The Williams Companies, Inc. (Form: 8-K)  

 


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):   August 2, 2006

The Williams Companies, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Delaware 1-4174 73-0569878
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction
_____________
(Commission
______________
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
      
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

 

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:

[  ]  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))


Top of the Form

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On August 2, 2006, The Williams Companies, Inc. ("Williams") announced that it will record a nonrecurring, after-tax charge of approximately $54 million in the second quarter of 2006 as a result of jury verdicts returned earlier this week against two of its subsidiaries.

The verdicts were returned in civil litigation that Williams has disclosed previously in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The amount of the 2006 second quarter pre-tax charge represents Williams’ estimate of the potential future exposure for actual damages of $68 million and potential pre-judgment interest of approximately $20 million.

It is reasonably possible that any ultimate judgment may include approximately $185 million in excess of the 2006 second quarter charge. The latter amount represents Williams' estimate of potential punitive damage exposure under Texas law.

The jury verdicts are subject to trial and appellate court review. Entry of a judgment in the trial court is expe cted later in the third or fourth quarter of 2006. If the trial court enters a judgment consistent with the jury’s verdicts against the company’s subsidiaries, Williams indicated that it would seek a reversal through appeal.

A copy of Williams' press release publicly reporting the jury verdicts is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein.

The press release is being furnished pursuant to Item 7.01, Regulation FD Disclosure. The information furnished is not deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is not subject to the liabilities of that section and is not deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.





Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) None
(b) None
(c) Exhibits:

Exhibit 99.1 Copy of Williams' press release dated August 2, 2006, publicly reporting the jury verdicts as discussed herein.






Top of the Form

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.

         
    The Williams Companies, Inc.
          
August 2, 2006   By:   Brian K. Shore
       
        Name: Brian K. Shore
        Title: Secretary


Top of the Form

Exhibit Index


     
Exhibit No.   Description

 
99.1
  Copy of Williams' press release dated August 2, 2006, publicly reporting the jury verdicts as discussed herein.
EX-99.1
         
NewsRelease       (Williams Logo)
NYSE: WMB
 
 
 
       
Date:
  Aug. 2, 2006  

Williams to Record Charge Related to Former Investment

TULSA, Okla. – Williams (NYSE:WMB) announced today that it will record a nonrecurring, after-tax charge of approximately $54 million in the second quarter of 2006 as a result of jury verdicts returned earlier this week against two of its subsidiaries.

The verdicts were returned in civil litigation that the company has disclosed previously in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The amount of the 2006 second quarter pre-tax charge represents Williams’ estimate of the potential future exposure for actual damages of $68 million and potential pre-judgment interest of approximately $20 million.

In addition, the company said it is reasonably possible that any ultimate judgment may include approximately $185 million in excess of the 2006 second quarter charge. The latter amount represents the company’s estimate of potential punitive damage exposure under Texas law.

The jury verdicts are subject to trial and appellate court review. Entry of a judgment in the trial court is expected later in the third or fourth quarter of 2006. If the trial court enters a judgment consistent with the jury’s verdicts against the company’s subsidiaries, Williams indicated that it would seek a reversal through appeal.

The matter is related to a contractual dispute surrounding construction in 2000 and 2001 of certain refinery off-gas processing facilities by Gulf Liquids, a concern in which a Williams’ subsidiary originally was an investor. Williams, which now owns all of Gulf Liquids, last year sold substantially all of that entity’s assets to a third party.

About Williams (NYSE:WMB)
Williams, through its subsidiaries, primarily finds, produces, gathers, processes and transports natural gas. The company also manages a wholesale power business. Williams’ operations are concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Gulf Coast, Southern California and Eastern Seaboard. More information is available at www.williams.com.

     
Contact:
  Kelly Swan
 
   
 
  Williams (media relations)
 
   
 
  (918) 573-6932
 
   
 
  Travis Campbell
 
   
 
  Williams (investor relations)
 
   
 
  (918) 573-2944
 
   
 
  Richard George
 
   
 
  Williams (investor relations)
 
   
 
  (918) 573-3679
 
   
 
  Sharna Reingold
 
   
 
  Williams (investor relations)
 
   
 
  (918) 573-2078

# # #

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.