Fair Value Measurements and Guarantees

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements and Guarantees [Text Block]

Note 12 – Fair Value Measurements and Guarantees

The following table presents, by level within the fair value hierarchy, certain of our financial assets and liabilities. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, margin deposits, and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. Therefore, these assets and liabilities are not presented in the following table.

							Fair Value Measurements Using
	Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(Millions)
Assets (liabilities) at June 30, 2020:
Measured on a recurring basis:
ARO Trust investments	$	214		$	214		$	214		$	—		$	—
Energy derivative assets designated as hedging instruments	2			2			2			—			—
Energy derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments	2			2			1			1			—
Energy derivative liabilities not designated as hedging instruments	(4		)	(4		)	(1		)	(1		)	(2		)
Additional disclosures:
Long-term debt, including current portion	(22,949		)	(26,387		)	—			(26,387		)	—
Guarantees	(41		)	(27		)	—			(11		)	(16		)
Assets (liabilities) at December 31, 2019:
Measured on a recurring basis:
ARO Trust investments	$	201		$	201		$	201		$	—		$	—
Energy derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments	1			1			1			—			—
Energy derivative liabilities not designated as hedging instruments	(3		)	(3		)	(1		)	—			(2		)
Additional disclosures:
Long-term debt, including current portion	(22,288		)	(25,319		)	—			(25,319		)	—
Guarantees	(41		)	(27		)	—			(11		)	(16		)

Fair Value Methods

We use the following methods and assumptions in estimating the fair value of our financial instruments:

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis

ARO Trust investments: Transco deposits a portion of its collected rates, pursuant to its rate case settlement, into an external trust (ARO Trust) that is specifically designated to fund future asset retirement obligations (ARO). The ARO Trust invests in a portfolio of actively traded mutual funds that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis based on quoted prices in an active market and is reported in Regulatory assets, deferred charges, and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Both realized and unrealized gains and losses are ultimately recorded as regulatory assets or liabilities.

Energy derivatives: Energy derivatives include commodity-based exchange-traded contracts and over-the-counter contracts, which consist of physical forwards, futures, and swaps that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

The fair value amounts are presented on a gross basis and do not reflect the netting of asset and liability positions permitted under the terms of our master netting arrangements. Further, the amounts do not include cash held on deposit in margin accounts that we have received or remitted to collateralize certain derivative positions. Energy derivative assets are reported in Other current assets and deferred charges and Regulatory assets, deferred charges, and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Energy derivative liabilities are reported in Accrued liabilities and Regulatory liabilities, deferred income, and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Additional fair value disclosures

Long-term debt, including current portion: The disclosed fair value of our long-term debt is determined primarily by a market approach using broker quoted indicative period-end bond prices. The quoted prices are based on observable transactions in less active markets for our debt or similar instruments. The fair values of the financing obligations associated with our Dalton lateral and Atlantic Sunrise projects, which are included within long-term debt, were determined using an income approach.

Guarantees: Guarantees primarily consist of a guarantee we have provided in the event of nonpayment by our previously owned communications subsidiary, Williams Communications Group (WilTel), on a lease performance obligation that extends through 2042. Guarantees also include an indemnification related to a disposed operation.

To estimate the fair value of the WilTel guarantee, an estimated default rate is applied to the sum of the future contractual lease payments using an income approach. The estimated default rate is determined by obtaining the average cumulative issuer-weighted corporate default rate based on the credit rating of WilTel’s current owner and the term of the underlying obligation. The default rate is published by Moody’s Investors Service. The carrying value of the WilTel guarantee is reported in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The maximum potential undiscounted exposure is approximately $27 million at June 30, 2020. Our exposure declines systematically through the remaining term of WilTel’s obligation.

The fair value of the guarantee associated with the indemnification related to a disposed operation was estimated using an income approach that considered probability-weighted scenarios of potential levels of future performance. The terms of the indemnification do not limit the maximum potential future payments associated with the guarantee. The carrying value of this guarantee is reported in Regulatory liabilities, deferred income, and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

We are required by our revolving credit agreement to indemnify lenders for certain taxes required to be withheld from payments due to the lenders and for certain tax payments made by the lenders. The maximum potential amount of future payments under these indemnifications is based on the related borrowings and such future payments cannot currently be determined. These indemnifications generally continue indefinitely unless limited by the underlying tax regulations and have no carrying value. We have never been called upon to perform under these indemnifications and have no current expectation of a future claim.

Nonrecurring fair value measurements

During the first quarter of 2020, we observed a significant decline in the publicly traded price of our common stock (NYSE: WMB), which declined 40 percent during the quarter, including a 26 percent decline in the month of March. These changes were generally attributed to macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions, including significant declines in crude oil prices driven by both surplus supply and a decrease in demand caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As a result of these conditions, we performed an interim assessment of the goodwill associated with our Northeast G&P reporting unit as of March 31, 2020. This goodwill resulted from the March 2019 acquisition of UEOM (see Note 2 – Acquisitions).

The assessment considered the total fair value of the businesses within the Northeast G&P reporting unit, which were determined using income and market approaches. We utilized internally developed industry weighted-average discount rates and estimates of valuation multiples of comparable publicly traded gathering and processing companies. In assessing the fair value as of the March 31, 2020 measurement date, we were required to consider recent publicly available indications of value, which included lower observed publicly traded EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes,

depreciation, and amortization) market multiples as compared with recent history and significantly higher industry weighted-average discount rates. The fair value of the reporting unit was further reconciled to our estimated total enterprise value as of March 31, 2020, which considered observable valuation multiples of comparable publicly traded companies applied to each distinct business including the Northeast G&P reporting unit. This assessment indicated that the estimated fair value of the Northeast G&P reporting unit was below its carrying value, including goodwill. As a result of this Level 3 measurement, we recognized a full impairment charge of $187 million as of March 31, 2020, in Impairment of goodwill in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Our partner’s $65 million share of this impairment is reflected within Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Statement of Operations (see Note 2 – Acquisitions).

The following table presents impairments of assets and equity-method investments associated with certain nonrecurring fair value measurements within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, except as specifically noted.

					Impairments
					Six Months Ended  June 30,
	Segment	Date of Measurement	Fair Value		2020		2019
			(Millions)
Impairment of certain assets:
Certain gathering assets (1)	West	June 30, 2019	$	40			$	59
Certain idle gathering assets (2)	West	March 31, 2019	—				12
Other impairments and write-downs							5
Impairment of certain assets							$	76
Impairment of equity-method investments:
RMM (3)	West	March 31, 2020	$	557	$	243
Brazos Permian II (3)	West	March 31, 2020	—		193
Caiman II (4)	Northeast G&P	March 31, 2020	191		229
Appalachia Midstream Investments (4)	Northeast G&P	March 31, 2020	2,700		127
Aux Sable (4)	Northeast G&P	March 31, 2020	7		39
Laurel Mountain (4)	Northeast G&P	March 31, 2020	236		10
Discovery (4)	Transmission & Gulf of Mexico	March 31, 2020	367		97
UEOM (5)	Northeast G&P	March 17, 2019	1,210				$	74
Other					—		(2		)
Impairment of equity-method investments					$	938	$	72

_______________

(1) Relates to a gas gathering system in the Eagle Ford Shale region with expected declines in asset utilization and possible idling of the gathering system. The estimated fair value of the Property, plant, and equipment – net was determined using a market approach which incorporated indications of interest from third parties.

(2) Reflects impairment of Property, plant, and equipment – net that is no longer in use for which the fair value was determined to be lower than the carrying value.

(3) Following the previously described declining market conditions during the first quarter of 2020, we evaluated these investments for other-than-temporary impairment. The fair value was measured using an income approach.

Both investees operate in primarily oil-driven basins where significant expected reductions in producer activities led to reduced estimates of expected future cash flows. Our fair value estimates also reflected discount rates of approximately 17 percent for these investments. We also considered any debt held at the investee level, and its impact to fair value. The industry weighted-average discount rates utilized were significantly influenced by the recent market declines previously discussed.

(4) Following the previously described declining market conditions during the first quarter of 2020, we evaluated these investments for other-than-temporary impairment. The impairments within our Northeast G&P segment are primarily associated with operations in wet-gas areas where producer drilling activities are influenced by NGL prices which historically trend with crude oil prices. The fair values of our investments in Caiman II and Aux Sable Liquid Products LP (Aux Sable) were estimated using a market approach, reflecting valuation multiples ranging from 5.0x to 6.2x EBITDA (weighted-average 6.0x). The fair values of the other investments were estimated using an income approach, with discount rates ranging from 9.7 percent to 13.5 percent (weighted-average 12.6 percent). We also considered any debt held at the investee level, and its impact to fair value. The assumed valuation multiples and industry weighted-average discount rates utilized were both significantly influenced by the recent market declines previously discussed.

(5)

The estimated fair value was determined by a market approach based on the transaction price for the purchase of the remaining interest in UEOM as finalized just prior to the signing and closing of the acquisition in March 2019 (see Note 2 – Acquisitions). These inputs resulted in a fair value measurement within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.