Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM 11-K
 
 
FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS
AND SIMILAR PLANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Mark One)
ý
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015
OR
 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                     to                    
Commission File Number 33-57687
ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT
SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST
(Full title of the plan and the address of the
plan, if different from that of the issuer named below)
ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
Three Lincoln Centre, Suite 1800
5430 LBJ Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75240
(Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the
address of its principal executive office)






TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
  
Page
Number
 
 
 
 
Audited Financial Statements:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental Schedule:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



1


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Participants and the Qualified Retirement Plans and Trusts Committee of the Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and Trust
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and Trust (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Plan’s management is responsible for these financial statements. 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 Plan as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The supplemental information in the accompanying schedule of Form 5500, Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2015 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial statements. The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental schedule reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental information. In forming our opinion on the supplemental information in the accompanying schedule, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental information in the accompanying schedule is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.
 
 
 
 
/s/ Whitley Penn LLP
Dallas, Texas
June 20, 2016


2


ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT
SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
 
 
 
December 31
 
 
2015
 
2014
Assets
 
 
 
 
Investments, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
Common stock of Atmos Energy Corporation
 
$
276,478,595

 
$
247,968,285

Registered Investment Companies:
 
 
 
 
T. Rowe Price Balanced Fund
 
18,819,487

 
20,166,716

T. Rowe Price Spectrum Income Fund
 
18,808,010

 
12,464,404

T. Rowe Price Spectrum Growth Fund
 
14,431,651

 
27,669,458

T. Rowe Price Short-Term Bond Fund
 
4,073,536

 
4,220,595

T. Rowe Price U.S. Bond Index Fund
 
20,277,186

 
27,792,836

T. Rowe Price New Horizons Fund
 
31,396,650

 
31,730,794

T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Value Fund
 
23,812,842

 
26,168,306

T. Rowe Price New America Growth Fund
 
26,933,500

 
16,495,045

T. Rowe Price Equity Income Fund
 
31,240,009

 
35,837,195

T. Rowe Price Growth Stock Fund
 
20,344,230

 
18,167,403

Vanguard Institutional Index
 
34,880,706

 
34,012,934

Harbor International Fund
 
29,779,151

 
31,125,949

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2005 Fund
 
277,524

 
266,219

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2010 Fund
 
1,871,172

 
1,673,078

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2015 Fund
 
3,317,639

 
3,664,156

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020 Fund
 
9,344,865

 
9,500,831

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025 Fund
 
6,981,146

 
6,951,282

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030 Fund
 
5,618,510

 
5,134,414

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035 Fund
 
5,864,962

 
5,329,745

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040 Fund
 
5,030,435

 
4,377,800

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045 Fund
 
6,203,233

 
5,187,330

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2050 Fund
 
4,675,636

 
3,788,631

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2055 Fund
 
2,760,122

 
1,836,125

T. Rowe Price Retirement Balanced Fund
 
1,205,095

 
976,960

Common/Collective Trust:
 
 
 
 
T. Rowe Price Stable Value Common Trust Fund
 
31,441,231

 
21,985,448

Common stock of Entergy Corporation
 

 
97,686

Common stock of Frontier Communications Corporation, Class B
 

 
122,051

Total investments
 
635,867,123

 
604,711,676

Receivables:
 
 
 
 
Transfer from Atmos Energy Holdings 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan
 
25,146,700

 

Due from broker
 
159,964

 
326,279

Notes receivable from participants
 
21,195,978

 
20,208,647

Total receivables
 
46,502,642

 
20,534,926

Net assets available for benefits
 
$
682,369,765

 
$
625,246,602

See accompanying notes

3


ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT
SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
Year ended December 31, 2015
 
 
 
Additions to Net Assets
Investment income:
 
Net appreciation in fair value of investments
$
14,223,025

Dividends on common stocks
7,009,765

Dividends on registered investment companies
19,678,548

Dividends on common/collective trust
530,251

Total investment income
41,441,589

 
 
Other Income
 
Interest received on notes receivable from participants
1,098,170

 
 
Contributions:
 
Participants
22,346,808

Company - noncash
11,647,460

Company - cash
2,104,841

Rollovers
909,296

Total contributions
37,008,405

 
 
Total additions to net assets
79,548,164

 
 
Deductions from Net Assets
 
Distributions to participants
47,397,562

Administrative expenses
174,139

Total deductions from net assets
47,571,701

Net increase in net assets available for benefits
31,976,463

 
 
Transfer from Atmos Energy Holdings 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan
25,146,700

 
 
Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
Beginning of year
625,246,602

End of year
$
682,369,765

 
 
See accompanying notes

4

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT
SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2015


1. Description of the Plan
The following brief description of the Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and Trust (the Plan) is provided for general information only. Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description for a more detailed description of the Plan’s provisions.
General
The Plan is a trusteed defined contribution retirement benefit plan offered to eligible employees of Atmos Energy Corporation (the Company, Atmos Energy or Plan Sponsor). The Plan is to continue for an indefinite term and may be amended or terminated at any time by the Board of Directors of Atmos Energy (the Board). The Plan is administered by the Qualified Retirement Plans and Trusts Committee (the Committee), which is appointed by the Board. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA).
On December 31, 2015, the Atmos Energy Holdings 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the AEH Plan) administered by Fidelity was merged into the Plan. All participants in the AEH Plan became eligible to participate in the Plan. The participants' salary deferral rates that were in effect under the AEH Plan at the time of merger were mapped to the Plan. On December 31, 2015 all assets and loans of active and inactive participants were transferred to the Plan. The Plan was amended and restated effective January 1, 2016.
Eligibility
Substantially all employees of the Company, other than leased employees, (Participants) are automatically enrolled in the Plan at a salary deferral rate of four percent (4%) of their compensation. Participants have a 30-day period to opt out of automatic enrollment. After 30 days, if the Participant has not opted out, salary deferrals begin at the automatic enrollment level of 4%.
Contributions
Contributions to the Plan include contributions withheld by the Company on behalf of each Participant in an amount specified by the Participant pursuant to a salary deferral agreement, as well as matching and fixed annual Company contributions.
Participants may elect a deferral rate ranging from a minimum of one percent (1%) up to a maximum of 65 percent of eligible compensation, as defined by the Plan, not to exceed the maximum allowed by the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) ($18,000 in 2015 or $24,000 for those participants age 50 or older).
The Company contributes a matching Company contribution, in the form of Atmos Energy common stock, in an amount equal to 100 percent of each Participant’s salary deferral contribution, up to a maximum of 4% of such Participant’s eligible compensation, as defined by the Plan, for the Plan year. The Company’s matching contribution meets the current Internal Revenue Service (IRS) “Safe Harbor” definition. The Company may revoke or amend any Participant’s salary deferral agreement if necessary to ensure that (1) each Participant’s salary deferrals for any year will not exceed applicable Code limitations and (2) Company matching contributions will be fully deductible for federal income tax purposes. Additionally, employees who joined the Plan subsequent to September 30, 2010 receive a fixed annual Company contribution of 4% of eligible compensation to their Plan account. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company made fixed annual contributions for enhanced Plan participants of $2,104,841.
Participants are eligible to receive matching and fixed annual Company contributions after completing at least one year of service, effective on the first full pay period after which one year of service has been completed.
Employee deferral contributions and the Company’s matching contributions are immediately and fully vested. The fixed annual Company contribution fully vests after three years of service.
Forfeitures
Forfeitures are first used to fund any restorations of previously forfeited fixed annual Company contributions of former participants that are rehired. Any remaining forfeitures are used to reduce Company matching contributions.

5

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT
SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


Investment Options
The Plan allows Participant salary deferral contributions to be invested among a variety of registered investment companies, one common/collective trust and Atmos Energy common stock.
Investments in Atmos Energy common stock are participant directed. All Company matching contributions are directed into Atmos Energy common stock. All Participant and Company contributions made to Atmos Energy common stock are allowed to be diversified at any time after the contribution is made into one or more of the other investment options offered by the Plan.
The Plan’s investments in the common stock of Entergy Corporation and Frontier Communications Corporation are held in separate accounts within the Plan. These accounts were established to accommodate employees who elected to hold these investments when they transferred their accounts into the Plan from a predecessor plan following an acquisition. These accounts were established as frozen accounts where the funds could be liquidated but no new stock added. Effective April 30, 2015, both of these accounts were liquidated and the proceeds were reallocated to other Plan investments as chosen by the affected Participants.
Distributions to Participants
Dividends received on Atmos Energy common stock are automatically reinvested in Atmos Energy common stock. However, a Participant may elect to receive dividends paid in cash. This election may be made at any time during the period beginning on the first business day on or after the dividend record date and ending at a time specified by the Committee on the last business day preceding the dividend payout date. Cash dividends received on Atmos Energy common stock, in accordance with the Plan, must be distributed to Participants no later than 90 days after the Plan’s year end. Currently, the dividends are distributed quarterly. Once a Participant elects to receive dividends in cash, the election will remain in effect until the election is changed.
In the event of retirement, death, termination due to disability or termination of employment for another reason, a Participant, or beneficiary in the event of death, is entitled to withdraw their account from the Plan. Effective January 1, 2009, at the time of termination, Participants who do not have Plan loans outstanding are entitled to take one or more partial distributions from their account.
 
Withdrawals from a Participant’s salary deferral account are allowed upon proof of financial hardship meeting IRS “Safe Harbor” definitions. Hardship withdrawals are not permitted from the Company matching or fixed annual Company contribution accounts.
If elected, subsequent to the Participant attaining age 59  1/2, withdrawals may be made from a Participant’s salary deferral account as well as the vested portion of the Company matching account; however, withdrawals may not be made from the fixed annual Company contribution account. Withdrawals of investments in Atmos Energy common stock may be in the form of Atmos Energy common stock or cash, as determined by the Committee, at the Participant's discretion.
A Participant may elect to receive an annual distribution of Company matching or discretionary contributions made to their account prior to January 1, 1999 and which were allocated to their account at least two years prior to such election. These annual elections are made in January each year. The annual distribution from the Plan is also made in January of each year, shortly after the elections are processed. Company matching contributions made after January 1, 1999 meet the current IRS “Safe Harbor” definition and are not eligible for in-service withdrawal.
Loans to Participants
A Participant may borrow up to the lesser of $50,000 or 50 percent of their account balance, with a minimum loan amount of $1,000. Loans are repaid through payroll deductions over periods of up to five years for general purpose loans or 15 years for primary residence loans. The interest rate is the U.S. prime rate plus 2 percent and is fixed over the life of the loan. Until December 31, 2015 a Participant could have a maximum of two loans outstanding at any one time. Effective January 1, 2016, a Participant may only have one loan outstanding at any time.
If a Participant has an outstanding loan in force and terminates employment, the Participant may elect to continue to pay the loan according to the payment schedule that was set up at the time the loan was initiated. If this option is elected, the Participant must also leave their account balance in the Plan. Under a second option, the Participant may elect to have the outstanding loan balance treated as a distribution from the Plan. A third option provides that the Participant may repay the loan in full within the date range established by IRS rules and stated in the Plan's loan policy.

6

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT
SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


Plan Termination
While the Company has not expressed any intent to terminate the Plan, it is free to do so at any time. In the event of the dissolution, merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company, the Plan will terminate and the trust will be liquidated, unless the Plan is continued by a successor. Upon such liquidation, all accounts shall be fully vested and will be distributed to the Participants.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The financial statements of the Plan are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting. Distributions to Participants are recorded when paid.

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

Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The most significant estimate relates to fair value measurements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
Shares of registered investment companies are valued at fair value based on published market prices, which represents the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year end. Investments in common stock are valued at fair value based on quoted market prices.
The common/collective trust (CCT) is comprised primarily of fully benefit-responsive investment contracts, which include conventional, synthetic and separate account investment contracts issued by life insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions, designed to provide principal stability and a competitive yield. The CCT is valued at the net asset value of units of the T. Rowe Price Trust Company (T. Rowe Price) collective trust. The net asset value is used as a practical expedient to estimate fair value. The practical expedient would not be used if it is determined to be probable that the fund will sell the investment for an amount different from the reported net asset value. Participant transactions (purchases and sales) may occur daily. If the Plan initiates a full redemption of the collective trust, the issuer reserves the right to require 12 months' notification in order to ensure that securities liquidations will be carried out in an orderly business manner.
The fair value methods described may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Committee believes the valuation methods used are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain assets could result in a different fair value measurement at the measurement date.
Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade date basis. Investment income is recorded on the accrual basis and dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are reported on the average historical cost method. Capital gains and losses are included in interest and dividend income.
Notes Receivable from Participants
Notes receivable from participants represent Participant loans that are recorded at their remaining outstanding balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Interest income on notes receivable from participants is recorded when earned.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In July 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance intended to reduce complexity in employee benefit plan financial reporting and disclosure requirements. Upon adoption of the new standard, plans are no longer required to measure fully benefit-responsive investment contracts at fair value, disaggregate investments by nature, risks and characteristics, disclose individual investments that represent five percent or more of net assets available for benefits or disclose net appreciation or depreciation for investments by general type. The guidance is effective for the Plan on January 1, 2016;

7

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT
SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


earlier application is permitted. The Plan adopted the guidance for the year beginning January 1, 2015. The standard clarified that indirect investments in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts through investment companies (e.g., stable value collective trust funds) are not in the scope of the guidance and that plans should report these investments at fair value. The Plan now measures its investment in the CCT at fair value, using the net asset value per share practical expedient, and no longer adjusts net assets available for benefits from fair value to contract value. The prior-year amount has also been changed to conform to the new standard.
In May 2015, the FASB issued guidance removing the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The guidance is effective for the Plan on January 1, 2016; earlier application is permitted. The Plan adopted the guidance for the year beginning January 1, 2015. The adoption of this standard did not impact the Plan’s statement of net assets available for benefits or statement of changes in net assets available for benefits. The investment in the CCT was removed from the fair value hierarchy in Note 4 and presented separately in the table.
Subsequent Events
Except as disclosed in Note 1 concerning the amendment and restatement of the Plan and the change in the loan policy, no events occurred subsequent to the statement of net assets available for benefits date that would require recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
3. Administration of the Plan and Plan Assets
The Plan is administered by the Committee, consisting of at least three persons who are appointed by the Board. The members of the Committee serve at the appointment of the Board without compensation from the Plan. Certain administrative functions are performed by employees of the Company. No employee of the Company receives compensation from the Plan.
In accordance with the Plan, the Company has appointed the Committee as Trustee of the Plan. The Trustee may be removed at the discretion of the Board. The Trustee shall vote any common stock held in the trust in accordance with directions received from the Participants or at its discretion if there are no such directions. The Plan’s assets are held by T. Rowe Price, the custodian and recordkeeper of the Plan.
All administrative expenses of the Plan are paid by the Company except for processing fees related to loans to participants, which are paid by the Participant.
4. Fair Value Measurements
Authoritative accounting literature establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value based on observable and unobservable data. The hierarchy categorizes the inputs into three levels, with the highest priority given to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority given to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The asset’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The levels of the hierarchy are described below:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for the asset is defined as a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. The Plan’s Level 1 measurements consist of registered investment companies (mutual funds) and corporate stock.
Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset as of the reporting date. These inputs are derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. Currently, the Plan has no assets recorded at fair value that would qualify for Level 2 reporting.
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little, if any, market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets as of the measurement date. Currently, the Plan has no assets recorded at fair value that would qualify for Level 3 reporting.
 
The Plan records accounts receivable at carrying value, which substantially approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets.

8

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT
SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s assets at fair value as of December 31, 2015 and 2014:
 
 
 
Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2015
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered investment companies
 
$
327,947,297

 
$

 
$

 
$
327,947,297

Corporate stock
 
276,478,595

 

 

 
276,478,595

Total assets in the fair value hierarchy
 
$
604,425,892

 
$

 
$

 
604,425,892

Investments measured at net asset value (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31,441,231

Investments at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
635,867,123

 
 
 
Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2014
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered investment companies
 
$
334,538,206

 
$

 
$

 
$
334,538,206

Corporate stock
 
248,188,022

 

 

 
248,188,022

Total assets in the fair value hierarchy
 
$
582,726,228

 
$

 
$

 
582,726,228

Investments measured at net asset value (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21,985,448

Investments at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
604,711,676


(1) 
Investments in our CCT that are measured at net asset value per share equivalent are not classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented are intended to reconcile the fair value hierarchy to the line items presented in the statement of net assets available for benefits.

The following table summarizes investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. There are no participant redemption restrictions for these investments; the redemption notice period is applicable only to the Plan.

December 31, 2015
 
Fair Value
 
Unfunded Commitments
 
Redemption Frequency (if Currently Eligible)
 
Redemption Notice Period
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
T. Rowe Price Stable Value Common Trust Fund
 
$
31,441,231

 
n/a
 
Daily
 
12 months

December 31, 2014
 
Fair Value
 
Unfunded Commitments
 
Redemption Frequency (if Currently Eligible)
 
Redemption Notice Period
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
T. Rowe Price Stable Value Common Trust Fund
 
$
21,985,448

 
n/a
 
Daily
 
12 months

9

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT
SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


5. Party-in-Interest Transactions
Certain Plan investments in registered investment companies and a common/collective trust fund are managed by T. Rowe Price. T. Rowe Price is the custodian and recordkeeper; therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Additionally, a portion of the Plan’s assets are invested in Atmos Energy common stock. Because the Company is the Plan Sponsor, transactions involving Atmos Energy common stock qualify as party-in-interest transactions. All of these party-in-interest transactions are exempt from the prohibited transaction rules. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Plan held 4,385,765 and 4,448,660 shares of Atmos Energy common stock and received $7,009,765 in dividends from Atmos Energy common stock during 2015.
 
At December 31, 2015 and 2014 the percentage of the Plan’s investments held in the Company’s common stock was 43.5% and 41.0%.
6. Income Tax Status
The Plan has received a determination letter from the IRS dated August 20, 2014 stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code; therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Subsequent to this determination by the IRS, the Plan was amended. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification. The Plan administrator believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and therefore believes that the Plan, as amended, is qualified and the related trust is tax-exempt.
7. Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect Participant account balances and the amounts reported in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits and the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.
8. Reconciliation of the Financial Statements to Form 5500
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500:
 
 
December 31,
 
2014
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
$
625,246,602

Adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
323,406

Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500
$
625,570,008


The following is a reconciliation of the net increase in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2015 per the financial statements to the Form 5500:
 
 
 
Net increase in net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
$
31,976,463

Change in adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
(323,406
)
Net increase in net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500
$
31,653,057



10


ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RETIREMENT
SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST
Form 5500, SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i -
SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)
EIN: 75-1743247
PLAN NUMBER: 002
December 31, 2015
 
(a)
 
(b)
Identity of issue,
borrower, lessor
or similar party
 
(c)
Description of investment
including maturity date,
rate of interest, collateral,
par or maturity value
 
(d)
Cost
 
(e)
Current
value
*
 
Atmos Energy Corporation
 
Common stock; 4,385,765 shares
 
**
 
$
276,478,595

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Stable Value Common Trust Fund
 
**
 
31,441,231

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Balanced Fund
 
**
 
18,819,487

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Spectrum Income Fund
 
**
 
18,808,010

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Spectrum Growth Fund
 
**
 
14,431,651

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Short-Term Bond Fund
 
**
 
4,073,536

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
U.S. Bond Index Fund
 
**
 
20,277,186

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
New Horizons Fund
 
**
 
31,396,650

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Mid-Cap Value Fund
 
**
 
23,812,842

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
New America Growth Fund
 
**
 
26,933,500

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Equity Income Fund
 
**
 
31,240,009

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Growth Stock Fund
 
**
 
20,344,230

 
 
Vanguard Group, Inc.
 
Vanguard Institutional Index
 
**
 
34,880,706

 
 
Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc.
 
Harbor International Fund
 
**
 
29,779,151

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Retirement 2005 Fund
 
**
 
277,524

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Retirement 2010 Fund
 
**
 
1,871,172

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Retirement 2015 Fund
 
**
 
3,317,639

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Retirement 2020 Fund
 
**
 
9,344,865

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Retirement 2025 Fund
 
**
 
6,981,146

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Retirement 2030 Fund
 
**
 
5,618,510

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Retirement 2035 Fund
 
**
 
5,864,962

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Retirement 2040 Fund
 
**
 
5,030,435

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Retirement 2045 Fund
 
**
 
6,203,233

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Retirement 2050 Fund
 
**
 
4,675,636

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Retirement 2055 Fund
 
**
 
2,760,122

*
 
T. Rowe Price Trust Company
 
Retirement Balanced Fund
 
**
 
1,205,095

*
 
Notes receivable from participants
 
Interest rates from 5.25% to 9.25%
 
-0-
 
21,195,978

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
657,063,101

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
 
Indicates party-in-interest to the Plan
**
 
Cost information in column (d) is not required for participant-directed investments

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Qualified Retirement Plans and Trusts Committee, the Trustee, of the Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and Trust, as amended, has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ BRET J. ECKERT
 
 
 
Bret J. Eckert
 
 
 
Chairman of the Qualified
Retirement Plans and
Trusts Committee
June 20, 2016


12


EXHIBITS INDEX
 
 
 
 
Exhibit Number
Description
Page Number or Incorporation by Reference to
 
 
 
4
Instruments defining rights of security holders:
 
 
 
 
 
(a)  Atmos Energy Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and Trust (Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2016)
 
 
 
 
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Whitley Penn LLP
 


13