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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 30, 2007
Williams Partners L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
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1-32599
(Commission
File Number)
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20-2485124
(IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
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One Williams Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma
(Address of principal executive offices)
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74172-0172
(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:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On November 30, 2007, 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 the Purchase Agreement, the Seller Parties agreed to sell to the Buyer
Parties a 100% Class A limited liability company membership interest and 20 Class C Units (the
Wamsutter Interest) in Wamsutter LLC (Wamsutter) for aggregate consideration of $750.0 million.
Wamsutter owns an approximate 1,700-mile natural gas gathering system, including a natural gas
processing plant (the Wamsutter System), located in the Washakie Basin in Wyoming.
Upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the following,
among other things, will occur: (i) WFSC and Wamsutter will enter into an assignment agreement (the
Assignment Agreement) pursuant to which WFSC will transfer the Wamsutter System to Wamsutter,
(ii) the Seller Parties and the Buyer Parties will enter into a Contribution, Conveyance and
Assumption Agreement (the Contribution Agreement) pursuant to which the Wamsutter Interest will
be contributed from the Seller Parties to the Buyer Parties; and (iii) the Seller Parties and the
Buyer Parties will enter into the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of
Wamsutter LLC (the New LLC Agreement).
The closing of the Purchase Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of a number of
conditions, including the Buyer Parties ability to obtain financing. The Partnership expects
closing to occur in the fourth quarter of 2007.
The aggregate consideration paid by the Partnership for the Wamsutter Interest will consist of
cash and common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (Common Units)
issued to the General Partner or its designee(s). Any issuance of Common Units pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement as partial consideration for the Wamsutter 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.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Seller Parties agreed to indemnify the Buyer Parties,
their subsidiaries and their respective security holders, officers, directors and employees, and
the officers, directors and employees of the General Partner (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 Wamsutter 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 Wamsutter or the Buyer Indemnified Parties and their respective security
holders, officers, directors and employees) and their respective security holders, officers,
directors and employees against certain losses resulting from any breach of the Buyer Parties
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements by Wamsutter or relating to its assets,
operations or businesses that occurs after closing. Certain of the parties indemnification
obligations, considered collectively under the Purchase Agreement, are subject to a deductible of
$3.0 million. All of the parties indemnification obligations are subject to a cap equal to $100.0
million, except that the Seller Parties indemnification obligation with respect to a breach of
their representation of title to the Wamsutter Interest and certain other representations shall not
exceed the $750.0 million 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, the New LLC Agreement and the Assignment Agreement 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. The Williams Companies,
Inc. (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, and (iii) an approximate
21% 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 Wamsutter
Interest. 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 Wamsutter. 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 under which Williams is the lender and the Partnership is the borrower.
Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
The information set forth under Item 1.01 above with respect to the issuance of Common Units
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the terms of such Common Units is incorporated herein by
reference.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On November 30, 2007, the Partnership and Williams issued a joint press release announcing
that the Partnership has agreed to acquire the Wamsutter Interest for aggregate consideration of
$750.0 million. Closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, the Partnerships
ability to obtain financing and other conditions and is expected to be completed in the fourth
quarter of 2007. A copy of the press release is furnished and attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and
is incorporated herein by reference.
Pursuant to General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 is
not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act), is not subject to the liabilities of that section and is not deemed incorporated
by reference in any filing under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, but is
instead furnished for purposes of that instruction.
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 the 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. Any decrease in supplies
of natural gas could adversely affect the Partnerships business and operating results; The
Partnerships processing, fractionation and storage businesses could be affected by any decrease in
natural gas liquids (NGLs) prices or a change in NGL prices relative to the price of natural gas;
The Partnership depends on certain key customers and producers for a significant portion of its
revenues and supply of natural gas and NGLs. 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 NGLs or to treat natural gas, its revenues and cash
available to pay distributions could be adversely affected; Williams public indentures and the
Partnerships credit facility contain financial and operating restrictions that may limit its
access to credit. In addition, the Partnerships ability to obtain credit in the future will be
affected by Williams credit ratings; The Partnerships industry is highly competitive, and
increased competitive pressure could adversely affect its business and operating results; The
Partnerships results of storage and fractionation operations are dependent upon the demand for
propane and other NGLs. A substantial decrease in this demand could adversely affect the
Partnerships business and operating results; The Partnerships operations are subject to
operational hazards and unforeseen interruptions for which we may not be adequately insured;
Partnerships operations are subject to governmental laws and regulations relating to the
protection of the environment, which may expose it to significant costs and liabilities; The
Partnerships natural gas gathering operations in the San Juan Basin may be subjected to regulation
by the state of New Mexico, which could negatively affect the Partnerships revenues and cash
flows; Potential changes in accounting standards might cause the Partnership to revise its
financial results and disclosures in the future; Williams controls the General Partner, which has
sole responsibility for conducting the Partnerships business and managing its operations.
Williams and its affiliates have conflicts of interest with the Partnership, and they may favor
their own interests to the detriment of the holders of Common Units (unitholders); The
Partnerships partnership agreement limits the General Partners fiduciary duties to unitholders
and restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken by the General Partner that
might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty; Even if unitholders are dissatisfied, they
have little ability to remove the General Partner without its consent; The Partnership may issue
additional common units without unitholder approval, which would dilute unitholders ownership
interests; Williams and its affiliates, including Williams Pipeline Partners, may compete directly
with the Partnership and have no obligation to present business opportunities to it; Williams is
also not obligated
to offer the Partnership the opportunity to acquire additional assets or businesses from it, which
could limit the Partnerships commercial activities or its ability to grow; Certain of the
executive officers and directors of the General Partner are also officers and/or directors of
Williams and Williams Pipeline Partners general partner, and these persons will also owe fiduciary
duties to those entities; Unitholders have limited voting rights and are not entitled to elect the
General Partner or its directors; The tax treatment of the Partnership depends on its status as a
partnership for federal income tax purposes, as well as the Partnership not being subject to a
material amount of entity-level taxation by states and localities. If the Internal Revenue Service
were to treat the Partnership as a corporation or if it were to become subject to entity-level
taxation for state or local tax purposes, then the Partnerships cash available for distribution to
unitholders would be substantially reduced. 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 February 28, 2007 and the Partnerships quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q available from the Partnerships offices or from the Partnerships website at
www.williamslp.com.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
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Exhibit Number
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Description |
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Exhibit 2.1 #
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Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated November 30, 2007, 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. |
Exhibit 99.1
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Press Release, dated November 30, 2007 |
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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: |
Williams Partners GP LLC,
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its General Partner |
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Date: November 30, 2007 |
/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 |
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Exhibit 2.1 #
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Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated November 30, 2007, 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. |
Exhibit 99.1
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Press Release, dated November 30, 2007 |
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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. |