UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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 1, 2005
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
New York
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
1-7657 13-4922250
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(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
200 Vesey Street, World Financial Center,
New York, New York 10285
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(212) 640-2000
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
As announced on August 1, 2005, American Express Company (the "Company") and
H&R Block Inc. have signed a definitive agreement for H&R Block Inc. to acquire
American Express Tax and Business Services Inc. from the Company for a purchase
price of approximately $220 million. The transaction is scheduled to be
completed by September 30, 2005 but is subject to pre-acquisition clearance
under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.
The Company does not expect the gain on the sale to have a material impact on
third-quarter results because of unrelated costs associated with its global
re-engineering initiatives. The sale is also not expected to have a material
impact on the Company's ongoing earnings.
SIGNATURE
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.
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
(REGISTRANT)
By: /s/ Stephen P. Norman
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Name: Stephen P. Norman
Title: Secretary
DATE: August 1, 2005