NBL_2013.401k.Form 11-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 11-K
 
(Mark One)
 
þ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013
 
OR
 
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from ____________ to ____________
 
Commission File No. 001–07964
 
A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
 
NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
401(K) PLAN
 
B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:
 
NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
1001 Noble Energy Way
Houston, Texas 77070


NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN

Index to Financial Statements and Supplementary Information


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

All other schedules required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted because they are not applicable.


2

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
To the Employee Benefits Committee
Noble Energy, Inc. 401(K) Plan

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Noble Energy, Inc. 401(K) Plan (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 Plan management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits 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 Plan 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 the Plan 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 performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplementary information listed in the table of contents is presented for the purpose 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, as amended. This supplementary information is the responsibility of Plan management. Such information 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/ McConnell & Jones LLP
Houston, Texas
May 28, 2014


3

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
Assets
 
 
 
 
Investments, at fair value (Note 3)
 
$
334,205,744

 
$
248,543,151

Receivables
 
 

 
 

Notes receivable from participants
 
5,685,444

 
5,198,294

Employer contributions receivable
 
12,476,306

 
9,943,751

Due from Trustee for securities sold
 

 
86,030

  Total receivables
 
18,161,750

 
15,228,075

Cash, non-interest bearing
 

 
10,345

Total Assets
 
352,367,494

 
263,781,571

 
 
 
 
 
Net Assets Available for Benefits, at fair value
 
352,367,494

 
263,781,571

Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
 
(434,103
)
 
(827,119
)
Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
$
351,933,391

 
$
262,954,452


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


4

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2013
Additions
 
Investment Income
 
Net appreciation in fair value of investments (Note 4)
$
52,474,029

Dividends
9,450,857

Interest from other investments
294,872

Net Investment Income
62,219,758

Interest income on notes receivable from participants
170,564

Contributions
 

Participants
19,988,467

Rollover
2,798,922

Employer, net of forfeitures
23,934,435

Total Contributions
46,721,824

 
 
Total Additions
109,112,146

Deductions
 

Benefits paid to participants
20,095,703

Administrative expenses
37,504

Total Deductions
20,133,207

 
 

Net Increase in Net Assets Available for Benefits
88,978,939

Net Assets Available for Benefits
 

Beginning of year
262,954,452

End of year
$
351,933,391

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


5

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
For the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012






Note 1. Description of the Plan
The following description of the Noble Energy, Inc. 401(K) Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a complete description of the Plan’s provisions.
General
The Noble Energy, Inc. 401(K) Plan, formerly known as The Noble Energy, Inc. Thrift and Profit Sharing Plan, is a defined contribution plan covering certain employees of Noble Energy, Inc., formerly Noble Affiliates, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the Company or Noble Energy). The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA).
Contributions
Employees are eligible to participate in the Plan on the first day of employment. Participants may defer up to 50% of their base compensation, including overtime, subject to the annual limitation established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of $17,500 and $17,000 in 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company’s matching contribution percentage is 100% of the participant’s deferrals up to 6% of the participant’s base compensation and is funded subsequent to each pay period. Participants who are age 50 or older at the end of the calendar year are eligible to defer additional catch-up contributions, subject to certain IRS limits ($5,500 in both 2013 and 2012). In addition, participants may contribute amounts representing rollovers from other qualified plans. The Company does not match rollovers or catch-up contributions.
A profit sharing provision was instituted for participants hired after April 30, 2006 and employed by the Company on the last day of the plan year. The profit sharing contribution is calculated based upon the following percentages of a participant’s base compensation, including overtime, while a covered employee during that year:
 
 
Percentage of Base
Compensation while a
Covered Employee that was
Below the Social Security
 
Percentage of Base
Compensation while a
Covered Employee that was
Above the Social Security
Age of Participant
 
Wage Base
 
Wage Base
Under 35
 
4%
 
8%
At least 35 but under 48
 
7%
 
10%
At least 48
 
9%
 
12%
The Plan was amended in 2013 to allow for transition payments for eligible employees under the defined benefit plan. Employees who were part of the Company's defined benefit plan may be eligible to receive transition contributions beginning in 2014. Those employees that were participants in the defined benefit plan that have less than 20 years of service with the Company will receive an additional 6% contribution (Transition Contribution) each year employed by the Company for the lesser of 10 years or until the employee reaches 20 years of service.
Participant Account
Participating employees have an option as to the manner in which their employee and employer contributions may be invested. Participants may direct their accounts into various mutual funds, Noble Energy common stock, a common collective trust fund, as well as other publicly traded securities through a self-directed brokerage feature. Participant accounts are valued daily. Allocations of net earnings are based on 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.
Plan Termination
The Plan is intended to continue indefinitely; however, the right to terminate participation in the Plan is reserved to each participating company. Upon termination or permanent suspension of contributions with respect to all or any one of the participating companies, the accounts of all participants affected thereby will become fully vested, and the balances in their accounts will be distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, as determined by the Noble Energy Employee Benefits Committee (the Committee).
Vesting
Participants are immediately vested in their pretax contributions, Transition Contributions, and rollover contributions. Participants become fully vested in employer matching contributions in accordance with the following schedule:


6

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
For the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012




Period of Service
Vested
Completed by Participant
Percentage
Less than 1 year
None
At least 1 but less than 2 years
34%
At least 2 but less than 3 years
67%
3 or more years
100%

Participants become fully vested in the profit sharing contribution in accordance with the following schedule:
Period of Service
Vested
Completed by Participant
Percentage
Less than 3 years
None
3 or more years
100%
The Plan also provides for participants to be fully vested upon death, permanent disability or completion of an hour of service on or after the participant’s 65th birthday.
Benefits Paid to Participants
Distributions are made in lump-sum payments, at the request of the participant, after termination of employment. While employed, a participant may make withdrawals from his or her employer or employee contribution accounts (as allowed under IRS regulations) subject to certain restrictions described in the Plan. Certain restrictions associated with withdrawals may be waived in the event a participant demonstrates a financial hardship. The Plan requires automatic cash outs of account balances less than $1,000 upon termination of employment.
Notes Receivable from Participants
A participant may borrow from the Plan up to the lesser of $50,000 reduced by the highest outstanding loan balance in the previous 12 months or one-half of the participant’s vested account balance. Interest is charged at the current prime rate. Interest rates on outstanding loans as of December 31, 2013 ranged from 3.25% to 7.25% and loans are required to be repaid within five years through payroll deductions. Maturity dates on loans outstanding as of December 31, 2013 ranged from January 3, 2014 to December 24, 2018. Repayments of principal and interest are credited to the borrowing participant’s account. Participants may have a maximum of two loans outstanding at a time.
Plan Administration
The Plan is administered by the Committee. The investment options available under the Plan (other than Noble Energy common stock and those selected by a participant under the Plan’s self-directed brokerage feature) are recommended by a professional investment advisory firm appointed by the Committee. Fidelity Management Trust Company (the Trustee) serves as Trustee of the Plan. Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc. is the record keeper.
Noble Energy Common Stock Voting Rights
Each participant is entitled to exercise voting rights attributable to the Noble Energy common stock in his or her account and is notified by the Trustee prior to the time that such rights are to be exercised. If the participant does not exercise these rights, the shares are voted by the Trustee as directed by the Committee.
Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP).
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


7

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
For the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012




Valuation of Investments and Income Recognition
Investments traded on national securities exchanges are valued at closing prices on the last business day of the year. Cash is valued at cost, which approximates fair value.
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. As required, the statement of net assets available for benefits presents the fair value of the investment contracts 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. See Note 3. Fair Value Measurements.
The statement of net assets available for benefits includes the fair value of the underlying assets and wrap contracts of the Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio based on the proportionate ownership of the Plan.
As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, there were no reserves against the wrap contracts’ carrying values due to minimal credit risks of the issuers. Effective August 2009, interest rates are reviewed on a monthly basis for resetting instead of being reviewed on a quarterly basis. Certain events could limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value with the issuers of the contracts held by the Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio. Such events could include, but are not limited to, the following: the establishment of a defined contribution plan that competes with the Plan for contributions, substantive modification to the Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio or the administration of the Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio, change in law, regulation or administrative ruling applicable to the Plan that could have a material adverse effect on cash flow, transfer to a competing investment option, and failure of the Plan to qualify under the applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (IRC). Withdrawals initiated by the Plan will normally be provided at contract value as soon as practicable within twelve months following written notice. The Plan does not believe that the occurrence of any of these events, which could limit the Plan’s ability to transact at contract value with participants, is probable.
The average yields earned by the Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio were approximately 1.54% and 1.70% at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The average yields earned by the Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio based on the actual interest rates credited to participants were approximately 0.89% and 1.05% at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest is recorded as earned. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments includes gains and losses on investments sold during the year as well as appreciation and depreciation of the investments held at the end of the year.
Under the terms of the Plan, the Trustee, on behalf of the trust fund, is allowed to acquire, hold and dispose of the common stock of Noble Energy. In the event that trading transactions in the stock fund exceed the cash portion of the stock fund, the trust has arranged to utilize lines of credit to facilitate transactions. The loan initiated under the line of credit is secured against the stock fund and cannot exceed 25% of the total fair market value of the stock fund. Interest payable by the Plan on each loan is based on rates quoted to trustee by the lenders. These transactions are allowed under Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2002-55; Exemption Application No. D-10958, an individual exemption granted to Fidelity by the Department of Labor. Effective May 31, 2012, Noble Energy converted the Plan’s Noble Energy Unitized Stock Fund from a unitized stock fund to real-time traded stock. On or after May 31, 2012, real-time trading will only apply to exchanges into and out of the Noble Energy Stock Fund. As of December 31, 2012, there were no outstanding balances related to these lines of credit.
Notes Receivable from Participants
Notes receivable for participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Delinquent participant loans are reclassified as a distribution based upon the terms of the Plan document.
Expenses of the Plan
Certain Plan administration expenses, such as loan maintenance fees and check fees, are charged to and paid by the participants requesting the transaction. The Company pays the remaining expenses and fees of the Plan. Investment related expenses are included in net appreciation of fair value of investments.
Benefit Payments
Benefits are recorded as paid.


8

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
For the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012




Forfeitures
When a participant terminates employment, he or she is entitled to withdraw his or her total vested account balance. The non-vested percentage of the Company’s matching and profit sharing contributions become a forfeiture upon participant termination for reasons other than retirement, death or permanent disability. The forfeiture balance as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $242,256 and $389,338, respectively. Certain forfeitures are used to restore certain amounts to the accounts of rehired participants and to reduce the Company’s future contributions. Forfeitures utilized to reduce contributions were $574,633 in 2013.
Note 3. Fair Value Measurements
US GAAP for fair value measurements establishes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted market prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). Level 2 inputs are inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, which are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. The Plan uses Level 1 inputs when available as Level 1 inputs generally provide the most reliable evidence of fair value.
Certain investments are measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the statements of net assets available for benefits.  The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair values:
Interest bearing cash, mutual funds, common stocks and other investments – These investments consist of various publicly-traded money market funds, mutual funds, and common stock. The fair values are based on quoted market prices. Other investments classified as Level 1 include corporate and government bonds, and other investments classified as Level 2 include rights, warrants, options and other units.
Common collective trust fund – The Plan’s investment in the Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio which is fully benefit-responsive, is presented in the statements of net assets available for benefits at the fair value of units held by the Plan as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 with separate disclosure of the adjustment from fair value to contract value, which is equal to principal balance plus accrued interest.  This fund invests in investment contracts issued by insurance companies and other financial institutions (wraps), fixed income securities, and money market funds. The fair value of the Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio is calculated by the issuer utilizing quoted market prices, most recent bid prices in the principal market in which the securities are normally traded, pricing services and dealer quotes.  The fair value of underlying wrapper contracts is calculated by the issuer using a discounted cash flow model which considers (i) recent fee bids as determined by recognized dealers, (ii) discount rate and (iii) the duration of the underlying portfolio securities.
Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio valued at the Net Asset Value (NAV) of units of a bank collective trust. The NAV, as provided by the Trustee, is used as a practical expedient to estimate fair value. The NAV is based on the fair value of the underlying investments held by the fund less its liabilities. This practical expedient is not used when it is determined to be probable that the fund will sell the investment for an amount different than the reported NAV. Participant transactions (purchases and sales) may occur daily. Were the Plan to initiate a full redemption of the collective trust, the investment adviser reserves the right to temporarily delay withdrawal from the trust in order to ensure that securities liquidations will be carried out in an orderly business manner.
The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net asset value or reflective of future fair value. Furthermore, while the Plan’s 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 different estimates of fair value at the reporting date.


9

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
For the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012





Fair value information for investments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis is as follows:
 
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
 
 
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Fair
Value
Measurement
December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest bearing cash
 
$
3,437,166

 
$

 
$

 
$
3,437,166

Common collective trust fund
 

 
28,799,948

 

 
28,799,948

Mutual funds:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Large cap funds
 
68,724,539

 

 

 
68,724,539

Mid cap funds
 
23,636,918

 

 

 
23,636,918

Small cap funds
 
9,807,412

 

 

 
9,807,412

International funds
 
16,147,061

 

 

 
16,147,061

Blended funds
 
72,955,808

 

 

 
72,955,808

Fixed income funds
 
15,975,865

 

 

 
15,975,865

Other funds
 
1,246,450

 

 

 
1,246,450

Total mutual funds
 
208,494,053

 

 

 
208,494,053

Common stocks:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Noble Energy common stock
 
89,036,593

 

 

 
89,036,593

Other common stock
 
3,458,276

 

 

 
3,458,276

Total common stocks
 
92,494,869

 

 

 
92,494,869

Other investments
 
321,021

 
658,687

 

 
979,708

Total investments, at fair value
 
$
304,747,109

 
$
29,458,635

 
$

 
$
334,205,744

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2012
 
 
Interest bearing cash
 
$
3,247,827

 
$

 
$

 
$
3,247,827

Common collective trust fund
 

 
28,902,758

 

 
28,902,758

Mutual funds:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Large cap funds
 
45,114,962

 

 

 
45,114,962

Mid cap funds
 
16,937,798

 

 

 
16,937,798

Small cap funds
 
5,265,327

 

 

 
5,265,327

International funds
 
11,507,932

 

 

 
11,507,932

Blended funds
 
49,562,462

 

 

 
49,562,462

Fixed income funds
 
17,766,700

 

 

 
17,766,700

Other funds
 
857,993

 

 

 
857,993

Total mutual funds
 
147,013,174

 

 

 
147,013,174

Common stocks:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Noble Energy common stock(1)
 
66,698,021

 

 

 
66,698,021

Other common stock
 
2,246,455

 

 

 
2,246,455

Total common stocks
 
68,944,476

 

 

 
68,944,476

Other investments
 
434,916

 

 

 
434,916

Total investments, at fair value
 
$
219,640,393

 
$
28,902,758

 
$

 
$
248,543,151

(1) 
Effective May 31, 2012, Noble Energy converted the Plan’s Noble Energy Unitized Stock Fund from a unitized stock fund to real-time traded stock.
Below is a summary of the Plan’s investments at December 31, 2013 and 2012, where fair value is estimated based on the NAV:


10

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
For the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012






December 31, 2013
December 31, 2013 Fair Value*
December 31, 2012 Fair Value*
Unfunded Commitments
Redemption Frequency
Redemption Notice Period
Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio (1)
$28,799,948
$28,902,758
$—
Daily
None
* The fair values of investments have been estimated using the net asset value of the investment.
(1) The Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio is comprised of investment contracts issued by insurance companies and other financial institutions, fixed income securities, and money market funds. The Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio invests in fixed income securities which may include US Treasury and agency bonds, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities and shares of money market funds. The Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio may also invest in futures contracts, option contracts and swap agreements. Participant directed withdrawals may be made on any business day. Withdrawals directed by the Company must be preceded by twelve (12) months written notice.
Note 4. Investments
The Plan held the following investments, which separately represented 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits:
 
 
December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
Noble Energy common stock(1) (2)
 
$
89,036,593

 
$
66,698,021

Dodge & Cox Stock Fund (3)
 
19,860,646

 
11,845,437

Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio (contract value of $28,365,845 and $28,075,639, respectively) (1)
 
28,799,948

 
28,902,758

PIMCO Moderate Duration Fund
 

 
17,766,700

Spartan US Equity Index Fund (1) (3)
 
18,014,857

 
11,691,168

                                                                                                                                     
(1)     Represents party-in-interest.
(2)  
Effective May 31, 2012, Noble Energy converted the Plan’s Noble Energy Unitized Stock Fund from a unitized stock fund to real-time traded stock.
(3) As of December 31, 2012, these investments represent less than 5% of Plan net assets but are disclosed herein for comparative purposes.  
Approximately 25% of the Plan’s net assets were invested in Noble Energy common stock as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.
The Plan’s investments, including investments bought, sold and held during the year, appreciated in value as follows:
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2013
Noble Energy common stock 
 
$
22,556,453

Mutual funds
 
29,639,643

Other common stocks
 
277,933

Net appreciation in fair value
 
$
52,474,029


Note 5. Tax Status
The Plan is exempt from federal income taxes under IRC Sections 401(a) and 501(a) and has previously received a favorable determination letter from the IRS dated July 22, 2009. Although the Plan has been amended since the date of the determination letter, the Committee is of the opinion that the Plan meets IRC requirements and continues to be tax-exempt.
US GAAP requires plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS.  The Committee


11

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN

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 asset) or disclosure in the financial statements.  The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress.  The Committee believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for plan years prior to 2010.
Note 6. Party-in-Interest Transactions
The Plan allows for investment in Noble Energy common stock. The Company is the plan sponsor; therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions.  Total net assets invested in Noble Energy common stock were $89,036,593 and $66,698,021 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
The Plan also invests in money market funds, a common collective trust fund and mutual funds issued by an affiliate of the Trustee; therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Total net assets invested in Fidelity funds and cash accounts were $153,194,031 and $114,763,363 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
The above transactions are covered by an exemption from the “prohibited transactions” provisions of ERISA and the IRC.
Note 7. Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan, at the direction of the participants, may invest in various types of 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 amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.
Note 8. Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500:
 
 
December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
 
$
351,933,391

 
$
262,954,452

Add: Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
 
434,103

 
827,119

Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500
 
$
352,367,494

 
$
263,781,571


The following is a reconciliation of the net increase in net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500:
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2013
Net increase in net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
 
$
88,978,939

Add: Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts December 31, 2013
 
434,103

Less: Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts December 31, 2012
 
(827,119
)
Net increase in net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500
 
$
88,585,923

Fully benefit-responsive investment contracts are recorded on the Form 5500 at fair value but are adjusted to contract value for financial statement presentation.
Note 9. Delinquent Participant Contributions
As reported on Schedule H, line 4a, Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions for the year ended December 31, 2013, certain participant contributions were not remitted to the trust within the time frame specified by the Department of Labor’s Regulation 29 CFR 2510.53-102, thus constituting nonexempt transactions between the Plan and the Company for the year ended December 31, 2013. Delinquent participant contributions in the amount of $3,467 relating to plan year 2013 were made to the Plan on May 20, 2014 for the period outstanding. Additionally, on May 20, 2014, the Company remitted $120 of lost earnings on the delinquent participant contributions for the period outstanding.


12

Schedule 1


NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN
Schedule H, Line 4a – Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions
December 31, 2013

Participant Contributions Transferred Late to Plan
 
Total that Constitute Nonexempt Prohibited Transactions
 
Total Fully Corrected Under VFCP and PTE 2002-51
Check here if Late Participant Loan Repayments are Included:
 
Contributions Not Corrected
 
Contributions Corrected Outside VFCP
 
Contributions Pending Correction in VFCP
 
o
 
$—
 
$—
 
$—
 
$
3,467


During 2013, it was discovered that there were unintentional delays by the Company in submitting participant contributions in the amount of $3,467 to the Trustee. On May 20, 2014, the Company remitted the delinquent participant contributions in addition to $120 of lost interest on the delinquent participant contributions for the period outstanding.

See accompanying report of independent registered public accounting firm



13

Schedule 2


NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN
EIN: 73-0785597  Plan #002


14

Schedule 2


Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2013
a.
b. Identity of issue, borrower, lessor, or similar party
c. Description of investment including maturity date, rate of interest, par or maturity value
d. Cost (1)
e. Current Value
 
Common Collective Trust Fund
 
 
 

*
Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio
Common collective trust fund
$

$
28,799,948

 
Total Common Collective Trust Fund
 

28,799,948

 
 
 
 
 

 
Mutual Funds
 
 
 

 
American Funds Growth Fund of America (Class A Shares)
Mutual fund

17,170,897

 
Dimensional Fund Advisors Small Cap I Fund
Mutual fund

9,807,412

 
Artisan Mid Cap Institutional
Mutual fund

10,214,629

 
Dodge & Cox Stock Fund
Mutual fund

19,860,646

*
Fidelity Diversified International K Fund
Mutual fund

16,147,061

*
Fidelity Dividend Growth K Fund
Mutual fund

13,678,139

*
Fidelity Freedom K Income Fund
Mutual fund

1,099,238

*
Fidelity Freedom K 2000 Fund
Mutual fund

604,133

*
Fidelity Freedom K 2005 Fund
Mutual fund

271,465

*
Fidelity Freedom K 2010 Fund
Mutual fund

870,349

*
Fidelity Freedom K 2015 Fund
Mutual fund

6,149,781

*
Fidelity Freedom K 2020 Fund
Mutual fund

10,750,728

*
Fidelity Freedom K 2025 Fund
Mutual fund

9,255,684

*
Fidelity Freedom K 2030 Fund
Mutual fund

8,228,681

*
Fidelity Freedom K 2035 Fund
Mutual fund

5,984,455

*
Fidelity Freedom K 2040 Fund
Mutual fund

5,655,884

*
Fidelity Freedom K 2045 Fund
Mutual fund

6,312,594

*
Fidelity Freedom K 2050 Fund
Mutual fund

4,591,361

*
Fidelity Freedom K 2055 Fund
Mutual fund

914,914

*
Fidelity Puritan K Fund
Mutual fund

12,226,760

*
Fidelity Retire MMKT
Mutual fund

39,781

 
Perkins Mid Cap Value Fund
Mutual fund

13,422,289

 
PIMCO Moderate Duration Fund
Mutual fund

15,975,865

*
Spartan US Equity Index Fund
Mutual fund

18,014,857

 
Total Mutual Funds
 

207,247,603

 
 
 
 
 

 
Common Stocks
 
 
 

*
Noble Energy, Inc.
Common stock

89,036,593

 
Total Common Stocks
 

89,036,593

 
 
 
 
 

*
Brokerage link
Self-directed brokerage account

9,121,600

 
 
Total Investments

334,205,744

 
 
 
 
 

*
Notes Receivable from Participants
Interest rates ranging from 3.25% to 7.25%; maturity dates ranging from January 3, 2014 through December 24, 2018

5,685,444

 
 
 
$0
$
339,891,188

* Represents party-in-interest
(1) Historical cost information has been omitted for participant-directed investments.
See accompanying report of independent registered public accounting firm


15


SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Trustee (or other person who administers the employee benefit plan) has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
NOBLE ENERGY, INC. 401(K) PLAN
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 28, 2014
By:
/s/ Andrea Lee Robison
 
 
Andrea Lee Robison,
 
 
Senior Vice President Human Resources and Administration of Noble Energy, Inc.


INDEX TO EXHIBIT

Exhibit number
 
Exhibit
 
 
 
23.1