SWN 2009 Form 11-K

 

             
               
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 
 
FORM 11-K
 
 
 

(Mark One)

[ X ]

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
        For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009       
OR
               

[     ]

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                 
      For the transition period from ___________________ to __________________
                 
Commission file number 1-08246
A.

Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

             

Southwestern Energy Company 401(k) Savings Plan

               

B.

Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

               

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY
2350 N. Sam Houston Parkway E.
Suite 125
Houston, Texas 77032

               
                 


 

Financial Statements, Supplemental Schedules and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

December 31, 2009 and 2008


 


Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

1

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

Statements of net assets available for benefits – December 31, 2009 and 2008

2

Statements of changes in net assets available for benefits –

For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008

3

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

4

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES:

Form 5500 - Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of assets (held at end of year) –

December 31, 2009

13

Form 5500 - Schedule H, Line 4a – Schedule of delinquent participant contributions –

14

December 31, 2009


 



 


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


To the Participants and Retirement Committee of the

Southwestern Energy Company 401(k) Savings Plan


We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Southwestern Energy Company 401(k) Savings Plan as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.


We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.  


In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Southwestern Energy Company 401(k) Savings Plan as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.   


Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole.  The supplemental schedules of assets (held at year end) and delinquent participant contributions as of December 31, 2009, are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements, but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  These supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.  


/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

 

Tulsa, Oklahoma

June 25, 2010

 

 



Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan

 

Statements of net assets available for benefits

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

Investments at fair value

 

 

 

 

Mutual funds

$

 30,523,192 

 16,702,067 

Collective trusts

 

 9,445,030 

 

 6,422,674 

Common stocks

 

 20,208,575 

 

 11,695,639 

Participant loans

 

 1,323,571 

 

 771,407 

Total investments

 

 61,500,368 

 

 35,591,787 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

 

 

 

Participants’ contributions

 

 361,088 

 

 300,846 

Employer’s contributions

 

 222,163 

 

 152,143 

Total receivables

 

 583,251 

 

 452,989 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits at fair value

 

 62,083,619 

 

 36,044,776 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustment from fair value to contract value for interest in collective trust relating to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts

 

 (56,831)

 

 262,820 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits

$

 62,026,788 

 36,307,596 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 


2



Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan


Statements of changes in net assets available for benefits

 

 

 

 

 

For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

ADDITIONS:

 

 

 

 

Contributions

 

 

 

 

Participant

$

 7,531,832 

 6,720,401 

Employer

 

 4,028,194 

 

 3,578,609 

Rollover

 

 703,820 

 

 498,119 

Total contributions

 

 12,263,846 

 

 10,797,129 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income

 

 

 

 

Interest and dividend income

 

 670,980 

 

 1,188,990 

Net appreciation / (depreciation) in fair value of investments

 

 14,704,852 

 

 (9,336,541)

Net investment income / (loss)

 

 15,375,832 

 

 (8,147,551)

Total additions

 

 27,639,678 

 

 2,649,578 

 

 

 

 

 

DEDUCTIONS:

 

 

 

 

Benefits paid to participants

 

 1,920,486 

 

 8,422,950 

Total deductions

 

 1,920,486 

 

 8,422,950 

 

 

 

 

 

TRANSFER OUT DUE TO DISPOSITION (Note J)

 

 - 

 

 18,666,591 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase / (decrease) in net assets available for benefits

 

 25,719,192 

 

 (24,439,963)

 

 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS:

 

 

 

 

Beginning of year

 

 36,307,596 

 

 60,747,559 

End of year

$

 62,026,788 

 36,307,596 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

3


 

Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to financial statements

December 31, 2009 and 2008




A -

DESCRIPTION OF PLAN


The following description of the Southwestern Energy Company 401(k) Savings Plan (the “Plan”) provides only general information.  Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions. The Plan agreement was amended on January 1, 2009 and all amendments have been included in the notes herein; the amendments made to the Plan agreement have no significant effects on net assets.

 

1.   General

 

The Plan is a qualified defined contribution plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “IRC”).  The Plan covers all employees of Southwestern Energy Company (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries except for:  

 

a)

Employees who have not yet completed thirty (30) days of service,

 

b)

Employees whose terms of employment are covered by a collective bargaining agreement that does not provide for participation in the Plan, provided that retirement benefits have been the subject of good faith bargaining,

 

c)

Employees who are under the age of twenty-one (21),

 

d)

Seasonal employees who have one thousand (1,000) or less hours of service for the applicable computation period,

 

e)

Employees or other person who performs services pursuant to written agreement with the Employer or with a third party, unless such agreement provides for participation in the Plan,

 

f)

Leased employees, and

 

g)

Non-resident aliens.

 

The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 as amended (“ERISA”).

 

2.   Contributions

 

Participants may contribute from 1% to 25% of eligible compensation, as defined in the Plan.  Participants who have attained age 50 before the end of the Plan year are eligible to make catch-up contributions. Salary deferrals consist of pretax and/or Roth 401(k) contributions. Roth 401(k) contributions were introduced to the Plan for the pay period beginning January 1, 2009.  Participants may also rollover amounts from other qualified defined benefit or defined contribution plans.  Effective January 1, 2009, the Plan will accept a rollover contribution of Roth 401(k) contributions.  The Company contributes 100% of the first 3% of eligible compensation and 50% of the next 3% of eligible compensation that a participant contributes to the Plan.  All contributions to the Plan are invested under the direction of the participant in 16 investment options including Company stock.  Investments in the stock of Entergy Corporation originated from a


 


 

4


 

Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to financial statements - continued

December 31, 2009 and 2008



 

previous plan merger and are no longer an active investment option.  Contributions are subject to certain limitations.

 

3.   Participant Accounts

 

Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contributions and allocations of the Company’s contribution and Plan earnings.  Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined in the Plan.  The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s account balance.

 

4.   Vesting

 

Participants are immediately vested in their contributions and Company contributions plus actual earnings thereon.  

 

5.   Participant Loans

 

Participants may borrow from their fund accounts a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of a participant’s vested account balance.  The loans are secured by the balance in the participant’s account and bear fixed interest at one percentage point above the prime lending rate at the inception of the loan.  Principal and interest is generally paid through payroll deductions.  Amounts repaid are reinvested in investment options based on the participant’s current investment elections.  At December 31, 2009, interest rates ranged from 4.25% to 9.25%.

 

6.   Payment of Benefits

 

On termination of service due to death, disability, or retirement a participant or a participant’s estate may receive the full value of his or her account in a lump-sum or over an installment period of not more than 10 years.  For termination of service for other reasons, a participant may receive the value of the vested interest in his or her account as a lump-sum distribution.

 

7.   Transfers to and from Other Plans

 

The Plan transfers certain net assets to other plans in connection with participants who have terminated employment and began participating in other employer plans.  Such transfers are recorded in benefits paid to participants at the fair value of the assets on the date transferred.  Similarly, the Plan allows new participants to rollover or transfer-in assets held in other qualified plans.  Such transfers are recorded in rollover contributions at fair value.

 

 

B -

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

1.   Basis of Accounting

 

The Plan’s financial statements are presented on the accrual basis of accounting.




 

5


 

Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to financial statements - continued

December 31, 2009 and 2008



 

Investment contracts held by a defined-contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value. However, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined-contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan.  The Plan invests in investment contracts through collective trusts.  The Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits present the fair value of the investments in the collective trusts as well as the adjustment of the investment in the collective trusts from fair value to contract value relating to the investment contracts.  The Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits are prepared on a contract value basis.  

 

2.   Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  

 

3.   Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

 

The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value. Fair value is 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. See note D for discussion of fair value measurements.

 

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis.  Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.  Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Net appreciation (depreciation) includes the Plan’s gains and losses on investments bought and sold as well as held during the year.

 

4.   Plan Expenses

 

Expenses incurred in connection with the Plan are paid by the Company.  During 2009 and 2008, the Company paid $33,187 and $49,930, respectively, of expenses on behalf of the Plan.  Brokerage commissions and transfer taxes incurred in connection with securities transactions are treated as part of the purchase cost or a reduction of sales proceeds.  The Company does not seek to be reimbursed by the Plan for payment of such expenses.

 

5.   Payments of Benefits

 

Benefits are recorded when paid.




6


 

Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to financial statements - continued

December 31, 2009 and 2008



 

 

C -

INVESTMENTS


The following investments represent 5% or more of the net assets available for benefits at December 31:

 

Name

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

Southwestern Energy Company - Common Stock

$

 20,092,124 

 11,553,649 

DWS Stock Index Fund

 

 4,851,533 

 

 3,133,867 

Amer Europacific Growth - R-3 International Fund

 

 4,751,559 

 

 2,517,822 

DWS Stable Value Fund

 

 4,593,497 

 

 3,288,807 

PIMCO Funds - Total Return Fund

 

 4,127,513 

 

 2,736,650 

Davis New York Venture Fund

 

 3,354,151 

 

 2,033,263 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020 Advantage

 

 3,301,278 

 

*       

Prudential Jennison Mid Cap Growth A

 

 3,176,022 

 

*       

 

* Investment did not represent 5% or more of net assets available for benefits

 

During 2009 and 2008, the Plan’s investments (including investments bought, sold and held during the year) appreciated/ (depreciated) in value as follows:

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

Mutual funds

$

 5,825,172 

 (9,156,739)

Collective trusts

 

 968,502 

 

 (2,340,517)

Common stocks

 

 7,911,178 

 

 2,160,715 

 

$

 14,704,852 

 (9,336,541)


 

D -

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS


The Plan defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.  Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements).  The three-tier fair value hierarchy is described as follows:


Level 1

Quoted market prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.


Level 2

Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets included within Level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly.


Level 3

Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions about what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.



7


 

Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to financial statements - continued

December 31, 2009 and 2008





Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2009 and 2008.


Mutual funds: Valued at quoted market prices which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year end.


Collective trusts: Are composed of a non-benefit-responsive investment fund and a fully benefit-responsive investment contract. Investments in the non-benefit responsive investment fund are valued based upon the quoted redemption value of units owned by the Plan at year end. The fully benefit-responsive investment contract is valued based on the market values of the underlying securities based on information reported by the trustee using the audited financial statements of the collective investment trust which are as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009. There is no restriction in place with respect to the daily redemption of the collective trust funds.


Common stocks: Valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded.


Participant loans: Valued at unpaid principal balance, which approximates fair value.


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


The following are assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

 

 

2009

Description

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mutual funds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growth and income funds

$

 10,067,092

$

               -

$

               -

$

 10,067,092

Growth funds

 

   9,657,024

 

               -

 

               -

 

   9,657,024

Aggressive growth funds

 

   6,671,563

 

               -

 

               -

 

   6,671,563

Fixed income funds

 

   4,127,513

 

               -

 

               -

 

   4,127,513

Total mutual funds

 

 30,523,192

 

               -

 

               -

 

 30,523,192

Collective trusts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-benefit-responsive investment fund

 

                -

 

  4,851,533

 

               -

 

   4,851,533

Fully benefit-responsive investment contract

 

                -

 

  4,593,497

 

               -

 

   4,593,497

Total collective trusts

 

                -

 

  9,445,030

 

               -

 

   9,445,030

Common stocks

 

 20,208,575

 

               -

 

               -

 

 20,208,575

Participant loans

 

                -

 

               -

 

  1,323,571

 

   1,323,571

Total investments at fair value

$

 50,731,767

$

  9,445,030

$

  1,323,571

$

 61,500,368


 

 

8


 

Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to financial statements - continued

December 31, 2009 and 2008

 



 

 

2008

Description

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mutual funds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growth and income funds

$

   4,741,716

$

               -

$

               -

$

   4,741,716

Growth funds

 

   5,552,937

 

               -

 

               -

 

   5,552,937

Aggressive growth funds

 

   3,670,764

 

               -

 

               -

 

   3,670,764

Fixed income funds

 

   2,736,650

 

               -

 

               -

 

   2,736,650

Total mutual funds

 

 16,702,067

 

               -

 

               -

 

 16,702,067

Collective trusts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-benefit-responsive investment fund

 

                -

 

  3,133,867

 

               -

 

   3,133,867

Fully benefit-responsive investment contract

 

                -

 

  3,288,807

 

               -

 

   3,288,807

Total collective trusts

 

                -

 

  6,422,674

 

               -

 

   6,422,674

Common stocks

 

 11,695,639

 

               -

 

               -

 

 11,695,639

Participant loans

 

                -

 

               -

 

     771,407

 

      771,407

Total investments at fair value

$

 28,397,706

$

  6,422,674

$

     771,407

$

 35,591,787


   

The following table sets forth information summarizing the changes in fair value of the Plan’s Level 3 assets for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

Participant

 

Participant

 

 

Loans

 

Loans

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of year

$

 771,407 

 1,124,363 

Issuances and settlements, net

 

 552,164 

 

 (352,956)

Balance, end of year

$

 1,323,571 

 771,407 


 

E -

INVESTMENT CONTRACTS WHICH INCLUDE INSURANCE AND INVESTMENT CONTRACTS


The Plan offers the DWS Stable Value Fund which fully invests its funds into the Pyramid Stable Value Portfolio Fund (“Pyramid Fund”).  The Pyramid Fund invests in many securities including guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”), GIC alternatives, such as separate account GICs, or synthetic GICs. The Pyramid Fund may also invest in a portfolio of marketable fixed income securities and other financial instruments (collectively called “Portfolio Securities”), for which Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (“Deutsche Bank”), the trustee, may enter into one or more agreements (“Liquidity Agreements”) in the name of the Pyramid Fund, in order to provide book value liquidity for Portfolio Securities sold from the Pyramid Fund to make Plan participant-directed withdrawals. Liquidity Agreements may be issued by banks (other than Deutsche Bank or any of its affiliates), insurance companies or other financial institutions, domestic or foreign. The combination of one or more Portfolio Securities and a Liquidity Agreement is considered a GIC alternative or synthetic GIC. In a synthetic GIC structure, the underlying investments are owned by the Pyramid Fund.  A synthetic GIC is comprised of two components, an underlying asset and a wrapper contract.  Wrapper contracts generally change the investment characteristics of underlying securities



9


 

Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to financial statements - continued

December 31, 2009 and 2008




to those of guaranteed investment contracts.  The wrapper contracts provide that benefit-responsive distributions for specific underlying securities may be withdrawn at contract or fair value.  The GICs included in the Pyramid Fund represent fully benefit-responsive investment contracts with Deutsche Bank.


The difference between valuation at contract value and fair value is reflected over time through the crediting rate formula provided for in the underlying fund’s wrapper contracts. To the extent that the underlying fund has realized and unrealized losses (that are accounted for under contract value accounting through a positive value of the wrapper contract), the interest crediting rate may be lower over time than then-current market rates. Similarly, if the underlying portfolio generated realized and unrealized gains (reflected in a negative wrapper value adjustment under contract value accounting), an investor currently redeeming underlying fund units may forego any benefit related to a future crediting rate higher than then-current market rates. The guaranteed investment contract is fully benefit-responsive, and as such, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits attributable to the GIC. Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment at contract value. However, there are certain employer-initiated events that could limit the ability of the Pyramid Fund to transact at contract value. Examples of these employer-initiated events include:


1.

Plan’s failure to qualify under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended.


2.

Full or partial termination of the Plan.


3.

Involuntary termination of employment as a result of a corporate merger, divestiture spin-off, or other significant business restructuring, which may include early retirement incentive programs or bankruptcy.


4.

Changes to the administration of the Plan which decreases employee or employer contributions, the establishment of a competing plan by the Plan sponsor, the introduction of a competing investment option, or other Plan amendment that has not been approved by the contract issuer.


5.

Dissemination of a participant communication that is designed to induce participants to transfer assets from the stable value option.


6.

Events resulting in a material and adverse financial impact on the contract issuer, including changes in the tax code, laws or regulations.


7.

Certain Plan level withdrawals or Plan participant-directed withdrawals that are deemed not normal, as defined in the Pyramid Fund description.


The Plan administrator does not believe that the occurrence of any such value event, which would limit the Plan’s ability to transact at contract value with participants, is probable.


Issuers cannot terminate the wrapper contracts unless there is a breach of the contract.  Actions that would lead to such a breach (after the relevant cure period) include, but would not be limited to, material misrepresentation, failure to pay wrapper fees, or failure to adhere to investment guidelines.




10


 

Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to financial statements - continued

December 31, 2009 and 2008




The relationship between future interest crediting rates and the adjustment to contract value reported on the statement of net assets is accomplished through the crediting rate formula. The difference between the book and market value of each contract is periodically amortized into each contract’s crediting rate. The amortization factor is calculated by dividing the difference between the market and book of each contract by the duration of the bond portfolio covered by the contract. The crediting interest rate is reset on a quarterly basis. The minimum crediting rate under the terms of the contract is 0%.


Key factors that could influence future average interest crediting rates include, but are not limited to, cash flows experienced by the Pyramid Fund, changes in level of interest rates, total return performance of the underlying bond strategies within each synthetic GIC contract, defaults of credit failures in the underlying bond portfolios, or the immunization of one or more synthetic GIC contracts. The average yield and crediting interest rates were 2.73% and 2.61%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2009. The average yield and crediting interest rates were 6.95% and 4.14% respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2008.


F -

TAX STATUS


The Internal Revenue Service issued a favorable determination letter dated December 10, 2001, stating that the Plan was designed in accordance with the applicable requirements of the IRC.  The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter.  However, the Plan administrator and the Plan’s tax counsel believe that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC.  Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.   


G -

PLAN TERMINATION


Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA.  


H -

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES


The Plan provides for various investment options in any combination of mutual funds, common stocks and collective trusts.  Investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risks.  Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits.


I -

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS


Plan investments include shares of Southwestern Energy Company common stock.  These transactions represent investments in the Company and therefore, qualify as party-in-interest transactions.  Plan investments also include shares of mutual funds managed by DWS Trust Company.  DWS Trust Company is the trustee as defined by the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions.  



11


 

Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to financial statements - continued

December 31, 2009 and 2008




There were no fees paid by the Plan for the investment management services for the year ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.


J -

TRANSFER OUT DUE TO DISPOSITION


Pursuant to the purchase and sale agreement between the Company and SourceGas, LLC dated November 9, 2007, the Company’s utility subsidiary, Arkansas Western Gas Company (“AWG”), was sold to SourceGas, LLC on July 1, 2008, and all AWG employees became employees of SourceGas, LLC.  As required in the purchase and sale agreement, the participating AWG employees’ account balances, totaling $18,666,591 in the aggregate, were transferred to the SourceGas, LLC plan on the closing date.


K -

RECONCILIATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO FORM 5500


The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500 as of December 31:


 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements

$

 62,026,788 

 36,307,596 

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

 

 56,831 

 

 (262,820)

Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500

$

 62,083,619 

 36,044,776 


 

The following is a reconciliation of total additions per the financial statements to total income to the 2009 Form 5500 as of December 31:

 

 

 

2009

 

 

 

Total additions per the financial statements

$

 27,639,678 

Reversal of prior year adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts

 

 262,820 

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

 

 56,831 

Total income per the Form 5500

$

 27,959,329 


 

L -

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS


No subsequent events were identified requiring additional recognition or disclosure in the accompanying financial statements.





12





SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES





 

Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan


Form 5500 – Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of assets (held at end of year)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

(e)

Party-in- Interest Identification

 

Identity of Issue, Borrower, Lessor or Similar Party

 

Description of Investment,  Including Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Collateral, Par or Maturity Value

 

Current Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

Southwestern Energy Company

 

416,849 Common Shares

$

  20,092,124

 

 

DWS Stock Index Fund

 

Collective Trust

 

    4,851,533

 

 

Amer Europacific Growth - R-3 International Fund

 

Mutual Fund

 

    4,751,559

 

 

DWS Stable Value Fund

 

Collective Trust

 

    4,593,497

 

 

PIMCO Funds - Total Return Fund

 

Mutual Fund

 

    4,127,513

 

 

Davis New York Venture Fund

 

Mutual Fund

 

    3,354,151

 

 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020 Advantage

 

Mutual Fund

 

    3,301,278

 

 

Prudential Jennison Mid Cap Growth A

 

Mutual Fund

 

    3,176,022

 

 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040 Advantage

 

Mutual Fund

 

    2,802,676

 

 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030 Advantage

 

Mutual Fund

 

    2,501,603

 

 

Aston/River Road Small Cap Value

 

Mutual Fund

 

    1,920,005

 

 

Aston/Montag Caldwell Long Term Growth Fund

 

Mutual Fund

 

    1,588,683

 

 

BlackRock Equity Dividend 1

 

Mutual Fund

 

    1,538,168

 

 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2010 Advantage

 

Mutual Fund

 

       831,376

 

 

T. Rowe Price Retirement Income Advantage

 

Mutual Fund

 

       630,158

 

 

Entergy Corporation

 

1,423 Common Shares

 

       116,451

*

 

Participant loans

 

Participant loans with interest rates from 4.25% to 9.25% and maturity dates through 2015

 

    1,323,571

 

 

 

 

 

$

  61,500,368

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Party-in-interest

 

Note:  Column (d) has been omitted as all investments are participant directed.





13



 

Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan

 

Form 5500, Schedule H, Line 4a

Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total That Constitute Nonexempt Prohibited Transactions

 

 

Participant Contributions Transferred Late to Plan

 

Contributions Not Corrected

 

Contributions Corrected Outside National Family Caregiver Program

 

Contributions Pending Correction in VFCP

 

Total Fully Corrected Under Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VCFP) and Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2002-51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 $                    36,266

 

 $                           -

 

 $                            -

 

 $                           -

 

 $                   36,266

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

14


 

 

SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Administrator of the Plan has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

   

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

 
         
         

Date:   June 25, 2010

By:

/s/ GREG D. KERLEY

Greg D. Kerley
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer,
Southwestern Energy Company

 

 

 


 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT  NUMBER

EXHIBIT

         

23.1

Consent of Grant Thornton LLP