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FORM 11-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Mark One)
     
þ   Annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(No fee required, effective October 7, 1996)
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009
Or
     
o   Transition report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(No fee required)
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission file number 1-12317
A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below
National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office
National Oilwell Varco, Inc.
7909 Parkwood Circle Dr.
Houston, Texas 77036
 
 

 


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REQUIRED INFORMATION
The National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan (the Plan) is subject to the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Item 4. In lieu of the requirements of Items 1, 2, and 3 of this Form 11-K, the following financial statements of the Plan, notes thereto, and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm thereon are being filed in this Report:
  (a)   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
  (b)   Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits — December 31, 2009 and 2008
 
  (c)   Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits — Year ended December 31, 2009; and
 
  (d)   Notes to Financial Statements
The Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm to the incorporation by reference of the foregoing financial statements in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-46459) pertaining to the Plan is being filed as Exhibit 23.1 to this Report.

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule
December 31, 2009 and 2008, and Year Ended December 31, 2009
Contents
     
  4
 
   
   
 
   
  5
  6
  7
 
   
   
 
   
  20
 
   
  21
 
   
  22
 
   
Exhibit 23.1 — Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
   
 EX-23.1

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Benefit Plan Administrative Committee
National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2009. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan at December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2009 is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole.
         
     
  /s/ Ernst & Young LLP    
Houston, Texas
June 25, 2010

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
                 
    December 31,  
    2009   2008  
Assets
               
 
Cash
  $     $ 3,228,029  
Receivables:
               
Employer contributions
    26,272        
Participant contributions
    20,328        
Sales not yet settled
    497,576       1,316,506  
Accrued income
    3,191       37,428  
     
Total receivables
    547,367       1,353,934  
Investments, at fair value
    680,443,281       432,105,186  
     
Total assets
    680,990,648       436,687,149  
 
               
Liabilities
               
 
               
Purchases not yet settled
    177,954       3,175,307  
Administrative fees payable
    114,506       52,725  
     
Total liabilities
    292,460       3,228,032  
     
Net assets reflecting investments at fair value
    680,698,188       433,459,117  
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
    (5,966,879 )     1,274,565  
     
Net assets available for benefits
  $ 674,731,309     $ 434,733,682  
     
See accompanying notes.

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
Year Ended December 31, 2009
         
Additions:
       
Employer contributions
  $ 44,052,038  
Participant contributions
    42,178,349  
Participant rollovers
    1,956,581  
Investment income
    15,484,400  
Net appreciation in fair value of investments
    125,457,990  
 
     
Total additions
    229,129,358  
 
       
Deductions:
       
Benefits paid to participants
    65,792,572  
Corrective distributions
    37,890  
Administrative expenses
    889,240  
 
     
Total deductions
    66,719,702  
 
       
Transfers from qualified plans
    77,587,971  
 
     
Net increase
    239,997,627  
 
       
Net assets available for benefits at:
       
Beginning of year
    434,733,682  
 
     
End of year
  $ 674,731,309  
 
     
See accompanying notes.

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2009
1. Description of Plan
The following description of the National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan (the Plan) is provided for general information only. Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions, a copy of which is available from National Oilwell Varco, L.P. (the Company). The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Oilwell Varco, Inc.
General
The Plan was established effective April 1, 1987, for the benefit of the employees of the Company. The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering substantially all domestic employees who have completed one hour of service. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Plan Mergers
The following plans merged and transferred net assets into the Plan as follows:
                 
            Amount of
    Effective Date   Date of Asset   Net Assets
Plan Name   of Merger   Transfer   Transferred
 
Grant Prideco, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan  
December 31, 2008(1)
  January 1, 2009   $ 50,550,182  
Reed Hourly Thrift Plan  
December 31, 2008(1)
  January 1, 2009     3,503,823  
Fiber Glass Systems 401(k) Plan  
December 31, 2008(1)
  January 9, 2009     17,061,972  
Mid-South Machine, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust  
July 1, 2009
  July 1, 2009     598,277  
ASEP America Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust  
July 20, 2009
  July 20, 2009     1,726,347  
Dynamic Drilling Fluids LLP 401(k) Plan  
August 1, 2009
  August 3, 2009     935,616  
Spirit Drilling Fluids GP, LLC 401(k) Plan  
August 1, 2009
  August 3, 2009     3,142,788  
Anson Flowline Equipment, Inc. 401(k) Plan  
August 4, 2009
  August 4, 2009     68,966  
   
 
           
   
 
      $ 77,587,971  
   
 
           
 
(1)    Effective at the stroke of midnight.

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
1. Description of Plan (continued)
Contributions
Participants may make both pretax and after-tax contributions to the Plan. The Plan allows pretax salary deferral contributions of 1% to 100% (less any after-tax contributions, required withholdings, or other elected deductions) of compensation, subject to certain Internal Revenue Service (IRS) limitations. After-tax contributions may be made at 1% to 18% of compensation. However, combined pretax and after-tax contributions, required withholdings, and other elected deductions cannot exceed 100% of compensation. The Company matches 100% of the first 4% of each participant’s contribution. The Company may also make a discretionary contribution (the Employer Retirement Contribution) to the Plan. The amount of the Employer Retirement Contribution is determined based upon participants’ eligible salary and years of service. Participants age 50 and older may contribute additional pretax catch-up contributions, subject to IRS limitations. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company contributed $23,964,600 of Employer Retirement Contributions. Participants must have completed one year of service in order to receive Company matching and Employer Retirement Contributions. Each participant may direct the trustee to invest both the participant’s and the Company’s contributions in one or more of the investment options offered by the Plan.
Vesting
Participants are immediately vested in their participant and employer contributions and the related earnings that have been credited to their accounts.
Benefit Payments
The Plan pays lump-sum benefits upon retirement, disability, death, or termination of employment. In-service withdrawals, subject to certain rules and restrictions, may also be made from certain account balances.
Participant Loans
The Plan includes a loan provision that permits participants to borrow a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of the total value of their Plan assets. The loans are payable in principal installments, plus interest, at prime plus 1% through payroll deductions and are due in one- to five-year terms, unless the loan is used to acquire a principal residence, in which case the loan term cannot exceed ten years. Repayments are made ratably through payroll deductions.

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
1. Description of Plan (continued)
Administrative Expenses
Certain administrative expenses are paid from the Plan’s assets. All other Plan expenses are paid by the Company.
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. Participants are 100% vested in their accounts in any event. Assets would be distributed to participants as prescribed by ERISA.
2. Summary of Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting
The accompanying financial statements of the Plan have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting. Benefit payments to participants are recorded upon distribution.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes and schedule. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
Investments held by the Plan are stated at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). See Note 4 for further discussion of fair value measurements.

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
2.   Summary of Accounting Policies (continued)
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (formerly Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 157), assets and liabilities measured at fair value are categorized into the following fair value hierarchy:
Level 1 — Fair value is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market that the Plan has the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2 — Fair value is based on quoted prices in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3 — Fair value is based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable. These inputs reflect management’s judgment about the assumptions that a market participant would use in pricing the investment and are based on the best available information, some of which may be internally developed.
Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded as earned. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Net appreciation includes the Plan’s gains and losses on investments bought and sold as well as held during the year.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) 157-4, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly (FSP 157-4). FSP 157-4 amended FASB Statement No. 157 (codified as (ASC) Topic 820) to provide additional guidance on estimating fair value when the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability have significantly decreased in relation to its normal market activity. FSP 157-4 also provided additional guidance on circumstances that may indicate that a transaction is not orderly and on defining major categories of debt and equity securities to comply with the disclosure requirements of ASC Topic 820. The Plan adopted the guidance in FSP 157-4 for the reporting period ended December 31, 2009. Adoption of FSP 157-4 did not have a material effect on the Plan’s net assets available for benefits or its changes in net assets available for benefits.

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of Accounting Policies (continued)
In September 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2009-12, Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent) (ASU 2009-12). ASU 2009-12 amended ASC Topic 820 to allow entities to use net asset value (NAV) per share (or its equivalent), as a practical expedient, to measure fair value when the investment does not have a readily determinable fair value and the net asset value is calculated in a manner consistent with investment company accounting. The Plan adopted the guidance in ASU 2009-12 for the reporting period ended December 31, 2009, and has utilized the practical expedient to measure the fair value of investments within the scope of this guidance based on the investment’s NAV. In addition, as a result of adopting ASU 2009-12, the Plan has provided additional disclosures regarding the nature and risks of investments within the scope of this guidance. Refer to Note 4 for these disclosures. Adoption of ASU 2009-12 did not have a material effect on the Plan’s net assets available for benefits or its changes in net assets available for benefits.
In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-06, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements (ASU 2010-06). ASU 2010-06 amended ASC 820 to clarify certain existing fair value disclosures and require a number of additional disclosures. The guidance in ASU 2010-06 clarified that disclosures should be presented separately for each “class” of assets and liabilities measured at fair value and provided guidance on how to determine the appropriate classes of assets and liabilities to be presented. ASU 2010-06 also clarified the requirement for entities to disclose information about both the valuation techniques and inputs used in estimating Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements. In addition, ASU 2010-06 introduced new requirements to disclose the amounts (on a gross basis) and reasons for any significant transfers between Levels 1, 2, and 3 of the fair value hierarchy and present information regarding the purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements of Level 3 assets and liabilities on a gross basis. With the exception of the requirement to present changes in Level 3 measurements on a gross basis, which is delayed until 2011, the guidance in ASU 2010-06 becomes effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009. Plan management is currently evaluating the effect that the provisions of ASU 2010-06 will have on the Plan’s financial statements.

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
2.   Summary of Accounting Policies (continued)
Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan provides for investments in various securities which, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits and participant account balances.
3. Investments
Individual investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets at December 31, 2009 or 2008 are as follows:
                 
    December 31,  
    2009     2008  
National Oilwell Varco, Inc. Company Stock
  $ 95,596,688     $ 47,265,787  
PIMCO Total Return Fund
    82,617,990       56,107,879  
Oakmark International Fund
    63,023,237       32,486,629  
Growth Fund of America R5
    59,276,704       35,313,175  
Fixed Income Fund D
    49,063,692       49,805,628  
Davis New York Venture Fund
    48,304,926       25,641,992  
Fixed Income Fund E
    45,697,448       35,219,208  
Fixed Income Fund A
    45,029,255       22,702,143  
Vanguard Mid Cap Index Fund
    38,915,792       19,244,869  
Van Kampen Growth & Income Fund
    35,299,139       24,011,423  
Short-Term Investment Fund
    15,529,329       27,919,041  

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
3. Investments (continued)
During 2009, the Plan’s investments (including investments bought, sold, and held during the year) appreciated in value as follows:
         
Common stocks
  $ 44,977,040  
Mutual funds
    80,480,950  
 
     
Net appreciation
  $ 125,457,990  
 
     
4. Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined by ASC 820 as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., an exit price). ASC Topic 820 includes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under ASC Topic 820 are described below:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible to the reporting entity at the measurement date for identical assets and liabilities.
Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that are observable either directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Level 2 inputs include the following:
    quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets
 
    quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active
 
    observable inputs other than quoted prices that are used in the valuation of the asset or liabilities (e.g., interest rate and yield curve quotes at commonly quoted intervals)
 
    inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements (continued)
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability (i.e., supported by little or no market activity). Level 3 inputs include management’s own assumption about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk).
The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is classified is determined based the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measure in its entirety.
Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for major categories of assets measured at fair value.
Common stocks: Valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded.
Mutual funds: Valued at the net asset value of shares held by the plan at year end.
Common/collective trust funds: Valued at the NAV of shares held by the Plan at year end. The NAV is based on the fair value of the underlying investments held by the fund.
Participant loans: Valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
Wrapper contracts: Valued at the present value of the difference between fees being paid for the wrappers and future fees that would be paid for a similar market based wrapper.
The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Plan believes its 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 a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
4. Fair Value Measurements (continued)
The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s assets carried at fair value:
                                 
    Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2009  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
   
Company stock
  $ 95,596,688     $     $     $ 95,596,688  
     
Common/collective trust funds:
                               
Fixed income funds
          163,292,286             163,292,286  
Short term investment funds
          15,529,329             15,529,329  
     
Total Common/collective trust funds
          178,821,615             178,821,615  
     
Mutual funds:
                               
Large growth
    59,276,704                   59,276,704  
Large blend
    48,304,926                   48,304,926  
Large value
    35,299,139                   35,299,139  
Mid-cap blend
    38,915,792                   38,915,792  
Small growth
    11,499,408                   11,499,408  
Small value
    15,856,578                   15,856,578  
Inflation-protected bond
    11,307,285                   11,307,285  
Intermediate-term bond
    82,617,990                   82,617,990  
Foreign large blend
    8,001,306                   8,001,306  
Foreign large value
    63,023,237                   63,023,237  
Money market
    4,382,317                   4,382,317  
     
Total mutual funds
    378,484,682                   378,484,682  
     
Wrapper contracts
                93,562       93,562  
Loans to participants
                27,072,927       27,072,927  
Other assets
    373,807                   373,807  
     
Total assets at fair value
  $ 474,455,177     $ 178,821,615     $ 27,166,489     $ 680,443,281  
     
                                 
    Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2008  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
     
Common stock
  $ 47,377,623     $     $     $ 47,377,623  
Common/collective trust funds
          145,385,469             145,385,469  
Mutual funds
    219,058,583                   219,058,583  
Wrapper contracts
                121,335       121,335  
Loans to participants
                20,162,176       20,162,176  
     
Total assets at fair value
  $ 266,436,206     $ 145,385,469     $ 20,283,511     $ 432,105,186  
     

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
4.   Fair Value Measurements (continued)
Level 3 Gains and Losses
The following table below sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the Plan’s Level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2009:
                 
    Loans to     Wrapper  
    Participants     Contracts  
Balance, beginning of year
  $ 20,162,176     $ 121,335  
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements (net)
    6,910,751        
Unrealized losses
          (27,773 )
 
           
Balance, end of year
  $ 27,072,927     $ 93,562  
 
           
5. Investment Contracts
The Plan offers an investment called the National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan Stable Value Fund, which is managed by Galliard Capital Management and is comprised of investments in fixed income securities that are covered by synthetic guaranteed investment contracts (synthetic GICs), which are fully benefit-responsive investment contracts. Within this structure, the Plan owns both the fixed income securities and the wrapper contracts.
In a synthetic GIC structure, the Plan makes investments in fixed income securities. To reduce the risk of losses on these investments, the Plan purchases a wrapper contract from an insurance company or bank, which enables Plan participants to transact at a specified contract value by protecting the principal amount invested over a specific period of time.
Investment contracts held by a defined contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value; however, since these contracts are fully benefit-responsive an adjustment is reflected in the statements of net assets available for benefits to present these investments at contract value. Contract value is the relevant measurement 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. The contract value of the fully benefit-responsive investment contracts represents contributions plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses.

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
5.   Investment Contracts (continued)
The Plan’s investments covered by the wrapper contracts earn interest at interest crediting rates that are typically reset on a monthly or quarterly basis. These interest crediting rates use a formula that is based on the characteristics of the underlying fixed income portfolio.
Factors that can influence the future average crediting rates are (i) the level of market interest rates; (ii) the amount and timing of participant contributions, transfers, and withdrawals into/out of the investment contract; (iii) the investment returns generated by the fixed income investments that underlie the investment contracts; or (iv) the duration of the investments underlying the investment contracts. The crediting rate formula amortizes the realized and unrealized market value gains and losses over the duration of the underlying investments. The resulting gains and losses in the fair value of the underlying investments relative to the contract value are represented in the statements of net assets available for benefits as the adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts.
The average yield earned by the Plan for all fully benefit-responsive investment contracts for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was 3.58% and 4.45%, respectively. The average yield earned by the Plan for all fully benefit-responsive investment contracts, with an adjustment to reflect the actual interest rate credited to participants in the Plan, for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was 4.71% and 4.48%, respectively.
Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment at contract value. Certain events limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value with the issuer. Such events include the following: (i) amendments to the Plan documents (including complete or partial Plan termination or merger with another plan); (ii) changes to the Plan’s prohibition on competing investment options or deletion of equity wash provisions; (iii) bankruptcy of the Plan sponsor or other Plan sponsor events (e.g., divestitures or spin-offs of the trust to qualify for exemption from federal income taxes or any required prohibited transaction exemption under ERISA). The Plan administrator does not believe that the occurrence of any such value event, which would limit the Plan’s ability to transact at contract value with participants, is probable.
In some cases, an investment contract issuer may terminate a contract with the Plan and settle at amounts different than the contract value. Examples of these events include the Plan’s loss of its qualified status, material breaches of responsibilities that are not cured or material, and adverse changes to the provisions of the Plan. If one of these events was to occur, the investment contract issuer could terminate the contract at the market value of the underlying investments.

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
6. Related-Party Transactions
Certain investments of the Plan are managed by Wachovia Bank, who was acquired by Wells Fargo Bank. Wachovia Bank is the trustee of the Plan, and therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Additionally, a portion of the Plan’s assets are invested in the Company’s common stock. Because the Company is the plan sponsor, transactions involving the Company’s common stock qualify as party-in-interest transactions. All of these transactions are exempt from the prohibited transactions rules under ERISA.
7. Income Tax Status
The Plan has received a determination letter from the IRS dated August 19, 2009, stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and, therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Subsequent to this determination by the IRS, the Plan was amended. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the IRC to maintain its qualification. The plan sponsor believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and, therefore, believes that the Plan as amended is qualified and the related trust is tax-exempt.
8. Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500
Fully benefit-responsive investment contracts are valued at contract value on the statements of net assets available for benefits, whereas the Form 5500 requires all investments to be valued at fair value.
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements at December 31, 2009 and 2008, to the Form 5500:
                 
    2009     2008  
     
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
  $ 674,731,309     $ 434,733,682  
Adjustment to fair value from contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
    5,966,879       (1,274,565 )
     
Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500
  $ 680,698,188     $ 433,459,117  
     

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
8.   Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500 (continued)
The following is a reconciliation of the net increase in net assets available for benefits per the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, to the Form 5500:
         
Net increase in net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
  $ 239,997,627  
Adjustment to fair value from contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts at December 31, 2009
    5,966,879  
Adjustment to fair value from contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts at December 31, 2008
    1,274,565  
 
     
Net increase in net assets available for benefits per Form 5500
  $ 247,239,071  
 
     
9. Subsequent Event
Effective January 1, 2010, the Plan was amended to provide for automatic enrollment and employee payroll deductions of 4% of an eligible employee’s compensation as soon as practicable following 60 days of employment.

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan
Schedule H, Line 4(i) – Schedule of Assets (Held At End of Year)
December 31, 2009
EIN: 76-0488987     Plan #001
             
Identity of Issue,        
Borrower, Lessor,       Current
or Similar Party   Description of Investment   Value
 
*National Oilwell Varco, Inc.
  2,168,217 shares of common stock   $ 95,596,688  
Weatherford International Ltd.
  3,138 shares of common stock     51,942  
Allianz Global Investors
  Allianz NFJ Small Cap Value Fund     15,856,578  
American Funds
  Growth Fund of America R5     59,276,704  
Davis Funds
  Davis New York Venture Fund     48,304,926  
Evergreen Investments
  Evergreen Money Market Fund     4,382,317  
Oakmark Funds
  Oakmark International Fund     63,023,237  
PIMCO Funds
  PIMCO Total Return Fund     82,617,990  
Van Kampen Funds
  Van Kampen Growth & Income Fund     35,299,139  
Vanguard
  Vanguard Small Cap Growth Index Fund     11,499,408  
Vanguard
  Vanguard Mid Cap Index Fund     38,915,792  
Vanguard
  Vanguard Inflation Protected Securities Fund     11,307,285  
Vanguard
  Vanguard FTSE All World Inv     8,001,306  
*Wells Fargo
  Fixed Income Fund A     45,029,255  
ING Life Insurance & Annuity
  Wrapper Contract #MCA-60258, 5.68%     44,053  
*Wells Fargo
  Fixed Income Fund D     49,063,692  
JP Morgan Chase Bank
  Wrapper Contract #ANAT0IL02, 4.46%      
*Wells Fargo
  Fixed Income Fund E     45,697,448  
Monumental Life Insurance Co.
  Wrapper Contract #MDA00877TR, 6.19%     49,509  
*Wells Fargo
  Fixed Income Fund F     23,501,891  
Pacific Life Insurance Co.
  Wrapper Contract #G-27344.01.0001, 4.55%      
*Wells Fargo
  Short Term Investment Fund     15,529,329  
Various
  Self-directed brokerage accounts     321,865  
*Participant loans
  Various maturities and interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 10.5%     27,072,927  
 
           
 
      $ 680,443,281  
 
           
 
  Party-in-interest

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SIGNATURE
     The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
       
 
  National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and  
Retirement Savings Plan
 
   
June 25, 2010
  /s/  Daniel L. Molinaro
 
   
Date
  Daniel L. Molinaro
 
  Member of the National Oilwell
Varco Benefits Plan Administrative
Committee

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EXHIBIT INDEX
     
Exhibit Number   Description
23.1
  Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

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