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

Southwestern Energy Company
401(k) Savings Plan

December 31, 2016 and 2015





 

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Contents





















 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Participants and Benefits Administration Committee

Southwestern Energy Company 401(k) Savings Plan

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Southwestern Energy Company 401(k) Savings Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related statement 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. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits 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 Southwestern Energy Company 401(k) Savings Plan as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, 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.



The supplemental information in the accompanying schedule of assets (held at year end) as of December 31, 2016 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of Southwestern Energy Company 401(k) Savings Plan’s financial statements. The supplemental information is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but it includes supplemental information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplementary information is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental information reconciles to the basic 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 referred to above is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.



/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Houston, Texas

June 28, 2017

 

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Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

December 31,



















































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

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Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan



STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

For the Years ended December 31,





























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

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Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2016 and 2015



NOTE 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, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2016, and all subsequent amendments have been considered in the following description; the amendments made to the restated Plan agreement have no significant effect on net assets.





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” or “Employer”) and its subsidiaries except for:















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





Participants may contribute from 1% to 75% 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.  Participants may also rollover amounts from other qualified defined benefit or defined contribution plans.  The Company matches 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 17 investment options including Company stock.  Investments in the stock of Entergy Corporation originated from a previous plan merger and are no longer an active investment option.  Contributions are subject to certain limitations.



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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.





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





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. Participants may have up to two loans outstanding. 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 paid through payroll deductions.  Amounts repaid are reinvested in investment options based on the participant’s current investment elections.  At December 31, 2016, interest rates ranged from 4.25% to 4.50%.





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.





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.



NOTE B – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES





The Plan’s financial statements are presented using the accrual basis of accounting. Investments held by a defined contribution plan are reported at fair value.





The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make 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. 



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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 C for discussion of fair value measurements.



Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis.  Interest income is recorded on an 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.





Loan origination fees paid by the Plan participants to the Plan’s record-keeper are reflected as administrative expenses. All other expenses incurred in connection with the Plan are paid by the Company.  During 2016 and 2015, the Company paid $76,430 and $106,215, respectively, of expenses on behalf of the Plan.  The Company does not seek to be reimbursed by the Plan for payment of such expenses. 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.





Benefits are recorded when paid. Amounts allocated to accounts of participants who have elected to withdraw from the Plan, but have not yet received payments from the Plan, totaled $343,106 and $185,044 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.





Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest.  Delinquent loans are reclassified as distributions based upon the terms of the Plan document.  No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.





Due to timing differences, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the trustee of the Plan, may make investments as directed by participants of the Plan before funding is received. These amounts are shown as trustee payable, a liability on the statement of net assets available for benefits.



NOTE C – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS



The Plan’s investments are reported at fair value in the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits. 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.  FASB 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.

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Level 3:Unobservable inputs for 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.



Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  The assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of assets and liabilities being measured and their placement or changes in their placement within the fair value hierarchy.  Transfers between levels are recognized on the actual date of the event resulting in the transfer.



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, 2016 and 2015.



The Company’s fair value classification is based on its interest in the fund itself and does not include a “look through” to the underlying assets and liabilities.



Mutual funds:  Valued at the daily closing price as reported by the fund.  Mutual funds held by the Plan are open-ended funds that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are actively traded.  These funds are required to publish their daily net asset value (“NAV”) and to transact at that price.  The mutual funds held by the Plan are classified as Level 1.



Common stocks:  Valued at the closing price reported on the New York Stock Exchange on which the individual securities are actively traded. All of the common stocks are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are publicly traded. Therefore, all common stocks are classified as Level 1.



Collective trust:  Valued using the NAV provided by the administrator of the fund.  The NAV is based on the fair value of the underlying assets owned by the fund, less its liabilities, divided by the number of shares owned. The NAV is a quoted price in a market that is not active.  These funds transact at their NAV.  There are no restrictions in place with respect to the daily redemption of the collective trust funds.  There are no unfunded commitments at December 31, 2016. In accordance with Subtopic 820-10, investments that were measured at net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy.

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.

During the Plan years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, there were no transfers in or out of Levels 1 and 2.

The following are assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2016 and 2015:









(1) The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the line items presented in the statement of net assets available for benefits.



NOTE D – TAX STATUS



The Internal Revenue Service issued a favorable determination letter dated December 10, 2011, 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 legal 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.



Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require Plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination.  The Plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements.  The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. 



NOTE E – 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.



NOTE F – 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.



NOTE G – RELATED PARTY AND PARTY-IN-INTEREST 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.  At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Plan held 551,059 and 622,200 shares of common stock of the Company, respectively, with fair value of $5,962,456 and $4,423,841, respectively, and a cost basis of $10,451,449 and $13,632,912, respectively. There were no fees paid by the Plan for the investment management services for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.  Bank of America Merrill Lynch is the 2016 trustee and record-keeper as defined

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by the Plan, and is also a bank in Southwestern Energy Company’s revolving credit facility and a provider of banking and benefit-related services for Southwestern Energy. The Plan participants paid loan origination fees to Bank of America Merrill Lynch amounting to $17,625 and $31,275 during 2016 and 2015, respectively.



NOTE H – PARTIAL PLAN TERMINATION



On January 21, 2016, the Company notified employees of a workforce reduction plan and the Plan experienced a partial plan termination. Affected employees were offered a severance package, which included a one-time cash payment depending on length of service and, if applicable, amendments to outstanding equity awards that modified forfeiture provisions on separation from the Company.  Some affected employees were offered the opportunity to accept reduced roles with the Company.

 

Under ERISA, a partial plan termination may occur if a significant percentage of the Plan participants are terminated due to actions taken by the Plan Sponsor. The workforce reduction of approximately 40% of the Company’s employees constituted a partial plan termination as defined by ERISA, which occurs if 20% or more of plan participants are terminated. Partial plan termination results in affected participants becoming fully vested in the accrued benefits at the termination date. Participants of the Plan are fully vested on their first day of employment, therefore, the partial plan termination has no effect on the Plan or its participants. The remaining participants’ vesting continues to be determined according to the Plan provisions.



NOTE I – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS



On June 5, 2017, the Company received notice that R. Craig Owen, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, had elected to leave the Company to accept a new career opportunity with an energy company that does not compete with the Company. Mr. Owen served as the Plan Administrator.  Following Mr. Owen’s departure, Jennifer Stewart, Senior Vice President, Tax and Treasury, will fulfill the duties of Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis. Per unanimous written consent of the Benefits Administration Committee, Ms. Stewart and Randall Barron, Vice President and Treasurer, are authorized to fulfill the duties of Plan Administrator effective June 23, 2017.  

















































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SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE















 

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Southwestern Energy Company

401(k) Savings Plan









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



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Signatures



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













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