10-K 1 d434993d10k.htm FORM 10-K FORM 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

(Mark One)

 

  þ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012

OR

 

  ¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 1-10042

Atmos Energy Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

  Texas and Virginia   75-1743247  
 

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS employer

identification no.)

 
 

Three Lincoln Centre, Suite 1800

5430 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, Texas

  75240  
  (Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)  

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(972) 934-9227

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange

   on Which Registered   

Common stock, No Par Value   New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  þ        No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨        No  þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  þ        No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  þ        No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.45) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  þ

  Accelerated filer  ¨   Non-accelerated filer  ¨    Smaller reporting company  ¨
  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)        

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨        No  þ

The aggregate market value of the common voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, March 31, 2012, was $2,764,486,845.

As of November 6, 2012, the registrant had 90,240,464 shares of common stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on February 13, 2013, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

Glossary of Key Terms

     3   
   Part I   

Item 1.

   Business      4   

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors      17   

Item 1B.

   Unresolved Staff Comments      22   

Item 2.

   Properties      22   

Item 3.

   Legal Proceedings      24   
   Part II   

Item 5.

   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities      25   

Item 6.

   Selected Financial Data      27   

Item 7.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      28   

Item 7A.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      52   

Item 8.

   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data      54   

Item 9.

   Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure      121   

Item 9A.

   Controls and Procedures      121   

Item 9B.

   Other Information      123   
   Part III   

Item 10.

   Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance      123   

Item 11.

   Executive Compensation      124   

Item 12.

   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters      124   

Item 13.

   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence      124   

Item 14.

   Principal Accountant Fees and Services      124   
   Part IV   

Item 15.

   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules      124   


Table of Contents

GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS

 

AEC

  

Atmos Energy Corporation

AEH

  

Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc.

AEM

  

Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC

APS

  

Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC

ATO

  

Trading symbol for Atmos Energy Corporation common stock on the New York Stock Exchange

Bcf

  

Billion cubic feet

COSO

  

Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission

ERISA

  

Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974

FASB

  

Financial Accounting Standards Board

FERC

  

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Fitch

  

Fitch Ratings, Ltd.

GRIP

  

Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program

GSRS

  

Gas System Reliability Surcharge

ISRS

  

Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge

KPSC

  

Kentucky Public Service Commission

LTIP

  

1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan

Mcf

  

Thousand cubic feet

MDWQ

  

Maximum daily withdrawal quantity

Mid-Tex Cities

  

Represents 440 of the 441 incorporated cities, or approximately 80 percent of the Mid-Tex Division’s customers, with whom a settlement agreement was reached during the fiscal 2008 second quarter.

MMcf

  

Million cubic feet

Moody’s

  

Moody’s Investor Services, Inc.

NYMEX

  

New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc.

NYSE

  

New York Stock Exchange

PAP

  

Pension Account Plan

RRC

  

Railroad Commission of Texas

RRM

  

Rate Review Mechanism

RSC

  

Rate Stabilization Clause

S&P

  

Standard & Poor’s Corporation

SEC

  

United States Securities and Exchange Commission

SRF

  

Stable Rate Filing

WNA

  

Weather Normalization Adjustment

 

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PART I

The terms “we,” “our,” “us”, “Atmos Energy” and the “Company” refer to Atmos Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries, unless the context suggests otherwise.

 

ITEM 1. Business.

Overview and Strategy

Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and incorporated in Texas and Virginia, is engaged primarily in the regulated natural gas distribution and transmission and storage businesses as well as other nonregulated natural gas businesses. We deliver natural gas through regulated sales and transportation arrangements to over three million residential, commercial, public authority and industrial customers in nine states located primarily in the South, which makes us one of the country’s largest natural-gas-only distributors based on number of customers. We also operate one of the largest intrastate pipelines in Texas based on miles of pipe.

In August 2012, we completed the sale of our natural gas distribution operations in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa, representing approximately 84,000 customers and announced that we had entered into a definitive agreement to sell our natural gas distribution operations in Georgia, representing approximately 64,000 customers. After the closing of the Georgia transaction, we will operate in eight states.

Through our nonregulated businesses, we primarily provide natural gas management and marketing services to municipalities, other local gas distribution companies and industrial customers principally in the Midwest and Southeast and natural gas transportation along with storage services to certain of our natural gas distribution divisions and third parties.

Our overall strategy is to:

 

  Ÿ  

deliver superior shareholder value,

 

  Ÿ  

improve the quality and consistency of earnings growth, while safely operating our regulated and nonregulated businesses exceptionally well and

 

  Ÿ  

enhance and strengthen a culture built on our core values.

We have delivered excellent shareholder value by growing our earnings and increasing our dividends for over 25 consecutive years. Through fiscal 2005, we achieved this record of growth through acquisitions while efficiently managing our operating and maintenance expenses and leveraging our technology to achieve more efficient operations. Since that time, we have achieved growth by implementing rate designs that reduce or eliminate regulatory lag and separate the recovery of our approved margins from customer usage patterns. In addition, we have developed various commercial opportunities within our regulated transmission and storage operations.

Our core values include focusing on our employees and customers while conducting our business with honesty and integrity. We continue to strengthen our culture through ongoing communications with our employees and enhanced employee training.

Operating Segments

We operate the Company through the following three segments:

 

  Ÿ  

The natural gas distribution segment, which includes our regulated natural gas distribution and related sales operations,

 

  Ÿ  

The regulated transmission and storage segment, which includes the regulated pipeline and storage operations of our Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division and

 

  Ÿ  

The nonregulated segment, which includes our nonregulated natural gas management, nonregulated natural gas transmission, storage and other services.

 

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These operating segments are described in greater detail below.

Natural Gas Distribution Segment Overview

Our natural gas distribution segment represents approximately 65 percent of our consolidated net income. This segment is comprised of the following six regulated divisions, presented in order of total rate base, covering service areas in nine states:

 

  Ÿ  

Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division,

 

  Ÿ  

Atmos Energy Kentucky/Mid-States Division,

 

  Ÿ  

Atmos Energy Louisiana Division,

 

  Ÿ  

Atmos Energy West Texas Division,

 

  Ÿ  

Atmos Energy Mississippi Division and

 

  Ÿ  

Atmos Energy Colorado-Kansas Division

Our natural gas distribution business is a seasonal business. Gas sales to residential and commercial customers are greater during the winter months than during the remainder of the year. The volumes of gas sales during the winter months will vary with the temperatures during these months.

Revenues in this operating segment are established by regulatory authorities in the states in which we operate. These rates are intended to be sufficient to cover the costs of conducting business and to provide a reasonable return on invested capital. Our primary service areas are located in Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. We have more limited service areas in Georgia and Virginia. See Note 6 in the consolidated financial statements for a description of the completed sale of our Missouri, Illinois and Iowa service areas and the anticipated sale of our Georgia distribution operations. In addition, we transport natural gas for others through our distribution system.

Rates established by regulatory authorities often include cost adjustment mechanisms for costs that (i) are subject to significant price fluctuations compared to our other costs, (ii) represent a large component of our cost of service and (iii) are generally outside our control.

Purchased gas cost adjustment mechanisms represent a common form of cost adjustment mechanism. Purchased gas cost adjustment mechanisms provide natural gas utility companies a method of recovering purchased gas costs on an ongoing basis without filing a rate case because they provide a dollar-for-dollar offset to increases or decreases in natural gas distribution gas costs. Therefore, although substantially all of our natural gas distribution operating revenues fluctuate with the cost of gas that we purchase, natural gas distribution gross profit (which is defined as operating revenues less purchased gas cost) is generally not affected by fluctuations in the cost of gas.

Additionally, some jurisdictions have introduced performance-based ratemaking adjustments to provide incentives to natural gas utilities to minimize purchased gas costs through improved storage management and use of financial instruments to lock in gas costs. Under the performance-based ratemaking adjustment, purchased gas costs savings are shared between the utility and its customers.

Finally, regulatory authorities have approved weather normalization adjustments (WNA) for approximately 97 percent of residential and commercial margins in our service areas as a part of our rates. WNA minimizes the effect of weather that is above or below normal by allowing us to increase customers’ bills to offset the effect of lower gas usage when weather is warmer than normal and decrease customers’ bills to offset the effect of higher gas usage when weather is colder than normal.

 

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As of September 30, 2012 we had WNA for our residential and commercial meters in the following service areas for the following periods:

 

Georgia, Kansas, West Texas

   October — May

Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Mid-Tex

   November — April

Louisiana

   December — March

Virginia

   January — December

Our supply of natural gas is provided by a variety of suppliers, including independent producers, marketers and pipeline companies and withdrawals of gas from proprietary and contracted storage assets. Additionally, the natural gas supply for our Mid-Tex Division includes peaking and spot purchase agreements.

Supply arrangements consist of both base load and swing supply (peaking) quantities and are contracted from our suppliers on a firm basis with various terms at market prices. Base load quantities are those that flow at a constant level throughout the month and swing supply quantities provide the flexibility to change daily quantities to match increases or decreases in requirements related to weather conditions.

Except for local production purchases, we select our natural gas suppliers through a competitive bidding process by periodically requesting proposals from suppliers that have demonstrated that they can provide reliable service. We select these suppliers based on their ability to deliver gas supply to our designated firm pipeline receipt points at the lowest reasonable cost. Major suppliers during fiscal 2012 were Anadarko Energy Services, BP Energy Company, ConocoPhillips, Devon Gas Services, L.P., Enbridge Marketing (US) L.P., Iberdrola Renewables, Inc., National Fuel Marketing Company, LLC, Sequent Energy Management, L.P., Texla Energy Management, Inc. and Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC, our natural gas marketing subsidiary.

The combination of base load, peaking and spot purchase agreements, coupled with the withdrawal of gas held in storage, allows us the flexibility to adjust to changes in weather, which minimizes our need to enter into long-term firm commitments. We estimate our peak-day availability of natural gas supply to be approximately 4.4 Bcf. The peak-day demand for our natural gas distribution operations in fiscal 2012 was on February 11, 2012, when sales to customers reached approximately 3.0 Bcf.

Currently, our natural gas distribution divisions, except for our Mid-Tex Division, utilize 43 pipeline transportation companies, both interstate and intrastate, to transport our natural gas. The pipeline transportation agreements are firm and many of them have “pipeline no-notice” storage service, which provides for daily balancing between system requirements and nominated flowing supplies. These agreements have been negotiated with the shortest term necessary while still maintaining our right of first refusal. The natural gas supply for our Mid-Tex Division is delivered primarily by our Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division.

To maintain our deliveries to high priority customers, we have the ability, and have exercised our right, to curtail deliveries to certain customers under the terms of interruptible contracts or applicable state regulations or statutes. Our customers’ demand on our system is not necessarily indicative of our ability to meet current or anticipated market demands or immediate delivery requirements because of factors such as the physical limitations of gathering, storage and transmission systems, the duration and severity of cold weather, the availability of gas reserves from our suppliers, the ability to purchase additional supplies on a short-term basis and actions by federal and state regulatory authorities. Curtailment rights provide us the flexibility to meet the human-needs requirements of our customers on a firm basis. Priority allocations imposed by federal and state regulatory agencies, as well as other factors beyond our control, may affect our ability to meet the demands of our customers. We anticipate no problems with obtaining additional gas supply as needed for our customers.

Below, we briefly describe our six natural gas distribution divisions. We operate in our service areas under terms of non-exclusive franchise agreements granted by the various cities and towns that we serve. At September 30, 2012, we held 1,006 franchises having terms generally ranging from five to 35 years. A significant number of our franchises expire each year, which require renewal prior to the end of their terms. We believe that we will be able to renew our franchises as they expire. Additional information concerning our natural gas distribution divisions is presented under the caption “Operating Statistics”.

 

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Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division.    Our Mid-Tex Division serves approximately 550 incorporated and unincorporated communities in the north-central, eastern and western parts of Texas, including the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The governing body of each municipality we serve has original jurisdiction over all gas distribution rates, operations and services within its city limits, except with respect to sales of natural gas for vehicle fuel and agricultural use. The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all rate and regulatory orders and ordinances of the municipalities and exclusive original jurisdiction over rates and services to customers not located within the limits of a municipality.

Prior to fiscal 2008, this division operated under one system-wide rate structure. In fiscal 2008, we reached a settlement with cities representing approximately 80 percent of this division’s customers that allowed us to update rates for customers in these cities using an annual rate review mechanism (RRM) from fiscal 2008 through fiscal 2011, when the RRM was active. We filed a formal rate case for the Mid-Tex Division in fiscal 2012. After the conclusion of this rate case, we expect to negotiate a new rate review mechanism process. In June 2011, we reached an agreement with the City of Dallas to enter into the Dallas Annual Rate Review (DARR). This rate review provides for an annual rate review without the necessity of filing a general rate case. The first rates were implemented under the DARR in June 2012.

Atmos Energy Kentucky/Mid-States Division.    Our Kentucky/Mid-States Division currently operates in more than 230 communities across Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. The service areas in these states are primarily rural; however, this division serves Franklin, Tennessee and other suburban areas of Nashville. We update our rates in this division through periodic formal rate filings made with each state’s public service commission.

On August 1, 2012, we completed the divestiture of our natural gas distribution operations in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa, representing approximately 84,000 customers in 189 communities, with some of the Missouri communities located in our Atmos Energy Colorado-Kansas Division. On August 8, 2012, we announced that we had entered into a definitive agreement to sell our natural gas distribution operations in Georgia, representing approximately 64,000 customers in 19 communities. See Note 6 in the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding these divestitures.

Atmos Energy Louisiana Division.    In Louisiana, we serve nearly 300 communities, including the suburban areas of New Orleans, the metropolitan area of Monroe and western Louisiana. Direct sales of natural gas to industrial customers in Louisiana, who use gas for fuel or in manufacturing processes, and sales of natural gas for vehicle fuel are exempt from regulation and are recognized in our nonregulated segment. Our rates in this division are updated annually through a rate stabilization clause filing without filing a formal rate case.

Atmos Energy West Texas Division.    Our West Texas Division serves approximately 80 communities in West Texas, including the Amarillo, Lubbock and Midland areas. Like our Mid-Tex Division, each municipality we serve has original jurisdiction over all gas distribution rates, operations and services within its city limits, with the RRC having exclusive appellate jurisdiction over the municipalities and exclusive original jurisdiction over rates and services provided to customers not located within the limits of a municipality. Prior to fiscal 2008, rates were updated in this division through formal rate proceedings. In fiscal 2008 and 2009, we reached an agreement with the West Texas service areas and the Amarillo and Lubbock service areas that allowed us to update rates for customers in these cities using an annual rate review mechanism (RRM) through fiscal 2011, when the RRM was active. We filed a formal rate case for the West Texas Division in fiscal 2012, which was approved on October 2, 2012. We expect to negotiate a new rate review mechanism process in fiscal 2013.

Atmos Energy Mississippi Division.    In Mississippi, we serve about 110 communities throughout the northern half of the state, including the Jackson metropolitan area. Our rates in the Mississippi Division are updated annually through a stable rate filing without filing a formal rate case.

Atmos Energy Colorado-Kansas Division.    Our Colorado-Kansas Division serves approximately 170 communities throughout Colorado and Kansas, including the cities of Olathe, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City and Greeley, Colorado, located near Denver. We update our rates in this division through periodic formal rate filings and in Kansas through periodic infrastructure replacement filings made with each state’s public service commission.

 

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The following table provides a jurisdictional rate summary for our regulated operations. This information is for regulatory purposes only and may not be representative of our actual financial position.

 

Division

   Jurisdiction   Effective
Date of Last
Rate/GRIP Action
     Rate Base
(thousands)(1)
  Authorized
Rate of
Return(1)
  Authorized
Return
on Equity(1)

Atmos Pipeline — Texas

   Texas     05/01/2011       $807,733   9.36%   11.80%

Atmos Pipeline — Texas — GRIP

   Texas     04/10/2012       879,752   9.36%   11.80%

Colorado-Kansas

   Colorado     01/04/2010       86,189   8.57%   10.25%
   Kansas     09/01/2012       160,075   (2)   (2)

Kentucky/Mid-States

   Georgia     02/02/2012       96,338(3)   8.61%   10.50% - 10.90%
   Kentucky     06/01/2010       208,702(4)   (2)   (2)
   Tennessee     04/01/2009       190,100   8.24%   10.30%
   Virginia     11/23/2009       36,861   8.48%   9.50% - 10.50%

Louisiana

   Trans LA     04/01/2012       100,575   8.24%   10.00% - 10.80%
   LGS     07/01/2012       284,607   8.27%   10.40%

Mid-Tex Cities

   Texas     09/01/2011       1,389,187(5)   8.29%   9.70%

Mid-Tex — Dallas

   Texas     06/01/2012       1,472,583(5)   8.50%   10.10%

Mid-Tex — Environs GRIP

   Texas     06/26/2012       1,449,544(5)   8.60%   10.40%

Mississippi

   Mississippi     01/11/2012       274,576   8.06%   9.75%

West Texas

   Amarillo(6)     08/01/2011       (2)   (2)   9.60%
   Lubbock(6)     09/09/2011       60,892   8.19%   9.60%
   West Texas(6)     08/01/2011       146,039   8.19%   9.60%

 

Division

   Jurisdiction   Authorized Debt/
Equity Ratio
  Bad  Debt
Rider(7)
    WNA     Performance-Based
Rate  Program(8)
     Customer
Meters
 

Atmos Pipeline — Texas

   Texas   50/50     No        N/A        N/A         N/A   

Colorado-Kansas

   Colorado   50/50     Yes (9)      No        No         111,354  
   Kansas   (2)     Yes        Yes        No         129,468  

Kentucky/Mid-States

   Georgia   50/50     No        Yes        Yes         63,707  
   Kentucky   (2)     Yes        Yes        Yes         170,608  
   Tennessee   52/48     Yes        Yes        Yes         134,927  
   Virginia   51/49     Yes        Yes        No         23,335  

Louisiana

   Trans LA   52/48     No        Yes        No         75,607  
   LGS   52/48     No        Yes        No         277,159  

Mid-Tex Cities

   Texas   50/50     Yes        Yes        No         1,252,548  

Mid-Tex — Dallas

   Texas   48/52     Yes        Yes        No         250,510  

Mid-Tex — Environs

   Texas   51/49     Yes        Yes        No         62,627  

Mississippi

   Mississippi   50/50     No        Yes        No         263,302  

West Texas

   Amarillo(6)   52/48     Yes        Yes        No         70,258  
   Lubbock(6)   52/48     Yes        Yes        No         74,244  
   West Texas(6)   52/48     Yes        Yes        No         156,935  

 

 

  (1)

The rate base, authorized rate of return and authorized return on equity presented in this table are those from the most recent rate case or GRIP filing for each jurisdiction. These rate bases, rates of return and returns on equity are not necessarily indicative of current or future rate bases, rates of return or returns on equity.

 

  (2) 

A rate base, rate of return, return on equity or debt/equity ratio was not included in the respective state commission’s final decision.

 

  (3) 

Georgia rate base consists of $60.2 million included in the March 2010 rate case and $36.1 million included in the October 2011 Pipeline Replacement Program (PRP) surcharge. A total of $36.1 million of the Georgia

 

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  rate base amount was awarded in the latest PRP annual filing with an effective date of October 1, 2011, an authorized rate of return of 8.68 percent and an authorized return on equity of 10.70 percent.

 

  (4) 

Kentucky rate base consists of $184.7 million included in the June 2010 rate case and $24.0 million included in the October 2011 PRP surcharge. A total of $24.0 million of the Kentucky rate base amount was awarded in the latest PRP annual filing with an effective date of October 1, 2011, an authorized rate of return of 8.74 percent and an authorized return on equity of 10.50 percent.

 

  (5) 

The Mid-Tex Rate Base amounts for the Mid-Tex Cities and Dallas & Environs areas represent “system-wide”, or 100 percent, of the Mid-Tex Division’s rate base.

 

  (6) 

On October 2, 2012, a rate case settlement was approved by the Texas Railroad Commission that combined the former Amarillo, Lubbock and West Texas jurisdictions into a single “West Texas” jurisdiction.

 

  (7) 

The bad debt rider allows us to recover from ratepayers the gas cost portion of uncollectible accounts.

 

  (8) 

The performance-based rate program provides incentives to natural gas utility companies to minimize purchased gas costs by allowing the utility company and its customers to share the purchased gas costs savings.

 

  (9) 

The recovery of the gas portion of uncollectible accounts gas cost adjustment has been approved for a two-year pilot program.

Regulated Transmission and Storage Segment Overview

Our regulated transmission and storage segment represents approximately 30 percent of our consolidated net income and consists of the regulated pipeline and storage operations of our Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division. This division transports natural gas to our Mid-Tex Division, transports natural gas for third parties and manages five underground storage reservoirs in Texas. We also provide ancillary services customary in the pipeline industry including parking and lending arrangements and sales of inventory on hand. Parking arrangements provide short-term interruptible storage of gas on our pipeline. Lending services provide short-term interruptible loans of natural gas from our pipeline to meet market demands. Gross profit earned from our Mid-Tex Division and through certain other transportation and storage services is subject to traditional ratemaking governed by the RRC. Rates are updated through periodic formal rate proceedings and filings made under Texas’ Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (GRIP). GRIP allows us to include in our rate base annually approved capital costs incurred in the prior calendar year provided that we file a complete rate case at least once every five years. Atmos Pipeline–Texas’ existing regulatory mechanisms allow certain transportation and storage services to be provided under market-based rates with minimal regulation.

These operations include one of the largest intrastate pipeline operations in Texas with a heavy concentration in the established natural gas-producing areas of central, northern and eastern Texas, extending into or near the major producing areas of the Texas Gulf Coast and the Delaware and Val Verde Basins of West Texas. Nine basins located in Texas are believed to contain a substantial portion of the nation’s remaining onshore natural gas reserves with our pipeline system providing access to all of these basins.

Nonregulated Segment Overview

Our nonregulated activities are conducted through Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc. (AEH), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atmos Energy Corporation and operates primarily in the Midwest and Southeast areas of the United States. Currently, this segment represents less than five percent of our consolidated net income.

AEH’s primary business is to deliver gas and provide related services by aggregating and purchasing gas supply, arranging transportation and storage logistics and ultimately delivering gas to customers at competitive prices. AEH also earns storage and transportation margins from (i) utilizing its proprietary 21-mile pipeline located in New Orleans, Louisiana to aggregate gas supply for our regulated natural gas distribution division in Louisiana, its gas delivery activities and, on a more limited basis, for third parties and (ii) managing proprietary storage in Kentucky and Louisiana to supplement the natural gas needs of our natural gas distribution divisions during peak periods. The majority of these margins are generated through demand fees established under contracts with certain of our natural gas distribution divisions that are renewed periodically and subject to regulatory oversight.

AEH utilizes customer-owned or contracted storage capacity to serve its customers. In an effort to offset the demand fees paid to contract for storage capacity and to maximize the value of this capacity, AEH sells financial

 

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instruments in an effort to earn a gross profit margin through the arbitrage of pricing differences in various locations and by recognizing pricing differences that occur over time. Certain of these arrangements are with regulated affiliates, which have been approved by applicable state regulatory commissions.

Ratemaking Activity

Overview

The method of determining regulated rates varies among the states in which our regulated businesses operate. The regulatory authorities have the responsibility of ensuring that utilities in their jurisdictions operate in the best interests of customers while providing utility companies the opportunity to earn a reasonable return on their investment. Generally, each regulatory authority reviews rate requests and establishes a rate structure intended to generate revenue sufficient to cover the costs of conducting business and to provide a reasonable return on invested capital.

Our rate strategy focuses on reducing or eliminating regulatory lag, obtaining adequate returns and providing stable, predictable margins, which benefit both our customers and the Company. As a result of our ratemaking efforts in recent years, Atmos Energy has:

 

  Ÿ  

Annual ratemaking mechanisms in place in four states that provide for an annual rate review and adjustment to rates for approximately 77 percent of our natural gas distribution gross margin.

 

  Ÿ  

Accelerated recovery of capital for approximately 74 percent of our natural gas distribution gross margin.

 

  Ÿ  

WNA mechanisms in eight states that serve to minimize the effects of weather on approximately 97 percent of our natural gas distribution gross margin.

 

  Ÿ  

The ability to recover the gas cost portion of bad debts for approximately 75 percent of our natural gas distribution gross margin.

Although substantial progress has been made in recent years by improving rate design across Atmos Energy’s operating areas, we will continue to seek improvements in rate design to address cost variations that are related to pass-through energy costs beyond our control. Further, potential changes in federal energy policy and adverse economic conditions will necessitate continued vigilance by the Company and our regulators in meeting the challenges presented by these external factors.

Recent Ratemaking Activity

Substantially all of our regulated revenues in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were derived from sales at rates set by or subject to approval by local or state authorities. Net operating income increases resulting from ratemaking activity totaling $30.7 million, $72.4 million and $56.8 million, became effective in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, as summarized below:

 

       Annual Increase to Operating
Income For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30
 

Rate Action

         2012                2011                2010      
       (In thousands)  

Rate case filings

     $ 4,309        $ 20,502        $ 23,663  

Infrastructure programs

       19,172          15,033          18,989  

Annual rate filing mechanisms

       7,044          35,216          13,757  

Other ratemaking activity

       167          1,675          392  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $ 30,692        $ 72,426        $ 56,801  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

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Additionally, the following ratemaking efforts were initiated during fiscal 2012 but had not been completed as of September 30, 2012:

 

Division

  Rate Action  

Jurisdiction

  Operating Income
Requested
 
            (In thousands)  
     

Kentucky/Mid-States

  PRP(1)   Georgia   $ 1,079  
  PRP(1)   Kentucky     2,425  
  PRP(1)   Virginia     101  
  Rate Case(2)   Tennessee     11,230  
  GRAM(3)   Georgia     1,079  

Mississippi

  Stable Rate Filing   Mississippi     4,830  

Mid-Tex

  Rate Case(4)   Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC)     46,537  

West Texas

  Rate Case(5)   RRC     9,427  
     

 

 

 
      $ 76,708  
     

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

The Pipeline Replacement Program (PRP) surcharge relates to a long-term program to replace aging infrastructure. The Georgia, Kentucky and Virginia PRPs were implemented on October 1, 2012.

 

  (2) 

A settlement was approved on November 7, 2012 for an operating income increase of $7.5 million.

 

  (3) 

Georgia Rate Adjustment Mechanism

 

  (4) 

A hearing was conducted in September 2012. A final order is expected in December 2012.

 

  (5) 

On October 2, 2012, the RRC approved a $6.6 million operating income increase.

 

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Our recent ratemaking activity is discussed in greater detail below.

Rate Case Filings

A rate case is a formal request from Atmos Energy to a regulatory authority to increase rates that are charged to customers. Rate cases may also be initiated when the regulatory authorities request us to justify our rates. This process is referred to as a “show cause” action. Adequate rates are intended to provide for recovery of the Company’s costs as well as a fair rate of return to our shareholders and ensure that we continue to safely deliver reliable, reasonably priced natural gas service to our customers. The following table summarizes our recent rate cases:

 

Division

  

State

   Increase in Annual
Operating Income
     Effective Date  
          (In thousands)         

2012 Rate Case Filings:

        

Colorado-Kansas

   Kansas    $ 3,764        09/01/2012   

West Texas — Environs

   Texas      545        11/08/2011   
     

 

 

    

Total 2012 Rate Case Filings

      $ 4,309     
     

 

 

    

2011 Rate Case Filings:

        

West Texas — Amarillo Environs

   Texas    $ 78        07/26/2011   

Atmos Pipeline — Texas

   Texas      20,424        05/01/2011   
     

 

 

    

Total 2011 Rate Case Filings

      $ 20,502     
     

 

 

    

2010 Rate Case Filings:

        

Kentucky/Mid-States

   Missouri    $ 3,977        09/01/2010   

Colorado-Kansas

   Kansas      3,855        08/01/2010   

Kentucky/Mid-States

   Kentucky      6,636        06/01/2010   

Kentucky/Mid-States

   Georgia      2,935        03/31/2010   

Mid-Tex

   Texas(1)      2,963        01/26/2010   

Colorado-Kansas

   Colorado      1,900        01/04/2010   

Kentucky/Mid-States

   Virginia      1,397        11/23/2009   
     

 

 

    

Total 2010 Rate Case Filings

      $ 23,663     
     

 

 

    

 

  (1) 

In its final order, the RRC approved a $3.0 million increase in operating income from customers in the Dallas & Environs portion of the Mid-Tex Division. Operating income should increase $0.2 million, net of the GRIP 2008 rates that will be superseded. The ruling also provided for regulatory accounting treatment for certain costs related to storage assets and costs moving from our Mid-Tex Division within our natural gas distribution segment to our regulated transmission and storage segment.

 

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Infrastructure Programs

As discussed above in “Natural Gas Distribution Segment Overview” and “Regulated Transmission and Storage Segment Overview,” infrastructure programs such as GRIP allow our regulated companies the opportunity to include in their rate base annually approved capital costs incurred in the prior calendar year. We currently have infrastructure programs in Texas, Georgia and Kentucky. The following table summarizes our infrastructure program filings with effective dates during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

Division

   Period
End
     Incremental Net
Utility Plant
Investment
     Increase in
Annual
Operating
Income
     Effective
Date
 
            (In thousands)      (In thousands)         

2012 Infrastructure Programs:

           

Mid-Tex Unincorporated (Environs)(1)

     12/2011       $ 145,671      $ 744        06/26/2012   

Atmos Pipeline — Texas

     12/2011         87,210        14,684        04/10/2012   

Kentucky/Mid-States — Georgia(2)

     09/2010         7,160        1,215        10/01/2011   

Kentucky/Mid-States — Kentucky(2)

     09/2012         17,347        2,529        10/01/2011   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total 2012 Infrastructure Programs

      $ 257,388      $ 19,172     
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

2011 Infrastructure Programs:

           

Atmos Pipeline — Texas

     12/2010       $ 72,980      $ 12,605        07/26/2011   

Mid-Tex/Environs

     12/2010         107,840        576        06/27/2011   

West Texas/Lubbock & WT Cities Environs

     12/2010         17,677        343        06/01/2011   

Kentucky/Mid-States — Kentucky (2)

     09/2011         3,329        468        06/01/2011   

Kentucky/Mid-States — Missouri(3)

     09/2010         2,367        277        02/14/2011   

Kentucky/Mid-States — Georgia(2)

     09/2009         5,359        764        10/01/2010   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total 2011 Infrastructure Programs

      $ 209,552      $ 15,033     
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

2010 Infrastructure Programs:

           

Mid-Tex(4)

     12/2009       $ 16,957      $ 2,983        09/01/2010   

West Texas

     12/2009         19,158        363        06/14/2010   

Atmos Pipeline — Texas

     12/2009         95,504        13,405        04/20/2010   

Kentucky/Mid-States — Missouri(3)

     06/2009         3,578        563        03/02/2010   

Colorado-Kansas — Kansas(5)

     08/2009         6,917        766        12/12/2009   

Kentucky/Mid-States — Georgia(2)

     09/2008         6,327        909        10/01/2009   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total 2010 Infrastructure Programs

      $ 148,441      $ 18,989     
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

  (1) 

Incremental net utility plant investment represents the system-wide incremental investment for the Mid-Tex Division. The increase in annual operating income is for the unincorporated areas of the Mid-Tex Division only.

 

  (2) 

The Pipeline Replacement Program (PRP) surcharge relates to a long-term program to replace aging infrastructure.

 

  (3) 

Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge (ISRS) relates to maintenance capital investments made since the previous rate case.

 

  (4) 

Increase relates to the City of Dallas and Environs areas of the Mid-Tex Division.

 

  (5) 

Gas System Reliability Surcharge (GSRS) relates to safety related investments made since the previous rate case.

 

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Annual Rate Filing Mechanisms

As an instrument to reduce regulatory lag, annual rate filing mechanisms allow us to refresh our rates on a periodic basis without filing a formal rate case. However, these filings still involve discovery by the appropriate regulatory authorities prior to the final determination of rates under these mechanisms. As discussed above in “Natural Gas Distribution Segment Overview,” we currently have annual rate filing mechanisms in our Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia divisions and in a portion of our Texas divisions. These mechanisms are referred to as Dallas annual rate review (DARR) in our Mid-Tex Division, stable rate filings in the Mississippi Division, the rate stabilization clause in the Louisiana Division, the Georgia Rate Adjustment Mechanism (GRAM) in the Georgia Division and previously as rate review mechanisms (RRM) in our Texas divisions. The following table summarizes filings made under our various annual rate filing mechanisms:

 

Division

   Jurisdiction    Test Year Ended      Increase
(Decrease) in
Annual
Operating
Income
    Effective
Date
 
                 (In thousands)        

2012 Filings:

          

Louisiana

   LGS      12/31/2011       $ 2,324       07/01/2012   

Mid-Tex

   Dallas      09/30/2011         1,204       06/01/2012   

Louisiana

   Trans La      09/30/2011         11       04/01/2012   

Kentucky/Mid-States

   Georgia      09/30/2011         (818     02/01/2012   

Mississippi

   Mississippi      06/30/2011         4,323       01/11/2012   
        

 

 

   

Total 2012 Filings

         $ 7,044    
        

 

 

   

2011 Filings:

          

Mid-Tex

   Settled Cities      12/31/2010       $ 5,126       09/27/2011   

Mid-Tex

   Dallas      12/31/2010         1,084       09/27/2011   

West Texas

   Lubbock      12/31/2010         319       09/08/2011   

West Texas

   Amarillo      12/31/2010         (492     08/01/2011   

Louisiana

   LGS      12/31/2010         4,109       07/01/2011   

Mid-Tex

   Dallas      12/31/2010         1,598       07/01/2011   

Louisiana

   TransLa      09/30/2010         350       04/01/2011   

Mid-Tex

   Settled Cities      12/31/2009         23,122       10/01/2010   
        

 

 

   

Total 2011 Filings

         $ 35,216    
        

 

 

   

2010 Filings:

          

West Texas

   Lubbock      12/31/2009       $ (902     09/01/2010   

West Texas

   WT Cities      12/31/2009         700       08/15/2010   

West Texas

   Amarillo      12/31/2009         1,200       08/01/2010   

Louisiana

   LGS      12/31/2009         3,854       07/01/2010   

Louisiana

   TransLa      09/30/2009         1,733       04/01/2010   

Mississippi

   Mississippi      06/30/2009         3,183       12/15/2009   

West Texas

   Lubbock      12/31/2008         2,704       10/01/2009   

West Texas

   Amarillo      12/31/2008         1,285       10/01/2009   
        

 

 

   

Total 2010 Filings

         $ 13,757    
        

 

 

   

Beginning in fiscal year 2008, we entered into RRM mechanisms within our Mid-Tex and West Texas divisions. Throughout the period of fiscal 2008 through fiscal 2011, when the RRM mechanisms were active, we were able to successfully implement new base rates within the various cities of both divisions. In fiscal 2012, we filed a rate case in both the Mid-Tex Division (for all cities except Dallas) and the West Texas Division. Following the conclusion of the Mid-Tex Division case, we expect to negotiate a new rate review mechanism process with each of the cities within both the Mid-Tex and West Texas divisions.

 

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We continue to operate under an annual rate mechanism, DARR, with the City of Dallas, which was approved in June 2011. The first rates were implemented under the DARR in June 2012.

During fiscal 2011, the RRC’s Division of Public Safety issued a new rule requiring natural gas distribution companies to develop and implement a risk-based program for the renewal or replacement of distribution facilities, including steel service lines. The rule allows for the deferral of all expense associated with capital expenditures incurred pursuant to this rule, including the recording of interest on the deferred expenses.

Other Ratemaking Activity

The following table summarizes other ratemaking activity during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

Division

   Jurisdiction    Rate Activity   Increase in
Annual
Operating
Income
     Effective
Date
 
              (In thousands)         

2012 Other Rate Activity:

          

Colorado-Kansas

   Kansas    Ad Valorem(1)   $ 167        01/14/2012   
       

 

 

    

Total 2012 Other Rate Activity

        $ 167     
       

 

 

    

2011 Other Rate Activity:

          

West Texas

   Triangle    Special Contract   $ 641        07/01/2011   

Colorado-Kansas

   Kansas    Ad Valorem(1)     685        01/01/2011   

Colorado-Kansas

   Colorado    AMI(2)     349        12/01/2010   
       

 

 

    

Total 2011 Other Rate Activity

        $ 1,675     
       

 

 

    

2010 Other Rate Activity:

          

Colorado-Kansas

   Kansas    Ad Valorem(1)   $ 392        01/05/2010   
       

 

 

    

Total 2010 Other Rate Activity

        $ 392     
       

 

 

    

 

 

  (1) 

The Ad Valorem filing relates to a collection of property taxes in excess of the amount included in our Kansas service area’s base rates.

 

  (2) 

Automated Meter Infrastructure (AMI) relates to a pilot program in the Weld County area of our Colorado service area.

Other Regulation

Each of our natural gas distribution divisions as well as our regulated transmission and storage division is regulated by various state or local public utility authorities. We are also subject to regulation by the United States Department of Transportation with respect to safety requirements in the operation and maintenance of our transmission and distribution facilities. In addition, our distribution operations are also subject to various state and federal laws regulating environmental matters. From time to time we receive inquiries regarding various environmental matters. We believe that our properties and operations substantially comply with, and are operated in substantial conformity with, applicable safety and environmental statutes and regulations. There are no administrative or judicial proceedings arising under environmental quality statutes pending or known to be contemplated by governmental agencies which would have a material adverse effect on us or our operations. Our environmental claims have arisen primarily from former manufactured gas plant sites.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) allows, pursuant to Section 311 of the Natural Gas Policy Act, gas transportation services through our Atmos Pipeline—Texas assets “on behalf of” interstate pipelines or local distribution companies served by interstate pipelines, without subjecting these assets to the jurisdiction of the FERC. Additionally, the FERC has regulatory authority over the sale of natural gas in the wholesale gas market and the use and release of interstate pipeline and storage capacity, as well as authority to detect and prevent market manipulation and to enforce compliance with FERC’s other rules, policies and orders

 

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by companies engaged in the sale, purchase, transportation or storage of natural gas in interstate commerce. We have taken what we believe are the necessary and appropriate steps to comply with these regulations.

Competition

Although our natural gas distribution operations are not currently in significant direct competition with any other distributors of natural gas to residential and commercial customers within our service areas, we do compete with other natural gas suppliers and suppliers of alternative fuels for sales to industrial customers. We compete in all aspects of our business with alternative energy sources, including, in particular, electricity. Electric utilities offer electricity as a rival energy source and compete for the space heating, water heating and cooking markets. Promotional incentives, improved equipment efficiencies and promotional rates all contribute to the acceptability of electrical equipment. The principal means to compete against alternative fuels is lower prices, and natural gas historically has maintained its price advantage in the residential, commercial and industrial markets.

Our regulated transmission and storage operations historically have faced limited competition from other existing intrastate pipelines and gas marketers seeking to provide or arrange transportation, storage and other services for customers. However, in the last few years, several new pipelines have been completed, which has increased the level of competition in this segment of our business.

Within our nonregulated operations, AEM competes with other natural gas marketers to provide natural gas management and other related services primarily to smaller customers requiring higher levels of balancing, scheduling and other related management services. AEM has experienced increased competition in recent years primarily from investment banks and major integrated oil and natural gas companies who offer lower cost, basic services. The increased competition has reduced margins most notably on its high-volume accounts.

Employees

At September 30, 2012, we had 4,759 employees, consisting of 4,646 employees in our regulated operations and 113 employees in our nonregulated operations.

Available Information

Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports, and amendments to those reports, and other forms that we file with or furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are available free of charge at our website, www.atmosenergy.com, under “Publications and Filings” under the “Investors” tab, as soon as reasonably practicable, after we electronically file these reports with, or furnish these reports to, the SEC. We will also provide copies of these reports free of charge upon request to Shareholder Relations at the address and telephone number appearing below:

Shareholder Relations

Atmos Energy Corporation

P.O. Box 650205

Dallas, Texas 75265-0205

972-855-3729

Corporate Governance

In accordance with and pursuant to relevant related rules and regulations of the SEC as well as corporate governance-related listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the Board of Directors of the Company has established and periodically updated our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Conduct, which is applicable to all directors, officers and employees of the Company. In addition, in accordance with and pursuant to such NYSE listing standards, our Chief Executive Officer during fiscal 2012, Kim R. Cocklin, certified to the New York Stock Exchange that he was not aware of any violations by the Company of NYSE corporate governance listing standards. The Board of Directors also annually reviews and updates, if necessary, the charters for each of its Audit, Human Resources and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. All of the foregoing documents are posted on the Corporate Governance page of our website. We will also provide copies of all corporate governance documents free of charge upon request to Shareholder Relations at the address listed above.

 

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ITEM 1A. Risk Factors.

Our financial and operating results are subject to a number of risk factors, many of which are not within our control. Although we have tried to discuss key risk factors below, please be aware that other or new risks may prove to be important in the future. Investors should carefully consider the following discussion of risk factors as well as other information appearing in this report. These factors include the following:

Disruptions in the credit markets could limit our ability to access capital and increase our costs of capital.

We rely upon access to both short-term and long-term credit markets to satisfy our liquidity requirements. The global credit markets have experienced significant disruptions and volatility during the last few years to a greater degree than has been seen in decades. In some cases, the ability or willingness of traditional sources of capital to provide financing has been reduced.

Our long-term debt is currently rated as “investment grade” by Standard & Poor’s Corporation, Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. and Fitch Ratings, Ltd. If adverse credit conditions were to cause a significant limitation on our access to the private and public credit markets, we could see a reduction in our liquidity. A significant reduction in our liquidity could in turn trigger a negative change in our ratings outlook or even a reduction in our credit ratings by one or more of the three credit rating agencies. Such a downgrade could further limit our access to public and/or private credit markets and increase the costs of borrowing under each source of credit.

Further, if our credit ratings were downgraded, we could be required to provide additional liquidity to our nonregulated segment because the commodity financial instrument markets could become unavailable to us. Our nonregulated segment depends primarily upon a committed credit facility to finance its working capital needs, which it uses primarily to issue standby letters of credit to its natural gas suppliers. A significant reduction in the availability of this facility could require us to provide extra liquidity to support its operations or reduce some of the activities of our nonregulated segment. Our ability to provide extra liquidity is limited by the terms of our existing lending arrangements with AEH, which are subject to annual approval by one state regulatory commission.

While we believe we can meet our capital requirements from our operations and the sources of financing available to us, we can provide no assurance that we will continue to be able to do so in the future, especially if the market price of natural gas increases significantly in the near-term. The future effects on our business, liquidity and financial results of a further deterioration of current conditions in the credit markets could be material and adverse to us, both in the ways described above or in other ways that we do not currently anticipate.

The continuation of recent economic conditions could adversely affect our customers and negatively impact our financial results.

The slowdown in the U.S. economy in the last few years, together with increased mortgage defaults and significant decreases in the values of homes and investment assets, has adversely affected the financial resources of many domestic households. It is unclear whether the administrative and legislative responses to these conditions will be successful in improving current economic conditions, including the lowering of current high unemployment rates across the U.S. As a result, our customers may seek to use even less gas and it may become more difficult for them to pay their gas bills. This may slow collections and lead to higher than normal levels of accounts receivable. This in turn could increase our financing requirements and bad debt expense. Additionally, our industrial customers may seek alternative energy sources, which could result in lower sales volumes.

The costs of providing pension and postretirement health care benefits and related funding requirements are subject to changes in pension fund values, changing demographics and fluctuating actuarial assumptions and may have a material adverse effect on our financial results. In addition, the passage of the Health Care Reform Act in 2010 could significantly increase the cost of health care benefits for our employees. Further, the costs to the Company of providing such benefits and related funding requirements are subject to the continued and timely recovery of such costs through our rates.

We provide a cash-balance pension plan and postretirement healthcare benefits to eligible full-time employees. The costs of providing such benefits and related funding requirements could be influenced by changes in the

 

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market value of the assets funding our pension and postretirement healthcare plans. Any significant declines in the value of these investments could increase the costs of our pension and postretirement healthcare plans and related funding requirements in the future. Further, our costs of providing such benefits and related funding requirements are also subject to a number of factors, including (i) changing demographics, including longer life expectancy of beneficiaries and an expected increase in the number of eligible former employees over the next five to ten years; and (ii) various actuarial calculations and assumptions, which may differ materially from actual results due primarily to changing market and economic conditions and higher or lower withdrawal rates.

In addition, the costs of providing health care benefits to our employees could significantly increase over the next five to ten years due primarily to the Health Care Reform Act of 2010. Although the full effects of the Act should not impact the Company until 2014, the future costs of compliance with its provisions are difficult to measure at this time. Also, the costs to the Company of providing such benefits and related funding requirements could also increase materially in the future, depending on the timing of the recovery, if any, of such costs through our rates.

Our risk management operations are exposed to market risks that are beyond our control, which could adversely affect our financial results and capital requirements.

Our risk management operations are subject to market risks beyond our control, including market liquidity, commodity price volatility caused by market supply and demand dynamics and counterparty creditworthiness. Although we maintain a risk management policy, we may not be able to completely offset the price risk associated with volatile gas prices, particularly in our nonregulated business segment, which could lead to volatility in our earnings.

Physical trading in our nonregulated business segment also introduces price risk on any net open positions at the end of each trading day, as well as volatility resulting from intra-day fluctuations of gas prices and the potential for daily price movements between the time natural gas is purchased or sold for future delivery and the time the related purchase or sale is hedged. The determination of our net open position as of the end of any particular trading day requires us to make assumptions as to future circumstances, including the use of gas by our customers in relation to our anticipated storage and market positions. Because the price risk associated with any net open position at the end of such day may increase if the assumptions are not realized, we review these assumptions as part of our daily monitoring activities. Although we manage our business to maintain no open positions, there are times when limited net open positions related to our physical storage may occur on a short-term basis. Net open positions may increase volatility in our financial condition or results of operations if market prices move in a significantly favorable or unfavorable manner before the open positions can be closed.

Further, the timing of the recognition for financial accounting purposes of gains or losses resulting from changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments designated as hedges usually does not match the timing of the economic profits or losses on the item being hedged. This volatility may occur with a resulting increase or decrease in earnings or losses, even though the expected profit margin is essentially unchanged from the date the transactions were consummated. Also, if the local physical markets in which we trade do not move consistently with the NYMEX futures market upon which most of our commodity derivative financial instruments are valued, we could experience increased volatility in the financial results of our nonregulated segment.

Our nonregulated segment manages margins and limits risk exposure on the sale of natural gas inventory or the offsetting fixed-price purchase or sale commitments for physical quantities of natural gas through the use of a variety of financial instruments. However, contractual limitations could adversely affect our ability to withdraw gas from storage, which could cause us to purchase gas at spot prices in a rising market to obtain sufficient volumes to fulfill customer contracts. We could also realize financial losses on our efforts to limit risk as a result of volatility in the market prices of the underlying commodities or if a counterparty fails to perform under a contract. Any significant tightening of the credit markets could cause more of our counterparties to fail to perform than expected. In addition, adverse changes in the creditworthiness of our counterparties could limit the level of trading activities with these parties and increase the risk that these parties may not perform under a contract. These circumstances could also increase our capital requirements.

 

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We are also subject to interest rate risk on our borrowings. In recent years, we have been operating in a relatively low interest-rate environment compared to historical norms for both short and long-term interest rates. However, increases in interest rates could adversely affect our future financial results.

We are subject to state and local regulations that affect our operations and financial results.

Our natural gas distribution and regulated transmission and storage segments are subject to various regulated returns on our rate base in each jurisdiction in which we operate. We monitor the allowed rates of return and our effectiveness in earning such rates and initiate rate proceedings or operating changes as we believe they are needed. In addition, in the normal course of business in the regulatory environment, assets may be placed in service and historical test periods established before rate cases can be filed that could result in an adjustment of our allowed returns. Once rate cases are filed, regulatory bodies have the authority to suspend implementation of the new rates while studying the cases. Because of this process, we must suffer the negative financial effects of having placed assets in service without the benefit of rate relief, which is commonly referred to as “regulatory lag.” Rate cases also involve a risk of rate reduction, because once rates have been approved, they are still subject to challenge for their reasonableness by appropriate regulatory authorities. In addition, regulators may review our purchases of natural gas and can adjust the amount of our gas costs that we pass through to our customers. Finally, our debt and equity financings are also subject to approval by regulatory commissions in several states, which could limit our ability to access or take advantage of rapid changes in the capital markets.

We may experience increased federal, state and local regulation of the safety of our operations.

We are committed to constantly monitoring and maintaining our pipeline and distribution system to ensure that natural gas is delivered safely, reliably and efficiently through our network of more than 73,000 miles of pipeline and distribution lines. The pipeline replacement programs currently underway in several of our divisions typify the preventive maintenance and continual renewal that we perform on our natural gas distribution system in the nine states in which we currently operate. The safety and protection of the public, our customers and our employees is our top priority. However, due primarily to the unfortunate pipeline incident in California in 2010, we anticipate companies in the natural gas distribution business may be subjected to even greater federal, state and local oversight of the safety of their operations in the future. Although we believe these costs should be ultimately recoverable through our rates, costs of complying with such increased regulations may have at least a short-term adverse impact on our operating costs and financial results.

Some of our operations are subject to increased federal regulatory oversight that could affect our operations and financial results.

FERC has regulatory authority over some of our operations, including sales of natural gas in the wholesale gas market and the use and release of interstate pipeline and storage capacity. Under legislation passed by Congress in 2005, FERC has adopted rules designed to prevent market power abuse and market manipulation and to promote compliance with FERC’s other rules, policies and orders by companies engaged in the sale, purchase, transportation or storage of natural gas in interstate commerce. These rules carry increased penalties for violations. Although we have taken steps to structure current and future transactions to comply with applicable current FERC regulations, changes in FERC regulations or their interpretation by FERC or additional regulations issued by FERC in the future could also adversely affect our business, financial condition or financial results.

We are subject to environmental regulations which could adversely affect our operations or financial results.

We are subject to laws, regulations and other legal requirements enacted or adopted by federal, state and local governmental authorities relating to protection of the environment and health and safety matters, including those legal requirements that govern discharges of substances into the air and water, the management and disposal of hazardous substances and waste, the clean-up of contaminated sites, groundwater quality and availability, plant and wildlife protection, as well as work practices related to employee health and safety. Environmental legislation also requires that our facilities, sites and other properties associated with our operations be operated, maintained, abandoned and reclaimed to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory authorities.

 

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Failure to comply with these laws, regulations, permits and licenses may expose us to fines, penalties or interruptions in our operations that could be significant to our financial results. In addition, existing environmental regulations may be revised or our operations may become subject to new regulations.

Our business may be subject in the future to additional regulatory and financial risks associated with global warming and climate change.

There have been a number of federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives proposed in recent years in an attempt to control or limit the effects of global warming and overall climate change, including greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide. The adoption of this type of legislation by Congress or similar legislation by states or the adoption of related regulations by federal or state governments mandating a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the future could have far-reaching and significant impacts on the energy industry. Such new legislation or regulations could result in increased compliance costs for us or additional operating restrictions on our business, affect the demand for natural gas or impact the prices we charge to our customers. At this time, we cannot predict the potential impact of such laws or regulations that may be adopted on our future business, financial condition or financial results.

The concentration of our distribution, pipeline and storage operations in the State of Texas exposes our operations and financial results to economic conditions and regulatory decisions in Texas.

Over 50 percent of our natural gas distribution customers and most of our pipeline and storage assets and operations are located in the State of Texas. This concentration of our business in Texas means that our operations and financial results may be significantly affected by changes in the Texas economy in general and regulatory decisions by state and local regulatory authorities in Texas.

Adverse weather conditions could affect our operations or financial results.

We have weather-normalized rates for over 95 percent of our residential and commercial meters, which substantially mitigates the adverse effects of warmer-than-normal weather for meters in those service areas. However, there is no assurance that we will continue to receive such regulatory protection from adverse weather in our rates in the future. The loss of such weather–normalized rates could have an adverse effect on our operations and financial results. In addition, our natural gas distribution and regulated transmission and storage operating results may continue to vary somewhat with the actual temperatures during the winter heating season. Sustained cold weather could adversely affect our nonregulated operations as we may be required to purchase gas at spot rates in a rising market to obtain sufficient volumes to fulfill some customer contracts. Additionally, sustained cold weather could challenge our ability to adequately meet customer demand in our natural gas distribution and regulated transmission and storage operations.

Inflation and increased gas costs could adversely impact our customer base and customer collections and increase our level of indebtedness.

Inflation has caused increases in some of our operating expenses and has required assets to be replaced at higher costs. We have a process in place to continually review the adequacy of our natural gas distribution gas rates in relation to the increasing cost of providing service and the inherent regulatory lag in adjusting those gas rates. Historically, we have been able to budget and control operating expenses and investments within the amounts authorized to be collected in rates and intend to continue to do so. However, the ability to control expenses is an important factor that could impact future financial results.

Rapid increases in the costs of purchased gas would cause us to experience a significant increase in short-term debt. We must pay suppliers for gas when it is purchased, which can be significantly in advance of when these costs may be recovered through the collection of monthly customer bills for gas delivered. Increases in purchased gas costs also slow our natural gas distribution collection efforts as customers are more likely to delay the payment of their gas bills, leading to higher than normal accounts receivable. This could result in higher short-term debt levels, greater collection efforts and increased bad debt expense.

 

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Our growth in the future may be limited by the nature of our business, which requires extensive capital spending.

We must continually build additional capacity in our natural gas distribution system to enable us to serve any growth in the number of our customers. The cost of adding this capacity may be affected by a number of factors, including the general state of the economy and weather. In addition, although we should ultimately recover the cost of the expenditures through rates, we must make significant capital expenditures to comply with the recent rule issued by the RRC’s Division of Public Safety that requires natural gas distribution companies to develop and implement a risk-based program for the renewal or replacement of distribution facilities, including steel service lines. Our cash flows from operations generally are sufficient to supply funding for all our capital expenditures, including the financing of the costs of new construction along with capital expenditures necessary to maintain our existing natural gas system. Due to the timing of these cash flows and capital expenditures, we often must fund at least a portion of these costs through borrowing funds from third party lenders, the cost and availability of which is dependent on the liquidity of the credit markets, interest rates and other market conditions. This in turn may limit our ability to connect new customers to our system due to constraints on the amount of funds we can invest in our infrastructure.

Our operations are subject to increased competition.

In residential and commercial customer markets, our natural gas distribution operations compete with other energy products, such as electricity and propane. Our primary product competition is with electricity for heating, water heating and cooking. Increases in the price of natural gas could negatively impact our competitive position by decreasing the price benefits of natural gas to the consumer. This could adversely impact our business if, as a result, our customer growth slows, reducing our ability to make capital expenditures, or if our customers further conserve their use of gas, resulting in reduced gas purchases and customer billings.

In the case of industrial customers, such as manufacturing plants, adverse economic conditions, including higher gas costs, could cause these customers to use alternative sources of energy, such as electricity, or bypass our systems in favor of special competitive contracts with lower per-unit costs. Our regulated transmission and storage operations historically have faced limited competition from other existing intrastate pipelines and gas marketers seeking to provide or arrange transportation, storage and other services for customers. However, in the last few years, several new pipelines have been completed, which has increased the level of competition in this segment of our business. Within our nonregulated operations, AEM competes with other natural gas marketers to provide natural gas management and other related services primarily to smaller customers requiring higher levels of balancing, scheduling and other related management services. AEM has experienced increased competition in recent years primarily from investment banks and major integrated oil and natural gas companies who offer lower cost, basic services.

Cyber-attacks or acts of cyber-terrorism could disrupt our business operations and information technology systems or result in the loss or exposure of confidential or sensitive customer, employee or Company information.

Our business operations and information technology systems may be vulnerable to an attack by individuals or organizations intending to disrupt our business operations and information technology systems. We use such systems to manage our natural gas distribution and intrastate pipeline operations and other business processes. Disruption of those systems could adversely impact our ability to safely deliver natural gas to our customers, operate our pipeline systems or serve our customers timely. Accordingly, if such an attack or act of terrorism were to occur, our operations and financial results could be adversely affected. In addition, we use our information technology systems to protect confidential or sensitive customer, employee and Company information developed and maintained in the normal course of our business. Any attack on such systems that would result in the unauthorized release of customer, employee or other confidential or sensitive data could have a material adverse effect on our business reputation, increase our costs and expose us to additional material legal claims and liability. As a result, if such an attack or act of terrorism were to occur, our operations and financial results could be adversely affected.

 

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Distributing, transporting and storing natural gas involve risks that may result in accidents and additional operating costs.

Our natural gas distribution and pipeline and storage businesses involve a number of hazards and operating risks that cannot be completely avoided, such as leaks, accidents and operational problems, which could cause loss of human life, as well as substantial financial losses resulting from property damage, damage to the environment and to our operations. We maintain liability and property insurance coverage in place for many of these hazards and risks. However, because some of our pipeline, storage and distribution facilities are near or are in populated areas, any loss of human life or adverse financial results resulting from such events could be large. If these events were not fully covered by insurance, our operations or financial results could be adversely affected.

Natural disasters, terrorist activities or other significant events could adversely affect our operations or financial results.

Natural disasters are always a threat to our assets and operations. In addition, the threat of terrorist activities could lead to increased economic instability and volatility in the price of natural gas that could affect our operations. Also, companies in our industry may face a heightened risk of exposure to actual acts of terrorism, which could subject our operations to increased risks. As a result, the availability of insurance covering such risks may be more limited, which could increase the risk that an event could adversely affect our operations or financial results.

 

ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 2. Properties.

Distribution, transmission and related assets

At September 30, 2012, our natural gas distribution segment owned an aggregate of 68,072 miles of underground distribution and transmission mains throughout our gas distribution systems. These mains are located on easements or rights-of-way which generally provide for perpetual use. We maintain our mains through a program of continuous inspection and repair and believe that our system of mains is in good condition. Our regulated transmission and storage segment owned 5,698 miles of gas transmission and gathering lines and our nonregulated segment owned 105 miles of gas transmission and gathering lines.

 

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Storage Assets

We own underground gas storage facilities in several states to supplement the supply of natural gas in periods of peak demand. The following table summarizes certain information regarding our underground gas storage facilities at September 30, 2012:

 

State

   Usable Capacity
(Mcf)
     Cushion
Gas
(Mcf)(1)
     Total
Capacity
(Mcf)
     Maximum
Daily Delivery
Capability
(Mcf)
 

Natural Gas Distribution Segment

           

Kentucky

     4,442,696        6,322,283         10,764,979        105,100  

Kansas

     3,239,000        2,300,000         5,539,000        45,000  

Mississippi

     2,211,894        2,442,917         4,654,811        48,000  

Georgia

     490,000        10,000         500,000        30,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     10,383,590        11,075,200         21,458,790        228,100  

Regulated Transmission and Storage Segment — Texas

     46,143,226        15,878,025         62,021,251        1,235,000  

Nonregulated Segment

           

Kentucky

     3,492,900        3,295,000         6,787,900        71,000  

Louisiana

     438,583        300,973         739,556        56,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     3,931,483        3,595,973         7,527,456        127,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     60,458,299        30,549,198         91,007,497        1,590,100  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

Cushion gas represents the volume of gas that must be retained in a facility to maintain reservoir pressure.

 

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Additionally, we contract for storage service in underground storage facilities on many of the interstate pipelines serving us to supplement our proprietary storage capacity. The following table summarizes our contracted storage capacity at September 30, 2012:

 

Segment

  

Division/Company

   Maximum
Storage
Quantity
(MMBtu)
     Maximum
Daily
Withdrawal
Quantity
(MDWQ)(1)
 

Natural Gas Distribution Segment

        
   Colorado-Kansas Division      4,248,409        108,089   
   Kentucky/Mid-States Division      16,424,150        440,277   
   Louisiana Division      2,636,539        161,393   
  

Mid-Tex Division

     500,000         50,000   
   Mississippi Division      3,875,429        165,402   
   West Texas Division      3,375,000        106,000   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     31,059,527        1,031,161   

Nonregulated Segment

     
   Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC      8,026,869        250,937   
   Trans Louisiana Gas Pipeline, Inc.      1,674,000        67,507   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     9,700,869        318,444   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Contracted Storage Capacity

     40,760,396        1,349,605   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

Maximum daily withdrawal quantity (MDWQ) amounts will fluctuate depending upon the season and the month. Unless otherwise noted, MDWQ amounts represent the MDWQ amounts as of November 1, which is the beginning of the winter heating season.

Offices

Our administrative offices and corporate headquarters are consolidated in a leased facility in Dallas, Texas. We also maintain field offices throughout our service territory, the majority of which are located in leased facilities. The headquarters for our nonregulated operations are in Houston, Texas, with offices in Houston and other locations, primarily in leased facilities.

 

ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings.

See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Our stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “ATO.” The high and low sale prices and dividends paid per share of our common stock for fiscal 2012 and 2011 are listed below. The high and low prices listed are the closing NYSE quotes, as reported on the NYSE composite tape, for shares of our common stock:

 

     Fiscal 2012      Fiscal 2011  
     High      Low      Dividends
Paid
     High      Low      Dividends
Paid
 

Quarter ended:

                 

December 31

   $ 35.40      $ 30.97      $ .345      $ 31.72      $ 29.10      $ .340  

March 31

     33.15        30.60        .345        34.98        31.51        .340  

June 30

     35.07        30.91        .345        34.94        31.34        .340  

September 30

     36.94        34.94        .345        34.32        28.87        .340  
        

 

 

          

 

 

 
         $ 1.38            $ 1.36  
        

 

 

          

 

 

 

Dividends are payable at the discretion of our Board of Directors out of legally available funds. The Board of Directors typically declares dividends in the same fiscal quarter in which they are paid. The number of record holders of our common stock on October 31, 2012 was 17,883. Future payments of dividends, and the amounts of these dividends, will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and other factors. We sold no securities during fiscal 2012 that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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Performance Graph

The performance graph and table below compares the yearly percentage change in our total return to shareholders for the last five fiscal years with the total return of the Standard and Poor’s 500 Stock Index and the cumulative total return of two different customized peer company groups, the New Comparison Company Index and the Old Comparison Company Index. The New Comparison Company Index includes Questar and excludes EQT Corporation because the Board of Directors determined that Questar better fits the profile of the companies in the peer group, which is comprised of natural gas distribution companies with similar revenues, market capitalizations and asset bases to that of the Company. The graph and table below assume that $100.00 was invested on September 30, 2007 in our common stock, the S&P 500 Index and in the common stock of the companies in the New and Old Comparison Company Indexes, as well as a reinvestment of dividends paid on such investments throughout the period.

Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return

among Atmos Energy Corporation, S&P 500 Index

and Comparison Company Indices

 

LOGO

 

     Cumulative Total Return  
     9/30/07      9/30/08      9/30/09      9/30/10      9/30/11      9/30/12  

Atmos Energy Corporation

     100.00        98.61        110.13        119.94        138.80        159.56  

S&P 500

     100.00        78.02        72.63        80.01        80.93        105.37  

Old Peer Group

     100.00        87.71        89.32        109.42        134.24        160.67  

New Peer Group

     100.00        88.10        86.44        114.56        134.80        162.92  

The New Comparison Company Index contains a hybrid group of utility companies, primarily natural gas distribution companies, recommended by our independent compensation consulting firm and approved by the Board of Directors. The companies included in the index are AGL Resources Inc., CenterPoint Energy Resources Corporation, CMS Energy Corporation, Integrys Energy Group, Inc., National Fuel Gas, NiSource Inc., ONEOK Inc., Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., Questar Corporation, Vectren Corporation and WGL Holdings, Inc. The Old Comparison Company Index includes the companies listed above in the New Company Index with the exception of Questar Corporation, which replaced EQT Corporation in the Company’s peer group in the current year for the reasons discussed above.

 

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The following table sets forth the number of securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans at September 30, 2012.

 

     Number of
securities to be issued
upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
     Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
     Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance
under equity compensation
plans (excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
 
     (a)      (b)      (c)  

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders:

        

1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan

     10,094      $ 24.95         1,949,088  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity compensation plans approved by security holders

     10,094        24.95        1,949,088  

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

                       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     10,094      $ 24.95         1,949,088  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

On September 28, 2011, the Board of Directors approved a program authorizing the repurchase of up to five million shares of common stock over a five-year period. The program is primarily intended to minimize the dilutive effect of equity grants under various benefit related incentive compensation plans of the Company. Although the program is authorized for a five-year period, it may be terminated or limited at any time. Shares may be repurchased in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in amounts the Company deems appropriate. We did not repurchase any shares during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. At September 30, 2012, there were 4,612,009 shares of repurchase authority remaining under the program.

 

ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data.

The following table sets forth selected financial data of the Company and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included herein.

 

     Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
     2012(1)      2011(1)      2010      2009(1)      2008  
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Results of Operations

              

Operating revenues

   $ 3,438,483       $ 4,286,435       $ 4,661,060      $ 4,793,248       $ 7,039,342  

Gross profit

   $ 1,323,739       $ 1,300,820       $ 1,314,136      $ 1,297,682       $ 1,275,077  

Income from continuing operations

   $ 192,196       $ 189,588       $ 189,851      $ 175,026       $ 166,696  

Net income

   $ 216,717       $ 207,601       $ 205,839      $ 190,978       $ 180,331  

Diluted income per share from continuing operations

   $ 2.10       $ 2.07       $ 2.03      $ 1.90       $ 1.84  

Diluted net income per share

   $ 2.37       $ 2.27       $ 2.20      $ 2.07       $ 1.99  

Cash dividends declared per share

   $ 1.38       $ 1.36       $ 1.34      $ 1.32       $ 1.30  

Financial Condition

              

Net property, plant and equipment(2)

   $ 5,475,604       $ 5,147,918       $ 4,793,075      $ 4,439,103       $ 4,136,859  

Total assets

   $ 7,495,675       $ 7,282,871       $ 6,763,791      $ 6,367,083       $ 6,386,699  

Capitalization:

              

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 2,359,243       $ 2,255,421       $ 2,178,348      $ 2,176,761       $ 2,052,492  

Long-term debt (excluding current maturities)

     1,956,305         2,206,117         1,809,551        2,169,400         2,119,792  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 4,315,548       $ 4,461,538       $ 3,987,899      $ 4,346,161       $ 4,172,284  

 

 

  (1) 

Financial results for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2009 include a $5.3 million, $30.3 million and a $5.4 million pre-tax loss for the impairment of certain assets.

 

  (2) 

Amounts shown for fiscal 2012 and 2011 are net of assets held for sale.

 

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ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

INTRODUCTION

This section provides management’s discussion of the financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations of Atmos Energy Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries with specific information on results of operations and liquidity and capital resources. It includes management’s interpretation of our financial results, the factors affecting these results, the major factors expected to affect future operating results and future investment and financing plans. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

Several factors exist that could influence our future financial performance, some of which are described in Item 1A above, “Risk Factors”. They should be considered in connection with evaluating forward-looking statements contained in this report or otherwise made by or on behalf of us since these factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those set out in such forward-looking statements.

Cautionary Statement for the Purposes of the Safe Harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Report are forward-looking statements made in good faith by us and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this Report, or any other of our documents or oral presentations, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “goal”, “intend”, “objective”, “plan”, “projection”, “seek”, “strategy” or similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements relating to our strategy, operations, markets, services, rates, recovery of costs, availability of gas supply and other factors. These risks and uncertainties include the following: our ability to continue to access the credit markets to satisfy our liquidity requirements; the impact of adverse economic conditions on our customers; increased costs of providing pension and postretirement health care benefits and increased funding requirements along with increased costs of health care benefits; market risks beyond our control affecting our risk management activities including market liquidity, commodity price volatility, increasing interest rates and counterparty creditworthiness; regulatory trends and decisions, including the impact of rate proceedings before various state regulatory commissions; possible increased federal, state and local regulation of the safety of our operations; increased federal regulatory oversight and potential penalties; the impact of environmental regulations on our business; the impact of possible future additional regulatory and financial risks associated with global warming and climate change on our business; the concentration of our distribution, pipeline and storage operations in Texas; adverse weather conditions; the effects of inflation and changes in the availability and price of natural gas; the capital-intensive nature of our gas distribution business; increased competition from energy suppliers and alternative forms of energy; the threat of cyber-attacks or acts of cyber-terrorism that could disrupt our business operations and information technology systems; the inherent hazards and risks involved in operating our gas distribution business, natural disasters, terrorist activities or other events and other risks and uncertainties discussed herein, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, while we believe these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. Further, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Our consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from estimates.

 

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Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements. The accounting policies discussed below are both important to the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations and require management to make difficult, subjective or complex accounting estimates. Accordingly, these critical accounting policies are reviewed periodically by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

Regulation — Our natural gas distribution and regulated transmission and storage operations are subject to regulation with respect to rates, service, maintenance of accounting records and various other matters by the respective regulatory authorities in the states in which we operate. We meet the criteria established within accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of a cost-based, rate-regulated entity, which requires us to reflect the financial effects of the ratemaking and accounting practices and policies of the various regulatory commissions in our financial statements in accordance with applicable authoritative accounting standards. We apply the provisions of this standard to our regulated operations and record regulatory assets for costs that have been deferred for which future recovery through customer rates is considered probable and regulatory liabilities when it is probable that revenues will be reduced for amounts that will be credited to customers through the ratemaking process. As a result, certain costs that would normally be expensed under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States are permitted to be capitalized or deferred on the balance sheet because it is probable they can be recovered through rates. Discontinuing the application of this method of accounting for regulatory assets and liabilities could significantly increase our operating expenses as fewer costs would likely be capitalized or deferred on the balance sheet, which could reduce our net income. Further, regulation may impact the period in which revenues or expenses are recognized. The amounts to be recovered or recognized are based upon historical experience and our understanding of the regulations. The impact of regulation on our regulated operations may be affected by decisions of the regulatory authorities or the issuance of new regulations.

Unbilled Revenue — Sales of natural gas to our natural gas distribution customers are billed on a monthly basis; however, the billing cycle periods for certain classes of customers do not necessarily coincide with accounting periods used for financial reporting purposes. We follow the revenue accrual method of accounting for natural gas distribution segment revenues whereby revenues applicable to gas delivered to customers, but not yet billed under the cycle billing method, are estimated and accrued and the related costs are charged to expense.

On occasion, we are permitted to implement new rates that have not been formally approved by our regulatory authorities, which are subject to refund. We recognize this revenue and establish a reserve for amounts that could be refunded based on our experience for the jurisdiction in which the rates were implemented.

Financial instruments and hedging activities — We use financial instruments to mitigate commodity price risk and interest rate risk. The objectives for using financial instruments have been tailored to meet the needs of our regulated and nonregulated businesses. These objectives are more fully described in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements.

We record all of our financial instruments on the balance sheet at fair value as required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, with changes in fair value ultimately recorded in the income statement. Market value changes result in a change in the fair value of these financial instruments. The recognition of the changes in fair value of these financial instruments are recorded in the income statement is contingent upon whether the financial instrument has been designated and qualifies as a part of a hedging relationship or if regulatory rulings require a different accounting treatment.

We have elected to treat forward gas supply contracts used in our regulated operations to deliver gas as normal purchases and normal sales. Financial instruments used to manage commodity price risk in our natural gas distribution segment do not impact this segment’s results of operations as the realized gains and losses are ultimately recovered from ratepayers through our rates.

Our nonregulated segment also utilizes financial instruments to manage commodity price risk. We have designated the natural gas inventory held by this operating segment as the hedged item in a fair-value hedge. The financial instruments associated with this natural gas inventory have been designated as fair-value hedges. Changes in the fair value of the inventory and designated hedges are recognized in purchased gas cost in the period of change.

 

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Additionally, we have elected to treat fixed-price forward contracts used in our nonregulated segment to deliver gas as normal purchases and normal sales. Financial instruments used to mitigate the commodity price risk associated with these contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges of anticipated purchases and sales at indexed prices. Accordingly, unrealized gains and losses on open financial instruments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and are recognized as a component of revenue when the hedged volumes are sold.

Our nonregulated segment also uses storage swaps and futures that have not been designated as hedges. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of the inventory and designated hedges are recognized in revenue in the period of change.

Finally, financial instruments used to mitigate interest rate risk are designated as cash flow hedges. Accordingly, unrealized gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and are recognized as a component of interest expense over the life of the related financing arrangement.

The criteria used to determine if a financial instrument meets the definition of a derivative and qualifies for hedge accounting treatment are complex and require management to exercise professional judgment. Further, as more fully discussed below, significant changes in the fair value of these financial instruments could materially impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Fair Value Measurements — We report certain assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price).

Prices actively quoted on national exchanges are used to determine the fair value of most of our assets and liabilities recorded on our balance sheet at fair value. Within our nonregulated operations, we utilize a mid-market pricing convention (the mid-point between the bid and ask prices) for determining fair value measurement, as permitted under current accounting standards. Values derived from these sources reflect the market in which transactions involving these financial instruments are executed.

We utilize models and other valuation methods to determine fair value when external sources are not available. Values are adjusted to reflect the potential impact of an orderly liquidation of our positions over a reasonable period of time under then-current market conditions.

Fair-value estimates also consider our own creditworthiness and the creditworthiness of the counterparties involved. Our counterparties consist primarily of financial institutions and major energy companies. This concentration of counterparties may materially impact our exposure to credit risk resulting from market, economic or regulatory conditions. We seek to minimize counterparty credit risk through an evaluation of their financial condition and credit ratings and the use of collateral requirements under certain circumstances.

The fair value of our financial instruments is subject to potentially significant volatility based numerous considerations including, but not limited to changes in commodity prices, interest rates, maturity and settlement of these financial instruments, and our creditworthiness as well as the creditworthiness of our counterparties. We believe the market prices and models used to value these financial instruments represent the best information available with respect to closing exchange and over-the-counter quotations, time value and volatility factors underlying the contracts.

Impairment assessments — We review the carrying value of our long-lived assets, including goodwill and identifiable intangibles, whenever events or changes in circumstance indicate that such carrying values may not be recoverable, and at least annually for goodwill, as required by US accounting standards.

The evaluation of our goodwill balances and other long-lived assets or identifiable assets for which uncertainty exists regarding the recoverability of the carrying value of such assets involves the assessment of future cash flows and external market conditions and other subjective factors that could impact the estimation of future cash flows including, but not limited to the commodity prices, the amount and timing of future cash flows, future growth rates and the discount rate. Unforeseen events and changes in circumstances or market conditions could adversely affects these estimates, which could result in an impairment charge.

 

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Pension and other postretirement plans — Pension and other postretirement plan costs and liabilities are determined on an actuarial basis using a September 30 measurement date and are affected by numerous assumptions and estimates including the market value of plan assets, estimates of the expected return on plan assets, assumed discount rates and current demographic and actuarial mortality data. The assumed discount rate and the expected return are the assumptions that generally have the most significant impact on our pension costs and liabilities. The assumed discount rate, the assumed health care cost trend rate and assumed rates of retirement generally have the most significant impact on our postretirement plan costs and liabilities.

The discount rate is utilized principally in calculating the actuarial present value of our pension and postretirement obligations and net periodic pension and postretirement benefit plan costs. When establishing our discount rate, we consider high quality corporate bond rates based on bonds available in the marketplace that are suitable for settling the obligations, changes in those rates from the prior year and the implied discount rate that is derived from matching our projected benefit disbursements with currently available high quality corporate bonds.

The expected long-term rate of return on assets is utilized in calculating the expected return on plan assets component of our annual pension and postretirement plan costs. We estimate the expected return on plan assets by evaluating expected bond returns, equity risk premiums, asset allocations, the effects of active plan management, the impact of periodic plan asset rebalancing and historical performance. We also consider the guidance from our investment advisors in making a final determination of our expected rate of return on assets. To the extent the actual rate of return on assets realized over the course of a year is greater than or less than the assumed rate, that year’s annual pension or postretirement plan costs are not affected. Rather, this gain or loss reduces or increases future pension or postretirement plan costs over a period of approximately ten to twelve years.

The market-related value of our plan assets represents the fair market value of the plan assets, adjusted to smooth out short-term market fluctuations over a five-year period. The use of this calculation will delay the impact of current market fluctuations on the pension expense for the period.

We estimate the assumed health care cost trend rate used in determining our postretirement net expense based upon our actual health care cost experience, the effects of recently enacted legislation and general economic conditions. Our assumed rate of retirement is estimated based upon our annual review of our participant census information as of the measurement date.

Actual changes in the fair market value of plan assets and differences between the actual and expected return on plan assets could have a material effect on the amount of pension costs ultimately recognized. A 0.25 percent change in our discount rate would impact our pension and postretirement costs by approximately $2.3 million. A 0.25 percent change in our expected rate of return would impact our pension and postretirement costs by approximately $0.8 million.

Contingencies In the normal course of business, we are confronted with issues or events that may result in a contingent liability. These generally relate to lawsuits, claims made by third parties or the action of various regulatory agencies. For such matters, we record liabilities when they are considered probable and reasonably estimable, based on currently available facts and our estimates of the ultimate outcome or resolution of the liability in the future. Actual results may differ from estimates, depending on actual outcomes or changes in the facts or expectations surrounding each potential exposure. Changes in the estimates related to contingencies could have a negative impact on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position. Our contingencies are further discussed in Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

Atmos Energy Corporation is involved in the distribution, marketing and transportation of natural gas. Accordingly, our results of operations are impacted by the demand for natural gas, particularly during the winter heating season, and the volatility of the natural gas markets. This generally results in higher operating revenues and net income during the period from October through March of each fiscal year and lower operating revenues and either lower net income or net losses during the period from April through September of each fiscal year. As

 

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a result of the seasonality of the natural gas industry, our second fiscal quarter has historically been our most critical earnings quarter with an average of approximately 56 percent of our consolidated net income having been earned in the second quarter during the three most recently completed fiscal years.

Additionally, the seasonality of our business impacts our working capital differently at various times during the year. Typically, our accounts receivable, accounts payable and short-term debt balances peak by the end of January and then start to decline, as customers begin to pay their winter heating bills. Gas stored underground, particularly in our natural gas distribution segment, typically peaks in November and declines as we utilize storage gas to serve our customers.

During fiscal 2012, we earned $216.7 million, or $2.37 per diluted share, which represents a four percent increase in net income and diluted net income per share over fiscal 2011. During fiscal 2012, recent improvements in rate designs in our natural gas distribution and regulated transmission and storage segments offset an eight percent year-over-year decline in consolidated natural gas distribution throughput due to warmer weather and a 21 percent decrease in nonregulated delivered gas sales due to a nine percent decrease in consolidated sales volumes as a result of warmer weather and a decrease in per-unit margins. Additionally, results for fiscal 2012 were influenced by several non-recurring items, which increased diluted earnings per share by $0.11.

On August 1, 2012, we completed the sale of substantially all of our natural gas distribution assets located in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa to Liberty Energy (Midstates) Corp., an affiliate of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. for a cash price of approximately $128 million, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement executed on May 12, 2011. In connection with the sale, we recognized a net of tax gain of approximately $6.3 million.

On August 8, 2012, we entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell all of our natural gas distribution assets located in Georgia to Liberty Energy (Georgia) Corp., an affiliate of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. for a cash price of approximately $141 million. The agreement contains terms and conditions customary for transactions of this type, including typical adjustments to the purchase price at closing, if applicable. The closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions including the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals. Due to the pending sales transaction, the results of operations for our Georgia service area are shown in discontinued operations.

Our Unsecured 5.125% Senior Notes were scheduled to mature in January 2013. On July 27, 2012 we issued a notice of early redemption of these notes on August 28, 2012. We initially funded the redemption through the issuance of commercial paper. On September 27, 2012, we entered into a $260 million short-term financing facility to repay the commercial paper borrowings utilized to redeem the notes. The facility bears interest at a one-month LIBOR based rate plus currently a margin of 0.875% which is based on the Company’s credit rating. The short-term facility is expected to be repaid with the proceeds received from the issuance of new $350 million senior unsecured notes anticipated to occur in January 2013. In connection with the redemption, we paid a make-whole premium in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the Senior Notes and accrued interest at the time of redemption. In accordance with regulatory requirements, the premium will be deferred and will be recognized over the life of the new unsecured notes expected to be issued in January 2013.

 

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Consolidated Results

The following table presents our consolidated financial highlights for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
     2012     2011      2010  
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Operating revenues

   $ 3,438,483     $ 4,286,435      $ 4,661,060  

Gross profit

     1,323,739       1,300,820        1,314,136  

Operating expenses

     877,499       874,834        850,303  

Operating income

     446,240       425,986        463,833  

Miscellaneous income (expense)

     (14,644     21,184        (591

Interest charges

     141,174       150,763        154,188  

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     290,422       296,407        309,054  

Income tax expense

     98,226       106,819        119,203  

Income from continuing operations

     192,196       189,588        189,851  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     18,172       18,013        15,988  

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax

     6,349                 

Net income

   $ 216,717     $ 207,601      $ 205,839  

Diluted net income per share from continuing operations

   $ 2.10     $ 2.07      $ 2.03  

Diluted net income per share from discontinued operations

   $ 0.27     $ 0.20      $ 0.17  

Diluted net income per share

   $ 2.37     $ 2.27      $ 2.20  

Regulated operations contributed 98 percent, 104 percent and 81 percent to our consolidated net income for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010. Our consolidated net income during the last three fiscal years was earned across our business segments as follows:

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
     2012      2011     2010  
     (In thousands)  

Natural gas distribution segment

   $ 148,369      $ 162,718     $ 125,949  

Regulated transmission and storage segment

     63,059        52,415       41,486  

Nonregulated segment

     5,289        (7,532     38,404  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 216,717      $ 207,601     $ 205,839  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table segregates our consolidated net income and diluted earnings per share between our regulated and nonregulated operations:

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
     2012      2011     2010  
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Regulated operations

   $ 211,428      $ 215,133     $ 167,435  

Nonregulated operations

     5,289        (7,532     38,404  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net income

   $ 216,717      $ 207,601     $ 205,839  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted EPS from regulated operations

   $ 2.31      $ 2.35     $ 1.79  

Diluted EPS from nonregulated operations

     0.06        (0.08     0.41  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated diluted EPS

   $ 2.37      $ 2.27     $ 2.20  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

We reported net income of $216.7 million, or $2.37 per diluted share for the year ended September 30, 2012, compared with net income of $207.6 million or $2.27 per diluted share in the prior year. Income from continuing operations was $192.2 million, or $2.10 per diluted share compared with $189.6 million, or $2.07 per diluted share in the prior-year period. Income from discontinued operations was $24.5 million or $0.27 per diluted share for the year, which includes the gain on sale of substantially all our assets in Missouri, Illinois and

 

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Iowa of $6.3 million, compared with $18.0 million or $0.20 per diluted share in the prior year. Unrealized losses in our nonregulated operations during the current year reduced net income by $5.0 million or $0.05 per diluted share compared with net losses recorded in the prior year of $6.6 million, or $0.07 per diluted share. Additionally, net income in both periods was impacted by nonrecurring items. In fiscal 2011, net income included the net positive impact of several one-time items totaling $3.2 million, or $0.03 per diluted share related to the pre-tax items, which are discussed in further detail below. In fiscal 2012, net income includes the net positive impact of several one-time items totaling $10.3 million, or $0.11 per diluted share related to the following amounts:

 

  Ÿ  

$13.6 million positive impact of a deferred tax rate adjustment.

 

  Ÿ  

$10.0 million ($6.3 million, net of tax) unfavorable impact related to a one-time donation to a donor advised fund.

 

  Ÿ  

$9.9 million ($6.3 million, net of tax) favorable impact related to the cash gain recorded in association with the August 1, 2012 completion of the sale of our Iowa, Illinois and Missouri assets.

 

  Ÿ  

$5.3 million ($3.3 million, net of tax) unfavorable impact related to the noncash impairment of certain assets in our nonregulated business.

We reported net income of $207.6 million, or $2.27 per diluted share for the year ended September 30, 2011, compared with net income of $205.8 million or $2.20 per diluted share in the prior year. Income from continuing operations was $189.6 million, or $2.07 per diluted share compared with $189.9 million, or $2.03 per diluted share in the prior-year period. Income from discontinued operations was $18.0 million or $0.20 per diluted share for the year, compared with $16.0 million or $0.17 per diluted share in the prior year. Unrealized losses in our nonregulated operations during fiscal 2011 reduced net income by $6.6 million or $0.07 per diluted share compared with net losses recorded in fiscal 2010 of $4.3 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. Additionally, net income in both periods was impacted by nonrecurring items. In fiscal 2010, net income included the net positive impact of a state sales tax refund of $4.6 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. In fiscal 2011, net income includes the net positive impact of several one-time items totaling $3.2 million, or $0.03 per diluted share related to the following pre-tax amounts:

 

  Ÿ  

$27.8 million favorable impact related to the cash gain recorded in association with the unwinding of two Treasury locks in conjunction with the cancellation of a planned debt offering in November 2011.

 

  Ÿ  

$30.3 million unfavorable impact related to the noncash impairment of certain assets in our nonregulated business.

 

  Ÿ  

$5.0 million favorable impact related to the administrative settlement of various income tax positions.

See the following discussion regarding the results of operations for each of our business operating segments.

Natural Gas Distribution Segment

The primary factors that impact the results of our natural gas distribution operations are our ability to earn our authorized rates of return, the cost of natural gas, competitive factors in the energy industry and economic conditions in our service areas.

Our ability to earn our authorized rates is based primarily on our ability to improve the rate design in our various ratemaking jurisdictions by reducing or eliminating regulatory lag and, ultimately, separating the recovery of our approved margins from customer usage patterns. Improving rate design is a long-term process and is further complicated by the fact that we operate in multiple rate jurisdictions. The “Ratemaking Activity” section of this Form 10-K describes our current rate strategy, progress towards implementing that strategy and recent ratemaking initiatives in more detail.

We are generally able to pass the cost of gas through to our customers without markup under purchased gas cost adjustment mechanisms; therefore the cost of gas typically does not have an impact on our gross profit as increases in the cost of gas are offset by a corresponding increase in revenues. Accordingly, we believe gross profit is a better indicator of our financial performance than revenues. However, gross profit in our Texas and Mississippi service areas include franchise fees and gross receipts taxes, which are calculated as a percentage of revenue (inclusive of gas costs). Therefore, the amount of these taxes included in revenues is influenced by the

 

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cost of gas and the level of gas sales volumes. We record the tax expense as a component of taxes, other than income. Although changes in revenue-related taxes arising from changes in gas costs affect gross profit, over time the impact is offset within operating income.

As discussed above, the cost of gas typically does not have a direct impact on our gross profit. However, higher gas costs may adversely impact our accounts receivable collections, resulting in higher bad debt expense, and may require us to increase borrowings under our credit facilities resulting in higher interest expense. In addition, higher gas costs, as well as competitive factors in the industry and general economic conditions may cause customers to conserve or, in the case of industrial consumers, to use alternative energy sources. However, gas cost risk has been mitigated in recent years through improvements in rate design that allow us to collect from our customers the gas cost portion of our bad debt expense on approximately 75 percent of our residential and commercial margins.

As discussed above, on August 1, 2012, we completed the sale of substantially all of our natural gas distribution operations in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa. On August 8, 2012 we entered into a definitive agreement to sell our natural gas distribution operations in Georgia. The results of these operations have been separately reported in the following tables and exclude general corporate overhead and interest expense that would normally be allocated to these operations.

Review of Financial and Operating Results

Financial and operational highlights for our natural gas distribution segment for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 are presented below.

 

    For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
    2012     2011     2010     2012 vs. 2011     2011 vs. 2010  
    (In thousands, unless otherwise noted)  

Gross profit

  $ 1,022,743     $ 1,017,943     $ 998,642     $ 4,800     $ 19,301  

Operating expenses

    718,282       695,855       701,791       22,427       (5,936
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

    304,461       322,088       296,851       (17,627     25,237  

Miscellaneous income (expense)

    (12,657     16,242       1,132       (28,899     15,110  

Interest charges

    110,642       115,740       118,147       (5,098     (2,407
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

    181,162       222,590       179,836       (41,428     42,754  

Income tax expense

    57,314       77,885       69,875       (20,571     8,010  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

    123,848       144,705       109,961       (20,857     34,744  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

    18,172       18,013       15,988       159       2,025  

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax

    6,349                     6,349         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Income

  $ 148,369     $ 162,718     $ 125,949     $ (14,349   $ 36,769  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated natural gas distribution sales volumes from continuing operations — MMcf

    244,466       275,540       307,474       (31,074     (31,934

Consolidated natural gas distribution transportation volumes from continuing operations — MMcf

    128,222       125,812       122,633       2,410       3,179  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated natural gas distribution throughput from continuing operations — MMcf

    372,688       401,352       430,107       (28,664     (28,755

Consolidated natural gas distribution throughput from discontinued operations — MMcf

    18,295       22,668       24,068       (4,373     (1,400
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total consolidated natural gas distribution throughput — MMcf

    390,983       424,020       454,175       (33,037     (30,155
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated natural gas distribution average transportation revenue per Mcf

  $ 0.43     $ 0.47     $ 0.47     $ (0.04   $   

Consolidated natural gas distribution average cost of gas per Mcf sold

  $ 4.64     $ 5.30     $ 5.77     $ (0.66   $ (0.47

 

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Fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 compared with fiscal year ended September 30, 2011

The $4.8 million increase in natural gas distribution gross profit was primarily due to a $17.7 million net increase in rate adjustments, primarily in the Mid-Tex, Louisiana, Mississippi, West Texas and Kentucky service areas.

These increases were partially offset by the following:

 

  Ÿ  

$11.1 million decrease in revenue-related taxes in our Mid-Tex, West Texas and Mississippi service areas, primarily due to lower revenues on which the tax is calculated.

 

  Ÿ  

$1.6 million decrease due to an eight percent decrease in consolidated throughput caused principally by lower residential and commercial consumption combined with warmer weather in the current year compared to last year in most of our service areas.

Operating expenses, which include operation and maintenance expense, provision for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization expense and taxes, other than income increased $22.4 million primarily due to the following:

 

  Ÿ  

$11.2 million increase in legal costs, primarily due to settlements.

 

  Ÿ  

$10.6 million increase in employee-related costs.

 

  Ÿ  

$8.4 million increase in depreciation and amortization associated with an increase in our net plant as a result of our capital investments in the prior year.

 

  Ÿ  

$2.6 million increase in software maintenance costs.

These increases were partially offset by the following:

 

  Ÿ  

$6.8 million decrease in operating expenses due to increased capital spending and warmer weather allowing us time to complete more capital work than in the prior year.

 

  Ÿ  

$2.9 million decrease due to the establishment of regulatory assets for pension and postretirement costs.

Miscellaneous income decreased $28.9 million primarily due to the absence of a $21.8 million pre-tax gain recognized in the prior year as a result of unwinding two Treasury locks ($13.6 million, net of tax) and a $10.0 million one-time donation to a donor advised fund in the current year.

Interest charges decreased $5.1 million compared to the prior year due primarily to the prepayment of our 5.125% $250 million senior notes in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, refinancing long-term debt at reduced interest rates and reducing commitment fees from decreasing the number of credit facilities and extending the length of their terms in fiscal 2011.

Additionally, results for fiscal 2012 were favorably impacted by a state tax benefit of $11.3 million. Due to the completion of the sale of our Missouri, Iowa and Illinois service areas in the fiscal fourth quarter, the Company updated its analysis of the tax rate at which deferred taxes would reverse in the future to reflect the sale of these service areas. The updated analysis supported a reduction in the deferred tax rate which when applied to the balance of taxable income deferred to future periods resulted in a reduction of the Company’s overall deferred tax liability.

Fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 compared with fiscal year ended September 30, 2010

The $19.3 million increase in natural gas distribution gross profit primarily reflects a $38.6 million net increase in rate adjustments, primarily in the Mid-Tex, Louisiana, Kentucky and Kansas service areas.

These increases were partially offset by:

 

  Ÿ  

$12.9 million decrease due to a seven percent decrease in consolidated throughput caused principally by lower residential and commercial consumption combined with warmer weather in fiscal 2011 compared to the same period in fiscal 2010 in most of our service areas.

 

  Ÿ  

$8.1 million decrease in revenue-related taxes, primarily due to lower revenues on which the tax is calculated.

 

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Operating expenses, which include operation and maintenance expense, provision for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization expense and taxes, other than income decreased $5.9 million, primarily due to the following:

 

  Ÿ  

$10.0 million decrease in taxes, other than income, due to lower revenue-related taxes.

 

  Ÿ  

$6.4 million decrease in employee-related expenses.

These decreases were partially offset by:

 

  Ÿ  

$5.4 million increase due to the absence of a state sales tax reimbursement received in fiscal 2010.

 

  Ÿ  

$11.5 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense.

 

  Ÿ  

$1.7 million increase in vehicles and equipment expense.

Net income for this segment for fiscal 2011 was also favorably impacted by a $21.8 million pre-tax gain recognized in March 2011 as a result of unwinding two Treasury locks and a $5.0 million income tax benefit related to the administrative settlement of various income tax positions.

The following table shows our operating income from continuing operations by natural gas distribution division, in order of total rate base, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010. The presentation of our natural gas distribution operating income is included for financial reporting purposes and may not be appropriate for ratemaking purposes.

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
     2012      2011      2010     2012 vs. 2011     2011 vs. 2010  
     (In thousands)  

Mid-Tex

   $ 142,755      $ 144,204      $ 134,655     $ (1,449   $ 9,549  

Kentucky/Mid-States

     32,185        37,593        32,920       (5,408     4,673  

Louisiana

     48,958        50,442        45,759       (1,484     4,683  

West Texas

     27,875        29,686        33,509       (1,811     (3,823

Mississippi

     27,369        26,338        26,441       1,031       (103

Colorado-Kansas

     23,898        25,920        24,543       (2,022     1,377  

Other

     1,421        7,905        (976     (6,484     8,881  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 304,461      $ 322,088      $ 296,851     $ (17,627   $ 25,237  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Regulated Transmission and Storage Segment

Our regulated transmission and storage segment consists of the regulated pipeline and storage operations of the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division. The Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division transports natural gas to our Mid-Tex Division and third parties and manages five underground storage reservoirs in Texas. We also provide ancillary services customary in the pipeline industry including parking arrangements, lending and sales of excess gas.

Our regulated transmission and storage segment is impacted by seasonal weather patterns, competitive factors in the energy industry and economic conditions in our Mid-Tex service area. Natural gas prices do not directly impact the results of this segment as revenues are derived from the transportation of natural gas. However, natural gas prices and demand for natural gas could influence the level of drilling activity in the markets that we serve, which may influence the level of throughput we may be able to transport on our pipeline. Further, natural gas price differences between the various hubs that we serve could influence customers to transport gas through our pipeline to capture arbitrage gains.

The results of Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division are also significantly impacted by the natural gas requirements of the Mid-Tex Division because it is the primary supplier of natural gas for our Mid-Tex Division.

Finally, as a regulated pipeline, the operations of the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division may be impacted by the timing of when costs and expenses are incurred and when these costs and expenses are recovered through its tariffs.

 

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Review of Financial and Operating Results

Financial and operational highlights for our regulated transmission and storage segment for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 are presented below.

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
     2012     2011      2010      2012 vs. 2011     2011 vs. 2010  
     (In thousands, unless otherwise noted)  

Mid-Tex Division transportation

   $ 162,808     $ 125,973      $ 102,891      $ 36,835     $ 23,082  

Third-party transportation

     64,158       73,676        73,648        (9,518     28  

Storage and park and lend services

     6,764       7,995        10,657        (1,231     (2,662

Other

     13,621       11,729        15,817        1,892       (4,088
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     247,351       219,373        203,013        27,978       16,360  

Operating expenses

     118,527       111,098        105,975        7,429       5,123  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     128,824       108,275        97,038        20,549       11,237  

Miscellaneous income (expense)

     (1,051     4,715        135        (5,766     4,580  

Interest charges

     29,414       31,432        31,174        (2,018     258  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     98,359       81,558        65,999        16,801       15,559  

Income tax expense

     35,300       29,143        24,513        6,157       4,630  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 63,059     $ 52,415      $ 41,486      $ 10,644     $ 10,929  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross pipeline transportation volumes — MMcf

     640,732       620,904        634,885        19,828       (13,981
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated pipeline transportation volumes — MMcf

     466,527       435,012        428,599        31,515       6,413  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 compared with fiscal year ended September 30, 2011

The $28.0 million increase in regulated transmission and storage gross profit compared to the prior year was primarily a result of the rate case that was finalized and became effective in May 2011 as well as the GRIP filings approved by the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) during fiscal 2011 and 2012. In May 2011, the RRC issued an order in the rate case of Atmos Pipeline — Texas that approved an annual operating income increase of $20.4 million. During fiscal 2011, the RRC approved the Atmos Pipeline — Texas GRIP filing with an annual operating income increase of $12.6 million that went into effect in the fiscal fourth quarter. On April 10, 2012, the RRC approved the Atmos Pipeline — Texas GRIP filing with an annual operating income increase of $14.7 million that went into effect with bills rendered on an after April 10, 2012.

Operating expenses increased $7.4 million primarily due to a $5.4 million increase in depreciation expense, resulting from higher investment in net plant.

Additionally, results for fiscal 2012 were favorably impacted by a state tax benefit of $2.3 million associated with an update of the estimated tax rate at which deferred taxes would reverse in future periods after the completion of the sale of our Missouri, Illinois and Iowa assets. Net income for this segment for the prior year was favorably impacted by a $6.0 million pre-tax gain recognized in March 2011 as a result of unwinding two Treasury locks ($3.9 million, net of tax).

Fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 compared with fiscal year ended September 30, 2010

On April 18, 2011, the RRC issued an order in the rate case of Atmos Pipeline — Texas (APT) that was originally filed in September 2010. The RRC approved an annual operating income increase of $20.4 million as well as the following major provisions that went into effect with bills rendered on and after May 1, 2011:

 

  Ÿ  

Authorized return on equity of 11.8 percent.

 

  Ÿ  

A capital structure of 49.5 percent debt/50.5 percent equity.

 

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  Ÿ  

Approval of a rate base of $807.7 million, compared to the $417.1 million rate base from the prior rate case.

 

  Ÿ  

An annual adjustment mechanism, which was approved for a three-year pilot program, that will adjust regulated rates up or down by 75 percent of the difference between APT’s non-regulated annual revenue and a pre-defined base credit.

 

  Ÿ  

Approval of a straight fixed variable rate design, under which all fixed costs associated with transportation and storage services are recovered through monthly customer charges.

The $16.4 million increase in regulated transmission and storage gross profit was attributable primarily to the following:

 

  Ÿ  

$23.4 million net increase as a result of the rate case that was finalized and became effective in May 2011.

 

  Ÿ  

$3.2 million increase associated with our most recent GRIP filing.

These increases were partially offset by the following:

 

  Ÿ  

$4.8 million decrease due to the absence of the sale of excess gas, which occurred in the prior year.

 

  Ÿ  

$4.4 million decrease due to a decline in throughput to our Mid-Tex Division primarily due to warmer than normal weather during fiscal 2011.

Operating expenses increased $5.1 million primarily due to the following:

 

  Ÿ  

$4.6 million increase due to higher depreciation expense.

 

  Ÿ  

$2.0 million increase due to the absence of a state sales tax reimbursement received in the prior year.

These increases were partially offset by the following:

 

  Ÿ  

$0.8 million decrease related to lower levels of pipeline maintenance activities.

 

  Ÿ  

$0.7 million decrease due to lower employee-related expenses.

Miscellaneous income includes a $6.0 million gain recognized in March 2011 as a result of unwinding two Treasury locks.

Nonregulated Segment

Our nonregulated activities are conducted through Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc. (AEH), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atmos Energy Corporation and operates primarily in the Midwest and Southeast areas of the United States.

AEH’s primary business is to deliver gas and provide related services by aggregating and purchasing gas supply, arranging transportation and storage logistics and ultimately delivering gas to customers at competitive prices. These activities are reflected as gas delivery and related services in the table below.

AEH also earns storage and transportation margins from (i) utilizing its proprietary 21-mile pipeline located in New Orleans, Louisiana to aggregate gas supply for our regulated natural gas distribution division in Louisiana, its gas delivery activities and, on a more limited basis, for third parties and (ii) managing proprietary storage in Kentucky and Louisiana to supplement the natural gas needs of our natural gas distribution divisions during peak periods. Most of these margins are generated through demand fees established under contracts with certain of our natural gas distribution divisions that are renewed periodically and subject to regulatory oversight. These activities are reflected as storage and transportation services in the table below.

AEH utilizes customer-owned or contracted storage capacity to serve its customers. In an effort to offset the demand fees paid to contract for storage capacity and to maximize the value of this capacity, AEH sells financial instruments in an effort to earn a gross profit margin through the arbitrage of pricing differences in various locations and by recognizing pricing differences that occur over time. Margins earned from these activities and the related storage demand fees are reported as asset optimization margins. Certain of these arrangements are with regulated affiliates, which have been approved by applicable state regulatory commissions.

 

 

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Our nonregulated activities are significantly influenced by competitive factors in the industry and general economic conditions. Therefore, the margins earned from these activities are dependent upon our ability to attract and retain customers and to minimize the cost of gas and demand fees paid to contract for storage capacity to offer more competitive pricing to those customers.

Further, natural gas market conditions, most notably the price of natural gas and the level of price volatility affect our nonregulated businesses. Natural gas prices and the level of volatility are influenced by a number of factors including, but not limited to, general economic conditions, the demand for natural gas in different parts of the country, the level of domestic natural gas production and the level of natural gas inventory levels.

Natural gas prices can influence:

 

  Ÿ  

The demand for natural gas. Higher prices may cause customers to conserve or use alternative energy sources. Conversely, lower prices could cause customers such as electric power generators to switch from alternative energy sources to natural gas.

 

  Ÿ  

Collection of accounts receivable from customers, which could affect the level of bad debt expense recognized by this segment.

 

  Ÿ  

The level of borrowings under our credit facilities, which affects the level of interest expense recognized by this segment.

Natural gas price volatility can also influence our nonregulated business in the following ways:

 

  Ÿ  

Price volatility influences basis differentials, which provide opportunities to profit from identifying the lowest cost alternative among the natural gas supplies, transportation and markets to which we have access.

 

  Ÿ  

Price volatility also influences the spreads between the current (spot) prices and forward natural gas prices, which creates opportunities to earn higher arbitrage spreads.

 

  Ÿ  

Increased volatility impacts the amounts of unrealized margins recorded in our gross profit and could impact the amount of cash required to collateralize our risk management liabilities.

Our nonregulated segment manages its exposure to natural gas commodity price risk through a combination of physical storage and financial instruments. Therefore, results for this segment include unrealized gains or losses on its net physical gas position and the related financial instruments used to manage commodity price risk. These margins fluctuate based upon changes in the spreads between the physical and forward natural gas prices. Generally, if the physical/financial spread narrows, we will record unrealized gains or lower unrealized losses. If the physical/financial spread widens, we will generally record unrealized losses or lower unrealized gains. The magnitude of the unrealized gains and losses is also contingent upon the levels of our net physical position at the end of the reporting period.

 

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Review of Financial and Operating Results

Financial and operational highlights for our nonregulated segment for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 are presented below.

 

      For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
     2012     2011     2010     2012 vs. 2011     2011 vs. 2010  
     (In thousands, unless otherwise noted)  

Realized margins

          

Gas delivery and related services

   $ 46,578     $ 58,990     $ 59,523     $ (12,412   $ (533

Storage and transportation services

     13,382       14,570       13,206       (1,188     1,364  

Other

     3,737       5,265       5,347       (1,528     (82
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     63,697       78,825       78,076       (15,128     749  

Asset optimization(1)

     (558     (3,424     43,805       2,866       (47,229
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total realized margins

     63,139       75,401       121,881       (12,262     (46,480

Unrealized margins

     (8,015     (10,401     (7,790     2,386       (2,611
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     55,124       65,000       114,091       (9,876     (49,091

Operating expenses, excluding asset impairment

     36,886       39,113       44,147       (2,227     (5,034

Asset impairment

     5,288       30,270              (24,982     30,270  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     12,950       (4,383     69,944       17,333       (74,327

Miscellaneous income

     1,035       657       3,859       378       (3,202

Interest charges

     3,084       4,015       10,584       (931     (6,569
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     10,901       (7,741     63,219       18,642       (70,960

Income tax expense (benefit)

     5,612       (209     24,815       5,821       (25,024
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 5,289     $ (7,532   $ 38,404     $ 12,821     $ (45,936
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross nonregulated delivered gas sales volumes — MMcf

     400,512       446,903       420,203       (46,391     26,700  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated nonregulated delivered gas sales volumes — MMcf

     351,628       384,799       353,853       (33,171     30,946  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net physical position (Bcf)

     18.8       21.0       15.7       (2.2     5.3  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

Net of storage fees of $18.4 million, $15.2 million and $13.2 million.

Fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 compared with fiscal year ended September 30, 2011

Results for our nonregulated operations during fiscal 2012 were adversely influenced by continued unfavorable natural gas market conditions. Historically high natural gas storage levels from strong domestic natural gas production caused natural gas prices to remain relatively low during fiscal 2012. Additionally, we continued to experience compressed spot to forward spread values and basis differentials.

We anticipate these natural gas market conditions will continue for the foreseeable future. As a result, we anticipate that basis differentials will remain compressed and spot-to-forward price volatility will remain relatively low. Accordingly, although we anticipate continuing to profit on a fiscal-year basis from our nonregulated activities, we anticipate per-unit margins from our delivered gas activities and margins earned from our asset optimization activities for the foreseeable future to be more consistent with the performance we have experienced during the last two fiscal years.

 

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Realized margins for gas delivery, storage and transportation services and other services were $63.7 million during the year ended September 30, 2012 compared with $78.8 million for the prior year. The decrease reflects the following:

 

  Ÿ  

A nine percent decrease in consolidated sales volumes. The decrease was largely attributable to warmer weather, which reduced sales to utility, municipal and other weather-sensitive customers.

 

  Ÿ  

A $0.02/Mcf decrease in gas delivery per-unit margins compared to the prior year primarily due to lower basis differentials resulting from increased natural gas supply and increased transportation costs.

Asset optimization margins increased $2.9 million from the prior year. The increase primarily reflects higher realized margins earned from the settlement of financial instruments used to hedge our natural gas inventory purchases, partially offset by increased storage fees associated with increased park and loan activity and a $1.7 million charge in the first fiscal quarter of the current year to write down to market certain natural gas inventory that no longer qualified for fair value hedge accounting.

Unrealized margins increased $2.4 million in the current year compared to the prior year primarily due to the timing of year-over-year realized margins.

Operating expenses, excluding asset impairments decreased $2.2 million primarily due to lower employee-related expenses.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, we recorded a $5.3 million noncash charge to impair our natural gas gathering assets located in Kentucky. The charge reflected a reduction in the value of the project due to the current low natural gas price environment and management’s decision to focus AEH’s activities on its gas delivery, storage and transportation services. In the prior year, asset impairments included an asset impairment charge of $19.3 million related to our investment in our Fort Necessity storage project as well as an $11.0 million pre-tax impairment charge related to the write-off of certain natural gas gathering assets.

Fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 compared with fiscal year ended September 30, 2010

Realized margins for gas delivery, storage and transportation services and other services were $78.8 million during the year ended September 30, 2011 compared with $78.1 million for the prior-year period. The increase primarily reflects the following:

 

  Ÿ  

$1.4 million increase in margins from storage and transportation services, primarily attributable to new drilling projects in the Barnett Shale area.

 

  Ÿ  

$0.6 million decrease in gas delivery and other services primarily due to lower per-unit margins partially offset by a nine percent increase in consolidated delivered gas sales volumes due to new customers in the power generation market. Per-unit margins were $0.13/Mcf in the current year compared with $0.14/Mcf in the prior year. The year-over-year decrease in per-unit margins reflects the impact of increased competition and lower basis spreads.

The $47.2 million decrease in realized asset optimization margins from the prior year primarily reflects the unfavorable impact of weak natural gas market fundamentals which provided fewer favorable trading opportunities.

Unrealized margins decreased $2.6 million in the current period compared to the prior-year period primarily due to the timing of year-over-year realized margins.

Operating expenses decreased $5.0 million primarily due to lower employee-related expenses and ad valorem taxes.

During fiscal 2011, our nonregulated segment recognized $30.3 million of noncash asset impairment charges associated with the two aforementioned projects.

Interest charges decreased $6.6 million primarily due to a decrease in intercompany borrowings.

 

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The liquidity required to fund our working capital, capital expenditures and other cash needs is provided from a variety of sources, including internally generated funds and borrowings under our commercial paper program and bank credit facilities. Additionally, we have various uncommitted trade credit lines with our gas suppliers that we utilize to purchase natural gas on a monthly basis. Finally, from time to time, we raise funds from the public debt and equity capital markets to fund our liquidity needs.

We regularly evaluate our funding strategy and profile to ensure that we have sufficient liquidity for our short-term and long-term needs in a cost-effective manner. We also evaluate the levels of committed borrowing capacity that we require.

Our Unsecured 5.125% Senior Notes were scheduled to mature in January 2013. On August 28, 2012 we redeemed these notes with proceeds received through the issuance of commercial paper. On September 27, 2012, we entered into a $260 million short-term financing facility that expires February 1, 2013 to repay the commercial paper borrowings utilized to redeem the notes. The short-term facility is expected to be repaid with the proceeds from the $350 million 30-year unsecured senior notes, which are expected to be issued in January 2013. We fixed the Treasury yield component of the interest cost associated with these anticipated senior notes at 4.07% by executing three Treasury lock agreements in August 2011. We designated all of these Treasury locks as cash flow hedges.

We believe the liquidity provided by our senior notes and committed credit facilities, combined with our operating cash flows, will be sufficient to fund our working capital needs and capital expenditure program for fiscal year 2013.

Cash Flows

Our internally generated funds may change in the future due to a number of factors, some of which we cannot control. These include regulatory changes, the price for our services, the demand for such products and services, margin requirements resulting from significant changes in commodity prices, operational risks and other factors.

Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 are presented below.

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
     2012     2011     2010     2012 vs. 2011     2011 vs. 2010  
     (In thousands)  

Total cash provided by (used in)

          

Operating activities

   $ 586,917     $ 582,844     $ 726,476     $ 4,073     $ (143,632

Investing activities

     (609,260     (627,386     (542,702     18,126       (84,684

Financing activities

     (44,837     44,009       (163,025     (88,846     207,034  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in cash and cash equivalents

     (67,180     (533     20,749       (66,647     (21,282

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     131,419       131,952       111,203       (533     20,749  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 64,239     $ 131,419     $ 131,952     $ (67,180   $ (533
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities

Year-over-year changes in our operating cash flows primarily are attributable to changes in net income, working capital changes, particularly within our natural gas distribution segment resulting from the price of natural gas and the timing of customer collections, payments for natural gas purchases and purchased gas cost recoveries. The significant factors impacting our operating cash flow for the last three fiscal years are summarized below.

 

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Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2012 compared with fiscal year ended September 30, 2011

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, we generated operating cash flow of $586.9 million from operating activities compared with $582.8 million in the prior year. The year-over-year increase reflects changes in working capital offset by the $56.7 million increase in contributions made to our pension and postretirement plans during fiscal 2012.

Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2011 compared with fiscal year ended September 30, 2010

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, we generated operating cash flow of $582.8 million from operating activities compared with $726.5 million in fiscal September 30, 2010. The year-over-year decrease reflects the absence of an $85 million income tax refund received in the prior year coupled with the timing of gas cost recoveries under our purchased gas cost mechanisms and other net working capital changes.

Cash flows from investing activities

In recent fiscal years, a substantial portion of our cash resources has been used to fund our ongoing construction program and improvements to information technology systems. Our ongoing construction program enables us to provide safe and reliable natural gas distribution services to our existing customer base, expand our natural gas distribution services into new markets, enhance the integrity of our pipelines and, more recently, expand our intrastate pipeline network. In executing our current rate strategy, we are focusing our capital spending in jurisdictions that permit us to earn an adequate return timely on our investment without compromising the safety or reliability of our system. Currently, our Mid-Tex, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Texas natural gas distribution divisions and our Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division have rate designs that provide the opportunity to include in their rate base approved capital costs on a periodic basis without being required to file a rate case.

In early fiscal 2010, two coalitions of cities, representing the majority of the cities our Mid-Tex Division serves, agreed to a program of installing, beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, 100,000 steel service line replacements during fiscal 2011 and 2012, with approved recovery of the associated return, depreciation and taxes for lines replaced between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2012. As of September 30, 2012, we had replaced 98,675 lines. Since October 1, 2010 we have spent $116.3 million on steel service line replacements.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, we incurred $732.9 million for capital expenditures compared with $623.0 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 and $542.6 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010.

The $109.9 million increase in capital expenditures in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 primarily reflects spending for the steel service line replacement program in the Mid-Tex Division, the development of new customer billing and information systems for our natural gas distribution and our nonregulated segments and increased capital spending to increase the capacity on our Atmos Pipeline — Texas system. As a result of these projects, we anticipate capital expenditures will remain elevated during the next fiscal year.

The $80.4 million increase in capital expenditures in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 primarily reflects spending for the steel service line replacement program in the Mid-Tex Division, the development of new customer billing and information systems for our natural gas distribution and our nonregulated segments and the construction of a new customer contact center in Amarillo, Texas, partially offset by costs incurred in the prior fiscal year to relocate the company’s information technology data center.

Cash flows from financing activities

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, our financing activities used $44.8 million in cash, while financing activities for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 generated $44.0 million in cash compared with cash of $163.0 million used for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010. Our significant financing activities for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 are summarized as follows:

2012

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, we:

 

  Ÿ  

Paid $257.0 million for long-term debt repayments, including the early redemption of our $250 million 5.125% Senior notes that were scheduled to mature in January 2013.

 

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  Ÿ  

Borrowed $260 million under a short-term loan to finance the repayment of our $250 million 5.125% Senior notes.

 

  Ÿ  

Borrowed a net $94.1 million under our short-term facilities, excluding the $260 million short-term loan used to finance the early redemption of our $250 million 5.125% Senior notes, to fund working capital needs.

 

  Ÿ  

Paid $125.8 million in cash dividends, which reflected a payout ratio of 58 percent of net income.

 

  Ÿ  

Paid $12.5 million for the repurchase of common stock as part of our share buyback program.

 

  Ÿ  

Paid $5.2 million for the repurchase of equity awards.

2011

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, we:

 

  Ÿ  

Received $394.5 million net cash proceeds in June 2011 related to the issuance of $400 million 5.50% senior notes due 2041.

 

  Ÿ  

Borrowed a net $83.3 million under our short-term facilities to fund working capital needs.

 

  Ÿ  

Received $27.8 million cash in March 2011 related to the unwinding of two Treasury locks.

 

  Ÿ  

Received $20.1 million cash in June 2011 related to the settlement of three Treasury locks associated with the $400 million 5.50% senior notes offering.

 

  Ÿ  

Received $7.8 million net proceeds related to the issuance of 0.3 million shares of common stock.

 

  Ÿ  

Paid $360.1 million for scheduled long-term debt repayments, including our $350 million 7.375% senior notes that were paid on their maturity date on May 15, 2011.

 

  Ÿ  

Paid $124.0 million in cash dividends which reflected a payout ratio of 60 percent of net income.

 

  Ÿ  

Paid $5.3 million for the repurchase of equity awards.

2010

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, we:

 

  Ÿ  

Paid $124.3 million in cash dividends which reflected a payout ratio of 61 percent of net income.

 

  Ÿ  

Paid $100.5 million for the repurchase of common stock under an accelerated share repurchase agreement.

 

  Ÿ  

Borrowed a net $54.3 million under our short-term facilities due to the impact of seasonal natural gas purchases.

 

  Ÿ  

Received $8.8 million net proceeds related to the issuance of 0.4 million shares of common stock, which is a 68 percent decrease compared to the prior year due primarily to the fact that beginning in fiscal 2010 shares were purchased on the open market rather than being issued by us to the Direct Stock Purchase Plan and the Retirement Savings Plan.

 

  Ÿ  

Paid $1.2 million to repurchase equity awards.

 

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The following table shows the number of shares issued for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
          2012                2011                2010       

Shares issued:

        

Direct stock purchase plan

                     103,529  

Retirement savings plan

                     79,722  

1998 Long-term incentive plan

     482,289        675,255        421,706  

Outside directors stock-for-fee plan

     2,375        2,385        3,382  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total shares issued

     484,664        677,640        608,339  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The decreased number of shares issued in fiscal 2012 compared with the number of shares issued in fiscal 2011 primarily reflects a decrease in the number of shares issued under our 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), due to the exercise of a significant number of stock options during fiscal 2011. During fiscal 2012, we cancelled and retired 153,255 shares attributable to federal withholdings on equity awards and repurchased and retired 387,991 shares attributable to our share repurchase program, which are not included in the table above.

The increase in the number of shares issued in fiscal 2011 compared with the number of shares issued in fiscal 2010 primarily reflects an increased number of shares issued under our LTIP due to the exercise of a significant number of stock options during fiscal 2011. This increase was partially offset by the fact that we purchased shares in the open market rather than issuing new shares for the Direct Stock Purchase Plan and the Retirement Savings Plan. During fiscal 2011, we cancelled and retired 169,793 shares attributable to federal withholdings on equity awards and repurchased and retired 375,468 shares attributable to our 2010 accelerated share repurchase agreement, which are not included in the table above.

As of September 30, 2011, we were authorized to grant awards for up to a maximum of 6.5 million shares of common stock under our LTIP. In February 2011, shareholders voted to increase the number of authorized LTIP shares by 2.2 million shares. On October 19, 2011, we received all required state regulatory approvals to increase the maximum number of authorized LTIP shares to 8.7 million shares, subject to certain adjustment provisions. On October 28, 2011, we filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 to register an additional 2.2 million shares; we also listed such shares with the New York Stock Exchange.

Credit Facilities

Our short-term borrowing requirements are affected by the seasonal nature of the natural gas business. Changes in the price of natural gas and the amount of natural gas we need to supply to meet our customers’ needs could significantly affect our borrowing requirements.

We finance our short-term borrowing requirements through a combination of a $750 million commercial paper program collateralized by our $750 million unsecured credit facility and four committed revolving credit facilities with third-party lenders. As a result, we have approximately $989 million of working capital funding. Additionally, our $750 million unsecured credit facility has an accordion feature, which, if utilized, would increase borrowing capacity to $1.0 billion. We also use intercompany credit facilities to supplement the funding provided by these third-party committed credit facilities.

Shelf Registration

We have an effective shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that permits us to issue a total of $1.3 billion in common stock and/or debt securities. The shelf registration statement has been approved by all requisite state regulatory commissions. With the closing of the sale of our Missouri, Illinois and Iowa operations on August 1, 2012, there are no longer any restrictions on our ability to issue either debt or equity under the shelf until it expires on March 31, 2013, with $900 million available for issuance at September 30, 2012. We intend to file a new shelf registration statement with the SEC for at least $1.3 billion prior to the expiration of the current shelf.

 

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Credit Ratings

Our credit ratings directly affect our ability to obtain short-term and long-term financing, in addition to the cost of such financing. In determining our credit ratings, the rating agencies consider a number of quantitative factors, including debt to total capitalization, operating cash flow relative to outstanding debt, operating cash flow coverage of interest and pension liabilities and funding status. In addition, the rating agencies consider qualitative factors such as consistency of our earnings over time, the quality of our management and business strategy, the risks associated with our regulated and nonregulated businesses and the regulatory environment in the states where we operate.

Our debt is rated by three rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Corporation (S&P), Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) and Fitch Ratings, Ltd. (Fitch). Our current debt ratings are all considered investment grade and are as follows:

 

     S&P      Moody’s      Fitch  

Unsecured senior long-term debt

     BBB+         Baa1         A-   

Commercial paper

     A-2         P-2         F-2   

A significant degradation in our operating performance or a significant reduction in our liquidity caused by more limited access to the private and public credit markets as a result of deteriorating global or national financial and credit conditions could trigger a negative change in our ratings outlook or even a reduction in our credit ratings by the three credit rating agencies. This would mean more limited access to the private and public credit markets and an increase in the costs of such borrowings.

A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The highest investment grade credit rating is AAA for S&P, Aaa for Moody’s and AAA for Fitch. The lowest investment grade credit rating is BBB- for S&P, Baa3 for Moody’s and BBB- for Fitch. Our credit ratings may be revised or withdrawn at any time by the rating agencies, and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. There can be no assurance that a rating will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered, or withdrawn entirely, by a rating agency if, in its judgment, circumstances so warrant.

Debt Covenants

We were in compliance with all of our debt covenants as of September 30, 2012. Our debt covenants are described in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.

Capitalization

The following table presents our capitalization as of September 30, 2012 and 2011:

 

     September 30  
     2012     2011  
     (In thousands, except percentages)  

Short-term debt

   $ 570,929        11.7   $ 206,396        4.4

Long-term debt

     1,956,436        40.0     2,208,551        47.3

Shareholders’ equity

     2,359,243        48.3     2,255,421        48.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalization, including short-term debt

   $ 4,886,608        100.0   $ 4,670,368        100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt as a percentage of total capitalization, including short-term debt, was 51.7 percent at September 30, 2012 and 2011. Our ratio of total debt to capitalization is typically greater during the winter heating season as we make additional short-term borrowings to fund natural gas purchases and meet our working capital requirements. We intend to continue to maintain our debt to capitalization ratio in a target range of 50 to 55 percent.

 

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Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

The following table provides information about contractual obligations and commercial commitments at September 30, 2012.

 

     Payments Due by Period  
     Total      Less than 1
year
         1-3 years          3-5 years      More than 5
years
 
                   (In thousands)                

Contractual Obligations

              

Long-term debt(1)

   $ 1,960,131      $ 131      $ 500,000      $ 250,000      $ 1,210,000  

Short-term debt(1)

     570,929        570,929                          

Interest charges(2)

     1,434,549        123,572        223,346        192,960        894,671  

Gas purchase commitments(3)

     333,839        259,235        74,604                  

Capital lease obligations(4)

     1,008        186        372        372        78  

Operating leases(4)

     180,991         17,571         33,155         29,633         100,632   

Demand fees for contracted storage(5)

     9,473        6,285        2,986        74        128  

Demand fees for contracted transportation(6)

     25,484        13,171        12,072        241          

Financial instrument obligations(7)

     94,587        85,381        9,206                  

Postretirement benefit plan contributions(8)

     207,636        28,317        32,523        39,741        107,055  

Uncertain tax positions (including interest)(9)

     1,831                1,831                  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total contractual obligations(10)

   $ 4,820,458       $ 1,104,778       $ 890,095       $ 513,021       $ 2,312,564   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

  (2) 

Interest charges were calculated using the stated rate for each debt issuance.

 

  (3) 

Gas purchase commitments were determined based upon contractually determined volumes at prices estimated based upon the index specified in the contract, adjusted for estimated basis differentials and contractual discounts as of September 30, 2012.

 

  (4) 

See Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

  (5) 

Represents third party contractual demand fees for contracted storage in our nonregulated segment. Contractual demand fees for contracted storage for our natural gas distribution segment are excluded as these costs are fully recoverable through our purchase gas adjustment mechanisms.

 

  (6) 

Represents third party contractual demand fees for transportation in our nonregulated segment.

 

  (7) 

Represents liabilities for natural gas commodity financial instruments that were valued as of September 30, 2012. The ultimate settlement amounts of these remaining liabilities are unknown because they are subject to continuing market risk until the financial instruments are settled. The table above excludes $0.3 million of current liabilities from risk management activities that are classified as liabilities held for sale in conjunction with the sale of our Georgia operations.

 

  (8) 

Represents expected contributions to our postretirement benefit plans.

 

  (9) 

Represents liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions claimed or expected to be claimed on tax returns.

 

  (10) 

Total contractual obligations exclude pension plan contributions, which are discussed in Note 9. We anticipate contributing between $30 million and $40 million to these plans during fiscal 2013.

AEH has commitments to purchase physical quantities of natural gas under contracts indexed to the forward NYMEX strip or fixed price contracts. At September 30, 2012, AEH was committed to purchase 72.2 Bcf within one year, 29.0 Bcf within one to three years and 29.0 Bcf after three years under indexed contracts. AEH is committed to purchase 3.8 Bcf within one year and 0.3 Bcf within one to three years under fixed price contracts with prices ranging from $2.46 to $6.36 per Mcf.

 

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With the exception of our Mid-Tex Division, our natural gas distribution segment maintains supply contracts with several vendors that generally cover a period of up to one year. Commitments for estimated base gas volumes are established under these contracts on a monthly basis at contractually negotiated prices. Commitments for incremental daily purchases are made as necessary during the month in accordance with the terms of individual contracts. Our Mid-Tex Division maintains long-term supply contracts to ensure a reliable source of natural gas for our customers in its service area which obligate it to purchase specified volumes at market prices. The estimated commitments under the terms of these contracts as of September 30, 2012 are reflected in the table above.

Risk Management Activities

As discussed above in our Critical Accounting Policies, we use financial instruments to mitigate commodity price risk and, periodically, to manage interest rate risk. We conduct risk management activities through our natural gas distribution and nonregulated segments. In our natural gas distribution segment, we use a combination of physical storage, fixed physical contracts and fixed financial contracts to reduce our exposure to unusually large winter-period gas price increases. In our nonregulated segments, we manage our exposure to the risk of natural gas price changes and lock in our gross profit margin through a combination of storage and financial instruments, including futures, over-the-counter and exchange-traded options and swap contracts with counterparties. To the extent our inventory cost and actual sales and actual purchases do not correlate with the changes in the market indices we use in our hedges, we could experience ineffectiveness or the hedges may no longer meet the accounting requirements for hedge accounting, resulting in the financial instruments being treated as mark to market instruments through earnings.

We use financial instruments, designated as cash flow hedges of anticipated purchases and sales at index prices, to mitigate the commodity price risk in our nonregulated segment associated with deliveries under fixed-priced forward contracts to deliver gas to customers, and we use financial instruments, designated as fair value hedges, to hedge our natural gas inventory used in our asset optimization activities in our nonregulated segment.

Also, in our nonregulated segment, we use storage swaps and futures to capture additional storage arbitrage opportunities that arise subsequent to the execution of the original fair value hedge associated with our physical natural gas inventory, basis swaps to insulate and protect the economic value of our fixed price and storage books and various over-the-counter and exchange-traded options. These financial instruments have not been designated as hedges.

We record our financial instruments as a component of risk management assets and liabilities, which are classified as current or noncurrent based upon the anticipated settlement date of the underlying financial instrument. Substantially all of our financial instruments are valued using external market quotes and indices.

The following table shows the components of the change in fair value of our natural gas distribution segment’s financial instruments for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 (in thousands):

 

Fair value of contracts at September 30, 2011

   $ (79,277)   

Contracts realized/settled

     (32,027

Fair value of new contracts

     4,782  

Other changes in value

     30,262  
  

 

 

 

Fair value of contracts at September 30, 2012

   $ (76,260
  

 

 

 

The fair value of our natural gas distribution segment’s financial instruments at September 30, 2012, is presented below by time period and fair value source:

 

     Fair Value of Contracts at September 30, 2012  
     Maturity in years     

 

 

Source of Fair Value

   Less
than 1
    1-3      4-5      Greater
than 5
     Total
Fair

Value
 
     (In thousands)  

Prices actively quoted

   $ (78,543   $ 2,283      $       $       $ (76,260

Prices based on models and other valuation methods

                                      
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Fair Value

   $ (78,543   $ 2,283      $       $       $ (76,260
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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The tables above include $0.1 million of current assets from risk management activities that are classified as assets held for sale and $0.3 million of current liabilities from risk management activities that are classified as liabilities held for sale in conjunction with the sale of our Georgia operations.

The following table shows the components of the change in fair value of our nonregulated segment’s financial instruments for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 (in thousands):

 

Fair value of contracts at September 30, 2011

   $ (25,050)   

Contracts realized/settled

     15,677  

Fair value of new contracts

       

Other changes in value

     (5,750
  

 

 

 

Fair value of contracts at September 30, 2012

     (15,123

Netting of cash collateral

     23,675  
  

 

 

 

Cash collateral and fair value of contracts at September 30, 2012

   $ 8,552  
  

 

 

 

The fair value of our nonregulated segment’s financial instruments at September 30, 2012, is presented below by time period and fair value source.

 

     Fair Value of Contracts at September 30, 2012  
     Maturity in years     

 

 

Source of Fair Value

   Less
than 1
    1-3     4-5      Greater
than 5
     Total Fair
Value
 
     (In thousands)  

Prices actively quoted

   $ (5,917   $ (9,222   $ 16      $       $ (15,123

Prices based on models and other valuation methods

                                     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Fair Value

   $ (5,917   $ (9,222   $ 16      $       $ (15,123
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Employee Benefits Programs

An important element of our total compensation program, and a significant component of our operation and maintenance expense, is the offering of various benefits programs to our employees. These programs include medical and dental insurance coverage and pension and postretirement programs.

Medical and Dental Insurance

We offer medical and dental insurance programs to substantially all of our employees, and we believe these programs are consistent with other programs in our industry. Since 2006, we have experienced medical and prescription inflation of approximately six percent. In recent years, we have strived to actively manage our health care costs through the introduction of a wellness strategy that is focused on helping employees to identify health risks and to manage these risks through improved lifestyle choices.

In March 2010, President Obama signed The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law (the “Health Care Reform Act”). The Health Care Reform Act will be phased in over an eight-year period. We have changed the design of our health care plans to comply with provisions of the Health Care Reform Act that have already gone into effect or will be going into effect in future years. For example, lifetime maximums on benefits have been eliminated, coverage for dependent children has been extended to age 26 and all costs of preventive coverage must be paid for by the insurer. In 2014, health insurance exchanges will open in each state in order to provide a competitive marketplace for purchasing health insurance by individuals. Companies who offer health insurance to their employees could face a substantial increase in premiums at that time if they choose to continue to provide such coverage. However, companies who elect to cease providing health insurance to their employees will be faced with paying significant penalties to the federal government for each employee who receives coverage through an exchange. We will continue to monitor all developments on health care reform and continue to comply with all existing relevant laws and regulations.

For fiscal 2013, we anticipate an approximate seven percent medical and prescription drug inflation rate, primarily due to anticipated higher claims costs and the implementation of the Health Care Reform Act.

 

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Net Periodic Pension and Postretirement Benefit Costs

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, our total net periodic pension and other benefits costs was $69.2 million, compared with $56.6 million and $50.8 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010. These costs relating to our natural gas distribution operations are recoverable through our gas distribution rates. A portion of these costs is capitalized into our gas distribution rate base, and the remaining costs are recorded as a component of operation and maintenance expense.

Our fiscal 2012 costs were determined using a September 30, 2011 measurement date. At that date, interest and corporate bond rates utilized to determine our discount rates were significantly lower than the interest and corporate bond rates as of September 30, 2010, the measurement date for our fiscal 2011 net periodic cost. Accordingly, we decreased our discount rate used to determine our fiscal 2012 pension and benefit costs to 5.05 percent. Our expected return on our pension plan assets was reduced to 7.75 percent due to historical experience and the current market projection of the target asset allocation. As a result, our fiscal 2012 pension and postretirement medical costs were higher than in the prior year.

The increase in total net periodic pension and other benefits costs during fiscal 2011 compared with fiscal 2010 primarily reflects the decrease in our discount rate at September 30, 2010, the measurement date for our fiscal 2011 pension and postretirement costs. The discount rate used to compute the present value of a plan’s liabilities generally is based on rates of high-grade corporate bonds with maturities similar to the average period over which the benefits will be paid. At our September 30, 2010 measurement date, the interest rates were significantly higher than the interest rates at September 30, 2009, the measurement date used to determine our fiscal 2009 net periodic cost. Our expected return on our pension plan assets remained constant at 8.25 percent.

Pension and Postretirement Plan Funding

Generally, our funding policy is to contribute annually an amount that will at least equal the minimum amount required to comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). However, additional voluntary contributions are made from time to time as considered necessary. Contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date but also for those expected to be earned in the future.

In accordance with the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA), we determined the funded status of our plans as of January 1, 2012. Based on this valuation, we were required to contribute cash of $46.5 million to our pension plans during fiscal 2012. The need for this funding primarily reflects a decrease in the discount rate used to determine our obligations under our plans. This contribution increased the level of our plan assets to achieve a desirable PPA funding threshold.

During fiscal 2011, we were required to contribute cash of $0.9 million to our pension plans. The need for this funding reflected the decline in the fair value of the plans’ assets resulting from the unfavorable market conditions experienced during 2008 and 2009. This contribution increased the level of our plan assets to achieve a desirable PPA funding threshold. During fiscal 2010, we did not contribute cash to our pension plans as the fair value of the plans’ assets recovered somewhat during the year from the unfavorable market conditions experienced in the latter half of calendar year 2008 and our plan assets were sufficient to achieve a desirable funding threshold as established by the PPA.

We contributed $22.1 million, $11.3 million and $11.8 million to our postretirement benefits plans for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010. The contributions represent the portion of the postretirement costs we are responsible for under the terms of our plan and minimum funding required by state regulatory commissions.

Outlook for Fiscal 2013 and Beyond

As of September 30, 2012, interest and corporate bond rates utilized to determine our discount rates, which impacted our fiscal 2013 net periodic pension and postretirement costs, were lower than the interest and corporate bond rates as of September 30, 2011, the measurement date for our fiscal 2012 net periodic cost. As a result of the lower interest and corporate bond rates, we decreased the discount rate used to determine our fiscal 2013

 

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pension and benefit costs to 4.04 percent. We maintained the expected return on our pension plan assets at 7.75 percent, based on historical experience and the current market projection of the target asset allocation. Due to the decrease in our discount rate, we expect our fiscal 2013 pension and postretirement medical costs to increase compared to fiscal 2012.

Based upon market conditions subsequent to September 30, 2012 the current funded position of the plans and the new funding requirements under the PPA, we anticipate contributing between $30 million and $40 million to the Plans in fiscal 2013. Further, we will consider whether an additional voluntary contribution is prudent to maintain certain PPA funding thresholds. With respect to our postretirement medical plans, we anticipate contributing between $25 million and $30 million during fiscal 2013.

The projected pension liability, future funding requirements and the amount of pension expense or income recognized for the Plan are subject to change, depending upon the actuarial value of plan assets and the determination of future benefit obligations as of each subsequent actuarial calculation date. These amounts are impacted by actual investment returns, changes in interest rates and changes in the demographic composition of the participants in the plan.

In August 2010, the Board of Directors of Atmos Energy approved a proposal to close the Pension Account Plan (PAP) to new participants, effective October 1, 2010. Employees participating in the PAP as of October 1, 2010 were allowed to make a one-time election to migrate from the PAP into our defined contribution plan with enhanced features, effective January 1, 2011. Participants who chose to remain in the PAP have continued to earn benefits and interest allocations with no changes to their existing benefits.

RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS

Recent accounting developments and their impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

We are exposed to risks associated with commodity prices and interest rates. Commodity price risk is the potential loss that we may incur as a result of changes in the fair value of a particular instrument or commodity. Interest-rate risk results from our portfolio of debt and equity instruments that we issue to provide financing and liquidity for our business activities.

We conduct risk management activities through both our natural gas distribution and nonregulated segments. In our natural gas distribution segment, we use a combination of physical storage, fixed physical contracts and fixed financial contracts to protect us and our customers against unusually large winter period gas price increases. In our nonregulated segment, we manage our exposure to the risk of natural gas price changes and lock in our gross profit margin through a combination of storage and financial instruments including futures, over-the-counter and exchange-traded options and swap contracts with counterparties. Our risk management activities and related accounting treatment are described in further detail in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements. Additionally, our earnings are affected by changes in short-term interest rates as a result of our issuance of short-term commercial paper and our other short-term borrowings.

Commodity Price Risk

Natural gas distribution segment

We purchase natural gas for our natural gas distribution operations. Substantially all of the costs of gas purchased for natural gas distribution operations are recovered from our customers through purchased gas cost adjustment mechanisms. Therefore, our natural gas distribution operations have limited commodity price risk exposure.

Nonregulated segment

Our nonregulated segment is also exposed to risks associated with changes in the market price of natural gas. For our nonregulated segment, we use a sensitivity analysis to estimate commodity price risk. For purposes of this analysis, we estimate commodity price risk by applying a $0.50 change in the forward NYMEX price to

 

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our net open position (including existing storage and related financial contracts) at the end of each period. Based on AEH’s net open position (including existing storage and related financial contracts) at September 30, 2012 of 0.4 Bcf, a $0.50 change in the forward NYMEX price would have had a $0.2 million impact on our consolidated net income.

Changes in the difference between the indices used to mark to market our physical inventory (Gas Daily) and the related fair-value hedge (NYMEX) can result in volatility in our reported net income; but, over time, gains and losses on the sale of storage gas inventory will be offset by gains and losses on the fair-value hedges. Based upon our net physical position at September 30, 2012 and assuming our hedges would still qualify as highly effective, a $0.50 change in the difference between the Gas Daily and NYMEX indices would impact our reported net income by approximately $5.8 million.

Additionally, these changes could cause us to recognize a risk management liability, which would require us to place cash into an escrow account to collateralize this liability position. This, in turn, would reduce the amount of cash we would have on hand to fund our working capital needs.

Interest Rate Risk

Our earnings are exposed to changes in short-term interest rates associated with our short-term commercial paper program and other short-term borrowings. We use a sensitivity analysis to estimate our short-term interest rate risk. For purposes of this analysis, we estimate our short-term interest rate risk as the difference between our actual interest expense for the period and estimated interest expense for the period assuming a hypothetical average one percent increase in the interest rates associated with our short-term borrowings. Had interest rates associated with our short-term borrowings increased by an average of one percent, our interest expense would have increased by approximately $2.5 million during 2012.

 

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ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Index to financial statements and financial statement schedule:

 

     Page  

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

     55   

Financial statements and supplementary data:

  

Consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2012 and 2011

     56   

Consolidated statements of income for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010

     57   

Consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity for the years ended September  30, 2012, 2011 and 2010

     58   

Consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010

     59   

Notes to consolidated financial statements

     60   

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

     119   

Financial statement schedule for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010

  

Schedule II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

     127   

All other financial statement schedules are omitted because the required information is not present, or not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule or because the information required is included in the financial statements and accompanying notes thereto.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Atmos Energy Corporation

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Atmos Energy Corporation as of September 30, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2012. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 8. These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule 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 consolidated financial position of Atmos Energy Corporation at September 30, 2012 and 2011, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2012, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects the financial information set forth therein.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Atmos Energy Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated November 12, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/    ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Dallas, Texas

November 12, 2012

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

     September 30  
     2012     2011  
    

(In thousands,

except share data)

 
ASSETS     

Property, plant and equipment

   $ 6,860,358     $ 6,607,552  

Construction in progress

     274,112       209,242  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     7,134,470       6,816,794  

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     1,658,866       1,668,876  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net property, plant and equipment

     5,475,604       5,147,918  

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

     64,239       131,419  

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $9,425 in 2012 and $7,440 in 2011

     234,526       273,303  

Gas stored underground

     256,415       289,760  

Other current assets

     272,782       316,471  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     827,962       1,010,953  

Goodwill and intangible assets

     740,847       740,207  

Deferred charges and other assets

     451,262       383,793  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 7,495,675     $ 7,282,871  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES     

Shareholders’ equity

    

Common stock, no par value (stated at $.005 per share);
200,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding:
2012 — 90,239,900 shares, 2011 — 90,296,482 shares

   $ 451     $ 451  

Additional paid-in capital

     1,745,467       1,732,935  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (47,607     (48,460

Retained earnings

     660,932       570,495  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

     2,359,243       2,255,421  

Long-term debt

     1,956,305       2,206,117  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

     4,315,548       4,461,538  

Commitments and contingencies

    

Current liabilities

    

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     215,229       291,205  

Other current liabilities

     489,665       367,563  

Short-term debt

     570,929       206,396  

Current maturities of long-term debt

     131       2,434  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     1,275,954       867,598  

Deferred income taxes

     1,015,083       960,093  

Regulatory cost of removal obligation

     381,164       428,947  

Deferred credits and other liabilities

     507,926       564,695  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 7,495,675     $ 7,282,871  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

     Year ended September 30  
     2012     2011     2010  
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Operating revenues

      

Natural gas distribution segment

   $ 2,145,330     $ 2,470,664     $ 2,783,863  

Regulated transmission and storage segment

     247,351       219,373       203,013  

Nonregulated segment

     1,351,303       2,024,893       2,146,658  

Intersegment eliminations

     (305,501     (428,495     (472,474
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     3,438,483       4,286,435       4,661,060  

Purchased gas cost

      

Natural gas distribution segment

     1,122,587       1,452,721       1,785,221  

Regulated transmission and storage segment

                     

Nonregulated segment

     1,296,179       1,959,893       2,032,567  

Intersegment eliminations

     (304,022     (426,999     (470,864
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2,114,744       2,985,615       3,346,924  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     1,323,739       1,300,820       1,314,136  

Operating expenses

      

Operation and maintenance

     453,613       442,965       454,621  

Depreciation and amortization

     237,525       223,832       208,539  

Taxes, other than income

     181,073       177,767       187,143  

Asset impairments

     5,288       30,270         
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     877,499       874,834       850,303  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     446,240       425,986       463,833  

Miscellaneous income (expense), net

     (14,644     21,184       (591

Interest charges

     141,174       150,763       154,188  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     290,422       296,407       309,054  

Income tax expense

     98,226       106,819       119,203  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

     192,196       189,588       189,851  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax ($10,066, $12,372 and $9,584)

     18,172       18,013       15,988  

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax ($3,519, $0 and $0)

     6,349                
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 216,717     $ 207,601     $ 205,839  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

      

Income per share from continuing operations

   $ 2.12     $ 2.08     $ 2.05  

Income per share from discontinued operations

     0.27       0.20       0.17  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income per share — basic

   $ 2.39     $ 2.28     $ 2.22  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

      

Income per share from continuing operations

   $ 2.10     $ 2.07     $ 2.03  

Income per share from discontinued operations

     0.27       0.20       0.17  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income per share — diluted

   $ 2.37     $ 2.27     $ 2.20  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

      

Basic

     90,150       90,201       91,852  

Diluted

     91,172       90,652       92,422  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

    Common stock     Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Retained
Earnings
    Total  
         
  Number of
Shares
    Stated
Value
         
    (In thousands, except share and per share data)  

Balance, September 30, 2009

    92,551,709     $ 463     $ 1,791,129     $ (20,184   $ 405,353     $ 2,176,761  

Comprehensive income:

           

Net income

                                205,839       205,839  

Unrealized holding gains on investments, net of tax of $1,025

                         1,745              1,745  

Treasury lock agreements, net of tax of $1,193

                         2,030              2,030  

Cash flow hedges, net of tax of $(4,452)

                         (6,963            (6,963
           

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

              202,651  

Repurchase of common stock

    (2,958,580     (15     (100,435                   (100,450

Repurchase of equity awards

    (37,365            (1,191                   (1,191

Cash dividends ($1.34 per share)

                                (124,287     (124,287

Common stock issued:

           

Direct stock purchase plan

    103,529       1       2,881                     2,882  

Retirement savings plan

    79,722              2,281                     2,281  

1998 Long-term incentive plan

    421,706       2       8,708                     8,710  

Employee stock-based compensation

                  10,894                     10,894  

Outside directors stock-for-fee plan

    3,382              97                     97  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2010

    90,164,103       451       1,714,364       (23,372     486,905       2,178,348  

Comprehensive income:

           

Net income

                                207,601       207,601  

Unrealized holding losses on investments, net of tax of $(953)

                         (1,647            (1,647

Treasury lock agreements, net of tax of $(16,850)

                         (28,689            (28,689

Cash flow hedges, net of tax of $3,355

                         5,248              5,248  
           

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

              182,513  

Repurchase of common stock

    (375,468     (2     2                       

Repurchase of equity awards

    (169,793     (1     (5,298                   (5,299

Cash dividends ($1.36 per share)

                                (124,011     (124,011

Common stock issued:

           

Direct stock purchase plan

                  (54                   (54

1998 Long-term incentive plan

    675,255       3       13,886                     13,889  

Employee stock-based compensation

                  9,958                     9,958  

Outside directors stock-for-fee plan

    2,385              77                     77  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2011

    90,296,482       451       1,732,935       (48,460     570,495       2,255,421  

Comprehensive income:

           

Net income

                                216,717       216,717  

Unrealized holding gains on investments, net of tax of $1,881

                         3,103              3,103  

Treasury lock agreements, net of tax of $(5,388)

                         (10,116            (10,116

Cash flow hedges, net of tax of $5,029

                         7,866              7,866  
           

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

              217,570  

Repurchase of common stock

    (387,991     (2     (12,533                   (12,535

Repurchase of equity awards

    (153,255            (5,219                   (5,219

Cash dividends ($1.38 per share)

                                (125,796     (125,796

Common stock issued:

           

Direct stock purchase plan

                  (65                   (65

1998 Long-term incentive plan

    482,289       2       12,519              (484     12,037  

Employee stock-based compensation

                  17,752                     17,752  

Outside directors stock-for-fee plan

    2,375              78                     78  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2012

    90,239,900     $ 451     $ 1,745,467     $ (47,607   $ 660,932     $ 2,359,243  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

     Year ended September 30  
     2012     2011     2010  
     (In thousands)  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

      

Net income

   $ 216,717     $ 207,601     $ 205,839  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Asset impairments

     5,288       30,270         

Gain on sale of discontinued operations

     (9,868              

Depreciation and amortization:

      

Charged to depreciation and amortization

     246,093       233,155       216,960  

Charged to other accounts

     484       228       173  

Deferred income taxes

     104,319       117,353       196,731  

Stock-based compensation

     19,222       11,586       12,655  

Debt financing costs

     8,147       9,438       11,908  

Other

     (493     (961     (1,245

Changes in assets and liabilities:

      

(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable

     32,578       (96     (40,401

Decrease in gas stored underground

     28,417       27,737       54,014  

(Increase) decrease in other current assets

     20,989       (38,048     (18,387

(Increase) decrease in deferred charges and other assets

     (50,055     (53,519     14,886  

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (64,234     23,904       58,069  

Increase (decrease) in other current liabilities

     7,889       (57,495     (48,992

Increase in deferred credits and other liabilities

     21,424       71,691       64,266  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     586,917       582,844       726,476  

CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

      

Capital expenditures

     (732,858     (622,965     (542,636

Proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations

     128,223                

Other, net

     (4,625     (4,421     (66
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (609,260     (627,386     (542,702

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

      

Net increase in short-term debt

     354,141       83,306       54,268  

Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

            394,466         

Settlement of Treasury lock agreements

            20,079         

Unwinding of Treasury lock agreements

            27,803         

Repayment of long-term debt

     (257,034     (360,131     (131

Cash dividends paid

     (125,796     (124,011     (124,287

Repurchase of common stock

     (12,535            (100,450

Repurchase of equity awards

     (5,219     (5,299     (1,191

Issuance of common stock

     1,606       7,796       8,766  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (44,837     44,009       (163,025
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (67,180     (533     20,749  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     131,419       131,952       111,203  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 64,239     $ 131,419     $ 131,952  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.    Nature of Business

Atmos Energy Corporation (“Atmos Energy” or the “Company”) and our subsidiaries are engaged primarily in the regulated natural gas distribution and transmission and storage businesses as well as certain other nonregulated businesses. Through our natural gas distribution business, we deliver natural gas through sales and transportation arrangements to over three million residential, commercial, public-authority and industrial customers through our six regulated natural gas distribution divisions in the service areas described below:

 

Division

  

Service Area

Atmos Energy Colorado-Kansas Division

   Colorado, Kansas

Atmos Energy Kentucky/Mid-States Division

   Georgia(1), Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia(1)

Atmos Energy Louisiana Division

   Louisiana

Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division

   Texas, including the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area

Atmos Energy Mississippi Division

   Mississippi

Atmos Energy West Texas Division

   West Texas

 

 

  (1) 

Denotes locations where we have more limited service areas.

In addition, we transport natural gas for others through our distribution system. Our natural gas distribution business is subject to federal and state regulation and/or regulation by local authorities in each of the states in which our natural gas distribution divisions operate. Our corporate headquarters and shared-services function are located in Dallas, Texas, and our customer support centers are located in Amarillo and Waco, Texas.

On August 1, 2012, we completed the divesture of our natural gas distribution operations in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa, representing approximately 84,000 customers. On August 8, 2012, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell our natural gas distribution operations in Georgia, representing approximately 64,000 customers. The results of these operations have been separately reported as discontinued operations.

Our regulated transmission and storage business consists of the regulated operations of our Atmos Pipeline–Texas Division, a division of the Company. This division transports natural gas to our Mid-Tex Division, transports natural gas for third parties and manages five underground storage reservoirs in Texas. We also provide ancillary services customary to the pipeline industry including parking arrangements, lending and sales of inventory on hand. Parking arrangements provide short-term interruptible storage of gas on our pipeline. Lending services provide short-term interruptible loans of natural gas from our pipeline to meet market demands.

Our nonregulated businesses operate primarily in the Midwest and Southeast through various wholly-owned subsidiaries of Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc., (AEH). AEH is wholly owned by the Company and based in Houston, Texas. Through AEH, we provide natural gas management and transportation services to municipalities, natural gas distribution companies, including certain divisions of Atmos Energy and third parties.

2.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of consolidation — The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Atmos Energy Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated; however, we have not eliminated intercompany profits when such amounts are probable of recovery under the affiliates’ rate regulation process.

Basis of comparison — Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

Use of estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. The most significant estimates include the allow-

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

ance for doubtful accounts, unbilled revenues, legal and environmental accruals, insurance accruals, pension and postretirement obligations, deferred income taxes, asset retirement obligations, impairment of long-lived assets, risk management and trading activities, fair value measurements and the valuation of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and other long-lived assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Regulation — Our natural gas distribution and regulated transmission and storage operations are subject to regulation with respect to rates, service, maintenance of accounting records and various other matters by the respective regulatory authorities in the states in which we operate. Our accounting policies recognize the financial effects of the ratemaking and accounting practices and policies of the various regulatory commissions. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States require cost-based, rate-regulated entities that meet certain criteria to reflect the authorized recovery of costs due to regulatory decisions in their financial statements. As a result, certain costs are permitted to be capitalized rather than expensed because they can be recovered through rates.

We record regulatory assets as a component of other current assets and deferred charges and other assets for costs that have been deferred for which future recovery through customer rates is considered probable. Regulatory liabilities are recorded either on the face of the balance sheet or as a component of current liabilities, deferred income taxes or deferred credits and other liabilities when it is probable that revenues will be reduced for amounts that will be credited to customers through the ratemaking process. Significant regulatory assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 included the following:

 

     September 30  
     2012      2011  
     (In thousands)  

Regulatory assets:

     

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

   $ 296,160      $ 254,666  

Merger and integration costs, net

     5,754        6,242  

Deferred gas costs

     31,359        33,976  

Regulatory cost of removal asset

     10,500        8,852  

Rate case costs

     4,661        4,862  

Deferred franchise fees

     2,714        379  

Risk-based replacement program costs

     5,370          

APT annual adjustment mechanism

     4,539          

Other

     7,262        3,919  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 368,319      $ 312,896  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Regulatory liabilities:

     

Deferred gas costs

   $ 23,072      $ 8,130  

Regulatory cost of removal obligation

     459,688        464,025  

APT annual adjustment mechanism

             6,654  

Other

     5,637        7,371  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 488,397      $ 486,180  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

During the prior fiscal year, the Railroad Commission of Texas’ Division of Public Safety issued a new rule requiring natural gas distribution companies to develop and implement a risk-based program for the renewal or replacement of distribution facilities, including steel service lines. The rule allows for the deferral of all expenses associated with capital expenditures incurred pursuant to this rule, including the recording of interest on the deferred expenses until the next rate proceeding (rate case or annual rate filing) at which time investment and costs would be recovered through base rates. As of September 30, 2012, we had deferred $5.4 million associated with the requirements of this rule.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Effective January 1, 2012, the Texas Legislature amended its Gas Utility Regulatory Act (GURA) to permit natural gas utilities to defer into a regulatory asset or liability the difference between a gas utility’s actual pension and postretirement expense and the level of such expense recoverable in its existing rates. The deferred amount will become eligible for inclusion in the utility’s rates in its next rate proceeding. We elected to utilize this provision of GURA, effective January 1, 2012, and established a regulatory asset totaling $7.6 million, which is recorded in “Pension and postretirement benefit costs” in the regulatory assets table above. Of this amount, $4.2 million represented a reduction to operation and maintenance expense during fiscal 2012.

Currently, authorized rates do not include a return on certain of our merger and integration costs; however, we recover the amortization of these costs. Merger and integration costs, net, are generally amortized on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives ranging up to 20 years. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, we recognized $0.5 million, $0.5 million and $0.4 million in amortization expense related to these costs.

Revenue recognition — Sales of natural gas to our natural gas distribution customers are billed on a monthly basis; however, the billing cycle periods for certain classes of customers do not necessarily coincide with accounting periods used for financial reporting purposes. We follow the revenue accrual method of accounting for natural gas distribution segment revenues whereby revenues applicable to gas delivered to customers, but not yet billed under the cycle billing method, are estimated and accrued and the related costs are charged to expense.

On occasion, we are permitted to implement new rates that have not been formally approved by our state regulatory commissions, which are subject to refund. As permitted by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, we recognize this revenue and establish a reserve for amounts that could be refunded based on our experience for the jurisdiction in which the rates were implemented.

Rates established by regulatory authorities are adjusted for increases and decreases in our purchased gas costs through purchased gas cost adjustment mechanisms. Purchased gas cost adjustment mechanisms provide gas utility companies a method of recovering purchased gas costs on an ongoing basis without filing a rate case to address all of the utility company’s non-gas costs. There is no gross profit generated through purchased gas cost adjustments, but they provide a dollar-for-dollar offset to increases or decreases in our natural gas distribution segment’s gas costs. The effects of these purchased gas cost adjustment mechanisms are recorded as deferred gas costs on our balance sheet.

Operating revenues for our nonregulated segment and the associated carrying value of natural gas inventory (inclusive of storage costs) are recognized when we sell the gas and physically deliver it to our customers. Operating revenues include realized gains and losses arising from the settlement of financial instruments used in our nonregulated activities and unrealized gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of natural gas inventory designated as a hedged item in a fair value hedge and the associated financial instruments. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, we included unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts of $(8.0) million, $(10.4) million and $(7.8) million as a component of nonregulated revenues.

Operating revenues for our regulated transmission and storage and nonregulated segments are recognized in the period in which actual volumes are transported and storage services are provided.

Cash and cash equivalents — We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts — Accounts receivable arise from natural gas sales to residential, commercial, industrial, municipal and other customers. For substantially all of our receivables, we establish an allowance for doubtful accounts based on our collection experience. On certain other receivables where we are aware of a specific customer’s inability or reluctance to pay, we record an allowance for doubtful accounts against amounts due to reduce the net receivable balance to the amount we reasonably

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

expect to collect. However, if circumstances change, our estimate of the recoverability of accounts receivable could be affected. Circumstances which could affect our estimates include, but are not limited to, customer credit issues, the level of natural gas prices, customer deposits and general economic conditions. Accounts are written off once they are deemed to be uncollectible.

Gas stored underground — Our gas stored underground is comprised of natural gas injected into storage to support the winter season withdrawals for our natural gas distribution operations and natural gas held by our nonregulated segment to conduct their operations. The average cost method is used for all our regulated operations, except for certain jurisdictions in the Kentucky/Mid-States Division, where it is valued on the first-in first-out method basis, in accordance with regulatory requirements. Our nonregulated segment utilizes the average cost method; however, most of this inventory is hedged and is therefore reported at fair value at the end of each month. Gas in storage that is retained as cushion gas to maintain reservoir pressure is classified as property, plant and equipment and is valued at cost.

Regulated property, plant and equipment — Regulated property, plant and equipment is stated at original cost, net of contributions in aid of construction. The cost of additions includes direct construction costs, payroll related costs (taxes, pensions and other fringe benefits), administrative and general costs and an allowance for funds used during construction. The allowance for funds used during construction represents the estimated cost of funds used to finance the construction of major projects and are capitalized in the rate base for ratemaking purposes when the completed projects are placed in service. Interest expense of $2.6 million, $1.7 million and $3.9 million was capitalized in 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Major renewals, including replacement pipe, and betterments that are recoverable under our regulatory rate base are capitalized while the costs of maintenance and repairs that are not recoverable through rates are charged to expense as incurred. The costs of large projects are accumulated in construction in progress until the project is completed. When the project is completed, tested and placed in service, the balance is transferred to the regulated plant in service account included in the rate base and depreciation begins.

Regulated property, plant and equipment is depreciated at various rates on a straight-line basis. These rates are approved by our regulatory commissions and are comprised of two components: one based on average service life and one based on cost of removal. Accordingly, we recognize our cost of removal expense as a component of depreciation expense. The related cost of removal accrual is reflected as a regulatory liability on the consolidated balance sheet. At the time property, plant and equipment is retired, removal expenses less salvage, are charged to the regulatory cost of removal accrual. The composite depreciation rate was 3.6 percent, 3.6 percent and 3.5 percent for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Nonregulated property, plant and equipment — Nonregulated property, plant and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation is generally computed on the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes based upon estimated useful lives ranging from three to 50 years.

Asset retirement obligations — We record a liability at fair value for an asset retirement obligation when the legal obligation to retire the asset has been incurred with an offsetting increase to the carrying value of the related asset. Accretion of the asset retirement obligation due to the passage of time is recorded as an operating expense.

As of September 30, 2012 and 2011, we recorded asset retirement obligations of $10.5 million and $14.0 million. Additionally, we recorded $4.2 million and $5.4 million of asset retirement costs as a component of property, plant and equipment that will be depreciated over the remaining life of the underlying associated assets.

We believe we have a legal obligation to retire our natural gas storage facilities. However, we have not recognized an asset retirement obligation associated with our storage facilities because we are not able to determine the settlement date of this obligation as we do not anticipate taking our storage facilities out of service permanently. Therefore, we cannot reasonably estimate the fair value of this obligation.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Impairment of long-lived assets — We periodically evaluate whether events or circumstances have occurred that indicate that other long-lived assets may not be recoverable or that the remaining useful life may warrant revision. When such events or circumstances are present, we assess the recoverability of long-lived assets by determining whether the carrying value will be recovered through the expected future cash flows. In the event the sum of the expected future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset is less than the carrying value of the asset, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value is recorded.

During fiscal 2012, we recorded a pre-tax noncash impairment loss of $5.3 million related to our gathering systems in Kentucky. In fiscal 2011, we recorded pre-tax noncash impairment losses of $19.3 million related to our Fort Necessity storage project and $11.0 million related to our gathering systems in Kentucky. See Note 5 for further details.

Goodwill and intangible assets — We annually evaluate our goodwill balances for impairment during our second fiscal quarter or more frequently as impairment indicators arise. We use a present value technique based on discounted cash flows to estimate the fair value of our reporting units. These calculations are dependent on several subjective factors including the timing of future cash flows, future growth rates and the discount rate. An impairment charge is recognized if the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its fair value.

Intangible assets are amortized over their useful lives of 10 years. These assets are reviewed for impairment as impairment indicators arise. When such events or circumstances are present, we assess the recoverability of long-lived assets by determining whether the carrying value will be recovered through the expected future cash flows. In the event the sum of the expected future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset is less than the carrying value of the asset, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value is recorded. No impairment has been recognized.

Marketable securities — As of September 30, 2012 and 2011, all of our marketable securities were classified as available-for-sale. In accordance with the authoritative accounting standards, these securities are reported at market value with unrealized gains and losses shown as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). We regularly evaluate the performance of these investments on an individual investment by investment basis for impairment, taking into consideration the fund’s purpose, volatility and current returns. If a determination is made that a decline in fair value is other than temporary, the related investment is written down to its estimated fair value.

Financial instruments and hedging activities — We use financial instruments to mitigate commodity price risk in our natural gas distribution and nonregulated segments and interest rate risk. The objectives and strategies for using financial instruments have been tailored to our regulated and nonregulated businesses and are discussed in Note 4.

We record all of our financial instruments on the balance sheet at fair value, with changes in fair value ultimately recorded in the income statement. These financial instruments are reported as risk management assets and liabilities and are classified as current or noncurrent other assets or liabilities based upon the anticipated settlement date of the underlying financial instrument.

The timing of when changes in fair value of our financial instruments are recorded in the income statement depends on whether the financial instrument has been designated and qualifies as a part of a hedging relationship or if regulatory rulings require a different accounting treatment. Changes in fair value for financial instruments that do not meet one of these criteria are recognized in the income statement as they occur.

Financial Instruments Associated with Commodity Price Risk

In our natural gas distribution segment, the costs associated with and the gains and losses arising from the use of financial instruments to mitigate commodity price risk are included in our purchased gas cost adjustment mechanisms in accordance with regulatory requirements. Therefore, changes in the fair value of these financial

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

instruments are initially recorded as a component of deferred gas costs and recognized in the consolidated statement of income as a component of purchased gas cost when the related costs are recovered through our rates and recognized in revenue in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Accordingly, there is no earnings impact on our natural gas distribution segment as a result of the use of financial instruments.

In our nonregulated segment, we have designated most of the natural gas inventory held by this operating segment as the hedged item in a fair-value hedge. This inventory is marked to market at the end of each month based on the Gas Daily index, with changes in fair value recognized as unrealized gains or losses in revenue in the period of change. The financial instruments associated with this natural gas inventory have been designated as fair-value hedges and are marked to market each month based upon the NYMEX price with changes in fair value recognized as unrealized gains or losses in revenue in the period of change. Changes in the spreads between the forward natural gas prices used to value the financial hedges designated against our physical inventory (NYMEX) and the market (spot) prices used to value our physical storage (Gas Daily) result in unrealized margins until the underlying physical gas is withdrawn and the related financial instruments are settled. Once the gas is withdrawn and the financial instruments are settled, the previously unrealized margins associated with these net positions are realized. We have elected to exclude this spot/forward differential for purposes of assessing the effectiveness of these fair-value hedges. Over time, we expect gains and losses on the sale of storage gas inventory to be offset by gains and losses on the fair-value hedges, resulting in the realization of the economic gross profit margin we anticipated at the time we structured the original transaction.

Additionally, we have elected to treat fixed-price forward contracts used in our nonregulated segment to deliver natural gas as normal purchases and normal sales. As such, these deliveries are recorded on an accrual basis in accordance with our revenue recognition policy. Financial instruments used to mitigate the commodity price risk associated with these contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges of anticipated purchases and sales at indexed prices. Accordingly, unrealized gains and losses on these open financial instruments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, and are recognized in earnings as a component of revenue when the hedged volumes are sold.

Gains and losses from hedge ineffectiveness are recognized in the income statement. Fair value and cash flow hedge ineffectiveness arising from natural gas market price differences between the locations of the hedged inventory and the delivery location specified in the financial instruments is referred to as basis ineffectiveness. Ineffectiveness arising from changes in the fair value of the fair value hedges due to changes in the difference between the spot price and the futures price, as well as the difference between the timing of the settlement of the futures and the valuation of the underlying physical commodity is referred to as timing ineffectiveness. Hedge ineffectiveness, to the extent incurred, is reported as a component of revenue.

Our nonregulated segment also utilizes master netting agreements with significant counterparties that allow us to offset gains and losses arising from financial instruments that may be settled in cash with gains and losses arising from financial instruments that may be settled with the physical commodity. Assets and liabilities from risk management activities, as well as accounts receivable and payable, reflect the master netting agreements in place. Additionally, the accounting guidance for master netting arrangements requires us to include the fair value of cash collateral or the obligation to return cash in the amounts that have been netted under master netting agreements used to offset gains and losses arising from financial instruments. As of September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company netted $23.7 million and $28.8 million of cash held in margin accounts into its current risk management assets and liabilities.

Financial Instruments Associated with Interest Rate Risk

We manage interest rate risk, typically when we plan to issue new long-term debt or to refinance existing long-term debt. Prior to fiscal 2012, we entered into Treasury lock agreements to fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost associated with anticipated financings. We designated these Treasury lock agreements as

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

cash flow hedges at the time the agreements were executed. Accordingly, unrealized gains and losses associated with the Treasury lock agreements were recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). When the Treasury locks were settled, the realized gain or loss was recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and is being recognized as a component of interest expense over the life of the related financing arrangement.

During fiscal 2012, we began using interest rate swaps to mitigate interest rate risk. We entered into an interest rate swap associated with our $260 million short-term financing facility through December 27, 2012. Due to the short-term nature of the swap and the related financing facility, we did not designate the interest rate swap as a hedge. Gains and losses associated with the swap are reported as a component of interest expense.

Additionally, in October 2012, we entered into forward starting interest rate swaps to fix the Treasury yield component associated with the anticipated issuance of $500 million and $250 million unsecured senior notes in fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2017, which we designated as cash flow hedges at the time the agreements were executed. Unrealized gains and losses associated with the forward starting interest rate swaps will be recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). When the forward starting interest rate swaps settle, the realized gain or loss will be recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and recognized as a component of interest expense over the life of the related financing arrangement. Hedge ineffectiveness to the extent incurred will be reported as a component of interest expense.

Fair Value Measurements — We report certain assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). We primarily use quoted market prices and other observable market pricing information in valuing our financial assets and liabilities and minimize the use of unobservable pricing inputs in our measurements.

Prices actively quoted on national exchanges are used to determine the fair value of most of our assets and liabilities recorded on our balance sheet at fair value. Within our nonregulated operations, we utilize a mid-market pricing convention (the mid-point between the bid and ask prices), as permitted under current accounting standards. Values derived from these sources reflect the market in which transactions involving these financial instruments are executed.

We utilize models and other valuation methods to determine fair value when external sources are not available. Values are adjusted to reflect the potential impact of an orderly liquidation of our positions over a reasonable period of time under then-current market conditions. We believe the market prices and models used to value these assets and liabilities represent the best information available with respect to closing exchange and over-the-counter quotations, time value and volatility factors underlying the assets and liabilities.

Fair-value estimates also consider our own creditworthiness and the creditworthiness of the counterparties involved. Our counterparties consist primarily of financial institutions and major energy companies. This concentration of counterparties may materially impact our exposure to credit risk resulting from market, economic or regulatory conditions. We seek to minimize counterparty credit risk through an evaluation of their financial condition and credit ratings and the use of collateral requirements under certain circumstances.

Amounts reported at fair value are subject to potentially significant volatility based upon changes in market prices, the valuation of the portfolio of our contracts, maturity and settlement of these contracts and newly originated transactions, each of which directly affect the estimated fair value of our financial instruments. We believe the market prices and models used to value these financial instruments represent the best information available with respect to closing exchange and over-the-counter quotations, time value and volatility factors underlying the contracts. Values are adjusted to reflect the potential impact of an orderly liquidation of our positions over a reasonable period of time under then current market conditions.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

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 levels of the hierarchy are described below:

Level 1 — Represents unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for the asset or liability 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. Our Level 1 measurements consist primarily of exchange-traded financial instruments, gas stored underground that has been designated as the hedged item in a fair value hedge and our available-for-sale securities. The Level 1 measurements for investments in our Master Trust, Supplemental Executive Benefit Plan and postretirement benefit plan consist primarily of exchange-traded financial instruments.

Level 2 — Represents pricing inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability as of the reporting date. These inputs are derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. Our Level 2 measurements primarily consist of non-exchange-traded financial instruments, such as over-the-counter options and swaps and municipal and corporate bonds where market data for pricing is observable. The Level 2 measurements for investments in our Master Trust, Supplemental Executive Benefit Plan and postretirement benefit plan consist primarily of non-exchange traded financial instruments such as common collective trusts and investments in limited partnerships.

Level 3 — Represents generally unobservable pricing inputs which are developed based on the best information available, including our own internal data, in situations where there is little if any market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. The pricing inputs utilized reflect what a market participant would use to determine fair value. As of September 30, 2012 our Master Trust owned one real estate investment that qualifies as a Level 3 fair value measurement. Currently, we have no other assets or liabilities recorded at fair value that would qualify for Level 3 reporting.

Pension and other postretirement plans — Pension and other postretirement plan costs and liabilities are determined on an actuarial basis and are affected by numerous assumptions and estimates including the market value of plan assets, estimates of the expected return on plan assets, assumed discount rates and current demographic and actuarial mortality data. Our measurement date is September 30. The assumed discount rate and the expected return are the assumptions that generally have the most significant impact on our pension costs and liabilities. The assumed discount rate, the assumed health care cost trend rate and assumed rates of retirement generally have the most significant impact on our postretirement plan costs and liabilities.

The discount rate is utilized principally in calculating the actuarial present value of our pension and postretirement obligation and net pension and postretirement cost. When establishing our discount rate, we consider high quality corporate bond rates based on bonds available in the marketplace that are suitable for settling the obligations, changes in those rates from the prior year and the implied discount rate that is derived from matching our projected benefit disbursements with currently available high quality corporate bonds.

The expected long-term rate of return on assets is utilized in calculating the expected return on plan assets component of the annual pension and postretirement plan cost. We estimate the expected return on plan assets by evaluating expected bond returns, equity risk premiums, asset allocations, the effects of active plan management, the impact of periodic plan asset rebalancing and historical performance. We also consider the guidance from our investment advisors in making a final determination of our expected rate of return on assets. To the extent the actual rate of return on assets realized over the course of a year is greater than or less than the assumed rate, that year’s annual pension or postretirement plan cost is not affected. Rather, this gain or loss reduces or increases future pension or postretirement plan costs over a period of approximately ten to twelve years.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

The market-related value of our plan assets represents the fair market value of the plan assets, adjusted to smooth out short-term market fluctuations over a five-year period. The use of this calculation will delay the impact of current market fluctuations on the pension expense for the period.

We estimate the assumed health care cost trend rate used in determining our annual postretirement net cost based upon our actual health care cost experience, the effects of recently enacted legislation and general economic conditions. Our assumed rate of retirement is estimated based upon the annual review of our participant census information as of the measurement date.

Income taxes — Income taxes are provided based on the liability method, which results in income tax assets and liabilities arising from temporary differences. Temporary differences are differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years. The liability method requires the effect of tax rate changes on current and accumulated deferred income taxes to be reflected in the period in which the rate change was enacted. The liability method also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance unless it is more likely than not that the assets will be realized.

The Company may recognize the tax benefit from uncertain tax positions only if it is at least more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon settlement with the taxing authorities. We recognize accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of interest expense. We recognize penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of miscellaneous income (expense) in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Stock-based compensation plans — We maintain the 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan that provides for the granting of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, bonus stock, time-lapse restricted stock, performance-based restricted stock units and stock units to officers, division presidents and other key employees. Non-employee directors are also eligible to receive stock-based compensation under the 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The objectives of this plan include attracting and retaining the best personnel, providing for additional performance incentives and promoting our success by providing employees with the opportunity to acquire our common stock.

Accumulated other comprehensive loss — Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, as of September 30, 2012 and 2011, consisted of the following unrealized gains (losses):

 

     September 30  
     2012     2011  
     (In thousands)  

Unrealized holding gains on investments

   $ 5,661     $ 2,558  

Treasury lock agreements

     (44,273     (34,157

Cash flow hedges

     (8,995     (16,861
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ (47,607   $ (48,460
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Contingencies — In the normal course of business, we are confronted with issues or events that may result in a contingent liability. These generally relate to lawsuits, claims made by third parties or the action of various regulatory agencies. For such matters, we record liabilities when they are considered probable and reasonably estimable, based on currently available facts and our estimates of the ultimate outcome or resolution of the liability in the future. Actual results may differ from estimates, depending on actual outcomes or changes in the facts or expectations surrounding each potential exposure.

Subsequent events — We have evaluated subsequent events from the September 30, 2012 balance sheet date through the date these financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as disclosed in Note 4, no events occurred subsequent to the balance sheet date that would require recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Recent accounting pronouncements — During the year ended September 30, 2012, three new accounting standards were announced that will become applicable to the Company in future periods. The first standard requires enhanced disclosure of offsetting arrangements for financial instruments and will become effective for annual periods beginning after January 1, 2013 and for interim periods within those annual periods. The second standard indefinitely defers the effective date for new presentation requirements related to reclassifications of items from accumulated other comprehensive income, which were scheduled to be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The third standard allows companies to apply qualitative impairment tests to indefinite-lived intangibles if certain criteria are met and is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. The adoption of these standards should not have an impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. There were no other significant changes to our accounting policies during the year ended September 30, 2012.

3.    Goodwill

The following presents our goodwill balance allocated by segment and changes in the balance for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012:

 

     Natural Gas
Distribution
     Regulated
Transmission
and Storage
     Nonregulated      Total  
     (In thousands)  

Balance as of September 30, 2011

   $ 572,908      $ 132,381      $ 34,711      $ 740,000  

Deferred tax adjustments on prior acquisitions(1)

     642        41                683  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2012

   $ 573,550      $ 132,422      $ 34,711      $ 740,683  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

During the preparation of the fiscal 2012 tax provision, we adjusted certain deferred taxes recorded in connection with acquisitions completed in fiscal 2001 and fiscal 2004, which resulted in an increase to goodwill and net deferred tax liabilities of $0.7 million.

4.    Financial Instruments

We use financial instruments to mitigate commodity price risk and interest rate risk. The objectives and strategies for using financial instruments have been tailored to our regulated and nonregulated businesses. Currently, we utilize financial instruments in our natural gas distribution and nonregulated segments. We currently do not manage commodity price risk with financial instruments in our regulated transmission and storage segment.

Our financial instruments do not contain any credit-risk-related or other contingent features that could cause accelerated payments when our financial instruments are in net liability positions.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

As discussed in Note 2, we report our financial instruments as risk management assets and liabilities, each of which is classified as current or noncurrent based upon the anticipated settlement date of the underlying financial instrument. The following table shows the fair values of our risk management assets and liabilities by segment at September 30, 2012 and 2011:

 

     Natural Gas
Distribution
    Nonregulated     Total  
     (In thousands)  

September 30, 2012(3)

      

Assets from risk management activities, current(1)

   $ 6,934     $ 17,773     $ 24,707  

Assets from risk management activities, noncurrent

     2,283              2,283  

Liabilities from risk management activities, current(1)

     (85,366     (15     (85,381

Liabilities from risk management activities, noncurrent

            (9,206     (9,206
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets (liabilities)

   $ (76,149   $ 8,552     $ (67,597
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

September 30, 2011(4)

      

Assets from risk management activities, current(2)

   $ 843     $ 17,501     $ 18,344  

Assets from risk management activities, noncurrent

     998              998  

Liabilities from risk management activities, current(2)

     (11,916     (3,537     (15,453

Liabilities from risk management activities, noncurrent

     (67,862     (10,227     (78,089
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets (liabilities)

   $ (77,937   $ 3,737     $ (74,200
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

Includes $23.7 million of cash held on deposit to collateralize certain financial instruments. Of this amount, $5.9 million was used to offset current risk management liabilities under master netting arrangements and the remaining $17.8 million is classified as current risk management assets.

 

  (2) 

Includes $28.8 million of cash held on deposit to collateralize certain financial instruments. Of this amount, $12.4 million was used to offset current risk management liabilities under master netting arrangements and the remaining $16.4 million is classified as current risk management assets.

 

  (3) 

The September 30, 2012 amounts are presented net of assets and liabilities held for sale in conjunction with the sale of our Georgia operations. At September 30, 2012, assets and liabilities held for sale included $0.1 million of current assets from risk management activities and $0.3 million of current liabilities from risk management activities.

 

  (4) 

The September 30, 2011 amounts are presented net of assets and liabilities held for sale in conjunction with the sale of our Iowa, Illinois and Missouri operations. At September 30, 2011, assets and liabilities held for sale included $1.3 million of current liabilities from risk management activities.

Regulated Commodity Risk Management Activities

Although our purchased gas cost adjustment mechanisms essentially insulate our natural gas distribution segment from commodity price risk, our customers are exposed to the effects of volatile natural gas prices. We manage this exposure through a combination of physical storage, fixed-price forward contracts and financial instruments, primarily over-the-counter swap and option contracts, in an effort to minimize the impact of natural gas price volatility on our customers during the winter heating season.

Our natural gas distribution gas supply department is responsible for executing this segment’s commodity risk management activities in conformity with regulatory requirements. In jurisdictions where we are permitted to mitigate commodity price risk through financial instruments, the relevant regulatory authorities may establish the level of heating season gas purchases that can be hedged. Historically, if the regulatory authority does not establish this level, we seek to hedge between 25 and 50 percent of anticipated heating season gas purchases using financial instruments. For the 2011-2012 heating season (generally October through March), in the

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

jurisdictions where we are permitted to utilize financial instruments, we hedged approximately 25 percent, or 25.7 Bcf of the winter flowing gas requirements at a weighted average cost of approximately $4.78 per Mcf. We have not designated these financial instruments as hedges.

Nonregulated Commodity Risk Management Activities

In our nonregulated operations, we aggregate and purchase gas supply, arrange transportation and/or storage logistics and ultimately deliver gas to our customers at competitive prices. To provide these services, we utilize proprietary and customer-owned transportation and storage assets to provide the various services our customers request. In an effort to offset the demand fees paid to contract for storage capacity and to maximize the value of this capacity, AEH sells financial instruments to earn a gross profit margin through the arbitrage of pricing differences in various locations and by recognizing pricing differences that occur over time.

As a result of these activities, our nonregulated segment is exposed to risks associated with changes in the market price of natural gas. We manage our exposure to such risks through a combination of physical storage and financial instruments, including futures, over-the-counter and exchange-traded options and swap contracts with counterparties. Future contracts provide the right to buy or sell the commodity at a fixed price in the future. Option contracts provide the right, but not the requirement, to buy or sell the commodity at a fixed price. Swap contracts require receipt of payment for the commodity based on the difference between a fixed price and the market price on the settlement date.

We use financial instruments, designated as cash flow hedges of anticipated purchases and sales at index prices, to mitigate the commodity price risk in our nonregulated operations associated with deliveries under fixed-priced forward contracts to deliver gas to customers. These financial instruments have maturity dates ranging from one to 63 months. We use financial instruments, designated as fair value hedges, to hedge our natural gas inventory used in our asset optimization activities in our nonregulated segment.

Also, in our nonregulated operations, we use storage swaps and futures to capture additional storage arbitrage opportunities that arise subsequent to the execution of the original fair value hedge associated with our physical natural gas inventory, basis swaps to insulate and protect the economic value of our fixed price and storage books and various over-the-counter and exchange-traded options. These financial instruments have not been designated as hedges.

Our nonregulated risk management activities are controlled through various risk management policies and procedures. Our Audit Committee has oversight responsibility for our nonregulated risk management limits and policies. A risk committee, comprised of corporate and business unit officers, is responsible for establishing and enforcing our nonregulated risk management policies and procedures.

Under our risk management policies, we seek to match our financial instrument positions to our physical storage positions as well as our expected current and future sales and purchase obligations in order to maintain no open positions at the end of each trading day. The determination of our net open position as of any day, however, requires us to make assumptions as to future circumstances, including the use of gas by our customers in relation to our anticipated storage and market positions. Because the price risk associated with any net open position at the end of each day may increase if the assumptions are not realized, we review these assumptions as part of our daily monitoring activities. Our operations can also be affected by intraday fluctuations of gas prices, since the price of natural gas purchased or sold for future delivery earlier in the day may not be hedged until later in the day. At times, limited net open positions related to our existing and anticipated commitments may occur. At the close of business on September 30, 2012, our nonregulated segment had net open positions (including existing storage and related financial contracts) of 0.4 Bcf.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Interest Rate Risk Management Activities

We have periodically managed interest rate risk by entering into financial instruments to fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost associated with anticipated financings. Prior to fiscal 2012, we used Treasury locks to mitigate interest rate risk; however, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 we started utilizing interest rate swaps and forward starting interest rate swaps to manage this risk.

In August 2012, we redeemed $250 million of senior notes originally maturing on January 15, 2013 through the issuance of commercial paper. On September 27, 2012, we entered into a $260 million short-term financing facility to repay the commercial paper borrowings utilized to redeem the notes. The short-term facility is expected to be repaid with the proceeds received from the issuance of $350 million 30-year unsecured notes anticipated to occur in January 2013. In August 2011, we entered into three Treasury lock agreements to fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost associated with the anticipated issuances of these senior notes. We designated all of these Treasury locks as cash flow hedges.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 we entered into an interest rate swap to fix the LIBOR component of our $260 million short-term financing facility through December 27, 2012. Due to the short-term nature of the swap and the related financing facility we did not designate the interest rate swap as a hedge. Gains and losses associated with the swap are reported as a component of interest expense.

In October 2012, we entered into forward starting interest rate swaps to fix the Treasury yield component associated with the anticipated issuance of $500 million and $250 million unsecured senior notes in fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2017, which we designated as cash flow hedges at the time the agreements were executed. Accordingly, unrealized gains and losses associated with the forward starting interest rate swaps will be recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). When the forward starting interest rate swaps settle, the realized gain or loss will be recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and recognized as a component of interest expense over the life of the related financing arrangement. Hedge ineffectiveness to the extent incurred will be reported as a component of interest expense.

In September 2010, we entered into three Treasury lock agreements to fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost associated with $300 million of a total $400 million of senior notes that were issued in June 2011. We designated these Treasury locks as cash flow hedges. The Treasury locks were settled on June 7, 2011 with the receipt of $20.1 million from the counterparties due to an increase in the 30-year Treasury lock rates between inception of the Treasury locks and settlement. Because the Treasury locks were effective, the net $12.6 million unrealized gain was recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and is being recognized as a component of interest expense over the 30-year life of the senior notes.

Additionally, our original fiscal 2011 financing plans included the issuance of $250 million of 30-year unsecured notes in November 2011 to fund our capital expenditure program. In September 2010, we entered into two Treasury lock agreements to fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost associated with the anticipated issuance of these senior notes, which were designated as cash flow hedges. Due primarily to stronger than anticipated cash flows primarily resulting from the extension of the Bush tax cuts that allow the continued use of bonus depreciation on qualifying expenditures through December 31, 2011, the need to issue $250 million of debt in November was eliminated and the related Treasury lock agreements were unwound in March 2011. As a result of unwinding these Treasury locks, we recognized a pre-tax cash gain of $27.8 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2011.

In prior years, we entered into several Treasury lock agreements to fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost of financing for various issuances of long-term debt and senior notes. The gains and losses realized upon settlement of these Treasury locks were recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) when they were settled and are being recognized as a component of interest expense over the life of the associated notes from the date of settlement. The remaining amortization periods for the settled Treasury locks extends through fiscal 2041.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Quantitative Disclosures Related to Financial Instruments

The following tables present detailed information concerning the impact of financial instruments on our consolidated balance sheet and income statements.

As of September 30, 2012, our financial instruments were comprised of both long and short commodity positions. A long position is a contract to purchase the commodity, while a short position is a contract to sell the commodity. As of September 30, 2012, we had net long/(short) commodity contracts outstanding in the following quantities:

 

Contract Type

  

Hedge

Designation

   Natural
Gas
Distribution
     Nonregulated  
          Quantity (MMcf)  

Commodity contracts

   Fair Value              (22,650
   Cash Flow              35,300  
   Not designated      24,185        49,155  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        24,185        61,805  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Financial Instruments on the Balance Sheet

The following tables present the fair value and balance sheet classification of our financial instruments by operating segment as of September 30, 2012 and 2011. As required by authoritative accounting literature, the fair value amounts below are presented on a gross basis and do not reflect the netting of asset and liability positions permitted under the terms of our master netting arrangements. Further, the amounts below do not include $23.7 million and $28.8 million of cash held on deposit in margin accounts as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 to collateralize certain financial instruments. Therefore, these gross balances are not indicative of either our actual credit exposure or net economic exposure. Additionally, the amounts below will not be equal to the amounts presented on our consolidated balance sheet, nor will they be equal to the fair value information presented for our financial instruments in Note 5.

 

   

Balance Sheet Location

  Natural
Gas
Distribution
    Nonregulated     Total  
              (In thousands)        

September 30, 2012

       

Designated As Hedges:

       

Asset Financial Instruments

       

Current commodity contracts

  Other current assets   $      $ 19,301     $ 19,301  

Noncurrent commodity
contracts

  Deferred charges and other assets            1,923       1,923  

Liability Financial Instruments

       

Current commodity contracts

  Other current liabilities     (85,040     (23,787     (108,827

Noncurrent commodity
contracts

  Deferred credits and other liabilities            (4,999     (4,999
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      (85,040     (7,562     (92,602

Not Designated As Hedges:

       

Asset Financial Instruments

       

Current commodity contracts

  Other current assets(1)     7,082       98,393       105,475  

Noncurrent commodity
contracts

  Deferred charges and other assets     2,283       60,932       63,215  

Liability Financial Instruments

       

Current commodity contracts

  Other current liabilities(2)     (585     (99,824     (100,409

Noncurrent commodity
contracts

  Deferred credits and other liabilities            (67,062     (67,062
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      8,780       (7,561     1,219  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Financial Instruments

    $ (76,260   $ (15,123   $ (91,383
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

Other current assets not designated as hedges in our natural gas distribution segment include $0.1 million related to risk management assets that were classified as assets held for sale at September 30, 2012.

 

  (2) 

Other current liabilities not designated as hedges in our natural gas distribution segment include $0.3 million related to risk management liabilities that were classified as assets held for sale at September 30, 2012.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

   

Balance Sheet Location

  Natural
Gas
Distribution
    Nonregulated     Total  
        (In thousands)  

September 30, 2011

       

Designated As Hedges:

       

Asset Financial Instruments

       

Current commodity contracts

  Other current assets   $      $ 22,396     $ 22,396  

Noncurrent commodity contracts

  Deferred charges and other assets            174       174  

Liability Financial Instruments

       

Current commodity contracts

  Other current liabilities            (31,064     (31,064

Noncurrent commodity contracts

  Deferred credits and other liabilities     (67,527     (7,709     (75,236
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      (67,527     (16,203     (83,730

Not Designated As Hedges:

       

Asset Financial Instruments

       

Current commodity contracts

  Other current assets     843       67,710       68,553  

Noncurrent commodity contracts

  Deferred charges and other assets     998       22,379       23,377  

Liability Financial Instruments

       

Current commodity contracts

  Other current liabilities(1)     (13,256     (73,865     (87,121

Noncurrent commodity contracts

  Deferred credits and other liabilities     (335     (25,071     (25,406
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      (11,750     (8,847     (20,597
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Financial Instruments

    $ (79,277   $ (25,050   $ (104,327
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

Other current liabilities not designated as hedges in our natural gas distribution segment include $1.3 million related to risk management liabilities that were classified as assets held for sale at September 30, 2011.

Impact of Financial Instruments on the Income Statement

Hedge ineffectiveness for our nonregulated segment is recorded as a component of unrealized gross profit and primarily results from differences in the location and timing of the derivative instrument and the hedged item. Hedge ineffectiveness could materially affect our results of operations for the reported period. For the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, we recognized a gain arising from fair value and cash flow hedge ineffectiveness of $23.1 million, $24.8 million and $51.8 million. Additional information regarding ineffectiveness recognized in the income statement is included in the tables below.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Fair Value Hedges

The impact of our nonregulated commodity contracts designated as fair value hedges and the related hedged item on our consolidated income statement for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is presented below.

 

     Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
     2012     2011      2010  
     (In thousands)  

Commodity contracts

   $ 30,266     $ 16,552      $ 34,650  

Fair value adjustment for natural gas inventory designated as the hedged item

     (5,797     9,824        19,867  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total impact on purchased gas cost

   $ 24,469     $ 26,376      $ 54,517  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The impact on purchased gas cost is comprised of the following:

       

Basis ineffectiveness

   $ 1,170     $ 803      $ (1,272

Timing ineffectiveness

     23,299       25,573        55,789  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 24,469     $ 26,376      $ 54,517  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basis ineffectiveness arises from natural gas market price differences between the locations of the hedged inventory and the delivery location specified in the hedge instruments. Timing ineffectiveness arises due to changes in the difference between the spot price and the futures price, as well as the difference between the timing of the settlement of the futures and the valuation of the underlying physical commodity. As the commodity contract nears the settlement date, spot-to-forward price differences should converge, which should reduce or eliminate the impact of this ineffectiveness on purchased gas cost.

To the extent that the Company’s natural gas inventory does not qualify as a hedged item in a fair-value hedge, or has not been designated as such, the natural gas inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market. During the year ended September 30, 2012, we recorded a $1.7 million charge to write down nonqualifying natural gas inventory to market. We did not record a writedown for nonqualifying natural gas inventory for the years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

Cash Flow Hedges

The impact of cash flow hedges on our consolidated income statements for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is presented below. Note that this presentation does not reflect the financial impact arising from the hedged physical transaction. Therefore, this presentation is not indicative of the economic gross profit we realized when the underlying physical and financial transactions were settled.

 

     Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2012  
     Natural
Gas
Distribution
    Regulated
Transmission
and Storage
     Nonregulated     Consolidated  
     (In thousands)  

Loss reclassified from AOCI into purchased gas cost for effective portion of commodity contracts

   $      $       $ (62,678   $ (62,678

Loss arising from ineffective portion of commodity contracts

                    (1,369     (1,369
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total impact on purchased gas cost

                    (64,047     (64,047

Net loss on settled Treasury lock agreements reclassified from AOCI into interest expense

     (2,009                    (2,009
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total impact from cash flow hedges

   $ (2,009   $       $ (64,047   $ (66,056
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

    Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2011  
    Natural
Gas
Distribution
    Regulated
Transmission
and Storage
    Nonregulated     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  

Loss reclassified from AOCI into purchased gas cost for effective portion of commodity contracts

  $      $      $ (28,430   $ (28,430

Loss arising from ineffective portion of commodity contracts

                  (1,585     (1,585
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total impact on purchased gas cost

                  (30,015     (30,015

Net loss on settled Treasury lock agreements reclassified from AOCI into interest expense

    (2,455                   (2,455

Gain on unwinding of Treasury lock reclassified from AOCI into miscellaneous income

    21,803       6,000              27,803  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total impact from cash flow hedges

  $ 19,348     $ 6,000     $ (30,015   $ (4,667
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

    Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2010  
    Natural
Gas
Distribution
    Regulated
Transmission
and Storage
    Nonregulated     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  

Loss reclassified from AOCI into purchased gas cost for effective portion of commodity contracts

  $      $      $ (44,809   $ (44,809

Loss arising from ineffective portion of commodity contracts

                  (2,717     (2,717
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total impact on purchased gas cost

                  (47,526     (47,526

Net loss on settled Treasury lock agreements reclassified from AOCI into interest expense

    (2,678                   (2,678
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total impact from cash flow hedges

  $ (2,678   $      $ (47,526   $ (50,204
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table summarizes the gains and losses arising from hedging transactions that were recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes, for the years ended September 30, 2012 and 2011. The amounts included in the table below exclude gains and losses arising from ineffectiveness because these amounts are immediately recognized in the income statement as incurred.

 

     Fiscal Year Ended
September 30
 
     2012     2011  
     (In thousands)  

Decrease in fair value:

    

Treasury lock agreements

   $ (11,458   $ (12,720

Forward commodity contracts

     (30,366     (12,096

Recognition of (gains) losses in earnings due to settlements:

    

Treasury lock agreements

     1,342       (15,969

Forward commodity contracts

     38,232       17,344  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive loss from hedging, net of tax(1)

   $ (2,250   $ (23,441
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

Utilizing an income tax rate ranging from approximately 37 percent to 39 percent based on the effective rates in each taxing jurisdiction.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Deferred gains (losses) recorded in AOCI associated with our Treasury lock agreements are recognized in earnings as they are amortized, while deferred losses associated with commodity contracts are recognized in earnings upon settlement. The following amounts, net of deferred taxes, represent the expected recognition in earnings of the deferred gains (losses) recorded in AOCI associated with our financial instruments, based upon the fair values of these financial instruments as of September 30, 2012. However, the table below does not include the expected recognition in earnings of the Treasury lock agreements entered into in August 2011 as those financial instruments have not yet settled.

 

     Treasury
Lock
Agreements
    Commodity
Contracts
    Total  
     (In thousands)  

2013

   $ (1,276   $ (7,171   $ (8,447

2014

     (1,276     (1,908     (3,184

2015

     606       10       616  

2016

     776       46       822  

2017

     675       28       703  

Thereafter

     10,222              10,222  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total(1)

   $ 9,727     $ (8,995   $ 732  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

Utilizing an income tax rate ranging from approximately 37 percent to 39 percent based on the effective rates in each taxing jurisdiction.

Financial Instruments Not Designated as Hedges

The impact of financial instruments that have not been designated as hedges on our consolidated income statements for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was an increase (decrease) in revenue of $(2.5) million, $(1.4) million and $15.4 million. Note that this presentation does not reflect the expected gains or losses arising from the underlying physical transactions associated with these financial instruments. Therefore, this presentation is not indicative of the economic gross profit we realized when the underlying physical and financial transactions were settled.

As discussed above, financial instruments used in our natural gas distribution segment are not designated as hedges. However, there is no earnings impact on our natural gas distribution segment as a result of the use of these financial instruments because the gains and losses arising from the use of these financial instruments are recognized in the consolidated statement of income as a component of purchased gas cost when the related costs are recovered through our rates and recognized in revenue. Accordingly, the impact of these financial instruments is excluded from this presentation.

5.    Fair Value Measurements

We report certain assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). We record cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable at carrying value, which substantially approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities. For other financial assets and liabilities, we primarily use quoted market prices and other observable market pricing information to minimize the use of unobservable pricing inputs in our measurements when determining fair value. The methods used to determine fair value for our assets and liabilities are fully described in Note 2.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Fair value measurements also apply to the valuation of our pension and post-retirement plan assets. The fair value of these assets is presented in Note 9.

Quantitative Disclosures

Financial Instruments

The classification of our fair value measurements requires judgment regarding the degree to which market data are observable or corroborated by observable market data. The following tables summarize, by level within the fair value hierarchy, our assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2012 and 2011. As required under authoritative accounting literature, assets and liabilities are categorized in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

     Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets

(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs

(Level 2)(2)
    Significant
Other
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)
     Netting and
Cash
Collateral(3)
    September 30,
2012
 
     (In thousands)  

Assets:

            

Financial instruments

            

Natural gas distribution segment

   $       $ 9,365      $       $      $ 9,365  

Nonregulated segment(1)

     714        179,835                (162,776     17,773  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total financial instruments

     714        189,200                (162,776     27,138  

Hedged portion of gas stored underground

     67,192                              67,192  

Available-for-sale securities

            

Money market funds

             1,634                       1,634  

Registered investment companies

     40,212                              40,212  

Bonds

             22,552                       22,552  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total available-for-sale securities

     40,212        24,186                       64,398  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 108,118      $ 213,386      $       $ (162,776   $ 158,728  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

            

Financial instruments

            

Natural gas distribution segment

   $       $ 85,625      $       $      $ 85,625  

Nonregulated segment(1)

     4,563        191,109                (186,451     9,221  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 4,563      $ 276,734      $       $ (186,451   $ 94,846  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

     Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets

(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs

(Level 2)(2)
    Significant
Other
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)
     Netting and
Cash
Collateral(4)
    September 30,
2011
 
     (In thousands)  

Assets:

            

Financial instruments

            

Natural gas distribution segment

   $       $ 1,841      $       $      $ 1,841  

Nonregulated segment(1)

     8,502        104,156                (95,156 )       17,502  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total financial instruments

     8,502        105,997                (95,156 )       19,343  

Hedged portion of gas stored underground

     47,940                              47,940  

Available-for-sale securities

            

Money market funds

             1,823                       1,823  

Registered investment companies

     36,444                              36,444  

Bonds

             14,366                       14,366  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total available-for-sale securities

     36,444        16,189                       52,633  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 92,886      $ 122,186      $       $ (95,156   $ 119,916  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

            

Financial instruments

            

Natural gas distribution segment

   $       $ 81,118      $       $      $ 81,118  

Nonregulated segment(1)

     9,324        128,384                (123,943     13,765  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 9,324      $ 209,502      $       $ (123,943   $ 94,883  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

Certain of the nonregulated segment’s financial instruments were reclassified from Level 1 to Level 2 upon further evaluation.

 

  (2) 

Our Level 2 measurements consist of over-the-counter options and swaps, which are valued using a market-based approach in which observable market prices are adjusted for criteria specific to each instrument, such as the strike price, notional amount or basis differences, municipal and corporate bonds, which are valued based on the most recent available quoted market prices and money market funds which are valued at cost.

 

  (3) 

This column reflects adjustments to our gross financial instrument assets and liabilities to reflect netting permitted under our master netting agreements and the relevant authoritative accounting literature. In addition, as of September 30, 2012 we had $23.7 million of cash held in margin accounts to collateralize certain financial instruments. Of this amount, $5.9 million was used to offset current risk management liabilities under master netting agreements and the remaining $17.8 million is classified as current risk management assets.

 

  (4) 

This column reflects adjustments to our gross financial instrument assets and liabilities to reflect netting permitted under our master netting agreements and the relevant authoritative accounting literature. In addition, as of September 30, 2011 we had $28.8 million of cash held in margin accounts to collateralize certain financial instruments. Of this amount, $12.4 million was used to offset current risk management liabilities under master netting agreements and the remaining $16.4 million is classified as current risk management assets.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Available-for-sale securities are comprised of the following:

 

     Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gain
     Gross
Unrealized
Loss
    Fair
Value
 
     (In thousands)  

As of September 30, 2012:

          

Domestic equity mutual funds

   $ 25,779      $ 8,183      $      $ 33,962  

Foreign equity mutual funds

     5,568        682               6,250  

Bonds

     22,358        196        (2     22,552  

Money market funds

     1,634                       1,634  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 55,339      $ 9,061      $ (2   $ 64,398  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2011:

          

Domestic equity mutual funds

   $ 27,748      $ 4,074      $      $ 31,822  

Foreign equity mutual funds

     4,597        267        (242     4,622  

Bonds

     14,390        10        (34     14,366  

Money market funds

     1,823                       1,823  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 48,558      $ 4,351      $ (276   $ 52,633  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

At September 30, 2012 and 2011, our available-for-sale securities included $41.8 million and $38.3 million related to assets held in separate rabbi trusts for our supplemental executive benefit plans as discussed in Note 9. At September 30, 2012 we maintained investments in bonds that have contractual maturity dates ranging from October 2012 through July 2016.

Other Fair Value Measures

In addition to the financial instruments above, we have several financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measures. These financial assets and liabilities include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and debt. The nonfinancial assets and liabilities include asset retirement obligations and pension and post-retirement plan assets. We record cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and debt at carrying value. For cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, we consider carrying value to materially approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.

Atmos Gathering Company (AGC) owns and operates the Park City and Shrewsbury gathering systems in Kentucky. The Park City gathering system consists of a 23-mile low pressure pipeline and a nitrogen removal unit that was constructed in 2008. The Shrewsbury production, gathering and processing assets were acquired in 2008 at which time we sold the production assets to a third party. As a result of the sale of the production assets, we obtained a 10-year production payment note under which we were to be paid from future production generated from the assets.

As discussed in Note 13, AGC is involved in an ongoing lawsuit with the Park City gathering system. Due to the lawsuit and a low natural gas price environment, the assets have generated operating losses. As a result of these developments, in fiscal 2011, we performed an impairment assessment of these assets and determined the assets to be impaired at which time we recorded a pre-tax noncash impairment loss of approximately $11 million. Due to developments in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, including further operating losses as a result of the lawsuit and management’s decision to focus our nonregulated operations on delivered gas and transportation services, we performed an impairment assessment of these assets and determined the assets to be impaired. We reduced the carrying value of the assets to their estimated fair value of approximately $0.5 million and recorded a pre-tax noncash impairment loss of approximately $5.3 million. We used a combination of a market and income approach in a weighted average discounted cash flow analysis that included significant inputs such as our

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

weighted average cost of capital and assumptions regarding future natural gas prices. This is a Level 3 fair value measurement because the inputs used are unobservable. Based on this analysis, we determined the assets to be impaired.

In February 2008, Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC, a subsidiary of AEH, announced plans to construct and operate a salt-cavern storage project in Franklin Parish, Louisiana. In March 2010, we entered into an option and acquisition agreement with a third party, which provided the third party with the exclusive option to develop the proposed Fort Necessity salt-dome natural gas storage project. In July 2010, we agreed with the third party to extend the option period to March 2011. In January 2011, the third party developer notified us that it did not plan to commence the activities required to allow it to exercise the option by March 2011; accordingly, the option was terminated. We evaluated our strategic alternatives and concluded the project’s returns did not meet our investment objectives. Accordingly, in March 2011, we recorded a $19.3 million pre-tax noncash impairment loss to write off substantially all of our investment in the project.

Our debt is recorded at carrying value. The fair value of our debt is determined using third party market value quotations, which are considered Level 1 fair value measurements for debt instruments with a recent, observable trade or Level 2 fair value measurements for debt instruments where fair value is determined using the most recent available quoted market price. The following table presents the carrying value and fair value of our debt as of September 30, 2012:

 

     September 30, 2012  
     (In thousands)  

Carrying Amount

   $ 1,960,131  

Fair Value

   $ 2,426,434  

6.    Discontinued Operations

On August 1, 2012, we completed the sale of substantially all of our natural gas distribution assets located in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa to Liberty Energy (Midstates) Corp., an affiliate of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. for a cash price of approximately $128 million, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement executed on May 12, 2011. In connection with the sale, we recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $9.9 million.

On August 8, 2012, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of our natural gas distribution assets located in Georgia to Liberty Energy (Georgia) Corp., an affiliate of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. for a cash price of approximately $141 million. The agreement contains terms and conditions customary for transactions of this type, including typical adjustments to the purchase price at closing, if applicable. The closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions including the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, which we currently anticipate will occur in late fiscal 2013.

As required under generally accepted accounting principles, the operating results of our Georgia, Missouri, Illinois and Iowa operations have been aggregated and reported on the consolidated statements of income as income from discontinued operations, net of income tax. Expenses related to general corporate overhead and interest expense allocated to their operations are not included in discontinued operations.

The tables below set forth selected financial and operational information related to net assets and operating results related to discontinued operations.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

The following table presents statement of income data related to discontinued operations in our Georgia, Missouri, Illinois and Iowa service areas.

 

     Year Ended September 30  
     2012      2011      2010  
     (In thousands)  

Operating revenues

   $ 114,703      $ 141,227      $ 128,630  

Purchased gas cost

     62,902        83,537        77,825  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

     51,801        57,690        50,805  

Operating expenses

     24,174        27,362        25,202  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     27,627        30,328        25,603  

Other nonoperating income (expense)

     611        57        (31
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations before income taxes

     28,238        30,385        25,572  

Income tax expense

     10,066        12,372        9,584  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations

     18,172        18,013        15,988  

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax

     6,349                  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income from discontinued operations

   $ 24,521      $ 18,013      $ 15,988  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents balance sheet data related to assets held for sale. At September 30, 2012 assets held for sale include assets and liabilities associated with our Georgia operations. At September 30, 2011 assets held for sale include assets and liabilities associated with our Missouri, Iowa and Illinois operations. On August 1, 2012 we completed the sale of our Missouri, Iowa and Illinois operations.

 

     September 30,
2012
     September 30,
2011
 
     (In thousands)  

Net plant, property & equipment

   $ 142,865      $ 127,577  

Gas stored underground

     4,688        11,931  

Other current assets

     6,931        786  

Deferred charges and other assets

     87        277  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Assets held for sale

   $ 154,571      $ 140,571  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $ 2,114      $ 1,917  

Other current liabilities

     3,776        4,877  

Regulatory cost of removal

     3,257        10,498  

Deferred credits and other liabilities

     2,426        1,153  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities held for sale

   $ 11,573      $ 18,445  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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7.    Debt

Long-term debt

Long-term debt at September 30, 2012 and 2011 consisted of the following:

 

     2012     2011  
     (In thousands)  

Unsecured 10% Notes, redeemed December 2011

   $      $ 2,303  

Unsecured 5.125% Senior Notes, redeemed August 2012

            250,000  

Unsecured 4.95% Senior Notes, due 2014

     500,000       500,000  

Unsecured 6.35% Senior Notes, due 2017

     250,000       250,000  

Unsecured 8.50% Senior Notes, due 2019

     450,000       450,000  

Unsecured 5.95% Senior Notes, due 2034

     200,000       200,000  

Unsecured 5.50% Senior Notes, due 2041

     400,000       400,000  

Medium term notes

    

Series A, 1995-1, 6.67%, due 2025

     10,000       10,000  

Unsecured 6.75% Debentures, due 2028

     150,000       150,000  

Rental property term notes due in installments through 2013

     131       262  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

     1,960,131       2,212,565  

Less:

    

Original issue discount on unsecured senior notes and debentures

     (3,695     (4,014

Current maturities

     (131     (2,434
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 1,956,305     $ 2,206,117  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Our unsecured 10% notes were paid on their maturity date on December 31, 2011 and were not replaced. Our Unsecured 5.125% Senior Notes were scheduled to mature in January 2013. On August 28, 2012 we redeemed these notes with proceeds received through the issuance of commercial paper. On September 27, 2012, we entered into a $260 million short-term financing facility that expires February 1, 2013 to repay the commercial paper borrowings utilized to redeem the notes. The short-term facility is expected to be repaid with the proceeds received through the issuance of $350 million 30-year unsecured senior notes, which are expected to be issued in January 2013. In connection with the redemption, we paid a $4.6 million make-whole premium in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the Senior Notes and accrued interest at the time of redemption. In accordance with regulatory requirements, the premium will be deferred and will be recognized over the life of the new unsecured senior notes expected to be issued in January 2013.

Short-term debt

Our short-term debt is utilized to fund ongoing working capital needs, such as our seasonal requirements for gas supply, general corporate liquidity and capital expenditures. Our short-term borrowing requirements are affected by the seasonal nature of the natural gas business. Changes in the price of natural gas and the amount of natural gas we need to supply our customers’ needs could significantly affect our borrowing requirements. Our short-term borrowings typically reach their highest levels in the winter months.

Prior to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, we financed our short-term borrowing requirements through a combination of a $750 million commercial paper program and four committed revolving credit facilities with third-party lenders that provided approximately $985 million of working capital funding. On July 25, 2012, we increased the borrowing capacity of our $10 million revolving credit facility to $14 million. As a result of these changes, we have $989 million of working capital funding at September 30, 2012. At September 30, 2012 and 2011, there was $310.9 million and $206.4 million outstanding under our commercial paper program. As of September 30, 2012 our commercial paper had maturities of approximately two months with interest rates of

 

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0.43 percent. We also use intercompany credit facilities to supplement the funding provided by these third-party committed credit facilities. These facilities are described in greater detail below.

Regulated Operations

We fund our regulated operations as needed, primarily through our commercial paper program and three committed revolving credit facilities with third-party lenders that provide approximately $789 million of working capital funding. The first facility is a five-year $750 million unsecured facility, expiring May 2016, that bears interest at a base rate or at a LIBOR-based rate for the applicable interest period, plus a spread ranging from zero percent to two percent, based on the Company’s credit ratings. This credit facility serves as a backup liquidity facility for our commercial paper program. This facility has an accordion feature which, if utilized, would increase borrowing capacity to $1.0 billion. At September 30, 2012, there were no borrowings under this facility, but we had $310.9 million of commercial paper outstanding leaving $439.1 million available.

The second facility is a $25 million unsecured facility that bears interest at a daily negotiated rate, generally based on the Federal Funds rate plus a variable margin. At September 30, 2012, there were no borrowings outstanding under this facility.

The third facility is a $14 million committed revolving credit facility used primarily to issue letters of credit that bears interest at a LIBOR-based rate plus 1.5 percent. The borrowing capacity of this facility was increased from $10 million on July 25, 2012. At September 30, 2012, there were no borrowings outstanding under this credit facility; however, letters of credit totaling $11.5 million had been issued under the facility at September 30, 2012, which reduced the amount available by a corresponding amount.

The availability of funds under these credit facilities is subject to conditions specified in the respective credit agreements, all of which we currently satisfy. These conditions include our compliance with financial covenants and the continued accuracy of representations and warranties contained in these agreements. We are required by the financial covenants in each of these facilities to maintain, at the end of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of total debt to total capitalization of no greater than 70 percent. At September 30, 2012, our total-debt-to-total-capitalization ratio, as defined, was 54 percent. In addition, both the interest margin over the Eurodollar rate and the fee that we pay on unused amounts under each of these facilities are subject to adjustment depending upon our credit ratings.

In addition to these third-party facilities, our regulated operations have a $500 million intercompany revolving credit facility with AEH. This facility replaced the former $350 million intercompany facility. This facility bears interest at the lower of (i) the Eurodollar rate under the five-year revolving credit facility or (ii) the lowest rate outstanding under the commercial paper program. Applicable state regulatory commissions have approved our use of this facility through December 31, 2012. There was $211.5 million outstanding under this facility at September 30, 2012.

Nonregulated Operations

Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC (AEM), which is wholly-owned by AEH, has a three-year $200 million committed revolving credit facility with a syndicate of third-party lenders with an accordion feature that could increase AEM’s borrowing capacity to $500 million. The credit facility is primarily used to issue letters of credit and, on a less frequent basis, to borrow funds for gas purchases and other working capital needs.

At AEM’s option, borrowings made under the credit facility are based on a base rate or an offshore rate, in each case plus an applicable margin. The base rate is a floating rate equal to the higher of: (a) 0.50 percent per annum above the latest Federal Funds rate; (b) the per annum rate of interest established by BNP Paribas from time to time as its “prime rate” or “base rate” for U.S. dollar loans; (c) an offshore rate (based on LIBOR with a three-month interest period) as in effect from time to time; or (d) the “cost of funds” rate which is the cost of funds as reasonably determined by the administrative agent. The offshore rate is a floating rate equal to the

 

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higher of (a) an offshore rate based upon LIBOR for the applicable interest period; or (b) a “cost of funds” rate referred to above. In the case of both base rate and offshore rate loans, the applicable margin ranges from 1.875 percent to 2.25 percent per annum, depending on the excess tangible net worth of AEM, as defined in the credit facility. This facility has swing line loan features, which allow AEM to borrow, on a same day basis, an amount ranging from $6 million to $30 million based on the terms of an election within the agreement. This facility is collateralized by substantially all of the assets of AEM and is guaranteed by AEH.

At September 30, 2012, there were no borrowings outstanding under this credit facility. However, at September 30, 2012, AEM letters of credit totaling $11.5 million had been issued under the facility, which reduced the amount available by a corresponding amount. The amount available under this credit facility is also limited by various covenants, including covenants based on working capital. Under the most restrictive covenant, the amount available to AEM under this credit facility was $138.5 million at September 30, 2012.

AEM is required by the financial covenants in this facility to maintain a ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth that does not exceed a maximum of 5 to 1. At September 30, 2012, AEM’s ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth, as defined, was 0.74 to 1. Additionally, AEM must maintain minimum levels of net working capital and net worth ranging from $20 million to $40 million. As defined in the financial covenants, at September 30, 2012, AEM’s net working capital was $136.2 million and its tangible net worth was $150.8 million.

To supplement borrowings under this facility, AEH had a $350 million intercompany demand credit facility with AEC. This facility was replaced on January 1, 2012 with a $500 million intercompany facility with AEC, which bears interest at a rate equal to the greater of (i) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 3.00 percent or (ii) the rate for AEM’s offshore borrowings under its committed credit facility plus 0.75 percent. Applicable state regulatory commissions have approved our use of this facility through December 31, 2012. There were no borrowings outstanding under this facility at September 30, 2012.

Shelf Registration

We have an effective shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that permits us to issue a total of $1.3 billion in common stock and/or debt securities. The shelf registration statement has been approved by all requisite state regulatory commissions. With the closing of the sale of our Missouri, Illinois and Iowa operations on August 1, 2012, there are no longer any restrictions on our ability to issue either debt or equity under the shelf until it expires on March 31, 2013, with $900 million available for issuance at September 30, 2012. We intend to file a new shelf registration statement with the SEC for at least $1.3 billion prior to the expiration of the current shelf.

Debt Covenants

In addition to the financial covenants described above, our credit facilities and public indentures contain usual and customary covenants for our business, including covenants substantially limiting liens, substantial asset sales and mergers.

Additionally, our public debt indentures relating to our senior notes and debentures, as well as our revolving credit agreements, each contain a default provision that is triggered if outstanding indebtedness arising out of any other credit agreements in amounts ranging from in excess of $15 million to in excess of $100 million becomes due by acceleration or is not paid at maturity.

Further, AEM’s credit agreement contains a cross-default provision whereby AEM would be in default if it defaults on other indebtedness, as defined, by at least $250 thousand in the aggregate.

Finally, AEM’s credit agreement contains a provision that would limit the amount of credit available if Atmos Energy were downgraded below an S&P rating of BBB and a Moody’s rating of Baa2. We have no other triggering events in our debt instruments that are tied to changes in specified credit ratings or stock price, nor have we entered into any transactions that would require us to issue equity, based on our credit rating or other triggering events.

 

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We were in compliance with all of our debt covenants as of September 30, 2012. If we were unable to comply with our debt covenants, we would likely be required to repay our outstanding balances on demand, provide additional collateral or take other corrective actions.

Maturities of long-term debt at September 30, 2012 were as follows (in thousands):

 

2013

   $ 131  

2014

       

2015

     500,000  

2016

       

2017

     250,000  

Thereafter

     1,210,000  
  

 

 

 
   $ 1,960,131  
  

 

 

 

8.    Stock and Other Compensation Plans

Share Repurchase Agreement

On, July 1, 2010, we entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement with Goldman Sachs & Co. under which we repurchased $100 million of our outstanding common stock in order to offset stock grants made under our various employee and director incentive compensation plans. We paid $100 million to Goldman Sachs & Co. on July 7, 2010 in a share forward transaction and received 2,958,580 shares of Atmos Energy common stock. On March 4, 2011, we received and retired an additional 375,468 common shares which concluded our share repurchase agreement. In total, we received and retired 3,334,048 common shares under the repurchase agreement. The final number of shares we ultimately repurchased in the transaction was based generally on the average of the effective share repurchase price of our common stock over the duration of the agreement, which was $29.99. As a result of this transaction, beginning in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, the number of outstanding shares used to calculate our earnings per share was reduced by the number of shares received and the $100 million purchase price was recorded as a reduction in shareholders’ equity.

Share Repurchase Program

On September 28, 2011 our Board of Directors approved a program authorizing the repurchase of up to five million shares of common stock over a five-year period. The program is primarily intended to minimize the dilutive effect of equity grants under various benefit related incentive compensation plans of the Company. The program may be terminated or limited at any time. Shares may be repurchased in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in amounts the Company deems appropriate. As of September 30, 2012, a total of 387,991 shares had been repurchased for an aggregate value of $12.5 million.

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

Total stock-based compensation expense was $19.2 million, $11.6 million and $12.7 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, primarily related to restricted stock costs.

1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan

In August 1998, the Board of Directors approved and adopted the 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), which became effective in October 1998 after approval by our shareholders. The LTIP is a comprehensive, long-term incentive compensation plan providing for discretionary awards of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, bonus stock, time-lapse restricted stock, time-lapse restricted stock units, performance-based restricted stock units and stock units to certain employees and non-employee directors of the Company and our subsidiaries. The objectives of this plan include attracting and retaining the best personnel, providing for additional performance incentives and promoting our success by providing employees with the opportunity to acquire common stock.

 

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As of September 30, 2012, we were authorized to grant awards for up to a maximum of 8.7 million shares of common stock under this plan subject to certain adjustment provisions. As of September 30, 2012, non-qualified stock options, bonus stock, time-lapse restricted stock, time-lapse restricted stock units, performance-based restricted stock units and stock units had been issued under this plan, and 1,949,088 shares were available for future issuance. The option price of the stock options issued under this plan is equal to the market price of our stock at the date of grant. These stock options expire 10 years from the date of the grant and vest annually over a service period ranging from one to three years. However, no stock options have been granted under this plan since fiscal 2003, except for a limited number of options that were converted from bonuses paid under our Annual Incentive Plan, the last of which occurred in fiscal 2006.

Restricted Stock Plans

As noted above, the LTIP provides for discretionary awards of restricted stock units to help attract, retain and reward employees of Atmos Energy and its subsidiaries. Certain of these awards vest based upon the passage of time and other awards vest based upon the passage of time and the achievement of specified performance targets. The fair value of the awards granted is based on the market price of our stock at the date of grant. The associated expense is recognized ratably over the vesting period.

Employees who are granted shares of time-lapse restricted stock units under our LTIP have a nonforfeitable right to dividend equivalents that are paid at the same rate at which they are paid on shares of stock without restrictions. Time-lapse restricted stock units contain only a service condition that the employee recipients render continuous services to the Company for a period of three years from the date of grant, except for accelerated vesting in the event of death, disability, change of control of the Company or termination without cause (with certain exceptions). There are no performance conditions required to be met for employees to be vested in time-lapse restricted stock units.

Employees who are granted shares of performance-based restricted stock units under our LTIP have a forfeitable right to dividend equivalents that accrue at the same rate at which they are paid on shares of stock without restrictions. Dividend equivalents on the performance-based restricted stock units are paid in the form of shares upon the vesting of the award. Performance-based restricted stock units contain a service condition that the employee recipients render continuous services to the Company for a period of three years from the date of grant, except for accelerated vesting in the event of death, disability, change of control of the Company or termination without cause (with certain exceptions) and a performance condition based on a cumulative earnings per share target amount.

The following summarizes information regarding the restricted stock issued under the plan during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

    2012     2011     2010  
    Number of
Restricted
Shares
    Weighted
Average
Grant-Date
Fair

Value
    Number of
Restricted
Shares
    Weighted
Average
Grant-Date
Fair

Value
    Number of
Restricted
Shares
    Weighted
Average
Grant-Date
Fair

Value
 

Nonvested at beginning of year

    1,264,142     $ 29.56       1,293,960     $ 27.28       1,295,841     $ 27.23  

Granted

    532,711       33.44       491,345       33.10       551,278       29.07  

Vested

    (494,308     26.32       (464,321     27.21       (493,957     29.24  

Forfeited

    (39,963     29.83       (56,842     27.56       (59,202     26.54  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Nonvested at end of year

    1,262,582     $ 32.46       1,264,142     $ 29.56       1,293,960     $ 27.28  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2012, there was $10.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested time-lapse restricted shares and restricted stock units granted under the LTIP. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.6 years. The fair value of restricted stock vested during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $13.0 million, $12.6 million and $14.4 million.

 

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Stock Option Plan

A summary of stock option activity under the LTIP follows:

 

    2012     2011     2010  
    Number of
Options
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
    Number of
Options
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
    Number of
Options
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 

Outstanding at beginning of year

    86,766     $ 22.16       434,962     $ 22.46       611,227     $ 21.88  

Granted

                                         

Exercised

    (76,672     21.79       (348,196     22.54       (176,265     20.44  

Forfeited

                                         

Expired

                                         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Outstanding at end of year(1)

    10,094     $ 24.95       86,766     $ 22.16       434,962     $ 22.46  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Exercisable at end of year(2)

    10,094     $ 24.95       86,766     $ 22.16       434,962     $ 22.46  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

The weighted-average remaining contractual life for outstanding options was 1.7 years, 1.7 years, and 1.6 years for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010. The aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding options was $0.03 million, $0.3 million and $1.6 million for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010.

  (2) 

The weighted-average remaining contractual life for exercisable options was 1.7 years, 1.7 years and 1.6 years for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010. The aggregate intrinsic value of exercisable options was $0.03 million, $0.3 million and $1.6 million for the fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Information about outstanding and exercisable options under the LTIP, as of September 30, 2012, is reflected in the following tables:

 

     Options Outstanding and Exercisable  

Range of Exercise Prices

   Number of
Options
     Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
(in years)
     Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 

$21.23 to $22.99

     2,164        0.4      $ 21.23  

$23.00 to $25.95

     7,930        2.1      $ 25.95  
  

 

 

       

$21.23 to $25.95

     10,094        1.7      $ 24.95  
  

 

 

       

 

       Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
       2012        2011        2010  
       (In thousands, except per share data)  

Grant date weighted average fair value per share

     $         $         $   

Net cash proceeds from stock option exercises

     $ 1,671        $ 7,848        $ 3,604  

Income tax benefit from stock option exercises

     $ 401        $ 1,010        $ 547  

Total intrinsic value of options exercised

     $ 256        $ 1,263        $ 239  

As of September 30, 2012, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options.

Other Plans

Direct Stock Purchase Plan

We maintain a Direct Stock Purchase Plan, open to all investors, which allows participants to have all or part of their cash dividends paid quarterly in additional shares of our common stock. The minimum initial

 

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investment required to join the plan is $1,250. Direct Stock Purchase Plan participants may purchase additional shares of our common stock as often as weekly with voluntary cash payments of at least $25, up to an annual maximum of $100,000.

Outside Directors Stock-For-Fee Plan

In November 1994, the Board of Directors adopted the Outside Directors Stock-for-Fee Plan, which was approved by our shareholders in February 1995. The plan permits non-employee directors to receive all or part of their annual retainer and meeting fees in stock rather than in cash.

Equity Incentive and Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors

In November 1998, the Board of Directors adopted the Equity Incentive and Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, which was approved by our shareholders in February 1999. This plan amended the Atmos Energy Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors adopted by the Company in May 1990 and replaced the pension payable under our Retirement Plan for Non-Employee Directors. The plan provides non-employee directors of Atmos Energy with the opportunity to defer receipt, until retirement, of compensation for services rendered to the Company, invest deferred compensation into either a cash account or a stock account and to receive an annual grant of share units for each year of service on the Board.

Other Discretionary Compensation Plans

We adopted the Variable Pay Plan in fiscal 1999 for our regulated segments’ employees to give each employee an opportunity to share in our financial success based on the achievement of key performance measures considered critical to achieving business objectives for a given year and has minimum and maximum thresholds. The plan must meet the minimum threshold for the plan to be funded and distributed to employees. These performance measures may include earnings growth objectives, improved cash flow objectives or crucial customer satisfaction and safety results. We monitor progress towards the achievement of the performance measures throughout the year and record accruals based upon the expected payout using the best estimates available at the time the accrual is recorded. During the last several fiscal years, we have used earnings per share as our sole performance measure.

In addition, we adopted an incentive plan in October 2001 to give the employees in our nonregulated segment an opportunity to share in the success of the nonregulated operations. In fiscal 2010, we modified the award structure of the plan to reflect the different performance goals of the front and back office employees of our nonregulated operations. The front office award structure is based on a fixed percentage of the net income of our nonregulated operations that represents the available award pool for eligible employees. There is no minimum or maximum threshold for the available award pool. The back office award structure is based upon the net earnings of the nonregulated operations and has minimum and maximum thresholds. The plan must meet the minimum threshold in order for the plan to be funded and distributed to employees. We monitor the progress toward the achievement of the thresholds throughout the year and record accruals based upon the expected payout using the best estimates available at the time the accrual is recorded.

9.    Retirement and Post-Retirement Employee Benefit Plans

We have both funded and unfunded noncontributory defined benefit plans that together cover substantially all of our employees. We also maintain post-retirement plans that provide health care benefits to retired employees. Finally, we sponsor defined contribution plans that cover substantially all employees. These plans are discussed in further detail below.

 

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As a rate regulated entity, we generally recover our pension costs in our rates over a period of up to 15 years. The amounts that have not yet been recognized in net periodic pension cost that have been recorded as regulatory assets are as follows:

 

     Defined
Benefits Plans
    Supplemental
Executive
Retirement Plans
     Postretirement
Plans
    Total  
     (In thousands)  

September 30, 2012

         

Unrecognized transition obligation

   $      $       $ 1,709     $ 1,709  

Unrecognized prior service cost

     (232             (7,411     (7,643

Unrecognized actuarial loss

     187,050       43,995        63,402       294,447  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 186,818     $ 43,995      $ 57,700     $ 288,513  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

September 30, 2011

         

Unrecognized transition obligation

   $      $       $ 3,220     $ 3,220  

Unrecognized prior service cost

     (373             (8,861     (9,234

Unrecognized actuarial loss

     182,486       30,654        47,540       260,680  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 182,113     $ 30,654      $ 41,899     $ 254,666  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Defined Benefit Plans

Employee Pension Plans

As of September 30, 2012, we maintained two defined benefit plans: the Atmos Energy Corporation Pension Account Plan (the Plan) and the Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Plan for Mississippi Valley Gas Union Employees (the Union Plan) (collectively referred to as the Plans). The assets of the Plans are held within the Atmos Energy Corporation Master Retirement Trust (the Master Trust).

The Plan is a cash balance pension plan that was established effective January 1999 and covers substantially all employees of Atmos Energy’s regulated operations. Opening account balances were established for participants as of January 1999 equal to the present value of their respective accrued benefits under the pension plans which were previously in effect as of December 31, 1998. The Plan credits an allocation to each participant’s account at the end of each year according to a formula based on the participant’s age, service and total pay (excluding incentive pay).

The Plan also provides for an additional annual allocation based upon a participant’s age as of January 1, 1999 for those participants who were participants in the prior pension plans. The Plan credited this additional allocation each year through December 31, 2008. In addition, at the end of each year, a participant’s account is credited with interest on the employee’s prior year account balance. A special grandfather benefit also applied through December 31, 2008, for participants who were at least age 50 as of January 1, 1999 and who were participants in one of the prior plans on December 31, 1998. Participants are fully vested in their account balances after three years of service and may choose to receive their account balances as a lump sum or an annuity. In August 2010, the Board of Directors of Atmos Energy approved a proposal to close the Plan to new participants effective October 1, 2010. Additionally, employees participating in the Plan as of October 1, 2010 were allowed to make a one-time election to migrate from the Plan into our defined contribution plan which was enhanced, effective January 1, 2011.

The Union Plan is a defined benefit plan that covers substantially all full-time union employees in our Mississippi Division. Under this plan, benefits are based upon years of benefit service and average final earnings. Participants vest in the plan after five years and will receive their benefit in an annuity.

Generally, our funding policy is to contribute annually an amount in accordance with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, including the funding requirements under the Pension

 

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Protection Act of 2006 (PPA). However, additional voluntary contributions are made from time to time as considered necessary. Contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date but also for those expected to be earned in the future.

During fiscal 2012 and 2011, we contributed $46.5 million and $0.9 million in cash to the Plans to achieve a desired level of funding while maximizing the tax deductibility of this payment. In fiscal 2010, we did not make any contributions to our pension plans. Based upon market conditions subsequent to September 30, 2012, the current funded position of the plans and the new funding requirements under the PPA, we anticipate contributing between $30 million and $40 million to the Plans in fiscal 2013. Further, we will consider whether an additional voluntary contribution is prudent to maintain certain PPA funding thresholds.

We manage the Master Trust’s assets with the objective of achieving a rate of return net of inflation of approximately four percent per year. We make investment decisions and evaluate performance on a medium-term horizon of at least three to five years. We also consider our current financial status when making recommendations and decisions regarding the Master Trust’s assets. Finally, we strive to ensure the Master Trust’s assets are appropriately invested to maintain an acceptable level of risk and meet the Master Trust’s long-term asset investment policy adopted by the Board of Directors.

To achieve these objectives, we invest the Master Trust’s assets in equity securities, fixed income securities, interests in commingled pension trust funds, other investment assets and cash and cash equivalents. Investments in equity securities are diversified among the market’s various subsectors in an effort to diversify risk and maximize returns. Fixed income securities are invested in investment grade securities. Cash equivalents are invested in securities that either are short term (less than 180 days) or readily convertible to cash with modest risk.

The following table presents asset allocation information for the Master Trust as of September 30, 2012 and 2011.

 

          Actual
Allocation

September 30
 
     Targeted
Allocation  Range
  

Security Class

      2012     2011  

Domestic equities

   35%-55%      42.6     40.4

International equities

   10%-20%      13.9     13.6

Fixed income

   10%-30%      18.6     21.3

Company stock

   5%-15%      12.0     13.5

Other assets

   5%-15%      12.9     11.2

At September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Plan held 1,169,700 shares of our common stock, which represented 12.0 percent and 13.5 percent of total Master Trust assets. These shares generated dividend income for the Plan of approximately $1.6 million and $1.6 million during fiscal 2012 and 2011.

 

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Our employee pension plan expenses and liabilities are determined on an actuarial basis and are affected by numerous assumptions and estimates including the market value of plan assets, estimates of the expected return on plan assets and assumed discount rates and demographic data. We review the estimates and assumptions underlying our employee pension plans annually based upon a September 30 measurement date. The development of our assumptions is fully described in our significant accounting policies in Note 2. The actuarial assumptions used to determine the pension liability for the Plans were determined as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 and the actuarial assumptions used to determine the net periodic pension cost for the Plans were determined as of September 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009. These assumptions are presented in the following table:

 

     Pension
Liability
    Pension Cost  
     2012     2011     2012     2011     2010  

Discount rate

     4.04     5.05     5.05     5.39 %(1)      5.52

Rate of compensation increase

     3.50     3.50     3.50     4.00     4.00

Expected return on plan assets

     7.75     7.75     7.75     8.25     8.25

 

 

  (1) 

The discount rate for the Pension Account Plan increased from 5.39% to 5.68% effective January 1, 2011 due to a curtailment gain recorded in fiscal 2011.

The following table presents the Plans’ accumulated benefit obligation, projected benefit obligation and funded status as of September 30, 2012 and 2011:

 

     2012     2011  
     (In thousands)  

Accumulated benefit obligation

   $ 468,440     $ 414,489  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in projected benefit obligation:

    

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 429,432     $ 407,536  

Service cost

     15,084       14,384  

Interest cost

     21,568       22,264  

Actuarial loss

     46,197       12,944  

Benefits paid

     (24,553     (27,534

Divestitures

     (7,697       

Curtailments

            (162
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at end of year

     480,031       429,432  

Change in plan assets:

    

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

     280,204       301,708  

Actual return on plan assets

     48,656       5,154  

Employer contributions

     46,534       876  

Benefits paid

     (24,553     (27,534

Divestitures

     (7,697       
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

     343,144       280,204  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reconciliation:

    

Funded status

     (136,887     (149,228

Unrecognized prior service cost

              

Unrecognized net loss

              
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net amount recognized

   $ (136,887   $ (149,228
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Net periodic pension cost for the Plans for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 is recorded as operating expense and included the following components:

 

     Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
     2012     2011     2010  
     (In thousands)  

Components of net periodic pension cost:

      

Service cost

   $ 15,084     $ 14,384     $ 13,499  

Interest cost

     21,568       22,264       20,870  

Expected return on assets

     (21,474     (24,817     (25,280

Amortization of prior service cost

     (141     (429     (960

Recognized actuarial loss

     14,451       9,498       9,290  

Curtailment gain

            (40       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic pension cost

   $ 29,488     $ 20,860     $ 17,419  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Master Trust’s assets at fair value as of September 30, 2012 and 2011. As required by authoritative accounting literature, assets are categorized in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The methods used to determine fair value for the assets held by the Master Trust are fully described in Note 2. Assets at September 30, 2012 include $7.7 million that will be transferred to the purchaser of our Missouri, Illinois and Iowa operations during the first quarter of fiscal 2013. In addition to the assets shown below, the Master Trust had net accounts receivable of $0.5 million and $0.4 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011 which materially approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets.

 

     Assets at Fair Value as of September 30, 2012  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
     (In thousands)  

Investments:

           

Common stocks — domestic equities

   $ 114,799      $       $       $ 114,799  

Money market funds

             21,010                21,010  

Registered investment companies:

           

Domestic funds

     19,984                        19,984  

International funds

     36,714                        36,714  

Common/collective trusts — domestic funds

             52,155                52,155  

Government securities:

           

Mortgage-backed securities

             19,509                19,509  

U.S. treasuries

     7,597        487                8,084  

Corporate bonds

             35,960                35,960  

Limited partnerships

     140        41,786                41,926  

Real estate

                     155        155  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments at fair value

   $ 179,234      $ 170,907      $ 155      $ 350,296  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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     Assets at Fair Value as of September 30, 2011  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
     (In thousands)  

Investments:

           

Common stocks — domestic equities

   $ 94,336      $       $       $ 94,336  

Money market funds

             9,383                9,383  

Registered investment companies:

           

Domestic funds

     12,921                        12,921  

International funds

     27,528                        27,528  

Common/collective trusts — domestic funds

             40,096                40,096  

Government securities

           

Mortgage-backed securities

             18,860                18,860  

U.S. treasuries

     4,946        47                4,993  

Corporate bonds

             33,636                33,636  

Limited partnerships

     113        37,693                37,806  

Real estate

                     200        200  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments at fair value

   $ 139,844      $ 139,715      $ 200      $ 279,759  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The fair value of our Level 3 real estate assets was determined based on independent third party appraisals. These assets decreased during the year ended September 30, 2012 due to the sale of a parcel of real estate during fiscal 2012.

Supplemental Executive Benefits Plans

We have a nonqualified Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan which provides additional pension, disability and death benefits to our officers, division presidents and certain other employees of the Company who were employed on or before August 12, 1998. In addition, in August 1998, we adopted the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) (formerly known as the Performance-Based Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan), which covers all employees who become officers or division presidents after August 12, 1998 or any other employees selected by our Board of Directors at its discretion.

In August 2009, the Board of Directors determined that there would be no new participants in the SERP subsequent to August 5, 2009, except for any corporate officers who may be appointed to the Management Committee. The SERP is a defined benefit arrangement which provides a benefit equal to 60 percent of covered compensation under which benefits paid from the underlying qualified defined benefit plan are an offset to the benefits under the SERP. However, the Board also established a new defined benefit supplemental executive retirement plan (the 2009 SERP), effective August 5, 2009, with each participant being selected by the Board, with each such participant being either (i) a corporate officer (other than such officer who is appointed as a member of the Company’s Management Committee), (ii) a division president or (iii) an employee selected in the discretion of the Board. Under the 2009 SERP, a nominal account has been established for each participant, to which the Company contributes at the end of each calendar year an amount equal to ten percent of the total of each participant’s base salary and cash incentive compensation earned during each prior calendar year, beginning December 31, 2009. The benefits vest after three years of service and attainment of age 55 and earn interest credits at the same annual rate as the Company’s Pension Account Plan (currently 4.69%).

 

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Similar to our employee pension plans, we review the estimates and assumptions underlying our supplemental executive benefit plans annually based upon a September 30 measurement date using the same techniques as our employee pension plans. The actuarial assumptions used to determine the pension liability for the supplemental plans were determined as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 and the actuarial assumptions used to determine the net periodic pension cost for the supplemental plans were determined as of September 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009. These assumptions are presented in the following table:

 

     Pension
Liability
    Pension Cost  
     2012     2011     2012     2011     2010  

Discount rate

     4.04     5.05     5.05     5.39     5.52

Rate of compensation increase

     3.50     3.50     3.50     4.00     4.00

The following table presents the supplemental plans’ accumulated benefit obligation, projected benefit obligation and funded status as of September 30, 2012 and 2011:

 

     2012     2011  
     (In thousands)  

Accumulated benefit obligation

   $ 121,815     $ 104,363  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in projected benefit obligation:

    

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 112,115     $ 108,919  

Service cost

     2,108       2,768  

Interest cost

     5,142       5,825  

Actuarial loss

     15,459       2,140  

Benefits paid

     (4,638     (7,537
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at end of year

     130,186       112,115  

Change in plan assets:

    

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

              

Employer contribution

     4,638       7,537  

Benefits paid

     (4,638     (7,537
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

              
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reconciliation:

    

Funded status

     (130,186     (112,115

Unrecognized prior service cost

              

Unrecognized net loss

              
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accrued pension cost

   $ (130,186   $ (112,115
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Assets for the supplemental plans are held in separate rabbi trusts. At September 30, 2012 and 2011, assets held in the rabbi trusts consisted of available-for-sale securities of $41.8 million and $38.3 million, which are included in our fair value disclosures in Note 5.

 

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Net periodic pension cost for the supplemental plans for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 is recorded as operating expense and included the following components:

 

     Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
     2012      2011      2010  
     (In thousands)  

Components of net periodic pension cost:

        

Service cost

   $ 2,108      $ 2,768      $ 2,476  

Interest cost

     5,142        5,825        5,224  

Amortization of transition asset

                       

Amortization of prior service cost

                     187  

Recognized actuarial loss

     2,118        2,239        1,999  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net periodic pension cost

   $ 9,368      $ 10,832      $ 9,886  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The following benefit payments for our defined benefit plans, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid in the following fiscal years:

 

     Pension
Plans
     Supplemental
Plans
 
     (In thousands)  

2013

   $ 38,800      $ 31,108  

2014

     35,551        13,453  

2015

     33,953        7,658  

2016

     33,536        4,680  

2017

     32,740        7,385  

2018-2022

     156,231        41,830  

Postretirement Benefits

We sponsor the Retiree Medical Plan for Retirees and Disabled Employees of Atmos Energy Corporation (the Atmos Retiree Medical Plan). This plan provides medical and prescription drug protection to all qualified participants based on their date of retirement. The Atmos Retiree Medical Plan provides different levels of benefits depending on the level of coverage chosen by the participants and the terms of predecessor plans; however, we generally pay 80 percent of the projected net claims and administrative costs and participants pay the remaining 20 percent of this cost.

As of September 30, 2009, the Board of Directors approved a change to the cost sharing methodology for employees who had not met the participation requirements by that date for the Atmos Retiree Medical Plan. Starting on January 1, 2015, the contribution rates that will apply to all non-grandfathered participants will be determined using a new cost sharing methodology by which Atmos Energy will limit its contribution to a three percent cost increase in claims and administrative costs each year. If medical costs covered by the Atmos Retiree Medical Plan increase more than three percent annually, participants will be responsible for the additional cost.

Generally, our funding policy is to contribute annually an amount in accordance with the requirements of ERISA. However, additional voluntary contributions are made annually as considered necessary. Contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date but also for those expected to be earned in the future. We expect to contribute $28.3 million to our postretirement benefits plan during fiscal 2013.

We maintain a formal investment policy with respect to the assets in our postretirement benefits plan to ensure the assets funding the postretirement benefit plan are appropriately invested to maintain an acceptable level of risk. We also consider our current financial status when making recommendations and decisions regarding the postretirement benefits plan.

 

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We currently invest the assets funding our postretirement benefit plan in diversified investment funds which consist of common stocks, preferred stocks and fixed income securities. The diversified investment funds may invest up to 75 percent of assets in common stocks and convertible securities. The following table presents asset allocation information for the postretirement benefit plan assets as of September 30, 2012 and 2011.

 

     Actual
Allocation
September 30
 

Security Class

   2012     2011  

Diversified investment funds

     97.0     96.8

Cash and cash equivalents

     3.0     3.2

Similar to our employee pension and supplemental plans, we review the estimates and assumptions underlying our postretirement benefit plan annually based upon a September 30 measurement date using the same techniques as our employee pension plans. The actuarial assumptions used to determine the pension liability for our postretirement plan were determined as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 and the actuarial assumptions used to determine the net periodic pension cost for the postretirement plan were determined as of September 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009. The assumptions are presented in the following table:

 

     Postretirement
Liability
    Postretirement Cost  
     2012     2011     2012     2011     2010  

Discount rate

     4.04     5.05     5.05     5.39     5.52

Expected return on plan assets

     4.70     5.00     5.00     5.00     5.00

Initial trend rate

     8.00     8.00     8.00     8.00     7.50

Ultimate trend rate

     5.00     5.00     5.00     5.00     5.00

Ultimate trend reached in

     2019       2018       2018       2016       2015  

 

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The following table presents the postretirement plan’s benefit obligation and funded status as of September 30, 2012 and 2011:

 

     2012     2011  
     (In thousands)  

Change in benefit obligation:

    

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 263,694     $ 228,234  

Service cost

     16,353       14,403  

Interest cost

     13,861       12,813  

Plan participants’ contributions

     3,649       2,892  

Actuarial loss

     28,815       17,966  

Benefits paid

     (13,197     (13,046

Subsidy payments

            432  

Divestitures

     (4,860       
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at end of year

     308,315       263,694  

Change in plan assets:

    

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

     53,065       53,033  

Actual return on plan assets

     12,912       (1,500

Employer contributions

     22,139       11,254  

Plan participants’ contributions

     3,649       2,892  

Benefits paid

     (13,197     (13,046

Subsidy payments

            432  

Divestitures

     (1,496       
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

     77,072       53,065  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reconciliation:

    

Funded status

     (231,243     (210,629

Unrecognized transition obligation

              

Unrecognized prior service cost

              

Unrecognized net loss

              
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accrued postretirement cost

   $ (231,243   $ (210,629
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic postretirement cost for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 is recorded as operating expense and included the components presented below.

 

     Fiscal Year Ended September 30  
     2012     2011     2010  
     (In thousands)  

Components of net periodic postretirement cost:

      

Service cost

   $ 16,353     $ 14,403     $ 13,439  

Interest cost

     13,861       12,813       12,071  

Expected return on assets

     (2,607     (2,727     (2,460

Amortization of transition obligation

     1,511       1,511       1,511  

Amortization of prior service cost

     (1,450     (1,450     (1,450

Recognized actuarial loss

     2,648       347       374  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic postretirement cost

   $ 30,316     $ 24,897     $ 23,485  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the plan. A one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects on the latest actuarial calculations:

 

     One-Percentage
Point Increase
     One-Percentage
Point Decrease
 
     (In thousands)  

Effect on total service and interest cost components

   $ 1,426      $ (1,287

Effect on postretirement benefit obligation

   $ 21,736      $ (18,866

We are currently recovering other postretirement benefits costs through our regulated rates under accrual accounting as prescribed by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States in substantially all of our service areas. Other postretirement benefits costs have been specifically addressed in rate orders in each jurisdiction served by our Kentucky/Mid-States Division, our West Texas, Mid-Tex and Mississippi Divisions as well as our Kansas jurisdiction and Atmos Pipeline – Texas or have been included in a rate case and not disallowed. Management believes that this accounting method is appropriate and will continue to seek rate recovery of accrual-based expenses in its ratemaking jurisdictions that have not yet approved the recovery of these expenses.

The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Retiree Medical Plan’s assets at fair value as of September 30, 2012 and 2011. The methods used to determine fair value for the assets held by the Retiree Medical Plan are fully described in Note 2. Assets at September 30, 2012 include $1.5 million that will be transferred to the purchaser of our Missouri, Illinois and Iowa operations during the first quarter of fiscal 2013.

 

     Assets at Fair Value as of September 30, 2012  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
     (In thousands)  

Investments:

           

Money market funds

   $       $ 2,360      $       $ 2,360  

Registered investment companies:

           

Domestic funds

     7,756                        7,756  

International funds

     68,452                        68,452  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments at fair value

   $ 76,208      $ 2,360      $       $ 78,568  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Assets at Fair Value as of September 30, 2011  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
     (In thousands)  

Investments:

           

Money market funds

   $       $ 1,707      $       $ 1,707  

Registered investment companies:

           

Domestic funds

     3,506                        3,506  

International funds

     47,852                        47,852  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments at fair value

   $ 51,358      $ 1,707      $       $ 53,065  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The following benefit payments paid by us, retirees and prescription drug subsidy payments for our postretirement benefit plans, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid in the following fiscal years:

 

     Company
Payments
     Retiree
Payments
     Subsidy
Payments
     Total
Postretirement
Benefits
 
     (In thousands)  

2013

   $ 28,317      $ 3,696      $       $ 32,013  

2014

     15,174        4,487                19,661  

2015

     17,349        5,251                22,600  

2016

     19,221        6,128                25,349  

2017

     20,520        7,083                27,603  

2018-2022

     107,055        48,114                155,169  

Defined Contribution Plans

As of September 30, 2012, we maintained three defined contribution benefit plans: the Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and Trust (the Retirement Savings Plan), the Atmos Energy Corporation Savings Plan for MVG Union Employees (the Union 401K Plan) and the Atmos Energy Holdings, LLC 401K Profit-Sharing Plan (the AEH 401K Profit-Sharing Plan).

The Retirement Savings Plan covers substantially all employees in our regulated operations and is subject to the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Effective January 1, 2007, employees automatically became participants of the Retirement Savings Plan on the date of employment. Participants may elect a salary reduction 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 Service. New participants are automatically enrolled in the Plan at a salary reduction amount of four percent of eligible compensation, from which they may opt out. We match 100 percent of a participant’s contributions, limited to four percent of the participant’s salary, in our common stock. However, participants have the option to immediately transfer this matching contribution into other funds held within the plan. Participants are eligible to receive matching contributions after completing one year of service. Participants are also permitted to take out loans against their accounts subject to certain restrictions. In August 2010, the Board of Directors of Atmos Energy approved a proposal to close the Pension Account Plan to new participants effective October 1, 2010. New employees participate in our defined contribution plan, which was enhanced, effective January 1, 2011. Employees participating in the Pension Account Plan as of October 1, 2010 were allowed to make a one-time election to migrate from the Plan into the Retirement Savings Plan, effective January 1, 2011. Under the enhanced plan, participants will receive a fixed annual contribution of four percent of eligible earnings to their Retirement Savings Plan account. Participants will continue to be eligible for company matching contributions of up to four percent of their eligible earnings and will be fully vested in the fixed annual contribution after three years of service.

The Union 401K Plan covers substantially all Mississippi Division employees who are members of the International Chemical Workers Union Council, United Food and Commercial Workers Union International (the Union) and is subject to the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Employees of the Union automatically become participants of the Union 401K plan on the date of union membership. We match 50 percent of a participant’s contribution in cash, limited to six percent of the participant’s eligible contribution. Participants are also permitted to take out loans against their accounts subject to certain restrictions.

Matching contributions to the Retirement Savings Plan and the Union 401K Plan are expensed as incurred and amounted to $10.5 million, $10.2 million, and $9.8 million for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010. The Board

 

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of Directors may also approve discretionary contributions, subject to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and applicable Treasury regulations. No discretionary contributions were made for fiscal years 2012, 2011 or 2010. At September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Retirement Savings Plan held 4.9 percent and 4.5 percent of our outstanding common stock.

The AEH 401K Profit-Sharing Plan covers substantially all AEH employees and is subject to the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Participants may elect a salary reduction ranging from a minimum of one percent up to a maximum of 75 percent of eligible compensation, as defined by the Plan, not to exceed the maximum allowed by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company may elect to make safe harbor contributions up to four percent of the employee’s salary which vest immediately. The Company may also make discretionary profit sharing contributions to the AEH 401K Profit-Sharing Plan. Participants become fully vested in the discretionary profit-sharing contributions after three years of service. Participants are also permitted to take out loans against their accounts subject to certain restrictions. Discretionary contributions to the AEH 401K Profit-Sharing Plan are expensed as incurred and amounted to $1.2 million, $1.3 million and $1.3 million for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010.

10.    Details of Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Captions

The following tables provide additional information regarding the composition of certain of our balance sheet captions.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable was comprised of the following at September 30, 2012 and 2011:

 

     September 30  
     2012     2011  
     (In thousands)  

Billed accounts receivable

   $ 177,953     $ 216,145  

Unbilled revenue

     42,694       48,006  

Other accounts receivable

     23,304       16,592  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total accounts receivable

     243,951       280,743  

Less: allowance for doubtful accounts

     (9,425     (7,440
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net accounts receivable

   $ 234,526     $ 273,303  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other current assets

Other current assets as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 were comprised of the following accounts.

 

     September 30  
     2012      2011  
     (In thousands)  

Assets from risk management activities

   $ 24,707      $ 18,344  

Deferred gas costs

     31,359        33,976  

Taxes receivable

     1,291        9,215  

Current deferred tax asset

     27,091        76,725  

Prepaid expenses

     17,114        22,499  

Current portion of leased assets receivable

     168        2,013  

Materials and supplies

     5,872        4,113  

Assets held for sale

     154,571        140,571  

Other

     10,609        9,015  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 272,782      $ 316,471  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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As discussed in Note 6, assets and liabilities related to our Georgia operations are classified as “assets held for sale” in other current assets and liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2012. On August 1, 2012, we completed the divesture of our operations in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa. Assets and liabilities related to Missouri, Illinois and Iowa were classified as “assets held for sale” in other current assets and liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2011.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment was comprised of the following as of September 30, 2012 and 2011:

 

     September 30  
     2012     2011  
     (In thousands)  

Production plant

   $ 5,020     $ 7,412  

Storage plant

     232,260       198,422  

Transmission plant

     1,185,007       1,126,509  

Distribution plant

     4,680,877       4,496,263  

General plant

     717,568       737,850  

Intangible plant

     39,626       41,096  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     6,860,358       6,607,552  

Construction in progress

     274,112       209,242  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     7,134,470       6,816,794  

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (1,658,866     (1,668,876
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net property, plant and equipment

   $ 5,475,604     $ 5,147,918  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred charges and other assets

Deferred charges and other assets as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 were comprised of the following accounts.

 

     September 30  
     2012      2011  
     (In thousands)  

Marketable securities

   $ 64,398      $ 52,633  

Regulatory assets

     334,551        278,920  

Deferred financing costs

     35,101        35,149  

Assets from risk management activities

     2,283        998  

Other

     14,929        16,093  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 451,262      $ 383,793  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Other current liabilities

Other current liabilities as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 were comprised of the following accounts.

 

     September 30  
     2012      2011  
     (In thousands)  

Customer credit balances and deposits

   $ 100,926      $ 106,743  

Accrued employee costs

     37,675        38,558  

Deferred gas costs

     23,072        8,130  

Accrued interest

     34,451        37,557  

Liabilities from risk management activities

     85,381        15,453  

Taxes payable

     64,319        57,853  

Pension and postretirement obligations

     39,625        33,036  

Regulatory cost of removal accrual

     78,525        35,078  

Liabilities held for sale

     11,573        18,445  

Other

     14,118        16,710  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 489,665      $ 367,563  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred credits and other liabilities

Deferred credits and other liabilities as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 were comprised of the following accounts.

 

     September 30  
     2012      2011  
     (In thousands)  

Postretirement obligations

   $ 221,231      $ 202,709  

Retirement plan obligations

     235,965        236,227  

Customer advances for construction

     12,937        13,967  

Regulatory liabilities

     5,638        13,823  

Asset retirement obligation

     10,394        13,574  

Liabilities from risk management activities

     9,206        78,089  

Other

     12,555        6,306  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 507,926      $ 564,695  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

11.    Earnings Per Share

Since we have non-vested share-based payments with a nonforfeitable right to dividends or dividend equivalents (referred to as participating securities), we are required to use the two-class method of computing earnings per share. The Company’s non-vested restricted stock and restricted stock units, granted under the LTIP, for which vesting is predicated solely on the passage of time, are considered to be participating securities. The calculation of earnings per share using the two-class method excludes income attributable to these participating securities from the numerator and excludes the dilutive impact of those shares from the denominator.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Basic and diluted earnings per share for the fiscal years ended September 30 are calculated as follows:

 

     2012      2011      2010  
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Basic Earnings Per Share from continuing operations

        

Income from continuing operations

   $ 192,196      $ 189,588      $ 189,851  

Less: Income from continuing operations allocated to participating securities

     793        1,980        1,943  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations available to common shareholders

   $ 191,403      $ 187,608      $ 187,908  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     90,150        90,201        91,852  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations per share — Basic

   $ 2.12      $ 2.08      $ 2.05  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic Earnings Per Share from discontinued operations

        

Income from discontinued operations

   $ 24,521      $ 18,013      $ 15,988  

Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities

     101        188        164  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations available to common shareholders

   $ 24,420      $ 17,825      $ 15,824  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     90,150        90,201        91,852  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations per share — Basic

   $ 0.27      $ 0.20      $ 0.17  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income per share — Basic

   $ 2.39      $ 2.28      $ 2.22  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings Per Share from continuing operations

        

Income from continuing operations available to common shareholders

   $ 191,403      $ 187,608      $ 187,908  

Effect of dilutive stock options and other shares

     4        4        5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations available to common shareholders

   $ 191,407      $ 187,612      $ 187,913  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     90,150        90,201        91,852  

Additional dilutive stock options and other shares

     1,022        451        570  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

     91,172        90,652        92,422  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations per share — Diluted

   $ 2.10      $ 2.07      $ 2.03  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings Per Share from discontinued operations

        

Income from discontinued operations available to common shareholders

   $ 24,420      $ 17,825      $ 15,824  

Effect of dilutive stock options and other shares

                       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations available to common shareholders

   $ 24,420      $ 17,825      $ 15,824  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     90,150        90,201        91,852  

Additional dilutive stock options and other shares

     1,022        451        570  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

     91,172        90,652        92,422  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations per share — Diluted

   $ 0.27      $ 0.20      $ 0.17  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income per share — Diluted

   $ 2.37      $ 2.27      $ 2.20  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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There were no out-of-the-money options excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

12.    Income Taxes

The components of income tax expense from continuing operations for 2012, 2011 and 2010 were as follows:

 

     2012     2011     2010  
     (In thousands)  

Current

      

Federal

   $ 631     $ (13,298   $ (70,884

State

     6,888       6,841       6,849  

Deferred

      

Federal

     103,971       107,950       172,690  

State

     (13,237     5,498       10,831  

Investment tax credits

     (27     (172     (283
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 98,226     $ 106,819     $ 119,203  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reconciliations of the provision for income taxes computed at the statutory rate to the reported provisions for income taxes from continuing operations for 2012, 2011 and 2010 are set forth below:

 

     2012     2011     2010  
     (In thousands)  

Tax at statutory rate of 35%

   $ 101,648     $ 103,743     $ 108,169  

Common stock dividends deductible for tax reporting

     (2,096     (1,930     (1,785

Penalties

     66       2,292       104  

Recognition (settlement) of uncertain tax positions

     1,831       (4,950       

State taxes (net of federal benefit)

     (5,958     8,109       11,493  

Other, net

     2,735       (445     1,222  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax expense

   $ 98,226     $ 106,819     $ 119,203  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Deferred income taxes reflect the tax effect of differences between the basis of assets and liabilities for book and tax purposes. The tax effect of temporary differences that gave rise to significant components of the deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets at September 30, 2012 and 2011 are presented below:

 

     2012     2011  
     (In thousands)  

Deferred tax assets:

    

Accruals not currently deductible for tax purposes

   $ 7,906     $ 10,327  

Customer advances

     4,721       5,271  

Nonqualified benefit plans

     48,513       43,924  

Postretirement benefits

     62,802       62,274  

Treasury lock agreements

     25,448       20,060  

Unamortized investment tax credit

     14       120  

Tax net operating loss and credit carryforwards

     164,419       95,293  

Difference between book and tax on mark to market accounting

     2,342       8,039  

Other, net

     7,223       3,529  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

     323,388       248,837  

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Difference in net book value and net tax value of assets

     (1,254,698     (1,108,063

Pension funding

     (32,812     (7,533

Gas cost adjustments

     (21,806     (13,570

Cost expensed for tax purposes and capitalized for book purposes

     (2,065     (3,039
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

     (1,311,381     (1,132,205
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liabilities

   $ (987,993   $ (883,368
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred credits for rate regulated entities

   $ 140     $ 325  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

At September 30, 2012, we had $10.1 million of federal alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards, $143.2 million of federal net operating loss carryforwards, $10.6 million of state net operating loss carryforwards and $0.5 million of state tax credits. The alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards do not expire. The federal net operating loss carryforwards are available to offset taxable income and will begin to expire in 2029. Depending on the jurisdiction in which the state net operating loss was generated, the state net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire between 2016 and 2030. The state tax credits will begin to expire in 2018.

At September 30, 2012, we had recorded liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions totaling $1.8 million. The realization of these tax benefits would reduce our income tax expense by approximately $1.8 million.

Additionally, results for fiscal 2012 were favorably impacted by a state tax benefit of $13.6 million. Due to the completion of the sale of our Missouri, Iowa and Illinois service areas in the fiscal fourth quarter, the Company updated its analysis of the tax rate at which deferred taxes would reverse in the future to reflect the sale of these service areas. The updated analysis supported a reduction in the deferred tax rate which when applied to the balance of taxable income deferred to future periods resulted in a reduction of the Company’s overall deferred tax liability.

At September 30, 2010, we had accrued liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions totaling $6.7 million. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, the IRS completed its audit of fiscal years 2005-2007. All uncertain tax positions were effectively settled upon completion of the audit. As a result of the settlement, we reduced our unrecognized tax benefits by $6.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Income tax expense was reduced by $5.0 million in the second quarter due to the realization of the tax positions which were previously uncertain.

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

We recognize accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of interest expense. We recognize penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of miscellaneous income (expense) in accordance with regulatory requirements. We recognized a tax expense of $0.01 million, $0.01 million and $0.5 million related to penalty and interest expenses during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction as well as in various states where we have operations. We have concluded substantially all U.S. federal income tax matters through fiscal year 2007.

13.    Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

Since April 2009, Atmos Energy and two subsidiaries of AEH, Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC (AEM) and Atmos Gathering Company, LLC (AGC) (collectively, the Atmos Entities), have been involved in a lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Edmonson County, Kentucky related to our Park City Gathering Project. The dispute which gave rise to the litigation involves the amount of royalties due from a third party producer to landowners (who own the mineral rights) for natural gas produced from the landowners’ properties. The third party producer was operating pursuant to leases between the landowners and certain investors/working interest owners. The third party producer filed a petition in bankruptcy, which was subsequently dismissed due to the lack of meaningful assets to reorganize or liquidate.

Although certain Atmos Energy companies entered into contracts with the third party producer to gather, treat and ultimately sell natural gas produced from the landowners’ properties, no Atmos Energy company had a contractual relationship with the landowners or the investors/working interest owners. After the lawsuit was filed, the landowners were successful in terminating for non-payment of royalties the leases related to the production of natural gas from their properties. Subsequent to termination, the investors/working interest owners under such leases filed additional claims against us for the termination of the leases.

During the trial, the landowners and the investors/working interest owners requested an award of compensatory damages plus punitive damages against us. On December 17, 2010, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the landowners and investor/working interest owners and awarded compensatory damages of $3.8 million and punitive damages of $27.5 million payable by Atmos Energy and the two AEH subsidiaries.

A hearing was held on February 28, 2011 to hear a number of motions, including a motion to dismiss the jury verdict and a motion for a new trial. The motions to dismiss the jury verdict and for a new trial were denied. However, the total punitive damages award was reduced from $27.5 million to $24.7 million. On October 17, 2011, we filed our brief of appellants with the Kentucky Court of Appeals (Court), appealing the verdict of the trial court. The appellees in this case subsequently filed their appellees’ brief with the Court on January 16, 2012, with our reply brief being filed with the Court on March 19, 2012. Oral arguments were held in the case on August 27, 2012; however, the Court has yet to render a decision.

In addition, in a related development, on July 12, 2011, the Atmos Entities filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court, Western District of Kentucky, Atmos Energy Corporation et al.vs. Resource Energy Technologies, LLC and Robert Thorpe and John F. Charles, against the third party producer and its affiliates to recover all costs, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Atmos Entities, which are associated with the defense and appeal of the case discussed above as well as for all damages awarded to the plaintiffs in such case against the Atmos Entities. The total amount of damages being claimed in the lawsuit is “open-ended” since the appellate process and related costs are ongoing. This lawsuit is based upon the indemnification provisions agreed to by the third party producer in favor of Atmos Gathering that are contained in an agreement entered into between Atmos Gathering and the third party producer in May 2009. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the case on August 25, 2011, with Atmos Energy filing a brief in response to such motion on September 19, 2011. On March 27, 2012 the court denied the motion to dismiss. Since that time, we have been engaged in discovery activities in this case.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

We have accrued what we believe is an adequate amount for the anticipated resolution of this matter; however, the amount accrued is less than the amount of the verdict. The Company does not have insurance coverage that could mitigate any losses that may arise from the resolution of this matter; however, we believe that the final outcome will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

We are a party to other litigation and claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of our business. While the results of such litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe the final outcome of such litigation and claims will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Environmental Matters

Former Manufactured Gas Plant Sites

We are the owner or previous owner of former manufactured gas plant sites in Johnson City, Tennessee and Keokuk, Iowa, which were used to supply gas prior to the availability of natural gas. The gas manufacturing process resulted in certain byproducts and residual materials, including coal tar. The manufacturing process used by our predecessors was an acceptable and satisfactory process at the time such operations were being conducted. We have taken removal actions with respect to the sites that have been approved by the applicable regulatory authorities in Tennessee, Iowa and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

We are a party to other environmental matters and claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of our business. While the ultimate results of response actions to these environmental matters and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe the final outcome of such response actions will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows because we believe that the expenditures related to such response actions will either be recovered through rates, shared with other parties or are adequately covered by insurance.

Purchase Commitments

AEH has commitments to purchase physical quantities of natural gas under contracts indexed to the forward NYMEX strip or fixed price contracts. At September 30, 2012, AEH was committed to purchase 72.2 Bcf within one year, 29.0 Bcf within one to three years and 29.0 Bcf after three years under indexed contracts. AEH is committed to purchase 3.8 Bcf within one year and 0.3 Bcf within one to three years under fixed price contracts with prices ranging from $2.46 to $6.36 per Mcf. Purchases under these contracts totaled $978.8 million, $1,498.6 million and $1,562.8 million for 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Our natural gas distribution divisions, except for our Mid-Tex Division, maintain supply contracts with several vendors that generally cover a period of up to one year. Commitments for estimated base gas volumes are established under these contracts on a monthly basis at contractually negotiated prices. Commitments for incremental daily purchases are made as necessary during the month in accordance with the terms of the individual contract.

Our Mid-Tex Division maintains long-term supply contracts to ensure a reliable source of gas for our customers in its service area which obligate it to purchase specified volumes at market and fixed prices. The estimated commitments under these contracts as of September 30, 2012 are as follows (in thousands):

 

2013

   $ 259,235  

2014

     74,604  

2015

       

2016

       

2017

       

Thereafter

       
  

 

 

 
   $ 333,839  
  

 

 

 

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Our nonregulated segment maintains long-term contracts related to storage and transportation. The estimated contractual demand fees for contracted storage and transportation under these contracts as of September 30, 2012 are as follows (in thousands):

 

2013

   $ 19,456  

2014

     10,554  

2015

     4,504  

2016

     278  

2017

     37  

Thereafter

     128  
  

 

 

 
   $ 34,957  
  

 

 

 

Other Contingencies

In December 2007, the Company received data requests from the Division of Investigations of the Office of Enforcement of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the “Commission”) in connection with its investigation into possible violations of the Commission’s posting and competitive bidding regulations for pre-arranged released firm capacity on natural gas pipelines.

The Company and the Commission entered into a stipulation and consent agreement, which was approved by the Commission on December 9, 2011, thereby resolving this investigation. The Commission’s findings of violations were limited to the nonregulated operations of the Company. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company paid to the United States Treasury a total civil penalty of approximately $6.4 million and to energy assistance programs approximately $5.6 million in disgorgement of unjust profits plus interest for violations identified during the investigation. The resolution of this matter did not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows and none of the payments were charged to any of the Company’s customers. In addition, none of the services the Company provides to any of its regulated or nonregulated customers were affected by the agreement.

We have been replacing certain steel service lines in our Mid-Tex Division since our acquisition of the natural gas distribution system in 2004. Since early 2010, we have been discussing the financial and operational details of an accelerated steel service line replacement program with representatives of 440 municipalities served by our Mid-Tex Division. As previously discussed in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, all of the cities in our Mid-Tex Division agreed to a program of installing 100,000 replacements through September 30, 2012, with approved recovery of the associated return, depreciation and taxes. Under the terms of the agreement, the accelerated replacement program commenced in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, replacing 98,675 lines for a cost of $116.3 million as of September 30, 2012.

In July 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act was enacted, representing an extensive overhaul of the framework for regulation of U.S. financial markets. The Dodd-Frank Act calls for various regulatory agencies, including the SEC and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, to establish regulations for implementation of many of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, which we expect will provide additional clarity regarding the extent of the impact of this legislation on us. The costs of participating in financial markets for hedging certain risks inherent in our business may be increased as a result of the new legislation. We may also incur additional costs associated with compliance with new regulations and anticipate additional reporting and disclosure obligations.

 

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14.    Leases

Capital and Operating Leases

We have entered into operating leases for office and warehouse space, vehicles and heavy equipment used in our operations. The remaining lease terms range from one to 21 years and generally provide for the payment of taxes, insurance and maintenance by the lessee. Renewal options exist for certain of these leases. We have also entered into capital leases for division offices and operating facilities. Property, plant and equipment included amounts for capital leases of $1.3 and $1.3 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011. Accumulated depreciation for these capital leases totaled $0.9 and $0.9 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011. Depreciation expense for these assets is included in consolidated depreciation expense on the consolidated statement of income.

The related future minimum lease payments at September 30, 2012 were as follows:

 

     Capital
Leases
     Operating
Leases
 
     (In thousands)  

2013

   $ 186      $ 17,571   

2014

     186        17,215   

2015

     186        15,940   

2016

     186        15,036   

2017

     186        14,597   

Thereafter

     78        100,632   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total minimum lease payments

     1,008      $ 180,991   
     

 

 

 

Less amount representing interest

     286     
  

 

 

    

Present value of net minimum lease payments

   $ 722     
  

 

 

    

Consolidated lease and rental expense amounted to $33.6 million, $35.5 million and $36.7 million for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010.

15.    Concentration of Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to us if a customer fails to perform its contractual obligations. We engage in transactions for the purchase and sale of products and services with major companies in the energy industry and with industrial, commercial, residential and municipal energy consumers. These transactions principally occur in the southern and midwestern regions of the United States. We believe that this geographic concentration does not contribute significantly to our overall exposure to credit risk. Credit risk associated with trade accounts receivable for the natural gas distribution segment is mitigated by the large number of individual customers and diversity in our customer base. The credit risk for our other segments is not significant.

Customer diversification also helps mitigate AEM’s exposure to credit risk. AEM maintains credit policies with respect to its counterparties that it believes minimizes overall credit risk. Where appropriate, such policies include the evaluation of a prospective counterparty’s financial condition, collateral requirements, primarily consisting of letters of credit and the use of standardized agreements that facilitate the netting of cash flows associated with a single counterparty. AEM also monitors the financial condition of existing counterparties on an ongoing basis. Customers not meeting minimum standards are required to provide adequate assurance of financial performance.

AEM maintains a provision for credit losses based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of customers, historical trends, consideration of the current credit environment and other information. We believe, based on our

 

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credit policies and our provisions for credit losses as of September 30, 2012, that our financial position, results of operations and cash flows will not be materially affected as a result of nonperformance by any single counterparty.

AEM’s estimated credit exposure is monitored in terms of the percentage of its customers, including affiliate customers that are rated as investment grade versus non-investment grade. Credit exposure is defined as the total of (1) accounts receivable, (2) delivered, but unbilled physical sales and (3) mark-to-market exposure for sales and purchases. Investment grade determinations are set internally by AEM’s credit department, but are primarily based on external ratings provided by Moody’s Investors Service Inc. (Moody’s) and/or Standard & Poor’s Corporation (S&P). For non-rated entities, the default rating for municipalities is investment grade, while the default rating for non-guaranteed industrials and commercials is non-investment grade. Customers who have a non-investment grade but provide either a letter of credit or prepay their monthly invoice have been included as investment grade. The following table shows the percentages related to the investment ratings as of September 30, 2012 and 2011.

 

     September 30, 2012     September 30, 2011  

Investment grade

     60     54

Non-investment grade

     40     46
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100     100
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents our financial instrument counterparty credit exposure by operating segment based upon the unrealized fair value of our financial instruments that represent assets as of September 30, 2012. Investment grade counterparties have minimum credit ratings of BBB-, assigned by S&P; or Baa3, assigned by Moody’s. Non-investment grade counterparties are composed of counterparties that are below investment grade or that have not been assigned an internal investment grade rating due to the short-term nature of the contracts associated with that counterparty. This category is composed of numerous smaller counterparties, none of which is individually significant.

 

     Natural Gas
Distribution
Segment(1)
     Nonregulated
Segment
     Consolidated  
     (In thousands)  

Investment grade counterparties

   $       $ 4      $ 4  

Non-investment grade counterparties

                       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $       $ 4      $ 4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

Counterparty risk for our natural gas distribution segment is minimized because hedging gains and losses are passed through to our customers.

16.    Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 are presented below.

 

     2012     2011     2010  
     (In thousands)  

Cash paid for interest

   $ 150,606     $ 157,976     $ 161,925  

Cash received for income taxes

   $ (432   $ (8,329   $ (63,677

There were no significant noncash investing and financing transactions during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010. All cash flows and noncash activities related to our commodity financial instruments are considered as operating activities.

 

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17.    Segment Information

Atmos Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries are engaged primarily in the regulated natural gas distribution, transmission and storage business as well as other nonregulated businesses. We distribute natural gas through sales and transportation arrangements to over three million residential, commercial, public authority and industrial customers through our six regulated natural gas distribution divisions, which cover service areas located in nine states. In addition, we transport natural gas for others through our distribution system.

Through our nonregulated businesses, we primarily provide natural gas management and marketing services to municipalities, other local distribution companies and industrial customers primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. Additionally, we provide natural gas transportation and storage services to certain of our natural gas distribution operations and to third parties.

We operate the Company through the following three segments:

 

  Ÿ  

The natural gas distribution segment, includes our regulated natural gas distribution and related sales operations.

 

  Ÿ  

The regulated transmission and storage segment, includes the regulated pipeline and storage operations of our Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division.

 

  Ÿ  

The nonregulated segment, is comprised of our nonregulated natural gas management, nonregulated natural gas transmission, storage and other services.

Our determination of reportable segments considers the strategic operating units under which we manage sales of various products and services to customers in differing regulatory environments. Although our natural gas distribution segment operations are geographically dispersed, they are reported as a single segment as each natural gas distribution division has similar economic characteristics. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. We evaluate performance based on net income or loss of the respective operating units. Interest expense is allocated pro rata to each segment based upon our net investment in each segment. Income taxes are allocated to each segment as if each segment’s taxes were calculated on a separate return basis.

 

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Summarized income statements and capital expenditures by segment are shown in the following tables.

 

     Year Ended September 30, 2012  
     Natural Gas
Distribution
    Regulated
Transmission
and Storage
    Nonregulated      Eliminations     Consolidated  
     (In thousands)  

Operating revenues from external parties

   $ 2,144,376     $ 92,604     $ 1,201,503      $      $ 3,438,483  

Intersegment revenues

     954       154,747       149,800        (305,501       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2,145,330       247,351       1,351,303        (305,501     3,438,483  

Purchased gas cost

     1,122,587              1,296,179        (304,022     2,114,744  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     1,022,743       247,351       55,124        (1,479     1,323,739  

Operating expenses

           

Operation and maintenance

     353,879       71,521       29,697        (1,484     453,613  

Depreciation and amortization

     202,026       31,438       4,061               237,525  

Taxes, other than income

     162,377       15,568       3,128               181,073  

Asset impairments

                   5,288               5,288  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     718,282       118,527       42,174        (1,484     877,499  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     304,461       128,824       12,950        5       446,240  

Miscellaneous income (expense)

     (12,657     (1,051     1,035        (1,971     (14,644

Interest charges

     110,642       29,414       3,084        (1,966     141,174  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     181,162       98,359       10,901               290,422  

Income tax expense

     57,314       35,300       5,612               98,226  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

     123,848       63,059       5,289               192,196  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     18,172                             18,172  

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax

     6,349                             6,349  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 148,369     $ 63,059     $ 5,289      $      $ 216,717  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

   $ 546,818     $ 175,768     $ 10,272      $      $ 732,858  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     Year Ended September 30, 2011  
     Natural Gas
Distribution
     Regulated
Transmission
and Storage
     Nonregulated     Eliminations     Consolidated  
     (In thousands)  

Operating revenues from external parties

   $ 2,469,781      $ 87,141      $ 1,729,513     $      $ 4,286,435  

Intersegment revenues

     883        132,232        295,380       (428,495       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2,470,664        219,373        2,024,893       (428,495     4,286,435  

Purchased gas cost

     1,452,721                1,959,893       (426,999     2,985,615  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     1,017,943        219,373        65,000       (1,496     1,300,820  

Operating expenses

            

Operation and maintenance

     341,758        70,401        32,308       (1,502     442,965  

Depreciation and amortization

     193,642        25,997        4,193              223,832  

Taxes, other than income

     160,455        14,700        2,612              177,767  

Asset impairments

                     30,270              30,270  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     695,855        111,098        69,383       (1,502     874,834  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     322,088        108,275        (4,383     6       425,986  

Miscellaneous income

     16,242        4,715        657       (430     21,184  

Interest charges

     115,740        31,432        4,015       (424     150,763  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

     222,590        81,558        (7,741            296,407  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     77,885        29,143        (209            106,819  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     144,705        52,415        (7,532            189,588  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     18,013                              18,013  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 162,718      $ 52,415      $ (7,532   $      $ 207,601  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

   $ 496,899      $ 118,452      $ 7,614     $      $ 622,965  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

     Year Ended September 30, 2010  
     Natural Gas
Distribution
     Regulated
Transmission
and Storage
     Nonregulated      Eliminations     Consolidated  
     (In thousands)  

Operating revenues from external parties

   $ 2,782,993      $ 97,023      $ 1,781,044      $      $ 4,661,060  

Intersegment revenues

     870        105,990        365,614        (472,474       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2,783,863        203,013        2,146,658        (472,474     4,661,060  

Purchased gas cost

     1,785,221                2,032,567        (470,864     3,346,924  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     998,642        203,013        114,091        (1,610     1,314,136  

Operating expenses

             

Operation and maintenance

     349,465        72,249        34,517        (1,610     454,621  

Depreciation and amortization

     182,097        21,368        5,074               208,539  

Taxes, other than income

     170,229        12,358        4,556               187,143  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     701,791        105,975        44,147        (1,610     850,303  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     296,851        97,038        69,944               463,833  

Miscellaneous income (expense)

     1,132        135        3,859        (5,717     (591

Interest charges

     118,147        31,174        10,584        (5,717     154,188  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     179,836        65,999        63,219               309,054  

Income tax expense

     69,875        24,513        24,815               119,203  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

     109,961        41,486        38,404               189,851  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     15,988                               15,988  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 125,949      $ 41,486      $ 38,404      $      $ 205,839  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

   $ 437,815      $ 95,835      $ 8,986      $      $ 542,636  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table summarizes our revenues by products and services for the fiscal year ended September 30.

 

     2012      2011      2010  
     (In thousands)  

Natural gas distribution revenues:

        

Gas sales revenues:

        

Residential

   $ 1,351,479      $ 1,535,887      $ 1,751,186  

Commercial

     587,651        685,380        775,714  

Industrial

     71,960        96,636        101,814  

Public authority and other

     54,334        68,676        69,944  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total gas sales revenues

     2,065,424        2,386,579        2,698,658  

Transportation revenues

     53,924        57,331        56,539  

Other gas revenues

     25,028        25,871        27,796  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total natural gas distribution revenues

     2,144,376        2,469,781        2,782,993  

Regulated transmission and storage revenues

     92,604        87,141        97,023  

Nonregulated revenues

     1,201,503        1,729,513        1,781,044  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating revenues

   $ 3,438,483      $ 4,286,435      $ 4,661,060  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Balance sheet information at September 30, 2012 and 2011 by segment is presented in the following tables.

 

     September 30, 2012  
     Natural Gas
Distribution
     Regulated
Transmission
and Storage
     Nonregulated     Eliminations     Consolidated  
     (In thousands)  

ASSETS

            

Property, plant and equipment, net

   $ 4,432,017      $ 979,443      $ 64,144     $      $ 5,475,604  

Investment in subsidiaries

     747,496                (2,096     (745,400       

Current assets

            

Cash and cash equivalents

     12,787                51,452              64,239  

Assets from risk management activities

     6,934                17,773              24,707  

Other current assets

     546,187        11,788        404,097       (223,056     739,016  

Intercompany receivables

     636,557                       (636,557       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     1,202,465        11,788        473,322       (859,613     827,962  

Intangible assets

                     164              164  

Goodwill

     573,550        132,422        34,711              740,683  

Noncurrent assets from risk management activities

     2,283                              2,283  

Deferred charges and other assets

     417,893        24,353        6,733              448,979  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 7,375,704      $ 1,148,006      $ 576,978     $ (1,605,013   $ 7,495,675  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

            

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 2,359,243      $ 328,161      $ 419,335     $ (747,496   $ 2,359,243  

Long-term debt

     1,956,305                              1,956,305  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

     4,315,548        328,161        419,335       (747,496     4,315,548  

Current liabilities

            

Current maturities of long-term debt

                     131              131  

Short-term debt

     782,719                       (211,790     570,929  

Liabilities from risk management activities

     85,366                15              85,381  

Other current liabilities

     526,089        12,478        90,116       (9,170     619,513  

Intercompany payables

             584,578        51,979       (636,557       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     1,394,174        597,056        142,241       (857,517     1,275,954  

Deferred income taxes

     789,288        220,647        5,148              1,015,083  

Noncurrent liabilities from risk management activities

                     9,206              9,206  

Regulatory cost of removal obligation

     381,164                              381,164  

Deferred credits and other liabilities

     495,530        2,142        1,048              498,720  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 7,375,704      $ 1,148,006      $ 576,978     $ (1,605,013   $ 7,495,675  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

     September 30, 2011  
     Natural Gas
Distribution
     Regulated
Transmission
and Storage
     Nonregulated     Eliminations     Consolidated  
     (In thousands)  

ASSETS

            

Property, plant and equipment, net

   $ 4,248,198      $ 838,302      $ 61,418     $      $ 5,147,918  

Investment in subsidiaries

     670,993                (2,096     (668,897       

Current assets

            

Cash and cash equivalents

     24,646                106,773              131,419  

Assets from risk management activities

     843                17,501              18,344  

Other current assets

     655,716        15,413        386,215       (196,154     861,190  

Intercompany receivables

     569,898                       (569,898       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     1,251,103        15,413        510,489       (766,052     1,010,953  

Intangible assets

                     207              207  

Goodwill

     572,908        132,381        34,711              740,000  

Noncurrent assets from risk management activities

     998                              998  

Deferred charges and other assets

     353,960        18,028        10,807              382,795  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 7,098,160      $ 1,004,124      $ 615,536     $ (1,434,949   $ 7,282,871  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

            

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 2,255,421      $ 265,102      $ 405,891     $ (670,993   $ 2,255,421  

Long-term debt

     2,205,986                131              2,206,117  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

     4,461,407        265,102        406,022       (670,993     4,461,538  

Current liabilities

            

Current maturities of long-term debt

     2,303                131              2,434  

Short-term debt

     387,691                       (181,295     206,396  

Liabilities from risk management activities

     11,916                3,537              15,453  

Other current liabilities

     474,783        10,369        170,926       (12,763     643,315  

Intercompany payables

             543,084        26,814       (569,898       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     876,693        553,453        201,408       (763,956     867,598  

Deferred income taxes

     789,649        173,351        (2,907            960,093  

Noncurrent liabilities from risk management activities

     67,862                10,227              78,089  

Regulatory cost of removal obligation

     428,947                              428,947  

Deferred credits and other liabilities

     473,602        12,218        786              486,606  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 7,098,160      $ 1,004,124      $ 615,536     $ (1,434,949   $ 7,282,871  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

18.    Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

Summarized unaudited quarterly financial data is presented below. Prior-period amounts have been restated to reflect continuing operations. The sum of net income per share by quarter may not equal the net income per share for the fiscal year due to variations in the weighted average shares outstanding used in computing such amounts. Our businesses are seasonal due to weather conditions in our service areas. For further information on its effects on quarterly results, see the “Results of Operations” discussion included in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section herein.

 

    Quarter Ended  
    December 31     March 31     June 30     September 30  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  

Fiscal year 2012:

       

Operating revenues

       

Natural gas distribution

  $ 676,113 (1)    $ 871,067 (2)    $ 315,634 (3)    $ 282,516   

Regulated transmission and storage

    56,759        58,037        67,073        65,482   

Nonregulated

    444,176        370,763        256,250        280,114   

Intersegment eliminations

    (93,054 )       (74,358 )       (62,543 )       (75,546 )  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    1,083,994        1,225,509        576,414        552,566   

Gross profit

    355,392 (1)      425,787 (2)      293,171 (3)      249,389   

Operating income

    139,471 (1)      202,432 (2)      81,546 (3)      22,791   

Income (loss) from continuing operations

    62,384        102,084        28,014        (286 )  

Income from discontinued operations

    6,123        7,027        3,118        1,904   

Gain on sale of discontinued operations

                         6,349   

Net income

    68,507        109,111        31,132        7,967   

Basic earnings per share

       

Income (loss) per share from continuing operations

  $ 0.68      $ 1.12      $ 0.31      $   

Income per share from discontinued operations

  $ 0.07      $ 0.08      $ 0.03      $ 0.09   

Net income per share — basic

  $ 0.75      $ 1.20      $ 0.34      $ 0.09   

Diluted earnings per share

       

Income (loss) per share from continuing operations

  $ 0.68      $ 1.12      $ 0.31      $   

Income per share from discontinued operations

  $ 0.07      $ 0.08      $ 0.03      $ 0.09   

Net income per share — diluted

  $ 0.75      $ 1.20      $ 0.34      $ 0.09   

 

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

     Quarter Ended  
     December 31     March 31     June 30     September 30  
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Fiscal year 2011:

        

Operating revenues

        

Natural gas distribution

   $ 687,426 (4)    $ 1,052,291 (5)    $ 396,584 (6)    $ 334,363 (7) 

Regulated transmission and storage

     49,007        54,976        53,570        61,820   

Nonregulated

     475,640        583,531        491,285        474,437   

Intersegment eliminations

     (94,847     (134,424 )       (108,271     (90,953 )  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,117,226        1,556,374        833,168        779,667   

Gross profit

     357,582 (4)      444,466 (5)      261,612 (6)      237,160 (7) 

Operating income

     150,773 (4)      204,624 (5)      31,394 (6)      39,195 (7) 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     68,208        124,293        (3,150     237   

Income from discontinued operations

     5,789        7,916        2,584        1,724   

Net income (loss)

     73,997        132,209        (566 )       1,961   

Basic earnings per share

        

Income (loss) per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.75      $ 1.36      $ (0.04 )     $   

Income per share from discontinued operations

   $ 0.06        0.09      $ 0.03      $ 0.02   

Net income (loss) per share — basic

   $ 0.81      $ 1.45      $ (0.01 )     $ 0.02   

Diluted earnings per share

        

Income (loss) per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.75      $ 1.36      $ (0.04 )     $   

Income per share from discontinued operations

   $ 0.06      $ 0.09      $ 0.03      $ 0.02   

Net income (loss) per share — diluted

   $ 0.81      $ 1.45      $ (0.01 )     $ 0.02   

 

 

  (1) 

Operating revenues for natural gas distribution, gross profit and operating income are shown net of discontinued operations from our Georgia operations of $17.2 million, $7.5 million and $4.9 million, which were not previously reported as discontinued operations.

 

  (2) 

Operating revenues for natural gas distribution, gross profit and operating income are shown net of discontinued operations from our Georgia operations of $17.9 million, $8.5 million and $5.9 million, which were not previously reported as discontinued operations.

 

  (3) 

Operating revenues for natural gas distribution, gross profit and operating income are shown net of discontinued operations from our Georgia operations of $9.4 million, $5.6 million and $3.2 million, which were not previously reported as discontinued operations.

 

  (4) 

Operating revenues for natural gas distribution, gross profit and operating income are shown net of discontinued operations from our Georgia operations of $16.0 million, $7.1 million and $4.5 million, which were not previously reported as discontinued operations.

 

  (5) 

Operating revenues for natural gas distribution, gross profit and operating income are shown net of discontinued operations from our Georgia operations of $25.1 million, $9.2 million and $6.6 million, which were not previously reported as discontinued operations.

 

  (6) 

Operating revenues for natural gas distribution, gross profit and operating income are shown net of discontinued operations from our Georgia operations of $10.4 million, $5.2 million and $2.7 million, which were not previously reported as discontinued operations.

 

  (7) 

Operating revenues for natural gas distribution, gross profit and operating income are shown net of discontinued operations from our Georgia operations of $9.6 million, $4.9 million and $2.1 million, which were not previously reported as discontinued operations.

 

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ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None.

 

ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Management’s Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). Based on this evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2012 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us, including our consolidated entities, in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms, including a reasonable level of assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f), in providing reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by COSO and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of September 30, 2012, in providing reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Ernst & Young LLP has issued its report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. That report appears below.

 

/s/    KIM R. COCKLIN

  

/s/    BRET J. ECKERT

Kim R. Cocklin    Bret J. Eckert
President and Chief Executive Officer   

Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

November 12, 2012   

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Atmos Energy Corporation

We have audited Atmos Energy Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Atmos Energy Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit 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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Atmos Energy Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2012, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2012 and 2011, and the related statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2012 of Atmos Energy Corporation and our report dated November 12, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/    ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Dallas, Texas

November 12, 2012

 

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Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We did not make any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Act) during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B. Other Information.

Not applicable.

PART III

 

ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Information regarding directors and compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on February 13, 2013. Information regarding executive officers is reported below:

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The following table sets forth certain information as of September 30, 2012, regarding the executive officers of the Company. It is followed by a brief description of the business experience of each executive officer.

 

Name

   Age      Years of
Service
    

Office Currently Held

Robert W. Best

     65        15      Executive Chairman of the Board

Kim R. Cocklin

     61        6      President and Chief Executive Officer

Louis P. Gregory

     57        12      Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Michael E. Haefner

     52        4      Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Bret J. Eckert

     45              Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Robert W. Best was named Executive Chairman of the Board on October 1, 2010. From March 1997 through September 2008, Mr. Best served the Company as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. From October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2010, Mr. Best continued to serve the Company as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.

Kim R. Cocklin was named President and Chief Executive Officer effective October 1, 2010. Mr. Cocklin joined the Company in June 2006 and served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2010, after having served as Senior Vice President, Regulated Operations from October 2006 through September 2008. Mr. Cocklin was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Piedmont Natural Gas Company from February 2003 through May 2006. Mr. Cocklin was appointed to the Board of Directors on November 10, 2009.

Louis P. Gregory was named Senior Vice President and General Counsel in September 2000.

Michael E. Haefner joined the Company in June 2008 as Senior Vice President, Human Resources. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Haefner was a self-employed consultant and founder and president of Perform for Life, LLC from May 2007 to May 2008. Mr. Haefner previously served for 10 years as the Senior Vice President, Human Resources, of Sabre Holding Corporation, the parent company of Sabre Airline Solutions, Sabre Travel Network and Travelocity.

Bret J. Eckert joined the Company in June 2012 as Senior Vice President, and on October 1, 2012 he was appointed Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Eckert was an Assurance Partner with Ernst & Young LLP where he developed extensive accounting and financial experience in the natural gas industry over his 22-year career.

Identification of the members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors as well as the Board of Directors’ determination as to whether one or more audit committee financial experts are serving on the Audit

 

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Committee of the Board of Directors is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on February 13, 2013.

The Company has adopted a code of ethics for its principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. Such code of ethics is represented by the Company’s Code of Conduct, which is applicable to all directors, officers and employees of the Company, including the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. A copy of the Company’s Code of Conduct is posted on the Company’s website at www.atmosenergy.com under “Corporate Governance.” In addition, any amendment to or waiver granted from a provision of the Company’s Code of Conduct will be posted on the Company’s website under “Corporate Governance.”

 

ITEM 11. Executive Compensation.

Information on executive compensation is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on February 13, 2013.

 

ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

Security ownership of certain beneficial owners and of management is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on February 13, 2013. Information concerning our equity compensation plans is provided in Part II, Item 5, “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities”, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

Information on certain relationships and related transactions as well as director independence is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on February 13, 2013.

 

ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Information on our principal accountant’s fees and services is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on February 13, 2013.

PART IV

 

ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a)  1. and 2. Financial statements and financial statement schedules.

The financial statements and financial statement schedule listed in the Index to Financial Statements in Item 8 are filed as part of this Form 10-K.

3.     Exhibits

The exhibits listed in the accompanying Exhibits Index are filed as part of this Form 10-K. The exhibits numbered 10.6(a) through 10.13(e) are management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

     ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
     (Registrant)
   By:  

/s/    BRET J. ECKERT        

    

Bret J. Eckert

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial

Officer

Date: November 12, 2012

 

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POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Kim R. Cocklin and Bret J. Eckert, or either of them acting alone or together, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power to act alone, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated:

 

/s/    KIM R. COCKLIN        

Kim R. Cocklin

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director   November 12, 2012

/s/    BRET J. ECKERT        

Bret J. Eckert

   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer   November 12, 2012

/s/    CHRISTOPHER T. FORSYTHE        

Christopher T. Forsythe

   Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)   November 12, 2012

/s/    ROBERT W. BEST        

Robert W. Best

   Executive Chairman of the Board   November 12, 2012

/s/    RICHARD W. DOUGLAS        

Richard W. Douglas

   Director   November 12, 2012

/s/    RUBEN E. ESQUIVEL        

Ruben E. Esquivel

   Director   November 12, 2012

/s/    RICHARD K. GORDON        

Richard K. Gordon

   Director   November 12, 2012

/s/    ROBERT C. GRABLE        

Robert C. Grable

   Director   November 12, 2012

/s/    THOMAS C. MEREDITH        

Thomas C. Meredith

   Director   November 12, 2012

/s/    NANCY K. QUINN        

Nancy K. Quinn

   Director   November 12, 2012

/s/    RICHARD A. SAMPSON        

Richard A. Sampson

   Director   November 12, 2012

/s/    STEPHEN R. SPRINGER        

Stephen R. Springer

   Director   November 12, 2012

/s/    CHARLES K. VAUGHAN        

Charles K. Vaughan

   Director   November 12, 2012

/s/    RICHARD WARE II        

Richard Ware II

   Director   November 12, 2012

 

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Schedule II

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Three Years Ended September 30, 2012

 

            Additions               
     Balance at
beginning
of period
     Charged to
cost &
expenses
     Charged to
other
accounts
     Deductions     Balance
at end
of period
 
            (In thousands)               

2012

             

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 7,440      $ 8,901      $       $ 6,916 (1)    $ 9,425  

2011

             

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 12,701      $ 2,201      $       $ 7,462 (1)    $ 7,440  

2010

             

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 11,478      $ 7,694      $       $ 6,471 (1)    $ 12,701  

 

 

  (1) 

Uncollectible accounts written off.

 

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EXHIBITS INDEX

Item 14.(a)(3)

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

  

Page Number or

Incorporation by

Reference to

  Plan of Acquisition, Reorganization, Arrangement, Liquidation or Succession   
2.1(a)   Asset Purchase Agreement by and between Atmos Energy Corporation as Seller and Liberty Energy (Midstates) Corp. as Buyer, dated as of May 12, 2011    Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K dated May 12, 2011 (File No. 1-10042)
2.1(b)   Amendment No. 1 to Asset Purchase Agreement   
2.2   Asset Purchase Agreement by and between Atmos Energy Corporation as Seller and Liberty Energy (Georgia) Corp. as Buyer, dated as of August 8, 2012    Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K dated August 8, 2012 (File No. 1-10042)
  Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws   
3.1   Restated Articles of Incorporation of Atmos Energy Corporation — Texas (As Amended Effective February 3, 2010)    Exhibit 3.1 to Form 10-Q dated March 31, 2010 (File No. 1-10042)
3.2   Restated Articles of Incorporation of Atmos Energy Corporation — Virginia (As Amended Effective February 3, 2010)    Exhibit 3.2 to Form 10-Q dated March 31, 2010 (File No. 1-10042)
3.3   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Atmos Energy Corporation (as of February 3, 2010)    Exhibit 3.2 of Form 8-K dated February 3, 2010 (File No. 1-10042)
  Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders, Including Indentures   
4.1   Specimen Common Stock Certificate (Atmos Energy Corporation)   
4.2   Indenture dated as of November 15, 1995 between United Cities Gas Company and Bank of America Illinois, Trustee    Exhibit 4.11(a) to Form S-3 dated August 31, 2004 (File No. 333-118706)
4.3   Indenture dated as of July 15, 1998 between Atmos Energy Corporation and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, Trustee    Exhibit 4.8 to Form S-3 dated August 31, 2004 (File No. 333-118706)
4.4   Indenture dated as of May 22, 2001 between Atmos Energy Corporation and SunTrust Bank, Trustee    Exhibit 99.3 to Form 8-K dated May 15, 2001 (File No. 1-10042)
4.5   Indenture dated as of June 14, 2007, between Atmos Energy Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, Trustee    Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K dated June 11, 2007 (File No. 1-10042)
4.6   Indenture dated as of March 23, 2009 between Atmos Energy Corporation and U.S. Bank National Corporation, Trustee    Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K dated March 26, 2009 (File No. 1-10042)
4.7(a)   Debenture Certificate for the 6 3/4% Debentures due 2028    Exhibit 99.2 to Form 8-K dated July 22, 1998 (File No. 1-10042)
4.7(b)   Global Security for the 4.95% Senior Notes due 2014    Exhibit 10(2)(f) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 (File No. 1-10042)
4.7(c)   Global Security for the 5.95% Senior Notes due 2034    Exhibit 10(2)(g) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 (File No. 1-10042)
4.7(d)   Global Security for the 6.35% Senior Notes due 2017    Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K dated June 11, 2007 (File No. 1-10042)
4.7(e)   Global Security for the 8.50% Senior Notes due 2019    Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K dated March 26, 2009 (File No. 1-10042)
4.7(f)   Global Security for the 5.5% Senior Notes due 2041    Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K dated June 10, 2011 (File No. 1-10042)

 

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Exhibit

Number

 

Description

  

Page Number or

Incorporation by

Reference to

  Material Contracts   
10.1   Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2012 among Atmos Energy Corporation, the lenders from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, U.S. Bank National Association, as Syndication Agent and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as Documentation Agent    Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K dated September 27, 2012 (File No. 1-10042)
10.2   Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2011 among Atmos Energy Corporation, the Lenders from time to time parties thereto, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as Administrative Agent, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank as Syndication Agent, Bank of America, N.A., U.S. Bank National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as Co-Documentation Agents    Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K dated May 2, 2011 (File No. 1-10042)
10.3(a)   Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2010, among Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, BNP Paribas, a bank organized under the laws of France, as administrative agent, collateral agent, as an issuing bank, a swing line bank and a bank; Société Générale as co-syndication agent, an issuing bank and a bank and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as co-syndication agent and a bank; and Natixis, New York Branch, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, and Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A. as co-documentation agents and the other financial institutions that become parties thereto    Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K dated December 8, 2010 (File No. 1-10042)
10.3(b)   Third Amended and Restated Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2010, (as amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”), among BNP Paribas, a bank organized under the laws of France, in its capacity as Collateral Agent (together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Agent”) for the Banks thereinafter referred to, and each bank and other financial institution which is now or hereafter a party to the Agreement in its capacity as a Bank and, as applicable, as a Swap Bank (collectively, the “Swap Banks”) and/or a Physical Trade Bank (collectively, the “Physical Trade Banks”)    Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K dated December 8, 2010 (File No. 1-10042)
10.4(a)   Accelerated Share Buyback Agreement with Goldman, Sachs & Co. — Master Confirmation dated July 1, 2010    Exhibit 10.6(a) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 (File No. 1-10042)
10.4(b)   Accelerated Share Buyback Agreement with Goldman, Sachs & Co. — Supplemental Confirmation dated July 1, 2010    Exhibit 10.6(b) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 (File No. 1-10042)

 

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Exhibit

Number

 

Description

  

Page Number or

Incorporation by

Reference to

10.5(a)   Guaranty of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. dated May 12, 2011    Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K dated May 12, 2011 (File No. 1-10042)
10.5(b)   Guaranty of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. dated August 8, 2012    Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K dated August 8, 2012 (File No. 1-10042)
  Executive Compensation Plans and Arrangements   
10.6(a)*   Form of Atmos Energy Corporation Change in Control Severance Agreement — Tier I    Exhibit 10.7(a) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 (File No. 1-10042)
10.6(b)*   Form of Atmos Energy Corporation Change in Control Severance Agreement — Tier II    Exhibit 10.7(b) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 (File No. 1-10042)
10.7(a)*   Atmos Energy Corporation Executive Retiree Life Plan    Exhibit 10.31 to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 (File No. 1-10042)
10.7(b)*   Amendment No. 1 to the Atmos Energy Corporation Executive Retiree Life Plan    Exhibit 10.31(a) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 (File No. 1-10042)
10.8(a)*   Atmos Energy Corporation Annual Incentive Plan for Management (as amended and restated February 10, 2011)    Exhibit 10.14 to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 (File No. 1-10042)
10.8(b)*   Amendment No 1 to the Atmos Energy Corporation Annual Incentive Plan for Management (as amended and restated February 10, 2011)   
10.9(a)*   Atmos Energy Corporation Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan, Amended and Restated in its Entirety August 7, 2007    Exhibit 10.8(a) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 (File No. 1-10042)
10.9(b)*   Atmos Energy Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (As Amended and Restated, Effective as of November 12, 2009)    Exhibit 10.10(b) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 (File No. 1-10042)
10.9(c)*   Atmos Energy Corporation Account Balance Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, Effective Date August 5, 2009    Exhibit 10.10(c) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 (File No. 1-10042)
10.9(d)*   Atmos Energy Corporation Performance-Based Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan Trust Agreement, Effective Date December 1, 2000    Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q for quarter ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 1-10042)
10.9(e)*   Form of Individual Trust Agreement for the Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan    Exhibit 10.3 to Form 10-Q for quarter ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 1-10042)
10.10(a)*   Mini-Med/Dental Benefit Extension Agreement dated October 1, 1994    Exhibit 10.28(f) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2001 (File No. 1-10042)
10.10(b)*   Amendment No. 1 to Mini-Med/Dental Benefit Extension Agreement dated August 14, 2001    Exhibit 10.28(g) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2001 (File No. 1-10042)
10.10(c)*   Amendment No. 2 to Mini-Med/Dental Benefit Extension Agreement dated December 31, 2002    Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q for quarter ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-10042)
10.11*   Atmos Energy Corporation Equity Incentive and Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2012    Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q for quarter ended December 31, 2011 (File No. 1-10042)
10.12*   Atmos Energy Corporation Outside Directors Stock-for-Fee Plan, Amended and Restated as of October 1, 2009    Exhibit 10.13 to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 (File No. 1-10042)
10.13(a)*   Atmos Energy Corporation 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended and restated February 10, 2011)    Exhibit 99.1 to Form S-8 dated October 28, 2011 (File No. 333-177593)

 

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Exhibit

Number

 

Description

  

Page Number or

Incorporation by

Reference to

  10.13(b)*   Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the Atmos Energy Corporation 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan    Exhibit 10.16(b) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 (File No. 1-10042)
  10.13(c)*   Form of Award Agreement of Restricted Stock With Time-Lapse Vesting under the Atmos Energy Corporation 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan    Exhibit 10.12(d) to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 (File No. 1-10042)
  10.13(d)*   Form of Award Agreement of Time-Lapse Restricted Stock Units under the Atmos Energy Corporation 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan   
  10.13(e)*   Form of Award Agreement of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units under the Atmos Energy Corporation 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan   
  12   Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges   
  Other Exhibits, as indicated   
  21   Subsidiaries of the registrant   
  23.1   Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP   
  24   Power of Attorney    Signature page of Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2012
  31   Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications   
  32   Section 1350 Certifications**   
  Interactive Data File   
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document   
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema   
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase   
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase   
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase   
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase   

 

 

  * This exhibit constitutes a “management contract or compensatory plan, contract, or arrangement.”

 

  ** These certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, furnished as Exhibit 32 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, will not be deemed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or incorporated by reference into any filing by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates such certifications by reference.

 

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