ONEOK Reports Higher 2008 Earnings; Announces Fourth-quarter Results

February 23, 2009

TULSA, Okla., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) today reported higher 2008 net income, which increased to $311.9 million, or $2.95 per diluted share, from $304.9 million, or $2.79 per diluted share, a year earlier.

Fourth-quarter 2008 net income was $68.2 million, or 65 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $102.9 million, or 98 cents per diluted share, in the fourth quarter 2007.

"Our ONEOK Partners segment had a record year in 2008, driven by continued volume growth, as well as high commodity prices and wider NGL product price differentials," said John W. Gibson, ONEOK chief executive officer. "In the first nine months of 2008, we saw unprecedented commodity price levels, which began falling in the fourth quarter. The partnership benefited from these higher prices, but we anticipate lower prices in 2009.

"Our distribution segment also had a record year as we continued to implement rate strategies and focused on operating efficiencies to improve financial performance. Our energy services segment had a challenging year in 2008, adversely affected by the commodity markets and weather," said Gibson. "However, we are continuing with our efforts to improve this business -- to have more predictable, less volatile earnings and lower working capital requirements -- while continuing to serve our customers.

"Our ONEOK Partners segment turned in a solid fourth-quarter performance, despite challenges in the energy and financial markets during the second half of the year," Gibson added. "Our distribution segment's performance improved as expected in the quarter, with results in our energy services segment reflecting reduced storage and transportation margins."

ONEOK's fourth-quarter operating income was $218.7 million in 2008, compared with $255.7 million in 2007, reflecting a decrease in storage, marketing and transportation margins in the energy services segment.

ONEOK's 2008 operating income increased to $917.0 million from $822.5 million in 2007. The increase is primarily due to the record performance in the ONEOK Partners segment, which benefited from significantly wider NGL product price differentials, higher realized commodity prices, increased volumes and incremental net margin associated with the North System, an interstate natural gas liquids and refined petroleum products pipeline system that was acquired in October 2007. In addition, the distribution segment contributed higher earnings in 2008, due to the implementation of new rate mechanisms and operating efficiencies. These increases were partially offset by lower storage, marketing and transportation margins in the energy services segment.

Operating costs for the year were $776.9 million, compared with $761.5 million in 2007. The increase is primarily due to incremental operating expenses associated with the acquired North System and higher operating costs at ONEOK Partners' fractionation facilities.

    2008 SUMMARY INCLUDES:

     *    Operating income of $917.0 million, compared with $822.5 million in
          2007;
     *    Increasing the company's dividend 11 percent during the year;
     *    Increasing the company's ownership in ONEOK Partners to 47.7 percent
          by purchasing an additional 5.4 million common units in March 2008
          for a total purchase price of approximately $303.2 million, and
          contributing $9.4 million to maintain the 2 percent general partner
          interest.  ONEOK Partners also completed a public offering of 2.5
          million common units at $58.10 per common unit;
     *    ONEOK Partners completing several large internal growth projects,
          including the Overland Pass Pipeline, and continuing construction on
          the balance of its $2 billion growth program;
     *    Receiving approval to recover the fuel-related portion of bad-debt
          costs through the purchased gas adjustment mechanism in the
          distribution segment's Oklahoma service territory;
     *    Receiving approval in the distribution segment to recover, and earn
          a return on, $12.6 million in capital costs incurred to expand and
          maintain the natural gas distribution system in Oklahoma; recovery
          of, and a return on, $2.9 million in capital investment for safety-
          related and public improvement infrastructure in Kansas; and $1.0
          million in capital recovery in the El Paso, Texas, service area;
     *    Receiving approval of $4.7 million in new rates, annually, in
          several of the distribution segment's Texas service areas;
     *    Receiving approval to recover, and earn a return on, expenses
          associated with the Integrity Management Program in the distribution
          segment's Oklahoma service territory;
     *    Filing for incentive-based rates in the distribution segment's
          Oklahoma service territory;
     *    Distributions declared related to the company's general partner
          interest in ONEOK Partners of $85.5 million for the year;
          distributions declared from the company's limited partner interest
          in ONEOK Partners of $180.6 million for 2008;
     *    ONEOK stand-alone, long-term debt of 44 percent of capitalization at
          year-end 2008. In February 2009, ONEOK repaid $100 million of
          maturing long-term debt;
     *    ONEOK, on a stand-alone basis, at Dec. 31, 2008, having $1.4 billion
          in short-term debt, $332.4 million of cash and cash equivalents, and
          $668.4 million of gas in storage;
     *    ONEOK stand-alone cash flow from continuing operations, before
          changes in working capital, of $551.6 million, which exceeded stand-
          alone capital expenditures and dividends of $382.1 million by $169.5
          million;
     *    ONEOK's three distribution companies being named leading performers
          in emergency response by the American Gas Association;
     *    ONEOK Partners being named the Natural Gas STAR Gathering and
          Processing Partner of the Year by the U. S. Environmental Protection
          Agency; and
     *    ONEOK Partners receiving an award from the Occupational Safety and
          Health Administration (OSHA) for achieving three years of excellence
          in employee health and safety at its Mont Belvieu fractionator, and
          being recognized by OSHA as a STAR Status Site at its Maysville,
          Okla., natural gas processing facility.


    2008 BUSINESS UNIT RESULTS

ONEOK Partners

The ONEOK Partners segment posted fourth-quarter operating income of $133.0 million, compared with $129.7 million in the same quarter 2007.

The increase in fourth-quarter earnings comes primarily from the natural gas liquids pipelines business, which increased $12.1 million from higher volumes, which included $10.3 million from increased volumes on the North System. In addition, the Overland Pass Pipeline became fully operational during the fourth quarter. ONEOK Partners' natural gas liquids gathering and fractionation business benefited $11.4 million from wider NGL product price differentials. These increases were partially offset by reduced earnings in its natural gas gathering and processing business, as a result of $7.8 million from lower commodity prices and $8.6 million from a one-time favorable contract settlement in 2007. Depreciation expense increased $5.0 million in 2008, compared with the fourth quarter 2007, associated with the partnership's completed capital projects.

For the year, operating income increased 44 percent to $644.8 million, compared with $446.8 million in 2007.

Full-year 2008 results reflect a $70.8 million increase in ONEOK Partners' natural gas liquids gathering and fractionation business, as a result of significantly wider NGL product price differentials and a $32.1 million increase from higher NGL gathering and fractionation volumes. The natural gas gathering and processing business increased $58.4 million due to higher realized commodity prices. The natural gas liquids pipelines business benefited $44.3 million from the North System -- which included $10.3 million from higher fourth-quarter volumes -- and $4.3 million from higher volumes on other pipelines. The natural gas pipelines business benefited $11.7 million from higher transportation and storage margins, primarily due to the impact of natural gas prices on retained fuel, and new and renegotiated storage contracts.

Operating costs for the ONEOK Partners' segment were $371.8 million for the full year 2008, compared with $337.4 million in 2007, increasing primarily as a result of incremental operating expenses associated with the North System and higher operating costs at ONEOK Partners' fractionation facilities. Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $11.1 million for 2008, compared with 2007, primarily due to depreciation expense associated with ONEOK Partners' completed capital projects and the acquired North System.

The ONEOK Partners segment's equity earnings from investments for the full year 2008 were $101.4 million, compared with $89.9 million in the same period last year. The increase is primarily due to higher gathering revenues in ONEOK Partners' various investments, as well as an $8.3 million gain on the sale of Bison Pipeline LLC by Northern Border Pipeline, partially offset by reduced volumes on Northern Border Pipeline. ONEOK Partners owns a 50 percent equity interest in Northern Border Pipeline.

The ONEOK Partners segment's capital expenditures for the year ending Dec. 31, 2008, increased to $1.3 billion, compared with $709.9 million in the same period in 2007, as a result of the partnership's internal growth projects. During 2008, ONEOK Partners completed a number of growth projects, including the Overland Pass Pipeline, related NGL infrastructure upgrades, an NGL pipeline extension into the Woodford Shale of Oklahoma, the Fort Union Gas Gathering expansion and Midwestern Gas Transmission's eastern extension pipeline. In addition, the partnership placed the Guardian Pipeline extension and expansion in partial service in December 2008 and full service is expected during the first quarter of 2009.

Distribution

The distribution segment reported fourth-quarter 2008 operating income of $71.2 million versus $60.7 million in the same quarter 2007.

Fourth-quarter 2008 earnings benefited from new rate mechanisms, which contributed $2.5 million in Oklahoma and $1.0 million in Texas. Operating costs decreased to $89.7 million in the fourth quarter 2008 versus $98.8 million in the same period in 2007, primarily due to lower employee-related costs.

The distribution segment reported record 2008 operating income of $188.8 million, compared with $174.1 million last year. The increase resulted primarily from the implementation of new rate mechanisms, which included a $12.4 million increase in Oklahoma from new capital and expense recovery mechanisms, and a $3.3 million increase in Texas.

Operating costs for 2008 decreased to $375.3 million, compared with $377.8 million in 2007, primarily due to $4.3 million in lower employee-related costs and $1.0 million in lower bad-debt expense, partially offset by an increase of $2.4 million in fuel-related vehicle costs.

Residential and commercial volumes increased during 2008, compared with 2007, due to colder temperatures in the Oklahoma and Kansas service territories; however, margins were moderated by weather normalization mechanisms.

Energy Services

The energy services segment posted fourth-quarter operating income of $9.3 million versus $75.7 million in the same quarter 2007.

Fourth-quarter 2008 results, when compared with the same period in 2007, reflect a decrease of $44.7 million in storage and marketing margins as a result of less favorable pricing conditions in 2008, and a decrease of $28.7 million in transportation margins primarily due to narrower natural gas price differentials between the Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent regions.

Operating costs decreased $4.6 million for the quarter, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to lower employee-related costs.

Energy services' full-year 2008 operating income was $75.7 million, compared with $205.4 million in 2007. Compared with the same period a year earlier, 2008 results were lower primarily due to a decrease of $83.3 million in storage and marketing margins, which included hedging activities and a $9.7 million net loss to reflect inventory at the lower of cost or market in the third quarter 2008. In addition, transportation margins decreased $40.3 million, and financial trading margins decreased $13.9 million from the same period in 2007.

During 2008, commodity prices and weather provided a less favorable operating environment, which lowered storage margins when compared with 2007. The realized seasonal storage differential in 2008 was 96 cents per MMBtu, compared with $1.94 per MMBtu realized in 2007. Reductions in the transportation margins in 2008 were primarily due to narrower natural gas price differentials between the Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent regions.

Operating costs for the year decreased to $35.6 million, compared with $39.9 million in 2007, due primarily to lower employee-related costs.

On Dec. 31, 2008, natural gas in storage was 81.9 Bcf, compared with 66.7 Bcf a year earlier. At Jan. 31, 2009, natural gas in storage was 62.6 Bcf. Natural gas storage capacity under lease was 91 Bcf on Dec. 31, 2008, compared with 96 Bcf in 2007.

    The net margin for the energy services segment was derived from the
following sources:


                                         Three Months Ended     Years Ended
                                            December 31,       December 31,
                                            2008    2007      2008     2007
                                               (Millions of dollars)
              Marketing, storage and
               transportation, gross       $67.3   $134.5    $313.4   $409.1
              Less:  Storage and
               transportation costs        (56.7)   (50.5)   (219.8)  (191.9)
               Marketing, storage and
                transportation, net         10.6     84.0      93.6    217.2
              Retail marketing               5.5      4.6      14.8     14.0
              Financial trading              0.7     (0.1)      2.3     16.2
                Net margin                 $16.8    $88.5    $110.7   $247.4


EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL

The management of ONEOK and ONEOK Partners will conduct a joint conference call on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (10 a.m. Central Standard Time). The call will also be carried live on ONEOK's and ONEOK Partners' Web sites.

To participate in the telephone conference call, dial 866-256-9295, pass code 1327308, or log on to the webcast at http://www.oneok.com or http://www.oneokpartners.com.

For those unable to participate in the conference call or the webcast, the replay will be available on ONEOK's Web site, http://www.oneok.com, and ONEOK Partners' Web site, http://www.oneokpartners.com, for 30 days. A recording will be available by phone for seven days. The playback call may be accessed at 866-837-8032, pass code 1327308.

ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) is a diversified energy company. We are the general partner and own 47.7 percent of ONEOK Partners, L.P. (NYSE: OKS), one of the largest publicly traded master limited partnerships, which is a leader in the gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas in the U.S. and owns one of the nation's premier natural gas liquids (NGL) systems, connecting NGL supply in the Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions with key market centers. ONEOK is among the largest natural gas distributors in the United States, serving more than 2 million customers in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Our energy services operation focuses primarily on marketing natural gas and related services throughout the U.S. ONEOK is a Fortune 500 company.

For information about ONEOK, Inc., visit the Web site: http://www.oneok.com.

Some of the statements contained and incorporated in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements relate to our anticipated financial performance, management's plans and objectives for our future operations, our business prospects, the outcome of regulatory and legal proceedings, market conditions and other matters. We make these forward- looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following discussion is intended to identify important factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements include the items identified in the preceding paragraph, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations and other statements contained or incorporated in this news release identified by words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "should," "goal," "forecast," "could," "may," "continue," "might," "potential," "scheduled," and other words and terms of similar meaning.

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward- looking statements. Those factors may affect our operations, markets, products, services and prices. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with the forward-looking statements, factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement include, among others, the following:

     *    the effects of weather and other natural phenomena on our
          operations, including energy sales and demand for our services and
          energy prices;
     *    competition from other United States and Canadian energy suppliers
          and transporters as well as alternative forms of energy, including,
          but not limited to, biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel;
     *    the status of deregulation of retail natural gas distribution;
     *    the capital intensive nature of our businesses;
     *    the profitability of assets or businesses acquired or constructed by
          us;
     *    our ability to make cost-saving changes in operations;
     *    risks of marketing, trading and hedging activities, including the
          risks of changes in energy prices or the financial condition of our
          counterparties;
     *    the uncertainty of estimates, including accruals and costs of
          environmental remediation;
     *    the timing and extent of changes in energy commodity prices;
     *    the effects of changes in governmental policies and regulatory
          actions, including changes with respect to income and other taxes,
          environmental compliance, climate change initiatives, and authorized
          rates or recovery of gas and gas transportation costs;
     *    the impact on drilling and production by factors beyond our control,
          including the demand for natural gas and refinery-grade crude oil;
          producers' desire and ability to obtain necessary permits; reserve
          performance; and capacity constraints on the pipelines that
          transport crude oil, natural gas and NGLs from producing areas and
          our facilities;
     *    changes in demand for the use of natural gas because of market
          conditions caused by concerns about global warming;
     *    the impact of unforeseen changes in interest rates, equity markets,
          inflation rates, economic recession and other external factors over
          which we have no control, including the effect on pension expense
          and funding resulting from changes in stock and bond market returns;
     *    our indebtedness could make us vulnerable to general adverse
          economic and industry conditions, limit our ability to borrow
          additional funds, and/or place us at competitive disadvantages
          compared to our competitors that have less debt, or have other
          adverse consequences;
     *    actions by rating agencies concerning the credit ratings of ONEOK
          and ONEOK Partners;
     *    the results of administrative proceedings and litigation, regulatory
          actions and receipt of expected clearances involving the OCC, KCC,
          Texas regulatory authorities or any other local, state or federal
          regulatory body, including the FERC;
     *    our ability to access capital at competitive rates or on terms
          acceptable to us;
     *    risks associated with adequate supply to our gathering, processing,
          fractionation and pipeline facilities, including production declines
          that outpace new drilling;
     *    the risk that material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our
          internal controls over financial reporting could emerge or that
          minor problems could become significant;
     *    the impact and outcome of pending and future litigation;
     *    the ability to market pipeline capacity on favorable terms,
          including the effects of:
          -    future demand for and prices of natural gas and NGLs;
          -    competitive conditions in the overall energy market;
          -    availability of supplies of Canadian and United States natural
               gas; and
          -    availability of additional storage capacity;
     *    performance of contractual obligations by our customers, service
          providers, contractors and shippers;
     *    the timely receipt of approval by applicable governmental entities
          for construction and operation of our pipeline and other projects
          and required regulatory clearances;
     *    our ability to acquire all necessary permits, consents or other
          approvals in a timely manner, to promptly obtain all necessary
          materials and supplies required for construction, and to construct
          gathering, processing, storage, fractionation and transportation
          facilities without labor or contractor problems;
     *    the mechanical integrity of facilities operated;
     *    demand for our services in the proximity of our facilities;
     *    our ability to control operating costs;
     *    adverse labor relations;
     *    acts of nature, sabotage, terrorism or other similar acts that cause
          damage to our facilities or our suppliers' or shippers' facilities;
     *    economic climate and growth in the geographic areas in which we do
          business;
     *    the risk of a prolonged slowdown in growth or decline in the United
          States economy or the risk of delay in growth recovery in the United
          States economy, including increasing liquidity risks in United
          States credit markets;
     *    the impact of recently issued and future accounting pronouncements
          and other changes in accounting policies;
     *    the possibility of future terrorist attacks or the possibility or
          occurrence of an outbreak of, or changes in, hostilities or changes
          in the political conditions in the Middle East and elsewhere;
     *    the risk of increased costs for insurance premiums, security or
          other items as a consequence of terrorist attacks;
     *    risks associated with pending or possible acquisitions and
          dispositions, including our ability to finance or integrate any such
          acquisitions and any regulatory delay or conditions imposed by
          regulatory bodies in connection with any such acquisitions and
          dispositions;
     *    the possible loss of gas distribution franchises or other adverse
          effects caused by the actions of municipalities;
     *    the impact of unsold pipeline capacity being greater or less than
          expected;
     *    the ability to recover operating costs and amounts equivalent to
          income taxes, costs of property, plant and equipment and regulatory
          assets in our state and FERC-regulated rates;
     *    the composition and quality of the natural gas and NGLs we gather
          and process in our plants and transport on our pipelines;
     *    the efficiency of our plants in processing natural gas and
          extracting and fractionating NGLs;
     *    the impact of potential impairment charges;
     *    the risk inherent in the use of information systems in our
          respective businesses, implementation of new software and hardware,
          and the impact on the timeliness of information for financial
          reporting;
     *    our ability to control construction costs and completion schedules
          of our pipelines and other projects; and
     *    the risk factors listed in the reports we have filed and may file
          with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference.

These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other factors could also have material adverse effects on our future results. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or change in circumstances, expectations or otherwise. OKE-FE

     Analyst Contact:  Dan Harrison
                       918-588-7950
     Media Contact:    Megan Washbourne
                       918-588-7572



    ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                               Three Months Ended          Years Ended
                                   December 31,             December 31,
    (Unaudited)                  2008        2007         2008         2007
                             (Thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

    Revenues                 $2,843,245  $3,984,968  $16,157,433  $13,477,414
    Cost of sales and fuel    2,369,484   3,447,569   14,221,906   11,667,306
    Net Margin                  473,761     537,399    1,935,527    1,810,108
    Operating Expenses
     Operations and
      maintenance               175,334     198,564      694,597      675,575
     Depreciation and
      amortization               64,498      59,506      243,927      227,964
     General taxes               16,236      23,618       82,315       85,935
    Total Operating Expenses    256,068     281,688    1,020,839      989,474
    Gain (Loss) on Sale of
     Assets                         997          16        2,316        1,909
    Operating Income            218,690     255,727      917,004      822,543
    Equity earnings from
     investments                 26,627      24,933      101,432       89,908
    Allowance for equity
     funds used during
     construction                15,118       5,852       50,906       12,538
    Other income                    179       4,488       16,838       21,932
    Other expense               (11,128)     (5,666)     (27,475)      (7,879)
    Interest expense            (81,067)    (68,822)    (264,167)    (256,325)
    Income before Minority
     Interests and Income
     Taxes                      168,419     216,512      794,538      682,717
    Minority interests in
     income of consolidated
     subsidiaries               (53,147)    (58,186)    (288,558)    (193,199)
    Income taxes                (47,098)    (55,402)    (194,071)    (184,597)
    Net Income                  $68,174    $102,924     $311,909     $304,921

    Earnings Per Share of
     Common Stock
      Net Earnings Per Share,
       Basic                      $0.65       $0.99        $2.99        $2.84
      Net Earnings Per Share,
       Diluted                    $0.65       $0.98        $2.95        $2.79

    Average Shares of Common
     Stock (Thousands)
      Basic                     104,520     103,763      104,369      107,346
      Diluted                   105,512     105,555      105,760      109,298

    Dividends Declared Per
     Share of Common Stock        $0.40       $0.36        $1.56        $1.40



    ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                December 31,      December 31,
    (Unaudited)                                     2008              2007
    Assets                                          (Thousands of dollars)

    Current Assets
     Cash and cash equivalents                    $510,058           $19,105
     Accounts receivable, net                    1,265,300         1,723,212
     Gas and natural gas liquids in storage        858,966           841,362
     Commodity exchanges and imbalances             56,248            82,938
     Energy marketing and risk management assets   362,808           143,941
     Other current assets                          324,222           140,917
       Total Current Assets                      3,377,602         2,951,475

    Property, Plant and Equipment
     Property, plant and equipment               9,476,619         7,893,492
     Accumulated depreciation and
      amortization                               2,212,850         2,048,311
       Net Property, Plant and Equipment         7,263,769         5,845,181

    Investments and Other Assets
     Goodwill and intangible assets              1,038,226         1,043,773
     Energy marketing and risk management assets    45,900             3,978
     Investments in unconsolidated affiliates      755,492           756,260
     Other assets                                  645,073           461,367
       Total Investments and Other Assets        2,484,691         2,265,378
         Total Assets                          $13,126,062       $11,062,034



    ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                                December 31,      December 31,
    (Unaudited)                                    2008               2007
    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity           (Thousands of dollars)

    Current Liabilities
     Current maturities of long-term debt         $118,195          $420,479
     Notes payable                               2,270,000           202,600
     Accounts payable                            1,122,761         1,436,005
     Commodity exchanges and imbalances            188,030           252,095
     Energy marketing and risk management
      liabilities                                  175,006           133,903
     Other current liabilities                     319,772           436,585
       Total Current Liabilities                 4,193,764         2,881,667

    Long-term Debt, excluding current
     maturities                                  4,112,581         4,215,046

    Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities
     Deferred income taxes                         890,815           680,543
     Energy marketing and risk management
      liabilities                                   46,311            26,861
     Other deferred credits                        715,052           486,645
       Total Deferred Credits and Other
        Liabilities                              1,652,178         1,194,049

    Commitments and Contingencies

    Minority Interests in Consolidated
     Subsidiaries                                1,079,369           801,964

    Shareholders' Equity
     Common stock, $0.01 par value:
      authorized 300,000,000 shares; issued
      121,647,007 shares and outstanding
      104,845,231 shares at December 31, 2008;
      issued 121,115,217 shares and outstanding
      103,987,476 shares at December 31, 2007        1,216             1,211
     Paid in capital                             1,301,153         1,273,800
     Accumulated other comprehensive loss          (70,616)           (7,069)
     Retained earnings                           1,553,033         1,411,492
     Treasury stock, at cost: 16,801,776
      shares at December 31, 2008 and 17,127,741
      shares at December 31, 2007                 (696,616)         (710,126)
       Total Shareholders' Equity                2,088,170         1,969,308
         Total Liabilities and Shareholders'
          Equity                               $13,126,062       $11,062,034



    ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                         Years Ended
                                                         December 31,
    (Unaudited)                                     2008              2007
    Operating Activities                            (Thousands of dollars)
     Net income                                   $311,909          $304,921
     Depreciation and amortization                 243,927           227,964
     Allowance for equity funds used
      during construction                          (50,906)          (12,538)
     Gain on sale of assets                         (2,316)           (1,909)
     Minority interests in income of
      consolidated subsidiaries                    288,558           193,199
     Equity earnings from investments             (101,432)          (89,908)
     Distributions received from
      unconsolidated affiliates                     93,261           103,785
     Deferred income taxes                         165,191            65,017
     Stock-based compensation expense               30,791            20,909
     Allowance for doubtful accounts                13,476            14,578
     Inventory adjustment, net                       9,658                 -
     Investment securities gains                   (11,142)                -
     Changes in assets and liabilities
      (net of acquisition and disposition
      effects):
      Accounts and notes receivable                433,859          (378,876)
      Gas and natural gas liquids in storage      (370,662)           88,937
      Accounts payable                            (340,584)          343,144
      Commodity exchanges and imbalances, net      (37,375)           40,572
      Unrecovered purchased gas costs              (35,790)            9,530
      Accrued interest                              16,002             9,001
      Energy marketing and risk management
       assets and liabilities                       60,846            41,649
      Fair value of firm commitments                   505             5,631
      Pension and postretirement benefit plans     (83,254)           28,573
      Other assets and liabilities                (158,845)           15,481
      Cash Provided by Operating Activities        475,677         1,029,660
    Investing Activities
     Changes in investments in
      unconsolidated affiliates                      3,963            (3,668)
     Acquisitions                                    2,450          (299,560)
     Capital expenditures (less allowance for
      equity funds used during construction)    (1,473,136)         (883,703)
     Proceeds from sale of assets                    2,630             4,022
     Proceeds from insurance                         9,792                 -
     Changes in short-term investments                   -            31,125
       Cash Used in Investing Activities        (1,454,301)       (1,151,784)
    Financing Activities
     Borrowing (repayment) of notes
      payable, net                               1,197,400           196,600
     Borrowing of notes
      payable with maturities over 90 days         870,000                 -
     Issuance of debt, net of issuance costs             -           598,146
     Long-term debt financing costs                      -            (5,805)
     Payment of debt                              (416,040)          (13,588)
     Repurchase of common stock                        (29)         (390,213)
     Issuance of common stock                       16,495            20,730
     Issuance of common units, net of discounts    146,969                 -
     Dividends paid                               (162,785)         (150,188)
     Distributions to minority interests          (201,658)         (182,891)
     Other financing activities                     19,225               170
       Cash Provided by Financing Activities     1,469,577            72,961
         Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents       490,953           (49,163)
         Cash and Cash Equivalents at
          Beginning of Period                       19,105            68,268
         Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of
          Period                                  $510,058           $19,105
    Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
     Cash Paid for Interest                       $237,577          $253,678
     Cash Paid for Taxes                           $82,965           $57,281



    ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    INFORMATION AT A GLANCE
                                           Three Months
                                              Ended          Years Ended
                                           December 31,      December 31,
    (Unaudited)                            2008    2007      2008    2007
                                       (Millions of dollars, except as noted)
    ONEOK Partners
    Net margin                            $265.8  $259.1  $1,140.7  $895.9
    Operating costs                        $99.1  $100.0    $371.8  $337.4
    Depreciation and amortization          $34.4   $29.4    $124.8  $113.7
    Operating income                      $133.0  $129.7    $644.8  $446.8
    Natural gas gathered (BBtu/d)          1,136   1,177     1,164   1,171
    Natural gas processed (BBtu/d)           639     641       641     621
    Natural gas transported (MMcf/d)       3,749   3,639     3,665   3,579
    Residue gas sales (BBtu/d)               279     287       279     281
    NGLs gathered (MBbl/d)                   290     267       276     248
    NGL sales (MBbl/d)                       306     259       283     231
    NGLs fractionated (MBbl/d)               356     385       373     356
    NGLs transported (MBbl/d)                391     305       333     299
    Capital expenditures                  $393.7  $301.5  $1,253.9  $709.9
    Conway-to-Mount Belvieu OPIS average
     price differential Ethane ($/gallon)  $0.12   $0.07     $0.15   $0.06
    Natural Gas Gathering and Processing:
    Realized composite NGL sales prices
     ($/gallon)                            $0.78   $1.31     $1.27   $1.06
    Realized condensate sales price
     ($/Bbl)                              $63.05  $85.16    $89.30  $67.35
    Realized natural gas sales price
     ($/MMBtu)                             $4.42   $6.24     $7.34   $6.21
    Realized gross processing spread
     ($/MMBtu)                             $9.15   $7.14     $7.47   $5.21

    Distribution
    Net margin                            $190.4  $189.0    $680.9  $663.6
    Operating costs                        $89.7   $98.8    $375.3  $377.8
    Depreciation and amortization          $29.5   $29.5    $116.8  $111.6
    Operating income                       $71.2   $60.7    $188.8  $174.1
    Customers per employee                   706     727       719     732
    Capital expenditures                   $42.6   $53.3    $169.0  $162.0
    Natural gas volumes (Bcf)
     Gas Sales                              57.8    56.4     174.8   176.6
     Transportation                         56.0    55.4     219.4   204.0
    Natural gas margins
     Gas Sales                            $156.6  $157.6    $552.3  $547.6
     Transportation                        $23.2   $21.8     $87.3   $80.6

    Energy Services
    Net margin                             $16.8   $88.5    $110.7  $247.4
    Operating costs                         $7.6   $12.2     $35.6   $39.9
    Depreciation and amortization           $0.2    $0.5      $0.9    $2.1
    Operating income                        $9.3   $75.7     $75.7  $205.4
    Natural gas marketed (Bcf)               294     305     1,160   1,191
    Natural gas gross margin ($/Mcf)       $0.04   $0.29     $0.07   $0.19
    Physically settled volumes (Bcf)         602     576     2,359   2,370



    ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    CONSOLIDATING INCOME STATEMENT


                                         Three Months Ended December 31, 2008
                                                            Consoli-
                                                   ONEOK     dating   Consoli-
    (Unaudited)                            ONEOK  Partners  Entries    dated
                                                  (Millions of dollars)
    Operating Income
         ONEOK Partners                      $-       $133      $-      $133
         Distribution                          71      -         -        71
         Energy Services                        9      -         -         9
         Other                                  6      -         -         6
    Operating Income                           86      133       -       219

    Equity in earnings of ONEOK Partners       69      -         (69)    -
    Other income (expense)                     (8)      38       -        30
    Interest expense                          (38)     (43)      -       (81)
    Minority interest                         -        -         (53)    (53)
    Income taxes                              (41)      (6)      -       (47)

    Net Income                                $68     $122     $(122)    $68



                                             Year Ended December 31, 2008
                                                            Consoli-
                                                   ONEOK     dating   Consoli-
    (Unaudited)                            ONEOK  Partners  Entries    dated
                                                (Millions of dollars)
    Operating Income
         ONEOK Partners                      $-       $645      $-      $645
         Distribution                         189      -         -       189
         Energy Services                       76      -         -        76
         Other                                  7      -         -         7
    Operating Income                          272      645       -       917

    Equity in earnings of ONEOK Partners      337      -        (337)    -
    Other income (expense)                     (2)     144       -       142
    Interest expense                         (113)    (151)      -      (264)
    Minority interest                         -        -        (289)   (289)
    Income taxes                             (182)     (12)      -      (194)

    Net Income                               $312     $626     $(626)   $312



    ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    CONSOLIDATING INCOME STATEMENT

                                         Three Months Ended December 31, 2007
                                                            Consoli-
                                                   ONEOK     dating   Consoli-
    (Unaudited)                            ONEOK  Partners  Entries    dated
                                                (Millions of dollars)
    Operating Income
         ONEOK Partners                      $-       $130      $-      $130
         Distribution                          61      -         -        61
         Energy Services                       76      -         -        76
         Other                                (11)     -         -       (11)
    Operating Income                          126      130       -       256

    Equity in earnings of ONEOK Partners       63      -         (63)    -
    Other income (expense)                     (4)      33       -        29
    Interest expense                          (29)     (40)      -       (69)
    Minority interest                         -        -         (58)    (58)
    Income taxes                              (53)      (2)      -       (55)

    Net Income                               $103     $121     $(121)   $103



                                             Year Ended December 31, 2007
                                                            Consoli-
                                                   ONEOK     dating   Consoli-
    (Unaudited)                            ONEOK  Partners  Entries    dated
                                                (Millions of dollars)
    Operating Income
         ONEOK Partners                      $-       $447      $-      $447
         Distribution                         174      -         -       174
         Energy Services                      205      -         -       205
         Other                                 (3)     -         -        (3)
    Operating Income                          376      447       -       823

    Equity in earnings of ONEOK Partners      215      -        (215)    -
    Other income (expense)                      7      109       -       116
    Interest expense                         (117)    (139)      -      (256)
    Minority interest                         -        -        (193)   (193)
    Income taxes                             (176)      (9)      -      (185)

    Net Income                               $305     $408     $(408)   $305



    ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    REGULATION G GAAP RECONCILIATION
    ONEOK, Inc. Stand-Alone Cash Flow, Before Changes in Working Capital

                                                            Year Ended
    (Unaudited)                                         December 31, 2008
                                                      (Millions of dollars)
    Net income                                                $311.9
    Depreciation and amortization                              119.2
    Gain on sale of assets                                      (1.6)
    Distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates      251.5
    Income from equity investments, net                       (337.5)
    Deferred income taxes                                      165.2
    Stock based compensation expense                            30.8
    Allowance for doubtful accounts                             13.5
    Inventory adjustment, net                                    9.7
    Investment securities gains                                (11.1)
    Cash flow, before changes in working capital (a)          $551.6

    (a) ONEOK, Inc. stand-alone cash flow, before changes in working capital,
        is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management, industry analysts,
        investors, lenders, and rating agencies to assess the financial
        performance and the operating results of our fundamental business
        activities.  ONEOK, Inc. stand-alone cash flow, before changes in
        working capital, should not be considered in isolation or as a
        substitute for net income, income from operations, or other measures
        of cash flow.

SOURCE  ONEOK, Inc.

    -0-                             02/23/2009
    /CONTACT:  Analyst, Dan Harrison, +1-918-588-7950, Media, Megan
Washbourne, +1-918-588-7572, both of ONEOK, Inc./
    /Web site:  http://www.oneok.com /
    (OKE OKS)

CO:  ONEOK, Inc.; ONEOK Partners, L.P.

ST:  Oklahoma
IN:  OIL
SU:  ERN CCA

ND-KB
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8161 02/23/2009 17:14 EST http://www.prnewswire.com