EX-99.1 2 d736678dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

National Grid USA Companies’

Incentive Thrift Plan II

Financial Statements and

Supplemental Schedule

December 31, 2013 and 2012

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Table of Contents

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

         Page    

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

    1

Financial Statements

   

Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits

    2

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

    3

Notes to Financial Statements

    4

Supplemental Schedule

   

Schedule H, Line 4(i) - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

    20

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Plan Administrator

National Grid USA Companies’

Incentive Thrift Plan II

Brooklyn, New York

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II (the Plan) as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2013. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our 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 includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2013 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Our audits were made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedules are presented for purposes of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are presented fairly, in all material respects, in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

/s/ CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

June 30, 2014

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

     2013     2012  

Assets

     

Investments, at fair value

    $ 1,602,355,987      $ 1,352,804,793   
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

Plan interest in Master Trust

      397,446,694        402,751,041   
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

Receivables:

     

Dividends

      2,955,455        2,868,647   

Employer contributions

      4,996        60   

Employee contributions

      -        389   

Notes receivable from participants

      58,189,103        56,874,827   
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

Total receivables

      61,149,554        59,743,923   
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

Total assets

      2,060,952,235        1,815,299,757   

Liabilities

      -        -   
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

Net assets available for benefits at fair value

      2,060,952,235        1,815,299,757   

Adjustments from Fair Value to Contract Value for
Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts

      (1,070,216 )      (10,397,372 ) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

Net assets available for benefits

    $ 2,059,882,019      $ 1,804,902,385   
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

See notes to financial statements

 

2

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

Year Ended December 31, 2013

 

Additions to Net Assets Attributed to

   

Investment income:

   

Net appreciation in fair value of investments

    $ 239,279,588   

Interest and dividend income

      19,927,338   
  

 

 

  

Total investment income

      259,206,926   
  

 

 

  

Interest income on notes receivable from participants

      1,854,040   
  

 

 

  

Contributions:

   

Employee contributions

      94,438,880   

Employer contributions

      15,969,274   

Rollover contributions

      10,786,849   
  

 

 

  

Total contributions

      121,195,003   
  

 

 

  

Total additions

      382,255,969   
  

 

 

  

Deductions from Net Assets Attributed to

   

Benefits paid to participants

      120,940,579   

Fees

      278,940   
  

 

 

  

Total deductions

      121,219,519   
  

 

 

  

Transfer of Assets to Thrift Plan I

      6,056,816   
  

 

 

  

Net increase in net assets available for benefits

      254,979,634   

Net Assets, Beginning

      1,804,902,385   
  

 

 

  

Net Assets, Ending

    $ 2,059,882,019   
  

 

 

  

See notes to financial statements

 

3

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

 

1.

Description of the Plan

The following description of the National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II (the “Plan”) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

Plan Description

The Plan was established effective September 1, 1984, pursuant to the authorization of the Board of Directors of certain subsidiaries of the New England Electric System (“NEES”), to provide a long-range program of systematic savings for eligible employees (the “Participants”). The Plan was renamed National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II upon the merger between National Grid plc and NEES on March 22, 2000, at which time NEES was renamed National Grid USA.

Employees of participating subsidiaries of National Grid USA (collectively, the “Employers” or the “Company”) who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, where participation in the Plan is pursuant to the terms of that agreement, are immediately eligible to participate in the Plan upon employment. Various Employers’ Matching Contribution (“Matching Contribution”) formulas and eligibility for Matching Contributions are determined under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement for each participating union group.

The Plan was prepared in conformity with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).

The plan administrators are the Benefits Committee and the Investment Committee of National Grid USA Service Company, Inc. (the “Administrator”). The Board of Directors of National Grid plc has the governing authority to amend the Plan, but has delegated certain amending authority to the Board of Directors of National Grid USA Service Company, Inc. (“Service Company”).

Vanguard serves as record keeper of the Plan. The Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company is trustee and custodian for all assets and Participant accounts with the exception of the Master Trust. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells Fargo”) is the Master Trustee and custodian for the assets of the Plan related to investments in the Galliard Stable Value Fund.

The Company has expanded pursuant to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) guidance the definition of qualifying hardship.

The Plan has been amended to address recent court cases regarding divorces and the distribution of benefits.

The Plan was amended to address administrative issues relevant to corrections for participant deferrals.

Vanguard separated the cost of administering the Plan from the cost of managing investments beginning in the fourth quarter of 2013. The charge for administering the Plan will be shown as a separate quarterly fee for each participant’s account on the statement in January 2014. The administration fee will be the same for every Plan participant.

 

4

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

The Plan has evaluated subsequent events for recognition or disclosure through June 30, 2014, the date the financial statements were issued.

Contributions

The Plan is a defined contribution plan. An eligible employee can make Elective Contributions through Contribution Agreements (also known as “Salary Reduction Agreements” or “Elective Contributions”) to have from 1% to 50% of their eligible compensation contributed to the Plan on their behalf. Participants can choose whether their Elective Contributions to the Plan will be calculated on their Base Pay or All Pay.

Base Pay is defined as the Participant’s regular pay, prior to any salary reductions for Elective Contributions to the Plan, and any other salary reductions under the Health Care Spending Account Plan, Family Day Care Assistance Plan or for Company health care coverage.

Base Pay excludes all other forms of compensation, including supplemental disability income, amounts deferred under other plans, reimbursements of expenses, incentive pay, commissions, options, payments made in lieu of vacation days or under short- or long-term disability provisions, awards, overtime, premiums, and any other additional forms of earnings (including Company contributions to or under any other employee benefit plan, such as health insurance, pension, or severance pay).

All Pay is Base Pay, as defined above, plus overtime, commissions, premium pay, and any incentive pay.

The annual employee pre-tax Elective Contributions by each Participant were subject to IRS limits of $17,500 and $17,000 in 2013 and 2012, respectively, for employees who did not attain age 50 by the end of the respective plan year. For employees who did attain age 50 by the last day of the applicable plan year, the annual maximum pre-tax contribution was $23,000 and $22,500 for 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Participants can also elect to contribute up to 15% of their pay on an after-tax basis. The total amount of Elective Contributions (pre-tax and after-tax) may not exceed 50% of pay (further subject to the combined IRS annual contribution limit, adjusted periodically by law, which was $51,000 and $50,000 for 2013 and 2012, respectively).

 

5

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

Company Core Contributions

Beginning January 1, 2011, certain union groups, pursuant to their collective bargaining agreement, have begun making Company Core Contributions for eligible Participants. The Company calculates a Participant’s Core Contribution each payroll period, based on actual compensation for that payroll period. The contribution is a percentage of pay based on the Participant’s total points as set forth in the plan documents as of January 1 of the plan year.

 

Points

  

Core Contribution (% of Pay)

0 - 34

   3%

35 - 44

   4%

45 - 54

   5%

55 - 64

   6%

65 - 74

   7%

75 - 84

   8%

85 +

   9%

*Once a person reaches 30 years of service, the pay credit is reduced to 4.5%

Core Contributions are based on All Pay. Participants will have an account established for them at Vanguard and Core Contributions will begin with their first paycheck after the 1st of the month following 3 months of service. These contributions will continue even if Participants do not contribute to the Plan.

Unless elected otherwise, Core Contributions will be automatically invested in the Qualified Default Investment Alternative (“QDIA”) which is the Vanguard Target Retirement Trust Plus closest to the year in which the Participant will attain age 65. Once enrolled, Participants can change the investment allocation at any time.

Company Matching Contributions

The Employers make Matching Contributions to the Plan in accordance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement for each participating union group.

All Employer Matching Contributions are invested in the same investments elected by the Participant for their Elective Contributions unless otherwise directed by the Participant.

New employees with funds held under a previous employer’s qualified plan are permitted to roll over eligible amounts from such funds into the Plan.

Contributions are subject to certain limitations.

Participants may allocate their account balances in any whole percentage without restriction on the frequency of subsequent reallocations subject to investment fund short-term trading restrictions.

Active or former employees who are Participants and who receive a lump sum distribution from a Company qualified pension plan (National Grid Pension Plan, Niagara Mohawk Pension Plan, Southern Union Company Providence Energy Pension Plan, Southern Union Company Valley Pension Plan, KeySpan Retirement Plan, and KeySpan Retirement Income Plan) may roll the lump sum proceeds into the Plan to the extent the proceeds qualify for rollover under the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). The total amount rolled over in 2013 was $9,461,944.

 

6

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

Automatic Enrollment

New hires are automatically enrolled 45 days after the hire date at 6% of their All Pay. Participant contributions will be defaulted to the Plan’s QDIA if a Participant does not select their own investments. The automatic enrollment can be reversed within the first 90 days of the enrollment date and all money in the account returned to the Participant. After the first 90 days of enrollment, the automatic enrollment can be reversed but any money already contributed to the account cannot be returned to the Participant.

Automatic Increase

Participants may elect an automatic increase of pre-tax Contributions each year. For Participants who elect an automatic increase and do not customize their elections, pre-tax contributions will increase by 1% each January. The automatic increase service is not available for after-tax Contributions.

Participant Accounts

Each Participant’s account is credited with the Participant’s Contribution and allocations of (a) the employer’s Matching Contributions (and discount on the National Grid American Depository Receipts Fund, if applicable, for former KeySpan Energy 401(k) Plan for Union Employees Participants), (b) Company Core contributions (if applicable), and (c) allocations of plan earnings, net of fees. Allocations are based on Participant earnings or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a Participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the Participant’s vested account, as provided in the plan document.

Vesting

Participants are immediately vested in their elective contributions. Vesting of Matching and Company Core Contributions varies and are subject to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement for each union group.

Notes Receivable from Participants

An employee can obtain a loan from the Plan from such Participant’s account. The minimum loan allowed is $1,000. A loan cannot exceed the lesser of 50% of the Participant’s account balance or $50,000. The $50,000 limit is further limited by the Participant’s highest outstanding loan balance within the twelve months preceding the loan request. The loans are secured by the balance in the Participant’s account. Loans must be repaid over a period of one to five years (up to fifteen years for the purchase of a primary residence) by means of payroll deductions. The loan interest rate is set at the time Participants apply for a loan based on the rate established by the Benefits Committee. Interest rates at December 31, 2013 ranged from 3.25% to 10.50%. Participants who leave the Company or are on an unpaid leave of absence can continue to repay their outstanding loan balance through the remaining amortization period directly to Vanguard.

 

7

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

A default of the loan will occur if the loan balance is not paid off by the end of the quarter following the quarter in which the missed payment was due or the loan is not paid in full by the contractual maturity date. In the event of default, the outstanding balance of the loan and any unpaid accrued interest is deemed to have been distributed to the Participant. Interest continues to be tracked following a default solely for determining the amount available for a subsequent loan. Deemed distributions are included in the Loan Fund’s investment balance until the employee has been terminated. Upon termination the defaulted loan balance is deducted from the Plan. There were cumulative deemed distributions of $169,658 and $111,900 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Payment of Benefits

Participants qualify for a distribution of their entire account balance when the Participant ends employment (including at retirement), becomes totally and permanently disabled or reaches age 59 1⁄2. Participants who qualify for a distribution may receive an immediate lump sum, defer payment, or receive the value of their account in cash installments. If a Participant defers receipt of benefits, their funds will remain invested in the investment funds of their choice. They may make investment transfers in the same manner as any active Participant.

The Plan allows automatic lump-sum distributions if the value of the Participant’s vested account balance is less than $1,000 and the Participant is no longer employed by the Company. The Participant must consent to the distribution if the present value is more than $1,000.

Unless Participants choose otherwise, their account balance remains in the Plan until they attain age 70 1⁄2. At that time, Participants are required to receive minimum required distributions beginning on April 1 of the following year. Participants can elect a total or partial distribution from their account(s) at any time following separation of service. In addition, Participants may: 1) receive account balances in annual, semi-annual, quarterly or monthly installments, to be paid over a period not to exceed their life expectancy. Once installments begin, the amount of each payment is determined by dividing the Participant account balance at the time of payment by the number of installments remaining to be paid; 2) receive account balances in a series of substantially equal periodic payments (paid at least annually for their life expectancy); or 3) elect to receive distributions in any amount a Participant wishes, beginning and ending at their discretion.

The Plan allows Qualified Nonelective Contributions to the extent such contributions are necessary to satisfy the nondiscrimination requirement under the IRC. Following separation from service prior to age 55, a Participant may elect to receive a partial distribution from his or her account or a total distribution at any time; such Participant may also defer receipt of his or her benefit until the latest date permitted under the IRC.

Forfeitures

Forfeiture accounts are maintained to hold any Employer contributions and earnings thereon that were deposited as a result of a Participant’s separation from service prior to becoming fully vested. In addition, forfeitures from prior plan mergers and uncashed Participant checks are held in the Plan forfeiture accounts.

 

8

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, forfeited non-vested accounts totaled $34,453 and $215,836, respectively. These accounts may be used to reduce future Employer contributions and pay plan administration expenses as described in the plan document. During the year ended December 31, 2013, $306,426 of forfeited non-vested accounts were used to reduce Employer contributions.

 

2.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

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

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP 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.

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

Investments are reported 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 11 for discussion of fair value measurements.

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

Management fees and operating expenses are charged to plan participants and are reflected as a reduction of investment return in each of the investment options of the Plan. Such management fees and operating expenses are deducted from income earned on a daily basis.

 

9

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

Notes Receivable from Participants

Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Delinquent notes receivable are recorded as distributions based upon the terms of the plan document.

Payment of Benefits

Benefit payments to, and withdrawals by Participants, are recorded when paid.

 

3.

Investments

The following presents investments that represent five percent or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits at December 31, 2013 and 2012:

 

     2013     2012  

Master Trust Investment - Galliard Stable Value Fund

    $ 396,376,478  *    $ 392,353,669  * 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Trust Plus

      301,587,721        -   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Trust Plus

      224,416,995        -   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Trust Plus

      222,644,002        -   

National Grid American Depository Receipts

      164,252,698        142,832,717   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Trust Plus

      117,699,380        -   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2025

      -        247,248,221   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2020

      -        194,473,748   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2030

      -        180,328,496   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2015

      -        118,094,124   

 

 

*

This represents contract value and, therefore, differs from the fair value of $397,446,694 and $402,751,041 as noted in the statements of net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought, sold and held during the year) appreciated in value as follows:

 

Mutual funds

    $ 97,183,782      

Common stock

      20,164,188      

Common/Collective Trusts

      121,931,618      
  

 

 

     

Net appreciation in fair value

    $   239,279,588      
  

 

 

     

 

4.

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. In the event of plan termination, any unallocated assets of the Plan will be allocated to Participant accounts and distributed in such a manner as the Company may determine and participants will become 100 percent vested in their Company contributions.

 

10

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

 

5.

Tax Status

The IRS has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated July 17, 2002, that the Plan was designed in accordance with applicable sections of the IRC. The Plan has been amended and restated since receiving the determination letter. Additionally, the Plan filed for a new determination letter in January 2011 which is currently pending approval. However, the plan administrator and the Plan’s counsel believe that the Plan is designed and currently 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. To the best of its knowledge, the Company believes that the Plan is currently in compliance with the provisions of the IRC.

U.S. GAAP requires management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan and has concluded that as of December 31, 2013, there are no uncertain positions taken, or expected to be taken, that would require recognition of a liability 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. The plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2010.

 

6.

Related-Party Transactions

Section 3(14) of ERISA defines a party-in-interest to include among others, fiduciaries or employees of the Plan, any person who provides services to the Plan or an employer whose employees are covered by the Plan. Accordingly, loans to Participants and investments in American Depositary Receipts of National Grid plc are considered party-in-interest transactions. Moreover, the Plan’s investment options include mutual funds and common/collective trust funds managed by Vanguard.

Certain administrative functions are performed by officers or employees of the Company. No such officer or employee receives compensation from the Plan.

 

7.

Administration of Plan Assets

The trustees of the Plan hold the Plan’s assets. Contributions are held and managed by the trustees, who invest cash received, interest and dividend income and make distributions to Participants.

 

8.

Plan Administrative Expenses

Some administrative expenses for the Plan are paid by the Company. The trustee was not paid administration fees out of plan assets during the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

11

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

 

9.

Guaranteed Investment Contract

The Plan provides a stable value investment, the Galliard Stable Value Fund (the “Galliard Fund”), which primarily invests in security-backed contracts issued by insurance companies and other financial institutions.

A security-backed contract is an investment contract issued by an insurance company or other financial institution, backed by a portfolio of bonds or units of a collective fund that are owned by the Galliard Fund. Security-backed contracts are considered either “targeted benchmark” (underlying investments are managed to a specific benchmark) or “targeted duration” (underlying investments are managed to a specific duration). The portfolio underlying the contract is maintained separately from the contract issuer’s general assets, usually by a third party custodian. The interest crediting rate of a security-backed contract is based on the contract value, and the fair value, duration, and yield to maturity of the underlying portfolio. These contracts typically allow for realized and unrealized gains and losses on the underlying assets to be amortized, usually over the duration of the underlying investments, through adjustments to the future interest crediting rate, rather than reflected immediately in the net assets of the Galliard Fund. The issuer guarantees that all qualified Participant withdrawals will be at contract value.

Risks arise when entering into any investment contract due to the potential inability of the issuer to meet the terms of the contract. In addition, security-backed contracts have the risk of default or the lack of liquidity of the underlying portfolio assets.

The security-backed contracts are designed to reset their respective crediting rates on a quarterly basis. Security-backed contracts cannot credit an interest rate that is less than zero percent. The crediting rate of security-backed contracts will track current market yields on a trailing basis. The rate reset allows the contract value to converge with the fair value of the underlying portfolio over time, assuming the portfolio continues to earn the current yield for a period of time equal to the current portfolio duration.

To the extent that the underlying portfolio of a security-backed contract has unrealized and/or realized losses, a positive adjustment is made to the adjustment from fair value to contract value under contract value accounting. As a result, the future crediting rate may be lower over time than the then current market rates. Similarly, if the underlying portfolio generates unrealized and/or realized gains, a negative adjustment is made to the adjustment from fair value to contract value, and the future crediting rate may be higher than the then current market rates.

The yield earned by the Galliard Fund at December 31, 2013 and 2012 was 1.64% and 1.27%, respectively. The yield earned by the Galliard Fund with an adjustment to reflect the actual interest rate credited to Participants in the Galliard Fund at December 31, 2013 and 2012 was 1.62% and 1.92%, respectively.

Security-backed contracts generally provide for withdrawals associated with certain events which are not in the ordinary course of Galliard Fund operations. These withdrawals are paid with a market value adjustment applied to the withdrawal as defined in the investment contract. Each contract issuer specifies the events which may trigger a market value adjustment. At this time, the Galliard Fund does not believe that the occurrence of any such market value event, which would limit the Galliard Fund’s ability to transact at contract value with Participants, is probable.

 

 

12

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

Security-backed contracts generally are evergreen contracts that contain termination provisions, allowing the Galliard Fund or the contract issuer to terminate with notice, at any time at fair value, and providing for automatic termination of the contract if the contract value or the fair value of the underlying portfolio equals zero. The issuer is obligated to pay the excess contract value when the fair value of the underlying portfolio equals zero.

In addition, if the Galliard Fund defaults in its obligations under the security-backed contract (including the issuer’s determination that the agreement constitutes a non exempt prohibited transaction as defined under ERISA), and such default is not corrected within the time permitted by the contract, then the contract may be terminated by the issuer and the Galliard Fund will receive the fair value as of the date of termination.

Certain events such as plan termination or a plan merger initiated by the Company which results in a material and adverse effect on the wrapper contract may limit the ability of the Plan to transact on contract value or may allow for the termination of the wrapper contracts at less than contract value. At this time, the Company believes that any events that may limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value are remote.

 

10.

Master Trust

A portion of the Plan’s investments are in the Master Trust, which was established for the investment of assets of the Plan and the National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan I. Each participating retirement plan has an undivided interest in the Master Trust. The assets of the Master Trust are held by Wells Fargo.

The value of the Plan’s interest in the Master Trust is based on the beginning of the year value of the of the Plan’s interest in the trust plus actual contributions and allocated investment income less actual distributions and allocated administrative expenses. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Plan’s interest in the net assets of the Master Trust was approximately 58% and 57%, respectively. Investment income and administrative expenses relating to the Master Trust are allocated to the individual plans based upon the amount of the time the plan’s assets were invested in the Master Trust.

 

13

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

The following table presents the net assets of the Master Trust as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

     2013     2012  

Investments at fair value:

     

Common/collective trusts

    $ 516,251,870      $ 524,775,864   

Insurance separate account

      152,026,522        154,117,891   

Short-term investment fund

      18,696,500        30,183,216   

Wrapper contracts

      121,316        118,723   

Liabilities

      (342,283 )      (375,664 ) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

Total investments at fair value

      686,753,925        708,820,030   

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

      (1,849,242 )      (18,298,812 ) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

Net assets in the Master Trust at contract value

    $ 684,904,683      $ 690,521,218   

Plan interest in Master Trust

    $   397,446,694      $   402,751,041   
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

The following are the changes in net assets for the Master Trust for the year ended December 31, 2013:

 

Interest

    $     11,142,002     

Contributions

      34,337,855     

Benefit payments

      (72,577,238 )   

Participant loan payments

      5,600,686     

Participant loan withdrawals

      (5,634,006 )   

Net transfers

      21,514,166     

Unrealized loss

      (16,449,570 )   
  

 

 

    

Decrease in net assets

      (22,066,105 )   

Net assets:

     

Beginning of year

      708,820,030     
  

 

 

    

End of year

    $ 686,753,925     
  

 

 

    

The following table presents investments that represent 5% or more of the Master Trust’s net assets at December 31, 2013 and 2012:

 

     2013      2012  

Wells Fargo Stable Return Fund

    $   158,926,716       $   165,577,584   

MetLife Separate Account SA 613/SA 694/SA 738

      152,026,522         154,117,891   

Wells Fargo Fixed Income Fund A

      96,679,836         97,799,639   

Wells Fargo Fixed Income Fund B

      85,621,312         85,661,028   

Wells Fargo Fixed Income Fund F

      174,179,059         174,272,507   

 

14

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

 

11.

Fair Value Measurements

The Plan measures its investments at fair value on a recurring basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The framework that the authoritative guidance establishes for measuring fair value includes a hierarchy used to classify the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used in determining valuations into three levels. 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. Valuational techniques maximize the use of relevant observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1 - Fair value is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible to the Plan for identical assets. These generally provide the most reliable evidence and are used to measure fair value whenever available.

Level 2 - Fair value is based on significant inputs, other than Level 1 inputs, that are observable either directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the asset through corroboration with observable market data. Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted market prices in inactive markets for identical or similar assets, and other observable inputs.

Level 3 - Fair value would be based on significant unobservable inputs. Examples of valuation methodologies that would result in Level 3 classification include option pricing models, discounted cash flows, and similar techniques.

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value. There have been no changes in methodologies used at December 31, 2013 or 2012.

Common stock: Investments in the National Grid American Depositary Receipts (which trades on the New York Stock Exchange “NYSE” under the symbol “NGG”) are valued according to the closing price on the NYSE.

Mutual funds: Valued at the net asset value (“NAV”) of shares held by the Plan at year end.

Insurance separate account: Valued based upon the fair value of the underlying assets derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

Short-term investment fund: Includes cash and cash equivalents, and various short-term debt instruments and short-term investment funds. Short-term investment vehicles are valued based upon a NAV.

Stable value fund: Plan’s interest in master trust: Fair value of the underlying investments is determined taking into account values supplied by reputable pricing or quotation service or quotations furnished by one or more reputable sources, such as securities brokers, dealers or investment bankers, mutual fund administrators or other relevant information. Fair value of the insurance contracts, known as wrapper contracts, is based on quoted market prices at the time of valuation versus actual costs of the contracts. The fair value of wrapper contracts for the Stable Value Fund as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $121,316 and $118,723, respectively.

 

15

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

Common/collective trusts: Valued based upon the unit values of such collective trust funds held by the Plan at year end. Unit values are based on the fair value of the underlying assets of the fund derived from inputs principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

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

The nature and risks of the Vanguard Target Retirement Trust Plus and Wellington common/collective trust funds (Balanced Funds) at December 31, 2013 and 2012 is to seek to provide growth and a level of risk appropriate for a particular retirement date, while preserving capital during retirement. There are no unfunded commitments or withdrawal restrictions.

The nature and risks of the stable return common/collective trust fund is to protect principal while providing a higher rate of return than shorter maturity investments, such as money market funds or certificates of deposit. There are no unfunded commitments or withdrawal restrictions.

The fixed income common/collective trust funds invest primarily in U.S. Government and agency securities and corporate notes and bonds. There are no unfunded commitments or withdrawal restrictions.

 

16

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s assets at fair value as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 excluding the Plan’s interest in the Master Trust:

 

     Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2013  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Common stock, energy

    $ 164,252,698       $ -       $ -       $ 164,252,698   

Mutual funds:

            

Index funds

      179,140,534         -         -         179,140,534   

Fixed income fund

      49,676,676         -         -         49,676,676   
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

  

Total mutual funds

      228,817,210         -         -         228,817,210   

Common/collective trusts:

            

Balanced funds

      -         1,209,286,079         -         1,209,286,079   
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

  

Total

    $ 393,069,908       $ 1,209,286,079       $ -       $ 1,602,355,987   
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

  
     Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2012  

Common stock, energy

    $ 142,832,717       $ -       $ -       $ 142,832,717   

Mutual funds:

            

Index funds

      126,805,431         -         -         126,805,431   

Balanced funds

      970,491,660         -         -         970,491,660   

Fixed income fund

      63,818,683         -         -         63,818,683   
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

  

Total mutual funds

      1,161,115,774         -         -         1,161,115,774   

Common/collective trusts:

            

Balanced funds

      -         48,856,302         -         48,856,302   
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

  

Total

    $ 1,303,948,491       $ 48,856,302       $                     -       $ 1,352,804,793   
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

  

 

17

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Master Trust’s assets at fair value as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:

 

     Master Trust Assets at Fair Value as of
December 31, 2013		  
     Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Common/collective trusts:

           

Fixed income funds

    $ -       $ 357,325,154      $ -       $ 357,325,154   

Stable return fund

      -         158,926,716        -         158,926,716   
  

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

  

Total common/collective trusts

      -         516,251,870        -         516,251,870   

Insurance separate account

      -         152,026,522        -         152,026,522   

Short-term investment fund

      -         18,696,500        -         18,696,500   

Wrapper contracts

      -         121,316        -         121,316   

Liabilities

      -         (342,283 )      -         (342,283 ) 
  

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

  

Total

    $ -       $ 686,753,925      $ -       $ 686,753,925   
  

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

  
     Master Trust Assets at Fair Value as of
December 31, 2012		  

Common/collective trusts:

           

Fixed income funds

    $ -       $ 359,198,280      $ -       $ 359,198,280   

Stable return fund

      -         165,577,584        -         165,577,584   
  

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

  

Total common/collective trusts

      -         524,775,864        -         524,775,864   

Insurance separate account

      -         154,117,891        -         154,117,891   

Short-term investment fund

      -         30,183,216        -         30,183,216   

Wrapper contracts

      -         118,723        -         118,723   

Liabilities

      -         (375,664 )      -         (375,664 ) 
  

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

  

Total

    $                     -       $ 708,820,030      $                     -       $ 708,820,030   
  

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

  

 

12.

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 Participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits.

 

18

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

 

13.

Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500

The following is a reconciliation of net assets available benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:

 

     2013     2012  

Net assets available for benefits per the financial
statements

    $ 2,059,882,019      $ 1,804,902,385   

Less deemed distributions

      (169,658 )      (111,900 ) 

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

      1,070,216        10,397,372   
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

Net assets available for benefits per the Form
5500

    $ 2,060,782,577      $ 1,815,187,857   
  

 

 

    

 

 

  

The following is reconciliation of the changes in net assets per the financial statements to the Form 5500 for the year ended December 31, 2013:

 

Change in net assets available for benefits per the
financial statements

    $   254,979,634     

Change in cumulative deemed distributions

      (57,758 )   

Change in adjustment from fair value to contract value
for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts

      (9,327,156 )   
  

 

 

    

Change in net assets available for benefits per
the Form 5500

    $ 245,594,720     
  

 

 

    

 

14.

Subsequent Event

Effective January 1, 2014, an employee and, in the case of a lump sum distribution from a National Grid Pension Plan, a retired of terminated vested participant, may make a rollover contribution to the Plan upon demonstration to the Benefits Committee or its designee that the contribution is eligible for transfer to the Plan pursuant to the rollover provisions of the IRC.

 

19

National Grid USA Companies’ Incentive Thrift Plan II

 

 

Schedule H, Line 4(i) - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

EIN: 04-1663150    Plan Number: 007

December 31, 2013

 

(a)

   

Identity of Issue (b)

   

Description of Investment (c)

    Cost (d)    Current Value
(e)		  
*   

Common Stock

   

National Grid American Depository Receipts

    N/R    $ 164,252,698   
*   

Mutual Funds

   

PIMCO Total Return Fund

    N/R      49,676,676   
*   

Mutual Funds

   

Vanguard Institutional Index Fund

    N/R      85,399,379   
*   

Mutual Funds

   

Vanguard Extended Market Index Institutional

    N/R      65,966,948   
*   

Mutual Funds

   

FTSE A-World ex-US Ins

    N/R      27,774,207   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Trust Plus

    N/R      40,184,555   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Trust Plus

    N/R      117,699,380   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Trust Plus

    N/R      222,644,002   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Trust Plus

    N/R      301,587,721   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Trust Plus

    N/R      224,416,995   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Trust Plus

    N/R      101,885,177   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Trust Plus

    N/R      52,751,514   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Trust Plus

    N/R      35,037,849   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Trust Plus

    N/R      33,308,630   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Trust Plus

    N/R      4,136,033   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Vanguard Target Retirement 2060 Trust Plus

    N/R      1,780,843   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Vanguard Target Retirement Income

    N/R      24,181,851   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Wellington Trust Target 2030

    N/R      17,553,996   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Wellington Trust Target 2020

    N/R      12,578,119   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Wellington Trust Target 2050

    N/R      6,680,126   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Wellington Trust Target 2040

    N/R      9,140,091   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Wellington Trust Target 2010

    N/R      1,878,434   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Wellington Trust Target Retirement Income

    N/R      1,630,408   
*   

Common/Collective Trust

   

Wellington Trust Target 2000

    N/R      210,355   
*   

Notes receivable from participants

   

Participant loans with various maturities

         58,189,103   
           

 

 

  
     

    and rates of interest from 3.25% to 10.50%

      
     

Total

       $ 1,660,545,090   
           

 

 

  
*   

A party-in-interest as defined by ERISA

      
  

N/R - Participant directed investment, cost not required to be reported

   

 

20