievement of key operating objectives, as set forth below:

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The Compensation Committee approved the following target awards to be granted to the NEOs under the 2018 LTIP:

The 2018 LTIP performance metrics are designed to allow for payouts to be determined within the range of threshold and maximum. The 2018 LTIP payout is capped at 200% of target payout for both the TSR and FCF metrics as the Compensation Committee believes these caps are market competitive for long-term incentives. The increase in the payout maximum for the TSR awards from 150% in fiscal year 2017 to 200% in fiscal year 2018 was primarily done to match the maximum payout on the FCF awards. Actual share counts granted to our NEOs are derived from the grant date fair value used for accounting purposes and as such, an increase in the payout maximum for the TSR awards from 150% to 200% results in fewer shares being granted due to a higher grant date fair value. Actual payout on the FCF metric is also subject to the Compensation Committee’s ability to exercise negative discretion to decrease such payout if such incentive is not, in the Compensation Committee’s opinion, appropriately earned or should not be paid.

When considering the attainment level reached for payout of the FCF awards under the 2018 LTIP, the Compensation Committee, when designing the 2018 LTIP, determined the categories of significant, unplanned and unusual items that would be excluded from FCF, whether the resulting impact was positive or negative, because they distort our operating performance. This practice ensures that our executives will not be unduly influenced in their day-to-day decision-making because they would neither benefit, nor be penalized, as a result of certain unexpected and uncontrollable events or strategic initiatives that may positively or negatively affect the performance metric in the long-term. For fiscal year 2018, the categories of excludable items included: merger-related expenses; impacts of unplanned acquisitions and divestitures; impacts of change in classification from discontinued operations to continuing operations (and vice versa); restructuring charges; and unplanned costs and benefits related to real estate strategy, including, but not limited to lease terminations or facility closure obligations; and other unplanned and unusual adjustments approved by the Compensation Committee.

The Compensation Committee set the following thresholds, targets, and maximum parameters for each of the applicable metrics selected under the 2018 LTIP:

2017 Long-Term Incentive Program

For purposes of determining the level of achievement for the 2018 AOI metric under the 2017 Plan, the Compensation Committee reviewed the applicable financial metrics, as derived ultimately from our 2018 audited financial statements

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approved by the Audit Committee and determined that the threshold achievement of $418 million was not met resulting in 0% achievement for 2018 AOI under the 2017 Plan. The Compensation Committee set the 2019 AOI target at $358 million based on the pre-established goal of 3% above 2018 actual results. TSR performance is not determinable until the completion of the three-year TSR performance period ending December 28, 2019. Further information on the 2017 Plan design is included in our Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on March 19, 2018.

2016 Long-Term Incentive Program Results

The following tables show the results for the three-year performance period which was completed on December 29, 2018 for the performance shares under the 2016 Long-Term Incentive Program (“2016 LTIP”). The performance measures, each 50% weighted, were AOI and TSR. The performance shares also had a threshold gate that was used for purposes of meeting the Code Section 162(m) performance-based exemption. The Compensation Committee certified in 2017 that for the nine-month period consisting of the last three quarters of fiscal 2016, the EBITDA threshold gate of $250 million for the 2016 LTIP was achieved based on EBITDA performance of $474 million for such period. With respect to the performance shares based on 2016 AOI, the Compensation Committee approved achievement of $471 million, in excess of the target of $447 million, and then set the 2017 AOI target at $470 million based on the pre-established goal of 3% above fiscal year 2016 actual results, excluding the impact of the 53^rd week. In February 2018, the Compensation Committee approved 2017 AOI of $451 million, below the target of $470 million and then set the 2018 AOI target at $464.5 million based on the pre-established goal of 3% above fiscal year 2017 actual results. In February 2019, the Compensation Committee determined that the threshold level of achievement of $418 million for 2018 AOI under the 2016 LTIP was not met which resulted in 0% achievement. In February 2019, the Compensation Committee also approved the final combined payout for the 2016 LTIP award tied to AOI performance at 65% which reflected the average of the achievement percentages for the 3 years ended December 29, 2018 as shown in the following table.

For the 2016 LTIP awards tied to TSR, the Compensation Committee received external certification from AON Radford for TSR results compared to the predetermined peer group which showed a TSR of ($14.94) resulting in a ranking at the 42^nd percentile. In February 2019, the Compensation Committee certified the relative payout at 80% as reflected in the table that follows. Further information on the 2016 LTIP design is included in our Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on June 9, 2017.

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Termination Payments to Mr. Hare

In connection with Mr. Hare’s separation and conditioned upon his execution of a general release agreement, Mr. Hare received a severance payment of $1,138,724 on April 20, 2018, calculated according to the terms of his employment letter agreement. Mr. Hare is also entitled to a pro-rated payment under our 2018 Annual Incentive Plan based on our actual performance, with proration based on the number of days completed in the 2018 fiscal year relative to the total number of days in the 2018 fiscal year. For a detailed description of Mr. Hare’s employment letter agreement, please see the section entitled “Summary of Executive Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” beginning on page 63.

New Hire Equity Award to Mr. Lower

In connection with hiring Mr. Lower as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, effective January 8, 2018, the Company entered into a letter agreement, which set forth the terms of Mr. Lower’s employment with the Company. In addition to the normal components of pay such as his base salary, annual bonus opportunity, long-term incentive compensation, and severance protection (all of which is discussed in more detail in the section entitled “Summary of Executive Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” beginning on page 63), Mr. Lower was granted a new hire sign-on equity award with a value of $2,000,000. The award was in the form of time vested restricted stock, with vesting occurring in one-third installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date as long as Mr. Lower is continuously employed by the Company through each anniversary date. This new hire inducement equity award was made by the Compensation Committee after consulting with FW Cook regarding market custom and practice for such an award. In making the award, the Compensation Committee concluded that the award was reasonable and necessary to hire Mr.  Lower and that the award was in line with market practice.

Executive Compensation Process and Governance

What is the role of the independent compensation consultant?

Since 2013, the Compensation Committee engaged FW Cook, a compensation consulting firm, as its independent advisor with respect to executive compensation. At the request of the Compensation Committee, FW Cook periodically works with management to develop an understanding of Office Depot’s pay policies and practices and to facilitate the development of Office Depot’s executive compensation strategies and determination of appropriate compensation levels. In fiscal year 2018, FW Cook provided the following services to the Compensation Committee: review and feedback on the CEO compensation model; preparation and delivery of a report on the Company’s non-employee director compensation; review and feedback on committee membership retainers; advice on setting annual compensation for executives based on Company performance and peer group benchmarking; advice on the design of the annual awards under the short and long-term incentive plans; review of Office Depot’s executive compensation disclosure and discussion of best practices for such disclosure; development of executive compensation policies and practices; review of Office Depot’s peer group; advice on compensation issues raised; and assistance with the preparation for certain Compensation Committee meetings.

The Compensation Committee believes that even the best advice of a compensation consultant or other outside advisors must be combined with the input from management and the Compensation Committee’s own individual experiences and judgment to arrive at the proper alignment of compensation philosophy, programs, and practices. The CEO, CFO and the Executive Vice President, Chief Legal & Administrative Officer, and Corporate Secretary work with the Compensation Committee to provide perspectives on reward strategies and how to align those strategies with Office Depot’s business and management retention goals. They provided feedback and insights into the effectiveness of Office Depot’s compensation programs and practices. The Compensation Committee looked to the legal and human resources departments for advice in the design and implementation of compensation plans, programs, and practices. In addition, the CEO, the Executive Vice President, Chief Legal & Administrative Officer, and Corporate Secretary, and certain other members of the human resources and legal departments often attended portions of Compensation Committee meetings to participate in the presentation of materials and to discuss management’s point of view regarding compensation issues.

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What was the process used to determine executive compensation in fiscal year 2018?

The Compensation Committee generally kept executive compensation in fiscal year 2018 consistent with executive compensation in fiscal year 2017 with a few adjustments described above. The Compensation Committee continued to engage FW Cook as its independent compensation consultant to assist the Compensation Committee with its annual review of executive compensation matters, including:

Members of management, including the CEO, provided input to the Compensation Committee regarding executive compensation for the NEOs (other than himself). Management provided input for the Compensation Committee’s consideration regarding the performance metrics for our 2018 Annual Cash Bonus Plan and 2018 LTIP.

How is peer group data used by the Compensation Committee?

The Compensation Committee believes benchmarking is a useful method to gauge both the compensation level and compensation mix for executives within competitive job markets that are relevant to the Company. The Compensation Committee generally reviews data gathered from the proxy statements of our peer group (as defined below) as well as industry surveys for benchmarking purposes in its review and analysis of base salaries, bonuses, long-term incentives, and benefits/perquisites to establish our executive compensation program.

The peer group was developed based on the following criteria:

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Companies selected for the peer group were required to have a significant number of the characteristics described above, but not necessarily all of them. Judgment was used to ensure that the median revenue of the group remained reasonable and to create a balanced mix of retailers, distributors, and service companies.

Peer group data is generally reviewed annually to determine if modifications to the peer group or the criteria used to determine the peer group are necessary. In July 2017, FW Cook recommended to the Compensation Committee a peer group of 21 companies. In July 2018, FW Cook performed a limited review of the Company’s current peers to minimize unnecessary year-over-year volatility in the competitive data. Other than to remove Staples due to its acquisition by Sycamore Partners in September 2017 (compensation data no longer publicly available), FW Cook did not believe a change to any of the current peers was necessary and felt the current peer group accurately reflected the balanced mix of companies based on the criteria above. The Compensation Committee approved the current peer group, except for Staples, and recommended the peer group to the Board, which also approved it. As of December 31, 2018, the Company’s revenue ranked near the median of the peer group and market capitalization ranked near the 25^th percentile.

The companies listed below represent the revised peer group, all of which were included as peers in our 2017 Proxy Statement:

Performance awards that use relative TSR as a performance criterion will continue to use the peer group that was approved at the time of the grant of the awards, with adjustments to the peer group only as specified in the applicable award agreement.

In addition to the benchmarking results, the Compensation Committee generally considers the following in making executive compensation decisions:

When making compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee not only considers each element of compensation individually (i.e. base salary, short-term incentives, and long-term incentives), but also considers the target total direct compensation and mix of compensation paid to the NEOs. The Compensation Committee also considers strategic business decisions when developing and approving the compensation program.

Does the Compensation Committee take tax and accounting consequences into account when designing executive compensation?

Code Section 162(m) generally does not allow a tax deduction to public companies for compensation in excess of $1 million paid to the CEO or other NEOs (and beginning in 2018, certain former NEOs). Prior to the Act, certain compensation was specifically exempt from the deduction limit to the extent that it was “performance-based” as previously defined in Code Section 162(m). As a result of the Act, the exemption for performance-based compensation was repealed effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, and the number of employees who will be considered “covered employees” subject to the Section 162(m) limit has been expanded to include the CFO (who was

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previously excluded) and certain former NEOs. As a result of these changes, compensation in excess of $1 million paid to NEOs covered by Code Section 162(m)’s deduction limit will not be deductible in 2018 or future years unless it qualifies for transition relief applicable to certain arrangements in place as of November 2, 2017 and not materially modified on or after such date. Due to the uncertainties of the scope of the transition relief, however, there are no assurances that any compensation paid to our covered employees will be or will remain exempt from Code Section 162(m)’s deduction limit. The Compensation Committee historically strived to structure NEO compensation to be exempt from the deductibility limits set forth in Code Section 162(m) whenever possible, including by structuring awards to fit within the performance-based compensation exemption. With the recent changes to Code Section 162(m) and the elimination of the performance-based compensation exemption, more NEO compensation is likely to exceed the Code Section 162(m) limit. The Compensation Committee believes that tax deductibility is but one factor to consider in developing an appropriate compensation package for executives. As such, the Compensation Committee reserves and will exercise its discretion in this area to design a compensation program that serves the long-term interests of the Company, but which may not qualify for tax deductibility under Code Section 162(m).

In addition to Code Section 162(m), the Compensation Committee considers other tax and accounting provisions in developing the pay programs for the NEOs, including:

While the Compensation Committee generally tries to compensate the NEOs in a manner that produces favorable tax and accounting treatment, the main objective is to develop fair and equitable compensation arrangements that appropriately incentivize, reward, and retain the NEOs and aligns our performance goals with shareholder returns.

Share usage requirements and resulting potential shareholder dilution from equity compensation awards is also considered by the Compensation Committee in determining the size of long-term incentive grants.

Why do we have employment letter agreements and change of control agreements with our NEOs?

The Compensation Committee believes that employment letter agreements and change in control agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified executives. Our letter agreements with our NEOs generally set forth the terms of the officer’s employment with Office Depot and also promise severance benefits if the officer is terminated without cause or, in some cases, for good reason, not in connection with a change in control (“CIC”). The retention of key management is essential to and in our and our shareholders’ best interests. The Compensation Committee believes reasonable severance benefits help ensure the continued dedication and efforts of management without undue concern for or distraction by their personal, financial and employment security.

Similarly, the Compensation Committee believes that CIC agreements effectively motivate executives to remain engaged and strive to create shareholder value in the event Office Depot becomes an acquisition target or is targeting another company for acquisition, despite the risk of job loss or the loss of equity vesting opportunity. In addition, these severance and CIC arrangements are necessary to attract and retain qualified executives who may have other job alternatives that may appear to them to be less risky absent these arrangements, and these arrangements are particularly important to Office Depot given the high levels of competition for executive talent in the retail sector.

We have an Executive Change in Control Severance Plan (the “CIC Plan”) pursuant to which we will provide certain severance pay and other benefits to key executives, including the NEOs, who are viewed by us as critical to the continued leadership of the Company in the event of a CIC. The use of a planned approach provides many benefits when compared to entering into individual change in control agreements with each NEO. In most instances, this method ensures consistent terms and provisions and allows us flexibility to amend or change our practices in response to market trends and best practices. The CIC Plan includes features considered to be best practices, including a double trigger for CIC benefits.

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Our letter agreements and the CIC Plan generally require the NEO to sign a release of claims and to abide by certain confidentiality, non-solicitation, non-compete and related restrictive covenants as a condition of receiving severance payments.

For a detailed description of our CIC Plan and our letter agreements with our NEOs, please see the section entitled “Summary of Executive Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” beginning on page 63.

What types of perquisites are NEOs eligible to receive?

We provide the NEOs with a set of core benefits that are generally available to our other full-time employees (e.g., coverage for medical, dental, vision care, prescription drugs, annual physical, and basic life insurance and long-term disability coverage), plus voluntary benefits that a NEO may select (e.g., supplemental life insurance).

In addition, we have a matching contribution to the 401(k) Plan for all participants, including the NEOs, which is equal to 50% of employee deferrals on the first 6% of eligible earnings (up to plan limits). The Compensation Committee believes it is important to offer a benefit of this nature to further motivate and retain employees.

Consistent with the peer group and the current trend in executive compensation, we limit the perquisites provided to our NEOs. Other than the car allowances, financial planning services, and executive physicals provided to our NEOs, perquisites are reserved for the attraction and retention of executive talent and to allow NEOs to efficiently handle the responsibilities of their position. Our current Company Aircraft Use Policy states that personal use of the Company-leased aircraft shall be prohibited except in extenuating circumstances, and in such circumstances shall be permitted only upon prior written approval by the chair of the Compensation Committee.

Do the Compensation and Audit Committees review incentive programs to ensure that they do not encourage excessive risk-taking?

The Compensation and Audit Committees jointly meet annually to review a report prepared by our Internal Audit Department upon such Department’s review of the design of each of the incentive programs for the Company’s regions, certain classifications of employees and business lines, and other relevant programs. Such report assesses whether or not any inappropriate actions had been taken under such programs or whether such programs had any features to incentivize risk-taking. In addition, our independent compensation consultant also reviews and assesses the risk in our compensation programs. The Compensation and Audit Committees jointly reported to the Board that they do not believe that any aspects of the 2018 compensation program encouraged the NEOs to take unnecessary and excessive risks.

Additionally, the financial goals set forth in the corporate annual cash bonus plan and the long-term incentive program are based upon performance targets that the Compensation Committee believes are attainable without the need to take inappropriate risks or make material changes to our business or strategy. Furthermore, the 2018 LTIP awards vest over a three-year period to encourage a longer-term perspective. Finally, the equity component of our compensation program, including the addition of the TSR metric in the 2018 LTIP, coupled with our stock ownership guidelines, align executive and long-term shareholder interests because value is linked to changes in our stock price.

Does the Board have a clawback policy for bonuses and awards paid to NEOs in the event we restate our financial results?

In February 2010, the Board adopted a policy for recoupment of incentive compensation (the “clawback policy”). The clawback policy provides that if we restate our reported financial results for any period beginning after January 1, 2010, the Board will review the bonus and other awards made to executive officers based on financial results during the period subject to the restatement. To the extent practicable and in the best interests of shareholders, the Board may seek to recover or cancel any such awards that were based on having met or exceeded performance targets that would not have been met or exceeded under the restated financial results.

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Are there any restrictions on the ability of our NEOs to engage in transactions involving our stock?

In February 2011, the Board adopted an anti-hedging policy that prohibits hedging transactions with respect to Company securities and derivatives by our Directors, executive officers and all other employees. Furthermore, in October 2014, the Board adopted an anti-pledging policy that prohibits our Directors and executive officers from using Company stock as collateral for any borrowing.

Are the NEOs subject to any minimum requirements regarding ownership of our stock?

The Compensation Committee believes that the NEOs should maintain a meaningful equity interest in the Company through the ownership of stock. As such, the following stock ownership guidelines are in place for our NEOs still employed by the Company:

Our stock ownership guidelines are reviewed annually and are robust and continue to reflect current corporate governance trends. We require that all NEOs satisfy the ownership requirement by holding Company stock equal to a multiple of base salary rather than as a fixed number of shares. This requires NEOs to hold more shares in the event that our stock price decreases. Our CEO and NEOs are only permitted to sell stock before meeting the ownership requirements if they retain 50% of the net shares (after shares are disposed of to pay for taxes and acquisition), which is in line with peer group practice. The type of equity considered for purposes of determining compliance with the stock ownership guidelines is equity that is earned or vested, which is defined as the following:

The current guidelines are considered competitive according to the market data provided by FW Cook. The Compensation Committee annually reviews each NEO’s progress toward meeting the ownership guidelines.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

Ms. Campbell, Mr. Marino, Ms. Ruiz de Luzuriaga and Mr. Travis served as members of the Compensation Committee in fiscal year 2018. None of such committee members (i) was, during fiscal year 2018, an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) was formerly an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (iii) had any relationship requiring disclosure by the Company pursuant to any paragraph of Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. No executive officer of the Company served as an executive officer, director or member of a compensation committee of any other entity of which an executive officer or director of such entity is a member of the Compensation Committee of the Company or the Company’s Board of Directors.

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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed this Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with our management and, based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

Submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors:

V. James Marino (Chair)

Kristin A. Campbell

Francesca Ruiz de Luzuriaga

Nigel Travis

COMPENSATION PROGRAMS RISK ASSESSMENT

In February 2019, the Compensation Committee, in a joint meeting with the Audit Committee, assessed our 2018 compensation programs and practices and concluded that such programs and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us. The Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant also reviews and assesses the risk in our compensation programs.

We conducted a risk assessment that included a detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of our compensation programs to which employees at all levels of the organization may participate, including the NEOs. The Compensation Committee also considers how the design of our compensation programs compares to compensation programs maintained by our peer companies. Based on our risk assessment, and the reviews done by the independent compensation consultant and the Compensation and Audit Committees jointly, the Compensation Committee believes that our 2018 compensation programs have been appropriately designed to attract and retain talent and properly incentivize employees to act in the best interests of Office Depot.

We have programs and features that are designed to ensure that our employees, including the NEOs, are not encouraged to take unnecessary risks in managing our business, including:

We periodically monitor our incentive programs throughout the year to ensure that such programs do not encourage undue risk taking and appropriately balance risk and reward consistent with our enterprise risk management efforts.

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

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OTHER COMPENSATION TABLE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018