UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 28, 2016

 

 

The Williams Companies, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-04174   73-0569878

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma     74172
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(918) 573-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

x Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On August 28, 2016, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of The Williams Companies, Inc. (the “Company”) increased its size from seven to ten directors and appointed, effectively immediately, three new independent directors to the Board: Stephen W. Bergstrom, Scott D. Sheffield and William H. Spence.

There are no arrangements or understandings between any of Messrs. Bergstrom, Sheffield or Spence and any other person in connection with their respective appointments to the Board. There are no transactions between any of Messrs. Bergstrom, Sheffield or Spence and the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

The Board appointed Mr. Bergstrom to the Compensation Committee and the Nomination and Governance Committee, Mr. Sheffield to the Compensation Committee and the Safety Committee and Mr. Spence to the Audit Committee and the Safety Committee.

As non-employee directors, each of any of Messrs. Bergstrom, Sheffield and Spence will participate in the Company’s non-employee director compensation arrangements. Under the terms of those arrangements, they will each receive:

 

  •   $110,000 annual retainer paid in quarterly cash payments

 

  •   $140,000 annual equity retainer in the form of restricted stock units which will vest after one year pursuant to The Williams Companies, Inc. Amended and Restated 2007 Incentive Plan and are subject to 60% retention until the director meets the five times annual retainer stock ownership guidelines as approved by the Compensation Committee

The company pays dividend equivalents on annual non-employee director equity grants. Non-employee directors have the option to defer their annual equity grants until retirement. If the director elects not to defer, shares will be distributed at the scheduled vesting date and dividends will be paid in the form of cash. If the director elects to defer vested shares until retirement, the dividends will be reinvested until such date.

As Messrs. Bergstrom, Sheffield and Spence are non-management directors who were appointed on or after August 1 but prior to the next annual meeting, each will earn compensation on a pro-rata basis. The equity award will be issued the first day of the month following appointment and the cash retainer(s) will be paid during the remaining quarterly payment dates or at the time of the next annual meeting date if no quarterly payment dates remain.

Non-employee directors are also reimbursed for certain expenses including those incurred in attending Board, committee and stockholder meetings. In addition, the Company pays premiums on directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies.

The Company issued a press release, dated August 29, 2016, announcing the appointment of Messrs. Bergstrom, Sheffield and Spence to the Board, which press release is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

A copy of the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

99.1    Press release dated August 29, 2016.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
  By:  

       /s/ Robert E. Riley

    Robert E. Riley
    Assistant Secretary

 

DATED: August 29, 2016

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

99.1    Press release dated August 29, 2016.
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