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Exhibit 10.16  
  

Performance Share Award Agreement  

	Staples, Inc.	 	 
	Employer ID: 04-2896127

500 Staples Drive

Framingham, MA 01702	 	 
	«FirstName» «LastName»	 	EMPLOYEE ID:
	«Address1»	 	LOCATION:
	«Address2»

«City», «State» «Zip»

«Country»	 	 

        Staples, Inc.
("Staples") hereby agrees to award to the recipient named above (the "Recipient") on the date set forth below (the "Vesting Date") the number of shares of Common
Stock of Staples (the "Shares"), in accordance with and subject to the terms, conditions, and restrictions of this Agreement (as defined below). If the conditions described below are satisfied, such
award will be made under the terms of the Staples Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, as further amended or restated from time to time (the "Plan"), on the Vesting Date. 

	Date of Agreement:	 	 
	Performance Period:	 	FY 20    —FY 20    
	Total Number of Shares @ Target:	 	 
	Vesting Date:	 	see section 2(b) of PSA2007

        By
your acceptance of this Performance Share Award Agreement, you agree that any Shares will be awarded under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and by the terms and
conditions of the Staples Performance Share Award Agreement—Terms and Conditions ("PSA"), which is attached hereto (this Performance Share Award Agreement and the PSA are together referred
to as the "Agreement"). 

        Performance
Criteria: The following Performance Criteria must be satisfied for an award of Shares to be made under this Agreement. As more fully described in PSA, the number of Shares
awarded on the Vesting Date shall be determined based on the extent to which the FY 20    —FY 20    Performance Criteria are achieved. All awards of Shares require
certification of the Staples Board of Directors that the Performance Criteria have been satisfied. 

	Performance Share Payout Schedule

	FY 20    —FY 20    Performance Criteria
 
	 	 
	 	% Target Shares Earned

	Threshold	 	 	 	 
	Target	 	 	 	 
	Maximum	 	 	 	 

        You
understand and agree that this Agreement is being awarded to you in exchange for your execution of a Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreement in a form
approved by Staples. 

	Accepted by:	 	Staples, Inc.
	 	 	 
	                                        
                                          
    	 	Ronald L. Sargent
	«FirstName» «LastName»	 	President and Chief Executive Officer

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PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT—Terms and Conditions  
  

	1.
	Award.    If all the conditions set forth in this Agreement are satisfied, on the Vesting Date an
award of Shares will be made under the Plan to the Recipient named in the accompanying Performance Share Award Agreement. No Shares will be delivered to the Recipient or transferred into the
Recipient's name until the Vesting Date (except as provided in Section 8), and the Recipient shall have no rights to any Shares or any rights associated with such Shares (such as dividend or
voting rights) until the Vesting Date. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term "Staples" shall include any parent and all present and future subsidiaries of Staples as defined in
Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or replaced from time to time (the "Code"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning
ascribed to them in the Performance Share Award Agreement.

	2.
	Conditions for the Award.    Except as provided in Sections 3 and 8, an award of Shares on the
Vesting Date shall be made only if: 

        (a)   The
Recipient is, and has continuously been, an employee of, or a consultant to, Staples beginning with the date of this Agreement and continuing through the Vesting
Date; and 

        (b)   The
Performance Criteria set forth in the accompanying Performance Share Award Agreement are satisfied during the Performance Period. The Staples Board of Directors,
upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, must determine and certify on the date of its first regularly scheduled meeting in FY 20            (generally in March) whether, and to
what
extent, the Performance Criteria have been achieved. The date on which the Board of Directors certifies that the Performance Criteria have been satisfied shall be the "Vesting Date" for purposes of
this Agreement. In making its determination, the Compensation Committee may adjust the Performance Criteria to take into account accounting changes, certain acquisitions and divestitures and related
charges, other special one-time or extraordinary gains and/or losses and other one-time or extraordinary events as permitted under the Plan; provided that the Compensation
Committee may not adjust the Performance Criteria to take into account foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, changes in corporate tax rates or recurring store closures consistent with historic
patterns (with widespread, out of the ordinary store closures not being consistent with historic patterns). Awards of Shares will be interpolated
between the percentages set forth in the Performance Share Award Agreement under the heading "% Target Shares Earned" based on actual results. If the minimum Threshold FY
20            —FY 20            Performance Criteria is not achieved during the Performance Period, no Shares will be issued
and this Agreement will be of no force or effect. 

	3.
	Employment Events Affecting Payment of Award.  

         (a)   Except as provided in Section 3(b) and in Section 8, if the Recipient terminates employment with Staples prior to the
Vesting Date,
for any reason or no reason, with or without cause, no Shares will be issued and this Agreement will be of no further force or effect. In addition, no Shares will be issued pursuant to this award
during any period that the Recipient is suspended for an offense which could lead to a termination by Staples for "cause" (as defined below). 

        (b)   If
the Recipient (i) dies, (ii) becomes disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), or (iii) terminates
employment after attaining age 55 and at the time of such termination of employment the sum of the years of service (as determined by Staples Board of Directors) completed by the Recipient plus the
Recipient's age is greater than or equal to 65, in each case prior to the Vesting Date, then the Recipient or his estate will nevertheless be awarded on the Vesting Date the number of Shares
determined under Section 2(b) hereof as if the Recipient were still employed on the Vesting Date. 

        (c)   If
(i) the Recipient's relationship with Staples is terminated by Staples for Cause (as defined below) or (ii) if the Recipient retires or resigns and
Staples determines within six months thereafter that the Recipient's conduct prior to his retirement or resignation warranted discharge for Cause, or (iii) Staples determines that the
Recipient's conduct after termination of the employment relationship fails to comply with the terms of any non-competition, non-solicitation or confidentiality provision
contained in any employment, consulting, advisory, proprietary information, non-competition, non-solicitation or other similar agreement between the Recipient and Staples,
then, without limiting any other remedy available to Staples, the Shares (and any shares issued under Section 5 hereof) shall be repurchased by Staples at a repurchase price of zero and
ownership of all right, title and interest in and to the such shares shall be forfeited and revert to Staples as of the date of such determination; or, if the Recipient no longer owns such shares at
such time, Staples shall be entitled to recover from the Recipient the gross profit earned by the Recipient upon the disposition (whether by sale, gift, donation or otherwise) of such shares. 

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	4.
	Delivery of Shares.    Staples shall, within 30 days of the Vesting
Date (or, if applicable, the date the Shares vest under Section 8), effect the issuance of the Shares by delivering the Shares to a broker designated by the Recipient.

	5.
	Dividend Equivalent Rights.    If any Shares are awarded to the Recipient
pursuant to this Agreement, then the Recipient shall also be entitled to receive a number of shares of Staples Common Stock equal to (A) (i) the number of Shares awarded to the Recipient under
Section 2 multiplied by (ii) the cumulative amount of cash dividends paid by Staples that the Recipient would have received had he owned the awarded Shares on each dividend record date
during the Performance Period, divided by (B) the closing price of the Common Stock on the Vesting Date; provided, however, that cash will be paid in lieu of any fractional shares the Recipient
would be entitled to receive under this Section 5.

	6.
	No Special Employment or Similar Rights.    Nothing contained in the Plan or this Agreement shall be
construed or deemed by any person under any circumstances to bind Staples to continue the employment or other relationship of the Recipient with Staples for the period prior to or after the Vesting
Date.

	7.
	Adjustment Provisions.  

        (a)   Changes in Capitalization.    In the event of any change in capitalization of Staples, as described in
Section 9(a) of the Plan,
the Recipient shall, with respect to the Shares, be entitled to the rights and benefits, and be subject to the limitations, set forth in Section 9(a) of the Plan. 

        (b)   Liquidation or Dissolution.    In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of Staples, this Agreement shall be
of no further force or effect and no Shares shall be awarded hereunder, provided that if such liquidation or dissolution also constitutes a Change in Control as defined in Section 8(a) hereof,
then the provisions of Section 8 and not the provisions of this Section 7(b) shall govern. 

        (c)   Reorganization Event.    In the event of a Reorganization Event as defined in Section 9(c)(1) of the
Plan, the Recipient shall, with respect to the Shares, be entitled to the rights and benefits, and be subject to the limitations, set forth in Section 9(c) of the Plan; provided that if such
Reorganization Event also constitutes a Change in Control as defined in Section 8(a) hereof, then the provisions of Section 8 and not the provisions of this Section 7(c) shall
govern. 

        (d)   Board Authority to Make Adjustments.    Any adjustments under this Section 7 will be made by the Board
of Directors, whose determination as to what adjustments, if any, will be made and the extent thereof will be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares will be issued with respect to Shares
on account of any such adjustments. 

	8.
	Change in Control.  

        (a)   Definitions.    For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

          (i)  A
"Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if (A) any "person", as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") (other than Staples, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of Staples, or any corporation owned directly or indirectly by
the stockholders of Staples in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of stock of Staples), is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of Staples representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of Staples' then outstanding securities (other than pursuant to a merger or
consolidation described in clause (1) or (2) of subsection (C) below); (B) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of Directors of Staples (as of the
date hereof, the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose
election, or nomination for election by Staples' stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (other than an election or nomination
of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the directors of Staples, as such terms are used in
Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act) shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board;
(C) the stockholders of Staples approve a merger or consolidation of Staples with any other corporation, and such merger or consolidation is consummated, other than (1) a merger or
consolidation which would result in the voting securities of Staples outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity) more than 75% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of Staples or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation,
or (2) a merger or consolidation effected to 

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implement
a recapitalization of Staples (or similar transaction) in which no "person" (as defined above) acquires more than 30% of the combined voting power of Staples' then outstanding securities; or
(D) the stockholders of Staples approve an agreement for the sale or disposition by Staples of all or substantially all of Staples' assets, and such sale or disposition is consummated. 

         (ii)  "Surviving
Corporation" shall mean (x) in the case of a Change in Control pursuant to clause (A) or clause (B) of Section 8(a)(i), Staples;
(y) in the case of a Change in Control pursuant to clause (C) of Section 8(a)(i), the surviving or resulting corporation in such merger or consolidation; and (z) in the
case of a Change in Control pursuant to Clause (D) of Section 8(a)(i), the entity acquiring the majority of the assets being sold or disposed of by Staples. 

        (iii)  "Cause,"
as determined by Staples or the Surviving Corporation (which determination shall be conclusive), shall mean: 

        (A)  Willful
failure by the Recipient to substantially perform his or her duties with Staples (other than any failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental
illness); provided, however, that Staples has given the Recipient a written demand for substantial performance, which specifically identifies the areas in which the Recipient's performance is
substandard, and the Recipient has not cured such failure within 30 days after delivery of the demand. No act or failure to act on the Recipient's part will be deemed "willful" unless the
Recipient acted or failed to act without a good faith or reasonable belief that his or her conduct was in Staples' best interest; or 

        (B)  Breach
by the Recipient of any provision of any employment, consulting, advisory, proprietary information, non-disclosure, non-competition,
non-solicitation or other similar agreement between the Recipient and Staples, including, without limitation, the Proprietary and Confidential Information Agreement and/or the
Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreement; or 

        (C)  Violation
by the Recipient of the Code of Ethics or an attempt by the Recipient to secure any improper personal profit in connection with the business of Staples; or 

        (D)  Failure
by the Recipient to devote his or her full working time to the affairs of Staples except as may be authorized in writing by Staples' CEO or other authorized
Company official; or 

        (E)  The
Recipient's engagement in business other than the business of Staples except as may be authorized in writing by Staples' CEO or other authorized Company official; or 

        (F)  The
Recipient's engagement in misconduct, which is demonstrably and materially injurious to Staples. 

        (b)   Effect of Change in Control.    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2, if a Change in Control of
Staples occurs prior to the Vesting Date and while the Recipient is employed by Staples, then the greater of (X) a number of Shares determined as if the Target FY
20            —FY 20            Performance Criteria were achieved or (Y) the number of Shares determined to be issuable
under Section 2(b) of this Agreement will be
awarded (and the corresponding shares under Section 5 hereof will be issued) if: 

          (i)  Upon
the Change in Control, the Recipient: 

        (A)  Is
not offered employment with the Surviving Corporation (or is not allowed to continue his or her employment, if the Surviving Corporation is Staples) in a position
(1) in which the title, employment duties and responsibilities, conditions of employment, and the level of compensation and benefits are at least equivalent to those in effect during the
90-day period immediately preceding the Change in Control and (2) that does not involve a relocation of the Recipient's principal place of employment of more than an additional 50
miles from the Recipient's primary residence at the time of the Change in Control, or 

        (B)  Does
not accept (or continue) employment with the Surviving Corporation (regardless of position, compensation or location) (other than as a result of retirement); 

         (ii)  Within
one year following the date of the Change in Control, the Recipient either: 

        (A)  Is
discharged without Cause; or 

        (B)  Resigns
or retires because his or her title or employment duties and responsibilities are diminished, his or her conditions of employment are adversely changed, the
level of his or her compensation and benefits are reduced, or his or her principal place of employment is relocated by more than an additional 50 miles from his or her primary residence at the time of
the Change in Control; or 

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        (iii)  The
Recipient continues to be employed by Staples or the Surviving Corporation on the Vesting Date. 

	9.
	Withholding Taxes.    Staples' obligation to deliver the Shares shall be subject to the Recipient's
satisfaction of all applicable federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding requirements. Staples may deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to
the Recipient, including salary and bonus payments, and may withhold or sell a sufficient number of Shares on behalf of the Recipient to satisfy such tax obligations. Subject to Staples' prior
approval, which may be withheld in its sole discretion, the Recipient may elect to satisfy such tax withholding obligations (i) by causing Staples to withhold Shares or (ii) by
delivering to Staples shares of Common Stock already owned by the Recipient.

	10.
	Transferability.    This Agreement may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or
otherwise disposed of (whether by operation of law or otherwise) (collectively, a "transfer") by the Recipient, except that this Agreement may be transferred by the laws of descent and distribution.
The Recipient may only transfer Shares that may be issued pursuant to this Agreement following the Vesting Date.

	11.
	Miscellaneous.  

         (a)   Except as provided herein, this Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified unless evidenced in writing and signed by
Staples and the
Recipient unless the Board of Directors determines that the amendment or modification, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Recipient. 

        (b)   All
notices under this Agreement shall be mailed or delivered by hand to Staples at its main office, Attn: Secretary, and to the Recipient to his or her last known
address on the employment records of Staples or at such other address as may be designated in writing by either of the parties to one another. 

        (c)   This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. 

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Exhibit 10.16

PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT—Terms and ConditionsQuickLinks
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Exhibit 10.21    
    

 
 

AMENDED AND RESTATED 1992 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN    
    

	1.
	Purpose.

        The
purpose of this plan (the "Plan") is to secure for Staples, Inc. (the "Company") and its shareholders the benefits arising from capital stock ownership by employees or
officers of, and consultants to, the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations who are expected to contribute to the Company's future growth and success. Except where the context otherwise
requires, the term "Company" shall include the parent and all present and future subsidiaries of the Company as defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended or replaced from time to time (the "Code"). Those provisions of the Plan which make express reference to Section 422 shall apply only to Incentive Stock Options (as that term is defined
herein). 

	2.
	Types
of Options and Awards; Administration.

	a.
	Types
of Options and Awards. Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall be authorized by action of the Board of Directors of the Company (or a Committee designated by the Board of
Directors) and may be either incentive stock options ("Incentive Stock Options") meeting the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or non-statutory options which are not intended
to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. Awards of restricted stock made pursuant to Section 13 of the Plan shall be authorized by action of the Board of Directors of the
Company (or a Committee designated by the Board of Directors) and shall meet the requirements of Section 13 of the Plan.

	b.
	Administration.

            i.  The
Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose construction and interpretation of the terms and provisions of the Plan shall be final and
conclusive. The Board of Directors may in its sole discretion (x) grant options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company ("Staples Common Stock") and issue shares upon exercise of such
options as provided in the Plan and (y) make restricted stock awards pursuant to Section 13 of the Plan. The Board shall have authority, subject to the express provisions of the Plan, to
construe the respective option agreements, awards and the Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the terms and provisions of the respective
option agreements and restricted stock awards, which need not be identical, and to make all other determinations in the judgment of the Board of Directors necessary or desirable for the administration
of the Plan. The Board of Directors may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any option agreement or restricted stock award in the manner and to
the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. No director or person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Board
of Directors shall be liable for any action or determination under the Plan made in good faith. 

           ii.  The
Board of Directors may, to the full extent permitted by or consistent with applicable laws or regulations and Section 3(b) of this Plan, delegate any or all
of its powers under the Plan to a committee (the "Committee") appointed by the Board of Directors, and if the Committee is so appointed all references to the Board of Directors in the Plan shall mean
and relate to such Committee. Unless all members of the Board of Directors are "outside directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, as such term is interpreted from time to
time, the Board shall appoint such a Committee of two or more directors, all of whom are outside directors, and shall delegate to such Committee all of its powers under the Plan, 

1

 

except
that the Board's concurrent approval shall be required for any amendment to the Plan which may be adopted by the Committee; and provided, that any failure of any director or Committee member to
satisfy the definition of outside director shall not invalidate any action taken by the Board or Committee with respect to any participant in the Plan, whether or not such person is a "covered
employee" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, as such term is interpreted from time to time. 

	c.
	Applicability
of Rule 16b-3. Those provisions of the Plan which make express reference to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities and Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or, any successor rules ("Rule 16b-3") or which are required in order for certain option transactions to qualify for exemption under
Rule 16b-3 shall apply only to such persons as are required to file reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act (a "Reporting Person").

	3.
	Eligibility.

        Options
and restricted stock awards may be granted or made to persons who are, at the time of grant, employees or officers of the Company (including any persons who have entered into an
agreement with the Company under which they will be employed by the Company in the future) or consultants to the Company; provided, that the class of employees to whom Incentive Stock Options may be
granted shall be limited to employees of the Company. A person who has been granted an option or award may, if he or she is otherwise eligible, be granted additional options or awards if the Board of
Directors shall so determine; provided, that the maximum number of shares for which options or restricted stock awards may be granted to any one employee during any fiscal year shall be 3,037,500
shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15 below. 

	4.
	Stock
Subject to Plan. 

        Subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 15 below, the maximum number of shares of Staples Common Stock which may be issued and sold under the Plan is 124,300,000 shares(1) of
Staples Common Stock. Except as prohibited by Rule 16b-3, (i) if an option granted under the Plan shall expire or terminate for any reason without having been exercised in
full, the unpurchased shares subject to such option shall again be available for subsequent option grants or awards under the Plan and (ii) if restricted stock awarded under the Plan shall be
repurchased by the Company, the repurchased shares subject to such award shall again be available for subsequent option grants or awards under the Plan. 

	(1)
	Adjusted
for stock splits through April 5, 2000 (reduced by 17,550,000 for Staples.com reverse split)

	5.
	Forms
of Option Agreements. 

        As
a condition to the grant of an option under the Plan, each recipient of an option shall execute an option agreement in such form not inconsistent with the Plan as may be approved by
the Board of Directors. Such option agreements may differ among recipients. 

	6.
	Purchase
Price Upon Exercise of Options.

	a.
	General.
Subject to Section 6(b), the purchase price per share of stock deliverable upon the exercise of an option shall be determined by the Board of Directors but shall in no
event be less than 100% of the fair market value of such stock, as determined by the Board of Directors, at the time of grant of such option, or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option described in
Section 11(b), be less than 110% of such fair market value.

	b.
	Payment
of Purchase Price. Options granted under the Plan may provide for the payment of the exercise price by delivery of cash or a check to the order of the Company in an amount
equal to the exercise price of such options, or, to the extent provided in the applicable option 

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agreement,
(i) by delivery to the Company of shares of Staples Common Stock already owned by the optionee having a fair market value equal in amount to the exercise price of the options being
exercised, (ii) by any other means (including, without limitation, by delivery of a promissory note of the optionee payable on such terms as are specified by the Board of Directors) which the
Board of Directors determines are consistent with the purpose of the Plan and with applicable laws and regulations (including, without limitation, the provisions of Rule 16b-3 and
Regulation T promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board) or (iii) by any combination of such methods of payment. The fair market value of any shares of Staples Common Stock or other
non-cash consideration which may be delivered upon exercise of an option shall be determined in such manner as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors. 

	7.
	Option
Period. 

        Each
option and all rights thereunder shall expire on such date as shall be set forth in the applicable option agreement, except that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, such date
shall not be later
than ten years after the date on which the option is granted (or five years in the case of options described in Section 11(b)), and, in the case of non-statutory options, in no
event after the expiration of ten years plus 30 days from the date on which the option is granted, and, in either case, options shall be subject to earlier termination as provided in the Plan. 

	8.
	Exercise
of Options. 

        Each
option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable either in full or in installments at such time or times and during such period as shall be set forth in the agreement evidencing
such option, subject to the provisions of the Plan. 

	9.
	Nontransferability
of Options. 

        Except
as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors or by will or the laws of descent and distribution, no option granted under the Plan shall be assignable or transferable by the
person to whom it is granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law. During the life of the optionee, the options shall be exercisable only by the optionee. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
non-statutory options may be transferred pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (as defined in Rule 16b-3). 

	10.
	Effect
of Termination of Employment or Other Relationship. 

        Except
as provided in Section 11(d) with respect to Incentive Stock Options, and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board of Directors shall determine the period of time
during which an optionee may exercise an option following (i) the termination of the optionee's employment or other relationship with the Company or (ii) the death or disability of the
optionee. Such periods shall be set forth in the agreement evidencing such option. 

	11.
	Incentive
Stock Options. 

        Options
granted under the Plan which are intended to be Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to the following additional terms and conditions: 

	a.
	Express
Designation. All Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall, at the time of grant, be specifically designated as such in the option agreement covering such Incentive
Stock Options.

	b.
	10%
Shareholder. If any employee to whom an Incentive Stock Option is to be granted under the Plan is, at the time of the grant of such option, the owner of stock possessing more than
10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (after taking into account the attribution of stock ownership rules of Section 424(d) of the Code), then the 

3

 

following
special provisions shall be applicable to the Incentive Stock Option granted to such individual: 

            i.  The
purchase price per share of Staples Common Stock subject to such Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110% of the fair market value of one share of Staples
Common Stock at the time of grant; and 

           ii.  The
option exercise period shall not exceed five years from the date of grant. 

	c.
	Dollar
Limitation. For so long as the Code shall so provide, options granted to any employee under the Plan (and any other incentive stock option plans of the Company) which are
intended to constitute Incentive Stock Options shall not constitute Incentive Stock Options to the extent that such options, in the aggregate, become exercisable for the first time in any one calendar
year for shares of Staples Common Stock with an aggregate fair market value (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) of more than $100,000.

	d.
	Determination
of Employment, Death or Disability. No Incentive Stock Option may be exercised unless, at the time of such exercise, the optionee is, and has been continuously since the
date of grant of his or her option, employed by the Company, except that: 

            i.  an
Incentive Stock Option may be exercised within the period of three months after the date the optionee ceases to be an employee of the Company (or within such lesser
period as may be specified in the applicable option agreement), provided, that the agreement with respect to such option may designate a longer exercise period and that the exercise after such
three-month period shall be treated as the exercise of a non-statutory option under the Plan; 

           ii.  if
the optionee dies while in the employ of the Company, or within three months after the optionee ceases to be such an employee, the Incentive Stock Option may be
exercised by the person to whom it is transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution within the period of one year after the date of death (or within such lesser period as may be
specified in the applicable option agreement); and 

          iii.  if
the optionee becomes disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code or any successor provision thereto) while in the employ of the Company, the
Incentive Stock Option may be exercised within the period of one year after the date the optionee ceases to be such an employee because of such disability (or within such lesser period as may be
specified in the applicable option agreement). 

        For
all purposes of the Plan and any option or restricted stock award granted hereunder, "employment" shall be defined in accordance with the provisions of
Section 1.421-7(h) of the Income Tax Regulations (or any successor regulations). Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, no stock option may be exercised after its expiration
date. 

	12.
	Additional
Provisions.

	a.
	Additional
Option Provisions. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, include additional provisions in option agreements covering options granted under the Plan, including
without limitation restrictions on transfer, repurchase rights, commitments to pay cash bonuses, to make, arrange for or guaranty loans or to transfer other property to optionees upon exercise of
options, or such other provisions as shall be determined by the Board of Directors; provided that such additional provisions shall not be inconsistent with any other term or condition of the Plan and
such additional provisions shall not cause any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan to fail to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. 

4

 

	b.
	Acceleration,
Extension, Etc. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, (i) accelerate the date or dates on which all or any particular option or options granted under
the Plan may be exercised or (ii) extend the dates during which all, or any particular, option or options granted under the Plan may be exercised; provided, however, that no such extension
shall be permitted if it would cause the Plan to fail to comply with Section 422 of the Code or with Rule 16b-3 and no such extension shall extend the term of the option
beyond the tenth anniversary of the original date of grant of the option.

	13.
	Awards.

        A
restricted stock award ("award") shall consist of the issuance by the Company of shares of Staples Common Stock, and purchase by the recipient of such shares, subject to the terms,
conditions and restrictions described in the document evidencing the award and in this Section 13 and elsewhere in the Plan. 

	a.
	Execution
of Restricted Stock Award Agreement. As a condition to an award under the Plan, each recipient of an award shall execute an agreement in such form, which may differ among
recipients, as shall be specified by the Board of Directors at the time of such award.

	b.
	Price.
The Board of Directors shall determine the price at which shares of Staples Common Stock shall be sold to recipients of awards under the Plan. The Board of Directors may, in its
discretion, issue shares pursuant to awards without the payment of any cash purchase price by the recipients (in which case the "price per share originally paid" for purposes of
Section 13(d)(3) below shall be zero) or issue shares pursuant to awards at a purchase price below the then fair market value of Staples Common Stock. If a purchase price is required to be
paid, it shall be paid in cash or by check payable to the order of the Company at the time that the award is accepted by the recipient, or by such other means as may be approved by the Board of
Directors.

	c.
	Number
of Shares. The award shall specify the number of shares of Staples Common Stock issued thereunder.

	d.
	Restrictions
on Transfer. In addition to such other terms, conditions and restrictions upon awards as shall be imposed by the Board of Directors, all shares issued pursuant to an award
shall be subject to the following restrictions: 

            i.  All
shares of Staples Common Stock subject to an award (including any shares issued pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section) shall be subject to certain
restrictions on disposition and obligations of resale to the Company as provided in subparagraph (ii) below for the period specified in the document evidencing the award, and, except as
otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of until such restrictions lapse. The period during which such
restrictions are applicable is referred to as the "Restricted Period." Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Restricted Period on (i) stock awards that vest based on performance shall not vest
earlier than the first anniversary of the date of grant and (ii) stock awards that vest based on the passage of time alone will vest no earlier than the third anniversary of the date of grant. 

           ii.  In
the event that a recipient's employment with the Company is terminated within the Restricted Period, whether such termination is voluntary or involuntary, with or
without cause, or because of the death or disability of the recipient, the Company shall have the right and option for a period of three months following such termination to buy for cash that number
of the shares of Staples Common Stock purchased under the award as to which the restrictions on transfer and the forfeiture provisions contained in the award have not then lapsed, at a price equal to
the price per share originally paid by the recipient. If such termination occurs within the last three months of the applicable restrictions, the restrictions 

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and
repurchase rights of the Company shall continue to apply until the expiration of the Company's three month option period. 

          iii.  Notwithstanding
subparagraphs (i) and (ii) above, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, either at the time that an award is made or at any time
thereafter, waive its right to repurchase shares of Staples Common Stock upon the occurrence of any of the events described in this paragraph (d) or remove or modify any part or all of the
restrictions provided that the Board may only exercise such rights in extraordinary circumstances which shall include, without limitation, death or disability of the employee; estate planning needs of
the employee; a merger, consolidation, sale, reorganization, recapitalization, or change in control of the Company or any other nonrecurring significant event affecting the Company, an employee or the
Plan. In addition, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, impose upon the recipient of an award at the time of such award such other restrictions on any shares of Staples Common Stock issued
pursuant to such award as the Board of Directors may deem advisable. 

	e.
	Additional
Shares. Any shares received by a recipient of an award as a stock dividend on, or as a result of stock splits, combinations, exchanges of shares, reorganizations, mergers,
consolidations or otherwise with respect to, shares of Staples Common Stock received pursuant to such award shall have the same status and shall bear the same restrictions, all on a proportionate
basis, as the shares initially purchased pursuant to such award.

	f.
	Transfers
in Breach of Award. If any transfer of shares purchased pursuant to an award is made or attempted contrary to the terms of the Plan and of such award, the Board of Directors
shall have the right to purchase for the account of the Company those shares from the owner thereof or his or her transferee at any time before or after the transfer at the price paid for such shares
by the person to whom they were awarded under the Plan. In addition to any other legal or equitable remedies which it may have, the Company may enforce its rights by specific performance to the extent
permitted by law. The Company may refuse for any purpose to recognize as a shareholder of the Company any transferee who receives any shares contrary to the provisions of the Plan and the applicable
award or any recipient of an award who breaches his or her obligation to resell shares as required by the provisions of the Plan and the applicable award, and the Company may retain and/or recover all
dividends on such shares which were paid or payable subsequent to the date on which the prohibited transfer or breach was made or attempted.

	g.
	Additional
Award Provisions. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, include additional provisions in any award granted under the Plan as shall be determined by the Board
of Directors.

	14.
	Rights
as a Shareholder. 

        The
holder of an option or recipient of an award shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by the option or award (including, without limitation, any
rights to receive dividends or non-cash distributions with respect to such shares) until the date of issue of a stock certificate to him or her for such shares. No adjustment shall be made
for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is issued. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of Staples Common
Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to such Option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the
record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date and the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on the distribution
date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Staples Common Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of
business on the record date for such stock dividend. 

6

 
	15.
	Adjustment
Provisions for Recapitalizations and Related Transactions.

	a.
	General.
If, through or as a result of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification,
stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction, (i) the outstanding shares of Staples Common Stock are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different
number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company, or (ii) additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are
distributed with respect to such shares of Staples Common Stock or other securities, a proportionate adjustment shall be made in (w) the maximum number of shares for which awards may be granted
to any one employee during any fiscal year, as set forth in the last sentence of Section 3, (x) the maximum number and kind of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, (y) the
number and kind of shares or other securities subject to any then outstanding options under the Plan, and (z) the price for each share subject to any then outstanding options under the Plan or
repurchase rights of the Company, without changing the aggregate purchase price as to which such options or repurchase rights remain exercisable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no adjustment shall be
made pursuant to this Section 15 if such adjustment would cause the Plan to fail to comply with Section 422 of the Code or with Rule 16b-3.

	b.
	Board
Authority to Make Adjustments. Any adjustments under this Section 15 shall be made by the Board of Directors. No fractional shares will be issued under the Plan on account
of any such adjustments.

	16.
	Merger,
Consolidation, Asset Sale, Liquidation, etc.

	a.
	General.
In the event of a consolidation or merger or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in which outstanding shares of Staples Common Stock are exchanged
for securities, cash or other property of any other corporation or business entity or in the event of a liquidation of the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company, or the board of directors of
any corporation assuming the obligations of the Company, may, in its discretion, take any one or more of the following actions, as to outstanding options of Staples Common Stock: (i) provide
that such options shall be assumed, or equivalent options shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), provided that any such options substituted for
Incentive Stock Options shall meet the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code, (ii) upon written notice to the optionees, provide that all unexercised options will terminate
immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction unless exercised by the optionee within a specified period following the date of such notice, (iii) in the event of a merger under the
terms of which holders of Staples Common Stock will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the merger (the "Merger Price"), make or provide for a cash payment
to such optionees equal to the difference between (A) the Merger Price times the number of shares of Staples Common Stock subject to such outstanding options (to the extent then exercisable at
prices not in excess of the Merger Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding options in exchange for the termination of such options, and (iv) provide that all
or any such outstanding options shall become exercisable in full immediately prior to such event.

	b.
	Substitute
Options. The Company may grant options under the Plan in substitution for options held by employees of another corporation who become employees of the Company, or a
subsidiary of the Company, as the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, or as a result of the acquisition by the Company, or
one of its subsidiaries, of property or stock of the employing corporation. The Company may direct that substitute options be granted on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors considers
appropriate in the circumstances so long as 

7

 

(a) the
excess of the aggregate fair market value of the shares subject to each substituted option immediately after the issuance of such substituted option over the aggregate exercise price of
such option does not exceed the excess of the aggregate fair market value of all shares subject to the original option immediately before the issuance of such substituted option over the aggregate
exercise price of the original option and (b) the ratio of the option exercise price to the fair market value of the stock for the substitute option is not greater than the ratio of the option
exercise price to the fair market value of the original option immediately before such substitution. 

	17.
	No
Special Employment Rights. 

        Nothing
contained in the Plan or in any option or award shall confer upon any optionee or any recipient of an award any right with respect to the continuation of his or her employment by
the Company or consulting relationship with the Company or interfere in any way with the right of the Company at any time to terminate such employment or consulting relationship or to increase or
decrease the compensation of the optionee. 

	18.
	Other
Employee Benefits. 

        Except
as to plans which by their terms include such amounts as compensation, neither the amount of any compensation deemed to be received by an employee as a result of the exercise of
an option or the sale of shares received upon such exercise nor the value of an award granted to an employee will constitute compensation with respect to which any other employee benefits of such
employee are determined, including, without limitation, benefits under any bonus, pension, profit-sharing, life insurance or salary continuation plan, except as otherwise specifically determined by
the Board of Directors. 

	19.
	Amendment
of the Plan.

	a.
	The
Board of Directors may at any time, and from time to time, modify or amend the Plan in any respect, provided, however, that without approval of the stockholders of the Company, no
amendment may (i) increase the number of shares covered by the Plan, (ii) materially increase the benefits provided under the Plan or (iii) add a class of participants to the
Plan. In addition, if at any time the approval of the shareholders of the Company is required as to any other modification or amendment under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision
with respect to Incentive Stock Options, or under Rule 16b-3, the Board of Directors may not effect such modification or amendment without such approval.

	b.
	The
termination or any modification or amendment of the Plan shall not, without the consent of an optionee or recipient of an award, affect his or her rights under an option or award
previously granted to him or her. With the consent of the optionee or recipient of an award affected, the Board of Directors may amend outstanding option agreements or awards in a manner not
inconsistent with the Plan. The Board of Directors shall have the right to amend or modify (i) the terms and provisions of the Plan and of any outstanding Incentive Stock Options granted under
the Plan to the extent necessary to qualify any or all such options for such favorable federal income tax treatment (including deferral of taxation upon exercise) as may be afforded incentive stock
options under Section 422 of the Code and (ii) the terms and provisions of the Plan and of any outstanding option or award to the extent necessary to ensure the qualification of the Plan
under Rule 16b-3 or is required to ensure that any compensation attributable to any option under the Plan is deductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes under
Section 162(m), or any successor rule.

	20.
	Withholding.

8

 

	a.
	The
Company shall have the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to the optionee or recipient of an award any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by
law to be withheld with respect to any shares issued upon exercise of options under the Plan or upon the expiration or termination of the Restricted Period relating to shares subject to the award.
Subject to the prior approval of the Company, which may be withheld by the Company in its sole discretion, the optionee or recipient of an award may elect to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in
part, (i) by causing the Company to withhold shares of Staples Common Stock otherwise issuable pursuant to the exercise of an option or upon the expiration or termination of the Restricted
Period relating to shares subject to the award or (ii) by delivering to the Company shares of Staples Common Stock already owned by the optionee or award recipient. The shares so delivered or
withheld shall have a fair market value equal to such withholding obligation. The fair market value of the shares used to satisfy such withholding obligation shall be determined by the Company as of
the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. An optionee or award recipient who has made an election pursuant to this Section 20(a) may only satisfy his or her
withholding obligation with shares of Staples Common Stock which are not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements.

	b.
	Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the case of a Reporting Person, no election to use shares for the payment of withholding taxes shall be effective unless made in compliance with any
applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 (unless it is intended that the transaction not qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3).

	c.
	If
the recipient of an award under the Plan elects, in accordance with Section 83(b) of the Code, to recognize ordinary income in the year of acquisition of any shares awarded
under the Plan, the Company will require at the time of such election an additional payment for withholding tax purposes based on the difference, if any, between the purchase price of such shares and
the fair market value of such shares as of the date immediately preceding the date of the award.

	21.
	Cancellation
and New Grant of Options, Etc. 

        Subject
to the approval of the stockholders of the Company, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to effect, with the consent of the affected optionees, (i) the
cancellation of any or all outstanding options under the Plan and the grant in substitution therefor of new options under the Plan covering the same or different numbers of shares of Staples Common
Stock and having an option exercise price per share which may be lower or higher than the exercise price per share of the cancelled options or (ii) the amendment of the terms of any and all
outstanding options under the Plan to provide an option exercise price per share which is higher or lower than the then-current exercise price per share of such outstanding options. 

	22.
	Effective
Date and Duration of the Plan.

	a.
	Effective
Date. The Plan shall become effective when adopted by the Board of Directors, but no Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall become exercisable unless and until
the Plan shall have been approved by the Company's shareholders. If such shareholder approval is not obtained within twelve months after the date of the Board's adoption of the Plan, no options
previously granted under the Plan shall be deemed to be Incentive Stock Options and no Incentive Stock Options shall be granted thereafter. Amendments to the Plan not requiring shareholder approval
shall become effective when adopted by the Board of Directors; amendments requiring shareholder approval (as provided in Section 19) shall become effective when adopted by the Board of
Directors, but no Incentive Stock Option granted after the date of such amendment shall become exercisable (to the extent that such amendment to the Plan was required to enable the Company to grant
such Incentive Stock 

9

 

Option
to a particular optionee) unless and until such amendment shall have been approved by the Company's shareholders. If such shareholder approval is not obtained within twelve months of the
Board's adoption of such amendment, any Incentive Stock Options granted on or after the date of such amendment shall terminate to the extent that such amendment to the Plan was required to enable the
Company to grant such option to a particular optionee. Subject to this limitation, options may be granted under the Plan at any time after the effective date and before the date fixed for termination
of the Plan. 

	b.
	Termination.
Unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 16, the Plan shall terminate, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, upon the earlier of (i) the close
of business on the day next preceding the tenth anniversary of the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors, or (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan
shall have been issued pursuant to the exercise or cancellation of options granted under the Plan or the grant of awards. Unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 16, the Plan shall
terminate with respect to awards and options which are not Incentive Stock Options on the date specified in (ii) above. If the date of termination is determined under (i) above, then
options outstanding on such date shall continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the instruments evidencing such options.

	23.
	Provision
for Foreign Participants. 

        The
Board of Directors may, without amending the Plan, modify awards or options granted to participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States to recognize
differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employee benefit or other matters. 

10

QuickLinks

Exhibit 10.21

AMENDED AND RESTATED 1992 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

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