HR Block 2006 Annual Report Download - page 29

H&R BLOCK, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE 2006 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
The Board of Directors (the ‘‘Board of Directors’’ or ‘‘Board’’) of H&R Block, Inc., a Missouri corporation (‘‘H&R Block’’ or the
‘‘Company’’) solicits the enclosed proxy for use at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held at 9:00 a.m. (CDT), on
Thursday, September 7, 2006 in the H&R Block City Stage Theater at Union Station located at 30 West Pershing (corner of Pershing and
Main Street), Kansas City, Missouri. This Proxy Statement contains information about the matters to be voted on at the meeting and the
voting process, as well as information about our directors and executive officers.
WHY DID I RECEIVE THIS PROXY STATEMENT? standing for election to the Board, ‘‘FOR’’ the amendment to the
The Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the 1999 Stock Option Plan for Seasonal Employees, ‘‘FOR’’ the
annual meeting because you are a shareholder at the close of approval of the material terms of performance goals for
business on July 5, 2006, the record date, and are entitled to vote performance shares issued pursuant to the 2003 Long-Term
at the meeting. This proxy statement, the proxy card and Annual Executive Compensation Plan and ‘‘FOR’’ the ratification of
Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2006 are KPMG LLP as our independent accountants.
being made available to shareholders beginning on or about
August 16, 2006. This proxy statement summarizes the HOW DO I VOTE?
information you need to know to vote at the annual meeting. You If you are a registered shareholder, there are four ways to vote:
do not need to attend the annual meeting to vote your shares.
쐍by toll-free telephone at 1-866-540-5760 and following the
instructions on the proxy card;
WHAT AM I VOTING ON? 쐍by Internet at http://www.proxyvoting.com/hrb/ and
You are voting on four items of business at the annual meeting: following the instructions on the proxy card;
쐍The election of four Class II directors (nominees are Jerry D. 쐍by completing and mailing your proxy card; and
Choate, Henry F. Frigon, Roger W. Hale and Len J. Lauer) to 쐍by written ballot at the annual meeting.
serve until the 2009 annual meeting and until their If you vote by Internet or telephone, your vote must be
successors are elected and qualified; received before 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the day before the annual
쐍The approval of an amendment to the 1999 Stock Option meeting. Your shares will be voted as you indicate. If you do not
Plan for Seasonal Employees to extend the Plan for three indicate your voting preferences, the appointed proxies (Tom D.
years, such that it will terminate, unless further extended, on Seip, Louis W. Smith and Rayford Wilkins, Jr.) will vote your
December 31, 2009; shares FOR items 1, 2, 3 and 4. If your shares are owned in joint
쐍The approval of the material terms of performance goals for names, all joint owners must vote by the same method and if joint
performance shares issued pursuant to the 2003 Long-Term owners vote by mail, all of the joint owners must sign the
Executive Compensation Plan; and proxy card.
쐍The ratification of KPMG LLP as independent accountants If your shares are held in a brokerage account in your broker’s
for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2007. name (this is called street name), you should follow the voting
directions provided by your broker or nominee. You may
WHO IS ENTITLED TO VOTE? complete and mail a voting instruction card to your broker or
Shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 5, 2006 nominee or, in most cases, submit voting instructions by
are entitled to vote at the annual meeting. Each share of H&R telephone or the Internet to your broker or nominee. If you
Block common stock is entitled to one vote. provide specific voting instructions by mail, telephone, or the
Internet, your broker or nominee should vote your shares as you
WHAT ARE THE VOTING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE have directed.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS? We will pass out written ballots to anyone who wants to vote at
Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote your shares the annual meeting. If you hold your shares in street name, you
‘‘FOR’’ each of the Class II nominees named in this proxy must request a legal proxy from your broker or other nominee to
H&R BLOCK 2006 Proxy Statement
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