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Debt and Banking Arrangements
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Debt and Banking Arrangements [Text Block]
Note 9 – Debt and Banking Arrangements
Long-Term Debt
Issuances and retirements
On July 6, 2017, WPZ repaid its $850 million variable interest rate term loan that was due December 2018 using proceeds from the sale of its Geismar Interest.
On June 5, 2017, WPZ issued $1.45 billion of 3.75 percent senior unsecured notes due 2027. WPZ used the proceeds for general partnership purposes, primarily the July 3, 2017 repayment of $1.4 billion of 4.875 percent senior unsecured notes that were due in 2023.
On April 3, 2017, Northwest Pipeline issued $250 million of 4.0 percent senior unsecured notes due 2027 to investors in a private debt placement. Northwest Pipeline used the net proceeds to retire $185 million of 5.95 percent senior unsecured notes that matured on April 15, 2017, and for general corporate purposes. As part of the issuance, Northwest Pipeline entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the unsecured notes. Northwest Pipeline is obligated to file and consummate a registration statement for an offer to exchange the notes for a new issue of substantially identical notes registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, within 365 days from closing and to use commercially reasonable efforts to complete the exchange offer. Northwest Pipeline is required to provide a shelf registration statement to cover resales of the notes under certain circumstances. If Northwest Pipeline fails to fulfill these obligations, additional interest will accrue on the affected securities. The rate of additional interest will be 0.25 percent per annum on the principal amount of the affected securities for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of a registration default, increasing by an additional 0.25 percent per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period thereafter, up to a maximum amount for all such registration defaults of 0.5 percent annually. Following the cure of any registration defaults, the accrual of additional interest will cease.
On February 23, 2017, using proceeds received from the Financial Repositioning (see Note 1 – General, Description of Business, and Basis of Presentation), WPZ early retired $750 million of 6.125 percent senior unsecured notes that were due in 2022.
WPZ retired $600 million of 7.25 percent senior unsecured notes that matured on February 1, 2017.
Other financing obligation
During the construction of Transco’s Dalton expansion project, WPZ received funding from a partner for its proportionate share of construction costs related to its undivided ownership interest in the project. Amounts received were recorded within noncurrent liabilities. Upon placing the project in service during the third quarter of 2017, WPZ began leasing this partner’s undivided interest in the lateral, including the associated pipeline capacity, and reclassified approximately $237 million of funding previously received from its partner from noncurrent liabilities to debt to reflect the financing obligation payable to its partner over an expected term of 35 years.
Commercial Paper Program
As of September 30, 2017, no Commercial paper was outstanding under WPZ’s $3 billion commercial paper program.
Credit Facilities
 
September 30, 2017
 
Stated Capacity
 
Outstanding
 
(Millions)
WMB
 
 
 
Long-term credit facility
$
1,500

 
$
400

Letters of credit under certain bilateral bank agreements
 
 
13

WPZ
 
 
 
Long-term credit facility (1)
3,500

 

Letters of credit under certain bilateral bank agreements
 
 
1

 
(1)
In managing our available liquidity, we do not expect a maximum outstanding amount in excess of the capacity of WPZ’s credit facility inclusive of any outstanding amounts under its commercial paper program.