NOTE 17: ACQUISITIONS
In December 2001, the Company acquired a controlling interest in MyBenefitSource, Inc., an integrated payroll and benefits processing company, with an option to acquire the remaining shares. The Company also acquired 100% of Equico Resources, LLC (“Equico”), a valuation, merger and acquisition consulting company. These acquisitions were accounted for as purchases, and the results of operations for these businesses have been consolidated in the segment’s financial results since acquisition. Cash payments related to these acquisitions totaled $28,510 with additional cash payments of $31,000 over the next five years. The purchase agreements also provide for possible future contingent consideration of approximately $45,000 and is based on achieving certain revenue, profitability and working capital targets over the next six years, and such consideration will be treated as purchase price if paid. The following intangible assets were valued in the acquisitions: customer relationships of $4,126, noncompete agreements of $5,892 and trade names of $2,428. The weighted average life of the intangible assets is five years. Goodwill recognized in these transactions was $40,312, which is not deductible for tax purposes. The goodwill is included in the Business services segment.

During fiscal year 2002, the Company acquired six accounting firms, giving the Business services segment a geographic presence in Seattle and San Francisco, as well as expanding its existing presence in New York City and Dallas. Cash payments related to these acquisitions totaled $6,899, with additional cash payments of $26,125 over the next five years. Each acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and, accordingly, results for each acquisition are included since the date of acquisition. The purchase agreements also provide for possible future contingent consideration of approximately $6,567 and is based on achieving certain revenue and profitability over the next five years, and such consideration will be treated as purchase price if paid. The following intangible assets were valued in the acquisition: customer relationships of $9,314 and noncompete agreements of $3,584. The weighted average life of the intangible assets is eleven years. Goodwill recognized in these transactions was $15,842, of which $8,834 is expected to be fully deductible for tax purposes. The goodwill is included in the Business services segment.

During fiscal year 2001, the Company acquired several accounting firms. The purchase prices aggregated $54,443. Each acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and, accordingly, results for each acquisition are included since the date of acquisition. The excess of cost over fair value of net tangible assets acquired was $54,322.

On December 1, 1999, the Company completed the purchase of all the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of OLDE for $850,000 in cash plus net tangible book value payments of $48,472. The purchase agreement also provides for possible future consideration payable for up to five years after the acquisition based upon revenues generated from certain online brokerage services and such consideration will be treated as purchase price when paid. The transaction was accounted for as a purchase and, accordingly, OLDE’s results are included since the date of acquisition. Liabilities assumed of $1,774,156 were treated as a noncash investing activity in the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended April 30, 2000. The excess of cost over fair value of net tangible assets acquired was $471,133 at April 30, 2000. The acquisition was initially financed with short-term borrowings and a portion of these borrowings were repaid with the issuance of $500,000 in Senior Notes in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000.

The following unaudited pro forma summary combines the consolidated results of operations of the Company and OLDE as if the acquisition had occurred on May 1, 1999, after giving effect to certain adjustments, including amortization of intangible assets, increased interest expense on the acquisition debt and the related income tax effects. The pro forma information is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of what would have occurred if the acquisition had been made as of that date. In addition, the pro forma information is not intended to be a projection of future results.

On August 2, 1999, the Company, through a subsidiary, RSM McGladrey, Inc. (“RSM McGladrey”), completed the purchase of substantially all of the non-attest assets of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP. The purchase price was $240,000 in cash payments over four years and the assumption of certain pension liabilities with a present value, at the date of acquisition, of $52,728. The purchase agreement also provides for possible future contingent consideration based on a calculation of earnings in year two, three and four after the acquisition and such consideration will be treated as purchase price when paid. In addition, the Company made cash payments of $65,453 for outstanding accounts receivable and work-in-process that have been repaid to the Company as RSM McGladrey collected these amounts in the ordinary course of business. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase, and accordingly, RSM McGladrey’s results are included since the date of acquisition. The present value of the additional cash payments due over four years, the present value of the pension liability and other liabilities assumed of $206,784, were treated as noncash investing activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended April 30, 2000. The excess of cost over the fair value of net tangible assets acquired was $242,266.

During fiscal year 2000, the Company acquired several accounting firms. The purchase prices aggregated $18,494. Each acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and, accordingly, results for each acquisition are included since the date of acquisition. The excess of cost over fair value of net tangible assets acquired was $17,914.

On October 7, 1999, the Company acquired one of its major tax franchises. The Company issued 475,443 shares of its common stock from treasury, with a value of $21,000, for the purchase. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and, accordingly, its results are included since the date of acquisition. The issuance of Common Stock was treated as a noncash investing activity in the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended April 30, 2000. The excess of cost over fair value of net tangible assets acquired was $34,919.

During fiscal 2002, 2001 and 2000, the Company made other acquisitions which were accounted for as purchases with cash payments totaling $1,579, $2,897 and $3,591, respectively. Their operations, which are not material, are included in the consolidated statements of earnings since the date of acquisition.

NOTE 18: SALE OF SUBSIDIARIES
On December 31, 2000, the Company completed the sale of the assets of KSM Business Services, part of the Company’s Business services segment. The Company recorded a gain before taxes of $2,040 on the transaction.

In March 2000, the Company sold certain assets related to its Mortgage operations segment. The Company recorded a pretax loss of $14,501 on the transaction, included in other expenses on the consolidated statements of earnings for the year ended April 30, 2000.

NOTE 19: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Substantially all of the operations of the Company’s subsidiaries are conducted in leased premises. Most of the operating leases are for a one-year period with renewal options of one to three years and provide for fixed monthly rentals. Lease commitments at April 30, 2002, for fiscal 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and beyond aggregated $170,959, $132,026, $87,414, $44,785, $28,625 and $61,392 respectively. The Company’s rent expense for the years 2002, 2001 and 2000 aggregated $167,687, $156,325 and $135,823, respectively.

The Company has commitments to fund mortgage loans to customers as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses. The commitments to fund loans amounted to $1,726,620 and $1,518,456 at April 30, 2002 and 2001, respectively. External market forces impact the probability of commitments being exercised, and therefore, total commitments outstanding do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

At April 30, 2002, the Company maintained a $1,930,000 backup credit facility to support various financial activities conducted by its subsidiaries through a commercial paper program. The annual commitment fee required to support the availability of this facility is nine and one-half basis points per annum on the unused portion of the facility. Among other provisions, the credit agreement limits the Company’s indebtedness.

The Company maintains a revolving credit facility in Canada to support a commercial paper program with varying borrowing levels throughout the year, reaching its peak during January through April for the Canadian tax season.

The Company is responsible for servicing mortgage loans for others of $19,464,912, subservicing loans of $4,296,760, and the master servicing of $350,133 previously securitized mortgage loans held in trust at April 30, 2002. Fiduciary bank accounts that are maintained on behalf of investors and for impounded collections were $519,687 at April 30, 2002. These bank accounts are not assets of the Company and are not reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

As of April 30, 2002, the Company had pledged securities totaling $42,767 that satisfied margin deposit requirements of $38,761.

The Company is required, in the event of non-delivery of customers’ securities owed to it by other broker-dealers or by its customers, to purchase identical securities in the open market. Such purchases could result in losses not reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

The Company monitors the credit standing of brokers and dealers and customers with whom it does business. In addition, the Company monitors the market value of collateral held and the market value of securities receivable from others, and seeks to obtain additional collateral if insufficient protection against loss exists.

The Company has commitments to fund certain attest entities, that are not consolidated, related to accounting firms it has acquired. The Company is also committed to loan up to $40,000 to McGladrey & Pullen, LLP on a revolving basis through July 31, 2004, subject to certain termination clauses. This revolving facility bears interest at prime rate plus four and one-half percent on the outstanding amount and a commitment fee of one-half percent per annum on the unused portion of the commitment.

The Company is involved in various legal proceedings which are ordinary routine litigation incident to its business, many of which are covered in whole or in part by insurance. It is the Company’s policy to accrue for amounts related to these legal matters if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and an amount is reasonably estimable.

Under the Company’s Guarantee and Peace of Mind warranty programs, the Company may be liable for certain interest, penalties and/or additional taxes due. The Company is effectively self-insured related to these risks and claims made in excess of self-insurance levels are fully insured by a third-party carrier.

In the regular course of business, the Company is subject to routine examinations by Federal, state and local taxing authorities. In management’s opinion, the disposition of matters raised by such taxing authorities, if any, in such tax examinations would not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

CompuServe, certain current and former officers and directors of CompuServe and the Company were named as defendants in six lawsuits pending before the state and Federal courts in Columbus, Ohio. All suits alleged similar violations of the Securities Act of 1933 based on assertions of omissions and misstatements of fact in connection with CompuServe’s public filings related to its initial public offering in April 1996. One state lawsuit brought by the Florida State Board of Administration also alleged certain oral omissions and misstatements in connection with such offering. Relief sought in the lawsuits was unspecified, but included pleas for rescission and damages.

In the class action pending in state court, the court issued, in November 2000 its order approving the settlement pursuant to which the defendants agreed to pay a gross settlement amount of $9,500. Payment of plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and expenses were to be paid out of the gross settlement fund. The gross settlement fund was paid in its entirety by the Company’s insurance carrier. The agreement to settle and payment of the gross settlement fund are not admissions of the validity of any claim or any fact alleged by the plaintiffs and defendants continue to deny any wrongdoing and any liability.

The Florida State Board of Administration opted out of the class action settlement and that litigation continued separately from the state court class action. The parties reached a settlement that disposed of the case in its entirety with the payment by the defendants of $500. Such settlement was paid in its entirety by the Company’s insurance carrier and is not an admission of the validity of any claim or fact alleged by the Florida State Board of Administration. With this settlement, the CompuServe litigation relating to the 1996 initial public offering is concluded.

The Company is exposed to on-balance sheet credit risk related to its receivables. Mortgage loans made to subprime borrowers present a higher level of risk of default than conforming loans. These loans also involve additional liquidity risk due to a more limited secondary market than for conforming loans. While the Company believes that the underwriting procedures and appraisal processes it employs enable it to mitigate these risks, no assurance can be given that such procedures or processes will be adequate protection against these risks. The Company is exposed to off-balance sheet credit risk related to mortgage loan receivables which the Company has committed to fund.