Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 11-K
(Mark One)
ý |
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 |
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OR |
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o |
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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For the transition period from to |
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Commission file number 001-15749 |
A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
Alliance Data Systems
401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:
Alliance Data Systems Corporation
17655 Waterview Parkway
Dallas, Texas 75252
Alliance Data Systems 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Report on Audits of Financial Statements
As of and for the Years Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002
and Supplemental Schedule
As of December 31, 2003
Contents
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Financial Statements |
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Supplemental Schedule |
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1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Plan Administrator of the
Alliance Data Systems 401(k) and
Retirement Savings Plan:
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Alliance Data Systems 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan (the "Plan") as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plans management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule of investments held at end of year December 31, 2003, is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labors Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plans management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
/s/ Ary, Roepcke & Mulchaey, P.C. |
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Columbus, Ohio |
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June 17, 2004 |
2
Alliance Data Systems 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
December 31, 2003 and 2002
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2003 |
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2002 |
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Assets: |
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Investments |
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$ |
32,002,507 |
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$ |
80,335,956 |
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Receivable for contributions: |
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Employer |
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6,054,093 |
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5,039,640 |
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Participants |
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183,099 |
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251,533 |
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Total contributions receivable |
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6,237,192 |
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5,291,173 |
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Due from brokers |
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80,165,711 |
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331,076 |
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Accrued interest and dividends |
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595 |
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484 |
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Total assets |
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118,406,005 |
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85,958,689 |
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Liabilities: |
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Administrative fees payable |
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117,976 |
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Net assets available for benefits |
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$ |
118,406,005 |
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$ |
85,840,713 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
3
Alliance Data Systems 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
For the Years Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002
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2003 |
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2002 |
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Additions: |
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Investment Income: |
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Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments |
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$ |
17,828,910 |
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$ |
(10,407,119 |
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Interest |
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182,372 |
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202,719 |
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Mutual funds earnings |
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341,671 |
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295,772 |
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Commingled trusts earnings |
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5,804 |
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8,504 |
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Total investment income (loss) |
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18,358,757 |
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(9,900,124 |
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Contributions: |
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Employer |
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10,294,451 |
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8,896,188 |
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Participants |
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10,109,567 |
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9,507,661 |
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Rollovers |
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1,618,081 |
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717,600 |
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Total contributions |
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22,022,099 |
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19,121,449 |
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Total additions |
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40,380,856 |
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9,221,325 |
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Deductions: |
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Distributions to participants |
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7,269,894 |
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9,000,765 |
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Administrative expenses |
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545,670 |
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458,530 |
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Total deductions |
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7,815,564 |
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9,459,295 |
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Net increase (decrease) |
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32,565,292 |
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(237,970 |
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Transfer from affiliates plan |
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1,104,983 |
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Net assets available for benefits: |
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Beginning of year |
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85,840,713 |
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84,973,700 |
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End of year |
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$ |
118,406,005 |
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$ |
85,840,713 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
4
Alliance Data Systems 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
December 31, 2003 and 2002
(1) Description of the plan
The Alliance Data Systems 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan (the Plan) is a defined contribution plan covering certain employees of ADS Alliance Data Systems, Inc. (ADSI), and its affiliates (the Employer). Employees of the Employer 21 years of age or more are generally eligible to participate the month following the completion of thirty days of service. Seasonal, temporary and on-call employees who perform more than 1,000 hours of service within one year are also eligible.
During January 2002, ADSI purchased Frequency Marketing, Inc. and Loyalty RealTime, Inc. (the Purchased Companies). Effective February 1, 2002, the Purchased Companies eligible employees became participants in the Plan. The Purchased Companies 401(k) plan was merged into the Plan and net assets of the Purchased Companies plan were liquidated and transferred to the respective participants in the Plan.
The following description of the Plan provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plans provisions. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) as amended.
The Plan was amended during 2003, to among other things: 1) eliminate automatic deemed voluntary tax-deferred elections as noted under participants voluntary contributions, 2) give prior service credit to new employees resulting from acquisitions that took place during the year by the Employer, and 3) change eligibility, Employer contributions, and vesting provisions with an effective date subsequent to December 31, 2003, as noted under subsequent events.
The Plan was amended in 2002, to merge the 401(k) plan of the Purchased Companies into the Plan.
Employers Contributions:
Subject to other limits provided in the Plan, including the nondiscrimination rules, the Employer will provide a retirement contribution (Retirement Contribution) to a participant who, as of the Plan year-end, is not separated from service unless due to death, total and permanent disability, or retirement on or after normal retirement age. The Retirement Contribution will be equal to the sum of a participants allocable points as of the last day of the Plan year multiplied by such participants annual compensation and divided by 100. The annual compensation of each participant taken into account under the Plan is limited to the maximum amount permitted under Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). The annual compensation limit for the Plan years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 was $200,000.
5
Allocation points will be determined by the following tables:
Participants |
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Allocable |
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40 44 |
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1 |
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45 49 |
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2 |
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50 54 |
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3 |
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55 59 |
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4 |
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60 and up |
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5 |
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Participants |
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Allocable |
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0 9 |
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1 |
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10 14 |
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2 |
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15 19 |
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3 |
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20 24 |
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4 |
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25 29 |
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5 |
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30 34 |
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6 |
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35 and up |
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7 |
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The Employer will provide a 100% matching contribution on the first 3% of a participants voluntary contributions.
The Employer may provide a discretionary matching contribution at the option of the Employers board of directors. The matching contribution is allocated as of December 31 as a uniform percentage of each participants voluntary contributions for the plan year which are in excess of 3% of such participants compensation, but not in excess of 6%, as long as the participant, as of the Plan year end, is not separated from service unless due to death, total and permanent disability, or retirement on or after normal retirement age. The aggregate discretionary matching contributions for 2003 and 2002 were $957,051 and $849,533, respectively.
Participants Voluntary Contributions:
A participant may elect to make a voluntary tax-deferred or after-tax contribution of 1% to 50% of his or her annual compensation up to the maximum permitted under Section 402(g) of the Code adjusted annually ($12,000 at December 31, 2003). Sections 401(k)(3) and 401(m)(3) of the Code also may limit the voluntary contribution.
Prior to November 3, 2003, newly eligible participants were deemed to have elected a 1% voluntary tax-deferred contribution unless they either specifically elected a different percentage or elected to receive their total compensation in cash. These deferrals were invested in the investment contract fund, unless the participant elected otherwise.
Effective February 1, 2003, the Plan was amended to include catch-up provisions for participants age 50 and over before the close of a Plan year.
6
Investment options
The participants direct the investment of both their own and the Employers contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan. The Plan currently offers seven commingled trusts, a mutual fund, and the Employers common stock (Employer Securities) as investment options.
Each participants account is credited with the participants contributions and allocations of 1) the Employers contributions, 2) investment earnings, and 3) administrative expenses. Allocations are based on the participants earnings or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participants vested account.
A participant is fully and immediately vested for voluntary and rollover contributions and is credited with a year of vesting service in the Employers contributions for each Plan year that the participant is credited with at least 500 hours of service.
A summary of vesting percentages in the Employers matching contributions follows:
Years of vested service |
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Percentage |
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Less than 1 year |
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0 |
% |
1 year |
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20 |
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2 years |
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40 |
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3 years |
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60 |
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4 years |
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80 |
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5 years |
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100 |
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A summary of vesting percentages in the Employers Retirement Contribution follows:
Years of vested service |
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Percentage |
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Less than 5 years |
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0 |
% |
5 years |
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100 |
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7
A participant may elect to withdraw an amount in cash from the participants after-tax account.
A participant, upon reaching age 59 1/2, may withdraw up to 100% of the participants vested account balance.
A participant may elect a hardship distribution due to an immediate and heavy financial need based on the terms of the Plan.
Participants are permitted to borrow from their account the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of the vested balance of their account with repayment made from payroll deductions. All loans become due and payable in full upon a participants termination of employment with the Employer. The borrowing is a separate earmarked investment of the participants account. Interest on the borrowing is based on the prime interest rate as reported in the Wall Street Journal on the first business day of the calendar quarter in which the loan occurs plus one percent.
Amounts allocated to participants withdrawn from the Plan
There were no amounts allocated, but not yet paid, to participants withdrawn from the Plan at December 31, 2003. Amounts allocated, but not yet paid, to participants withdrawn from the Plan were $54,595 at December 31, 2002.
Forfeitures
Forfeitures are used to reduce the Employers required contributions. Forfeitures of $235,776 and $403,528 were used to reduce contributions for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. There were $549,700 and $205,984 of unused forfeitures at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, which represent unallocated amounts.
Expenses of the Plan are deducted from participants accounts as follows: 1) annual participant fee of approximately $0.50 for every $100 in a participants account, 2) a $60 to $75 loan origination fee that is withheld from a loan check, and 3) trustee fees relating to the Vanguard Institutional Index Fund and the Short Term Investment Fund which are paid by the Plan from earnings not allocated to participants accounts. Prior to January 1, 2002, the Employer paid the annual participant fee.
Brokerage fees, transfer taxes, and other expenses incurred in connection with the investment of the Plans assets will be added to the cost of investments purchased or deducted from the proceeds of investments sold.
8
(2) Summary of accounting policies
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting, including investment valuation and income recognition.
The Plan prepares its financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for Plan benefits at the date of the financial statements and the changes in net assets available for Plan benefits during the reporting period and, when applicable, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
The Plan provides for the various investment options as described in Note 1. Any investment is exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risks. These risks could result in a material effect on participants account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits and the statements of changes in net assets available for benefits.
Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
Mutual funds are stated at fair value as determined by quoted market prices, which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year-end. Common stock is valued as determined by quoted market price. The commingled trusts are stated at estimated fair value, which has been determined based on the unit values of the trusts. The trustee sponsoring the commingled trust determines the unit value by dividing the trusts net asset at fair value by its units outstanding at the valuation dates.
Net realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is recorded in the accompanying statements of changes in net assets available for benefits as net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments.
Benefits are recorded when paid.
9
(3) Investments
The Frank Russell Trust Company, as trustee of the Plan, holds the Plans investments in a custodial account at State Street Corporation. Funds received from contributions and sales for which the related purchases or distributions have not been made are held in the Short Term Investment Fund. As noted under subsequent events, the trustee and custodian of the assets was changed. In connection with the change in trustee and custodian, as noted under subsequent events below, the Plans investments in the commingled trusts, other than the money market, were liquidated as of December 31, 2003.
The following table presents balances for 2003 and 2002 for the Plans current investment options. Investments that represent five percent or more of the Plans net assets and Employer Securities are separately identified.
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2003 |
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2002 |
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Investments at fair value as determined by: |
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Quoted market price |
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Common Stock: |
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Alliance Data Systems Corporation |
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$ |
3,911,848 |
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$ |
2,451,420 |
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Shares of registered investment companies: |
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Vanguard Institutional Index Fund |
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23,511,187 |
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16,638,449 |
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27,423,035 |
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19,089,869 |
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Estimated fair value |
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Units in common/commingled trusts: |
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Frank Russell: |
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Investment Contract Fund, Class B |
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17,968,482 |
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Fixed Income I Fund, Class B |
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11,536,716 |
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Equity I Fund, Class B |
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11,081,721 |
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Small Capitalization Fund, Class A |
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6,464,807 |
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Global Balanced Fund, Class B |
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6,390,155 |
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Other |
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1,380,561 |
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4,954,987 |
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1,380,561 |
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58,396,868 |
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Cost |
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Participant loans |
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3,198,911 |
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2,849,219 |
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Total investments |
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$ |
32,002,507 |
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$ |
80,335,956 |
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During 2003 and 2002, the Plans investments (including investments bought, sold and held during each year) appreciated (depreciated) as follows:
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2003 |
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2002 |
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Investments at fair value as determined by: |
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Quoted market price |
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Shares of registered investment companies |
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$ |
4,822,497 |
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$ |
(5,177,677 |
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Common Stock |
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1,219,188 |
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(288,740 |
) |
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Estimated fair value |
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Commingled trusts |
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11,787,225 |
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(4,940,702 |
) |
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Net change in fair value |
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$ |
17,828,910 |
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$ |
(10,407,119 |
) |
10
(4) Tax status
The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Employer by a letter dated July 3, 2002, that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Code. Although the Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter, the Plan administrator and the Plans counsel believe that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code.
(5) Plan administration
A Committee comprised of members appointed by the board of directors of the Employer administers the Plan.
(6) Plan termination
Although the Employer has not expressed any intent to do so, the Employer has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time. The Employer has the right at any time, by action of its board of directors, to terminate the Plan subject to provisions of ERISA. Upon Plan termination or partial termination, participants will become fully vested in their accounts.
(7) Party-in-interest
The Frank Russell Trust Company, trustee of the Plan, its subsidiaries and affiliates maintain and manage certain of the investments of the Plan and the Plan is charged for such services.
(8) Benefit payments
Benefit distributions of $7,269,894 and $9,000,765 for the Plan years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, include payments of $65,211 and $45,760, respectively, made to certain active participants to return to them excess deferral contributions as required to satisfy the relevant nondiscrimination provisions of the Plan for the prior year. As of December 31, 2003, there were $6,323 in payments to be returned during 2004 that relate to 2003.
(9) Reconciliation of financial statements to Form 5500
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to Form 5500:
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2003 |
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2002 |
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Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements |
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$ |
118,406,005 |
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$ |
85,840,713 |
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Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants |
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(54,595 |
) |
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Net assets available for benefits per Form 5500 |
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$ |
118,406,005 |
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$ |
85,786,118 |
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11
The following is a reconciliation of benefit payments per the financial statements to Form 5500:
Benefit payments per the financial statements |
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$ |
7,269,894 |
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Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants at December 31, 2002 |
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(54,595 |
) |
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Corrective distributions |
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(65,211 |
) |
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Benefit payments per Form 5500 |
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$ |
7,150,088 |
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Amounts currently payable to or for participants, dependents, and beneficiaries are recorded on the Form 5500 for benefit claims processed and approved for payment prior to December 31 but not yet paid as of that date.
(10) Subsequent events
Eligibility
Effective January 1, 2004, the requirement of thirty days of service to become eligible to enter the Plan was changed to permit entry as of the first of the month following the date of employment.
Effective January 1, 2004, the Employer may authorize a discretionary profit sharing contribution (Profit Sharing Contribution), which will be a specified percentage of the participants compensation.
Effective January 1, 2004, a participant as of December 31, 2003, who was continuously employed through and including December 31, 2004, and was never a highly compensated employee during the year under the Code, will receive a Retirement Contribution determined as disclosed above, but reduced by any Profit Sharing Contribution, but not below zero.
Effective January 1, 2004, the Employer will provide a 100% matching contribution on the first 3% and a 50% matching contribution on the next 2% of a participants voluntary contributions for participants who have completed either 180 days of uninterrupted service with the Employer or one year of eligibility service, whichever first occurs, as of the first of the month. These Employer matching contributions are non-forfeitable.
No Retirement Contribution shall be made for any Plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2005.
Participants voluntary contributions
Effective January 1, 2004, a participant may elect to make a voluntary tax-deferred or after-tax contribution of 1% to 100% of his or her annual compensation.
12
Trustee and custodian
Effective January 1, 2004, the trustee and custodian was switched to Nationwide Trust Company, FSB.
Investment options
Effective January 1, 2004, the investment options were changed to offer ten mutual funds, the Employers Securities, and self-directed brokerage accounts.
13
Alliance Data Systems 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Ein #13-3163498 Plan #001
Schedule of Assets Held at End of Year
December 31, 2003
(a) |
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(b) |
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(c) |
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(d) |
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(e) |
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Identity
of issuer, |
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Description
of investment |
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(1) |
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Current |
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* |
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Alliance Data Systems Corporation |
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Common Stock 141,324 shares |
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$ |
3,911,848 |
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|
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund |
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Mutual fund 231,000 shares |
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|
|
23,511,187 |
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* |
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Frank Russell Short Term Investment Fund, Class E |
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Commingled employee benefit trust 1,380,561 units |
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1,380,561 |
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Participant Loans |
|
5.00% 10.00% |
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|
|
3,198,911 |
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|
* Represents a party-in-interest
(1) Cost information omitted investment is part of individual account plan that a participant or beneficiary directed with respect to assets allocated to his or her account.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of this schedule.
14
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: June 25, 2004
|
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS 401(k) AND RETIREMENT |
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|
SAVINGS PLAN |
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By: |
/s/ Dwayne H. Tucker |
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Dwayne H. Tucker |
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Executive Vice President |
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Alliance Data Systems Corporation |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
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* 23 |
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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
* filed herewith