United Stationers (USTR)

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010

or

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from           to

Commission File Number:  0-10653

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

One Parkway North Boulevard
Suite 100
Deerfield, Illinois  60015-2559
(847) 627-7000
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s
Principal Executive Offices)

Indicate by check mark whether registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 and Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).   Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).   Yes o No x

On October 22, 2010, the registrant had outstanding 23,148,639 shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share.

Table of Contents

UNITED STATIONERS INC.
FORM 10-Q
For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

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UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements represent United Stationers Inc. (“USI”) with its wholly owned subsidiary United Stationers Supply Co. (“USSC”), and USSC’s subsidiaries (collectively, “United” or the “Company”). The Company is a leading wholesale distributor of business products, with net sales for the trailing 12 months of $4.8 billion. The Company operates in a single reportable segment as a national wholesale distributor of business products. The Company offers more than 100,000 items from over 1,000 manufacturers. These items include a broad spectrum of technology products, traditional business products, office furniture, janitorial and breakroom supplies, and industrial supplies. In addition, the Company also offers private brand products. The Company primarily serves commercial and contract office products dealers, janitorial/breakroom product distributors, computer product resellers, furniture dealers and industrial product distributors. The Company sells its products through a national distribution network of 64 distribution centers to approximately 25,000 resellers, who in turn sell directly to end-consumers.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited, except for the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2009, which was derived from the December 31, 2009 audited financial statements. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Accordingly, the reader of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for further information.

In the opinion of the management of the Company, the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the periods presented include all adjustments necessary to fairly present the Company’s results for such periods. Certain interim estimates of a normal, recurring nature are recognized throughout the year, relating to accounts receivable, supplier allowances, inventory, customer rebates, price changes and product mix. The Company evaluates these estimates periodically and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate.

Acquisition and Investments

During the first quarter of 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the capital stock of MBS Dev, Inc. (“MBS Dev”), a software solutions provider to business products resellers, which allows the Company to accelerate e-business development and enable customers and suppliers to utilize the internet.   The purchase price included $12 million plus $3 million in deferred payments and an additional potential $3 million earn-out based upon the achievement of certain financial goals.  The $3 million in deferred payments are to be paid to the former owners over the course of the next four years, the timing of which is based upon the achievement of certain financial goals. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recorded $14.0 million of goodwill, $3.7 million in intangible assets, and $4.1 million of liabilities, at fair value, related to the deferred payments and the earn-out.  Net of cash held by MBS Dev at closing, the initial cash outlay was $10.5 million.

During the second quarter of 2010, the Company invested $5 million to acquire a minority interest in the capital stock of a managed print services and technology solution business.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. For all acquisitions, account balances and results of operations are included in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements since the date acquired.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Various assumptions and other factors underlie the determination of significant accounting estimates. The process of determining significant estimates is fact specific and takes into account factors such as historical experience, current and expected economic conditions, product mix, and in some cases, actuarial techniques. The Company periodically reevaluates these significant factors and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate. Historically, actual results have not significantly deviated from estimates.

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Supplier allowances (fixed or variable) are common practice in the business products industry and have a significant impact on the Company’s overall gross margin. Gross margin is determined by, among other items, file margin (determined by reference to invoiced price), as reduced by customer discounts and rebates as discussed below, and increased by supplier allowances and promotional incentives. Receivables related to supplier allowances totaled $66.6 million and $78.2 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  These receivables are included in “Accounts receivable” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, approximately 17% of the Company’s estimated annual supplier allowances and incentives were fixed, which are earned based on supplier participation in specific Company advertising and marketing publications. Fixed allowances and incentives are taken to income through lower cost of goods sold as inventory is sold.

The remaining 83% of the Company’s annual supplier allowances and incentives for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were variable, based on the volume and mix of the Company’s product purchases from suppliers.  These variable allowances are recorded based on the Company’s annual inventory purchase volumes and product mix and are included in the Company’s financial statements as a reduction to cost of goods sold, thereby reflecting the net inventory purchase cost. Supplier allowances and incentives attributable to unsold inventory are carried as a component of net inventory cost. The potential amount of variable supplier allowances often differs based on purchase volumes by supplier and product category. As a result, changes in the Company’s sales volume (which can increase or reduce inventory purchase requirements) and changes in product sales mix (especially because higher-margin products often benefit from higher supplier allowance rates) can create fluctuations in variable supplier allowances.

Customer rebates and discounts are common practice in the business products industry and have a significant impact on the Company’s overall sales and gross margin. Such rebates are reported in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as a reduction of sales. Customer rebates of $52.1 million and $59.5 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, are included as a component of “Accrued liabilities” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Customer rebates include volume rebates, sales growth incentives, advertising allowances, participation in promotions and other miscellaneous discount programs. These rebates are paid to customers monthly, quarterly and/or annually. Estimates for volume rebates and growth incentives are based on estimated annual sales volume to the Company’s customers. The aggregate amount of customer rebates depends on product sales mix and customer mix changes. Reported results reflect management’s current estimate of such rebates. Changes in estimates of sales volumes, product mix, customer mix or sales patterns, or actual results that vary from such estimates, may impact future results.

Revenue is recognized when a service is rendered or when title to the product has transferred to the customer. Management records an estimate for future product returns related to revenue recognized in the current period. This estimate is based on historical product return trends and the gross margin associated with those returns. Management also records customer rebates that are based on estimated annual sales volume to the Company’s customers. Annual rebates earned by customers include growth components, volume hurdle components, and advertising allowances.

Shipping, handling and fuel costs billed to customers are treated as revenues and recognized at the time title to the product has transferred to the customer. Freight costs for inbound and outbound shipments are included in the Company’s financial statements as a component of cost of goods sold and not netted against shipping and handling revenues. Net sales do not include sales tax charged to customers.

The Company makes judgments as to the collectability of accounts receivable based on historical trends and future expectations. Management estimates an allowance for doubtful accounts, which addresses the collectability of trade accounts receivable. This allowance adjusts gross trade accounts receivable downward to its estimated collectible or net realizable value. To determine the allowance for doubtful accounts, management reviews specific customer risks and the Company’s accounts receivable aging.  Uncollectible receivable balances are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts when it is determined that the receivable balance is uncollectible.

The Company is primarily responsible for retained liabilities related to workers’ compensation, vehicle, property and general liability and certain employee health benefits. The Company records expense for paid and open claims and an expense for claims incurred but not reported based on historical trends and certain assumptions about future events. The Company has an annual per-person maximum cap, provided by a third-party insurance company, on certain employee medical benefits. In addition, the Company has both a per-occurrence maximum loss and an annual aggregate maximum cap on workers’ compensation claims.

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Leases

The Company leases real estate and personal property under operating leases. Certain operating leases include incentives from landlords including landlord “build-out” allowances, rent escalation clauses and rent holidays or periods in which rent is not payable for a certain amount of time. The Company accounts for landlord “build-out” allowances as deferred rent at the time of possession and amortizes this deferred rent on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

The Company also recognizes leasehold improvements and amortizes these improvements over the shorter of (1) the term of the lease or (2) the expected life of the respective improvements.  The Company accounts for rent escalation and rent holidays as deferred rent at the time of possession and amortizes this deferred rent on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. As of September 30, 2010, the Company is not a party to any capital leases.

Inventory valued under the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) accounting method constituted approximately 77% and 79% of total inventory as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. LIFO results in a better matching of costs and revenues. The remaining inventory is valued under the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) accounting method. Inventory valued under the FIFO and LIFO accounting methods is recorded at the lower of cost or market. If the Company had valued its entire inventory under the lower of FIFO cost or market, inventory would have been $84.0 million and $80.9 million higher than reported as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The change in the LIFO reserve since December 31, 2009, resulted in a $3.1 million increase in cost of goods sold.

The Company also records adjustments to inventory for shrinkage. Inventory that is obsolete, damaged, defective or slow moving is recorded at the lower of cost or market. These adjustments are determined using historical trends and are adjusted, if necessary, as new information becomes available.  The Company charges certain warehousing and administrative expenses to inventory each period with $27.6 million and $25.3 million remaining in inventory as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

An unfunded check balance (payments in-transit) exists for the Company’s primary disbursement accounts.  Under the Company’s cash management system, the Company utilizes available cash and borrowings, on an as-needed basis, to fund the clearing of checks as they are presented for payment.  As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, outstanding checks totaling $35.4 million and $88.4 million, respectively, were included in “Accounts payable” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

All highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered to be short-term investments.  Short-term investments consist primarily of money market funds rated AAA and are stated at cost, which approximates fair value.

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization are determined by using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful life assigned to fixtures and equipment is from two to 10 years; the estimated useful life assigned to buildings does not exceed 40 years; leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of their useful lives or the term of the applicable lease. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred.

The Company capitalizes internal use software development costs, which are included as part of Property, Plant and Equipment, in accordance with accounting guidance on accounting for costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use. Amortization is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, generally not to exceed seven years. Capitalized software is included in “Property, plant and equipment, at cost” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. The total costs are as follows (in thousands):

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The Company’s risk management policies allow for the use of derivative financial instruments to prudently manage foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate exposure.  The policies do not allow such derivative financial instruments to be used for speculative purposes.  At this time, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps, which are subject to the management, direction and control of our financial officers.  These swaps effectively convert the majority of the Company’s floating rate debt to a fixed-rate basis. Risk management practices, including the use of all derivative financial instruments, are presented to the Board of Directors for approval.

All derivatives are recognized on the balance sheet date at their fair value.  All derivatives in a net receivable position are included in “Other assets”, and those in a net liability position are included in “Other long-term liabilities”.  The interest rate swaps that the Company has entered into are classified as cash flow hedges in accordance with accounting guidance on derivative instruments as they are hedging forecasted transactions related to variability of cash flow to be paid by the Company.

Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is qualified, designated and highly effective as a cash flow hedge are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, until earnings are affected by forecasted transactions related to variability of cash flow, and then are reported in current earnings.

The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as the risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions.  This process includes linking all derivatives designated as cash flow hedges to specific forecasted transactions with variable cash flows.

The Company formally assesses, at both the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the hedged items.  When it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge then hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively in accordance with accounting guidance on derivative instruments and hedging activities.  At this time, this has not occurred as all cash flow hedges contain no ineffectiveness.  See Note 13, “Derivative Financial Instruments” and Note 14, “Fair Value Measurements”, for further detail.

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method in accordance with accounting guidance on income taxes.  The Company estimates actual current tax expense and assesses temporary differences that exist due to differing treatments for tax and financial statement purposes.  These temporary differences result in the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities.  A provision has not been made for deferred U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries as these earnings have historically been permanently invested.  It is not practicable to determine the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability for such unremitted foreign earnings.  The Company accounts for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense.

The functional currency for the Company’s foreign operations is the local currency. Assets and liabilities of these operations are translated into U.S. currency at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. The resulting translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Income and expense items are translated at average monthly rates of exchange. Realized gains and losses from foreign currency transactions were not material.

In May 2009, the FASB issued ASC Topic 855 “Subsequent Events”, intended to improve disclosure of significant events that occur after the interim and/or annual financial statement date as well as to specify a time period through which management has included analysis of such subsequent events.  ASC Topic 855 is effective for all interim and annual periods beginning on or after June 15, 2009. Accordingly, the Company adopted ASC Topic 855 during the second quarter of 2009. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the filing date of the financial statements issued.

In June 2009, the FASB issued ASC Topic 810 “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets”.  ASC Topic 810 is a revision to prior guidance and will require more information about transfers of financial assets, including securitization transactions, and where companies have continuing exposure to the risks related to transferred financial assets. It eliminates the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity”, changes the requirements for derecognizing financial assets, and requires additional disclosures.  Also, in June 2009, the FASB issued ASC Topic 810 “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46 (R)” for accounting for variable interest entities (VIEs). This new guidance on VIEs is a revision to prior guidance, and changes how a company determines when an entity that is insufficiently capitalized or is not controlled through voting (or similar rights) should be consolidated. The determination of whether a company is required to consolidate an entity is based on, among other things, an entity’s purpose and design and a company’s ability to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. ASC Topic 810 was effective at the start of a company’s first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2009. The adoption of ASC Topic 810 did not have an impact on the Company’s financial position and/or its results of operations.

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In January 2010, the FASB issued ASC Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, which updated and clarified previously issued guidance to improve disclosures about fair value measurements.  These new disclosures include stating separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and the reasons for the transfers.  In addition, it states that a reporting entity should present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using Level 3 inputs. The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of ASC Topic 820 did not have an impact on the Company’s financial position and/or its results of operations. See Note 14, “Fair Value Measurements”, for information and related disclosures regarding the Company’s fair value measurements.

3. Share-Based Compensation

As of September 30, 2010, the Company has two active equity compensation plans under which share-based awards are issued. A description of these plans is as follows:

Amended and Restated 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”)

In March 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the LTIP to, among other things, attract and retain managerial talent, further align the interest of key associates to those of the Company’s stockholders and provide competitive compensation to key associates. Award vehicles include stock options, stock appreciation rights, full value awards, cash incentive awards and performance-based awards. Key associates and non-employee directors of the Company are eligible to become participants in the LTIP, except that non-employee directors may not be granted incentive stock options. The Company granted 150,559 shares of restricted stock and 124,424 restricted stock units (RSUs) under the LTIP during the first nine months of 2010. The Company did not grant stock options, stock appreciation rights or cash incentive awards under the LTIP during 2010.

Pursuant to the United Stationers Inc. Nonemployee Directors’ Deferred Stock Compensation Plan, non-employee directors may defer receipt of all or a portion of their retainer and meeting fees. Fees deferred are credited quarterly to each participating director in the form of stock units based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the quarterly deferral date. Each stock unit account generally is distributed and settled in whole shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis, with a cash-out of any fractional stock unit interests, after the participant ceases to serve as a Company director.

The following table summarizes the share-based compensation expense (in thousands):

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The following tables summarize the intrinsic value of options outstanding, based on the stock prices of $53.51 and $47.61 as of September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and exercisable and exercised for the applicable periods listed below, respectively, (in thousands of dollars):

The following tables summarize the intrinsic value of restricted shares outstanding and vested for the applicable periods listed below (in thousands of dollars):

Intrinsic Value of Restricted Shares Outstanding

As of September 30, 2010, the amount of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock option awards granted was immaterial.  As of September 30, 2010, there was $22.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock awards and RSUs granted. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.0 years.

Accounting guidance from the FASB on share-based payments requires that cash flows resulting from the tax benefits of tax deductions in excess of the compensation cost recognized for share-based compensation (excess tax benefits) be classified as financing cash flows. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, excess tax benefits of $3.6 million, classified as financing cash inflows on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, would have been classified as operating cash inflows if the Company had not adopted this guidance on share-based payments. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 this amount was $0.2 million.

Stock Options

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model that uses various assumptions including the expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate, and expected life of the option.  Stock options generally vest in annual increments over three years and have a term of 10 years. Compensation costs for all stock options are recognized, net of estimated forfeitures, on a straight-line basis as a single award typically over the vesting period. The Company estimates expected volatility based on historical volatility of the price of its common stock. The Company estimates the expected term of share-based awards by using historical data relating to option exercises and employee terminations to estimate the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The interest rate for periods during the expected life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant.  There were no stock options granted during the first nine months of 2010 or 2009.

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The following table summarizes the transactions relating to stock options under the Company’s equity compensation plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2010:

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

During the third quarter of 2010, 138,455 shares of restricted stock and 20,800 RSUs were granted.  During the first nine months of 2010, the Company granted 150,559 shares of restricted stock and 124,424 RSUs.  During the third quarter of 2009, 137,236 shares of restricted stock and 226,087 RSUs were granted.  During the first nine months of 2009, 320,017 shares of restricted stock and 226,087 RSUs were granted.  The restricted stock granted in each period vests in three equal annual installments on the anniversaries of the date of the grant.  The RSUs granted in 2010 vest in three annual installments on the appropriate calendar year ends, to the extent earned based on the Company’s cumulative economic profit performance against target economic profit goals. The RSUs granted in 2009 vest on December 31, 2012 to the extent earned based on the Company’s cumulative economic profit performance against target economic profit goals. A summary of the status of the Company’s restricted stock award and RSU grants and changes during the first nine months of 2010 is as follows:

Accounting guidance from the FASB on goodwill and intangible assets requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying value.  The Company performs an annual impairment test on goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives at December 31st of each year.  Based on this latest test, the Company concluded that the fair value of each of the reporting units was in excess of the carrying value as of December 31, 2009. The Company did not consider there to be any triggering event during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 that would require an interim impairment assessment.  As a result, none of the goodwill or intangible assets with indefinite lives were tested for impairment during the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010.

As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets reflect $328.4 million and $314.4 million of goodwill, and $62.7 million and $62.9 million in net intangible assets, respectively.

The net intangible assets consist primarily of customer lists and non-compete agreements purchased as part of past acquisitions.  The Company has no intention to renew or extend the terms of acquired intangible assets and accordingly, did not incur any related costs during the first nine months of 2010.  Amortization of intangible assets totaled $1.3 million and $3.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.  Amortization of intangible assets totaled $1.2 million and $3.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.  Accumulated amortization of intangible assets as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 totaled $20.3 million and $16.4 million, respectively.

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On January 27, 2009, the Company announced a plan to eliminate staff positions through an involuntary separation plan.  The severance charge included workforce reductions of 250 associates. The Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $3.4 million in the first quarter of 2009 for estimated severance pay and benefits, prorated bonuses, and outplacement costs.  This charge is included in “Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses” on the Company’s Statements of Income. Cash outlays associated with the severance charge in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 totaled $0.5 million and $2.6 million, respectively.  During the third quarter of 2009, the Company reversed $0.4 million of these severance charges. Therefore, the Company had accrued liabilities for the severance charge of $0.4 million as of September 30, 2009. The Company paid the remainder of these charges throughout the fourth quarter of 2009. As a result of this activity, the Company had no accrued liabilities for these charges as of December 31, 2009. In addition, during the third quarter of 2009 the Company incurred new severance charges and facility closure costs related to other activities totaling $0.4 million.  Cash outlays associated with these other severance charges and facility closure costs totaled $0.4 million during third quarter.

Comprehensive income is a component of stockholders’ equity and consists of the following components (in thousands):

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) are computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if dilutive securities were exercised into common stock. Stock options, non-vested restricted stock and restricted stock units are considered dilutive securities.  Stock options to purchase 0.4 million shares of common stock were outstanding for each of the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2010, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and, therefore, the effect would be antidilutive.  The amount of the antidilutive options for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 were 1.5 million and 2.2 million shares, respectively.  The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):

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As of September 30, 2010, the Company had $11.5 million remaining of Board authorizations to repurchase USI common stock.  During the three-month periods ended September 30, 2010, the Company repurchased 300,948 shares of common stock at a cost of $14.7 million.  During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, the Company repurchased 1,584,769 shares of common stock at a cost of $89.4 million.  There were no share repurchases in the first three or nine months of 2009.  Depending on market and business conditions and other factors, the Company may continue or suspend purchasing its common stock at any time without notice.  Acquired shares are included in the issued shares of the Company and treasury stock, but are not included in average shares outstanding when calculating earnings per share data. During the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, the Company reissued 852,322 and 374,130 shares, respectively, of treasury stock to fulfill its obligations under its equity compensation plans.

On October 25, 2010, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the purchase of an additional $100 million of the Company’s common stock.  This brings the total amount available under outstanding share repurchase authorizations to $109.3 million as of October 25, 2010.

8. Off-Balance Sheet Financing

On March 28, 2003, USSC entered into a third-party receivables securitization program with JP Morgan Chase Bank, as trustee (the “Prior Receivables Securitization Program” or the “Prior Program”). On November 10, 2006, the Company entered into an amendment to its revolving credit agreement which, among other things, increased the permitted size of the Prior Receivables Securitization Program to $350 million, a $75 million increase from the $275 million limit under the prior credit agreement.  During the first quarter of 2007, the Company increased its commitments for third party purchases of receivables, and the maximum funding available under the Prior Program became $250 million.  On March 2, 2009, in preparation for entering into a new securitization program (see Note 9, “Credit Agreement and Other Debt” for more information on the new program), USI’s subsidiaries United Stationers Financial Services (“USFS”) and USS Receivables Company, Ltd. (“USSRC”) terminated the Prior Program. The Prior Program typically had been the Company’s preferred source of floating rate financing, primarily because it generally carried a lower cost than other traditional borrowings.

Under the Prior Program, USSC sold, on a revolving basis, its eligible trade accounts receivable (except for certain excluded accounts receivable, which initially included all accounts receivable of Lagasse, Inc. and foreign operations) to USSRC. USSRC, in turn, ultimately transferred the eligible trade accounts receivable to a trust. The trust then sold investment certificates, which represented an undivided interest in the pool of accounts receivable owned by the trust, to third-party investors. Affiliates of J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, PNC Bank and Fifth Third Bank acted as funding agents. The funding agents, or their affiliates, provided standby liquidity funding to support the sale of the accounts receivable by USSRC under 364-day liquidity facilities.

The Prior Program was accounted for as a sale in accordance with FASB accounting guidance on the accounting for transfers and servicing of financial assets and extinguishments of liabilities. Trade accounts receivable sold under the Prior Program were excluded from accounts receivable in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company recognized certain costs and/or losses related to the Prior Program. Costs related to the Prior Program varied on a daily basis and generally were related to certain short-term interest rates. The annual interest rate on the certificates issued under the Prior Program for the first two months of 2009 ranged between 0.6% and 2.3%. In addition to the interest on the certificates, the Company paid certain bank fees related to the program. Losses recognized on the sale of accounts receivable, which represent the interest and bank fees that are the financial cost of funding under the Prior Program including amortization of previously capitalized bank fees and excluding servicing revenues, totaled $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. Proceeds from collections for the three month period ended March 31, 2009 totaled $0.6 billion under the Prior Program.  As the program was terminated on March 2, 2009, there were no losses or proceeds from the Prior Program during the last three quarters in 2009.  All costs and/or losses related to the Prior Program are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income under the caption “Other Expense, net.”

The Company maintained responsibility for servicing the sold trade accounts receivable and those transferred to the trust. No servicing asset or liability was recorded because the fees received for servicing the receivables approximated the related costs.

USSRC determined the level of funding achieved by the sale of trade accounts receivable under the Prior Program, subject to a maximum amount. It retained a residual interest in the eligible receivables transferred to the trust, such that amounts payable in respect of the residual interest would be distributed to USSRC upon payment in full of all amounts owed by USSRC to the trust (and by the trust to its investors).

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The Company measured the fair value of its retained interest throughout the term of the Prior Program using a present value model incorporating the following two key economic assumptions: (1) an average collection cycle of approximately 45 days; and (2) an assumed discount rate of 3% per annum, which approximated the Company’s interest cost on the Prior Program. In addition, the Company estimated and recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts related to the Company’s retained interest. Considering the above noted economic factors and estimates of doubtful accounts, the book value of the Company’s retained interest approximated fair value at year-end 2008. A 10% or 20% adverse change in the assumed discount rate or average collection cycle would not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. Accounts receivable sold to the trust and written off during the first quarter of 2009 were not material.

USI is a holding company and, as a result, its primary sources of funds are cash generated from operating activities of its direct operating subsidiary, USSC, and from borrowings by USSC. The 2007 Credit Agreement (as defined below), the 2007 Master Note Purchase Agreement (as defined below) and the 2009 Receivables Securitization Program (as defined below) contain restrictions on the ability of USSC to transfer cash to USI.

Long-term debt consisted of the following amounts (in thousands):

As of September 30, 2010, 100% of the Company’s outstanding debt was priced at variable interest rates based primarily on the applicable bank prime rate, the London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or the applicable commercial paper rates related to the 2009 Receivables Securitization Program. While the Company had primarily all of its outstanding debt based on LIBOR at September 30, 2010, the Company had hedged $435.0 million of this debt with three separate interest rate swaps further discussed in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”; and Note 13, “Derivative Financial Instruments”, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.  As of September 30, 2010, the overall weighted average effective borrowing rate of the Company’s debt was 5.0%.  At September 30, 2010 funding levels, a 50 basis point movement in interest rates would not result in a material increase or decrease in annualized interest expense on a pre-tax basis, nor upon cash flows from operations.

On March 3, 2009, USI entered into an accounts receivables securitization program (as amended to date, the “2009 Receivables Securitization Program” or the “2009 Program”) that replaced the securitization program that USI terminated on March 2, 2009 (the “Prior Receivables Securitization Program” or the “Prior Program”). The parties to the 2009 Program are USI, USSC, USFS, and United Stationers Receivables, LLC (“USR”), and Bank of America, National Association (“Bank of America”) and Enterprise Funding Company LLC (“Enterprise” and, together with Bank of America, the “Investors”).  The 2009 Program is governed by the following agreements:

·               Transfer and Administration Agreement among USSC, USFS, USR, and the Investors;

·               Receivables Sale Agreement between USSC and USFS;

·               Receivables Purchase Agreement between USFS and USR; and

·               Performance Guaranty executed by USI in favor of USR.

Pursuant to the Receivables Sale Agreement, USSC sells to USFS, on an on-going basis, all the customer accounts receivable and related rights originated by USSC.  Pursuant to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, USFS sells to USR, on an on-going basis, all the accounts receivable and related rights purchased from USSC, as well as the accounts receivable and related rights USFS acquired from its then subsidiary, USSRC, upon the termination of the Prior Program.  Pursuant to the Transfer and Administration Agreement, USR then sells the receivables and related rights to Bank of America, as agent on behalf of Enterprise.  The maximum investment to USR at any one time outstanding under the 2009 Program cannot exceed $100 million. USFS retains servicing responsibility over the receivables. USR is a wholly-owned, bankruptcy remote special purpose subsidiary of USFS.

The assets of USR are not available to satisfy the creditors of any other person, including USFS, USSC or USI, until all amounts outstanding under the facility are repaid and the 2009 Program has been terminated.  The maturity date of the 2009 Program is November 23, 2013, subject to the Investors’ renewing their commitments as liquidity providers supporting the 2009 Program, which expire on January 21, 2011.

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The receivables sold to Bank of America will remain on USI’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, and amounts advanced to USR by Enterprise, Bank of America or any successor Investor will be recorded as debt on USI’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The cost of such debt will be recorded as interest expense on USI’s income statement.  As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, $450.3 million and $445.3 million, respectively, of receivables have been sold and no amounts have been advanced to USR.

The Transfer and Administration Agreement prohibits the Company from exceeding a Leverage Ratio of 3.25 to 1.00 and imposes other restrictions on the Company’s ability to incur additional debt. This agreement also contains additional covenants, requirements and events of default that are customary for this type of agreement, including the failure to make any required payments when due.

On July 5, 2007, USI and USSC entered into a Second Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement with PNC Bank, National Association and U.S. Bank National Association, as Syndication Agents, KeyBank National Association and LaSalle Bank, National Association, as Documentation Agents, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Agent (as amended on December 21, 2007, the “2007 Credit Agreement”).  The 2007 Credit Agreement provides a Revolving Credit Facility with a committed principal amount of $425 million and a Term Loan in the principal amount of $200 million.  Interest on both the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan is based on the three-month LIBOR plus an interest margin based upon the Company’s debt to EBITDA ratio (or “Leverage Ratio”, as defined in the 2007 Credit Agreement).  The Revolving Credit Facility expires on July 5, 2012, which is also the maturity date of the Term Loan.

On October 15, 2007, USI and USSC entered into a Master Note Purchase Agreement (the “2007 Note Purchase Agreement”) with several purchasers.  The 2007 Note Purchase Agreement allows USSC to issue up to $1 billion of senior secured notes, subject to the debt restrictions contained in the 2007 Credit Agreement.  Pursuant to the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement, USSC issued and sold $135 million of floating rate senior secured notes due October 15, 2014 at par in a private placement (the “Series 2007-A Notes”).  Interest on the Series 2007-A Notes is payable quarterly in arrears at a rate per annum equal to three-month LIBOR plus 1.30%, beginning January 15, 2008.  USSC may issue additional series of senior secured notes from time to time under the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement but has no specific plans to do so at this time.  USSC used the proceeds from the sale of these notes to repay borrowings under the 2007 Credit Agreement.

USSC has entered into several interest rate swap transactions to effectively convert the majority of its floating-rate debt to a fixed-rate basis.  See Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”; and Note 13, “Derivative Financial Instruments”, to the Consolidated Financial Statements, for further details on these swap transactions and their accounting treatment.

The 2007 Credit Agreement also provides for the issuance of letters of credit in an aggregate amount of up to a sublimit of $90 million and provides a sublimit for swingline loans in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $30 million at any one time. These amounts, as sublimits, do not increase the maximum aggregate principal amount, and any undrawn issued letters of credit and all outstanding swingline loans under the facility reduce the remaining availability under the 2007 Credit Agreement. As of both September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had outstanding letters of credit under the 2007 Credit Agreement of $17.9 million.  Approximately, $7.0 million of these letters of credit were used to guarantee the industrial development bond. The industrial development bond had $6.8 million outstanding as of September 30, 2010 and carried market-based interest rates.

Obligations of USSC under the 2007 Credit Agreement and the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement are guaranteed by USI and certain of USSC’s domestic subsidiaries.  USSC’s obligations under these agreements and the guarantors’ obligations under the guaranties are secured by liens on substantially all Company assets, including accounts receivable, chattel paper, commercial tort claims, documents, equipment, fixtures, instruments, inventory, investment property, pledged deposits and all other tangible and intangible personal property (including proceeds) and certain real property, but excluding accounts receivable (and related credit support) subject to any accounts receivable securitization program permitted under the 2007 Credit Agreement.  Also securing these obligations are first priority pledges of all of the capital stock of USSC and the domestic subsidiaries of USSC.

The 2007 Credit Agreement and 2007 Note Purchase Agreement prohibit the Company from exceeding a Leverage Ratio of 3.25 to 1.00 and impose other restrictions on the Company’s ability to incur additional debt. Those agreements also contain additional covenants, requirements and events of default that are customary for those types of agreements, including the failure to pay principal or interest when due. The 2007 Credit Agreement, 2007 Note Purchase Agreement, and the Transfer and Administration Agreement all contain cross-default provisions.  As a result, if a termination event occurs under any of those agreements, the lenders under all of the agreements may cease to make additional loans, accelerate any loans then outstanding and/or terminate the agreements to which they are party.

10. Retirement Plans

Pension and Post-Retirement Health Care Benefit Plans

The Company maintains pension plans covering a majority of its employees. In addition, the Company has a post-retirement health care benefit plan (the “Retiree Medical Plan”) covering substantially all retired employees and their dependents, which will be terminated effective December 31, 2010. For more information on the Company’s retirement plans, see Notes 12 and 13 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009. A summary of net periodic benefit cost related to the Company’s pension and Retiree Medical plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (dollars in thousands):

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Effective March 1, 2009, the Company froze pension service benefits for employees not covered by collective bargaining agreements.  As a result, the Company incurred a curtailment loss of $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2009.  The Company also reduced the Pension Benefit Obligation (“PBO”) by $11.8 million as a result of this action.  The PBO reduction led to an $11.8 million reduction in the “Accrued pension benefits liability” and a corresponding increase in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax.

The Company made cash contributions of $8.7 million and $3.8 million to its pension plans during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The Company does not expect to make any additional contributions to its pension plans during the remaining three months of 2010.

On April 15, 2010, the Company notified the participants that it would terminate the Retiree Medical Plan effective December 31, 2010 and account for this as a negative plan amendment.  The amendment of the Retiree Medical Plan will eliminate any future obligation of the Company to provide cost sharing benefits to current or future retirees.  During the three- and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2010, the Company recorded a pre-tax gain of $3.3 million and $6.1 million, respectively, for the reversal of actuarially-based liabilities resulting from the amendment of the Retiree Medical Plan.  The Company anticipates that the amendment of the Retiree Medical Plan will result in a future gain of approximately $3.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.

The Company has defined contribution plans covering certain salaried employees and non-union hourly paid employees (the “Plan”). The Plan permits employees to defer a portion of their pre-tax and after-tax salary as contributions to the Plan.  The Plan also provides for discretionary Company contributions and Company contributions matching employees’ salary deferral contributions, at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Company recorded expense of $0.9 million and $2.5 million for the Company match of employee contributions to the Plan for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.  During the same periods last year, the Company recorded expense of $0.4 million and $2.5 million for the same match.  Effective May 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009, the Company temporarily suspended the matching of employee contributions to the Plan for all exempt associates, which was reinstated beginning January 1, 2010 at a reduced matching percentage.

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11. Other Long-Term Assets and Long-Term Liabilities

Other long-term assets and long-term liabilities as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows (in thousands):