-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, GrWGiO6oUZwOOC9AZ+xm8swfEni3i1/g7c1a/R1eM0rwqLxoLDHcXtYwl5K49z2T PUrxGj+2aWYMigddZPSSwA== <SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950135-96-002305.txt : 19960525 <SEC-HEADER>0000950135-96-002305.hdr.sgml : 19960525 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950135-96-002305 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 424B3 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19960524 SROS: NASD 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: 0127 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 424B3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 033-61655 FILM NUMBER: 96572257 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE RESEARCH DRIVE STREET 2: P O BOX 9328 CITY: WESTBOROUGH STATE: MA ZIP: 01581 BUSINESS PHONE: 5083708500 </SEC-HEADER> <DOCUMENT> <TYPE>424B3 <SEQUENCE>1 <DESCRIPTION>STAPLES, INC. <TEXT> <PAGE> 1 Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) Registration Number 33-61655 198,071 Shares STAPLES, INC. Common Stock --------------------- The shares of common stock, $0.0006 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of Staples, Inc. ("Staples" or the "Company") covered by this Prospectus are issued and outstanding shares which may be offered and sold, from time to time, for the account of certain stockholders of the Company (the "Selling Stockholders"). See "Selling Stockholders." The shares of Common Stock covered by this Prospectus were issued to the Selling Stockholders in a private placement made in connection with the acquisition of the stock of Macauley's Business Resources, Inc. by Staples completed on June 30, 1995. All of the shares offered hereunder are to be sold by the Selling Stockholders. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares by the Selling Stockholders. The Selling Stockholders may from time to time sell the shares covered by this Prospectus on the Nasdaq National Market in ordinary brokerage transactions, in negotiated transactions, or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. See "Plan of Distribution." The Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol SPLS. ---------------------- THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. --------------------- The date of this Prospectus is May 24, 1996. <PAGE> 2 AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the Commission's regional offices located at 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048, and at Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such materials also may be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. The Common Stock of the Company is traded on the Nasdaq National Market. Reports and other information concerning the Company may be inspected at the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto, as certain items are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information pertaining to the Company and the shares of Common Stock offered hereby, reference is made to such Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto, which may be inspected without charge at the office of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies of which may be obtained from the Commission at prescribed rates. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission are incorporated herein by reference: (1) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 1996; and (2) The Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated April 7, 1989 registering the Common Stock under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. All documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the termination of the offering of the Common Stock registered hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent -2- <PAGE> 3 that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus. The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (without exhibits to such documents other than exhibits specifically incorporated by reference into such documents). Requests for such copies should be directed to the Secretary of the Company, 100 Pennsylvania Avenue, P.O. Box 9328, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701-9328; telephone (508) 370-8500. Except as otherwise noted, all information in this Prospectus reflects the three-for-two splits of the Company's Common Stock effected in the form of 50% stock dividends in December 1993, October 1994, July 1995 and March 1996. NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION AND REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE REGISTERED SECURITIES TO WHICH IT RELATES. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL. -3- <PAGE> 4 THE COMPANY The Company's executive offices are located at One Research Drive, Westboro, Massachusetts 01581 (telephone: (508) 370-8500). The Company was organized in November 1985. As used in this Prospectus, the terms the "Company" and "Staples" refer to Staples, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries. USE OF PROCEEDS The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders. THE ACQUISITION Pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated May 11, 1995 (the "Purchase Agreement") by and among Staples, Macauley's Business Resources, Inc. ("MBRI") and the stockholders of MBRI, effective June 30, 1995, Staples acquired all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of MBRI (the "Acquisition"). In consideration of the Acquisition, the Company issued an aggregate of 584,145 shares of Common Stock to the Selling Stockholders, including shares placed in escrow pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, and has a contingent obligation to issue additional shares of Common Stock to the Selling Stockholders in accordance with a post-closing balance sheet adjustment. SELLING STOCKHOLDERS The shares of Common Stock covered by this Prospectus were issued to the Selling Stockholders in connection with the acquisition of MBRI by Staples. See "The Acquisition." The following table sets forth the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each of the Selling Stockholders as of July 30, 1995, the number of shares to be offered by each of the Selling Stockholders pursuant to this Prospectus and the number of shares to be beneficially owned by each of the Selling Stockholders if all of the shares offered hereby are sold as described herein. Except as provided below, the Selling Stockholders have not held any positions or offices with, been employed by, or otherwise had a material relationship with, the Company or any of its predecessors or affiliates since July 30, 1992 (other than as stockholders of MBRI prior to the Acquisition and as stockholders of Staples subsequent to the Acquisition). -4- <PAGE> 5 <TABLE> <CAPTION> Number of Number of Number of Shares of Shares of Shares of Common Stock Common Common Stock Name of Beneficially Stock Beneficially Selling Owned as of Offered Owned After Stockholder July 30, 1995(1) Hereby Offering(1) - ----------- ---------------- ------ ----------- <S> <C> <C> <C> John L. Macauley as Trustee under Revocable Living Trust Agreement of John L. Macauley dated 11/2/78, as amended (2) 69,759 23,253 46,506 Marie Macauley as Trustee under Revocable Living Trust Agreement of Marie Macauley dated 11/2/78, as amended (3) 34,627 11,536 23,091 Mark W. Macauley as Trustee under Revocable Living Trust Agreement of Mark W. Macauley dated 2/1/79, as amended (4) 46,855 15,627 31,228 Maureen A. Macauley as Trustee under Declaration of Revocable Trust Agreement of Maureen A. Macauley dated 4/3/92, as amended (5) 46,855 15,627 31,228 Nancy J. Pett 26,511 8,838 17,673 Patricia M. Sophiea 26,511 8,838 17,673 Ann Robinson(6) 73,791 24,594 49,197 Bonnie L. Crooks(7) 73,791 24,594 49,197 William B. Martin 73,791 24,594 49,197 Jerome Silver 12,271 4,087 8,184 </TABLE> -5- <PAGE> 6 <TABLE> <S> <C> <C> <C> Macauley's, Inc. Second Amended and Restated Profit Sharing/Retirement Savings Plan 36,483 36,483 0 <FN> - ----------------- (1) Excludes shares placed in escrow pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement. (2) John L. Macauley served as an executive officer and in various other positions with MBRI until June of 1995. Excludes shares held by Marie Macauley, Mr. Macauley's wife, with respect to which Mr. Macauley disclaims beneficial ownership. (3) Excludes shares held by John L. Macauley, Ms. Macauley's husband, with respect to which Ms. Macauley disclaims beneficial ownership. (4) Mark W. Macauley served as an executive officer and in various other positions with MBRI until June 1995. (5) Maureen A. Macauley served as an executive officer and in various other positions with MBRI until June 1995. (6) Ann Robinson served as an executive officer and in various other positions of MBRI until June 1995. (7) Bonnie L. Crooks served as an executive officer and in various positions of MBRI until June 1995. </TABLE> PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION Shares of Common Stock covered hereby may be offered and sold from time to time by the Selling Stockholders. The Selling Stockholders will act independently of the Company in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale. Such sales may be made in the over-the-counter market or otherwise, at prices related to the then current market price or in negotiated transactions, including pursuant to an underwritten offering or one or more of the following methods: (a) purchases by the broker-dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this Prospectus; (b) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers; and (c) block trades in which the broker-dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction. The Company has been advised -6- <PAGE> 7 by the Selling Stockholders that they have not made any arrangements relating to the distribution of the shares covered by this Prospectus. In effecting sales, broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate. Broker-dealers will receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders in amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale. The Purchase Agreement provides that the Company will indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In offering the shares of Common Stock covered hereby, the Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers and any other participating broker-dealers who execute sales for the Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales, and any profits realized by the Selling Stockholders and the compensation of such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. In addition, any shares covered by this Prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this Prospectus. None of the shares covered by this Prospectus presently qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144. The Company has advised the Selling Stockholders that during such time as they may be engaged in a distribution of Common Stock included herein they are required to comply with Rules 10b-6 and 10b-7 under the Exchange Act (as those Rules are described in more detail below) and, in connection therewith, that they may not engage in any stabilization activity in connection with Staples securities, are required to furnish to each broker-dealer through which Common Stock included herein may be offered copies of this Prospectus, and may not bid for or purchase any securities of the Company or attempt to induce any person to purchase any Staples securities except as permitted under the Exchange Act. The Selling Stockholders have agreed to inform the Company when the distribution of the shares is completed. Rule 10b-6 under the Exchange Act prohibits, with certain exceptions, participants in a distribution from bidding for or purchasing, for an account in which the participant has a beneficial interest, any of the securities that are the subject of the distribution. Rule 10b-7 governs bids and purchases made in order to stabilize the price of a security in connection with a distribution of the security. This offering will terminate on the earlier of (a) June 30, 1997 or (b) the date on which all shares offered hereby have been sold by the Selling Stockholders. LEGAL MATTERS The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon for the Company by Hale and Dorr, Boston, Massachusetts. -7- <PAGE> 8 EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements of Staples at February 3, 1996 and January 28, 1995, and for each of the three years in the period ended February 3, 1996, incorporated by reference in Staples' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 3, 1996, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference. The financial statements referred to above are incorporated by reference in reliance upon such reports given upon the authority of such firms as experts in accounting and auditing. -8- </TEXT> </DOCUMENT> </SEC-DOCUMENT> -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----