Form S-3ASR
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 6, 2017

Registration No. 333-             

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

ONEOK, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

100 West Fifth Street

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103

(918) 588-7000

 

Oklahoma

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Address, Including Zip Code, and

Telephone Number, Including Area Code,

of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

73-1520922

(I.R.S. employer

identification number)

 

 

Stephen W. Lake

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary

ONEOK, Inc.

100 West Fifth Street

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103

(918) 588-7000

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Eric Grimshaw

Vice President, Associate General

Counsel and Secretary

ONEOK, Inc.

100 West Fifth Street

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103

(918) 588-7000

 

Jordan B. Edwards

GableGotwals

100 West Fifth Street, Suite 1100

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103

(918) 595-4800

 

Stuart Gelfond

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

One New York Plaza

New York, New York 10004

(212) 859-8000

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☒

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

(Check one):

Large Accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   ☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company  
Emerging growth company       

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to Be Registered

  Amount to be
Registered(1)(3)
  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit(2)
  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(2)
  Amount of
Registration Fee(4)

ONEOK, Inc. common stock, par value $0.01 per share

  10,000,000   $51.98   $519,800.00   $60,244.82

 

 

 

(1) This Registration Statement includes 10,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value (the “Common Stock”), of ONEOK, Inc. for issuance under ONEOK, Inc.’s Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
(2) Pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act, this estimate is based on the price of $51.98 per share of Common Stock, the average of the high and low sales price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on July 3, 2017, which is a date within five business days prior to the date of filing of this Registration Statement.
(3) If, as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions, the number of securities purported to be registered by this Registration Statement changes, then the provisions of Rule 416 under the Securities Act shall apply to this Registration Statement, and this Registration Statement shall be deemed to cover the additional securities resulting from the split of, or the dividend on, the securities covered by this Registration Statement.
(4) Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, the registrant is applying the filing fee of $33,208.57 associated with 3,809,552 unsold securities under its Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-198938), originally filed by the registrant on September 25, 2014, to partially offset the entire registration fee of $60,244.82 that would otherwise be due in connection with this Registration Statement. As a result, $27,036.25 is being remitted herewith.

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

 

 

10,000,000 SHARES

 

 

ONEOK, Inc.

 

 

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, offered in connection with our

DIRECT STOCK PURCHASE AND DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

 

 

Our Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”) provides a convenient way for you to purchase shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), without paying any processing fees or service charges. The Plan promotes long-term ownership in our Common Stock by offering:

 

    A simple way to increase your holdings in our Common Stock by automatically reinvesting your cash dividends;

 

    The opportunity to purchase additional shares of Common Stock by making optional cash investments of at least $25 per investment, up to a maximum of $10,000 per month; and

 

    A feature which allows you to deposit certificates representing our Common Stock into the Plan for safekeeping.

You do not have to be a current shareholder to participate in the Plan. You can purchase your first shares of our Common Stock pursuant to the Plan by making an initial investment of not less than $250 and not more than $10,000 per month. In order to participate in the Plan, you must elect to reinvest a minimum of 10% of the dividends (if any) paid on shares held in the Plan. To the extent required by state securities laws in certain jurisdictions, shares of our Common Stock that are offered under the Plan to persons who are not presently record holders of our Common Stock may be offered only through a registered broker.

Our Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “OKE.”

 

 

Investing in these securities involves certain risks. Please read “Risk Factors” on page 7 of this prospectus.

 

 

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.

 

 

The date of this Prospectus is July 6, 2017.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     1  

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     2  

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     2  

ABOUT ONEOK

     6  

RISK FACTORS

     7  

SUMMARY OF THE PLAN

     8  

INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLAN

     12  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     31  

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

     37  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION AND UNDERWRITERS

     40  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     41  

LEGAL MATTERS

     42  

EXPERTS

     42  

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

You should rely only on the information provided in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Neither we nor the Plan Administrator, Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., has authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of any securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document in which such information is contained or such other date referred to in such document, regardless of the time of any sale or issuance of a security.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. You should read this prospectus together with additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation by Reference.”

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by reference to the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Unless we otherwise indicate or unless the context requires, all references in this prospectus to:

 

    “Common Stock” means our common stock, par value $0.01 per share;

 

    “ONEOK,” “we,” “our,” “us,” or similar references mean ONEOK, Inc. and its subsidiaries, predecessors and acquired businesses;

 

    “Plan” means the ONEOK, Inc. Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan; and

 

    “Plan Administrator” or “WFSS” means Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, that registers the securities offered by this prospectus. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit some information included in the registration statement from this prospectus.

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain information about the operations of the SEC Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website that contains information we file electronically with the SEC, which you can access at www.sec.gov. Our Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: OKE), and you can obtain information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005. General information about us, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, is available free of charge through our website at www.oneok.com as soon as administratively possible after we electronically file them with, or furnish them to, the SEC. Information on, or accessible through, our website is not incorporated into this prospectus or our other securities filings and is not a part of these filings.


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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we have filed with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the previously filed information. The documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, other than any portions of the respective filings that were furnished, pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Current Reports on Form 8-K (including exhibits related thereto) or other applicable SEC rules, rather than filed, prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus are incorporated by reference in this prospectus:

 

    Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed on February 28, 2017;

 

    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017, filed on May 3, 2017;

 

    Current Reports on Form 8-K (File No. 1-13643) filed on January 19, 2017 (Item 8.01), February 1, 2017 (only the first report filed on this date) (Items 1.01/9.01 (other than Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2)), February 22, 2017 (Items 5.03/9.01), February 24, 2017 (Items 8.01/9.01), April 19, 2017 (Items 1.01/9.01, other than Exhibit 99.1), April 20, 2017 (Items 3.02/3.03/5.03/9.01), April 21, 2017 (Item 8.01), May 2, 2017 (only Item 5.02 for the first report filed on this date), May 26, 2017 (only Item 5.07 for the first report filed on this date and Item 5.02 for the second report filed on this date), June 23, 2017 (Items 8.01/9.01), June 28, 2017 (Item 1.02), July 3, 2017 (Items 1.01/2.01/2.03/5.03/5.07/9.01 (other than Exhibit 99.1)) and July 6, 2017 (Items 8.01/9.01); and

 

    the description of our Common Stock contained in our Form 8-A registration statement filed with the SEC on November 21, 1997, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating that description.

You may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to the filings unless we have specifically incorporated that exhibit by reference into the filing), at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

ONEOK, Inc.

100 West Fifth Street

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Telephone: (918) 588-7000

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information other than the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell, or soliciting an offer to buy, securities in any jurisdiction where the offer and sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of the documents containing the information, regardless of the time of its delivery or of any sale of our securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements contained and incorporated in this prospectus are forward-looking statements as defined under federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements relate to our anticipated financial performance (including projected net income, capital expenditures, cash flow and projected levels of dividends), liquidity, management’s plans and objectives for our future growth projects and other future operations (including plans to construct additional natural gas and natural gas liquids facilities and related cost estimates),

 

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our business prospects, the outcome of regulatory and legal proceedings, market conditions and other matters. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under federal securities legislation and other applicable laws. The following discussion is intended to identify important factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements include the items identified in the preceding paragraph, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations and other statements contained or incorporated in this prospectus identified by words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “should,” “goal,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “could,” “may,” “continue,” “might,” “potential,” “scheduled” and other words and terms of similar meaning.

You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Those factors may affect our operations, markets, products, services and prices. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with the forward-looking statements, factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement include, among others, the following:

 

    the effects of weather and other natural phenomena, including climate change, on our operations, demand for our services and energy prices;

 

    competition from other United States and foreign energy suppliers and transporters, as well as alternative forms of energy, including, but not limited to, solar power, wind power, geothermal energy and biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel;

 

    the capital intensive nature of our businesses;

 

    the profitability of assets or businesses acquired or constructed by us;

 

    our ability to make cost-saving changes in operations;

 

    risks of marketing, trading and hedging activities, including the risks of changes in energy prices or the financial condition of our counterparties;

 

    the uncertainty of estimates, including accruals and costs of environmental remediation;

 

    the timing and extent of changes in energy commodity prices;

 

    the effects of changes in governmental policies and regulatory actions, including changes with respect to income and other taxes, pipeline safety, environmental compliance, climate change initiatives and authorized rates of recovery of natural gas and natural gas transportation costs;

 

    the impact on drilling and production by factors beyond our control, including the demand for natural gas and crude oil; producers’ desire and ability to obtain necessary permits; reserve performance; and capacity constraints on the pipelines that transport crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) from producing areas and our facilities;

 

    difficulties or delays experienced by trucks, railroads or pipelines in delivering products to or from our terminals or pipelines;

 

    changes in demand for the use of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil because of market conditions caused by concerns about climate change;

 

    the impact of unforeseen changes in interest rates, debt and equity markets, inflation rates, economic recession and other external factors over which we have no control, including the effect on pension and postretirement expense and funding resulting from changes in equity and bond market returns;

 

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    our indebtedness could make us vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions, limit our ability to borrow additional funds and/or place us at competitive disadvantages compared with our competitors that have less debt, or have other adverse consequences;

 

    actions by rating agencies concerning the credit ratings of our debt;

 

    the results of administrative proceedings and litigation, regulatory actions, rule changes and receipt of expected clearances involving any local, state or federal regulatory body, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”), the National Transportation Safety Board, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission;

 

    our ability to access capital at competitive rates or on terms acceptable to us;

 

    risks associated with adequate supply to our gathering, processing, fractionation and pipeline facilities, including production declines that outpace new drilling or extended periods of ethane rejection;

 

    the risk that material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting could emerge or that minor problems could become significant;

 

    the impact and outcome of pending and future litigation;

 

    the ability to market pipeline capacity on favorable terms, including the effects of:

 

    future demand for and prices of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil;

 

    competitive conditions in the overall energy market;

 

    availability of supplies of Canadian and United States natural gas and crude oil; and

 

    availability of additional storage capacity;

 

    performance of contractual obligations by our customers, service providers, contractors and shippers;

 

    the timely receipt of approval by applicable governmental entities for construction and operation of our pipeline and other projects and required regulatory clearances;

 

    our ability to acquire all necessary permits, consents or other approvals in a timely manner, to promptly obtain all necessary materials and supplies required for construction, and to construct gathering, processing, storage, fractionation and transportation facilities without labor or contractor problems;

 

    the mechanical integrity of facilities operated;

 

    demand for our services in the proximity of our facilities;

 

    our ability to control operating costs;

 

    acts of nature, sabotage, terrorism or other similar acts that cause damage to our facilities or our suppliers’ or shippers’ facilities;

 

    economic climate and growth in the geographic areas in which we do business;

 

    the risk of a prolonged slowdown in growth or decline in the United States or international economies, including liquidity risks in United States or foreign credit markets;

 

    the impact of recently issued and future accounting updates and other changes in accounting policies;

 

    the possibility of future terrorist attacks or the possibility or occurrence of an outbreak of, or changes in, hostilities or changes in the political conditions in the Middle East and elsewhere;

 

    the risk of increased costs for insurance premiums, security or other items as a consequence of terrorist attacks;

 

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    risks associated with pending or possible acquisitions and dispositions, including our ability to finance or integrate any such acquisitions and any regulatory delay or conditions imposed by regulatory bodies in connection with any such acquisitions and dispositions;

 

    the impact of uncontracted capacity in our assets being greater or less than expected;

 

    the ability to recover operating costs and amounts equivalent to income taxes, costs of property, plant and equipment and regulatory assets in our state and FERC-regulated rates;

 

    the composition and quality of the natural gas and NGLs we gather and process in our plants and transport on our pipelines;

 

    the efficiency of our plants in processing natural gas and extracting and fractionating NGLs;

 

    the impact of potential impairment charges;

 

    the risk inherent in the use of information systems in our respective businesses, implementation of new software and hardware, and the impact on the timeliness of information for financial reporting;

 

    our ability to control construction costs and completion schedules of our pipelines and other projects; and

 

    the risk factors listed in the reports we have filed and may file with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference.

These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. Other factors could also have material adverse effects on our future results. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Part 1, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017 and in our other filings that we make with the SEC, which are available via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and our website at www.oneok.com. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Any such forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and other than as required under securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or change in circumstances, expectations or otherwise.

 

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ABOUT ONEOK

We are a corporation incorporated under the laws of the state of Oklahoma, and our Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “OKE.” We apply our core capabilities of gathering, processing, fractionating, transporting, storing and marketing natural gas and NGLs through the rebundling of services across the value chains through vertical integration in an effort to provide our customers with premium services at lower costs. We are a leader in the gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas in the United States. In addition, we own one of the nation’s premier natural gas liquids systems, connecting NGL supply in the Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions and the Permian Basin with key market centers.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Before you invest in our securities, you should carefully consider those risk factors included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q that are incorporated herein by reference, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference in evaluating an investment in our securities.

If any of the risks discussed in the foregoing documents were actually to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow could be materially adversely affected. In that case, our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders or pay interest on, or the principal of, any debt securities, may be reduced, the trading price of our securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

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SUMMARY OF THE PLAN

The following summary description of the Plan is qualified by reference to the full text of the Plan (as amended) contained in this prospectus. Terms used in this summary have the meanings given to them in the Plan.

The Plan amends and restates in its entirety our prior Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Current participants will automatically continue to participate in the Plan, as set forth in “Information about the Plan.”

Purpose of Plan

The purpose of the Plan is to provide a cost-free and convenient way for our shareholders to invest all or a portion of their cash dividends in additional shares of our Common Stock. The Plan also provides us with a means of raising additional capital through the direct sale of our Common Stock.

Eligibility and Enrollment

If you currently own shares of our Common Stock, you can participate in the Plan by enrolling online at shareowneronline.com or by submitting a completed Account Authorization Form by mail. You may participate directly in the Plan only if you hold our Common Stock in your own name. If you hold shares through a brokerage or other account, you may participate directly in the Plan by having your shares transferred into your own name or you may arrange to have your broker or other custodian participate on your behalf. In order to participate in the Plan, you must elect to reinvest a minimum of 10% of the dividends (if any) paid on shares held in the Plan.

If you do not own any shares of our Common Stock, you can participate in the Plan by making an initial optional cash investment in our Common Stock of at least $250 by check, one time online investment or by automatic withdrawals from your account at a U.S. or Canadian financial institution as long as the funds are in U.S. dollars.

ONEOK reserves the right to exclude from participation in the Plan persons who utilize the Plan to engage in short-term trading activities that cause aberrations in the price or trading volume of its Common Stock.

Shareholders who reside in jurisdictions in which it is unlawful for ONEOK to permit their participation are not eligible to participate in the Plan.

Reinvestment of Dividends

If you are currently a shareholder, you can reinvest your cash dividends on some or all of your Common Stock in additional shares of Common Stock without having to pay processing fees or service fees.

Optional Cash Investments up to $10,000 per Month

If you are currently a shareholder, you can buy additional shares of Common Stock without having to pay processing fees or service fees. Current shareholders can invest a minimum of $25 and a maximum of $10,000 in any month. Purchases may be made by check, one time online investment or by automatic withdrawals from your account at a U.S. or Canadian financial institution as long as the funds are in U.S. dollars.

New investors can buy their first shares directly through the Plan. The minimum initial cash investment is $250 by check, one time online investment or $25 using the automatic investment feature for at least ten consecutive transactions. Unless certain circumstances apply, initial cash investments cannot exceed $10,000 per month.

 

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Purchase Date

When WFSS purchases shares of Common Stock on behalf of a participant, those purchases are deemed to have been made on the “Purchase Date.” For additional information concerning Purchase Dates, see the section below entitled “INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLAN—12. What is a Purchase Date and when do Purchase Dates occur?”

Source of Shares

WFSS will purchase shares of Common Stock sold to participants either directly from us as newly issued shares of Common Stock or treasury shares, or from parties other than us either in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions or through a combination of the above.

Purchase Price

If WFSS purchases shares of Common Stock directly from us with reinvested dividends or optional cash investments of up to $10,000 per month, WFSS will pay a price equal to 100% (subject to change as provided below) of the average of the high and low sales prices for a share of our Common Stock reported by the New York Stock Exchange on the applicable Purchase Date, or, if no trading occurs in shares of Common Stock on the applicable Purchase Date, the first trading day immediately preceding the Purchase Date for which trades are reported, computed to four decimal places.

If WFSS purchases shares of Common Stock directly from us with optional cash investments of greater than $10,000 per month pursuant to an approved request for waiver, WFSS will purchase such shares of Common Stock pro rata over a one to fifteen day pricing period, with each day in the pricing period being a Purchase Date. The one to fifteen day pricing period is the ten consecutive trading days ending on either the dividend payment date during any month in which we pay a cash dividend or the 15th day of any month in which we do not pay a cash dividend (or if either date is not a trading day, then the first trading day immediately preceding such date). On each of the ten Purchase Dates, WFSS will pay a price equal to 100% (subject to change as provided below) of the average of the daily high and low sales prices for a share of our Common Stock reported by the New York Stock Exchange computed to four decimal places. Purchases by WFSS during the pricing period may be subject to a minimum price, as more fully described below.

The price WFSS will pay us for shares of Common Stock in the case of dividend reinvestments or optional cash investments may be discounted by up to 5% at our sole discretion. As of the date of this prospectus, there is no discount for purchases.

If WFSS purchases shares of Common Stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, then the purchase price to participants will be equal to the weighted average purchase price paid by WFSS for those shares, computed to four decimal places.

Number of Shares Offered

This prospectus covers ten million (10,000,000) shares of Common Stock. Because we expect to continue the Plan indefinitely, we expect to authorize and register additional shares from time to time as necessary for purposes of the Plan.

Advantages of the Plan

 

    Both current shareholders and new investors can participate in the Plan.

 

    The Plan provides participants with the opportunity to reinvest cash dividends in additional shares of Common Stock without having to pay processing fees or service fees.

 

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    The Plan provides participants with the opportunity to make optional cash investments, subject to minimum and maximum amounts, for the purchase of shares of Common Stock without having to pay any processing fees or service fees.

 

    From time to time, at our sole discretion, the Plan may provide up to a 5% discount on shares of Common Stock purchased from us through reinvested dividends and optional cash investments.

 

    Cash dividends paid on shares enrolled in the Plan can be fully invested in additional shares of Common Stock because the Plan permits fractional shares to be credited to participants’ accounts. Dividends on fractional shares, as well as on whole shares, may also be reinvested in additional shares which will be credited to participants’ accounts.

 

    For safekeeping purposes, a participant can convert Common Stock certificates into shares that will be credited to his or her account. As an added convenience, WFSS offers optional mail-loss insurance of up to $100,000 coverage per envelope.

 

    At the request of participants and at no charge, WFSS will send certificates to participants for whole shares credited to their accounts.

 

    At any time, a participant may request the sale of all or part of the shares credited to his or her account.

 

    Periodic statements reflecting all current activity, including purchases or sales of shares and the most recent account balance, should simplify participants’ record keeping.

 

    You may elect to have statements and other information sent to you automatically by initiating eDelivery through shareowneronline.com.

Some Disadvantages of the Plan

 

    No interest will be paid on dividends or optional cash investments held pending reinvestment or investment. In addition, optional cash investments of less than $25 and that portion of any optional cash investment that exceeds the maximum purchase limit of $10,000 per month, unless that limit has been waived, are subject to return to the participant without interest.

 

    With respect to optional cash investments in excess of $10,000 per month pursuant to an approved request for waiver, the actual number of shares to be purchased will not be determined until after the end of the relevant pricing period. Therefore, during the pricing period, participants will not know the actual price per share or number of shares they have purchased.

 

    Because optional cash investments are not necessarily invested by WFSS immediately on receipt, those payments may be exposed to changes in market conditions for a longer period of time than in the case of typical secondary market transactions.

 

    Sales of shares of Common Stock credited to a participant’s account will involve a nominal fee per transaction to be deducted from the proceeds of the sale by WFSS (if the sale is made by WFSS at the request of a participant), plus any processing fees.

 

    Shares of Common Stock credited to the participant’s account cannot be pledged unless and until the participant requests the issuance of a stock certificate for these shares, and such a stock certificate is issued.

 

    We reserve the right to exclude from participation in the Plan persons who use the Plan to engage in short-term trading activities that we deem to cause aberrations in the price or trading volume of our Common Stock. We reserve the right to modify, suspend or terminate participation in the Plan by otherwise eligible persons in order to eliminate practices which we deem inconsistent with the purposes of the Plan. Our principal executive offices are located at 100 West Fifth Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103 and our telephone number is (918) 588-7000.

 

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Please read this prospectus carefully and keep it and all account statements for future reference.

If you have any questions about the Plan, please call WFSS toll-free at 1-866-235-0232. Participants from outside the United States may call (651) 450-4064. Customer service representatives are available between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Central Time, on each business day.

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or the information we have previously filed with the SEC that is incorporated by reference herein is accurate as of any date other than its respective date.

The shares of Common Stock are not insured by the FDIC or any other government agency, are not deposits or other obligations of, and are not guaranteed by, WFSS or ONEOK, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of principal amount invested. Common Stock held in the Plan are not subject to protection under the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970. The payment of dividends by us is discretionary and dividend payments may increase, decrease or be eliminated altogether at the discretion of our Board of Directors.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission or other regulatory body has approved or disapproved the securities to be issued under this prospectus or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

We will bear the costs relating to the registration of the shares of Common Stock being offered by this prospectus, estimated to be approximately $165,245.

 

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLAN

The following questions and answers explain and constitute the governing document for the Plan.

The Plan amends and restates in its entirety our prior Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Current participants will automatically continue to participate in the Plan as set forth below.

The provisions of the Plan, in effect as of the date of this prospectus, are set forth below. Shareholders who do not elect to participate in the Plan will receive cash dividends, as declared and paid in the usual manner.

 

1. What is the purpose of the Plan?

The purpose of the Plan is to provide our shareholders and other investors with a convenient and low-cost method of purchasing shares of Common Stock and reinvesting all or a portion of their cash dividends in additional shares of Common Stock. The Plan allows current shareholders and interested new investors the opportunity to invest cash dividends and optional cash investments in additional shares of our Common Stock without payment of any processing fee or service fee. To the extent additional shares are purchased directly from us, the Plan also provides us a means of raising additional capital through the direct sale of shares of Common Stock. The Plan is primarily intended for the benefit of long-term investors, and not for the benefit of individuals or institutions who engage in short-term trading activities that could cause aberrations in the price or trading volume of our Common Stock. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of newly-issued shares of Common Stock or treasury stock for one or more of the following, depending upon circumstances at the time of such sales: repayment of indebtedness, investments in assets, working capital, and general corporate purposes.

 

2. Who will administer the Plan?

The Plan will be administered by WFSS. WFSS acts as Plan Administrator for participants, processes purchasing of shares of Common Stock acquired under the Plan, keeps records of the accounts of participants, sends regular reports of account activity to participants and performs other duties relating to the Plan. Shares purchased for each participant under the Plan will be credited to that participant’s account maintained by WFSS, unless and until a participant requests the issuance of a stock certificate for all or part of the shares or requests the sale of all or part of the shares. WFSS also serves as dividend disbursement agent, transfer agent and registrar for our Common Stock. WFSS reserves the right to resign at any time upon reasonable notice to us.

 

3. How do I correspond with WFSS?

All correspondence and inquiries concerning the Plan should be directed to WFSS as follows:

Internet

shareowneronline.com

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for access to account information and answers to many common questions and general inquiries.

To enroll in the Plan:

If you are an existing registered shareowner:

 

1. Go to shareowneronline.com

 

2. Select Sign Up Now!

 

3. Enter your Authentication ID* and Account Number

 

  * If you do not have your Authentication ID, select I do not have my Authentication ID. For security, this number is required for first time sign on.

 

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If you are a new investor:

 

1. Go to shareowneronline.com

 

2. Under Invest in a Plan, select Direct Purchase Plan

 

3. Select ONEOK, Inc.

 

4. Under New Investors, select Invest Now

 

5. Follow instructions on Buy Shares

Email

Go to shareowneronline.com and select Contact Us.

Telephone

Toll-Free: (866) 235-0232

Outside the United States: (651) 450-4064

Shareowner Relations Specialists are available Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time.

You may also access your account information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using our automated voice response system.

Written correspondence and deposit of certificated shares*

Wells Fargo Shareowner Services

P.O. Box 64856

St. Paul, MN 55164-0856

Certified and overnight delivery

Wells Fargo Shareowner Services

1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101

Mendota Heights, MN 55120-4100

 

  * If sending a certificate for deposit, see below.

 

4. Who is eligible?

All interested persons and entities, whether or not current holders of record of our Common Stock, may participate in the Plan. In order to participate in the Plan, you must elect to reinvest a minimum of 10% of the dividends (if any) paid on shares held in the Plan.

A shareholder whose shares of Common Stock are registered in his or her name may participate in the Plan directly. A beneficial owner (a shareholder whose shares of Common Stock are registered in a name other than his or her name, for example, in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee) may participate in the Plan directly upon becoming a registered holder by having the shares transferred into his or her name. Alternatively, a beneficial owner may participate in the Plan by making arrangements with his or her broker, bank or other nominee to participate in the Plan on his or her behalf.

 

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In addition, a new investor may participate in the Plan by making an initial optional cash investment in our Common Stock of not less than $250 or more than $10,000 per month subject to limited exceptions.

The right to participate in the Plan is not transferable to another person apart from a transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock. We reserve the right to exclude from participation in the Plan persons who use the Plan to engage in short-term trading activities that we deem to cause aberrations in the price or trading volume of our Common Stock. We also reserve the right to exclude initial cash investments for any reason, including failure to comply with securities laws.

In order to participate, you must fulfill conditions of participation and, if you are a citizen or resident of a country other than the United States, its territories and possessions, your participation must not violate local laws applicable to you, us or the Plan. Participants residing in jurisdictions in which their participation in the Plan would be unlawful will not be eligible to participate in the Plan. If you are a citizen or resident of a country other than the United States, before enrolling in the Plan you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to you of participation in the Plan under the tax laws of the country in which you reside.

 

5. What are the enrollment procedures?

New investors may enroll in the Plan by submitting a completed Account Authorization Form to WFSS together with a minimum initial investment of $250 by check. Alternatively, a new investor may make an initial investment by authorizing automatic withdrawals from his or her account at a U.S. or Canadian financial institution of at least $25 per investment for a minimum of ten consecutive transactions in U.S. dollars.

New investors may also enroll online at shareowneronline.com by following the instructions provided for opening a ONEOK account. New investors will be asked to complete an Account Authorization Form and to submit an initial investment. Initial investments can be made by authorizing a one-time withdrawal for at least $250 and up to a maximum of $10,000 per month, or establishing an automatic withdrawal from a U.S. or Canadian financial institution in U.S. dollars for a minimum of $25 per investment for a minimum of ten consecutive transactions.

Registered shareholders (i.e., holders of record) may enroll in the Plan online at shareowneronline.com or by submitting a completed Account Authorization Form to WFSS.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares of Common Stock registered in the name of a financial intermediary (for example, a bank, broker or other nominee), you may participate in the Plan directly after you have instructed your financial intermediary to re-register your shares in your name and those shares have been re-registered. Any costs associated with that registration will be borne by you. You may then enroll in the Plan as a registered shareholder, without having to make an initial investment. Alternatively, you may make arrangements for your financial intermediary to participate in the Plan on your behalf.

The Account Authorization Form, which is available online at shareowneronline.com or upon request from WFSS, appoints WFSS as the participant’s agent for purposes of the Plan and directs WFSS to purchase additional shares of Common Stock with the cash dividends on the number of shares of Common Stock specified by the participant on the applicable form. The Account Authorization Form also directs WFSS to purchase additional shares of Common Stock with any optional cash investments that the participant may elect to make.

WFSS will process your enrollment request as soon as administratively possible. Participation in the Plan will begin after the properly completed forms and any required payments have been accepted by WFSS.

 

6. What options for reinvesting dividends does the Account Authorization Form provide?

We typically pay dividends on our Common Stock quarterly. The payment of dividends in the future and the amount of dividend payments, if any, will depend upon our financial condition and other factors as the Board of

 

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Directors deems relevant. Dividends are paid as and when declared by our Board of Directors. There can be no assurance as to the declaration or payment of a dividend, and nothing contained in the Plan obligates us to declare or pay any dividend on our Common Stock. The Plan does not represent a guarantee of future dividends.

In order to participate in the Plan, you must elect to reinvest a minimum of 10% of the dividends (if any) paid on shares held in the Plan. You may select from the following dividend reinvestment options:

Full Dividend Reinvestment: All cash dividends payable on shares held in the Plan, along with any shares held in physical certificate form or through book-entry Direct Registration Shares (“DRS”) will be used to purchase additional shares. The participant will not receive cash dividends from ONEOK; instead, all dividends will be reinvested. Whole and fractional shares will be allocated to the Plan account. (RD)

Partial Dividend Reinvestment: A participant may elect to reinvest a portion of the dividend and receive the remainder in cash. The percentage elected will be applied to the total shares held in the Plan, along with any shares held in physical certificate form or held through book-entry DRS. A participant may elect percentages from 10%-90%, in increments of 10%. The cash portion of dividends will be sent by check unless the participant has elected to have those dividends deposited directly to a designated bank account. (RX N)

An example of partial reinvestment by percentage: A participant has a total of 150 shares; 120 shares are held in the Plan, 15 in physical certificate form and 15 shares in book entry DRS. The participant chooses to have 50% of the total dividends reinvested. This will equate to 75 shares having dividends reinvested and 75 shares having dividends paid in cash.

For each method of dividend reinvestment, dividends will be reinvested in the manner specified above until the participant specifies otherwise, or until the Plan is terminated.

 

7. Can I change my dividend reinvestment option?

Yes. You may change your dividend option online at shareowneronline.com, by calling or writing to WFSS or by submitting a new election on an Account Authorization Form to WFSS. If you do not select an option, the Plan Administrator will default your choice to full reinvestment. To be effective for a specific dividend, any change must be received by WFSS at least one business day before the record date for that dividend. The record date is usually the last business day of the month preceding the month in which a dividend is paid.

 

8. Can I discontinue dividend reinvestment?

Yes. You may discontinue reinvestment of dividends at any time online at shareowneronline.com or by giving telephone or written instructions to WFSS, provided, however, that in order to participate in the Plan you must reinvest a minimum of 10% of the dividends (if any) paid on shares held in the Plan. If WFSS receives the request to discontinue dividend reinvestment near a record date for a dividend, WFSS may either pay the dividend in cash or reinvest it under the Plan on the next Purchase Date to purchase Common Stock on your behalf. If reinvested, WFSS will sell the shares purchased and send the proceeds to you less any service fee, applicable processing fee and any other costs of sale. All per share processing fees include the applicable brokerage commissions WFSS is required to pay. After processing your request to discontinue a portion of your dividend reinvestment, any shares credited to your account under the Plan will be held in book-entry form. Dividends on any shares held in book-entry form, and on any shares held in stock certificate form, will be paid in cash by check or by direct deposit to a pre-designated account at a U.S. or Canadian financial institution of your choice.

 

9. Can I have my dividends directly deposited?

Yes. For electronic direct deposit of any dividend funds, contact WFSS to request a Direct Deposit of Dividends Authorization Form. The participant should include a voided check or deposit slip from the bank account for which to set up direct deposit. If the shares are jointly owned, all owners must sign the form. You may obtain a Direct Deposit of Dividends Authorization Form by calling WFSS at 1-866-235-0232. Alternatively you may authorize direct deposit online at shareowneronline.com.

 

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A Direct Deposit of Dividends Authorization Form will be processed and will become effective as soon as administratively possible after receipt by WFSS. You may change your designated bank account for automatic direct deposit or discontinue this feature at any time online or by submitting to WFSS a new Direct Deposit of Dividends Authorization Form or by written instruction to WFSS.

 

10. How can I make a cash investment?

You can make additional cash investments in the Plan at any time by check or by authorizing one-time or recurring automatic bank withdrawals from a U.S. or Canadian financial institution. The dollars you invest (less any applicable fees) will go towards purchasing whole and fractional shares.

Check—To make an investment by check, complete and return a Transaction Request Form (attached to your account statement) together with your payment. The check must be made payable to “Shareowner Services” in U.S. dollars. Cash, money orders, traveler’s checks or third party checks are not accepted.

One-time automatic withdrawal—You can make a one-time automatic withdrawal from a designated checking or savings account at a U.S. or Canadian financial institution in U.S. dollars by signing on to shareowneronline.com.

Recurring automatic withdrawals—You can make regular investments with automatic withdrawals from a designated checking or savings account at a U.S. or Canadian financial institution in U.S. dollars. You can authorize automatic investments by signing on to shareowneronline.com.

A new investor may make an initial investment by authorizing automatic withdrawals of at least $25 for a minimum of ten consecutive transactions.

If automatic withdrawals are used for optional cash investments, you must either (i) complete and sign the Account Authorization Form for automatic withdrawals and return it to WFSS, with either a voided blank check or a deposit slip for the bank account from which funds are to be drawn or (ii) enroll online at shareowneronline.com. The Account Authorization Forms will be processed and will become effective as soon as administratively possible; however, you should allow four to six weeks for the first investment to be initiated using this automatic investment feature.

Once automatic withdrawals begin, funds will be withdrawn from your bank account on either the 1st day or the 15th day of each month, or both (at your option), or on the next business day if either of those days is not a business day. Funds normally will be invested within five business days.

Automatic withdrawals will continue indefinitely until you notify WFSS online, by telephone or in writing that the automatic withdrawals are to be changed or stopped.

You must complete a new Account Authorization Form for automatic withdrawals when you transfer ownership of shares or otherwise establish a new account on WFSS’ records, or close or change your designated bank account or are assigned a new account number by your bank.

To be effective with respect to a particular investment date, a change request must be received by the Plan Administrator at least 15 trading days prior to the investment date.

In the event that your check for a cash investment is returned unpaid for any reason, or an authorized automatic withdrawal cannot be effected, WFSS will consider the request for investment of such funds null and void. WFSS shall immediately remove from your account those shares, if any, purchased upon the prior credit of such funds. WFSS shall thereupon be entitled to sell shares to satisfy any uncollected amount plus any applicable fees. If the net proceeds of the sale of such shares are insufficient to satisfy the balance of such uncollected amounts, WFSS shall be entitled to sell such additional shares from your account as may be necessary to satisfy the uncollected balance.

 

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Other forms of Payment.

Optional cash investments in excess of $10,000 per month pursuant to a request for waiver that we approve may be made only by wire transfer. Wire transfers made pursuant to a request for waiver must be received by WFSS by 2:00 p.m., Central Time, on the business day before the first day of the relevant pricing period (as described below).

 

11. How do I make optional cash investments up to $10,000 per month?

If you are a current shareholder, you may make optional cash investments by check, one-time online investment or automatic withdrawals from your account at a U.S. or Canadian financial institution in U.S. dollars in the minimum amount of $25, up to a maximum amount of $10,000 per month.

If you are a new investor, the minimum initial investment is $250 by check, one-time online investment or $25 by automatic withdrawal from a U.S. or Canadian financial institution in U.S. dollars for a minimum of ten consecutive transactions.

Except when accompanied by an approved Request for Waiver Form, the aggregate of your optional cash investments cannot exceed $10,000 per month. Optional cash investments up to $10,000 per month must be received by WFSS one business day prior to a Purchase Date in order to be invested on that Purchase Date. Cash received after that date will be held by WFSS for purchases to be made on the next Purchase Date.

No interest will be paid on payments received and held pending investment by WFSS.

We may adjust all minimum and maximum Plan investment amounts at our discretion from time to time after notification to all participants. Amounts representing uninvested optional cash payments will be returned to you promptly following your telephone or written request received by WFSS not less than two business days before a Purchase Date.

Participants should be aware that because investments under the Plan are made as of specified dates, one may lose any advantage that otherwise might be available from being able to select the timing of an investment. Neither we nor WFSS can assure a profit or protect against a loss on shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan.

 

12. What is a Purchase Date and when do Purchase Dates occur?

The “Purchase Date” is the date or dates on which shares of Common Stock are deemed to have been purchased with reinvested dividends or optional cash payments and which are used to calculate the purchase price of the purchased shares. The Purchase Date under the Plan depends on whether you purchase the shares with reinvested dividends or optional cash payments and whether we issue new shares to you or WFSS obtains your shares by purchasing them from parties other than us.

 

    Reinvested Dividends: If shares acquired with reinvested dividends are acquired directly from us, the Purchase Date is the dividend payment date (or if that date is not a trading day, then the first trading day immediately preceding that date). If shares acquired with reinvested dividends are acquired from parties other than us either in open market or privately negotiated purchases, the Purchase Date will be the date or dates on which those purchases occur, which will commence on the applicable dividend payment date and will be completed no later than 30 days following the dividend payment date, except where completion at a later date is necessary or advisable under any applicable federal or state securities laws or regulations. The record date associated with a particular dividend is referred to in this Plan as a “dividend record date.”

 

   

Optional Cash Investments up to $10,000 per month: If shares will be purchased directly from us with optional cash investments up to $10,000 per month, a Purchase Date will occur generally once every

 

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five business days for all such purchases. If WFSS acquires shares from parties other than us either in open market or privately negotiated purchases, such purchases will begin on the day that would be deemed the Purchase Date if the shares were acquired directly from us and will be completed no later than 35 days following such date, except where completion at a later date is necessary or advisable under any applicable federal or state securities laws or regulations. Optional cash investments up to $10,000 per month must be received by WFSS one business day prior to a Purchase Date in order to be invested on that Purchase Date. Otherwise the cash will not be invested until the next Purchase Date.

 

    Optional Cash Investments in Excess of $10,000 per month: If shares of Common Stock will be purchased directly from us with an optional cash investment in excess of $10,000 per month pursuant to an approved request for waiver, then there will be ten (10) Purchase Dates, each of which will occur on a separate day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for business in a “pricing period” (as defined in the next paragraph), with one-tenth (1/10 or 10%) of your optional cash investment being invested on each Purchase Date, subject to the qualifications set forth in greater detail below. The purchase price may be reduced by any discount that we have provided for optional cash investments in excess of $10,000 per month on that Purchase Date. WFSS must receive your optional cash investment in good funds along with an approved Request For Waiver Form not later than the trading day immediately preceding the commencement of the pricing period. Otherwise, the cash will not be invested until the next pricing period.

The “pricing period” is the period encompassing the ten consecutive trading days ending on either (1) the dividend payment date during any month in which we pay a cash dividend or (2) the 15th day of any month in which we do not pay a cash dividend (or if either date is not a trading day, then the first trading day immediately preceding such date).

 

13. What is the source of Common Stock purchased through the Plan?

WFSS will, at our discretion, purchase shares of Common Stock sold to participants either directly from us as newly issued shares of Common Stock or treasury shares, or from parties other than us either in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions or through a combination of the above.

Full and fractional shares acquired under the Plan will be calculated and credited to participants’ accounts. The number of shares purchased will be the total amount invested divided by the applicable purchase price per share as described below.

 

14. What is the purchase price for shares purchased through the Plan?

The purchase price under the Plan depends in part on whether the shares are purchased from us or from parties other than us. The purchase price also depends on whether we are offering discounts on purchases under the Plan at that time.

Reinvested Dividends

If shares of Common Stock are purchased directly from us with reinvested dividends, the purchase price to you will equal 100% (subject to change as provided below) of the average of the high and low sales prices for a share of Common Stock reported by the New York Stock Exchange on the applicable Purchase Date, or, if no trading occurs in shares of Common Stock on the applicable Purchase Date, the first trading day immediately preceding the Purchase Date for which trades are reported, computed to four decimal places. The purchase price may be reduced by up to 5% if we are offering a discount on purchases with reinvested dividends on the applicable Purchase Date.

If the shares of Common Stock are purchased in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, then the purchase price to you will equal the weighted average purchase price paid for those shares, computed to four decimal places. Discounts will not be available when shares are purchased from persons other than us.

 

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Optional Cash Investments up to $10,000 per month

If shares of Common Stock purchased with optional cash payments up to $10,000 per month are purchased directly from us the purchase price to you will equal 100% (subject to change as provided below) of the average of the high and low sales prices for a share of Common Stock reported by the New York Stock Exchange on the applicable Purchase Date, or, if no trading occurs in shares of Common Stock on the applicable Purchase Date, the first trading day immediately preceding the Purchase Date for which trades are reported, computed to four decimal places. The purchase price may be reduced by up to 5% if we are offering a discount on purchases with optional cash investments up to $10,000 per month on the applicable Purchase Date.

If WFSS purchases shares of Common Stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, then the purchase price will be a price equal to the weighted average purchase price paid by WFSS for those shares, computed to four decimal places. Discounts are not available when shares are purchased from persons other than us.

Optional Cash Investments in Excess of $10,000 per month

To determine the purchase price of shares of Common Stock purchased from us pursuant to a request to make a cash investment of more than $10,000 monthly (including any initial investments in excess of $10,000 per month) (“Large Cash Purchase request”), we will fix the number of trading days in the “pricing period” for the applicable investment. The pricing period generally will consist of one to 15 consecutive trading days, unless the pricing period is extended as described below. On each trading day, we will generally apply an equal portion of the amount approved for investment pursuant to a Large Cash Purchase request to the purchase of shares of Common Stock, subject to the qualifications described below. Each day in the pricing period on which shares of Common Stock are purchased is referred to as a “Purchase Date.” The price for shares of Common Stock purchased on each Purchase Date in a pricing period will be equal to 100% (less any applicable discount, as described below) of the composite volume weighted average price, rounded to four decimal places, of shares of Common Stock, as traded on the composite exchanges during regular New York Stock Exchange hours on the Purchase Date. We will obtain this composite exchange pricing information from Reuters or, if Reuters is no longer providing this information, another authoritative source.

We may establish for each pricing period a minimum, or “threshold,” price applicable to purchases made pursuant to a Large Cash Purchase request (a “Minimum Waiver Price”). We will make this determination in our discretion after a review of, among other factors, current market conditions, the level of participation in the Plan and our current and projected capital needs. We will notify an investor of the establishment of a threshold price at the time the Large Cash Purchase request has been approved.

If established for any pricing period, the threshold price will be stated as a dollar amount which the composite volume weighted average price of shares of Common Stock, rounded to four decimal places, as traded during regular New York Stock Exchange hours, must equal or exceed for each trading day of such pricing period (not adjusted for discounts, if any) in order for such trading day to be considered a Purchase Date. Except as provided below, any trading day for which such volume weighted average price is less than the applicable threshold price will not be considered a Purchase Date, and no funds will be invested in shares of Common Stock on that date. Funds that are not invested will be returned without interest, as described below.

We will return, without interest, any amount to be invested pursuant to a Large Cash Purchase request that is not applied to the purchase of shares of Common Stock because the threshold price is not met or shares of Common Stock are not traded on the composite exchanges on any trading day during a pricing period or extension, as applicable. Any such uninvested funds will be returned within five business days after the last day of the applicable pricing period, as it may be extended. The amount returned will be based on the number of days on which the threshold price was not satisfied or no trades were reported on the composite exchanges compared to the total number of days in the pricing period or extended pricing period, as applicable. For example, the amount returned for a ten-day pricing period will equal one-tenth of the total amount of your proposed Large Cash Purchase investment for each trading day on which the threshold price is not satisfied or shares of Common Stock are not traded on the composite exchanges.

 

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The establishment of the Minimum Waiver Price and the possible return of a portion of the investment applies only to optional cash investments in excess of $10,000 per month made pursuant to a granted waiver. Setting a Minimum Waiver Price for a pricing period will not affect the setting of a Minimum Waiver Price for any other pricing period. We may waive our right to set a Minimum Waiver Price for any particular month.

Neither we nor WFSS is required to give you notice of the Minimum Waiver Price for any pricing period.

If we establish a Minimum Waiver Price for any pricing period, we may elect to extend that pricing period. If we do so, the initial pricing period may be extended by the number of trading days during the initial pricing period, up to five trading days, during which the Minimum Waiver Price is not satisfied or there are no trades of shares of Common Stock on the composite exchanges.

Discount

A discount of up to 5% may be offered, in ONEOK’s sole discretion, with respect to a particular Purchase Date to participants on purchases of shares of Common Stock directly from us through dividend reinvestment, optional cash investments up to $10,000 per month, and optional cash investments in excess of $10,000 per month. Information regarding any such offer of a discount may be obtained by contacting ONEOK or by visiting our website at www.oneok.com. We will announce the discount rate, if any, by the third business day before the Purchase Date with respect to dividend reinvestments and optional cash investments up to $10,000 per month. The discount rate, if any, on optional cash purchases in excess of $10,000 per month will be announced at least two business days before the first day of the pricing period. As of the date of this prospectus, there is no discount for purchases.

 

15. May I add my certificated shares of Common Stock to my Plan account for safekeeping?

Yes. You may use the Plan’s “share safekeeping” service to deposit any Common Stock certificates in your possession with WFSS. Shares deposited will be credited to your account. By using the Plan’s share safekeeping service, you no longer bear the risks associated with loss, theft or destruction of stock certificates.

WFSS will promptly send you a statement confirming each certificate deposit. Shares deposited and credited to your account with WFSS may be transferred or sold in a convenient and efficient manner.

 

16. How do I send my certificates to WFSS for safekeeping?

A participant may elect to deposit physical Common Stock certificate(s) for safekeeping, by sending the certificate(s) to the Plan Administrator together with instructions to deposit the certificate(s). The certificate(s) will show as surrendered with the corresponding credit to Plan shares. The transaction will appear on the Plan account statement, and shares will be held by the Plan Administrator in its name or nominee name. These shares will be held until the participant sells, withdraws or terminates participation in the Plan. Because the participant bears the risk of loss in sending stock certificate(s), it is recommended that the participant sends them registered, insured for at least 3% of the current market value and request a return receipt. The participant is advised that choosing registered, express or certified mail alone will not provide full protection, should the certificates become lost or stolen. Mail loss insurance provides the coverage needed to replace and reissue the shares should they become lost or stolen through the mail. As the Plan Administrator, WFSS can provide loss insurance for certificates being returned for conversion to book-entry form. Replacement transaction fees may also apply.

To take advantage of the optional mail loss insurance, simply include a check in the amount of $10.00, made payable to “WFSS Surety Program”, along with the certificates and instructions. Choose an accountable mail delivery service such as Federal Express, United Parcel Service, DHL, Express Mail, Purolator, TNT, or United States Postal Service Registered Mail. Any one shipping package may not contain certificates exceeding a total value of $100,000. The value of certificated shares is based on the closing market price of our Common Stock on the trading day prior to the documented mail date.

 

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Claims related to lost certificates under this service must be made within 60 days of the documented delivery service mail date. A copy of the certificate(s) mailed, along with proof that it was sent by trackable mail should be submitted with the claim. This is specific coverage for the purpose of converting shares to book-entry form and the surety is not intended to cover certificates being tendered for certificate breakdown or exchange for other certificates.

 

17. Can I have a certificate issued for shares credited to my account?

Yes. Shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan, and any certificated shares you may deposit for safekeeping, will be credited to your account. WFSS will report the number of shares (including fractional shares) credited to your account as soon as administratively possible after each purchase. You may obtain a certificate for all or any portion of the whole shares credited to your account at any time by sending in a written request to WFSS. Any remaining whole or fractional shares will continue to be credited to your account. If you request a certificate for all shares credited to your account, a certificate will be issued for the whole shares and a cash payment will be made for any remaining fractional share. That cash payment will be based upon the then-current market price of our Common Stock, less any service fee, any applicable processing fee and any other costs of sale. Withdrawal of shares in the form of a certificate in no way affects dividend reinvestment or payment of cash dividends on those shares.

 

18. How do I sell shares credited to my account?

Sales are usually made through an affiliated broker, who will receive brokerage commissions. Typically, the shares are sold through the exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are traded. Depending on the number of shares of Common Stock to be sold and current trading volume, sale transactions may be completed in multiple transactions and over the course of more than one day. All sales are subject to market conditions, system availability, restrictions and other factors. The actual sale date, time or price received for any shares sold through the Plan cannot be guaranteed.

Participants may instruct the Plan Administrator to sell shares under the Plan through a Batch Order, Market Order, Day Limit Order, Good-’Til-Date/Canceled Limit Order or Stop Order.

Batch Order (online, telephone, mail)—The Plan Administrator will combine each request to sell through the Plan with other Plan participant sale requests for a Batch Order. Shares are then periodically submitted in bulk to a broker for sale on the open market. Shares will be sold no later than five business days after WFSS receives a sale request (except where deferral is necessary under state or federal regulations). Bulk sales may be executed in multiple transactions and over more than one day depending on the number of shares being sold and current trading volumes. Once entered, a Batch Order request cannot be canceled.

Market Order (online or telephone)—The participant’s request to sell shares in a Market Order will be at the prevailing market price when the trade is executed. If such an order is placed during market hours, the Plan Administrator will promptly submit the shares to a broker for sale on the open market. Once entered, a Market Order request cannot be canceled. Sales requests submitted near the close of the market may be executed on the next trading day, along with other requests received after market close.

Day Limit Order (online or telephone)—The participant’s request to sell shares in a Day Limit Order will be promptly submitted by the Plan Administrator to a broker. The broker will execute as a Market Order when and if the stock reaches, or exceeds the specified price on the day the order was placed (for orders placed outside of market hours, the next trading day). The order is automatically canceled if the price is not met by the end of that trading day. Depending on the number of shares being sold and current trading volumes, the order may only be partially filled and the remainder of the order canceled. Once entered, a Day Limit Order request cannot be canceled by the participant.

 

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Good-’Til-Date/Canceled (GTD/GTC) Limit Order (online or telephone)—A GTD/GTC Limit Order request will be promptly submitted by the Plan Administrator to a broker. The broker will execute as a Market Order when and if the stock reaches, or exceeds the specified price at any time while the order remains open (up to the date requested or 90 days for GTC). Depending on the number of shares being sold and current trading volumes, sales may be executed in multiple transactions and may be traded on more than one day. The order or any unexecuted portion will be automatically canceled if the price is not met by the end of the order period. The order may also be canceled by the applicable stock exchange or the participant.

Stop Order (online or telephone)—The Plan Administrator will promptly submit a participant’s request to sell shares in a Stop Order to a broker. A sale will be executed when the stock reaches a specified price, at which time the Stop Order becomes a Market Order and the sale will be at the prevailing market price when the trade is executed. The price specified in the order must be below the current market price (generally used to limit a market loss).

Sales proceeds will be net of any fees to be paid by the participant (see Investment Summary and Fees for details). The Plan Administrator will deduct any fees or applicable tax withholding from the sale proceeds. Sales processed on accounts without a valid Form W-9 for U.S. citizens or Form W-8BEN for non-U.S. citizens will be subject to Federal Backup Withholding. This tax can be avoided by furnishing the appropriate and valid form prior to the sale. Forms are available online at shareowneronline.com.

A check for the proceeds of the sale of shares (in U.S. dollars), less applicable taxes and fees, will generally be mailed by first class mail as soon as administratively possible after the trade date. If a participant submits a request to sell all or part of the participant’s shares held in the Plan, and the participant requests net proceeds to be automatically deposited to a checking or savings account, the participant must provide a voided blank check for a checking account or blank savings deposit slip for a savings account. If the participant is unable to provide a voided check or deposit slip, the participant’s written request must have the participant’s signature(s) medallion guaranteed by an eligible financial institution for direct deposit. Requests for automatic deposit of sale proceeds that do not provide the required documentation will not be processed and a check for the net proceeds will be issued.

A participant who wishes to sell shares currently held in certificate form may send them in for deposit to the Plan Administrator and then proceed with the sale. To sell shares through a broker of their choice, the participant may request the broker to transfer shares electronically from the Plan account to the participant’s brokerage account. Alternatively, a stock certificate can be requested that the participant can deliver to their broker.

The price of shares of Common Stock may fluctuate between the time the sale request is received and the time the sale is completed on the open market. The Plan Administrator shall not be liable for any claim arising out of failure to sell on a certain date or at a specific price. Neither WFSS nor any of its affiliates will provide any investment recommendations or investment advice with respect to transactions made through the Plan. This risk should be evaluated by the participant and is a risk that is borne solely by the participant.

Our Securities/Insider Trading Policy provides that officers, directors and employees may not trade shares of Common Stock if in possession of material, non-public information about the company. Sales of shares of Common Stock by officers, directors and employees, including Section 16 officers, must be made in compliance with such policy.

 

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Investment Summary and Fees

Summary

 

Minimum cash investments

  

Minimum one-time initial purchase for new investors*

   $ 250.00  

* Or 10 minimum recurring automatic investments

   $ 25.00  

Minimum one-time optional cash purchase

   $ 25.00  

Minimum recurring automatic investments

   $ 25.00  

Maximum cash investments

  

Maximum monthly investment

   $ 10,000.00  

Dividend Reinvestment options

  

Reinvest options

     Full, Partial  

Maximum cash investments

  

Maximum monthly investment

  

Fees

 

Investment fees

  

Initial enrollment (new investors only)

   $ 10.00  

Dividend reinvestment

     Company Paid  

Check investment

     Company Paid  

One-time automatic investment

     Company Paid  

Recurring automatic investment

     Company Paid  

Dividend purchase trading commission per share

     Company Paid  

Optional cash purchase trading commission per share

     Company Paid  

Sales fees

  

Batch Order

   $ 15.00  

Market Order

   $ 25.00  

Limit Order per transaction (Day/GTD/GTC)

   $ 30.00  

Stop Order

   $ 30.00  

Sale trading commission per share

   $ 0.10  

Direct deposit of sales proceeds

   $ 5.00  

Other fees

  

Certificate issuance

     Company Paid  

Certificate deposit

     Company Paid  

Returned check / Rejected automatic bank withdrawals

     35.00 per item  

Prior year duplicate statements

     15.00 per year  

The processing fees may change at any time, without notice to you. Proceeds are normally paid by check and mailed by first class mail as soon as administratively possible after settlement date.

WFSS reserves the right to decline to process a sale if it determines, in its sole discretion, that supporting legal documentation is required. In addition, no one will have any authority or power to direct the time or price at which shares for the Plan are sold, and no one, other than WFSS, will select the broker(s) through or from whom sales are to be made.

 

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You should be aware that the price of our Common Stock may rise or fall during the period between a request for sale, its receipt by WFSS and the ultimate sale on the open market. Instructions sent to WFSS to sell shares are binding and may not be rescinded. If you prefer to have complete control as to the exact timing and sales prices, you can transfer the shares to a broker of your own choosing and sell them through that broker.

 

19. Can I transfer shares that are credited to my account?

Yes. To authorize a transfer or gift of Common Stock, you must submit a Stock Power Form with instructions to transfer ownership of shares, to the Plan Administrator. This form can be found on our website at shareowneronline.com. For additional assistance regarding the transfer of Plan shares, contact the Plan Administrator. This form will require a “Medallion Signature Guarantee” by a financial institution. A Medallion Signature Guarantee is a special guarantee for securities and may be obtained through a financial institution such as a broker, bank, savings and loan association, or credit union who participates in the Medallion Signature Guarantee program. The guarantee ensures that the individual requesting the transfer of securities is the owner of those securities. Most banks and brokers participate in the Medallion Signature Guarantee program.

If your request to transfer all Plan shares in an account is received between a dividend record date and payable date, the request will be processed and a separate dividend check will be mailed to you.

You can also gift shares from a Plan account to a non-participant by making an initial cash investment to establish an account in the recipient’s name. An optional cash investment can also be submitted on your behalf (see Investment Summary and Fees for Minimum and Maximum Cash Investment amounts). If your investments or transfers are made to an existing account, dividends on the shares credited to such investments or transfers will be invested in accordance with your existing elections.

 

20. What if ONEOK issues a stock dividend or declares a stock split? What happens in the event of a rights offering?

It is understood that any stock dividends or stock splits distributed by ONEOK on shares of Common Stock held by the Plan Administrator for the participant will be credited to the participant’s account pursuant to the participant’s dividend election. This will include all whole and fractional shares.

In the event that ONEOK makes available to its shareowners any rights to subscribe for additional shares of Common Stock, the rights to subscribe will be based on any shares held in and outside of the Plan. Any new shares of Common Stock distributed by ONEOK resulting from the exercise of the rights will be issued directly to the participant.

 

21. What reports will I receive?

Whenever you purchase, sell or deposit shares through the Plan, you will promptly receive from WFSS a statement with the details of the transaction, unless you are participating in the Plan through your broker, bank or nominee. All shares you hold or purchase through the Plan are recorded in the same account. After each dividend reinvestment or optional investment, you will receive from WFSS a detailed statement showing the amount of the latest dividend reinvested or optional investment, the purchase price per share, the number of shares purchased and the total shares credited to your account. The statement also will show year-to-date account information. You should retain these statements to establish the cost basis of shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan for income tax purposes. You may also obtain information about your account by accessing it through the WFSS website, shareowneronline.com.

You may elect to have your statements and other information sent to you automatically by initiating eDelivery through shareowneronline.com.

 

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In addition, you will receive copies of the same communications sent to all other holders of record of our Common Stock. This includes our annual report to shareholders, quarterly reports to shareholders, the notice of annual meeting and proxy statement. You will also be furnished with Internal Revenue Service information for reporting dividends paid and proceeds derived from any sale of shares credited to your account in the form and manner as the Internal Revenue Service may require. All notices, statements and reports from WFSS to you will be addressed to your latest address of record with WFSS.

In order to insure receipt of Plan reports and information, you must promptly notify WFSS of any change of address.

 

22. Are there costs associated with participation?

All costs for the purchase of shares and administration of the Plan will be paid by us with the exception of:

 

    Costs associated with automatic investments that may be assessed by your financial institution.

 

    Any costs resulting from your having insufficient funds to effect payment for initial and/or optional cash investments.

 

    Those costs associated with your direction to WFSS to sell all or a portion of your shares.

 

    Those costs related to a sale of a fractional share.

Additionally, ONEOK may require waiver participants to pay reasonable costs associated with purchases made under a waiver.

 

23. Can I pledge or assign shares credited to my account?

No. Shares of Common Stock credited to your account may not be pledged or assigned. If you wish to pledge shares of Common Stock credited to your account, you must request that those shares be issued in your name.

 

24. How do I vote shares credited to my account at shareholders’ meetings?

You have the right to vote all shares of Common Stock held in your Plan account. You will be sent the proxy material and are encouraged to read the information carefully. You may vote online, by telephone or by returning the signed, dated proxy card. Your shares will be voted in accordance with your most recent instructions. In the event you do not provide direction for voting, the Plan shares will not be voted.

 

25. Can the Plan be terminated, suspended or modified?

Yes. We reserve the right to terminate, suspend or modify the Plan at any time, in whole or in part, in respect to participants in one or more jurisdictions. All affected participants will receive notice of any termination, suspension or modification of the Plan.

 

26. What are the responsibilities of ONEOK and WFSS under the Plan?

The Plan Administrator, its nominee and ONEOK shall have no responsibility beyond the exercise of ordinary care for any action taken or omitted pursuant to the Plan, nor shall they have any duties, responsibilities or liabilities except as expressly set forth herein.

In administering the Plan, neither ONEOK, the Plan Administrator nor any independent agent selected by the Plan Administrator shall be liable for any good faith act or omission to act, including, but not limited to any claim of liability (i) arising out of the failure to terminate a participant’s account upon such participant’s death

 

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prior to receipt of a notice in writing of such death, (ii) with respect to the prices or times at which shares of Common Stock are purchased or sold, or (iii) as to the value of shares of Common Stock acquired for participants. Buying and selling shares of Common Stock involves investment risk. The price may fall or rise during the period between a request for investment or sale, its receipt by the Plan Administrator, and the ultimate transaction in the open market. Any decision to purchase or sell securities through the Plan must be made by the participant based upon his or her own research and judgment. The price risk will be borne solely by the participant.

The Plan Administrator is acting solely as agent for ONEOK and owes no duties, fiduciary or otherwise, to any other person by reason of the Plan, and no implied duties, fiduciary or otherwise, shall be read into the Plan. The Plan Administrator undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are expressly set forth herein, to be performed by it, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into the Plan against the Plan Administrator or ONEOK.

In the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on its part, the Plan Administrator, whether acting directly or through agents or attorneys, shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted or for any error of judgment made by it in the performance of its duties hereunder. In no event shall the Plan Administrator be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profit), even if the Plan Administrator has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

The Plan Administrator shall: (i) not be required to and shall make no representations and have no responsibilities as to the validity, accuracy, value or genuineness of any signatures or endorsements, other than its own; and (ii) not be obligated to take any legal action hereunder that might, in its judgment, involve any expense or liability, unless it has been furnished with reasonable indemnity.

The Plan Administrator shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under the Plan arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fires; floods; wars; civil or military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities; computer (hardware or software) or communications services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority or governmental actions; it being understood that the Plan Administrator shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as administratively possible under the circumstances.

The Plan Administrator is authorized to choose a broker, including an affiliated broker, at its sole discretion to facilitate purchases and sales of shares of Common Stock by Plan participants. The Plan Administrator will furnish the name of the registered broker, including any affiliated broker, utilized in share transactions within a reasonable time upon written request from the participant.

ONEOK and the Plan Administrator may agree from time to time to amendments and modifications of the Plan.

The Plan Administrator may, for various reasons, require a transaction request to be submitted in writing. Contact the Plan Administrator to determine if a particular request, including any sales request, must be submitted in writing.

Any notice, instruction, request, election or direction that is required or permitted under the Plan shall become effective when received by the Plan Administrator. Such notice, instruction, request, election or direction shall be mailed to the address set forth in this prospectus.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, participants may not sell, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise assign or transfer the participant’s account, any interest therein or any cash or shares credited to the participant’s

 

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account. No attempt at any such sale, pledge, hypothecation or other assignment or transfer shall be effective. Nothing herein shall affect a shareowner’s rights in respect to shares for which certificate(s) have been received.

The Plan Administrator may terminate the account at any time by notice in writing mailed to the participant.

Participants will not earn interest on funds held by the Plan Administrator. During the period that an optional cash investment is pending, the collected funds in the possession of the Plan Administrator may be invested in certain Permitted Investments. For purposes of this Plan, “Permitted Investments” shall mean the Plan Administrator may hold the funds uninvested or invested in select Wells Fargo deposit products. The risk of any loss from such Permitted Investments shall be the responsibility of the Plan Administrator. Investment income from such Permitted Investments shall be retained by the Plan Administrator.

 

27. Can my participation in the Plan be terminated?

If you do not own at least one whole share registered in your name in stock certificate form or credited to your account, your participation in the Plan may be terminated. In that event, you would receive a cash payment for the fractional share remaining in your account based on the then-current market price of our Common Stock, less any service fee, any applicable processing fee and any other costs of sale.

 

28. What law governs the Plan?

The Plan and its operations are governed by the laws of the State of Oklahoma and federal securities laws, if applicable.

 

29. Can I make an optional cash investment in excess of $10,000 per month?

Submission of Requests for Waiver

A Large Cash Purchase may be made only by investors that submit a request for waiver. Large Cash Purchase requests may be approved by us in our sole discretion at any time. Investors who wish to make Large Cash Purchases for any month should telephone ONEOK at (918) 588-7000 or access ONEOK’s corporate website to determine if we will be considering Large Cash Purchase requests for such month. When you inquire, you will be informed of one of the following:

 

    that we are not currently considering Large Cash Purchase requests; or

 

    that we will be considering Large Cash Purchase requests, in which case we will provide information about submitting a Large Cash Purchase Request Form.

Large Cash Purchase Request Forms may be obtained by telephoning (918) 588-7000 or through our transfer agent WFSS at shareowneronline.com. We must receive completed Large Cash Purchase requests via facsimile at (918) 588-7960 by no later than 4:00 p.m. Central Time on the third business day before the first day of the “pricing period” for the applicable waiver period, as described below. We will notify by return email or by telephone any investor whose Large Cash Purchase request has been approved (including the amount of the investment approved) by 4:00 p.m. Central Time on the second business day before the first day of the applicable pricing period. The Plan Administrator must receive good funds relating to any approved Large Cash Purchase request by wire transfer to the account designated by us no later than 2:00 p.m. Central Time on the business day before the first day of the applicable pricing period. All such funds received after 2:00 p.m. Central Time on such business day may be returned without interest.

Action on Large Cash Purchase Requests.

We have the sole discretion to grant or refuse to grant, in whole or in part, a Large Cash Purchase request. In acting on a Large Cash Purchase request, we will consider relevant factors, including without limitation:

 

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    whether the Plan is then purchasing shares of Common Stock from us or in the open market;

 

    our need for additional funds;

 

    the attractiveness of obtaining funds through the sales of shares of Common Stock under the Plan compared to other available sources of funds;

 

    the purchase price likely to apply to any sales of shares of Common Stock under the Plan;

 

    the party submitting the request, including the extent and nature of that party’s prior participation in the Plan and the number of shares of Common Stock held by that party; and

 

    the aggregate amount of Large Cash Purchases in excess of $10,000 monthly for which we have received Large Cash Purchase requests under the Plan.

Large Cash Purchases

Large Cash Purchases will be priced as follows:

 

    To determine the purchase price of shares of Common Stock purchased from us pursuant to a Large Cash Purchase request, we will fix the number of trading days in the “pricing period” for the applicable investment. The pricing period generally will consist of one to 15 consecutive trading days, unless the pricing period is extended as described below. On each trading day, we will generally apply an equal portion of the amount approved for investment pursuant to a Large Cash Purchase request to the purchase of shares of Common Stock, subject to the qualifications described below. Each day in the pricing period on which shares of Common Stock are purchased is referred to as a “Large Cash Purchase Date.” The price for shares of Common Stock purchased on each Large Cash Purchase Date in a pricing period will be equal to 100% (less any applicable discount, as described below) of the composite volume weighted average price, rounded to four decimal places, of shares of Common Stock, as traded on the composite exchanges during regular New York Stock Exchange hours on the Large Cash Purchase Date. We will obtain this composite exchange pricing information from Reuters or, if Reuters is no longer providing this information, another authoritative source.

 

    We may establish for each pricing period a minimum, or “threshold,” price applicable to purchases made pursuant to a Large Cash Purchase request. We will make this determination in our discretion after a review of, among other factors, current market conditions, the level of participation in the Plan and our current and projected capital needs. We will notify an investor of the establishment of a threshold price at the time the Large Cash Purchase request has been approved.

 

    If established for any pricing period, the threshold price will be stated as a dollar amount which the composite volume weighted average price of shares of Common Stock, rounded to four decimal places, as traded during regular New York Stock Exchange hours, must equal or exceed for each trading day of such pricing period (not adjusted for discounts, if any) in order for such trading day to be considered a Large Cash Purchase Date. Except as provided below, any trading day for which such volume weighted average price is less than the applicable threshold price will not be considered a Large Cash Purchase Date, and no funds will be invested in shares of Common Stock on that date. Funds that are not invested will be returned without interest, as described below.

 

    The establishment of the threshold price and the potential return of a portion of investment funds apply only to investments made pursuant to Large Cash Purchase requests. Establishing a threshold price for a particular pricing period will not affect the establishment of a threshold price for any subsequent pricing period.

 

    If we establish a threshold price for any pricing period, we may elect to extend that pricing period. If we do so, the initial pricing period may be extended by the number of trading days during the initial pricing period, up to three trading days, during which the threshold price is not satisfied or there are no trades of shares of Common Stock on the composite exchanges.

 

 

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    Neither we nor the Plan Administrator are required to notify you that a threshold price has been established for any pricing period.

 

    If we elect to grant a pricing period extension and the threshold price is satisfied for any additional trading day during an extension, that trading day will be included as a Large Cash Purchase Date for the extended pricing period. For example, if the extension feature is in use and the initial pricing period is ten trading days, but the threshold price is not satisfied on three out of those ten days, the pricing period may be extended by three trading days. If the threshold price is satisfied on any of the three trading days during the extension period, each of those three trading days will be a Large Cash Purchase Date for that pricing period.

 

    We may, in our sole discretion, establish a discount from the market price otherwise applicable to Large Cash Purchases (including initial investments) made pursuant to a request for waiver, but we are not obligated to do so. Any discount (including any applicable brokerage fees paid by us) may be 0.0% to 5.0% of the regular market price and may be varied by us in our sole discretion. We may establish any discount in our sole discretion after a review of, among other factors, current market conditions, the level of participation in the Plan, the attractiveness of obtaining financing through the sale of shares of Common Stock as compared to other sources of funds, and our current and projected capital needs. Establishing a discount for a particular pricing period will not affect the establishment of a discount for any subsequent pricing period.

 

    Any investor purchasing shares of Common Stock pursuant to a request for a Large Cash Purchase will be treated as the beneficial owner of all shares of Common Stock purchased on each Large Cash Purchase Date in the applicable pricing period as of the close of business on such Large Cash Purchase Date, although Plan shares of Common Stock will not be credited to such investor’s account until the conclusion of the pricing period unless we elect to use the “continuous settlement feature” described below for that pricing period.

 

    If we elect to use the continuous settlement feature, shares of Common Stock will be credited to the Plan accounts of investors purchasing shares of Common Stock pursuant to requests for a Large Cash Purchase as soon as administratively possible after each Large Cash Purchase Date. We may activate the continuous settlement feature for a particular investment at the time we determine other pricing terms in respect of shares of Common Stock to be sold pursuant to a Large Cash Purchase request.

 

    We will return, without interest, any amount to be invested pursuant to a Large Cash Purchase request that is not applied to the purchase of shares of Common Stock because the threshold price is not met or shares of Common Stock are not traded on the composite exchanges on any trading day during a pricing period or extension, as applicable. Any such uninvested funds will be returned within five business days after the last day of the applicable pricing period, as it may be extended. The amount returned will be based on the number of days on which the threshold price was not satisfied or no trades were reported on the composite exchanges compared to the total number of days in the pricing period or extended pricing period, as applicable. For example, the amount returned for a ten-day pricing period will equal one-tenth of the total amount of your proposed Large Cash Purchase investment for each trading day on which the threshold price is not satisfied or shares of Common Stock are not traded on the composite exchanges.

 

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From time to time, financial intermediaries, including brokers and dealers, and other persons may engage in positioning transactions in order to benefit from any waiver discounts applicable to investments made pursuant to requests for waiver for Large Cash Purchases under the Plan. Those transactions may cause fluctuations in the trading volume of our Common Stock. Financial intermediaries and such other persons who engage in positioning transactions may be deemed to be underwriters. We have no arrangements or understandings, formal or informal, with any person relating to the sale of shares of Common Stock to be received under the Plan. We reserve the right to modify, suspend or terminate participation in the Plan by otherwise eligible persons to eliminate practices that are inconsistent with the purpose of the Plan.

We may alter, amend, supplement or waive, in our sole discretion, the time periods and/or other parameters relating to optional cash purchases in excess of $10,000 per month made by one or more participants in the Plan or new investors, at any time and from time to time, prior to the granting of any request for waiver.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

We are authorized to issue a total of 1,300,000,000 shares of all classes of capital stock. Of those authorized shares, 1,200,000,000 are shares of common stock, 379,927,619 shares of which were outstanding as of July 3, 2017, and 100,000,000 are shares of preferred stock. Of the authorized preferred stock, there are 20,000,000 shares designated as Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A (none of which was outstanding on July 3, 2017), 30,000,000 shares designated as Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B (none of which was outstanding on July 3, 2017), 1,000,000 shares designated as Series C Participating Preferred Stock (none of which was outstanding on July 3, 2017), and 20,000 shares designated as Series E Non-Voting Perpetual Preferred Stock (all of which were outstanding on July 3, 2017).

The additional shares of our authorized stock available for issuance might be issued at times and under circumstances so as to have a dilutive effect on earnings per share and on the equity ownership of the holders of our common stock. The ability of our board of directors to issue additional shares of stock could enhance the board’s ability to negotiate on behalf of the shareholders in a takeover situation but could also be used by the board to make a change-in-control more difficult, thereby denying shareholders the potential to sell their shares at a premium and entrenching current management.

The following description is a summary of the material provisions of our capital stock and various provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. This summary is not intended to be complete and is qualified by reference to the provisions of applicable law and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Common Stock

As of July 3, 2017, there were 13,514 holders of record. The issued and outstanding shares of common stock are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Subject to any preferential rights of any prior ranking class or series of capital stock, including the preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends on that stock, payable either in cash, property or shares out of assets legally available for distribution when, as and if authorized and declared by our board of directors and to share ratably in our assets legally available for distribution to our shareholders in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up. Subject to various exceptions, we will not be able to pay any dividend or make any distribution of assets on shares of our common stock until we pay dividends on any shares of preferred stock then outstanding with dividend or distribution rights senior to our common stock.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters voted on by our shareholders, including the election of directors. Our certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting for the election of directors, which means that holders of more than one-half of the outstanding shares of our voting securities will be able to elect all of the directors then standing for election and holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any director.

Our board of directors may make rules and regulations concerning the transfer of shares of our common stock from time to time, in accordance with our bylaws.

Holders of our common stock will have no conversion, sinking fund or redemption rights.

Some provisions of the Oklahoma General Corporation Act, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws may discriminate against holders of a substantial amount of the shares of our common stock. See “—Oklahoma Law” and “—Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.” Similarly, some provisions of our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change-in-control with respect to an extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization, tender offer, sale or transfer of substantially all of our assets.

 

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Preferred Stock

Our board of directors is authorized to issue shares of preferred stock, in one or more series or classes, and to fix for each series or class the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, or terms or redemption, as are permitted by Oklahoma law and as are stated in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the board providing for the issuance of shares of that series or class.

Our board has authorized series designated as Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A and Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B. Our board has also authorized a series designated as Series C Participating Preferred Stock, which relates to our Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement. No shares of Series C Participating Preferred Stock were issued, and the Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement expired February 4, 2013, and was not renewed. Our board has further authorized a series of preferred stock designated as Series E Non-Voting Perpetual Preferred Stock, which is expected to pay quarterly dividends on each share, when, as and if declared by our board, at a rate of 5.5% per year. In April 2017, through a wholly owned subsidiary, we issued and contributed 20,000 shares of Series E Preferred Stock to ONEOK Foundation, Inc. for use in future charitable and nonprofit causes. No other shares of Series E Non-Voting Perpetual Preferred Stock have been issued.

Preemptive Rights

No holder of any shares of any class of our stock has any preemptive or preferential right to acquire or subscribe for any unissued shares of any class of stock or any unauthorized securities, convertible into or carrying any right, option or warrant to subscribe for or acquire shares of any class of stock.

Oklahoma Law

Oklahoma Takeover Statute

We are subject to Section 1090.3 of the Oklahoma General Corporation Act. In general, Section 1090.3 prevents an “interested shareholder” from engaging in a “business combination” with an Oklahoma corporation for three years following the date that person became an interested shareholder, unless:

 

    prior to the date that person became an interested shareholder, our board of directors approved the business combination or the transaction in which the interested shareholder became an interested shareholder;

 

    upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the interested shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding stock held by directors who are also officers of the corporation and stock held by certain employee stock plans; or

 

    on or subsequent to the date of the transaction in which that person became an interested shareholder, the business combination was approved by our board of directors and authorized at a meeting of shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation not owned by the interested shareholder.

Section 1090.3 defines a “business combination” to include:

 

    any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and an interested shareholder;

 

    any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving an interested shareholder;

 

    subject to limited exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of the stock of the corporation to an interested shareholder;

 

    any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested shareholder; or

 

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    the receipt by an interested shareholder of any loans, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

For purposes of the description above and Section 1090.3, the term “corporation” also includes our majority-owned subsidiaries. In addition, Section 1090.3, defines an “interested shareholder” as an entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by that entity or person.

Oklahoma Control Share Provisions

Our certificate of incorporation provides that we are not subject to the control share provisions of the Oklahoma General Corporation Act. With exceptions, these provisions prevent holders of more than 20% of the voting power of the stock of an Oklahoma corporation from voting their shares. If we were to become subject to the control share provisions of the Oklahoma General Corporation Act in the future, this provision may delay the time it takes anyone to gain control of us.

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Exculpation

Our certificate of incorporation provides that our directors and officers will not be personally liable for monetary damages for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, unless:

 

    the director or officer has breached his or her duty of loyalty to ONEOK or its shareholders;

 

    the breach or failure to perform constitutes an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

    the director served at the time of payment of an unlawful dividend or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption, unless the director was absent at the time the action was taken or dissented from the action; or;

 

    the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit from the transaction.

Indemnification

We will generally indemnify any person who was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to a proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she:

 

    is or was our director, officer, employee or agent; or

 

    is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise or as a member of any committee or similar body.

Any indemnification of our directors, officers or others pursuant to the foregoing provisions for liabilities arising under the Securities Act are, in the opinion of the SEC, against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and are unenforceable.

Shareholder Action; Special Meeting of Shareholders

Our certificate of incorporation eliminates the ability of our shareholders to act by written consent. Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our shareholders may be called only by a majority of the members of our board of directors.

 

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Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals

At any annual meeting of our shareholders, the only business that shall be brought before the meeting is that which is brought:

 

    pursuant to our notice of meeting;

 

    by or at the discretion of our board of directors; or

 

    by any of our shareholders of record at the time the notice is given, who are entitled to vote at the meeting and who comply with the notice procedures set forth in our bylaws as summarized below.

For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to the immediately preceding clause, the shareholder must have given timely notice in writing to our secretary. To be timely as to an annual meeting of shareholders, a shareholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 120 calendar days before the date our proxy statement is released to shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting; provided however, that if the date of the meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year’s meeting, notice must be received no later than the close of business on the 10th day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed to shareholders or public disclosure of that date was made. The shareholder notice shall set forth as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting:

 

    a brief description of and the reasons for proposing the matter at the meeting;

 

    with respect to the shareholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made:

 

    the name and address of such person;

 

    the class or series and number of shares of ONEOK which are owned beneficially and of record by such person and any affiliates or associates of such person;

 

    the name of each nominee holder of shares of all stock of ONEOK owned beneficially but not of record by such person or any affiliates or associates of such person, and the number of such shares of stock of ONEOK held by each such nominee holder;

 

    whether and the extent to which any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of ONEOK; and

 

    whether and the extent to which any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares of stock of ONEOK) has been made by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of stock price changes for, such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of ONEOK;

 

    a representation that the shareholder giving notice intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting;

 

    any material interest of the shareholder of record, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, or any affiliate or associate of any of the foregoing, in the proposal;

 

    a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between the shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made or any affiliate or associate of any of the foregoing, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of the business by the shareholder; and

 

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    all other information that would be required to be disclosed by such person as a participant in a solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election, or would be otherwise required to be disclosed in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

These provisions may impede shareholders’ ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of shareholders.

Higher Vote for Some Business Combinations and Other Actions

Subject to various exceptions, including acquiring 85% of the outstanding shares less shares owned by related persons in a single transaction, a business combination (including, but not limited to, a merger or consolidation, the sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of our assets in excess of $5,000,000, various issuances and reclassifications of securities and the adoption of a plan or proposal for liquidation or dissolution) with or upon a proposal by a related person, who is a person that is the direct or indirect beneficial owner of more than 10% of the outstanding voting shares of our stock (subject to various exceptions), and any affiliates of that person, shall require, in addition to any approvals required by law, the approval of the business combination by either:

 

    a majority vote of all of the independent directors; or

 

    the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding shares otherwise entitled to vote as a single class with the common stock to approve the business combination, excluding any shares owned by the related person.

In addition, our certificate of incorporation provides that our bylaws may only be adopted, amended or repealed by a majority of the board of directors or by 80% of our shareholders, voting as a class. Our certificate of incorporation also requires the affirmative vote of 80% of our shareholders to amend, repeal or adopt provisions in our certificate of incorporation relating to, among other things,

 

    the number of directors and the manner of electing those directors, including the election of directors to newly created directorships;

 

    provisions relating to changes in the bylaws;

 

    a director’s personal liability to us or our shareholders;

 

    shareholder ratification of various contracts, transactions and acts; and

 

    voting requirements for approval of business combinations.

Transactions with Interested Parties

Our certificate of incorporation provides that, in the absence of fraud, no contract or other transaction will be affected or invalidated by the fact that any of our directors are in any way interested in or connected with any other party to the contract or transaction or are themselves parties to the contract or transaction, provided that the interest is fully disclosed or otherwise known to our board of directors at the meeting of the board at which the contract or transaction is authorized or confirmed, and provided further that a quorum of disinterested directors is present at the meeting of our board of directors authorizing or confirming the contract or transaction and the contract or transaction is approved by a majority of the quorum, and no interested director votes on the contract or transaction. Any contract, transaction or act entered into or taken by us or our board or any committee thereof that is ratified by a majority of a quorum of the shareholders having voting power at any annual meeting, or any special meeting called for that purpose, will be valid and binding as though ratified by all of our shareholders.

 

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Any director may vote upon any contract or other transaction between us and any subsidiary corporation without regard to the fact that he is also a director of that subsidiary corporation. No contract or agreement between us and any other corporation or party that owns a majority of our capital stock or any subsidiary of that other corporation shall be made or entered into without the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole board of directors at a regular meeting of the board.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The current transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is WFSS.

 

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FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following is believed by us to be an accurate summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of participation in the Plan as of the date of this prospectus.

This summary of U.S. federal income tax consequences is for general information, is not legal advice and does not reflect the tax consequences of every possible situation that could result from participation in the Plan. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code, U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Treasury Regulations”), and administrative rulings and court decisions, all as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change. This summary does not apply to non-U.S. participants, except as specifically indicated below under “Withholding,” and is limited to participants who hold shares of Common Stock as capital assets (generally, property that is held as an investment). Further, this summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may affect participants in light of their particular circumstances, or to participants subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law. It also does not address any U.S. federal estate or gift tax consequences, any state, local or foreign tax consequences or the Medicare tax on net investment income. You should consult your own tax advisor with respect to the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of participation in the Plan in light of your own particular circumstances.

Dividend Reinvestment

In general, with respect to cash dividends paid by us and reinvested under the Plan, you will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as though you actually received a distribution in cash that will be treated as dividend income to you to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. If shares of Common Stock are purchased by WFSS directly from us with reinvested dividends, you generally will be treated as having received a distribution equal to the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock purchased with the reinvested dividends on the applicable Purchase Date. The shares of Common Stock acquired directly from us by dividend reinvestment should have a tax basis for determining gain or loss equal to the fair market value of the shares on the applicable Purchase Date. With respect to reinvested dividends used to purchase shares in open market transactions, you generally will be treated as having received a distribution equal to the cash dividend used to purchase those shares and your allocable portion of any processing fee paid by us with respect to shares purchased for your account. The tax basis for any shares of Common Stock purchased in open market transactions with reinvested dividends should be equal to the weighted average purchase price of all shares purchased for the applicable Purchase Date increased by your allocable portion of any processing fee paid by us with respect to shares purchased for your account. See Question 14.

Optional Cash Investments

If you make optional cash investments to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan, any discount provided by the Plan for such investment will be treated as a distribution taxable to you as a dividend to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. The amount treated as a distribution will be the excess of the fair market value of the shares acquired on the applicable Purchase Date over the purchase price paid by you for the shares purchased.

The amount of any discount provided by the Plan on a purchase of shares of Common Stock will be treated and accounted for as a distribution, irrespective of whether you are participating in dividend reinvestment under the Plan. You should consult your own tax advisor to determine the appropriate tax treatment of any optional cash investment to acquire shares of Common Stock under the Plan in which a discount is provided to you.

 

 

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Shares of Common Stock acquired with optional cash investments should have a tax basis equal to the amount paid for the shares. If shares of Common Stock acquired by optional cash investments are purchased at a discount, the tax basis of the shares should be the fair market value of the shares purchased with an optional cash investment. If shares of Common Stock are purchased in open market transactions with optional cash investments you make under the Plan, your basis will be increased by your allocable portion of any processing fee paid by us with respect to shares purchased for your account.

If shares of Common Stock are purchased in open market transactions with optional cash investments you make under the Plan, you will also realize a distribution to the extent of an allocated portion of any processing fees paid by us with respect to shares purchased.

Withholding

The dividends reinvested and the proceeds of the sale of shares under the Plan may be subject to U.S. federal backup withholding in certain circumstances. WFSS will furnish necessary forms and instructions concerning the application of backup withholding rules. Any amounts required to be withheld under these rules will be deducted from the dividends reinvested and/or proceeds of any sale of shares, and the remaining amount reinvested or paid. In the case of non-U.S. participants who are subject to U.S. tax withholding, WFSS will reinvest dividends less the amount of tax required to be withheld and make any other withholdings required by applicable rules.

An additional withholding tax under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) will apply to certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax will be imposed on dividends on, or gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition after December 31, 2018 of, Common Stock paid to a foreign financial institution or to a non-financial foreign entity, unless (i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations (ii) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial U.S. owner or (iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution, and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in clause (i) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain U.S. persons or U.S.-owned foreign entities, annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on payments to account holders whose actions prevent it from complying with these reporting and other requirements. If withholding is required under these rules, the appropriate amount of tax will be deducted from dividends and from the proceeds of the sale of Common Stock, and only the remaining amount will be reinvested or paid. Prospective participants should consult with their own tax advisors regarding FATCA and the application of these requirements to an investment in Common Stock acquired through the Plan.

Sale of Shares

If you receive a cash payment for the sale of shares credited to your account, there may be gain or loss measured by the difference between the amount of cash received and your tax basis in the shares sold. In general, any gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss and will be a long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the shares for more than one year. The holding period for shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan will begin the day after the date the shares are acquired regardless of the source of purchase. Consequently, shares of Common Stock acquired at different times will have different holding periods. Long-term capital gain of an individual is generally taxed at favorable rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. You should consult with your own tax advisor to determine the specific tax consequences of any particular sale of shares to be made and the treatment of any fractional shares of Common Stock.

 

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Tax Information Reporting

The dividends paid to you as a shareholder, and any processing fees paid by us on your behalf, as described above, will be reported on the appropriate IRS forms, which will be mailed to you and the Internal Revenue Service by January 31 following the end of the year of payment. Shares of Common Stock sold through WFSS will be reported on IRS Form 1099-B, which will be mailed to you and the Internal Revenue Service by February 15 following the end of the year of the sale. Form 1099-B will state the amount of the sale proceeds and the tax basis of shares sold.

The Plan qualifies as a dividend reinvestment plan within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.1012-1(e)(6)(i), which enables participants to use the “average basis method” in certain circumstances (as discussed below) when determining the tax basis of any shares sold. As a result, in order to participate in the Plan, you must elect to reinvest a minimum of 10% of the dividends (if any) paid on shares held in the Plan.

The Plan assumes that each participant will use the first-in, first-out “FIFO” method when determining the tax basis of any shares sold. Participants may designate their preference for a different method of determining the tax basis of shares sold by identifying this preference in writing to WFSS. Participants may designate their preference for “specific identification” cost basis at any time or may designate their preference for the average basis method effective for sales occurring after the election. Federal tax regulations require the FIFO tax lot selection method after the average cost basis election has been made. If a participant chooses to receive a dividend in cash, or reinvest less than 10% of a dividend, the participant is not eligible to utilize the average basis method for sale of shares through the Plan. Participants should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of participation in the Plan and determination of the tax basis of any shares sold.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION AND UNDERWRITERS

Pursuant to the Plan, we may be requested to approve optional cash investments in excess of the allowable maximum amounts pursuant to requests for waiver on behalf of participants that may be engaged in the securities business. In deciding whether to approve such a request, we will consider relevant factors including, but not limited to, whether the Plan is then acquiring newly issued shares of Common Stock or acquiring shares through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions, our need for additional funds, the attractiveness of obtaining those funds by the sale of Common Stock under the Plan in comparison to other sources of funds, the purchase price likely to apply to any sale of Common Stock, the participant submitting the request, including the extent and nature of the participant’s prior participation in the Plan and the number of shares of Common Stock held of record by the participant, the aggregate number of requests for waiver that have been submitted by all participants and federal and state securities laws.

Persons who acquire shares of Common Stock through the Plan and resell them shortly after acquiring them, including coverage of short positions, under certain circumstances, may be participating in a distribution of securities that would require compliance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and may be considered to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act. We will not extend to any person any rights or privileges other than those to which it would be entitled as a participant, nor will we enter into any agreement with any person regarding their purchase of shares or any resale or distribution of shares. We may, however, approve requests for optional cash investments by them in excess of allowable maximum limitations. If requests are submitted for an aggregate amount in excess of the amount we are willing to accept, we may honor requests in order of receipt, pro rata or by any other method which we determine to be appropriate.

We will be responsible for all fees, commissions or expenses in connection with the Plan, except that, if you direct WFSS to sell shares of Common Stock credited to your account, WFSS will deduct from the sales proceeds any applicable service fee (currently $15.00 per sale transaction for Batch Orders), any applicable processing fee (currently $0.10 per share sold) and any other costs of sale (currently $5.00 for net sale proceeds via direct deposits). These fees may change at any time without notice to you. You will also be responsible for any fees, commissions and expenses associated with sales of any fractional shares you own.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

The Plan will raise additional capital for us to the extent that newly-issued shares of Common Stock or treasury shares are purchased from us (rather than acquiring shares in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions). We do not know the number of shares of Common Stock that will ultimately be purchased pursuant to the Plan, or the prices at which the shares will be purchased. We currently intend to issue newly-issued or treasury shares to satisfy demand for shares under the Plan; therefore, the Plan is expected to raise additional capital for us. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of newly-issued shares of Common Stock or treasury stock for one or more of the following, depending upon circumstances at the time of such sales: repayment of indebtedness, investments in assets, working capital, and general corporate purposes. Pending those uses, we may temporarily invest the net proceeds in short-term investments consistent with our investment policies.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities and all legal matters in connection with the Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan will be passed upon for ONEOK by GableGotwals, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to ONEOK, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 6, 2017 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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PART II.

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution (Estimated).

The following table sets forth the expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All of the amounts shown are estimated, except the SEC registration fee.

 

SEC registration fee(1)

   $ 60,245  

Legal fees and expenses

     55,000  

Printing and engraving

     30,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

     20,000  
   $ 165,245  

 

(1) Actual expense. We have offset $33,208.57 of the SEC registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

ONEOK, Inc., as an Oklahoma corporation (“ONEOK”), is empowered by Section 1031 of the Oklahoma General Corporation Act, subject to the procedures and limitations stated therein, to indemnify any person against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative) in which such person is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his being or having been a director, officer, employee or agent of ONEOK or is or was serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of ONEOK, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. However, in an action by or in the right of ONEOK, Section 1031 prohibits indemnification if such person is adjudged to be liable to ONEOK, unless such indemnification is allowed by a court of competent jurisdiction. The statute provides that indemnification pursuant to its provisions is not exclusive of other rights of indemnification to which a person may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders, or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

The certificate of incorporation of ONEOK provides that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for (i) any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders, (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) payment of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions or (iv) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Article VIII of ONEOK’s bylaws provides that directors and officers of ONEOK shall be indemnified by ONEOK to the fullest extent permitted by the Oklahoma General Corporation Act, including the advance of related expenses. Pursuant to Article VIII of the bylaws of ONEOK, upon authorization and determination (i) by the board of directors by a majority vote of the directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum; (ii) by a committee of directors designated by a majority vote of directors, even though less than a quorum; (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or (iv) by the shareholders, ONEOK is obligated to indemnify any person who incurs liability by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of ONEOK, or is or was serving at the request of ONEOK as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or as a member of any committee or similar body, if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of ONEOK, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no

 

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reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. However, in an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of ONEOK, no indemnification will be made if such person shall be adjudged to be liable to ONEOK, unless such indemnification is allowed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

ONEOK has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers. These indemnification agreements provide that ONEOK is obligated to indemnify the specified director or officer to the fullest extent permitted by law. The agreements provide that, upon request by a director or officer, ONEOK is obligated to advance expenses for defense of a claim made against the director or officer. The obligation of ONEOK to indemnify the director or officer is subject to applicable law and the determination by a “reviewing party” selected by the board of directors that the director or officer is entitled to indemnification. In addition, the agreements obligate ONEOK to indemnify the specified officer or director to the extent of ONEOK’s recoveries under insurance policies regardless of whether the director or officer is ultimately determined to be entitled to indemnification. The agreements also provide for partial indemnification if a portion of a claim for indemnification is not allowed by the reviewing party appointed by the board of directors.

ONEOK provides liability insurance for its directors and officers which provides for coverage against loss from claims made against officers and directors in their capacity as such, including, subject to certain exceptions, liabilities under the federal securities laws.

It is recognized that the above-summarized provisions of ONEOK’s bylaws, the indemnification agreements and the applicable provisions of the Oklahoma General Corporation Act may be sufficiently broad to indemnify officers, directors and controlling persons of ONEOK against liabilities arising under such act.

Item 16. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

4.1    Amended Certificate of Incorporation of ONEOK, Inc., dated June 30, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to ONEOK, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 3, 2017).
4.2    Amended and Restated By-laws of ONEOK, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to ONEOK, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 22, 2017).
4.3    Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to ONEOK, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on November 21, 1997).
5.1†    Opinion of GableGotwals, as to the legality of the securities being registered.
23.1†    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2†    Consent of GableGotwals (contained in exhibit 5.1).
24.1†    Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement)

 

Filed herewith.

Item 17. Undertakings.

  (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

  (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

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  (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

  (iii) to include any material information with respect to the Plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

  (4) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  (i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

  (ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by such undersigned registrant;

 

  (iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

  (iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

  (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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  (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Tulsa, State of Oklahoma, on the 6th day of July, 2017.

 

ONEOK, INC.
By:  

/s/ Walter S. Hulse III

 

Walter S. Hulse III

Chief Financial Officer and

Executive Vice President,

Strategic Planning and Corporate Affairs

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears immediately below constitutes and appoints Derek S. Reiners, Stephen W. Lake and Eric Grimshaw, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated and on the 6th day of July, 2017.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ John W. Gibson

John W. Gibson

   Chairman of the Board

/s/ Terry K. Spencer

Terry K. Spencer

  

President, Chief Executive Officer

and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Walter S. Hulse III

Walter S. Hulse III

  

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning and Corporate Affairs

(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Sheppard F. Miers III

Sheppard F. Miers III

  

Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ Brian L. Derksen

Brian L. Derksen

   Director

/s/ Julie H. Edwards

Julie H. Edwards

   Director

 

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Signature

  

Title

/s/ Randall J. Larson

Randall J. Larson

   Director

/s/ Steven J. Malcolm

Steven J. Malcolm

   Director

/s/ Jim W. Mogg

Jim W. Mogg

   Director

/s/ Pattye L. Moore

Pattye L. Moore

   Director

/s/ Gary D. Parker

Gary D. Parker

   Director

/s/ Eduardo A. Rodriguez

Eduardo A. Rodriguez

   Director

 

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