Corporate Express has posted a press release in reaction to today’s announcement by Staples offering EUR 8.00 per ordinary share in its latest bid to takeover the Dutch company (see news article earlier today).

Commenting Peter Ventress, CEO of Corporate Express said: “I am surprised by Staples' assertion that we have been unwilling to engage. We have spoken with and listened carefully on a number of occasions to what Staples has said before and have been consistent in our view that their initial proposal significantly undervalued the company and was not in the best interests of our shareholders and other stakeholders. We are willing to have discussions with Staples and clearly this still applies also on the basis of today’s announcement.”