SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC  20549

 

 

FORM 11-K

 

(Mark One)
x		ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the year ended December 29, 2005

or

o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
		EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

Commission file number 1-3551

 

EQUITABLE RESOURCES, INC. EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN

(Full title of the Plan and address of the Plan,

if different from that of the issuer named below)

 

 

EQUITABLE RESOURCES, INC.

225 North Shore Drive,

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212

(Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the

Plan and the address of principal executive office)

 

CONTENTS

Report of independent registered public accounting firm
Financial statements
Statements of net assets available for benefits
Statements of changes in net assets available for benefits
Notes to financial statements
Supplementary information
Schedule H:
Line 4i—Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
Signature
Index to Exhibit

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Benefits Administration Committee
Equitable Resources, Inc. Employee Savings Plan

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Equitable Resources, Inc. Employee Savings Plan as of December 29, 2005 and 2004, and the related statements 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, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 29, 2005 and 2004, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 29, 2005 is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statements but is 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. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole.

	/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
June 9, 2006

 

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EQUITABLE RESOURCES, INC.
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

 

		December 29
		2005			2004
Investments, at fair value:
Mutual funds		$	72,882,084		$	47,247,053
Common/collective trusts		15,562,805			10,919,146
Employer stock funds		26,989,991			21,345,722
Participant loans		932,292			580,862
Net assets available for benefits		$	116,367,172		$	80,092,783

 

 

See accompanying notes.

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EQUITABLE RESOURCES, INC.
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

 

		Year ended December 29
		2005			2004
Additions:
Investment income:
Interest and dividends		$	3,452,676		$	1,548,488
Interest on participant loans		40,780			31,201
Total investment income		3,493,456			1,579,689
Net appreciation in fair value of investments		9,443,247			9,850,048
Contributions:
Employer		4,991,409			4,535,328
Employee		5,747,025			4,976,892
Total contributions		10,738,434			9,512,220
Transfers from affiliated plans		17,519,058			27,075
Total additions		41,194,195			20,969,032
Deductions:
Withdrawals by participants		4,931,792			6,856,671
Total deductions		4,931,792			6,856,671
Other		11,986			5,253
Net increase in net assets available for benefits		36,274,389			14,117,614
Net assets available for benefits:
At beginning of year		80,092,783			65,975,169
At end of year		$	116,367,172		$	80,092,783

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

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EQUITABLE RESOURCES, INC.
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 29, 2005

 

 

1.         Description of Plan

The following description of the Equitable Resources, Inc. Employee Savings Plan (Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the summary plan description for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

General

The Plan is a defined contribution profit sharing and savings plan, with a 401(k) salary reduction feature, implemented on September 1, 1985, by Equitable Resources, Inc. and certain subsidiaries (the Company or Companies).

All regular, full-time, certain part-time, non union employees of the Companies are eligible to participate in the Plan on their first day of employment. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

In January 2005, the Plan transferred existing account balances to Fidelity Management Trust Company (Fidelity) under the terms of a custodial agreement executed with the Company. As a result of the transfer to Fidelity, certain investment options are no longer available to participants and certain other investment options have been added.

Contributions

Participants can elect to contribute between 1% and 15% of eligible earnings to the Plan, subject to Internal Revenue Code (IRC) limitations. These contributions are referred to as contract contributions.

The Company will match a percentage of the first 6% of the participants’ contract contributions based on years of service for participants in the NORESCO division as follows:

 

Years of Continuous Service		Matching Contribution Percentage
Less than one year		50%
At least one year and less than two years		75%
Two or more years		100%

 

All other participants will receive a match of 50% of the first 6% of their contract contributions.

In addition, participants may receive a performance contribution, which is determined on an annual basis at the discretion of the Company. During 2005 and 2004, the amount of the performance contribution was 6% of eligible compensation.

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In addition, the matching contribution shall be invested in the Employer Stock Fund until the participant is 100% vested. After the participant is 100% vested, the matching contribution will follow the participant’s contract investment election(s). The Employer Stock Fund consists of the Equitable Resources Stock Fund and effective May 1, 2002, the Equitable Resources Stock Fund- ESOP account (ESOP). The ESOP feature operates as an account within the Plan that will hold shares invested in the Equitable Resources Stock Fund. All participant and Company contributions made before May 1, 2002 that were invested in the Equitable Resources Stock Fund were allocated to the ESOP portion of the Plan. After May 1, 2002, new contributions invested in the Equitable Resources Stock Fund will transfer to the ESOP on a quarterly basis. Participants can elect to receive dividends from the ESOP in cash or to be paid to their account and reinvested in the Equitable Resources Stock Fund.

Rollover Contributions

Participants are allowed to make rollover contributions (contributions transferred to the Plan from other qualified retirement plans), subject to certain requirements.

Transfers from Affiliated Plans

Transfers from affiliated plans include transfers made between the Plan and the Equitable Resources, Inc. Savings and Protection Plan. Additionally, during 2005, in connection with the Company’s settlement of its pension obligation with certain non represented employees, affected employees were given the option to transfer the lump-sum value of their pension benefit into the Plan. Total transfers into the Plan relative to the settlement were $17,482,644 for the year ended December 29, 2005 and are included as transfers from affiliated plans.

Vesting

Participants are 100% vested in the value of contract contributions made, and any rollover contributions.

If employment is terminated by the Companies for any reason other than retirement, death or total and permanent disability, a participant is entitled to receive the vested value of any employer contributions.

Matching contributions vest in accordance with the following schedule:

Years of Continuous Service		Vested Interest
One year		33%
Two years		66%
Three years		100%

 

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Amounts forfeited by participants upon termination are used to reduce the amount of the Company’s future employer contributions to the Plan. In 2005 and 2004, forfeitures of approximately $32,833 and $76,685, respectively, were used to offset contributions.

Upon retirement, death or total and permanent disability of the participant or termination of the Plan, a participant is entitled to receive the full value of any employer contributions, regardless of years of continuous service.

Withdrawals by Participants

Payments to participants can be made as follows:  a lump-sum distribution, a direct rollover, if applicable, or, in the case of a distribution on account of retirement or total and permanent disability, equal periodic payments over the lesser of:  a) the life expectancy of the participant and beneficiary or b) twenty (20) years.

Loans to Participants

A participant may borrow money from the Plan in amounts up to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of the vested balance of a participant’s account.

Administrative Expenses

The Plan pays administrative expenses associated with the Plan.

2.         Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting

The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting.

Investments

Short-term investments are valued at cost, which approximates market. The Employer Stock Fund consisting of Equitable Resources, Inc. common stock (Company common stock) is valued at market price as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange. There were 737,633 and 352,065 shares of Company common stock as of December 29, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Investments in common/collective trusts are valued at face value, which approximates market. Other investments are valued at market, as determined by quoted market prices.

 

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Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

3.         Related-Party Transactions

Certain plan investments are shares of mutual funds and common/collective trusts managed by Fidelity or an affiliate. Fidelity is trustee of the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions.

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, the interests of all affected participants will become fully vested.

5.         Investments

The Plan’s investments (including investments purchased, sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated (depreciated) in fair value as determined by quoted market prices as follows:

 

Investments that represent 5% or more of fair value of the Plan’s net assets are as follows:

*                    Partially nonparticipant directed

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Information about the net asset and significant components of the changes in net assets related to the nonparticipant-directed investments as of and for the years ended December 29, 2005 and 2004 is as follows:

 

For the year ended December 29, 2005, employee contributions include $1,039,839 of transfers into the Plan related to the settlement of the Compnay’s pension obligation with certain non represented employees as described in Note 1.

6.         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 the participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.

7.         Income Tax Status

The Plan has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service dated November 26, 2002, stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) and, therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Subsequent to this determination by the Internal Revenue Service, the Plan was amended. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification. The plan administrator believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and, therefore, believes that the Plan is qualified and the related trust is tax-exempt.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

 

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EQUITABLE RESOURCES, INC.
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN

Plan No. 202     EIN:  25-0464690
Schedule H, Line 4i—Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 29, 2005

		Identity of Issue		Description of Investment		Cost		Current Value
*		Equitable Resources Common Stock Fund		Equitable securities — common stock		$13,903,560		$	26,989,991
		AF Growth Fund of America		Mutual fund		(a)		16,116,633
*		Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio		Common/collective trust		(a)		15,562,805
		AF Washington Mutual Investors Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		9,563,875
*		Fidelity Diversified International Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		8,115,367
*		Fidelity Balanced Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		7,015,983
		Oppenheimer Developing Markets Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		5,661,411
		PIMCO Total Return Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		5,256,033
		American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		4,029,742
*		Fidelity Contrafund		Mutual fund		(a)		2,899,303
		Alger Mid-Cap Growth Institutional Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		2,507,203
		Lord Abbett Mid-Cap Value Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		1,778,505
*		Fidelity Freedom 2010 Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		1,610,430
*		Spartan U.S. Equity Index Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		1,529,597
		PIMCO High Yield Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		1,287,916
*		Fidelity Small Cap Independent		Mutual fund		(a)		1,136,501
*		Fidelity Freedom 2015 Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		1,029,507
*		Fidelity Freedom 2020 Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		1,004,382
*		Fidelity Freedom 2035 Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		594,414
*		Fidelity Freedom 2025 Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		578,079
*		Fidelity Freedom 2030 Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		516,431
*		Fidelity Freedom Income Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		231,818
*		Spartan Total Market Index Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		225,489
*		Fidelity Freedom 2040 Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		68,276
*		Fidelity Freedom 2005 Fund		Mutual fund		(a)		60,596
		Pending Account		Noninterest-bearing cash		(a)		64,593
*		Loan Fund		Participant loans — 5.0% to 10.5%**				932,292
								$	116,367,172

(a) Cost information not required as per Special Rule for certain participant-directed transactions.

*Party in interest to the Plan.

** Maturities extend through year 2011.

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the members of the Benefits Administration Committee of the Plan have duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

	EQUITABLE RESOURCES, INC.
	EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN
		(Name of Plan)
	By	/s/ David J. Smith
		David J. Smith
		Plan Administrator
June 28, 2006

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBIT

Exhibit No.		Description		Sequential Page No.
23		Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		14

 

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