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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 16, 2006
Williams Partners L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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1-32599
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20-2485124 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
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(Commission
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(IRS Employer |
incorporation)
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File Number)
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Identification No.) |
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One Williams Center |
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Tulsa, Oklahoma
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74172-0172 |
(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (918) 573-2000
NOT APPLICABLE
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy
the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On November 16, 2006, Williams Partners L.P. (the Partnership) entered into a Purchase and
Sale Agreement (the Purchase Agreement) with Williams Energy Services, LLC (WES), Williams
Field Services Group, LLC (WFSG), Williams Field Services Company, LLC (WFSC), Williams
Partners GP LLC, the general partner of the Partnership (the General Partner and together with
WES, WFSG and WFSC, the Seller Parties), and Williams Partners Operating LLC, the operating
subsidiary of the Partnership (Williams OLLC and together with the Partnership, the Buyer
Parties), pursuant to which the Seller Parties have agreed to contribute to the
Buyer Parties a 74.9% membership interest (the Four Corners Interest) in Williams Four Corners
LLC (Four Corners) for aggregate consideration of
$1.223 billion, subject to possible adjustment in favor of the
Buyer Parties.
Four Corners owns natural gas gathering, processing and treating assets in the San
Juan Basin in Colorado and New Mexico. In June 2006, the Buyer Parties acquired a 25.1% membership
interest in Four Corners from the Seller Parties in exchange for aggregate consideration of $360.0
million.
Upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the following,
among other things, will occur: (i) the Seller Parties and the Buyer Parties will enter into a
Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement (the Contribution Agreement) pursuant to which
the Four Corners Interest will be contributed from the Seller Parties to the Buyer Parties; (ii)
the General Partner will enter into Amendment No. 3 to the Partnerships agreement of limited
partnership (the Amendment) in order to establish the terms of the Class B Units discussed above;
and (iii) the Seller Parties will terminate the $20.0 million loan agreement between Williams and
Four Corners.
The closing of the Purchase Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of a number of
conditions, including the Buyer Parties ability to obtain financing and the receipt of all
necessary consents, including antitrust clearance from the Federal Trade Commission under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended. The Partnership expects closing
to occur in the fourth quarter of 2006.
The
consideration to be paid by the Buyer Parties will consist of cash and up to $325.0
million of Class B units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (Class B
Units) issued to the General Partner or its designee(s). Any issuance of Class B Units pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement as partial consideration for the Four Corners Interest will be made in
reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the Securities Act), afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
Any Class B Units that may be issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement would represent a
separate class of the Partnerships limited partner interests. Any Class B Units issued as part of
the consideration for the Four Corners Interest would be (i) issued at an assumed price equal to
the price per common unit to investors (before underwriting discounts and commissions, placement
fees or other expenses) in an underwritten public offering of common
units by the Partnership undertaken to finance a portion of the cash
consideration, and
(ii) convert into common units on a one-for-one basis upon the approval of unitholders as
required by the NYSE, except for units held by The Williams Companies, Inc. (Williams) and its
affiliates. The Partnership would be required to seek such approval as promptly as practicable
after issuance of the Class B Units in connection with the consummation of the acquisition of the
Four Corners Interest. If the requisite unitholder approval is not obtained, the Partnership would
be obligated to resubmit the conversion proposal to unitholders, but not more frequently than once
every six months.
Any Class B Units issued as part of the consideration for the Four Corners Interest would have
the same voting rights as if they were outstanding common units and will be entitled to vote as a
separate class on any matters that adversely affects the rights or preferences of the Class B Units
in relation to other classes of partnership interests or as required
by law. The Class B Units
would not be entitled to vote on the approval of the conversion of the Class B Units into common
units.
Any Class B Units issued as part of the consideration for the Four Corners Interest would be
subordinated to common units and senior to subordinated units with respect to the payment of the
minimum quarterly distribution, including any arrearages with respect to minimum quarterly
distributions from prior periods. Such Class B Units would also be subordinated to common units
and senior to subordinated units with respect to the right to receive distributions upon
liquidation of the Partnership.
If the Partnership has not obtained the requisite unitholder approval of the conversion of the
Class B Units within six months of the closing date of the acquisition of the Four Corners
Interest, the Class B Units will be entitled to receive 115% of the quarterly distribution and
distributions on liquidation payable on each common unit, subject to the subordination provisions
described above.
Any Class B Units issued as part of the consideration for the Four Corners Interest and the
common units issuable upon conversion thereof would have the general registration rights in favor
of the General Partner and its affiliates as provided by the Partnerships agreement of limited
partnership.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Seller Parties agreed to indemnify the Buyer Parties,
their subsidiaries and their respective securityholders, officers, directors and employees (the
Buyer Indemnified Parties) against certain losses resulting from any breach of the Seller
Parties representations, warranties, covenants or agreements or any breach or violation of any
environmental laws (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) by Four Corners or relating to its
assets, operations or businesses that occurs prior to closing. The Buyer Parties agreed to
indemnify the Seller Parties, their affiliates (other than Four Corners or the Buyer Indemnified
Parties) and their respective securityholders, officers, directors and employees against certain
losses resulting from any breach of the Buyer Parties representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements or any breach or violation of any environmental laws by Four Corners or relating to its
assets, operations or businesses that occurs after closing. Certain of the parties
indemnification obligations are subject to an aggregate deductible of $5.0 million. All of the parties indemnification obligations are subject to a cap
equal to $150.0 million, except that the Seller Parties
indemnification obligation with respect to a breach of their representation of title to the Four
Corners Interest may not exceed the $1.223 billion purchase price. In addition, the parties
reciprocal indemnification obligations for certain tax liabilities and losses are not subject to
the deductible and cap.
The description of the Purchase Agreement in this report is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the copy of the Purchase Agreement, including the form of each of the
Contribution Agreement and the Amendment attached as exhibits thereto, filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this
report, which is incorporated by reference into this report in its entirety.
The General Partner serves as the general partner of the Partnership, holding a 2% general
partner interest and incentive distribution rights in the Partnership. Williams currently directly
or indirectly owns (i) 100% of the General Partner, which allows it to control the Partnership and
own the 2% general partner interest and incentive distribution rights in the Partnership, (ii) 100%
of WES, WFSG and WFSC, (iii) 74.9% of Four Corners and (iv) an approximate 37.4% limited partner
interest in the Partnership. The conflicts committee of the board of directors of the General
Partner recommended approval of the Partnerships acquisition of the remaining 74.9% interest in
Four Corners. The conflicts committee retained independent legal and financial advisors to assist
it in evaluating and negotiating the transaction. In recommending approval of the transaction, the
conflicts committee based its decision in part on an opinion from the committees independent
financial advisor that the consideration to be paid by the Partnership is fair, from a financial
point of view, to the Partnership and its public unitholders.
Further, certain officers and directors of the General Partner serve as officers and/or
directors of Williams, WES, WFSG, WFSC and Four Corners. The Partnership is a party to an omnibus
agreement with Williams and its affiliates that governs the Partnerships relationship with them
regarding reimbursement and indemnification for certain matters, including certain general and
administrative expenses and certain environmental liabilities, and a license for the use of certain
software and intellectual property. The Partnership is also party to a $20.0 million working
capital loan agreement where Williams is the lender and the Partnership is the borrower. Further,
the Partnership and Williams are both party to a $1.5 billion credit agreement with certain lenders
whereby the Partnership is permitted to borrow up to $75.0 million for general partnership
purposes, including acquisitions.
WFSC and Williams OLLC are party to the amended and restated limited liability company
agreement of Four Corners that currently governs the management of
Four Corners, which will be amended at the closing of the
transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement so that WFSC will
no longer be a party thereto. Four Corners is a party to a $20.0 million
loan agreement where Williams is the lender and Four Corners is the
borrower, which will be terminated at the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement. In
addition, the Partnership and its affiliates and Williams and its affiliates are counterparties to
various commercial agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business.
Certain matters discussed in this current report on Form 8-K, excluding historical
information, might contain forward-looking statements statements that do not directly or
exclusively relate to historical facts. You typically can identify forward-looking statements by
the use of forward-looking words, such as anticipate, believe, could, continue, estimate,
expect, forecast, may, plan, potential, project, schedule, will and other similar
words. These statements are based on the Partnerships intentions, beliefs and assumptions about
future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors. Actual results could
differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. In addition to any
assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors referred to specifically in connection with
such statements, other factors could cause the Partnerships actual results to differ materially
from the results expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. Those risks,
uncertainties and factors include, among others: the Partnership may not have sufficient cash from
operations to enable it to pay the minimum quarterly distribution following establishment of cash
reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including payments to its general partner; because of
the natural decline in production from existing wells and competitive
factors, the success of the Partnerships gathering and transportation businesses depends on its
ability to connect new sources of natural gas supply, which is dependent on factors beyond its
control; the Partnerships processing, fractionation and storage business could be affected by any
decrease in the price of natural gas liquids or a change in the price of natural gas liquids
relative to the price of natural gas; lower natural gas and oil prices could adversely affect the
Partnerships fractionation and storage businesses; the Partnership depends on certain key
customers and producers for a significant portion of its revenues and supply of natural gas and
natural gas liquids and the loss of any of these key customers or producers could result in a
decline in its revenues and cash
available to pay distributions; if third-party pipelines and other
facilities interconnected to the Partnerships pipelines and facilities become unavailable to
transport natural gas and natural gas liquids or to treat natural gas, the Partnerships revenues
and cash available to pay distributions could be adversely affected; the Partnerships future
financial and operating flexibility may be adversely affected by restrictions in its indenture and
by its leverage; Williams credit agreement and Williams public indentures contain financial and
operating restrictions that may limit the Partnerships access to credit; in addition, the
Partnerships ability to obtain credit in the future will be affected by Williams credit ratings;
the Partnerships general partner and its affiliates have conflicts of interest and limited
fiduciary duties, which may permit them to favor their own interest to the detriment of the
Partnerships unitholders; the Partnerships partnership agreement limits its general partners
fiduciary duties to the Partnerships unitholders for actions taken by the general partner that
might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty; even if unitholders are dissatisfied, they
cannot remove the Partnerships general partner without its consent; unitholders may be required to
pay taxes on their share of the Partnerships income even if they do not receive any cash
distributions from the Partnership; and the Partnerships operations are subject to operational
hazards and unforeseen interruptions for which it may or may not be adequately insured. In light
of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking
statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than the
Partnership has described. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Investors are urged to closely consider the disclosures and risk factors in the Partnerships
annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2006 and
the Partnerships quarterly reports on Form 10-Q available from the Partnerships offices or from
the Partnerships website at www.williamslp.com.
Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
The information set forth under Item 1.01 above with respect to the issuance of up to $325.0
million of Class B Units pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the terms of such Class B Units is
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
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Exhibit Number |
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Description |
Exhibit 2.1 #
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Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated November 16, 2006, by
and among Williams Energy Services, LLC, Williams Field
Services Group, LLC, Williams Field Services Company, LLC,
Williams Partners GP LLC, Williams Partners L.P. and
Williams Partners Operating LLC. |
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Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, the registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a
copy of any omitted exhibit or schedule to the SEC upon request. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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WILLIAMS PARTNERS L.P. |
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By:
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Williams Partners GP LLC, |
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its General Partner |
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Date: November 21, 2006
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/s/ William H. Gault |
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William H. Gault |
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Assistant Secretary |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit Number |
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Description |
Exhibit 2.1 #
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Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated November 16, 2006, by
and among Williams Energy Services, LLC, Williams Field
Services Group, LLC, Williams Field Services Company, LLC,
Williams Partners GP LLC, Williams Partners L.P. and
Williams Partners Operating LLC. |
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Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, the registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a
copy of any omitted exhibit or schedule to the SEC upon request. |