Williams Companies, Inc

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 29, 2002 -------------- The Williams Companies, Inc. ---------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 1-4174 73-0569878 -------- --------------- ------------------- (State or other (Commission (I.R.S. Employer jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.) incorporation) One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172 ---------------------------------------- ---------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 918/573-2000 ------------ Not Applicable -------------- (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) 1

Item 5. Other Events. On March 29, 2002, The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB) announced it had paid $753 million related to Williams Communications Group, Inc.'s (NYSE:WCGR) purchase of certain telecommunications facilities that WCGR had been leasing. In return, Williams will receive an instrument of unsecured debt from WCG in the same amount. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits. Williams files the following exhibit as part of this report: Exhibit 99.1 Copy of Williams' press release dated March 29, 2002, publicly announcing the matters reported herein. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Williams has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC. Date: April 1, 2002 /s/ Suzanne H. Costin ------------------------------- Name: Suzanne H. Costin Title: Corporate Secretary 2

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT 99.1 NEWS RELEASE [WILLIAMS LOGO] NYSE: WMB - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DATE: March 29, 2002

CONTACT: Jim Gipson Rick Rodekohr Richard George Williams (media relations) Williams (investor relations) Williams (investor relations) (918) 573-2111 (918) 573-2087 (918) 573-3679 jim.gipson@williams.com RICK.RODEKOHR@WILLIAMS.COM RICHARD.GEORGE@WILLIAMS.COM

WILLIAMS MEETS FINAL MAJOR OBLIGATION TO FORMER TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNIT TULSA, Okla. - Williams (NYSE: WMB) today announced it has paid $753 million related to Williams Communications Group, Inc.'s (NYSE:WCGR) purchase of certain telecommunications facilities that WCGR had been leasing. In return, Williams will receive an instrument of unsecured debt from WCG in the same amount. Williams announced on March 11 that it was prepared to perform on the obligation, which is the company's last major contingent liability related to WCGR. The financial impact was reported on March 7 in Williams' 2001 earnings report. ABOUT WILLIAMS (NYSE: WMB) Williams, through its subsidiaries, connects businesses to energy, delivering innovative, reliable products and services. Williams information is available at www.williams.com. ### Portions of this document may constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined by federal law. Although the company believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Any such statements are made in reliance on the "safe harbor" protections provided under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the company's annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.