Quarterly Report


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, 2007

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, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer X                                      Accelerated filer                                                   Non-accelerated filer __

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, 2007, the Company had 111,037,707 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, 2007 and 2006
   5
   Consolidated Balance Sheets -
March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006
   6-7
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
   9
   Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and
Comprehensive Income - Three Months Ended March 31, 2007
   10-11
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    12-23

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
   24-42

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    42-45

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    48

Item 6.

   Exhibits    48

Signature

      49

As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the terms “we,” “our” or “us” mean 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” 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 II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” 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, 2006.

 

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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

Bbl

  

Barrels, 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

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 Interpretations

Fort Union Gas Gathering

  

Fort Union Gas Gathering, L.L.C.

GAAP

  

United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Guardian Pipeline

  

Guardian Pipeline, L.L.C.

KCC

  

Kansas Corporation Commission

KDHE

  

Kansas Department of Health and Environment

LDC

  

Local distribution company

LIBOR

  

London Interbank Offered Rate

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 Investor Service, Inc.

NGL

  

Natural gas liquids

Northern Border Pipeline

  

Northern Border Pipeline Company

NYMEX

  

New York Mercantile Exchange

NYSE

  

New York Stock Exchange

OBPI

  

ONEOK Bushton Processing Inc.

OCC

  

Oklahoma Corporation Commission

ONEOK

  

ONEOK, Inc.

ONEOK Partners

  

ONEOK Partners, L.P., formerly known as Northern Border Partners, L.P.

ONEOK Partners GP

  

ONEOK Partners GP, L.L.C., formerly known as Northern Plains Natural Gas Company, LLC, a ONEOK subsidiary

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

TC PipeLines

  

TC PipeLines Intermediate Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of TC PipeLines, LP

TransCanada

  

TransCanada Corporation

 

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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)

     2007      2006      
    
 
(Thousands of dollars,
except per share amounts)
 
 
 

Revenues

       

Operating revenues, excluding energy trading revenues

   $ 3,797,658    $ 3,840,334    

Energy trading revenues, net

     1,348      7,370      

Total Revenues

     3,799,006      3,847,704      

Cost of sales and fuel

     3,234,379      3,346,419      

Net Margin

     564,627      501,285      

Operating Expenses

       

Operations and maintenance

     158,420      157,506    

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     56,450      56,325    

General taxes

     23,659      18,383      

Total Operating Expenses

     238,529      232,214      

Gain on Sale of Assets

     2,203      1,305      

Operating Income

     328,301      270,376      

Equity earnings from investments (Note M)

     24,055      31,641    

Other income

     6,341      4,480    

Other expense

     645      5,260    

Interest expense

     62,012      55,585      

Income before Minority Interests and Income Taxes

     296,040      245,652      

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

     45,313      35,772    

Income taxes

     97,847      80,141      

Income from Continuing Operations

     152,880      129,739    

Discontinued operations, net of taxes (Note C)

       

Income (loss) from operations of discontinued components, net of tax

     -           (247 )    

Net Income

   $ 152,880    $ 129,492    
 

Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (Note N)

       

Net earnings per share, basic

   $ 1.38    $ 1.21    

Net earnings per share, diluted

   $ 1.36    $ 1.17    
 

Average Shares of Common Stock (Thousands)

       

Basic

     110,868      107,143    

Diluted

     112,724      110,756    
 

Dividends Declared Per Share of Common Stock

   $ 0.34    $ 0.28    
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(Unaudited)

    
 
March 31,
2007
    
 
December 31,
2006
    

Assets

     (Thousands of dollars)   

Current Assets

        

Cash and cash equivalents

   $                 225,510    $               68,268   

Short-term investments

     538,030      31,125   

Trade accounts and notes receivable, net

     1,286,444      1,348,490   

Gas and natural gas liquids in storage

     499,058      925,194   

Commodity exchanges

     67,514      53,433   

Energy marketing and risk management assets (Note D)

     137,726      401,670   

Other current assets

     326,066      296,781     

Total Current Assets

     3,080,348      3,124,961     

Property, Plant and Equipment

        

Property, plant and equipment

     6,816,441      6,724,759   

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

     1,914,845      1,879,838     

Net Property, Plant and Equipment (Note A)

     4,901,596      4,844,921     

Deferred Charges and Other Assets

        

Goodwill and intangible assets (Note E)

     1,049,523      1,051,440   

Energy marketing and risk management assets (Note D)

     44,715      91,133   

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

     746,383      748,879   

Other assets

     526,346      529,748     

Total Deferred Charges and Other Assets

     2,366,967      2,421,200     

Total Assets

   $ 10,348,911    $ 10,391,082   
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(Unaudited)

    
 
March 31,
2007
 
 
   
 
December 31,
2006
 
 
   

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

     (Thousands of dollars)    

Current Liabilities

      

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $                 420,466     $               18,159    

Notes payable

     -           6,000    

Accounts payable

     1,073,934       1,076,954    

Commodity exchanges and imbalances

     183,064       176,451    

Energy marketing and risk management liabilities (Note D)

     308,445       306,658    

Other

     357,923       366,316      

Total Current Liabilities

     2,343,832       1,950,538      

Long-term Debt, excluding current maturities

     3,627,043       4,030,855    

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

      

Deferred income taxes

     762,637       707,444    

Energy marketing and risk management liabilities (Note D)

     57,071       137,312    

Other deferred credits

     548,674       548,330      

Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

     1,368,382       1,393,086      

Commitments and Contingencies (Note J)

      

Minority Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries

     798,878       800,645    

Shareholders’ Equity

      

Common stock, $0.01 par value:

      

    authorized 300,000,000 shares; issued 120,637,951 shares

        and outstanding 110,982,237 shares at March 31, 2007;

        issued 120,333,908 shares and outstanding 110,678,499

        shares at December 31, 2006

     1,206       1,203    

Paid in capital

     1,263,112       1,258,717    

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Note F)

     (65,373 )     39,532    

Retained earnings

     1,371,948       1,256,759    

Treasury stock, at cost: 9,655,714 shares at March 31, 2007
and 9,655,409 shares at December 31, 2006

     (360,117 )     (340,253 )    

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     2,210,776       2,215,958    
                      

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $             10,348,911     $         10,391,082    
 

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)

     2007       2006      

Operating Activities

     (Thousands of dollars)    

Net income

   $ 152,880     $ 129,492    

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization

     56,450       56,325    

Gain on sale of assets

     (2,203 )     (1,305 )  

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

     45,313       35,772    

Distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates

     26,455       40,708    

Income from equity investments

     (24,055 )     (31,641 )  

Deferred income taxes

     19,499       38,623    

Stock-based compensation expense

     8,212       1,510    

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     1,974       4,182    

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

      

Accounts and notes receivable

     60,072       669,231    

Inventories

     425,279       280,054    

Unrecovered purchased gas costs

     19,911       (27,081 )  

Commodity exchanges and imbalances, net

     (7,468 )     (16,554 )  

Deposits

     79,641       48,202    

Regulatory assets

     (8 )     7,632    

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     42,407       (364,945 )  

Energy marketing and risk management assets and liabilities

     61,128       (62,480 )  

Other assets and liabilities

     (91,272 )     (10,075 )    

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     874,215       797,650      

Investing Activities

      

Changes in investments in unconsolidated affiliates

     (141 )     (5,711 )  

Capital expenditures

     (107,035 )     (54,552 )  

Purchase of short-term investments

     (506,905 )     -    

Proceeds from sale of assets

     3,707       -    

Increase in cash and cash equivalents for previously unconsolidated subsidiaries

     -       1,334    

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents for previously consolidated subsidiaries

     -       (22,039 )  

Other investing activities

     -       1,102      

Cash Used in Investing Activities

     (610,374 )     (79,866 )    

Financing Activities

      

Borrowing (repayment) of notes payable, net

     -       (135,500 )  

Short-term financing payments

     (6,000 )     (1,110,000 )  

Short-term financing borrowings

     -       237,000    

Payment of debt

     (520 )     (32,241 )  

Equity unit conversion

     -       402,447    

Repurchase of common stock

     (20,089 )     (1,408 )  

Issuance of common stock

     2,680       1,333    

Dividends paid

     (37,691 )     (27,344 )  

Distributions to minority interests

     (44,979 )     (35,711 )  

Other financing activities

     -       (44,895 )    

Cash Used in Financing Activities

     (106,599 )     (746,319 )    

Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     157,242       (28,535 )  

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

     68,268       7,915    

Effect of Accounting Change on Cash and Cash Equivalents

     -       43,090      

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

   $ 225,510     $ 22,470    
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS 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, 2006

   120,333,908   $             1,203    $             1,258,717     $         39,532    

Net income

   -         -          -           -        

Other comprehensive income (loss)

   -         -          -           (104,905 )  

Total comprehensive income

           

Repurchase of common stock (Note G)

   -         -          -           -        

Common stock issued pursuant to various plans

   304,043     3      (3,592 )     -        

Stock-based employee compensation expense

   -         -          7,987       -        

Common stock dividends - $0.34 per share

   -         -          -           -          

March 31, 2007

   120,637,951   $             1,206    $             1,263,112     $ (65,373 )  
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Continued)

 

 

(Unaudited)

   Retained
Earnings
   Treasury
Stock
   Total    
   Thousands of dollars     

December 31, 2006

   $            1,256,759     $            (340,253)    $            2,215,958   

Net income

   152,880     -         152,880   

Other comprehensive income (loss)

   -         -         (104,905)  
            

Total comprehensive income

         47,975   
            

Repurchase of common stock (Note G)

   -         (20,089)    (20,089)  

Common stock issued pursuant to various plans

   -         -         (3,589)  

Stock-based employee compensation expense

   -         225     8,212   

Common stock dividends - $0.34 per share

   (37,691)    -         (37,691)    

March 31, 2007

   $            1,371,948     $            (360,117)    $            2,210,776   
 

 

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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. Due to the seasonal nature of our business, the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a 12-month period. 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, 2006.

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, 2006, except as described below.

Significant Accounting Policies

Short-Term Investments - Our short-term investments consist of auction-rate securities, which are corporate or municipal bonds that have underlying long-term maturities. The interest rates are reset through auctions that are typically held every 7-35 days, at which time the securities can be sold. We invest in auction-rate securities for a portion of our short-term liquidity needs.

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

 

    

March 31,

2007

  

December 31,

2006

     (Thousands of dollars)

Non-Regulated

     

ONEOK Partners

   $ 1,917,775    $ 1,894,529

Energy Services

     7,688      7,689

Other

     168,623      166,430

Regulated

     

ONEOK Partners

     1,582,450      1,529,923

Distribution

     3,139,905      3,126,188

Property, plant and equipment

     6,816,441      6,724,759

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

     1,914,845      1,879,838

Net property, plant and equipment

   $ 4,901,596    $ 4,844,921
 

Income Taxes - In June 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” which was effective for our year beginning January 1, 2007. This interpretation was issued to clarify the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 requires the recognition of penalties and interest on any unrecognized tax benefits. Our policy is to reflect penalties and interest as part of income tax expense as they become applicable. The adoption of FIN 48 had an immaterial impact on our consolidated financial statements.

We file numerous consolidated and separate income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and in many state jurisdictions. We also file returns in Canada. No returns are currently under audit and no extensions of statute of limitations have been granted.

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 ending December 31, 2006, except for the measurement date change from September 30 to December 31, which will be effective for our year ending December 31, 2007.

 

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Fair Value Measurements - 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. Statement 157 is effective for our year beginning January 1, 2008. We are currently reviewing the applicability of Statement 157 to our operations and its 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. Statement 159 is effective for our year beginning January 1, 2008. We are currently reviewing the applicability of Statement 159 to our operations and its potential impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications - Our ONEOK Partners’ segment deconsolidated Northern Border Pipeline and consolidated Guardian Pipeline retroactive to January 1, 2006, as a result of the April 2006 transactions. Our consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, have been restated on a retroactive basis to reflect the accounting impact of these transactions. See Note B for additional information.

Certain other amounts in our consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2007 presentation. These reclassifications did not impact previously reported net income or shareholders’ equity.

 

B. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

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 for the purpose of building a 750-mile natural gas liquids pipeline from Opal, Wyoming, to the Mid-Continent natural gas liquids market center in Conway, Kansas. The pipeline will be designed to transport approximately 110,000 Bbl/d of NGLs, which can be increased to approximately 150,000 Bbl/d with additional pump facilities. A subsidiary of ONEOK Partners owns 99 percent of the joint venture and will manage the construction project, advance all costs associated with construction and operate 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 its proportionate share of all construction costs. If Williams exercises its option to increase its ownership to the full 50 percent, Williams would have the option to become operator. This project requires the approval of various state and federal regulatory authorities. Assuming Overland Pass Pipeline Company obtains the required regulatory approvals, ONEOK Partners currently expects construction of the pipeline to begin in the fall of 2007, with start-up scheduled for early 2008.

As part of a long-term agreement, Williams dedicated its NGL production from two of its gas processing plants in Wyoming to the joint-venture company. Subsidiaries of ONEOK Partners will provide downstream fractionation, storage and transportation services to Williams. The pipeline project is currently estimated to cost approximately $433 million, excluding AFUDC. During 2006, ONEOK Partners paid $11.6 million to Williams for acquisition of its interest in the joint venture and for reimbursement of initial capital expenditures. In addition, ONEOK Partners plans to invest approximately $216 million, excluding AFUDC, to expand its existing fractionation capabilities and the capacity of its natural gas liquids distribution pipelines. ONEOK Partners’ financing for the projects may include a combination of short- or long-term debt or equity.

ONEOK Partners - In April 2006, we sold certain assets comprising our former gathering and processing, natural gas liquids, and pipelines and storage segments to ONEOK Partners for approximately $3 billion, including $1.35 billion in cash, before adjustments, and approximately 36.5 million Class B limited partner units in ONEOK Partners. The Class B limited partner units and the related general partner interest contribution were valued at approximately $1.65 billion. We also purchased, through ONEOK Partners GP, from an affiliate of TransCanada, 17.5 percent of the general partner interest in ONEOK Partners for $40 million. This purchase resulted in our owning the entire 2 percent general partner interest in ONEOK Partners. Following the completion of the transactions, we own approximately 37.0 million common and Class B limited partner units and the entire 2 percent general partner interest and control the partnership. Our overall interest in ONEOK Partners, including the 2 percent general partner interest, has increased to 45.7 percent.

 

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Disposition of 20 Percent Interest in Northern Border Pipeline - In April 2006, in connection with the transactions described immediately above, our ONEOK Partners segment completed the sale of a 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline to TC PipeLines for approximately $297 million. Our ONEOK Partners segment recorded a gain on sale of approximately $113.9 million in the second quarter of 2006. ONEOK Partners and TC PipeLines each now own a 50 percent interest in Northern Border Pipeline, and an affiliate of TransCanada became operator of the pipeline in April 2007. Under Statement 94, “Consolidation of All Majority Owned Subsidiaries,” a majority-owned subsidiary is not consolidated if control is likely to be temporary or if it does not rest with the majority owner. Neither ONEOK Partners nor TC PipeLines has control of Northern Border Pipeline, as control is shared equally through Northern Border Pipeline’s Management Committee. As a result of this transaction, ONEOK Partners’ interest in Northern Border Pipeline is accounted for as an investment under the equity method, applied on a retroactive basis to January 1, 2006. TransCanada paid us $10 million for expenses associated with the transfer of operating responsibility of Northern Border Pipeline to them.

Acquisition of Guardian Pipeline Interests - In April 2006, our ONEOK Partners segment acquired the 66-2/3 percent interest in Guardian Pipeline not previously owned by ONEOK Partners for approximately $77 million, increasing its ownership interest to 100 percent. ONEOK Partners used borrowings from its credit facility to fund the acquisition of the additional interest in Guardian Pipeline. Following the completion of the transaction, we included Guardian Pipeline in our consolidated financial statements. This change was accounted for on a retroactive basis to January 1, 2006.

 

C. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

In the third quarter of 2005, we made the decision to sell our Spring Creek power plant, located in Oklahoma, and exit the power generation business. We entered into an agreement to sell our Spring Creek power plant to Westar Energy, Inc. for approximately $53 million. The transaction received FERC approval, and the sale was completed on October 31, 2006. The 300-megawatt gas-fired merchant power plant was built in 2001 to supply electrical power during peak periods using gas-powered turbine generators.

This component of our business is accounted for as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” Accordingly, amounts in our consolidated financial statements and related notes for the three months ended March 31, 2006, relating to our power generation business are reflected as discontinued operations.

 

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.” Under Statement 133, entities are required to record all derivative instruments at fair value. 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 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, both at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis.

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, 2006, for additional discussion.

 

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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, 2007, for all 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 2007

   $ 5.0    $ 2.7    $ 7.7

2008

     6.6      3.7      10.3

2009

     5.5      3.7      9.2

2010

     5.4      3.7      9.1

2011

     2.5      0.9      3.4

Thereafter

     12.8      -        12.8

Currently, the interest on $490 million of fixed-rate debt is swapped to floating using interest rate swaps. The floating-rate is based on both the three- and six-month LIBOR, depending upon the swap. Based on the actual performance through March 31, 2007, the weighted average interest rate increased from 6.64 percent to 6.79 percent. At March 31, 2007, we recorded a net liability of $11.9 million to recognize the interest rate swaps at fair value. Long-term debt was decreased by $11.9 million to recognize the change in the fair value of the related hedged liability.

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 are recorded to cost of sales and fuel. The ineffectiveness related to these hedges were losses of $2.5 million and $5.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, which were recorded as cost of sales and fuel.

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 transportation of natural gas. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at March 31, 2007, includes losses of approximately $8.3 million, net of tax, related to these hedges that will be realized within the next 26 months. If prices remain at current levels, we will recognize $9.0 million in net losses over the next 12 months, and we will recognize net gains of $0.7 million thereafter. In accordance with Statement 133, the actual losses that are reclassified into earnings will be based on the referenced floating price at each designated pricing period, along with the realization of the gains or losses on the related physical volumes, which are not reflected in the amounts above.

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, NGLs and condensate. If prices remain at current levels, our ONEOK Partners segment will recognize $2.6 million in net losses, all of which will be recognized over the next 12 months.

For all of our segments, net gains and losses are reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to operating revenues or cost of sales and fuel in the period the ineffectiveness occurs. Ineffectiveness related to our cash flow hedges resulted in a loss of approximately $0.2 million and a gain of approximately $7.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. There were no material gains or losses during the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, due to the discontinuance of cash flow hedge treatment.

 

E. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

Carrying Amounts - The amount of goodwill recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2007, and December 31, 2006, was $600.7 million.

Equity Method Goodwill - For the investments we account for under the equity method, the premium or excess cost over underlying fair value of net assets is referred to as equity method goodwill. Investment in unconsolidated affiliates on our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets includes equity method goodwill of $185.6 million as of March 31, 2007, and December 31, 2006.

 

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Intangible Assets

Our ONEOK Partners segment had $293.2 million of intangible assets related to contracts acquired through our acquisition of the natural gas liquids businesses from Koch, which are being amortized over an aggregate weighted-average period of 40 years. The remaining intangible asset balance has an indefinite life. The aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five years is estimated to be approximately $7.7 million. Amortization expense for intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 was $1.9 million. The following table reflects the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006.

 

      
 
 
Gross
Intangible
Assets
    
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
 
   
 
 
Net
Intangible
Assets
   
     (Thousands of dollars)  

March 31, 2007

   $ 462,214    $ (13,416 )   $ 448,798  

December 31, 2006

   $ 462,214    $ (11,499 )   $ 450,715    

 

F. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

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

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2007

  

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2006

    
       Gross     
 
 
Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
     Net      Gross     
 
Tax
Expense
     Net     
     (Thousands of dollars)   

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

   $ (67,265)    $ 25,335     $ (41,930)    $ 80,835    $ (31,267)    $ 49,568   

Unrealized holding gains arising during the period

     2,124       (822)      1,302       -        -        -     

Realized (gains) losses recognized in net income

     (103,036)      39,854       (63,182)      11,282      (4,364)      6,918   

Pension and postretirement benefit plan amortization

     (1,786)      691       (1,095)      -        -        -       

Other comprehensive income (loss)

   $     (169,963)    $     65,058    $     (104,905)    $     92,117    $     (35,631)    $     56,486   
    

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 on Available-for-
Sale Securities
    
 
 
Pension and
Postretirement Benefit
Plan Obligations
    
 
 
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income
(Loss)
    
     (Thousands of dollars)   

December 31, 2006

   $ 89,971     $ 12,614    $ (63,053)    $ 39,532    

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     (105,112)      1,302      (1,095)      (104,905)     

March 31, 2007

   $ (15,141)    $ 13,916    $ (64,148)    $ (65,373)   
 

 

G. CAPITAL STOCK

Stock Repurchase Plan - On August 7, 2006, 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. Under the terms of the accelerated repurchase agreement, we repurchased 7.5 million shares immediately from UBS. UBS then borrowed 7.5 million of our shares 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

 

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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 accordance with EITF Issue No. 99-7, “Accounting for an Accelerated Share Repurchase Program,” the repurchase was 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 contract as equity under EITF Issue No. 00-19, “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock.” In February 2007, the forward purchase contract settled for a cash payment of $20.1 million, which was recorded in equity. We currently have no remaining shares authorized for repurchase under our stock repurchase plan.

Dividends - Quarterly dividends paid on our common stock for shareholders of record as of the close of business on January 31, 2007, were $0.34 per share. Additionally, a quarterly dividend of $0.34 per share was declared in April, payable in the second quarter of 2007.

 

H. CREDIT FACILITIES

General - On March 30, 2007, ONEOK Partners entered into an amended and restated five-year revolving credit facility agreement (2007 Partnership Credit Agreement), with several banks and other financial institutions and lenders, which amended and restated ONEOK Partners’ $750 million five-year credit agreement, in the following principal ways: (i) revised the pricing, (ii) extended the maturity by one year to March 2012, (iii) eliminated the interest coverage ratio covenant, (iv) increased the permitted ratio of indebtedness to EBITDA to 5 to 1 (from 4.75 to 1), (v) increased the swingline sub-facility commitments from $15 million to $50 million and (vi) changed the permitted amount of subsidiary indebtedness from $35 million to 10 percent of ONEOK Partners’ consolidated indebtedness.

Except as discussed above, our $1.2 billion five-year credit agreement, as amended and restated in 2006, and ONEOK Partners’ 2007 Partnership 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, 2006. At March 31, 2007, we and ONEOK Partners were in compliance with all covenants.

At March 31, 2007, we had $37.9 million in letters of credit issued and no borrowings outstanding under our various credit agreements, and ONEOK Partners had $10 million in letters of credit issued, and no borrowings outstanding under its 2007 Partnership Credit Agreement.

 

I. 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,

     
       2007       2006       2007       2006      

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

     (Thousands of dollars)    

Service cost

   $ 5,262     $ 5,267     $ 1,598     $ 1,583    

Interest cost

     12,152       10,871       3,957       3,539    

Expected return on assets

     (14,538 )     (14,396 )     (1,597 )     (1,141 )  

Amortization of unrecognized net asset at adoption

     -         -         797       797    

Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost

     371       378       (569 )     (571 )  

Amortization of net loss

     4,035       3,353       2,482       2,271      

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 7,282     $ 5,473     $ 6,668     $ 6,478    
 

Contributions - For the three months ended March 31, 2007, contributions of $0.6 million were made to our pension plan. Additionally, we made benefit payments for our postretirement benefit plan of $4.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2007. We presently anticipate our total 2007 contributions to fund future benefits will be $4.2 million for the pension plan and $5.5 million for the other postretirement benefit plan. Additionally, the 2007 expected benefit payments from our postretirement benefit plan are estimated to be $22.1 million.

 

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J. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Environmental Liabilities - We are subject to multiple environmental laws and regulations affecting many aspects of 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 materials occurs from our lines or facilities, in the process of transporting natural gas or NGLs, 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.

We own or retain legal responsibility for the environmental conditions at 12 former manufactured gas sites in Kansas that we acquired in November 1997. 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. We have commenced remediation on 11 sites, with regulatory closure achieved at two of these locations. Of the remaining nine sites, we have completed or are near completion of soil remediation at six sites, have commenced soil remediation at an additional site, and we expect to commence soil remediation on the other two sites in 2007. We have begun site assessment at the remaining site where no active remediation has occurred.

To date, we have incurred remediation costs of $6.6 million and have accrued an additional $5.4 million related to the sites where we have commenced or will soon commence remediation. The $5.4 million estimate of future remediation costs for these sites is based on our environmental assessments and remediation plans approved to date by the KDHE. These estimates are recorded on an undiscounted basis. For the site that is currently in the assessment phase, we have completed some analysis, but are unable at this point to accurately estimate aggregate costs that may be required to satisfy our remedial obligations at this site. Until the site assessment is complete and the KDHE approves the remediation plan, we will not have complete information available to us to accurately estimate remediation costs.

The costs associated with these sites do not include other potential expenses that might be incurred, such as unasserted property damage claims, personal injury or natural resource claims, unbudgeted legal expenses or other costs for which we may be held liable but with respect to which we cannot reasonably estimate an amount. As of this date, we have no knowledge of any of these types of claims. The foregoing estimates do not consider potential insurance recoveries, recoveries through rates or recoveries from unaffiliated parties, to which we may be entitled. We have filed claims with our insurance carriers relating to these sites, and we have recovered a portion of our costs incurred to date. We have not recorded any amounts for potential insurance recoveries or recoveries from unaffiliated parties, and we are not recovering any environmental amounts in rates. As more information related to the site investigations and remediation activities becomes available, and to the extent such amounts are expected to exceed our current estimates, additional expenses could be recorded. Such amounts could be material to our results of operations and cash flows depending on the remediation and number of years over which the remediation is required to be completed.

Other - We are a party to other litigation matters and claims, which are normal in the 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.

 

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K. SEGMENTS

Segment Descriptions - We have divided our operations into four reportable segments based on similarities in economic characteristics, products and services, types of customers, methods of distribution and regulatory environment. These segments are as follows: (1) our ONEOK Partners segment gathers, processes, transports and stores natural gas; gathers, treats, stores, and fractionates NGLs; and provides NGL gathering and distribution services; (2) our Distribution segment delivers natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers, and transports natural gas; (3) our Energy Services segment markets natural gas to wholesale and retail customers; and (4) 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 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, 2006. Intersegment gross 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 gross revenues.

Operating Segment Information - The following tables set forth certain operating segment financial data for the periods indicated.

 

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2007

    
 
ONEOK
Partners (a)
    Distribution (b)    
 
Energy
Services
    
 
Other and
Eliminations
 
 
    Total     
     (Thousands of dollars)   

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   $     1,005,136   $     881,022   $ 1,910,547    $     953     $ 3,797,658   

Energy trading revenues, net

     -       -       1,348      -         1,348   

Intersegment sales

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

Total revenues

   $ 1,161,472   $ 881,022   $ 2,111,706    $ (355,194 )   $ 3,799,006     

Net margin

   $ 205,147   $ 227,228   $ 131,404    $ 848     $ 564,627   

Operating costs

     75,461     95,715     10,729      174       182,079   

Depreciation, depletion 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   

Total assets

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

Capital expenditures

   $ 77,857   $ 27,037   $ -      $ 2,141     $ 107,035     
(a) - Our ONEOK Partners segment has regulated and non-regulated operations. Our ONEOK Partners segment's regulated operations had revenues of $76.2 million, net margin of $66.6 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.   

 

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Three Months Ended

March 31, 2006

    
 
ONEOK
Partners (a)
    Distribution (b)    
 
Energy
Services
    
 
Other and
Eliminations
 
 
    Total     
     (Thousands of dollars)   

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   $     1,018,903   $     787,243   $     2,063,482    $     (29,294 )   $ 3,840,334   

Energy trading revenues, net

     -       -       7,370      -         7,370   

Intersegment sales

     150,927     -       244,363      (395,290 )     -       

Total revenues

   $ 1,169,830   $ 787,243   $ 2,315,215    $ (424,584 )   $ 3,847,704     

Net margin

   $ 201,695   $ 195,441   $ 103,154    $ 995     $ 501,285   

Operating costs

     75,356     90,514     9,294      725       175,889   

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     27,470     28,152     575      128       56,325   

Gain on sale of assets

     1,305     -       -        -         1,305     

Operating income

   $ 100,174   $ 76,775   $ 93,285    $ 142     $ 270,376     

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 31,641   $ -     $ -      $ -       $ 31,641   

Total assets

   $ 4,926,456   $ 2,740,835   $ 2,352,116    $ 100,015     $     10,119,422   

Capital expenditures

   $ 17,657   $ 36,675   $ -      $ 220     $ 54,552     
(a) - Our ONEOK Partners segment has regulated and non-regulated operations. Our ONEOK Partners segment’s regulated operations had revenues of $76.8 million, net margin of $66.5 million and operating income of $34.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006.
(b) - All of our Distribution segment’s operations are regulated.

 

L. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

The following table sets forth supplemental information with respect to our cash flow for the periods indicated.

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,

    
       2007       2006     
     (Thousands of dollars)   

Cash paid (received) during the period

     

Interest

   $     21,269     $ 42,829   

Income taxes

   $ (46,538 )   $     123,877     

 

M. UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES

Equity Earnings from Investments - The following table sets forth our equity earnings from investments for the periods indicated. All 2007 and 2006 amounts in the table below are equity earnings from investments in our ONEOK Partners segment.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    
       2007      2006     
     (Thousands of dollars)   

Northern Border Pipeline

   $     18,040    $     26,147   

Bighorn Gas Gathering, L.L.C.

     1,691      2,033   

Fort Union Gas Gathering

     2,587      1,948   

Lost Creek Gathering Company, L.L.C.

     1,329      1,441   

Other

     408      72     

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 24,055    $ 31,641   
 

 

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

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,

    
       2007      2006     
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Income Statement

        

Operating revenue

   $         98,713    $         97,886   

Operating expenses

     38,357      36,601   

Net income

     49,157      50,141   

Distributions paid to ONEOK Partners

   $ 26,455    $ 40,708   
 

 

N. EARNINGS PER SHARE INFORMATION

We compute earnings per common share (EPS) as described in Note R of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

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

 

     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   
 
     Three Months Ended March 31, 2006     
       Income    Shares     
 
Per Share
Amount
    

Basic EPS from continuing operations

     (Thousands, except per share amounts)   

Income from continuing operations available for common stock

   $ 129,739    107,143    $ 1.21   

Diluted EPS from continuing operations

           

Effect of dilutive securities:

           

Mandatory convertible units

     -      2,518      

Options and other dilutive securities

     -      1,095      

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

   $ 129,739    110,756    $ 1.17   
 

There were 18,403 and 438,924 option shares excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2007, and 2006, respectively, since their inclusion would have been antidilutive for each period.

 

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O. ONEOK PARTNERS

General Partner Interest - See Note B for discussion of the April 2006 acquisition of the additional general partner interest in ONEOK Partners. The limited partner units we received from ONEOK Partners were newly created Class B limited partner units. As of April 7, 2007, the Class B limited partner units are no longer subordinated to distributions on our common units, and generally have the same voting rights as our common units. Under the ONEOK Partners’ partnership agreement and in conjunction with the issuance of additional common units by ONEOK Partners, we, as the general partner, are required to make equity contributions in order to maintain our representative general partner interest.

Our investment in ONEOK Partners is shown in the table below for the periods presented.

 

       March 31,      
       2007     2006      

General partner interest

     2.00 %   1.650 %  

Limited partner interest

     43.70 % (a)   1.050 % (b)    

Total ownership interest

     45.70 %   2.700 %  
 

(a) - Represents approximately 0.5 million common units and

        36.5 million Class B units.

 

(b) - Represents approximately 0.5 million common units.

Cash Distributions - Under the 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, after giving effect to any priority income allocations for incentive distributions that are allocated to the general partner. The following table shows ONEOK Partners’ general partner and incentive distributions related to the periods indicated.

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,

    
       2007      2006     
     (Thousands of dollars)   

General partner distributions

   $ 1,907    $ 740   

Incentive distributions

     11,364      2,581     

Total distributions from ONEOK Partners to us

   $         13,271    $         3,321   
 

The quarterly distributions paid by ONEOK Partners to limited partners in the first quarters of March 31, 2007 and 2006 were $0.98 per unit and $0.80 per unit, respectively.

In April 2007, ONEOK Partners declared a cash distribution of $0.99 per unit payable in the second quarter.

Relationship - We own 45.7 percent of ONEOK Partners and consolidate ONEOK Partners in our consolidated financial statements; however, we are restricted from the assets and cash flows of ONEOK Partners except for our quarterly distributions. Distributions are declared quarterly by ONEOK Partners based on the terms of its partnership agreement, and for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, cash distributions declared from ONEOK Partners to us totaled $49.9 million and $3.8 million, respectively. See Note K for more information on ONEOK Partners’ results.

Affiliate Transactions - We have certain transactions with our 45.7 percent owned ONEOK Partners affiliate and its subsidiaries, which comprise our ONEOK Partners segment.

 

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

As part of the transaction between us and ONEOK Partners, ONEOK Partners acquired certain contractual rights to the Bushton Gas Processing Plant (the Bushton Plant) from us through a Processing and Services Agreement, which sets out the terms for processing and related services we provide at the Bushton Plant through 2012. 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. Volumes available for processing at this straddle plant have declined due to contract terminations and natural field declines, which made it more efficient to process the remaining gas at other facilities. As a result, on January 1, 2007, the Bushton Plant was temporarily idled. ONEOK Partners has contracted for all of the capacity of the Bushton Plant from OBPI. ONEOK Partners is in the process of adding new facilities as part of its construction projects and associated expansions.

We provide a variety of services to our affiliates, including cash management and financing 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 by the modified Distrigas method, a method using a combination of ratios that include gross plant and investment, operating income and wages.

The following table shows transactions with ONEOK Partners for the periods shown.

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,

    
       2007      2006     
     (Thousands of dollars)   

Revenue

   $         156,336    $         150,927   
 

Expense

        

Administrative and general expenses

   $ 39,803    $ 29,853   

Interest expense

     -      21,281     

Total expense

   $ 39,803    $ 51,134   
 

 

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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.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The following discussion highlights some of our achievements and significant issues affecting us this past quarter. Please refer to the Financial and Operating Results section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation and the Financial Statements for a complete explanation of the following items. As a result of the April 2006 transactions, our ONEOK Partners’ segment deconsolidated Northern Border Pipeline and consolidated Guardian Pipeline retroactive to January 1, 2006. Our consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, have been restated on a retroactive basis to reflect the accounting impact of these transactions.

Diluted earnings per share of common stock from continuing operations (EPS) increased to $1.36 for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with $1.17 for the same period in 2006. During the first quarter of 2007, we increased our dividend to $0.34 per share of common stock ($1.36 per share on an annualized basis).

ONEOK Partners declared an increase in its cash distribution to $0.99 per unit ($3.96 per unit on an annualized basis) in April 2007, an increase of approximately 13 percent over the $0.88 paid in the second quarter of 2006.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2007 increased to $328.3 million from $270.4 million for the same period in 2006, a 21 percent increase. Our Distribution segment’s operating income increased $26.5 million for the three-month period, primarily due to the implementation of new rate schedules in Kansas and Texas. Operating income for our Energy Services segment increased $26.9 million for the three-month period, primarily due to increased storage and marketing margins, partially offset by decreased transportation, financial trading and retail margins. Our ONEOK Partners segment’s operating income increased $4.2 million for the three-month period, driven primarily by higher NGL related margins, resulting from higher product price spreads between Mont Belvieu, Texas, and Conway, Kansas; higher isomerization price spreads; wider price spreads between ethane and propane; and increased natural gasoline sales used in the production of ethanol fuel in our natural gas liquids business. These increases were partially offset by decreased operating income in our ONEOK Partners segment’s gathering and processing business, primarily due to lower realized commodity prices on our percent of proceeds (POP) contracts and lower volumes processed due to the anticipated contract terminations at certain processing facilities.

Our income from continuing operations increased to $152.9 million for the first quarter of 2007 from $129.7 million for same period in 2006.

SIGNIFICANT ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

In April 2006, we sold certain assets comprising our former gathering and processing, natural gas liquids, and pipelines and storage segments to ONEOK Partners for approximately $3 billion, including $1.35 billion in cash, before adjustments, and approximately 36.5 million Class B limited partner units in ONEOK Partners. The Class B limited partner units and the related general partner interest contribution were valued at approximately $1.65 billion. We also purchased, through ONEOK Partners GP, from an affiliate of TransCanada, 17.5 percent of the general partner interest in ONEOK Partners for $40 million. This purchase resulted in our owning the entire 2 percent general partner interest in ONEOK Partners. Following the completion of the transactions, we own approximately 37.0 million common and Class B limited partner units and the entire 2 percent general partner interest and control the partnership. Our overall interest in ONEOK Partners, including the 2 percent general partner interest, has increased to 45.7 percent.

In connection with the transactions described immediately above, our ONEOK Partners segment completed the sale of a 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline to TC PipeLines for approximately $297 million. Our ONEOK Partners segment recorded a gain on sale of approximately $113.9 million in the second quarter of 2006. ONEOK Partners and TC PipeLines each now own a 50 percent interest in Northern Border Pipeline, and an affiliate of TransCanada became operator of the pipeline in April 2007. As a result of this transaction, ONEOK Partners’ interest in Northern Border Pipeline is accounted for as an investment under the equity method, applied on a retroactive basis to January 1, 2006. TransCanada paid us $10 million for expenses associated with the transfer of operating responsibility of Northern Border Pipeline to them.

 

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Also in April 2006, our ONEOK Partners segment acquired the 66-2/3 percent interest in Guardian Pipeline not previously owned by ONEOK Partners for approximately $77 million, increasing its ownership interest to 100 percent. ONEOK Partners used borrowings from its credit facility to fund the acquisition of the additional interest in Guardian Pipeline. Following the completion of the transaction, we consolidated Guardian Pipeline in our consolidated financial statements. This change was accounted for on a retroactive basis to January 1, 2006.

CAPITAL PROJECTS

Overland Pass Pipeline - 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 for the purpose of building a 750-mile natural gas liquids pipeline from Opal, Wyoming, to the Mid-Continent natural gas liquids market center in Conway, Kansas. The pipeline will be designed to transport approximately 110,000 Bbl/d of NGLs, which can be increased to approximately 150,000 Bbl/d with additional pump facilities. A subsidiary of ONEOK Partners owns 99 percent of the joint venture and will manage the construction project, advance all costs associated with construction and operate 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 its proportionate share of all construction costs. If Williams exercises its option to increase its ownership to the full 50 percent, Williams would have the option to become operator. This project requires the approval of various state and federal regulatory authorities. Assuming Overland Pass Pipeline Company obtains the required regulatory approvals, ONEOK Partners currently expects construction of the pipeline to begin in the fall of 2007, with start-up scheduled for early 2008.

As part of a long-term agreement, Williams dedicated its NGL production from two of its gas processing plants in Wyoming to the joint-venture company. Subsidiaries of ONEOK Partners will provide downstream fractionation, storage and transportation services to Williams. The pipeline project is currently estimated to cost approximately $433 million excluding AFUDC. During 2006, ONEOK Partners paid $11.6 million to Williams for acquisition of its interest in the joint venture and for reimbursement of initial capital expenditures. In addition, ONEOK Partners plans to invest approximately $216 million, excluding AFUDC, to expand its existing fractionation capabilities and the capacity of its natural gas liquids distribution pipelines. ONEOK Partners’ financing for the projects may include a combination of short- or long-term debt or equity.

Piceance Lateral Pipeline - In March 2007, ONEOK Partners announced that Overland Pass Pipeline Company plans to construct a 150-mile lateral pipeline to transport as much as 100,000 Bbl/d of 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 delivered into the lateral pipeline. This project requires the approval of various state and federal regulatory authorities. Assuming Overland Pass Pipeline Company obtains the required regulatory approvals, ONEOK Partners currently expect construction of this lateral pipeline extension to begin in the summer of 2008 and be completed in early 2009, at a current cost estimate of approximately $120 million, excluding AFUDC.

Arbuckle Pipeline Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Project - 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 cost of $260 million, excluding AFUDC. The Arbuckle Pipeline will have the capacity to transport 160,000 Bbl/d of raw natural gas liquids and will interconnect with our existing Mid-Continent infrastructure and our fractionation facility in Mont Belvieu, Texas, and other Gulf Coast-area fractionators. The expansion project is expected to be complete by early 2009.

Williston Basin Gas Processing Plant Expansion - In March 2007, Bear Paw Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of ONEOK Partners, announced the expansion of our Grasslands natural gas processing facility in North Dakota at a cost of $30 million, excluding AFUDC. The Grasslands facility is our largest natural gas processing plant in the Williston Basin. The expansion will increase processing capacity to approximately 100 MMcf/d from its current capacity of 63 MMcf/d as well as increasing fractionation capacity to approximately 10,000 Bbl/d. The expansion project will come on line in phases starting in the summer of 2007 through the first quarter of 2008.

Fort Union Gas Gathering Expansion Project - In January 2007, Crestone Powder River, L.L.C., a subsidiary of ONEOK Partners, announced that Fort Union Gas Gathering will double its existing gathering pipeline capacity by adding 148 miles of new gathering lines resulting in 649 MMcf/d of additional capacity in the Powder River basin. The expansion is expected to cost approximately $110 million, excluding AFUDC, which will be project financed within the Fort Union Gas Gathering partnership and will occur in two phases, with 240 MMcf/d in service by the fourth quarter of 2007 and 409 MMcf/d by the

 

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first quarter of 2008. The additional capacity has been fully subscribed for 10 years beginning with the in-service date of the expansion. Crestone Powder River, L.L.C. owns approximately 37 percent of Fort Union Gas Gathering.

Guardian Pipeline Expansion and Extension Project - In October 2006, Guardian Pipeline, a subsidiary of ONEOK Partners, filed its application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity with the FERC for authorization to construct and operate approximately 110 miles of new mainline pipe, two compressor stations, seven meter stations and other associated facilities. The pipeline expansion will extend Guardian Pipeline from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area to the Green Bay, Wisconsin, area. The project is supported by long-term shipper commitments. The cost of the project is estimated to be $250 million excluding AFUDC, with a targeted in-service date of November 2008.

Midwestern Gas Transmission Eastern Extension Project - In March 2006, Midwestern Gas Transmission, a subsidiary of ONEOK Partners, accepted the certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the FERC for its Eastern Extension Project. An organization which is opposed to, and includes landowners affected by, the project filed a request for rehearing and for a stay of the March 2006 Order. In August 2006, the FERC denied those requests. The Eastern Extension Project will add 31 miles of pipeline with 120 MDth/d (approximately 120 MMcf/d) of transportation capacity with total capital expenditures estimated to be $41 million excluding AFUDC. The proposed in-service date is the fourth quarter of 2007.

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 33.

IMPACT OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

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 ending December 31, 2006, except for the measurement date change from September 30 to December 31 which will be effective for our year ending December 31, 2007.

Fair Value Measurements - 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. Statement 157 is effective for our year beginning January 1, 2008. We are currently reviewing the applicability of Statement 157 to our operations and its 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. Statement 159 is effective for our year beginning January 1, 2008. We are currently reviewing the applicability of Statement 159 to our operations and its potential impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes - In June 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” which is effective for our year beginning January 1, 2007. This interpretation was issued to clarify the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 requires the recognition of penalties and interest on any unrecognized tax benefits. Our policy is to reflect penalties and interest as part of income tax expense as they become applicable. The adoption of FIN 48 had an immaterial impact on our consolidated financial statements.

We file numerous consolidated and separate income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and in many state jurisdictions. We also file returns in Canada. No returns are currently under audit and no extensions of statute of limitations have been granted.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions with respect to values or conditions that cannot be known with certainty and that affect the reported amount of assets and

 

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liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the 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.

Derivatives 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 under the fair value basis of accounting 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. The fair value of derivative instruments is determined by commodity exchange prices, over-the-counter quotes, volatility, time value, counterparty credit and the potential impact on market prices of liquidating positions in an orderly manner over a reasonable period of time under current market conditions. Refer to the table on page 44 for amounts in our portfolio at March 31, 2007, that were determined by prices actively quoted, prices provided by other external sources and prices derived from other sources. The majority of our portfolio’s fair values are based on actual market prices. Transactions are also executed in markets for which market prices may exist but the market may be relatively inactive, thereby resulting in limited price transparency that requires management’s subjectivity in estimating fair values.

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 reason for holding it. 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 they occur. Commodity price volatility may have a significant impact on the gain or loss in any given period. For more information on fair value sensitivity and a discussion of the market risk of pricing changes, see Item 3, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

To minimize the risk of fluctuations in natural gas, NGLs and condensate prices, we periodically enter into futures, options and swap transactions in order to hedge anticipated purchases and sales of natural gas, condensate, NGLs, fuel requirements and NGL inventories. 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 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 in 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 in the period of change together with the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged.

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 therefore, upon election, are exempt from fair value accounting treatment.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Goodwill and Intangible Assets - We assess our long-lived assets for impairment based on Statement 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” A long-lived asset is tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may exceed its fair value. Fair values are based on the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the assets.

We assess our goodwill and non-amortizing intangible assets for impairment at least annually based on Statement 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” An initial assessment is made by comparing the fair value of the operations with goodwill, as determined in accordance with Statement 142, to the book value of each reporting unit. If the fair value is less than the book value, an impairment is indicated, and we must perform a second test to measure the amount of the impairment. In the second test, we would calculate the implied fair value of the goodwill by deducting the fair value of all tangible and intangible net assets of the operations with goodwill from the fair value determined in step one of the assessment. If the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds this calculated implied fair value of the goodwill, we would record an impairment charge. The amount of goodwill recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2007, and December 31, 2006, was $600.7 million.

Intangible assets with a finite useful life are amortized over their estimated useful life, while intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are not amortized. For intangible assets subject to amortization, we evaluate the remaining useful life of the assets annually to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization.

 

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Our ONEOK Partners segment had $448.8 million of intangible assets recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2007, that consisted of $293.2 million which is being amortized over an aggregate weighted-average period of 40 years, while the remaining balance has an indefinite life.

Our total unamortized excess cost over underlying fair value of net assets accounted for under the equity method was $185.6 million as of March 31, 2007, and December 31, 2006. Based on Statement 142, this amount, referred to as equity method goodwill, should continue to be recognized in accordance with APB Opinion No. 18, “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock.” Accordingly, we included this amount in investment in unconsolidated affiliates on our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Equity method goodwill is not subject to amortization but rather to impairment testing pursuant to APB No. 18. The impairment test under APB No. 18 considers whether the fair value of the equity investment as a whole, not the underlying net assets, has declined and whether that decline is other than temporary. Therefore, we periodically reevaluate the amount at which we carry the excess of cost over fair value of net assets accounted for under the equity method to determine whether current events or circumstances warrant adjustments to our carrying value in accordance with APB Opinion No. 18.

We do not anticipate any goodwill or asset impairments to occur within the next year, but if such events were to occur over the long term, the impact could be significant to our financial condition and results of operations.

Pension and Postretirement Employee Benefits - We have defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all full-time employees. Nonbargaining unit employees hired after December 31, 2004, are not eligible for our defined benefit pension plan; however, they are covered by a profit sharing plan. We also have a postretirement employee benefits plan covering most employees who meet minimum age requirements for retirement with at least five years of service. Nonbargaining unit employees retiring between the ages of 50 and 55, all nonbargaining unit employees hired on or after January 1, 1999, employees who are members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers hired after June 30, 2003, and gas union employees hired after July 1, 2004, who elect postretirement medical coverage, pay 100 percent of the retiree premium for participation in the plan. Additionally, any employees who came to us through various acquisitions may be further limited in their eligibility to participate or receive any contributions from us for postretirement medical benefits. Our actuarial consultant calculates the expense and liability related to these plans and uses statistical and other factors that attempt to anticipate future events. These factors include assumptions about the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, rate of future compensation increases, age and employment periods. In determining the projected benefit obligations and costs, assumptions can change from period to period and result in material changes in the costs and liabilities we recognize. See Note J of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 for additional information.

During 2006, we recorded net periodic benefit costs of $21.6 million related to our defined benefit pension plans and $25.9 million related to postretirement benefits. We estimate that in 2007, we will record net periodic benefit costs of $29.1 million related to our defined benefit pension plan and $26.7 million related to postretirement benefits. In determining our estimated expenses for 2007, our actuarial consultant assumed an 8.75 percent expected return on plan assets and a discount rate of 6.00 percent. A decrease in our expected return on plan assets to 8.50 percent would increase our 2007 estimated net periodic benefit costs by approximately $1.7 million for our defined benefit pension plan and would not have a significant impact on our postretirement benefit plan. A decrease in our assumed discount rate to 5.75 percent would increase our 2007 estimated net periodic benefit costs by approximately $2.2 million for our defined benefit pension plan and $0.8 million for our postretirement benefit plan. For 2007, we anticipate our total contributions to fund future benefits for our defined benefit pension plan and postretirement benefit plan to be $4.2 million and $5.5 million, respectively, and the expected benefit payments from our postretirement benefit plan are estimated to be $22.1 million. See Note I of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Contingencies - Our accounting for contingencies covers a variety of business activities, including contingencies for legal and environmental exposures. We accrue these contingencies when our assessments indicate that it is probable that a liability has been incurred or an asset will not be recovered and an amount can be reasonably estimated in accordance with Statement 5. We base our estimates on currently available facts and our estimates of the ultimate outcome or resolution. Actual results may differ from our estimates resulting in an impact, positive or negative, on earnings.

Additional information about our critical accounting estimates is included 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, 2006.

 

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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

     2007      2006     
     (Thousands of dollars)   

Operating revenues, excluding energy trading revenues

   $ 3,797,658    $ 3,840,334   

Energy trading revenues, net

     1,348      7,370   

Cost of sales and fuel

     3,234,379      3,346,419     

Net margin

     564,627      501,285   

Operating costs

     182,079      175,889   

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     56,450      56,325   

Gain on sale of assets

     2,203      1,305     

Operating income

   $ 328,301    $ 270,376   
 

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 24,055    $ 31,641   

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

   $ 45,313    $ 35,772     

Operating Results - Net margin increased for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with the same period in 2006 primarily due to:

   

the implementation of new rate schedules in Kansas and Texas in our Distribution segment,

   

increased storage and marketing margins, partially offset by decreased transportation, financial trading and retail margins in our Energy Services segment,

   

higher NGL related margins in our ONEOK Partners segment, primarily due to higher product price spreads between Mont Belvieu, Texas, and Conway, Kansas; higher isomerization price spreads; wider price spreads between ethane and propane; and increased natural gasoline sales used in the production of ethanol fuel in its natural gas liquids business, partially offset by

   

decreased operating income in our ONEOK Partners segment’s gathering and processing business, primarily due to lower realized commodity prices on its POP contracts and lower volumes processed due to the anticipated contract terminations at certain processing facilities.

Consolidated operating costs increased for the three-month period primarily due to increased employee-related costs and property taxes in our Distribution segment.

Equity earnings from investments decreased $7.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with the same period in 2006, primarily due to the decrease in ONEOK Partners’ interest in Northern Border Pipeline’s earnings from 70 percent in the first quarter of 2006 to 50 percent in the first quarter of 2007. See page 24 for discussion of ONEOK Partners’ disposition of the 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline.

Minority interest in net income of consolidated subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, reflects the remaining 54.3 percent of ONEOK Partners that we do not own. Additionally, minority interest in net income of consolidated subsidiaries for our ONEOK Partners’ segment for the three months ended March 31, 2006, included the 66-2/3 percent interest in Guardian Pipeline that ONEOK Partners did not own until April 2006.

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

ONEOK Partners

Overview - We own 45.7 percent of ONEOK Partners; the remaining interest in ONEOK Partners is reflected as minority interest 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 crude oil and natural gas wells. Most natural gas produced at the wellhead contains a mixture of NGL components such as ethane, propane, iso-butane, normal butane and natural gasoline (collectively NGL products). Natural gas processing plants remove the NGLs from the natural gas stream to realize the higher economic value of the NGLs, and to meet natural gas pipeline quality specifications.

The NGLs that are separated from the natural gas stream at the natural gas processing plants remain in a mixed form until they are fractionated. ONEOK Partners gathers, stores, fractionates and treats mixed NGLs, and stores NGL products produced from gas processing plants located in Oklahoma, Kansas and the Texas panhandle. ONEOK Partners’ fractionators, by applying heat and pressure, separate each NGL component into marketable NGL products that can then be stored or distributed to petrochemical, heating and motor gasoline manufacturers. ONEOK Partners’ NGL assets connect the NGL production basins in Oklahoma, Kansas and the Texas panhandle with the key NGL market centers in Conway, Kansas, and Mont Belvieu, Texas.

ONEOK Partners also operates intrastate and FERC-regulated interstate natural gas transmission pipelines, natural gas storage and FERC-regulated and intrastate natural gas liquids gathering and distribution pipelines and non-processable natural gas gathering facilities. ONEOK Partners also provides interstate natural gas transportation service under Section 311(a) of the Natural Gas Policy Act.

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

     2007      2006     
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Revenues

   $     1,161,472    $     1,169,830   

Cost of sales and fuel

     956,325      968,135     

Net margin

     205,147      201,695   

Operating costs

     75,461      75,356   

Depreciation and amortization

     27,513      27,470   

Gain on sale of assets

     2,203      1,305     

Operating income

   $ 104,376    $ 100,174   
 

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 24,055    $ 31,641   

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

   $ 85    $ 1,619     
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    

Operating Information

     2007      2006     

Total gas gathered (BBtu/d)

     1,168      1,145   

Total gas processed (BBtu/d)

     609      931   

Natural gas liquids gathered (MBbl/d)

     210      193   

Natural gas liquids sales (MBbl/d)

     220      208   

Natural gas liquids fractionated (MBbl/d)

     319      281   

Natural gas liquids transported (MBbl/d)

     205      193   

Natural gas transported (MMcf/d)

     2,611      2,538   

Natural gas sales (BBtu/d)

     271      311   

Capital expenditures (Thousands of dollars)

   $ 77,857    $ 17,657   

Realized composite NGL sales prices ($/gallon)

   $ 0.82    $ 0.87   

Realized condensate sales price ($/Bbl)

   $ 56.53    $ 57.67   

Realized natural gas sales price ($/MMBtu)

   $ 6.58    $ 7.99   

Realized gross processing spread ($/MMBtu)

   $ 3.59    $ 3.43     

 

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Operating results - Net margin increased by $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with the same period in the prior year, primarily due to:

   

higher NGL related margins in its natural gas liquids business, primarily due to higher product price spreads between Mont Belvieu, Texas, and Conway, Kansas; higher isomerization price spreads; wider price spreads between ethane and propane; and increased natural gasoline sales used in the production of ethanol fuel, partially offset by

   

decreased operating income in its gathering and processing business, primarily due to lower realized commodity prices on its POP contracts and lower volumes processed due to the anticipated contract terminations at certain processing facilities.

Equity earnings from investments decreased $7.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with the same period in 2006, primarily due to the decrease in ONEOK Partners’ interest in Northern Border Pipeline’s earnings from 70 percent in the first quarter of 2006 to 50 percent in the first quarter of 2007. See page 24 for discussion of ONEOK Partners’ disposition of the 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline.

Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with the same period in 2006, primarily due to Guardian Pipeline. Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2006, included the 66-2/3 percent interest in Guardian Pipeline that ONEOK Partners did not own until April 2006. ONEOK Partners owned 100 percent of Guardian Pipeline beginning in April 2006, resulting in no minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries related to Guardian Pipeline for the three months ended March 31, 2007.

The increase in capital expenditures for 2007, compared with 2006, is driven primarily by ONEOK Partners’ capital projects which are discussed beginning on page 25.

Distribution

Overview - Our Distribution segment provides natural gas distribution services to over 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

     2007      2006     
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Gas sales

   $ 843,666    $ 750,772   

Transportation revenues

     28,307      26,353   

Cost of gas

     653,794      591,802     

Margin

     218,179      185,323   

Other revenues

     9,049      10,118     

Net Margin

     227,228      195,441   

Operating costs

     95,715      90,514   

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     28,275      28,152     

Operating income

   $ 103,238    $ 76,775   
 

Operating Results - Net margin increased by $31.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with the same period in 2006, primarily due to:

   

an increase of $21.1 million resulting from the implementation of new rate schedules, which includes $18.9 million in Kansas and $2.2 million in Texas, and

   

an increase of $10.6 million from higher customer sales volumes as a result of a return to more normal weather in our entire service territory.

 

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Operating costs increased $5.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with the same period in 2006, primarily due to:

   

an increase of $4.2 million in employee-related costs, and

   

an increase of $1.7 million due to increased property taxes, partially offset by

   

a decrease of $2.2 million in bad debt expense.

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

     2007      2006     

Average number of customers

     2,072,811      2,050,494   

Customers per employee

     745      712   

Capital expenditures ( Thousands of dollars)

   $ 27,037    $ 36,675     
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    

Volumes (MMcf)

     2007      2006     

Gas sales

        

Residential

     59,657      52,423   

Commercial

     17,246      15,307   

Industrial

     532      580   

Wholesale

     310      4,940   

Public Authority

     1,029      887     

Total volumes sold

     78,774      74,137   

Transportation

     57,609      56,960     

Total volumes delivered

     136,383      131,097   
 
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    

Margin

     2007      2006     

Gas sales

     (Thousands of dollars)   

Residential

   $ 154,888    $ 128,406   

Commercial

     36,593      31,877   

Industrial

     757      858   

Wholesale

     88      870   

Public Authority

     1,182      819     

Margin on gas sales

     193,508      162,830   

Transportation

     24,671      22,493     

Margin

   $ 218,179    $ 185,323   
 

Residential and commercial volumes increased for the three-month period due to a return to more normal weather from the unseasonably warm weather in 2006.

Wholesale sales represent contracted gas volumes that exceed the needs of our residential, commercial and industrial customer base and are available for sale to other parties. Wholesale volumes decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with the same period of 2006 due to reduced volumes available for sale.

Public authority natural gas volumes reflect volumes used by state and local agencies and school districts served by Texas Gas Service.

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 periodically upgrade facilities to assure safe, reliable and efficient operations. Our capital expenditure

 

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program included $9.6 million and $13.5 million for new business development for the three months ended March 31, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The decrease in new business capital expenditures during 2007, compared with 2006, resulted from increased customer installations during 2006 in the Austin and El Paso areas of Texas and the Tulsa and Oklahoma City areas of Oklahoma. The remaining decrease in capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with 2006, was due to warmer than normal weather in the first quarter of 2006, which favorably impacted construction. We expect our 2007 capital expenditures to be consistent with our 2006 capital expenditures.

Regulatory Initiatives

Oklahoma - On January 31, 2007, Oklahoma Natural Gas filed an application at the OCC seeking recovery of costs incurred in compliance with the federal Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002. In the most recent rate filing, the parties stipulated that transmission pipeline Integrity Management Program (IMP) costs should be addressed in a subsequent proceeding, and in the order issued October 2005, the OCC authorized Oklahoma Natural Gas to defer such costs (inclusive of operations and maintenance expense, depreciation, ad valorem taxes, and a rate of return). The new application seeks recovery of $5.2 million in IMP deferrals. The hearing on the application is scheduled for August 9, 2007.

Kansas - In May 2006, Kansas Gas Service announced that it filed a request with the KCC to increase its annual revenues by $73.3 million. Since its last rate case in 2003, Kansas Gas Service had invested approximately $170 million in its natural gas distribution system to provide service for 642,000 Kansas customers. In October 2006, Kansas Gas Service reached a settlement with the KCC staff and all other involved parties to increase annual revenues by approximately $52 million. The terms of the settlement were approved by the KCC in November 2006. The rate increase is effective for services rendered on or after January 1, 2007.

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 through the next storage cycle (April 2007 through March 2008) is 96 Bcf, with maximum withdrawal capability of 2.3 Bcf/d and maximum injection capability of 1.5 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. Also, 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 regularly conducts business with ONEOK Partners, our 45.7 percent owned 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 that occur during the winter heating months. 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 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 deploy a limited amount of risk capital to generate additional returns. We manage our contracted transportation and storage capacity by utilizing derivative instruments

 

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such as over-the-counter forward, swap and option contracts and NYMEX futures and option 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. In the third quarter of 2005, we made the decision to sell our Spring Creek power plant, located in Oklahoma, and exit the power generation business. The transaction received FERC approval, and the sale was completed on October 31, 2006. This component of our business is accounted for as discontinued operations, in accordance with Statement 144. The discontinued operations are excluded from the financial and operating information below.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    

Financial Results

     2007      2006     
     (Thousands of dollars)   

Energy and power revenues

   $ 2,110,226    $ 2,307,730   

Energy trading revenues, net

     1,348      7,370   

Other revenues

     132      115   

Cost of sales and fuel

     1,980,302      2,212,061     

Net margin

     131,404      103,154   

Operating costs

     10,729      9,294   

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     538      575     

Operating income

   $ 120,137    $ 93,285   
 

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    

Operating Information

     2007      2006     

Natural gas marketed (Bcf)

     337      310   

Natural gas gross margin ($/Mcf)

   $ 0.34    $ 0.28   

Physically settled volumes (Bcf)

     639      602     

Operating Results - Net margin increased by $28.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with the same period in 2006, primarily due to:

   

a net increase of $60.6 million in storage and marketing margins primarily due to:

        o an increase of $48.1 million from improved storage margins, net of hedging activities, related to higher realized seasonal storage spreads and optimization activities,
        o an increase of $12.5 million from changes in the fair value of derivatives associated with storage and marketing activities, partially offset by
   

a decrease of $22.1 million in transportation margins, net of hedging activities, associated with changes in the fair value of derivatives, and a decrease in realized margins in the Mid-Continent region,

   

a decrease of $7.9 million in our financial trading margins, and

   

a decrease of $2.5 million in retail activities from lower physical margins due to market conditions.

Operating costs increased $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, primarily due to increased employee-related costs.

Natural gas volumes marketed increased for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with the same period in 2006, due to a 16 percent increase in heating degree days in 2007, compared with 2006, primarily occurring in January 2007, when our service territory experienced a 58 percent increase in heating degree days compared with January 2006.

 

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Our natural gas in storage at March 31, 2007, was 37.3 Bcf compared with 42.3 Bcf at March 31, 2006. At March 31, 2007 and 2006, our total natural gas storage capacity under lease was 88 Bcf and 86 Bcf, respectively.

The acquisition of natural gas storage capacity has become more competitive as a result of new entrants from the financial services sector, the increase in the spread between summer and winter natural gas prices, and natural gas price volatility. The increased demand for storage capacity has resulted in an increase in both the cost of leasing storage capacity and the required term of the lease. Longer terms for our storage capacity leases could result in significant increases in our contractual commitments.

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 is (1) “held for trading purposes,” (2) financially settled, (3) results in physical delivery or services rendered, and (4) 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.

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

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     
       2007       2006      
     (Thousands of dollars)    

Marketing and storage, gross

   $ 177,106     $ 135,068    

Less: Storage and transportation costs

     (52,713 )     (49,259 )    

Marketing and storage, net

     124,393       85,809    

Retail marketing

     2,994       5,449    

Financial trading

     4,017       11,896      

Net margin

   $ 131,404     $ 103,154    
 

Marketing and storage activities, net, primarily include 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. The combination of owning supply, controlling strategic assets and risk management services allows us to provide commodity-diverse products and services to our customers such as peaking and load-following services.

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 of capturing short-term price volatility. Energy trading revenues, net, in our Consolidated Income Statements 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.

 

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

General - Part of our strategy is to grow through acquisitions 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. We have no material guarantees of debt or other similar commitments to unaffiliated parties. During the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, our capital expenditures were financed through operating cash flows and short- and long-term debt. Total capital expenditures for the first three months of 2007 were $107.0 million, compared with $54.6 million for the same period in 2006, exclusive of acquisitions. ONEOK Partners’ capital expenditures for the first three months of 2007 were $77.9 million, compared with $17.7 million for the same period in 2006, exclusive of acquisitions. The increase in capital expenditures for 2007 compared with 2006 is driven primarily by ONEOK Partners’ capital projects, which are discussed beginning on page 25.

Financing - Financing is provided through available cash, our commercial paper program and long-term debt. We also have credit agreements, as discussed below, which are used as a back-up for the 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 by ONEOK Capital Trust I or ONEOK Capital Trust II, asset securitization and sale/leaseback of facilities. ONEOK Partners’ operations are also financed through available cash or the issuance of debt or limited partner units.

The total amount of short-term borrowings authorized by our 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, 2007, we had no commercial paper outstanding, $37.9 million in letters of credit issued and available cash and short-term investments of approximately $667.8 million. At March 31, 2007, ONEOK Partners had $10 million in letters of credit issued, no borrowings outstanding under the 2007 Partnership Credit Agreement, as described in Note H of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and available cash and short-term investments of approximately $95.7 million. As of March 31, 2007, we could have issued $2.6 billion of additional debt under the most restrictive provisions contained in our various borrowing agreements. As of March 31, 2007, ONEOK Partners could have issued, under the most restrictive provisions of its agreements, $1.7 billion of additional debt.

Our $1.2 billion five-year credit agreement, as amended and restated in 2006, and ONEOK Partner’s 2007 Partnership Credit Agreement, contain typical covenants as discussed in Note H of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and Note H of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2006. At March 31, 2007, we and ONEOK Partners were in compliance with all covenants.

Currently, we have $48.2 million available under a shelf registration statement on Form S-3, for the issuance and sale of shares of our common stock, debt securities, preferred stock, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units.

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

 

     March 31,
2007
  December 31,
2006
   

Long-term debt

   65%   65%  

Equity

 

   35%   35%    

Debt (including Notes payable)

   65%   65%  

Equity

   35%   35%    

We do not guarantee the debt of ONEOK Partners. For purposes of determining compliance with financial covenants in our five-year credit agreement, the debt of ONEOK Partners is excluded. At both March 31, 2007, and December 31, 2006, our capitalization structure, excluding the debt of ONEOK Partners, was 48 percent debt and 52 percent equity.

 

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Credit Rating - Our credit ratings as of March 31, 2007, 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

Our credit ratings may be affected by a material change in our financial ratios or a material event affecting our business. The most common criteria for assessment of our 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 ONEOK is 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 a $1.2 billion five-year credit agreement, which expires July 2011, and ONEOK Partners has access to a $750 million revolving credit agreement, which allows for an option to increase the commitments of the lenders up to an additional $250 million that expires March 2012.

ONEOK Partners’ $250 million and $225 million long-term notes payable, due 2010 and 2011, respectively, contain provisions that require ONEOK Partners to offer to repurchase the senior notes at par value if the Moody’s or S&P credit ratings fall below investment grade (Baa3 for Moody’s and BBB- for S&P) and the investment grade ratings are 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 and 2036 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 and 2036 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.

Our Energy Services segment relies upon the investment grade rating of our senior unsecured long-term debt to satisfy credit requirements with most of our counterparties. If our 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. A decline in our credit rating below investment grade may also significantly impact other business segments. At March 31, 2007, we could have been required to fund approximately $95.3 million for counterparties with which we have a Credit Support Annex according to our International Swaps and Derivatives Association Agreements.

Other than ONEOK Partners’ note repurchase obligations and the margin requirement for our Energy Services segment described above, we have determined that we do not have significant exposure to the rating triggers under our 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. Our credit agreements contain provisions that would cause the cost to borrow funds to increase if our credit rating is negatively adjusted. ONEOK Partners’ credit agreements have similar provisions. An adverse rating change is not defined as a default of our credit agreements.

Capital Projects - See the “Capital Projects” section beginning on page 25 for discussion of capital projects.

ONEOK Partners’ Class B Units - The units we received from ONEOK Partners were newly created Class B limited partner units. Distributions on the Class B limited partner units were prorated from the date of issuance. As of April 7, 2007, the Class B limited partner units are no longer subordinated to distributions on our common units and generally have the same voting rights as our common units.

At a special meeting of the holders of common units on March 29, 2007, the unitholders approved a proposal to permit the conversion of the Class B limited partner units into common units at the option of the Class B unitholder. The March 29, 2007, special meeting was adjourned to May 10, 2007, to allow unitholders additional time to vote on a proposal to approve certain amendments to the ONEOK Partners partnership agreement. The proposed amendments to the ONEOK Partners partnership agreement would grant voting rights for units held by its general partner and its affiliates, if a vote is held to

 

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remove its general partner and require fair market value compensation for the general partner interest if the general partner is removed.

If the proposed amendments to the ONEOK Partners Partnership Agreement are approved by the common unitholders at the May 10, 2007, meeting, the Class B limited partner units will automatically convert into common units on a one-for-one basis, and the Class B limited partner units will no longer be outstanding. Effective April 7, 2007, the Class B limited partner units are entitled to increased quarterly distributions and to distributions upon liquidation equal to 110 percent of the distributions paid with respect to the common units. If the common unitholders approve the amendments on May 10, 2007, these increased distribution rights will be eliminated after that date. In addition, if the common unitholders do not approve the proposed amendments, and the common unitholders vote at any time prior to the approval of the proposed amendments, to remove us or our affiliates as the general partner of ONEOK Partners, quarterly distributions payable on Class B limited partner units would increase to 123.5 percent of the distributions payable with respect to the common units, and distributions payable upon liquidation of the Class B limited partner units would increase to 125 percent of the distributions payable with respect to the common units.

Stock Repurchase Plan - On August 7, 2006, 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. Under the terms of the accelerated repurchase agreement, we repurchased 7.5 million shares immediately from UBS. UBS then borrowed 7.5 million of our shares 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 accordance with EITF Issue No. 99-7, “Accounting for an Accelerated Share Repurchase Program,” the repurchase was 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 contract as equity under EITF Issue No. 00-19, “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock.” In February 2007, the forward purchase contract settled for a cash payment of $20.1 million, which was recorded in equity. We currently have no remaining shares authorized for repurchase under our stock repurchase plan.

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.

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans - We calculate benefit obligations based upon generally accepted actuarial methodologies using the projected benefit obligation (PBO) for pension plans and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for other postretirement plans. Pension costs and other postretirement obligations as of December 31 are determined using a September 30 measurement date. The benefit obligations are the actuarial present value of all benefits attributed to employee service rendered. The PBO is measured using the pension benefit formula and assumptions as to future compensation levels. A plan’s funded status is calculated as the difference between the benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets. Our funding policy for the pension plans is to make annual contributions in accordance with regulations under the Internal Revenue Code and in accordance with generally accepted actuarial principles. Contributions to fund future benefits for our pension plan and postretirement benefit plan in 2006 were $1.8 million and $5.2 million, respectively. Additionally, we made benefit payments for our postretirement benefit plan of $23.4 million in 2006. For 2007, we anticipate our total contributions to fund future benefits for our pension plan and postretirement benefit plan to be $4.2 million and $5.5 million, respectively, and the expected benefit payments for our postretirement benefit plan are estimated to be $22.1 million. We believe we have adequate resources to fund our obligations under our plans.

 

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ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES

We are subject to multiple environmental laws and regulations affecting many aspects of 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 materials occurs from our lines or facilities, in the process of transporting natural gas or NGLs, 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.

We own or retain legal responsibility for the environmental conditions at 12 former manufactured gas sites in Kansas that we acquired in November 1997. 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. We have commenced remediation on 11 sites, with regulatory closure achieved at two of these locations. Of the remaining nine sites, we have completed or are near completion of soil remediation at six sites, have commenced soil remediation at an additional site, and we expect to commence soil remediation on the other two sites in 2007. We have begun site assessment at the remaining site where no active remediation has occurred.

To date, we have incurred remediation costs of $6.6 million and have accrued an additional $5.4 million related to the sites where we have commenced or will soon commence remediation. The $5.4 million estimate of future remediation costs for these sites is based on our environmental assessments and remediation plans approved to date by the KDHE. These estimates are recorded on an undiscounted basis. For the site that is currently in the assessment phase, we have completed some analysis, but are unable at this point to accurately estimate aggregate costs that may be required to satisfy our remedial obligations at this site. Until the site assessment is complete and the KDHE approves the remediation plan, we will not have complete information available to us to accurately estimate remediation costs.

The costs associated with these sites do not include other potential expenses that might be incurred, such as unasserted property damage claims, personal injury or natural resource claims, unbudgeted legal expenses or other costs for which we may be held liable but with respect to which we cannot reasonably estimate an amount. As of this date, we have no knowledge of any of these types of claims. The foregoing estimates do not consider potential insurance recoveries, recoveries through rates or recoveries from unaffiliated parties, to which we may be entitled. We have filed claims with our insurance carriers relating to these sites and we have recovered a portion of our costs incurred to date. We have not recorded any amounts for potential insurance recoveries or recoveries from unaffiliated parties, and we are not recovering any environmental amounts in rates. As more information related to the site investigations and remediation activities becomes available, and to the extent such amounts are expected to exceed our current estimates, additional expenses could be recorded. Such amounts could be material to our results of operations and cash flows depending on the remediation and number of years over which the remediation is required to be completed.

 

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CASH FLOW ANALYSIS

Operating Cash Flows - Operating cash flows increased by $76.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with the same period in 2006, primarily as a result of changes in components of working capital. These changes increased operating cash flows by $589.7 million, compared with an increase of $524.0 million for the same period last year, due to increases in accounts receivable, partially offset by increases in accounts payable, decreases in inventory, and decreases in energy marketing and risk management assets and liabilities.

Investing Cash Flows - Cash used in investing activities was $610.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with $79.9 million for the same period in 2006. The increased use of cash was primarily related to increased capital expenditures due to capital projects, and purchases of short-term investments during the first quarter of 2007.

Investing cash flows for 2006 also include the impact of the deconsolidation of Northern Border Pipeline and consolidation of Guardian Pipeline.

Financing Cash Flows - Cash used in financing activities was $106.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared with $746.3 million for the same period in 2006, which included the $20.1 million settlement of the forward purchase contract related to our stock repurchase in February 2007.

During the three months ended March 31, 2006, we repaid the remaining $900 million under our short-term bridge financing agreement, which was used to initially finance our acquisition of the assets from Koch. We also paid down $134.5 million in commercial paper during the first quarter of 2006. In March 2006, ONEOK Partners borrowed $33 million under its 2006 Partnership Credit Agreement to redeem all of the outstanding Viking Gas Transmission Series A, B, C and D senior notes and paid a redemption premium of $3.6 million.

On February 16, 2006, we successfully settled our 16.1 million equity units with 19.5 million shares of our common stock. With the settlement, we received $402.4 million in cash, which was used to pay down our short-term bridge financing agreement.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTORS

Some of the statements contained and incorporated in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements in certain circumstances. 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” or other similar phrases.

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:

 

   

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

   

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

   

competition from other U.S. 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;

 

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

   

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

   

the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices for natural gas, NGLs, electricity and crude oil;

   

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;

   

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;

   

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;

   

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 results of administrative proceedings and litigation, regulatory actions and receipt of expected regulatory 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 gas gathering and 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 of the outcome of pending and future litigation;

   

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

–      future demand for and prices of natural gas;

–      competitive conditions in the overall natural gas and electricity markets;

–      availability of supplies of Canadian and U.S. natural gas;

–      availability of additional storage capacity;

–      weather conditions; and

–      competitive developments by Canadian and U.S. natural gas transmission peers;

   

our ability to successfully transfer ONEOK Partners’ operations from Omaha to Tulsa;

   

performance of contractual obligations by our customers and shippers;

   

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;

   

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

   

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

   

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

   

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

   

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

   

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

   

the mechanical integrity of facilities operated;

   

demand for our services in the proximity of our facilities;

   

the impact of potential impairment charges;

   

our ability to control operating costs;

 

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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;

   

acts of nature, sabotage, terrorism or other similar acts causing damage to our facilities or our suppliers’ or shippers’ facilities; 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 under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. 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, 2006.

COMMODITY PRICE RISK

ONEOK Partners

ONEOK Partners is exposed to commodity price risk as its interstate and intrastate pipelines collect natural gas from its customers for operations or as part of its fee for services provided. When the amount of natural gas consumed in operations by these pipelines differs from the amount provided by its customers, the pipelines must buy or sell natural gas, store or use natural gas from inventory, and are exposed to commodity price risk. At March 31, 2007, there were no hedges in place with respect to natural gas price risk from ONEOK Partners’ interstate and intrastate pipeline operations.

In addition, ONEOK Partners is exposed to commodity price risk primarily as a result of NGLs in storage, spread risk associated with the relative values of the various components of the NGL stream and the relative value of NGL purchases at one location and sales at another location, known as basis risk. ONEOK Partners has not entered into any hedges with respect to its NGL marketing activities.

ONEOK Partners is also exposed to commodity price risk primarily as a result of receiving commodities in exchange for its gathering and processing services. ONEOK Partners’ primary exposure arises from the relative price differential between natural gas and NGLs with respect to its keep-whole processing contracts and the sale of natural gas, NGLs and condensate with respect to its percent of proceeds contracts. To a lesser extent, ONEOK Partners is 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 related to natural gas, NGL and condensate price fluctuations.

ONEOK Partners has reduced its gross processing spread exposure through a combination of physical and financial hedges. ONEOK Partners utilizes a portion of its POP equity natural gas as an offset, or natural hedge, to an equivalent portion of its keep-whole shrink requirements. ONEOK Partners has effectively converted its spread risk to NGL commodity price risk, and uses financial instruments to hedge the sale of NGLs. Through this approach, ONEOK Partners has reduced its gross processing spread exposure by 5,538 MMBtu/d (or 1,647 Bbl/d). The NGLs have been hedged at an average price of $0.79 per gallon in 2007. For 2008, ONEOK Partners has converted the spread risk to NGLs commodity price risk on 1,796 MMBtu/d (or 559 Bbl/d). The NGLs have been hedged at an average price of $0.82 per gallon in 2008.

 

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The following table sets forth ONEOK Partners’ hedging information for the remainder of 2007 and for the year ending December 31, 2008.

 

    

Nine Months Ending

December 31, 2007

     
Product    Volumes
Hedged
        Average Price
Per Unit
   Volumes
Hedged
 
 
   

Commodity Risk

                

Natural gas liquids (Bbl/d) (a)

   2,692       $0.85    ($/gallon)    43 %  

Spread Risk

                

Gross processing spread (MMBtu/d) (a)

   6,391       $2.98    ($/MMBtu)    28 %  

Natural gas liquids (Bbl/d) (a)

   1,647    (b)    $0.79    ($/gallon)    24 %    

(a) Hedged with fixed-priced swaps

                

(b) 5,538 MMBtu/d equivalent

                
    

Year Ending

December 31, 2008

     
Product    Volumes
Hedged
        Average Price
Per Unit
   Volumes
Hedged
 
 
   

Commodity Risk

                

Natural gas liquids (Bbl/d) (a)

   503       $    0.89    ($/gallon)    8 %  

Spread Risk

                

Natural gas liquids (Bbl/d) (a)

   559    (b)    $0.82    ($/gallon)    9 %    

(a) Hedged with fixed-price swaps

                

(b) 1,796 MMBtu/d equivalent

                

ONEOK Partners’ commodity price risk is estimated as a hypothetical change in the price of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil at March 31, 2007, excluding the effects of hedging. ONEOK Partners’ condensate sales are based on the price of crude oil. ONEOK Partners estimates that a $1.00 per barrel increase in the price of crude oil would increase annual net margin by approximately $0.5 million. ONEOK Partners estimates that a $0.01 per gallon increase in the composite price of NGLs would increase annual net margin by approximately $1.9 million. ONEOK Partners estimates that a $0.10 per MMBtu increase in the price of natural gas would increase annual net margin by approximately $0.2 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 ethane to be sold in the natural gas stream, impacting gathering and processing margins, NGL exchange margins, natural gas deliveries and NGL volumes shipped.

Energy Services

Fair Value Component of the Energy Marketing and Risk Management Assets and Liabilities - The following table sets forth the fair value component of the energy marketing and risk management assets and liabilities, excluding derivative instruments that have been declared as either fair value or cash flow hedges.

 

Fair Value Component of Energy Marketing and Risk Management Assets and Liabilities
     (Thousands of dollars)    

Net fair value of derivatives outstanding at December 31, 2006

   $ (13,133 )  

Derivatives realized or otherwise settled during the period

     12,572    

Fair value of new derivatives when entered into during the period

     10,355    

Other changes in fair value

     (5,272 )    

Net fair value of derivatives outstanding at March 31, 2007

   $ 4,522    
 

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. Fair value estimates consider the market in which the transactions are executed. The market in which exchange traded and over-the-counter transactions are executed is a factor in determining fair value. We utilize third-party references for pricing points from NYMEX and third-party over-the-counter brokers to establish the commodity pricing and volatility curves. We believe the reported transactions from these sources are the most reflective

 

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of current market prices. Fair values are subject to change based on valuation factors. The estimate of fair value includes an adjustment for the liquidation of the position in an orderly manner over a reasonable period of time under current market conditions. The fair value estimate also considers the risk of nonperformance based on credit considerations of the counterparty.

Maturity of Energy Trading Contracts - The following table provides a detail of our Energy Services segment’s maturity of derivatives based on injection and withdrawal periods from April through March. This maturity schedule is consistent with our business strategy. Derivative instruments that have been declared as either fair value or cash flow hedges are not included in the following table.

 

     Fair Value of Derivatives at March 31, 2007      
Source of Fair Value (a)     
 
 
Matures
through
March 2008
 
 
 
   
 
 
Matures
through
March 2011
    
 
 
Matures
through
March 2013
 
 
 
   
 

 
Total
Fair

Value
 
 

 
   
     (Thousands of dollars)    

Prices actively quoted (b)

   $ (7,455 )   $ 107    $ -       $ (7,348 )  

Prices provided by other external sources (c)

     57,676       9,594      (110 )     67,160    

Prices derived from quotes, other external sources and other assumptions (d)

     (62,559 )     7,296      (27 )     (55,290 )    

Total

   $ (12,338 )   $ 16,997    $ (137 )   $ 4,522    
 

(a)    Fair value is the marked-to-market component of forwards, futures, swaps, and options, net of applicable reserves. These fair values are reflected as a component of assets and liabilities from energy marketing and risk management activities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(b)    Values are derived from energy market price quotes from national commodity trading exchanges that primarily trade futures and option commodity contracts.

(c)    Values are obtained through energy commodity brokers or electronic trading platforms, whose primary service is to match willing buyers and sellers of energy commodities. Energy price information by location is readily available because of the large energy broker network.

(d)    Values derived in this category utilize market price information from the other two categories, as well as other assumptions for liquidity and credit.

 

For further discussion of trading activities and assumptions used in our trading activities, see “Accounting Treatment” in 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 $7.9 million and $19.0 million at March 31, 2007, and 2006, 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      2007      2006
     (Millions of dollars)

Average

   $     13.1    $     32.0

High

   $ 23.0    $ 65.0

Low

   $ 5.5    $ 17.3

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. The decrease in VAR for 2007, compared with 2006, was due to lower average commodity prices and decreased price volatility in 2007.

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.

 

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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, 2007, the interest rate on 82.9 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, while the interest rate on 92.6 percent of ONEOK Partners’ long-term debt was fixed after considering the impact of interest rate swaps.

At March 31, 2007, a 100 basis point move in the annual interest rate on our variable-rate long-term debt would change our annual interest expense by $4.9 million before taxes. This 100 basis point change assumes a parallel shift in the 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 - 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, 2007, for all 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 2007

   $ 5.0    $ 2.7    $ 7.7

2008

     6.6      3.7      10.3

2009

     5.5      3.7      9.2

2010

     5.4      3.7      9.1

2011

     2.5      0.9      3.4

Thereafter

     12.8      -        12.8

Currently, the interest rate on $490 million of fixed-rate debt is swapped to floating using interest rate swaps. The floating-rate is based on both the three- and six-month LIBOR, depending upon the swap. Based on the actual performance through March 31, 2007, the weighted average interest rate increased from 6.64 percent to 6.79 percent. At March 31, 2007, we recorded a net liability of $11.9 million to recognize the interest rate swaps at fair value. Long-term debt was decreased by $11.9 million to recognize the change in the fair value of the related hedged liability.

Total savings from the interest rate swaps and amortization of terminated swaps was $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. The swaps are expected to net the following savings for the remainder of the year:

 

   

interest expense savings of $7.7 million related to the amortization of the swap value at termination, and

   

approximately $0.5 million in interest expense from the existing $490 million of swapped debt, based on LIBOR rates at March 31, 2007.

Total net swap savings for 2007 are expected to be $9.1 million, compared with $7.6 million for 2006.

CURRENCY RATE RISK

As a result of our Energy Services segment’s operations in Canada, we are subject to currency exposure 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, 2007, our exposure to risk from currency translation was not material, and there were no material currency translation gains or losses recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2007 or 2006.

 

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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, 2007, 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 not made any 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, 2007, 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

Additional 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, 2006.

Richard Manson v. Northern Plains Natural Gas Company, LLC, et. al. , Civil Action No. 1973-N, in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County . All payments under the settlement reached in this matter have been made by ONEOK Partners and its insurer. This case has been formally concluded.

Gas Index Pricing Litigation Cases: In Samuel P. Leggett, et al. v. Duke Energy Corporation, et al. (filed in the Chancery Court for the Twenty-Fifth Judicial District at Somerville, Tennessee, in January 2005), the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal with the Tennessee Court of Appeals on April 4, 2007, appealing the motion to dismiss granted by the trial court.

In addition, a new class action energy trading case was filed against us, ONEOK Energy Marketing and Trading Company, L.P. (renamed ONEOK Energy Services Company, L.P.), and Kansas Gas Marketing Company as defendants as well as 19 other defendants: Heartland Regional Medical Center, et al. v. ONEOK, Inc., et al (filed in the Circuit Court of Buchanan County, Missouri, in March 2007). The action is alleged to be brought pursuant to the Missouri Antitrust Law on behalf of all persons and entities in the State of Missouri who made direct purchases of natural gas during the period from January 1, 2000, through October 31, 2002. The petition alleges that the defendants falsely reported natural gas prices and engaged in a conspiracy to manipulate the energy trading market in violation of the Missouri Antitrust Law. The plaintiffs seek treble damages. Similar to the other energy trading cases in which we are involved as reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, we plan to analyze all of these claims and vigorously defend against them.

 

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, 2006, 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 Information, which is 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, 2007

   197    (1 )   $                 42.66    -      -  

February 1-28, 2007

   90    (1 )   $ 42.85    -      -  

March 1-31, 2007

   18    (1 )   $ 42.19    -      -  
                   

Total

   305      $ 42.68    -      -  
                   

 

(1) Represents shares repurchased directly from employees, pursuant to our Employee Stock Award Program.

EMPLOYEE STOCK AWARD PROGRAM

Under our Employee Stock Award Program, we issued, for no consideration, to all eligible employees (all full-time employees and employees on short-term disability) one share of our common stock when the per-share closing price of our common stock on the NYSE was for the first time at or above $26 per share, and we have issued and will continue to issue, for no consideration, one additional share of our common stock to all eligible employees when the closing price on the NYSE is for the first time at or above each one dollar increment above $26 per share. The total number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under this program is 200,000.

Through March 31, 2007, a total of 95,182 shares had been issued to employees under this program. The following table sets forth information on the number of shares issued during the three months ended March 31, 2007.

 

Date

   Closing Price
(at or above)
   Shares
Issued

March 15, 2007

   $45.00    4,528

March 21, 2007

   $46.00    4,534

Total

      9,062
 

On April 25, 2007, our common stock closed above $47.00 per share, which resulted in 4,379 shares being issued to eligible employees. On April 27, 2007, our common stock closed above $48.00 per share, which resulted in 4,378 shares being issued to eligible employees.

The issuance of shares under this program has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (1933 Act) in reliance upon SEC releases, including Release No. 6188, dated February 1, 1980, stating that there is no sale of the shares in the 1933 Act sense to employees under this type of program.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

Not Applicable.

 

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Table of Contents
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   Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated March 30, 2007, among ONEOK Partners, L.P., as Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto, SunTrust Bank, as Administrative Agent, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Syndication Agent, and BMO Capital Markets, Barclays Bank PLC, and Citibank, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents.
    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)).

 

48


Table of Contents

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, 2007

    By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Dinan

 
     

Curtis L. Dinan

Senior Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

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Exhibit 10.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of March 30, 2007

among

ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P.,

as Borrower

THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

SUNTRUST BANK,

as Administrative Agent

and

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Syndication Agent

and

BMO CAPITAL MARKETS,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

and

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Co-Documentation Agents

 


SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY

(a division of SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc.)

and

WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC,

as Co-Lead Arrangers and Book Managers


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

               Page
ARTICLE I.    DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION    1
.    Section 1.1    Definitions    1
   Section 1.2.    Classifications of Loans and Borrowings    26
   Section 1.3.    Accounting Terms and Determination    26
   Section 1.4.    Terms Generally    26
ARTICLE II.    AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS    27
   Section 2.1.    General Description of Facilities    27
   Section 2.2.    Revolving Loans    27
   Section 2.3.    Procedure for Revolving Borrowings    27
   Section 2.4.    Swingline Commitment    28
   Section 2.5.    Funding of Borrowings    29
   Section 2.6.    Interest Elections    30
   Section 2.7.    Optional Reduction and Termination of Commitments    31
   Section 2.8.    Repayment of Loans    32
   Section 2.9.    Evidence of Indebtedness    32
   Section 2.10.    Prepayments    32
   Section 2.11.    Interest on Loans    33
   Section 2.12.    Fees    34
   Section 2.13.    Computation of Interest and Fees    35
   Section 2.14.    Inability to Determine Interest Rates    35
   Section 2.15.    Illegality    36
   Section 2.16.    Increased Costs    36
   Section 2.17.    Funding Indemnity    37
   Section 2.18.    Taxes    38
   Section 2.19.    Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs    39
   Section 2.20.    Letters of Credit    41
   Section 2.21.    Increase of Commitments; Additional Lenders    45
   Section 2.22.    Mitigation of Obligations    46
ARTICLE III.    CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT    49
   Section 3.1.    Conditions To Effectiveness    49
   Section 3.2.    Each Credit Event    51
   Section 3.3.    Delivery of Documents    51
ARTICLE IV.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    51
   Section 4.1.    Existence; Power    51
   Section 4.2.    Organizational Power; Authorization    52
   Section 4.3.    Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts    52
   Section 4.4.    Financial Statements    52
   Section 4.5.    Litigation and Environmental Matters    52
   Section 4.6.    Compliance with Laws and Agreements    53

 

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   Section 4.7.    Investment Company Act, Etc.    53
   Section 4.8.    Taxes    53
   Section 4.9.    Margin Regulations    53
   Section 4.10.    ERISA    53
   Section 4.11.    Ownership of Property    54
   Section 4.12.    Disclosure    54
   Section 4.13.    Labor Relations    54
   Section 4.14.    Subsidiaries    55
   Section 4.15.    Insolvency    55
   Section 4.16.    OFAC    55
   Section 4.17.    Patriot Act    55
ARTICLE V.    AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS    55
   Section 5.1.    Financial Statements and Other Information    55
   Section 5.2.    Notices of Material Events    57
   Section 5.3.    Existence; Conduct of Business    58
   Section 5.4.    Compliance with Laws, Etc.    58
   Section 5.5.    Payment of Obligations    58
   Section 5.6.    Books and Records    58
   Section 5.7.    Visitation, Inspection, Etc.    58
   Section 5.8.    Maintenance of Properties; Insurance    59
   Section 5.9.    Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit    59
   Section 5.10.    Pari Passu Status    59
   Section 5.11.    Maintenance of Tax Status    59
ARTICLE VI.    FINANCIAL COVENANTS    59
   Section 6.1.    Leverage Ratio    59
ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS    60
   Section 7.1.    Indebtedness; Preferred Interests.    60
   Section 7.2.    Negative Pledge    61
   Section 7.3.    Fundamental Changes    61
   Section 7.4.    Investments, Loans, Etc.    62
   Section 7.5.    Restricted Payments    63
   Section 7.7.    Transactions with Affiliates    64
   Section 7.8.    Restrictive Agreements    64
   Section 7.9.    Government Regulations    64
   Section 7.10.    Hedging Transactions    64
   Section 7.11.    Accounting Changes    64
   Section 7.12.    Restrictions on Agreements Governing Indebtedness    64
   Section 7.13.    Certain Amendments to Cash Distribution Policies and Partnership Agreements    65
ARTICLE VIII.    EVENTS OF DEFAULT    65
   Section 8.1.    Events of Default    65

 

- ii -


ARTICLE IX.    THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT    68
   Section 9.1.    Appointment of Administrative Agent    68
   Section 9.2.    Nature of Duties of Administrative Agent    68
   Section 9.3.    Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent    69
   Section 9.4.    Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent    69
   Section 9.5.    Reliance by Administrative Agent    70
   Section 9.6.    The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity    70
   Section 9.7.    Successor Administrative Agent    70
   Section 9.8.    Authorization to Execute other Loan Documents    71
   Section 9.9.    Syndication Agent and Co-Documentation Agents    71
ARTICLE X.    MISCELLANEOUS    71
   Section 10.1.    Notices    71
   Section 10.2.    Waiver; Amendments    73
   Section 10.3.    Expenses; Indemnification    74
   Section 10.4.    Successors and Assigns    76
   Section 10.5.    Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process    79
   Section 10.6.    Waiver of Jury Trial    80
   Section 10.7.    Right of Setoff    80
   Section 10.8.    Counterparts; Integration    81
   Section 10.9.    Survival    81
   Section 10.10.    Severability    81
   Section 10.11.    Confidentiality    82
   Section 10.12.    Interest Rate Limitation    82
   Section 10.13.    Waiver of Effect of Seal    82
   Section 10.14.    Patriot Act    82
   Section 10.15.    No General Partner Liability    83
   Section 10.16.    Amendment and Restatement    83

 

- iii -


SCHEDULES

 

Schedule I        Applicable Margin and Applicable Percentage
Schedule II        Commitment Amounts
Schedule 4.5(b)        Environmental Matters
Schedule 4.14        Subsidiaries
Schedule 7.2        Existing Liens
Schedule 7.4        Existing Investments
Schedule 7.7        Transactions with Affiliates
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A        Form of Revolving Credit Note
Exhibit B        Form of Swingline Note
Exhibit C        Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit D        Form of Intermediate Partnership Guaranty Agreement
Exhibit 2.3        Form of Notice of Revolving Borrowing
Exhibit 2.4        Form of Notice of Swingline Borrowing
Exhibit 2.6        Form of Notice of Continuation/Conversion
Exhibit 3.1(b)(v)        Form of Secretary’s Certificate
Exhibit 3.1(b)(viii)        Form of Officer’s Certificate
Exhibit 5.1(c)        Form of Compliance Certificate

 

- iv -


AMENDED AND RESTATED

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of March 30, 2007, by and among ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership formerly known as Northern Border Partners, L.P. (the “Borrower”), the several banks and other financial institutions and lenders from time to time party hereto (the “Lenders”), SUNTRUST BANK, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”), as issuing bank (the “Issuing Bank”) and as swingline lender (the “Swingline Lender”), WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as syndication agent (the “Syndication Agent”) and BMO CAPITAL MARKETS, BARCLAYS BANK PLC, and CITIBANK, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents.

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS , the Borrower, certain of the Lenders, certain other banks and financial institutions, and the Administrative Agent are parties to an Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of March 30, 2006, as amended by a First Amendment to Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of December 13, 2006 (as so amended, the “Existing Credit Agreement”);

WHEREAS , the Borrower has requested that the Existing Credit Agreement be amended in the manner set forth herein;

WHEREAS , the Lenders have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in order to effect such amendments to the Existing Credit Agreement, all subject to the terms, conditions, and requirements of this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Borrower, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender agree that the Existing Credit Agreement is amended and restated as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.1. Definitions . In addition to the other terms defined herein, the following terms used herein shall have the meanings herein specified (to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

Acquisition ” shall have the meaning given to such term in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA herein.

“Additional Lender ” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.21 .


Adjusted Consolidated EBITDA ” shall mean, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for such period plus (b) any Material Project EBITDA Adjustments for such period.

Adjusted LIBO Rate ” shall mean, with respect to each Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing, the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) LIBOR for such Interest Period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1.00 minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

Administrative Agent ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph hereof.

Administrative Questionnaire ” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, an administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Administrative Agent and submitted to the Administrative Agent duly completed by such Lender.

Affiliate ” shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person. For the purposes of this definition, “Control” shall mean the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by control or otherwise. The terms “Controlling”, “Controlled by”, and “under common Control with” have the meanings correlative thereto.

Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount ” shall mean the aggregate principal amount of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments from time to time. On the Restatement Date, the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount equals $750,000,000.

Aggregate Revolving Commitments ” shall mean, collectively, all Revolving Commitments of all Lenders at any time outstanding.

Applicable Lending Office ” shall mean, for each Lender and for each Type of Loan, the “Lending Office” of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) designated for such Type of Loan in the Administrative Questionnaire submitted by such Lender or such other office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.

Applicable Margin ” shall mean, as of any date, with respect to all Revolving Loans outstanding on any date or the letter of credit fee, the percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Debt Rating Category from time to time in effect as set forth on Schedule I ; provided, that a change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Debt Rating Category shall be effective on the day on which either rating agency changes its rating and shall continue until the day prior to the day that a further change becomes effective. The Applicable Margin as of the Restatement Date shall be at Level III as set forth on Schedule I .

Applicable Percentage ” shall mean, as of any date, with respect to the facility fee and utilization fee as of any date, the percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Debt Rating Category as set forth on Schedule I ; provided , that a change in the

 

2


Applicable Percentage resulting from a change in the Debt Rating Category shall be effective on the day on which either rating agency changes its rating and shall continue until the day prior to the day that a further change becomes effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Percentage for the facility fee and utilization fee as of the Restatement Date shall be at Level III as set forth on Schedule I .

Approved Fund ” shall mean any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender or (iii) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Assignment and Acceptance ” shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.4(b)) and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Availability Period ” shall mean the period from the Restatement Date to the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.

Base Rate ” shall mean the higher of (i) the per annum rate which the Administrative Agent publicly announces from time to time to be its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time, and (ii) the Federal Funds Rate, as in effect from time to time, plus one-half of one percent (0.50%). The Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate charged to customers. The Administrative Agent may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above or below the Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate. Each change in the Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

Borrower ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph hereof.

Borrower Partnership Agreement ” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of ONEOK Partners, L.P., dated as of September 15, 2006 as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Borrowing ” shall mean a borrowing consisting of (i) Loans of the same Class and Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, or (ii) a Swingline Loan.

Business Day ” shall mean (i) any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Atlanta, Georgia and New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close and (ii) if such day relates to a Borrowing of, a payment or prepayment of principal or interest on, a conversion of or into, or an Interest Period for, a Eurodollar Loan or a notice with respect to any of the foregoing, any day on which dealings in Dollars are carried on in the London interbank market.

 

3


Capital Lease Obligations ” of any Person shall mean all obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) of real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Stock ” shall mean any non-redeemable capital stock (or in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, the partners’ or members’ equivalent equity interest) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (to the extent issued to a Person other than the Borrower), whether common or preferred.

Change of Control ” means an event or series of events by which:

(a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of OKE or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) after the Restatement Date becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire (such right, an “option right”), whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of 25% or more of the equity securities of OKE entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such Person on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);

(b) during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of OKE cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on behalf of the board of directors); or

(c) OKE shall fail to have the power to control, directly or indirectly, the management and policies of each of the Borrower and the Intermediate Partnership; provided that , in the event of any Disposition of general partner interests in either of the Borrower or the Intermediate Partnership by OKE, with respect to the Borrower, or by

 

4


the Borrower, with respect to the Intermediate Partnership, at a time when the aggregate general partner interests in the Borrower or the Intermediate Partnership owned by OKE or the Borrower, respectively, directly or indirectly through any of their wholly owned Subsidiaries, together with the aggregate voting rights of OKE or the Borrower, respectively, with respect thereto, is less than (or which Disposition would result in such ownership being less than) fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate outstanding general partner interests and voting rights of all general partners of either of the Borrower or the Intermediate Partnership (each a “ GP Disposition ”), such GP Disposition shall not be deemed to be a Change of Control so long as the Borrower provides prior written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, together with such other information as may be reasonably necessary to demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Required Lenders that OKE will retain control of each of the Borrower and the Intermediate Partnership after giving effect to such GP Disposition, unless the GP Disposition is objected to in writing by the Required Lenders, or by the Administrative Agent acting at the direction of the Required Lenders, within 15 days of receipt of such notice.

Change in Law ” shall mean (i) the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation after the Original Closing Date, (ii) any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or application thereof, by any Governmental Authority after the Original Closing Date, or (iii) compliance by any Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or the Issuing Bank (or for purposes of Section 2.16(b) , by such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s parent corporation, if applicable) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the Original Closing Date.

Class ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans and when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment or a Swingline Commitment.

Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.

Commitment ” shall mean a Revolving Commitment or a Swingline Commitment or any combination thereof (as the context shall permit or require).

Common Unit ” means units representing limited partnership interests in the Borrower offered for sale to the public.

Compliance Certificate ” shall mean a certificate from the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the treasurer of the Borrower in the form of, and containing the certifications set forth in, the certificate attached hereto as Exhibit 5.1(c) .

Consolidated EBITDA ” shall mean, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (ii) to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, (A) Consolidated

 

5


Interest Expense, (B) income tax expense determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (C) depreciation and amortization determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, and (D) all other non-cash charges, determined in each case on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for such period. For purposes of Section 6.1, if the Borrower or any Subsidiary has acquired another Person as a Subsidiary (including through the purchase or other acquisition of additional ownership interests in such Person resulting in such Person becoming a Subsidiary), or all or substantially all of the assets of another Person or a division, line of business, or other business unit of another Person (in any such case, an “ Acquisition ”), or has Disposed of a Subsidiary (including through the sale or other disposition of ownership interests in a Subsidiary resulting in its ceasing to be a Subsidiary) or all or substantially all of the assets of a Subsidiary or a division, line of business, or other business unit or, in the case of the NBPC Sale, the sale of the partnership interests of Pipeline to TCPILP, in any case as permitted by this Agreement, during the relevant period for determining the Leverage Ratio, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated in such ratios after giving pro forma effect thereto (such pro forma basis to have been reasonably diligenced by the Borrower), as if such Acquisition or Disposition (and in each case any related incurrence, assumption or repayment of Indebtedness) had occurred on the first day of the relevant period for determining Consolidated EBITDA.

Consolidated Interest Expense ” shall mean, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, the sum of (i) total interest expense, including without limitation, the interest component of any payments in respect of Capital Lease Obligations capitalized or expensed during such period (whether or not actually paid during such period) plus (ii) the net amount payable (or minus the net amount receivable) under any Hedging Transaction (relating to interest rates only) during such period (whether or not actually paid or received during such period).

Consolidated Net Income ” shall mean, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded therefrom (a) the income or loss of any Person accrued prior to the date it became a Subsidiary of the Borrower, or is merged or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or such Person’s assets were acquired by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) any equity interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the earnings of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower), but including dividends and similar distributions actually received by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from any such Person, (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of the organizational documents or Contractual Obligations of, or Requirements of Law applicable to, such Subsidiary, (d) any extraordinary gains or losses, and (e) any gains attributable to write-ups of assets.

Consolidated Total Capitalization ” shall mean, without duplication, the sum of (a) all of the shareholders’ equity or net worth of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as determined in accordance with GAAP plus (b) Consolidated Total Debt.

 

6


Consolidated Total Debt ” shall mean, as of any date, all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries measured on a consolidated basis as of such date, but excluding Indebtedness of the type described in subsection (xi) of the definition thereto.

Contractual Obligation ” of any Person shall mean any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or undertaking under which such Person is obligated or by which it or any of the property in which it has an interest is bound.

Debt Rating ” shall mean the credit rating assigned by S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be, to the senior, unsecured long-term debt securities of the Borrower without third-party credit enhancement, whether or not any such debt securities are actually outstanding; any rating assigned to any other debt security of the Borrower shall be disregarded. The Debt Rating in effect on any date is that in effect at the close of business on such date.

Default ” shall mean any condition or event that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

Default Interes t” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.11(c) .

Dispose ” or “ Disposition ” shall mean the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

Dollar(s) ” and the sign “$” shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.

Eligible Assignee ” shall mean (i) a Lender; (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender; (iii) an Approved Fund; and (iv) any other Person (other than a natural Person) approved by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, and unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If the consent of the Borrower to an assignment or to an Eligible Assignee is required hereunder (including a consent to an assignment which does not meet the minimum assignment thresholds specified in paragraph (b) of Section 10.4 ), the Borrower shall be deemed to have given its consent five Business Days after the date notice thereof has actually been delivered by the assigning Lender (through the Administrative Agent) to the Borrower, unless such consent is expressly refused by the Borrower prior to such fifth Business Day.

Environmental Laws ” shall mean all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

Environmental Liability ” shall mean any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental investigation and remediation, costs

 

7


of administrative oversight, fines, natural resource damages, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (i) any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, (ii) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (iii) any actual or alleged exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (iv) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (v) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

ERISA ” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

ERISA Affiliate ” shall mean each “person” (as defined in Section 3(a) of ERISA) (whether or not incorporated) which is, or has been within the past five years, a member of any Loan Party’s controlled group (within the meaning of PBGC regulation §4001.2).

ERISA Event ” shall mean (i) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (ii) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (iii) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (iv) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (v) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator appointed by the PBGC of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (vi) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (vii) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

Eurodollar ” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

Eurodollar Reserve Percentage ” shall mean the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental, special or other marginal reserves) expressed as a decimal (rounded upwards to the next 1/100th of 1%) in effect on any day to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate pursuant to regulations issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “eurocurrency liabilities” under Regulation D). Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D. The Eurodollar Reserve

 

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Percentage shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

Event of Default ” shall have the meaning provided in Article VIII .

Excluded Taxes ” shall mean with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which any Lender is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any withholding tax that (i) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, (ii) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at any time that such Foreign Lender designates a new lending office, other than taxes that have accrued prior to the designation of such lending office that are otherwise not Excluded Taxes, and (iii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.18(e) .

Existing Credit Agreement ” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals.

Existing Lenders ” shall mean the lenders party to the Existing Credit Agreement as of the date hereof.

Federal Funds Rate ” shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with member banks of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the next succeeding Business Day or if such rate is not so published for any Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1% of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent.

Fee Letter ” shall mean that certain fee letter, dated as of March 19, 2007, executed by SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. and SunTrust Bank, and that certain fee letter dated as of March 19, 2007, executed by Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and Wachovia Bank, National Association, in each case as accepted by the Borrower.

Fiscal Quarter ” shall mean any fiscal quarter of the Borrower. “Fiscal Year” shall mean any fiscal year of the Borrower.

Foreign Lender ” shall mean any Lender that is not a United States person under Section 7701(a)(3) of the Code.

Foreign Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than one of the fifty states of the United States or the District of Columbia.

 

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Fort Union, L.L.C. ” means Fort Union Gas Gathering, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company.

Fort Union Project Finance Documents ” means the Construction and Term Credit Agreement dated as of April 16, 1999 among Fort Union, L.L.C., as Borrower, Fleet National Bank, as administrative agent and the other lenders and agents parties thereto, and the other agreements executed as security therefor or pursuant thereto, as the same may from time to time be amended, together with all loan, finance, security and related documents and agreements executed and delivered in connection with the financing of the planned expansion of the Ft. Union, L.L.C. pipeline scheduled to be completed in 2007.

GAAP ” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to the terms of Section 1.3 .

Governmental Authority ” shall mean the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

Guarantee ” of or by any Person (the “ guarantor ”) shall mean any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly and including any obligation, direct or indirect, of the guarantor (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (iv) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued in support of such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposits in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which Guarantee is made or, if not so stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Guarantor ” shall mean the Intermediate Partnership.

Guaranty Agreement ” shall mean the Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement, dated as of the date hereof and substantially in the form of Exhibit D , made by the Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders.

Hazardous Materials ” shall mean all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or

 

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any fraction or by-product thereof, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Hedging Obligations ” of any Person shall mean any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired under (i) any and all Hedging Transactions, (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Hedging Transactions and (iii) any and all renewals, extensions and modifications of any Hedging Transactions and any and all substitutions for any Hedging Transactions.

Hedging Transaction ” of any Person shall mean any transaction (including an agreement with respect thereto) now existing or hereafter entered into by such Person that is a rate swap, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collateral transaction, forward transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether linked to one or more interest rates, foreign currencies, commodity prices, equity prices or other financial measures.

Hybrid Securities ” means any trust preferred securities, or deferrable interest subordinated debt with a maturity of at least 20 years, which provides for the optional or mandatory deferral of interest or distributions, issued by the Borrower, or any business trusts, limited liability companies, limited partnerships or similar entities (i) substantially all of the common equity, general partner or similar interests of which are owned (either directly or indirectly through one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries) at all times by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) that have been formed for the purpose of issuing such trust preferred securities or deferrable interest subordinated debt and (iii) substantially all the assets of which consist of (A) subordinated debt of the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower and (B) payments made from time to time on the subordinated debt.

Hydrocarbon Interests ” means all rights, titles, interests and estates now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in any and all oil, gas and other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon properties and interests, including without limitation, mineral fee or lease interests, production sharing agreements, concession agreements, license agreements, service agreements, risk service agreements or similar Hydrocarbon interests granted by an appropriate Governmental Authority, farmout, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests, oil payments, production payment interests and similar interests in Hydrocarbons, including any reserved or residual interests of whatever nature.

Hydrocarbons ” means oil, gas, casing head gas, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons, all products refined, separated, settled and dehydrated therefrom, including, without limitation, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, refined lubricating oils, diesel fuel, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, helium, sulfur and all other minerals.

Indebtedness ” of any Person shall mean, without duplication (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds,

 

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debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business on terms customary in the trade), (iv) all obligations of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement(s) relating to property acquired by such Person, (v) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (vi) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of letters of credit, acceptances or similar extensions of credit, (vii) all Guarantees of such Person of the type of Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (vi) above, (viii) all Indebtedness of a third party secured by any Lien granted by such Person on property owned by such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person, (ix) [reserved], (x) Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities and (xi) all Hedging Obligations. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent that the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall not include indebtedness (which is not assumed or guaranteed by Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower) arising under the Fort Union Project Finance Documents which is secured by Liens on the limited liability company interests of Crestone Powder River, L.L.C. in Fort Union, L.L.C., nor indebtedness (which is not assumed or guaranteed by Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower) which is secured by Liens on the limited liability company interests of Crestone Wind River, L.L.C. in Lost Creek, L.L.C.

Indemnified Taxes ” shall mean Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Information Memorandum ” shall mean the Confidential Executive Summary dated March 2007 relating to the Borrower and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Interest Period ” shall mean with respect to (i) any Swingline Borrowing, such period as the Swingline Lender and the Borrower shall mutually agree and (ii) any Eurodollar Borrowing, a period of one, two, three or six months; provided, that:

(i) the initial Interest Period for such Borrowing shall commence on the date of such Borrowing (including the date of any conversion from a Borrowing of another Type), and each Interest Period occurring thereafter in respect of such Borrowing shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;

(ii) if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period would end on the next preceding Business Day;

(iii) any Interest Period which begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such calendar month; and

(iv) no Interest Period may extend beyond the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.

 

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Intermediate Partnership ” shall mean ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership.

Intermediate Partnership Agreement ” shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Intermediate Partnership dated as of October 1, 1993, as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Issuing Bank ” shall mean SunTrust Bank or any other Lender, each in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.20 .

LC Commitment ” shall mean that portion of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount that may be used by the Borrower for the issuance of Letters of Credit in an aggregate face amount not to exceed $100,000,000.

LC Disbursement ” shall mean a payment made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

LC Documents ” shall mean the Letters of Credit and all applications, agreements and instruments relating to the Letters of Credit.

LC Exposure ” shall mean, at any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender shall be its Pro Rata Share of the total LC Exposure at such time.

Lenders ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph of this Agreement and shall include, where appropriate, the Swingline Lender and each Additional Lender that joins this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.21

Letter of Credit ” shall mean any stand-by letter of credit issued pursuant to Section 2.20 by the Issuing Bank for the account of the Borrower pursuant to the LC Commitment.

Leverage Ratio ” shall mean, as of any date, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date (excluding any amount of Hybrid Securities not to exceed a total of 15% of Consolidated Total Capitalization) to (ii) Adjusted Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date.

LIBOR ” shall mean, for any applicable Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rate per annum for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to such Interest Period appearing on the display designated as Page 3750 on the Dow Jones Markets Service (or such other page on that service or such other service designated by the British Bankers’ Association for the display of such Association’s Interest Settlement Rates for Dollar deposits) as of 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on the day that is two Business Days prior to the first day of the Interest Period or if such Page 3750 is unavailable for any reason at such time, the rate which appears on the Reuters Screen ISDA Page as of such date and such time; provided , that if the Administrative Agent determines that the relevant foregoing sources are unavailable for the relevant Interest Period, LIBOR shall mean the

 

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rate of interest determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) of the rates per annum at which deposits in Dollars are offered to the Administrative Agent two (2) Business Days preceding the first day of such Interest Period by leading banks in the London interbank market as of 10:00 a.m. (New York time) for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period, for the number of days comprised therein and in an amount comparable to the amount of the Eurodollar Loan of the Administrative Agent.

Lien ” shall mean (i) any mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt, pledge, security interest, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, claim, easement or encumbrance, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, or (ii) any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

Limited Partnership Units ” means Common Units and any other units representing a limited partner’s interest in the Borrower.

Loan Documents ” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes (if any), the LC Documents, the Guaranty Agreement, all Notices of Borrowing, all Notices of Conversion/Continuation, all Compliance Certificates and any and all other instruments, agreements, documents and writings executed in connection with any of the foregoing.

Loan Parties ” shall mean the Borrower and the Guarantor.

Loans ” shall mean all Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans in the aggregate or any of them, as the context shall require.

Lost Creek L.L.C. ” means Lost Creek Gathering Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company.

Lost Creek Project Finance Documents ” means the Construction and Term Credit Agreement dated as of September 24, 1999 among Lost Creek, L.L.C. as Borrower, Barclays Bank PLC, as administrative agent and the other lenders party thereto and the other agreements executed as security therefor or pursuant thereto, as the same may from time to time be amended.

Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided however, (i) a downgrade by S&P and/or Moody’s of Borrower’s Debt Rating shall not, in and of itself, be deemed to be a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) the fact that the Borrower is unable to borrow in the commercial paper market shall not, in and of itself, be deemed to be a Material Adverse Effect; but for purposes of clarity in interpreting the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), it is agreed that the event(s), change(s), circumstance(s) or condition(s) that causes such downgrade (or an announcement of a potential downgrade or a review for possible ratings change) of the Debt Rating or that causes such inability of the Borrower to borrow in the commercial paper market, and the effect or change caused by such downgrade (or an announcement of a potential downgrade or a review for possible ratings change) of the Debt

 

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Rating or by such inability to borrow, will be considered in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of any Loan Document to which it is a party.

Material Indebtedness ” shall mean Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit) and Hedging Obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, individually or in an aggregate principal amount, exceeding $100,000,000. For purposes of determining the amount of attributed Indebtedness from Hedging Obligations, the “principal amount” of any Hedging Obligations at any time shall be the Net Mark-to-Market Exposure of such Hedging Obligations.

Material Project ” shall mean each new pipeline, storage facility, processing plant or other capital expansion project wholly owned by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, the construction of which commenced after March 30, 2006 and which has a budgeted capital cost exceeding $25,000,000.

Material Project EBITDA Adjustments ” shall mean, with respect to each Material Project, (A) prior to completion of the Material Project, a percentage (based on the then-current completion percentage of the Material Project) of an amount to be approved by the Administrative Agent as the projected Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such Material Project (such amount to be determined based on contracts relating to such Material Project, the creditworthiness of the other parties to such contracts and projected revenues from such contracts, capital costs and expenses, scheduled completion, and other factors deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent) which may, at the Borrower’s option, be added to actual Consolidated EBITDA for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter in which construction of such Material Project commences and for each fiscal quarter thereafter until completion of the Material Project (net of any actual Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such Material Project following its completion), provided that if construction of the Material Project is not completed by the scheduled completion date, then the foregoing amount shall be reduced by the following percentage amounts depending on the period of delay for completion (based on the period of actual delay or then-estimated delay, whichever is longer): (i) longer than 90 days, but not more than 180 days, 25%, (ii) longer than 180 days but not more than 270 days, 50%, and (iii) longer than 270 days, 100%; and (B) beginning with the first full fiscal quarter following completion of the Material Project and for the two immediately succeeding fiscal quarters, an amount to be approved by the Administrative Agent as the projected Consolidated EBITDA attributable to the Material Project (determined in the same manner set forth in clause (A) above) for the balance of the four full fiscal quarter period following completion shall be added to the actual Consolidated EBITDA attributable to the Material Project for such fiscal quarter or quarters, for determining Consolidated EBITDA for the fiscal quarter then ending and the immediately preceding three fiscal quarters. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no such additions shall be allowed with respect to any Material Project unless not later than 45 days prior to commencement of construction thereof, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent written pro forma projections of Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such Material Project and such other information and documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and

 

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(ii) the aggregate amount of all Material Project EBITDA Adjustments during any period shall be limited to 20% of the total actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period (which total actual Consolidated EBITDA shall be determined without including any Material Project EBITDA Adjustments or any adjustments in respect of any Acquisitions or Dispositions as provided in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA).

Maturity Date ” means the later of (a) March 30, 2012 and (b) if maturity is extended pursuant to Section 2.23 , such extended maturity date as determined pursuant to such Section; provided , however , that, in each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.

Moody’s ” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Multiemployer Plan ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

NBPC Sale ” shall mean the sale by the Guarantor to TCPILP of 20% of the partnership interests of Pipeline for a cash purchase price of approximately $300,000,000 (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.2 of the Partnership Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement referenced in the definition of NBPC Sale Documents) pursuant to the NBPC Sale Documents, the proceeds of which sale are to be used by the Borrower to fund a portion of the consideration for the OKE Acquisition and related transaction costs and fees.

NBPC Sale Documents ” shall mean, collectively, the Partnership Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement between the Intermediate Partnership and TCPILP dated as of December 31, 2005, and the other “Transaction Documents” as defined therein, in each case with all exhibits, schedules and supplements thereto.

Net Mark-to-Market Exposure ” of any Person shall mean, as of any date of determination with respect to any Hedging Obligation, the excess (if any) of all unrealized losses over all unrealized profits of such Person arising from such Hedging Obligation. “Unrealized losses” shall mean the fair market value of the cost to such Person of replacing the Hedging Transaction giving rise to such Hedging Obligation as of the date of determination (assuming the Hedging Transaction were to be terminated as of that date), and “unrealized profits” means the fair market value of the gain to such Person of replacing such Hedging Transaction as of the date of determination (assuming such Hedging Transaction were to be terminated as of that date).

Notes ” shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Credit Notes and the Swingline Note.

Notices of Borrowing ” shall mean, collectively, the Notices of Revolving Borrowing and the Notices of Swingline Borrowing.

Notice of Conversion/Continuation ” shall mean the notice given by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in respect of the conversion or continuation of an outstanding Borrowing as provided in Section 2.6(b) .

 

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Notice of Revolving Borrowing ” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.3 .

Notice of Swingline Borrowing ” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.4 .

Obligations ” shall mean all amounts owing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including without limitation, all principal, interest (including any interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), all reimbursement obligations, fees, expenses, indemnification and reimbursement payments, costs and expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) incurred pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, now existing or hereafter arising hereunder or thereunder, and all Hedging Obligations owed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their Affiliates incurred in order to limit interest rate or fee fluctuation with respect to the Loans and Letters of Credit, and all obligations and liabilities incurred in connection with collecting and enforcing the foregoing, together with all renewals, extensions, modifications or refinancings thereof.

Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities ” of any Person shall mean (i) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, (ii) any liability of such Person under any sale and leaseback transactions that do not create a liability on the balance sheet of such Person, (iii) any Synthetic Lease Obligation or (iv) any obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person.

Oil and Gas Agreements ” means operating agreements, processing agreements, farm-out and farm-in agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, contracts for the gathering and/or transportation of oil and natural gas, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, joint venture agreements, participation agreements, surface use agreements, service contracts, leases and subleases of Oil and Gas Properties or other similar agreements which are customary in the oil and gas business, howsoever designated, in each case made or entered into in the ordinary course of the oil and gas business as conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

Oil and Gas Properties ” means (a) Hydrocarbon Interests; (b) the property now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests; (c) all presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including, without limitation, all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any Governmental Authority) which may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests; (d) all operating agreements, contracts and other agreements which relate to any of the Hydrocarbon Interests or the production, sale, purchase, exchange or processing of Hydrocarbons from or

 

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attributable to such Hydrocarbon Interest; (e) all Hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced and saved or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, the lands covered thereby and all oil in tanks and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other income from or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests; and (f) all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and property in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to the Hydrocarbon Interests, and any and all property, now owned or hereafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development of any of such Hydrocarbon Interests or property (excluding drilling rigs, automotive equipment or other personal property which may be on such premises for the purpose of drilling a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any and all oil wells, gas wells, injection wells or other wells, buildings, structures, fuel separators, liquid extraction plants, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing.

OKE ” shall mean ONEOK, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation.

OKE Acquisition ” shall mean the acquisition by the Borrower from OKE of its gathering and processing, pipelines and storage, and natural gas liquids businesses for consideration in an aggregate amount of (i) $1,350,000,000 in cash (subject to adjustments as provided in Section 1.4 of the Purchase and Sale Agreement referenced in the definition of OKE Acquisition Documents), and (ii) 36,494,126 Class B limited partnership units of the Borrower, pursuant to the OKE Acquisition Documents.

OKE Acquisition Documents ” shall mean, collectively, the Contribution Agreement among OKE, the Borrower, and the Intermediate Partnership dated as of February 14, 2006, together with the “Services Agreement” as defined therein, and the Purchase and Sale Agreement between OKE and the Borrower dated as of February 14, 2006, together with the “Services Agreement” as defined therein, in each case with all exhibits, schedules and supplements thereto.

Original Closing Date ” shall mean May 16, 2005.

OSHA ” shall mean the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Other Taxes ” shall mean any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

Participant ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(d) .

Payment Office ” shall mean the office of the Administrative Agent located at 303 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, or such other location as to which the Administrative Agent shall have given written notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders.

 

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PBGC ” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, and any successor entity performing similar functions.

Permitted Encumbrances ” shall mean:

(i) Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;

(ii) Liens of landlords, carriers, operators, warehousemen, mechanics, and materialmen, statutory Liens of producers of hydrocarbons, and similar Liens arising by operation of law, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained to the extent such amounts exceed $500,000;

(iii) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, other social security laws or regulations or other forms of governmental insurance or benefits, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

(iv) deposits to secure the performance of tenders, bids, contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business or to secure obligations on surety bonds;

(v) judgment and attachment liens not giving rise to an Event of Default or Liens created by or existing from any litigation or legal proceeding that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;

(vi) title defects, easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way, land use and environmental regulations, and similar encumbrances affecting real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(vii) Liens securing obligations of others, neither assumed nor guaranteed by any Loan Party nor on which it customarily pays interest, existing upon real estate or rights in or relating to real estate acquired by such Person for substation, metering station, compression station, gathering line, transmission line, transportation line, distribution line or right of way purposes, and any Liens reserved in leases for rent and for compliance with the terms of the leases in the case of leasehold estates, to the extent that any such Lien referred to in this clause (vii) does not materially impair the use of the property;

 

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(viii) Liens granted pursuant to any Loan Document;

(ix) easements or reservations in any property of the Borrower or a Subsidiary for the purpose of roads, pipe lines, gas transmission and distribution lines, electric light and power transmission and distribution lines, water mains and other like purposes, and zoning ordinances, regulations and restrictions which do not impair the use of such property in the operation of the business of the Borrower or a Subsidiary;

(x) any Liens on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the Restatement Date set forth on Schedule 7.2 ; provided, that such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(xi) Liens upon or in any fixed or capital assets to secure the purchase price or the cost of construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets or to secure Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition, construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets (including Liens securing any Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations); provided, that (i) such Lien secures Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.1 , (ii) such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently or within 180 days after the acquisition, improvement or completion of the construction thereof; (iii) such Lien does not extend to any other asset; and (iv) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets;

(xii) any Lien (i) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, (ii) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person is merged with or into the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or (iii) existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided, that any such Lien was not created in the contemplation of any of the foregoing and any such Lien secures only those obligations which it secures on the date that such Person becomes a Subsidiary or the date of such merger or the date of such acquisition;

(xiii) Liens on the limited liability company interests in Fort Union, L.L.C. which are owned by Crestone Powder River L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, which Liens secure amounts owed under the Fort Union Project Finance Documents;

(xiv) Liens on the limited liability company interests in Lost Creek, L.L.C. which are owned by Crestone Wind River, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, which Liens secure amounts owed under the Lost Creek Project Finance Documents;

(xv) extensions, renewals, or replacements of any Lien referred to in paragraphs (x) through (xiv) above; provided, that the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased and that any such extension, renewal or replacement is limited to the assets originally encumbered thereby;

 

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(xvi) any Liens (i) in favor of the Administrative Agent arising under Section 2.20(g), (ii) at any time that Pipeline is a Subsidiary of the Borrower, in favor of the administrative agent under section 2.20(g) of the Pipeline Credit Agreement, and (iii) in favor of any trustee under any indentures governing Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries securing unpaid fees of such trustee in collateral in the possession of such trustee;

(xvii) any right which any municipal or governmental body or agency may have by virtue of any franchise, license, contract or status to purchase or designate a purchaser of, or order the sale of, any property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary upon payment of reasonable compensation therefor or to terminate any franchise, license or other rights or to regulate the property and business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(xviii) Liens on cash and cash equivalents granted pursuant to master netting agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business in connection with Hedging Transactions; provided that (i) the transactions secured by such Liens are governed by standard International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) documentation, and (ii) such Hedging Transactions consist of derivative transactions contemplated to be settled in cash and not by physical delivery and are designed to minimize the risk of fluctuations in oil and gas prices with respect to the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ operations in the ordinary course of its business;

(xix) Liens pursuant to master netting agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business in connection with Hedging Transactions, in each case pursuant to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, as a party to such master netting agreement and as pledgor, pledges or otherwise transfers to the other party to such master netting agreement, as pledgee, in order to secure the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s obligations under such master netting agreement, a Lien upon and/or right of set off against, all right, title, and interest of the pledgor in any obligations of the pledgee owed to the pledgor, together with all accounts and general intangibles and payment intangibles in respect of such obligations and all dividends, interest, and other proceeds from time to time received, receivable, or otherwise distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any or all of the foregoing;

(xx) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business under Oil and Gas Agreements to secure compliance with such agreements, provided that any such Lien referred to in this clause are for claims which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP, and provided further that any such Lien referred to in this clause does not materially impair the use of the property covered by such Lien for the purposes for which such property is held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such property subject thereto, and provided further that such Liens are limited to property that is the subject of the relevant Oil and Gas Agreement; and

(xxi) Liens not otherwise included in the definition of Permitted Encumbrances if at the time of, and after giving effect to, the creation or assumption of

 

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any such Lien, the aggregate of all obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries secured by any Liens not otherwise permitted does not exceed ten percent (10%) of Consolidated Total Capitalization.

Permitted Investments ” shall mean:

(i) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

(ii) commercial paper and auction rate securities having the highest rating, at the time of acquisition thereof, of S&P or Moody’s and in either case maturing or having an auction date within six months from the date of acquisition thereof;

(iii) certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

(iv) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (i) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (iii) above; and

(v) mutual funds investing solely in any one or more of the Permitted Investments described in clauses (i) through (iv) above.

Person ” shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity, or any Governmental Authority.

Pipeline ” means Northern Border Pipeline Company, a Texas general partnership.

Pipeline Credit Agreement ” means that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2005, among Pipeline, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the lenders defined therein, as in effect on the Restatement Date.

Pipeline Leverage Ratio ” means the ratio calculated in accordance with section 6.1 of the Pipeline Credit Agreement, as in effect on the Restatement Date, without regard to whether said credit agreement is amended or ceases to be in effect after such date.

Pipeline Partnership Agreement ” means that certain General Partnership Agreement relating to the formation of Pipeline effective as of March 9, 1978, as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Plan ” shall mean any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

Pro Rata Share ” shall mean with respect to any Commitment of any Lender at any time, a percentage, the numerator of which shall be such Lender’s Commitment (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure), and the denominator of which shall be the sum of such Commitments of all Lenders (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, all Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders).

Regulation D ” shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.

Related Parties ” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

Release ” shall mean any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.

Required Lenders ” shall mean, at any time, Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding Revolving Commitments at such time or if the Lenders have no Commitments outstanding, then Lenders holding more than 50% of the Revolving Credit Exposure.

Requirement of Law ” for any Person shall mean the articles or certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership certificate and agreement, or limited liability company certificate of organization and agreement, as the case may be, and other organizational and governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of a Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Responsible Officer ” shall mean any of the president, the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or a vice president of the general partner of the Borrower or such other representative of the Borrower or its general partner as may be designated in writing by any one of the foregoing with the consent of the Administrative Agent, and, with respect to the financial covenants and Compliance Certificates only, the chief executive officer, chief financial officer or treasurer of the general partner of the Borrower.

 

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Restatement Date ” shall mean the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.1 and Section 3.2 have been satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.2 .

Restricted Payment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.5 .

Revolving Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower and to participate in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the amount set forth with respect to such Lender on Schedule II , as such schedule may be amended pursuant to Section 2.21 , or in the case of a Person becoming a Lender after the Restatement Date through an assignment of an existing Revolving Commitment, the amount of the assigned “Revolving Commitment” as provided in the Assignment and Acceptance executed by such Person as an assignee, as the same may be increased or deceased pursuant to terms hereof.

Revolving Commitment Termination Date ” shall mean the earliest of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the date on which the Revolving Commitments are terminated pursuant to Section 2.7 and (iii) the date on which all amounts outstanding under this Agreement have been declared or have automatically become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise).

Revolving Credit Exposure ” shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans, LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure.

Revolving Credit Note ” shall mean a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of a requesting Lender in the principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment, in substantially the form of Exhibit A .

Revolving Loan ” shall mean a loan made by a Lender (other than the Swingline Lender) to the Borrower under its Revolving Commitment, which may either be a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.

S&P ” shall mean Standard & Poor’s, a Division of the McGraw-Hill Companies.

Senior Note Indentures ” means the 2010 Senior Note Indenture and/or the 2011 Senior Note Indenture, as the case may be.

Senior Notes ” means the 2010 Senior Notes and/or the 2011 Senior Notes, as the case may be.

Subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any Person (the “parent”), any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power, or in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned,

 

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controlled or held. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “Subsidiary” hereunder shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Swingline Commitment ” shall mean the commitment of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed (i) during the period from the Restatement Date to the date that is five (5) Business Days thereafter, $75,000,000, and (ii) at all times after the period described in the preceding clause (i), $50,000,000.

Swingline Exposure ” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the principal amount of the Swingline Loans in which such Lender is legally obligated either to make a Base Rate Loan or to purchase a participation in accordance with Section 2.4 , which shall equal such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of all outstanding Swingline Loans.

Swingline Lender ” shall mean SunTrust Bank, or any other Lender that may agree to make Swingline Loans hereunder.

Swingline Loan ” shall mean a loan made to the Borrower by the Swingline Lender under the Swingline Commitment.

Swingline Note ” shall mean the promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of the Swingline Lender in the principal amount of the Swingline Commitment, substantially the form of Exhibit B .

Syndication Agent ” shall mean Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Syndication Agent.

Synthetic Lease ” shall mean a lease transaction under which the parties intend that (i) the lease will be treated as an “operating lease” by the lessee pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13, as amended and (ii) the lessee will be entitled to various tax and other benefits ordinarily available to owners (as opposed to lessees) of like property.

Synthetic Lease Obligations ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the sum of (i) all remaining rental obligations of such Person as lessee under Synthetic Leases which are attributable to principal and, without duplication, (ii) all rental and purchase price payment obligations of such Person under such Synthetic Leases assuming such Person exercises the option to purchase the lease property at the end of the lease term.

2010 Senior Notes ” means the unsecured 8-7/8% notes dated as of June 2, 2000 issued by the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount of $250,000,000 with a maturity date of June 15, 2010.

2010 Senior Note Indenture ” means the indenture authorizing the issuance of the 2010 Senior Notes.

2011 Senior Notes ” means the 7.10% unsecured notes dated as of March 21, 2001 issued by the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount of $225,000,000 with a maturity date of March 15, 2011.

 

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2011 Senior Note Indenture ” means the indenture authorizing the issuance of the 2011 Senior Notes.

Taxes ” shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

TCPILP ” means TC PipeLines Intermediate Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership.

Threshold Amount ” means $100,000,000.

Type ,” when used in reference to a Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Base Rate.

Withdrawal Liability ” shall mean liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

Section 1.2. Classifications of Loans and Borrowings . For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g. a “Revolving Loan” or “Swingline Loan”) or by Type (e.g. a “Eurodollar Loan” or “Base Rate Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g. “Revolving Eurodollar Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g. “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g. “Eurodollar Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g. “Revolving Eurodollar Borrowing”).

Section 1.3. Accounting Terms and Determination . Unless otherwise defined or specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statement of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) ; provided , that if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend any covenant in Article VI to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders wish to amend Article VI for such purpose), then the Borrower’s compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders.

Section 1.4. Terms Generally . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the word “to” means “to but excluding”. Unless the context requires otherwise (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or

 

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other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as it was originally executed or as it may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns, (iii) the words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement and (v) all references to a specific time shall be construed to refer to the time in the city and state of the Administrative Agent’s principal office, unless otherwise indicated.

ARTICLE II

AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS

Section 2.1. General Description of Facilities . Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, (i) the Lenders hereby establish in favor of the Borrower a revolving credit facility pursuant to which each Lender severally agrees (to the extent of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment) to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.2, (ii) the Issuing Bank agrees to issue Letters of Credit in accordance with Section 2.20, (iii) the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans in accordance with Section 2.4 and (iv) each Lender agrees to purchase a participation interest in the Letters of Credit and the Swingline Loans pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof; provided, that in no event shall the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and outstanding LC Exposure exceed at any time the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount from time to time in effect.

Section 2.2. Revolving Loans . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Loans, ratably in proportion to its Pro Rata Share, to the Borrower, from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time that will not result in such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. During the Availability Period, the Borrower shall be entitled to borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement; provided, that the Borrower may not borrow or reborrow should there exist a Default or Event of Default.

Section 2.3. Procedure for Revolving Borrowings . The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Revolving Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.3 (a “ Notice of Revolving Borrowing ”) (x) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the requested date of each Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of each Eurodollar Borrowing. Each Notice of Revolving Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify: (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Borrowing, (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the Type of such Revolving Loan

 

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comprising such Borrowing and (iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the duration of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto (subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period). Each Revolving Borrowing shall consist entirely of Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans, as the Borrower may request. The aggregate principal amount of each Borrowing shall be not less than $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000; provided, that Base Rate Loans made pursuant to Section 2.4 or Section 2.20(d) may be made in lesser amounts as provided therein. At no time shall the total number of Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding at any time exceed five. Promptly following the receipt of a Notice of Revolving Borrowing in accordance herewith, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loan to be made as part of the requested Revolving Borrowing.

Section 2.4. Swingline Commitment .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to the Borrower, from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed the lesser of (i) the Swingline Commitment then in effect and (ii) the difference between the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount and the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders; provided , that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. The Borrower shall be entitled to borrow, repay and reborrow Swingline Loans in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

(b) The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Swingline Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.4 attached hereto (“ Notice of Swingline Borrowing ”) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the requested date of each Swingline Borrowing. Each Notice of Swingline Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify: (i) the principal amount of such Swingline Loan, (ii) the date of such Swingline Loan (which shall be a Business Day) and (iii) the account of the Borrower to which the proceeds of such Swingline Loan should be credited. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of each Notice of Swingline Borrowing. Each Swingline Loan shall accrue interest at the Base Rate or any other interest rate as agreed between the Borrower and the Swingline Lender and shall have an Interest Period (subject to the definition thereof) as agreed between the Borrower and the Swingline Lender. The aggregate principal amount of each Swingline Loan shall be not less than $100,000 or a larger multiple of $50,000, or such other minimum amounts agreed to by the Swingline Lender and the Borrower. The Swingline Lender will make the proceeds of each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower in Dollars in immediately available funds at the account specified by the Borrower in the applicable Notice of Swingline Borrowing not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.

(c) The Swingline Lender, at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion, may, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Swingline Lender to act on its behalf), give a Notice of Revolving Borrowing to the Administrative Agent requesting the Lenders (including the Swingline Lender) to make Base Rate Loans in an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of any Swingline Loan. Each Lender will make the proceeds of its Base Rate Loan included in such Borrowing available to the

 

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Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender in accordance with Section 2.5 , which will be used solely for the repayment of such Swingline Loan.

(d) If for any reason a Base Rate Borrowing may not be (as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), or is not, made in accordance with the foregoing provisions, then each Lender (other than the Swingline Lender) shall purchase an undivided participating interest in such Swingline Loan in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share thereof on the date that such Base Rate Borrowing should have occurred. On the date of such required purchase, each Lender shall promptly transfer, in immediately available funds, the amount of its participating interest to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender. If such Swingline Loan bears interest at a rate other than the Base Rate, such Swingline Loan shall automatically become a Base Rate Loan on the effective date of any such participation and interest shall become payable on demand.

(e) Each Lender’s obligation to make a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Section 2.4(c) or to purchase the participating interests pursuant to Section 2.4(d) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including without limitation (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Lender or any other Person may have or claim against the Swingline Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the existence of a Default or an Event of Default or the termination of any Lender’s Revolving Commitment, (iii) the existence (or alleged existence) of any event or condition which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. If such amount is not in fact made available to the Swingline Lender by any Lender, the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender, together with accrued interest thereon for each day from the date of demand thereof (i) at the Federal Funds Rate until the second Business Day after such demand and (ii) at the Base Rate at all times thereafter. Until such time as such Lender makes its required payment, the Swingline Lender shall be deemed to continue to have outstanding Swingline Loans in the amount of the unpaid participation for all purposes of the Loan Documents. In addition, such Lender shall be deemed to have assigned any and all payments made of principal and interest on its Loans and any other amounts due to it hereunder, to the Swingline Lender to fund the amount of such Lender’s participation interest in such Swingline Loans that such Lender failed to fund pursuant to this Section 2.4, until such amount has been purchased in full.

Section 2.5. Funding of Borrowings .

(a) Each Lender will make available each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer in immediately available funds by 1:00 p.m. (New York time) to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office; provided , that the Swingline Loans will be made as set forth in Section 2.4 . The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts that it receives, in like funds by the close of business on such proposed date, to an account maintained by the Borrower with the Administrative Agent or at the Borrower’s option, by effecting a wire transfer of such amounts to an account designated by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent.

 

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(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender (x) prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York time) on the requested date of a Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York time) one (1) Business Day prior to the date of a Eurodollar Borrowing in which such Lender is to participate that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance on such assumption, may make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender on the date of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with interest at the Federal Funds Rate until the second Business Day after such demand and thereafter at the Base Rate. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent together with interest at the rate specified for such Borrowing. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Borrowing hereunder or to prejudice any rights which the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

(c) All Revolving Borrowings shall be made by the Lenders on the basis of their respective Pro Rata Shares. No Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligations hereunder, and each Lender shall be obligated to make its Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to make its Loans hereunder.

Section 2.6. Interest Elections .

(a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing, and in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Notice of Borrowing. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing into a different Type or to continue such Borrowing, and in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section 2.6 . The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall NOT apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section 2.6 , the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.6 attached hereto (a “ Notice of Conversion/Continuation ”) that is to be converted or continued, as the case may be, (x) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the requested date of a conversion into a Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) three (3) Business Days prior to a continuation of or conversion into a Eurodollar Borrowing. Each such Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the Borrowing to which such Notice of Continuation/Conversion applies and if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the

 

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portions thereof that are to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing); (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Notice of Continuation/Conversion, which shall be a Business Day, (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be a Base Rate Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of “Interest Period”. If any such Notice of Continuation/Conversion requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month. The principal amount of any resulting Borrowing shall satisfy the minimum borrowing amount for Eurodollar Borrowings and Base Rate Borrowings set forth in Section 2.3 .

(c) If, on the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of any Eurodollar Borrowing, the Borrower shall have failed to deliver a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing to a Base Rate Borrowing. No Borrowing may be converted into, or continued as, a Eurodollar Borrowing if a Default or an Event of Default exists, unless the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall have otherwise consented in writing. No conversion of any Eurodollar Loans shall be permitted except on the last day of the Interest Period in respect thereof.

(d) Upon receipt of any Notice of Conversion/Continuation, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

Section 2.7. Optional Reduction and Termination of Commitments .

(a) Unless previously terminated, all Revolving Commitments, Swingline Commitments and LC Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.

(b) Upon at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent (which notice shall be irrevocable), the Borrower may reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in part or terminate the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in whole; provided , that (i) any partial reduction shall apply to reduce proportionately and permanently the Revolving Commitment of each Lender, (ii) any partial reduction pursuant to this Section 2.7 shall be in an amount of at least $5,000,000 and any larger multiple of $1,000,000, and (iii) no such reduction shall be permitted which would reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount to an amount less than the outstanding Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders. Any such reduction in the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount below the sum of the principal amount of the Swingline Commitment and the LC Commitment shall result in a proportionate reduction (rounded to the next lowest integral multiple of $100,000) in the Swingline Commitment and the LC Commitment.

 

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Section 2.8. Repayment of Loans .

(a) The outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans shall be due and payable (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon) on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.

(b) The principal amount of each Swingline Borrowing shall be due and payable (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon) on the earlier of (i) the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing and (ii) the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.

Section 2.9. Evidence of Indebtedness . (a) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice appropriate records evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable thereon and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall maintain appropriate records in which shall be recorded (i) the Revolving Commitment of each Lender, (ii) the amount of each Loan made hereunder by each Lender, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (iii) the date of each continuation thereof pursuant to Section 2.6 , (iv) the date of each conversion of all or a portion thereof to another Type pursuant to Section 2.6 , (v) the date and amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder in respect of such Loans and (vi) both the date and amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower in respect of the Loans and each Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof. The entries made in such records shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; provided , that the failure or delay of any Lender or the Administrative Agent in maintaining or making entries into any such record or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans (both principal and unpaid accrued interest) of such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(b) At the request of any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) at any time, the Borrower agrees that it will execute and deliver to such Lender a Revolving Credit Note and, in the case of the Swingline Lender only, a Swingline Note, payable to the order of such Lender.

Section 2.10. Prepayments .

(a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, by giving irrevocable written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent no later than (i) in the case of prepayment of any Eurodollar Borrowing, 11:00 a.m. (New York time) not less than three (3) Business Days prior to any such prepayment, (ii) in the case of any prepayment of any Base Rate Borrowing, not less than one Business Day prior to the date of such prepayment, and (iii) in the case of Swingline Borrowings, prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the proposed date of such prepayment and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid. Upon receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each affected Lender of the contents thereof and of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any such

 

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prepayment. If such notice is given, the aggregate amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date designated in such notice, together with accrued interest to such date on the amount so prepaid in accordance with Section 2.11(d) ; provided , that if a Eurodollar Borrowing is prepaid on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay all amounts required pursuant to Section 2.17 . Each partial prepayment of any Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type pursuant to Section 2.2 or in the case of a Swingline Loan pursuant to Section 2.4 . Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans comprising such Borrowing.

(b) If at any time the Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount, as reduced pursuant to Section 2.7 or otherwise, the Borrower shall immediately repay Swingline Loans and Revolving Loans in an amount equal to such excess, together with all accrued and unpaid interest on such excess amount and any amounts due under Section 2.17 . Each prepayment shall be applied first to the Swingline Loans to the full extent thereof, second to the Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof, and finally to Eurodollar Loans to the full extent thereof. If after giving effect to prepayment of all Swingline Loans and Revolving Loans, the Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Issuing Bank and the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to such excess plus any accrued and unpaid fees thereon to be held as collateral for the LC Exposure. Such account shall be administered in accordance with Section 2.20(g) hereof.

Section 2.11. Interest on Loans .

(a) The Borrower shall pay interest on each Base Rate Loan at the Base Rate in effect from time to time and on each Eurodollar Loan at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the applicable Interest Period in effect for such Loan, plus , in each case, the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time.

(b) The Borrower shall pay interest on each Swingline Loan at the rate applicable to such Loan pursuant to Section 2.4(b) .

(c) While an Event of Default exists or after acceleration, at the option of the Required Lenders, the Borrower shall pay interest (“ Default Interest ”) with respect to all Eurodollar Loans at the rate otherwise applicable for the then-current Interest Period plus an additional 2% per annum until the last day of such Interest Period, and thereafter, and with respect to all Base Rate Loans (including all Swingline Loans) and all other Obligations hereunder (other than Loans), at an all-in rate in effect for Base Rate Loans, plus an additional 2% per annum.

(d) Interest on the principal amount of all Loans shall accrue from and including the date such Loans are made to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof. Interest on all outstanding Base Rate Loans shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. Interest on all outstanding Eurodollar Loans shall be payable on the last day of each

 

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Interest Period applicable thereto, and, in the case of any Eurodollar Loans having an Interest Period in excess of three months or 90 days, respectively, on each day which occurs every three months or 90 days, as the case may be, after the initial date of such Interest Period, and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. Interest on each Swingline Loan shall be payable on the maturity date of such Loan, which shall be the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. Interest on any Loan which is converted into a Loan of another Type or which is repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such conversion or on the date of any such repayment or prepayment (on the amount repaid or prepaid) thereof. All Default Interest shall be payable on demand.

(e) The Administrative Agent shall determine each interest rate applicable to the Loans hereunder and shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of such rate in writing (or by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing). Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

Section 2.12. Fees .

(a) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent and the Syndication Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times previously agreed upon in writing by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent or the Syndication Agent, as applicable, including the amounts described in the Fee Letter.

(b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Percentage per annum (determined daily in accordance with Schedule I ) on the daily amount of the Revolving Commitment (whether used or unused) of such Lender during the Availability Period; provided , that if such Lender continues to have any Revolving Credit Exposure after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date, then the facility fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount of such Revolving Credit Exposure from and after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date to the date that all of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure has been paid in full.

(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a utilization fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Percentage per annum (determined daily in accordance with Schedule I ) on the daily amount of the Revolving Credit Exposure for each day that the Revolving Credit Exposure on such date equals or exceeds 50% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount on such date during the Availability Period; provided that if the Lenders continue to have Revolving Credit Exposure that equals or exceeds 50% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date, then the utilization fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount of such Revolving Credit Exposure from and after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date to the date that all of such Revolving Credit Exposure has been paid in full.

(d) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, a letter of credit fee with respect to its participation in each Letter of Credit, which shall accrue at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Loans then in effect on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure attributable to such Letter of Credit during the period from and including the date of issuance of such Letter of

 

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Credit to but excluding the date on which such Letter of Credit expires or is drawn in full (including without limitation any LC Exposure that remains outstanding after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date) and (ii) to the Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the Availability Period (or until the date that such Letter of Credit is irrevocably cancelled, whichever is later), as well as the Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Required Lenders elect to increase the interest rate on the Loans to the Default Interest pursuant to Section 2.11(c) , the rate per annum used to calculate the letter of credit fee pursuant to clause (i) above shall automatically be increased by an additional 2% per annum.

(e) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent all other fees previously agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in the Fee Letter, which shall be due and payable on the Restatement Date.

(f) Accrued fees under paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) above shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December, and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date (and if later, the date the Loans and LC Exposure shall be repaid in their entirety); provided further , that any such fees accruing after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date shall be payable on demand.

Section 2.13. Computation of Interest and Fees . Interest hereunder based on the Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year) and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). All other interest and all fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest amount or fee hereunder shall be made in good faith and, except for manifest error, shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes.

Section 2.14. Inability to Determine Interest Rates . If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing,

(i) the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower) that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant interbank market, adequate means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for such Interest Period, or

(ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender, as the case may be) of making, funding or maintaining their (or its, as the case may be) Eurodollar Loans for such Interest Period,

the Administrative Agent shall give written notice (or telephonic notice, promptly confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and to the Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter. In the case of

 

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Eurodollar Loans, until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Revolving Loans or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended and (ii) all such affected Loans shall be converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto unless the Borrower prepays such Loans in accordance with this Agreement. Unless the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day before the date of any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing for which a Notice of Revolving Borrowing has previously been given that it elects not to borrow on such date, then such Revolving Borrowing shall be made as a Base Rate Borrowing.

Section 2.15. Illegality . If any Change in Law shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Lender to make, maintain or fund any Eurodollar Loan and such Lender shall so notify the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower and the other Lenders, whereupon until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of such Lender to make Eurodollar Revolving Loans, or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into Eurodollar Loans, shall be suspended. In the case of the making of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Lender’s Revolving Loan shall be made as a Base Rate Loan as part of the same Revolving Borrowing for the same Interest Period and if the affected Eurodollar Loan is then outstanding, such Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan either (i) on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loan if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Loan to such date or (ii) immediately if such Lender shall determine that it may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loan to such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the affected Lender shall, prior to giving such notice to the Administrative Agent, designate a different Appl