Staples, Inc. announced that it has obtained clearance from the European Commission with respect to its outstanding offer for Corporate Express N.V. The Commission's decision to not oppose the transaction constitutes the final regulatory clearance requirement for the offer and satisfies the regulatory condition provided in Staples Acquisition B.V.'s Offer Memorandum published on May 19, 2008, as amended. Staples previously announced that it had also received regulatory clearance in the United States and Canada.
The acceptance period for tendering ordinary shares, including ordinary shares represented by ADS's, depositary receipts of preference shares A and the two percent Subordinated Convertible Bonds due 2010, ends on Friday, June 27, 2008, at 17.30 hours CET (11.30 hours EDT), subject to extension in accordance with Section 15 of the Dutch Decree on Public Takeover Bids (Besluit openbare biedingen Wft).
