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.