Filed Pursuant to Rule 424B5
Registration No. 333-85540
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated June 26, 2002)
$800,000,000
(WILLIAMS LOGO)
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
8 5/8% SENIOR NOTES
DUE 2010
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This is an offering by The Williams Companies, Inc. of its 8 5/8% Senior Notes
due 2010. Interest is payable on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning
December 1, 2003. The notes will mature on June 1, 2010.
We may redeem all or part of the notes on or after June 1, 2007. Prior to June
1, 2006, we may redeem 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes with
the cash proceeds of certain equity offerings. In addition, we may redeem some
or all of the notes at any time prior to June 1, 2007, pursuant to a make-whole
premium. Redemption prices are set forth under "Description of the
Notes -- Optional Redemption."
The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with
all of our existing and future senior unsecured debt and senior to our existing
and future subordinated unsecured debt. The notes also will effectively rank
junior to all of our existing and future secured debt and to all obligations of
our subsidiaries.
Investing in the notes involves risks. Risk Factors begin on page S-8.
PER NOTE TOTAL
-------- ------------
Public Offering Price....................................... 100.000% $800,000,000
Underwriting Discount....................................... 2.475% $ 19,800,000
Proceeds to Williams (before expenses)...................... 97.525% $780,200,000
Interest on the notes will accrue from June 10, 2003, to the date of delivery.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The underwriters expect to deliver the notes on or about June 10, 2003, subject
to conditions.
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Joint Book-Running Managers
LEHMAN BROTHERS CITIGROUP
JPMORGAN BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
------------------------
BOSC, INC.
CREDIT LYONNAIS SECURITIES
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MORGAN STANLEY
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
SCOTIA CAPITAL
TD SECURITIES
June 5, 2003
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus
supplement, which describes the terms of this offering of the notes. The second
part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information, some
of which may not apply to the notes.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have
not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not
making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not
permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this
prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date
other than the date on the front of this prospectus supplement.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Summary..................................................... S-1
Risk Factors................................................ S-8
Use of Proceeds............................................. S-20
Capitalization.............................................. S-21
Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data.............. S-22
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.......................... S-24
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations................................. S-25
Pro Forma Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data.... S-31
Description of Other Indebtedness........................... S-33
Description of Notes........................................ S-35
Underwriting................................................ S-73
Legal Matters............................................... S-74
Experts..................................................... S-74
PROSPECTUS
Forward-Looking Statements.................................. 1
Where You Can Find More Information......................... 1
Incorporation of Documents by Reference..................... 2
The Williams Companies, Inc................................. 3
Use of Proceeds............................................. 4
Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred
Stock Dividend Requirements............................... 4
Description of Debt Securities.............................. 4
Description of Preferred Stock.............................. 14
Description of Common Stock................................. 19
Description of Warrants..................................... 20
Description of Purchase Contracts........................... 21
Description of Units........................................ 22
Plan of Distribution........................................ 22
Experts..................................................... 23
Legal Matters............................................... 23
i
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain matters discussed in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus, excluding historical information, include
forward-looking statements -- statements that discuss our expected future
results based on current and pending business operations. Forward-looking
statements can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes,"
"could," "continues," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "might," "planned,"
"potential," "projects," "scheduled" or similar expressions. Events in 2002
significantly impacted the risk environment all businesses face and raised a
level of uncertainty in the capital markets that has approached that which led
to the general market collapse of 1929. Beliefs and assumptions as to what
constitutes appropriate levels of capitalization and fundamental value have
changed abruptly. The deterioration of our energy industry sector in the wake of
the collapse of Enron combined with the meltdown of the telecommunications
industry are both new realities that have had and will likely continue to have
specific impacts on all companies, including us. Although we believe these
forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, statements made
regarding future results are subject to a number of assumptions, uncertainties
and risks that could cause future results to be materially different from the
results stated or implied in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus.
Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in
performance is contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2002 and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2003, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
ii
SUMMARY
This summary may not contain all of the information that may be important
to you. You should read the entire prospectus supplement, including "Risk
Factors", and the accompanying prospectus before making an investment decision.
References in this prospectus supplement to "we," "us," "our," "Williams" and
"the Company" refer to The Williams Companies, Inc. and, unless the context
indicates otherwise, include all of our subsidiaries.
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
We are an integrated energy company principally engaged in natural gas
transportation and storage, exploration and production, and gathering and
processing. In addition, we are involved in energy marketing and risk
management. Substantially all of our operations are conducted through our
subsidiaries in the following business segments:
GAS PIPELINE
Through our Gas Pipeline segment, we own and operate 14,400 miles of
interstate natural gas pipeline and jointly own and operate an additional 600
miles of interstate natural gas pipeline. Our pipeline systems deliver
approximately 12% of the natural gas consumed in the United States, have a
peak-day delivery capacity of approximately 11 billion cubic feet per day, and
have sufficient capacity to deliver natural gas to more than 33 million homes.
We have seasonal storage capacity of more than 255 billion cubic feet, which is
designed to provide adequate fuel for our customers during times of peak demand.
Our pipeline operations consist of the following businesses:
- Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation ("Transco") is an interstate
natural gas transportation company that owns and operates a 10,400-mile
pipeline system extending from south Texas to the New York City
metropolitan area. Transco's system has a mainline delivery capacity of
approximately 4.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day and, using
its Leidy Line and market-area storage capacity, can deliver up to an
additional 3.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. Its major
customers are public utilities and municipalities that provide service to
residential, commercial, industrial and electric generation end-users.
Transco's firm transportation agreements are generally long-term
agreements and account for the majority of its business. Transco also
offers storage services and interruptible transportation services under
short-term agreements. Transco delivers approximately 50% of the natural
gas consumed in the New York City metropolitan area. In addition to New
York City, Transco's major markets include metropolitan areas in Georgia,
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
- Northwest Pipeline Corporation ("Northwest") is an interstate natural gas
transportation company that owns and operates a 4,000-mile natural gas
pipeline system extending from the San Juan Basin in northwestern New
Mexico to a point on the Canadian border near Sumas, Washington.
Northwest has a mainline delivery capacity of approximately 2.9 billion
cubic feet of natural gas per day. Its customers include distribution
companies, municipalities, interstate and intrastate pipelines, gas
marketers and direct industrial users. Northwest's firm transportation
agreements are generally long-term agreements and account for the
majority of its business. Additionally, Northwest offers interruptible
and short-term firm transportation service. Northwest transports
substantially all the natural gas consumed in the metropolitan areas of
Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and Boise, Idaho.
- Gulfstream Natural Gas System ("Gulfstream") consists of a 600-mile
pipeline that extends from Alabama, across the Gulf of Mexico, to
Florida. We own a 50% interest in Gulfstream, which primarily serves
markets in Central Florida. Gulfstream's system has a mainline delivery
capacity of approximately 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.
S-1
EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION
Through our Exploration & Production ("E&P") segment, we produce, develop,
explore for and manage natural gas reserves, primarily in the San Juan Basin and
Rocky Mountain region of the United States. As of December 31, 2002, we had
proved natural gas reserves of 2.4 trillion cubic feet, excluding proved
reserves relating to properties recently sold or expected to be sold. During
2002, we produced approximately 465 million cubic feet of natural gas per day,
excluding production from the properties recently sold or expected to be sold.
We operate approximately 80% of our net production and specialize in natural gas
production from tight-sands formations and coal-bed methane reserves. We focus
on exploitation and development drilling and, in 2002, we drilled 1,353 gross
wells with a 98.6% success rate. Substantially all of our expected production is
hedged through December 2004 at a weighted average NYMEX price slightly in
excess of $4 per million British thermal units.
MIDSTREAM GAS & LIQUIDS
Through our Midstream Gas & Liquids ("Midstream") segment, we own and
operate natural gas gathering, processing and treating facilities throughout the
United States and in Canada and Venezuela. These facilities include gas
processing plants, separation/dehydration/treating plants, 8,500 miles of gas
gathering lines and a deepwater infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2002,
we gathered approximately 6.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. The
majority of our Midstream revenue is fee-based and comes from large exploration
and production companies to whom we provide natural gas gathering and processing
services.
ENERGY MARKETING & TRADING
Through our Energy Marketing & Trading ("EM&T") segment, we buy, sell, and
transport energy and energy-related commodities and provide risk management and
other energy-related services. We have announced our intention to sell certain
portions of the EM&T portfolio, liquidate certain positions, and negotiate with
parties for a joint venture or sale of all or a portion of the EM&T trading
portfolio. However, we intend to retain those EM&T assets and activities needed
to support our continuing operations.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
On February 20, 2003, we outlined our planned business strategy for the
next few years, which we believe to be a comprehensive response to the events
that impacted the energy sector and us during 2002. In 2002, we faced many
challenges including credit issues following the deterioration of our energy
industry sector in the wake of the Enron bankruptcy in late 2001 and our
assumption of payment obligations and performance on guarantees associated with
our former telecommunications subsidiary, Williams Communications Group, Inc.
("WCG"). With the deterioration of the energy industry, the credit rating
agencies' requirements for investment grade companies in this sector became more
stringent. In response to those requirements, we announced plans on December 19,
2001, to strengthen our balance sheet in an effort to maintain our investment
grade ratings. Those plans, as revised due to changing market conditions,
included reducing capital expenditures, eliminating certain credit ratings
triggers from our loan agreements, reducing costs, reducing quarterly dividends
paid on our common stock, and selling assets to generate proceeds to reduce
outstanding debt. Despite our balance sheet strengthening efforts, we lost our
investment grade ratings in July 2002. With the loss of our investment grade
ratings, our business changed significantly, especially our EM&T business. Some
counterparties were unwilling to extend credit and required cash, letters of
credit or other collateral. Concurrently, our credit facility banks were
unwilling to extend our $2.2 billion 364-day unsecured credit facility. As a
result, we faced a liquidity crisis. We quickly worked with our banks and other
parties to obtain secured credit facilities and also sold a significant amount
of assets to meet our liquidity gap. Following this short-term liquidity crisis,
we continued to pursue cost reducing measures including a downsizing of our work
force. We also settled substantially all issues between us and WCG through WCG's
Chapter 11 reorganization.
S-2
Our business strategy focuses on retaining a strong, but smaller, portfolio
of natural gas businesses and bolstering our liquidity through asset sales,
strategic financings at the Williams and subsidiary levels and additional
reductions in our operating costs. This strategy is designed to address
near-term and medium-term liquidity issues, to further reduce our leverage with
the objective of returning to investment grade, and to retain businesses with
favorable returns and opportunities for growth in the future.
We announced on June 10, 2002 that we were reducing our financial
commitment to our EM&T segment in response to industry developments. Since that
time we have undertaken multiple initiatives to reduce the risk profile and
liquidity demands associated with this business, including partial divestitures,
significant reductions in origination transactions and proprietary trading
activities. Consistent with this initiative, EM&T reduced its number of
employees from approximately 1,000 at December 31, 2001 to approximately 330 at
March 31, 2003. Nonetheless EM&T's future results will continue to be affected
by the reduction in liquidity available from us, the willingness of
counterparties to enter into transactions with EM&T, the liquidity of markets in
which EM&T participates, recent accounting changes, and the creditworthiness of
other counterparties in the industry and their ability to perform under
contractual obligations.
COMPETITIVE STRENGTHS
Valuable Core Natural Gas Businesses. We own and operate a diverse set of
complementary assets that span the natural gas value chain.
- Gas Pipeline: The Northwest and Transco pipelines are major components of
the domestic natural gas pipeline infrastructure.
- Exploration & Production: We are the leading producer in some of the most
prolific basins in the Rocky Mountain region. We believe the exploitation
of our natural gas reserves is a relatively low-risk activity due to the
predictable nature of the underlying geology. As a result, we have some
of the industry's lowest finding and development costs.
- Midstream Gas & Liquids: As one of the largest operators in the Rockies
and Gulf Coast regions, we benefit from economies of scale. For example,
we process more than 50% of the natural gas liquids produced in Wyoming,
gather approximately 38% of the natural gas produced in the San Juan
Basin, and gather 41% of the natural gas produced in the Western Gulf of
Mexico. Additionally, with the completion of projects under construction,
we expect to gather approximately 25% of the natural gas produced in the
deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
Diversified and Predictable Cash Flows. Our Gas Pipeline segment provides a
stable base of steady cash flow and earnings and contributed the largest single
portion of our operating income in 2002. In our E&P operations, substantially
all of our natural gas production is hedged through December 2004 at a weighted
average NYMEX price slightly in excess of $4 per million British thermal units.
Additionally, the nature of our proved reserves allows for a high degree of
predictability when estimating the drilling costs for new wells and the
anticipated natural gas production from those wells. In our Midstream segment,
our revenues are predominantly fee-based, which reduces their volatility
relative to gas-in-kind compensation arrangements.
Significant Restructuring Progress and Improving Financial Health. We have
made substantial progress on our announced restructuring plan and significant
progress towards resolving our liquidity challenges. In 2003, we have sold, or
have reached agreement to sell, assets for consideration of approximately $3.6
billion, consisting of $2.7 billion in cash and $0.9 billion in debt that was
either paid by us at closing or assumed by the purchasers of the assets. Based
on our forecast of cash flows and liquidity, we believe that we have, or will
have access to, the financial resources and liquidity to meet future cash
requirements, satisfy current lending covenants and repay our significant debt
maturities that will come due in the first quarter of 2004.
S-3
Exploration & Production and Midstream Investments Expected to Generate
Incremental Cash Flow. Our ratio of proved natural gas reserves to our current
production is approximately 15 years. We believe that our natural gas properties
contain significant probable reserves that provide additional potential beyond
our existing proved reserves. We anticipate that after the completion of our
current restructuring, the E&P segment will be our primary growth vehicle, and
we expect to allocate our post-2003 capital expenditures accordingly. In
addition, we expect that significant capital expenditures made during 2001 and
2002 will benefit our Midstream segment going forward, especially as our new
deepwater facilities in the Gulf of Mexico begin full-scale operations.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
ASSET SALES
Since January 1, 2003, we have strengthened our balance sheet through a
number of efforts, including numerous asset sales. Since that date, we have
completed the sale of, or announced the execution of sale agreements for, the
following:
February 4, 2003 -- We announced the sale of our 170-megawatt power
facility in Worthington, Indiana, to Hoosier Energy and terminated
our power load serving full-requirements contract with Hoosier Energy
for cash totaling $67 million.
February 27, 2003 -- We sold our retail travel center operations to
Pilot Travel Centers LLC for approximately $188 million, of which $67
million was used by us to make debt repayments at closing.
March 4, 2003 -- We sold our Memphis, Tennessee refinery and other
related operations to Premcor Inc. for approximately $453 million in
cash.
April 21, 2003 -- We announced the sale of our 54.6% ownership interest
in Williams Energy Partners L.P. The buyer, a newly formed entity
owned equally by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC and
Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund II, L.P., has agreed
to pay us approximately $512 million in cash. The sale also will have
the effect of removing $570 million of the partnership's debt from
our consolidated balance sheet. The sale is scheduled to close in
late June 2003.
May 12, 2003 -- We announced the sale of natural gas exploration and
production properties in the Denver-Julesberg basin in Colorado for
$28 million to Petroleum Development Corp.
May 15, 2003 -- We sold certain crude gathering contracts and assets to
Seminole Transportation and Gathering, L.P. for $13.9 million,
releasing us from fixed-lease obligations totaling $32 million over
the next eight years.
May 16, 2003 -- We sold Texas Gas Transmission Corporation ("Texas Gas")
to Loews Pipeline Holding Corp., a unit of Loews Corporation, for
$1.045 billion, which includes $795 million in cash and $250 million
in debt that will remain at Texas Gas.
May 30, 2003 -- We sold certain natural gas exploration and production
properties in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico for total consideration
of $400 million to XTO Energy Inc. of Fort Worth, Texas.
May 30, 2003 -- We sold a full-requirements power agreement with Jackson
Electric Membership Corporation to Progress Energy Inc. for cash
totaling $188 million, of which $13 million is to be paid after
completion of certain transition items.
May 30, 2003 -- We sold our equity interest in Williams Bio-Energy
L.L.C. for approximately $59 million to a new company formed by
Morgan Stanley Capital Partners.
S-4
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
On March 4, 2003, Northwest Pipeline Corporation completed a $175 million
debt offering of senior notes due 2010. Northwest intends to use the proceeds
for general corporate purposes, including the funding of capital expenditures.
On May 20, 2003, we announced that we reached an agreement with MidAmerican
Energy Holdings Company, a member of the Berkshire Hathaway Inc. family of
companies, to repurchase for approximately $289 million all of our outstanding
9 7/8% cumulative convertible preferred shares held by a wholly owned subsidiary
of MidAmerican. This agreement is subject to certain closing conditions,
including the receipt of necessary bank consents, and is expected to close in
June 2003. On May 28, 2003, we issued $300 million of our 5.50% junior
subordinated convertible debentures due 2033 to finance this repurchase.
On May 30, 2003, we made a $1.17 billion payment that repaid prior to
maturity all amounts outstanding under a loan agreement with a group of
investors led by Berkshire Hathaway (the "2002 RMT Loan"). The 2002 RMT Loan was
a 360-day facility entered into in July 2002 by Williams Production RMT Company,
a wholly owned subsidiary, and was secured by substantially all of our Rocky
Mountain exploration and production properties. RMT refinanced a portion of this
loan with a new $500 million four-year term loan (the "New RMT Loan"), which is
secured by our Rocky Mountain exploration and production properties. The
remaining amounts outstanding on the 2002 RMT Loan were repaid from our
available cash, principally generated from recently closed asset sales.
We are currently in the process of syndicating an $800 million two year
revolving credit facility primarily for the purpose of issuing letters of
credit. Under the terms of this facility, we will deposit cash collateral equal
to 105% of the amount of letters of credit issued or other borrowings. This
facility will replace our existing secured revolving bank credit facility, which
expires in July 2005, and our existing secured letter of credit facility, which
expires in July 2003.
S-5
THE OFFERING
Company....................... The Williams Companies, Inc.
Securities Offered............ $800,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
8 5/8% Senior Notes due June 1, 2010.
Maturity Date................. June 1, 2010.
Interest Payment Dates........ June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing
on December 1, 2003.
Mandatory Redemption.......... We will not be required to make mandatory
redemption or sinking fund payments with
respect to the notes.
Optional Redemption........... We may redeem all or part of the notes at any
time on or after June 1, 2007. Before June 1,
2006, we may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate
principal amount of the notes with the net cash
proceeds of equity offerings. In addition, we
may redeem some or all of the notes at any time
prior to June 1, 2007, pursuant to a make-whole
premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if
any, to the redemption date. Please see
"Description of Notes -- Optional Redemption"
for the applicable redemption prices and other
details.
Change of Control............. If we experience specified kinds of changes of
control, we must offer to repurchase the notes
at 101% of the principal amount of the notes,
plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to
the date of repurchase. For more details, see
"Description of Notes -- Repurchase at the
Option of Holders -- Change of Control."
Ranking....................... The notes will be our senior obligations and
will rank pari passu in right of payment with
our existing and future unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness and will be senior
in right of payment to all of our existing and
future subordinated indebtedness. The notes
will effectively be junior to all obligations
of our subsidiaries with respect to their
assets.
Certain Covenants............. We will issue the notes under a supplemental
indenture to our indenture, dated as of
November 10, 1997, between us and JPMorgan
Chase Bank, as successor trustee. We refer to
this indenture, as supplemented, as the
"indenture." The indenture contains limitations
on, among other things:
- certain payments with respect to our
equity and certain investments and the
purchase, redemption or retirement of
our capital stock;
- restrictions affecting the right of
restricted subsidiaries, if any, to make
certain payments and distributions;
- our ability to incur additional
indebtedness and issue preferred stock;
- asset sales;
- transactions with affiliates;
S-6
- the incurrence of liens on assets to
secure certain debt;
- engaging in certain business activities;
and
- certain mergers or consolidations and
transfers of assets.
These covenants are subject to exceptions, and
many of the covenants will terminate before the
notes mature if two specified rating agencies
assign the notes investment grade ratings in
the future and no event of default exists under
the indenture. See "Description of
Notes -- Termination of Certain Covenants."
Use of Proceeds............... We plan to use the net proceeds from this
offering to improve corporate liquidity, for
general corporate purposes, and for payment of
maturing debt obligations, including the
partial repayment of our 9.25% senior notes due
March 2004. Until the proceeds are used for
those purposes, we intend to invest the net
proceeds in short-term securities.
S-7
RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information contained in or incorporated by
reference into this prospectus supplement, you should carefully consider the
following risk factors in deciding whether to purchase the notes.
RISKS AFFECTING OUR STRATEGY AND FINANCING NEEDS
OUR STRATEGY TO STRENGTHEN OUR BALANCE SHEET AND IMPROVE LIQUIDITY DEPENDS ON
OUR ABILITY TO DIVEST SUCCESSFULLY CERTAIN ASSETS.
As part of our business strategy announced in February 2003, we expect to
generate net proceeds from asset sales of approximately $4 billion during 2003
and the first quarter of 2004. During the first quarter of 2003, we received
$679.8 million in net proceeds from the sales of assets and businesses,
including our retail travel centers and the Midsouth refinery. In April 2003, we
announced that we signed definitive agreements for the sales of Texas Gas
Transmission Corporation, Williams' general partnership interest and limited
partner investment in Williams Energy Partners, and certain natural gas
exploration and production properties in Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.
The sale of the Texas Gas Transmission Corporation, which closed on May 16,
2003, the sale of oil and gas properties to XTO Energy, which closed on May 30,
2003, and the other sales announced in April 2003 that are expected to close
later in the second quarter are expected to generate net proceeds of
approximately $2 billion. At March 31, 2003, we had debt obligations with
maturities through March 2004 of approximately $3.5 billion (including certain
contractual fees and deferred interest related to underlying debt). Because our
cash flow from operations will be insufficient alone to repay all such debt and
our access to capital markets is limited, in part as a result of the loss of our
investment grade ratings, we will depend on our sales of assets to generate
sufficient net cash proceeds to enable the payment of our maturing obligations.
Our secured credit facilities limit our ability to sell certain assets and
require generally that one-half of all net proceeds from asset sales be applied
(a) to repayment of certain long-term debt, (b) to cash collateralization of
designated letters of credit, and (c) to reduction of the lender commitments
under our secured facilities. The timing of and the net cash proceeds realized
from such sales are dependent on locating and successfully negotiating and
closing sales with prospective buyers, regulatory approvals, industry
conditions, and lender consents. If the realized net cash proceeds are
insufficient or are materially delayed, we might not have sufficient funds on
hand to pay maturing indebtedness or to implement our strategy.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING THE WHOLESALE POWER AND ENERGY TRADING INDUSTRY
SECTOR HAVE REDUCED MARKET ACTIVITY AND LIQUIDITY AND MIGHT CONTINUE TO
ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
As a result of the 2000-2001 energy crisis in California, the resulting
collapse in energy merchant credit, the recent volatility in natural gas prices,
the Enron Corporation bankruptcy filing, and investigations by governmental
authorities into energy trading activities and increased litigation related to
such inquiries, companies generally in the regulated and so-called unregulated
utility businesses have been adversely affected.
These market factors have led to industry-wide downturns that have resulted
in some companies being forced to exit from the energy trading markets, leading
to a reduction in the number of trading partners and in market liquidity and
announcements by us, other energy suppliers and gas pipeline companies of plans
to sell large numbers of assets in order to boost liquidity and strengthen their
balance sheets. Proposed and completed sales by other energy suppliers and gas
pipeline companies could increase the supply of the type of assets we are
attempting to sell and potentially lead either to our failing to consummate such
asset sales or our obtaining lower prices on completed asset sales. If either of
these developments were to occur, our ability to realize our strategy of
improving our liquidity and reducing our indebtedness through asset sales could
be significantly hampered.
S-8
BECAUSE WE NO LONGER MAINTAIN INVESTMENT GRADE CREDIT RATINGS, OUR
COUNTERPARTIES MIGHT REQUIRE US TO PROVIDE INCREASING AMOUNTS OF CREDIT SUPPORT
WHICH WOULD RAISE OUR COST OF DOING BUSINESS.
Our transactions in each of our businesses, especially in our EM&T
business, will require greater credit assurances, both to be given from, and
received by, us to satisfy credit support requirements. Additionally, certain
market disruptions or a further downgrade of our credit ratings might further
increase our cost of borrowing or further impair our ability to access one or
any of the capital markets. Such disruptions could include:
- economic downturns;
- deteriorating capital market conditions generally;
- declining market prices for electricity and natural gas;
- terrorist attacks or threatened attacks on our facilities or those of
other energy companies; or
- the overall health of the energy industry, including the bankruptcy of
energy companies.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS
ELECTRICITY, NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS AND GAS PRICES ARE VOLATILE AND THIS VOLATILITY
COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS, CASH FLOWS, ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND
ABILITY TO MAINTAIN EXISTING BUSINESSES.
Our revenues, operating results, profitability, future rate of growth and
the carrying value of our gas and electricity businesses depend primarily upon
the prices we receive for natural gas and other commodities. Prices also affect
the amount of cash flow available for capital expenditures and our ability to
borrow money or raise additional capital.
Historically, the markets for these commodities have been volatile and they
are likely to continue to be volatile. Wide fluctuations in prices might result
from relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for these commodities,
market uncertainty and other factors that are beyond our control, including:
- worldwide and domestic supplies of electricity, natural gas, petroleum
and related commodities;
- weather conditions;
- the level of consumer demand;
- the price and availability of alternative fuels;
- the availability of pipeline capacity;
- the price and level of foreign imports;
- domestic and foreign governmental regulations and taxes;
- the overall economic environment; and
- the availability of credit in the markets where energy products are
bought and sold.
These factors and the volatility of the energy markets make it extremely
difficult to predict future gas and electricity price movements with any
certainty. Further, electricity and gas prices do not necessarily move in
tandem.
WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SELLING
AND MARKETING PRODUCTS IN THE WHOLESALE ENERGY MARKETS.
Our trading portfolios consist of wholesale contracts to buy and sell
commodities, including contracts for electricity, natural gas, natural gas
liquids and other commodities that are settled by the delivery of the commodity
or cash throughout the United States. If the values of these contracts change in
a direction or manner that we do not anticipate or cannot manage, we could
realize material losses from our trading
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activities. In the past, certain marketing and trading companies have
experienced severe financial problems due to price volatility in the energy
commodity markets. In certain instances this volatility has caused companies to
be unable to deliver energy commodities that they had guaranteed under contract.
In such event, we might incur additional losses to the extent of amounts, if
any, already paid to, or received from, counterparties. In addition, in our
businesses, we often extend credit to our counterparties. Despite performing
credit analysis prior to extending credit, we are exposed to the risk that we
might not be able to collect amounts owed to us. If the counterparty to such a
financing transaction fails to perform and any collateral we have secured is
inadequate, we will lose money.
If we are unable to perform under our energy agreements, we could be
required to pay damages. These damages generally would be based on the
difference between the market price to acquire replacement energy or energy
services and the relevant contract price. Depending on price volatility in the
wholesale energy markets, such damages could be significant.
OUR RISK MANAGEMENT AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES MIGHT NOT PREVENT LOSSES.
Although we have risk management systems in place that use various
methodologies to quantify risk, these systems might not always be followed or
might not always work as planned. Further, such risk management systems only
provide information, but do not in themselves manage risk. Adverse changes in
energy commodity market prices, volatility, adverse correlation of commodity
prices, the liquidity of markets, and changes in interest rates might still
adversely affect our earnings and cash flows and our balance sheet under
applicable accounting rules, even if risks have been identified.
To lower our financial exposure related to commodity price and market
fluctuations, we have entered into contracts to hedge certain risks associated
with our assets and operations, including our long-term tolling agreements. In
these hedging activities, we have used fixed-price, forward, physical purchase
and sales contracts, futures, financial swaps and option contracts traded in the
over-the-counter markets or on exchanges, as well as long-term structured
transactions when feasible. Substantial declines in market liquidity, however,
as well as deterioration of our credit and termination of existing positions
(due for example to credit concerns) have greatly limited our ability to hedge
identified risks and have caused previously hedged positions to become unhedged.
To the extent we have unhedged positions, fluctuating commodity prices could
cause our net revenues and net income to be volatile.
OUR OPERATING RESULTS MIGHT FLUCTUATE ON A SEASONAL AND QUARTERLY BASIS.
Revenues from our businesses, including gas transmission and the sale of
electric power, can have seasonal characteristics. In many parts of the country,
demand for power peaks during the hot summer months, with market prices also
peaking at that time. In other areas, demand for power peaks during the winter.
In addition, demand for gas and other fuels peaks during the winter. As a
result, our overall operating results in the future might fluctuate
substantially on a seasonal basis. The pattern of this fluctuation might change
depending on the nature and location of our facilities and pipeline systems and
the terms of our power sale agreements and gas transmission arrangements.
OUR INVESTMENTS AND PROJECTS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES EXPOSE US TO
RISKS RELATED TO LAWS OF OTHER COUNTRIES, TAXES, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS,
FLUCTUATIONS IN CURRENCY RATES, POLITICAL CONDITIONS AND POLICIES OF FOREIGN
GOVERNMENTS. THESE RISKS MIGHT DELAY OR REDUCE OUR REALIZATION OF VALUE FROM OUR
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS.
We currently own and might acquire and/or dispose of material
energy-related investments and projects outside the United States. The economic
and political conditions in certain countries where we have interests or in
which we might explore development, acquisition or investment opportunities
present risks of delays in construction and interruption of business, as well as
risks of war, expropriation, nationalization, renegotiation, trade sanctions or
nullification of existing contracts and changes in law or tax policy, that are
greater than in the United States. The uncertainty of the legal environment in
certain foreign countries in which we develop or acquire projects or make
investments could make it more difficult
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to obtain non-recourse project or other financing on suitable terms, could
adversely affect the ability of certain customers to honor their obligations
with respect to such projects or investments and could impair our ability to
enforce our rights under agreements relating to such projects or investments.
Operations in foreign countries also can present currency exchange rate and
convertibility, inflation and repatriation risk. In certain conditions under
which we develop or acquire projects, or make investments, economic and monetary
conditions and other factors could affect our ability to convert our earnings
denominated in foreign currencies. In addition, risk from fluctuations in
currency exchange rates can arise when our foreign subsidiaries expend or borrow
funds in one type of currency but receive revenue in another. In such cases, an
adverse change in exchange rates can reduce our ability to meet expenses,
including debt service obligations. Foreign currency risk can also arise when
the revenues received by our foreign subsidiaries are not in U.S. dollars. In
such cases, a strengthening of the U.S. dollar could reduce the amount of cash
and income we receive from these foreign subsidiaries. While we believe we have
hedges and contracts in place to mitigate our most significant foreign currency
exchange risks, our hedges might not be sufficient or we might have some
exposures that are not hedged which could result in losses or volatility in our
revenues.
RISKS RELATED TO LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND GOVERNMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS
WE MIGHT BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY GOVERNMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS RELATED TO PRICING
INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDED TO MARKET PUBLICATIONS.
On October 25, 2002, we disclosed that inaccurate pricing information had
been provided to energy industry trade publications. This disclosure came as a
result of an internal review conducted in conjunction with requests for
information made by the FERC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
("CFTC") on energy trading practices. We had separately commenced a review of
our historical survey publication data after another market participant
announced in September 2002 that certain of its employees had provided
inaccurate pricing data to publications. Later we received a subpoena from the
San Francisco office of the U.S. Attorney relating to a federal grand jury
inquiry regarding the same matters. We cannot predict the outcome of this
investigation or whether this investigation will lead to additional legal
proceedings against us, civil or criminal fines or penalties, or other
regulatory action, including legislation, which might be materially adverse to
the operation of our trading business and our trading revenues and net income or
increase our operating costs in other ways.
WE MIGHT BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY GOVERNMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS AND ANY RELATED
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED CONDUCTING OF "ROUNDTRIP" TRADES BY OUR
ENERGY TRADING BUSINESS.
Public and regulatory scrutiny of the energy industry and of the capital
markets has resulted in increased regulation being either proposed or
implemented. In particular, the activities of Enron Corporation and other energy
traders in allegedly using "roundtrip" trades which involve the prearrangement
of simultaneously executed and offsetting buy and sell trades for the purpose of
increasing reported revenues or trading volumes, or influencing prices and which
lack a legitimate business purpose, have resulted in increased public and
regulatory scrutiny. To date, we have responded to requests for information from
the FERC and the SEC, related to an investigation of "roundtrip" energy
transactions from January 2000 through 2002. We also have received and are
responding to subpoenas and supplemental requests for information regarding gas
and power trading activities, which involve the same issues and time period
covered by the requests from the CFTC.
Such inquiries are ongoing and continue to adversely affect the energy
trading business as a whole. We might see these adverse effects continue as a
result of the uncertainty of these ongoing inquiries or additional inquiries by
other federal or state regulatory agencies. In addition, we cannot predict the
outcome of any of these inquiries, or whether these inquiries will lead to
additional legal proceedings against us, civil or criminal fines or penalties,
or other regulatory action, including legislation, which might be materially
adverse to the operation of our trading business and our trading revenues and
net income or increase our operating costs in other ways.
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WE MIGHT BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND GOVERNMENTAL
INVESTIGATIONS RELATED TO THE ENERGY MARKETING AND TRADING BUSINESS.
Electricity and natural gas markets in California and elsewhere will
continue to be subject to numerous and far-reaching federal and state
proceedings and investigations because of allegations that wholesale price
increases resulted from the exercise of market power and collusion of the power
generators and sellers such as EM&T. Discussions by governmental authorities and
representatives in California and other states have ranged from threats of
re-regulation to suspension of plans to move forward towards deregulation. The
outcomes of these proceedings and investigations might create corporate
liability for Williams, and directly or indirectly affect our creditworthiness
and ability to perform our contractual obligations as well as other market
participants' creditworthiness and their ability to perform their contractual
obligations.
WE MIGHT BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY SECURITIES CLASS ACTION LITIGATION
Since January 2002, numerous class action lawsuits have been filed against
us. The majority of these suits allege that we and our co-defendants
fraudulently disclosed or failed to disclose material facts regarding our
relationship with WCG and our operation of our EM&T subsidiary. In addition,
some of the suits contain allegations that we and our co-defendants acted
jointly and severally to inflate our stock price and, for short periods of
times, the stock price of WCG. See "Legal Proceedings" in our annual report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and our quarterly report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003. As a result of these, and any future
securities class action litigation, we may face substantial costs and our
management's attention and resources may be diverted, which could harm our
business.
RISKS RELATED TO THE REGULATION OF OUR BUSINESSES
OUR BUSINESSES ARE SUBJECT TO COMPLEX GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. THE OPERATION OF
OUR BUSINESSES MIGHT BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY CHANGES IN THESE REGULATIONS OR IN
THEIR INTERPRETATION OR IMPLEMENTATION.
Existing regulations might be revised or reinterpreted, new laws and
regulations might be adopted or become applicable to us or our facilities, and
future changes in laws and regulations might have a detrimental effect on our
business. Certain restructured markets have recently experienced supply problems
and price volatility. These supply problems and volatility have been the subject
of a significant amount of press coverage, much of which has been critical of
the restructuring initiatives. In some of these markets, including California,
proposals have been made by governmental agencies and other interested parties
to re-regulate areas of these markets which have previously been deregulated. We
cannot assure you that other proposals to re-regulate will not be made or that
legislative or other attention to the electric power restructuring process will
not cause the deregulation process to be delayed or reversed. If the current
trend towards competitive restructuring of the wholesale and retail power
markets is reversed, discontinued or delayed, our business models might be
inaccurate and we might face difficulty in accessing capital to refinance our
debt and funding for operating and generating revenues in accordance with our
current business plans.
For example, in 2000, the FERC issued Order 637, which sets forth revisions
to its policies governing the regulation of interstate natural gas pipelines
that it finds necessary to adjust its current regulatory model to the needs of
evolving markets. The FERC, however, determined that any fundamental changes to
its regulatory policy will be considered after further study and evaluation of
the evolving marketplace. Order 637 revised the FERC's pricing policy to waive
through September 30, 2002 the maximum price ceilings for short-term releases of
capacity of less than one year and to permit pipelines to file proposals to
implement seasonal rates for short-term services and term-differentiated rates.
Certain parties requested rehearing of Order 637 and eventually appealed certain
issues to the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals. The D.C. Circuit
remanded as to certain issues, and on October 31, 2002, the FERC issued its
order on remand. Rehearing requests for that order are now pending with the
FERC. Given the extent of the FERC's regulatory power, we cannot give any
assurance regarding the likely regulations under which
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we will operate our natural gas transmission and storage business in the future
or the effect of regulation on our financial position and results of operations.
The FERC has proposed to broaden its regulations that restrict relations
between our jurisdictional natural gas companies, or "jurisdictional companies,"
and our marketing affiliates. In addition, the proposed rules would limit
communications between each of our jurisdictional companies and all of our other
companies engaged in energy activities. The rulemaking is pending at the FERC
and the precise scope and effect of the rule is unclear. If adopted as proposed,
the rule could adversely affect our ability to coordinate and manage our energy
activities.
OUR REVENUES MIGHT DECREASE IF WE ARE UNABLE TO GAIN ADEQUATE, RELIABLE AND
AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION ASSETS DUE TO THE FERC AND
REGIONAL REGULATION OF WHOLESALE MARKET TRANSACTIONS FOR ELECTRICITY AND GAS.
We depend on transmission and distribution facilities owned and operated by
utilities and other energy companies to deliver the electricity and natural gas
we buy and sell in the wholesale market. If transmission is disrupted, if
capacity is inadequate, or if credit requirements or rates of such utilities or
energy companies are increased, our ability to sell and deliver products might
be hindered. The FERC has issued power transmission regulations that require
wholesale electric transmission services to be offered on an open-access,
non-discriminatory basis. Although these regulations are designed to encourage
competition in wholesale market transactions for electricity, some companies
have failed to provide fair and equal access to their transmission systems or
have not provided sufficient transmission capacity to enable other companies to
transmit electric power. We cannot predict whether and to what extent the
industry will comply with these initiatives, or whether the regulations will
fully accomplish the FERC's objectives.
In addition, the independent system operators who oversee the transmission
systems in regional power markets, such as California, have in the past been
authorized to impose, and might continue to impose, price limitations and other
mechanisms to address volatility in the power markets. These types of price
limitations and other mechanisms might adversely impact the profitability of our
wholesale power marketing and trading. Given the extreme volatility and lack of
meaningful long-term price history in many of these markets and the imposition
of price limitations by regulators, independent system operators or other marker
operators, we can offer no assurance that we will be able to operate profitably
in all wholesale power markets.
THE DIFFERENT REGIONAL POWER MARKETS IN WHICH WE COMPETE OR WILL COMPETE IN THE
FUTURE HAVE CHANGING REGULATORY STRUCTURES, WHICH COULD AFFECT OUR GROWTH AND
PERFORMANCE IN THESE REGIONS.
Our results are likely to be affected by differences in the market and
transmission regulatory structures in various regional power markets. Problems
or delays that might arise in the formation and operation of new regional
transmission organizations ("RTOs") might restrict our ability to sell power
produced by our generating capacity to certain markets if there is insufficient
transmission capacity otherwise available. The rules governing the various
regional power markets might also change from time to time which could affect
our costs or revenues. Because it remains unclear which companies will be
participating in the various regional power markets, or how RTOs will develop or
what regions they will cover, we are unable to assess fully the impact that
these power markets might have on our business.
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OUR GAS SALES, TRANSMISSION, AND STORAGE OPERATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT
REGULATIONS AND RATE PROCEEDINGS THAT COULD HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON OUR
ABILITY TO RECOVER THE COSTS OF OPERATING OUR PIPELINE FACILITIES.
Our interstate gas sales, transmission, and storage operations conducted
through our Gas Pipeline business are subject to the FERC's rules and
regulations in accordance with the Natural Gas Act of 1938 and the Natural Gas
Policy Act of 1978. The FERC's regulatory authority extends to:
- transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce;
- rates and charges;
- construction;
- acquisition, extension or abandonment of services or facilities;
- accounts and records;
- depreciation and amortization policies; and
- operating terms and conditions of service.
The FERC has taken certain actions to strengthen market forces in the
natural gas pipeline industry that have led to increased competition throughout
the industry. In a number of key markets, interstate pipelines are now facing
competitive pressure from other major pipeline systems, enabling local
distribution companies and end users to choose a transmission provider based on
economic and other considerations.
RISKS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
WE COULD INCUR MATERIAL LOSSES IF WE ARE HELD LIABLE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITION OF ANY OF OUR ASSETS.
We are generally responsible for all on-site liabilities associated with
the environmental condition of our facilities and assets, which we have acquired
or developed, regardless of when the liabilities arose and whether they are
known or unknown. We can also be held liable for the cleanup of sites that we
formerly owned or operated, as well as third party disposal sites where wastes
from our current or former operations have been sent. In addition, in connection
with certain acquisitions and sales of assets, we might obtain, or be required
to provide, indemnification against certain environmental liabilities. If we
incur a material liability, or the other party to a transaction fails to meet
its indemnification obligations to us, we could suffer material losses.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION AND LIABILITY RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS WILL BE SUBJECT
TO ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION IN ALL JURISDICTIONS IN WHICH IT OPERATES, AND ANY
CHANGES IN SUCH LEGISLATION COULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
Our operations are subject to extensive environmental regulation pursuant
to a variety of federal, provincial, state, municipal and foreign laws and
regulations. Such environmental legislation imposes, among other things,
restrictions, liabilities and obligations in connection with the generation,
handling, use, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of hazardous
substances and waste and in connection with spills, releases and emissions of
various substances into the environment. Environmental legislation also requires
that our facilities, sites and other properties associated with our operations
be operated, maintained, abandoned and reclaimed to the satisfaction of
applicable regulatory authorities. Existing environmental regulations could also
be revised or reinterpreted, new laws and regulations could be adopted or become
applicable to us or our facilities, and future changes in environmental laws and
regulations could occur. The federal government and several states recently have
proposed increased environmental regulation of many industrial activities,
including increased regulation of air quality, water quality and solid waste
management.
Compliance with environmental legislation will require significant
expenditures, including expenditures for compliance with the Clean Air Act and
similar legislation, for clean up costs and damages arising out
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of contaminated properties, and for failure to comply with environmental
legislation and regulations which might result in the imposition of fines and
penalties. The steps we take to bring certain of our facilities into compliance
could be prohibitively expensive, and we might be required to shut down or alter
the operation of those facilities, which might cause us to incur losses.
Further, our regulatory rate structure and our contracts with clients might
not necessarily allow us to recover capital costs we incur to comply with new
environmental regulations. Also, we might not be able to obtain or maintain from
time to time all required environmental regulatory approvals for certain
development projects. If there is a delay in obtaining any required
environmental regulatory approvals or if we fail to obtain and comply with them,
the operation of our facilities could be prevented or become subject to
additional costs. Should we fail to comply with all applicable environmental
laws, we might be subject to penalties and fines imposed against us by
regulatory authorities. Although we do not expect that the costs of complying
with current environmental legislation will have a material adverse effect on
our financial condition or results of operations, no assurance can be made that
the costs of complying with environmental legislation in the future will not
have such an effect.
Our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Williams Energy Services, LLC, Williams
Natural Gas Liquids, Inc. and Williams, GP LLC (collectively, the "Selling
Parties") will retain potential environmental exposure after the anticipated
closing in June 2003 of the sale of the assets of Williams Energy Services, LLC
and Williams Natural Gas Liquids, Inc., the membership interests in WEG GP LLC
and the partnership interests in Williams Energy Partners, L.P. to WEG
Acquisitions, L.P. Furthermore, we, as the parent company of the Selling
Parties, entered into an agreement in favor of WEG Acquisitions, L.P.,
guaranteeing payment and performance of the Selling Parties' obligations to WEG
Acquisitions, L.P. Included in the terms of the transaction were various
indemnities given by the Selling Parties to WEG Acquisitions, L.P. The
indemnities serve to protect WEG Acquisitions, L.P. from "Losses" that it
sustains or incurs from certain environmental matters included on certain
schedules to the purchase agreement that governs the sale and from breaches of
the Selling Parties' representations, warranties or covenants under the
agreement. The term "Losses" includes any damage, judgment, fine, penalty,
demand, settlement, liability, cost, tax, expense, claim or cause of action.
Under the purchase agreement, WEG Acquisitions, L.P. agreed to assume costs
associated with certain scheduled environmental matters and other indemnity
obligations of Selling Parties to a maximum amount of $22 million. The parties
also agreed that the Selling Parties' indemnity obligations under the agreement
would be limited to a maximum aggregate amount of $175 million, with indemnity
obligations limited to a maximum aggregate amount of $125 million for certain
environmental indemnity obligations related to the assets of Williams Pipe Line
Company, LLC and limited, under various circumstances, to a maximum aggregate
amount of up to $15 million for certain environmental obligations related to
assets of Williams Natural Gas Liquids, Inc.
RISKS RELATING TO ACCOUNTING POLICY
POTENTIAL CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING STANDARDS MIGHT CAUSE US TO REVISE OUR FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE IN THE FUTURE, WHICH MIGHT CHANGE THE WAY ANALYSTS MEASURE OUR
BUSINESS OR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE.
Recently discovered accounting irregularities in various industries have
forced regulators and legislators to take a renewed look at accounting
practices, financial disclosures, companies' relationships with their
independent auditors and retirement plan practices. Because it is still unclear
what laws or regulations will develop, we cannot predict the ultimate impact of
any future changes in accounting regulations or practices in general with
respect to public companies or the energy industry or in our operations
specifically.
In addition, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") or the SEC
could enact new accounting standards that might impact how we are required to
record revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities. For instance, Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 143, "Accounting for Asset
Retirement Obligations," implemented on January 1, 2003, requires that the fair
value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the
period in which it is incurred if a
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reasonable estimate can be made. See Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial
Statements in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
March 31, 2003 for further details.
In October 2002, the FASB's Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") reached
consensus on Issue No. 02-3 deliberations and rescinded Issue No. 98-10. As a
result, all energy trading contracts that do not meet the definition of a
derivative under SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and
Hedging Activities," will be reported on an accrual basis.
We have applied the consensus effective January 1, 2003, and recorded a
reduction to net income of $762.5 million in the first quarter of 2003 on an
after-tax basis which was reported as a cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principle.
The accounting for EM&T's energy-related contracts, which include contracts
such as transportation, storage, load serving and tolling agreements, requires
us to assess whether certain of these contracts are executory service
arrangements or leases pursuant to SFAS No. 13, "Accounting for Leases." On
March 20, 2003, the EITF continued discussion on Issue No. 01-8, "Determining
Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease," and directed the working group
considering this issue to further address certain matters, including transition.
The most current report of the working group indicates the working group
supports a prospective transition of this issue, where the consensus would be
applied to arrangements consummated or substantively modified after the date of
the final consensus.
Our preliminary review indicates that certain of our tolling agreements
could be considered to be leases under the model currently being discussed by
the EITF. Accordingly, if the EITF did not adopt a prospective transition and
applied the consensus to existing arrangements there would be a significant
negative impact to Williams' financial position.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR INDUSTRY
THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL CONDITION OF OUR U.S. AND CANADIAN NATURAL GAS
TRANSMISSION AND MIDSTREAM BUSINESSES ARE DEPENDENT ON THE CONTINUED
AVAILABILITY OF NATURAL GAS RESERVES.
The development of additional natural gas reserves requires significant
capital expenditures for exploration and development drilling and the
installation of production, gathering, storage, transportation and other
facilities that permit natural gas to be produced and delivered to our pipeline
systems. Low prices for natural gas, regulatory limitations, or the lack of
available capital for these projects could adversely affect the development of
additional reserves and production, gathering, storage and pipeline transmission
and import and export of natural gas supplies. Additional natural gas reserves
might not be developed in commercial quantities and in sufficient amounts to
fill the capacities of our gathering and processing pipeline facilities.
OUR GATHERING, PROCESSING AND TRANSPORTING ACTIVITIES INVOLVE NUMEROUS RISKS
THAT MIGHT RESULT IN ACCIDENTS AND OTHER OPERATING RISKS AND COSTS.
There are inherent in our gas gathering, processing and transporting
properties a variety of hazards and operating risks, such as leaks, explosions
and mechanical problems that could cause substantial financial losses. In
addition, these risks could result in loss of human life, significant damage to
property, environmental pollution, impairment of our operations and substantial
losses to us. In accordance with customary industry practice, we maintain
insurance against some, but not all, of these risks and losses. The occurrence
of any of these events not fully covered by insurance could have a material
adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations. The location
of pipelines near populated areas, including residential areas, commercial
business centers and industrial sites, could increase the level of damages
resulting from these risks.
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OTHER RISKS
RECENT TERRORIST ACTIVITIES AND THE POTENTIAL FOR MILITARY AND OTHER ACTIONS
COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.
The continued threat of terrorism and the impact of retaliatory military
and other action by the United States and its allies might lead to increased
political, economic and financial market instability and volatility in prices
for natural gas, which could affect the market for our gas operations. In
addition, future acts of terrorism could be directed against companies operating
in the United States, and it has been reported that terrorists might be
targeting domestic energy facilities. While we are taking steps that we believe
are appropriate to increase the security of our energy assets, there is no
assurance that we can completely secure our assets or to completely protect them
against a terrorist attack. These developments have subjected our operations to
increased risks and, depending on their ultimate magnitude, could have a
material adverse effect on our business. In particular, we might experience
increased capital or operating costs to implement increased security for our
energy assets.
The insurance industry has also been disrupted by these events. As a
result, the availability of insurance covering risks that we and our competitors
typically insure against might decrease. In addition, the insurance that we are
able to obtain might have higher deductibles, higher premiums and more
restrictive policy terms.
RISKS RELATING TO THE NOTES
WE ARE A HOLDING COMPANY AND THE NOTES ARE STRUCTURALLY SUBORDINATED TO THE DEBT
OF OUR SUBSIDIARIES.
We are a holding company and we conduct substantially all of our operations
through our subsidiaries. We perform management, legal, financial, tax,
consulting, administrative and other services for our subsidiaries. Our
principal sources of cash are from external financings, dividends and advances
from our subsidiaries, investments, payments by our subsidiaries for services
rendered, and interest payments from our subsidiaries on cash advances. The
amount of dividends available to us from our subsidiaries depends largely upon
each subsidiary's earnings and operating capital requirements. The terms of some
of our subsidiaries' borrowing arrangements limit the transfer of funds to us.
In addition, the ability of our subsidiaries to make any payments to us will
depend on our subsidiaries' earnings, business and tax considerations and legal
restrictions. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have
no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due pursuant to the
notes or to make any funds available therefor, whether by dividends, loans or
other payments.
As a result of our holding company structure, the notes will effectively
rank junior to all existing and future debt, trade payables and other
liabilities of our subsidiaries. Our right to receive any assets of any of our
subsidiaries upon their liquidation or reorganization, and therefore the right
of holders of the notes to participate in those assets, will be subject to the
prior claims of that subsidiary's creditors, including trade creditors, except
to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor of such subsidiary. As of
March 31, 2003, in addition to trade debt and other liabilities, our
subsidiaries had approximately $4.2 billion of total indebtedness for borrowed
money.
THE NOTES AND OUR OTHER DEBT AGREEMENTS IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON US THAT MAY
ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO OPERATE OUR BUSINESS.
The notes and our other debt agreements contain covenants that restrict,
among other things, our ability to:
- incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred stock;
- enter into asset sales;
- pay dividends and distributions and make certain investments;
- enter into transactions with affiliates;
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- incur liens on assets to secure certain debt;
- engage in certain business activities; and
- engage in certain mergers or consolidations and transfers of assets.
In addition, our other debt agreements contain, and other debt agreements
we enter into in the future will contain, financial covenants and other
limitations that we will need to comply with. Our ability to comply with these
covenants may be affected by many events beyond our control, and we cannot
assure you that our future operating results will be sufficient to comply with
the covenants, or in the event of a default under any of our debt agreements, to
remedy that default.
Our failure to comply with any of our financial or other covenants in the
notes or other debt agreements could result in an event of default. Upon the
occurrence of an event of default under our credit facilities, the lenders could
elect to declare all amounts outstanding under the facility to be immediately
due and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further credit. By
reason of cross-default provisions in our other debt instruments, including the
indenture for the notes, much of our other indebtedness could also become
immediately due and payable at that time as well. If the lenders under any of
our credit facilities or other debt agreements, including the notes, accelerates
the maturity of any loans or other debt outstanding to us, we may not have
sufficient assets to repay amounts outstanding under our credit facilities and
our other indebtedness, including the notes.
WE MAY BE UNABLE TO PURCHASE THE NOTES UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL.
Upon a change of control, as described under "Description of
Notes -- Repurchase at the Option of Holders -- Change of Control", you may
require us to repurchase all or a portion of your notes. If a change of control
were to occur, the terms of our credit facilities would currently limit our
ability to purchase your notes. Our future debt agreements may contain similar
restrictions and provisions. The notes require that, upon the occurrence of a
change of control, we must offer to purchase all of the outstanding notes after
first obtaining necessary waivers or causing the relevant borrowers to obtain
waivers or prepaying our credit agreement and other debt of Williams or such
borrower that might otherwise prohibit such purchase. Accordingly, we may not be
able to satisfy our obligations to purchase your notes unless we are able to
refinance or waivers are obtained under all of our credit facilities and other
indebtedness with similar restrictions. Any failure to obtain these necessary
waivers and make this offer to purchase, or to repay holders tendering notes,
upon a change of control will result in an event of default under the notes. We
cannot assure you that we will have the financial resources to purchase your
notes, particularly if that change of control event triggers a similar
repurchase requirement for other indebtedness, or results in the acceleration of
other indebtedness through a cross-default or similar clause. See "Description
of Other Indebtedness" and "Description of Notes -- Repurchase at the Option of
Holders -- Change of Control."
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SERVICE OUR DEBT.
Our ability to pay or to refinance our indebtedness, including the notes,
will depend upon our future operating performance, which will be affected by
general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory, business and
other factors beyond our control.
We anticipate that our operating cash flow, together with money we
anticipate being available to us to borrow under our credit facility and through
other sources including further issuances, if needed, in the capital markets and
from asset sales, will be sufficient to meet anticipated future operating
expenses, to fund capital expenditures and to service our debt as it becomes
due. However, we cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient
cash flow from operations, or that we will be able to borrow additional funds or
generate proceeds from asset sales in amounts sufficient to enable us to pay our
indebtedness, including the notes, or to fund our other liquidity needs. We and
certain of our subsidiaries are parties to a secured credit facility. Our
ability to borrow under that facility depends not only on our financial
performance but also on the ability of those other parties to comply with their
obligations under the facility. The amount of funds available to us under that
facility will be diminished at any time at which
S-18
other borrowers under the facility are borrowing under it or if the commitments
under it are reduced due to future asset sales by us or our subsidiaries.
THE NOTES ARE UNSECURED, AND YOUR RIGHT TO RECEIVE PAYMENT WILL BE EFFECTIVELY
SUBORDINATED TO ANY OF OUR SECURED INDEBTEDNESS.
The notes will be effectively subordinated to claims of creditors under any
of our debt that is secured, including secured debt that we may issue or incur
in the future. As of March 31, 2003, we had approximately $2.2 billion in
secured credit facilities and other secured debt, which amount does not reflect
the reduction of secured indebtedness that occurred on May 30, 2003, in
connection with the repayment of the 2002 RMT Loan. See "Description of Other
Indebtedness." In the event of the insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation,
reorganization, dissolution or winding up of our business, secured creditors
will generally have the right to be paid in full out of the proceeds of the
asset or assets by which that debt is secured before others of our creditors,
including holders of the notes, receive payment through the proceeds of that
asset or assets.
THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE AS TO THE MARKET PRICES FOR THE NOTES; THEREFORE, YOU
MAY SUFFER A LOSS.
We cannot give you any assurance as to the market prices for the notes. If
you are able to resell your notes, the price you receive will depend on many
other factors that may vary over time, including:
- the number of potential buyers;
- the level of liquidity of the notes;
- ratings published by major credit ratings agencies;
- our financial performance;
- the amount of indebtedness we have outstanding;
- the level, direction and volatility of market interest rates generally;
- the market for similar securities;
- the redemption and repayment features of the notes; and
- the time remaining to the maturity of your notes.
As a result of these factors, you may only be able to sell your notes at
prices below those you believe to be appropriate, including prices below the
price you paid for them.
THERE IS NO EXISTING MARKET FOR THE NOTES AND THERE MAY BE A LIMITED MARKET FOR
THE RESALE OF THE NOTES.
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market.
We do not intend to list the notes for trading on any national securities
exchange or arrange for any quotation system to quote prices for them. The
underwriters have informed us that they intend to make a market in the notes
after this offering is completed. However, the underwriters are not obligated to
do so and may cease market-making activities at any time. As a result, we cannot
assure you that an active trading market will develop for the notes.
S-19
USE OF PROCEEDS
We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the sale of the notes will be
approximately $779 million. We intend to use all of the proceeds from the
offering to improve corporate liquidity, for general corporate purposes, and for
payment of maturing debt obligations, including the partial repayment of our
9.25% senior notes due March 2004. Until such time as the proceeds are used for
this purpose, they will be invested in short-term securities. The precise
amounts and timing of the application of proceeds will depend upon our funding
requirements, the funding requirements of our subsidiaries and the availability
of other funds.
S-20
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our unaudited cash and cash equivalents,
short-term debt and capitalization as of March 31, 2003, on an actual basis, as
adjusted to give effect to certain recent transactions, and pro forma to give
effect to those transactions and the issuance and sale of the notes offered
hereby and the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom, as discussed
in "Use of Proceeds." This information should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference
herein. Please read "Where You Can Find More Information" in the accompanying
prospectus.
MARCH 31, 2003
------------------------------------------
(UNAUDITED)
AS ADJUSTED
AND PRO FORMA
AS ADJUSTED THIS OFFERING
ACTUAL (1) (1)(2)
--------- -------------- -------------
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Cash and cash equivalents............................... $ 1,501.1 $ 1,850.1 $ 2,629.1
========= ========= =========
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt..... $ 3,272.1 $ 2,140.7 $ 2,140.7
--------- --------- ---------
Long-term debt.......................................... 10,491.1 10,417.2 11,217.2
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries......... 430.3 86.8 86.8
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $1 par value, 30 million shares
authorized, 1.5 million issued at March 31, 2003;
none, as adjusted.................................. 271.3 0.0 0.0
Common stock, $1 par value, 960 million shares
authorized, 520.8 million issued at March 31, 2003
(3)................................................ 520.8 520.8 520.8
Capital in excess of par value........................ 5,186.6 5,186.6 5,186.6
Accumulated deficit (4)............................... (1,710.8) (1,728.3) (1,728.3)
Accumulated other comprehensive income................ (48.3) (48.3) (48.3)
Other................................................. (28.1) (28.1) (28.1)
Less treasury stock (at cost): 3.2 million shares of
common stock at March 31, 2003..................... (38.6) (38.6) (38.6)
--------- --------- ---------
Total stockholders' equity.............................. $ 4,152.9 $ 3,864.1 $ 3,864.1
--------- --------- ---------
Total capitalization (5)................................ $18,346.4 $16,508.8 $17,308.8
========= ========= =========
---------------
(1) Reflects (a) the net proceeds of approximately $290 million from our
offering of convertible debentures and the application of approximately $289
million to the repurchase of our 9 7/8% cumulative convertible preferred
stock, which is anticipated to occur in June 2003; (b) the application of
the net proceeds of approximately $381 million from the sale of exploration
and production properties to XTO Energy and approximately $490 million from
the New RMT Loan towards the repayment of the 2002 RMT Loan; (c) the receipt
of the net proceeds of approximately $795 million from the sale of Texas Gas
to Loews Pipeline Holding Corp., and the assumption by the purchaser of $250
million of long term debt; (d) the repayment by us of debt of $231 million;
(e) the receipt of net proceeds of approximately $175 million from the sale
of a full-requirements power agreement with Jackson Electric Membership
Corporation to Progress Energy; and (f) adjustments to reclassify certain
long-term debt and minority interest amounts associated with Texas Gas and
Williams Energy Partners L.P. as discontinued operations as reflected in
Form 8-K filings on April 22 and May 22, 2003. Please read "Pro Forma
Summary Historical Financial Data". Does not reflect estimated gain/loss or
adjustments for other asset sales subsequent to March 31, 2003.
(2) The net proceeds of approximately $779 million from this offering are
reflected as an increase to cash and cash equivalents.
(3) Amounts exclude the common stock issuable upon settlement of the purchase
contracts underlying the FELINE PACS issued by Williams in January 2002,
common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding options and common stock
issuable upon conversion of our convertible debentures.
(4) The As Adjusted columns reflect the payment of a $17.5 million premium
associated with the repurchase of the convertible preferred stock.
(5) Consists of long-term debt, including current maturities, notes payable,
minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries and stockholders' equity.
S-21
SUMMARY HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth consolidated financial data as of the dates
and for the periods presented. The financial data for each of the years during
the three-year period ended December 31, 2002 have been derived from our
consolidated financial statements as audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent
auditors. The financial data are qualified in their entirety by, and should be
read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements, the
related notes thereto and the related "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" incorporated herein by reference.
The financial data as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2002 and March
31, 2003 have been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, our
unaudited consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto and the related
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" incorporated herein by reference. See also "Pro Forma Summary
Historical Consolidated Financial Data."
THREE MONTHS ENDED
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, MARCH 31,
--------------------------------- ---------------------
2000 2001 2002 2002 2003
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(UNAUDITED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Revenues:
Energy Marketing & Trading.............. $ 1,295.1 $ 1,705.6 $ 56.2 $ 340.9 $ 3,781.5
Gas Pipeline............................ 1,567.0 1,426.0 1,503.8 384.0 406.4
Exploration & Production................ 331.0 615.2 899.9 227.7 266.4
Midstream Gas & Liquids................. 1,574.3 1,906.8 1,909.1 400.0 1,133.2
Williams Energy Partners................ 373.0 402.5 423.7 92.1 116.7
Petroleum Services...................... 1,456.3 1,109.7 866.0 187.5 239.7
Other................................... 74.4 80.3 65.9 16.9 14.0
Intercompany eliminations............... (111.8) (180.6) (116.2) (27.1) (597.7)
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total revenues....................... $ 6,559.3 $ 7,065.5 $ 5,608.4 $ 1,622.0 $ 5,360.2
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Segment costs and expenses:
Costs and operating expenses............ $ 3,828.9 $ 3,846.6 $ 3,653.5 $ 816.7 $ 4,847.7
Selling, general and administrative
expenses............................. 617.8 793.0 723.9 166.1 149.4
Other (income) expense -- net........... 78.6 (16.1) 297.4 (1.0) 113.1
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total segment costs and expenses..... $ 4,525.3 $ 4,623.5 $ 4,674.8 $ 981.8 $ 5,110.2
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
General corporate expenses................ $ 97.2 $ 124.3 $ 142.8 $ 38.2 $ 22.9
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating income (loss):
Energy Marketing & Trading.............. $ 968.2 $ 1,294.6 $ (471.7) $ 273.0 $ (130.5)
Gas Pipeline............................ 570.3 497.9 586.8 159.8 92.9
Exploration & Production................ 75.8 219.5 516.8 106.7 124.0
Midstream Gas & Liquids................. 282.0 185.9 171.7 52.7 110.1
Williams Energy Partners................ 104.2 101.2 99.3 26.9 35.4
Petroleum Services...................... 39.5 145.8 48.1 22.6 18.5
Other................................... (6.0) (2.9) (17.4) (1.5) (0.4)
General corporate expenses.............. (97.2) (124.3) (142.8) (38.2) (22.9)
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total operating income............... $ 1,936.8 $ 2,317.7 $ 790.8 $ 602.0 $ 227.1
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Net income (loss)......................... $ 524.3 $ (477.7) $ (754.7) $ 107.7 $ (814.5)
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
S-22
THREE MONTHS ENDED
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, MARCH 31,
-------------------------------- ---------------------
2000 2001 2002 2002 2003
-------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(UNAUDITED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
Interest expense -- net(1)................. $ 606.9 $ 682.2 $ 1,200.5 $ 205.4 $ 360.7
Net cash provided (used) by operating
activities(2)............................ 583.8 1,851.0 (542.2) (997.9) (96.7)
Capital expenditures(3).................... 1,169.2 1,624.1 1,823.8 386.4 244.4
Total debt(4).............................. 9,699.5 11,116.6 13,914.0 14,515.4 13,763.2
Stockholders' equity....................... 5,892.0 6,044.0 5,049.0 6,042.5 4,152.9
---------------
(1) Net of interest capitalized.
(2) Includes cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations of
$259.7 million, $152.7 million and $257.3 million for the years ended
December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002, respectively, and $19.7 million and $6
million for the three months ended March 31, 2002 and 2003, respectively.
(3) Excludes discontinued operations.
(4) Includes short-term notes payable, the current portion of long-term debt and
long-term debt.
S-23
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table presents our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for the periods shown. Some of the amounts within the calculation of the
ratio of earnings to fixed charges have been reclassified due to certain of our
activities which are now reported as discontinued operations as described in
Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 incorporated
herein by reference. But the figures in this table are not adjusted to reflect
the operations of Williams Energy Partners and Texas Gas as discontinued
operations as described in our reports on Form 8-K filed on April 22, 2003 and
May 22, 2003.
THREE MONTHS
ENDED YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
MARCH 31, --------------------------------
2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(1) (2) 2.76 2.88 1.66 1.45
---------------
(1) Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $83.5 million for the
three months ended March 31, 2003.
(2) Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $622.7 million for the
year ended December 31, 2002.
For purposes of computing these ratios, earnings means income (loss) from
continuing operations before:
- income taxes;
- extraordinary gain (loss);
- minority interest in income (loss) and preferred returns of consolidated
subsidiaries;
- interest expense, net of interest capitalized;
- interest expense of 50%-owned companies;
- that portion of rental expense that we believe to represent an interest
factor;
- adjustment to equity earnings to exclude equity investments with losses;
and
- adjustment to equity earnings to reflect actual distributions from equity
investments.
Fixed charges means the sum of the following:
- interest expense;
- that portion of rental expense that we believe to represent an interest
factor;
- pretax effect of preferred returns of consolidated subsidiaries; and
- interest expense of 50%-owned companies.
S-24
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
We have extracted the following discussions of our results of operations
for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and for the years ended December 31,
2002 and 2001 from our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2003 and from our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2002, respectively, solely for your convenience. We have not attempted to update
this discussion in any way. You should read the following discussions in
conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements and related notes
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. You should also read
the other documents that we have filed with the SEC since the date of those
periodic reports and the "Summary -- Recent Developments" and "Pro Forma Summary
Historical Consolidated Financial Data" sections of this prospectus supplement
to obtain more information about subsequent developments.
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2003 VS. THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2002
Our revenue increased $3,738.2 million due primarily to increased revenues
at EM&T and Midstream as a result of the adoption of Emerging Issues Task Force
("EITF") Issue 02-3, "Issues Related to Accounting for Contracts Involved in
Energy Trading & Risk Management Activities", which requires that revenues and
cost of sales from non-derivative contracts and certain physically settled
derivative contracts to be reported on a gross basis. Prior to the adoption of
EITF 02-3 on January 1, 2003, revenues related to non-derivative contracts were
reported on a net basis. Revenues at Midstream also increased due to a $154
million increase in Canadian revenues and a $111 million increase from domestic
gathering and processing activities, with both increases reflecting higher
liquids sales prices.
Costs and operating expenses increased $4,031 million due primarily to the
impact of reporting certain costs gross at EM&T and Midstream, as discussed
above. Costs and operating expenses at Midstream also increased $179 million due
to higher fuel & shrink costs as a result of higher prices as well as $52
million of higher costs resulting from the consolidation of Gulf Liquids in
mid-2002.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $16.7 million due
primarily to the impact of staff reductions at EM&T and a $7 million favorable
adjustment at Gas Pipeline for reductions to employee-related benefits accruals.
These decreases are slightly offset by $11.8 million of expense at EM&T related
to the accelerated recognition of deferred compensation as a result of staff
reductions and $8 million of bad debt expense at Midstream.
Other (income) expense -- net in 2003 includes a $109 million impairment
related to the Texas Gas pipeline system and an $8 million impairment of Alaska
assets (see Note 4 to the Notes to the Financial Statements in our quarterly
report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2003).
General corporate expenses decreased $15.3 million, or 40 percent, due
primarily to lower advertising expenses and lower charitable contributions.
Operating income decreased $374.9 million, or 62 percent, due primarily to
a $404 million decrease at EM&T due to decreased gross margins from power,
natural gas, petroleum products, and emerging products and a $67 million
decrease at Gas Pipeline which is primarily due to the impairment for Texas Gas.
These decreases to operating income are slightly offset by a $57 million
increase at Midstream which is primarily attributable to increased operating
profit from domestic gathering and processing operations.
Interest accrued -- net increased $155.3 million, or 76 percent, due
primarily to $89 million related to interest expense, including amortization of
fees, on the 2002 RMT Loan, the $39 million effect of higher average interest
rates, the $12 million effect of higher average borrowing levels and $15 million
higher debt amortization expense.
S-25
The 2003 investing income increased $263.8 million as compared to the 2002
investing loss. Investing income (loss) for 2003 and 2002 consisted of the
following components:
THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31,
----------------------
2002 2003
---------- ---------
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Equity earnings............................................. $ 7.5 $ 4.3
Loss provision for WilTel (the successor of WCG)
receivables............................................... (232.0) --
Impairment of cost based investment......................... -- (12.0)
Interest income and other................................... 8.7 55.7
------- ------
Investing income (loss)..................................... $(215.8) $ 48.0
======= ======
Equity earnings for 2002 includes a net equity loss of $3.3 million related
to equity method investments which were sold during 2002. The $232.0 million
loss provision is related to the estimated recoverability of receivables from
WilTel Communications Group, Inc. (formerly Williams Communications Group,
Inc.). The $12.0 million impairment of cost based investment relates to Algar
Telecom S.A. (see Note 4 to the Notes to the Financial Statements in our
quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2003). Interest income
and other increased $47 million due primarily to a $41.4 million increase at
EM&T comprised primarily of interest income (substantial portion is related to
prior periods) recorded as a result of recent FERC proceedings as well as a $2.0
million increase in interest income from margin deposits.
In 2002, we entered into interest rate swaps with external counter parties
primarily in support of the energy trading portfolio (see Note 13 to the Notes
to the Financial Statements in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the first
quarter of 2003). We have significantly reduced this activity.
Minority interest in income and preferred returns of consolidated
subsidiaries in 2003 includes higher minority interest expense of $9.5 million
related to Williams Energy Partners, LP which is offset by the absence of
preferred returns totaling $7.5 million related to the preferred interests in
Castle Associates L.P., Arctic Fox, L.L.C., Piceance Production Holdings LLC and
Williams' Risk Holdings L.L.C.
Other income (expense) -- net increased $27.0 million due primarily to a
$12.5 million foreign currency transaction gain on a Canadian dollar denominated
note receivable. Other income (expense) -- net in 2002 included an $8 million
loss related to early retirement of remarketable notes.
The provision (benefit) for income taxes was favorable by $97.3 million due
primarily to a pre-tax loss in 2003 as compared to pre-tax income for 2002. The
effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2003, is less
than the federal statutory rate (less tax benefit) due largely to the effect of
state income taxes associated with jurisdictions in which we file separate
returns. The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31,
2002, is greater than the federal statutory rate due primarily to the effect of
state income taxes.
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principles is an unfavorable
amount in 2003 of $761.3 million which is comprised of a $762.5 million charge
related to the adoption of EITF Issue No. 02-3 (see Note 3 to the Notes to the
Financial Statements in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter
of 2003) offset by $1.2 million related to the adoption of SFAS No. 143 (see
Note 3 to the Notes to the Financial Statements in our quarterly report on Form
10-Q for the first quarter of 2003).
Income (loss) applicable to common stock in 2002 reflects the impact of
$69.4 million associated with accounting for a preferred security that contains
a conversion option that was beneficial to the purchaser at the time the
security was issued. (See the Financial Statements in our quarterly report on
Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2003.)
S-26
2002 VS. 2001
Consolidated Overview. Our revenue decreased $1,457.1 million, or 21
percent, due primarily to lower revenues associated with energy risk management
and trading activities at EM&T and the absence of $184 million of revenue
related to the 198 convenience stores sold in May 2001 within Petroleum
Services. Partially offsetting these decreases was the impact of an increase in
net production volumes within E&P partly due to the August 2001 acquisition of
Barrett Resources Corporation ("Barrett").
Costs and operating expenses decreased $193.1 million, or 5 percent, due
primarily to the absence of the 198 convenience stores sold in May 2001 and
lower fuel and product shrink gas purchases related to processing activities at
Midstream. Slightly offsetting these decreases are increased depletion,
depreciation and amortization and lease operating expenses at E&P due primarily
to the addition of the former Barrett operations.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $69.1 million due
primarily to lower variable compensation levels at EM&T. Selling, general and
administrative expenses for 2002 also include approximately $22 million of early
retirement costs, $10 million of employee-related severance costs and
approximately $6 million related to early payoff of employee stock ownership
plan expenses.
Other (income) expense -- net in 2002, that is part of operating income,
includes $244.6 million of impairment charges and loss accruals within EM&T
comprised of $138.8 million of impairments and loss accruals for commitments for
certain power assets associated with terminated power projects, $61.1 million
goodwill impairments and a $44.7 million impairment charge related to the
Worthington generation facility sold in January 2003. Also included in other
(income) expense -- net in 2002 are $115 million of impairment charges related
to Midstream's Canadian assets and $18.4 million of impairment charges within
Petroleum Services related to the Alaska refinery and convenience store assets.
Partially offsetting these impairment charges and accruals are $141.7 million of
net gains on sales of natural gas production properties at E&P in 2002. Other
(income) expense -- net in 2001 includes a $75.3 million gain on the May 2001
sale of the convenience stores and impairment charges of $13.8 million and $12.1
million within Midstream and Petroleum Services, respectively (see Note 4 to the
Notes to the Financial Statements in our Form 10-K for 2002).
General corporate expenses increased $18.5 million, or 15 percent, due
primarily to approximately $15 million of costs related to consulting services
and legal fees associated with the liquidity and business issues addressed
beginning in the third-quarter of 2002, $6 million of expense related to the
enhanced-benefit early retirement program offered to certain employee groups and
$6 million of expense related to employee severance costs. Partially offsetting
these increases were lower charitable contributions and advertising costs.
Operating income decreased $1,526.9 million, or 66 percent, due primarily
to lower net revenues associated with energy risk management and trading
activities at EM&T and the impairment charges and loss accruals noted above.
Partially offsetting these decreases are the gains from the sales of natural gas
production properties and the impact of increased net production volumes at E&P,
higher demand revenues and the effect of the reductions in rate refund
liabilities associated with rate case settlements at Gas Pipeline, higher
natural gas liquids margins at Midstream and higher equity earnings.
Interest accrued -- net increased $518.3 million, or 76 percent, due
primarily to $154 million related to interest expense, including amortization of
fees, on the 2002 RMT Loan (see "Description of Other Indebtedness"), the $58
million effect of higher average interest rates, the $247 million effect of
higher average borrowing levels and $56 million of higher debt issuance cost
amortization expense.
In 2002, we entered into interest rate swaps with external counter parties
primarily in support of the energy trading portfolio. The swaps resulted in
losses of $124.2 million (see Note 19 to the Notes to the Financial Statements
in our annual report on Form 10-K for 2002).
S-27
The 2002 investing loss decreased $58.9 million as compared to the 2001
investing loss. Investing loss for 2002 and 2001 consisted of the following
components:
YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31
---------------------
2002 2001
--------- ---------
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Equity earnings (loss)*..................................... $ 72.0 $ 22.7
Income (loss) from investments*............................. 42.1 4.2
Write-down of WCG common stock investment................... -- (95.9)
Loss provision for WCG receivables.......................... (268.7) (188.0)
Interest income and other................................... 44.9 88.4
------- -------
Investing loss.............................................. $(109.7) $(168.6)
======= =======
---------------
* These items are also included in the measure of segment profit (loss).
The equity earnings increase includes a $27.4 million benefit reflecting a
contractual construction completion fee received by an equity method investment
of Williams (see Note 3 to the Notes to the Financial Statements in our annual
report on Form 10-K for 2002) and $4 million of earnings in 2002 versus $20
million of losses in 2001 from the Discovery pipeline project, partially offset
by an equity loss in 2002 of $13.8 million from our investment in Longhorn
Partners Pipeline LP. Income (loss) from investments in 2002 includes a $58.5
million gain on the sale of our equity interest in a Lithuanian oil refinery,
pipeline and terminal complex, which was included in the Other segment, a gain
of $8.7 million related to the sale of our general partner interest in Northern
Borders Partners, L.P., a $12.3 million write-down of an investment in a
pipeline project which was canceled and a $10.4 million net loss on the sale of
our equity interest in a Canadian and U.S. gas pipeline. Income (loss) from
investments in 2001 includes a $27.5 million gain on the sale of our limited
partner equity interest in Northern Border Partners, L.P. offset by a $23.3
million loss from other investments, both which were determined to be other than
temporary. See Note 2 to the Notes to the Financial Statements in our annual
report on Form 10-K for 2002 for a discussion of the losses related to WCG.
Interest income and other decreased due to a $22 million decrease in interest
income related to margin deposits, a $4.9 million decrease in dividend income
primarily as a result of the second-quarter 2001 sale of Ferrellgas Partners
L.P. ("Ferrellgas") senior common units and write-downs of certain foreign
investments.
Other income (expense) -- net below operating income increased $.3 million
due primarily to an $11 million gain in second-quarter 2002 at Gas Pipeline
associated with the disposition of securities received through a mutual
insurance company reorganization, a $14 million decrease in losses from the
sales of receivables to special purpose entities (see Note 15 to the Notes to
the Financial Statements in our annual report on Form 10-K for 2002) and the
absence in 2002 of a 2001 $10 million payment to settle a claim for coal royalty
payments relating to a discontinued activity. Partially offsetting these
increases was an $8 million loss related to early retirement of remarketable
notes in first-quarter 2002.
The provision (benefit) for income taxes was favorable by $804.6 million
due primarily to a pre-tax loss in 2002 as compared to pre-tax income in 2001.
The effective income tax rate for 2002 is greater than the federal statutory
rate due primarily to the effect of taxes on foreign operations, non-deductible
impairment of goodwill and income tax credits recapture that reduced the tax
benefit of the pre-tax loss, somewhat offset by the reduction in valuation
allowances. The effective income tax rate for 2001 is greater than the federal
statutory rate due primarily to valuation allowances associated with the tax
benefits for investing losses, for which no tax benefits were provided and the
effect of state income taxes.
In addition to the operating results from activities included in
discontinued operations (see Note 2 to the Notes to the Financial Statements in
our annual report on Form 10-K for 2002), the 2002 loss from discontinued
operations includes pre-tax impairments and losses totaling $814.3. million. The
$814.3 million consists of $240.8 million of impairments related to the Memphis
refinery, $195.7 million of impairments related to bio-energy, $146.6 million of
impairments related to travel centers, $133.5 million
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of impairments related to the soda ash operations, $91.3 million loss on sale
related to the Central natural gas pipeline system and a $6.4 million loss on
sale related to the Kern River natural gas pipeline system. Partially offsetting
these impairments and losses was a pre-tax gain of $301.7 million related to the
sale of the Mid-America and Seminole pipelines. Loss from discontinued
operations in 2001 includes a $1.84 billion pre-tax charge for loss accruals
related to guarantees and payment obligations for WCG and $184.7 million of
other pre-tax charges for impairments and loss accruals including a $170 million
pre-tax impairment charge related to the soda ash mining facility.
Income (loss) applicable to common stock in 2002 reflects the impact of the
$69.4 million associated with accounting for a preferred security that contains
a conversion option that was beneficial to the purchaser at the time the
security was issued. The weighted-average number of shares in 2002 for the
diluted calculation (which is the same as the basic calculation due to our
reporting a loss from continuing operations -- see Note 6 to the Notes to the
Financial Statements in our annual report on Form 10-K for 2002) increased
approximately 16 million from December 31, 2001. The increase is due primarily
to the 29.6 million shares issued in the Barrett acquisition in August 2001. The
increased shares had a dilutive effect on earnings (loss) per share in 2002 of
approximately $.05 per share.
2001 VS. 2000
Consolidated Overview. Our revenues increased $506.2 million, or 8 percent,
due primarily to higher gas and electric power trading and services margins, a
full year of Canadian operations within Midstream acquired in the fourth-quarter
of 2000, higher natural gas sales prices and revenues from Barrett acquired in
the third-quarter of 2001. Partially offsetting these increases was a decrease
of $283 million in revenues related to the 198 convenience stores sold in May
2001, $116 million decrease in domestic natural gas liquids revenues and the
effect in 2000 of a $69 million reduction of Gas Pipeline's rate refund
liabilities.
Total segment costs and expenses increased $98.2 million, or 2 percent, due
primarily to costs for a full year of Canadian operations acquired in
fourth-quarter 2000 and operating costs associated with Barrett acquired in
third-quarter 2001. These increases were partially offset by a $286 million
decrease in costs as a result of the sale of 198 convenience stores in May 2001
and the $75.3 million gain on the sale of these convenience stores.
Operating income increased $380.9 million, or 20 percent, due primarily to
higher gas and electric power service margins, the $75.3 million pre-tax gain on
the sale of the convenience stores in May 2001, increased realized natural gas
sales prices, the impact of Barrett and the effect in 2000 of $63.8 million in
guarantee loss accruals and impairment charges at EM&T. Partially offsetting
these increases were lower per-unit natural gas liquids margins at Midstream,
the $69 million effect in 2000 of reductions to rate refund liabilities and
approximately $26 million of impairment charges and loss accruals within
Midstream and Petroleum Services. Included in operating income are general
corporate expenses which increased $27.1 million, or 28 percent, due primarily
to an increase in advertising costs (which includes a branding campaign of $12
million) and higher charitable contributions.
Interest accrued -- net increased $75.3 million, or 12 percent, due
primarily to the $71 million effect of higher borrowing levels offset by the $42
million effect of lower average interest rates, $19 million in interest expense
related to an unfavorable court decision involving Transcontinental Gas Pipe
Line ("Transco"), a $14 million increase in interest expense related to deposits
received from customers relating to energy risk management and trading and
hedging activities and a $12 million increase in amortization of debt expense.
The increase in long-term debt includes the $1.1 billion of senior unsecured
debt securities issued in January 2001 and $1.5 billion of long-term debt
securities issued in August 2001 related to the cash portion of the Barrett
acquisition.
Investing income decreased $257.7 million, due primarily to fourth-quarter
2001 charges for a $103 million provision for doubtful accounts related to the
minimum lease payments receivable from WCG, an $85 million provision for
doubtful accounts related to a $106 million deferred payment for services
provided to WCG and a $25 million write-down of the remaining investment basis
in WCG common stock (see Note 2 to the Notes to the Financial Statements in our
annual report on Form 10-K
S-29
for 2002). In addition, the decrease also reflects a $94.2 million charge in
third-quarter 2001, representing declines in the value of certain investments,
including $70.9 million related to our investment in WCG and $23.3 million
related to losses from other investments, which were deemed to be other than
temporary (see Note 3 to the Notes to the Financial Statements in our annual
report on Form 10-K for 2002). In addition, the decrease in investing income
reflects a $13 million decrease in dividend income due to the sale of the
Ferrellgas senior common units in second-quarter 2001. The decreases to
investing income (loss) were slightly offset by increased interest income
related to margin deposits of $17 million. Minority interest in income and
preferred returns of consolidated subsidiaries increased $23.9 million, or 42
percent, due primarily to preferred returns of Snow Goose LLC, formed in
December 2000, and minority interest in income of Williams Energy Partners L.P.,
partially offset by a $10 million decrease of preferred returns related to the
second-quarter 2001 redemption of our obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred
securities of Trust.
Other income (expense) -- net increased $26.4 million to $26.1 million of
income in 2001 due primarily to an $11 million increase in capitalization of
interest on internally generated funds related to various capital projects at
certain FERC regulated entities and $6 million lower losses from the sales of
receivables to special purpose entities (see Note 15 to the Notes to the
Financial Statements in our annual report on Form 10-K for 2002).
The provision for income taxes increased $68.1 million primarily due to
higher pre-tax income and increase in valuation allowance. The effective income
tax rate for 2001 is greater than the federal statutory rate due primarily to
valuation allowances associated with the investing losses, for which no tax
benefits were provided plus the effects of state income taxes. The effective
income tax rate for 2000 is greater than the federal statutory rate due
primarily to the effects of state income taxes.
In addition to the operating results from the activities included in
discontinued operations (see Note 2 to the Notes to the Financial Statements in
our annual report on Form 10-K for 2002), the loss from discontinued operations
for 2001 includes a $1.84 billion pre-tax charge for loss accruals for
contingent obligations related to guarantees and payment obligations for WCG,
$184.7 million of other pre-tax charges for impairments and loss accruals
including a $170 million pre-tax impairment charge related to the soda ash
mining facility. Loss from discontinued operations in 2000 primarily represents
the operating results of the operations.
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PRO FORMA SUMMARY HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following unaudited pro forma financial information is included to
supplement our previously issued consolidated financial statements included in
our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and our
historical consolidated statements of operations and balance sheets included in
our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003,
to present the operations of Williams Energy Partners and Texas Gas as
discontinued operations. The impact to consolidated revenues as reported in our
annual report on Form 10-K as a result of this reclassification was a decrease
of $659.5 million, $600.3 million and $622 million for the years ended December
31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The combined net income impact of these
operations previously included in income (loss) from continuing operations was
$78.7 million, $102.5 million and $120.3 million for the years ended December
31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The combined revenues of these operations
previously included in consolidated revenues as reported in our quarterly report
on Form 10-Q were $187.4 million and $168.9 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, and the combined net loss of these
entities previously included in income (loss) from continuing operations was
$27.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and the combined net
income of these entities previously included in income (loss) from continuing
operations was $38.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2002. The
unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements does not reflect any
potential gain or loss related to the expected sales. Consistent with our
previously issued consolidated financial statements, other assets and/or
businesses are also reported as discontinued operations, those being Kern River,
Central, soda ash mining operations, Mid-America and Seminole pipelines,
Midsouth refinery and related assets, Williams travel centers, and bio-energy
facilities.
For comparative purposes, income (loss) from continuing operations as
reported in our annual report on Form 10-K was a loss of $501.5 million for the
year ended December 31, 2002 and income of $802.7 million and $820.4 million for
the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Additionally, the
reported loss from discontinued operations was $253.2 million, $1,280.4 million
and $296.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000,
respectively. For comparative purposes, income (loss) from continuing operations
as reported in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q was a loss of $57.7 million for
the three months ended March 31, 2003 and income of $98.4 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2002. Additionally, the reported income from discontinued
operations was $4.5 million and $9.3 million for the three months ended March
31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
The unaudited pro forma financial information on the following pages should
be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and notes
thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2002 and in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
March 31, 2003 and other information filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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THREE MONTHS ENDED
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, MARCH 31,
--------------------------------- ---------------------
2000 2001 2002 2002 2003
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(UNAUDITED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Revenues:
Energy Marketing & Trading.............. $ 1,295.1 $ 1,705.6 $ 56.2 $ 340.9 $ 3,781.5
Gas Pipeline............................ 1,310.3 1,180.8 1,241.8 305.0 323.3
Exploration & Production................ 331.0 615.2 899.9 227.7 266.4
Midstream Gas & Liquids................. 1,574.3 1,906.8 1,909.1 400.0 1,133.2
Petroleum Services...................... 1,456.3 1,109.7 866.0 187.5 239.7
Other................................... 74.4 80.3 65.8 16.8 14.0
Intercompany eliminations............... (104.1) (133.2) (89.9) (24.8) (585.3)
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total revenues....................... $ 5,937.3 $ 6,465.2 $ 4,948.9 $ 1,453.1 $ 5,172.8
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Segment costs and expenses:
Costs and operating expenses............ $ 3,506.3 $ 3,539.9 $ 3,313.7 $ 742.9 $ 4,764.1
Selling, general and administrative
expenses............................. 522.1 698.6 620.1 141.2 130.0
Other (income) expense -- net........... 82.3 (14.5) 296.9 .3 7.6
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total segment costs and expenses..... $ 4,110.7 $ 4,224.0 $ 4,230.7 $ 884.4 $ 4,901.7
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
General corporate expenses................ $ 97.2 $ 124.3 $ 142.8 $ 38.2 $ 22.9
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating income (loss):
Energy Marketing & Trading.............. $ 968.2 $ 1,294.6 $ (471.7) $ 273.0 $ (130.5)
Gas Pipeline............................ 467.1 398.3 470.7 115.2 149.4
Exploration & Production................ 75.8 219.5 516.8 106.7 124.0
Midstream Gas & Liquids................. 282.0 185.9 171.7 52.7 110.1
Petroleum Services...................... 39.5 145.8 48.1 22.6 18.5
Other................................... (6.0) (2.9) (17.4) (1.5) (0.4)
General corporate expenses.............. (97.2) (124.3) (142.8) (38.2) (22.9)
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total operating income............... $ 1,729.4 $ 2,116.9 $ 575.4 $ 530.5 $ 248.2
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income (loss)......................... $ 524.3 $ (477.7) $ (754.7) $ 107.7 $ (814.5)
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
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DESCRIPTION OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS
REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITIES
Under the terms of our revolving credit agreement (amended in July 2002,
restated in October 2002, and amended in March 2003), our subsidiaries,
Northwest and Transco, have access to $400 million, while Williams has access to
all unborrowed amounts. Interest rates vary based on LIBOR plus an applicable
margin (which varies with our senior unsecured credit ratings). During the first
quarter of 2003, we completed asset sales, which reduced the commitments from
participating banks in the revolving credit facility to $400 million. No amounts
were outstanding under this agreement at March 31, 2003. Failure to meet the
required covenants of the revolving credit facility could become an event of
default and could result in acceleration of amounts due under this facility and
other company debt obligations with similar covenants, or for which there are
certain provisions for cross-default in place.
In addition to the revolving credit facility discussed above, Williams
Energy Partners L.P. has an $85 million unsecured revolving credit facility with
no amounts outstanding at March 31, 2003.
LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY
Williams has a $400 million letter of credit facility that expires in July
2003. Letters of credit totaling $383 million have been issued by the
participating financial institutions under this facility at March 31, 2003. As
of March 31, 2003, a total of $9.3 million letters of credit under this
agreement have been cash collateralized.
NEW RMT LOAN
On May 30, 2003, Williams Production RMT Company ("RMT"), a wholly owned
subsidiary, entered into a $500 million senior secured term loan (the "New RMT
Loan") with a syndicate of institutional lenders. The term loan is secured by
substantially all of the assets of RMT (excluding assets currently held for
sale) and the capital stock of Williams Production Holdings LLC ("Holdings"),
RMT and certain RMT subsidiaries. The New RMT Loan matures on May 31, 2007 and
bears interest payable quarterly at the Eurodollar rate plus 3.75% per annum.
The proceeds from the New RMT Loan were used to partially repay the 2002 RMT
Loan, which would have matured in July 2003. The New RMT Loan amortizes
quarterly at 1% per annum with the balance due at maturity.
Financial covenants under the New RMT Loan require RMT to (i) demonstrate
collateral coverage of greater than 1.75 to 1 calculated by a PV-10 value
divided by total secured debt tested semi annually and (ii) demonstrate interest
coverage of greater than 3.0 to 1 on a quarterly basis. Other covenants under
the New RMT Loan restrict RMT's ability to (i) incur additional indebtedness
(ii) make restricted payments and (iii) dispose of assets. RMT is required to
maintain a minimum liquidity reserve of $20 million in the form of cash or
letters of credit.
9.25% SENIOR NOTES
In connection with resolving claims related to our former subsidiary,
Williams Communications Group ("WCG"), we issued $1.4 billion of Williams Senior
9.25% Notes due March 2004. We intend to use a portion of the proceeds of this
offering in connection with the redemption of our 9.25% senior notes.
S-33
Notes payable and long-term debt at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002,
is as follows:
WEIGHTED-AVERAGE MARCH 31, DECEMBER 31,
INTEREST RATE(1) 2003 2002
---------------- --------- ------------
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Secured notes payable(2).............................. 5.4% $ 967.6 $ 934.8
--- --------- ---------
Long-term debt:
Secured long-term debt
Revolving credit loans........................... --% $ -- $ 81.0
Debentures, 9.9%, payable 2020................... 9.9 28.7 28.7
Notes, 7.725%-9.45%, payable through 2022........ 8.3 545.9 558.8
Notes, adjustable rate, payable through 2007..... 7.1 264.6 183.2
Other, payable 2003.............................. 6.7 15.1 20.9
Unsecured long-term debt
Debentures, 6.25%-10.25%, payable through 2031... 7.4 1,548.6 1,548.2
Notes, 6.125%-9.25%, payable through 2032(3)..... 7.8 9,675.2 9,500.5
Notes, adjustable rate, payable through 2004..... 5.3 494.7 759.9
Other, payable through 2006...................... 5.6 130.9 158.1
Capital leases, payable through 2005................ 6.1 91.9 139.9
--------- ---------
12,795.6 12,979.2
Long-term debt due within one year.................... (2,304.5) (1,082.8)
--------- ---------
Total long-term debt.................................. $10,491.1 $11,896.4
========= =========
---------------
(1) At March 31, 2003.
(2) Interest rate for the 2002 RMT Loan, which had $954.6 million outstanding at
March 31, 2003, was based on the Eurodollar rate plus 4% per annum. The
principal balance included interest accruing at a fixed rate of 14%
compounded quarterly. All amounts outstanding under this facility were
repaid on May 30, 2003 and the facility was terminated. (See -- New RMT
Loan).
(3) Includes $1.1 billion of 6.5% notes, payable 2007 subject to remarketing in
2004 (the "FELINE PACS"). If a remarketing is unsuccessful in 2004 and a
second remarketing in February 2005 is unsuccessful as defined in the
offering document of the FELINE PACS, then Williams could exercise its right
to foreclose on the notes in order to satisfy the obligation of the holders
of the equity forward contracts requiring the holder to purchase Williams
common stock.
S-34
DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
You can find the definitions of certain terms used in this description
under the subheading "Certain Definitions." In this description, the word
"Williams" refers only to The Williams Companies, Inc. and not to any of its
subsidiaries.
Williams will issue the notes under a supplement to an indenture dated
November 10, 1997 (the "base indenture") between itself and JPMorgan Chase Bank,
as trustee. The terms of the notes include those stated in the indenture and
those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended.
The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the
indenture. It does not restate the indenture in its entirety. We urge you to
read the indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as
holders of the notes. Copies of the indenture are available from Williams.
Certain defined terms used in this description but not defined below under
"-- Certain Definitions" have the meanings assigned to them in the indenture.
The registered Holder of a note will be treated as the owner of it for all
purposes. Only registered Holders will have rights under the indenture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
THE NOTES
The notes:
- are general unsecured obligations of Williams;
- are pari passu in right of payment with any current and future senior
Indebtedness of Williams; and
- are senior in right of payment to any future subordinated Indebtedness of
Williams.
SUBSIDIARIES
None of our subsidiaries will guarantee the notes. In the event of a
bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of our subsidiaries, the
subsidiary will pay the holders of its debt and its trade creditors before it
will be able to distribute any of its assets to us and thus make them available
to our creditors. The notes will therefore be effectively subordinated to all
debt and other liabilities of each of our subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2003,
our subsidiaries had approximately $4.2 billion of indebtedness, excluding
intercompany indebtedness. Our subsidiaries generated substantially all of our
consolidated revenues in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2002 and
held substantially all of our consolidated assets as of March 31, 2003.
As of the Issue Date, all of our subsidiaries will be "Restricted
Subsidiaries." However, under the circumstances described below under the
subheading "-- Certain Covenants -- Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted
Subsidiaries," we will be permitted to designate certain of our subsidiaries as
"Unrestricted Subsidiaries." Our Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject
to many of the restrictive covenants in the indenture.
PRINCIPAL, MATURITY AND INTEREST
Williams will issue notes with an initial maximum aggregate principal
amount of $800 million. Williams may issue an unlimited amount of additional
notes of this series from time to time after this offering. Any offering of
additional notes is subject to the covenant described below under the caption
"-- Certain Covenants -- Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock." The notes and any additional notes of this series subsequently issued
under the indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the
indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and
offers to purchase. Williams will issue notes in denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000. The notes will mature on June 1, 2010.
S-35
Interest on the notes will accrue at the rate of 8.625% per annum and will
be payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1, commencing on
December 1, 2003. Williams will make each interest payment to the Holders of
record on the immediately preceding May 15 and November 15.
Interest on the notes will accrue from the date of original issuance or, if
interest has already been paid, from the date it was most recently paid.
Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve
30-day months.
METHODS OF RECEIVING PAYMENTS ON THE NOTES
If a Holder has given wire transfer instructions to the paying agent, the
paying agent will pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on that
Holder's notes in accordance with those instructions, subject to surrender in
the case of payment of principal. All other payments on notes will be made at
the office or agency of the paying agent and registrar within the City and State
of New York unless Williams elects to make interest payments by check mailed to
the Holders at their address set forth in the register of Holders.
PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR FOR THE NOTES
The trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar. Williams may
change the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the Holders of the
notes, and Williams or any of its Subsidiaries may act as paying agent or
registrar.
TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE
A Holder may transfer or exchange notes in accordance with the indenture.
The registrar and the trustee may require a Holder to furnish appropriate
endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of notes.
Holders will be required to pay all taxes due on transfer. Williams is not
required to transfer or exchange any note selected for redemption. Also,
Williams is not required to transfer or exchange any note for a period of 15
days before a selection of notes to be redeemed.
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
At any time and from time to time prior to June 1, 2007, Williams may, at
its option, redeem all or a portion of the notes at the Make-Whole Price plus
accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.
At any time and from time to time on or after June 1, 2007, Williams may,
at its option, redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price
equal to the percentage of principal amount set forth below plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month
period beginning on June 1, of the years indicated below:
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
2007........................................................ 104.313%
2008........................................................ 102.156%
2009 and thereafter......................................... 100.000%
At any time and from time to time prior to June 1, 2006, Williams may, at
its option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes with
the net cash proceeds received by Williams from any Equity Offering at a
redemption price equal to 108.625% of the principal amount plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the redemption date; provided that
(1) in each case the redemption takes place not later than 120 days
after the closing of the related Equity Offering, and
(2) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of notes remains
outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding
notes held by Williams and its Subsidiaries).
S-36
MANDATORY REDEMPTION
Williams is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund
payments with respect to the notes.
TERMINATION OF CERTAIN COVENANTS
From and after the first date after the Issue Date on which the notes have
an Investment Grade Rating from both Rating Agencies and no Default or Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing under the indenture (the "Investment
Grade Date"), Williams and its Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject
to the provisions of the indenture described below under the following captions:
- "-- Repurchase at the Option of Holders -- Asset Sales,"
- "-- Certain Covenants -- Restricted Payments,"
- "-- Certain Covenants -- Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Preferred Stock,"
- "-- Certain Covenants -- Transactions with Affiliates,"
- "-- Certain Covenants -- Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions
Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries,"
- "-- Certain Covenants -- Business Activities"
provided, however, that the provisions of the indenture described below under
the following captions will not be so terminated:
- "-- Repurchase at the Option of Holders -- Change of Control,"
- "-- Certain Covenants -- Liens,"
- "-- Certain Covenants -- Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets" (except
as set forth in that covenant),
- "-- Certain Covenants -- Sale and Leaseback Transactions" (except as set
forth in that covenant),
- "-- Certain Covenants -- Payments for Consent," and
- "-- Reports."
As a result, the notes will be entitled to substantially reduced covenant
protection from and after any Investment Grade Date.
REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS
CHANGE OF CONTROL
If a Change of Control occurs, each Holder of notes will have the right to
require Williams to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral
multiple of $1,000) of that Holder's notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer
on the terms set forth in the indenture. In the Change of Control Offer,
Williams will offer a Change of Control Payment in cash equal to 101% of the
aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest
on the notes repurchased, to the date of purchase. Within 30 days following any
Change of Control, Williams will mail a notice to each Holder describing the
transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering
to repurchase notes on the Change of Control Payment Date specified in the
notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days
from the date such notice is mailed, pursuant to the procedures required by the
indenture and described in such notice. Williams will comply with the
requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws
and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are
applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a
Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or
regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the indenture,
Williams will comply with the applicable securities laws and
S-37
regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the
Change of Control provisions of the indenture by virtue of such conflict.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, Williams will, to the extent lawful:
(1) accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly
tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;
(2) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of
Control Payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly
tendered; and
(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly
accepted together with an officers' certificate stating the aggregate
principal amount of notes or portions of notes being purchased by Williams.
The paying agent will promptly mail to each Holder of notes properly
tendered the Change of Control Payment for such notes, and the trustee will
promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to
each Holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of
the notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new note will be in a
principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000.
Prior to complying with any of the provisions of this "Change of Control"
covenant, but in any event within 30 days following a Change of Control, if
Williams is subject to any agreement evidencing Indebtedness (or commitments to
extend Indebtedness) that prohibits prepayment or repurchase of the notes
pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, Williams will repay all such outstanding
Indebtedness of Williams (and terminate all commitments to extend such
Indebtedness), or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all agreements
governing such Indebtedness or commitments to permit the repurchase of notes
required by this covenant. Williams shall first comply with the covenant set
forth in this paragraph before it shall be required to make a Change of Control
Offer or to repurchase notes pursuant to the "Change of Control" covenant.
Williams' failure to comply with the covenant described in this paragraph may
(with notice and lapse of time) constitute an Event of Default described in
clause (4) but shall not constitute an Event of Default described in clause (3)
under "Events of Default" below.
Williams will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer
on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
The provisions described above that require Williams to make a Change of
Control Offer following a Change of Control will be applicable whether or not
any other provisions of the indenture are applicable to the transaction giving
rise to such requirement. Except as described above with respect to a Change of
Control, the indenture does not contain provisions that permit the Holders of
the notes to require that Williams repurchase or redeem the notes in the event
of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction.
Williams will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a
Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the
manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth
in the indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by Williams and
purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of
Control Offer.
If any Credit Facilities or other agreements relating to Indebtedness to
which Williams becomes a party should contain restrictions prohibiting Williams
from repurchasing any notes, then, in the event of a Change of Control Williams
could seek the consent of its creditors to the purchase of the notes or could
attempt to refinance the Indebtedness that contains such provision. If Williams
does not obtain such a consent or refinance such Indebtedness in such
circumstances, Williams will remain prohibited from purchasing notes. In such
case, the failure to obtain such consent or complete such refinancing would
constitute a Default under the indenture.
If a Change of Control Offer is made, there can be no assurance that
Williams will have available funds sufficient to pay the Change of Control
Payment for all the notes that might be delivered by Holders seeking to accept
the Change of Control Offer. In the event that Williams is required to purchase
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outstanding notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, Williams expects that
it would seek third party financing to the extent it does not have available
funds to meet its purchase obligations. However, there can be no assurance that
Williams would be able to obtain such financing or that the terms of the
indenture would permit the occurrence of such financing.
The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the
direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of
"all or substantially all" of the properties or assets of Williams and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law
interpreting the phrase "substantially all," there is no precise established
definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a
Holder of notes to require Williams to repurchase its notes as a result of a
sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the
assets of Williams and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or
group may be uncertain.
ASSET SALES
Williams will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:
(1) Williams (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be)
receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the
fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or
otherwise disposed of;
(2) for any agreement to make an Asset Sale that is entered into after
the Issue Date, the fair market value is determined by (a) an executive
officer of Williams if the value is more than $10 million but less than $75
million or (b) Williams' Board of Directors if the value is $75 million or
more, as evidenced by a resolution of such Board of Directors; and
(3) at least 75% of the consideration received in the Asset Sale by
Williams or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash
Equivalents. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be
deemed to be cash:
(a) any liabilities, as shown on Williams' or such Restricted
Subsidiary's most recent balance sheet, of Williams or any Restricted
Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are
by their terms subordinated to the notes) that are assumed by the
transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement
that releases Williams or such Subsidiary from further liability;
(b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by Williams
or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are
contemporaneously, subject to ordinary settlement periods, converted by
Williams or such Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash
received in that conversion; and
(c) property or assets received as consideration for such Asset
Sale that would otherwise constitute a permitted application of Net
Proceeds (or other cash in such amount) under clauses (2), (3) or (4)
under the next succeeding paragraph below.
Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale,
Williams or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may apply an amount of cash equal
to the amount of such Net Proceeds at its option:
(1) to repay or prepay senior Indebtedness of Williams or any
Restricted Subsidiary;
(2) to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or a
majority of the Voting Stock of, another Permitted Business;
(3) to make a capital expenditure; or
(4) to acquire other long-term assets that are used or useful in a
Permitted Business.
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To the extent that Williams and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not apply an
amount of cash equal to the amount of such Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale during
such period as provided in the preceding paragraph, the amount not so applied
(excluding Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale to the extent of the amount of
acquisitions or capital expenditures described under clauses (2), (3) or (4)
under the immediately preceding paragraph above made during the 365 days
preceding the receipt of such Net Proceeds (other than any portion of such
amount that was funded with Net Proceeds of any other Asset Sale or that has
been allocated to exclude Net Proceeds of any other Asset Sales under this
provision)) will constitute "Excess Proceeds." When the aggregate amount of
Excess Proceeds exceeds $20.0 million, Williams will make an Asset Sale Offer to
all Holders of notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu
with the notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the indenture
with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of
assets to purchase the maximum principal amount of notes and such other pari
passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer
price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount plus
accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase, and will be payable in
cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer,
Williams may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited
by the indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of notes and other pari
passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of
Excess Proceeds, the Excess Proceeds will be allocated by Williams to the notes
and such other pari passu Indebtedness on a pro rata basis (based upon the
respective principal amounts of the notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness
tendered into such Asset Sale Offer) and the portion of each note to be
purchased will thereafter be determined by the trustee on a pro rata basis among
the Holders of such notes with appropriate adjustments such that the notes may
only be purchased in integral multiples of $1,000. Upon completion of each Asset
Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.
Williams will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange
Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those
laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of notes
pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any
securities laws or regulations conflict with the Asset Sale provisions of the
indenture, Williams will comply with the applicable securities laws and
regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the
Asset Sale provisions of the indenture by virtue of such conflict.
Prior to making any Asset Sale Offer, but in any event within 30 days
following the date on which such Asset Sale Offer would otherwise be required,
if Williams is subject to any agreement evidencing Indebtedness (or commitments
to extend Indebtedness) that prohibits prepayment or repurchase of the notes
pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer, Williams will either repay all such outstanding
Indebtedness of Williams (and terminate all commitments to extend such
Indebtedness) or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all agreements
governing such Indebtedness or commitments to permit the repurchase of notes
required by this covenant. Williams shall first comply with the covenant set
forth in this paragraph before it shall be required to make an Asset Sale Offer
or to repurchase notes pursuant to this "Asset Sale" covenant. Williams' failure
to comply with the covenant described in this paragraph may (with notice and
lapse of time) constitute an Event of Default in clause (4) but shall not
constitute an Event of Default described in clause (3) under "Events of Default"
below.
If any Credit Facilities or other agreements relating to Indebtedness to
which Williams becomes a party should contain restrictions prohibiting Williams
from repurchasing any notes, then, in the event an Asset Sale Offer is required
at a time when Williams is so prohibited from purchasing notes, Williams could
seek the consent of its creditors to the purchase of the notes or could attempt
to refinance the Indebtedness that contains such prohibition. If Williams does
not obtain such a consent or refinance such Indebtedness in such circumstances,
Williams will remain prohibited from purchasing notes. In such case, the failure
to obtain such consent or complete such refinancing would constitute a Default
under the Indenture.
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SELECTION AND NOTICE
If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed at any time, the trustee
will select notes for redemption on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method
as the trustee deems fair and appropriate.
No notes of $1,000 or less can be redeemed in part. Notices of redemption
will be mailed by first class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before
the redemption date to each Holder of notes to be redeemed at its registered
address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to
a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the
notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the indenture. Notices of redemption
may not be conditional.
If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that
relates to that note will state the portion of the principal amount of that note
that is to be redeemed. A new note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed
portion of the original note will be issued in the name of the Holder of notes
upon cancellation of the original note. Notes called for redemption become due
on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date, interest
will cease to accrue on notes or portions of the notes called for redemption.
CERTAIN COVENANTS
RESTRICTED PAYMENTS
Williams will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly:
(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or
distribution on account of Williams' or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries'
Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection
with any merger or consolidation involving Williams or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of Williams'
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries' Equity Interests in their capacity
as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests
(other than Disqualified Stock) of Williams or to Williams or a Restricted
Subsidiary of Williams);
(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value
(including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or
consolidation involving Williams) any Equity Interests of Williams;
(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem,
defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is
subordinated to the notes, except a payment of interest or principal at the
Stated Maturity thereof; or
(4) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other
actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively
referred to as "Restricted Payments"),
unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a
consequence of such Restricted Payment; and
(1) Williams would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after
giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made
at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted
to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant
described below under the caption "-- Incurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Preferred Stock;" and
(2) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all
other Restricted Payments made by Williams and its Restricted Subsidiaries
after the Issue Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses
(2), (3), (4), (6) and (8) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than
the sum, without duplication, of:
(a) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of Williams for the period
(taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the first fiscal
quarter commencing after the first anniversary of the Issue Date to the
end of Williams' most recently ended fiscal quarter for
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which internal financial statements are available at the time of such
Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period
is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit), plus
(b) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by Williams
(including the fair market value of any Permitted Business or assets
used or useful in a Permitted Business to the extent acquired in
consideration of Equity Interests of Williams (other than Disqualified
Stock)) since the Issue Date as a contribution to its common equity
capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of Williams (other
than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of convertible or
exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt
securities of Williams that have been converted into or exchanged for
such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified
Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of Williams), plus
(c) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made
after the Issue Date is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid
for cash, the lesser of (i) the cash return of capital with respect to
such Restricted Investment, including, without limitation, repayment of
principal of any Restricted Investment constituting a loan or advance
(less the cost of disposition, if any) and (ii) the initial amount of
such Restricted Investment, plus
(d) to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of Williams is
redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, the lesser
of (i) the fair market value of Williams' Investment in such Subsidiary
as of the date of such redesignation or (ii) such fair market value as
of the date on which such Subsidiary was originally designated as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the preceding provisions shall not prohibit:
(1) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of
declaration of the dividend, if at the date of declaration the dividend
payment would have complied with the provisions of the indenture;
(2) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other
acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness of Williams or of any Equity
Interests of Williams in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of,
the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of Williams)
of Equity Interests of Williams (other than Disqualified Stock); provided
that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any
such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition
will be excluded from clause (2)(b) of the preceding paragraph;
(3) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other
acquisition of the 9 7/8% cumulative convertible preferred stock of
Williams out of the net cash proceeds of the 5.5% junior subordinated
convertible debentures issued by Williams on May 28, 2003; provided that
the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such
redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition will be
excluded from clause (2)(b) of the preceding paragraph;
(4) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of
subordinated Indebtedness of Williams with the net cash proceeds from an
incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
(5) quarterly dividends paid pro rata on outstanding common stock of
Williams in an amount of $0.02 per share, provided that (A) such per share
amount shall be adjusted proportionally upon any reclassification, split,
combination, special distribution of common stock to holders thereof or
similar event such that (x) the per share amount multiplied by the number
of such shares outstanding, in each case determined immediately before
giving effect to such event is equal to (y) the per share amount multiplied
by the number of such shares outstanding, in each case determined
immediately after giving effect to such event and (B) in no event shall the
aggregate quarterly amount payable pursuant to this clause exceed by 20%
the aggregate quarterly amount that would be payable on all shares of
common stock outstanding on the Issue Date if a quarterly dividend payment
of $0.02 per share were payable on the Issue Date;
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(6) the payment of any distribution or dividend by a Restricted
Subsidiary of Williams, on a pro rata basis to all holders or on a basis
more favorable to Williams and its Restricted Subsidiary, to the holders of
such Restricted Subsidiary's Equity Interests;
(7) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or would be caused thereby, the repurchase, redemption or
acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of Williams
held by any member of Williams' (or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries')
management pursuant to any management equity subscription agreement, stock
option agreement or similar agreement; provided that the aggregate price
paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity
Interests may not exceed $5.0 million in any twelve-month period and
provided further that if the amount so paid in any calendar year is less
than $5.0 million, such shortfall may be used to so repurchase, redeem,
acquire or retire Equity Interests in either of the next two calendar years
in addition to the $5.0 million that may otherwise be paid in each such
calendar year;
(8) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or would be caused thereby, any Investment made in exchange for,
or out of the net cash proceeds of, a substantially concurrent offering of
Equity Interests of Williams; provided that the amount of any such net cash
proceeds will be excluded from clause (2)(b) of the preceding paragraph;
and
(9) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount since the Issue
Date not to exceed $50.0 million.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair
market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities
proposed to be transferred or issued by Williams or such Restricted Subsidiary,
as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of
any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant will be
determined, in the case of amounts greater than $10.0 million but less than
$75.0 million, by an officer of Williams and, in the case of $75.0 million or
more, by the Williams Board of Directors.
INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK
Williams will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise
become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to
(collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and Williams
will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that
Williams and its Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including
Acquired Debt) or Williams may issue Disqualified Stock, if the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio for Williams' most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for
which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date
on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock is
issued would have been at least 2.0 to 1, determined on a pro forma basis
(including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the
additional Indebtedness had been incurred or Disqualified Stock had been issued,
as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.
The first paragraph of this covenant will not prohibit the incurrence of
any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, "Permitted Debt"):
(1) the incurrence by Williams or any Restricted Subsidiary of
Indebtedness and letters of credit under any Credit Facilities in an
aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding under this clause
(1) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal
to the undrawn face amount thereof) not to exceed $1.3 billion;
(2) the incurrence by Williams and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the
Existing Indebtedness;
(3) the incurrence by Williams of Indebtedness represented by the
notes issued and sold in this offering;
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(4) the incurrence by Williams and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage
financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the
purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of
construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the
business of Williams or such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate
principal amount not to exceed $50 million at any time outstanding;
(5) the incurrence by Williams or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds
of which are used to refund, refinance or replace Indebtedness (other than
intercompany Indebtedness), including Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
incurred to finance the purchase price of replacement properties that was
permitted by the indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph of this
covenant or clauses (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this paragraph;
(6) the incurrence by Williams or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of intercompany Indebtedness between or among Williams and any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (a) any subsequent
issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such
Indebtedness being held by a Person other than Williams or a Restricted
Subsidiary of Williams and (b) any sale or other transfer of any such
Indebtedness to a Person that is not either Williams or a Restricted
Subsidiary of Williams, will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an
incurrence of such Indebtedness by Williams or such Restricted Subsidiary,
as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6);
(7) the incurrence by Williams or any of its Subsidiaries of Hedging
Obligations;
(8) the guarantee by Williams of Indebtedness of any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this
covenant;
(9) Indebtedness in respect of bankers acceptances, letters of credit
and performance or surety bonds issued for the account of Williams or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in
amounts and for the purposes customary in Williams' industry, in each case
only to the extent that such incurrence does not result in the incurrence
of any obligation to repay any borrowed money;
(10) Indebtedness arising from any agreement providing for
indemnities, Guarantees, purchase price adjustments, holdbacks, contingency
payment obligations based on the performance of the acquired or disposed
assets or similar obligations (other than Guarantees of Indebtedness)
incurred by any Person in connection with the acquisition or disposition of
assets;
(11) the incurrence by Williams or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of Acquired Debt if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for Williams' most
recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial
statements are available immediately preceding the date of such incurrence
of Acquired Debt (the "Relevant Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio") determined
immediately after giving effect to such incurrence and the related
acquisition (including through a merger, consolidation or otherwise) is
higher than the Relevant Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio determined immediately
before giving effect to such incurrence and the related acquisition; and
(12) the incurrence by Williams or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted
value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any
Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (12), not to exceed $250.0
million.
If any Non-Recourse Debt of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall at any time
cease to constitute Non-Recourse Debt or such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be
redesignated a Restricted Subsidiary, such event will be deemed to constitute an
incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary.
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For purposes of determining compliance with this "Incurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock" covenant:
(1) in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness (including
Acquired Debt) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of
Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (11) above, or is entitled
to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, Williams
will be permitted to classify (or later classify or reclassify in whole or
in part in its sole discretion) such item of Indebtedness in any manner
that complies with this covenant;
(2) the accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original
issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of
additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends
on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of
Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness
or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this covenant;
provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof is included in the
computation of Fixed Charges of Williams as accrued; and
(3) for the purposes of determining compliance with any
dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness
denominated in a foreign currency, the dollar-equivalent principal amount
of such Indebtedness incurred pursuant thereto shall be calculated based on
the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date that such
Indebtedness was incurred.
LIENS
Williams will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become
effective any Lien of any kind securing Indebtedness, Attributable Debt or trade
payables (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of their property or assets, now
owned or hereafter acquired, unless the notes and all payments due under the
indenture with respect to the notes are secured on an equal and ratable basis
with the obligations so secured until such time as such obligations are no
longer secured by a Lien or, in the case of any obligation so secured that is
expressly subordinated to the notes, by a Lien prior to any Liens securing any
and all obligations thereby secured for so long as any such obligations shall be
so secured.
DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES
Williams will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any
consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted
Subsidiary to:
(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock
to Williams or any of its Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other
interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any
indebtedness owed to Williams or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) make loans or advances to Williams or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries; or
(3) transfer any of its properties or assets to Williams or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries.
However, the preceding restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or
restrictions existing under or by reason of:
(1) agreements governing Existing Indebtedness and the Credit
Facilities in effect on June 1, 2003 and other customary encumbrances and
restrictions existing on or after the Issue Date that are not more
restrictive in any material respect, taken as a whole, with respect to such
dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in such
agreements on June 1, 2003 (provided that the application of such
restrictions and encumbrances to additional Restricted Subsidiaries not
subject thereto on June 1, 2003 shall not be deemed to make such
restrictions and encumbrances more restrictive);
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(2) the indenture and the notes and other customary encumbrances and
restrictions existing in indentures and notes after the Issue Date that are
not more restrictive, in any material respect, taken as a whole, with
respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those
contained in the indenture;
(3) applicable law (including without limitation, rules, regulations
and agreements with regulatory authorities);
(4) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person
acquired by Williams or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at
the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or
Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such
acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any
Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person,
or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired; provided that, in the
case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of the
indenture to be incurred;
(5) customary non-assignment provisions in leases entered into in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;
(6) Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money
obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that
impose restrictions on that property of the nature described in clause (3)
of the preceding paragraph;
(7) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted
Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary
pending its sale or other disposition;
(8) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions
contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness are no more restrictive in any material respect, taken as a
whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness
being refinanced;
(9) Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred
under the provisions of the covenant described above under the caption
"-- Liens" that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets
subject to such Liens;
(10) provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of
assets or property in joint venture agreements, assets sale agreements,
stock sale agreements and other similar agreements; provided that such
restrictions apply only to the assets or property subject to such joint
venture or similar agreement or to the assets or property being sold, as
the case may be; and
(11) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by
customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business.
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF ASSETS
Williams may not, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge with or
into another Person (whether or not Williams is the surviving Person); or (2)
sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all
of the properties or assets of Williams and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as
a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person unless:
(1) either: (a) Williams is the surviving Person; or (b) the Person
formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
Williams) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition has been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws
of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of
Columbia;
(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger
(if other than Williams) or the Person to which such sale, assignment,
transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made expressly assumes
by supplemental indenture all the obligations of Williams under the notes
and the indenture and delivers to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the
effect that the supplemental
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indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Person
and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of such Person, enforceable
against such Person in accordance with its terms (subject to customary
exceptions);
(3) immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default
exists; and
(4) Williams or the Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than Williams), or to which such sale,
assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made will,
on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and
any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the
beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at
least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant
described above under the caption "-- Incurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Preferred Stock;" provided, however, that this clause (4) shall
no longer be applicable from and after any Investment Grade Date.
In addition, Williams may not, directly or indirectly, lease all or
substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related
transactions, to any other Person. Clause (4) under this "Merger, Consolidation
or Sale of Assets" covenant will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among Williams and any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries.
TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
Williams will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of
its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter
into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan,
advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each, an
"Affiliate Transaction"), unless:
(1) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable
to Williams or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would
have been obtained in a comparable transaction by Williams or such
Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and
(2) Williams delivers to the trustee:
(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related
Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of
$50 million, a resolution of the Williams Board of Directors set forth
in an officers' certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction
complies with this covenant and that such Affiliate Transaction has been
approved by a majority of the disinterested members of such Board of
Directors; and
(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related
Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of
$75 million, an opinion as to the fairness to Williams of such Affiliate
Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting,
appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing.
The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and,
therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph:
(1) any employment agreement on customary terms entered into by
Williams or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business of Williams or such Restricted Subsidiary;
(2) transactions between or among Williams and/or its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(3) transactions with a Person that is an Affiliate of Williams solely
because Williams owns an Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person;
(4) payment of reasonable directors fees and provision to directors,
officers and employees of customary indemnities and customary benefits
pursuant to employee benefit plans and similar arrangements;
(5) sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to
Affiliates of Williams;
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(6) (A) corporate sharing agreements among Williams and its
subsidiaries with respect to tax sharing and general overhead and other
administrative matters and (B) any other intercompany arrangements
disclosed or described in Williams' report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2002 (including the exhibits thereto) or this prospectus
supplement, all as in effect on the Issue Date, and any amendment or
replacement of any of the foregoing so long as such amendment or
replacement agreement is not less advantageous to Williams in any material
respect than the agreement so amended or replaced, as such agreement was in
effect on the Issue Date;
(7) transactions entered into as part of a Permitted Receivables
Financing; and
(8) Restricted Payments that are permitted by the provisions of the
indenture described above under the caption "-- Restricted Payments."
DESIGNATION OF RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES
The Williams Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to
be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default;
provided that in no event will the material businesses currently operated by
Williams Production Holdings LLC or Williams Gas Pipeline Company LLC be
transferred to or held by an Unrestricted Subsidiary. If a Restricted Subsidiary
is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of
all outstanding Investments owned by Williams and its Restricted Subsidiaries in
the Subsidiary properly designated will be deemed to be an Investment made as of
the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted
Payments under the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the
caption "-- Restricted Payments" or Permitted Investments, as determined by
Williams. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be
permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the
definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Williams Board of Directors may
redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if the
redesignation would not cause a Default.
SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS
Williams will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction; provided that Williams or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into a Sale and Leaseback Transaction
if:
(1) Williams could have incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to
the Attributable Debt relating to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction under
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test in the first paragraph of the covenant
described above under the caption "-- Incurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Preferred Stock;"
(2) immediately after giving effect to such Sale and Leaseback
Transaction, the aggregate outstanding Attributable Debt with respect to
all Sale and Leaseback Transactions by Williams and its Restricted
Subsidiaries does not exceed 10% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of
Williams; and
(3) the gross cash proceeds of that Sale and Leaseback Transaction are
at least equal to the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors and set forth in an officers' certificate delivered to
the trustee, of the property that is the subject of that Sale and Leaseback
Transaction;
provided, however, that the foregoing clauses (1) and (2) shall no longer be
applicable after any Investment Grade Date.
BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
Williams will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage
in any business other than Permitted Businesses, except to such extent as would
not be material to Williams and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
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PAYMENTS FOR CONSENT
Williams will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly
or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit
of any Holder of notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or
amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the indenture or the notes unless
such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders of the notes
that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the
solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
REPORTS
Whether or not required by the Commission, so long as any notes are
outstanding, Williams will furnish to the trustee, within 30 days after the time
periods specified in the Commission's rules and regulations:
(1) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be
required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and
10-K if Williams were required to file such Forms, including a
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations", and, with respect to the annual information only, a report on
the annual financial statements by Williams' certified independent
accountants; and
(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the
Commission on Form 8-K if Williams were required to file such reports.
If Williams has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by
the preceding paragraph will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either
on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, of the
financial condition and results of operations of Williams and its Restricted
Subsidiaries excluding in all respects the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of
Williams.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
Each of the following is an Event of Default:
(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the
notes;
(2) default in payment when due of the principal of, or premium, if
any, on the notes;
(3) failure by Williams to purchase Notes tendered pursuant to an
offer described under the captions "-- Repurchase at the Option of
Holders -- Change of Control," "-- Repurchase at the Option of
Holders -- Asset Sales" in accordance with the terms thereof, or failure of
Williams to comply with the provisions of "-- Certain Covenants -- Merger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets;"
(4) failure by Williams or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60
days after notice, from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the
outstanding principal amount of the notes, to comply with any of the other
agreements in the indenture;
(5) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which
there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any
Indebtedness for money borrowed by Williams or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by Williams or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now
exists, or is created after the Issue Date, if that default:
(a) is caused by a failure of Williams or any Subsidiary of
Williams to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such
Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in
such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a "Payment Default"); or
(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its
express maturity,
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and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together
with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there
has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so
accelerated, aggregates $50 million or more;
(6) failure by Williams or any of its Subsidiaries to pay final
judgments aggregating in excess of $50 million, which judgments are not
paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; and
(7) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency described in the
indenture with respect to Williams or any of its Significant Subsidiaries.
In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of
bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to Williams, all outstanding notes will
become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any
other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the Holders of
at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding notes may declare all
the notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
any Event of Default that occurs and is continuing under the notes is the same
as an event of default that is continuing with respect to another series of debt
securities issued under the base indenture under which the notes are issued,
then the right to declare the notes (and all other such debt securities) to be
due and payable shall be with the trustee or at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount of all affected debt securities (including the notes) issued under the
base indenture. See "Description of Debt Securities -- Event of Default," in the
accompanying prospectus.
Holders of the notes may not enforce the indenture or the notes except as
provided in the indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority
in principal amount of the then outstanding notes may direct the trustee in its
exercise of any trust or power. The trustee may withhold from Holders of the
notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default if it determines that
withholding notice is in their interest, except a Default or Event of Default
relating to the payment of principal or interest.
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes then
outstanding by notice to the trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the
notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under
the indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of
interest on or the principal of, the notes. The Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding also may rescind and
cancel a declaration of acceleration and its consequences, if:
(1) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes that have become
due solely by the declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived,
and
(2) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a
court of competent jurisdiction.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such direction, waiver, rescission or
cancellation is with respect to a Default or Event of Default that, under the
terms of the base indenture, requires action by holders of a percentage of the
outstanding principal amount of the notes and one or more other series of debt
securities issued under the base indenture, voting as a single class, then such
direction, waiver, rescission or cancellation shall be effective only if
effected with the requisite percentage of the outstanding principal amount of
the notes and any other such debt securities, voting as a single class. See
"Description of Debt Securities -- Event of Default," in the accompanying
prospectus.
In the case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any willful
action or inaction taken or not taken by or on behalf of Williams with the
intention of avoiding payment of the premium (including, in the case of any such
Event of Default prior to June 1, 2007, payment of the Make-Whole Price) that
Williams would have had to pay if Williams then had elected to redeem the notes
pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of the indenture, an equivalent
premium (or, in the case of any such Event of Default prior to June 1, 2007, the
relevant Make-Whole Amount that would apply at such time if the notes were
optionally redeemed at the Make-Whole Price) will also become and be immediately
due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration of the
notes.
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Williams is required to deliver to the trustee annually a statement
regarding compliance with the indenture.
NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of Williams or
any Subsidiary, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of Williams
under the notes or the indenture, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or
by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of notes by
accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release
are part of the consideration for issuance of the notes. The waiver may not be
effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Williams may, at its option and at any time, elect to have all of its
obligations discharged with respect to the outstanding notes ("Legal
Defeasance") except for:
(1) the rights of Holders of outstanding notes to receive payments in
respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such notes
when such payments are due from the trust referred to below;
(2) Williams' obligations with respect to the notes concerning issuing
temporary notes, registration of notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and
money for security payments held in trust;
(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee,
and Williams' obligations in connection therewith; and
(4) the Legal Defeasance provisions of the indenture.
In addition, Williams may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the
obligations of Williams released with respect to certain covenants that are
described in the indenture ("Covenant Defeasance") and thereafter any omission
to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or Event of Default
with respect to the notes. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain
events (not including non-payment, bankruptcy, receivership, rehabilitation and
insolvency events) described under "-- Events of Default and Remedies" will no
longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the notes.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(1) Williams must irrevocably deposit with the trustee, in trust, for
the benefit of the Holders of the notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable
Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and
non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, in
the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants, to pay the principal of, or interest and premium, if any, on
the outstanding notes on the stated maturity or on the applicable
redemption date, as the case may be, and Williams must specify whether the
notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;
(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, Williams has delivered to the
trustee an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee
confirming that (a) Williams has received from, or there has been published
by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (b) since the Issue Date,
there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either
case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel will
confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize
income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such
Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the
case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, Williams has delivered to the
trustee an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee
confirming that the Holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize
income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such
Covenant
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Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts,
in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if
such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on
the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default
resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);
(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material
agreement or instrument (other than the indenture) to which Williams or any
of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Williams or any of its
Subsidiaries is bound;
(6) Williams must deliver to the trustee an officers' certificate
stating that the deposit was not made by Williams with the intent of
preferring the Holders of notes over the other creditors of Williams with
the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of
Williams or others; and
(7) Williams must deliver to the trustee an officers' certificate and
an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating
to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Except as provided in the next three succeeding paragraphs, the notes, or
the indenture as it pertains to the notes, may be amended or supplemented with
the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the
notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in
connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes),
and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the indenture or
the notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding notes (including, without limitation,
consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange
offer for, notes).
Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not
(with respect to any notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
(1) reduce the principal amount of notes whose Holders must consent to
an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any note
or alter the provisions (including without limitation the amount of any
premium or the price therefor) with respect to the redemption of the notes
(other than provisions relating to the covenants described above under the
caption "-- Repurchase at the Option of Holders");
(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on
any note;
(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal
of, or interest or premium, if any, on the notes (except a rescission of
acceleration of the notes by the Holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the notes and a waiver of the payment default
that resulted from such acceleration as described above under the caption
"-- Events of Default and Remedies");
(5) make any note payable in money other than that stated in the
notes;
(6) make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to
waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of notes to receive
payments of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the notes;
(7) waive a redemption payment with respect to any note (other than a
payment required by one of the covenants described above under the caption
"-- Repurchase at the Option of Holders"); or
(8) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.
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Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any Holder of notes,
Williams and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the notes:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(2) to provide for the assumption of Williams' obligations to Holders
of notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or
substantially all of Williams' assets;
(3) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or
benefits to the Holders of notes or that does not adversely affect the
legal rights under the indenture of any such Holder;
(4) to provide for the issuance of additional notes in accordance with
the limitations set forth in the indenture;
(5) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of an appointment by a
successor trustee; or
(6) to comply with requirements of the Commission under the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act or in order to effect or maintain the qualification
of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment, modification or supplement
with respect to the notes that purports to amend, modify or supplement the
provisions of the base indenture under which the notes are issued in a manner
that affects the rights or remedies of holders of any other series of debt
securities then outstanding under the base indenture shall require the consent
of the holders of at least a majority of all series of affected debt securities
(including the notes) issued under the base indenture, voting as a single class.
See "Description of Debt Securities -- Modification of the Indentures," in the
accompanying prospectus.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
The indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as
to all notes issued thereunder, when:
(1) either:
(a) all notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or
destroyed notes that have been replaced or paid and notes for whose
payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to
Williams, have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or
(b) all notes that have not been delivered to the trustee for
cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a
notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within
one year and Williams has irrevocably deposited or caused to be
deposited with the trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the
benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government
Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable
Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient without
consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the
entire indebtedness on the notes not delivered to the trustee for
cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the
date of maturity or redemption;
(2) Williams has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it
under the indenture; and
(3) Williams has delivered irrevocable instructions to the trustee
under the indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the
notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.
In addition, Williams must deliver an officers' certificate and an opinion of
counsel to the trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and
discharge have been satisfied.
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CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
If the trustee becomes a creditor of Williams, the indenture limits its
right to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain
property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The
trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it
acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90
days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue or resign.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes
and any other affected securities of any series issued under the indenture
(voting as a single class) will have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the
trustee, subject to certain exceptions. The indenture provides that in case an
Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be required, in the
exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct
of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the trustee will be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the
request of any Holder of notes, unless such Holder has offered to the trustee
security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense.
Anyone who receives this prospectus supplement may obtain a copy of the
indenture without charge by writing to The Williams Companies, Inc., One
Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172; Attention: Legal Department.
BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM
Except as described in the next paragraph, the notes will initially be
issued in the form of one or more Global Notes (the "Global Notes"). The Global
Notes will be deposited on the date of the closing of this offering with, or on
behalf of, The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and registered in the name of
Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC (such nominee being referred to herein as the
"Global Note Holder"). See "-- Depository Procedures" below for a description of
DTC and its procedures and for definitions of Participants and Indirect
Participants.
Notes that are issued as described below under "-- Exchange of Global Notes
for Certificated Notes" will be issued in the form of Certificated Notes (as
defined therein). Upon the transfer of Certificated Notes, Certificated Notes
may, unless all Global Notes have previously been exchanged for Certificated
Notes, be exchanged for an interest in the Global Note representing the
principal amount of notes being transferred.
Prospective purchasers are advised that the laws of some states require
that certain Persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities
that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a
Global Note to such Persons will be limited to such extent.
So long as the Global Note Holder is the registered owner of any notes, the
Global Note Holder will be considered the sole Holder under the indenture of any
notes evidenced by the Global Notes. Beneficial owners of notes evidenced by the
Global Notes will not be considered the owners or Holders of the notes under the
indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any
directions, instructions or approvals to the trustee thereunder. Neither
Williams nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any
aspect of the records of DTC or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records of DTC relating to the notes.
Payments in respect of the principal of, and interest and premium, if any,
on a Global Note registered in the name of the Global Note Holder on the
applicable record date will be payable by the trustee to or at the direction of
the Global Note Holder in its capacity as the registered Holder under the
indenture. Under the terms of the indenture, Williams and the trustee will treat
the Persons in whose names the notes, including the Global Notes, are registered
as the owners of the notes for the purpose of receiving
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payments and for all other purposes. Consequently, neither Williams, the trustee
nor any agent of Williams or the trustee has or will have any responsibility or
liability for:
(1) any aspect of DTC's records or any Participant's or Indirect
Participant's records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial
ownership interest in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any of DTC's records or any Participant's or Indirect
Participant's records relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the
Global Notes; or
(2) any other matter relating to the actions and practices of DTC or
any of its Participants or Indirect Participants.
DTC has advised Williams that its current practice, upon receipt of any
payment in respect of securities such as the notes (including principal and
interest), is to credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with the
payment on the payment date unless DTC has reason to believe it will not receive
payment on such payment date. Each relevant Participant is credited with an
amount proportionate to its beneficial ownership of an interest in the principal
amount of the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the
Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of notes
will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be
the responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect Participants and will not
be the responsibility of DTC, the trustee or Williams. Neither Williams nor the
trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of its Participants in
identifying the beneficial owners of the notes, and Williams and the trustee may
conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC
or its nominee for all purposes.
DEPOSITORY PROCEDURES
The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC is
provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are
solely within the control of the respective settlement systems and are subject
to changes by them. Williams takes no responsibility for these operations and
procedures and urges investors to contact the system or their participants
directly to discuss these matters.
DTC has advised Williams that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company
created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively,
the "Participants") and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of
transactions in those securities between Participants through electronic
book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The Participants include
securities brokers and dealers (including the underwriters), banks, trust
companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to
DTC's system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers
and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with
a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the "Indirect
Participants"). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities
held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect
Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests
in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the
Participants and Indirect Participants.
DTC has also advised Williams that, pursuant to procedures established by
it:
(1) upon deposit of the Global Notes, DTC will credit the accounts of
Participants designated by the underwriters with portions of the principal
amount of the Global Notes; and
(2) ownership of these interests in the Global Notes will be shown on,
and the transfer of ownership of these interests will be effected only
through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the Participants) or by
the Participants and the Indirect Participants (with respect to other
owners of beneficial interest in the Global Notes).
Investors in the Global Notes who are Participants in DTC's system may hold
their interests therein directly through DTC. Investors in the Global Notes who
are not Participants may hold their interests therein indirectly through
organizations that are Participants in such system. All interests in a Global
Note, may be subject to the procedures and requirements of DTC. The laws of some
states require that certain Persons take physical delivery in definitive form of
securities that they own. Consequently, the
S-55
ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such Persons will
be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of Participants,
which in turn act on behalf of Indirect Participants, the ability of a Person
having beneficial interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to Persons
that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect
of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate
evidencing such interests.
EXCEPT AS DESCRIBED BELOW, OWNERS OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTES WILL NOT
HAVE NOTES REGISTERED IN THEIR NAMES, WILL NOT RECEIVE PHYSICAL DELIVERY OF
NOTES IN CERTIFICATED FORM AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED THE REGISTERED OWNERS OR
"HOLDERS" THEREOF UNDER THE INDENTURE FOR ANY PURPOSE.
Transfers between Participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with
DTC's procedures, and will be settled in same-day funds.
DTC has advised Williams that it will take any action permitted to be taken
by a Holder of notes only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose
account DTC has credited the interests in the Global Notes and only in respect
of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which such
Participant or Participants has or have given such direction. However, if there
is an Event of Default under the notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange the
Global Notes for legended notes in certificated form, and to distribute such
notes to its Participants.
Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers
of interests in the Global Notes among participants in DTC, they are under no
obligation to perform or to continue to perform such procedures, and may
discontinue such procedures at any time. Neither Williams nor the trustee nor
any of their respective agents will have any responsibility for the performance
by DTC, or its participants or indirect participants of its obligations under
the rules and procedures governing its operations.
EXCHANGE OF GLOBAL NOTES FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES
A Global Note is exchangeable for definitive notes in registered
certificated form ("Certificated Notes") if:
(1) DTC (a) notifies Williams that it is unwilling or unable to
continue as depositary for the Global Notes and Williams fails to appoint a
successor depositary or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered
under the Exchange Act;
(2) Williams, at its option, notifies the trustee in writing that it
elects to cause the issuance of the Certificated Notes; or
(3) there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default
with respect to the notes.
In addition, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be exchanged for
Certificated Notes upon prior written notice given to the trustee by or on
behalf of DTC in accordance with the indenture. In all cases, Certificated Notes
delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests in Global
Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations,
requested by or on behalf of the depositary (in accordance with its customary
procedures).
SAME DAY SETTLEMENT AND PAYMENT
Williams will make payments in respect of the notes represented by the
Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Global
Note Holder. Williams will make all payments of principal, interest and premium,
if any, with respect to Certificated Notes by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the accounts specified by the Holders of the Certificated
Notes or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such
Holder's registered address. The notes represented by the Global Notes are
expected to trade in DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted
secondary market trading activity in such notes will, therefore, be required by
DTC to be settled in immediately available funds. Williams expects that
secondary trading in any Certificated Notes will also be settled in immediately
available funds.
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CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the indenture. Reference
is made to the indenture for a full disclosure of all such terms, as well as any
other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.
"Acquired Debt" means, with respect to any specified Person:
(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other
Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified
Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or
in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a
Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and
(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by
such specified Person.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control,"
as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or
policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
agreement or otherwise; provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the
Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control. For purposes of this
definition, the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and "under common control
with" have correlative meanings.
"Asset Sale" means:
(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or
rights; provided that the sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of Williams and its Restricted Subsidiaries
taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of the indenture
described above under the caption "-- Repurchase at the Option of
Holders -- Change of Control" and/or the provisions described above under
the caption "-- Certain Covenants -- Merger, Consolidation or Sale of
Assets" and not by the provisions of the Asset Sale covenant; and
(2) the issuance of Equity Interests in any of Williams' Restricted
Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items will not be deemed to be
Asset Sales:
(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that
involves assets having a fair market value of less than $10.0 million;
(2) a transfer of assets between or among Williams and its Restricted
Subsidiaries,
(3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to
Williams or to another Restricted Subsidiary;
(4) the sale or lease of equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or
other assets in the ordinary course of business;
(5) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents;
(6) dispositions of accounts receivable and related assets to a
Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Permitted Receivables
Financing;
(7) Sale and Leaseback Transactions;
(8) a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted by
the covenant described above under the caption "-- Certain
Covenants -- Restricted Payments";
(9) dispositions in the ordinary course of business on arm's-length
terms consummated pursuant to Oil and Gas Agreements; and
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(10) (i) dispositions of property acquired after the Issue Date
required in connection with operating contracts, joint venture agreements
and lease arrangements entered into after the date hereof in the ordinary
course of business and on arm's-length terms (which disposition is with the
other party to such agreement), the aggregate value of which shall not
exceed $25,000,000 per fiscal year and (ii) dispositions required in
connection with operating contracts, joint venture agreements and lease
agreements existing on the date hereof.
"Attributable Debt" in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction means,
at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee
for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such
Sale and Leaseback Transaction including any period for which such lease has
been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present
value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest
implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Beneficial Owner" has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and
Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial
ownership of any particular "person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3)
of the Exchange Act), such "person" will be deemed to have beneficial ownership
of all securities that such "person" has the right to acquire by conversion or
exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is
exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms
"Beneficially Owns" and "Beneficially Owned" have a corresponding meaning.
"Board of Directors" means:
(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the
corporation;
(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the
general partner of the partnership; and
(3) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such
Person serving a similar function.
"Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination is to be
made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at
that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with
GAAP.
"Capital Stock" means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all
shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however
designated) of corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company,
partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and
(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the
right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of
assets of, the issuing Person.
"Cash Equivalents" means:
(1) United States dollars;
(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by
the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United
States government (provided that the full faith and credit of the United
States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not
more than two years from the date of acquisition;
(3) (i) demand deposits, (ii) certificates of deposit and eurodollar
time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of
acquisition, (iii) bankers' acceptances with maturities not exceeding 365
days and (iv) overnight bank deposits and other similar types of
investments routinely
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offered by commercial banks, in each case, with any lender party to the
Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank or trust company
having capital and surplus in excess of $100.0 million;
(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for
underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above
entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications
specified in clause (3) above;
(5) commercial paper rated at least P-2 by Moody's or A-2 by S&P and
in each case maturing within 270 days after the date of acquisition;
(6) short-term tax exempt securities including municipal notes,
commercial paper, auction rate floaters, and floating rate notes rated
either P-1 by Moody's or A-1 by S&P and maturing within 270 days of
acquisition;
(7) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of
acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or
territory of the United States, by any political subdivision or taxing
authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or by any foreign
government, the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory,
political subdivision, taxing authority or foreign government (as the case
may be) are rated at least A by Moody's or A by S&P;
(8) money market funds the assets of which constitute primarily Cash
Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (7) of this
definition; and
(9) deposits available for withdrawal on demand with any commercial
bank not meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above; provided
that all such deposits are made in the ordinary course of business, do not
remain on deposit for more than 30 consecutive days and do not exceed $10.0
million in the aggregate at any one time.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a
series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the
properties or assets of Williams and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a
whole to any "person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the
Exchange Act);
(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution
of Williams;
(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without
limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that, any
"person" or "group" (as such terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d)
and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) (other than a trustee or other fiduciary
holding securities under an employee benefit plan of Williams or any of its
Subsidiaries) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more
than 50% of the Voting Stock of Williams, measured by voting power rather
than number of shares;
(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors of Williams are not Continuing Directors; or
(5) Williams consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or
any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, Williams, in any such
event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting
Stock of Williams or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for
cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where
the Voting Stock of Williams outstanding immediately prior to such
transaction is converted into or exchanged for Voting Stock (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the surviving or transferee Person constituting a
majority of the outstanding shares of such Voting Stock of such surviving
or transferee Person (immediately after giving effect to such issuance).
"Commission" means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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"Consolidated Cash Flow" means, with respect to any specified Person for
any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus
(without duplication):
(1) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss
realized by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with an
Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus
(2) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and
its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such
provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income;
plus
(3) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not
capitalized (including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance
costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest
component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of
all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest
with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees
and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers' acceptance
financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant
to Related Interest Rate or Currency Hedges), to the extent that any such
expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(4) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of goodwill and
other intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that
were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash items (excluding any such
non-cash item to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for
cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash
expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its
Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation,
amortization and other non-cash items were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus
(5) unrealized non-cash losses resulting from foreign currency balance
sheet adjustments required by GAAP to the extent such losses were deducted
in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(6) all losses incurred as a result of EM&T Portfolio Disposition
Transactions, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income, minus
(7) all gains as a result of EM&T Portfolio Disposition Transactions,
to the extent such gains were included in computing such Consolidated Net
Income; plus
(8) all extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items of gain or loss,
or revenue or expense to the extent such gains or losses were added or
deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus
(9) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such
period, other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of
business,
in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined (where applicable) in
accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any specified Person for
any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance
with GAAP; provided that:
(1) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a
Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of
accounting will be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends
or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Person;
(2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary will be excluded to
the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar
distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net
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Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior
governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or
indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement,
instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental
regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders;
(3) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests
transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition will be
excluded; and
(4) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be
excluded.
"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means, with respect to any Person at any
date of determination, the aggregate amount of total assets included in such
Person's most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet prepared in
accordance with GAAP less applicable reserves reflected in such balance sheet,
after deducting the following amounts: (i) all current liabilities reflected in
such balance sheet, and (ii) all goodwill, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt
discounts and expenses and other like intangibles reflected in such balance
sheet.
"Continuing Directors" means, as of any date of determination, any member
of the Board of Directors of Williams who:
(1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the Issue Date; or
(2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors
with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were
members of such Board at the time of such nomination or election.
"Credit Agreement" means the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of October 31, 2002, by and among Williams, Northwest Pipeline
Corporation, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation and Texas Gas
Transmission Corporation, as Borrowers and the banks named therein as Banks, the
"Co-Syndication Agents", "Documentation Agent" and "Arranger" referred to
therein and Citicorp USA, Inc. as Agent, including any related notes,
guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in
connection therewith, and in each case as amended, modified, renewed, refunded,
replaced or refinanced from time to time, including without limitation by the
Credit Agreement dated June 2003 by and among Williams, Northwest Pipeline
Corporation and Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation as Borrowers and the
banks named therein as Banks, the "Issuing Banks", "Co-Lead Arrangers" and other
parties referred to therein, and Citicorp USA, Inc., as Agent and Collateral
Agent, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents,
instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and as the same may
further be amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from
time to time.
"Credit Facilities" means, one or more debt facilities (including, without
limitation, (1) the Credit Agreement, (2) the RMT Agreement, (3) the L/C
Agreement dated as of October 31, 2002, as amended or modified from time to
time, by and among Williams, the "Banks" and "Syndication Agent" referred to
therein and Citicorp USA, Inc., as agent and collateral agent, and (4) one or
more Permitted Receivables Financings) or commercial paper facilities, in each
case with banks or other institutional lenders, or pursuant to intercompany loan
or advance arrangements between Williams as borrower, on the one hand, and one
or more of its Subsidiaries, on the other (provided that in the case of such
intercompany arrangements with Williams' Subsidiaries that such arrangements are
on terms consistent with practices in existence on the Issue Date) providing for
revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the
sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to
borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each
case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced
in whole or in part from time to time.
"Default" means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the
giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
"Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the
terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is
exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the
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Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at
the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior
to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the notes mature.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute
Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the
right to require Williams to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence
of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock
if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that Williams may not repurchase or
redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase
or redemption complies with the covenant described above under the caption
"-- Certain Covenants -- Restricted Payments."
"EM&T Portfolio Disposition Transaction" means the sale, buyout,
liquidation or material restructuring, not in the ordinary course of business,
of a tolling or full requirements structured transaction in existence on the
Issue Date, and associated Hedging Obligations; provided that in the good faith
belief of an executive officer such sale, buyout, liquidation or restructuring
is consistent with the effort to reduce the risk profile and overall financial
commitment of Williams' Energy Marketing & Trading business.
"Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other
rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is
convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
"Equity Offering" means a primary issuance, after the Issue Date, of
Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of Williams either through an
offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act (other than an issuance registered on Form S-4 or S-8 or any successor
thereto) or pursuant to a private placement (but excluding in any event any
issuance pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act or any issuance pursuant to employee benefit plans or otherwise
in compensation to officers, directors or employees).
"Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of Williams and its Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities) in existence
on the Issue Date, until such amounts are repaid.
"Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means with respect to any specified Person
for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such
period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that
the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes,
Guarantees, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than ordinary
working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock
subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for
which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the
"Calculation Date"), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated
giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment,
repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or
redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the
same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference
period.
In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:
(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers, consolidations or
otherwise (including acquisitions of assets used in a Permitted Business
and Qualifying Expansion Projects) and including any related financing
transactions (including any repayment of Indebtedness), during the
four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on
or prior to the Calculation Date will be given pro forma effect as if they
had occurred or (in the case of any Qualifying Expansion Projects) have
been completed and in service on the first day of the four-quarter
reference period, including any Consolidated Cash Flow (including interest
income reasonably anticipated by such Person to be received from Cash or
Cash Equivalents held by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries)
and any pro forma expense and cost reductions that have occurred or are
reasonably expected to occur, in the reasonable judgment of the chief
financial officer or chief accounting officer of Williams (regardless of
whether those cost savings or operating improvements could then be
reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation
S-X promulgated under the Securities Act
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or any other regulation or policy of the Commission related thereto) but in
the case of Qualifying Expansion Projects, only to the extent of Qualifying
Expansion Project Amounts;
(2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued
operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or
businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded; and
(3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as
determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed
of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent
that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be
obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
following the Calculation Date.
"Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any specified Person for any period,
the sum, without duplication, of:
(1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued,
including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and
original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component
of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments
associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to
Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges
incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers' acceptance financings,
any premiums, fees, discounts, expenses and losses on the sale of accounts
receivable (and any amortization thereof) in connection with a Permitted
Receivables Financing, and net of the effect of all payments made or
received pursuant to Related Interest Rate or Currency Hedges ; plus
(2) the consolidated interest of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus
(3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is
Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured
by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries,
whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus
(4) the product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and
whether or not in cash, on any series of preferred stock of such Person or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity
Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of Williams (other than
Disqualified Stock) or to Williams or a Restricted Subsidiary of Williams,
times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of
which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local
statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, on
a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession, all as in effect from time to time.
"Guarantee" means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or
indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of
assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect
thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness.
"Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any specified Person, the
obligations of such Person incurred in the normal course of business and
consistent with past practices and not for speculative purposes under:
(1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and
interest rate collar agreements;
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(2) foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements
entered into with one or more financial institutions designed to protect
the person or entity entering into the agreement against fluctuations in
interest rates or currency exchanges rates with respect to Indebtedness
incurred and not for purposes of speculation;
(3) any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar
agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the
price of commodities used by that entity at the time; and
(4) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such person
against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any specified Person, any obligation
of such Person, whether or not contingent:
(1) in respect of borrowed money;
(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or
letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);
(3) in respect of banker's acceptances;
(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations;
(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price
of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued
expense or trade payable;
(6) representing any Related Interest Rate or Currency Hedges; or
(7) under Permitted Receivables Financings;
if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit
and Related Interest Rate or Currency Hedges and obligations in respect of
Permitted Receivables Financings) would appear as a liability upon a balance
sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the
term "Indebtedness" includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any
asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by
the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee
by the specified Person of any indebtedness of any other Person.
The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:
(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any
Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;
(2) in the case of any Permitted Receivables Financing, the net
unrecovered principal amount of the accounts receivable sold thereunder at
such date, or other similar amount representing the principal financing
amount thereof;
(3) in the case of any Related Interest Rate or Currency Hedges, the
net amount payable if such Related Interest Rate or Currency Hedges is
terminated at that time due to default by such Person (after giving effect
to any contractually permitted set-off); and
(4) the principal amount of the Indebtedness in the case of any other
Indebtedness.
"Investment Grade Date" has the meaning set forth above under
"-- Termination of Certain Covenants."
"Investment Grade Rating" means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or
its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody's) by Moody's and
BBB- by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P).
"Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect
investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms
of loans (including Guarantees (other than Guarantees of
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Indebtedness of Williams or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent
permitted in the covenant described above under the caption "-- Certain
Covenants -- Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock")),
advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar
advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business and
excluding trade payables of Williams and its subsidiaries arising in the
ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration
of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items
that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in
accordance with GAAP. If Williams or any Subsidiary of Williams sells or
otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary
of Williams such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such
Person is no longer a Subsidiary of Williams, Williams will be deemed to have
made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the fair
market value of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary not sold or disposed of
in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of the covenant
described above under the caption "-- Certain Covenants -- Restricted Payments."
The acquisition by Williams or any Subsidiary of Williams of a Person that holds
an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment by Williams
or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market
value of the Investment held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an
amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of the covenant described
above under the caption "-- Certain Covenants -- Restricted Payments."
"Issue Date" means the date on which the notes are originally issued under
the indenture.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset,
whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law,
including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in
the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security
interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under
the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.
"Make-Whole Amount" with respect to a note means an amount equal to the
excess, if any, of (1) the present value of the remaining interest, premium and
principal payments due on such note (excluding any portion of such payments of
interest accrued as of the redemption date), computed using a discount rate
equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over (2) the outstanding
principal amount of such note. "Treasury Rate" is defined as the yield to
maturity (calculated on a semi-annual bond-equivalent basis) at the time of the
computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as
compiled by and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release
H.15 (519), which has become publicly available at least two business days prior
to the date of the redemption notice or, if such Statistical Release is no
longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data) most
nearly equal to the then remaining maturity of the notes; provided that if the
Make-Whole Average Life of such note is not equal to the constant maturity of
the United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given,
the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the
nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States
Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the
Make-Whole Average Life of such note is less than one year, the weekly average
yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a
constant maturity of one year shall be used. "Make-Whole Average Life" means the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) between the date of
redemption and the Stated Maturity of the notes.
"Make-Whole Price" means the sum of the outstanding principal amount of the
notes to be redeemed plus the Make-Whole Amount of those notes.
"Maturity Date" means, with respect to any note, the date on which any
principal of such note becomes due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity
with respect to such principal or by declaration of acceleration, call for
redemption or purchase or otherwise.
"Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.
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"Net Income" means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income
(loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any
reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:
(1) any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for
taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with: (a) any
Asset Sale; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any
of its Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such
Person or any of its Subsidiaries; and
(2) any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any related
provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss).
"Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by Williams or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including,
without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any
non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the direct costs
relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting
and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses
incurred as a result of the Asset Sale, taxes paid or payable as a result of the
Asset Sale (as reasonably estimated by Williams), in each case, after taking
into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing
arrangements, and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of
Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of
such Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of
such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP.
"Non-Recourse Debt" means Indebtedness:
(1) as to which neither Williams nor any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any
undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness),
(b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise, or (c)
constitutes the lender;
(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the
holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an
Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both
any holder of any other Indebtedness (other than the notes) of Williams or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other
Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or
payable prior to its stated maturity; and
(3) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they
will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of Williams or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
"Oil and Gas Agreements" means operating agreements, processing agreements,
farm-out and farm-in agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest
agreements, contracts for the gathering and/or transportation of oil and natural
gas, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements,
joint venture agreements, participation agreements, surface use agreements,
service contracts, tax credit agreements, leases and subleases of oil and gas
properties or other similar customary agreements; transactions, properties,
interests or arrangements, howsoever designated, in each case made or entered
into in the ordinary course of business as conducted by Williams and its
Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Permitted Business" means the lines of business conducted by us and our
Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date and any business incidental or
reasonably related thereto or which is a reasonable extension thereof as
determined in good faith by our Board of Directors and set forth in an officer's
certificate delivered to the trustee.
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"Permitted Investments" means:
(1) any Investment in Williams or in a Restricted Subsidiary of
Williams;
(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;
(3) any Investment by Williams or any Subsidiary of Williams in a
Person, if as a result of such Investment:
(a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of Williams; or
(b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or
into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is
liquidated into, Williams or a Restricted Subsidiary of Williams;
(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash
consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in
compliance with the covenant described above under the caption
"-- Repurchase at the Option of Holders -- Asset Sales," or any non-cash
consideration that was excluded from the definition of "Asset Sale"
pursuant to clause (1) or (4) (for the sale or lease of equipment) pursuant
to the second paragraph of such definition;
(5) any Investment in any Person solely in exchange for the issuance
of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Williams;
(6) any purchase or other acquisition of senior debt of Williams or
any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness that is subordinated to
the notes);
(7) any Investments received in compromise of obligations of such
persons incurred in the ordinary course of trade creditors or customers
that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant
to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or
insolvency of any trade creditor or customer;
(8) Hedging Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(9) Investments in a Securitization Subsidiary that are necessary or
desirable to effect any Permitted Receivables Financing;
(10) Investments by Williams or any Restricted Subsidiary in the
Discovery, Gulfstream, Aux Sable and Accroven joint ventures existing on
the Issue Date in an aggregate amount for each such joint venture
(exclusive of equity Investments therein existing on the Issue Date) not in
excess of Williams' direct or indirect equity percentage interest of the
total Indebtedness of such joint venture on the Issue Date, together with,
in the case of Gulfstream, such percentage interest of additional
Indebtedness incurred in accordance with expansions thereof that have been
publicly announced prior to the Issue Date;
(11) Investments by Williams or any Restricted Subsidiary in joint
ventures operating primarily in a Permitted Business in an amount which,
together with the amount of all other Investments made after the Issue Date
in reliance on this clause (11), does not exceed 3% of Consolidated Net
Tangible Assets;
(12) reclassification of any Investment initially made in the form of
equity as a loan or advance, and reclassification of any Investment
initially made in the form of a loan or advance as equity; provided in each
case that the amount of such Investment is not increased thereby; and
(13) other Investments in any Person having an aggregate fair market
value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without
giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all
other Investments made pursuant to this clause that are at the time
outstanding not to exceed $50 million.
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"Permitted Liens" means:
(1) Liens of Williams and any Restricted Subsidiary securing any
Credit Facility that was permitted by the terms of the indenture to be
incurred and all Obligations and Hedging Obligations relating to such
Indebtedness (but excluding any Credit Facility with any Subsidiary or
other Affiliate of Williams, as lender);
(2) Liens (i) in favor of Williams, or (ii) on property of a
Restricted Subsidiary in favor of another Restricted Subsidiary;
(3) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is
merged with or into or consolidated with or acquired by Williams or any
Restricted Subsidiary of Williams or renewals or replacement of such Liens
in connection with the incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness to
refinance Indebtedness secured by such Liens; provided that such Liens were
in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger, consolidation or
acquisition and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person
merged into or consolidated with Williams or the Restricted Subsidiary;
(4) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the
property by Williams or any Restricted Subsidiary of Williams or renewals
or replacement of such Liens in connection with the incurrence of Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness to refinance Indebtedness secured by such Liens;
provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of
such acquisition;
(5) Liens to secure the performance of tenders, bids, statutory
obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations
of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(6) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations)
(x) permitted by clause (4) of the second paragraph of the covenant
entitled "-- Certain Covenants -- Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance
of Preferred Stock" covering only the assets acquired with such
Indebtedness or similar assets acquired in connection with the incurrence
of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or (y) permitted by clause (5)
of such paragraph, to the extent that such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness is in respect of Indebtedness initially incurred under clause
(4) (whether or not subsequently incurred as Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness);
(7) Liens existing on the Issue Date;
(8) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims
that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded;
provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as is required in
conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;
(9) Liens on assets of Unrestricted Subsidiaries that secure
Non-Recourse Debt of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;
(10) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets and proceeds
thereof arising in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing;
(11) Liens arising under Oil and Gas Agreements;
(12) any mortgage which is payable, both with respect to principal and
interest, solely out of the proceeds of oil, gas, coal or other minerals or
timber to be produced from the property subject thereto and to be sold or
delivered by Williams or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including any
interest of the character commonly referred to as a "production payment";
(13) any mortgage created or assumed by a Restricted Subsidiary on
oil, gas, coal or other mineral or timber property, owned or leased by a
Restricted Subsidiary to secure loans to such Subsidiary for the purposes
of developing such properties, including any interest of the character
commonly referred to as a "production payment"; provided, however, that
neither Williams nor any other Subsidiary shall assume or guarantee such
loans or otherwise be liable in respect thereto;
S-68
(14) Liens granted in cash collateral to support the issuance of
letters of credit in an aggregate face amount not exceeding $30.0 million;
(15) Liens pursuant to master netting agreements entered into in the
ordinary course of business in connection with Hedging Obligations; and
(16) Liens with respect to Indebtedness and other obligations that at
the time of incurrence do not exceed in the aggregate for all such
obligations under this clause 15% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets
of Williams.
"Permitted Receivables Financing" means any receivables financing facility
or arrangement pursuant to which a Securitization Subsidiary purchases or
otherwise acquires accounts receivable of Williams or any Restricted
Subsidiaries and enters into a third party financing thereof on terms that the
Board of Directors has concluded are customary and market terms fair to Williams
and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of Williams or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds
of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other
Indebtedness of Williams or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than
intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:
(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or
accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness extended, refinanced,
renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued interest on the
Indebtedness and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in
connection therewith) and any premiums paid on the Indebtedness so
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;
(2) if such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is issued on or after
the first anniversary of the Issue Date, such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date
of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than
the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;
(3) if such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is issued on or after
the first anniversary of the Issue Date, and the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is
subordinated in right of payment to the notes, such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date
of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the notes, as the case may
be, on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of notes as those
contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and
(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by Williams or by the
Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited
liability company or government or other entity.
"Qualifying Expansion Project" means any capital expansion project that has
increased or will increase the physical capacity of the pipeline system of
Williams and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such project has been
completed and the assets are in service at, or Williams reasonably believes that
the in-service date of the project will be within twelve months after, the
Calculation Date.
"Qualifying Expansion Project Amounts" means with respect to any
calculation of pro forma amounts under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
additional revenues (if any) and related expenses for any Qualifying Expansion
Project for the portion of the four-quarter period prior to the in-service date
of such Qualifying Expansion Project (the "Estimation Period"); provided that
revenues and related expenses anticipated from any Qualifying Expansion Project
during any Estimation Period shall be included in such calculation only to the
extent (1) of the portion of the capacity of such Qualifying Expansion Project
that is committed under a long-term firm transportation contract on customary
terms (as determined in good
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faith by Williams) with a counterparty that has an Investment Grade Rating of
its long-term debt from at least one of S&P and Moody's and (2) the aggregate
amount of Qualifying Expansion Project Amounts for all Qualifying Expansion
Projects included in any such calculation does not exceed 25% of the aggregate
revenues of Williams and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined
for this purpose on a pro forma basis but before inclusion of any Qualifying
Expansion Project Amounts.
"Rating Agency" means each of S&P and Moody's, or if S&P or Moody's or both
shall not make a rating on the notes publicly available, a nationally recognized
statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by Williams
(as evidenced by a resolution of the Williams' Board of Directors), which shall
be substituted for S&P or Moody's, or both, as the case may be.
"Related Interest Rate or Currency Hedge" means any Hedging Obligation
entered into by Williams and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of the type
referred to in items (i) or (ii) of the definition thereof, and provided that
such Hedging Obligation was entered into with respect to other Indebtedness of
Williams and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries to protect against fluctuations in
interest rates or currency exchange rates with respect to such other
Indebtedness.
"Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a Permitted
Investment.
"Restricted Subsidiary" of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent
Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
"RMT Agreement" means the Term Loan Agreement dated as of May 30, 2003
among Williams Production Holdings LLC, Williams Production RMT Company, as
borrower, the "Lenders", "Arrangers", "Co-Syndication Agents" and "Documentation
Agent" referred to therein, and Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as Administrative
Agent, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents,
instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and as the same may
further be amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from
time to time.
"S&P" means Standard and Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies,
Inc., and its successors.
"Sale and Leaseback Transaction" means any arrangement with any Person
(other than Williams or a Subsidiary), or to which any such Person is a party,
providing for the leasing, pursuant to a capital lease that would at such time
be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, to
Williams or a Restricted Subsidiary of any property or asset which has been or
is to be sold or transferred by Williams or such Restricted Subsidiary to such
Person or to any other Person (other than Williams or a Subsidiary), to which
funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person.
"Securitization Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary of Williams
(1) that is designated a "Securitization Subsidiary" by the Williams
Board of Directors,
(2) that does not engage in, and whose charter prohibits it from
engaging in, any activities other than Permitted Receivables Financings and
any activity necessary, incidental or related thereto,
(3) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligation, contingent
or otherwise, of which
(A) is Guaranteed by Williams or any Restricted Subsidiary of
Williams,
(B) is recourse to or obligates Williams or any Restricted
Subsidiary of Williams in any way, or
(C) subjects any property or asset of Williams or any Restricted
Subsidiary of Williams, directly or indirectly, contingently or
otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof,
(4) with respect to which neither Williams nor any Restricted
Subsidiary of Williams (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) has any
obligation to maintain or preserve such its financial condition or cause it
to achieve certain levels of operating results
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other than, in respect of clauses (3) and (4), pursuant to customary
representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into in
connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing.
"Significant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that would be a "significant
subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the Issue
Date.
"Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any installment of interest or
principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of
interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation
governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent obligations to
repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date
originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any specified Person:
(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which
more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled
(without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the
election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association
or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that
Person (or a combination thereof); and
(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing
general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or
(b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more
Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means (1) any Securitization Subsidiary or (2)
any Subsidiary of Williams that is designated by the Board of Directors as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent
that such Subsidiary:
(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;
(2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or
understanding with Williams or any Restricted Subsidiary of Williams unless
the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are
no less favorable to Williams or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that
might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of
Williams;
(3) is a Person with respect to which neither Williams nor any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to
subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve
such Person's financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any
specified levels of operating results; and
(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided
credit support for any Indebtedness of Williams or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries.
Any designation of a Subsidiary of Williams as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will
be evidenced to the trustee by filing with the trustee a certified copy of the
Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an officers' certificate
certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was
permitted by the covenant described above under the caption "-- Certain
Covenants -- Restricted Payments." If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary
would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it
will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the
indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred
by a Restricted Subsidiary of Williams as of such date and, if such Indebtedness
is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under the covenant described
under the caption "-- Certain Covenants -- Incurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Preferred Stock," Williams will be in default of such covenant. The
Board of Directors of Williams may at any time designate any Unrestricted
Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation will be
deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of
Williams of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and
such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted
under the covenant described under the caption
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"-- Certain Covenants -- Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock," calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at
the beginning of the four-quarter reference period; and (2) no Default or Event
of Default would be in existence following such designation.
"Voting Stock" of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such
Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of
Directors of such Person.
"Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any Indebtedness
at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:
(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of
each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other
required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in
respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the
nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of
such payment; by
(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
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UNDERWRITING
We have entered into an underwriting agreement, dated June 5, 2003, with
the underwriters named below. Subject to certain conditions contained in the
underwriting agreement, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase from
us, and we have agreed to sell to each underwriter, the aggregate principal
amount of notes set forth opposite their names below:
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
UNDERWRITERS OF NOTES
------------ ----------------
Lehman Brothers Inc. ....................................... $266,666,667
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. .............................. 161,616,162
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. ................................ 113,131,313
Banc of America Securities LLC.............................. 64,646,465
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. .................................. 56,565,657
Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc........................ 44,444,444
TD Securities (USA) Inc. ................................... 44,444,444
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated................................... 16,161,616
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc.............................. 16,161,616
BOSC, Inc. ................................................. 8,080,808
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated........................... 8,080,808
------------
Total.................................................. $800,000,000
============
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligation of the underwriters
to purchase the notes included in this offering is subject to customary
conditions. The underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the notes sold
pursuant to the underwriting agreement if any of these notes are purchased. If
an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase
commitments of the nondefaulting underwriters may be increased or the
underwriting agreement may be terminated.
The underwriters propose to offer part of the notes to the public at the
public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement
and in part to certain dealers at a price that represents a concession not in
excess of 0.25% of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may
allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of 0.12% of the
principal amount of the notes to certain other dealers. After the initial
offering of the notes, the offering price and other selling terms may from time
to time be varied by the underwriters.
In connection with this offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell
the notes in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment and
stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover short positions created by the
underwriters in connection with the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist
of certain bids or purchases for the purpose of preventing or retarding a
decline in the market price of the notes, and short positions created by the
underwriters involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater aggregate
principal amount of notes than they are required to purchase from us. The
underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed
to broker dealers in respect of the notes sold in the offering may be reclaimed
by the underwriters if such notes are repurchased by the underwriters in
stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain
or otherwise affect the market price of the notes, which may be higher than the
price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and these activities, if
commenced, may be discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected
in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market.
We have been advised by the underwriters that they intend to make a market in
the notes, but they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market
making at any time without notice. We cannot assure you as to the liquidity of
the trading market for the notes. The notes will not be listed on any securities
exchange.
S-73
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments
that the underwrites may be required to make in respect of any of those
liabilities.
We have agreed not to offer, sell or contract to sell or otherwise dispose
of, directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any debt securities
substantially similar to the notes or securities convertible into such debt
securities issued or guaranteed by us for a period of 90 days from the date the
notes are issued without the prior written consent of Lehman Brothers Inc.
We estimate that we will spend approximately $1.2 million for fees and
expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) associated with the
offering of the notes.
The underwriters and their affiliates have in the past and may in the
future provide investment banking, general financing, commercial banking,
financial advisory and/or other services to us and various of our affiliates. In
particular, affiliates of most of the underwriters are lenders under our credit
agreement. See "Description of Other Indebtedness." Affiliates of the
underwriters may, from time to time, engage in other transactions with us in the
ordinary course of their respective businesses.
Thomas A. Cruikshank, a director of Williams, is also a director of Lehman
Brothers Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Lehman Brothers Inc.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, the trustee under the indenture for the notes, is an
affiliate of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
The Royal Bank of Scotland is not a United States registered broker-dealer
and, therefore, to the extent that it intends to effect any sales of notes in
the United States, it will do so through one or more United States registered
broker-dealers as permitted by NASD regulations.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain matters with respect to the issuance and sale of the notes offered
hereby will be passed upon for us by James J. Bender, Senior Vice President and
General Counsel of The Williams Companies, Inc., and by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
LLP. Certain legal matters with respect to the notes will be passed upon for the
underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Williams appearing in
Williams' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, have
been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their
report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such
consolidated financial statements and schedule are incorporated herein by
reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as
experts in accounting and auditing.
S-74
PROSPECTUS
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
$3,000,000,000
DEBT SECURITIES,
PREFERRED STOCK,
COMMON STOCK,
WARRANTS,
PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND
UNITS
---------------------
We will provide the specific terms of each series or issue of securities in
supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the
supplements carefully before you invest.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE
ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE SALES OF SECURITIES UNLESS
ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
---------------------
The date of this prospectus is June 26, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
NO.
----
Forward-Looking Statements............ 1
Where You Can Find More Information... 1
Incorporation of Documents by
Reference........................... 2
The Williams Companies, Inc. ......... 3
Use of Proceeds....................... 4
Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed
Charges and Preferred Stock Dividend
Requirements........................ 4
Description of Debt Securities........ 4
PAGE
NO.
----
Description of Preferred Stock........ 14
Description of Common Stock........... 19
Description of Warrants............... 20
Description of Purchase Contracts..... 21
Description of Units.................. 22
Plan of Distribution.................. 22
Experts............................... 23
Legal Matters......................... 23
---------------------
References in this prospectus to "Williams," "we," "us" or "our" refer to
The Williams Companies, Inc.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain matters discussed in this prospectus, excluding historical
information, include forward-looking statements -- statements that discuss our
expected future results based on current and pending business operations. 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 words such as
"anticipates," "believes," "expects," "planned," "scheduled" or similar
expressions. Although we believe these forward-looking statements are based on
reasonable assumptions, statements made regarding future results are subject to
a number of assumptions, uncertainties and risks that could cause future results
to be materially different from the results stated or implied in this
prospectus. Additional information about issues that could lead to material
changes in performance is contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the
year ended December 31, 2001 which is incorporated by reference in this
prospectus.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The registration statement of
which this prospectus forms a part and these reports, proxy statements and other
information can be inspected and copied at the public reference room maintained
by the SEC at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549, and at the SEC's regional offices at 500 West Madison Street, Suite
1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and at 233 Broadway, New York, New York 10005.
Copies of these materials may also be obtained from the SEC at prescribed rates
by writing to the public reference room maintained by the SEC at Room 1024,
Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain
information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the
Securities Act with respect to this offering. This prospectus, which forms a
part of the registration statement, does not contain all the information
included in the registration statement and the attached exhibits.
The SEC maintains a World Wide Web site on the Internet at
http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and
other information regarding us. The reports, proxy and information statements
and other information about us can be downloaded from the SEC's website and can
also be inspected and copied at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
---------------------
1
YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE OR
PROVIDED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND ITS SUPPLEMENT(S). WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE
TO PROVIDE YOU WITH DIFFERENT INFORMATION. YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE
INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY SUPPLEMENT IS ACCURATE AS OF ANY DATE
OTHER THAN THE DATE ON THE FRONT OF THOSE DOCUMENTS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES
IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR
SOLICITATION IN SUCH JURISDICTION.
---------------
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" into this prospectus the
information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to those documents. The information
incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later
information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede
this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any
future filings made with the SEC under section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act until the offering is completed:
- our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001;
- our annual report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2001;
- our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002;
- our current reports on Form 8-K filed January 4, 2002, January 23, 2002,
January 30, 2002, February 5, 2001, February 19, 2002, March 7, 2002 (two
filed on this date), March 8, 2002, March 13, 2002 (two filed on this
date), March 20, 2002, March 27, 2002, March 28, 2002 (two filed on this
date), April 1, 2002, April 15, 2002, April 25, 2002, April 26, 2002, May
3, 2002, May 22, 2002 (two filed on this date), May 28, 2002 (two filed
on this date), June 6, 2002 and June 12, 2002;
- our current report on Form 8-K/A filed March 20, 2002; and
- our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed March 29, 2002.
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or calling
us at the following address:
The Williams Companies, Inc.
One Williams Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Telephone: (918) 573-2000
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or
provided in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement. We have not
authorized anyone else to provide you with any information. You should not
assume that the information in this document is current as of any date other
than the date on the front page of this prospectus.
2
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
Williams, through Williams Energy Marketing & Trading Company, Williams Gas
Pipeline Company, LLC and Williams Energy Services, LLC, and their respective
subsidiaries, engages in the following types of energy-related activities:
- price risk management services and the purchase and sale, and arranging
of transportation or transmission, of energy and energy-related
commodities including natural gas and gas liquids, crude oil and refined
products and electricity;
- transportation and storage of natural gas and related activities through
the operating and ownership of four wholly-owned interstate natural gas
pipelines, several pipeline joint ventures and a wholly-owned liquefied
natural gas terminal;
- exploration, production and marketing of oil and gas through ownership of
3.2 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas reserves
primarily located in the Rocky Mountain, Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast
regions of the United States;
- direct investments in international energy projects located primarily in
South America and Lithuania, investments in energy and infrastructure
development funds in Asia and South America and soda ash mining
operations in Colorado;
- natural gas gathering, treating and processing activities through
ownership and operation of approximately 11,200 miles of gathering lines,
10 natural gas treating plants and 18 natural gas processing plants
(three of which are partially owned) located in the United States and
Canada;
- natural gas liquids transportation through ownership and operation of
approximately 14,300 miles of natural gas liquids pipeline (4,770 miles
of which are partially owned);
- through a majority-owned subsidiary, transportation of petroleum products
and related terminal services through ownership or operation of
approximately 6,747 miles of petroleum products pipeline and 39 petroleum
products terminals;
- light hydrocarbon/olefin transportation through 300 miles of pipeline in
southern Louisiana;
- ethylene production through a 5/12 interest in a 1.3 billion pounds per
year facility in Geismar, Louisiana;
- production and marketing of ethanol and bio-products through operation
and ownership of two ethanol plants (one of which is partially owned) and
ownership of minority interests of investments in four other plants;
- refining of petroleum products through operation and ownership of two
refineries;
- retail marketing through 61 travel centers;
- through a majority-owned subsidiary, petroleum products terminal services
through the ownership and operation of five marine terminals and 25
inland terminals that form a distribution network for gasoline and other
refined petroleum products throughout the southeastern United States; and
- through a majority-owned subsidiary, ammonia transportation and terminal
services through ownership and operation of an ammonia pipeline and
terminal system that extends for approximately 1,100 miles from Texas and
Oklahoma to Minnesota.
Williams was incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada in 1949 and
was reincorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1987. Williams
maintains its principal executive offices at One Williams Center, Tulsa,
Oklahoma 74172, telephone (918) 573-2000.
3
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement,
Williams will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general
corporate purposes, including repayment of outstanding debt. Williams
anticipates that it will raise additional funds from time to time through debt
financings, including borrowings under its bank credit agreements.
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS
The following table presents our consolidated ratio of earnings to combined
fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements for the periods shown.
QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------- --------------------------------
2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
1.96 2.66 3.02 1.84 1.64 2.37
For purposes of computing these ratios, earnings means income (loss) from
continuing operations before:
- income taxes;
- extraordinary gain (loss);
- minority interest in income (loss) and preferred returns of consolidated
subsidiaries;
- interest expense, net of interest capitalized;
- interest expense of 50-percent-owned companies;
- that portion of rental expense that we believe to represent an interest
factor;
- pretax effect of dividends on preferred stock of Williams;
- adjustment to equity earnings to exclude equity investments with losses;
and
- adjustment to equity earnings to reflect actual distributions from equity
investments.
Fixed charges means the sum of the following:
- interest expense;
- that portion of rental expense that we believe to represent an interest
factor;
- pretax effect of dividends on preferred stock of Williams;
- pretax effect of dividends on preferred stock and other preferred returns
of consolidated subsidiaries; and
- interest expense of 50-percent-owned companies.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The debt securities will constitute either senior or subordinated debt of
Williams. Williams will issue debt securities that will be senior debt under the
senior debt indenture between Williams and Bank One Trust Company, National
Association, as trustee. Williams will issue debt securities that will be
subordinated debt under the subordinated debt indenture between Williams and
Bank One Trust Company, National Association, as trustee. This prospectus refers
to the senior debt indenture and the subordinated debt indenture individually as
the indenture and collectively as the indentures. This prospectus refers to Bank
One Trust Company, National Association, as the trustee. Williams has filed the
forms of the indentures as exhibits to the registration statement.
4
THE FOLLOWING SUMMARIES OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE INDENTURES AND THE
DEBT SECURITIES ARE NOT COMPLETE AND THESE SUMMARIES ARE SUBJECT TO THE DETAILED
PROVISIONS OF THE APPLICABLE INDENTURE. FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THESE
PROVISIONS, INCLUDING THE DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS,
AND FOR OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE DEBT SECURITIES, SEE THE INDENTURES.
Wherever this prospectus refers to particular sections or defined terms of the
applicable indenture, these sections or defined terms are incorporated by
reference in this prospectus as part of the statement made, and the statement is
qualified in its entirety by such reference. The indentures are substantially
identical, except for the provisions relating to subordination and Williams'
limitation on liens. See "-- Subordinated Debt" and "-- Covenants of Williams."
Neither indenture contains any covenant or provision which affords debt holders
protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction.
DEFINITIONS
Some of the terms in Article One of the senior debt indenture are
summarized as follows:
"Consolidated Funded Indebtedness" means the aggregate of all outstanding
Funded Indebtedness of Williams and its consolidated Subsidiaries determined on
a consolidated basis in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States.
"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the total assets appearing on a
consolidated balance sheet of Williams and its consolidated subsidiaries less,
in general:
- intangible assets;
- current and accrued liabilities (other than Consolidated Funded
Indebtedness and capitalized rentals or leases), deferred credits,
deferred gains, and deferred income;
- reserves;
- advances to finance oil or natural gas exploration and development to the
extent that the indebtedness related thereto is excluded from Funded
Indebtedness;
- an amount equal to the amount excluded from Funded Indebtedness
representing "production payment" financing of oil or natural gas
exploration and development; and
- minority stockholder interests.
"Funded Indebtedness" means any indebtedness which matures more than one
year after the date the amount of Funded Indebtedness is being determined, less
any such indebtedness as will be retired by any deposit or payment required to
be made within one year from such date under any prepayment provision, sinking
fund, purchase fund, or otherwise. Funded Indebtedness does not, however,
include indebtedness of Williams or any of its subsidiaries incurred to finance
outstanding advances to others to finance oil or natural gas exploration and
development, to the extent that the latter are not in default in their
obligations to Williams or such subsidiary. Funded Indebtedness also does not
include indebtedness of Williams or any of its subsidiaries incurred to finance
oil or natural gas exploration and development through what is commonly referred
to as a "production payment" to the extent that Williams or any of its
subsidiaries have not guaranteed the repayment of the production payment.
You should note that the term "subsidiary," as used in this section
describing the debt securities, refers only to a corporation in which Williams,
or another subsidiary or subsidiaries of Williams, owns at least a majority of
the outstanding securities which have voting power.
GENERAL TERMS OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
Neither of the indentures limits the amount of debt securities, debentures,
notes, or other evidences of indebtedness that Williams or any of its
subsidiaries may issue. The debt securities will be unsecured senior or
subordinated obligations of Williams. Williams' subsidiaries own all of the
operating assets of Williams and its subsidiaries. Therefore, Williams' rights
and the rights of Williams' creditors, including holders of debt securities, to
participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary's liquidation or
recapitalization will
5
be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors, except to the
extent that Williams may itself be a creditor with recognized claims against the
subsidiary. The ability of Williams to pay principal of and interest on the debt
securities is, to a large extent, dependent upon dividends or other payments
from its subsidiaries.
TERMS YOU WILL FIND IN THE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
The prospectus supplement will provide information relating to the debt
securities and the following terms of the debt securities, to the extent such
terms are applicable to the debt securities described in a particular prospectus
supplement:
- classification as senior or subordinated debt securities;
- ranking of the specific series of debt securities relative to other
outstanding indebtedness, including subsidiaries' debt;
- if the debt securities are subordinated, the aggregate amount of
outstanding indebtedness, as of a recent date, that is senior to the
subordinated securities, and any limitation on the issuance of additional
senior indebtedness;
- the specific designation, aggregate principal amount, purchase price, and
denomination of such debt securities;
- currency or units based on or relating to currencies in which such debt
securities are denominated and/or in which principal, premium, if any,
and/or any interest will or may be payable;
- maturity date;
- interest rate or rates, if any, or the method by which the rate will be
determined;
- the dates on which any interest will be payable;
- the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the
debt securities will be payable;
- any redemption or sinking fund provisions;
- whether the debt securities will be issuable in registered or bearer form
or both and, if debt securities in bearer form are issuable, restrictions
applicable to the exchange of one form for another and to the offer,
sale, and delivery of debt securities in bearer form;
- whether Williams will issue the debt securities by themselves or as part
of a unit together with other securities;
- any applicable United States federal income tax consequences, including
whether and under what circumstances Williams will pay additional amounts
on debt securities held by a person who is not a U.S. person, as defined
in the prospectus supplement, in respect of any tax, assessment, or
governmental charge withheld or deducted, and if so, whether Williams
will have the option to redeem such debt securities rather than pay such
additional amounts; and
- any other specific terms of the debt securities, including any additional
events of default or covenants with respect to such debt securities.
Holders of debt securities may present debt securities for exchange in the
manner, at the places, and subject to the restrictions set forth in the debt
securities and the prospectus supplement. Holders of registered debt securities
may present debt securities for transfer in the manner, at the places, and
subject to the restrictions set forth in the debt securities and the prospectus
supplement. Williams will provide these services without charge, other than any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith, but subject to
the limitations provided in the applicable indenture. Debt securities in bearer
form and the coupons, if any, appertaining thereto will be transferable by
delivery.
6
INTEREST RATE
Debt securities that bear interest will do so at a fixed rate or a floating
rate. Williams will sell, at a discount below the stated principal amount, any
debt securities which bear no interest or which bear interest at a rate that at
the time of issuance is below the prevailing market rate.
The relevant prospectus supplement will describe the special United States
federal income tax considerations applicable to:
- any discounted debt securities; or
- certain debt securities issued at par which are treated as having been
issued at a discount for United States federal income tax purposes.
REGISTERED GLOBAL SECURITIES
Williams may issue registered debt securities of a series in the form of
one or more fully registered global securities. Williams will deposit the
registered global security with a depositary or with a nominee for a depositary
identified in the prospectus supplement relating to such series. Williams will
then issue one or more registered global securities in a denomination or
aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount
of outstanding registered debt securities of the series to be represented by the
registered global security or securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in
whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a registered
global security may not be transferred, except as a whole in three cases:
- by the depositary for the registered global security to a nominee of the
depositary;
- by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of
the depositary; or
- by the depositary or any nominee to a successor of the depositary or a
nominee of the successor.
The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will
describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement concerning any portion
of the debt securities to be represented by a registered global security.
Williams anticipates that the following provisions will apply to all depositary
arrangements.
Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary for the
registered global security will credit, on its book-entry registration and
transfer system, the principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the
registered global security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with
the depositary. These persons are referred to as "participants." Any
underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of debt securities
represented by the registered global security will designate the accounts to be
credited. Only participants or persons that hold interests through participants
will be able to beneficially own interests in a registered global security. The
depositary for a global security will maintain records of beneficial ownership
interests in a registered global security for participants. Participants or
persons that hold through participants will maintain records of beneficial
ownership interests in a global security for persons other than participants.
These records will be the only means to transfer beneficial ownership in a
registered global security.
So long as the depositary for a registered global security, or its nominee,
is the registered owner of a registered global security, the depositary or its
nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities
represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the
applicable indenture. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests
in a registered global security:
- may not have the debt securities represented by a registered global
security registered in their names;
- will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt
securities represented by a registered global security in definitive
form; and
- will not be considered the owners or holders of debt securities
represented by a registered global security under the applicable
indenture.
7
PAYMENT OF INTEREST ON AND PRINCIPAL OF REGISTERED GLOBAL SECURITIES
Williams will make principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on
debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the
name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee as the
registered owner of the registered global security. None of Williams, the
trustee, or any paying agent for debt securities represented by a registered
global security will have any responsibility or liability for:
- any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of,
beneficial ownership interests in such registered global security; or
- maintaining, supervising, or reviewing any records relating to beneficial
ownership interests.
Williams expects that the depositary, upon receipt of any payment of
principal, premium or interest, will immediately credit participants' accounts
with payments in amounts proportionate to their beneficial interests in the
principal amount of a registered global security as shown on the depositary's
records. Williams also expects that payments by participants to owners of
beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants
will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices. This is
currently the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers
registered in "street name." Williams also expects that this payout will be the
responsibility of participants.
EXCHANGE OF REGISTERED GLOBAL SECURITIES
Williams will issue debt securities in definitive form in exchange for the
registered global security if:
- the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global
security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary;
and
- Williams does not appoint a successor depositary within ninety days.
In addition, Williams may, at any time, determine not to have any of the
debt securities of a series represented by one or more registered global
securities. In this event, Williams will issue debt securities of a series in
definitive form in exchange for all of the registered global security or
securities representing these debt securities.
SENIOR DEBT
Williams will issue under the senior debt indenture the debt securities and
any coupons that will constitute part of the senior debt of Williams. These
senior debt securities will rank equally and ratably with all other unsecured
and unsubordinated debt of Williams.
SUBORDINATED DEBT
Williams will issue under the subordinated debt indenture the debt
securities and any coupons that will constitute part of the subordinated debt of
Williams. These subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in
right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the subordinated
debt indenture, to all "senior indebtedness" of Williams. The subordinated debt
indenture defines "senior indebtedness" as obligations of, or guaranteed or
assumed by, Williams for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures,
notes, or other similar instruments, and amendments, renewals, extensions,
modifications, and refundings of any such indebtedness or obligation. "Senior
indebtedness" does not include nonrecourse obligations, the subordinated debt
securities, or any other obligations specifically designated as being
subordinate in right of payment to senior indebtedness. See subordinated debt
indenture, section 1.1.
In general, the holders of all senior indebtedness are entitled to receive
payment of the full amount unpaid on senior indebtedness before the holders of
any of the subordinated debt securities or coupons are entitled to receive a
payment on account of the principal or interest on the indebtedness evidenced by
the subordinated debt securities in certain events. These events include:
- any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, or any receivership,
liquidation, reorganization, or other similar proceedings which concern
Williams or a substantial part of its property;
8
- a default having occurred for the payment of principal, premium, if any,
or interest on or other monetary amounts due and payable on any senior
indebtedness or any other default having occurred concerning any senior
indebtedness, which permits the holder or holders of any senior
indebtedness to accelerate the maturity of any senior indebtedness with
notice or lapse of time, or both. This type of an event of default must
have continued beyond the period of grace, if any, provided for this type
of an event of default under the senior indebtedness, and this type of an
event of default shall not have been cured or waived or shall not have
ceased to exist; or
- the principal of, and accrued interest on, any series of the subordinated
debt securities having been declared due and payable upon an event of
default contained in the subordinated debt indenture. This declaration
must not have been rescinded and annulled as provided in the subordinated
debt indenture.
If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with a series of
subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the
information incorporated in this prospectus by reference will set forth the
approximate amount of senior indebtedness outstanding as of the end of the most
recent fiscal quarter.
COVENANTS OF WILLIAMS
Liens. The senior debt indenture refers to any instrument securing
indebtedness, such as a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest, or
encumbrance on any property of Williams, as a "mortgage." The senior debt
indenture further provides that, subject to certain exceptions, Williams will
not, nor will it permit any subsidiary to, issue, assume, or guarantee any
indebtedness secured by a mortgage unless Williams provides equal and
proportionate security for the senior debt securities Williams issues under the
senior debt indenture. Among these exceptions are:
- certain purchase money mortgages;
- certain preexisting mortgages on any property acquired or constructed by
Williams or a subsidiary;
- certain mortgages created within one year after completion of such
acquisition or construction;
- certain mortgages created on any contract for the sale of products or
services related to the operation or use of any property acquired or
constructed within one year after completion of such acquisition or
construction;
- mortgages on property of a subsidiary existing at the time it became a
subsidiary of Williams; and
- mortgages, other than as specifically excepted, in an aggregate amount
which, at the time of, and after giving effect to, the incurrence does
not exceed five percent of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. See the
senior debt indenture, section 3.6.
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance of Assets. Each indenture provides, in
general, that Williams will not consolidate with or merge into any other entity
or convey, transfer, or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any person unless:
- the corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, joint
stock company, or trust formed by such consolidation or into which
Williams is merged or the person which acquires such assets expressly
assumes Williams' obligations under the applicable indenture and the debt
securities issued under this indenture; and
- immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no event of default,
and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become
an event of default, shall have happened and be continuing. See section
9.1 of the indentures.
Event Risk. Except for the limitations on liens described above, neither
indenture nor the debt securities contains any covenants or other provisions
designed to afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of a
highly leveraged transaction involving Williams.
9
EVENT OF DEFAULT
In general, each indenture defines an event of default with respect to debt
securities of any series issued under the indenture as being:
(a) default in payment of any principal of the debt securities of such
series, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration, or
otherwise;
(b) default for 30 days in payment of any interest on any debt
securities of such series unless otherwise provided;
(c) default for 90 days after written notice in the observance or
performance of any covenant or warranty in the debt securities of that
series or that indenture other than:
- default in or breach of a covenant which is dealt with otherwise
below, or
- if certain conditions are met, if the events of default described
in this clause (c) are the result of changes in generally accepted
accounting principles; or
(d) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization of
Williams. See section 5.1 of the indentures.
In general, each indenture provides that if an event of default described
in clauses (a), (b), or (c) above occurs and does not affect all series of debt
securities then outstanding, the trustee or the holders of debt securities of
the relevant series may then declare the following amounts to be due and payable
immediately:
- the entire principal of all debt securities of each series affected by
the event of default; and
- the interest accrued on such principal.
Such a declaration by the holders requires the approval of at least 25
percent in principal amount of the debt securities of each series issued under
the applicable indenture and then outstanding, treated as one class, which are
affected by the event of default.
Each indenture also generally provides that if a default described in
clause (c) above which is applicable to all series of debt securities then
outstanding or certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, and reorganization of
Williams occur and are continuing, the trustee or the holders of debt securities
may declare the entire principal of all such debt securities and interest
accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately. This declaration by the
holders requires the approval of at least 25 percent in principal amount of all
debt securities issued under the applicable indenture and then outstanding,
treated as one class. Upon certain conditions, the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of all such affected series
then outstanding may annul such declarations and waive the past defaults.
However, the majority holders may not annul or waive a continuing default in
payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such debt securities.
See sections 5.1 and 5.10 of the indentures.
Each indenture provides that the holders of debt securities issued under
that indenture, treated as one class, will indemnify the trustee before the
trustee exercises any of its rights or powers under the indenture. This
indemnification is subject to the trustee's duty to act with the required
standard of care during a default. See section 6.2 of the indentures. The
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt
securities of each series affected, treated as one class, issued under the
applicable indenture may direct the time, method, and place of:
- conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; or
- exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee.
This right of the holders of debt securities is, however, subject to the
provisions in each indenture providing for the indemnification of the trustee
and other specified limitations. See section 5.9 of the indentures.
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In general, each indenture provides that holders of debt securities issued
under that indenture may only institute an action against Williams under the
indenture if the following four conditions are fulfilled:
- the holder previously has given to the trustee written notice of default
and the default continues;
- the holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the debt
securities of each affected series (treated as one class) issued under
the applicable indenture and then outstanding have requested the trustee
to institute such action and have offered the trustee reasonable
indemnity;
- the trustee has not instituted such action within 60 days of receipt of
such request; and
- the trustee has not received direction inconsistent with such written
request by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt
securities of each affected series (treated as one class) issued under
the applicable indenture and then outstanding. See sections 5.6, 5.7, and
5.9 of the indentures.
The above four conditions do not apply to actions by holders of the debt
securities under the applicable indenture against Williams for payment of
principal or interest on or after the due date provided. Each indenture contains
a covenant that Williams will file annually with the trustee a certificate of no
default or a certificate specifying any default that exists. See section 3.5 of
the indentures.
DISCHARGE, DEFEASANCE, AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Williams can discharge or defease its obligations under each indenture as
set forth below. See section 10.1 of the indentures.
Under terms satisfactory to the trustee, Williams may discharge certain
obligations to holders of any series of debt securities issued under the
applicable indenture which have not already been delivered to the trustee for
cancellation. These debt securities must also:
- have become due and payable;
- be due and payable by their terms within one year; or
- be scheduled for redemption by their terms within one year.
Williams may redeem any series of debt securities by irrevocably depositing
an amount certified to be sufficient to pay, at maturity or upon redemption, the
principal of and interest on such debt securities. Williams may make such
deposit in cash or, in the case of debt securities payable only in U.S. dollars,
U.S. government obligations, as defined in the applicable indenture.
Williams may also, upon satisfaction of the conditions listed below,
discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities issued
under such indenture at any time ("Defeasance"). Under terms satisfactory to the
trustee, Williams may be released with respect to any outstanding series of debt
securities issued under the relevant indenture from the obligations imposed by
sections 3.6 and 9.1, in the case of the senior debt indenture, and section 9.1,
in the case of the subordinated debt indenture. These sections contain the
covenants described above limiting liens and consolidations, mergers and
conveyances of assets. Also, under terms satisfactory to the trustee, Williams
may avoid compliance with these sections without creating an event of default
("Covenant Defeasance"). Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance may be effected only
if, among other things:
- Williams irrevocably deposits with the trustee cash or, in the case of
debt securities payable only in U.S. dollars, U.S. government obligations
as trust funds in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay at maturity
or upon redemption the principal of and interest on all outstanding debt
securities of the series issued under the applicable indenture;
- Williams delivers to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that
the holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize income,
gain, or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result
of such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. Such opinion must further
state that these holders will be subject to United States federal income
tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
would have been the case if Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance had not
occurred.
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In the case of a Defeasance, this opinion must be based on a ruling of
the Internal Revenue Service or a change in United States federal income
tax law occurring after the date of the applicable indenture, since this
result would not occur under current tax law;
- in the case of the subordinated debt indenture, no event or condition
shall exist that, pursuant to certain provisions described under
"-- Subordinated Debt" above, would prevent Williams from making payments
of principal of or interest on the subordinated debt securities at the
date of the irrevocable deposit referred to above or at any time during
the period ending on the 91st day after the deposit date; and
- in the case of the subordinated indenture, Williams delivers to the
trustee for the subordinated debt indenture an opinion of counsel to the
effect that:
(a) the trust funds will not be subject to any rights of holders of
senior indebtedness; and
(b) after the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will not
be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally.
If a court were to rule under any such law in any case or proceeding that
the trust funds remained property of Williams, counsel must give its opinion
only with respect to:
(a) the trustee's valid and perfected security interest in these trust
funds;
(b) adequate protection of holders of the subordinated debt securities
interests in these funds; and
(c) no prior rights of holders of senior debt securities in property
or interests granted to the trustee or holders of the subordinated debt
securities in exchange for or with respect to these trust funds.
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURES
Each indenture provides that Williams and the trustee may enter into
supplemental indentures, which conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, without the consent of the holders to, in general:
- secure any debt securities;
- evidence the assumption by a successor person of the obligations of
Williams;
- add further covenants for the protection of the holders;
- cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in that indenture, so
long as the action will not adversely effect the interests of the
holders;
- establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series; and
- evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee. See
section 8.1 of the indentures.
Each indenture also permits Williams and the trustee to:
- add any provisions to that indenture;
- change in any manner that indenture;
- eliminate any of the provisions of that indenture; and
- modify in any way the rights of the holders of debt securities of each
series affected.
All of the above actions require the consent of the holders of at least a
majority in principal amount of debt securities of each series issued under that
indenture then outstanding and affected. These holders will vote as one class to
approve such changes.
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Such changes must, however, conform to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and
Williams and the trustee may not, without the consent of each holder of
outstanding debt securities affected thereby:
- extend the final maturity of the principal of any debt securities;
- reduce the principal amount of any debt securities;
- reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest on any debt
securities;
- reduce any amount payable on redemption of any debt securities;
- change the currency in which the principal, including any amount in
respect of original issue discount, or interest on any debt securities is
payable;
- reduce the amount of any original issue discount security payable upon
acceleration or provable in bankruptcy;
- alter certain provisions of the indenture relating to debt securities not
denominated in U.S. dollars or for which conversion to another currency
is required to satisfy the judgment of any court;
- impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on
any debt securities when due; or
- reduce the percentage in principal amount of debt securities of any
series issued under the applicable indenture, the consent of the holders
of which is required for any such modification. See section 8.2 of the
indentures.
The subordinated debt indenture may not be amended to alter the
subordination of any outstanding subordinated debt securities without the
consent of each holder of senior indebtedness then outstanding that would be
adversely affected by such an amendment. See the subordinated debt indenture,
section 8.6.
CONVERSION RIGHTS
The prospectus supplement will provide if a series of securities is
convertible into our common stock and the initial conversion price per share at
which the securities may be converted. Unless we specify other conversion
provisions in the prospectus supplement, the following provisions will be
applicable to our convertible securities.
If we have not redeemed a convertible security, the holder of the
convertible security may convert the security, or any portion of the principal
amount in integral multiples of $1,000, at the conversion price in effect at the
time of conversion, into shares of Williams' common stock. Conversion rights
expire at the close of business on the date specified in the prospectus
supplement for a series of convertible securities. Conversion rights expire at
the close of business on the redemption date in the case of any convertible
securities that we call for redemption.
In order to exercise the conversion privilege, the holder of the
convertible security must surrender to us, at any office or agency maintained
for that purpose, the security with a written notice of the election to convert
the security, and, if the holder is converting less than the entire principal
amount of the security, the amount of security to be converted. In addition, if
the convertible security is converted during the period between a record date
for the payment of interest and the related interest payment date, the person
entitled to convert the security must pay us an amount equal to the interest
payable on the principal amount being converted.
We will not pay any interest on converted securities on any interest
payment date after the date of conversion except for those securities
surrendered during the period between a record date for the payment of interest
and the related interest payment date.
Convertible securities shall be deemed to have been converted immediately
prior to the close of business on the day of surrender of the security. We will
not issue any fractional shares of stock upon conversion, but we will make an
adjustment in cash based on the market price at the close of business on the
date of conversion.
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The conversion price will be subject to adjustment in the event of:
- payment of stock dividends or other distributions of our common stock;
- issuance of rights or warrants to all our stockholders entitling them to
subscribe for or purchase our stock at a price less than the market price
of our common stock;
- the subdivision of our common stock into a greater or lesser number of
shares of stock;
- the distribution to all stockholders of evidences of our indebtedness or
assets, excluding stock dividends or other distributions and rights or
warrants; or
- the reclassification of our common stock into other securities.
We may also decrease the conversion price as we consider necessary so that
any event treated for federal income tax purposes as a dividend of stock or
stock rights will not be taxable to the holders of our common stock.
We will pay any and all transfer taxes that may be payable in respect of
the issue or delivery of shares of common stock on conversion of the securities.
We are not required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any
transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares in a name other than that
of the holder of the security to be converted and no issue and delivery shall be
made unless and until the person requesting the issue has paid the amount of any
such tax or established to our satisfaction that such tax has been paid.
After the occurrence of:
- consolidation with or merger of Williams into any other corporation,
- any merger of another corporation into Williams, or
- any sale or transfer of substantially all of the assets of Williams,
which results in any reclassification, change or conversion of our common stock,
the holders of any convertible securities will be entitled to receive on
conversion the kind and amount of shares of common stock or other securities,
cash or other property receivable upon such event by a holder of our common
stock immediately prior to the occurrence of the event.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
The trustee is one of a number of banks with which Williams and its
subsidiaries maintain ordinary banking relationships and with which Williams and
its subsidiaries maintain credit facilities.
LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCE OF BEARER DEBT SECURITIES
Debt securities in bearer form are subject to special U.S. tax requirements
and may not be offered, sold, or delivered within the United States or its
possessions or to a U.S. person, except in certain transactions permitted by
U.S. tax regulations. Investors should consult the prospectus supplement in the
event that bearer debt securities are issued for special procedures and
restrictions that will apply to such an offering.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
Under Williams' certificate of incorporation, as amended, Williams is
authorized to issue up to 30,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00
per share, in one or more series. At March 31, 2002, 1,466,667 shares of
preferred stock were outstanding outside of our consolidated group. See
"Outstanding Preferred Stock" below. The following description of preferred
stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the series of preferred
stock to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The prospectus supplement
relating to a particular series of preferred stock will describe certain other
terms of such series of preferred stock. If so indicated in the prospectus
supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock, the terms of any
such series of preferred stock may differ from the terms set forth below. The
description of preferred stock set forth below and the description of the terms
of a particular series of preferred stock set
14
forth in the related prospectus supplement are not complete and are qualified in
their entirety by reference to the certificate of incorporation and to the
certificate of designation relating to that series of preferred stock.
The rights of the holders of each series of preferred stock will be
subordinate to those of Williams' general creditors.
GENERAL TERMS OF THE PREFERRED STOCK
The certificate of incorporation will set forth the designations,
preferences, and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and
the qualifications, limitations, and restrictions of the preferred stock of each
series. To the extent the certificate of incorporation does not set forth the
rights and limitations, they will be fixed by the certificate of designation
relating to the series. A prospectus supplement relating to each series will
specify the terms of the preferred stock as follows:
- the distinctive designation of the series and the number of shares which
shall constitute the series;
- the rate of dividends, if any, payable on shares of the series, the date,
if any, from which the dividends shall accrue, the conditions upon which
and the date when the dividends shall be payable, and whether the
dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative;
- the amounts which the holders of the preferred stock of the series shall
be entitled to be paid in the event of a voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of Williams; and
- whether or not the preferred stock of the series shall be redeemable and
at what times and under what conditions and the amount or amounts payable
thereon in the event of redemption.
The prospectus supplement may, in a manner not inconsistent with the
provisions of the certificate of incorporation:
- limit the number of shares of the series that may be issued;
- provide for a sinking fund for the purchase or redemption or a purchase
fund for the purchase of shares of the series, set forth the terms and
provisions governing the operation of any fund, and establish the status
as to reissue of shares of preferred stock purchased or otherwise
reacquired or redeemed or retired through the operation of the sinking or
purchase fund;
- grant voting rights to the holder of shares of the series, in addition to
and not inconsistent with those granted by the certificate of
incorporation to the holders of preferred stock;
- impose conditions or restrictions upon the creation of indebtedness of
Williams or upon the issue of additional preferred stock or other capital
stock ranking equally with or prior to the preferred stock or capital
stock as to dividends or distribution of assets on liquidation;
- impose conditions or restrictions upon the payment of dividends upon, the
making of other distributions to, or the acquisition of junior stock;
- grant to the holders of the preferred stock of the series the right to
convert the preferred stock into shares of another series or class of
capital stock; and
- grant other special rights to the holders of shares of the series as the
board of directors may determine and as shall not be inconsistent with
the provisions of the certificate of incorporation.
DIVIDENDS
Holders of the preferred stock of any series shall be entitled to receive,
when and as declared by the board of directors, preferential dividends in cash
at the annual rate, if any, fixed for the series. Their entitlement will be
subject to any limitations specified in the certificate of designation providing
for the issuance of a particular series of preferred stock. The certificate of
designation providing for the issuance of preferred stock of the series may
specify the date on which the preferential dividends are payable. The
preferential dividends shall
15
further be payable to stockholders of record on a date which precedes each
dividend payment date which the board of directors has fixed in advance of each
particular dividend.
Each share of preferred stock shall rank on a parity with each other share
of preferred stock, irrespective of series, with respect to preferential
dividends accrued on the shares of the series. Williams will not declare or pay
any dividend nor will it set apart a dividend for payment for the preferred
stock of any series unless at the same time Williams declares, pays, or sets
apart a dividend in like proportion to the dividends accrued upon the preferred
stock of each other series. This does not, however, prevent Williams from
authorizing or issuing one or more series of preferred stock bearing dividends
subject to contingencies as to the existence or amount of earnings of Williams
during one or more fiscal periods, or as to other events, to which dividends on
other series of preferred stock are not subject.
So long as any shares of preferred stock remain outstanding, Williams will
not, unless all dividends accrued on outstanding shares of preferred stock for
all past dividend periods shall have been paid, or declared and a sum sufficient
for the payment of the dividends set apart:
- pay or declare any dividends whatsoever, whether in cash, stock, or
otherwise;
- make any distribution on any class of junior stock; or
- purchase, retire, or otherwise acquire for valuable consideration any
shares of preferred stock (subject to certain limitations) or junior
stock.
The ability of Williams, as a holding company, to pay dividends on the
preferred stock will depend upon the payment of dividends, interest, or other
charges by subsidiaries to it. Debt instruments of certain subsidiaries of
Williams limit the amount of payments to Williams, which could affect the amount
of funds available to Williams to pay dividends on the preferred stock.
Bank One Trust Company, National Association, is the registrar, transfer
agent, and dividend disbursing agent for the shares of the preferred stock.
REDEMPTION
With the approval of its board of directors, Williams may redeem all or any
part of the preferred stock of any series that by its terms is redeemable.
Redemption will take place at the time or times and on the terms and conditions
fixed for the series. Williams must duly give notice in the manner provided in
the certificate of designation providing for the series. Williams must pay for
preferred stock in cash the sum fixed for the series, together, in each case,
with an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends on the series of preferred
stock. The certificate of designation providing for a series of preferred stock
which is subject to redemption may provide, upon the two conditions discussed
below, that the shares will no longer be deemed outstanding, and all rights with
respect to the shares will cease, including the accrual of further dividends,
other than the right to receive the redemption price of the shares without
interest, when:
- Williams has given notice of redemption of all or part of the shares of
the series; and
- Williams has set aside or deposited with a suitable depositary for the
proportionate benefit of the shares called for redemption the redemption
price of the shares, together with accrued dividends to the date fixed as
the redemption date.
Redemption will terminate the right of holders of the preferred stock to
accrual of further dividends. Redemption will not, however, terminate the right
of holders of the shares redeemed to receive the redemption price for the shares
without interest.
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VOTING RIGHTS
The preferred stock will have no right or power to vote on any question or
in any proceeding or to be represented at or to receive notice of any meeting of
stockholders, except as:
- stated in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement;
- expressly provided by law; or
- provided in the certificate of designation of the series of preferred
stock.
On any matters on which the holders of the preferred stock or any series
thereof shall be entitled to vote separately as a class or series, they shall be
entitled to one vote for each share held.
So long as any shares of preferred stock are outstanding, Williams must
not, during the continuance of any default in the payment of dividends on the
preferred stock, redeem or otherwise acquire for value any shares of the
preferred stock or of any other stock ranking on a parity with the preferred
stock concerning dividends or distribution of assets on liquidation. Holders of
a majority of the number of shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time
may, however, permit such a redemption by giving their consent in person or by
proxy, either in writing or by vote at any annual meeting or any special meeting
called for the purpose.
LIQUIDATION RIGHTS
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the affairs
of Williams, voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the preferred stock of the
respective series are entitled to be paid in full the following amounts:
- the amount fixed in the certificate of designation providing for the
issue of shares of the series; plus
- a sum equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends on the shares of
preferred stock to the date of payment of the dividends.
Williams must have made this payment in full to the holders of the
preferred stock before it may make any distribution or payment to the holders of
any class of stock of Williams ranking junior to the preferred stock as to
dividends or distribution of assets on liquidation. After Williams has made this
payment in full to the holders of the preferred stock, the remaining assets and
funds of Williams will be distributed among the holders of the stock of Williams
ranking junior to the preferred stock according to their rights. If the assets
of Williams available for distribution to holders of preferred stock are
sufficient to make the payment required to be made in full, these assets will be
distributed to the holders of shares of preferred stock proportionately to the
amounts payable upon each share of preferred stock.
PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS
On February 6, 1996, Williams entered into a rights agreement with The
First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as rights agent, which currently
provides for a dividend of one-third preferred stock purchase right for each
outstanding share of Williams' common stock. The rights trade automatically with
shares of common stock and become exercisable only under the circumstances
described below. The rights are designed to protect the interests of Williams
and its stockholders against coercive takeover tactics. The purpose of the
rights is to encourage potential acquirers to negotiate with the board of
directors of Williams prior to attempting a takeover and to provide the board
with leverage in negotiating on behalf of all stockholders the terms of any
proposed takeover. The rights may have anti-takeover effects. The rights should
not, however, interfere with any merger or other business combination approved
by the board of directors of Williams.
Until a right is exercised, the right does not entitle the holder to
additional rights as a Williams' stockholder, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends. Upon becoming exercisable, each right
entitles its holder to purchase from Williams one two-hundredth of a share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at an exercise or purchase price
of $140.00 per right, subject to
17
adjustment. Each one two-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock entitles the holder to receive quarterly dividends payable in
cash of an amount per share equal to:
- the greater of (a) $120, or (b) 1200 times the aggregate per share amount
of all cash dividends; plus
- 1200 times the aggregate per share amount payable in kind of all non-cash
dividends or other distributions other than dividends payable in common
stock, since the immediately preceding quarterly dividend payment date.
The dividends on the Junior Participating Preferred Stock are cumulative.
Holders of Junior Participating Preferred Stock have voting rights entitling
them to 1200 votes per share on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders of Williams.
In general, the rights will not be exercisable until the distribution date,
which is the earlier of (a) the close of business on the 10th business day after
Williams learns that a person or group has acquired, or obtained the right to
acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock,
(b) the close of business on the 10th business day after the commencement of a
tender or exchange offer for 15% or more of Williams' outstanding common stock,
or (c) the close of business on the 10th business day after the board of
directors of Williams determines that any adverse person or group has become the
beneficial owner of an amount of common stock which the board of directors
determines to be substantial. Below we refer to the person or group acquiring at
least 15% of our common stock as an acquiring person.
In the event that a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or
more of Williams' outstanding common stock or the board of directors of Williams
determines that any adverse person or group has become the beneficial owner of a
substantial amount of common stock, each holder of a right will have the right
to exercise and receive common stock having a value equal to two times the
exercise price of the right. The exercise price is the purchase price times the
number of shares of common stock associated with each right. Any rights that are
at any time beneficially owned by an acquiring person will be null and void and
any holder of such right will be unable to exercise or transfer the right.
In the event that someone becomes an acquiring person and either (a)
Williams is involved in a merger or other business combination in which Williams
is not the surviving corporation, (b) Williams is involved in a merger or other
business combination in which Williams is the surviving corporation but all or a
part of its common stock is changed or exchanged, or (c) 50% or more of
Williams' assets, cash flow or earning power is sold or transferred, each right
becomes exercisable and each right will entitle its holder to receive common
stock of the acquiring person having a value equal to two times the exercise
price of the right.
The rights will expire at the close of business on February 6, 2006, unless
redeemed before that time. At any time prior to the earlier of (a) 10 days
following the stock acquisition date, as defined in the rights agreement, and
(b) the expiration date, the board of directors of Williams may redeem the
rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per right. Prior to the
distribution date, Williams may amend the rights agreement in any respect
without the approval of the rights holders. However, after the distribution
date, the rights agreement may not be amended in any way that would adversely
affect the holders of rights (other than any acquiring person or group) or cause
the rights to again become redeemable. The Junior Participating Preferred Stock
ranks junior to all other series of Williams' preferred stock as to the payment
of dividends and the distribution of assets unless the terms of the series
specify otherwise.
You should refer to the applicable provisions of the rights agreement,
which we filed with the SEC as Exhibit 4 to our Form 8-K filed January 24, 1996
and incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this
prospectus is a part.
OUTSTANDING PREFERRED STOCK
On March 27, 2002, Williams sold $275 million of its 9 7/8 percent
cumulative convertible preferred stock (the "March 2002 Preferred Stock") to
MEHC Investment, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MidAmerican Energy Holdings
Company, and a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies. MEHC
Investment acquired 1,466,667 shares of the March 2002 Preferred Stock at a
purchase price of $187.50 per
18
share, pursuant to a stock purchase agreement between the companies. Each share
of the March 2002 Preferred Stock is convertible into ten shares of William's
common stock. For a full description of the March 2002 Preferred Stock, please
refer to Williams' certificate of incorporation and the certificate of
designation of the March 2002 Preferred Stock, which has been filed as part of
Exhibit 3.1 to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
On March 28, 2001, Williams issued 14,000 shares of its March 2001
Mandatorily Convertible Single Reset Preferred Stock (the "March 2001 Preferred
Stock") to a wholly owned subsidiary as part of a transaction to provide
indirect credit support for $1.4 billion of structured notes issued by entities
controlled by Williams Communications Group, Inc. through a commitment to issue
Williams' equity upon the occurrence of certain trigger events. On March 5,
2002, Williams received the requisite approvals for its consent solicitation to
amend the terms of these structured notes. The amendment, among other things,
eliminates a bankruptcy by Williams Communications and a Williams credit ratings
downgrade from the enumerated list of events that could cause an acceleration of
the notes. For a full description of the March 2001 Preferred Stock, please
refer to Williams' certificate of incorporation and the certificate of
designation of the March 2001 Preferred Stock, which has been filed as part of
Exhibit 3.1 to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
On December 28, 2000, in connection with the purchase of various
energy-related assets in Canada and formation of Snow Goose Associates, L.L.C.
and Arctic Fox Assets, L.L.C., Williams issued 342,000 shares of Williams'
December 2000 cumulative convertible preferred stock ("December 2000 Preferred
Stock") to Arctic Fox Assets, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of Williams. For
a full description of the December 2000 Preferred Stock, please refer to
Williams' certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designation of the
December 2000 Preferred Stock, which has been filed as part of Exhibit 3.1 to
the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
As of the date of this prospectus, Williams is authorized to issue up to
960,000,000 shares of common stock. As of March 31, 2002, Williams had
537,544,442 issued and outstanding shares of common stock. In addition, at March
31, 2002, options to purchase 29,242,897 shares of common stock were outstanding
under various stock and compensation incentive plans. Additionally, at March 31,
2002, purchase contracts obligating the holders of the purchase contacts to
purchase up to 44,000,000 shares of common stock on February 16, 2005 were
outstanding. The number of shares of common stock which the holders of these
purchase contracts are required to purchase is subject to adjustment based on
the market value of Williams' common stock. The outstanding shares of Williams'
common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of Williams' common
stock are not entitled to preemptive or redemption rights. Shares of Williams'
common stock are not convertible into shares of any other class of capital
stock. EquiServe Trust Company, N.A., is the transfer agent and registrar for
our common stock.
Williams currently has the following provisions in its charter or bylaws
which could be considered to be "anti-takeover" provisions:
- an article in its charter providing for a classified board of directors
divided into three classes, one of which is elected for a three-year term
at each annual meeting of stockholders;
- an article in its charter providing that directors cannot be removed
except for cause and by the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the
outstanding shares of common stock;
- an article in its charter requiring the affirmative vote of three-fourths
of the outstanding shares of common stock for certain merger and asset
sale transactions with holders of more than five percent of the voting
power of Williams; and
- a bylaw requiring stockholders to provide prior notice for nominations
for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters which can
be acted upon at stockholders meetings.
19
Williams is a Delaware corporation and is subject to Section 203 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prevents an interested
stockholder (defined generally as a person owning 15% or more of Williams'
outstanding voting stock) from engaging in a business combination with Williams
for three years following the date that person became an interested stockholder
unless:
- before that person became an interested stockholder, the board of
directors of Williams approved the transaction in which the interested
stockholder became an interested stockholder or approved the business
combination;
- upon completion of the transaction that resulted in the interested
stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested
stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of Williams
outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding stock held
by persons who are both directors and officers of Williams or by certain
employee stock plans); or
- on or following the date on which that person became an interested
stockholder, the business combination is approved by Williams' board of
directors and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by the affirmative
vote of the holders of a least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of
Williams (excluding shares held by the interested stockholder).
A business combination includes mergers, asset sales and other transactions
resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder.
DIVIDENDS
The holders of Williams' common stock are entitled to receive dividends
when, as, and if declared by the board of directors of Williams, out of funds
legally available for their payment subject to the rights of holders of any
outstanding preferred stock.
VOTING RIGHTS
The holders of Williams' common stock are entitled to one vote per share on
all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders.
RIGHTS UPON LIQUIDATION
In the event of Williams' voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up, the holders of Williams' common stock will be
entitled to share equally in any assets available for distribution after the
payment in full of all debts and distributions and after the holders of all
series of outstanding preferred stock have received their liquidation
preferences in full.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
Williams may issue warrants to purchase its debt or equity securities or
securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment
in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified
commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the
foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other
securities and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. Each
series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be
entered into between Williams and a warrant agent. The terms of any warrants to
be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant
agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of
any warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
- the title of such warrants;
- the aggregate number of such warrants;
20
- the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;
- the currency or currencies, in which the price of such warrants will be
payable;
- the securities or other rights, including rights to receive payment in
cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more
specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any
combination of the foregoing, purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;
- the price at which and the currency or currencies, in which the
securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may
be purchased;
- the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and
the date on which such right shall expire;
- if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may
be exercised at any one time;
- if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which
such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each
such security;
- if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related
securities will be separately transferable;
- information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
- if applicable, a discussion of any material United States federal income
tax considerations; and
- any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and
limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
Williams may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of:
- debt or equity securities issued by Williams or securities of third
parties, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such
securities or any combination of the above as specified in the applicable
prospectus supplement;
- currencies; or
- commodities.
Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell,
and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities,
currencies or commodities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a
formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Williams may,
however, satisfy its obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract
by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the
property otherwise deliverable or, in the case of purchase contracts on
underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set forth in
the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will
also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such
securities, currencies or commodities and any acceleration, cancellation or
termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a
purchase contract.
The purchase contracts may require Williams to make periodic payments to
the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent
set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be
unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require the
holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be
described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, purchase
contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the
purchase contracts are issued. Williams' obligation to settle such pre-paid
purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness.
Accordingly, pre-paid purchase contracts will be issued under either the senior
indenture or the subordinated indenture.
21
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Williams may issue
units consisting of one or more purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities,
shares of preferred stock, shares of common stock or any combination of such
securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:
- the terms of the units and of the purchase contracts, warrants, debt
securities, preferred stock and common stock comprising the units,
including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising
the units may be traded separately;
- a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; and
- a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or
exchange of the units.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Williams may sell the securities through agents, through underwriters,
through dealers, and directly to purchasers.
Agents designated by Williams from time to time may solicit offers to
purchase the securities. The prospectus supplement will name any such agent who
may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities
Act, involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this
prospectus is delivered. The prospectus supplement will also set forth any
commissions payable by Williams to such agent. Unless otherwise indicated in the
prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for
the period of its appointment.
If Williams uses any underwriters in the sale, Williams will enter into an
underwriting agreement with the underwriters at the time of sale to them. The
prospectus supplement which the underwriter will use to make resales to the
public of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will
set forth the names of the underwriters and the terms of the transaction.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which
this prospectus is delivered, Williams will sell the securities to the dealer,
as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying
prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.
Agents, dealers, and underwriters may be entitled under agreements entered
into with Williams to indemnification by Williams against certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution
with respect to payments which such agents, dealers, or underwriters may be
required to make in respect of such civil liabilities. Agents, dealers, and
underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform
services for Williams in the ordinary course of business.
One or more firms, referred to as "remarketing firms," may also offer or
sell the securities, if the prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection
with a remarketing arrangement upon their purchase. Remarketing firms will act
as principals for their own accounts or as agents for Williams. These
remarketing firms will offer or sell the securities in accordance with a
redemption or repayment pursuant to the terms of the securities. The prospectus
supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if
any, with Williams and will describe the remarketing firm's compensation.
Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the
securities they remarket. Remarketing firms may be entitled under agreements
that may be entered into with Williams to indemnification by Williams against
certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and
may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for
Williams in the ordinary course of business.
If the prospectus supplement so indicates, Williams will authorize agents
and underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase
the securities from Williams at the public offering price set forth in the
prospectus supplement. The solicitation will occur pursuant to delayed delivery
contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future.
These contracts will be subject to only those conditions set forth in the
prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth the
commission payable for solicitation of such offers.
22
Each series of debt securities offered will be a new issue of securities
and will have no established trading market. The debt securities offered may or
may not be listed on a national securities exchange. Williams cannot be sure as
to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any debt securities
offered.
Certain persons participating in this offering may engage in transactions
that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities.
Specifically, the underwriters, if any, may overallot in connection with the
offering, and may bid for, and purchase, the securities in the open market.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Williams at December
31, 2001 and 2000 and for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 2001 appearing in Williams' Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on May 28, 2002, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent
auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and incorporated
herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and schedule are
incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
LEGAL MATTERS
William G. von Glahn, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of
Williams, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York will
pass upon certain legal matters for Williams in connection with the securities
offered by this prospectus. Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York, New York will pass
upon certain legal matters for the underwriters in connection with the
securities offered by this prospectus. As of March 31, 2002, Mr. von Glahn was
the beneficial holder of 402,402 shares of Williams common stock (including
268,010 shares subject to stock options exercisable within 60 days, deferred
stock awards and Williams' 401(k) retirement plan). Mr. von Glahn is a
participant in Williams' stock option plan and various other employee benefit
plans offered to employees of Williams.
23
LOGO
$800,000,000
[WILLIAMS LOGO]
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
8 5/8% SENIOR NOTES
DUE 2010
----------------------------
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
JUNE 5, 2003
PROSPECTUS
JUNE 26, 2002
----------------------------
Joint Book-Running Managers
LEHMAN BROTHERS
CITIGROUP
JPMORGAN
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
----------------------------
BOSC, INC.
CREDIT LYONNAIS SECURITIES
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MORGAN STANLEY
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
SCOTIA CAPITAL
TD SECURITIES