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, 2017

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, 2017 AND 2016
(With Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm)





























THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS






 
PAGE
 
 
2-3
 
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
 
 
 
4
 
 
5
 
 
 
6-13
 
 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
 
 
 
 
         December 31, 2017
14-16
 
 
17
 
 
18










REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


June 26, 2018


To the Employee Benefit Administrative Committee
The Northern Trust Company

Opinion on the Financial Statements

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, 2017 and 2016, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2017, as well as the related notes and schedules (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Plan’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Plan in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, 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.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.














2



Employee Benefit Administrative Committee
The Northern Trust Company
June 26, 2018
Page Two

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
(CONTINUED)

Supplementary Information

The supplementary information contained in the schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2017 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

We have served as the Plan’s auditor since 2012.


3



THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS


 
 
 
 
 
 
DECEMBER 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017
 
2016
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
Collective trust funds
$
1,461,621,963

 
$
1,162,709,650

 
Northern Trust common stock fund
380,876,075

 
381,019,126

 
Mutual funds
159,269,673

 
159,948,562

 
Separately managed account:
 
 
 
 
Domestic common stock
105,333,711

 
93,952,283

 
Foreign common stock
7,163,086

 
9,179,110

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments, at contract value:
 
 
 
 
Stable value portfolio
151,326,389

 
166,964,923

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total investments
2,265,590,897

 
1,973,773,654

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Receivables:
 
 
 
 
 
Notes receivable from participants
26,427,183

 
26,470,898

 
Participant contribution receivable
2,617,195

 
2,544,598

 
Accrued interest and dividends receivable
1,722,513

 
1,883,143

 
Employer contribution receivable
1,851,317

 
1,664,530

 
 
 
 
Total receivables
32,618,208

 
32,563,169

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
 
2,298,209,105

 
2,006,336,823

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
Expenses payable
 
321,843

 
300,114

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets available for benefits
$
2,297,887,262

 
$
2,006,036,709





See accompanying notes to financial statements.

4



THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

 
 
 
 
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
 
 
 
 
2017
 
2016
Additions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contributions:
 
 
 
 
 
Participants
 
$
84,876,355

 
$
78,898,504

 
Employer
 
23,222,460

 
22,958,759

 
Rollovers
 
25,143,668

 
28,034,714

 
 
Total contributions
133,242,483

 
129,891,977

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment income:
 
 
 
 
 
Net appreciation in fair value of investments
$
303,707,783

 
$
185,574,166

 
Dividends
 
9,518,431

 
10,125,429

 
Interest
 
4,252,663

 
3,564,758

 
Interest from participant loans
1,169,142

 
1,174,904

 
 
Total investment income
318,648,019

 
200,439,257

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total additions
451,890,502

 
330,331,234

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deductions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benefits paid to participants
157,994,383

 
163,176,795

Administrative expenses
2,045,566

 
2,072,550

 
 
Total deductions
160,039,949

 
165,249,345

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net additions / (deductions)
291,850,553

 
165,081,889

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets available for benefits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of year
 
2,006,036,709

 
1,840,954,820

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
End of year
 
$
2,297,887,262

 
$
2,006,036,709





See accompanying notes to financial statements.


5


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 of service.

(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. Effective April 1, 2017, participants may also elect to contribute on a Roth after-tax basis. In both 2017 and 2016, a participant’s annual before-tax contributions (together with any Roth contributions made on or after April 1, 2017) could not exceed $18,000, except in the case of additional catch-up contributions. Participants who had attained age 50 before the end of the Plan year were eligible to contribute up to an additional $6,000 in catch-up contributions to the Plan.

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 65. Participants may elect to cancel or change this

6


THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

automatic enrollment before it becomes effective and may also make changes at any time to the contribution rate, before-tax, Roth or after-tax contribution basis, and how contributions are 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 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 eligible pay. This is equal to a maximum of 3% of eligible pay and is made to contributing participant accounts each pay period.

(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 $408,897 and $695,143 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, 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 and Roth 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, balances in the Northern Trust Stock Fund may be unavailable for loans in accordance with Northern Trust Corporation’s Securities Transactions Policy and Procedures. Loan interest rates are based on the prime interest rate plus 1%.

7


THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Participant loans are valued at amortized cost. A nominal administrative fee for each loan is processed through the borrowing participant's Plan account.

(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 – 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, 2017 and 2016, the Plan held fully benefit-responsive investment contracts through the Stable Value Portfolio consisting of traditional guaranteed investment contracts (GICs), separate account insurance contracts, 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.

8


THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


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 2017 and 2016, certain administrative expenses were paid by the Plan, as authorized by Plan documents and the Committee. The remaining 2017 and 2016 administrative expenses were paid by the Company.

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


9


THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3.
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, 2017 and 2016 included Northern Trust Corporation common stock, domestic and foreign common stock held in a separately managed account, 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’s Level 2 investments as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 consisted of certain collective trust funds. The NAVs of the funds 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.

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, 2017 or 2016.

The investments in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts through the Stable Value Portfolio are measured at contract value and have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy.



10


THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following tables present Plan investments, including those measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as their levels within the fair value hierarchy, each as of December 31, 2017 and 2016:
Description
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Balance as of December 31,
 
 
 
2017
Fair value of investments in the fair value hierarchy:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Northern Trust common stock fund
$
380,876,075

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
380,876,075

Mutual funds
159,269,673

 
—

 
—

 
159,269,673

Separately managed account:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Domestic common stock
105,333,711

 
—

 
—

 
105,333,711

Foreign common stock
7,163,086

 
—

 
—

 
7,163,086

Collective trust funds
—

 
1,461,621,963

 
—

 
1,461,621,963

Total fair value of investments in the fair value hierarchy
652,642,545

 
1,461,621,963

 
—

 
2,114,264,508

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stable value portfolio measured at contract value
—

 
—

 
—

 
151,326,389

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total investments
$
652,642,545

 
$
1,461,621,963

 
$
—

 
$
2,265,590,897


Description
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Balance as of December 31,
 
 
 
2016
Fair value of investments in the fair value hierarchy:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Northern Trust common stock fund
$
381,019,126

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
381,019,126

Mutual funds
159,948,562

 
—

 
—

 
159,948,562

Separately managed account:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Domestic common stock
93,952,283

 
—

 
—

 
93,952,283

Foreign common stock
9,179,110

 
—

 
—

 
9,179,110

Collective trust funds
—

 
1,162,709,650

 
—

 
1,162,709,650

Total fair value of investments in the fair value hierarchy
644,099,081

 
1,162,709,650

 
—

 
1,806,808,731

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stable value portfolio measured at contract value
—

 
—

 
—

 
166,964,923

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total investments
$
644,099,081

 
$
1,162,709,650

 
$
—

 
$
1,973,773,654



11


THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


4.
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.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
5.
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.


6.
Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Schedule H of Form 5500

The following are reconciliations of December 31, 2017 and 2016 net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to Schedule H of Form 5500.

Description
2017
 
2016
Net Assets Available for Benefits per the Financial Statements
$
2,297,887,262

 
$
2,006,036,709

Adjustment from Contract Value to Fair Value for
 
 
 
Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts
(333,605
)
 
(742,914
)
Net Assets Available for Benefits per Schedule H of Form 5500
$
2,297,553,657

 
$
2,005,293,795



7.
Tax Status

The Plan obtained its latest determination letter on January 27, 2017, 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.

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

12


THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
THRIFT-INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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, 2017 and 2016, 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 2014 Plan year; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress.

8.
Subsequent Events

The Plan has evaluated subsequent events through June 26, 2018, 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, 2017
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:
 
 
 
 
14,817

 
 
Adobe Systems Incorporated
$
1,362,995

$
2,596,531

7,618

 
 
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 
1,063,025

 
911,037

3,280

 
 
Alphabet Inc
 
2,698,917

 
3,455,152

1,690

 
 
Amazon.com, Inc.
 
1,786,910

 
1,976,404

23,760

 
 
Analog Devices, Inc.
 
1,591,042

 
2,115,353

30,170

 
 
Apple Inc.
 
4,053,549

 
5,105,669

46,905

 
 
Applied Materials, Inc.
 
880,707

 
2,397,784

99,340

 
 
Bank of America Corp
 
2,474,624

 
2,932,517

91,470

 
 
Blackstone Group L.P.
 
2,864,329

 
2,928,869

9,370

 
 
Broadcom Inc.
 
2,181,100

 
2,407,153

37,930

 
 
Charles Schwab Corporation
 
1,599,482

 
1,948,464

10,600

 
 
Cigna Corporation
 
1,543,766

 
2,152,754

17,052

 
 
Cimarex Energy Co
 
1,817,802

 
2,080,515

33,090

 
 
Citigroup Inc.
 
2,337,108

 
2,462,227

16,160

 
 
CME Group Inc.
 
1,743,972

 
2,360,168

15,320

 
 
ConocoPhillips
 
827,144

 
840,915

12,613

 
 
Costco Wholesale Corporation
 
2,068,098

 
2,347,532

34,199

 
 
DowDupont Inc.
 
2,266,847

 
2,435,653

17,180

 
 
Electronic Arts Inc.
 
1,919,311

 
1,804,931

26,180

 
 
Eli Lilly & Co.
 
2,228,315

 
2,211,163

22,080

 
 
EOG Resources Inc
 
1,886,337

 
2,382,653

12,057

 
 
Facebook Inc.
 
1,336,849

 
2,127,578

13,028

 
 
Home Depot Inc.
 
1,781,542

 
2,469,197

3,950

 
 
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
 
987,572

 
1,441,513

22,970

 
 
J B Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
 
2,294,694

 
2,641,091

32,217

 
 
JPMorgan Chase & Co
 
2,166,422

 
3,445,286

13,959

 
 
Kraft Heinz Foods Co
 
1,046,371

 
1,085,452

5,990

 
 
Lockheed Martin Corp
 
1,521,559

 
1,923,090

23,700

 
 
LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
 
2,322,713

 
2,614,584

12,860

 
 
Mastercard Inc.
 
1,251,716

 
1,946,489

65,410

 
 
Microsoft Corporation
 
4,526,843

 
5,595,171

15,428

 
 
Molson Coors Brewing Company
 
1,461,291

 
1,266,176

41,010

 
 
Monster Beverage Corporation
 
2,036,228

 
2,595,523


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, 2017
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)
69,950

 
 
Morgan Stanley
 
2,920,930

 
3,670,276

12,900

 
 
Norfolk Southern Corporation
 
1,547,954

 
1,869,210

48,060

 
 
PayPal Holdings, Inc.
 
2,709,738

 
3,538,177

21,510

 
 
Philip Morris International Inc.
 
2,079,927

 
2,272,531

5,520

 
 
Pioneer Natural Resources Company
 
972,788

 
954,132

16,480

 
 
TE Connectivity LTD
 
1,555,416

 
1,566,259

15,750

 
 
United Technologies Corp
 
1,909,507

 
2,009,227

15,410

 
 
UnitedHealth Group
 
2,606,375

 
3,397,288

6,010

 
 
Vail Resorts, Inc.
 
1,355,381

 
1,276,945

20,109

 
 
Visa Inc.
 
1,596,742

 
2,292,828

11,470

 
 
WABCO Holdings Inc.
 
1,371,740

 
1,645,945

25,490

 
 
Zoetis Inc.
 
1,410,167

 
1,836,299

 
 
 
 
 
Total domestic common stock held in a separately managed account
 
$
85,965,845

 
$
105,333,711

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign common stock held in a separately managed account:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Canada
 
 
 
 
40,560

 
 
Magna International Inc.
 
$
1,800,633

 
$
2,298,536

 
 
Netherlands
 
 
 
 
11,670

 
 
ASML Holding
 
1,530,716

 
2,028,479

114,450

 
 
Airbus
 
2,737,891

 
2,836,071

 
 
 
 
 
Total foreign common stock held in a separately managed account
 
$
6,069,240

 
$
7,163,086

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Northern Trust common stock fund
 
 
 
 
3,812,955

 
 
Northern Trust Corporation*
 
$
124,985,163

 
$
380,876,075

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collective Trust Funds:
 
 
 
 
3,821,078

 
 
Aberdeen Emerging Markets Fund
 
$
43,934,291

 
$
49,903,280

11,933,247

 
 
Jennison U.S. Small Cap Equity Fund
 
30,723,866

 
61,048,547

12,033,268

 
 
Northern Collective Short Term Investment Fund*
 
11,996,077

 
11,996,077

708,062

 
 
Northern Trust Aggregate Bond Index Fund*
 
70,814,437

 
71,046,989

22,930

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2010 Fund*
 
2,745,750

 
2,799,544

64,144

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2015 Fund*
 
7,772,899

 
7,935,843

320,848

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2020 Fund*
 
39,515,208

 
40,439,727


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, 2017
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)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
382,335

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2025 Fund*
 
48,191,010

 
49,497,059

408,672

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2030 Fund*
 
53,442,223

 
55,276,976

335,510

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2035 Fund*
 
45,424,319

 
47,370,630

221,127

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2040 Fund*
 
30,238,714

 
31,590,200

200,382

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2045 Fund*
 
27,364,699

 
28,584,464

148,257

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2050 Fund*
 
20,210,822

 
21,108,835

74,635

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2055 Fund*
 
10,170,731

 
10,609,345

19,030

 
 
Northern Trust Focus 2060 Fund*
 
2,346,406

 
2,444,652

84,521

 
 
Northern Trust Focus Income Fund*
 
9,972,669

 
10,156,931

268,344

 
 
Northern Trust Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund*
 
26,842,266

 
27,210,047

1,193,555

 
 
Northern Trust International Equity Index*
 
168,530,774

 
176,705,836

4,551,077

 
 
Northern Trust Large Cap Equity Index Fund*
 
466,731,998

 
495,657,767

930,109

 
 
Northern Trust Mid Cap Equity Index Fund*
 
93,110,790

 
97,986,944

749,779

 
 
Northern Trust Small Cap Equity Index Fund*
 
74,981,544

 
76,507,401

8,131,869

 
 
Wells Fargo Core Bond II Fund
 
82,515,526

 
85,744,869

 
 
 
 
 
Total Collective Trust Funds
 
$
1,367,577,019

 
$
1,461,621,963

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual Funds:
 
 
 
 
1,241,676

 
 
Hartford Mid Cap HLS Fund
 
$
45,665,435

 
$
49,791,188

2,972,960

 
 
MFS Institutional International Equity Fund
 
59,947,495

 
75,691,568

2,012,930

 
 
PIMCO All Asset Fund
 
23,718,683

 
24,457,100

874,397

 
 
PIMCO Foreign Bond Fund
 
9,233,681

 
9,329,817

 
 
 
 
 
Total Mutual Funds
 
$
138,565,294

 
$
159,269,673

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guaranteed Investment Contracts:
 
 
 
 
151,326,389

 
 
Stable Value Portfolio
 
$
151,326,389

 
$
150,992,784

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Participant Loans*
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 9.75% with varying maturity dates up to January 2033)
 
—

 
26,427,183

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
1,874,488,950

 
$
2,291,684,475

* 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 26, 2018
 
By:
 
/s/ Kathryn A. O’Neill
 
 
 
 
 
Kathryn A. O’Neill
 
 
 
 
 
Chairperson
 
 
 
 
 
Employee Benefit Administrative Committee


17



EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Number
Description
Method of Filing
Filed herewith


18