Williams shareholders were offered a combination of ETC common shares and cash ($6.05 billion in aggregate).
ETE created a new entity, Energy Transfer Corp LP (ETC) , to serve as the acquiring vehicle.
The merger failed, and both companies remained independent. The event is widely studied as a case study in failed corporate mergers driven by changing market conditions and unmet closing conditions (specifically, tax opinions). energy transfer williams buyout
Following the termination, the companies engaged in legal disputes over termination fees. In 2023, the Delaware Supreme Court ruled that ETE was not entitled to a $1.48 billion breakup fee and had to pay Williams a $410 million reimbursement fee plus attorney fees.
Energy stocks and oil prices collapsed during the negotiation period, making the deal significantly less attractive to ETE. Williams shareholders were offered a combination of ETC
The acquisition was highly prized for Williams' 10,000-mile Transco natural gas network, a major artery connecting Texas to the Northeast.
The merger was terminated in June 2016 due to several critical factors: The event is widely studied as a case
The deal required a tax opinion from Latham & Watkins LLP that the transaction would be tax-free. Latham advised they could not deliver this opinion, a condition needed for closing.