Form 11-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

 

 

FORM 11-K

 

 

(Mark One)

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009

OR

 

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

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 1-8590

 

 

THRIFT PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES OF MURPHY OIL CORPORATION

(Full title of the Plan)

MURPHY OIL CORPORATION

(Name of issuer of securities held pursuant to Plan)

 

200 Peach Street, P. O. Box 7000, El Dorado, Arkansas   71731-7000
(Address of issuer’s principal executive office)   (Zip Code)

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Table of Contents

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   3

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2009 and 2008

   4

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the year ended December  31, 2009

   5

Notes to Financial Statements

   6

Supplemental Schedule:

  

Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) December 31, 2009

   18
All other supplemental schedules required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 are omitted, as they are inapplicable or not required.

Signature

   19

Exhibit 23 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   20

 

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Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors

Murphy Oil Corporation

El Dorado, Arkansas

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation (the Plan) as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2009. 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 audit.

We conducted our audit 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. 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 audit provides 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 31, 2009 and 2008, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The accompanying supplemental schedule is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic 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. The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

/s/ BKD, LLP

Little Rock, Arkansas

June 25, 2010

 

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Table of Contents

Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

     2009    2008

Assets

     

Beneficial interest in Master Trust net assets available for benefits (see Note 2)

   $ 160,988,798    138,757,681
           

See accompanying notes to financial statements, page 6.

 

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Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

Year Ended December 31, 2009

 

Beneficial interest in the net investment income of Master Trust (see Note 2)

   $ 23,520,894   

Contributions

  

Employer, net of forfeitures

     5,139,008   

Employee

     7,891,172   

Rollover from other plans

     479,909   
        

Total contributions

     13,510,089   

Benefits paid directly to participants

     (15,107,077
        

Net change for the year

     21,923,906   

Transfer of assets from Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil USA, Inc. Represented by United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO, Local No. 8363

     307,211   

Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year

     138,757,681   
        

Net assets available for benefits at end of year

   $ 160,988,798   
        

See accompanying notes to financial statements, page 6.

 

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Table of Contents

Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Provisions of the Plan

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements of the Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation [the Plan] have been prepared on the accrual basis and present the net assets available for benefits to participants in the Plan and changes in net assets available for benefits. These statements present the Plan’s investments as a beneficial interest in the Master Trust (see Note 2). Benefits are recorded when paid. The Plan has made estimates in preparing the accompanying financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Significant Provisions

The following is a summary of certain information related to the Plan, which is sponsored by Murphy Oil Corporation [Murphy] and administered by Murphy’s Employee Benefits Committee [the Committee]. The Plan documents should be referred to for a complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

Each employee of one of the following companies [identified herein collectively as the Companies and individually as the Company] who is in Covered Employment as defined by the Plan may participate in the Plan.

 

  A. Murphy Oil Corporation.

 

  B. Murphy Oil USA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Murphy, other than (1) an employee represented by United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO, Local No. 8363 (formerly the United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO, Local No. 8363), (2) an employee represented by International Union of Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO, Local No. 317 (formerly the International Union of Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO, Local No. 305), (3) an hourly paid retail store based employee of Murphy Oil USA, Inc., or (4) a leased or contract employee.

 

  C. Murphy Exploration & Production Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Murphy.

A participant may have the following Plan accounts to which amounts may be allotted by the participant or contributed by the Company, with limitations as indicated.

 

  A. Salary Deferral Account – participant’s allotments up to a maximum of 25% of base pay for the year, but not to exceed $16,500 annually in 2009.

 

  B. Matching Employer Contribution Account – Company contributions, dollar-for-dollar, based on the participant’s allotments (up to a maximum of 6% of regular earnings including overtime) made to the Salary Deferral Account.

 

  C. Employee Contribution Account – participant’s after-tax allotments up to a maximum of 5% of base pay for the year, except that if annualized salary was less than $110,000, a maximum of 10% of base pay.

 

  D. Deductible Contribution Account – participant’s allotments to this account have not been allowed after December 31, 1986, but established accounts have been allowed to remain.

 

  E. Minimum 401(K) Contribution Account – participant’s allotments to this account have not been allowed after March 31, 1992, but established accounts have been allowed to remain.

 

  F. Rollover Account – contributions made by an employee from a prior qualified plan.

 

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Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements (Contd.)

 

  G. Discretionary Employer Contribution Account – Company discretionary contributions on a quarterly basis beginning January 1, 2000, of similar amounts to each of certain Retail Business store managers for initial investment in the Murphy Stock Fund (see Note 3). A vested participant may redirect this investment to the other options described in Note 3. Participation in this account became frozen as of September 1, 2003. Employees eligible to receive Company discretionary contributions as of September 1, 2003 continued to receive such contributions after this date until their full entitlement was contributed. The last Company discretionary contribution was made as of September 30, 2004.

 

  H. Catch-Up Contribution Account – participant’s allotments for all eligible employees who have attained age 50 before the close of the Plan year and are contributing the maximum pre-tax amount permitted by the Plan, up to a maximum of 75% of base pay for the year, but not to exceed $5,500 for 2009.

Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution and allocations of (a) the Company’s contribution and (b) Plan earnings, and charged with an allocation of administrative expenses. 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 of January 1, 2008 an active participant was immediately vested in all Company contributions. Any amounts contributed by the Companies that are forfeited by participants in accordance with provisions of the Plan are applied to reduce subsequent contributions by the Companies.

A vested participant who enrolled prior to January 1, 2008 may withdraw from the Matching Employer Contribution (“Matching Employer”) Account either totally or partially (limited to at least 10%, but no less than $250, or any higher multiple of 5% up to 50% of the account balance) once every 24 months or at any time after reaching age 59 1/2. Any participant enrolled after December 31, 2007 can only withdraw after reaching age 59 1/2.

A withdrawal from either a Salary Deferral Account or Catch-up Contribution Account is not permissible except upon a finding that a hardship exists as defined by federal tax regulations, upon the attainment of age 59 1/ 2 or upon termination. In addition, a nonvested participant may only withdraw his/her Salary Deferral Account allotments without any adjustment for subsequent increases in value and forfeits Company contributions to the Matching Employer Contribution Account. After a hardship withdrawal from a Salary Deferral Account, participation in the Salary Deferral Account and Matching Employer Contribution Account is suspended for 6 months. A withdrawal from a Rollover Account is permitted at any time without any penalty or suspension.

Withdrawals from Employee Contribution Accounts or Deductible Contribution Accounts must be at least $250 and may not be made until at least 12 months after the most recent such withdrawal. No participation penalty is applied to such a withdrawal.

A withdrawal from a Minimum 401(K) Contribution Account is not permissible except upon termination.

A vested participant may withdraw from a Discretionary Employer Contribution Account under guidelines established by the Committee that are uniformly applicable to all participants.

 

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Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements (Contd.)

 

Any taxable income distributed to a participant may be subject to a 10% penalty tax under the Tax Reform Act of 1986. A $20 fee is charged for an in-service nonhardship withdrawal.

A vested in-service participant may borrow a minimum of $500 and a maximum equal to the lesser of (a) 50,000 less the highest outstanding loan balance(s) in the last twelve months or (b) 50% of their vested account balance. A participant may have one general-purpose loan and one residential loan outstanding at any one time. A residential loan must be approved by the Committee. The term of each loan will be in whole years, with maximums of five years for a general-purpose loan and 15 years for a residential loan. Loan repayments, including interest at the prime rate as of the beginning of the loan period, are made into the participant’s account through after-tax payroll deductions. Each loan has a $35 initiation fee and a $15 annual maintenance fee. Interest rates on outstanding loans at December 31, 2009 range from 3.25% to 9.5%.

Upon retirement, disability, or death of a participant, the participant or his/her designated beneficiary has the option to receive settlement in a lump sum or installment payments over a period of time not to exceed the actuarial life of the participant.

Obligation for Contributions to the Plan

The Companies have voluntarily agreed to make contributions to the Plan based on each participant’s allotments to the Salary Deferral Account subject to a maximum of 6% of the participant’s regular earnings including overtime. Although the Companies have not expressed any intent to terminate the Plan, they may do so at any time.

Voting Rights

Each participant is entitled to exercise voting rights attributable to the shares of the Murphy Oil Corporation common stock and Deltic Timber Corporation common stock allocated to his or her account and is notified by the trustee prior to the time that such rights are to be exercised. The trustee is not permitted to vote any shares for which instructions have not been given by the participant.

Administrative Expenses

Murphy pays certain costs of Plan administration. Trustee fees and related expenses will be paid by either the Plan or by participants’ fees.

2. Master Trust Net Assets

The assets of the Plan are commingled in a Master Trust with the assets of three other plans sponsored by Murphy. Fidelity Management Trust Company [FMTC], Boston, Massachusetts, is the Trustee. The Master Trust had no nonparticipant-directed investments related to the Plan. The following table presents the net assets of the Master Trust at December 31, 2009 and 2008 by type of investment.

 

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Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements (Contd.)

 

     2009    2008

Investments at fair value

     

Common Stock

     

Murphy Oil Corporation

   $ 51,537,425    39,994,475

Deltic Timber Corporation

     438,063    495,106
           

Total common stock

     51,975,488    40,489,581

Loans to participants

     3,231,895    2,631,696

Common/collective trust

     55,089,369    58,020,797

Registered investment companies

     78,600,398    60,067,788

Cash

     970,925    14,467

Other

     262,953    912,467
           

Net assets

   $ 190,131,028    162,136,796
           

The beneficial interests of the participating plans in the net assets of the Master Trust at December 31, 2009 and 2008 were as follows.

 

Plan Name

   2009    2008

Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

   $ 160,988,798    138,757,681

Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil USA, Inc.

     

Represented by United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO, Local No. 8363 (formerly the United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO, Local No. 8363)

     17,006,022    13,947,683

Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil USA, Inc.

     

Represented by International Union of Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO, Local No. 317 (formerly the International Union of Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO, Local No. 305)

     8,931,377    7,026,962

Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

     3,204,831    2,404,470
           

Net assets

   $ 190,131,028    162,136,796
           

The net increase (decrease) in the net assets of the Master Trust for the year ended December 31, 2009, excluding participants’ allotments, Company contributions, and benefit payments, was as follows.

 

Investment income

  

Dividends and interest

   $ 2,798,795   

Participant loan interest

     155,768   

Net appreciation in market value of investments

  

Murphy Oil Corporation common stock

     9,770,707   

Other common stock

     1,035,546   

Registered investment companies

     14,661,204   
        

Total investment income

     28,422,020   

Administrative expenses

     (100,854
        

Net investment income

   $ 28,321,166   
        

 

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Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements (Contd.)

 

The beneficial interests of the participating plans in the net investment income of the Master Trust net assets for the year ended December 31, 2009 were as follows.

 

Plan Name

    

Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

   $ 23,520,894

Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil USA, Inc. Represented by United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO, Local No. 8363

     2,619,616

Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil USA, Inc. Represented by International Union of Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO, Local No. 317

     1,566,683

Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

     613,973
      

Net investment income

   $ 28,321,166
      

The beneficial interests of the participating plans in the net assets of the Master Trust and the net investment income of the Master Trust are allocated in accordance with each participant’s account balance. Quoted market prices are used to determine the fair value of investments in the registered investment companies and the common stock. The common/collective trust fund is reported at contract value. The difference between the contract value and fair value of the Plan’s interest in the common/collective trust fund is not material to the Plan’s net assets available for benefits. Participant loans are valued at cost which approximates fair value. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade date basis. Interest is recorded as earned and dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Net appreciation (depreciation) in market value of common stock and registered investment companies includes realized gains (losses) and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in the fair value of these investments.

With respect to the Murphy Stock Fund and Deltic Stock Fund, FMTC has arranged to utilize a line of credit to facilitate the purchase activity in the event that trading transactions on any given day exceed the cash position of the stock fund. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, there was no outstanding balance related to this line of credit.

At December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Master Trust had significant concentrations of credit risk in the Managed Income Portfolio II (MIP II), the Fidelity Fund, the Pimco Total Return Fund, the Fidelity Balanced Fund and the common stock of Murphy. MIP II is a common/collective trust sponsored by FMTC. The Fidelity Fund and the Fidelity Balanced Fund are established mutual funds sponsored by a highly regarded investment management company. The Pimco Total Return Fund is managed by Pacific Investment Management Company, also a highly regarded investment management company. The future value of the investment in Murphy common stock will depend on the future well-being of Murphy, the petroleum industry and the overall U.S. economy. Historically, the Master Trust has not incurred any credit-related losses.

 

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Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements (Contd.)

 

The following table lists the investments that were 5% or more of the beneficial interests of the participating plans in the net assets of the Master Trust as of December 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

     2009    2008

Managed Income Portfolio II, common/collective trust, 55,089,369 units and 58,020,797 units, respectively

   $ 55,089,369    58,020,797

Murphy common stock fund, 872,311 shares and 826,770 shares, respectively

     52,754,773    40,906,923

Fidelity Fund, registered investment company, 588,207 units and 574,659 units, respectively

     16,669,800    13,079,248

Fidelity Balanced Fund, registered investment company, 671,464 units and 653,235 units, respectively

     10,985,153    8,570,448

PIMCO Total Return Fund, registered investment company, 982,428 units and 1,221,075 units, respectively

     10,610,220    12,381,702

3. Investment Options

In 2009, each Plan participant could have invested in one or more of 25 investment options within the Master Trust. The following paragraphs briefly describe each of these options. Except for certain limitations as described below on the Deltic Stock Fund, a participant determines how each of his/her accounts is divided among the different options, but any division of a participant’s allotment and Company contributions must be in whole percentages. Account balance transfers must be at least the greater of 1% of the account balance or $250.

The Fidelity Fund is a growth and income mutual fund managed by Fidelity Management & Research Company [FMRC], Boston, Massachusetts, an affiliate of FMTC. The goal of the Fidelity Fund is to provide long-term capital growth while also pursuing current income. It invests primarily in common stock and securities convertible into common stock; some assets may be invested in a broad range of domestic and foreign equity and debt securities.

The Fidelity Balanced Fund [FBF], also managed by FMRC, is a mutual fund that has a balanced portfolio of U.S. and international stocks and bonds and may include futures and options. The goal of FBF is to provide as much income as possible while preserving capital and considering the potential for capital growth. At least 25% of the portfolio must be investment-grade debt securities and preferred stocks.

The Fidelity Capital Appreciation Fund [FCAF] managed by FMRC is a growth mutual fund that invests primarily in common stocks. The fund may invest in securities of domestic and foreign issuers. The goal of FCAF is to provide capital appreciation.

The Fidelity Diversified International Fund [FDIF] managed by FMRC is a growth mutual fund that invests in common stocks of foreign companies. The goal of FDIF is to increase its value over the long term through capital growth. If a participant invests in this option and holds it for less than 30 days, the fund will deduct a trading fee of 1% of the ending value of FDIF shares sold.

 

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Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements (Contd.)

 

The Fidelity Freedom Income Fund [FFIF] managed by Strategic Advisers, Inc., is an asset allocation mutual fund that invests approximately 20% of its assets in domestic equity funds, 35% in investment grade fixed income funds, 5% in high yield fixed income funds and 40% in short-term funds. The goal of the FFIF is to provide high current income and capital appreciation for those already in retirement.

The Fidelity Freedom 2000 Fund managed by Strategic Advisers, Inc., is an asset allocation mutual fund that invests approximately 25% of its assets in domestic equity funds, 1% in international equity funds, 31% in investment grade fixed income funds, 5% in high yield fixed-income funds and 38% in Fidelity short-term mutual funds. The mix of underlying funds becomes more conservative over time. The goal of this fund is to provide high total returns for investors expected to have retired around the year 2000.

The Fidelity Freedom 2005 Fund managed by Strategic Advisers, Inc., is an asset allocation mutual fund that invests approximately 40% of its assets in domestic equity funds, 9% in international equity funds, 34% in investment grade fixed income funds, 5% in high yield fixed income funds and 12% in Fidelity short-term mutual funds. The mix of underlying funds becomes more conservative over time. The goal of this fund is to provide high total returns for those expected to have retired around the year 2005.

The Fidelity Freedom 2010 Fund managed by Strategic Advisers, Inc., is an asset allocation mutual fund that invests approximately 40% of its assets in domestic equity funds, 10% in international equity funds, 35% in investment grade fixed income funds, 5% in high yield fixed income funds and 10% in Fidelity short-term mutual funds. The mix of underlying funds becomes more conservative over time. The goal of this fund is to provide high total returns for those planning to retire around 2010.

The Fidelity Freedom 2015 Fund managed by Strategic Advisers, Inc., is an asset allocation mutual fund that invests approximately 45% of its assets in domestic equity funds, 11% in international equity funds, 32% in investment grade fixed income funds, 6% in high yield fixed income funds, and 6% in Fidelity short-term mutual funds. The mix of underlying funds becomes more conservative over time. The goal of this fund is to provide high total returns for those planning to retire around 2015.

The Fidelity Freedom 2020 Fund managed by Strategic Advisers, Inc., is an asset allocation mutual fund that invests approximately 54% of its assets in domestic equity funds, 14% in international equity funds, 24% in investment grade fixed income funds, 7% in high yield fixed income funds, and 1% in Fidelity short-term mutual funds. The mix of underlying funds becomes more conservative over time. The goal of this fund is to provide high total returns for those planning to retire around 2020.

The Fidelity Freedom 2025 Fund managed by Strategic Advisers, Inc., is an asset allocation mutual fund that invests approximately 56% of its assets in domestic equity funds, 14% in international equity funds, 22% in investment grade fixed income funds and 8% in high yield fixed income funds. The mix of underlying funds becomes more conservative over time. The goal of this fund is to provide high total returns for those planning to retire around 2025.

The Fidelity Freedom 2030 Fund managed by Strategic Advisers, Inc., is an asset allocation mutual fund that invests approximately 65% of its assets in domestic equity funds, 16% in international equity funds, 11% in investment grade fixed income funds and 8% in high yield fixed income funds. The mix of underlying funds becomes more conservative over time. The goal of this fund is to provide high total returns for those planning to retire around 2030.

 

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Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements (Contd.)

 

The Fidelity Freedom 2035 Fund managed by Strategic Advisers, Inc., is an asset allocation mutual fund that invests approximately 66% of its assets in domestic equity funds, 17% in international equity funds, 10% in investment grade fixed income funds and 7% in high yield fixed income funds. The mix of underlying funds becomes more conservative over time. The goal of this fund is to provide high total returns for those planning to retire around 2035.

The Fidelity Freedom 2040 Fund managed by Strategic Advisers, Inc., is an asset allocation mutual fund that invests approximately 68% of its assets in domestic equity funds, 17% in international equity funds, 5% in investment grade fixed income funds and 10% in high yield fixed income funds. The mix of underlying funds becomes more conservative over time. The goal of this fund is to provide high total returns for those planning to retire around 2040.

The Fidelity Freedom 2045 Fund managed by Strategic Advisers, Inc., is an asset allocation mutual fund that invests approximately 68% of its assets in domestic equity funds, 18% in international equity funds, 10% in high yield fixed income funds and 4% in investment grade fixed income funds. The mix of underlying funds becomes more conservative over time. The goal of this fund is to provide high total returns for those planning to retire around 2045.

The Fidelity Freedom 2050 Fund managed by Strategic Advisers, Inc., is an asset allocation mutual fund that invests approximately 70% of its assets in domestic equity funds, 20% in international equity funds and 10% in high yield fixed income funds. The mix of underlying funds becomes more conservative over time. The goal of this fund is to provide high total returns for those planning to retire around 2050.

The CRM Mid Cap Value Fund [CRMMCVF] is a mid-cap mutual fund that invests at least 80% of its total assets in U.S. equity securities of companies between the capitalization of the smallest and largest companies in the Russell Midcap® Value Index at the time of purchase. The goal of the CRMMCVF is to provide long-term capital appreciation.

The Deltic Stock Fund [DSF], which is managed by FMTC, is a unitized fund comprised predominately in the common stock of Deltic Timber Corporation [Deltic] and a small cash component used to facilitate participant transactions. Deltic was wholly owned by Murphy prior to December 31, 1996, when Murphy’s stockholders received Deltic’s common stock in a spin-off transaction. This investment in Deltic stock resulted from the spin-off to Murphy stock held by the Master Trust. A participant may direct that all or part of his/her DSF account be either transferred to another option or withdrawn but cannot direct any allotments, Company contributions or transfers from other options to DSF.

The Managed Income Portfolio II [MIP II] is managed by FMTC and has investment contracts with major insurance companies and other approved financial institutions and in certain fixed-income securities; a small portion of MIP II is invested in a money market fund for daily liquidity. The goal of MIP II is to preserve investment principal and try to maintain a stable $1.00 unit price while earning interest income. Investment contracts held by MIP II pay a specified rate of interest and repay principal upon maturity. The effective yield of the common/collective trust fund was 4.08% for the year ended December 31, 2009. Participant withdrawals and investment option transfers are paid at book value (principal and interest accrued to date) on the contracts.

 

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Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements (Contd.)

 

The Murphy Stock Fund [MSF], which is managed by FMTC, is a unitized fund comprised predominantly in the common stock of Murphy Oil Corporation and a small cash component used to facilitate participant transactions. A participant withdrawing from MSF may elect to receive either cash or Murphy stock. If the participant elects to receive stock, the value of his/her MSF withdrawal is converted to equivalent shares of stock based on the market price at the effective date of withdrawal, and the participant receives the whole shares and cash for any fractional share.

The Pimco Total Return Fund [PTRF] is an income mutual fund managed by Pacific Investment Management Company that is invested in all types of bonds including U.S. government, corporate, mortgage and foreign; the average portfolio duration is three to six years, including both short-term and long-term maturity investments. The goal of PTRF is to provide a total return that exceeds general bond market indices.

The Royce Low-Priced Stock Fund [RLPSF] managed by Royce and Associates, LLC, is a small and micro-cap blend mutual fund that invests in companies that are trading for less than $25 per share at the time of purchase. The goal of RLPSF is to provide long-term capital growth.

The Dreman High Return Equity Fund [DHREF] is a value mutual fund managed by Deutsche Investment Management Americas, Inc. At least 80% of its assets are invested in common stocks of large U.S. companies believed to be undervalued. The goal of DHREF is to provide a high rate of total return.

The Spartan Extended Market Index Fund [SEMIF] is an index mutual fund managed by FMRC. At least 80% of its assets are invested in common stocks included in the Wilshire 4500 Equity Index, which represents the performance of stocks of small to mid-cap U.S. companies. The goal of SEMIF is to provide investment results that correspond to the total returns of stocks of such companies. If a participant invests in this option and holds it for less than 90 days, the fund will deduct a trading fee of 0.75% of the value of SEMIF shares sold.

The Spartan U.S. Equity Index Fund [SUSEIF] is an index mutual fund that normally invests at least 80% of its assets in common stocks included in the S&P 500® Index, which broadly represents the performance of common stocks traded in the U.S. The goal of SUSEIF is to provide investment results that correspond to the total return performance of common stocks publicly traded in the U.S.

Davis New York Venture Fund, Inc. [DNYVF] is a value mutual fund managed by Davis Selected Advisors, LP. The fund invests in common stocks of U.S. companies with market capitalization of at least $10 billion. The goal of DNYVF is to provide long-term capital growth.

Valuations of individual participants’ investments in each investment option and of the total beneficial interest of the Plan are determined by Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc.

 

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Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements (Contd.)

 

4. Plan Investments

The following table represents the fair value of the Plan’s interest in the individual investment funds held under the Murphy Oil Corporation Master Trust which exceed 5% of the Plan’s net assets as of December 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

     2009    2008

Managed Income Portfolio II

   $ 49,101,579    51,999,640

Murphy Stock Fund

     44,958,053    34,826,483

Fidelity Fund

     13,493,980    10,445,343

Pimco Total Return Fund

     10,000,859    11,830,134

Fidelity Balanced Fund

     9,193,556    7,289,868

5. Risk and Uncertainties

The Plan, through its investment in the Master Trust, provides for investment in various investment securities. Investment securities, 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 investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term.

6. Related Party Transactions

Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc. [FIIOC] handles record keeping and administration of the Plan and the Master Trust. Certain of the Plan’s investment options are in mutual funds managed by Fidelity Management & Research Company [FMRC]. FIIOC and FMRC are both affiliates of Fidelity Management Trust Company [FMTC], who is the Trustee for the Plan and also manages the Managed Income Portfolio II, the Murphy Stock Fund and the Deltic Stock Fund. FMRC’s fees were deducted from the earnings of the mutual funds it manages. The Master Trust paid $100,854 in trustee and administrative fees to FMTC and FIIOC in 2009. In addition, the Plan provides for investment in Murphy Oil Corporation common stock and participant loans, which also qualify as party-in-interest transactions. These transactions are covered by exemptions from the “prohibited transactions” provisions of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

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Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements (Contd.)

 

7. Income Taxes

The Committee believes that the Plan meets the necessary requirements of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and accordingly, that the related Master Trust is exempt from taxation under the provisions of Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. A favorable determination letter dated May 11, 2009 was received by the Plan. Until cash or shares are withdrawn from the Plan by a participant or a participant’s beneficiary, no income tax is payable by the participant/beneficiary on: contributions made by the Company on the participant’s behalf, allotments made by the participant pursuant to the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, or the participant’s proportional share of the investment income of the Master Trust. With few exceptions, the Plan is no longer subject to U.S. Federal, state and local or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2006.

8. Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value

The Company carries certain assets and liabilities at fair value in its Statements of Net Assets available for benefits.

The fair value hierarchy is based on the quality of inputs used to measure fair value, with Level 1 being the highest quality and Level 3 being the lowest quality. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis and recognized in the accompanying Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

Where quoted market prices are available in an active market, securities are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Level 1 securities include common stock and mutual funds. If quoted market prices are not available, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models, quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or discounted cash flows. Level 2 securities include common/collective trust. The common/collective trust’s fair value is determined by estimated cash flows less surrender charges. In certain cases where Level 1 or Level 2 inputs are not available, securities or other investments are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy. Level 3 securities include loans to participants.

There are no assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

 

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Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements (Contd.)

 

The following table presents the fair value measurements of assets and liabilities recognized in the accompanying Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at December 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

          Fair Value Measurements Using
      Fair Value    Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets  for
Identical
Assets

(Level l)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level  3)

December 31, 2009

           

Common Stock

   $ 45,407,075    45,407,075    —      —  

Registered Investment Companies

     64,072,144    64,072,144    —      —  

Common/collective Trust

     49,101,579    —      49,101,579    —  

Loans to Participants

     2,408,000    —      —      2,408,000
                     

Total at Fair Value

   $ 160,988,798    109,479,219    49,101,579    2,408,000
                     

December 31, 2008

           

Common Stock

   $ 35,330,602    35,330,602    —      —  

Registered Investment Companies

     49,528,462    49,528,462    —      —  

Common/collective Trust

     51,999,640    —      51,999,640    —  

Loans to Participants

     1,898,977    —      —      1,898,977
                     

Total at Fair Value

   $ 138,757,681    84,859,064    51,999,640    1,898,977
                     

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of recurring fair value measurements recognized in the accompanying Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):

 

     Loans to Participants  
     2009     2008  

Balance at January 1

   $ 1,898,977      1,917,243   

Loans issued

     1,488,725      886,116   

Loans repaid

     (979,702   (904,382
              

Balance at December 31

   $ 2,408,000      1,898,977   
              

There are no gains or losses recognized in net investment income or loss for Level 3 securities held at December 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

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Schedule

Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

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

December 31, 2009

 

Identity of issue/ description of investment

   Current
value

Beneficial interest in Master Trust

   $ 160,988,798
      

 

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Thrift Plan for Employees of Murphy Oil Corporation

Signature

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

 

    THRIFT PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES OF MURPHY OIL CORPORATION
Date: June 28, 2010   By:  

/s/ Kelli M. Hammock

   

Kelli M. Hammock

Vice President, Administration and Chair of Employee Benefits Committee, Murphy Oil Corporation

 

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