Staples, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Performance

Staples, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPLS) announced today the results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 30, 2016. Total company sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $5.3 billion, a decrease of seven percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. On a GAAP basis, the company reported net income of $86 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $260 million, or $0.41 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2014. Fourth quarter 2015 results on a GAAP basis include pre-tax charges of $172 million primarily related to restructuring and the acquisition of Office Depot.

Total company sales declined two percent during the fourth quarter, excluding the impact of store closures in North America during the past year and changes in foreign exchange rates. Excluding the impact of charges taken during the fourth quarter of 2015, as well as certain tax items, the company reported non-GAAP net income of $168 million, or $0.26 per diluted share.

Fourth Quarter 2015 Highlights

• Improved operating margin rate in North American Commercial and North American Stores and Online versus Q4 2014.
• Grew sales in Staples.com one percent in local currency and improved operating margin rate versus Q4 2014.
• Grew copy and print sales in North American Stores and Online versus Q4 2014.
• Total company non-GAAP operating income rate of 5.1 percent unchanged versus Q4 2014.
• Eliminated approximately $550 million of annualized costs in 2014 and 2015 combined.
• Closed 12 stores in Q4 and 73 stores for the full year 2015 in North America for a total of 242 store closures in 2014 and 2015 combined.
• Returned $308 million to shareholders through cash dividends in 2015.
• Extended Office Depot merger agreement and financing arrangements in early 2016 to allow for the completion of ongoing federal court litigation with the Federal Trade Commission.
• In early 2016, the European Commission announced its approval of Staples’ acquisition of Office Depot subject to certain divestiture requirements.
• In early 2016, the company entered into an agreement with Essendant to divest more than $550 million of office products revenue and related assets subject to the successful completion of the acquisition of Office Depot.

*Indicates a non-GAAP measure. Refer to “Presentation of Non-GAAP Information” and the accompanying reconciliations for more detailed information about these non-GAAP measures.

“In 2015, our top priority was to stabilize total company sales and earnings after a few years of heavy investment to transform Staples,” said Ron Sargent, Staples’ chairman and chief executive officer. “While our Q4 results came in at the lower end of our expectations, we continued to make good progress on many of our key initiatives, and we have a solid plan to get back to earnings growth in 2016.”

Total company non-GAAP operating income rate declined 1 basis point to 5.06 percent from an operating income rate of 5.07 percent achieved during the fourth quarter of 2014. This reflects the negative impact of fixed costs on lower sales offset by improved product margin rate in North American Stores and Online and aggressive cost management.

*Indicates a non-GAAP measure. Refer to “Presentation of Non-GAAP Information” and the accompanying reconciliations for more detailed information about these non-GAAP measures.

For the full year 2015, total company sales decreased six percent to $21.1 billion compared to full year 2014. Total company sales declined less than one percent versus the prior year, excluding the impact of store closures in North America during the past year and changes in foreign exchange rates.

On a GAAP basis, the company reported net income of $379 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, compared to net income of $135 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, in the full year 2014. On a non-GAAP basis, the company reported net income of $578 million, or $0.89 per diluted share, during 2015, compared to $623 million, or $0.96 per diluted share, during the prior year.

The company generated operating cash flow of $978 million and invested $381 million in capital expenditures in 2015, resulting in free cash flow of $597 million for the full year. The company returned $308 million to shareholders through cash dividends in 2015. At the end of 2015, the company had $1.9 billion in liquidity, including $825 million in cash and cash equivalents.

*Comparable sales includes comparable store sales and Staples.com sales growth excluding the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates.

Sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $2.4 billion, a decrease of nine percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. Sales growth was negatively impacted by approximately three percent due to changes in foreign exchange rates versus the prior year. Sales growth was also negatively impacted by two percent due to store closures during the past year. Comparable sales, which combines comparable store sales and Staples.com sales growth excluding the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates, declined four percent versus the prior year. Sales declines in business machines, technology accessories, and mobility were partially offset by growth in copy and print, and mail and ship supplies. Comparable store sales decreased five percent, reflecting a four percent decline in average order size and a two percent decline in traffic versus the prior year. Staples.com sales declined two percent in U.S. dollars and grew one percent on a local currency basis during the fourth quarter of 2015. Operating income rate increased 14 basis points to 5.1 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. This increase primarily reflects improved product margin rate and lower incentive compensation expense versus the prior year. This was partially offset by increased delivery expense, increased marketing expense as a percentage of sales, and the negative impact of lower sales on fixed expenses.

For the full year 2015, North American Stores and Online achieved sales of $9.5 billion, a decrease of nine percent compared to 2014. Sales growth was negatively impacted by approximately three percent due to store closures during the past year. Sales growth was also negatively impacted by approximately three percent due to changes in foreign exchange rates versus the prior year. Full year 2015 operating income rate declined 3 basis points to 4.5 percent versus 2014. In 2015, the company closed 63 stores in the U.S. and closed 10 stores in Canada, ending the year with 1,607 stores in North America.

Sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $2.0 billion, a decline of one percent in U.S. dollars or flat on a local currency basis compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. Sales declines in ink and toner, furniture, and business machines were partially offset by growth in facilities supplies, breakroom supplies and promotional products. Operating income rate increased 57 basis points to 7.6 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. This improvement primarily reflects increased product margin rate and lower incentive compensation expense versus the prior year. This was partially offset by investments in sales force to drive growth in categories beyond office supplies.

For the full year 2015, North American Commercial achieved sales of $8.4 billion, an increase of one percent in U.S. dollars or two percent on a local currency basis compared to 2014. Full year 2014 operating income rate increased 27 basis points to 7.2 percent versus 2014.

Sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $791 million, a decrease of twelve percent in U.S. dollars and a decrease of one percent on a local currency basis compared to 2014. This was primarily driven by sales declines in Europe, partially offset by double-digit growth in China. Comparable store sales in Europe declined eleven percent during the fourth quarter of 2015, primarily reflecting a decrease in traffic versus the prior year. Operating income rate for International Operations decreased 212 basis points to 0.1 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. This decrease primarily reflects lower product margin rate in Europe Contract and the negative impact of lower sales on fixed expenses in Europe, partially offset by improved profitability in Australia, China, and South America.

For the full year 2015, International Operations achieved sales of $3.2 billion, a decrease of sixteen percent in U.S. dollars and a decrease of two percent on a local currency basis compared to 2014. Full year 2015 operating income rate decreased 75 basis points to an operating loss of 1.3 percent compared to the prior year. The company ended the year with 278 stores in Europe.

Outlook
For the first quarter of 2016, the company expects sales to decrease versus the first quarter of 2015. The company expects to achieve fully diluted non-GAAP earnings per share in the range of $0.16 to $0.18 for the first quarter of 2016. The company’s guidance reflects the unfavorable impact of the stronger U.S. dollar on sales and earnings. The company’s earnings guidance excludes any potential costs related to the company’s planned acquisition of Office Depot and the impact related to ongoing store closures. For the full year 2016, the company expects to generate approximately $600 million of free cash flow excluding the impact of payments associated with financing for the acquisition of Office Depot. The company plans to close approximately 50 stores in North America in 2016.

Presentation of Non-GAAP Information
This press release presents certain results with and without restructuring and other charges, long-lived asset impairment, costs related to the acquisition of Office Depot, costs related to the previously announced PNI data security incident, certain discrete tax items, as well as other previously disclosed charges that the company incurred in 2015 and 2014. This press release also presents certain results both with and without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and with and without the impact of store closures. The presentation of these results, 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. Management believes that the non-GAAP financial measures enable management and investors to understand and analyze the company’s performance by providing meaningful information that facilitates 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’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 these limitations by considering GAAP as well as non-GAAP results. In addition, management provides a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP financial measure. With respect to earnings per share and free cash flow, financial guidance on a GAAP basis has not been provided given that current estimates for charges to be incurred related to the planned acquisition of Office Depot, and ongoing store closures, and the potential related impact on cash flow, cannot be reasonably estimated.

Today's Conference Call
The company will host a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. (ET) to review these results and its outlook. Investors may listen to the call at http://investor.staples.com.

About Staples
Staples makes it easy to make more happen with more products and more ways to shop. Through its world-class retail, online and delivery capabilities, Staples lets customers shop however and whenever they want, whether it’s in-store, online or on mobile devices. Staples offers more products than ever, such as technology, facilities and breakroom supplies, furniture, safety supplies, medical supplies, and Copy and Print services. Headquartered outside of Boston, Staples operates throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. More information about Staples (SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In connection with the proposed merger, Staples has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that includes a proxy statement of Office Depot that also constitutes a prospectus of Staples. Staples filed the final proxy statement/prospectus with the SEC on May 18, 2015. The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on May 15, 2015. Office Depot mailed the definitive proxy statement/prospectus to stockholders of Office Depot on or about May 19, 2015, and the stockholders approved the transaction on June 19, 2015. The registration statement and the proxy statement/prospectus contain important information about Staples, Office Depot, the transaction and related matters. Investors and security holders are urged to read the registration statement and the proxy statement/prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto) carefully.

Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the registration statement and the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Staples and Office Depot through the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the registration statement and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus from Staples by contacting Staples’ Investor Relations Department at 800-468-7751 or from Office Depot by contacting Office Depot’s Investor Relations Department at 561-438-7878.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
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 “Outlook” and other statements regarding our future business and financial performance, the proposed transaction between Staples and Office Depot, the expected timetable for satisfying conditions to the merger, including receiving regulatory approvals, and completing the transaction, benefits and synergies of the transaction, future opportunities for the combined company and Staples management’s future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects. Any statements contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “intends”, “estimates”, and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative, although not all forward-looking statements include such words. 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’s assumptions and projections. Actual results or events may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, including but not limited to the ability to consummate the transaction; the risk that regulatory approvals required for the merger are not obtained or are obtained after delays or subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the risk that the financing required to fund the transaction is not obtained; the risk that the other conditions to the closing of the merger are not satisfied; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the merger; uncertainties as to the timing of the merger; competitive responses to the proposed merger; response by activist shareholders to the merger; uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the combined company following completion of the proposed transaction; the ability to successfully integrate Staples’ and Office Depot’s operations and employees; the ability to realize anticipated synergies and cost savings; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the merger; litigation relating to the merger; the outcome of pending or potential litigation or governmental investigations; the inability to retain key personnel; any changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions; and the other factors discussed or referenced in our annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 4, 2016 with the SEC, under the heading “Risk Factors” 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.

Note that certain percentage figures shown in the tables above may not recalculate due to rounding.

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.

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.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160304005220/en/