Form 4: ONEOK Executive Acquires Share Through Employee Stock Award Program

Mary M. Spears, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer at ONEOK Inc., acquired one share of common stock through the company's Employee Stock Award Program.

Summary

• Mary M. Spears, a Senior Vice President at ONEOK Inc., acquired one share of the company's common stock on November 7, 2024.
• The acquisition was made through ONEOK's Employee Stock Award Program (ESAP) at a price of $104.14 per share.
• The ESAP program is currently paused as the current allocation of shares has been fully awarded.
• ONEOK achieved the $103 milestone on Nov. 7, 2024.
• The program is expected to resume after the 2025 annual shareholder meeting, where a request for additional shares will be made.
• The meeting typically takes place in May, with the official date to be announced later.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The sentiment is neutral to slightly positive. The transaction itself is routine, and the ESAP program is a positive aspect of employee compensation. The pause in the program is a minor negative, but the expectation of resumption tempers this.

Positives

• The Employee Stock Award Program incentivizes employees through stock ownership.
• The company achieved the $103 milestone on Nov. 7, 2024.

Negatives

• The ESAP is currently paused, which may temporarily affect employee morale or compensation expectations.

Risks

• Shareholder approval for additional ESAP shares is not guaranteed.
• Delays in the shareholder meeting could further postpone the program's resumption.

Future Outlook

The Employee Stock Award Program is expected to resume after shareholder approval is obtained at the 2025 annual meeting to allocate additional shares.

Industry Context

This filing is a routine disclosure related to executive compensation and stock ownership, common in publicly traded companies. It reflects ONEOK's use of stock-based compensation as part of its employee benefits program.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders may be interested in the continuation of the ESAP as it aligns employee interests with company performance.
• Employees are directly impacted by the availability of the ESAP and the potential for stock ownership.

Next Steps

• ONEOK will hold its 2025 annual shareholder meeting.
• Shareholders will vote on approving additional shares for the Employee Stock Award Program.
• The company will communicate the official date of the shareholder meeting in the future.
• The ESAP will resume upon shareholder approval of additional shares.

Key Dates