Staples 2004 Annual Report Download - page 70

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Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We are not a party to nor are any of our properties subject to any material pending legal proceedings other than
routine litigation incidental to our business.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
No matter was submitted to a vote of our security holders during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004.
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol ‘‘SPLS.’’
At February 22, 2005, the number of holders of record of our common stock was 7,097.
The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the high and low sales prices per share of our common stock
on the NASDAQ National Market, as reported by NASDAQ.
High Low
Fiscal Year Ended January 29, 2005
First Quarter ................................................ $27.73 $23.69
Second Quarter .............................................. 30.50 23.74
Third Quarter ............................................... 30.64 25.87
Fourth Quarter .............................................. 33.88 27.80
High Low
Fiscal Year Ended January 31, 2004
First Quarter ................................................ $20.25 $15.73
Second Quarter .............................................. 21.02 17.87
Third Quarter ............................................... 27.22 18.76
Fourth Quarter .............................................. 27.87 24.50
While we will continue to retain earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business, in 2004 we also
decided to increase stockholder returns by initiating an annual cash dividend. The first cash dividend of $0.20 per
outstanding share of our common stock was paid on May 17, 2004 to all stockholders of record on April 26, 2004. In
2005, we plan to pay an annual cash dividend of $0.25 per share of our outstanding common stock, with such dividend
payable on April 14, 2005 to shareholders of record on March 28, 2005. Our payment of annual dividends is permitted
under our revolving credit agreement, which only restricts the payment of dividends in the event we are in default under
the agreement or such payout would cause a default under the agreement. While it is our intention to pay annual cash
dividends in years following 2005, any decision to pay future cash dividends will be made by our Board of Directors and
will depend upon our earnings, financial condition and other factors.
The following table provides information about our purchases during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004 of equity
securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
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