Exhibit 12

 

Staples, Inc.

Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

(in thousands, except ratios)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

Fiscal Year Ended

 

 

 

November 1,

 

February 2,

 

February 3,

 

January 28,

 

January 29,

 

January 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Earnings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes and minority interests

 

$

888,665

 

$

1,554,482

 

$

1,471,328

 

$

1,235,299

 

$

1,046,575

 

$

714,619

 

Interest portion of rental expense

 

167,046

 

193,850

 

183,854

 

169,825

 

157,187

 

143,992

 

Interest expense, net of capitalized interest

 

88,348

 

38,335

 

47,810

 

56,774

 

39,888

 

31,575

 

Capitalized interest

 

 

 

188

 

 

 

63

 

Pre tax earnings (losses) from equity method investees

 

(879

)

(192

)

 

7

 

95

 

 

 

Less: capitalized interest

 

 

 

(188

)

 

 

(63

)

Less: minority interests

 

(5,859

)

802

 

321

 

(298

)

 

 

Earnings

 

$

1,137,321

 

$

1,787,277

 

$

1,703,313

 

$

1,461,607

 

$

1,243,745

 

$

890,186

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed charges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest portion of rental expense

 

$

167,046

 

$

193,850

 

$

183,854

 

$

169,825

 

$

157,187

 

$

143,992

 

Interest expense, net of capitalized interest

 

88,348

 

38,335

 

47,810

 

56,774

 

39,888

 

31,575

 

Capitalized interest

 

 

 

188

 

 

 

63

 

Fixed charges

 

$

255,394

 

$

232,185

 

$

231,852

 

$

226,599

 

$

197,075

 

$

175,630

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

 

4.45

 

7.70

 

7.35

 

6.45

 

6.31

 

5.07