FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 25, 2008--Staples, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SPLS) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Staples Acquisition
B.V., are pleased to announce the increase to EUR 3.60 of the all cash
offer price per share for all the issued and outstanding depositary
receipts of Preference Shares A in the share capital of Corporate
Express N.V. with a nominal value of EUR 1.20 each ("Preference Shares
A") under the offer made by Staples Acquisition B.V. on May 19, 2008
for certain securities issued by Corporate Express N.V. (the "Offer").
The Offer is further described in the Offer Memorandum of May 19, 2008
and is subject to the amendments in the press announcements of June 3,
2008 and June 11, 2008.
The increased all cash offer per Preference Share A of EUR 3.60
for the Preference Shares A compares favorably to the intrinsic value
of the preference shares plus accrued but unpaid dividends for 2008.
The EUR 3.60 offer price represents a premium of approximately 18
percent to the one-month average closing price of approximately EUR
3.05 per Preference Share A on Euronext Amsterdam for the period ended
June 24, 2008.
ING, Fortis Verzekeringen Nederland and Kempen Capital Management,
which collectively own 46,000,297 Preference Shares A, representing
approximately 86.3 percent of the issued preference share A capital of
Corporate Express, have irrevocably committed to tender their
Preference Shares A into Staples' Offer under the conditions described
in the Offer Memorandum, as amended.
Staples anticipates that the price increase will also be
attractive to the remaining holders of the Preference Shares A and
encourages all holders of Corporate Express' ordinary shares and
Preference Shares A and all holders of the Corporate Express two
percent subordinated convertible bonds to tender their securities into
the Offer, which expires Friday, June 27, 2008 at 17.30 CET, unless
extended.
Staples confirms that the funds available under the credit
agreement described in section 6.4 of the Offer Memorandum, together
with Staples' cash reserves and the funds available under its existing
revolving credit facility, remain sufficient to fund the consideration
due upon settlement of the Offer.
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 15, paragraph 4 of the Dutch Decree on Public Takeover Bids
(Besluit openbare biedingen Wft). Staples Acquisition B.V. expressly
reserves any and all rights it has in respect of the Offer, as
described in the Offer Memorandum, including the right to invoke or
waive any of the conditions to the Offer set out in section 6.5
thereof. 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 subject to the
amendments in the press announcements of 3 and 11 June 2008. Not for
release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, in or into
Canada or Japan. Other than the information contained in the Offer
Memorandum, Staples Acquisition B.V. did not disclose to the
shareholders who have irrevocably committed to tender their Preference
Shares A any material information regarding the Offer that would be
relevant for securityholders when considering to tender their
securities in the Offer.
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.
CONTACT: Staples, Inc.
Media Contacts:
Paul Capelli/Owen Davis, 508-253-8530/8468
or
Investor Contacts:
Laurel Lefebvre/Chris Powers, 508-253-4080/4632
SOURCE: Staples, Inc.
