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 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from _____________ to ___________ Commission file number 333-91178 A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below: Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: Park National Corporation 50 North Third Street Newark, Ohio 43055 REQUIRED INFORMATION The following financial statements and supplemental schedules for the Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan are being filed herewith: Audited Financial Statements: Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Ernst & Young LLP Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits at December 31, 2003 and 2002 Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Years Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 Notes to Financial Statements - December 31, 2003 Supplemental Schedules: Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes, Schedule H, Line 4(i) - December 31, 2003 Schedule of Reportable Transactions, Schedule H, Line 4(j) - December 31, 2003 The following exhibit is being filed herewith: Exhibit No. Description ----------- ----------- 23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Ernst & Young LLP -2- SIGNATURES The Plan. 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. PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION EMPLOYEES STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN By THE PARK NATIONAL BANK, Trustee Date: June 24, 2004 By: /s/Stuart N. Parsons -------------------------------- Printed Name: Stuart N. Parsons Title: Senior Vice President -3- Audited Financial Statements And Supplemental Schedules Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan Years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 with Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan Audited Financial Statements Years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 CONTENTS Audited Financial Statements Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm..................... 1 Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits............................. 2 Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.................. 3 Notes to Financial Statements............................................... 4 Supplemental Schedules Schedule H, Line 4(i) - Assets Held for Investment Purposes................ 10 Schedule H, Line 4(j) - Reportable Transactions............................ 11 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM Executive Committee of the Board of Directors Park National Corporation We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related statements 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 assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the changes in assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying schedule of assets (held at end of year) and schedule of reportable transactions as of December 31, 2003 are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the financial statements but is 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. The supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole. ERNST & YOUNG LLP Columbus, Ohio June 23, 2004 1 Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits DECEMBER 31, 2003 2002 ----------- ----------- ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 332,737 $ 263,188 Investments: Park National Corporation Common Stock 54,426,847 44,070,827 Mutual Funds 10,761,920 8,992,444 Certificates of Deposit, issued by Park National Corporation bank affiliates 2,716,720 3,284,643 ----------- ----------- 67,905,487 56,347,914 Contributions receivable: Employer 454 900 Employee - - ----------- ----------- 454 900 Accrued interest and dividends 450,628 429,390 ----------- ----------- 450,628 429,390 ----------- ----------- Net assets available for benefits $68,689,306 $57,041,392 =========== =========== See accompanying notes. 2 Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003 2002 ----------- ----------- Additions Investment Income: Net realized and unrealized appreciation in fair value of investments $ 8,726,533 $ 657,835 Interest and dividends 1,823,943 1,745,932 ----------- ----------- 10,550,476 2,403,767 Contributions: Employer 1,460,976 1,378,751 Employee 3,444,603 3,081,381 ----------- ----------- 4,905,579 4,460,132 ----------- ----------- Total additions 15,456,055 6,863,899 Deductions: Benefit payments to participants 3,808,141 2,850,045 ----------- ----------- Net increase in net assets available for benefits 11,647,914 4,013,854 Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year 57,041,392 53,027,538 ----------- ----------- Net assets available for benefits at end of year $68,689,306 $57,041,392 =========== =========== See accompanying notes. 3 Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2003 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN The following description of the Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions. GENERAL The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering full-time or part-time employees of Park National Corporation and subsidiaries (Park) who have one year of service, age twenty-one or older, and worked at least 1,000 hours. It is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). CONTRIBUTIONS Each year, participants may contribute up to 25% of their pretax annual compensation, as defined in the Plan. Participants may also contribute rollover amounts representing distributions from other qualified defined contribution plans. The maximum salary deferral permitted by the Internal Revenue Code (Code) for 2003 and 2002 was $12,000 and $11,000. Park provides a matching contribution at a level established annually by Park. For 2003, Park matched 50% up to the first 15% of compensation. PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS Each participant's account is credited with the participant's salary deferral and allocation of Park's contribution and Plan earnings. 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 participant's account. VESTING Participants' accounts are 100% vested at all times. 4 Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN (CONTINUED) PAYMENTS OF BENEFITS On termination of service and before age 59-1/2, a participant may elect to receive either a lump sum or rollover amount equal to the value of his or her account. After age 59-1/2, a participant may elect lump sum, rollover, or installments over a period certain not to exceed the participant's (and his designated beneficiary's) life expectancy. ESOP Effective January 1, 2002, the Plan was amended and restated to become a ESOP Plan that invests in Park National Corporation common stock. The Plan is unleveraged and all new contributions (both employer and employee) will be used to purchase Park National Corporation common stock only. Participants have the ability to diversify their investments upon reaching age 55. The Plan has changed its name from Park National Corporation Employees Voluntary Salary Deferral Plan and Trust to Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan. All other provisions of the Plan remain the same. 2. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES BASIS OF PRESENTATION The financial statements of the Plan are prepared on the accrual basis. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS Investments are stated at fair value. Park National Corporation common stock is valued at its quoted market price. Shares of mutual funds are valued at quoted market prices which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year end. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES All administrative expenses charged to the Plan are borne by Park. Trustee fees for the Plan are waived each year. Park also provides other accounting and administrative services to the Plan. 5 Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 2. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of investment income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. RECLASSIFICATIONS Certain amounts in the prior year financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net assets available for benefits as previously reported. 3. PLAN TERMINATION Although Park has not expressed any intent to do so, it has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. 6 Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 4. INVESTMENTS The Plan's investments are held in trust by The Park National Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Park National Corporation. The Plan's investments (including investments bought and sold as well as held during the year) appreciated (depreciated) in fair value during the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 as follows: DECEMBER 31, 2003 2002 ----------- ----------- Park National Corporation Common Stock $ 6,835,876 $ 2,619,639 Vanguard Institutional Index 500 Portfolio Fund 1,172,399 (1,415,297) Vanguard Fixed-Income Securities Short-term Corporate Fund 604 (2,283) Vanguard Growth Index Fund 132,432 (164,082) Vanguard Institutional Extended Market Fund 277,105 (172,638) Vanguard Balanced Index Fund 169,308 (149,758) Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund 143,479 (95,997) Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund (4,670) 38,251 ----------- ----------- $ 8,726,533 $ 657,835 =========== =========== The following table represents the fair value of those investments that represent 5 percent or more of the Plan's net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 2003 and 2002: DECEMBER 31, 2003 2002 ----------- ----------- *Park National Corporation Common Stock $54,426,847 $44,070,827 Vanguard Institutional Index 500 Portfolio Fund 5,618,316 4,439,862 ----------- ----------- $60,045,163 $48,510,689 =========== =========== *Nonparticipant-directed 7 Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 4. INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) Information about the net assets and the significant components of changes in net assets related to the nonparticipant-directed investment is as follows: FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003 ------------------ Beginning balance Park National Corporation Common Stock $ 44,070,827 Changes in net assets: Contributions 4,985,950 Net realized and unrealized appreciation in fair value 6,835,876 In-kind stock distributions (1,465,806) ------------ Ending balance Park National Corporation Common Stock $ 54,426,847 ============ 5. INCOME TAX STATUS The Plan has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service dated September 30, 2003 stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a)of the Code and, therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification. The plan administrator believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and, therefore, believes that the Plan is qualified and the related trust is tax exempt. 8 Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 6. PARTY IN INTEREST The Plan held the following party-in-interest investments (at fair value): DECEMBER 31, 2003 2002 ----------- ----------- Park National Corporation Common Stock $54,426,847 $44,070,827 Certificates of Deposit issued by Park National Corporation Affiliates 2,716,720 3,284,643 ----------- ----------- $57,143,567 $47,355,470 =========== =========== Costs and expenses incurred in administering the Plan are paid by Park, which totaled $101,224 and $101,689 for 2003 and 2002, respectively. 7. FORM 5500 RECONCILIATION Net assets available for benefits do not agree to the Form 5500 for 2003 and 2002. The Form 5500 total for net assets available for benefits does not include accrued interest and dividends of $450,628 in 2003 and $429,390 in 2002. 9 PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION EMPLOYEES STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES SCHEDULE H, LINE 4(i) DECEMBER 31, 2003 EIN 31-1179518 Plan 002 DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT UNITS MARKET VALUE Cash and Equivalents: Northern Institutional Government Portfolio $ 332,737 ------------ Total Cash and Equivalents 332,737 Common Stock: Park National Corporation Common Stock 481,015 54,426,847 ------------ Total Common Stock: 54,426,847 Mutual Funds: Vanguard Stock Index Fund 55,201 5,618,316 Vanguard Short-Term Corp Bond Fund 96,385 1,040,961 Vanguard Growth Fund 26,494 660,231 Vanguard Extended Market Fund 34,306 914,954 Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Fund 81,788 874,319 Vanguard Balanced Fund 62,511 1,142,069 Vanguard International Fund 48,033 511,070 ------------ Total Mutual Funds: 10,761,920 Certificates of Deposit, issued by Park National Corporation bank affiliates: The Park National Bank 2,072,349 Second National Bank 92,570 The Richland Trust Company 551,801 ------------ Total Certificates of Deposit, issued by Park National Corporation affiliates: 2,716,720 ------------ Total Assets Held for Investment Purposes: $ 68,238,224 ============ 10 PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION EMPLOYEES STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS SCHEDULE H, LINE 4(j) DECEMBER 31, 2003 EI # - 31-1179518 Plan # 002 (b) (h) DESCRIPTION OF ASSET CURRENT VALUE INCLUDING MATURITY DATE, (c) (d) (g) OF ASSET ON (i) (a) RATE OF INTEREST, PURCHASE SELLING COST OF TRANSACTION NET GAIN IDENTITY OR PARTY INVOLVED PAR OR MATURITY VALUE PRICE PRICE ASSET DATE OR (LOSS) ----------------------------- -------------------------------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ------------- --------- CATEGORY (iii) - A SERIES OF TRANSACTIONS IN A SECURITY ISSUE AGGREGATING 5.0% OR MORE OF PLAN ASSETS Northern Government Portfolio Money Market Fund, 182 purchases $ 6,404,216 $ - $ 6,404,216 $ - Northern Government Portfolio Money Market Fund, 201 sales - 6,334,667 6,334,667 - Park National Corporation Common Stock, 107 purchases 4,985,950 - 4,985,950 - There were no Category (i), (ii) or (iv) reportable transactions during the year ended December 31, 2003. 11 PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION EMPLOYEES STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 11-K FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003 INDEX TO EXHIBITS Exhibit No. Description ----------- ----------- 23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Ernst & Young LLP