TULSA, Okla., Sept 13, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- For the first time, ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE), was named one of FORTUNE Magazine's 100 Fastest- Growing Companies for 2006. The list, comprised of public companies, appears in the September 18, 2006, issue of FORTUNE and is available online now at http://www.fortune.com.
ONEOK ranked no. 55 overall, was in the top two for fastest-growing by revenue growth at 118 percent and is one of only three Oklahoma-headquartered companies on the list. According to FORTUNE, ONEOK's earnings per share grew 57 percent, while its total return grew 25 percent over the three-year period.
"It's an honor to be recognized among the nation's fastest-growing companies," said David Kyle, chairman, president and chief executive officer of ONEOK. "We have had a commitment to grow the company and create value for our shareholders, and it is certainly gratifying that we are now being recognized in this manner.
"This is quite an accomplishment for all employees and I am sure they are proud of this honor. Without their dedication and commitment, our success is not possible," he stated.
In February of this year, ONEOK was named one of FORTUNE Magazine's most- admired companies. "To receive the fastest-growing and most-admired company recognition in the same year -- our centennial year -- makes 2006 especially meaningful," added Kyle. "And as we move ahead, I'm confident that the future will continue to bring great things to ONEOK."
According to FORTUNE, in order to qualify for the fastest-growing company listing, a company must have posted a compound annual growth in revenue and earnings per share (EPS) of at least 25 percent annually over the three years ended on or before March 31, 2006. Other criteria included incorporation in the U.S., market capitalization, stock price, trading history, revenue and net income.
All companies that met these criteria were ranked by their revenue growth rate, EPS growth rate, and three-year annualized total return to investors for the period ended June 30, 2006. The overall rank is based on the sum of the three ranks.
ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) is a diversified energy company. We are the general partner and own 45.7 percent of ONEOK Partners, L.P. (NYSE: OKS), one of the largest publicly traded 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 much of the natural gas and NGL supply in the Mid-Continent 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. OKE
For information about ONEOK, Inc. visit the Web site: www.oneok.com.
Analyst Contact: Dan Harrison, 918-588-7950
Media Contact: Nancy Owens, 918-588-7570
SOURCE ONEOK, Inc.
Analyst Contact: Dan Harrison, +1-918-588-7950; Media Contact: Nancy Owens,
+1-918-588-7570, both of ONEOK, Inc.
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