Staples Announces Final Settlement of Its Offer for All Outstanding Securities of...

Staples Announces Final Settlement of Its Offer for All Outstanding Securities of Corporate Express

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(Business Wire)--
Staples, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPLS) and its wholly owned subsidiary
Staples Acquisition B.V. ("Staples Acquisition") announced today the
settlement of the post acceptance period (na-aanmeldingstermijn) of
the offer ("Offer") for all the issued and outstanding ordinary shares
("Ordinary Shares"), American depositary shares ("ADSs") and
depositary receipts for preference A shares ("Preference A Shares")
that were validly tendered in the Offer (or otherwise defectively
tendered provided that such defect has been waived by Staples
Acquisition) in the share capital of Corporate Express N.V. and the
two percent subordinated convertible bonds due 2010 ("Bonds").

About Staples

Staples, the world's largest office products company, is committed
to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office
products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and business
services. With $27 billion in sales, Staples serves businesses of all
sizes and consumers in 27 countries throughout North and South
America, Europe, Asia and Australia. In July 2008, Staples acquired
Corporate Express, one of the world's leading suppliers of office
products to businesses and institutions. Staples invented the office
superstore concept in 1986 and is headquartered outside Boston. More
information about Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) is available at
www.staples.com.

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. Except as expressly stated in this press
release, the Offer is made through and is subject to the terms and
conditions as set out in the offer memorandum in relation to the
Offer, subject to the amendments in the press announcements of June 3,
11 and 25, and July 2, 9 and 17, 2008. 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 those 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.

Staples, Inc.
Media Contacts:
Paul Capelli/Owen Davis, +1-508-253-8530/8468
or
Investor Contacts:
Laurel Lefebvre/Chris Powers, +1-508-253-4080/4632

Copyright Business Wire 2008