- Proceeds to be used to pay down debt and pre-fund capital investments; transaction strengthens credit profile
- Transaction reduces Williams Partners’ commodity and operational risks
- Long-term fee-for-service agreements to supply and transport feedstock to the plant on Williams Partners’ Bayou Ethane pipeline system retain the partnership’s pipeline revenue which aligns with Williams’ strategy to grow fee-based revenues
Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE:WPZ) announced today that it has agreed to
sell 100 percent of its membership interest in Williams Olefins LLC,
which owns an 88.46 percent undivided ownership interest in the Geismar,
Louisiana, olefins plant and associated complex, to NOVA Chemicals for
$2.1 billion in cash subject to customary closing conditions.
Additionally, upon closing of the transaction, Williams Partners
subsidiaries will enter into long-term supply and transportation
agreements with NOVA Chemicals to provide feedstock to the Geismar
olefins plant via Williams Partners’ Bayou Ethane pipeline system in the
U.S. Gulf Coast. These agreements secure a meaningful long-term
fee-based revenue stream for the partnership.
“The Williams Olefins transaction and these announced new supply and
transportation agreements fortify our focus on natural gas market
fundamentals, reduce our commodity margin exposure and secure our
fee-based Gulf Coast transportation business - all consistent with
Williams’ strategy to allocate capital to its core, natural gas-focused
business,” said Alan Armstrong, chief executive officer of Williams
Partners’ general partner. “When the Williams Olefins transaction
closes, we expect to be at 97 percent fee-based revenues driven largely
by natural gas volumes. Today’s announcements further strengthen our
financial position to support Williams’ peer-leading, low-risk growth
portfolio.”
Williams Partners plans to use the cash proceeds from the Williams
Olefins transaction to pay off its $850 million term loan and to fund a
portion of the capital and investment expenditures that are a part of
the partnership’s extensive growth portfolio. Williams expects that for
federal tax purposes, any taxable gain generated from the transaction
will be sheltered by its net operating loss carry-forwards. As a result
of today’s Williams Olefins transaction announcement, Williams Partners
plans to update its financial guidance at its Analyst Day event on May
11.
Armstrong added, “Geismar has been a part of Williams since 1999, and I
appreciate the hard work and dedication of the Geismar team through the
years. The Geismar team including our olefins marketing team will be a
great asset to NOVA as they expand their presence in the Gulf Coast. We
now look forward to helping NOVA grow profitably here in the Gulf Coast
by providing highly reliable feedstock supply via our recently expanded
Bayou Ethane Pipeline network. This transaction allows both companies to
pursue their focused strategies in a mutually beneficial manner.”
The Williams Olefins transaction is expected to close in summer 2017.
Closing is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory
approvals. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as the lead financial adviser
to Williams Partners on the transaction. Centerview Partners LLC acted
as a co-adviser to Williams Partners on the transaction. Gibson, Dunn &
Crutcher LLP and Kean Miller LLP served as legal advisers to Williams
Partners on the transaction.
About Williams Partners
Williams Partners is an industry-leading, large-cap natural gas
infrastructure master limited partnership with a strong growth outlook
and major positions in key U.S. supply basins. Williams Partners has
operations across the natural gas value chain from gathering, processing
and interstate transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids to
petchem production of ethylene, propylene and other olefins. Williams
Partners owns and operates more than 33,000 miles of pipelines system
wide – including the nation’s largest volume and fastest growing
pipeline – providing natural gas for clean-power generation, heating and
industrial use. Williams Partners’ operations touch approximately 30
percent of U.S. natural gas. Tulsa, Okla.-based Williams (NYSE:WMB), a
premier provider of large-scale U.S. natural gas infrastructure, owns
approximately 74 percent of Williams Partners.
About NOVA Chemicals
NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals and plastic resins
that make everyday life safer, healthier and easier. Our employees work
to ensure health, safety, security and environmental stewardship through
our commitment to sustainability and Responsible Care®. NOVA Chemicals,
headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is a wholly owned subsidiary
of the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) of the Emirate
of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Portions of this document may constitute “forward-looking statements”
as defined by federal law. Although the partnership believes any such
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance
that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Additional
information about issues that could lead to material changes in
performance is contained in the partnership’s annual and quarterly
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
