Staples 2004 Annual Report Download - page 17

STAPLES, INC.
500 Staples Drive
Framingham, Massachusetts 01702
PROXY STATEMENT
For the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 13, 2005
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of
Staples, Inc. (‘‘We’’, ‘‘Staples’’ or the ‘‘Company’’) for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on
June 13, 2005 beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel, 120 East Delaware Place, Chicago, Illinois, and at any
adjournment or postponement of that meeting. An annual report, consisting of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended January 29, 2005 and other information required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, is being mailed to stockholders, along with these proxy materials, on or about May 6, 2005.
All stock information contained in this proxy statement reflects the three-for-two stock dividend that we paid to
stockholders on April 15, 2005 to stockholders of record on March 29, 2005.
A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2005 as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, except for exhibits, will be furnished without charge to any stockholder upon written or
oral request to Staples, Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, 500 Staples Drive, Framingham, MA 01702, telephone:
[phone].
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?
At our Annual Meeting, stockholders will act upon the matters outlined in the accompanying notice of meeting,
including the election of Directors, approval of our Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, ratification of
our independent registered public accounting firm, consideration of one shareholder proposal and consideration of
such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Who is entitled to vote?
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date, April 19, 2005, are entitled to receive
notice of the Annual Meeting and to vote their shares of Staples common stock at the meeting, or any postponement
or adjournment of the meeting. Holders of Staples common stock are entitled to one vote per share and all votes will
be confidential.
Who can attend the meeting?
All stockholders as of the record date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend the meeting. Please note that if
you hold your shares in ‘‘street name’’ (through a broker or other nominee), you will need to bring a copy of a
brokerage statement reflecting your stock ownership in Staples as of the record date.
What constitutes a quorum?
The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares of Staples common
stock outstanding on the record date will constitute a quorum, permitting business to be conducted at the meeting. As
of the record date, 740,556,865 shares of Staples common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote. Proxies that are
received and marked as withholding authority, abstentions, and broker non-votes (where a broker or nominee does
not exercise discretionary authority to vote on a matter) will be included in the calculation of the number of shares
considered to be represented at the meeting.
How do I vote?
If you complete, sign and return the accompanying proxy card, it will be voted as you direct. If no choice is
specified on a signed proxy card, the persons named as proxies will vote in favor of the matters to be voted upon other
than the shareholder proposal, and will vote against the shareholder proposal.