Staples 2006 Annual Report Download - page 19

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Are there other matters to be voted on at the meeting?
As of the date of this proxy statement, our Board of Directors does not know of any other matters which may
come before the meeting, other than the matters described in this proxy statement. Should any other matter requiring
a vote of our 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.
Our Board of Directors encourages stockholders to attend the Annual 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 Annual Meeting may vote their stock personally
even though they have sent in their proxies.
Solicitation
All costs of soliciting 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 $15,000, plus
expenses. 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.
Shareholder Proposals
If a stockholder wishes to present a proposal or nominate a director candidate for election at our 2007 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 written notice to us by the close of business on April 12, 2007, in
accordance with our by-laws. If a stockholder gives notice of such a proposal or nomination after the April 12, 2007
deadline, the stockholder will not be permitted to present the proposal or nomination to the stockholders for a vote at
the Annual Meeting. The stockholder’s written notice must contain the information specified in our by-laws and be
sent to our Corporate Secretary at 500 Staples Drive, Framingham, Massachusetts 01702.
Stockholders who intend to present proposals at the 2008 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, Massachusetts 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 3, 2008
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 the 2008 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
If a stockholder wishes to present a proposal or nomination at our 2008 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 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders,
our Corporate Secretary generally must receive such a notice at 500 Staples Drive, Framingham, Massachusetts 01702
not less than 60 nor more than 90 days prior to the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; provided, that if 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
notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is given or made, whichever
occurs first. The stockholder’s written notice must also contain the information specified in our by-laws.
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