FORM 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008

OR

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

For the transition period from              to             .

Commission file number 001-13643

ONEOK, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Oklahoma   73-1520922

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

100 West Fifth Street, Tulsa, OK   74103
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (918) 588-7000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No     

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer X   Accelerated filer        Non-accelerated filer        Smaller reporting company     

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes      No X

On April 30, 2008, the Company had 104,275,088 shares of common stock outstanding.


Table of Contents

ONEOK, Inc.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

 

Part I.

   Financial Information    Page No.

Item 1.

   Financial Statements (Unaudited)   
   Consolidated Statements of Income -
Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
   5
   Consolidated Balance Sheets -
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007
   6-7
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
   9
   Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity and
Comprehensive Income - Three Months Ended March 31, 2008
   10-11
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    12-25

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
   26-43

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    43-46

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    46

Part II.

   Other Information   

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    46

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    46

Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    47

Item 3.

   Defaults Upon Senior Securities    47

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    47

Item 5.

   Other Information    47

Item 6.

   Exhibits    47

Signature

      48

As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, references to “we,” “our” or “us” refers to ONEOK, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation, and its predecessors and subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

The statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not historical information, including statements concerning plans and objectives of management for future operations, economic performance or related assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “should,” “goal,” “forecast,” “could,” “may,” “continue,” “might,” “potential,” “scheduled” and other words and terms of similar meaning. Although we believe that our expectations regarding future events are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our goals will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are described under Part I, Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, “Forward-Looking Statements” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and under Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

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Glossary

The abbreviations, acronyms and industry terminology used in this Quarterly Report are defined as follows:

 

AFUDC

  

Allowance for funds used during construction

ARB

  

Accounting Research Bulletin

Bbl

  

Barrels, 1 barrel is equivalent to 42 United States gallons

Bbl/d

  

Barrels per day

BBtu/d

  

Billion British thermal units per day

Bcf

  

Billion cubic feet

Bcf/d

  

Billion cubic feet per day

Btu

  

British thermal units, a measure of the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit

Bushton Plant

  

Bushton Gas Processing Plant

EITF

  

Emerging Issues Task Force

Exchange Act

  

Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

FASB

  

Financial Accounting Standards Board

FERC

  

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

FIN

  

FASB Interpretation

Fort Union Gas Gathering

  

Fort Union Gas Gathering, L.L.C.

GAAP

  

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States

Guardian Pipeline

  

Guardian Pipeline, L.L.C.

Heartland

  

Heartland Pipeline Company

KCC

  

Kansas Corporation Commission

KDHE

  

Kansas Department of Health and Environment

LDC

  

Local Distribution Company

LIBOR

  

London Interbank Offered Rate

MBbl

  

Thousand barrels

MBbl/d

  

Thousand barrels per day

Mcf

  

Thousand cubic feet

Midwestern Gas Transmission

  

Midwestern Gas Transmission Company

MMBtu

  

Million British thermal units

MMBtu/d

  

Million British thermal units per day

MMcf

  

Million cubic feet

MMcf/d

  

Million cubic feet per day

Moody’s

  

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

NGL(s)

  

Natural gas liquid(s)

Northern Border Pipeline

  

Northern Border Pipeline Company

NYMEX

  

New York Mercantile Exchange

OBPI

  

ONEOK Bushton Processing Inc.

OCC

  

Oklahoma Corporation Commission

ONEOK

  

ONEOK, Inc.

ONEOK Partners

  

ONEOK Partners, L.P.

ONEOK Partners GP

  

ONEOK Partners GP, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of ONEOK, Inc. and the sole general partner of ONEOK Partners, L.P.

Overland Pass Pipeline Company

  

Overland Pass Pipeline Company LLC

S&P

  

Standard & Poor’s Rating Group

SEC

  

Securities and Exchange Commission

Statement

  

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards

 

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

    

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

(Unaudited)      2008       2007  

Revenues

     (Thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)  
  

Operating revenues, excluding energy trading revenues

   $ 4,918,031     $ 3,804,860  

Energy trading revenues, net

     (15,955 )     1,348  

Total Revenues

     4,902,076       3,806,208  

Cost of sales and fuel

     4,316,164       3,241,358  

Net Margin

     585,912       564,850  

Operating Expenses

    

Operations and maintenance

     167,992       158,643  

Depreciation and amortization

     59,479       56,450  

General taxes

     25,331       23,659  

Total Operating Expenses

     252,802       238,752  

Gain on sale of assets

     13       2,203  

Operating Income

     333,123       328,301  

Equity earnings from investments (Note K)

     27,783       24,055  

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

     8,496       1,337  

Other income

     3,232       5,004  

Other expense

     (4,608 )     (645 )

Interest expense

     (62,861 )     (62,012 )

Income before Minority Interests and Income Taxes

     305,165       296,040  

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

     (68,960 )     (45,313 )

Income taxes

     (92,368 )     (97,847 )

Net Income

   $ 143,837     $ 152,880  
   

Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (Note L)

    

Net Earnings Per Share, Basic

   $ 1.38     $ 1.38  

Net Earnings Per Share, Diluted

   $ 1.36     $ 1.36  
   

Average Shares of Common Stock (Thousands)

    

Basic

     104,170       110,868  

Diluted

     105,821       112,724  
   

Dividends Declared Per Share of Common Stock

   $ 0.38     $ 0.34  
   

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(Unaudited)     
 
March 31,
2008
    
 
December 31,
2007

Assets

     (Thousands of dollars)

Current Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 268,740    $ 19,105

Trade accounts and notes receivable, net

     1,723,572      1,723,212

Gas and natural gas liquids in storage

     329,307      841,362

Commodity exchanges and imbalances

     75,302      82,938

Energy marketing and risk management assets (Note D)

     129,049      168,609

Other current assets

     216,694      116,249

Total Current Assets

     2,742,664      2,951,475
     

Property, Plant and Equipment

     

Property, plant and equipment

     8,297,604      7,893,492

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     2,091,337      2,048,311

Net Property, Plant and Equipment (Note A)

     6,206,267      5,845,181
     

Investments and Other Assets

     

Goodwill and intangible assets

     1,041,857      1,043,773

Energy marketing and risk management assets (Note D)

     7,180      3,978

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates (Note K)

     754,304      756,260

Other assets

     487,562      461,367

Total Investments and Other Assets

     2,290,903      2,265,378

Total Assets

   $ 11,239,834    $ 11,062,034
               

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(Unaudited)     
 
March 31,
2008
 
 
   
 
December 31,
2007
 
 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

     (Thousands of dollars)  

Current Liabilities

    

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 118,181     $ 420,479  

Notes payable

     265,600       202,600  

Accounts payable

     1,585,757       1,436,005  

Commodity exchanges and imbalances

     219,773       252,095  

Energy marketing and risk management liabilities (Note D)

     244,632       133,903  

Other current liabilities

     445,064       436,585  

Total Current Liabilities

     2,879,007       2,881,667  

Long-term Debt, excluding current maturities

     4,118,394       4,215,046  

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

    

Deferred income taxes

     720,733       680,543  

Energy marketing and risk management liabilities (Note D)

     64,256       26,861  

Other deferred credits

     485,190       486,645  

Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

     1,270,179       1,194,049  

Commitments and Contingencies (Note I)

    

Minority Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries

     965,462       801,964  

Shareholders’ Equity

    

Common stock, $0.01 par value:

    

authorized 300,000,000 shares; issued 121,380,458 shares and outstanding 104,252,433 shares at March 31, 2008; issued 121,115,217 shares and outstanding 103,987,476 shares at December 31, 2007

     1,214       1,211  

Paid in capital

     1,275,103       1,273,800  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Note E)

     (75,177 )     (7,069 )

Retained earnings

     1,515,793       1,411,492  

Treasury stock, at cost: 17,128,025 shares at March 31, 2008 and 17,127,741 shares at December 31, 2007

     (710,141 )     (710,126 )

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     2,006,792       1,969,308  

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 11,239,834     $ 11,062,034  
                  

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

    
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
(Unaudited)      2008       2007  

Operating Activities

     (Thousands of dollars)  

Net income

   $ 143,837     $ 152,880  

Depreciation and amortization

     59,479       56,450  

Allowance for funds used during construction

     (8,496 )     (1,337 )

Gain on sale of assets

     (13 )     (2,203 )

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

     68,960       45,313  

Equity earnings from investments

     (27,783 )     (24,055 )

Distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates

     24,040       26,455  

Deferred income taxes

     29,362       19,499  

Stock-based compensation expense

     7,982       8,641  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     2,035       1,974  

Changes in assets and liabilities (net of acquisition and disposition effects):

    

Trade accounts and notes receivable

     (7,065 )     60,072  

Gas and natural gas liquids in storage

     488,214       426,136  

Accounts payable

     119,795       (3,020 )

Commodity exchanges and imbalances, net

     (24,686 )     (7,468 )

Accrued interest

     50,293       44,756  

Energy marketing and risk management assets and liabilities

     3,375       77,506  

Other assets and liabilities

     (58,814 )     (12,306 )

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     870,515       869,293  

Investing Activities

    

Changes in investments in unconsolidated affiliates

     3,311       (141 )

Capital expenditures (less allowance for equity funds used during construction)

     (339,531 )     (102,135 )

Changes in short-term investments

     -       (506,905 )

Proceeds from sale of assets

     161       3,707  

Other

     2,450       -  

Cash Used in Investing Activities

     (333,609 )     (605,474 )

Financing Activities

    

Borrowing (repayment) of notes payable, net

     63,000       (6,000 )

Payment of debt

     (405,504 )     (520 )

Repurchase of common stock

     (15 )     (20,089 )

Issuance of common stock

     1,533       2,702  

Issuance of common units, net of discounts

     140,369       -  

Dividends paid

     (39,536 )     (37,691 )

Distributions to minority interests

     (47,118 )     (44,979 )

Cash Used in Financing Activities

     (287,271 )     (106,577 )

Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     249,635       157,242  

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

     19,105       68,268  

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

   $ 268,740     $ 225,510  
                  

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

(Unaudited)    Common
Stock
Issued
   
 
Common
Stock
     Paid in Capital      
 
 
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
 
 
 
   (Shares)        (Thousands of dollars)    

December 31, 2007

   121,115,217   $ 1,211    $ 1,273,800     $ (7,069 )

Net income

   -     -      -       -  

Other comprehensive income (loss)

   -     -      -       (68,108 )

Total comprehensive income

         

Repurchase of common stock

   -     -      -       -  

Common stock issuance pursuant to various plans

   265,241     3      (6,679 )     -  

Stock-based employee compensation expense

   -     -      7,982       -  

Common stock dividends - $0.38 per share

   -     -      -       -  

March 31, 2008

   121,380,458   $ 1,214    $ 1,275,103     $ (75,177 )
                             

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Continued)

 

 

(Unaudited)     
 
Retained
Earnings
 
 
    Treasury Stock       Total      
     (Thousands of dollars)    

December 31, 2007

   $ 1,411,492     $ (710,126 )   $ 1,969,308    

Net income

     143,837       -       143,837    

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     -       -       (68,108 )  
              

Total comprehensive income

         75,729    
              

Repurchase of common stock

     -       (15 )     (15 )  

Common stock issuance
pursuant to various plans

     -       -       (6,676 )  

Stock-based employee
compensation expense

     -       -       7,982    

Common stock dividends - $0.38 per
share

     (39,536 )     -       (39,536 )    

March 31, 2008

   $         1,515,793     $ (710,141 )   $         2,006,792      
                              

 

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ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

A. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Our accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and reflect all adjustments that, in our opinion, are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Due to the seasonal nature of our business, the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a 12-month period.

Our accounting policies are consistent with those disclosed in Note A of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Critical Accounting Policies

Fair Value Measurements

General - In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. Beginning January 1, 2008, we partially applied Statement 157 as allowed by FASB Staff Position (FSP) 157-2, which delayed the effective date of Statement 157 for nonrecurring fair value measurements associated with our nonfinancial assets and liabilities. As of January 1, 2008, we have applied the provisions of Statement 157 to our recurring fair value measurements and the impact was not material. See Note C for disclosure of fair value measurements for our financial instruments. Under FSP 157-2, we will be required to apply Statement 157 to our nonrecurring fair value measurements associated with our nonfinancial assets and liabilities beginning January 1, 2009. We are currently reviewing the applicability of Statement 157 to our nonrecurring fair value measurements associated with our nonfinancial assets and liabilities as well as the potential impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which allows companies to elect to measure specified financial assets and liabilities, firm commitments, and nonfinancial warranty and insurance contracts at fair value on a contract-by-contract basis, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings each reporting period. At January 1, 2008, we did not elect the fair value option under Statement 159 and therefore there was no impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Determining Fair Value - Statement 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We use the income approach to determine the fair value of our assets and liabilities and consider the markets in which the transactions are executed, except for our available-for-sale securities which are valued under the market approach. While many of the contracts in our portfolio are executed in liquid markets where price transparency exists, some contracts are executed in markets for which market prices may exist but the market may be relatively inactive. This results in limited price transparency that requires management’s judgment and assumptions to estimate fair values. Inputs into our fair value estimates include commodity exchange prices, over-the-counter quotes, volatility, historical correlations of pricing data and LIBOR and other liquid money market instrument rates. We also utilize internally developed basis curves that incorporate observable and unobservable market data. We validate our valuation inputs with third-party information and settlement prices from other sources where available. In addition, as prescribed by the income approach, we compute the fair value of our derivative portfolio by discounting the projected future cash flows from our derivative assets and liabilities to present value. The interest rate yields used to calculate the present value discount factors are derived from LIBOR, Eurodollar futures and Treasury swaps. The projected cash flows are then multiplied by the appropriate discount factors to determine the present value or fair value of our derivative instruments. We also take into consideration the potential impact on market prices of liquidating positions in an orderly manner over a reasonable period of time under current market conditions. Finally, we consider credit risk of our counterparties on the fair value of our derivative assets, as well as our own credit risk for derivative liabilities, using default probabilities and recovery rates, net of collateral. Although we use our best estimates to determine the fair value of the derivative contracts we have executed, the ultimate market prices realized could differ from our estimates, and the differences could be material.

 

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Fair Value Hierarchy - Statement 157 establishes the fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques based on observable and unobservable data and categorizes the inputs into three levels, with the highest priority given to Level 1 and the lowest priority given to Level 3. The levels are described below.

   

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

   

Level 2 - Significant observable pricing inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date. Essentially, inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.

   

Level 3 - Generally unobservable inputs, which are developed based on the best information available and may include our own internal data.

Determining the appropriate classification of our fair value measurements within the fair value hierarchy requires management’s judgment regarding the degree to which market data is observable or corroborated by observable market data. As interpretations of Statement 157 evolve, our classification of certain instruments within the hierarchy may be revised.

See Note C for more discussion of our fair value measurements.

Derivatives, Accounting for Financially Settled Transactions and Risk Management Activities - We engage in wholesale energy marketing, retail marketing, trading and risk management activities. We account for derivative instruments utilized in connection with these activities and services in accordance with Statement 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended.

Under Statement 133, entities are required to record derivative instruments at fair value, with the exception of normal purchases and normal sales that are expected to result in physical delivery. See previous discussion in “Fair Value Measurements” for additional information. Market value changes result in a change in the fair value of our derivative instruments. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and, if so, the nature of the risk being hedged and how we will determine if the hedging instrument is effective. If the derivative instrument does not qualify or is not designated as part of a hedging relationship, then we account for changes in fair value of the derivative in earnings as such changes occur. Commodity price volatility may have a significant impact on the gain or loss in a given period.

To minimize the risk of fluctuations in natural gas, NGLs and condensate prices, we periodically enter into futures, collars or swap transactions in order to hedge anticipated purchases and sales of natural gas, NGLs and condensate and fuel requirements. Interest-rate swaps are also used to manage interest-rate risk. Under certain conditions, we designate these derivative instruments as a hedge of exposure to changes in fair values or cash flows. For hedges of exposure to changes in cash flow, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported initially as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and is subsequently recorded to earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings. Any ineffectiveness of designated hedges is reported in earnings during the period the ineffectiveness occurs. For hedges of exposure to changes in fair value, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is recognized in earnings during the period of change together with the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged.

Upon election, many of our purchase and sale agreements that otherwise would be required to follow derivative accounting qualify as normal purchases and normal sales under Statement 133 and are therefore exempt from fair value accounting treatment.

The presentation of settled derivative instruments on either a gross or net basis in our Consolidated Statements of Income is dependent on a number of factors, including whether the derivative instrument (i) is held for trading purposes, (ii) is financially settled, (iii) results in physical delivery or services rendered, and (iv) qualifies for the normal purchase or sale exception as defined in Statement 133. In accordance with EITF 03-11, “Reporting Realized Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments That Are Subject to FASB Statement No. 133 and not ‘Held for Trading’ as Defined in EITF Issue No. 02-3,” EITF 99-19, “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent,” and Statement 133, we report settled derivative instruments as follows:

   

all financially settled derivative contracts are reported on a net basis,

   

derivative instruments considered held for trading purposes that result in physical delivery are reported on a net basis,

   

derivative instruments not considered held for trading purposes that result in physical delivery or services rendered are reported on a gross basis, and

 

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derivatives that qualify for the normal purchase or sale exception as defined in Statement 133 are reported on a gross basis.

We apply the indicators in EITF 99-19 to determine the appropriate accounting treatment for non-derivative contracts that result in physical delivery.

See Note D for more discussion of derivatives and risk management activities.

Significant Accounting Policies

Property - The following table sets forth our property, by segment, for the periods presented.

 

      
 
March 31,
2008
    
 
December 31,
2007

Non-Regulated

     (Thousands of dollars)

ONEOK Partners

   $ 2,196,354    $ 2,112,394

Energy Services

     7,845      7,845

Other

     221,228      177,356

Regulated

     

ONEOK Partners

     2,572,450      2,323,977

Distribution

     3,299,727      3,271,920

Property, plant and equipment

     8,297,604      7,893,492

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     2,091,337      2,048,311

Net property, plant and equipment

   $ 6,206,267    $ 5,845,181
               

At March 31, 2008, property, plant and equipment on our Consolidated Balance Sheet included construction work in process of $1,105.1 million that had not yet been put in service and therefore was not being depreciated. Of this amount, $1,061.5 million was related to our ONEOK Partners segment, $34.8 million was related to our Distribution segment and $8.8 million was related to our Other segment.

Other

Pension and Postretirement Employee Benefits - In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans,” which required us to record a balance sheet liability equal to the difference between our benefit obligations and plan assets. Statement 158 was effective for our year ended December 31, 2006, except for the measurement date change from September 30 to December 31, which is effective for our year ending December 31, 2008. We determined our net periodic benefit cost for the period October 1, 2007, through December 31, 2008, based on a measurement date of September 30, 2007. The net periodic benefit cost for the period of October 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007, will be reflected as an adjustment to retained earnings as of December 31, 2008. The impact of this adjustment will be a $12.4 million reduction to retained earnings and a $1.3 million reduction to accumulated other comprehensive loss. The net periodic benefit cost for the period January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008, is being recognized during 2008.

Master Netting Arrangements - In April 2007, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FIN 39-1, “Amendment of FASB Interpretation No. 39,” which requires entities that offset the fair value amounts recognized for derivative receivables and payables to also offset the fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral with the same counterparty under a master netting agreement. We have applied the provisions of FIN 39-1 to our consolidated financial statements beginning January 1, 2008, and the impact was not material.

Business Combinations - In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement 141R, “Business Combinations,” which will require most identifiable assets, liabilities, noncontrolling interest (previously referred to as minority interest) and goodwill acquired in a business combination to be recorded at fair value. Statement 141R is effective for our year beginning January 1, 2009, and will be applied prospectively. We are currently reviewing the applicability of Statement 141R to our operations and its potential impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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Noncontrolling Interests - In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement 160, “Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements - an amendment to ARB No. 51,” which requires noncontrolling interest (previously referred to as minority interest) to be reported as a component of equity. Statement 160 is effective for our year beginning January 1, 2009, and will require retroactive adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing minority interests. We are currently reviewing the applicability of Statement 160 to our operations and its potential impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure - In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - an amendment to FASB Statement No. 133,” which requires enhanced disclosures about how derivative and hedging activities affect our financial position, financial performance and cash flows. Statement 161 is effective for our year beginning January 1, 2009, and will be applied prospectively. We are currently reviewing the applicability of Statement 161 to our consolidated financial statement disclosures.

Reclassifications - Certain amounts in our consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2008 presentation. These reclassifications did not impact previously reported net income or shareholders’ equity.

 

B. ACQUISITIONS

Acquisition of NGL Pipeline - In October 2007, ONEOK Partners completed the acquisition of an interstate natural gas liquids and refined petroleum products pipeline system and related assets from a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. for approximately $300 million, before working capital adjustments. The system extends from Bushton and Conway, Kansas, to Chicago, Illinois, and transports, stores and delivers a full range of NGL and refined petroleum products. The FERC-regulated system spans 1,624 miles and has a capacity to transport up to 134 MBbl/d. The transaction included approximately 978 MBbl of owned storage capacity, eight NGL terminals and a 50 percent ownership of Heartland. ConocoPhillips owns the other 50 percent of Heartland and is the managing partner of the Heartland joint venture, which consists primarily of three refined petroleum products terminals and connecting pipelines. ONEOK Partners’ investment in Heartland is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Financing for this transaction came from a portion of the proceeds of ONEOK Partners’ September 2007 issuance of $600 million 6.85 percent Senior Notes due 2037. The working capital settlement was finalized in April 2008, with no material adjustments.

 

C. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

See Note A for a discussion of our fair value measurements and the fair value hierarchy. The following table sets forth our recurring fair value measurements, before the impact of master netting arrangements, for the period indicated.

 

     March 31, 2008  
       Level 1       Level 2      Level 3       Total  
     (Thousands of dollars)  

Assets

         

Derivatives, non-trading

   $ 389,977     $                     -    $ 220,693     $ 610,670  

Derivatives, trading

     35,565       -      74,582       110,147  

Available-for-sale investment securities

     16,382       -      -       16,382  

Firm commitments

     -       -      135,538       135,538  

Total assets

   $         441,924     $ -    $         430,813     $         872,737  
   

Liabilities

         

Derivatives, non-trading

   $ (426,484 )   $ -    $ (358,719 )   $ (785,203 )

Derivatives, trading

     (42,265 )     -      (68,498 )     (110,763 )

Long-term debt swapped to floating

     -       -      (347,705 )     (347,705 )

Total liabilities

   $ (468,749 )   $ -    $ (774,922 )   $ (1,243,671 )
   

For derivatives for which fair value is determined based on multiple inputs, Statement 157 requires that the measurement for an individual derivative be categorized within a single level based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. We utilize a 10 percent threshold to weigh the significance of an input to the total fair value measurement.

 

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Our Level 1 fair value measurements are primarily based on NYMEX-settled prices, actively quoted prices for equity securities and foreign currency forward exchange rates. These balances are predominantly comprised of exchange-traded instruments such as futures and options for natural gas and crude oil, exchange-settled natural gas swaps and non-exchange traded financial instruments for which the fair value is determined using NYMEX prices. Also included in Level 1 are available-for-sale securities and foreign currency swaps.

Our Level 3 inputs are based on over-the-counter quotes, market volatilities derived from NYMEX-settled prices, internally-developed basis curves incorporating observable and unobservable market data, modeling techniques using observable market data and historical correlations of NGL product prices to crude oil, and spot and forward LIBOR curves. The derivatives categorized as Level 3 include over-the-counter swaps and options for natural gas and crude oil, NGL swaps and forwards, natural gas basis and swing swaps and physical forward contracts and interest-rate swaps. Also included in Level 3 are the fair values of firm commitments and long-term debt that have been hedged. The majority of our non-trading derivatives are part of a hedge relationship.

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of Level 3 fair value measurements for the period indicated.

 

      Derivatives,
Non-Trading
    Derivatives,
Trading
   Firm
Commitments
   Long-Term
Debt
    Total  
     (Thousands of dollars)  

January 1, 2008

   $ (56,350 )   $ 1,768    $ 42,684    $ (338,538 )   $ (350,436 )

Total realized/unrealized gains (losses):

            

Included in earnings

     (104,942 )     4,316      92,854      (9,167 )     (16,939 )

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

     23,266       -      -      -       23,266  

Transfers in and/or out of Level 3

     -       -      -      -       -  

March 31, 2008

   $ (138,026 )   $ 6,084    $ 135,538    $ (347,705 )   $ (344,109 )
                                        

Total gains (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gain (loss) relating to assets and liabilities still held as of March 31, 2008

   $ (87,178 )   $ 3,645    $ 84,903    $ (9,167 )   $ (7,797 )

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in earnings in our Consolidated Statement of Income for the period are presented below.

 

      
 
Operating
Revenues
 
 
   
 
Energy Trading
Revenues, Net
     Total  
     (Thousands of dollars)  

Total gain (loss) included in earnings for the period

   $ (21,255 )   $ 4,316    $ (16,939 )

Change in unrealized gain (loss) relating to assets and liabilities still held as of March 31, 2008

   $ (11,442 )   $ 3,645    $ (7,797 )

 

D. ENERGY MARKETING AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

Accounting Treatment - We account for derivative instruments and hedging activities in accordance with Statement 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended. Under Statement 133, entities are required to record derivative instruments at fair value, with the exception of normal purchases and normal sales that are expected to result in physical delivery. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and, if so, the reason for holding it. If the derivative instrument does not qualify or is not designated as part of a hedging relationship, we account for changes in fair value of the derivative instrument in earnings as they occur. We record changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are considered held for trading purposes as energy trading revenues, net and derivative instruments considered not held for trading purposes as cost of sales and fuel in our Consolidated Statements of Income. If certain conditions are met, entities may elect to designate a derivative instrument as a hedge of exposure to changes in fair values, cash flows or foreign currencies. For hedges of exposure to changes in fair value, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is recognized in earnings during the period of change together with the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged. The difference between the change in fair value of the derivative instrument and the change in fair value of the

 

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hedged item represents hedge ineffectiveness, which is reported in earnings during the period the ineffectiveness occurs. For hedges of exposure to changes in cash flow, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported initially as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and is subsequently recorded in earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings.

As required by Statement 133, we formally document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as risk management objectives, strategies for undertaking various hedge transactions and methods for assessing and testing correlation and hedge ineffectiveness. We specifically identify the asset, liability, firm commitment or forecasted transaction that has been designated as the hedged item. We assess the effectiveness of hedging relationships by performing a regression analysis on our cash flow and fair value hedging relationships quarterly to ensure the hedge relationships are highly effective on a retrospective and prospective basis, as required by Statement 133. We also document our normal purchases and normal sales transactions that we elect to exempt from fair value accounting treatment. Although we believe we have appropriate internal controls over our accounting for derivatives, interpreting Statement 133 and the related documentation requirements is very complex. In addition, future interpretations may impact our application of Statement 133.

Refer to Note D of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, for additional discussion.

Fair Value Hedges - In prior years, we and ONEOK Partners terminated various interest-rate swap agreements. The net savings from the termination of these swaps is being recognized in interest expense over the terms of the debt instruments originally hedged. Net interest expense savings for the three months ended March 31, 2008, from amortization of terminated swaps was $2.6 million, and the remaining net savings for all terminated swaps will be recognized over the following periods.

 

          ONEOK   
           ONEOK      Partners      Total
       (Millions of dollars)

Remainder of 2008

     $ 5.0    $ 2.8    $ 7.8

2009

       5.6      3.7      9.3

2010

       5.5      3.7      9.2

2011

       2.5      0.9      3.4

2012

       0.8      -      0.8

Thereafter

         12.0      -      12.0

At March 31, 2008, the interest on $340 million of our fixed-rate debt was swapped to floating using interest-rate swaps. The floating rate was based on both the three- and six-month LIBOR, depending upon the swap. Based on the actual performance through March 31, 2008, the weighted-average interest rate on the swapped debt decreased from 6.44 percent to 5.76 percent. At March 31, 2008, we recorded a net asset of $7.7 million to recognize the interest-rate swaps at fair value. Long-term debt was increased by $7.7 million to recognize the change in the fair value of the related hedged asset. ONEOK Partners had no interest-rate swap agreements at March 31, 2008.

Our Energy Services segment uses basis swaps to hedge the fair value of certain firm transportation commitments. Net gains or losses from the fair value hedges and ineffectiveness are recorded to cost of sales and fuel. The ineffectiveness related to these hedges includes gains of $1.0 million and losses of $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

In September 2007, our Energy Services segment was notified that a portion of the volume contracted under our firm transportation agreement with Cheyenne Plains Gas Pipeline Company would be curtailed due to a fire at a Cheyenne Plains pipeline compressor station. The fire damaged a significant amount of instrumentation and electrical wiring, causing Cheyenne Plains Gas Pipeline Company to declare a force majeure event on the pipeline. This firm commitment was hedged in accordance with Statement 133. The discontinuance of fair value hedge accounting on the portion of the firm commitment that was impacted by the force majeure event resulted in a loss of approximately $5.5 million in the third quarter of 2007, of which $2.4 million has been recovered through insurance proceeds in the first quarter of 2008.

 

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Cash Flow Hedges - Our Energy Services segment uses futures and swaps to hedge the cash flows associated with our anticipated purchases and sales of natural gas and cost of fuel used in the transportation of natural gas. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at March 31, 2008, includes losses of approximately $30.2 million, net of tax, related to these hedges that will be realized within the next 14 months as the forecasted transactions affect earnings. If prices remain at current levels, we will recognize $31.2 million in net losses over the next 12 months, and we will recognize net gains of $1.0 million thereafter. In accordance with Statement 133, the actual gains or losses will be reclassified into earnings when the related physical transactions affect earnings.

Our ONEOK Partners segment periodically enters into derivative instruments to hedge the cash flows associated with its exposure to changes in the price of natural gas, condensate and NGL products and the gross processing spread. If prices remain at current levels, our ONEOK Partners segment will recognize $3.8 million in net losses, all of which will be recognized over the next nine months.

Ineffectiveness related to our cash flow hedges resulted in a loss of approximately $1.2 million and a loss of approximately $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. In the event that forecasted transactions do not occur, we would discontinue cash flow hedge treatment, which would affect earnings. There were no material gains or losses during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, due to the discontinuance of cash flow hedge treatment.

 

E. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The tables below show the gross amount of other comprehensive income (loss) and related tax (expense) benefit for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31, 2008
    Three Months Ended
March 31, 2007
 
       Gross      
 
 
Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
 
 
 
    Net       Gross      
 
 
Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
 
 
 
    Net  
     (Thousands of dollars)  

Unrealized gains (losses) on energy marketing and risk management assets/liabilities

   $ (90,246 )   $ 38,113     $ (52,133 )   $ (67,265 )   $ 25,335     $ (41,930 )

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period

     (7,769 )     3,005       (4,764 )     2,124       (822 )     1,302  

Change in pension and postretirement benefit plan liability

     (4,025 )     1,556       (2,469 )     (1,786 )     691       (1,095 )

Less: Realized gains (losses) recognized in net income

     14,257       (5,515 )     8,742       103,036       (39,854 )     63,182  

Other comprehensive income (loss)

   $ (116,297 )   $ 48,189     $ (68,108 )   $ (169,963 )   $ 65,058     $ (104,905 )
                                                  

The table below shows the balance in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the periods indicated.

 

      
 
 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
(Losses) on Energy
Marketing and
Risk Management
Assets/Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
Unrealized Gains (Losses)
on Available-for-Sale
Securities
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
Pension and
Postretirement
Benefit Plan
Obligations
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
 
 
 
       (Thousands of dollars)    

December 31, 2007

   $ 25,328     $ 13,678     $ (46,075 )   $ (7,069 )

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     (60,875 )     (4,764 )     (2,469 )     (68,108 )

March 31, 2008

   $ (35,547 )   $ 8,914     $ (48,544 )   $ (75,177 )
                                  

 

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F. CAPITAL STOCK

Stock Repurchase Plan - On May 17, 2007, our Board of Directors authorized a stock buy back program to repurchase up to 7.5 million shares of our currently issued and outstanding common stock. On June 28, 2007, we repurchased 7.5 million shares of our outstanding common stock under an accelerated share repurchase agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (Bank of America) at an initial price of $49.33 per share for a total of $370 million. Bank of America borrowed 7.5 million of our shares from third parties and purchased shares in the open market to settle its short position. Our repurchase was subject to a financial adjustment based on the volume-weighted average price, less a discount, of the shares subsequently repurchased by Bank of America over the course of the repurchase period. The price adjustment could have been settled, at our option, in cash or in shares of our common stock. In September 2007, the accelerated share repurchase agreement with Bank of America was settled, which resulted in Bank of America delivering an additional 186,402 shares of our common stock to us at no additional cost. All shares under this accelerated repurchase agreement were recorded as treasury shares in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. These transactions completed the plan approved by our Board of Directors, and we have no remaining shares available for repurchase under our stock repurchase plan.

On August 7, 2006, under a previously authorized stock repurchase plan, we repurchased 7.5 million shares of our outstanding common stock under an accelerated share repurchase agreement with UBS Securities LLC (UBS) at an initial price of $37.52 per share for a total of $281.4 million. These shares were recorded as treasury shares in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. UBS borrowed 7.5 million of our shares from third parties and purchased shares in the open market to settle its short position. Our repurchase was subject to a financial adjustment based on the volume-weighted average price, less a discount, of the shares subsequently repurchased by UBS over the course of the repurchase period. The price adjustment could have been settled, at our option, in cash or in shares of our common stock. In February 2007, the forward purchase contract with UBS was settled for a cash payment of $20.1 million, which was recorded in equity.

In accordance with EITF Issue No. 99-7, “Accounting for an Accelerated Share Repurchase Program,” the repurchases were accounted for as two separate transactions: (1) as shares of common stock acquired in a treasury stock transaction recorded on the acquisition date and (2) as a forward contract indexed to our common stock. Additionally, we classified the forward contracts as equity under EITF Issue No. 00-19, “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock.”

Dividends - Quarterly dividends paid on our common stock to shareholders of record as of the close of business on January 31, 2008, were $0.38 per share. Additionally, a quarterly dividend of $0.38 per share was declared effective in April 2008, payable in the second quarter of 2008.

 

G. CREDIT FACILITIES AND SHORT-TERM NOTES PAYABLE

ONEOK’s $1.2 billion credit agreement (ONEOK Credit Agreement) and ONEOK Partners’ revolving credit agreement (ONEOK Partners Credit Agreement) contain typical covenants as discussed in Note H of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. At March 31, 2008, ONEOK and ONEOK Partners were in compliance with all covenants.

At March 31, 2008, ONEOK had $265.6 million in commercial paper outstanding and $58.4 million in letters of credit issued. The ONEOK Credit Agreement acts as a back-up to ONEOK’s commercial paper program. Considering outstanding commercial paper and letters of credit, ONEOK has $896 million available under the ONEOK Credit Agreement. ONEOK Partners had no borrowings outstanding and $1.0 billion of credit available under the ONEOK Partners Credit Agreement.

ONEOK Partners has a $15 million Senior Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility and Reimbursement Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., of which $12 million is currently being used, and an agreement with Royal Bank of Canada, pursuant to which a $12 million letter of credit was issued. Both agreements are used to support various permits required by the KDHE for ONEOK Partners’ ongoing business in Kansas.

 

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H. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost for our pension and other postretirement benefit plans for the periods indicated.

 

     Pension Benefits
Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Postretirement Benefits
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
       2008       2007       2008       2007  

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

     (Thousands of dollars)  

Service cost

   $ 5,041     $ 5,262     $ 1,419     $ 1,598  

Interest cost

     12,451       12,152       4,475       3,957  

Expected return on assets

     (15,317 )     (14,538 )     (1,855 )     (1,597 )

Amortization of unrecognized net asset at adoption

     -       -       797       797  

Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost

     388       371       (501 )     (569 )

Amortization of net loss

     2,386       4,035       2,743       2,482  

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 4,949     $ 7,282     $ 7,078     $ 6,668  
                                  

Contributions - For the three months ended March 31, 2008, contributions of $0.9 million were made to our pension plan and $0.6 million to our postretirement benefit plan. Additionally, we made benefit payments from our pension plan of $4.9 million and from our postretirement benefit plan of $5.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2008. We presently anticipate our total 2008 contributions to fund future benefits will be $3.1 million for the pension plan and $11.0 million for the postretirement benefit plan. Additionally, the 2008 expected benefit payments from our pension plan are estimated to be $49.7 million, and 2008 expected benefit payments from our postretirement benefit plan are estimated to be $16.7 million.

 

I. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Operating Leases - In July 2007, ONEOK Leasing Company gave notice of its intent to exercise its option to purchase ONEOK Plaza on or before the end of the lease term that was set to expire on September 30, 2009. On March 27, 2008, ONEOK Leasing Company, L.L.C., our subsidiary, purchased ONEOK Plaza for a total purchase price of approximately $48 million, which included $17.1 million for the present value of the remaining lease payments and $30.9 million for the base purchase price.

Environmental Liabilities - We own or retain legal responsibility for the environmental conditions at 12 former manufactured gas sites in Kansas. These sites contain potentially harmful materials that are subject to control or remediation under various environmental laws and regulations. A consent agreement with the KDHE presently governs all work at these sites. The terms of the consent agreement allow us to investigate these sites and set remediation activities based upon the results of the investigations and risk analysis. Remediation typically involves the management of contaminated soils and may involve removal of structures and monitoring and/or remediation of groundwater.

Of the 12 sites, we have commenced remediation on 11 sites. Regulatory closure has been achieved at two locations, and we have completed or are near completion of soil remediation at nine sites. We have begun site assessment at the remaining site where no active remediation has occurred.

Our expenditures for environmental evaluation and remediation to date have not been significant in relation to our results of operations, and there have been no material effects upon earnings during 2008 related to compliance with environmental regulations. See Note K of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, for additional discussion.

Other - As a result of an internal review of a transaction that was brought to the attention of one of our affiliates by a third party, we conducted an internal review of transactions that may have violated FERC natural gas capacity release rules or related rules and determined that there were transactions that should have been disclosed to the FERC. We notified the FERC of this review and filed a report with the FERC regarding these transactions in March 2008. We are cooperating fully with the FERC and have taken action to ensure that current and future transactions comply with applicable FERC regulations. We are unable to predict the outcome of any FERC action in this matter. At this time, we do not believe that penalties associated with potential violations will have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

 

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J. SEGMENTS

Segment Descriptions - We have divided our operations into four reportable business segments based on similarities in economic characteristics, products and services, types of customers, methods of distribution and regulatory environment. These segments are as follows: (i) our ONEOK Partners segment gathers, processes, transports, stores and sells natural gas and gathers, treats, fractionates, stores, distributes and markets NGLs; (ii) our Distribution segment delivers natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers, and transports natural gas; (iii) our Energy Services segment markets natural gas to wholesale and retail customers; and (iv) our Other segment primarily consists of the operating and leasing operations of our headquarters building and a related parking facility. Our Distribution segment is comprised of regulated public utilities, and portions of our ONEOK Partners segment are also regulated.

Accounting Policies - The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note A and Note M of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Intersegment sales are recorded on the same basis as sales to unaffiliated customers. Corporate overhead costs relating to a reportable segment have been allocated for the purpose of calculating operating income. Our equity method investments do not represent operating segments.

Customers - We had no single external customer from which we received 10 percent or more of our consolidated operating revenues.

Operating Segment Information - The following tables set forth certain selected financial information for our operating segments for the periods indicated.

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2008     
 
ONEOK
Partners (a)
     Distribution (b)      
 
Energy
Services
 
 
   
 
Other and
Eliminations
 
 
    Total  
     (Thousands of dollars)  

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   $ 1,875,700    $ 913,661     $ 2,127,799     $ 871     $ 4,918,031  

Energy trading revenues, net

     -      -       (15,955 )     -       (15,955 )

Intersegment sales

     183,335      2       231,959       (415,296 )     -  

Total revenues

   $ 2,059,035    $ 913,663     $ 2,343,803     $ (414,425 )   $ 4,902,076  

Net margin

   $ 268,525    $ 231,688     $ 84,865     $ 834     $ 585,912  

Operating costs

     88,082      94,182       10,165       894       193,323  

Depreciation and amortization

     29,942      28,950       378       209       59,479  

Gain on sale of assets

     31      (18 )     -       -       13  

Operating income

   $ 150,532    $ 108,538     $ 74,322     $ (269 )   $ 333,123  

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 27,783    $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 27,783  

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

   $ 754,304    $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 754,304  

Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries

   $ 5,851    $ -     $ -     $ 959,611     $ 965,462  

Total assets

   $ 6,495,955    $ 2,776,447     $ 1,504,073     $ 463,359     $ 11,239,834  

Capital expenditures

   $ 267,058    $ 30,649     $ -     $ 41,824     $ 339,531  

(a) - Our ONEOK Partners segment has regulated and non-regulated operations. Our ONEOK Partners segment's regulated operations had revenues of $115.8 million, net margin of $81.9 million and operating income of $37.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008.

(b) - All of our Distribution segment's operations are regulated.

 

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Three Months Ended March 31, 2007     
 
ONEOK
Partners (a)
     Distribution (b)     
 
Energy
Services
    
 
Other and
Eliminations
 
 
    Total
     (Thousands of dollars)

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   $ 1,012,338    $ 881,022    $ 1,910,547    $ 953     $ 3,804,860

Energy trading revenues, net

     -      -      1,348      -       1,348

Intersegment sales

     156,336      -      199,811      (356,147 )     -

Total revenues

   $ 1,168,674    $ 881,022    $ 2,111,706    $ (355,194 )   $ 3,806,208

Net margin

   $ 205,370    $ 227,228    $ 131,404    $ 848     $ 564,850

Operating costs

     75,684      95,715      10,729      174       182,302

Depreciation and amortization

     27,513      28,275      538      124       56,450

Gain on sale of assets

     2,203      -      -      -       2,203

Operating income

   $ 104,376    $ 103,238    $ 120,137    $ 550     $ 328,301

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 24,055    $ -    $ -    $ -     $ 24,055

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

   $ 746,384    $ -    $ -    $ -     $ 746,384

Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries

   $ 5,691    $ -    $ -    $ 793,187     $ 798,878

Total assets

   $ 5,017,998    $ 2,787,508    $ 1,794,254    $ 749,151     $ 10,348,911

Capital expenditures

   $ 74,564    $ 25,430    $ -    $ 2,141     $ 102,135

(a) - Our ONEOK Partners segment has regulated and non-regulated operations. Our ONEOK Partners segment's regulated operations had revenues of $83.4 million, net margin of $66.9 million and operating income of $34.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007.

(b) - All of our Distribution segment's operations are regulated.

 

K. UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES

Equity Earnings from Investments - The following table sets forth our equity earnings from investments for the periods indicated. All amounts in the table below are equity earnings from investments in our ONEOK Partners segment.

 

    
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
       2008      2007
     (Thousands of dollars)

Northern Border Pipeline

   $ 19,782    $ 18,040

Bighorn Gas Gathering, L.L.C.

     2,318      1,691

Fort Union Gas Gathering

     2,295      2,587

Lost Creek Gathering Company, L.L.C.

     1,285      1,329

Other

     2,103      408

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 27,783    $ 24,055
               

Unconsolidated Affiliates Financial Information - Summarized combined financial information of our unconsolidated affiliates is presented below.

 

    

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

       2008      2007

Income Statement

     (Thousands of dollars)

Operating revenue

   $ 111,395    $ 98,713

Operating expenses

     43,344      38,357

Net income

     55,821      49,157

Distributions paid to ONEOK Partners

   $ 27,413    $ 26,455

 

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L. EARNINGS PER SHARE INFORMATION

We compute earnings per common share (EPS) as described in Note Q of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The following tables set forth the computations of the basic and diluted EPS for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2008
       Income    Shares     
 
Per Share
Amount

Basic EPS from continuing operations

     (Thousands, except per share amounts)

Income from continuing operations available for common stock

   $ 143,837    104,170    $ 1.38

Diluted EPS from continuing operations

        

Effect of options and other dilutive securities

     -    1,651   
              

Income from continuing operations available for common stock and common stock equivalents

   $ 143,837    105,821    $ 1.36
                    

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2007
       Income    Shares     
 
Per Share
Amount

Basic EPS from continuing operations

     (Thousands, except per share amounts)

Income from continuing operations available for common stock

   $ 152,880    110,868    $ 1.38

Diluted EPS from continuing operations

        

Effect of options and other dilutive securities

     -    1,856   
              

Income from continuing operations available for common stock and common stock equivalents

   $ 152,880    112,724    $ 1.36
                    

There were no anti-dilutive option shares for the three months ended March 31, 2008. There were 18,403 option shares excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2007, since their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

 

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M. ONEOK PARTNERS

Ownership Interest in ONEOK Partners - Our ownership interest in ONEOK Partners is shown in the following table for the periods indicated.

 

     March 31,
2008
 
 
  December 31,
2007
 
 

General partner interest

   2.0 %   2.0 %

Limited partner interest

   45.8 % (a)   43.7 % (b)

Total ownership interest

   47.8 %   45.7 %
              

(a) - Represents 5.9 million common units and approximately 36.5 million Class B units, which are convertible, at our option, into common units.

(b) - Represents 0.5 million common units and approximately 36.5 million Class B units, which are convertible, at our option, into common units.

In March 2008, we purchased from ONEOK Partners, in a private placement, an additional 5.4 million of ONEOK Partners’ common units for a total purchase price of approximately $303.2 million. In addition, ONEOK Partners completed a public offering of 2.5 million common units at $58.10 per common unit and received net proceeds of $140.4 million after deducting underwriting discounts but before offering expenses. In conjunction with ONEOK Partners’ private placement and public offering of common units, we contributed $9.4 million to ONEOK Partners in order to maintain our 2 percent general partner interest. We funded these amounts with available cash and short-term borrowings. Following these transactions, our interest in ONEOK Partners increased to 47.8 percent.

In April 2008, ONEOK Partners sold an additional 128,873 common units at $58.10 per common unit to the underwriters of the public offering upon their partial exercise of their option to purchase additional common units to cover over-allotments. ONEOK Partners received net proceeds of approximately $7.2 million from the sale of these common units after deducting underwriting discounts but before offering expenses. In conjunction with the partial exercise by the underwriters, we contributed $0.2 million to ONEOK Partners in order to maintain our 2 percent general partner interest. Following these transactions, our interest in ONEOK Partners is 47.7 percent.

Cash Distributions - Under ONEOK Partners’ partnership agreement, distributions are made to the partners with respect to each calendar quarter in an amount equal to 100 percent of available cash. Available cash generally consists of all cash receipts adjusted for cash disbursements and net changes to cash reserves. Available cash will generally be distributed 98 percent to limited partners and 2 percent to the general partner. As an incentive, the general partner’s percentage interest in quarterly distributions is increased after certain specified target levels are met. Under the incentive distribution provisions, the general partner receives:

   

15 percent of amounts distributed in excess of $0.605 per unit,

   

25 percent of amounts distributed in excess of $0.715 per unit, and

   

50 percent of amounts distributed in excess of $0.935 per unit.

ONEOK Partners’ income is allocated to the general and limited partners in accordance with their respective partnership ownership percentages. The effect of any incremental income allocations for incentive distributions that are allocated to the general partner is calculated after the income allocation for the general partner’s partnership interest and before the income allocation to the limited partners.

The following table shows ONEOK Partners’ general partner and incentive distributions related to the periods indicated.

 

    
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
       2008      2007
     (Thousands of dollars)

General partner distributions

   $ 2,273    $ 1,907

Incentive distributions

     16,828      11,364

Total distributions from ONEOK Partners

   $ 19,101    $ 13,271
               

 

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The quarterly distributions paid by ONEOK Partners to limited partners in the first quarters of 2008 and 2007 were $1.025 per unit and $0.98 per unit, respectively. In April 2008, ONEOK Partners declared a first quarter 2008 cash distribution of $1.04 per unit payable in the second quarter.

Relationship - We consolidate ONEOK Partners in our consolidated financial statements; however, we are restricted from the assets and cash flows of ONEOK Partners except for our distributions. Distributions are declared quarterly by ONEOK Partners’ general partner based on the terms of its partnership agreement. For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, cash distributions declared from ONEOK Partners to us totaled $63.2 million and $49.9 million, respectively. See Note J for more information on ONEOK Partners’ results.

Affiliate Transactions - We have certain transactions with our ONEOK Partners affiliate and its subsidiaries, which comprise our ONEOK Partners segment.

ONEOK Partners sells natural gas from its natural gas gathering and processing operations to our Energy Services segment. In addition, a portion of ONEOK Partners’ revenues from its natural gas pipelines businesses are from our Energy Services and Distribution segments, which utilize ONEOK Partners’ natural gas transportation and storage services.

ONEOK Partners has certain contractual rights to the Bushton Plant through a Processing and Services Agreement with us, which sets out the terms for processing and related services we provide at the Bushton Plant through 2012. ONEOK Partners has contracted for all of the capacity of the Bushton Plant from OBPI. In exchange, ONEOK Partners pays us for all direct costs and expenses of the Bushton Plant, including reimbursement of a portion of our obligations under equipment leases covering the Bushton Plant.

We provide a variety of services to our affiliates, including cash management and financial services, employee benefits provided through our benefit plans, administrative services provided by our employees and management, insurance and office space leased in our headquarters building and other field locations. Where costs are specifically incurred on behalf of an affiliate, the costs are billed directly to the affiliate by us. In other situations, the costs are allocated to the affiliates through a variety of methods, depending upon the nature of the expenses and the activities of the affiliates. For example, a service that applies equally to all employees is allocated based upon the number of employees in each affiliate. However, an expense benefiting the consolidated company but having no direct basis for allocation is allocated through a modified Distrigas method, a method using a combination of ratios that include gross plant and investment, earnings before interest and taxes and payroll expense.

The following table sets forth transactions with ONEOK Partners for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
      2008    2007
     (Thousands of dollars)

Revenues

   $ 183,335    $ 156,336

Administrative and general expenses

   $ 46,901    $ 44,130

See “Ownership Interest in ONEOK Partners” above for additional discussion of our purchase of common units and additional general partner contributions in March and April 2008.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Due to the seasonal nature of our business, the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a 12-month period.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The following discussion highlights some of our achievements and significant issues affecting us for the periods presented. Please refer to the “Financial and Operating Results” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” sections of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Diluted earnings per share of common stock from continuing operations (EPS) was $1.36 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007. Operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2008, increased to $333.1 million from $328.3 million for the same period in 2007, primarily due to higher realized commodity prices and wider regional NGL product price spreads in our ONEOK Partners segment. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in storage and marketing margins in our Energy Services segment.

In March 2008, we purchased from ONEOK Partners, in a private placement, an additional 5.4 million of ONEOK Partners’ common units for a total purchase price of approximately $303.2 million. In addition, ONEOK Partners completed a public offering of 2.5 million common units at $58.10 per common unit and received net proceeds of $140.4 million after deducting underwriting discounts but before offering expenses. In conjunction with ONEOK Partners’ private placement and public offering of common units, we contributed $9.4 million to ONEOK Partners in order to maintain our 2 percent general partner interest. Following these transactions, our interest in ONEOK Partners increased to 47.8 percent.

In April 2008, ONEOK Partners sold an additional 128,873 common units at $58.10 per common unit to the underwriters of the public offering upon the partial exercise of their option to purchase additional common units to cover over-allotments. ONEOK Partners received net proceeds of approximately $7.2 million from the sale of these common units after deducting underwriting discounts but before offering expenses. In conjunction with the partial exercise by the underwriters, we contributed $0.2 million to ONEOK Partners in order to maintain our 2 percent general partner interest. Following these transactions, our interest in ONEOK Partners is 47.7 percent.

ONEOK Partners used a portion of the proceeds from the sale of common units and the general partner contributions to repay borrowings under its revolving credit facility agreement (ONEOK Partners Credit Agreement).

We declared a quarterly dividend of $0.38 per share ($1.52 per share on an annualized basis) in April 2008, an increase of approximately 12 percent over the $0.34 declared in April 2007. ONEOK Partners declared an increase in its cash distribution to $1.04 per unit ($4.16 per unit on an annualized basis) in April 2008, an increase of approximately 5 percent over the $0.99 declared in April 2007.

In January 2008, Midwestern Gas Transmission, a ONEOK Partners subsidiary, placed its eastern extension pipeline into service.

SIGNIFICANT ACQUISITION

Acquisition of NGL Pipeline - In October 2007, ONEOK Partners completed the acquisition of an interstate natural gas liquids and refined petroleum products pipeline system and related assets from a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (Kinder Morgan) for approximately $300 million, before working capital adjustments. The system extends from Bushton and Conway, Kansas, to Chicago, Illinois, and transports, stores and delivers a full range of NGL and refined petroleum products. The FERC-regulated system spans 1,624 miles and has a capacity to transport up to 134 MBbl/d. The transaction included approximately 978 MBbl of owned storage capacity, eight NGL terminals and a 50 percent ownership of Heartland. ConocoPhillips owns the other 50 percent of Heartland and is the managing partner of the Heartland joint venture, which consists primarily of three refined petroleum products terminals and connecting pipelines. ONEOK Partners’ investment in Heartland is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Financing for this transaction came from a

 

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portion of the proceeds of ONEOK Partners’ September 2007 issuance of $600 million 6.85 percent Senior Notes due 2037. The working capital settlement was finalized in April 2008, with no material adjustments.

CAPITAL PROJECTS

All of the capital projects discussed below are in our ONEOK Partners segment.

Woodford Shale Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Extension - In February 2008, ONEOK Partners announced plans to construct a 78-mile natural gas liquids gathering pipeline to connect two natural gas processing plants, operated by Devon Energy Corporation and Antero Resources Corporation, respectively, in the Woodford Shale area in southeast Oklahoma at a cost of approximately $25 million, excluding AFUDC. The project is currently scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2008. Upon completion, these two plants are expected to have the capacity to produce approximately 25 MBbl/d of unfractionated NGLs. The natural gas liquids production will be transported by ONEOK Partners’ existing Mid-Continent natural gas liquids pipelines. Upon completion of the Arbuckle Pipeline project, the Woodford Shale natural gas liquids production is expected to be transported through the Arbuckle Pipeline to ONEOK Partners’ Mont Belvieu, Texas, fractionation facility.

Overland Pass Pipeline Company - In May 2006, a subsidiary of ONEOK Partners entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of The Williams Companies, Inc. (Williams) to form a joint venture called Overland Pass Pipeline Company. Overland Pass Pipeline Company is building a 760-mile natural gas liquids pipeline from Opal, Wyoming, to the Mid-Continent natural gas liquids market center in Conway, Kansas. The Overland Pass Pipeline is designed to transport approximately 110 MBbl/d of unfractionated NGLs, and can be increased to more than 220 MBbl/d with additional pump facilities. During 2006, ONEOK Partners paid $11.6 million to Williams for the acquisition of its interest in the joint venture and for reimbursement of initial capital expenditures. A subsidiary of ONEOK Partners owns 99 percent of the joint venture and is managing the construction project, advancing all costs associated with construction and operating the pipeline. Within two years of the pipeline becoming operational, Williams will have the option to increase its ownership up to 50 percent by reimbursing ONEOK Partners for certain costs in accordance with the joint venture’s operating agreement. If Williams exercises its option to increase its ownership to the full 50 percent, Williams would have the option to become operator. This project has received the required approvals of various state and federal regulatory authorities, and ONEOK Partners is constructing the pipeline with start-up currently expected during the third quarter of 2008.

As part of a long-term agreement, Williams dedicated its NGL production of approximately 60 MBbl/d from two of its natural gas processing plants in Wyoming to the Overland Pass Pipeline. Subsidiaries of ONEOK Partners will provide downstream fractionation, storage and transportation services to Williams. ONEOK Partners is nearing agreements with other producers for supply commitments which are expected to add an additional 50 MBbl/d to this pipeline. The pipeline project is currently estimated to cost approximately $535 million, excluding AFUDC. Since ONEOK Partners’ initial estimate in early 2006, there has been a significant increase in the demand for pipeline construction-related services, which has led to higher rates, particularly for construction labor and equipment. Additionally, winter construction, due to the extended permitting process, has contributed to added construction costs and further delays and federal restrictions on construction in wildlife sensitive areas are expected to further impact our estimated costs and construction schedule. ONEOK Partners is also investing approximately $216 million, excluding AFUDC, to expand its existing fractionation and storage capabilities and the capacity of its natural gas liquids distribution pipelines.

Piceance Lateral Pipeline - In March 2007, ONEOK Partners announced that Overland Pass Pipeline Company also plans to construct a 150-mile lateral pipeline with capacity to transport as much as 100 MBbl/d of unfractionated NGLs from the Piceance Basin in Colorado to the Overland Pass Pipeline. Williams announced that it intends to construct a new natural gas processing plant in the Piceance Basin and will dedicate its NGL production from that plant and an existing plant to be transported by the lateral pipeline, totaling approximately 30 MBbl/d. ONEOK Partners continues to negotiate with other producers for supply commitments. This project requires the approval of various state and federal regulatory authorities. Assuming Overland Pass Pipeline Company obtains the required state and federal regulatory approvals, construction of this lateral pipeline is currently expected to begin in late 2008 and be completed during the second quarter of 2009, at a current cost estimate of approximately $120 million, excluding AFUDC.

Arbuckle Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline - In March 2007, ONEOK Partners announced plans to build the 440-mile Arbuckle Pipeline, a natural gas liquids pipeline from southern Oklahoma through northern Texas and continuing on to the Texas Gulf Coast, at a current estimated cost of approximately $260 million, excluding AFUDC. The Arbuckle Pipeline will have the capacity to transport 160 MBbl/d of unfractionated natural gas liquids and will connect with ONEOK Partners’ existing Mid-Continent infrastructure with its fractionation facility in Mont Belvieu, Texas, and other Gulf Coast region

 

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fractionators. ONEOK Partners has commitments from producers for 65 MBbl/d and continues to negotiate with other producers for additional supply commitments. Construction of the pipeline will require permits from various federal, state and local regulatory bodies. Construction is currently expected to begin in mid-2008 and be completed by early 2009.

Williston Basin Gas Processing Plant Expansion - In March 2007, ONEOK Partners announced the expansion of its Grasslands natural gas processing facility in North Dakota at a cost of approximately $30 million, excluding AFUDC. The Grasslands facility is ONEOK Partners’ largest natural gas processing plant in the Williston Basin. The expansion increases processing capacity to approximately 100 MMcf/d from its current capacity of 63 MMcf/d and increases fractionation capacity to approximately 12 MBbl/d from 8 MBbl/d. The expansion project is expected to come on-line in phases, with the final phase currently expected to be on-line in the second half of 2008.

Fort Union Gas Gathering Expansion - In January 2007, Fort Union Gas Gathering announced that it will double its existing gathering pipeline capacity by adding 148 miles of new gathering lines, resulting in approximately 649 MMcf/d of additional capacity in the Powder River basin of Wyoming. The expansion is expected to cost approximately $110 million, excluding AFUDC, which will be financed within the Fort Union Gas Gathering partnership and will occur in two phases. Phase 1, with more than 200 MMcf/d capacity, was placed in service during the fourth quarter of 2007. Phase 2, with approximately 450 MMcf/d capacity, is currently expected to be in service during the second quarter of 2008. The additional capacity has been fully subscribed for 10 years. ONEOK Partners owns approximately 37 percent of Fort Union Gas Gathering, and accounts for its ownership under the equity method of accounting.

Guardian Pipeline Expansion and Extension - In December 2007, Guardian Pipeline received and accepted the certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the FERC for its expansion and extension project. The certificate authorizes ONEOK Partners to construct, install and operate approximately 119 miles of a 20-inch and 30-inch natural gas transportation pipeline with a capacity to transport 537 MMcf/d of natural gas north from Ixonia, Wisconsin, to the Green Bay, Wisconsin, area. The project is supported by 15-year shipper commitments with We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and the capacity has been fully subscribed. The cost of the project is currently estimated to be $277 million, excluding AFUDC. We received the notice to proceed from the FERC in May 2008. The pipeline is currently expected to be in service in the fourth quarter of 2008.

REGULATORY

Several regulatory initiatives impacted the earnings and future earnings potential for our Distribution segment. See discussion of our Distribution segment’s regulatory initiatives on page 35.

IMPACT OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Information about the impact of the following new accounting standards is included in Note A of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:

   

Statement 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans,”

   

Statement 157, “Fair Value Measurements,”

   

Statement 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,”

   

FASB Staff Position No. FIN 39-1, “Amendment of FASB Interpretation No. 39,”

   

Statement 141R, “Business Combinations,”

   

Statement 160, “Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements - an amendment to ARB No. 51,” and

   

Statement 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - an amendment to FASB Statement No. 133.”

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions with respect to values or conditions that cannot be known with certainty that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. These estimates and assumptions also affect the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Although we believe these estimates and assumptions are reasonable, actual results could differ from our estimates.

 

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Information about our critical accounting estimates is included below and under Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Fair Value Measurements

General - In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. Beginning January 1, 2008, we partially applied Statement 157 as allowed by FASB Staff Position (FSP) 157-2, which delayed the effective date of Statement 157 for nonrecurring fair value measurements associated with our nonfinancial assets and liabilities. As of January 1, 2008, we have applied the provisions of Statement 157 to our recurring fair value measurements and the impact was not material. Under FSP 157-2, we will be required to apply Statement 157 to our nonrecurring fair value measurements associated with our nonfinancial assets and liabilities beginning January 1, 2009. We are currently reviewing the applicability of Statement 157 to our nonrecurring fair value measurements associated with our nonfinancial assets and liabilities as well as the potential impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which allows companies to elect to measure specified financial assets and liabilities, firm commitments, and nonfinancial warranty and insurance contracts at fair value on a contract-by-contract basis, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings each reporting period. At January 1, 2008, we did not elect the fair value option under Statement 159 and therefore there was no impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Determining Fair Value - Statement 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We use the income approach to determine the fair value of our assets and liabilities and consider the markets in which the transactions are executed, except for our available-for-sale securities which are valued under the market approach. While many of the contracts in our portfolio are executed in liquid markets where price transparency exists, some contracts are executed in markets for which market prices may exist but the market may be relatively inactive. This results in limited price transparency that requires management’s judgment and assumptions to estimate fair values. Inputs into our fair value estimates include commodity exchange prices, over-the-counter quotes, volatility, historical correlations of pricing data and LIBOR and other liquid money market instrument rates. We also utilize internally developed basis curves that incorporate observable and unobservable market data. We validate our valuation inputs with third-party information and settlement prices from other sources where available. In addition, as prescribed by the income approach, we compute the fair value of our derivative portfolio by discounting the projected future cash flows from our derivative assets and liabilities to present value. The interest rate yields used to calculate the present value discount factors are derived from LIBOR, Eurodollar futures and Treasury swaps. The projected cash flows are then multiplied by the appropriate discount factors to determine the present value or fair value of our derivative instruments. We also take into consideration the potential impact on market prices of liquidating positions in an orderly manner over a reasonable period of time under current market conditions. Finally, we consider credit risk of our counterparties on the fair value of our derivative assets, as well as our own credit risk for derivative liabilities, using default probabilities and recovery rates, net of collateral. Although we use our best estimates to determine the fair value of the derivative contracts we have executed, the ultimate market prices realized could differ from our estimates, and the differences could be material.

Fair Value Hierarchy - Statement 157 establishes the fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques based on observable and unobservable data and categorizes the inputs into three levels, with the highest priority given to Level 1 and the lowest priority given to Level 3. The levels are described below.

   

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

   

Level 2 - Significant observable pricing inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date. Essentially, inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.

   

Level 3 - Generally unobservable inputs, which are developed based on the best information available and may include our own internal data.

Determining the appropriate classification of our fair value measurements within the fair value hierarchy requires management’s judgment regarding the degree to which market data is observable or corroborated by observable market data. As interpretations of Statement 157 evolve, our classification of certain instruments within the hierarchy may be revised.

 

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See Note C of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for more discussion of fair value measurements.

Derivatives, Accounting for Financially Settled Transactions and Risk Management Activities - We engage in wholesale energy marketing, retail marketing, trading and risk management activities. We account for derivative instruments utilized in connection with these activities and services in accordance with Statement 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended.

Under Statement 133, entities are required to record derivative instruments at fair value, with the exception of normal purchases and normal sales that are expected to result in physical delivery. See previous discussion in “Fair Value Measurements” for additional information. Market value changes result in a change in the fair value of our derivative instruments. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and, if so, the nature of the risk being hedged and how we will determine if the hedging instrument is effective. If the derivative instrument does not qualify or is not designated as part of a hedging relationship, then we account for changes in fair value of the derivative in earnings as the changes occur. Commodity price volatility may have a significant impact on the gain or loss in a given period.

To minimize the risk of fluctuations in natural gas, NGLs and condensate prices, we periodically enter into futures, collars or swap transactions in order to hedge anticipated purchases and sales of natural gas, NGLs and condensate and fuel requirements. Interest-rate swaps are also used to manage interest-rate risk. Under certain conditions, we designate these derivative instruments as a hedge of exposure to changes in fair values or cash flows. For hedges of exposure to changes in cash flow, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported initially as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and is subsequently recorded to earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings. Any ineffectiveness of designated hedges is reported in earnings during the period the ineffectiveness occurs. For hedges of exposure to changes in fair value, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is recognized in earnings during the period of change together with the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged.

Upon election, many of our purchase and sale agreements that otherwise would be required to follow derivative accounting qualify as normal purchases and normal sales under Statement 133 and are therefore exempt from fair value accounting treatment.

The presentation of settled derivative instruments on either a gross or net basis in our Consolidated Statements of Income is dependent on a number of factors, including whether the derivative instrument (i) is held for trading purposes, (ii) is financially settled, (iii) results in physical delivery or services rendered, and (iv) qualifies for the normal purchase or sale exception as defined in Statement 133. In accordance with EITF 03-11, “Reporting Realized Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments That Are Subject to FASB Statement No. 133 and not ‘Held for Trading’ as Defined in EITF Issue No. 02-3,” EITF 99-19, “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent,” and Statement 133, we report settled derivative instruments as follows:

   

all financially settled derivative contracts are reported on a net basis,

   

derivative instruments considered held for trading purposes that result in physical delivery are reported on a net basis,

   

derivative instruments not considered held for trading purposes that result in physical delivery or services rendered are reported on a gross basis, and

   

derivatives that qualify for the normal purchase or sale exception as defined in Statement 133 are reported on a gross basis.

We apply the indicators in EITF 99-19 to determine the appropriate accounting treatment for non-derivative contracts that result in physical delivery.

See Note D of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for more discussion of derivatives and risk management activities.

 

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FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS

Consolidated Operations

Selected Financial Information - The following table sets forth certain selected consolidated financial information for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
Financial Results    2008     2007  
     (Thousands of dollars)  

Operating revenues, excluding energy trading revenues

   $ 4,918,031     $ 3,804,860  

Energy trading revenues, net

     (15,955 )     1,348  

Cost of sales and fuel

     4,316,164       3,241,358  

Net margin

     585,912       564,850  

Operating costs

     193,323       182,302  

Depreciation and amortization

     59,479       56,450  

Gain on sale of assets

     13       2,203  

Operating income

   $ 333,123     $ 328,301  
   

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 27,783     $ 24,055  

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

   $ 8,496     $ 1,337  

Interest expense

   $ (62,861 )   $ (62,012 )

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

   $ (68,960 )   $ (45,313 )

Operating Results - Net margin increased for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to higher realized commodity prices and wider regional NGL product price spreads in our ONEOK Partners segment. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in storage and marketing margins in our Energy Services segment.

Operating costs increased for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to incremental operating expenses associated with assets acquired from Kinder Morgan by ONEOK Partners, increased costs incurred to comply with regulations and higher employee-related costs.

Depreciation and amortization increased for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to the assets acquired from Kinder Morgan by ONEOK Partners.

Equity earnings from investments increased for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to increased throughput on Northern Border Pipeline, of which ONEOK Partners owns a 50 percent interest.

Allowance for equity funds used during construction increased for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, due to ONEOK Partners’ capital projects, which are discussed beginning on page 27.

Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, reflects the remaining 52.2 percent and 54.3 percent, respectively, of ONEOK Partners that we did not own. The increase in minority interest for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, is primarily due to the increase in income for our ONEOK Partners segment.

Additional information regarding our results of operations is provided in the following discussion of operating results for each of our segments.

ONEOK Partners

Overview - At March 31, 2008, we owned 47.8 percent of ONEOK Partners. The remaining interest in ONEOK Partners is reflected as minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries on our Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

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ONEOK Partners gathers and processes natural gas and fractionates NGLs primarily in the Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions. ONEOK Partners’ operations include the gathering of natural gas production from oil and natural gas wells. Through gathering systems, these volumes are aggregated and treated or processed to remove water vapor, solids and other contaminants, and to extract NGLs in order to provide marketable natural gas, commonly referred to as residue gas. When the liquids are separated from the raw natural gas at the processing plants, the liquids are generally in the form of a mixed, unfractionated NGL stream.

ONEOK Partners also gathers, treats, fractionates, transports and stores NGLs. ONEOK Partners’ natural gas liquids gathering pipelines deliver unfractionated NGLs gathered from natural gas processing plants located in Oklahoma, Kansas and the Texas panhandle to fractionators it owns in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. ONEOK Partners’ NGL distribution assets connect the key NGL market centers in Conway, Kansas, and Mont Belvieu, Texas, as well as the Midwest markets near Chicago, Illinois.

ONEOK Partners operates interstate and intrastate natural gas transmission pipelines, natural gas storage facilities and non-processable natural gas gathering facilities. ONEOK Partners’ interstate assets transport natural gas through FERC-regulated interstate natural gas pipelines. ONEOK Partners’ regulated intrastate natural gas pipeline assets access the major natural gas producing areas and transport natural gas throughout Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. ONEOK Partners’ owns or reserves storage capacity in underground natural gas storage facilities in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.

Selected Financial and Operating Information - The following tables set forth certain selected financial and operating information for our ONEOK Partners segment for the periods indicated.

 

    

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

Financial Results

     2008       2007  
     (Thousands of dollars)  

Revenues

   $ 2,059,035     $ 1,168,674  

Cost of sales and fuel

     1,790,510       963,304  

Net margin

     268,525       205,370  

Operating costs

     88,082       75,684  

Depreciation and amortization

     29,942       27,513  

Gain on sale of assets

     31       2,203  

Operating income

   $ 150,532     $ 104,376  
   

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 27,783     $ 24,055  

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

   $ 8,496     $ 1,337  

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

   $ (123 )   $ (85 )
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 

Operating Information

     2008       2007  

Natural gas gathered (BBtu/d)

     1,192       1,168  

Natural gas processed (BBtu/d)

     624       609  

Natural gas transported (MMcf/d)

     3,956       3,948  

Natural gas sales (BBtu/d)

     277       268  

Natural gas liquids gathered (MBbl/d)

     251       210  

Natural gas liquids sales (MBbl/d)

     286       220  

Natural gas liquids fractionated (MBbl/d)

     391       319  

Natural gas liquids transported (MBbl/d)

     303       205  

Capital expenditures (Thousands of dollars)

   $ 267,058     $ 74,564  

Conway-to-Mont Belvieu OPIS average spread

    

Ethane/Propane mixture ($/gallon)

   $ 0.09     $ 0.06  

Realized composite NGL sales prices ($/gallon) (a)

   $ 1.33     $ 0.82  

Realized condensate sales price ($/Bbl) (a)

   $ 87.51     $ 56.53  

Realized natural gas sales price ($/MMBtu) (a)

   $ 7.40     $ 6.58  

Realized gross processing spread ($/MMBtu) (a)

   $ 7.43     $ 3.59  
(a) - Statistics relate to ONEOK Partners' natural gas gathering and processing business.

 

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Operating Results - Net margin increased $63.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to higher realized commodity prices in ONEOK Partners’ natural gas gathering and processing business and wider regional NGL product price spreads in ONEOK Partners’ natural gas liquids gathering and fractionation business. In addition, net margin increased in ONEOK Partners’ natural gas liquids pipelines business due to the assets acquired from Kinder Morgan in October 2007.

Operating costs increased for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to incremental operating expenses associated with the assets acquired from Kinder Morgan, increased costs incurred to comply with regulations and higher employee-related costs.

Depreciation and amortization increased for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to the assets acquired from Kinder Morgan.

Equity earnings from investments increased for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to increased throughput on Northern Border Pipeline, of which ONEOK Partners owns a 50 percent interest.

Allowance for equity funds used during construction and capital expenditures increased for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, due to ONEOK Partners’ capital projects, which are discussed beginning on page 27.

Other - In April 2008, Northern Border Pipeline announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Bison Pipeline LLC, is conducting a binding open season for potential shippers to request firm pipeline capacity on a proposed pipeline system. The Bison Pipeline would extend from natural gas gathering facilities at Deadhorse, Wyoming, a coalbed Methane hub located in the Powder River Basin supply area, to a point of interconnection with Northern Border Pipeline in Morton County, North Dakota. The Bison Pipeline is anticipated to be approximately 289 miles, with initial capacity of approximately 400 MMcf/d and a maximum capacity of approximately 660 MMcf/d. However, the ultimate capacity of the Bison Pipeline will be determined by the level of binding shipper commitments. The projected in-service date for the Bison Pipeline is currently November 2010. An affiliate of TransCanada Corporation will operate the Bison Pipeline. ONEOK Partners owns 50 percent of Northern Border Pipeline, and accounts for this investment under the equity method of accounting.

Distribution

Overview- Our Distribution segment provides natural gas distribution services to more than two million customers in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas through Oklahoma Natural Gas, Kansas Gas Service and Texas Gas Service, respectively. We serve residential, commercial, industrial and transportation customers in all three states. In addition, our distribution companies in Oklahoma and Kansas serve wholesale customers, and in Texas we serve public authority customers.

Selected Financial Information - The following table sets forth certain selected financial information for our Distribution segment for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,

Financial Results

     2008       2007
     (Thousands of dollars)

Gas sales

   $ 876,022     $ 843,666

Transportation revenues

     27,250       28,307

Cost of gas

     681,975       653,794

Net margin, excluding other

     221,297       218,179

Other revenues

     10,391       9,049

Net margin

     231,688       227,228

Operating costs

     94,182       95,715

Depreciation and amortization

     28,950       28,275

Loss on sale of assets

     (18 )     —  

Operating income

   $ 108,538     $ 103,238
 

 

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Operating Results - Net margin increased $4.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to an increase of $2.5 million from increased transportation volumes delivered and an increase of $1.2 million resulting from the implementation of new rate schedules.

Operating costs decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to a decrease in employee-related costs.

Selected Operating Data - The following tables set forth certain operating information for our Distribution segment for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,

Operating Information

     2008      2007

Average number of customers

     2,082,345      2,072,811

Customers per employee

     732      745

Capital expenditures (Thousands of dollars)

   $ 30,649    $ 25,430
     Three Months Ended
March 31,

Volumes (MMcf)

     2008      2007

Gas sales

     

Residential

     61,280      59,657

Commercial

     17,770      17,246

Industrial

     586      532

Wholesale

     226      310

Public Authority

     999      1,029

Total volumes sold

     80,861      78,774

Transportation

     62,116      57,609

Total volumes delivered

     142,977      136,383
 
    

Three Months Ended

March 31,

Margin

     2008      2007

Gas sales

     (Thousands of dollars)

Residential

   $ 153,941    $ 154,888

Commercial

     37,863      36,593

Industrial

     882      757

Wholesale

     57      88

Public Authority

     1,303      1,182

Net margin on gas sales

     194,046      193,508

Transportation

     27,251      24,671

Net margin, excluding other

   $ 221,297    $ 218,179
 

Residential volumes increased in the first quarter of 2008, compared with the same period last year, due to colder temperatures in our Oklahoma and Kansas service territories.

Residential margins were moderated by weather normalization mechanisms. Transportation margins increased for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to increased transportation volumes in Oklahoma and Kansas.

Capital Expenditures - Our capital expenditure program includes expenditures for extending service to new areas, modifying customer service lines, increasing system capabilities, general replacements and improvements. It is our practice to maintain and upgrade facilities to assure safe, reliable and efficient operations. Our capital expenditure program included

 

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$11.6 million and $9.6 million for new business development for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Regulatory Initiatives - On August 17, 2007, Oklahoma Natural Gas filed an application for authorization of a capital investment recovery mechanism. On February 29, 2008, the OCC approved a joint stipulation, which will allow Oklahoma Natural Gas to collect, through a capital investment recovery mechanism, a rate of return, depreciation and 50 percent of the property tax expense associated with non-revenue producing incremental capital investments since the 2004 rate case. The rates, which were effective in March 2008, are expected to generate revenues of approximately $7.6 million in 2008.

The OCC has authorized Oklahoma Natural Gas to defer transmission pipeline Integrity Management Program (IMP) costs incurred (inclusive of operations and maintenance expense, depreciation, property taxes and a rate of return) in compliance with the Federal Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002. On January 31, 2007, Oklahoma Natural Gas filed an application with the OCC seeking recovery of these costs. On August 31, 2007, the OCC issued an order approving a stipulation of the parties, which provides recovery of $7.2 million in IMP deferrals incurred as of July 31, 2007. The 2008 IMP application was made at the OCC on January 31, 2008, and covered the IMP deferrals for the months of August through December 2007, and the true-ups associated with the prior recovery period. This filing also requested $7.2 million to be recovered with a new IMP billing rate to be put in place in July 2008. Oklahoma Natural Gas will continue to defer IMP costs as they are incurred and expects to file a new application each year for recovery of any additional costs.

In August 2007, Texas Gas Service filed for a rate adjustment with the city of El Paso and the municipalities of Anthony, Clint, Horizon City, Socorro and Vinton. Texas Gas Service requested a total increase of $5.5 million. On February 5, 2008, the El Paso City Council approved a rate increase of approximately $3.1 million. The increase was effective on February 15, 2008.

In April 2008, the Texas Railroad Commission approved a rate increase in our South Texas jurisdiction. The increase will be effective May 2008 and increases revenues by $1.1 million annually.

General - Certain costs to be recovered through the ratemaking process have been recorded as regulatory assets in accordance with Statement 71, “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation.” Should recovery cease due to regulatory actions, certain of these assets may no longer meet the criteria of Statement 71 and, accordingly, a write-off of regulatory assets and stranded costs may be required.

Energy Services

Overview - Our Energy Services segment’s primary focus is to create value for our customers by delivering physical natural gas products and risk management services through our network of contracted transportation and storage capacity and natural gas supply. These services include meeting our customers’ baseload, swing and peaking natural gas commodity requirements on a year-round basis. To provide these bundled services, we lease storage and transportation capacity. Our total storage capacity under lease is 96 Bcf, with maximum withdrawal capability of 2.4 Bcf/d and maximum injection capability of 1.6 Bcf/d. Our current transportation capacity is 1.8 Bcf/d. Our contracted storage and transportation capacity connects the major supply and demand centers throughout the United States and into Canada. With these contracted assets, our business strategies include identifying, developing and delivering specialized services and products valued by our customers, which are primarily LDCs, electric utilities, and commercial and industrial end users. Our storage and transportation capacity allows us opportunities to optimize these positions through our application of market knowledge and risk management skills.

Our Energy Services segment conducts business with ONEOK Partners, our affiliate, which comprises our ONEOK Partners segment. This segment also conducts business with our Distribution segment. These services are provided under agreements with market-based terms.

Due to seasonality of natural gas consumption, earnings are normally higher during the winter months than the summer months. Our Energy Services segment’s margins are subject to fluctuations during the year primarily due to the impact certain seasonal factors have on sales volumes and the price of natural gas. Natural gas sales volumes are typically higher in the winter heating months than in the summer months, reflecting increased demand due to greater heating requirements and, typically, higher natural gas prices. During periods of high natural gas demand, we utilize storage capacity to supplement natural gas supply volumes to meet peak day demand obligations or market needs.

Numerous risk management opportunities and operational strategies exist that can be implemented through the use of storage facilities and transportation capacity. We utilize our industry knowledge and expertise in order to capitalize on opportunities

 

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that are provided through market volatility. We utilize our experience to optimize the value of our contracted assets, and we use our risk management and marketing capabilities to both manage risk and to generate additional returns. We manage our contracted transportation and storage capacity by utilizing derivative instruments such as over-the-counter forward swap and option contracts and NYMEX futures and options contracts. We apply a combination of cash flow and fair value hedge accounting when implementing hedging strategies that take advantage of favorable market conditions. See Note D of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information. Additionally, certain non-trading transactions, which are economic hedges of our accrual transactions, such as our storage and transportation contracts, will not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. These economic hedges receive mark-to-market accounting treatment, as they are derivative contracts and are not designated as part of a hedge relationship.

Selected Financial and Operating Information - The following tables set forth certain selected financial and operating information for our Energy Services segment for the periods indicated.

 

    

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

Financial Results      2008       2007
     (Thousands of dollars)

Energy revenues

   $ 2,359,739     $ 2,110,226

Energy trading revenues, net

     (15,955 )     1,348

Other revenues

     19       132

Cost of sales and fuel

     2,258,938       1,980,302

Net margin

     84,865       131,404

Operating costs

     10,165       10,729

Depreciation and amortization

     378       538

Operating income

   $ 74,322     $ 120,137
                
    
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Operating Information      2008       2007

Natural gas marketed (Bcf)

     340       337

Natural gas gross margin ($/Mcf)

   $ 0.17     $ 0.34

Physically settled volumes (Bcf)

     636       639

Operating Results - Net margin decreased $46.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period last year. This decrease was comprised of:

   

a net decrease of $47.9 million in storage and marketing margins primarily due to:

 

¡

a decrease of $20.9 million due to colder than anticipated weather and market conditions that increased the supply cost of managing our peaking and load following services and provided fewer opportunities to increase margins through optimization activities,

 

¡

a decrease of $14.3 million from storage margins, net of hedging activities, related to a more favorable price environment in the first quarter of 2007, which resulted in improved storage margins during that period and

 

¡

a decrease of $12.7 million from changes in the unrealized fair value of derivative instruments associated with storage and marketing activities,

   

a decrease of $7.8 million in our financial trading margins, partially offset by

   

an increase of $7.0 million in transportation margins, net of hedging activities, associated with business interruption insurance recoveries on the Cheyenne Plains pipeline capacity curtailments in 2007 and changes in the unrealized fair value of derivative instruments, which includes improved hedging effectiveness on our transport hedges and

   

an increase of $2.2 million in retail activities from sales margins and increased volumes.

Our natural gas in storage at March 31, 2008, was 14.6 Bcf compared with 37.3 Bcf at March 31, 2007. At March 31, 2008 and 2007, our total natural gas storage capacity under lease was 96 Bcf and 88 Bcf, respectively.

The acquisition of natural gas storage capacity has become more competitive as a result of new market entrants. The increased demand for storage capacity has resulted in an increase in both the cost of leasing storage capacity and the required

 

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term of the lease. Longer terms and increased costs for our storage capacity leases could result in significant increases in our contractual commitments.

The following table shows our margins by activity for the periods indicated.

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
      2008     2007  
     (Thousands of dollars)  

Marketing and storage, gross

   $ 137,678     $ 177,106  

Less: Storage and transportation costs

     (54,275 )     (52,713 )

Marketing and storage, net

     83,403       124,393  

Retail marketing

     5,213       2,994  

Financial trading

     (3,751 )     4,017  

Net margin

   $ 84,865     $ 131,404  
   

Marketing and storage, net, primarily includes physical marketing, purchases and sales, firm storage and transportation capacity expense, including the impact of cash flow and fair value hedges and other derivative instruments used to manage our risk associated with these activities. Risk management and operational decisions have a significant impact on the net result of our storage activities. Origination gains are also a component of marketing activity, which is the fair value recognition of contracts that our wholesale marketing department structures to meet the risk management needs of our customers.

Retail marketing includes revenues from providing physical marketing and supply services, coupled with risk management services, to residential and small commercial and industrial customers.

Financial trading margin includes activities that are generally executed using financially settled derivatives. These activities are normally short term in nature, with a focus on capturing short-term price volatility. Energy trading revenues, net, in our Consolidated Statements of Income include financial trading margins, as well as certain physical natural gas transactions with our trading counterparties. Revenues and cost of sales and fuel from such physical transactions are required to be reported on a net basis.

Contingencies

Legal Proceedings - We are a party to various litigation matters and claims that are in the normal course of our operations. While the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe the final outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

Other - As a result of an internal review of a transaction that was brought to the attention of one of our affiliates by a third party, we conducted an internal review of transactions that may have violated FERC natural gas capacity release rules or related rules and determined that there were transactions that should have been disclosed to the FERC. We notified the FERC of this review and filed a report with the FERC regarding these transactions in March 2008. We are cooperating fully with the FERC and have taken action to ensure that current and future transactions comply with applicable FERC regulations. We are unable to predict the outcome of any FERC action in this matter. At this time, we do not believe that penalties associated with potential violations will have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

General - Part of our strategy is to grow through acquisitions and internally generated growth projects that strengthen and complement our existing assets. We have relied primarily on operating cash flow, borrowings from commercial paper and credit agreements, and issuance of debt and equity in the capital markets for our liquidity and capital resource requirements. We expect to continue to use these sources for liquidity and capital resource needs on both a short- and long-term basis.

Beginning in 2007 and continuing in 2008, the capital markets have been impacted by macroeconomic, liquidity, credit and other recessionary concerns. During this period, ONEOK and ONEOK Partners have continued to have access to ONEOK’s commercial paper program and ONEOK Partners Credit Agreement, respectively, to fund short-term liquidity needs. In 2008, ONEOK Partners issued common units and received additional contributions from us as general partner. See

 

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discussion below under “ONEOK Partners Common Units.” ONEOK Partners also issued $600 million of long-term debt in September 2007. Our ability to continue to access capital markets for debt and equity financing under reasonable terms depends on our financial condition, credit ratings and market condition. We anticipate that our existing capital resources, ability to obtain financing and cash flow generated from future operations will enable us to maintain our current level of operations and our planned operations, including capital expenditures, for the foreseeable future. We have no material guarantees of debt or other similar commitments to unaffiliated parties.

During the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, ONEOK and ONEOK Partners’ capital expenditures were financed through operating cash flows and short- and long-term debt. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, ONEOK Partners’ capital expenditures were also financed through the issuance of ONEOK Partners’ common units. Total capital expenditures for the first three months of 2008 were $369.5 million, compared with $102.1 million for the same period in 2007, exclusive of acquisitions. Of these amounts, ONEOK Partners’ capital expenditures for the first three months of 2008 were $267.1 million, compared with $74.6 million for the same period in 2007, exclusive of acquisitions. The increase in capital expenditures for 2008, compared with 2007, is driven primarily by ONEOK Partners’ capital projects discussed beginning on page 27, and our purchase of ONEOK Plaza.

Financing - For ONEOK, financing is provided through available cash, commercial paper and long-term debt. ONEOK also has a credit agreement, which is used as a back-up for its commercial paper program and short-term liquidity needs. Other options to obtain financing include, but are not limited to, issuance of equity, issuance of mandatory convertible debt securities, issuance of trust preferred securities, asset securitization and sale/leaseback of facilities. ONEOK Partners’ operations are financed through available cash, the ONEOK Partners Credit Agreement, the issuance of common units or long-term debt.

The total amount of short-term borrowings authorized by ONEOK’s Board of Directors is $2.5 billion. The total amount of short-term borrowings authorized by the Board of Directors of ONEOK Partners GP, the general partner of ONEOK Partners, is $1.5 billion. At March 31, 2008, ONEOK had $265.6 million in commercial paper outstanding, $58.4 million in letters of credit issued and available cash and cash equivalents of approximately $35.9 million. The ONEOK Credit Agreement acts as a back-up to ONEOK’s commercial paper program. Considering outstanding commercial paper and letters of credit, ONEOK has $896 million available under the ONEOK Credit Agreement. At March 31, 2008, ONEOK Partners had no borrowings outstanding and $1.0 billion available under the ONEOK Partners Credit Agreement and available cash and cash equivalents of approximately $232.8 million. As of March 31, 2008, ONEOK could have issued $2.3 billion of additional debt under the most restrictive provisions contained in its various borrowing agreements. As of March 31, 2008, ONEOK Partners could have issued, under the most restrictive provisions of its agreements, $1.4 billion of additional debt.

ONEOK Partners has a $15 million Senior Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility and Reimbursement Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., of which $12 million is currently being used, and an agreement with Royal Bank of Canada, pursuant to which a $12 million letter of credit was issued. Both agreements are used to support various permits required by the KDHE for ONEOK Partners’ ongoing business in Kansas.

The ONEOK Credit Agreement and the ONEOK Partners Credit Agreement contain typical covenants as discussed in Note H of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2007. At March 31, 2008, ONEOK and ONEOK Partners were in compliance with all covenants.

Capitalization Structure - The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization structure for the periods indicated.

 

     

 

    March 31,    
2008

  December 31,
2007

Long-term debt

   68%   70%

Equity

   32%   30%

Debt (including Notes payable)

   69%   71%

Equity

   31%   29%

ONEOK does not guarantee the debt of ONEOK Partners. For purposes of determining compliance with financial covenants in the ONEOK Credit Agreement, the debt of ONEOK Partners is excluded. At March 31, 2008, ONEOK’s capitalization structure, excluding the debt of ONEOK Partners, was 48 percent debt and 52 percent equity, and at December 31, 2007, ONEOK’s capitalization structure, excluding the debt of ONEOK Partners, was 52 percent debt and 48 percent equity. In

 

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February 2008, ONEOK repaid $402.3 million of matured long-term debt with cash from operations and short-term borrowings.

Credit Rating - Our investment grade credit ratings as of March 31, 2008, are shown in the table below.

 

     ONEOK    ONEOK Partners
Rating Agency    Rating    Outlook    Rating    Outlook

Moody's

   Baa2    Stable    Baa2    Stable

S&P

   BBB    Stable    BBB    Stable

ONEOK’s commercial paper is rated P2 by Moody’s and A2 by S&P. Credit ratings may be affected by a material change in financial ratios or a material event affecting the business. The most common criteria for assessment of credit ratings are the debt-to-capital ratio, business risk profile, pretax and after-tax interest coverage, and liquidity. If our credit ratings were downgraded, the interest rates on our commercial paper borrowings would increase, resulting in an increase in our cost to borrow funds, and we could potentially lose access to the commercial paper market. In the event that we are unable to borrow funds under our commercial paper program and there has not been a material adverse change in our business, we have access to the ONEOK Credit Agreement, which expires July 2011, and ONEOK Partners has access to the ONEOK Partners Credit Agreement that expires March 2012. An adverse rating change is not a default of ONEOK’s or ONEOK Partners’ credit agreements.

ONEOK Partners’ $250 million and $225 million long-term notes, due 2010 and 2011, respectively, contain provisions that require ONEOK Partners to offer to repurchase the senior notes at par value if its Moody’s or S&P credit rating falls below investment grade (Baa3 for Moody’s and BBB- for S&P) and the investment grade rating is not reinstated within a period of 40 days. Further, the indentures governing ONEOK Partners’ senior notes due 2010 and 2011 include an event of default upon acceleration of other indebtedness of $25 million or more and the indentures governing the senior notes due 2012, 2016, 2036 and 2037 include an event of default upon the acceleration of other indebtedness of $100 million or more that would be triggered by such an offer to repurchase. Such an event of default would entitle the trustee or the holders of 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior notes due 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2036 and 2037 to declare those notes immediately due and payable in full. ONEOK Partners may not have sufficient cash on hand to repurchase and repay any accelerated senior notes, which may cause it to borrow money under its credit facilities or seek alternative financing sources to finance the repurchases and repayment. ONEOK Partners could also face difficulties accessing capital or its borrowing costs could increase, impacting its ability to obtain financing for acquisitions or capital expenditures, to refinance indebtedness and to fulfill its debt obligations. A decline in ONEOK Partners’ credit rating below investment grade may also require ONEOK Partners to provide security to its counterparties in the form of cash, letters of credit or other negotiable instruments.

Our Energy Services segment relies upon the investment grade rating of ONEOK’s senior unsecured long-term debt to satisfy credit requirements with most of our counterparties. If ONEOK’s credit ratings were to decline below investment grade, our ability to participate in energy marketing and trading activities could be significantly limited. Without an investment grade rating, we may be required to fund margin requirements with our counterparties with cash, letters of credit or other negotiable instruments. At March 31, 2008, we could have been required to fund approximately $74.8 million in margin requirements upon such a downgrade. A decline in ONEOK’s credit rating below investment grade may also significantly impact other business segments.

Other than ONEOK Partners’ note repurchase obligations and the margin requirements for our Energy Services segment described above, we have determined that we do not have significant exposure to rating triggers under ONEOK’s commercial paper agreement, trust indentures, building leases, equipment leases, and other various contracts. Rating triggers are defined as provisions that would create an automatic default or acceleration of indebtedness based on a change in our credit rating.

Capital Projects - See the “Capital Projects” section beginning on page 27 for discussion of capital projects.

ONEOK Partners Common Units - In March 2008, we purchased from ONEOK Partners, in a private placement, an additional 5.4 million of ONEOK Partners’ common units for a total purchase price of approximately $303.2 million. In addition, ONEOK Partners completed a public offering of 2.5 million common units at $58.10 per common unit and received net proceeds of $140.4 million after deducting underwriting discounts but before offering expenses. In conjunction with ONEOK Partners’ private placement and the public offering of common units, we contributed $9.4 million to ONEOK Partners in order to maintain our 2 percent general partner interest. We funded these amounts with available cash and short-term borrowings. Following these transactions, our interest in ONEOK Partners increased to 47.8 percent.

 

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In April 2008, ONEOK Partners sold an additional 128,873 common units at $58.10 per common unit to the underwriters of the public offering upon the partial exercise of their option to purchase additional common units to cover over-allotments. ONEOK Partners received net proceeds of approximately $7.2 million from the sale of these common units after deducting underwriting discounts but before offering expenses. In conjunction with the partial exercise by the underwriters, we contributed $0.2 million to ONEOK Partners in order to maintain our 2 percent general partner interest. Following these transactions, our interest in ONEOK Partners is 47.7 percent.

ONEOK Partners used a portion of the proceeds from the sale of common units and the general partner contributions to repay borrowings under its existing ONEOK Partners Credit Agreement.

Stock Repurchase Plan - For more information regarding the Stock Repurchase Plan, refer to discussion in Note G of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Commodity Prices - We are subject to commodity price volatility. Significant fluctuations in commodity price in either physical or financial energy contracts may impact our overall liquidity due to the impact the commodity price change has on items such as the cost of NGLs and gas held in storage, increased margin requirements, the cost of transportation to various market locations, collectibility of certain energy-related receivables and working capital. We believe that our current commercial paper program and ONEOK Partners’ lines of credit are adequate to meet liquidity requirements associated with commodity price volatility. See discussion beginning on page 44 under “Commodity Price Risk” in Item 3, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk for information on our hedging activities.

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans - Information about our pension and postretirement benefits plans is included in Note J of the Notes to Consolidate Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. See Note H of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 2008 anticipated contributions.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY MATTERS

Environmental Liabilities - We are subject to multiple environmental and wildlife preservation laws and regulations affecting many aspects of our present and future operations, including air emissions, water quality, wastewater discharges, solid wastes and hazardous material, and substance management. These laws and regulations generally require us to obtain and comply with a wide variety of environmental registrations, licenses, permits, inspections and other approvals. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations, permits and licenses may expose us to fines, penalties and/or interruptions in our operations that could be material to our results of operations. If an accidental leak or spill of hazardous substances or petroleum products occurs from our lines or facilities, in the process of transporting natural gas, NGLs, or refined products, or at any facility that we own, operate or otherwise use, we could be held jointly and severally liable for all resulting liabilities, including investigation and clean up costs, which could materially affect our results of operations and cash flows. In addition, emission controls required under the federal Clean Air Act and other similar federal and state laws could require unexpected capital expenditures at our facilities. We cannot assure that existing environmental regulations will not be revised or that new regulations will not be adopted or become applicable to us. Revised or additional regulations that result in increased compliance costs or additional operating restrictions, particularly if those costs are not fully recoverable from customers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our expenditures for environmental evaluation and remediation to date have not been significant in relation to our results of operations, and there were no material effects upon earnings during the three months ended March 31, 2008 or 2007, related to compliance with environmental regulations.

For more information regarding our environmental liabilities, refer to discussion in Note I of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Pipeline Safety - We are subject to United States Department of Transportation integrity management regulations. The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act requires pipeline companies to perform integrity assessments on segments of a pipeline that pass through densely populated areas or near specifically identified sites that are designated as high consequence areas. To our knowledge, we are substantially in compliance with all material requirements associated with the various regulations.

Air and Water Emissions - The federal Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act and analogous state laws impose restrictions and controls regarding the discharge of pollutants into the air and water in the United States. Under the Clean Air Act, a federal operating permit is required for sources of significant air emissions. We may be required to incur certain capital

 

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expenditures for air pollution-control equipment in connection with obtaining or maintaining permits and approvals for sources of air emissions. The Clean Water Act imposes substantial potential liability for the removal and remediation of pollutants discharged in United States water. To our knowledge, we are substantially in compliance with all material requirements associated with the various regulations.

Chemical Site Security - The United States Department of Homeland Security (Homeland Security) released an interim rule in April 2007 that requires companies to provide reports on sites where certain chemicals, including many hydrocarbon products, are stored. After receiving these reports, Homeland Security will identify which sites are required to implement minimum security measures. Homeland Security is in the initial stages of implementing this rule, and the extent to which the rule will require us to undertake additional expenditures for site security is uncertain at this point.

Climate Change - Our environmental and climate change strategy focuses on taking steps to minimize the impact of our operations on the environment. These strategies include: (i) maintaining an accurate greenhouse gas emissions inventory, (ii) improving the efficiency of our various pipeline and gas processing facilities, (iii) following developing technologies for emission control, (iv) following developing technologies to capture carbon dioxide to keep it from reaching the atmosphere, and (v) analyzing options for future energy investment.

Currently, operating entities within ONEOK Partners participate in the gathering and processing and the transmission sectors and LDCs in our Distribution segment participate in the distribution sector of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Natural Gas STAR Program to voluntarily reduce methane emissions. In addition, we continue to focus on reducing methane loss through expanded implementation of best practices across our operations and analyzing options for additional emission reductions, including (i) closing older facilities and routing products to more efficient facilities, (ii) self-imposing permit limits at facilities where operationally feasible, (iii) utilizing electric motors on select compressor applications, and (iv) utilizing methods to limit the release of methane gas during pipeline maintenance and operations.

CASH FLOW ANALYSIS

Operating Cash Flows - Operating cash flows increased by $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007. Although operating cash flows were relatively unchanged, working capital increased operating cash flows by $571.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with an increase of $585.7 million for the same period in 2007. Working capital for both periods was primarily influenced by natural gas and natural gas liquids in storage, which were sold during the winter heating seasons.

Investing Cash Flows - Cash used in investing activities was $363.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with $605.5 million for the same period in 2007. The decreased use of cash was primarily due to purchases of short-term investments during the first quarter of 2007. There were no purchases or sales of short-term investments during the same period in 2008. This decreased use of cash was partially offset by increased capital expenditures resulting from ONEOK Partners’ capital projects.

Financing Cash Flows - Cash used in financing activities was $287.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with $106.6 million for the same period in 2007.

In February 2008, we repaid $402.3 million of maturing long-term debt with available cash and short-term borrowings. Short-term borrowings increased $63.0 million during the first quarter of 2008.

In the first quarter of 2008, ONEOK Partners common unit offering generated approximately $140.4 million, after deducting underwriting discounts but before offering expenses, from the public offering of 2.5 million common units.

The three months ended March 31, 2007, includes $20.1 million settlement of the forward purchase contract related to our stock repurchase in late 2006, which settled in February 2007.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements contained and incorporated in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements relate to our anticipated financial performance, management’s plans and objectives for our future operations, our business prospects, the outcome of regulatory and legal 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. The following discussion is intended to identify important factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements include the items identified in the preceding paragraph, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations and other statements contained or incorporated in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q identified by words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “should,” “goal,” “forecast,” “could,” “may,” “continue,” “might,” “potential,” “scheduled” and other words and terms of similar meaning.

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Those factors may affect our operations, markets, products, services and prices. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with the forward-looking statements, factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement include, among others, the following:

   

the effects of weather and other natural phenomena on our operations, including energy sales and demand for our services and energy prices;

   

competition from other United States and Canadian energy suppliers and transporters as well as alternative forms of energy;

   

the capital intensive nature of our businesses;

   

the profitability of assets or businesses acquired by us;

   

risks of marketing, trading and hedging activities, including the risks of changes in energy prices or the financial condition of our counterparties;

   

the uncertainty of estimates, including accruals and costs of environmental remediation;

   

the timing and extent of changes in energy commodity prices;

   

the effects of changes in governmental policies and regulatory actions, including changes with respect to income and other taxes, environmental compliance, and authorized rates or recovery of gas and gas transportation costs;

   

impact on drilling and production by factors beyond our control, including the demand for natural gas and refinery-grade crude oil; producers’ desire and ability to obtain necessary permits; reserve performance; and capacity constraints on the pipelines that transport crude oil, natural gas and NGLs from producing areas and our facilities;

   

changes in demand for the use of natural gas because of market conditions caused by concerns about global warming or changes in governmental policies and regulations due to climate change initiatives;

   

the impact of unforeseen changes in interest rates, equity markets, inflation rates, economic recession and other external factors over which we have no control, including the effect on pension expense and funding resulting from changes in stock and bond market returns;

   

actions by rating agencies concerning the credit ratings of ONEOK and ONEOK Partners;

   

the results of administrative proceedings and litigation, regulatory actions and receipt of expected clearances involving the OCC, KCC, Texas regulatory authorities or any other local, state or federal regulatory body, including the FERC;

   

our ability to access capital at competitive rates or on terms acceptable to us;

   

risks associated with adequate supply to our gathering, processing, fractionation and pipeline facilities, including production declines which outpace new drilling;

   

the risk that material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting could emerge or that minor problems could become significant;

   

the impact and outcome of pending and future litigation;

   

the ability to market pipeline capacity on favorable terms, including the affects of:

  - future demand for and prices of natural gas and NGLs;
  - competitive conditions in the overall energy market;
  - availability of supplies of Canadian and United States natural gas;

 

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  - availability of additional storage capacity;
  - weather conditions; and
  - competitive developments by Canadian and U.S. natural gas transmission peers;
   

performance of contractual obligations by our customers, service providers, contractors and shippers;

   

the timely receipt of approval by applicable governmental entities for construction and operation of our pipeline and other projects and required regulatory clearances;

   

our ability to acquire all necessary rights-of-way permits and consents in a timely manner, to promptly obtain all necessary materials and supplies required for construction, and to construct pipelines without labor or contractor problems;

   

the mechanical integrity of facilities operated;

   

demand for our services in the proximity of our facilities;

   

our ability to control operating costs;

   

acts of nature, sabotage, terrorism or other similar acts that cause damage to our facilities or our suppliers’ or shippers’ facilities;

   

economic climate and growth in the geographic areas in which we do business;

   

the risk of a significant slowdown in growth or decline in the U.S. economy or the risk of delay in growth recovery in the U.S. economy;

   

the impact of recently issued and future accounting pronouncements and other changes in accounting policies;

   

the possibility of future terrorist attacks or the possibility or occurrence of an outbreak of, or changes in, hostilities or changes in the political conditions in the Middle East and elsewhere;

   

the risk of increased costs for insurance premiums, security or other items as a consequence of terrorist attacks;

   

risks associated with pending or possible acquisitions and dispositions, including our ability to finance or integrate any such acquisitions and any regulatory delay or conditions imposed by regulatory bodies in connection with any such acquisitions and dispositions;

   

the possible loss of gas distribution franchises or other adverse effects caused by the actions of municipalities;

   

the impact of unsold pipeline capacity being greater or less than expected;

   

the ability to recover operating costs and amounts equivalent to income taxes, costs of property, plant and equipment and regulatory assets in our state and FERC-regulated rates;

   

our ability to promptly obtain all necessary materials and supplies required for construction of gathering, processing, storage, fractionation and transportation facilities;

   

the composition and quality of the natural gas and NGLs we gather and process in our plants and transport on our pipelines;

   

the efficiency of our plants in processing natural gas and extracting and fractionating NGLs;

   

the impact of potential impairment charges;

   

the risk inherent in the use of information systems in our respective businesses, implementation of new software and hardware, and the impact on the timeliness of information for financial reporting;

   

our ability to control construction costs and completion schedules of our pipelines and other projects; and

   

the risk factors listed in the reports we have filed and may file with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference.

These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other factors could also have material adverse effects on our future results. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or change in circumstances, expectations or otherwise.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are consistent with those discussed in Part II, Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, except that, beginning January 1, 2008, we determine the fair value of our derivative instruments in accordance with Statement 157. See Notes A and C of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further discussion of Statement 157.

 

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COMMODITY PRICE RISK

ONEOK Partners

ONEOK Partners is exposed to commodity price risk, primarily NGLs, as a result of receiving commodities in exchange for its gathering and processing services. To a lesser extent, ONEOK Partners is exposed to the relative price differential between NGLs and natural gas, or the gross processing spread, with respect to its keep-whole processing contracts. Based on current market conditions, the gross processing spread for the remainder of 2008 is expected to be above the five-year average. We are also exposed to the risk of price fluctuations and the cost of intervening transportation at various market locations. ONEOK Partners uses commodity fixed-price physical forwards and derivative contracts, including NYMEX-based futures and over-the-counter swaps, to minimize earnings volatility in its natural gas gathering and processing business related to natural gas, NGL and condensate price fluctuations.

ONEOK Partners reduces its gross processing spread exposure through a combination of physical and financial hedges. ONEOK Partners utilizes a portion of its percent-of-proceeds equity natural gas as an offset, or natural hedge, to an equivalent portion of its keep-whole shrink requirements. This has the effect of converting ONEOK Partners’ gross processing spread risk to NGL commodity price risk, and ONEOK Partners then uses financial instruments to hedge the sale of NGLs.

The following table sets forth ONEOK Partners’ hedging information for the remainder of 2008.

 

      Volumes
Hedged
   Average Price    Percentage
Hedged
 

Natural gas liquids (Bbl/d) (a)

   8,421    $  1.31 / gallon    72 %

Condensate (Bbl/d) (a)

   799    $  2.15 / gallon    73 %

Total liquid sales (Bbl/d)

   9,220    $  1.39 / gallon    72 %

Natural Gas (MMBtu/d) (a)

   5,665    $  9.23 / MMBtu    78 %

(a) - Hedged with fixed-priced swaps.

ONEOK Partners’ commodity price risk is estimated as a hypothetical change in the price of NGLs, crude oil and natural gas at March 31, 2008, excluding the effects of hedging and assuming normal operating conditions. ONEOK Partners’ condensate sales are based on the price of crude oil. ONEOK Partners estimates the following:

   

a $0.01 per gallon increase in the composite price of NGLs would increase annual net margin by approximately $1.6 million,

   

a $1.00 per barrel increase in the price of crude oil would increase annual net margin by approximately $0.7 million, and

   

a $0.10 per MMBtu increase in the price of natural gas would increase annual net margin by approximately $0.3 million.

The above estimates of commodity price risk do not include any effects on demand for its services that might be caused by, or arise in conjunction with, price changes. For example, a change in the gross processing spread may cause a change in the amount of ethane extracted from the natural gas stream, impacting gathering and processing margins, NGL exchange revenues, natural gas deliveries and NGL volumes shipped.

Energy Services

Our Energy Services segment is exposed to commodity price risk, basis risk and price volatility arising from natural gas in storage, requirement contracts, asset management contracts and index-based purchases and sales of natural gas at various market locations. We minimize the volatility of our exposure to commodity price risk through the use of derivative instruments, which, under certain circumstances, are designated as cash flow or fair value hedges. We are also exposed to commodity price risk from fixed price purchases and sales of natural gas, which we hedge with derivative instruments. Both the fixed price purchases and sales and related derivatives are recorded at fair value.

 

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Fair Value Component of Energy Marketing and Risk Management Assets and Liabilities - The following table sets forth the fair value component of our energy marketing and risk management assets and liabilities, excluding $186.2 million of net liabilities and $2.5 million of net assets from derivative instruments declared as either fair value or cash flow hedges and deferred option premiums, respectively.

 

Fair Value Component of Energy Marketing and Risk Management Assets and Liabilities

 

     (Thousands of dollars)  

Net fair value of derivatives outstanding at December 31, 2007

   $ 25,171  

Derivatives realized or otherwise settled during the period

     1,257  

Fair value of new derivatives when entered into during the period

     7,211  

Other changes in fair value

     (16,414 )

Net fair value of derivatives outstanding at March 31, 2008 (a)

   $ 17,225  
   

(a) - The maturities are as follows: $13.9 million matures through March 2009, $3.4 million matures through March 2012 and $(0.1) million matures through March 2014.

The net fair value of derivatives outstanding includes the effect of settled energy contracts and current period changes resulting primarily from newly originated transactions and the impact of market movements on the fair value of energy marketing and risk management assets and liabilities. See Note C of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further discussion of Fair Value Measurements.

For further discussion of trading activities and assumptions used in our trading activities, see the “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” section of Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Also, see Note D of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Value-at-Risk (VAR) Disclosure of Market Risk - The potential impact on our future earnings, as measured by VAR, was $15.6 million and $8.3 million at March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The following table details the average, high and low daily VAR calculations for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months
Ended
March 31,

Value-at-Risk

     2008      2007
     (Millions of dollars)

Average

   $ 12.4    $ 13.1

High

   $ 24.9    $ 23.0

Low

   $ 4.0    $ 5.5

Our VAR calculation includes derivatives, executory storage and transportation agreements and their related hedges. The variations in the VAR data are reflective of market volatility and changes in the portfolios during the year.

To the extent open commodity positions exist, fluctuating commodity prices can impact our financial results and financial position either favorably or unfavorably. As a result, we cannot predict with precision the impact risk management decisions may have on our business, operating results or financial position.

INTEREST RATE RISK

General - We are subject to the risk of interest rate fluctuation in the normal course of business. We manage interest rate risk through the use of fixed-rate debt, floating-rate debt and, at times, interest-rate swaps. Fixed-rate swaps are used to reduce our risk of increased interest costs during periods of rising interest rates. Floating-rate swaps are used to convert the fixed rates of long-term borrowings into short-term variable rates. At March 31, 2008, the interest rate on 78.6 percent of our long-term debt, exclusive of the debt of our ONEOK Partners segment, was fixed after considering the impact of interest-rate swaps. At March 31, 2008, the interest rate on all of ONEOK Partners long-term debt was fixed.

At March 31, 2008, a 100 basis point move in the annual interest rate on our variable-rate long-term debt would have changed our annual interest expense by $3.4 million before taxes. This 100 basis point change assumes a parallel shift in the

 

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yield curve. If interest rates changed significantly, we would take actions to manage our exposure to the change. Since a specific action and the possible effects are uncertain, no change has been assumed.

Fair Value Hedges - See Note D of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for discussion of interest-rate swaps and net interest expense savings from terminated swaps.

Total savings from the interest-rate swaps and amortization of terminated swaps was $4.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The swaps are expected to net the following savings for the remainder of the year:

   

interest expense savings of $7.8 million related to the amortization of the terminated swaps, and

   

approximately $6.0 million in interest expense savings from the existing $340 million of swapped debt, based on LIBOR rates at March 31, 2008.

Total net swap savings for 2008 are expected to be $18.7 million, compared with $8.2 million for 2007.

CURRENCY RATE RISK

As a result of our Energy Services segment’s operations in Canada, we are subject to currency exposure from our commodity purchases and sales related to our firm transportation and storage contracts. Our objective with respect to currency risk is to reduce the exposure due to exchange-rate fluctuations. We use physical forward transactions, which result in an actual two-way flow of currency on the settlement date since we exchange U.S. dollars for Canadian dollars with another party. We have not designated these transactions for hedge accounting treatment; therefore, the gains and losses associated with the change in fair value are recorded in net margin. At March 31, 2008, our exposure to risk from currency translation was not material. There were no material currency translation gains or losses recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Quarterly Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures - As of the end of the period covered by this report, our Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on their evaluation, they concluded that as of March 31, 2008, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting - We have made no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the first quarter ended March 31, 2008, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Information about our legal proceedings is included under Part I, Item 3, Legal Proceedings, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Our investors should consider the risks set forth in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, that could affect us and our business. Although we have tried to discuss key factors, our investors need to be aware that other risks may prove to be important in the future. New risks may emerge at any time and we cannot predict such risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our financial performance. Investors should carefully consider the discussion of risks and the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including “Forward-Looking Statements,” which are included in Part I, Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The following table sets forth information relating to our purchases of our common stock for the periods shown.

 

Period    Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
          Average Price
Paid per
Share
   Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
   Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar Value)
of Shares (or Units) that
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs

January 1-31, 2008

   197    (1 )   $ 46.60    -    -

February 1-29, 2008

   58    (1 )   $ 48.12    -    -

March 1-31, 2008

   10,629    (1 ) (2)   $ 45.64    -    -
                 

Total

   10,884      $ 45.67    -   
                 
(1) Includes shares repurchased directly from employees, pursuant to our Employee Stock Award Program, as follows:

197 shares for the period January 1-31, 2008

58 shares for the period February 1-29, 2008

29 shares for the period March 1-31, 2008

(2) Includes shares withheld pursuant to attestation of ownership and deemed tendered to us in connection with the exercise of stock options under the ONEOK, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, as follows:

10,600 shares for the period March 1-31, 2008

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:

 

Exhibit

No.

   Exhibit Description

10.1

   Common Unit Purchase Agreement between ONEOK, Inc. and ONEOK Partners, L.P. dated March 11, 2008 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 1.1 to our Form 8-K filed March 12, 2008).

31.1

   Certification of John W. Gibson pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2

   Certification of Curtis L. Dinan pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1

   Certification of John W. Gibson pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished only pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b)).

32.2

   Certification of Curtis L. Dinan pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished only pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b)).

 

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SIGNATURE

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

  ONEOK, Inc.
  Registrant
Date: May 2, 2008   By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Dinan

    Curtis L. Dinan
    Senior Vice President,
    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
    (Principal Financial Officer)

 

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