<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001157523-12-002917.txt : 20120516
<SEC-HEADER>0001157523-12-002917.hdr.sgml : 20120516
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120516060601
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001157523-12-002917
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120516
ITEM INFORMATION:		Results of Operations and Financial Condition
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120516
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120516

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STAPLES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000791519
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-MISCELLANEOUS SHOPPING GOODS STORES [5940]
		IRS NUMBER:				042896127
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0227

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17586
		FILM NUMBER:		12847221

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 STAPLES DRIVE
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 9328
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01702
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5082535000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 STAPLES DR
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01702
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a50278974.htm
<DESCRIPTION>STAPLES, INC. 8-K
<TEXT>
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      <font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman">UNITED STATES</font><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><br style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"></font><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman">SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font><br><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman">WASHINGTON,
      D.C. 20549</font><br><br>
    </p>
    <hr style="color: #000000; width: 33%; text-align: center; height: 1.0 pt">


    <p style="text-align: center">
      <br>
      <font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman">FORM 8-K</font><br><br><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman">CURRENT
      REPORT</font><br><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman">PURSUANT
      TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF</font><br><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman">THE
      SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font><br><br><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Date
      of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 16, 2012</font><br><br>
    </p>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            STAPLES, INC.
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <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="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 33%; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Delaware
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 34%; white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            0-17586
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 33%; white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            04-2896127
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 33%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <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 style="width: 34%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            (Commission
          </p>
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            File Number)
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 33%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <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="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 67%; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Five Hundred Staples Drive, Framingham, MA
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 33%; white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            01702
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 67%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <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 style="width: 33%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <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>508-253-5000<br><br>
    </p>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <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">&#8414;</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="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p style="white-space: nowrap">
      <b>Item 2.02&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Results of Operations and Financial Condition</b>
    </p>
    <p style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 30.0px">
      On May 16, 2012, Staples, Inc. announced its financial results for the
      quarter ended April 28, 2012.&#160;&#160;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>
    <p style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 30.0px">
      The information in this Form 8-K and the exhibit attached hereto shall
      not be deemed &quot;filed&quot; for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities
      Exchange Act of 1934 (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;) or otherwise subject to the
      liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by
      reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange
      Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a
      filing.
    </p>
    <p style="white-space: nowrap">
      <b>Item 9.01&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Financial Statements and Exhibits</b>
    </p>
    <p style="text-indent: 30.0px">
      The exhibit listed on the Exhibit Index immediately preceding such
      exhibit is furnished as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
    </p>
    <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>

    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">SIGNATURE</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="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt; margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto">
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Date:
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            May 16, 2012
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="2" valign="top">
          <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 style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="2" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%; padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%; padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 5%; padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          By:
        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <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 style="width: 45%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <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 style="width: 45%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <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 style="width: 45%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            General Counsel and Secretary
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p style="text-align: center">

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

        </td>
        <td style="width: 60%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="middle">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          99.1
        </td>
        <td style="width: 60%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Press release dated May 16, 2012.
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p>

    </p>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>a50278974-ex991.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-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>Staples,
      Inc. Announces First Quarter 2012 Performance</b></font>
    </p>
    <p>
      FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2012--Staples, Inc. (Nasdaq:
      SPLS) announced today the results for its first quarter ended April 28,
      2012. Total company sales for the first quarter of 2012 were $6.1
      billion, a decrease of one percent in U.S. dollars and flat on a local
      currency basis compared to the first quarter of 2011. Net income for the
      first quarter of 2012 decreased six percent year over year to $187
      million. Diluted earnings per share, on a GAAP basis, decreased four
      percent to $0.27 from $0.28 achieved in the first quarter of 2011.
    </p>
    <p>
      During the first quarter of 2012, the company recorded $28 million of
      pre-tax expenses primarily related to headcount reductions in North
      America, Europe and Australia, as well as the settlement of a
      contractual dispute associated with the acquisition of Corporate
      Express. These expenses negatively impacted the company&#8217;s first quarter
      2012 diluted earnings per share, on a GAAP basis, by approximately $0.03.
    </p>
    <p>
      &#8220;In North America we continue to build momentum in categories beyond
      office supplies while trends in our international business remain soft,&#8221;
      said Ron Sargent, Staples&#8217; chairman and chief executive officer. &#8220;Our
      plans remain on track to grow both sales and earnings during 2012.&#8221;
    </p>
    <p>
      On a GAAP basis, first quarter 2012 operating income rate decreased 43
      basis points to 5.21 percent. This decrease primarily reflects severance
      costs related to headcount reductions, as well as deleverage of fixed
      expenses on lower sales in International Operations, partially offset by
      reduced marketing and supply chain expense.
    </p>
    <p>
      The company generated operating cash flow of $147 million and invested
      $52 million in capital expenditures, resulting in free cash flow of $95
      million during the first quarter of 2012. The company returned $75
      million to shareholders through cash dividends and repurchased 5.9
      million shares for $93 million during the first quarter of 2012. At the
      end of the first quarter, the company had $2.3 billion in liquidity,
      including $1.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents.
    </p>
    <div style="width: 100%; margin-left: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>
      <b>North American Delivery</b>
    </p>
    <p>
      North American Delivery sales for the first quarter of 2012 were $2.6
      billion, an increase of two percent compared to the prior year period.
      This primarily reflects double-digit sales growth in facilities and
      breakroom supplies and strong growth in copy and print and promotional
      products. Operating income rate increased three basis points to 7.87
      percent compared to the first quarter of 2011. This increase primarily
      reflects supply chain efficiencies, partially offset by a pre-tax
      expense of $8 million related to headcount reductions and the settlement
      of a contractual dispute associated with the acquisition of Corporate
      Express, as well as lower product margins.
    </p>
    <p>
      <b>North American Retail</b>
    </p>
    <p>
      North American Retail sales of $2.3 billion were essentially flat
      compared to the first quarter of 2011. Comparable store sales for the
      first quarter of 2012 were flat, as average order size and customer
      traffic were unchanged versus the prior year. Operating income rate
      decreased 43 basis points to 7.18 percent compared to the first quarter
      of 2011. This decrease primarily reflects a pre-tax expense of $4
      million related to headcount reductions and the settlement of a
      contractual dispute associated with the acquisition of Corporate
      Express. The decline also reflects ongoing investments to drive growth
      in categories beyond office supplies, partially offset by reduced
      marketing and depreciation expense. During the first quarter, the
      company opened three and closed six stores in the U.S. and opened one
      and closed one store in Canada, ending the first quarter of 2012 with
      1,914 stores in North America.
    </p>
    <p>
      <b>International Operations</b>
    </p>
    <p>
      Sales in International Operations for the first quarter were $1.2
      billion, a decrease of eight percent in U.S. dollars and a decrease of
      five percent on a local currency basis compared to the first quarter of
      2011. These results reflect weak sales in Australia and Europe,
      including a six percent decline in comparable store sales in Europe.
      Compared to the first quarter of 2011, operating income rate decreased
      225 basis points to an operating loss of 1.53 percent. This decrease
      primarily reflects a pre-tax expense of $16 million related to headcount
      reductions and the settlement of a contractual dispute associated with
      the acquisition of Corporate Express. The decline also reflects
      deleverage of fixed expenses on lower sales in European Retail and
      Australia, as well as lower product margins in Europe. During the first
      quarter, the company opened one and closed three stores, ending the
      first quarter with 376 stores in International Operations.
    </p>
    <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>
      <b>Outlook</b>
    </p>
    <p>
      The company&#8217;s 2012 outlook is unchanged and assumes continued slow
      growth in the U.S. economy and a soft demand environment in Europe.
      Including the impact of the 53rd week in fiscal 2012, the company
      expects full year sales to increase in the low single-digits compared to
      the prior year and full year diluted earnings per share to increase in
      the high single-digits versus adjusted diluted earnings per share of
      $1.37 achieved in 2011. The company anticipates its effective tax rate
      for the full year will be 32.5 percent and expects to generate more than
      $1 billion of free cash flow in 2012.
    </p>
    <p>
      <b>Presentation of Non-GAAP Information</b>
    </p>
    <p>
      This press release presents certain results for 2011 and 2012 both with
      and without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange
      rates, and certain results without the impact of the tax refund in 2011.
      The presentation of results that excludes these items, as well as the
      presentation of free cash flow, are non-GAAP financial measures that
      should be considered in addition to, and should not be considered
      superior to, or as a substitute for, the presentation of results
      determined in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures which
      have not been reconciled here within, or reconciled in previous public
      disclosures, are provided below. Management believes that the non-GAAP
      financial measures better enable management and investors to understand
      and analyze our performance by providing meaningful information relevant
      to events of a non-recurring nature that impact the comparability of
      underlying business results from period to period. Management uses these
      non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate the operating results of the
      company&#8217;s business against prior year results and its operating plan,
      and to forecast and analyze future periods. Management recognizes there
      are limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures
      as they may reduce comparability with other companies that use different
      methods to calculate similar non-GAAP measures. Management generally
      compensates for the limitations resulting from the exclusion of these
      items by considering the impact of these items separately in GAAP as
      well as non-GAAP results. In addition, when first disclosed, management
      presents the most comparable GAAP measures ahead of non-GAAP measures
      and provides a reconciliation that indicates and describes the
      adjustments made. For a reconciliation of previously disclosed non-GAAP
      financial measures, please see the &#8220;Financial Measures and Other Data&#8221;
      section of the Investor Information portion of <u>www.staples.com</u>.
    </p>
    <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>
      <b>Today's Conference Call</b>
    </p>
    <p>
      The company will host a conference call today at 9:00 a.m. (ET) to
      review these results and its outlook. Investors may listen to the call
      at <u>http://investor.staples.com</u>.
    </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>
    <p>
      Certain information contained in this news release constitutes
      forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of
      The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, but not
      limited to, the information set forth under &#8220;Outlook&#8221; and other
      statements regarding our future business and financial performance. Any
      statements contained in this news release that are not statements of
      historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. You can
      identify these forward-looking statements by the use of the words
      &#8220;believes&#8221;, &#8220;expects&#8221;, &#8220;anticipates&#8221;, &#8220;plans&#8221;, &#8220;may&#8221;, &#8220;will&#8221;, &#8220;would&#8221;,
      &#8220;intends&#8221;, &#8220;estimates&#8221;, and other similar expressions, whether in the
      negative or affirmative. Forward-looking statements are based on a
      series of expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections which
      involve substantial uncertainty and risk, including the review of our
      assessments by our outside auditor and changes in management&#8217;s
      assumptions and projections. Actual results may differ materially from
      those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of risks
      and uncertainties, including but not limited to: global economic
      conditions could adversely affect our business and financial
      performance; our market is highly competitive and we may not be able to
      continue to compete successfully; if the products and services that we
      offer fail to meet our customer needs, our performance could be
      adversely affected; we may be unable to continue to enter new markets
      successfully; our expanding international operations expose us to risks
      inherent in foreign operations; failure to manage growth and continue to
      expand our operations successfully could adversely affect our financial
      results; our effective tax rate may fluctuate; fluctuations in foreign
      exchange rates could lead to lower earnings; we may be unable to
      attract, train, engage and retain qualified associates; our quarterly
      operating results are subject to significant fluctuation; if we are
      unable to manage our debt, it could materially harm our business and
      financial condition and restrict our operating flexibility; we could
      incur significant goodwill impairment charges; our expanded offering of
      proprietary branded products may not improve our financial performance
      and may expose us to intellectual property and product liability claims;
      problems in our information systems and technologies may disrupt our
      operations; compromises of our information systems or unauthorized
      access to confidential information or our customers&#8217; or associates&#8217;
      personal information may materially harm our business or damage our
      reputation; our business may be adversely affected by the actions of and
      risks associated with third-party vendors and service providers; various
      legal proceedings may adversely affect our business and financial
      performance; failure to comply with laws, rules and regulations could
      negatively affect our business operations and financial performance; and
      those factors discussed or referenced in our most recent quarterly
      report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC, under the heading &#8220;Risk Factors&#8221;
      and elsewhere, and any subsequent periodic or current reports filed by
      us with the SEC. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent
      our estimates only as of the date such statements are made (unless
      another date is indicated) and should not be relied upon as representing
      our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update
      forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically
      disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our estimates change.
    </p>
    <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 8pt">
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="13" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>STAPLES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES</b><br><b>Condensed Consolidated
            Balance Sheets</b><br><b>(Dollar Amounts in Thousands, Except
            Share Data)</b><br><b>(Unaudited)</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="2" valign="top">
          <b>April 28,</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="2" valign="top">
          <b>January 28,</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="2" valign="bottom">
          <b>2012</b>
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="2" valign="bottom">
          <b>2012</b>
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>ASSETS</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Current assets:</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Cash and cash equivalents
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,204,521
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,264,149
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Receivables, net
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,953,502
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,033,680
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Merchandise inventories, net
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,502,834
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,431,845
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Deferred income tax assets
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          301,506
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          305,611
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Prepaid expenses and other current assets
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          283,447
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          255,535
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Total current assets</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          6,245,810
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          6,290,820
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Property and equipment:</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Land and buildings
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,040,217
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,034,983
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Leasehold improvements
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,329,935
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,330,373
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Equipment
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,491,950
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,462,351
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Furniture and fixtures
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,089,155
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,084,358
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Total property and equipment</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          5,951,257
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          5,912,065
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          3,920,260
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          3,831,704
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Net property and equipment</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,030,997
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,080,361
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          439,695
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          449,781
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Goodwill</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          3,996,308
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          3,982,130
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Other assets</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          645,458
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          627,530
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Total assets</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          13,358,268
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          13,430,622
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Current liabilities:</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Accounts payable
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,194,416
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,220,414
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,274,712
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,414,721
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Debt maturing within one year
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          438,115
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          439,143
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Total current liabilities</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          3,907,243
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          4,074,278
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Long-term debt</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,595,932
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,599,037
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Other long-term obligations</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          759,822
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          735,094
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Stockholders' Equity:</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; no
          shares issued
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          -
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          -
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Common stock, $.0006 par value, 2,100,000,000 shares authorized;<br>&#160;&#160;issued
            922,699,482 shares at April 28, 2012 and 922,126,579 shares at
            January 28, 2012
          </p>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          553
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          553
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Additional paid-in capital
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          4,585,976
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          4,551,299
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Accumulated other comprehensive loss
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (297,801
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (319,743
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Retained earnings
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          7,311,324
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          7,199,060
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Less: treasury stock at cost, 232,544,821 shares at April 28, 2012<br>&#160;&#160;and
            226,383,032 shares at January 28, 2012
          </p>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (4,511,943
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (4,416,018
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Total Staples, Inc. stockholders' equity</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          7,088,109
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          7,015,151
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Noncontrolling interests
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          7,162
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          7,062
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Total stockholders' equity</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          7,095,271
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          7,022,213
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 60.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Total liabilities and stockholders' equity</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          13,358,268
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          13,430,622
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 8pt">
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="14" valign="top">
          <b>STAPLES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="14" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="14" valign="top">
          <b>(Dollar Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="14" valign="top">
          <b>(Unaudited)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="9" valign="top">
          <b>13 Weeks Ended</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="3" valign="top">
          <b>April 28,</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="3" valign="top">
          <b>April 30,</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <b>2012</b>
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <b>2011</b>
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Sales
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          6,104,825
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          6,172,938
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          4,495,110
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          4,536,545
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Gross profit</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,609,715
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,636,393
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Operating expenses:</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="4">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Selling, general and administrative
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,276,401
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,270,774
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Amortization of intangibles
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          15,258
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          17,292
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Total operating expenses</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,291,659
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,288,066
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="4">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Operating income</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          318,056
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          348,327
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="4">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Other (expense) income:</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Interest income
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,651
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,459
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Interest expense
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (42,304
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (48,793
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Other expense
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (346
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (188
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Consolidated income before income taxes</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          277,057
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          301,805
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Income tax expense
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          90,044
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          104,123
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Consolidated net income</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          187,013
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          197,682
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Loss attributed to noncontrolling interests
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (46
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (563
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Net income attributed to Staples, Inc.</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          187,059
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          198,245
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="4">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Earnings Per Share:</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          Basic earnings per common share
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.27
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.28
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          Diluted earnings per common share
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.27
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.28
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Dividends declared per common share</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.11
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.10
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Consolidated comprehensive income
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          208,955
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          502,053
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Comprehensive income (loss) attributed to noncontrolling interests
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          101
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (447
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Comprehensive income attributed to Staples, Inc
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          208,854
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          502,500
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Weighted average shares outstanding:</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          Basic
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          680,245,594
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          706,318,119
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          Diluted
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          689,436,849
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          717,402,753
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 8pt">
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="14" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>STAPLES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES</b><br><b>Condensed Consolidated
            Statements of Cash Flows</b><br><b>(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)</b><br><b>(Unaudited)</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="9" valign="top">
          <b>13 Weeks Ended</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="3" valign="top">
          <b>April 28,</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="3" valign="top">
          <b>April 30,</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <b>2012</b>
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <b>2011</b>
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Operating Activities:</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Consolidated net income, including income from the noncontrolling
          interests
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          187,013
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          197,682
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
          operating activities:
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Depreciation and amortization
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          116,530
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          121,843
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Stock-based compensation
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          31,088
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          35,396
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (179
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (387
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Deferred income tax expense
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          10,689
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          28,079
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Other
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,916
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          4,995
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Changes in assets and liabilities:
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          Decrease in receivables
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          81,112
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          48,929
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          Increase in merchandise inventories
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (64,498
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (148,738
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          (Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (51,384
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          31,060
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          (Decrease) increase in accounts payable
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (30,234
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          20,861
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (142,755
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (133,519
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 40.0px" valign="top">
          Increase in other long-term obligations
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          7,559
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          4,065
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Net cash provided by operating activities</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          146,857
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          210,266
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Investing Activities:</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Acquisition of property and equipment
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (52,077
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (62,617
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Net cash used in investing activities</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (52,077
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (62,617
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Financing Activities:</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          4,501
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          4,836
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Proceeds from borrowings
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          25,153
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          39,799
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Payments on borrowings
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (19,836
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (536,294
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Purchase of noncontrolling interest
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (688
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          -
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Cash dividends paid
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (74,749
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (70,936
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          179
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          387
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Purchase of treasury stock, net
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (95,925
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (148,477
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Net cash used in financing activities</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (161,365
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (710,685
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          6,957
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          34,294
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (59,628
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (528,742
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,264,149
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,461,257
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Cash and cash equivalents at end of period</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,204,521
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          932,515
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 8pt">
      <tr>
        <td colspan="16">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="16">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="16" valign="top">
          <b>STAPLES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="16" valign="top">
          <b>Segment Reporting</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="16" valign="top">
          <b>(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="16" valign="top">
          <b>(Unaudited)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="10" valign="top">
          <b>13 Weeks Ended</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="3" valign="top">
          <b>April 28,</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="3" valign="top">
          <b>April 30,</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <b>2012</b>
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <b>2011</b>
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Sales:</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          North American Delivery
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,555,071
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,511,646
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          North American Retail
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,323,831
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,328,085
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          International Operations
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,225,923
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,333,207
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Total segment sales</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          6,104,825
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          6,172,938
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Business Unit Income (Loss):</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          North American Delivery
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          200,959
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          196,850
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          North American Retail
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          166,955
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          177,349
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          International Operations
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (18,770
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          9,524
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Business unit income</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          349,144
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          383,723
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Stock-based compensation
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (31,088
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (35,396
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Interest and other expense, net
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (40,999
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (46,522
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Consolidated income before income taxes</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          277,057
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          301,805
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 8pt">
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="16" valign="top">
          <b>STAPLES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="16" valign="top">
          <b>Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Sales Growth</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="16" valign="top">
          <b>(Unaudited)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="12" valign="top">
          <b>13 Weeks Ended April 28, 2012</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="2" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>Sales Growth</b><br><b>GAAP</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="2" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>Impact of Local</b><br><b>Currency</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="2" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>Sales Growth on a</b><br><b>Local Currency</b><br><b>Basis</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Sales:</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          North American Delivery
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1.7
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          %
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.2
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          %
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1.9
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          %
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          North American Retail
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (0.2
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          %)
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.5
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          %
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.3
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          %
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          International Operations
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (8.0
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          %)
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          3.0
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          %
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (5.0
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          %)
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Total sales</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (1.1
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          %)
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.9
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          %
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (0.2
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          %)
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p>
      This presentation refers to growth rates in local currency so that
      business results can be viewed without the impact of fluctuations in
      foreign currency exchange rates, thereby facilitating period-to-period
      comparisons of Staples' business performance. To present this
      information, current period results for entities reporting in currencies
      other than U.S. dollars are converted into U.S. dollars at the prior
      year average monthly exchange rates.
    </p>
    <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 8pt">
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="14" valign="top">
          <b>Reconciliation of Operating Cash Flow to Free Cash Flow</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="14" valign="top">
          <b>(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="14" valign="top">
          <b>(Unaudited)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="9" valign="top">
          <b>13 Weeks Ended</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="3" valign="top">
          <b>April 28, 2012</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" colspan="3" valign="top">
          <b>April 30, 2011</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Net cash provided by operating activities
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          146,857
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          210,266
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Acquisition of property and equipment
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (52,077
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (62,617
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          <b>Free cash flow</b>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          94,780
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.0px; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          147,649
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p>
      Free cash flow is not defined under U.S. GAAP. Therefore, it should not
      be considered a substitute for income or cash flow data prepared in
      accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled
      measures used by other companies. The Company defines free cash flow as
      net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. It
      should not be inferred that the entire free cash flow amount is
      available for discretionary expenditures. The Company believes free cash
      flow is a useful measure of performance and uses this measure as an
      indication of the Company's ability to generate cash and invest in its
      business.
    </p>
    <p>
      CONTACT:<br>Staples, Inc.<br><b>Media Contact:</b><br>Kirk Saville,
      508-253-8530<br>or<br>Owen Davis, 508-253-8468<br>or<br><b>Investor
      Contact:</b><br>Chris Powers, 508-253-4632<br>or<br>Kevin Barry,
      508-253-1487
    </p>
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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
