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Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
 3 Months Ended
Apr. 28, 2012
Pension and Other Post Retirement Benefit Plans Disclosure [Abstract]  
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
 
In connection with the acquisition of Corporate Express, Staples assumed the obligations under the defined benefit pension plans Corporate Express sponsored.  The pension plans cover certain employees in Europe and the United States.   The benefits due to U.S. plan participants are frozen.  A number of the defined benefit plans outside the U.S. are funded with plan assets that have been segregated in trusts.  Contributions are made to these trusts, as necessary, to meet legal and other requirements.
 
In August 2010, the Company began sponsoring an unfunded post-retirement life insurance benefit plan, which provides benefits to eligible U.S. executives based on earnings, years of service and age at termination of employment.
 
The total net cost recognized for the first quarter of 2012 and 2011 associated with the pension and other post-retirement benefit plans is based upon preliminary estimates pending the final actuarial determination of such costs. The following table presents a summary of the total net periodic cost recorded in the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the first quarter of 2012 and 2011 related to the plans (in thousands):
 
 
 13 Weeks Ended April 28, 2012
 
Pension Plans
 
 Other
Post-Retirement Benefit Plan Total
 
U.S. Plans
 
International Plans
 
Total
 
Service cost
$
—

 
$
2,648

 
$
2,648

 
$
460

Interest cost
443

 
9,668

 
10,111

 
385

Expected return on plan assets
(438
)
 
(12,968
)
 
(13,406
)
 
—

Amortization of unrecognized losses and prior service costs
83

 
1,345

 
1,428

 
429

Total cost
$
88

 
$
693

 
$
781

 
$
1,274

 
13 Weeks Ended April 30, 2011
 
Pension Plans
 
 Other
Post-Retirement Benefit Plan Total
 
U.S. Plans
 
International Plans
 
Total
 
Service cost
$
—

 
$
2,403

 
$
2,403

 
$
454

Interest cost
466

 
10,179

 
10,645

 
380

Expected return on plan assets
(422
)
 
(13,923
)
 
(14,345
)
 
—

Amortization of unrecognized losses and prior service costs
—

 
352

 
352

 
441

Total cost (benefit)
$
44

 
$
(989
)
 
$
(945
)
 
$
1,275



Cash contributions made to the pension plans during the first quarter of 2012 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
13 Weeks Ended
 
April 28, 2012
 
April 30, 2011
U.S. Pension Plans
$
254

 
$
194

International Pension Plans
7,561

 
1,905

Total
$
7,815

 
$
2,099


 
The Company expects to make additional cash contributions of $1.1 million and $6.0 million to the U.S. Pension Plans and International Pension Plans, respectively, during the remainder of fiscal year 2012.  No cash contributions are expected to be made during 2012 to the Company’s other post-retirement benefit plans.