First Data 2008 Annual Report Download - page 17

businesses. Also important, but not individually material, is the VisionPLUS trademark and software mostly utilized in the International segment. VisionPLUS
is recognized internationally as a quality software product and card processing system. The software is important to the Company's international expansion.
The Company uses a combination of technologies (including proprietary technology and technology obtained from third parties) to provide its products
and services to its customers, and to remain competitive. The Company has various programs and procedures to protect its patents and other intellectual
property rights. The patent protection associated with the Company's systems and software expires at different times over the next one to 20 years.
Employees and Labor
At December 31, 2008, the Company employed approximately 26,600 employees, approximately 97% of which were full-time employees. The
majority of the employees of the Company's subsidiaries outside of the U.S. are subject to the terms of individual employment agreements. One of the
Company's wholly owned subsidiaries has approximately 1,800 employees in the United Kingdom, about 25% of whom are members of Unite trade union
(formerly Amicus trade union). Employees of the Company's subsidiaries in Vienna, Austria; Frankfurt, Germany; Nürnberg, Germany are also represented
by local works councils and a portion of the Frankfurt workforce is covered by a union contract. Employees of the Company's Korean subsidiary are
represented by a Labor-Management council. Employees in certain other countries are also covered by the terms of industry-specific national collective
agreements. None of the Company's employees are otherwise represented by any labor organization in the U.S. The Company believes that its relations with
its employees and the labor organizations identified above are in good standing.
Available Information
FDC's principal executive offices are located at 6200 S. Quebec Street, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, telephone [phone]. The Company's
annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports are available free of charge to
shareholders and other interested parties through the "About", "Investor Relations" portion of the Company's web site, www.firstdata.com, as soon as
reasonably practical after they are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The SEC maintains a web site, www.sec.gov, which contains
reports and other information filed electronically with the SEC by the Company. The Company's Audit Committee Charter, Compensation and Benefits
Committee Charter, Nominating and Governance Committee Charter, and Code of Conduct for Senior Financial Officers are available without charge through
the "About", "Investor Relations", "Corporate Governance" portion of the Company's web site, listed above, or by writing to the attention of Investor
Relations at the address listed above.
Executive Officers of the Company
See Item 10 of this Form 10-K.
Government Regulations
Various aspects of the Company's service areas are subject to U.S. federal, state and local regulation, as well as regulation outside the U.S. Failure to
comply with regulations may result in the suspension or revocation of licenses or registrations, the limitation, suspension or termination of service, and/or the
imposition of civil and criminal penalties, including fines. Certain of the Company's services also are subject to rules promulgated by various payment
networks, such as Visa, MasterCard and Discover, as more fully described below.
Association and Network Rules
A number of the Company's subsidiaries are subject to payment network rules of MasterCard, Visa and other associations. First Data Loan Company
Canada ("FDLCC"), is a member of MasterCard and Visa and
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