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Staples Settles Offer for All Outstanding Securities of Corporate Express

July 10, 2008

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Staples, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPLS) and its wholly owned subsidiary Staples Acquisition B.V. ("Staples Acquisition") and Corporate Express N.V. ("Corporate Express") jointly announce that Staples Acquisition has settled its 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 and the two percent subordinated convertible bonds due 2010 ("Bonds").

Corporate Express shareholders and bondholders who have not yet accepted the Offer may still tender their shares and Bonds until July 16, 2008, 17:30 CET, as earlier announced on July 2, 2008. As soon as possible after July 16, 2008, Staples Acquisition intends to start legal proceedings to acquire 100 percent of the issued and outstanding share capital of Corporate Express. In addition, Corporate Express expects to redeem any Bonds that remain outstanding after July 16, 2008. Bondholders whose Bonds are redeemed after July 16, 2008 will receive the principal amount of EUR 1,000 per Bond plus any and all accrued interest which will be less than the price per Bond of EUR 1,346.71 which will be paid to bondholders who tender their Bonds prior to July 16, 2008 as part of the Offer.

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