FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 2008--Staples, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPLS) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Staples Acquisition B.V., today announced the extension of the previously announced cash tender offer (the "Offer") for all of the outstanding 8.25 percent senior subordinated notes due July 1, 2014 (the "2014 Notes") and 7.875 percent senior subordinated notes due March 1, 2015 (the "2015 Notes" and together with the 2014 Notes, the "Notes") of Corporate Express U.S. Finance Inc. (formerly known as Buhrmann U.S. Inc.), as described in the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated May 22, 2008 (the "Offer to Purchase"). The Offer, which was scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 27, 2008, has been extended until 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 15, 2008, unless further extended.

As of midnight on June 26, 2008, Staples Acquisition B.V. had received tenders and related consents with respect to approximately 98.67 percent of the aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Notes and 99.73 percent of the aggregate principal amount of the 2015 Notes. In accordance with the terms of the Offer to Purchase, and as previously announced, tenders of Notes and related consents to the proposed amendments to the indentures governing the Notes became irrevocable as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 5, 2008, and Notes tendered and consents delivered after that date are also irrevocable. In accordance with the terms of the Offer, the new price determination date for the Notes will be 2:00 p.m. EDT on June 30, 2008, and the consideration to be paid to holders of Notes will be redetermined as of such date and announced by press release on June 30, 2008.

The Offer is being conducted in connection with Staples Acquisition B.V.'s previously announced equity tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding ordinary shares and American depositary shares of Corporate Express N.V., the parent of Corporate Express U.S. Finance Inc. The previously announced tender offer also includes an all cash offer for Corporate Express N.V. depositary receipts of preference shares A and two percent subordinated convertible bonds due 2010. The obligation of Staples Acquisition B.V. to accept for purchase and pay for Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn according to the terms of the Offer to Purchase is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions that are described in the Offer to Purchase, including satisfaction of the conditions to the equity tender offer.

Lehman Brothers Inc. is acting as dealer manager for the tender offer and as solicitation agent for the consent solicitation. Questions about the tender offer or the consent solicitation may be directed to Lehman Brothers Inc. at 1-800-438-3242 (toll free) or 1-212-528-7581 (collect). Requests for copies of the related documents may be directed to Georgeson, which has been appointed as the information agent for the tender offer and consent solicitation, at 1-866-201-4446 (toll free).

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.

Certain information contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements for the 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 reports 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.