Williams Reports First-Quarter 2017 Financial Results

Williams (NYSE:WMB) today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

First-Quarter 2017 Financial Results

Williams reported unaudited first-quarter 2017 net income attributable to Williams of $373 million, an increase of $438 million over first-quarter 2016. The favorable change was driven by a $254 million increase in investing income, primarily associated with a transaction involving certain joint-venture interests as well as a $171 million improvement in operating income and the absence of $112 million of impairments of equity-method investments in 2016. These favorable changes were partially offset by an increase in income attributable to noncontrolling interests primarily associated with increased income at WPZ and a $35 million increase in the provision for income taxes, driven by higher pre-tax income partially offset by a $127 million benefit from the expected utilization of a capital loss carryover.

Williams reported first-quarter 2017 Cash Flow from Operations (CFFO) of $606 million, a $177 million decrease from first-quarter 2016. The decrease from the prior year is driven by the absence of $198 million of cash received in 2016 associated with minimum volume commitments, which were replaced by contract restructurings that occurred in the latter part of 2016. The prior year also included $80 million of cash received as a milestone payment associated with Transco’s Hillabee expansion project. These unfavorable changes in CFFO were partially offset by improved operating results.

Williams reported first-quarter 2017 Adjusted EBITDA of $1.145 billion, an $89 million increase over first-quarter 2016. The favorable change was driven primarily by a $57 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA from the Williams Partners segment and a $32 million increase in Williams’ Other segment which benefitted from $24 million of higher income associated with a regulatory asset primarily driven by our increased ownership in WPZ.

CEO Perspective

Alan Armstrong, president and chief executive officer, made the following comments:

“We continue to differentiate ourselves with a focused strategy on natural gas infrastructure in support of consistent and sustainable growth in gas volumes. We continue to deliver top quartile EBITDA growth among our peers as we increased year-over-year Adjusted EBITDA for the 14th quarter in a row. This quarter, our growth was delivered despite some significant impacts from third-party outages and more extreme weather in the Rockies area, proving once again the resiliency of our business model.

“Our project teams continued to deliver as we brought on the 1.2 Bcf/D Gulf Trace project ahead of schedule and under budget. That is just one of five Transco pipeline system expansions that we expect to place in service in 2017. Our successful 2016 work to bring the Gunflint and Kodiak tiebacks in service was showcased this quarter by Atlantic-Gulf’s higher volumes and higher fee-based revenues. And our backlog of projects continues to grow as we had a very successful Southeastern Trail open season in the quarter as well.

“We continue to strengthen our foundation for long-term, sustainable growth in our core business, as highlighted by the recently announced agreement to sell our interests in the Geismar olefins facility while gaining a new third party fee-based revenue stream for our Bayou Ethane system. With the expected sale of Geismar, and the sale of our Canadian business in late 2016, we’ll realize around 97 percent of our gross margins coming from predictable, fee-based sources.

“Our consolidation of operating areas from five to three became effective in first-quarter 2017 – not only streamlining our organization, but helping us continue the cost-savings momentum we began in the second quarter of last year. We expect to realize further cost savings through the consolidation of offices and systems.”

Business Segment Results

Williams’ business segments for financial reporting are Williams Partners and Other. In September 2016, Williams announced organizational changes aiming to simplify our structure, increase direct operational alignment to advance our natural gas-focused strategy, and drive continued focus on customer service and execution. Effective, Jan. 1, 2017, Williams implemented these changes which combined the management of certain of our operations and reduced the overall number of operating areas managed within our business. As a result of this realignment and the sale of our Canadian operations, the Williams NGL & Petchem Services reporting segment has been eliminated and the remaining assets are reported with Other.

Williams Partners Segment

Comprised of our consolidated master limited partnership, WPZ, Williams Partners segment includes gas pipeline and midstream businesses. The gas pipeline business includes interstate natural gas pipelines and pipeline joint project investments. The midstream business provides natural gas gathering, treating, processing and compression services; NGL production, fractionation, storage, marketing and transportation; deepwater production handling and crude oil transportation services; an olefin production business, and is comprised of several wholly owned and partially owned subsidiaries and joint project investments.

Williams Partners reported first-quarter 2017 Modified EBITDA of $1.132 billion, an increase of $177 million from first-quarter 2016. Adjusted EBITDA increased $57 million to $1.117 billion. The favorable change in Modified EBITDA was due primarily to contributions from expansion projects in the Gulf of Mexico and Transco, as well as higher commodity margins and lower operating and maintenance (O&M) and selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses. The favorable change also included a net $30 million gain on the early retirement of debt. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA is driven primarily by $37 million higher commodity margins and $30 million lower O&M and SG&A expenses. Partially offsetting these improvements were $30 million lower fee-based revenues driven by lower volumes and prices associated with restructured contracts, partially offset by contributions from expansion projects in the Gulf of Mexico.

Williams Partners’ complete financial results for first-quarter 2017 are provided in the earnings news release issued today by Williams Partners.

Other Segment

Williams’ Other segment reported first-quarter 2017 Modified EBITDA of $18 million, an increase of $55 million from first-quarter 2016. Adjusted EBITDA realized a $32 million improvement to $28 million. The favorable changes in both measures benefited from $24 million of higher income associated with a regulatory asset primarily driven by our increased ownership in WPZ.

Notable Recent Events

On March 30, 2017, Williams Partners announced that it had completed separate transactions with Western Gas Partners, LP (NYSE: WES) (“Western Gas”), Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: APC) (“Anadarko”), and Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETP) (“Energy Transfer”), and certain of their respective affiliates, for an aggregate cash consideration of $200 million paid to Williams Partners and an increase in Williams Partners’ ownership in two Marcellus shale gathering systems, in exchange for Williams Partners’ assignment of interests in certain non-operated Delaware Basin assets.

On April 17, 2017, Williams Partners announced 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. The transaction is expected to close in summer 2017. Closing is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. 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’ ethane pipeline system in the U.S. Gulf Coast. These agreements will secure a meaningful long-term fee-based revenue stream for Williams Partners.

Williams’ Reduction of Debt Update

Through first-quarter 2017, Williams has reduced its debt by $1.623 billion. As previously announced on Jan. 9, 2017, in conjunction with its financial repositioning plan, Williams expects to have excess cash available to reduce debt throughout 2017 after paying its dividend and other cash requirements. As a result, we expect to reduce Williams’ parent-company debt by approximately $500 million for full-year 2017.

Williams, Williams Partners Analyst Day Set for May 11

Williams and Williams Partners are scheduled to host their 2017 Analyst Day event May 11. During the event, Williams’ management will give in-depth presentations covering all of the partnership’s and company’s energy infrastructure businesses and update certain aspects of its financial guidance. This year’s Analyst Day meeting is scheduled from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT.

Presentation slides along with a link to the live webcast will be accessible at www.williams.com the morning of May 11. A replay of the Analyst Day webcast will be available on the website for at least 90 days following the event.

Williams’ First-Quarter 2017 Materials to be Posted Shortly; Q&A Webcast Scheduled for Tomorrow

Williams’ first-quarter 2017 financial results package will be posted shortly at www.williams.com. The materials will include the analyst package.

Williams and Williams Partners will host a joint Q&A live webcast on Thursday, May 4 at 9:30 a.m. EDT. A limited number of phone lines will be available at (877) 741-4253. International callers should dial (719) 325-4783. The conference ID is 2089672. A link to the webcast, as well as replays of the webcast, will be available for at least 90 days following the event at www.williams.com.

Form 10-Q

The company plans to file its first-quarter 2017 Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) this week. Once filed, the document will be available on both the SEC and Williams websites.

Non-GAAP Measures

This news release may include certain financial measures – Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted income (“earnings”), adjusted earnings per share, cash available for dividends and other uses, WMB economic DCF, dividend coverage ratio, and economic coverage ratio – that are non-GAAP financial measures as defined under the rules of the SEC.

Our segment performance measure, Modified EBITDA, is defined as net income (loss) before income (loss) from discontinued operations, income tax expense, net interest expense, equity earnings from equity-method investments, other net investing income, impairments of equity investments and goodwill, depreciation and amortization expense, and accretion expense associated with asset retirement obligations for nonregulated operations. We also add our proportional ownership share (based on ownership interest) of Modified EBITDA of equity-method investments.

Adjusted EBITDA further excludes items of income or loss that we characterize as unrepresentative of our ongoing operations. Management believes these measures provide investors meaningful insight into results from ongoing operations.

Cash available for dividends and other uses is defined as cash received from our ownership in WPZ and Adjusted EBITDA from our Other segment, less interest, taxes and maintenance capital expenditures associated with our Other segment. We also calculate the ratio of cash available for dividends to the total cash dividends paid (dividend coverage ratio). This measure reflects our cash available for dividends relative to actual cash dividends paid. We further adjust these metrics to include Williams’ proportional share of WPZ’s distributable cash flow in excess of distributions, resulting in WMB economic DCF and economic coverage ratio.

This news release is accompanied by a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest GAAP financial measures. Management uses these financial measures because they are accepted financial indicators used by investors to compare company performance. In addition, management believes that these measures provide investors an enhanced perspective of the operating performance of the Company’s assets and the cash that the business is generating.

Neither Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted income, or cash available for dividends and other uses are intended to represent cash flows for the period, nor are they presented as an alternative to net income or cash flow from operations. They should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for a measure of performance prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.

About Williams

Williams (NYSE: WMB) is a premier provider of large-scale infrastructure connecting U.S. natural gas and natural gas products to growing demand for cleaner fuel and feedstocks. Headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., Williams owns approximately 74 percent of Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ). Williams Partners is an industry-leading, large-cap master limited partnership with 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. With major positions in top U.S. supply basins, 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. www.williams.com

Forward-Looking Statements

The reports, filings, and other public announcements of The Williams Companies, Inc. (Williams) may contain or incorporate by reference statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. Such statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). These forward-looking statements relate to anticipated financial performance, management’s plans and objectives for future operations, business prospects, outcome of regulatory proceedings, market conditions and other matters. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this report that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will exist or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by various forms of words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “seeks,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “continues,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “might,” “goals,” “objectives,” “targets,” “planned,” “potential,” “projects,” “scheduled,” “will,” “assumes,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “in service date” or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management and include, among others, statements regarding:

• Expected Levels of cash distributions by Williams Partners L.P. (WPZ) with respect to limited partner interests;
• Levels of dividends to Williams stockholders;
• Future credit ratings of Williams, WPZ and their affiliates;
• Amounts and nature of future capital expenditures;
• Expansion and growth of our business and operations;
• Financial condition and liquidity;
• Business strategy;
• Cash flow from operations or results of operations;
• Seasonality of certain business components;
• Natural gas, natural gas liquids, and olefins prices, supply, and demand;
• Demand for our services.

Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions, uncertainties and risks that could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this report. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. Specific factors that could cause actual results to differ from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:

• Whether WPZ will produce sufficient cash flows to provide the level of cash distributions that we expect;
• Whether we are able to pay current and expected levels of dividends;
• Whether WPZ elects to pay expected levels of cash distributions and we elect to pay expected levels of dividends;
• Whether we will be able to effectively execute our financing plan including the receipt of anticipated levels of proceeds from planned asset sales;
• Whether we will be able to effectively manage the transition in our board of directors and management as well as successfully execute our business restructuring;
• Availability of supplies, including lower than anticipated volumes from third parties served by our midstream business, and market demand;
• Volatility of pricing including the effect of lower than anticipated energy commodity prices and margins;
• Inflation, interest rates, and general economic conditions (including future disruptions and volatility in the global credit markets and the impact of these events on customers and suppliers);
• The strength and financial resources of our competitors and the effects of competition;
• Whether we are able to successfully identify, evaluate and timely execute our capital projects and other investment opportunities in accordance with our forecasted capital expenditures budget;
• Our ability to successfully expand our facilities and operations;
• Development of alternative energy sources;
• The impact of operational and developmental hazards, unforeseen interruptions, and the availability of adequate insurance coverage for such interruptions;
• The impact of existing and future laws, regulations, the regulatory environment, environmental liabilities, and litigation, as well as our ability to obtain permits and achieve favorable rate proceeding outcomes;
• Our costs and funding obligations for defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans;
• Changes in maintenance and construction costs;
• Changes in the current geopolitical situation;
• Our exposure to the credit risk of our customers and counterparties;
• Risks related to financing, including restrictions stemming from debt agreements, future changes in credit ratings as determined by nationally-recognized credit rating agencies and the availability and cost of capital;
• The amount of cash distributions from and capital requirements of our investments and joint ventures in which we participate;
• Risks associated with weather and natural phenomena, including climate conditions and physical damage to our facilities;
• Acts of terrorism, including cybersecurity threats and related disruptions;
• Additional risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Given the uncertainties and risk factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, we caution investors not to unduly rely on our forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligations to and do not intend to update the above list or announce publicly the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.

In addition to causing our actual results to differ, the factors listed above and referred to below may cause our intentions to change from those statements of intention set forth in this report. Such changes in our intentions may also cause our results to differ. We may change our intentions, at any time and without notice, based upon changes in such factors, our assumptions, or otherwise.

Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, we caution that there are important factors, in addition to those listed above, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. For a detailed discussion of those factors, see Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on Feb. 22, 2017.

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