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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, 2002.

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, 2002







#



THE STANDARD REGISTER


EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN


INDEX


DECEMBER 31, 2002






Page No.


Independent Auditors’ Report

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


Independent Auditors’ Report on Supplemental Information

8


Supplemental Schedules

Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes

9-10


Signature

11


Index to Exhibits

12






INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT



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, 2002 and 2001, 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 auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. 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, 2002 and 2001, 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.



/S/ BATTELLE & BATTELLE LLP



June 12, 2003

Dayton, Ohio








THE STANDARD REGISTER EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN

    

 STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

    
    
    
 

December 31

                                                            

2002

 

2001

    

ASSETS

   
    

  Participant directed investments, at fair value

   

    T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. mutual funds

 171,209,540

 

 188,615,255

    Standard Register Company common stock

     2,498,298

 

     3,116,189

    Participant loans

     3,997,840

 

     3,955,073

 

 177,705,678

 

 195,686,517

    

  Cash

                    -

 

                 88

    

      Total assets

 177,705,678

 

 195,686,605

    
    

LIABILITIES

   

  Excess contributions payable

        355,011

 

        280,053

    
    

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

 177,350,667

=========

 

 195,406,552

==========

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







THE STANDARD REGISTER EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN

    

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

    
    
    
 

Year Ended December 31

 

2002

 

2001

    

ADDITIONS

   

  Interest and dividends

     4,945,971

 

     7,136,676

    
    

  Contributions

   

    Participant

   15,468,599

 

   17,093,960

    Employer

     2,625,373

 

     2,627,722

 

   18,093,972

 

   19,721,682

    

  Miscellaneous

          13,524

 

          10,775

    
    

      Total additions

   23,053,467

 

   26,869,133

    
    

DEDUCTIONS

   

  Net depreciation in fair value of investments

   26,195,204

 

   11,146,845

  Benefits paid directly to participants

   14,895,748

 

   29,746,398

  Administrative fees

          18,400

 

          17,950

      Total deductions

   41,109,352

 

   40,911,193

    

      Net decrease

  (18,055,885)

 

  (14,042,060)

    
    

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

   

  Beginning of year

 195,406,552

 

 209,448,612

    

  End of year

 177,350,667

==========

 

 195,406,552

==========

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






THE STANDARD REGISTER EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN


NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


DECEMBER 31, 2002




NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF PLAN


The following description of The Standard Register Employee Savings 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 (five years during 2001) 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. However, if a participant’s employment was involuntarily terminated between December 1, 2000 and December 31, 2001 as a result of the Company's corporate restructuring program, they shall become 100 percent vested in their respective Matching Contribution Account once terminated.


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.






NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF PLAN (CONTINUED)


Distributions (Continued)


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.


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, 2002 and 2001 amounted to $355,011 and $280,053, 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 Administrator 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


Substantially all 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.


During 2002 and 2001, the Plan’s investments (including investments bought, sold and held during the year) depreciated in value by a net $26,195,204 and $11,146,845, respectively, as follows:


 

2002

 

2001

    

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. mutual funds

 $    (26,746,666)

 

 $    (11,635,067)

Standard Register Company common stock

              551,462

 

              488,222

Total

 $    (26,195,204)
=============

 

 $    (11,146,845)

=============


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 Internal Revenue Service has ruled that the Plan qualifies under Section 401(b) of the Internal Revenue Code and therefore, is not subject to tax under present income tax law. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Internal Revenue Code to maintain its qualification. The Plan’s sponsor is not aware of any action or event that has occurred that might affect the Plan’s qualified 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 - CONCENTRATIONS OF INVESTMENT RISK


Financial instruments that potentially subject the Plan to significant concentrations of risk consist primarily of mutual funds and common stock. These investments are subject to the normal risks associated with financial markets.


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

 

2002

 

2001

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Mutual Funds

   

Stable Value Common Trust Fund

 $  65,499,479

 

 $  61,034,068

New Horizons Fund

     30,841,571

 

     43,364,753

Equity Index Fund

     25,667,763

 

     34,365,304

Balanced Fund

     17,625,261

 

     20,155,795

Mid Cap Growth Fund

     11,571,400

 

     14,244,263




NOTE 7 - REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS


There were no reportable transactions for the years ended December 31, 2002 or 2001.



NOTE 8 - PLAN AMENDMENT


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.

















INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

ON SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION




The Standard Register Employee Savings Plan

Dayton, Ohio



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 12, 2003

Dayton, Ohio







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 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

         
  

PARTICIPANT LOANS                         

Rates ranging

 from 5.75% to

to 10.5%

 

       3,997,840

 

        3,997,840

         
  

      Total Investments

   

   201,836,751

==========

 

     177,705,678

===========

         
  

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, 2001

         
    

 ( 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

 

 61,034,068 shares

 

      61,034,068

 

      61,034,068

 *

 

New Horizons Fund

 

 1,916,251 shares

 

      45,121,195

 

      43,364,753

 *

 

Equity Index Fund

 

 1,114,309 shares

 

      38,893,910

 

      34,365,304

 *

 

Balanced Fund

 

 1,152,418 shares

 

      21,809,069

 

      20,155,795

 *

 

International Stock Fund

 

 478,782 shares

 

        6,692,463

 

        5,261,814

 *

 

Spectrum Income Fund

 

 219,690 shares

 

        2,367,587

 

        2,328,716

 *

 

Mid Cap Growth Fund

 

 361,530 shares

 

      14,208,510

 

      14,244,263

 *

 

Small Cap Value Fund

 

 224,262 shares

 

        4,645,032

 

        5,081,778

 *

 

Equity Income Fund

 

 117,495 shares

 

        2,849,566

 

        2,778,764

         
  

       Total T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. mutual funds

 

    197,621,400

 

    188,615,255

         
  

COMMON STOCK

      
         

 *

 

Standard Register Company

 

 168,170 shares

 

        2,728,231

 

        3,116,189

         
  

PARTICIPANT LOANS                         

Rates ranging

 from 7.0%  

to 10.5%

 

        3,955,073

 

        3,955,073

         
  

      Total Investments

   

    204,304,704

==========

 

    195,686,517

==========

         
  

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 26, 2003

/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