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): June 21, 2015

 

 

Williams Partners L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-34831   20-2485124

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

One Williams Center

Tulsa, Oklahoma

  74172-0172
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (918) 573-2000

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 8.01. Other Events

On June 21, 2015, The Williams Companies, Inc. (“Williams”) issued a press release announcing, among other things, that its Board of Directors has authorized a process to explore a range of strategic alternatives following receipt of an unsolicited proposal to acquire Williams in an all-equity transaction at a stated per share price of $64.00. The unsolicited proposal was contingent on the termination of the pending acquisition of Williams Partners L.P. (“Williams Partners”) by Williams (the “Pending Acquisition”). A copy of a press release issued by Williams Partners directing its unitholders to refer to the press release issued by Williams is filed and attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Portions of this document may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined by federal law, including statements regarding the exploration by Williams of strategic alternatives, the Pending Acquisition and the expected operational and financial performance of Williams and Williams Partners. Although the company believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes, including the outcome of the exploration by Williams of strategic alternatives, the Pending Acquisition and the expected operational and financial performance of Williams and Williams Partners, will not be materially different. Any such statements are made in reliance on the “safe harbor” protections provided under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the company’s annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Important Information:

Williams and Williams Partners security holders are urged to read the joint solicitation statement/prospectus regarding the Pending Acquisition when it becomes available because it will contain important information. Investors will be able to obtain a free copy of the joint solicitation statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about the Pending Acquisition, without charge, at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) internet site (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the joint solicitation statement/prospectus and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference in the joint solicitation statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request either to The Williams Companies, Inc., One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172, Attention: Investor Relations or to Williams Partners L.P., One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172, Attention: Investor Relations.

The respective directors and executive officers of Williams and Williams Partners may be deemed to be “participants” (as defined in Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) in respect of the Pending Acquisition between Williams and Williams Partners. Information about Williams’ directors and executive officers is available in Williams’ annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2015. Information about Williams Partners’ directors and executive officers is available in WPZ’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on February 25, 2015. Other information regarding the participants in the solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint solicitation statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.

This document or communication 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 Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

99.1    Press Release, dated June 21, 2015.

 

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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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

WILLIAMS PARTNERS L.P.
By: WPZ GP LLC,
its General Partner
By:

/s/ William H. Gault

William H. Gault
Assistant Secretary

DATED: June 22, 2015

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

99.1    Press Release, dated June 21, 2015.

 

4



Exhibit 99.1

Williams Partners Advises Unitholders to Reference News Today From Its General Partner, Williams (NYSE:WMB)

Sunday, June 21, 2015 6:19 pm EDT

TULSA, Okla.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE:WPZ) advised its unitholders to reference news issued today by Williams (NYSE:WMB), the owner of our general partner. Williams today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a process to explore a range of strategic alternatives following receipt of an unsolicited proposal to acquire Williams in an all-equity transaction at a stated per share price of $64.00. The unsolicited proposal was contingent on the termination of Williams’ pending acquisition of Williams Partners.

With the assistance of its outside financial and legal advisors, the Williams Board carefully considered the unsolicited proposal and determined that it significantly undervalues Williams and would not deliver value commensurate with what Williams expects to achieve on a standalone basis and through other growth initiatives, including the pending acquisition of Williams Partners.

Important Information:

This document includes important information about an agreement for the acquisition by The Williams Companies, Inc. of all publicly common units of Williams Partners L.P. Williams and Williams Partners security holders are urged to read the joint solicitation statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available because it will contain important information. Investors will be able to obtain a free copy of the joint solicitation statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about the proposed transaction, without charge, at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s internet site (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the joint solicitation statement/prospectus and the filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that will be incorporated by reference in the joint solicitation statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request either to The Williams Companies, Inc., One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172, Attention: Investor Relations or to Williams Partners L.P., One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172, Attention: Investor Relations.

The respective directors and executive officers of Williams and Williams Partners may be deemed to be “participants” (as defined in Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about Williams’ directors and executive officers is available in Williams’ annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2015. Information about Williams Partners’ directors and executive officers is available in WPZ’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on February 25, 2015. Other information regarding the participants in the solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint solicitation statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission when they become available.

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.

About Williams Partners

Williams Partners (NYSE: WPZ) is an industry-leading, large-cap natural gas infrastructure master limited partnership with a strong growth outlook and major positions in key U.S. supply basins and also in Canada. Williams Partners has 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. 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. Tulsa, Okla.-based Williams (NYSE: WMB), a premier provider of large-scale North American natural gas infrastructure, owns 60 percent of Williams Partners, including all of the 2 percent general-partner interest. www.williams.com

Portions of this document may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined by federal law. Although the partnership believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Any such statements are made in reliance on the “safe harbor” protections provided under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the partnership’s annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:

Williams Partners

Media Contact:

Tom Droege, 918-573-4034

or

Investor Contacts:

John Porter, 918-573-0797

or

Brett Krieg, 918-573-4614

 

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