Form 11-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 11-K

 

 

FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS

AND SIMILAR PLANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                     to                    

Commission File Number 33-57687

 

 

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT

SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

(Full title of the plan and the address of the

plan, if different from that of the issuer named below)

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

Three Lincoln Centre, Suite 1800

5430 LBJ Freeway

Dallas, Texas 75240

(Name of issuer of the securities held

pursuant to the plan and the

address of its principal executive office)

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT

SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AND SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2011 AND 2010

AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011

 

 

 


Table of Contents

CONTENTS

 

     Page
Number
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     2   

Audited Financial Statements:

  

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

     3   

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

     4   

Notes to Financial Statements

     5   

Supplemental Schedule:

  

Form 5500, Schedule H, Line 4i — Schedule of Assets (Held At End of Year)

     13   

Signatures

     14   

Exhibits Index

     15   

 

1


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Participants and the Qualified Retirement Plans and Trusts Committee of the Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and Trust

We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets available for benefits of the Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and Trust as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2011. 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. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. An audit includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also 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, 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 Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and Trust as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2011, 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 schedule to Form 5500, Schedule H, Line 4i — 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 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 schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s 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 financial statements taken as a whole.

/s/ Whitley Penn LLP

Dallas, Texas

June 20, 2012

 

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Table of Contents

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT

SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

 

     December 31  
     2011     2010  

Assets

    

Investments, at fair value:

    

Common stock of Atmos Energy Corporation

   $ 143,239,468     $ 124,555,479  

Registered Investment Companies:

    

T. Rowe Price Balanced Fund

     14,123,796       14,008,141  

T. Rowe Price Spectrum Income Fund

     9,301,596       8,669,161  

T. Rowe Price Spectrum Growth Fund

     24,144,059       25,405,127  

T. Rowe Price Short-Term Bond Fund

     3,923,595       3,468,474  

T. Rowe Price U.S. Bond Index Fund

     23,195,965       20,974,721  

T. Rowe Price New Horizons Fund

     17,506,826       16,566,001  

T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Value Fund

     15,225,797       16,973,417  

T. Rowe Price New America Growth Fund

     16,372,981       11,294,484  

T. Rowe Price Equity Income Fund

     24,555,570       23,612,750  

T. Rowe Price Equity Index 500 Fund

     6,881,938       8,022,877  

T. Rowe Price Growth Stock Fund

     8,014,090       10,649,415  

Harbor International Fund

     23,787,781       26,783,284  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2005 Fund

     248,088       80,748  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2010 Fund

     791,662       708,061  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2015 Fund

     1,976,617       2,082,587  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020 Fund

     3,701,508       2,883,462  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025 Fund

     1,988,493       1,883,167  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030 Fund

     2,439,513       2,007,834  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035 Fund

     1,889,416       1,567,318  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040 Fund

     1,543,211       1,281,573  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045 Fund

     1,810,698       1,444,631  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2050 Fund

     1,021,973       759,724  

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2055 Fund

     398,123       219,310  

T. Rowe Price Retirement Income Fund

     324,464       50,974  

Common/Collective Trust:

    

T. Rowe Price Stable Value Common Trust Fund

     18,512,900       16,287,783  

Common stock of Entergy Corporation

     115,032       111,536  

Common stock of Frontier Communications

    

Corporation, Class B

     118,810       286,756  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments

     367,153,970       342,638,795  

Receivables:

    

Participant contributions

     659,783       643,005  

Company contributions

     785,394       382,617  

Due from broker

     24,236       35,495  

Notes receivable from participants

     16,450,864       15,161,034  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total receivables

     17,920,277       16,222,151  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits, at fair value

     385,074,247       358,860,946  

Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts

     (645,631     (588,709
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits

   $ 384,428,616     $ 358,272,237  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes

 

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Table of Contents

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT

SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

Year ended December 31, 2011

 

Additions to Net Assets

  

Investment income (loss):

  

Net depreciation in fair value of investments

   $ (169,923

Dividends on common stock

     5,624,588  

Dividends on registered investment companies

     6,889,089  

Dividends on common/collective trust

     509,669  
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     12,853,423  

Other Income

  

Interest received on participant loans

     891,214  

Contributions:

  

Participants

     18,738,554  

Company — noncash

     10,117,952  

Company — cash

     395,789  

Rollovers

     431,015  
  

 

 

 

Total contributions

     29,683,310  

Transfer from Atmos Energy Corporation Savings Plan for MVG Union Employees

     75,592  
  

 

 

 

Total additions to net assets

     43,503,539  

Deductions from Net Assets

  

Distributions to participants

     17,124,635  

Administrative expenses

     222,525  
  

 

 

 

Total deductions from net assets

     17,347,160  
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets available for benefits

     26,156,379  

Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year

     358,272,237  
  

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits at end of year

   $ 384,428,616  
  

 

 

 

See accompanying notes

 

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Table of Contents

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT

SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2011

1. Description of the Plan

The following brief description of the Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and Trust (the Plan) is provided for general information only. Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description for a more detailed description of the Plan’s provisions.

General

The Plan is a trusteed defined contribution retirement benefit plan offered to eligible employees of Atmos Energy Corporation (the Company, Atmos Energy or Plan Sponsor). The Plan is to continue for an indefinite term and may be amended or terminated at any time by the Board of Directors of Atmos Energy (the Board). The Plan is administered by the Qualified Retirement Plans and Trusts Committee (the Committee) which is appointed by the Board. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA).

Eligibility

Substantially all employees of the Company (except employees covered by other agreements, leased employees and any employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement in which Plan participation has not been negotiated through good faith bargaining) (Participants) are automatically enrolled at 4% in the Plan. Participants have a 30-day period to opt out of automatic enrollment. After 30 days, if the participant has not opted out, salary deductions begin at the automatic enrollment level of 4%.

Contributions

Contributions to the Plan include contributions withheld by the Company on behalf of each Participant in an amount specified by the Participant pursuant to a salary reduction agreement, as well as matching and any discretionary Company contributions.

Participants are eligible to receive matching Company contributions after completing at least one year of service, effective on the first full pay period after which one year of service has been completed.

Participants are automatically enrolled in the Plan and are assigned a salary deferral rate of four percent, unless they affirmatively elect not to contribute to the Plan. Participants may elect a different deferral rate ranging from a minimum of one percent up to a maximum of 65 percent of eligible compensation, as defined by the Plan, not to exceed the maximum allowed by the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) ($16,500 in 2011 or $22,000 for those participants age 50 or older).

The Company contributes a matching Company contribution, in the form of Atmos Energy common stock, in an amount equal to 100 percent of each Participant’s salary reduction contribution, up to a maximum of four percent of such Participant’s eligible compensation, as defined by the Plan, for the Plan year. The Company’s matching contribution meets the current Internal Revenue Service (IRS) “Safe Harbor” definition. The Company may revoke or amend any Participant’s salary reduction agreement if necessary to ensure that (1) each Participant’s additions for any year will not exceed applicable Code limitations and (2) Company matching contributions will be fully deductible for federal income tax purposes.

 

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Table of Contents

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT

SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

In August 2010, the Board approved a proposal to close the Pension Account Plan, a defined benefit plan that covers substantially all employees, to new participants effective October 1, 2010. All new employees hired on or after October 1, 2010 will participate in the Plan, which has been enhanced, effective January 1, 2011 (the enhanced Plan). Employees who participated in the Pension Account Plan as of October 1, 2010 were allowed to make a one-time election to migrate from that plan into the enhanced Plan, effective January 1, 2011. Under the enhanced Plan, participants receive a fixed annual contribution of four percent of eligible compensation to their Plan account in the form of a cash contribution in which they are fully vested after three years of service. Participants continue to be eligible for Company matching contributions of up to four percent of their eligible compensation in which they are fully vested immediately. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company made a fixed annual contribution for enhanced Plan participants of $395,789 of which $389,394 was recorded as contributions receivable at December 31, 2011.

The Plan also provides that a discretionary contribution may be made at the option of the Board and in an amount determined annually by the Board. No discretionary contribution was made to the Plan in 2011.

Employee contributions and the Company’s matching contributions are immediately and fully vested. Company contributions made under the enhanced Plan are fully vested after three years of service.

Investment Options

The Plan allows Participant salary reduction contributions to be invested among a variety of registered investment companies, one common/collective trust and Atmos Energy common stock.

The Atmos Stock Fund, consisting of Atmos Energy common stock, is participant directed. All Company matching and discretionary contributions are directed into this fund. All Participant and Company contributions made to this fund, both Participant directed and Company matching and discretionary, are allowed to be diversified at any time after the contribution is made into one or more of the other investment options offered by the Plan.

The Plan’s investments in the common stock of Entergy Corporation and Frontier Communications Corporation (formerly Citizens Communications) are held in separate accounts within the Plan. These accounts were established to accommodate employees who elected to hold these investments when they transferred their accounts into the Plan from a predecessor plan following an acquisition. These accounts were established as frozen accounts where the funds could be liquidated but no new stock added.

Distributions to Participants

Dividends received on Atmos Energy common stock are automatically reinvested in Atmos Energy common stock. However, a Participant may elect to have his or her dividends paid in cash. This election may be made at any time during the period beginning on the first business day on or after the dividend record date and ending at a time specified by the Committee on the last business day preceding the dividend payout date. Cash dividends received on Atmos Energy common stock, in accordance with the Plan, must be distributed to Participants no later than 90 days after the Plan’s year end. Currently, the dividends are distributed quarterly. Once a Participant elects to receive his or her dividends in cash, the election will remain in effect until the election is changed.

In the event of retirement, death, termination due to disability or termination of employment for another reason, a Participant, or beneficiary in the event of death, is entitled to withdraw the entire amount from his or her account.

 

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Table of Contents

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT

SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Effective January 1, 2009, at the time of termination, Participants who do not have Plan loans outstanding are entitled to take one or more partial distributions from his or her account.

Withdrawals from a Participant’s salary reduction account are allowed upon proof of financial hardship meeting IRS “Safe Harbor” definitions. If elected, subsequent to the Participant attaining age 59 1/2, withdrawals may be made from a Participant’s salary reduction account as well as the Company matching and discretionary account. Withdrawals from the Atmos Energy Stock Fund may be in the form of Atmos Energy common stock or cash, as determined by the Committee. However, a Participant has the right to have withdrawals made in the form of Atmos Energy common stock upon written notice by the Participant.

A Participant may elect to receive an annual distribution of Company matching or discretionary contributions made to his or her account prior to January 1, 1999 and which were allocated to his or her account at least two years prior to such election. These annual elections are made as of January 1. The annual distribution from the Plan is normally made in February of the following year. Company matching or discretionary contributions made after January 1, 1999 meet the current IRS “Safe Harbor” definition and are not eligible for in-service withdrawal.

Loans to Participants

A Participant may borrow up to the lesser of $50,000 or 50 percent of his or her account balance, with a minimum loan amount of $1,000. Loans are repaid through payroll deductions over periods of up to 5 years for general purpose loans or 15 years for primary residence loans. The interest rate is the U.S. prime rate plus 2 percent and is fixed over the life of the loan. A Participant may have a maximum of two loans outstanding at any one time.

If a Participant has an outstanding loan in force and terminates his or her employment, the Participant may elect to continue to pay the loan according to the payment schedule that was set up at the time the loan was initiated. If this option is elected, the Participant must also leave his or her account balance in the Plan. A second option is that the Participant may elect to have the outstanding loan balance treated as a distribution from the Plan. A third option is that the Participant may repay the loan in full within the date range established by IRS rules.

Plan Termination

While the Company has not expressed any intent to terminate the Plan, it is free to do so at any time. In the event of the dissolution, merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company, the Plan will terminate and the trust will be liquidated, unless the Plan is continued by a successor. Upon such liquidation, all accounts will be distributed to the Participants.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements of the Plan are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting. Distributions to participants are recorded when paid.

Basis of Comparison

Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current-year presentation.

 

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Table of Contents

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT

SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The most significant estimate includes fair value measurements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

Shares of registered investment companies are valued at fair value based on published market prices which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year end. Investments in common stock are valued at fair value based on quoted market prices. The fair value of investments in the common/collective trust (CCT) is determined periodically by T. Rowe Price Trust Company (T. Rowe Price) based upon the current fair value of the underlying assets of the fund based on quoted market prices.

Investment contracts held within the CCT, which primarily include investments in conventional, synthetic and separate account investment contracts issued by life insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions are reported at fair value. However, contract value is the relevant measurement attributable for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. The Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits presents the fair value of the CCT, as well as the adjustment of the investment in the CCT from fair value to contract value relating to the investment contracts. The Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits is prepared on a contract value basis.

The fair value methods described may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain assets could result in a different fair value measurement at the measurement date.

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade date basis. Investment income is recorded on the accrual basis and dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are reported on the average historical cost method. Capital gains and losses are included in interest and dividend income.

Notes Receivable from Participants

Notes receivable from participants represent participant loans that are recorded at their remaining outstanding balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Interest income on notes receivable from participants is recorded when earned.

Subsequent Events

We have evaluated subsequent events from the December 31, 2011 statement of net assets available for benefits date through the date these financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other than those described in Note 7, no events occurred subsequent to the statement of net assets available for benefits date that would require recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT

SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

For periods beginning after December 15, 2011, a new accounting pronouncement will become applicable to the Plan which includes guidance that will change certain fair value measurement principles and enhances the disclosure requirements, particularly for Level 3 fair value measurements. The adoption of this standard should not impact the Plan’s statement of net assets available for benefits or statement of changes in net assets available for benefits as the Plan does not currently have any Level 3 fair value measurements.

3. Administration of the Plan and Plan Assets

The Plan is administered by the Committee, consisting of at least three persons who are appointed by the Board. The members of the Committee serve at the appointment of the Board without compensation from the Plan. Certain administrative functions are performed by employees of the Company. No employee of the Company receives compensation from the Plan.

In accordance with the Plan, the Company has appointed the Committee as Trustee of the Plan. The Trustee may be removed at the discretion of the Board. The Trustee shall vote any common stock held in the trust in accordance with directions received from the Participants or at its discretion if there are no such directions. The Plan’s assets are held by T. Rowe Price, the custodian and recordkeeper of the Plan.

All administrative expenses of the Plan are paid by the Company except for processing fees related to loans to participants, which are paid by the Participant.

4. Fair Value Measurements

Authoritative accounting literature establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value based on observable and unobservable data. The hierarchy categorizes the inputs into three levels, with the highest priority given to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority given to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The asset’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The levels of the hierarchy are described below:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for the asset is defined as a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. The Plan’s Level 1 measurements consist of registered investment companies (mutual funds) and corporate stock.

Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset as of the reporting date. These inputs are derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. The Plan’s Level 2 measurements consist of a common/collective trust. The fair value of investments in the common/collective trust is determined periodically by T. Rowe Price based upon the current fair value of the underlying assets of the fund based on quoted market prices.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little, if any, market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets as of the measurement date. Currently, the Plan has no assets recorded at fair value that would qualify for Level 3 reporting.

 

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Table of Contents

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT

SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s assets at fair value as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

     Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2011  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Registered investment companies:

           

Balanced funds

   $ 14,123,796      $ —         $ —         $ 14,123,796  

Income funds

     9,626,060        —          —          9,626,060  

Bond funds

     27,119,560        —           —           27,119,560  

Growth funds

     66,037,956        —           —           66,037,956  

Blend funds

     6,881,938        —           —           6,881,938  

Value funds

     39,781,367        —           —           39,781,367  

Target date funds

     17,809,302              17,809,302  

International funds

     23,787,781        —           —           23,787,781  

Corporate stock

     143,473,310        —           —           143,473,310  

Common/collective trust

     —           18,512,900        —           18,512,900  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets at fair value

   $ 348,641,070      $ 18,512,900      $ —         $ 367,153,970  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2010  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Registered investment companies:

           

Balanced funds

   $ 14,008,141      $ —         $ —         $ 14,008,141  

Income funds

     8,720,135        —           —           8,720,135  

Bond funds

     24,443,195        —           —           24,443,195  

Growth funds

     63,915,027        —           —           63,915,027  

Blend funds

     8,022,877        —           —           8,022,877  

Value funds

     40,586,167        —           —           40,586,167  

Target date funds

     14,918,415              14,918,415  

International funds

     26,783,284        —           —           26,783,284  

Corporate stock

     124,953,771        —           —           124,953,771  

Common/collective trust

     —           16,287,783        —           16,287,783  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets at fair value

   $ 326,351,012      $ 16,287,783      $ —         $ 342,638,795  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

5. Investments

The Plan invests in various 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, 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 Participant 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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Table of Contents

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT

SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

During 2011, the Plan’s investments (including investments purchased and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated (depreciated) in fair value as determined by quoted market prices for common stocks and published market prices for registered investment companies as follows:

 

Atmos Energy Corporation Common Stock

   $ 8,746,347  

Registered Investment Companies:

  

T. Rowe Price Balanced Fund

     (247,106

T. Rowe Price Spectrum Income Fund

     (45,280

T. Rowe Price Spectrum Growth Fund

     (1,130,552

T. Rowe Price Short-Term Bond Fund

     (33,427

T. Rowe Price U.S. Bond Index Fund

     806,140  

T. Rowe Price New Horizons Fund

     (1,124,849

T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Value Fund

     (1,467,777

T. Rowe Price New America Growth Fund

     (837,111

T. Rowe Price Equity Income Fund

     (634,931

T. Rowe Price Equity Index 500 Fund

     81,760  

T. Rowe Price Growth Stock Fund

     52,152  

Harbor International Fund

     (3,483,724

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2005 Fund

     (2,997

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2010 Fund

     (15,073

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2015 Fund

     (51,370

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020 Fund

     (143,567

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025 Fund

     (67,989

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030 Fund

     (108,439

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035 Fund

     (94,911

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040 Fund

     (75,166

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045 Fund

     (97,499

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2050 Fund

     (51,280

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2055 Fund

     (23,323

T. Rowe Price Retirement Income Fund

     (11,070

Common Stock of Entergy Corporation

     3,496  

Common Stock of Frontier Communications Corporation, Class B

     (112,377
  

 

 

 
   $ (169,923
  

 

 

 

6. Party-in-Interest Transactions

Certain Plan investments in registered investment companies and a common/collective trust fund are managed by T. Rowe Price. T. Rowe Price is the custodian and recordkeeper; therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Additionally, a portion of the Plan’s assets are invested in Atmos Energy common stock. Because the Company is the Plan sponsor, transactions involving Atmos Energy common stock qualify as party-in-interest transactions. All of these party-in-interest transactions are exempt from the prohibited transaction rules. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Plan held 4,295,037 and 3,992,163 shares of Atmos Energy common stock and received $5,624,588 in dividends from Atmos Energy common stock during 2011.

At December 31, 2011 and 2010 the percentage of the Plan’s investments held in the Company’s common stock was 39.0% and 36.4%.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT

SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

7. Income Tax Status

The Plan has received a determination letter from the IRS dated November 1, 2002 stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code; therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Subsequent to this determination by the IRS, the Plan was amended. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification.

In January 2008, the Plan submitted an application with the IRS to receive a new determination letter stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code. On March 5, 2012, the Plan received a determination letter from the IRS stating the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code. The Plan administrator believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and therefore believes that the Plan, as amended, is qualified and the related trust is tax-exempt.

8. Reconciliation of the Financial Statements to Form 5500

The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500:

 

     December 31,  
     2011      2010  

Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements

   $ 384,428,616      $ 358,272,237  

Adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts

     645,631        588,709  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500

   $ 385,074,247      $ 358,860,946  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following is a reconciliation of the net increase in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2011 per the financial statements to the Form 5500:

 

     Year ended
December 31,
2011
 

Net increase in net assets available for benefits per the financial statements

   $ 26,156,379  

Change in adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts

     56,922  
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500

   $ 26,213,301  
  

 

 

 

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT

SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

Form 5500, SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i -

SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)

EIN: 75-1743247

PLAN NUMBER: 002

December 31, 2011

 

          (c)            
     (b)    Description of investment            
     Identity of issue,    including maturity date,         (e)  
     borrower, lessor    rate of interest, collateral,    (d)    Current  

(a)

  

or similar party

  

par or maturity value

  

Cost

  

value

 
           

*

   Atmos Energy Corporation    Common stock; 4,295,037 shares ***    **    $ 143,239,468  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Stable Value Common Trust Fund    **      18,512,900  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Balanced Fund    **      14,123,796  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Spectrum Income Fund    **      9,301,596  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Spectrum Growth Fund ***    **      24,144,059  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Short-Term Bond Fund    **      3,923,595  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    U.S. Bond Index Fund ***    **      23,195,965  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    New Horizons Fund    **      17,506,826  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Mid-Cap Value Fund    **      15,225,797  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    New America Growth Fund    **      16,372,981  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Equity Income Fund ***    **      24,555,570  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Equity Index 500 Fund    **      6,881,938  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Growth Stock Fund    **      8,014,090  
   Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc.    Harbor International Fund ***    **      23,787,781  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Retirement 2005 Fund    **      248,088  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Retirement 2010 Fund    **      791,662  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Retirement 2015 Fund    **      1,976,617  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Retirement 2020 Fund    **      3,701,508  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Retirement 2025 Fund    **      1,988,493  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Retirement 2030 Fund    **      2,439,513  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Retirement 2035 Fund    **      1,889,416  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Retirement 2040 Fund    **      1,543,211  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Retirement 2045 Fund    **      1,810,698  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Retirement 2050 Fund    **      1,021,973  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Retirement 2055 Fund    **      398,123  

*

   T. Rowe Price Trust Company    Retirement Income Fund    **      324,464  
   Entergy Corporation    Common stock; 1,575 shares    **      115,032  
   Frontier Communications    Common stock; 23,070 shares    **      118,810  

*

   Participant Loans    Interest rates from 5.25% to 11.00%    -0-      16,450,864  
           

 

 

 
            $ 383,604,834  
           

 

 

 

 

* Indicates party-in-interest to the Plan
** Cost information in column (d) is not required for participant-directed investments
*** Indicates investment that represents 5 percent or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Qualified Retirement Plans and Trusts Committee, the Trustee, of the Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and Trust, as amended, has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

By:

 

/s/ FRED E. MEISENHEIMER

 

Fred E. Meisenheimer

Chairman of the Qualified

Retirement Plans and

Trusts Committee

June 20, 2012

 

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EXHIBITS INDEX

 

Exhibit          

Number

  

Description

  

Page Number or Incorporation by Reference to

  4    Instruments defining rights of security holders:   
  

(a)    Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and Trust (Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2011)

   Exhibit 4(a) to Form 11-K dated June 21, 2011 (File No. 33-57687)
23.1    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Whitley Penn LLP   

 

15