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

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

 

(972) 934-9227

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its 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  o      No  o

 

* The registrant has not yet been phased into the interactive data requirements.

 

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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

(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 Exchange Act)  Yes  o      No  þ

 

Number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of July 31, 2009.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

 

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Our pipeline, storage and other segment consists primarily of the operations of Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC (APS). APS owns and operates a 21 mile pipeline located in New Orleans, Louisiana. This pipeline is used primarily to aggregate gas supply for our regulated natural gas distribution division in Louisiana and for AEM, but also provides limited third party transportation services.

 

APS also engages in asset optimization activities whereby it seeks to maximize the economic value associated with the storage and transportation capacity it owns or controls. Certain of these arrangements are asset management plans with regulated affiliates of the Company which have been approved by applicable state regulatory commissions. Generally, these asset management plans require APS to share with our regulated customers a portion of the profits earned from these arrangements.

 

Further, APS owns or has an interest in underground storage fields in Kentucky and Louisiana that are used to reduce the need of our natural gas distribution divisions to contract for pipeline capacity to meet customer demand during peak periods. Finally, APS manages our natural gas gathering operations, which were limited in nature as of June 30, 2009.

 

 

In the opinion of management, all material adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation have been made to the unaudited consolidated interim-period financial statements. These consolidated interim-period financial statements are condensed as permitted by the instructions to Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of Atmos Energy Corporation included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. Because of seasonal and other factors, the results of operations for the nine-month period ended June 30, 2009 are not indicative of our results of operations for the full 2009 fiscal year, which ends September 30, 2009.

 

Significant accounting policies

 

Our accounting policies are described in Note 2 to the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 and there have been no changes to those policies. However, during the nine months ended June 30, 2009, we recognized a non-recurring $7.8 million increase in gross profit associated with a one-time update to our estimate for gas delivered to customers but not yet billed, resulting from base rate changes in several jurisdictions.

 

During the second quarter of fiscal 2009, we updated the tax rates used to record deferred taxes. The one-time tax benefit resulted in a favorable impact to net income of $11.3 million.

 

Additionally, during the second quarter of fiscal 2009, we completed our annual goodwill impairment assessment. Based on the assessment performed, we determined that our goodwill was not impaired.

 

Effective October 1, 2008, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 157, Fair Value Measurements , the measurement date requirements of SFAS 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R), SFAS 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 and SFAS 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133. Effective April 1, 2009, the Company adopted FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments, FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments, FSP FAS 157-4, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly and SFAS 165, Subsequent Events. Except for the adoption of these accounting pronouncements, which are further discussed below, there were no significant changes to our accounting policies during the nine months ended June 30, 2009.

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and enhances disclosure on fair value measurements required under other accounting pronouncements but does not change existing guidance as to whether or not an instrument is carried at fair value. The adoption of this standard did not materially impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The new disclosures required by this standard are presented in Note 4.

 

Effective October 1, 2008, the Company adopted the measurement date requirements of SFAS 158 using the remeasurement approach. Under this approach, the Company remeasured our projected benefit obligation, fair value of plan assets and our fiscal 2009 net periodic cost. In accordance with the transition rules of SFAS 158, the impact of changing the measurement date from June 30, 2008 to September 30, 2008 decreased retained earnings by $7.8 million, net of tax, decreased the unrecognized actuarial loss by $9.0 million and increased our postretirement liabilities by $3.5 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2009.

 

SFAS 159 permits an entity to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. The objective of the standard is to improve financial reporting by allowing entities to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. Entities that elect the fair value option will report unrealized gains and losses in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The fair value option may be elected on an instrument-by-instrument basis. The fair value option is irrevocable, unless a new election date occurs. The adoption of this standard did not impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

SFAS 161 expands the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities. This statement requires specific disclosures regarding how and why an entity uses derivative instruments; the accounting for derivative instruments and related hedged items; and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Since SFAS 161 only requires additional disclosures concerning derivatives and hedging activities, this standard did not have an impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The new disclosures required by this standard are presented in Note 3.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments . This FSP requires companies to disclose the fair value of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate the value and the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value. The disclosure is required for interim and annual reports. The disclosure requirements of this FSP are presented in Note 4.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments . This FSP amends the other-than-temporary impairment guidance for debt securities to make the guidance more operational and to improve the presentation and disclosure of other-than-temporary impairments on debt and equity securities in the financial statements. This FSP does not amend existing recognition and measurement guidance related to other-than-temporary impairments of equity securities. In addition, FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2 expands the existing disclosure requirements about debt and equity securities to interim reporting as well as provides new disclosure requirements. We adopted the provisions of this FSP for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. The adoption of FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2 did not impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The disclosure requirements of this FSP are presented in Note 7.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-4, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly . This FSP provides further guidance for estimating fair value in accordance with SFAS 157 when there has been a significant decrease in market activity for a financial asset and also identifies circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. The adoption of this FSP did not impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165, Subsequent Events . SFAS 165 establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before the date the financial statements are issued or available to be issued. SFAS 165 requires companies to reflect in their financial statements the effects of subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions at the balance-sheet date. Subsequent events that provide evidence about conditions that arose after the balance-sheet date should be disclosed if the financial statements would otherwise be misleading. We adopted the provisions of SFAS 165 for quarter ended June 30, 2009. We have evaluated subsequent events from the balance sheet date through the date these financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. No events have occurred subsequent to the balance sheet date that would require recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

Regulatory assets and liabilities

 

We record certain costs as regulatory assets in accordance with SFAS 71, Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation, when future recovery through customer rates is considered probable. Regulatory liabilities are recorded when it is probable that revenues will be reduced for amounts that will be credited to customers through the ratemaking process. Substantially all of our regulatory assets are recorded as a component of deferred charges and other assets and substantially all of our regulatory liabilities are recorded as a component of deferred credits and other liabilities. Deferred gas costs are recorded either in other current assets or liabilities and the regulatory cost of removal obligation is reported separately.

 

Significant regulatory assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008 included the following:

 

 

Currently, our 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. Environmental costs have been deferred to be included in future rate filings in accordance with rulings received from various state regulatory commissions.

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, as of June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008 consisted of the following unrealized gains (losses):

 

 

 

We currently use financial instruments to mitigate commodity price risk. Additionally, we periodically utilize financial instruments to manage interest rate risk. The objectives and strategies for using financial instruments have been tailored to our regulated and nonregulated businesses. The accounting for these financial instruments is fully described in Note 2 to the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. Currently, we utilize financial instruments in our natural gas distribution, natural gas marketing and pipeline, storage and other segments. However, our pipeline, storage and other segment uses financial instruments acquired from AEM on the same terms that AEM received from

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

an independent counterparty. On a consolidated basis, these financial instruments are reported in the natural gas marketing segment. 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.

 

Regulated Commodity Risk Management Activities

 

In our natural gas distribution segment, our customers are exposed to the effect 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. If the regulatory authority does not establish this level, we typically seek to hedge between 25 and 50 percent of anticipated heating season gas purchases using financial instruments. For the 2008-2009 heating season, in the jurisdictions where we are permitted to utilize financial instruments, we hedged approximately 27 percent, or 24.3 Bcf of the winter flowing gas requirements. We have not designated these financial instruments as hedges pursuant to SFAS 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities .

 

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 adjustment mechanisms in accordance with regulatory requirements. Therefore, changes in the fair value of these financial 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 SFAS 71. Accordingly, there is no earnings impact to our natural gas distribution segment as a result of the use of financial instruments.

 

Nonregulated Commodity Risk Management Activities

 

Our natural gas marketing segment, through AEM, aggregates and purchases gas supply, arranges transportation and/or storage logistics and ultimately delivers gas to our customers at competitive prices. To facilitate this process, we utilize proprietary and customer-owned transportation and storage assets to provide the various services our customers request.

 

We also perform asset optimization activities in both our natural gas marketing segment and pipeline, storage and other segment. Through asset optimization activities, we seek to maximize the economic value associated with the storage and transportation capacity we own or control. We attempt to meet this objective by engaging in natural gas storage transactions in which we seek to find and profit from pricing differences that occur over time. We purchase physical natural gas and then sell financial instruments at advantageous prices to lock in a gross profit margin. We also seek to participate in transactions in which we combine the natural gas commodity and transportation costs to minimize costs incurred to serve our customers by identifying the lowest cost alternative within the natural gas supplies, transportation and markets to which we have access. Through the use of transportation and storage services and financial instruments, we also seek to capture gross profit margin through the arbitrage of pricing differences that exist in various locations and by recognizing pricing differences that occur over time. Over time, gains and losses on the sale of storage gas inventory will be offset by gains and losses on the financial instruments, resulting in the realization of the economic gross profit margin we anticipated at the time we structured the original transaction.

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

As a result of these activities, our nonregulated operations are 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. Futures 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 natural gas marketing segment associated with deliveries under fixed-priced forward contracts to deliver gas to customers. These financial instruments have maturity dates ranging from one to 43 months. The effective portion of the unrealized gains and losses arising from the use of cash flow hedges is recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on the balance sheet. Amounts associated with cash flow hedges recognized in the income statement include (i) the amount of unrealized gain or loss that has been reclassified from AOCI when the hedged volumes are sold and (ii) the amount of ineffectiveness associated with these hedges in the period the ineffectiveness arises.

 

We use financial instruments, designated as fair value hedges, to hedge the exposure to changes in the fair value of our natural gas inventory used in our asset optimization activities in our natural gas marketing and pipeline, storage and other segments. Therefore, gains and losses arising from these financial instruments should offset the changes in the fair value of the hedged item to the extent the hedging relationship is effective. Ineffectiveness is recognized in the income statement in the period the ineffectiveness arises.

 

Our natural gas marketing segment also uses 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 pursuant to SFAS 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities .

 

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 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 June 30, 2009, AEH had net open positions (including existing storage) of 0.3 Bcf.

 

Interest Rate Risk Management Activities

 

In March 2009, we entered into a Treasury lock agreement to fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost associated with our $450 million 8.50% senior notes (the Senior Notes Offering), which was completed on March 26, 2009. The Senior Notes Offering is discussed in Note 5. We designated this Treasury

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

lock as a cash flow hedge of an anticipated transaction. This Treasury lock was settled on March 23, 2009 with the receipt of $1.9 million from the counterparty due to an increase in the 10 year Treasury rates between inception of the Treasury lock and settlement. Because the Treasury lock was effective, the net $1.2 million unrealized gain was recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and will be recognized as a component of interest expense over the 10 year life of the senior notes.

 

In prior years, we similarly managed interest rate risk by entering into Treasury lock agreements to fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost associated with anticipated financings. These Treasury locks were settled at various times at a net loss. These realized gains and losses were recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 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 these Treasury locks extend through fiscal 2035. However, the majority of the remaining amounts of these Treasury locks will be recognized through fiscal 2019.

 

Quantitative Disclosures Related to Financial Instruments

 

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

 

As of June 30, 2009, 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 June 30, 2009, we had net long/(short) commodity contracts outstanding in the following quantities:

 

 

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 June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008. As required by SFAS 161, 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 $20.6 million and $56.6 million of cash held on deposit in margin accounts as of June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

Impact of Financial Instruments on the Income Statement

 

The following tables present the impact that financial instruments had on our condensed consolidated income statement, by operating segment, as applicable, for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.

 

Hedge ineffectiveness for our natural gas marketing and pipeline storage and other segments 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 three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 we recognized a gain (loss) arising from fair value and cash flow hedge ineffectiveness of $0.2 million and $(4.7) million. For the nine months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 we recognized a gain arising from fair value and cash flow hedge ineffectiveness of $24.7 million and $40.6 million. Additional information regarding ineffectiveness recognized in the income statement is included in the tables below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 revenue.

 

 

 

 

 

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 three and nine months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. 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.

 

 

 

 

The following amounts, net of deferred taxes, represent the expected recognition in earnings of the deferred losses recorded in AOCI associated with our financial instruments, based upon the fair values of these financial instruments as of June 30, 2009:

 

 

 

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

Financial Instruments Not Designated as Hedges

 

The impact of financial instruments that have not been designated as hedges on our condensed consolidated income statements for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 is presented below. 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 to 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.

 

 

 

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements , which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement does not require any new fair value measurements; rather it provides guidance on how to perform fair value measurements as required or permitted under previous accounting pronouncements.

 

We prospectively adopted the provisions of SFAS 157 on October 1, 2008 for most of the financial assets and liabilities recorded on our balance sheet at fair value. Adoption of this statement for these assets and liabilities did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157, which provided a one-year deferral of SFAS 157 for nonrecurring fair value measurements associated with our nonfinancial assets and liabilities. Under this partial deferral, SFAS 157 will not be effective until October 1, 2009 for fair value measurements for the following:

 

 

We believe the adoption of SFAS 157 for the reporting of these nonfinancial assets and liabilities will not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In October 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-3, Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active , which clarified the application of SFAS 157 in inactive markets. This FSP did not impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

SFAS 157 also applies to the valuation of our pension and post-retirement plan assets. The adoption of this standard did not affect these valuations because SFAS 157 specifically excluded pension and post-retirement assets from its prescribed disclosure provisions. Accordingly, these plan assets are not included in the tabular disclosures below. However, in December 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 132(R)-1 — Employers’

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets , which will, among other things, require disclosure about fair value measurements similar to those required by SFAS 157. This FSP will impact our annual disclosure requirements beginning in fiscal 2010.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-4, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly . This FSP provides further guidance for estimating fair value in accordance with SFAS 157 when there has been a significant decrease in market activity for a financial asset and also identifies circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. The adoption of this FSP did not impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments . This FSP requires companies to disclose the fair value of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate the value and the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value. We have adopted the disclosure requirements of this FSP, which are presented below.

 

Determining Fair Value

 

SFAS 157 defines fair value 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 a practical expedient for determining fair value measurement, as permitted under SFAS 157. 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. Recent adverse developments in the global financial and credit markets have made it more difficult and more expensive for companies to access the short-term capital markets, which may negatively impact the creditworthiness of our counterparties. A continued tightening of the credit markets could cause more of our counterparties to fail to perform. 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.

 

SFAS 157 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  — 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.

 

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Level 2  — 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 where market data for pricing is observable.

 

Level 3  — 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. Currently, we have no assets or liabilities recorded at fair value that would qualify for Level 3 reporting.

 

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 table summarizes, by level within the fair value hierarchy, our assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2009. As required under SFAS 157, assets and liabilities are categorized in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.