Staples 2004 Annual Report Download - page 19

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ENCOURAGES STOCKHOLDERS TO ATTEND THE MEETING. WHETHER
OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND, YOU ARE URGED TO SUBMIT YOUR PROXY. PROMPT RESPONSE WILL
GREATLY FACILITATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MEETING AND YOUR COOPERATION WILL BE
APPRECIATED. STOCKHOLDERS WHO ATTEND THE MEETING MAY VOTE THEIR STOCK PERSONALLY
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE SENT IN THEIR PROXIES.
Other Matters
All costs of solicitation of proxies will be borne by us. We have engaged Mellon Investor Services LLC to serve as
the independent inspector of elections and to assist us with planning and organizational matters, along with certain
ministerial services, in connection with the proxy solicitation process at a cost anticipated not to exceed $9,000. In
addition to solicitations by mail, our Directors, officers and regular employees, without additional remuneration, may
solicit proxies by telephone, electronic communication and personal interviews. Brokers, custodians and fiduciaries
will be requested to forward proxy soliciting material to the owners of stock held in their names, and we will reimburse
them for their related out-of-pocket expenses.
Stockholders who intend to present stockholder proposals at the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and
desire to include such proposals in our proxy materials relating to that meeting should contact our Corporate
Secretary at 500 Staples Drive, Framingham, MA 01702. Such stockholder proposals must be received at our principal
corporate offices in Framingham, Massachusetts at the address set forth in the preceding sentence not later than
January 5, 2006 and must be in compliance with applicable laws and Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 in order to be considered for possible inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting.
If a stockholder wishes to present a proposal, or nominate a director candidate for election, at our 2005 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders and the proposal or nomination is not intended to be included in our proxy statement for
such meeting, the stockholder must give advance notice to us by the close of business on May 16, 2005, in accordance
with our By-laws. If a stockholder gives notice of such a proposal or nomination after the May 16, 2005 deadline, the
stockholder will not be permitted to present the proposal or nomination to the stockholders for a vote at the meeting.
If a stockholder wishes to present a proposal or nomination at our 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the
proposal or nomination is not intended to be included in our proxy statement for such meeting, the stockholder must
give advance notice to us in accordance with our By-laws, as further described below. If a stockholder gives notice of
such a proposal or nomination after the applicable deadline, the stockholder will not be permitted to present the
proposal or nomination to the stockholders for a vote at the meeting. For the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders,
our Corporate Secretary generally must receive such a notice at the address noted above not less than 60 nor more
than 90 days prior to the 2006 Annual Meeting; provided that, in the event that less than 70 days’ notice or prior
public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made, our By-laws provide that notice by the stockholder must
be received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which such notice of the date of
the 2006 Annual Meeting is mailed or such public disclosure is made, whichever occurs first. The written notice must
also contain the information specified in our By-laws.
As of the date of this proxy statement, the Board of Directors does not know of any other matters which may
come before the Annual Meeting. Should any other matter requiring a vote of the stockholders arise and be properly
presented at the Annual Meeting, the proxy included with this proxy statement confers upon the persons named in the
proxy and designated to vote the shares discretionary authority to vote, or otherwise act, with respect to any such
matter, in accordance with their best judgment.
Householding of Annual Meeting Materials
Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of ‘‘householding’’
proxy statements and annual reports. This means that only one copy of our proxy statement and annual report may
have been sent to multiple stockholders in your household. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of the document
to you if you write or call our Corporate Secretary at the following address or phone number: 500 Staples Drive,
Framingham, Massachusetts 01702, telephone [phone]. If you want to receive separate copies of the annual
report and proxy statement in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one
copy for your household, you should contact your bank, broker, or other nominee record holder, or you may contact
us at the above address and phone number.
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