Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE:WPZ) today announced that it has initiated an adviser-led process to explore the monetization of its indirect ownership interest in the Geismar, Louisiana olefins plant and complex. The process may result in a sale or a long-term, fee-for-service tolling agreement.

Williams Partners currently holds an approximate 88.5 percent undivided ownership interest in the Geismar olefins plant and is operator of the facility. In 2015, Williams Partners placed in service an expansion of the facility that increased its ethylene production capacity by 600 million pounds per year, for a total production of 1.95 billion pounds of ethylene and 114 million pounds of propylene per year. The plant is a predominantly ethane-fed, light-end natural gas liquids cracker. Williams has held an ownership stake in the Geismar plant since 1999.

“This premiere olefins-production facility on the Gulf Coast benefits from a recent expansion, access to significant U.S. shale gas reserves, proximity to a variety of transport logistics options and an experienced team of employees who have run the facility safely and reliably since the expanded plant came into operation,” said Alan Armstrong, chief executive officer of Williams Partners’ general partner.

“Given the attractive long-term outlook for U.S. ethylene crackers, we believe our Geismar plant presents an attractive investment opportunity for potential buyers, especially those seeking to quickly backward integrate into ethylene in the U.S. Gulf Coast,” Armstrong said. “In addition, we believe this asset provides an attractive value proposition for those considering the timing and cost-overrun risks of building a new ethylene facility in the U.S. Gulf Coast in the coming years.”

Armstrong added, “We believe the potential monetization of this asset would create significant value for Williams Partners and our decision to explore alternatives with respect to the Geismar olefins plant is consistent with Williams’ strategy to narrow its focus and allocate capital to its strong core, natural gas-focused business.”

If the process results in a sale, Williams Partners would expect to use a portion of the proceeds to reduce debt in order to maintain investment-grade credit metrics and the balance of the proceeds would reduce planned equity issuances.

This Geismar announcement follows the Aug. 8, 2016 announcement by the partnership and Williams that they have agreed to sell their Canadian businesses to Inter Pipeline Ltd. for combined cash proceeds of $1.35 billion CAD. The Canadian transaction is expected to close in 2016.

About Williams Partners

Williams Partners (NYSE:WPZ) is an industry-leading, large-cap natural gas infrastructure master limited partnership with a strong growth outlook and major positions in key U.S. supply basins and also in Canada. Williams Partners has operations across the natural gas value chain from gathering, processing and interstate transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids to petchem production of ethylene, propylene and other olefins. Williams Partners owns and operates more than 33,000 miles of pipelines system wide – including the nation’s largest volume and fastest growing pipeline – providing natural gas for clean-power generation, heating and industrial use. Williams Partners’ operations touch approximately 30 percent of U.S. natural gas. Tulsa, Okla.-based Williams (NYSE:WMB), a premier provider of large-scale North American natural gas infrastructure, owns 60 percent of Williams Partners, including all of the 2 percent general-partner interest. www.williams.com

Portions of this document may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined by federal law. Although the partnership believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the partnership’s annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.