FORM 11-K
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 1-3305
A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
Merial 401(k) Savings Plan
B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:
Merck and Company, Inc.
REQUIRED INFORMATION
The following financial statements are furnished for the Plan:
1. | The plan is subject to ERISA therefore the Plan is filing Plan financial statements and schedules prepared in accordance with financial reporting requirements of ERISA. | |||
2. | A written consent of the accountant. |
SIGNATURES
The Plan: Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Merial
401(k) Savings Plan |
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Date 6-29-05 |
/s/ Jean Mauldin | |
Jean Mauldin | ||
Chief Financial Officer |
Merial 401(k) Savings Plan
Merial 401(k) Savings Plan
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Index |
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December 31, 2003 and 2002 |
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EX-23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
Page(s) | ||||
1 | ||||
Financial Statements |
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2 | ||||
3 | ||||
4-9 | ||||
Supplemental Schedule |
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10 |
* | Note: Other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labors Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted because they are not applicable. |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Participants and
Administrator of
Merial 401 (k) 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 Merial 401(k) Savings Plan (the Plan) at December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plans management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits 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 Schedule of Assets (Held at end of Year) is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labors Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plans management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
Atlanta, Georgia
October 6, 2004
Merial 401(k) Savings Plan
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Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits |
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December 31, 2003 and 2002 |
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(in thousands of dollars) | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||
Assets |
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Investments, at fair value (Note 4) |
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Common stocks |
$ | 24,556 | $ | 35,948 | ||||
Common/collective trusts |
6,255 | | ||||||
American depository receipts |
2,293 | 1,679 | ||||||
Shares of registered investment companies |
54,933 | 50,388 | ||||||
Loans to participants |
1,470 | 1,413 | ||||||
89,507 | 89,428 | |||||||
Receivables |
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Accrued income |
194 | | ||||||
Participants contribution |
| 378 | ||||||
Employers contribution |
| 185 | ||||||
Total receivables |
194 | 563 | ||||||
Net assets available for benefits |
$ | 89,701 | $ | 89,991 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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Merial 401(k) Savings Plan
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Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available For Benefits |
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Year Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 |
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(in thousands of dollars) | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||
Additions to net assets attributed to |
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Interest and dividend income |
$ | 995 | $ | 1,825 | ||||
Net appreciation/(depreciation) in fair value of investments |
8,590 | (10,736 | ) | |||||
Contributions |
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Participants |
6,192 | 5,864 | ||||||
Employer |
2,975 | 2,781 | ||||||
Rollovers from other plans |
304 | 808 | ||||||
Total contributions |
9,471 | 9,453 | ||||||
Total additions |
19,056 | 542 | ||||||
Deductions from net assets attributed to |
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Benefits paid to participants |
19,316 | 10,650 | ||||||
Administrative expenses |
30 | 8 | ||||||
Total deductions |
19,346 | 10,658 | ||||||
Net decrease |
(290 | ) | (10,116 | ) | ||||
Net assets available for benefits |
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Beginning of year |
89,991 | 100,107 | ||||||
End of year |
$ | 89,701 | $ | 89,991 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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1. | Description of the Plan | |||
The following description of the Merial 40l(k) Savings Plan (the Plan) is provided for general information purposes. Participants of the Plan should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plans provisions. | ||||
General The Plan is a defined contribution plan, which is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The Plan covers all full-time employees of Merial Limited (the Company) who have enrolled as participants. The Plan was originally adopted effective January 1, 1989. |
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Eligibility An employee is eligible to participate in the Plan as soon as administratively feasible following the date on which he or she performs his or her first hour of service with the employer and executes a salary reduction agreement. Employees who are part of a collective bargaining agreement, are not United States citizens, or are employed by Hubbard ISA, the poultry genetics division of the Company, are not eligible to participate in the Plan. |
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Participant Contributions Under the provision of the Plan, allowable contributions are outlined as follows: |
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Salary Reduction Agreement: Participants may elect to enter a salary reduction agreement of up to 15 percent of the participants compensation. These amounts are credited to the participants account as pre-tax contributions. The maximum amount of compensation that a participant may elect to defer in 2003 and 2002 was $12,000 and $11,000, respectively. | ||||
Voluntary Contributions: In addition to employee contributions made through the salary reduction agreement, a participant may make voluntary non-deductible contributions to their account in an amount up to 15 percent of their compensation; provided, however, that the total percentage of voluntary contributions and salary reduction contributions do not exceed 15 percent of the participants compensation for each payroll period within a plan year. | ||||
Employer Contributions The employer makes matching contributions to the participants account equal to 100 percent of the participants salary reduction contributions and voluntary contributions up to 3 percent of the participants compensation and 50 percent of a participants salary reduction contributions between 3 percent and 6 percent of the participants compensation. |
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Contribution Limitation In order to satisfy the current rules of Section 415(c) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code), the amount of annual additions, as defined, to each participants individual account are limited under the Plan. Accordingly, in no event shall the annual addition, as defined, exceed the lesser of $40,000 or 100 percent of the participants compensation, as defined, or such other limits as may be prescribed by the Code. |
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Merial 401(k) Savings Plan
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Notes to Financial Statements |
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December 31, 2003 and 2002 |
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Participant Accounts Each participants account is credited with the participants contribution and allocations of (a) the Companys contribution and (b) Plan earnings, and charged with an allocation of administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participants vested account. |
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Vesting Participants are vested immediately in their contributions and employer contributions plus actual earnings thereon. |
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Investments Effective October 1, 2003, the trustee of the plan changed from Fidelity Management Trust Company to Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A. (collectively the Trustees). It is the duty of the Trustees to acquire and dispose of the Plans assets in each of the funds and to perform such other services as the Plan administrator shall deem necessary or desirable in connection with the management of the funds. |
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Withdrawals Participants may elect to withdraw any portion of their employee contribution accounts, employer match account, or rollover account for any reason after attainment of age 59 1/2. |
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Participant Loans Participants have the ability to borrow against their vested account balance in the Plan. Participants may borrow 50 percent of their vested account balance, up to $50,000 in any twelve-month period. The loans are collateralized by the balance in the participants account and bear interest at rates that range from 4.75 percent to 9.50 percent, which are commensurate with local prevailing rates charged by lenders for similar loans. |
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Each loan is collateralized by the assignment of the borrowers entire right, title and interest in his/her participant account. Loans may be repaid over one to five years or thirty years, based on the type of loans, as defined, and the entire unpaid principal balance of the loan is due either upon the participants termination or a default in payment of either principal or interest. Repayment of a loan shall be made through payroll deduction at least quarterly. | ||||
Payment of Benefits When a participant terminates service with the Company or reaches his or her normal retirement date, the balance of their account is payable to the participant. For participants with account balances in excess of $5,000, an election is available to defer the distribution until the participants normal retirement date. The normal retirement date is the date the participant reaches age 65. Participants may elect to receive the distribution as either a lump sum payment in cash or annual installment payments in cash over a period not to exceed ten years. |
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Merial 401(k) Savings Plan
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Notes to Financial Statements |
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December 31, 2003 and 2002 |
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2. | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | |||
Basis of Accounting The financial statements of the Plan are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting. |
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Use of Estimates The preparation of the Plans 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 the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of contributions, revenues, benefit payments and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates. |
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Investment Valuation and Income Recognition The investments of the Plan are stated at the quoted market value. Market value is the unit valuation of a fund at year end (number of shares multiplied by net asset value) as determined by the Trustee of the Plans assets. Shares of mutual funds are valued at the net asset value of the shares held by the Plan at year end. Common stocks are valued at quoted market prices. |
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Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest is accrued as earned. The net appreciation (depreciation) in market value of investments consists of realized gains and losses and changes in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of these investments during the year. | ||||
Payment of Benefits Benefits are recorded when paid. |
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Risks and Uncertainties The Plan provides for various investment options in investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risks. 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 risks in the near term could 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. |
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3. | Administrative Expenses | |||
All costs and expenses of administering the Plan are borne by the Plan, unless paid by the Company at its discretion. Administrative expenses paid by the Plan for the 2003 and 2002 plan years were $30,177 and $8,202, respectively. |
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Merial 401(k) Savings Plan
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Notes to Financial Statements |
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December 31, 2003 and 2002 |
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4. | Investments | |||
Investments at fair value are as follows: |
(in thousands of dollars) | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||
Common stocks |
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Merck and Company, Inc. |
$ | 22,785 | * | $ | 35,948 | * | ||
Medco Health Solutions, Inc. |
1,771 | | ||||||
24,556 | 35,948 | |||||||
American depository receipts (ADR) |
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Aventis ADR |
2,293 | 1,679 | ||||||
2,293 | 1,679 | |||||||
Shares of registered investment companies |
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Wells Fargo Large Company Growth Fund |
11,556 | * | | |||||
Pimco Small Cap Value Fund |
10,679 | * | | |||||
AIM Basic Value Fund |
10,353 | * | | |||||
Fidelity Diversified International Fund |
5,395 | * | 3,642 | |||||
Artisan Mid Cap Fund |
5,098 | * | | |||||
Pimco Total Return Fund |
4,232 | | ||||||
Wells Fargo Strategic Growth Allocation Fund |
2,180 | | ||||||
Wells Fargo Growth Balanced Fund |
1,858 | | ||||||
Wells Fargo Moderate Balance Fund |
1,393 | | ||||||
Wells Fargo Strategic Income Fund |
1,111 | | ||||||
Wells Fargo Index Fund |
678 | | ||||||
Neuberger Berman Fasciano |
216 | | ||||||
Lord Abbett Mid Cap Value |
184 | | ||||||
Fidelity Large Capital Stock Fund |
| 10,914 | * | |||||
Fidelity Low Priced Stock Fund |
| 8,450 | * | |||||
Fidelity Equity Income Fund |
| 8,196 | * | |||||
Fidelity Retirement Government Money Market
Account |
| 7,509 | * | |||||
Fidelity Intermediate Bond Fund |
| 4,357 | ||||||
Fidelity Aggressive Growth Fund |
| 3,076 | ||||||
Fidelity Freedom 2030 Fund |
| 1,405 | ||||||
Fidelity Freedom 2020 Fund |
| 974 | ||||||
Fidelity Freedom 2010 Fund |
| 962 | ||||||
Fidelity Freedom Income Fund |
| 483 | ||||||
Fidelity Freedom 2000 Fund |
| 420 | ||||||
54,933 | 50,388 | |||||||
Common/Collective Trusts |
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Wells Fargo Collective Stable Return Fund |
6,255 | * | | |||||
Loans to participants |
1,470 | 1,413 | ||||||
Total investments |
$ | 89,507 | $ | 89,428 | ||||
* | These investments represent 5 percent or more of the Plans net assets as of the end of the plan year. |
7
Merial 401(k) Savings Plan
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Notes to Financial Statements |
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December 31, 2003 and 2002 |
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During 2003 and 2002, the Plans investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated/(depreciated) in value as follows: |
(in thousands of dollars) | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||
Type of Fund |
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Common stocks |
$ | (2,741 | ) | $ | (1,504 | ) | ||
Common/collective
trusts |
68 | | ||||||
American depository receipts |
438 | (509 | ) | |||||
Shares of registered investment companies |
10,825 | (8,723 | ) | |||||
$ | 8,590 | $ | (10,736 | ) | ||||
5. | Plan Termination | |||
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company reserves the right under the Plan to terminate the Plan, in whole or in part, at any time subject to the provisions of ERISA. Whole or partial termination of the Plan shall result in full and immediate vesting of each affected participant in their entire account balance and there shall not thereafter be any forfeitures with respect to any such affected participant for any reason. | ||||
6. | Parties-In-Interest | |||
Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by the Trustees as defined by the Plan, and therefore these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Fees paid by the Plan for administrative expenses amounted to $30,177 and $8,202 for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. | ||||
The Company is jointly (50/50) owned by Merck and Aventis (collectively the Parents). The Plan allows for investment in shares of these Parents. As of December 31, 2003, the Plan held investments of $22,784,533 or 493,172 shares of Merck common stock and $2,293,036 or 34,607 shares of Aventis American depository receipts. As of December 31, 2002, the Plan held investments of $35,947,555 or 635,004 shares of Merck common stock and $1,678,442 or 30,173 shares of Aventis American depository receipts. | ||||
7. | Tax Status | |||
The Plan obtained its latest determination letter on September 7, 2001, in which the Internal Revenue Service stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code. The Plan has been amended since its latest determination letter. The Plan administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code. Therefore, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan was qualified and the related trust was tax exempt as of the financial statement date. |
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Merial 401(k) Savings Plan
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Notes to Financial Statements |
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December 31, 2003 and 2002 |
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8. | Contingencies | |||
The Plan is required to file an annual report on Form 11-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Plan has failed to file these 11-Ks and, therefore, could be subject to fines and penalties. The amount of such fines, if any, is unknown to the Plan at this time. However, the Company has indicated it will indemnify the Plan regarding any fines assessed. The Plan is currently attempting to file the required 11-Ks with the SEC. |
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Merial 401(k) Savings Plan |
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Schedule H, Line 4i Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) |
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December 31, 2003
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(b) Identity of issue | (c) Description of investments, including | |||||||
borrower, lessor, or | maturity date, rate of interest, collateral, | (e) Current | ||||||
(a) | similar party | par or maturity value | value | |||||
*
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Merck and Company, Inc. | Common Stock, 493,172 shares | $ | 22,785 | ||||
*
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Wells Fargo | Large Company Growth Fund, 255,265 units | 11,556 | |||||
*
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Wells Fargo | Pimco Small Cap Value Fund, 425,951 units | 10,679 | |||||
*
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Wells Fargo | AIM Basic Value Fund, 354,081 units | 10,353 | |||||
*
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Wells Fargo | Collective Stable Return Fund, 177,970 units | 6,255 | |||||
*
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Fidelity Investments | Diversified International Fund, 341,255 units | 5,395 | |||||
*
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Wells Fargo | Artisan Mid Cap Fund, 197,735 units | 5,098 | |||||
*
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Wells Fargo | Pimco Total Return Fund, 395,142 units | 4,232 | |||||
*
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Aventis | 34,607 American depository receipts | 2,293 | |||||
*
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Wells Fargo | Strategic Growth Allocation Fund, 166,528 units | 2,180 | |||||
*
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Wells Fargo | Growth Balanced Fund, 65,554 units | 1,858 | |||||
Medco Health Solutions, Inc. | Common Stock, 52,099 shares | 1,771 | ||||||
*
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Wells Fargo | Moderate Balance Fund, 64,565 units | 1,393 | |||||
*
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Wells Fargo | Strategic Income Fund, 57,803 units | 1,111 | |||||
*
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Wells Fargo | Index Fund, 15,202 units | 678 | |||||
*
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Wells Fargo | Neuberger Berman Fascino Fund, 5,505 units | 216 | |||||
*
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Wells Fargo | Lord Abbett Mid Cap Value Fund, 9,757 units | 184 | |||||
*
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Participants loans | Loans to participants at interest rates, ranging
from 4.75% to 10.75% with maturities through 2030
|
1,470 | |||||
$ | 89,507 | |||||||
* | Denotes party-in-interest to the Plan. |
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