Office Depot Earns Perfect Score in Corporate Equality Index for Sixth Consecutive Year

Company Earns 100 Percent on Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s
Fifteenth Annual Scorecard on LGBT Workplace Equality

BOCA RATON, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Office Depot, Inc. (NASDAQ:ODP), a leading global provider of office
products, services and solutions and parent company of Office Depot
and OfficeMax, today announced that it received a perfect score of 100
percent on the 2017
Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and
report on corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality, administered by the
Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). Office Depot joins the ranks of
517 major U.S. businesses which also earned top marks this year.

“We are proud to be recognized as one of the Best Places to Work for
LGBT Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for the sixth year
in a row,” said Michael Allison, EVP and Chief People Officer for
Office Depot. “Office Depot is committed to providing equal
opportunities, rights and benefits to all of our associates. We continue
to recruit a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities
that we serve, recognizing that our organization only flourishes when we
hire, promote and create paths to leadership for people of every
background.”

The 2017 CEI rated 1,043 businesses in the report, which evaluates
LGBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination
workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive
health care benefits, competency programs and public engagement with the
LGBT community. Office Depot’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s
criteria results in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best
Place to Work for LGBT Equality.

“Even in the face of relentless attempts to undermine equality,
America’s leading companies and law firms remain steadfast and committed
to supporting and defending the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people,”
said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The unprecedented expansion of
inclusive workplaces across the country and around the globe not only
reflects our progress, it helps drive it. As we enter a new chapter in
our fight for equality, support from the business community will be more
critical than ever to protect our historic advancements over the last
decade and to continue to push equality forward for workers, customers
and families around the world.”

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America’s
largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for
lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a
world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at
home, at work and in every community.

About Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot, Inc. is a leading global provider of products, services,
and solutions for every workplace – whether your workplace is an office,
home, school or car.

Office Depot, Inc. is a resource and a catalyst to help customers work
better. We are a single source for everything customers need to be more
productive, including the latest technology, core office supplies, print
and document services, business services, facilities products,
furniture, and school essentials.

The company has annual sales of approximately $14 billion, employs
approximately 49,000 associates, and serves consumers and businesses in
59 countries with approximately 1,800 retail stores, award-winning
e-commerce sites and a dedicated business-to-business sales organization
– all delivered through a global network of wholly owned operations,
franchisees, licensees and alliance partners. The company operates under
several banner brands including Office Depot, OfficeMax, Grand & Toy,
and Viking. The company’s portfolio of exclusive product brands include
TUL, Foray, Brenton Studio, Ativa, WorkPro, Realspace and HighMark.

Office Depot, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market under the symbol ODP. Additional press information can be found
at: http://news.officedepot.com.

Contacts

Office Depot, Inc.
Rebecca Rakitin, 561-438-1450
Rebecca.Rakitin@officedepot.com