Magellan urges unitholders to vote "FOR" the
pending merger today
TULSA,
Okla., Sept. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Magellan
Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MMP) ("Magellan") today
announced that leading independent proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis
& Co. ("Glass Lewis") recommends that unitholders vote "FOR"
the pending merger with ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) ("ONEOK") at the
virtual special meeting of unitholders scheduled to be held on
Sept. 21, 2023.
In its report dated Sept. 6, 2023,
Glass Lewis stated1:
- "Strategically, we believe the proposed merger could be
beneficial to shareholders/unitholders of both of the merger
parties, as the deal would result in the creation of a combined
energy infrastructure firm with greater scale, breadth and earnings
diversity. The proposed merger is also expected to yield meaningful
annual cost synergies and enhanced commercial opportunities for the
combined company."
- "After due consideration, we are inclined to take the view
that the proposed merger would put the combined company in a better
position, compared to Magellan on a standalone basis, to
navigate through energy cycles and the ongoing global
decarbonization transition. In our view, a merger allows for
greater optimization of the combined assets, which in turn greatly
increases the likelihood of the desired synergies being fully
realized."
- "…[Magellan] notes the implied NTM EBITDA multiple of the
proposed merger exceeds the range of forward EBITDA multiples
observed in a selected set of North American midstream energy
transactions announced since 2018, as well as the range of peer
trading multiples observed as of the unaffected date. These
findings suggest to us that the merger consideration represents
a fair and reasonable value for the Company's
shareholders."
Magellan issued the following statement:
We are pleased that Glass Lewis supports our
board's unanimous recommendation that unitholders vote "FOR" the
merger with ONEOK. The report issued by Glass Lewis reaffirms that
the pending transaction maximizes value for unitholders, delivering
a significant premium with meaningful upfront cash consideration
and substantial ownership in a larger, more diversified company. We
are confident the combined entity will have greater growth
prospects, be more resilient and deliver greater value than
Magellan could realize on a standalone basis, including after
considering taxes. We look forward to working together with ONEOK
to complete the transaction.
The special meeting will be held virtually on Sept. 21, 2023 at 10:00
a.m. Central Time. Magellan unitholders of record at the
close of business on July 24, 2023
are entitled to vote at, or submit proxies in advance of, the
special meeting.
Magellan unitholders
who need assistance in completing the proxy card, need additional
copies
of the proxy materials
or have questions regarding the upcoming special meeting
should contact
Magellan's proxy solicitors:
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|
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Morrow Sodali,
LLC
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MacKenzie Partners,
Inc.
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Phone: (800) 662-5200
or (203) 658-9400
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Phone: (800) 322-2885
or (212) 929-5500
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Email:
MMP@info.morrowsodali.com
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Email:
proxy@mackenziepartners.com
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About Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.
Magellan
Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MMP) is a publicly traded
partnership that primarily transports, stores and distributes
refined petroleum products and crude oil. Magellan owns the longest
refined petroleum products pipeline system in the country, with
access to nearly 50% of the nation's refining capacity, and can
store more than 100 million barrels of petroleum products such as
gasoline, diesel fuel and crude oil. More information is available
at www.magellanlp.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This communication contains "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact,
included in this communication that address activities, events or
developments that ONEOK or Magellan expects, believes or
anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking
statements. Words such as "estimate," "project," "predict,"
"believe," "expect," "anticipate," "potential," "create," "intend,"
"could," "would," "may," "plan," "will," "guidance," "look,"
"goal," "future," "build," "focus," "continue," "strive," "allow"
or the negative of such terms or other variations thereof and words
and terms of similar substance used in connection with any
discussion of future plans, actions, or events identify
forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words
does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements regarding the proposed transaction between ONEOK and
Magellan (the "Proposed Transaction"), the expected closing of the
Proposed Transaction and the timing thereof and as adjusted
descriptions of the post-transaction company and its operations,
strategies and plans, integration, debt levels and leverage ratio,
capital expenditures, cash flows and anticipated uses thereof,
synergies, opportunities and anticipated future performance,
including maintaining current ONEOK management, enhancements to
investment-grade credit profile, an expected accretion to earnings
and free cash flow, dividend payments and potential share
repurchases, increase in value of tax attributes and expected
impact on EBITDA. Information adjusted for the Proposed Transaction
should not be considered a forecast of future results. There are a
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from the forward-looking statements included
in this communication. These include the risk that ONEOK's and
Magellan's businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk
that cost savings, synergies and growth from the Proposed
Transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize
than expected; the risk that the credit ratings of the combined
company or its subsidiaries may be different from what the
companies expect; the possibility that shareholders of ONEOK may
not approve the issuance of new shares of ONEOK common stock in the
Proposed Transaction or that unitholders of Magellan may not
approve the Proposed Transaction; the risk that a condition to
closing of the Proposed Transaction may not be satisfied, that
either party may terminate the merger agreement or that the closing
of the Proposed Transaction might be delayed or not occur at all;
potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee
relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or
completion of the Proposed Transaction; the occurrence of any other
event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the
termination of the merger agreement relating to the Proposed
Transaction; the risk that changes in ONEOK's capital structure and
governance could have adverse effects on the market value of its
securities; the ability of ONEOK and Magellan to retain customers
and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with
their suppliers and customers and on ONEOK's and Magellan's
operating results and business generally; the risk the Proposed
Transaction could distract management from ongoing business
operations or cause ONEOK and/or Magellan to incur substantial
costs; the risk of any litigation relating to the Proposed
Transaction; the risk that ONEOK may be unable to reduce expenses
or access financing or liquidity; the impact of a pandemic, any
related economic downturn and any related substantial decline in
commodity prices; the risk of changes in governmental regulations
or enforcement practices, especially with respect to environmental,
health and safety matters; and other important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. All
such factors are difficult to predict and are beyond ONEOK's or
Magellan's control, including those detailed in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus (as defined below). All forward-looking
statements are based on assumptions that ONEOK and Magellan believe
to be reasonable but that may not prove to be accurate. Any
forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such
statement is made, and neither ONEOK nor Magellan undertakes any
obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date hereof.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
In connection with the Proposed Transaction, on July 25, 2023, ONEOK and Magellan each filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a definitive
joint proxy statement/prospectus (the "joint proxy
statement/prospectus"), and each party has and will file other
documents regarding the Proposed Transaction with the SEC. Each of
ONEOK and Magellan commenced mailing copies of the joint proxy
statement/prospectus to shareholders of ONEOK and unitholders of
Magellan, respectively, on or about July 25,
2023. This communication is not a substitute for the joint
proxy statement/prospectus or for any other document that ONEOK or
Magellan has filed or may file in the future with the SEC in
connection with the Proposed Transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY
HOLDERS OF ONEOK AND MAGELLAN ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY AND THOROUGHLY
READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS
AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO, AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR THAT
WILL BE FILED BY ONEOK AND MAGELLAN WITH THE SEC BECAUSE THEY WILL
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ONEOK AND MAGELLAN, THE
PROPOSED TRANSACTION, THE RISKS RELATED THERETO AND RELATED
MATTERS.
Investors can obtain free copies of the joint proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed by ONEOK
and Magellan with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC
at www.sec.gov. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by ONEOK,
including the joint proxy statement/prospectus, are available free
of charge from ONEOK's website at www.oneok.com under the
"Investors" tab. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by
Magellan, including the joint proxy statement/prospectus, are
available free of charge from Magellan's website at
www.magellanlp.com under the "Investors" tab.
1 Permission to use quotes neither
sought nor obtained.
Contact:
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Investors:
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Media:
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Paula
Farrell
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Bruce Heine
|
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(918)
574-7650
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(918)
574-7010
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paula.farrell@magellanlp.com
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bruce.heine@magellanlp.com
|
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leading-independent-proxy-advisory-firm-glass-lewis-recommends-magellan-midstream-unitholders-vote-for-the-transaction-with-oneok-301920665.html
SOURCE Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.