Document
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549 

 
FORM 11-K


[ X ] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015

or

[   ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from _______ to _______


Commission File No. 001-36609


A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

 
THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN
 



B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

 
NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION
 

50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60603























THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AND SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014
(With Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm)




























THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS






 
PAGE
 
 
2
 
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
 
 
 
3
 
 
4
 
 
 
5-13
 
 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
 
 
 
 
         December 31, 2015
14-16
 
 
17
 
 
18









REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


June 24, 2016


To the Employee Benefit Administrative Committee
The Northern Trust Company

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of The Northern Trust Company Thrift-Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, 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 audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As discussed in Note 3, effective January 1, 2015, the Plan has adopted the disclosure provisions contained in Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-07, Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent), and ASU 2015-12, Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts, Plan Investment Disclosures, and Measurement Date Practical Expedient: Consensuses of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force.

The schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2015, referred to as “supplementary information,” has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audits of the Plan’s financial statements. The supplementary information is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplementary information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplementary information. In forming our opinion on the supplementary information, we evaluated whether the supplementary information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. In our opinion, the supplementary information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.


/s/ GEORGE JOHNSON & COMPANY

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Chicago, Illinois




2




THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

DECEMBER 31




 
 
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
Collective trust funds
$
944,912,598

 
$
1,087,493,849

 
Northern Trust common stock fund
360,498,084

 
366,676,355

 
Mutual funds
236,265,187

 
238,965,868

 
Separately managed account:
 
 
 
 
Domestic common stock
96,860,871

 
—

 
Foreign common stock
16,069,332

 
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments, at contract value:
 
 
 
 
Stable value portfolio
153,110,653

 
157,834,550

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total investments
1,807,716,725

 
1,850,970,622

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Receivables:
 
 
 
 
 
Accrued interest and dividends receivable
2,135,749

 
1,984,904

 
Employer contribution receivable
1,564,768

 
944,532

 
Participant contribution receivable
2,452,223

 
2,263,805

 
Notes receivable from participants
27,276,142

 
27,668,219

 
 
 
 
Total receivables
33,428,882

 
32,861,460

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
 
1,841,145,607

 
1,883,832,082

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
Expenses payable
 
190,787

 
198,541

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets available for benefits
$
1,840,954,820

 
$
1,883,633,541




See accompanying notes to financial statements.




3




THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31


 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
Additions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment income:
 
 
 
 
 
Net appreciation in
 
 
 
 
 
 
fair value of investments
$
6,577,549

 
$
110,290,561

 
Interest
 
4,678,363

 
3,846,692

 
Interest from participant loans
1,225,260

 
1,251,100

 
Dividends
 
8,898,766

 
9,174,810

 
 
Total investment income
21,379,938

 
124,563,163

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contributions:
 
 
 
 
 
Employer
 
21,434,831

 
20,132,623

 
Participants
 
83,548,404

 
77,797,166

 
 
Total contributions
104,983,235

 
97,929,789

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total additions
126,363,173

 
222,492,952

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deductions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benefits paid to participants
167,426,096

 
152,775,112

Administrative expenses
1,615,798

 
1,408,773

 
 
Total deductions
169,041,894

 
154,183,885

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net additions / (deductions)
(42,678,721
)
 
68,309,067

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets available for benefits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of year
 
1,883,633,541

 
1,815,324,474

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
End of year
 
$
1,840,954,820

 
$
1,883,633,541




See accompanying notes to financial statements.




4




THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


1.
Plan Description

The following is a brief description of The Northern Trust Company Thrift-Incentive Plan (the Plan) provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan Sourcebook or the Plan document for more complete information.

(a)
General – The Plan is a defined contribution plan, the purpose of which is to provide retirement benefits to eligible domestic employees of The Northern Trust Company (the Company) and any affiliates or subsidiaries which adopt the Plan.
    
The Plan is subject to applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act as amended (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code (the Code).

(b)
Plan Administration – The Plan is administered by the Plan’s Employee Benefit Administrative Committee (the Committee). As administrator of the Plan, the Committee interprets the provisions of the Plan and decides all questions arising in the administration of the Plan. The Committee may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan.

(c)
Eligibility – Employees can make contributions after receipt of their first paycheck. Participating employees are eligible for the Company match on the first day of the month following six months of service.

(d)
Vesting – Participants are always 100% vested in their own contributions and earnings. The Company matching contributions vest 20% annually until the participant is 100% vested at the end of five years.

(e)
Employee Contributions – Participants may elect to contribute from 1% to a maximum of 40% (in whole percentage points) of their base salary to the Plan; provided, however, that participants with a base pay rate exceeding $120,000 are limited to a maximum contribution rate of 20%. These contributions may be made with before-tax and/or after-tax dollars. In 2015 and 2014, a participant’s annual before-tax contributions could not exceed $18,000 and $17,500, respectively, except in the case of additional catch-up contributions for participants who had attained age 50 before the end of the Plan year.

Newly hired participants who do not begin contributing to the Plan as soon as they are eligible are automatically enrolled in the Plan by the time they receive their fourth paycheck. The initial contribution rate for participants who are automatically enrolled is 6% on a before-tax basis and increases by 1% annually in April until the participant is contributing 10%. These contributions are invested in the target-date Northern Trust Focus Fund nearest to the participant’s projected retirement age of 62. Participants may elect to cancel or change this automatic enrollment before it becomes effective and may also make changes at any time to the contribution rate, before- or after-tax contribution basis, and how contributions are

5




THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


invested. Participants can split their contributions among any of the available investment funds, including additional Northern Trust Focus target-date retirement funds, in increments of 1%. The Northern Trust Stock Fund is designated as an employee stock ownership plan. The Former ESOP Fund also constitutes an employee stock ownership plan. Participants may elect to have dividends on the shares of Northern Trust Corporation stock in either or both of these Funds reinvested quarterly in Northern Trust Corporation stock or paid to the participants annually in cash. Participant contributions may be limited in certain instances so as not to exceed certain maximum amounts established by the Code and related Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations.

Participants may direct their own contributions and related Company contributions into any of the Plan’s fund options except for the Former ESOP Fund. Participants may change their elections and transfer balances between funds at any time, subject to certain restrictions affecting the Northern Trust Stock Fund and the Former ESOP Fund in accordance with Northern Trust Corporation’s Securities Transactions Policy and Procedures and certain fund trading restrictions that apply to all participants.

(f)
Employer Contributions – The Company makes a matching contribution of $0.50 on every $1.00 that a participant contributes up to 6% of pay. This is equal to a maximum of 3% of pay and is made to contributing participant accounts every payday.

(g)
Benefits, Withdrawals and Forfeitures – Upon a termination for permanent disability, death, or the attainment of age 65, a participant or beneficiary is entitled to receive the participant’s entire balance in the Plan. If a participant terminates for any other reason, the unvested portion of his or her employer contribution accounts will be forfeited. These forfeitures will be used to reduce the current year’s employer contributions. Forfeitures amounted to $680,674 and $579,723 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Participants may also elect to withdraw a portion of their accounts subject to various restrictions as outlined in the Plan. Prior to the attainment of age 59-1/2, a participant’s before-tax contributions may only be withdrawn for reasons of financial hardship as defined by the Code and related IRS regulations.

(h)
Participant Loans – Participants may borrow against the vested portion of their Plan accounts, excluding amounts attributable to the Former ESOP Fund. Participants can borrow a minimum of $1,000, with additional increments of $1.00. Loans must be paid back over a maximum of five years (15 years for home loans) and bear a reasonable rate of interest. All loans are subject to various restrictions as outlined in the Plan. However, in no case can a participant’s entire loan balance exceed the lesser of 50% of his vested account balance or $50,000. For certain participants, payments to the Northern Trust Stock Fund may be restricted in accordance with Northern Trust Corporation’s Securities Transactions Policy and Procedures. Loan interest rates are based on the prime interest rate plus 1%. Participant loans are valued at amortized cost. An administrative fee of $100.00 per loan is added to the

6




THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


principal loan amount and reflected in the payments deducted each payroll period from a participant’s paycheck.

(i)
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, all participants’ accounts will become fully vested.


2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A summary of the Plan’s significant accounting policies, consistently applied in the preparation of the accompanying financial statements, is as follows:

(a)
Basis of Accounting – The financial statements of the Plan are presented under the accrual method of accounting, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

(b)
Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the plan administrator to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(c)
Valuation of Investments – The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value. Shares of mutual and collective trust funds are valued at their net asset value (NAV) per share, as reported by the fund manager. Domestic and foreign common stock held in a separately managed account and Northern Trust Corporation common stock are valued at the closing prices reported in the active markets in which the individual securities are traded.

The Plan’s policy is to recognize transfers between fair value levels as of the actual date of the event or change in circumstance that caused the transfer. This policy is the same for both transfers into and out of the levels.

(d)
Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts – As described in the Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-12 to the Defined Contribution Pension Plans topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC), fully benefit-responsive investment contracts held in a defined contribution plan are required to be measured at contract value. Contract value is a relevant measurement because it represents the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Plan held fully benefit-responsive investment contracts through the Stable Value Portfolio consisting of traditional guaranteed investment contracts (GICs), separate account insurance contracts

7




THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


and wrapper contracts (synthetic GICs). The key objective of the Stable Value Portfolio is to preserve principal, maintain a stable crediting rate, and provide liquidity at contract value for participant withdrawals and transfers in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

In a traditional GIC, the issuer takes a deposit from the Stable Value Portfolio and purchases investments that are held in the issuer’s general account. The issuer is contractually obligated to repay the principal and a specified rate of interest to the Stable Value Portfolio. Separate account GICs are investments in a segregated account of assets maintained by the issuer for the benefit of the Stable Value Portfolio. In a wrapper contract structure, the underlying investments are owned by the Stable Value Portfolio and held in trust for plan participants. Separate account and wrapper contracts amortize the realized and unrealized gains and losses on the underlying fixed income investments over the duration of the investments through adjustments to the future interest crediting rate. The crediting rates typically reset on a monthly or quarterly basis and are influenced by a number of factors including the prevailing market rates, generated returns and duration of the underlying investments as well as the amount and timing of participant contributions, transfers and withdrawals.

Certain events limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value with the issuer. These events may include material adverse changes to the provisions of the Plan or its termination and are not probable of occurring in the foreseeable future. Examples of events that would permit a contract issuer to terminate a contract upon short notice may include the Plan’s loss of its qualified status, material breaches of responsibilities, or material and adverse changes to the provisions of the Plan.

(e)
Investment Income Recognition – Purchases and sales of securities are reflected on a trade-date basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income from investments is recorded as earned on an accrual basis. At the time investments are sold, the difference between the original cost (computed on an average cost basis) and the proceeds received is recorded as a realized gain or loss in the financial statements. The unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments represents the change in the market value from the beginning of the Plan year (or date the investments were purchased, if later) to the end of the Plan year (or date the investments were sold, if earlier).

(f)
Contributions – Contributions from the Company are accrued based upon the funding provisions of the Plan.

(g)
Administrative Expenses – During 2015 and 2014, certain administrative expenses were paid by the Plan, as authorized by Plan documents and the Committee. The remaining 2015 and 2014 administrative expenses were paid by the Company.

(h)
Payment of Benefits – Benefit payments are recorded when paid.


8




THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


3.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-07, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) — Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)” which removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the NAV per share practical expedient. As permitted by ASU 2015-07, the Plan has early adopted this pronouncement for the year ended December 31, 2015 and its investments in guaranteed investment contracts and collective trust funds that are measured at fair value using the NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy. As a result of the adoption of ASU 2015-07, the Plan retrospectively modified its fair value disclosures.

In July 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-12, “Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts, Plan Investment Disclosures, and Measurement Date Practical Expedient: Consensuses of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force”. The primary objective of the ASU is to simplify several elements of employee benefit plan financial reporting including disclosures on fully benefit-responsive investment contracts, investments’ risk, strategies, characteristics etc. As permitted by ASU 2015-12, the Plan has early adopted this pronouncement for the year ended December 31, 2015, including elimination of the requirements to measure the fair value of fully benefit-responsive investment contracts as well as the requirements to disclose individual investments that represent 5 percent or more of net assets available for benefits and the net appreciation or depreciation in fair value of investments by general type. As a result of the adoption of ASU 2015-12, the Plan retrospectively modified its investment disclosures.


4.
Investments

The Plan follows the guidance issued under the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic of the FASB ASC, which defines fair value and provides a framework for measuring fair value including a hierarchy of valuation inputs based on the extent to which the inputs are observable in the marketplace. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the entity’s own assumptions about how market participants would value an asset or liability based on the best information available. Financial instruments are categorized based on the lowest level input that is significant to their valuation.

Level 1 inputs are quoted, active market prices for identical assets or liabilities. The Plan’s Level 1 investments at December 31, 2015 included Northern Trust Corporation common stock, domestic and foreign common stock held in a separately managed account and mutual funds. The Plan’s

9




THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Level 1 investments at December 31, 2014 included Northern Trust Corporation common stock and mutual funds. Common stock shares are valued at the closing price reported in the active markets in which the individual securities are traded. Share prices of each mutual fund, referred to as the fund’s NAV, are calculated daily by the fund’s manager based on the closing market prices and accruals of securities in the fund’s total portfolio (total value of the fund) divided by the number of fund shares currently issued and outstanding. Redemptions in these funds occur by contract at the respective fund’s redemption date NAV.

Level 2 inputs are observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted active market prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in inactive markets, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets. The Plan had no Level 2 assets or liabilities at December 31, 2015 or 2014. The investments in collective trust funds are valued as a practical expedient utilizing NAVs, which are calculated on a scheduled basis using the closing market prices and accruals of securities in the funds (total value of the funds) divided by the number of fund shares currently issued and outstanding. Redemptions of the collective trust funds occur by contract at the respective fund’s redemption date NAV. The investments in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts through the Stable Value Portfolio are measured at contract value. As a result of the adoption of ASU 2015-07 and ASU 2015-12, the investments in collective trust funds and Stable Value Portfolio have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy.

Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for an asset or liability, including inputs from internally-developed pricing models due to little or no market activity. The Plan had no Level 3 assets or liabilities at December 31, 2015 or 2014. The following tables present Plan assets measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and their levels within the fair value hierarchy, each as of December 31, 2015 and 2014:

10




THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Description
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Balance as of December 31,
 
 
 
2015
Fair value of investments in the fair value hierarchy:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Northern Trust common stock fund
$
360,498,084

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
360,498,084

Mutual funds
236,265,187

 
—

 
—

 
236,265,187

Separately managed account:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Domestic common stock
96,860,871

 
—

 
—

 
96,860,871

Foreign common stock
16,069,332

 
—

 
—

 
16,069,332

Total fair value of investments in the fair value hierarchy
709,693,474

 
—

 
—

 
709,693,474

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments excluded from the fair value hierarchy:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collective trust funds measured at net asset value
—

 
—

 
—

 
944,912,598

Stable value portfolio measured at contract value
—

 
—

 
—

 
153,110,653

Total investments excluded from the fair value hierarchy
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,098,023,251

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Investments at fair value
$
709,693,474

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
1,807,716,725



Description
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Balance as of December 31,
 
 
 
2014
Fair value of investments in the fair value hierarchy:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Northern Trust common stock fund
$
366,676,355

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
366,676,355

Mutual Funds
238,965,868

 
—

 
—

 
238,965,868

Total fair value of investments in the fair value hierarchy
605,642,223

 
—

 
—

 
605,642,223

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments excluded from the fair value hierarchy:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collective trust funds measured at net asset value
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,087,493,849

Stable value portfolio measured at contract value
—

 
—

 
—

 
157,834,550

Total investments excluded from the fair value hierarchy
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,245,328,399

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Investments at fair value
$
605,642,223

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
1,850,970,622


11




THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



5.
Related-Party Transactions

Certain Plan investments are shares of funds managed by the Company or one of its affiliates. The Company or one of its affiliates serves as trustee, custodian or administrator for these funds. The Plan also holds investments in shares of Northern Trust Corporation common stock. These transactions qualify as exempt party-in-interest transactions, in accordance with ERISA. There have been no identified prohibited transactions with a party-in-interest.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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 reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits.


7.
Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Schedule H of Form 5500

The following are reconciliations of December 31, 2015 and 2014 net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to Schedule H of Form 5500.

Description
2015
 
2014
Net Assets Available for Benefits per the Financial Statements
$
1,840,954,820

 
$
1,883,633,541

Adjustment from Contract Value to Fair Value for
 
 
 
Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts
(946,705
)
 
124,044

Net Assets Available for Benefits per Schedule H of Form 5500
$
1,840,008,115

 
$
1,883,757,585



8.
Tax Status

The Plan obtained its latest determination letter on October 22, 2013, in which the IRS stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, the Plan administrator does not have any reason to believe that the Plan is not designed or being operated in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Code.



12




THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require the Plan management to evaluate uncertain tax positions taken by the Plan. The financial statement effects of a tax position are recognized when the position is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, to be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan’s management has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken. The Plan has recognized no interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions for the preceding three-year period up to and including the 2012 Plan year; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress.

9.
Subsequent Events

The Plan has evaluated subsequent events through June 24, 2016, the date the financial statements were issued, and determined that no subsequent events occurred that require adjustments to, or disclosure in, the financial statements.


13






















Supplementary Information








THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN
Form 5500, Schedule H, 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
As of December 31, 2015
Employer Identification Number: 36-1561860; Plan Number: 002


Par value
of shares
 
Identity of Issue, Borrower, Lessor, or Similar Party (b) and Description of Investment (c)
 
Cost (d)
 
Current Value (e)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Domestic common stock held in a separately managed account:
 
 
 
 
32,237

 
 
Adobe Systems Incorporated
$
2,965,437

$
3,028,344

16,796

 
 
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.
 
2,299,204

 
2,185,328

17,010

 
 
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 
3,003,396

 
3,244,658

11,096

 
 
Allergan Plc
 
3,522,625

 
3,467,500

5,503

 
 
Alphabet Inc
 
4,278,088

 
4,281,389

4,424

 
 
Amazon.com, Inc.
 
2,990,317

 
2,990,137

51,937

 
 
American International Group Inc.
 
3,286,397

 
3,218,536

32,408

 
 
American Tower Corp
 
3,222,056

 
3,141,956

155,815

 
 
Applied Materials, Inc.
 
2,925,645

 
2,909,066

17,490

 
 
Boeing Co
 
2,570,470

 
2,528,879

42,269

 
 
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co
 
2,865,331

 
2,907,685

71,867

 
 
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation
 
1,288,475

 
1,271,327

20,498

 
 
Celgene Corporation
 
2,260,000

 
2,454,840

3,805

 
 
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
 
2,168,384

 
1,825,829

17,172

 
 
Cimarex Energy Co
 
1,938,009

 
1,534,833

71,879

 
 
Citigroup Inc.
 
3,887,935

 
3,719,738

26,436

 
 
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp
 
1,675,758

 
1,586,689

44,224

 
 
Comcast Corporation
 
2,675,021

 
2,495,560

8,208

 
 
Constellation Brands, Inc.
 
1,164,288

 
1,169,148

15,353

 
 
Costco Wholesale Corporation
 
2,473,338

 
2,479,510

16,339

 
 
Dollar General Corp.
 
1,067,884

 
1,174,284

30,320

 
 
EOG Resources Inc
 
2,450,059

 
2,146,353

15,106

 
 
Halliburton Company
 
561,630

 
514,208

23,269

 
 
HCA Holdings Inc.
 
1,629,249

 
1,573,682

23,049

 
 
Home Depot Inc.
 
3,084,371

 
3,048,230

41,007

 
 
JPMorgan Chase & Co
 
2,733,729

 
2,707,692

31,719

 
 
Kraft Heinz Foods Co
 
2,317,010

 
2,307,874

24,652

 
 
Kansas City Southern
 
2,098,423

 
1,840,765

45,018

 
 
Level 3 Communications, Inc.
 
2,338,897

 
2,447,179

34,760

 
 
Mastercard Inc.
 
3,375,474

 
3,384,234

43,290

 
 
Medtronic Plc
 
3,266,453

 
3,329,867

79,817

 
 
Microsoft Corporation
 
4,406,484

 
4,428,247

16,058

 
 
Molson Coors Brewing Company
 
1,491,518

 
1,508,167


14



THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN
Form 5500, Schedule H, 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
As of December 31, 2015
Employer Identification Number: 36-1561860; Plan Number: 002


Par value
of shares
 
Identity of Issue, Borrower, Lessor, or Similar Party (b) and Description of Investment (c)
 
Cost (d)
 
Current Value (e)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
35,300

 
 
Nike Inc.
 
2,341,414

 
2,206,250

47,260

 
 
Philip Morris International Inc.
 
4,126,176

 
4,154,627

6,605

 
 
Ralph Lauren Corp
 
830,393

 
736,325

19,760

 
 
Rockwell Collins, Inc.
 
1,813,602

 
1,823,848

6,187

 
 
Sherwin-Williams Co
 
1,675,096

 
1,606,145

20,106

 
 
Texas Instruments Incorporated
 
1,157,041

 
1,102,010

30,689

 
 
Visa Inc.
 
2,424,738

 
2,379,932

 
 
 
 
 
Total domestic common stock held in a separately managed account
 
$
98,649,815

 
$
96,860,871

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign common stock held in a separately managed account:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Belgium
 
 
 
 
17,835

 
 
Anheuser Busch Inbev SA
 
$
2,275,008

 
$
2,229,375

 
 
Canada
 
 
 
 
13,180

 
 
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited
 
1,885,599

 
1,681,768

43,600

 
 
Magna International Inc.
 
1,954,828

 
1,768,416

 
 
Israel
 
 
 
 
65,785

 
 
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
 
4,167,704

 
4,318,127

 
 
Netherlands
 
 
 
 
32,325

 
 
NXP Semiconductors NV
 
2,960,784

 
2,723,381

 
 
United Kingdom
 
 
 
 
16,333

 
 
Shire PLC
 
3,439,174

 
3,348,265

 
 
 
 
 
Total foreign common stock held in a separately managed account
 
$
16,683,097

 
$
16,069,332

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Northern Trust common stock fund
 
 
 
 
5,000,667

 
 
Northern Trust Corporation*
 
$
147,520,575

 
$
360,498,084

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collective Trust Funds:
 
 
 
 
64,667

 
 
Northern Trust Focus Income Fund*
 
$
8,744,842

 
$
8,872,282

21,770

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2010 Fund*
 
3,020,446

 
3,083,654

107,064

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2015 Fund*
 
15,110,772

 
15,427,970

234,240

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2020 Fund*
 
33,780,665

 
34,370,088

258,081

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2025 Fund*
 
37,971,630

 
38,469,493

199,784

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2030 Fund*
 
30,018,589

 
30,293,251

210,956

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2035 Fund*
 
32,173,108

 
32,461,852


15



THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN
Form 5500, Schedule H, 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
As of December 31, 2015
Employer Identification Number: 36-1561860; Plan Number: 002


Par value
of shares
 
Identity of Issue, Borrower, Lessor, or Similar Party (b) and Description of Investment (c)
 
Cost (d)
 
Current Value (e)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
134,640

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2040 Fund*
 
20,847,547

 
20,803,257

106,043

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2045 Fund*
 
16,448,638

 
16,391,107

62,790

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2050 Fund*
 
9,781,130

 
9,714,928

21,933

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2055 Fund*
 
3,436,917

 
3,398,332

4,878

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2060 Fund*
 
478,463

 
466,243

15,628,265

 
 
Jennison U.S. Small Cap Equity Fund
 
36,426,574

 
59,733,752

386,240

 
 
Northern Trust Mid Cap Equity Index Fund*
 
50,359,381

 
53,926,873

464,229

 
 
Northern Trust Aggregate Bond Index Fund*
 
49,818,325

 
51,362,338

960,905

 
 
Northern Trust International Equity Index*
 
114,183,556

 
105,776,397

264,931

 
 
Northern Trust Small Cap Equity Index Fund*
 
42,906,753

 
43,952,056

2,218,524

 
 
Northern Trust Large Cap Equity Index Fund*
 
323,736,665

 
385,690,324

195,926

 
 
Northern Trust Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund*
 
19,783,704

 
19,478,923

11,239,478

 
 
Northern Collective Short Term Investment Fund*
 
11,239,478

 
11,239,478

 
 
 
 
 
Total Collective Trust Funds
 
$
860,267,183

 
$
944,912,598

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual Funds:
 
 
 
 
2,192,760

 
 
Aberdeen Emerging Markets Institutional Fund
 
$
31,571,465

 
$
24,909,756

3,034,595

 
 
MFS Institutional International Equity Fund
 
59,032,816

 
62,391,275

1,200,053

 
 
Hartford Mid Cap HLS Fund
 
45,199,098

 
40,393,778

538,079

 
 
PIMCO Foreign Bond Fund
 
5,813,204

 
5,332,362

6,983,694

 
 
Wells Fargo Advantage Core Bond Fund
 
91,985,253

 
88,204,055

1,473,918

 
 
PIMCO All Asset Fund
 
17,971,357

 
15,033,961

 
 
 
 
 
Total Mutual Funds
 
$
251,573,193

 
$
236,265,187

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guaranteed Investment Contracts:
 
 
 
 
153,110,653

 
 
Stable Value Portfolio
 
$
153,110,653

 
$
152,163,948

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Participant Loans*
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 9.75% with varying maturity dates from August 2015 to November 2030)
 
—    

 
27,276,142

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
1,527,804,516

 
$
1,834,046,162


* Indicates party-in-interest to the Plan.

16



SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Employee Benefit Administrative Committee, which is the plan administrator for The Northern Trust Company Thrift-Incentive Plan, has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:
June 24, 2016
 
By:
 
/s/ Kathryn A. O’Neill
 
 
 
 
 
Kathryn A. O’Neill
 
 
 
 
 
Chairperson
 
 
 
 
 
Employee Benefit Administrative Committee


17



EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Number
Description
Method of Filing
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Filed herewith


18