<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001157523-12-001710
<TYPE>DEFA14A
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<FILING-DATE>20120405
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20120405
<EFFECTIVENESS-DATE>20120405
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>STAPLES INC
<CIK>0000791519
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5940
<IRS-NUMBER>042896127
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0227
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>DEFA14A
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-17586
<FILM-NUMBER>12745816
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>500 STAPLES DRIVE
<STREET2>P O BOX 9328
<CITY>FRAMINGHAM
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01702
<PHONE>5082535000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>500 STAPLES DR
<CITY>FRAMINGHAM
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01702
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DEFA14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a50230812.htm
<DESCRIPTION>STAPLES, INC. 8-K
<TEXT>
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<!--Copyright 2012 Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company.-->
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    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><b>UNITED
      STATES</b></font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><br style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"></font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><b>SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</b></font><br><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><b>WASHINGTON,
      D.C. 20549</b></font><br><br>
    </p>
    <hr style="text-align: center; height: 1.0 pt; width: 33%; color: #000000">


    <p style="text-align: center">
      <br>
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><b>FORM 8-K</b></font><br><br><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><b>CURRENT
      REPORT</b></font><br><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><b>PURSUANT
      TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) O</b></font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt">F</font><br><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><b>THE
      SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</b></font><br><br><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Date
      of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 5, 2012</font><br><br>
    </p>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Times New Roman; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td valign="top" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>STAPLES, INC.</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Times New Roman; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 33%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>Delaware</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 34%; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>0-17586</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 33%; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>04-2896127</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td valign="bottom" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 33%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            (State or other jurisdiction
          </p>
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            of incorporation)
          </p>
        </td>
        <td valign="bottom" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 34%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            (Commission
          </p>
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            File Number)
          </p>
        </td>
        <td valign="bottom" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 33%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            (IRS Employer
          </p>
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Identification No.)
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Times New Roman; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 67%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>Five Hundred Staples Drive, Framingham, MA</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 33%; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>01702</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td valign="bottom" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 67%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">(Address
            of principal executive offices)</font>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td valign="bottom" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 33%">
          <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">(Zip
          Code)</font>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Registrant&#8217;s
      telephone number, including area code: </font><b>508-253-5000</b><br><br>
    </p>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Times New Roman; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <br>

    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Check the
      appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
      simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
      of the following provisions:</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial Unicode MS">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Written
      communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
      230.425)</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial Unicode MS">&#8864;</font>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Soliciting
      material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14a-12)</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial Unicode MS">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Pre-commencement
      communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14d-2(b))</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial Unicode MS">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Pre-commencement
      communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.13e-4(c))</font>
    </p>
    <div style="text-indent: 0pt; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>
      <b>Item 8.01&#160; Other Events.</b>
    </p>
    <p>

    </p>
    <p>
      On April 5, 2012, Staples, Inc. announced that Dr. Drew Faust, president
      of Harvard University, has been nominated for election to the company&#8217;s
      Board of Directors. The election of directors will take place at the
      company&#8217;s Annual Meeting, scheduled for June 4, 2012. The full text of
      the press release issued in connection with the announcement is attached
      as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
    </p>
    <div style="text-indent: 0pt; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>SIGNATURE</b></font><br>
    </p>
    <p style="text-indent: 30.0px">
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Pursuant to
      the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
      has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
      undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</font>
    </p>
    <p style="text-indent: 30.0px">

    </p>
    <div style="text-align:center">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Times New Roman; width: 100%; margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 5%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Date:
          </p>
        </td>
        <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 45%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            April 5, 2012
          </p>
        </td>
        <td valign="top" colspan="2" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Staples, Inc.
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%">

        </td>
        <td valign="top" colspan="2" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 5%; padding-bottom: 2.0px">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
        <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 45%; padding-bottom: 2.0px">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
        <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 5%; padding-bottom: 2.0px">
          By:
        </td>
        <td valign="top" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 45%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            /s/ Cynthia Pevehouse
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 45%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Cynthia Pevehouse
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 45%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Senior Vice President,
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 45%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            General Counsel and Secretary
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <div style="text-indent: 0pt; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      EXHIBIT INDEX<br><br>
    </p>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Times New Roman; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
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        <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 40%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <u>Exhibit No.</u>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td valign="bottom" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 60%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <u>Description</u>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px">
          99.1
        </td>
        <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 60%">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Press release dated April 5, 2012.
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p>

    </p>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>a50230812ex99_1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1
<TEXT>
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    <title></title>
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    <p style="text-align: right">
      <b>Exhibit 99.1</b>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><b>Staples,
      Inc. Nominates Dr. Drew Faust, President of Harvard University, to Board
      of Directors</b></font>
    </p>
    <p>
      FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 2012--Staples, Inc.
      (Nasdaq: SPLS) today announced that Dr. Drew Faust, president of Harvard
      University, has been nominated for election to the company&#8217;s Board of
      Directors. The election of Directors will take place at the company&#8217;s
      Annual Meeting, scheduled for June 4, 2012.
    </p>
    <p>
      &#8220;We&#8217;re very pleased to nominate Dr. Faust to our Board of Directors,&#8221;
      said Ron Sargent, Staples&#8217; chairman and chief executive officer. &#8220;She
      will bring a unique perspective to our Board in leading a complex,
      global organization. Dr. Faust has extensive leadership and management
      experience related to capital planning, financial oversight, risk
      management, technology and strategy.&#8221;
    </p>
    <p>
      Dr. Faust was named president of Harvard University in 2007. She is
      responsible for all aspects of Harvard's academic and administrative
      activities, including operations, research and teaching, across the
      globe. Dr. Faust serves on the board of Harvard Management Company,
      which is responsible for investing Harvard's endowment and related
      financial assets to support the education and research goals of the
      university. She also led the transformation of Harvard's governance
      structure.
    </p>
    <p>
      The company also announced that Mary Elizabeth Burton will retire from
      its Board when her term ends at the 2012 Annual Meeting.
    </p>
    <p>
      &#8220;Betsy has been a strong leader and has made many contributions to our
      Board,&#8221; Sargent said. &#8220;Over the past 19 years, her knowledge, expertise
      and commitment to our company made Betsy an invaluable resource, and we
      thank her for her outstanding service.&#8221;
    </p>
    <p>
      <b>About Staples</b>
    </p>
    <p>
      Staples is the world&#8217;s largest office products company and a trusted
      source for office solutions. The company provides products, services and
      expertise in office supplies, copy &amp; print, technology, facilities and
      breakroom, and furniture. Staples invented the office superstore concept
      in 1986 and now has annual sales of $25 billion, ranking second in the
      world in eCommerce sales. With 88,000 associates worldwide, Staples
      operates in 26 countries throughout North and South America, Europe,
      Asia and Australia, making it easy for businesses of all sizes, and
      consumers. The company is headquartered outside Boston. More information
      about Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) is available at <u>www.staples.com/media</u>.
    </p>
    <div style="text-indent: 0pt; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <b>IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC</b>
    </p>
    <p>
      Staples will be filing with the SEC and mailing to its stockholders a
      proxy statement relating to the election of directors, including Dr.
      Faust, at its 2012 Annual Meeting. The proxy statement will contain
      important information about Staples and its director nominees.
      Stockholders are urged to read the proxy statement carefully when it is
      available. Stockholders and other interested persons will be able to
      obtain free copies of the proxy statement through the website maintained
      by the SEC at <u>www.sec.gov</u> and through Staples&#8217; own website at <u>http://investor.staples.com</u>.
      Staples and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be
      participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the 2012
      Annual Meeting. Information regarding Staples&#8217; directors and executive
      officers is contained in Staples Form 10-K for the year ended January
      28, 2012 and its proxy statement dated April 25, 2011, which are filed
      with the SEC.
    </p>
    <p>

    </p>
    <p>
      CONTACT:<br>Staples, Inc.<br><b>Media Contact:</b><br>Kirk Saville/Owen
      Davis<br>508-253-8530/8468<br>or<br><b>Investor Contact:</b><br>Chris
      Powers/Kevin Barry<br>508-253-4632/1487
    </p>
    <p>

    </p>
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