Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Oct. 27, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Staples, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Staples” or “the Company”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  The Company accounts for investments in businesses in which it owns between 20% and 50% of the voting interest using the equity method, if the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over the business. These financial statements are for the period covering the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 27, 2012 (also referred to as the “third quarter of2012" and "year-to-date2012") and the period covering the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2011 (also referred to as the “third quarter of2011” and "year-to-date2011"). 

The operations of the Company's European Printing Systems Division business (“PSD”), which was acquired in 2008 in conjunction with the Corporate Express N.V. ("Corporate Express") acquisition, are being presented as a discontinued operation in the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income for all periods presented. The assets and liabilities comprising the PSD disposal group meet the criteria to be classified as held-for-sale and are being aggregated and presented as current assets and liabilities from discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated balance sheet for the current period. See Note E - Discontinued Operations for additional information regarding these discontinued operations. Unless otherwise stated, any reference to the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income items in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements refers to results from continuing operations.

These financial statements have been prepared based upon Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules that permit reduced disclosure for interim periods.  For a more complete discussion of significant accounting policies and certain other information, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 ("Annual Report").  In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments considered necessary to present fairly the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. 

The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year. Our business is somewhat seasonal, with sales and profitability historically higher during the second half of our fiscal year due to the back to school, holiday and January back to business seasons.

Equity Method Voting Interest, Low Ownership Range

20.00%

Equity Method Voting Interest, High Ownership Range

50.00%