FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 2008--Staples, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SPLS) and its wholly owned subsidiary Staples Acquisition
B.V. ("Staples Acquisition") announced today that the following
securities have been tendered during the post acceptance period
(na-aanmeldingstermijn) ("Post Acceptance Period") of the offer to
acquire the outstanding securities of Corporate Express N.V.
("Corporate Express") ("Offer"): (i) 7,437,636 ordinary shares with a
nominal value of EUR 1.20 each ("Ordinary Shares"), including the
Ordinary Shares represented by American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"),
representing approximately 4.0 percent of the total issued and
outstanding Ordinary Shares in the capital of Corporate Express (ii)
104,137 preference shares A with a nominal value of EUR 1.20 each
("Preference Shares"), representing approximately 0.2 percent of the
total issued and outstanding Preference Shares in the capital of
Corporate Express and (iii) EUR 5,000 principal amount of two percent
subordinated convertible bonds due 2010 ("Bonds"), representing
approximately 0.002 percent of the total issued and outstanding
principal amount of the Bonds convertible into Ordinary Shares in the
capital of Corporate Express.
The sum of the Ordinary Shares already held by Staples Acquisition
and the 7,437,636 Ordinary Shares tendered in the Post Acceptance
Period amounts to 184,534,522 shares and represents approximately 99.3
percent of the total issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares in the
capital of Corporate Express.
The sum of the Preference Shares already held by Staples
Acquisition and the 104,137 Preference Shares tendered in the Post
Acceptance Period amounts to 53,248,948 shares and represents
approximately 99.9 percent of the total issued and outstanding
Preference Shares in the capital of Corporate Express.
The sum of the principal amount of the Bonds already held by
Staples Acquisition and the EUR 5,000 principal amount of the Bonds
tendered in the Post Acceptance Period amounts to EUR 114,299,000
principal and represents approximately 99.6 percent of the total
issued and outstanding principal amount of the Bonds.
Payment
In accordance with the terms of the Offer, payment of the offer
price in cash per Ordinary Share, ADS, Preference Share and Bond
validly tendered (or defectively tendered, provided that such defect
has been waived by Staples Acquisition) and validly delivered to the
Dutch Settlement Agent is expected to take place on July 23, 2008.
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 is a public announcement pursuant to the provisions of
Article 17, paragraph 4 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. 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 and 9, 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.
CONTACT: 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
SOURCE: Staples, Inc.
