Form 11-K
Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 11-K

 

(Mark One)

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (FEE REQUIRED).

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED).

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number 1-11073

 

A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

 

FIRST DATA CORPORATION INCENTIVE SAVINGS PLAN

 

B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

 

FIRST DATA CORPORATION

6200 S. Quebec Street

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

 



Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules

 

As of December 31, 2004 and 2003

and for the Year Ended December 31, 2004

 

Contents

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   1

Financial Statements

    

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

   2

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

   3

Notes to Financial Statements

   4

Supplemental Schedules

    

Schedule H, Line 4a—Schedule of Delinquent Contributions

   14

Schedule H, Line 4i—Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

   15

 


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

First Data Employee Benefits Committee:

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the 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, 2004 and 2003, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedules of delinquent contributions and assets (held at end of year) as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004 are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

 

 

/s/ Anton Collins Mitchell LLP

 

Denver, Colorado

June 21, 2005

 

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Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

 

     December 31,

     2004

   2003

Investments: (see Note 2)

             

Participant loans

   $ 32,769,625    $ 27,817,997

Investment in First Data Corporation Master Trust

     1,017,613,671      842,707,283
    

  

Total investments

     1,050,383,296      870,525,280

Receivables:

             

Employer contributions

     685,288      2,103,151

Participant contributions and loan repayments

     8,712      1,954,441
    

  

Total receivables

     694,000      4,057,592
    

  

Net assets available for benefits

   $ 1,051,077,296    $ 874,582,872
    

  

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

 

Year Ended December 31, 2004

 

Additions to net assets attributed to:

      

Contributions:

      

Employer

   $ 51,949,456

Participant

     68,056,252

Rollover

     51,451,240
    

       171,456,948

Transfers from other plans

     1,051,054

Investment income:

      

Plan’s interest in First Data Corporation Master Trust investment income

     74,174,104

Loan interest

     1,783,014
    

       75,957,118
    

Total additions

     248,465,120
    

Deductions from net assets attributed to:

      

Transfers to other plans

     27,400

Benefit payments

     71,943,296
    

Total deductions

     71,970,696
    

Net increase in net assets

     176,494,424

Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year

     874,582,872
    

Net assets available for benefits at end of year

   $ 1,051,077,296
    

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

December 31, 2004

 

1. Plan Description

 

The following description of the First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan (the “Plan”) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

 

General

 

The Plan (as amended and restated) was established effective July 1, 1990 as a defined contribution plan to provide retirement benefits for certain employees of First Data Corporation and its participating subsidiaries (“FDC” or the “Company”), the Plan sponsor. Employees of the Company (i) who are not subject to a collective bargaining agreement, (ii) who receive compensation payable in U.S. dollars, and (iii) who are not leased employees or independent contractors are eligible to participate in the Plan. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). Benefits of the Plan are not guaranteed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

Eligible employees may participate in the Plan and make salary deferral contributions as soon as administratively possible following the date they became an employee.

 

Administration

 

The First Data Investment Council (“FDIC”) establishes, amends and monitors compliance with investment policies, and selects and monitors trustees, outside advisors, investment managers and consultants of the Plan. The First Data Employee Benefits Committee (“FDEBC”) administers and operates the Plan, and selects and monitors any recordkeepers or third-party administrators of the Plan. Both committees are appointed by the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

Effective December 8, 2004 the FDEBC was split into two separate committees; the EBC which will be responsible for reviewing employee appeals and other fiduciary duties and a new Committee, the Plan Design Committee (“PDC”) (a non-fiduciary committee), which will establish, adopt, amend, terminate, freeze, merge, or transfer all Company employee benefit plans. Each Committee will select, retain and terminate advisors and adopt rules, bylaws and procedures that the Committee deems necessary.

 

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Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

1. Plan Description (continued)

 

The Plan, along with the Western Union Financial Services, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan for Bargaining Unit Employees (the “RSP”), participates in the First Data Corporation Master Trust for Defined Contribution Plans (the “Master Trust”), of which State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street” or “Trustee”) is the trustee. Hewitt Associates (“Hewitt” or “Recordkeeper”) is the recordkeeper of the Plan. Assets in participants’ self-directed brokerage accounts, which are part of the Master Trust, are held by Harrisdirect.

 

Administrative expenses of the Plan, to the extent not paid for by the Company, are paid by the Master Trust, which reduces net investment earnings realized by participants.

 

Contributions and Vesting

 

Participants may contribute pre-tax dollars to the Plan of not less than 1% or more than 25% (6% for Highly Compensated Employees, as defined by the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), who are eligible to participate in the Company’s Supplemental Incentive Savings Plan) of their eligible compensation, subject to certain limitations imposed by Sections 402(g) and 401(k) of the Code. Participants may also roll over qualified distributions into the Plan, including personal Individual Retirement Accounts. Participants are always fully vested in their elective and rollover contributions under the Plan.

 

Participants age 50 or over before the close of the Plan year are eligible to make an additional tax-deferred payroll contribution, subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code. Participants are fully vested in this “catch-up” contribution.

 

For participants who have completed at least one year of service, the Company matches 100% of participants’ pre-tax contributions up to 3% of the participant’s eligible compensation. Participants become fully vested in their matching contributions over a four-year service period: 25% after one year, 50% after two years, 75% after three years, and 100% after four years.

 

Certain employees with five but less than ten years of service, whether or not otherwise enrolled in the Plan, will receive Service-Related Contributions to their Plan accounts equal to 1.5% of their eligible compensation per pay period. For employees with ten or more years of service, the Company will make a Service-Related Contribution of 3% of their eligible compensation per pay period. Employees are always fully vested in any Service-Related Contributions made to their accounts under the Plan.

 

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Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

1. Plan Description (continued)

 

Employees who opted out of the FDC pension plan or had their FDC pension benefit frozen, or certain employees hired after July 1, 1994 but prior to April 1, 1996, receive additional employer contributions (“ISP Plus Contributions”) equal to 3.4% of their eligible compensation per pay period, which becomes fully vested after five years of service.

 

The Company may make a special contribution to participants who are eligible employees on the last day of the Plan year or are eligible employees during the Plan year who terminated employment due to death, disability or retirement. Any special contributions will be allocated based on the ratio of a participant’s compensation to compensation of all eligible participants and will be made in the form of Company common stock, cash, or any combination thereof. Participants are 100% vested in special contributions. The Company did not make a special contribution in 2004.

 

Company matching and ISP Plus Contributions become fully vested at the employee’s retirement (defined as attaining age 65), death, or disability. All elective and Company contributions are invested in fund options as directed by participants.

 

Participant Loans

 

Participants may borrow from their accounts a minimum of $500 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balances, subject to certain limitations. Loans made under the Plan bear interest at the prime rate plus 1%. The rate is fixed for the term of the loan, which can range from six months to five years or 25 years for primary residential loans, subject to certain exceptions. A maximum of two loans per participant, one short-term and one residential, is allowed to be outstanding at a time.

 

Participant Accounts

 

Participants are responsible for directing the investment of assets held in their accounts among the various investment funds available in the Plan. Separate accounts are maintained for each participant, whereby the participant’s account is increased for contributions and investment income net of expenses and decreased for withdrawals, forfeitures, and investment losses. Investment increases and decreases are allocated daily to participant accounts based on their investment options.

 

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Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

1. Plan Description (continued)

 

Payment of Benefits

 

Upon retirement, termination of employment with the Company, reaching age 59½, becoming permanently and totally disabled, or death, the vested portion of the balance in the participant’s account is available to the participant or designated beneficiaries in the form of a lump-sum payment. Upon experiencing severe financial hardship, a participant may request a hardship withdrawal if certain criteria are met. Hardship withdrawals will be made in cash.

 

Investment Options

 

Upon enrolling in the Plan, participants are responsible for designating how contributions are apportioned among the Plan’s investment options. Participants may choose among investment funds, including a self-directed brokerage account, which allows participants to buy and sell almost any mutual fund or other public security available, and a Company Stock Fund. Company stock, however, may not be traded in the self-directed brokerage account. A participant may elect to change their investment options daily.

 

Forfeitures

 

Forfeitures of terminated participants nonvested accounts may be used to reduce future Company contributions or pay administrative expenses of the Plan. During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company used approximately $996,000 of forfeitures to reduce Company contributions. No forfeitures were used to pay expenses through the Master Trust (Note 3). At December 31, 2004 and 2003, forfeitures of approximately $592,000 and $924,000, respectively, were held in an unallocated account in the Master Trust.

 

Net Transfers from/to Other Plans

 

In conjunction with FDC’s business acquisition and divestiture activities, plan assets have been transferred into and out of the Plan, respectively. When an acquired company’s plan is terminated, those participants are given the option to rollover their accounts into the Plan. Such rollovers are included in the “Rollover” line item of the accompanying Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits. Mergers of acquired-company plans, plan assets transferred out of the Plan due to divestitures and plan assets transferred into and out of the Plan from and to other Company-sponsored qualified plans as a result of employee status changes are included in the “Transfers from/to other plans” line item of the accompanying Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for

 

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Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

1. Plan Description (continued)

 

Benefits. The following summarizes such plan transfers for the year ended December 31, 2004:

 

Transfers from other plans:

      

EOne Global Retirement Plan

   $ 1,025,475

Other

     25,579
    

     $ 1,051,054
    

Transfers to other plans:

      

Western Union Financial Services, Inc.

      

Retirement Savings Plan for Bargaining

      

Unit Employees

   $ 27,400
    

     $ 27,400
    

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Accounting

 

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared using the accrual basis of accounting.

 

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

 

Investments are stated at fair value. Stocks underlying in the self-directed brokerage account and mutual funds are valued at fair value, based upon quoted market prices. The collective trust funds are reflected at the net asset value of units of participation as established by the Trustee, based upon quoted market prices of the underlying assets. The Stable Value, PIMCO Total Return, Vanguard Institutional Index and FDC Stock funds are valued on a unitized basis. Participant loans are valued at cost, which approximates fair market value.

 

Interest and dividend income is recorded as earned, with dividend income being recognized at the ex-dividend date. Purchases and sales are recorded on a trade date basis.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require estimates to be made that

 

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Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

 

affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Payment of Benefits

 

Benefits are recorded when paid. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, there were approximately $937,000 and $570,000, respectively, in benefits approved but not paid.

 

3. First Data Corporation Master Trust

 

The Master Trust was established in 2002 for the investment of assets of the Plan and the RSP. The Plan held an ownership interest in the Master Trust of approximately 96.5% and 96.2% at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The Plan’s interest in the net investment income from the Master Trust was approximately 97.6% for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

The Trustee maintains the assets of the Plan. Each participating plan has an individual interest in the Master Trust. Investment income or loss, net of expenses, relating to the Master Trust is allocated to the individual plans based upon the balances invested by each plan based on participant elections.

 

As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, the condensed statement of net assets for the Master Trust is as follows:

 

     2004

   2003

Investments, at fair value:

             

Cash

   $ 9,089,783    $ 7,527,537

Mutual funds

     670,171,993      515,409,324

Collective trust fund

     206,667,413      184,263,000

FDC common stock

     151,453,248      152,817,942

Other common stock

     15,258,666      14,254,311

Government obligations

     488,861      262,398

Preferred stock

     50,173      34,688

Corporate bonds

     236,628      100,528

Other

     161,525      103,102
    

  

       1,053,578,290      874,772,830

Dividends and interest receivable

     901,542      988,025
    

  

Total assets

   $ 1,054,479,832    $ 875,760,855
    

  

 

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Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

3. First Data Corporation Master Trust (continued)

 

The following investments represent 5 percent or more of the Master Trust’s net assets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003:

 

     2004

   2003

Invesco Stable Value Fund

   $ 206,667,413    $ 184,263,000

Vanguard Institutional Index Fund

     152,155,788      130,290,421

FDC Common Stock

     151,453,248      152,817,942

Fidelity Dividend Growth Fund

     87,270,220      80,870,248

Fidelity Freedom 2020 Fund

     80,119,666      73,088,389

Franklin Templeton Foreign A Fund

     55,088,356      *

 

* Did not meet the threshold at the applicable date.

 

The investment balance includes 3,560,255 and 3,719,103 shares of FDC common stock having fair value of $151,453,248 and $152,817,942 as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, the Master Trust had accrued approximately $71,000 and $75,000 in dividends from FDC common stock.

 

Participants are allowed to vote in their share of the FDC common stock fund if the vote is submitted within a specified time period. For those voting interests that are not received within that time period, the Trustee will vote on the participants’ behalf.

 

The net investment income of the Master Trust for the year ending December 31, 2004 is as follows:

 

     2004

 

Interest and dividends

   $ 26,862,607  

Net appreciation in fair value of investments

     51,832,266  

Administrative expenses

     (2,682,869 )
    


Net investment income

   $ 76,012,004  
    


 

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Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

3. First Data Corporation Master Trust (continued)

 

For the year ending December 31, 2004, the Master Trust’s investments (including investments purchased, sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated (depreciated) in fair value as follows:

 

     2004

 

Mutual funds

   $ 45,962,233  

FDC common stock

     5,776,027  

Other common stock

     61,614  

Government obligations

     4,680  

Preferred stock

     4,446  

Corporate bonds

     (7,099 )

Other

     30,365  
    


     $ 51,832,266  
    


 

Expenses of the Master Trust and expenses of the plans participating in the Master Trust are paid through the Master Trust by allocations of administrative fees and forfeitures from the participating plans. During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company did not use participating plans’ forfeitures to pay administrative expenses (Note 1).

 

4. Income Tax Status

 

The Plan received a determination letter dated April 9, 2003 from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), stating that the Plan and the related trust are designed in accordance with the applicable sections of the Code. The Plan has been amended and restated since applying for this determination letter, but the Company continues to believe that the Plan currently is designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and that, therefore, the Plan qualifies under Section 401(a) and the related trust is tax-exempt as of December 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

5. Party-in-Interest and Prohibited Transactions

 

Certain Plan investments are shares of funds managed by the Trustee and certain Plan investments are in accounts managed by Harrisdirect, the custodian of the self-directed brokerage account, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions, which are exempt from the prohibited transaction rules.

 

As further described in Note 3, the Master Trust holds investments in FDC common stock, therefore these transactions also qualify as party-in-interest transactions. The transactions do not qualify as prohibited transactions.

 

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Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

5. Party-in-Interest and Prohibited Transactions (continued)

 

During the Plan year ended December 31, 2004, employee withholdings and employer match contributions in the amount of $385.92 were not remitted by the Company to the trust within the time period as defined by ERISA. Additional amounts totaling $1,543.68 were also not timely remitted in 2005. These transactions constitute prohibited transactions. The Company has remitted the contributions to the trust on May 11, 2005 and has taken the corrective action necessary in order to restore lost earnings to the participant’s account.

 

6. Plan Termination

 

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right to terminate the Plan and dispose of the net assets in accordance with the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become fully vested in their accounts.

 

7. Risks and Uncertainties

 

The Master Trust provides for various investments in mutual funds, a collective trust fund, common stock, FDC common stock, and other investments. Investments in general are subject to various risks, such as interest rates, credit and overall market volatility risks. The Master Trust’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance of investments is limited to the carrying value of such investments.

 

Due to the level of risk associated with certain investments, it is reasonably possible that changes in the value of investments could occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits.

 

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Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

8. Differences Between Financial Statements and Form 5500

 

The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits and benefit payments per the financial statements to the Form 5500:

 

    

December 31,

2004


   

December 31,

2003


 

Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements

   $ 1,051,077,296     $ 874,582,872  

Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants

     (937,350 )     (570,410 )
    


 


Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500

   $ 1,050,139,946     $ 874,012,462  
    


 


Benefits paid to participants per the financial statements

   $ 71,943,296          

Add: Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants at December 31, 2004

     937,350          

Less: Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants at December 31, 2003

     (570,410 )        
    


       

Benefits paid to participants per the Form 5500

   $ 72,310,236          
    


       

 

Amounts allocated to withdrawn participants are recorded on the Form 5500 for benefit claims that have been processed and approved for payment prior to year-end but not paid.

 

9. Subsequent Events

 

Effective January 1, 2005, the eONE Global, LP 401(k) Plan merged into the Plan and $14 million of assets were transferred to the Master Trust in the first week of January 2005.

 

Effective April 1, 2005, an automatic enrollment feature was added to the plan. The Company shall withhold 3% from each participant’s compensation for contribution as a pre-tax contribution to the Plan, unless the participant affirmatively elects not to have such a withholding made.

 

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Table of Contents

Supplemental Schedules


Table of Contents

First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

EIN: 47-0731996—Plan Number: 002

 

Schedule H, Line 4a—Schedule of Delinquent Contributions

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2004

 

(a)    (b)    (c)    (d)    (e)    (f)

Identity of Party

Involved


  

Relationship

to Plan,

Employer or

Other Party-

in-Interest


  

Description of Prohibited Transaction


  

Amount

Remitted

Late


  

Date

Remitted


  

Untimely

Remittance -

Computed
Lost
Earnings


*  First Data Corporation

   Plan Sponsor    December 2004 contributions (employee and employer) not timely remitted to trust    $ 385.92    May 11, 2005    $ 7.86

 

* Denotes a party-in-interest to the Plan (see Note 5).

 

See accompanying report of independent registered public accountants and notes to financial statements.

 

 

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First Data Corporation Incentive Savings Plan

 

EIN: 47-0731996—Plan Number: 002

 

Schedule H, Line 4i—Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

 

December 31, 2004

 

Identity of Issue,

Borrower, Lessor or

Similar Party


  

Description of Investment,

Including Maturity Date,

Rate of Interest, Collateral,

Par, or Maturity Value


   Cost

  

Current

Value


    Participant Loans

                  

*  Plan participants

  

Interest rates ranging from 5.0% to 10.5%, various maturity dates

   $ 32,769,625    $ 32,769,625
                

    Total Investments

               $ 32,769,625
                

 

* Denotes a party-in-interest to the Plan (see Note 5).

 

All other investments are held in the FDC Master Trust and have been excluded from this schedule.

 

See accompanying report of independent registered public accountants and notes to financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Trustees (or persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

FIRST DATA CORPORATION INCENTIVE SAVINGS PLAN

 

FIRST DATA EMPLOYEE BENEFITS COMMITTEE, as Plan Administrator

             
Date: June 24, 2005       By:   /s/    GORDON PARRY        
               

Gordon Parry

SVP, Compensation and Benefits

 

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Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Exhibit


23.1    Consent of Anton Collins Mitchell LLP

 

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