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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



FORM 11-K




[X]  Annual Report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the

fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.

Commission File Number:

0-01097

THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY

EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN

-------------------------------------------------------

(Full title of the plan)



THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY

600 Albany Street, Dayton, Ohio  45408

(Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and address of its principal executive office)






#











THE STANDARD REGISTER


EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN


AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


DECEMBER 31, 2003







#




THE STANDARD REGISTER


EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN


INDEX


DECEMBER 31, 2003






      Page No.


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

1


Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits

2

  

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

3


Notes to the Financial Statements

4-7


Supplemental Schedules

Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes

8-9







REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM



The Standard Register Employee Savings Plan

Dayton, Ohio



We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets available for benefits of the Standard Register Employee Savings Plan as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. 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, 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 schedules of assets held for investment purposes 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.



/s/ Battelle & Battelle LLP



June 11, 2004

Dayton, Ohio










THE STANDARD REGISTER EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN

    

 STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

    
    
    
    
    
 

December 31

                                                            

2003

 

2002

    

ASSETS

   

Participant directed investments, at fair value:

   

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. mutual funds

 238,595,423

 

 171,209,540

Standard Register Company common stock

     2,339,550

 

     2,498,298

Participant loans

     4,317,601

 

     3,997,840

Total assets

 245,252,574

 

 177,705,678

    

LIABILITIES

   

Excess contributions payable

        300,752

 

        355,011

    
    

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

 244,951,822

 

 177,350,667










THE STANDARD REGISTER EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN

    

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

    
    
    
    
    
    
 

Year Ended December 31

 

2003

 

2002

    

Investment income (loss):

   

Interest and dividends

     5,037,051

 

     4,945,971

Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments

   37,300,029

 

  (26,195,204)

Total investment income (loss)

   42,337,080

 

  (21,249,233)

    

Contributions:

   

Participant

   13,390,714

 

   15,468,599

Employer

     2,105,667

 

     2,625,373

Total contributions

   15,496,381

 

   18,093,972

    

Transfers from other company sponsored plans

   39,101,895

  
    

Miscellaneous

  

          13,524

    
 

   96,935,356

 

    (3,141,737)

    

Deductions in net assets attributed to:

   

Benefits paid directly to participants

   29,314,192

 

   14,895,748

Administrative fees

          18,094

 

          18,400

Miscellaneous

            1,915

  

Total deductions

   29,334,201

 

   14,914,148

    

Net increase (decrease)

   67,601,155

 

  (18,055,885)

    

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

   

Beginning of year

 177,350,667

 

 195,406,552

    

End of year

 244,951,822

 

 177,350,667







THE STANDARD REGISTER EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


DECEMBER 31, 2003



NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF PLAN


The following description of The Standard Register Employee Savings Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.


General


The Plan is a defined contribution plan established to provide participating employees of The Standard Register Company (Company or employer) with the opportunity to plan a savings program for long-term financial security.


All full-time employees are eligible to participate in the Plan. Contributions to the Plan are made by both employer and participant within limitations stipulated in section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code.


Participant Contributions


Participants may elect to contribute between 1% and 50% of their eligible annual compensation, subject to limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code.


Employer Contributions


The Plan allows for an employer match of 50% (up to 6% of pay) of each dollar contributed by participants who participate in the Pension Equity Plan formula for benefits under the Stanreco Retirement Plan. For participants who participate in the Stanreco Retirement Plan’s Traditional Formula, the employer contribution is 10% (up to 6% of pay) of each dollar contributed by the participant. The employer makes matching contributions at the end of each pay period.


Vesting


Participants are immediately vested in their voluntary contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the employer contribution portion of their accounts plus earnings thereon is based on years of continuous service. A participant has no vested interest for the first three years of credited service. After three years, a participant is 100 percent vested. If a participant terminates or retires, the participant’s non-vested portion of the employer match is used to reduce future employer contributions.


Distributions


All distributions under the Plan are paid in lump sum or periodic installments. Installments (quarterly, semi-annually, or annually) may not exceed 15 years and are not allowed if the installment payment will be for an amount less than $100 per month.


Distributions are not permitted while participants are employed by the Company, except for “Hardship” as defined by the IRS, when employees reach age 59½ or become disabled, and distributions of after-tax contributions and rollovers. Participants who have terminated or retired may elect an immediate distribution or may defer this distribution up to age 70½ if the fund balance is at least $5,000.





NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF PLAN (CONTINUED)


Participant Loans


An active participant may obtain a loan by direct application with the trustee. A loan may be up to $50,000 or 40% of the participant’s nonforfeitable individual account balance, whichever is lower. The minimum loan amount shall be $1,000. If the loan is to be used to acquire the participant’s principal residence, then the minimum loan amount is $10,000. The maximum loan term is four years, nine months for regular loans and 15 years for principal residence loans. The minimum term for all loans is one year.


Non-discrimination Tests


There is a limit placed on the percent of compensation deferred by those participants found in the highest paid one-third of all eligible employees. The Company compares the deferral percentages against several tests as prescribed by law. If the tests are not met, the Company reduces the contribution percentage of the group comprising the highest paid one-third of all participants until the tests are met. If, at the end of the year, the tests are still not met, the Company reclassifies the amount of salary deferral made by the participants in this top one-third group. The Company then moves the necessary amount of pre-taxed money out of the salary deferral account, subjects this amount to taxability and refunds any excess to the participant. Excess contributions at December 31, 2003 and 2002 amounted to $300,752 and $355,011, respectively.



NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES


Basis of Accounting


The financial statements of the Plan are prepared on the accrual method of accounting.


Payment of Benefits


Benefits are recorded 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 certain amounts and disclosures reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.


Plan Trustee


Investments are held by T. Rowe Price Trust Company, the Plan’s trustee.


Administrative Expenses


A significant portion of the Plan’s administrative expenses are paid by the Company.







NOTE 3 - INVESTMENTS


The T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. mutual funds and Standard Register Company common stock are stated at fair value as determined by the market values of the underlying securities. Participant loans are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. 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.


During 2003 and 2002, the Plan’s investments (including investments bought, sold and held during the year) appreciated (depreciated) in value by a net $37,300,029 and ($26,195,204), respectively, as follows:


 

2003

 

2002

    

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. mutual funds

 $      37,488,074

 

 $    (26,746,666)

Standard Register Company common stock

            (188,045)

 

              551,462

Total

 $      37,300,029

 

 $    (26,195,204)



The following presents investments that represent 5 percent or more of the Plan’s net assets at December 31.


 

2003

 

2002

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Mutual Funds

   

Stable Value Common Trust Fund

 $      74,300,416

 

 $      65,499,479

New Horizons Fund

44,313,759

 

         30,841,571

Equity Index 500 Fund

41,322,454

 

         25,667,763

Balanced Fund

26,094,283

 

         17,625,261

Mid-Cap Growth Fund

20,594,618

 

         11,571,400

Small-Cap Value Fund

         12,636,015

 

           8,444,653



NOTE 4 - PLAN TERMINATION


The Company expects to continue the Plan indefinitely, but continuance is not assumed as a contractual obligation and the Company reserves the right at any time by action of its Board of Directors to terminate the Plan. The allocation and distribution of contributions would be in accordance with the approved Plan agreement.



NOTE 5 - INCOME TAX STATUS


The Plan obtained its latest determination letter on November 17, 2002 in which the Internal Revenue Service stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, the Plan Administrator and the Plan’s tax counsel believe that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.










NOTE 6 - PLAN AMENDMENTS


Effective January 1, 2002, the Company amended the Plan to change the deferral amounts to those authorized by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA), to allow rollover contributions, to reduce the vesting schedule from five years to three years, and to reduce the suspension period for hardship withdrawals from twelve months to six months.


Effective January 1, 2003, the Company further amended the Plan to reflect certain additional changes that are allowed as a result of EGTRRA, to provide for a temporary suspension of investment transactions when administratively necessary (blackout period), and to make certain technical corrections to the language in the Plan document.



NOTE 7 - RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES


The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits.




NOTE 8 - PLAN MERGER


By action of The Standard Register Company’s Board of Directors on April 1, 2003, the Company terminated the UARCO Money Purchase Pension Plan. This Plan’s participants and net assets were transferred into the Standard Register Employee Savings Plan on that date.


Also by action of The Standard Register Company’s Board of Directors on August 1, 2003, the Company terminated the UARCO Savings Advantage 401(k) Plan. This Plan’s participants and net assets were transferred into the Standard Register Employee Savings Plan on that date.


The amount of net assets transferred into the Standard Register Employee Savings Plan during 2003 was as follows:


  

2003

   

UARCO Money Purchase Pension Plan

 

 $        287,958

UARCO Savings Advantage 401(k) Plan

 

      38,813,937

  

 $   39,101,895



NOTE 9 - SUBSEQUENT EVENT


Effective April 1, 2004 the plan was amended to allow for the transfer in of the net assets and participants of the InSystems Technologies, LTD 401(k) Plan.









THE STANDARD REGISTER EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN

          

EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 31-0455440

          

PLAN NUMBER 015

          

SCHEDULE H, PART IV, 4i

          

SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES

          

DECEMBER 31, 2003

          
          
    

 ( c )

   

 (e)

  

(b)

 

 Description of

 

 (d)

 

 Current

 (a)

 

Identity of Issue

 

 Investment

 

 Cost

 

 Value

          
  

T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.

     
  

MUTUAL FUNDS

       
          

 *

 

Stable Value Common Trust Fund

 

  74,300,416

shares

 

     74,300,416

 

     74,300,416

 *

 

New Horizons Fund

 

    1,786,845

shares

 

     30,935,047

 

     44,313,759

 *

 

Equity Index 500 Fund

 

    1,379,715

shares

 

     34,135,054

 

     41,322,454

 *

 

Balanced Fund

 

    1,417,397

shares

 

     22,581,200

 

     26,094,283

 *

 

International Stock Fund

 

       597,899

shares

 

       5,496,593

 

       6,869,865

 *

 

Spectrum Income Fund

 

       534,219

shares

 

       5,876,811

 

       6,287,752

 *

 

Mid-Cap Growth Fund

 

       480,061

shares

 

     16,122,636

 

     20,594,618

 *

 

Small-Cap Value Fund

 

       429,943

shares

 

     10,124,662

 

     12,636,015

 *

 

Equity Income Fund

 

       255,640

shares

 

       5,272,360

 

       6,176,261

          
  

       Total T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. mutual funds

  

   204,844,779

 

   238,595,423

          
  

COMMON STOCK

       
          

 *

 

Standard Register Company

 

       139,011

shares

 

       2,513,579

 

       2,339,550

          
    

 Rates ranging from

    
  

PARTICIPANT LOANS                         

 5.0% to 10.5%

 

 n/a

 

       4,317,601

          
          
  

      Total Investments

    

   207,358,358

 

   245,252,574

          
          
  

An (*) in column (a) identifies a person to be a party-in-interest to the plan.

  





THE STANDARD REGISTER EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN

          

EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 31-0455440

          

PLAN NUMBER 015

          

SCHEDULE H, PART IV, 4i

          

SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES

          

DECEMBER 31, 2002

          
          
    

 ( c )

   

 (e)

  

(b)

 

 Description of

 

 (d)

 

 Current

 (a)

 

Identity of Issue

 

 Investment

 

 Cost

 

 Value

          
  

T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.

     
  

MUTUAL FUNDS

       
          

 *

 

Stable Value Common Trust Fund

 

  65,499,479

shares

 

     65,499,479

 

     65,499,479

 *

 

New Horizons Fund

 

    1,856,807

shares

 

     40,911,075

 

     30,841,571

 *

 

Equity Index 500 Fund

 

    1,084,401

shares

 

     32,598,708

 

     25,667,763

 *

 

Balanced Fund

 

    1,136,380

shares

 

     19,638,788

 

     17,625,261

 *

 

International Stock Fund

 

       497,850

shares

 

       5,364,805

 

       4,420,910

 *

 

Spectrum Income Fund

 

       326,679

shares

 

       3,453,176

 

       3,515,069

 *

 

Mid-Cap Growth Fund

 

       372,790

shares

 

     14,212,300

 

     11,571,400

 *

 

Small-Cap Value Fund

 

       384,898

shares

 

       8,952,059

 

       8,444,653

 *

 

Equity Income Fund

 

       183,094

shares

 

       4,140,164

 

       3,623,434

          
  

       Total T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. mutual funds

  

   194,770,554

 

   171,209,540

          
  

COMMON STOCK

       
          

 *

 

Standard Register Company

 

       138,794

shares

 

       3,068,357

 

       2,498,298

          
    

 Rates ranging from

    
  

PARTICIPANT LOANS                         

 5.75% to 10.5%

 

 n/a

 

       3,997,840

          
          
  

      Total Investments

    

   197,838,911

 

   177,705,678

          
          
  

An (*) in column (a) identifies a person to be a party-in-interest to the plan.

  




Signatures


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Plan Administrative Committee has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


The Standard Register Company Employee Savings Plan


Date:  June 24, 2004

/S/  CRAIG J. BROWN

Craig J. Brown, Chair

Plan Administrative Committee




EXHIBITS


The following exhibits are being filed with this Annual Report on Form 11-K:


23

Consent of Independent Auditors


99.1

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


99.2

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002