Amendment to Form S-4 Registration Statement Filed in Connection with
the Transaction
In response to market speculation, The Williams Companies, Inc.
(NYSE:WMB) (“Williams”) today announced that its Board of Directors is
unanimously committed to completing the transaction with Energy Transfer
Equity, L.P. (NYSE: ETE) per the merger agreement executed on September
28, 2015 as expeditiously as possible and delivering the benefits of the
transaction to Williams’ stockholders. Consistent with this commitment,
an amendment to the registration statement on Form S-4 was filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 12, 2015. Completion
of the pending transaction remains subject to the approval of Williams’
stockholders and other customary closing conditions.
WMB (NYSE: WMB) is a premier provider of large-scale
infrastructure connecting North American natural gas and natural gas
products to growing demand for cleaner fuel and feedstocks.
Headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., WMB owns approximately 60 percent of
Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ) (“Williams Partners”), including all
of the 2 percent general-partner interest. Williams Partners is an
industry-leading, large-cap master limited partnership with operations
across the natural gas value chain from gathering, processing and
interstate transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids to
petchem production of ethylene, propylene and other olefins. With major
positions in top U.S. supply basins and also in Canada, Williams
Partners owns and operates more than 33,000 miles of pipelines system
wide – including the nation’s largest volume and fastest growing
pipeline – providing natural gas for clean-power generation, heating and
industrial use. Williams Partners’ operations touch approximately 30
percent of U.S. natural gas.
NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION
This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation
of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of
securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale
would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the
securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities
shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements
of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
The proposed transaction involving Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and The
Williams Companies, Inc. will be submitted to Williams’ stockholders for
their consideration. In connection with the proposed transaction, Energy
Transfer Corp LP (“ETC”) has filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-4 (which
registration statement has not been declared effective by the SEC) that
includes a preliminary proxy statement of Williams and a prospectus of
ETC. Williams will mail the definitive proxy statement/prospectus to its
stockholders and file other documents regarding the proposed transaction
with the SEC. This document is not intended to be, and is not, a
substitute for such filings or for any other document that ETC, Energy
Transfer or Williams may file with the SEC in connection with the
proposed transaction. SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE
PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 FILED ON NOVEMBER 24, 2015 AND ANY SUPPLEMENT OR
AMENDMENT THERETO THAT MAY BE FILED, AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS
FILED WITH THE SEC, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR
WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. The registration statement, the
joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials (when they
become available) and any other documents filed or furnished by ETC,
Energy Transfer or Williams with the SEC may be obtained free of charge
at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
In addition, security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the
registration statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus from
Energy Transfer by going to its investor relations page on its corporate
website at http://ir.energytransfer.com
and from Williams by going to its investor relations page on its
corporate website at http://co.williams.com/investors.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION
Energy Transfer, Williams, their respective directors and certain of
their respective executive officers and employees may be deemed to be
“participants” (as defined in Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in
respect of the proposed transaction. Information about Energy Transfer’s
directors and executive officers is set forth in its annual report on
Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2015, and information about
Williams’ directors and executive officers is set forth in its
definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 10, 2015. These
documents are available free of charge from the sources indicated above,
and from Energy Transfer by going to its investor relations page on its
corporate website at http://ir.energytransfer.com
and from Williams by going to its investor relations page on its
corporate website at http://co.williams.com/investors.
Other information regarding the participants in the solicitation and a
description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings
or otherwise, are contained in the preliminary proxy
statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4
filed on November 24, 2015 and other relevant materials that Energy
Transfer and Williams file with the SEC.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The reports, filings, and other public announcements of Williams may
contain or incorporate by reference statements that do not directly or
exclusively relate to historical facts. Such statements are
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We make these forward-looking
statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements can be identified by various forms of words such as
“anticipates,” “believes,” “seeks,” “could,” “may,” “should,”
“continues,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “might,”
“goals,” “objectives,” “targets,” “planned,” “potential,” “projects,”
“scheduled,” “will,” “assumes,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “in service date”
or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based
on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently
available to management and include, among others, statements regarding:
-
The status, expected timing and expected outcome of the proposed
merger between Williams and Energy Transfer Corp LP (the “ETC Merger”);
-
Statements regarding the proposed ETC Merger;
-
Our beliefs relating to value creation as a result of the proposed ETC
Merger;
-
Benefits and synergies of the proposed ETC Merger;
-
Future opportunities for the combined company;
-
Other statements regarding Williams’ and Energy Transfer’s future
beliefs, expectations, plans, intentions, financial condition or
performance;
-
Expected levels of cash distributions by Williams Partners L.P.
(“WPZ”) with respect to general partner interests, incentive
distribution rights and limited partner interests;
-
Levels of dividends to Williams stockholders;
-
Future credit ratings of Williams and WPZ;
-
Amounts and nature of future capital expenditures;
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Expansion and growth of our business and operations;
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Financial condition and liquidity;
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Business strategy;
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Cash flow from operations or results of operations;
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Seasonality of certain business components;
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Natural gas, natural gas liquids, and olefins prices, supply, and
demand; and
-
Demand for our services.
Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions,
uncertainties and risks that could cause future events or results to be
materially different from those stated or implied in this document. Many
of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability
to control or predict. Specific factors that could cause actual results
to differ from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements
include, among others, the following:
-
Satisfaction of the conditions to the completion of the proposed ETC
Merger, including receipt of the approval of Williams’ stockholders;
-
The timing and likelihood of completion of the proposed ETC Merger,
including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required
governmental and regulatory approvals for the proposed merger that
could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to abandon the
proposed transaction;
-
The possibility that the expected synergies and value creation from
the proposed ETC Merger will not be realized or will not be realized
within the expected time period;
-
The risk that the businesses of Williams and Energy Transfer will not
be integrated successfully;
-
Disruption from the proposed merger between Williams and Energy
Transfer making it more difficult to maintain business and operational
relationships;
-
The risk that unexpected costs will be incurred in connection with the
proposed ETC Merger;
-
The possibility that the proposed ETC Merger does not close, including
due to the failure to satisfy the closing conditions;
-
Whether WPZ will produce sufficient cash flows to provide the level of
cash distributions we expect;
-
Whether Williams is able to pay current and expected levels of
dividends;
-
Availability of supplies, market demand and volatility of prices;
-
Inflation, interest rates, fluctuation in foreign exchange rates and
general economic conditions (including future disruptions and
volatility in the global credit markets and the impact of these events
on customers and suppliers);
-
The strength and financial resources of our competitors and the
effects of competition;
-
Whether we are able to successfully identify, evaluate and execute
investment opportunities;
-
Our ability to acquire new businesses and assets and successfully
integrate those operations and assets into our existing businesses as
well as successfully expand our facilities;
-
Development of alternative energy sources;
-
The impact of operational and developmental hazards and unforeseen
interruptions;
-
Costs of, changes in, or the results of laws, government regulations
(including safety and environmental regulations), environmental
liabilities, litigation, and rate proceedings;
-
Williams’ costs and funding obligations for defined benefit pension
plans and other postretirement benefit plans;
-
WPZ’s allocated costs for defined benefit pension plans and other
postretirement benefit plans sponsored by its affiliates;
-
Changes in maintenance and construction costs;
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Changes in the current geopolitical situation;
-
Our exposure to the credit risk of our customers and counterparties;
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Risks related to financing, including restrictions stemming from debt
agreements, future changes in credit ratings as determined by
nationally-recognized credit rating agencies and the availability and
cost of capital;
-
The amount of cash distributions from and capital requirements of our
investments and joint ventures in which we participate;
-
Risks associated with weather and natural phenomena, including climate
conditions;
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Acts of terrorism, including cybersecurity threats and related
disruptions; and
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Additional risks described in our filings with the SEC.
Given the uncertainties and risk factors that could cause our actual
results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statement, we caution investors not to unduly rely on our
forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligations to and do not
intend to update the above list or announce publicly the result of any
revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future
events or developments.
In addition to causing our actual results to differ, the factors listed
above may cause our intentions to change from those statements of
intention set forth in this document. Such changes in our intentions may
also cause our results to differ. We may change our intentions, at any
time and without notice, based upon changes in such factors, our
assumptions, or otherwise.
Investors are urged to closely consider the disclosures and risk factors
in Williams’ annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February
25, 2015, and each of its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q available from
its offices or from its website at http://co.williams.com/investors,
as well as in Energy Transfer’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with
the SEC on March 2, 2015, and each of its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q
available from its offices or from its website at http://ir.energytransfer.com.
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