On 22 June 2015, Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (ETE), shared its all-equity proposal to merge with The Williams Companies, Inc., offering US$53 billion for the company. This figure comes from ETE’s offer to buy every outstanding Williams stock for US$64 per share.
The above offers 32.4% premium to Williams stockholders with a high degree of transaction certainty. After making multiple attempts to converse with Williams’ senior management, ETE felt that a written offer to Williams was required to bring its interest to the attention of the Williams Board and to outline what ETE believes is a more compelling transaction than the proposed merger between Williams and WPZ.
According to ETE a merger between themselves and Williams would transform the US midstream sector, creating one of the largest US energy corporations – a transaction which would be compelling to stakeholders.