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Guarantor Subsidiaries (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Jul. 28, 2012 | Jan. 28, 2012 | Jul. 30, 2011 | Jan. 29, 2011
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 984,666 | $ 1,264,149 | $ 823,124 | $ 1,461,257
Merchandise inventories, net | 2,629,598 | 2,431,845 |  |
Other current assets | 2,507,680 | 2,594,826 |  |
Total current assets | 6,121,944 | 6,290,820 |  |
Net property, equipment and other assets | 3,009,555 | 3,157,672 |  |
Goodwill | 3,861,584 | 3,982,130 |  |
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net | 0 | 0 |  |
Total assets | 12,993,083 | 13,430,622 |  |
Total current liabilities | 3,933,804 | 4,074,278 |  |
Total long-term liabilities | 2,262,526 | 2,334,131 |  |
Total stockholders' equity | 6,796,753 | 7,022,213 | 7,119,652 | 6,951,181
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | 12,993,083 | 13,430,622 |  |
Staples, Inc. (Parent Co.) |  |  |  |
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 78,626 | 385,279 | 135,397 | 406,821
Merchandise inventories, net | 0 | 0 |  |
Other current assets | 663,907 | 68,608 |  |
Total current assets | 742,533 | 453,887 |  |
Net property, equipment and other assets | 652,538 | 671,787 |  |
Goodwill | 1,636,726 | 1,644,728 |  |
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net | 5,704,179 | 5,951,426 |  |
Total assets | 8,735,976 | 8,721,828 |  |
Total current liabilities | 237,404 | (13,544) |  |
Total long-term liabilities | 1,701,819 | 1,713,159 |  |
Total stockholders' equity | 6,796,753 | 7,022,213 |  |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | 8,735,976 | 8,721,828 |  |
Guarantor Subsidiaries |  |  |  |
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 76,954 | 43,323 | 46,720 | 38,298
Merchandise inventories, net | 1,560,551 | 1,437,074 |  |
Other current assets | 813,934 | 1,188,378 |  |
Total current assets | 2,451,439 | 2,668,775 |  |
Net property, equipment and other assets | 1,120,927 | 1,165,840 |  |
Goodwill | 153,200 | 156,303 |  |
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net | 8,152,766 | 6,935,956 |  |
Total assets | 11,878,332 | 10,926,874 |  |
Total current liabilities | 2,119,173 | 2,314,411 |  |
Total long-term liabilities | 209,225 | 195,852 |  |
Total stockholders' equity | 9,549,934 | 8,416,611 |  |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | 11,878,332 | 10,926,874 |  |
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries |  |  |  |
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 829,086 | 835,547 | 641,007 | 1,016,138
Merchandise inventories, net | 1,069,047 | 994,771 |  |
Other current assets | 1,029,839 | 1,337,840 |  |
Total current assets | 2,927,972 | 3,168,158 |  |
Net property, equipment and other assets | 1,236,090 | 1,320,045 |  |
Goodwill | 2,071,658 | 2,181,099 |  |
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net | 10,676,696 | 10,988,680 |  |
Total assets | 16,912,416 | 17,657,982 |  |
Total current liabilities | 1,577,227 | 1,773,411 |  |
Total long-term liabilities | 351,482 | 425,120 |  |
Total stockholders' equity | 14,983,707 | 15,459,451 |  |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | 16,912,416 | 17,657,982 |  |
Eliminations |  |  |  |
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 0 | 0 |  |
Merchandise inventories, net | 0 | 0 |  |
Other current assets | 0 | 0 |  |
Total current assets | 0 | 0 |  |
Net property, equipment and other assets | 0 | 0 |  |
Goodwill | 0 | 0 |  |
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net | (24,533,641) | (23,876,062) |  |
Total assets | (24,533,641) | (23,876,062) |  |
Total current liabilities | 0 | 0 |  |
Total long-term liabilities | 0 | 0 |  |
Total stockholders' equity | (24,533,641) | (23,876,062) |  |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ (24,533,641) | $ (23,876,062) |  |

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