UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
July 16, 2015
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 1-32740 | 30-0108820 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification Number) |
3738 Oak Lawn Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75219
(Address of principal executive offices)
(214) 981-0700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| x | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
| Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure |
A company spokesperson for Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (NYSE: ETE) (“ETE”) today confirmed that ETE has signed a confidentiality agreement with The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE: WMB) (“Williams” or “WMB”) and expects to engage in Williams’ strategic alternatives process. According to the spokesperson, ETE is looking forward to engaging with Williams and working towards a transaction that will deliver compelling value to both companies’ stakeholders. When asked about ETE’s existing proposal to acquire Williams, the company spokesperson confirmed the merger proposal pursuant to which ETE would acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Williams at a fixed exchange ratio of 0.9358 ETE Corp shares for each Williams share, representing a 32.4% premium to the Williams common share closing price as of June 19, 2015 based on ETE’s unit price on the same date.
In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information set forth in this Item 7.01 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
| Item 8.01 | Other Events |
To the extent required, the information included in Item 7.01 of this Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 8.01.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This communication may contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding ETE’s offer to acquire WMB, its expected future performance (including expected results of operations and financial guidance), and the combined company’s future financial condition, operating results, strategy and plans. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the words “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “will,” “believes,” “estimates,” “potential,” “target,” “opportunity,” “designed,” “create,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “ongoing,” “increases” or “continue” and variations or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that change over time and could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, assumptions, risks and uncertainties discussed in the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for each of ETE, Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (“ETP”), Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (“SXL”) and Sunoco LP (“SUN”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and assumptions, risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed transaction, as detailed from time to time in ETE’s, ETP’s, SXL’s and SUN’s filings with the SEC, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this communication are set forth in other reports or documents that ETE, ETP, SXL and SUN file from time to time with the SEC include, but are not limited to: (1) the ultimate outcome of any potential business combination transaction between ETE, Energy Transfer Equity Corp, L.P. (“ETE Corp”) and WMB including the possibilities that ETE will not pursue a transaction with WMB and that WMB will continue to reject a transaction with ETE and fail to terminate its existing merger agreement with Williams Partners L.P. (“WPZ”); (2) if a transaction between ETE, ETE Corp. and WMB were to occur, the ultimate outcome and results of integrating the operations of ETE and WMB, the ultimate outcome of ETE’s operating strategy applied to WMB and the ultimate ability to realize cost savings and synergies; (3) the effects of the business combination transaction of ETE, ETE Corp. and WMB, including the combined company’s future financial condition, operating results, strategy and plans; (4) the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals and meet other closing conditions to the transaction, including approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and WMB stockholder approval, on a timely basis or at all; (5) the reaction of the companies’ stockholders, customers, employees and counterparties to the proposed transaction; (6) diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; (7) unpredictable economic conditions in the United States and other markets, including fluctuations in the market price of ETE common units and ETE Corp. common shares; (8) the ability to obtain the intended tax treatment in connection with the issuance of
ETE common shares to WMB stockholders; (9) the ability to maintain WMB’s and WPZ’s current credit ratings and (10) the risks and uncertainties detailed by WMB and WPZ with respect to their respective businesses as described in their respective reports and documents filed with the SEC. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. ETE undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this communication or to reflect actual outcomes.
Additional Information
This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This communication relates to a proposal which ETE has made for a business combination transaction with WMB. In furtherance of this proposal and subject to future developments, ETE and ETE Corp. (and, if a negotiated transaction is agreed, WMB) may file one or more registration statements, proxy statements or other documents with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, registration statement, prospectus or other document ETE, ETE Corp. or WMB may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF ETE AND WMB ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT(S), REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION TRANSACTION. Any definitive proxy statement(s) (if and when available) will be mailed to stockholders of WMB. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by ETE through the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by ETE and ETE Corp. with the SEC will be available free of charge on ETE’s website at www.energytransfer.com or by contacting Investor Relations at 214-981-0700.
ETE and its directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding the directors and officers of ETE’s general partner is contained in ETE’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2015 (as it may be amended from time to time). Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC if and when they become available. Investors should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from ETE using the sources indicated above.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. | ||||||
| By: | LE GP, LLC, | |||||
| its general partner | ||||||
| Date: July 16, 2015 | ||||||
| /s/ John W. McReynolds | ||||||
| John W. McReynolds | ||||||
| President | ||||||