Notes to Financial Statements
1. Description of the Plan and Significant Accounting Policies
The following description of the Encana (USA) Retirement Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants and all others should
refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plans provisions.
A) General
The Plan is a
defined-contribution
plan established on September 1, 1999, under which employer contributions are
based on a fixed formula that is not related to profits and that is designated as a pension plan by the Plan Sponsor. The Plan Sponsor is Encana Services Company Ltd. (the Company). All employees of Encana Services Company Ltd. (U.S.
Branch) and Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. are eligible to participate in the Plan. The Plan includes immediate participant eligibility, automatic enrollment at 5% of participant compensation, the option for a participant to contribute using a
percentage or flat dollar election and the option for a participant to elect dividend in cash or additional shares. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
The Board of Directors of the Company administers the Plan. Principal Financial Group (Principal) serves as trustee, manages Plan assets and
maintains the Plans records. Principal offers Plan participants a variety of investment options. Individual accounts are invested in the various investment options at the direction of the participants.
The Plan was amended and restated as of December 31, 2015. Amendments to the Plan include the merger of the Athlon 401(k) Plan into the Plan. The assets
were received by the Plan in January 2016. As of December 31, 2015 the assets were included in other receivable in the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits.
B) Transfers
In July 2016, Encana Oil & Gas
(USA) Inc. divested the DJ Basin assets and all field staff and the majority of the Denver based DJ Basin team are now employed by a third party buyer. Net assets totaling $13,518,358 were transferred in September 2016 to the third partys
401(k) plan. Participants in the plan were fully vested in the amounts transferred.
C) Contributions
Participants may make
before-tax
and after-tax contributions up to 75% of their annual compensation not to exceed
limits by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which are adjusted annually by the Secretary of Treasury for inflation. This maximum percentage may be reduced by the Plan administrator in certain circumstances. The Plan also permits
rollover contributions from other qualified retirement plans. Employee contributions to the Plan are made through regular payroll deductions,
catch-up
contributions, and Roth contributions, which are
after-tax
contributions tracked in a separate account but subject to the same limitations set forth under the Plan.
The
Company will make a safe harbor matching contribution of 100% of elective deferrals up to 5% of compensation, which is invested in Encana Corporation common shares. In addition, the Company will make a contribution of 8% of compensation, invested at
the direction of the participants.
7
ENCANA (USA) RETIREMENT PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
D) Participants Accounts
Each participants account is credited with the participants contribution and an allocation of the Companys contribution, Plan earnings or
losses, forfeitures, and an allocation of Plan expenses. Allocations are based upon Plan earnings or losses and account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the vested portion of the participants account.
E) Vesting
Participants are vested immediately in
their contributions plus actual earnings or losses thereon. Participants also have full and immediate vesting in the Companys 5% safe harbor matching contribution portion of their accounts. Participants are fully vested in the Companys
8% contribution after three years of service.
F) Participant Loans Receivable
Participants may borrow from their account a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balance. The loans
are secured by the balance in the participants account and bear an interest rate between 4.25% to 5.25%, equal to one percent over the prime rate published in the Wall Street Journal on the first business day of the month in which the loan is
requested. The loans mature at various dates through 2031. Principal and interest is paid ratably through payroll deductions. Participant loans are recorded in the financial statements at amortized cost plus accrued interest.
G) Payments of Benefits
Upon termination of service,
death, disability, or retirement, a participant may elect to receive either a
lump-sum
amount equal to the value of the participants vested account balance or annual installments over a life annuity. For
termination of service for other reasons, a participant may receive the value of the vested account balance as a
lump-sum
distribution. Accounts with balances less than $1,000 may be immediately distributed
upon a distribution event. Benefits are recorded as distributions to participants when paid.
H) Participant Termination and Forfeitures
Forfeitures occur when a participant terminates employment prior to satisfying the service years required to become vested in the 8% contribution made by the
Company. In addition, forfeitures may occur when participants contribute above the annual maximum contribution amount; thus, the amount gets repaid to the participant, causing a forfeiture of those additional contributed funds. Forfeitures can be
used to pay Plan expenses or reduce employer contributions. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, forfeiture balances were $6,753 and $34,033, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2016, $184,000 of forfeitures were used to reduce
employer contributions and $149,958 of forfeitures were used to reduce administrative expenses.
I) Valuation of Investments and Income Recognition
Investments are recorded at fair value or net asset value (NAV) for common collective trust fund as reported to the Plan by the trustee.
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 2 for discussion of fair value measurements.
8
ENCANA (USA) RETIREMENT PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
The net realized and unrealized investments gain or loss (net appreciation or depreciation in fair value of
investments) is reflected in the accompanying statement of changes in net assets available for benefits and is determined as the difference between fair value at the beginning of the year (or date purchased if during the year) and selling price (if
sold during the year) or
year-end
fair value. Purchase and sales of investments are recorded on a
trade-date
basis. Interest income is recognized on the accrual basis.
Dividends are recognized on the
ex-dividend
date.
J) Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Plan
administrator to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and disclosures. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.
K) Risk and Uncertainties
The Plan provides for various
investments that, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investments, it is reasonably possible that changes in the value of
investments 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.
Additionally, some investments held by Principal are invested in the securities of foreign companies, which involve certain risks and considerations not
typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. These risks include devaluation of currencies, less reliable information about issuers, different securities transaction clearance and settlement practices, and possible adverse political and
economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of securities of comparable U.S. companies.
2. Fair Value Measurements
Accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America require disclosure about how fair value is determined and establish 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) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
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Level 1:
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Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
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Level 2:
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Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially
the full term of the financial instrument.
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Level 3:
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Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
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A
financial instruments level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
9
ENCANA (USA) RETIREMENT PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for the investments measured at fair
value. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2016 and 2015.
Mutual funds:
Mutual funds are valued at the daily closing price as reported by the fund. All of the mutual funds are funds with quoted daily net asset values that are
directly observable in the marketplace by market participants.
Common collective trust funds:
The Principal Trust Income and Target Funds are held in common collective trust funds, which consist of investments in mutual funds, collective trusts and
pooled separate accounts (PSAs). The Stable Value Fund, held in a common collective trust fund, invests in conventional and synthetic guaranteed investment contracts (GICs) issued by life insurance companies, banks and other
financial institutions with excess cash invested in cash equivalents. These investments are valued at their net asset values (NAV) per share as of the close of business on the valuation date as a practical expedient for the estimated
fair value. The NAV is quoted on a private market that is not active; however, the unit price is based on the value of the underlying investment assets owned by the fund, minus its liabilities, and then divided by the number of shares outstanding.
The NAV for the Stable Value Fund is based on the contract value of fully benefit-responsive contracts, conventional and synthetic GICs, which represents invested principal plus accrued interest thereon. The Principal Trust Income Fund seeks current
income and, as a secondary objective, capital appreciation. The Principal Trust Target Funds seek total return consisting of long-term growth of capital and current income, consistent with the investment strategy of an investor who expects to retire
in a specific year. The Stable Value Fund seeks to provide preservation of capital and relatively stable returns regardless of the volatility of the financial markets.
These investments are valued at the NAV of the units held by the Plan. NAV would not be used if it is determined to be probable that the fund will sell the
investment for an amount different from the reported net asset value.
Common shares:
Investments in common shares are valued at its closing price reported on the active market on which the securities are traded on the last business day of the
year.
The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plans investment assets at fair value as of December 31,
2016 and 2015:
2016
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Description
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Level 1
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Level 2
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Level 3
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Total
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Mutual funds
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112,965,358
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112,965,358
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Common collective trust funds
(net asset value*)
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105,615,685
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Common shares
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28,639,306
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|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
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28,639,306
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|
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
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|
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Total
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141,604,664
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$
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$
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$
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247,220,349
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10
ENCANA (USA) RETIREMENT PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
2015
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Description
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Level 1
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Level 2
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Level 3
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Total
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Mutual funds
|
|
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119,027,996
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
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119,027,996
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Common collective trust funds
(net asset value*)
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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97,617,703
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Common shares
|
|
|
10,467,515
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,467,515
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total
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$
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153,471,205
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|
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$
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|
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$
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|
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$
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227,113,214
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|
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*
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In accordance with Subtopic 820-10, certain investments that were measured at net asset value per share have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. 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.
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3. Income Taxes
The Plan obtained a favorable
opinion letter, dated June 23, 2014, from the IRS as to the qualified status of the Plan. The Plan administrator believes that the Plan continues to be operated and administered in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal
Revenue Code. Therefore, no provisions for income tax have been included in the Plan financial statements.
Generally accepted accounting principles in
the United States of America require Plan 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, 2016, 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.
4. Administration of the Plan
The Company
provides, at no cost to the Plan, certain administrative, accounting, and legal services to the Plan and pays the cost of certain outside services for the Plan.
5. Partial Termination
As a result of a reduction
of the Plan Sponsors workforce in 2016 and 2015, the Plan experienced a partial plan termination as defined by ERISA in 2016. Under ERISA, a partial plan termination may occur if a significant percentage of the Plan participants are terminated
because of an action taken by the Plan Sponsor. If a partial plan termination occurs, full vesting in the employers 8% contribution is required for the affected participants, but the remaining participants vesting continues to be
determined per the plan provisions.
All affected employees who were participants in the Plan were fully vested in their account balances at the date of
their partial plan termination.
11
ENCANA (USA) RETIREMENT PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
6. Plan Termination
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. If the
Plan is terminated for any reason, all participants become 100% vested and the Plan administrator is to distribute each participants interest to the participant or their beneficiary.
7.
Party-in-Interest
Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by Principals affiliates. Principal is the Trustee as defined by the Plan and these
transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Fees paid by the Plan for the investment management services were included as a reduction of the return earned on each fund.
The Plan allows participants to invest in Encana Corporations common shares. As the Company is the sponsoring entity of the Plan, the common shares
qualify as
party-in-interest
transactions.
The Plan allows participants
to borrow from their vested account balance. Principal is the Trustee as defined by the Plan and participant loans qualify as party-in-interest transactions.
8. Concentration of Investments
As of
December 31, 2016 the Plan held $28,639,306 of Encana Corporation common shares and $25,002,542 in the Vanguard Institutional Index INST, which were approximately 12% and 10% of total investments, respectively. As of December 31, 2015 the
Plan held $23,679,388 in the Vanguard Institutional Index INST, which was approximately 10% of total investments. The net assets available for benefits would be sensitive to any changes in the value of Encana common shares and the Vanguard
Institutional Index INSTL. The Vanguard Institutional Index INSTL seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of large-capitalization stocks and would be subject to stock market risk, which is the chance
that stock prices overall will decline.
9. Reconciliation to Form 5500
The following is a reconciliation of the net assets available for benefits per the Financial Statements to the Form 5500:
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December 31,
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2016
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2015
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Net assets available for benefits per Financial Statements
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$
|
249,570,663
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|
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$
|
231,924,540
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Adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully benefit-responsive contracts included in
the common collective trust fund NAV
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4,300
|
|
|
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36,532
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|
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|
|
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Net assets available for benefits per Form 5500
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$
|
249,574,963
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|
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$
|
231,961,072
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12
ENCANA (USA) RETIREMENT PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
The following is a reconciliation of the net decrease in assets available for benefits before transfers per
the Financial Statements to the Form 5500 for the year ended December 31, 2016:
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|
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Net increase before transfers out to other plans per Financial Statements
|
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$
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31,164,481
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Add Change in the adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully
benefit-responsive contracts included in the common collective trust fund NAV
|
|
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(32,232
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)
|
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Net incomeper Form 5500
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|
$
|
31,132,249
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The accompanying Financial Statements present the stable value fund, a common collective trust fund, at NAV; NAV includes
indirect investments of fully benefit-responsive contracts measured at contract value. The Form 5500 requires these embedded fully benefit-responsive investment contracts in the common collective trust fund to be presented at fair value using
valuation methodologies appropriate for each underlying investment contract. Therefore, the adjustment from contract value to fair value for the fully benefit-responsive investment contracts represents a reconciling item.
10. Subsequent Events
The Plan has evaluated all
subsequent events through the auditors report date, which is the date the financial statements were available to be issued. There were no significant subsequent events that required recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
13
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE
14