Staples, Inc. Acknowledges The Corporate Express N.V. Proposed Acquisition Of Lyreco SAS

In light of today´s news about the proposed

Corporate Express N.V. acquisition of Lyreco SAS, Staples, Inc.(Nasdaq:

SPLS) and Staples Acquisition B.V. are considering all options. Staples Acquisition reaffirms that its all cash offer of EUR 8.00 per

ordinary share delivers certain, immediate and superior value to

Corporate Express shareholders. Staples Acquisition´s offer does so

without the substantial execution and other risks inherent in Corporate

Express´ long-term plans, with or without the addition of Lyreco. Staples Acquisition launched its tender offer on May 19, 2008. The

acceptance period for the tender offer ends June 27, 2008. About Staples Staples, Inc. invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and today

is the world´s largest office products company. With 76,000 talented

associates, the company is committed to making it easy to buy a wide

range of office products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and

business services. With 2007 sales of USD 19.4 billion, Staples serves

consumers and businesses ranging from home-based businesses to Fortune

500 companies in 22 countries throughout North and South America, Europe

and Asia. Headquartered outside of Boston, Staples operates more than

2,000 office superstores and also serves its customers through mail

order catalog, e-commerce and contract businesses. More information is

available at www.staples.com. This is a public announcement pursuant to the provisions of Section 4

paragraph 3 of the Dutch Decree on Public Takeover Bids (Besluit

openbare biedingen Wft). This announcement shall not constitute a

public offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any

securities, nor shall there be any sale in securities. The offer by

Staples Acquisition is made through and is subject to the terms and

conditions as set out in the Offer Memorandum. Not for release

publication or distribution, in whole or in part, in or into Canada or

Japan. Certain information contained in this news release may constitute

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 statements as to Staples´ intentions with respect to the offer to acquire Corporate Express.

Actual future events may differ materially from those indicated by such

forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties

including but not limited to the fact that the offer made by Staples or

any other acquisition of Corporate Express will be consummated and those

other factors discussed or referenced in our most recent annual report

on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, under the heading "Risk

Factors" and elsewhere, and any subsequent

periodic reports filed by us with the SEC. In addition, any

forward-looking statements represent our estimates only as of today 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.