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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): August 2, 1999
H&R BLOCK, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
MISSOURI 1-6089 44-0607856
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(State of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification
Number)
4400 MAIN STREET, KANSAS CITY, MO 64111
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(816) 753-6900
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
NOT APPLICABLE
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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ITEM 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.
On August 2 1999, H&R Block, Inc. ("Block"), through its
wholly-owned subsidiary, RSM McGladrey, Inc. (f/k/a/ MGP Business Services,
Inc.; "RSM McGladrey"), acquired substantially all of the non-attest assets of
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP ("M&P") and entered into certain related agreements (the
"Transaction") pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Asset Purchase
Agreement dated June 28, 1999 by and among Block, RSM McGladrey, HRB Business
Services, Inc., M&P, MP Active Partners Trust, Clifford Newman, Trustee and MP
Retired Partners Trust, Clifford Newman, Trustee (the "Purchase Agreement"). The
purchase price paid by RSM McGladrey in the Transaction was $240 million in cash
payments paid over four years, the payment over time of certain pension
liabilities with an approximate present value of $50 million and additional
payments based on future performance. The Purchase Agreement is described in
detail, and filed as an exhibit to, Block's previously filed current report on
Form 8-K dated June 28, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Block is funding the purchase price through internally generated funds.
As part of the Transaction, RSM McGladrey entered into several
related agreements including (i) an administrative services agreement with M&P
whereby RSM McGladrey provides to M&P certain administrative support services
for a fee and (ii) employment agreements with existing M&P partners and
principals whereby RSM McGladrey will employ such persons to provide non-attest
services while permitting such persons to provide attest services to M&P. M&P
will continue to exist as a separate, independent licensed partnership to
perform attest services, which are generally audits, reviews and other
engagements in which M&P issues written opinions evaluating client financial
statements. Block and M&P are currently in discussions with the staff of the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") regarding appropriate disclosure of
the policy and procedures being implemented by M&P and Block to safeguard M&P's
independence and integrity. Such disclosure is expected to be made in a
subsequent amendment to this current report on Form 8-K or a future filing by
Block with the SEC.
The information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K
and the exhibits hereto may contain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are based upon current
information, expectations, estimates and projections regarding Block, M&P, and
the industries and markets in which Block and M&P operate, and management's
assumptions and beliefs relating thereto. Words such as "will," "expects,"
"intends" and variations thereof and similar expressions are intended to
identify such forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the
date on which they are made, are not guarantees of future performance, and
involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to
predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from
what is expressed, implied or forecast in such forward-looking statements. Such
differences could be caused by a number of factors including, but not limited
to, the uncertainty of laws, legislation, regulations, supervision and licensing
by federal, state and local authorities and their impact on the Transaction and
the lines of business in which the Block's subsidiaries are involved; unforeseen
compliance costs; changes in economic, political or regulatory environments;
changes in competition and the effects of such changes; Block's inability to
successfully expand its national accounting practice and implement its
strategies with respect to such practice and the broadening of its customer
base; changes in management and management strategies; and risks
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described from time to time in reports and registration statements filed by
Block and its subsidiaries with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers
should take these factors and risks into account in evaluating any such
forward-looking statements. Block undertakes no obligation to update publicly or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
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ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
AND EXHIBITS.
(C) EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
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99.1 Press release dated August 2, 1999.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
H&R BLOCK, INC.
Date: August 17, 1999 By:/s/ James H. Ingraham
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James H. Ingraham
Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
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99.1 Press release dated August 2, 1999.
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EXHIBIT 99.1 TO FORM 8-K
[H&R BLOCK LOGO]
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NEWS RELEASE
For further information
MEDIA RELATIONS: Linda McDougall, 816-932-7542
INVESTOR RELATIONS: Brian Schell, 816-932-7561
H&R BLOCK COMPLETES MCGLADREY & PULLEN ACQUISITION
FOR RELEASE MONDAY, AUG. 2, 1999
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - H&R Block Inc. (NYSE:HRB) today
announced it has completed the acquisition of substantially all of the
non-attest assets of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, the nation's seventh largest
accounting and consulting firm. The transaction, announced June 29, is the
largest accounting firm acquisition to date by a public company.
Founded in 1955, H&R Block is a diversified company providing
a wide range of financial products and services through its subsidiaries. H&R
Block Tax Services Inc. served 18.9 million taxpayers in more than 10,000
offices located primarily in the United States, Canada, Australia and the
United Kingdom in 1999. Assurance Mortgage Corporation of America and H&R
Block Mortgage Company offer a full range of home mortgage products. Through
HRB Business Services, the company began building a national accounting, tax
and consulting firm with its first acquisition in May 1998. Block Financial
Corporation develops and publishes consumer financial and personal
productivity software, such as Kiplinger TaxCut(R). Quarterly results and
other information regarding H&R Block are available on the company's web site
at www.hrblock.com.
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