For the transition period from January 1, 2003 to December 1, 2003
Table of Contents

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 11-K

 


 

¨ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

OR

 

x TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from January 1, 2003 to December 1, 2003

 

Commission file number 0-3658

 


 

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

 

RELS Savings Plan

 

5700 Smetana Drive, Ste. 300

Minnetonka, MN 55343

 

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

 

The First American Corporation

 

1 First American Way

Santa Ana, California 92707

 



Table of Contents

RELS Savings Plan

Audited Financial Statements and

Supplemental Schedule

As of December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002 and for the period ended December 1, 2003 and the year ended December 31, 2002


Table of Contents

RELS Savings Plan

Contents

December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002

 

     Page(s)

Signature

   2

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   3

Financial Statements

    

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

   4

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

   5

Notes to Financial Statements

   6-10

Supplemental Schedules*

    

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

   11

Schedule H, Line 4j: Schedule of Reportable Transactions

   12-14

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

    

* All other schedules required by the Department of Labor Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted because they are not applicable.


Table of Contents

Signature

 

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 its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    RELS Savings Plan

Date: June 25, 2004

 

By:

 

/s/ Mark A. Archuleta


       

(Signature)

       

Mark A. Archuleta

       

Senior Vice President

       

Chief Financial Officer

 

2


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Participants and Administrator of

RELS Savings Plan

 

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the RELS Savings Plan (the “Plan”) at December 1, 2003 and December 31, 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. 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 of these statements 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, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules of assets (held at end of year) and reportable transactions 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 the 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.

 

On December 1, 2003, the Plan was merged into The First American Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

Los Angeles, California

 

June 25, 2004

 

3


Table of Contents

RELS Savings Plan

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002

 

     2003

   2002

Assets

             

Investments, at fair value

   $  —      $ 18,613,311

Participant loans

     —        526,692
    

  

Total investments

     —        19,140,003

Interest and dividends receivable

     —        6,820
    

  

Total assets

   $  —      $ 19,146,823
    

  

Liabilities

             

Administrative expenses payable

   $  —      $ 2,207
    

  

Net assets available for benefits

   $  —      $ 19,144,616
    

  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

RELS Savings Plan

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

Period Ended December 1, 2003 and Year Ended December 31, 2002

 

     2003

    2002

 

Additions

                

Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments

   $ 3,572,230     $ (1,161,995 )

Interest and other income

     43,390       122,795  

Dividends

     210,450       230,866  
    


 


Net additions

     3,826,070       (808,334 )

Deductions

                

Investment and administrative expenses

     (45,271 )     (31,418 )

Benefits paid to participants

     (1,715,951 )     (1,526,396 )

Transfer of assets to The First American Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan

     (20,438,622 )     —    

Other transfers

     (770,842 )     (232,592 )
    


 


Net deductions

     (22,970,686 )     (1,790,406 )
    


 


Net decrease in assets available for benefits

     (19,144,616 )     (2,598,740 )

Net assets available for benefits

                

Beginning of year

     19,144,616       21,743,356  
    


 


End of year

   $ —       $ 19,144,616  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

RELS Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002

 

1. Description of the Plan

 

The following is a general description of the RELS Savings Plan (the “Plan”). Participants should refer to the Plan document for complete information regarding the Plan’s definitions, benefits, eligibility and other related matters.

 

General

 

The Plan is a defined contribution profit sharing plan covering employees of adopting employers and subsidiaries greater than 50% owned of RELS Title Services, LLC, RELS, LLC and RELS Management (collectively referred to as the “Companies” or “Employers”) who have one month of service. RELS Title Services, LLC is owned 50.1% by First American Title Insurance Company and 49.9% by Foothill Capital Corporation. RELS, LLC is owned 50.1% by First American Real Estate Services, Inc. and 49.9% by Foothill Capital Corporation. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A. (“Wells Fargo”) is the Plan’s trustee and recordkeeper.

 

Merger of the Plan

 

Effective January 1, 2002, the Plan adopted The First American Plan. On this date the Plan was frozen to all future contributions. Participation in the Plan was frozen effective December 31, 2001, and all elective deferral contributions and matching contributions with respect to service with the participating employers ceased, effective December 31, 2001. All participant accounts of employees participating in the Plan became fully vested as of December 31, 2001. Subsequent to December 31, 2001, participants of the Plan were allowed to participate in The First American Plan and all contributions have been made to The First American Plan.

 

On September 4, 2003, the Companies’ Management Committee approved merger of the Plan, effective December 1, 2003, into The First American Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan (“The First American Plan”). As of the effective date, The First American Plan assumed all of the assets and liabilities of the Plan. On December 1, 2003, the Plan participants’ investment account balances were liquidated and the cash and participant loans were transferred into The First American Plan.

 

The transfer of assets, totaling $20,438,622, occurred on December 1, 2003, which is the period end date for these financial statements.

 

Eligibility

 

Employees of the Companies who had completed one month of service were eligible to participate in the Plan. Employees eligible to participate in the Plan also include certain former Norwest employees who were participants in the Norwest Corporation Savings Investment Plan (the “Norwest Plan”) and who transferred employment to the Companies on November 1, 1998.

 

Forfeitures

 

Prior to January 1, 2002, forfeitures of nonvested participant accounts were first used to restore any forfeitures for rehired participants, as defined in the Plan. Any remaining forfeitures were allocated in the same manner as Employers’ matching and profit sharing contributions. As of January 1, 2002, forfeitures were no longer being allocated. Amounts forfeited were accumulated within the Plan. The balance of the unallocated forfeitures at December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002 were $0 and $73,457, respectively. There were no forfeitures during 2003 and 2002.

 

6


Table of Contents

RELS Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002

 

Participant Loans

 

Under provisions of the Plan, participants may borrow up to 50% of their total vested account balance up to a maximum of $50,000. Loan terms could not exceed five years unless such loan was used for the purchase of a principal residence, which could have maximum terms up to twenty years. If a participant transferred employment from Norwest on November 1, 1998, and had a loan from the Norwest Plan, that loan balance would be transferred to the Plan. Any transferred Norwest Plan loans could continue to be repaid according to the original payment schedule. The loan agreements required each participant’s outstanding loan balance to be paid in full prior to any distribution of the participant’s vested account balance.

 

Benefit Payments

 

Vested interests are distributed to terminated participants at the option of the participant, either as lump sum payments or installment payments. Withdrawals of vested interests prior to termination could be made either as a regular withdrawal, age 59-1/2, nontaxable, or a hardship withdrawal.

 

Investment Options

 

The Plan provided several investment options. The trustee, Wells Fargo Trust Operations, managed all funds. Except for the Wells Fargo Stock Fund, as further discussed below, all funds were participant directed.

 

Stable Return Fund

 

This fund sought to exceed short-term money market returns over time with a more stable income yield.

 

Strategic Income Fund

 

This fund sought to provide current income and capital appreciation with an emphasis on principal protection through limited stock exposure.

 

Moderate Balanced Fund

 

This fund sought to provide current income and capital appreciation by investing in a blend of bond and stock investments.

 

Growth Balance Fund

 

This fund sought to provide long-term growth through an emphasis on stock investments while moderating risk and producing income with bonds.

 

Strategic Growth Fund

 

This fund sought to provide long-term growth through a heavy emphasis on stock investments while moderating risk and producing income with a small exposure to bonds.

 

Index Fund

 

This fund sought growth through both capital appreciation and, to a lesser extent, dividend income.

 

Growth Equity Fund

 

This fund was designed to provide higher investment returns than fixed income investments over the long-term, but had experienced volatility over time.

 

7


Table of Contents

RELS Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002

 

Diversified Small Cap Fund

 

This fund sought to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in small to medium-sized companies with dramatic price appreciation potential.

 

International Fund

 

This fund sought to provide long-term capital appreciation through investments in securities of companies domiciled outside the United States of America.

 

First American Stock Fund

 

This fund invested in the First American Corporation common stock and short-term money market funds. This was the most aggressive fund because it was the least diversified fund.

 

Wells Fargo Stock Fund

 

This fund invested in the Wells Fargo common stock and short-term money market funds. This was a frozen fund for Wells Fargo employees who were participants in the Wells Fargo Plan and who transferred employment to RELS on November 1, 1998. New contributions and transfers could not be invested in the frozen fund and amounts transferred out of the Wells Fargo Stock Fund could not be transferred back into the fund.

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Accounting

 

The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

 

Investments in mutual funds and common stock are stated at quoted market prices. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are purchased or sold (trade date). Dividend income is recorded in the participant accounts on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis as earned.

 

The Plan presents in the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits the net appreciation (depreciation) in the fair value of its investments which consists of the realized gains (losses) and the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on those investments.

 

Payment of Benefits

 

Benefits paid to participants are recorded as a reduction of assets available for benefits when paid.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Plan’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts in the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

8


Table of Contents

RELS Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002

 

Risks and Uncertainties

 

The Plan provides for various investment options in any combination of stocks, mutual funds and other investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in circumstances in the near term would materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits and the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain 2002 amounts were reclassified to conform to the 2003 presentation.

 

3. Investments

 

The following presents investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits:

 

     2003

   2002

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.

             

* Stable Return Fund

   $  —      $ 2,106,816

* Index Fund

     —        2,620,258

* Growth Equity Fund

     —        2,034,186

* Wells Fargo Stock Fund

     —        6,929,099

* First American Stock Fund

     —        1,534,378

* Other

     —        3,915,266
    

  

     $  —      $ 19,140,003
    

  


* Denotes party-in-interest

 

During 2003 and 2002, the Plan’s investments, including the Plan’s interest in registered investment companies and investments bought, sold, or held during the year, appreciated (depreciated) in value by $3,572,230 and $(1,161,995), respectively, as follows:

 

     2003

   2002

 

Mutual funds

   $ 1,837,711    $ (1,958,965 )

Common stocks

     1,734,519      796,970  
    

  


     $ 3,572,230    $ (1,161,995 )
    

  


 

4. Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions

 

The Plan held First American Corporation Stock with fair values of $0 and $1,534,378 at December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively. At December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002, 0 and 62,202 shares of common stock are included in The First American Corporation Stock Fund, respectively. During 2003, the Plan made ten sales and three purchases of these securities totaling $317,806 and $101,009, respectively. Additionally, 52,755 shares valued at $1,561,548, were transferred to The First American Plan on December 1, 2003. During 2002, the Plan made eight sales and three purchases of these securities totaling $315,643 and $119,595, respectively.

 

9


Table of Contents

RELS Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002

 

The Plan held Wells Fargo Stock with fair values of $0 and $6,929,099 at December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively. At December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002, 0 and 141,604 shares of common stock are included in the Wells Fargo Stock Fund, respectively. During 2003, the Plan made seven sales of these securities totaling $956,554. During 2002, the Plan made five sales of these securities totaling $521,177. No purchases of these securities were made in 2003 and 2002. Additionally, 112,234 shares valued at $6,434,375, were transferred to The First American Plan on December 1, 2003.

 

Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo is the trustee as defined by the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions.

 

The Companies, which qualify as parties-in-interest, absorb certain administrative expenses of the Plan. Such transactions qualify for statutory exemption. Total expenses paid by the Companies were $34,904 and $38,604 for the years ended December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively.

 

5. Inactive Accounts

 

Net assets available for plan benefits as of December 1, 2003 and December 31, 2002 included approximately $0 and $1,374,347, respectively, representing the vested portion of accounts of participants who have terminated their employment with RELS companies, for which disbursement of their account balances has not yet been requested.

 

6. Federal Income Tax Status

 

The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Companies by a letter dated October 10, 2002 that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), and is, therefore, exempt from federal income taxes. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, the plan administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC.

 

10


Table of Contents

RELS Savings Plan

EIN: 42-1477113 PN: 001

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

December 1, 2003

 

(a)


  

(b)

Identity of Issue, Borrower,

Lessor or Similar Party


  

(c)

Description of Investment,

Including Maturity Date,

Rate of Interest, Collateral,

Par or Maturity Value


   (d)
Cost**


   (e)
Current
Value


*

   Wells Fargo    Stable Return Fund    $  —      $  —  

*

   Wells Fargo    Strategic Income Fund      —        —  

*

   Wells Fargo    Moderate Balanced Fund      —        —  

*

   Wells Fargo    Growth Balanced Fund      —        —  

*

   Wells Fargo    Strategic Growth Fund      —        —  

*

   Wells Fargo    Index Fund      —        —  

*

   Wells Fargo    Growth Equity Fund      —        —  

*

   Wells Fargo    Diversified Small Cap Fund      —        —  

*

   Wells Fargo    International Fund      —        —  

*

   Wells Fargo & Company    0 shares of common stock      —        —  

*

   The First American Corporation    0 shares of common stock      —        —  

*

   Loans to participants   

Maturities through December 2022 with interest rates ranging from 6.25 percent to 11.50 percent

     N/A      —  
              

  

               $  —      $  —  
              

  


* Denotes party-in-interest
** Under ERISA, an asset held for investment purposes is any asset held by the Plan on the last day of the Plan's fiscal year or acquired at any time during the Plan's fiscal year and disposed of any time before the last day of the Plan's fiscal year, with certain exceptions. Cost information may be omitted with respect to participant-directed investments

 

11


Table of Contents

RELS Savings Plan

EIN: 42-1477113 PN: 001

Schedule H, Line 4j: Schedule of Reportable Transactions

December 1, 2003

 

Transactions in excess of 5 percent of the current value of Plan’s assets at the beginning of the year are as follows:

 

Series of transactions: (1)

 

Identity of Party Involved

 

   Total
Number of
Purchases


   Total
Number of
Sales


   Total Dollar
Value of
Purchases


   Total Dollar
Value of
Sales


  

Net

Gain (Loss)


 

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Stable Return Fund

   33         $ 301,217                
          55           $ 2,488,857    $ 290,003  

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Short Term Investment Fund

   76         $ 1,614,357                
          105           $ 2,059,962    $ —    

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Wells Fargo Stock Fund

        7           $ 956,555    $ 205,737  

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Growth Balanced Fund

   28         $ 122,658                
          38           $ 1,098,342    $ (72,870 )

(1) Includes single transactions

 

The information in this schedule has been certified as to its completeness and accuracy by the Trustee.

 

See Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

12


Table of Contents

RELS Savings Plan

EIN: 42-1477113 PN: 001

Schedule H, Line 4j: Schedule of Reportable Transactions

December 1, 2003

 

Transactions in excess of 5 percent of the current value of Plan’s assets at the beginning of the year are as follows:

 

Series of transactions (continued): (1)

 

Identity of Party Involved


   Total
Number of
Purchases


   Total
Number of
Sales


   Total Dollar
Value of
Purchases


   Total Dollar
Value of
Sales


  

Net

Gain (Loss)


 

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Index Fund

   29         $ 219,700                
          67           $ 3,394,109    $ (605,458 )

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Growth Equity Fund

   31         $ 150,733                
          58           $ 2,744,518    $ (668,233 )

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Diversified Small Cap Fund

   38         $ 193,426                
          27           $ 907,108    $ 108,032  

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Strategic Income Fund

   27         $ 65,311                
          32           $ 921,113    $ (11,535 )

(1) Includes single transactions

 

The information in this schedule has been certified as to its completeness and accuracy by the Trustee.

 

See Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

13


Table of Contents

RELS Savings Plan

EIN: 42-1477113 PN: 001

Schedule H, Line 4j: Schedule of Reportable Transactions

December 1, 2003

 

Transactions in excess of 5 percent of the current value of Plan’s assets at the beginning of the year are as follows:

 

Single transactions:

 

Identity of Party Involved


   Purchase
Price


  

Selling

Price


   Value of Asset
Purchased


  

Cost of

Asset Sold


   Expense
Incurred


  

Net

Gain (Loss)


 

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A. Stable Return Fund

        $ 1,703,169         $ 1,501,549         $ 201,620  

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A. Growth Balanced Fund

        $ 1,035,378         $ 1,095,354         $ (59,976 )

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A. Index Fund

        $ 2,960,228         $ 3,444,584         $ (484,356 )

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A. Growth Equity Fund

        $ 2,452,644         $ 2,998,225         $ (545,581 )

 

The information in this schedule has been certified as to its completeness and accuracy by the Trustee.

 

See Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

14