Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

Reduced volatility in energy prices or new government regulations could discourage our storage customers from holding positions in Refined Products and crude oil, which could adversely affect our business.

The demand for the storage services acquired as part of the Magellan Acquisition has resulted in part from customers’ desire to have the ability to take advantage of profit opportunities created by the volatility in prices of Refined Products and crude oil. Periods of prolonged stability or declines in Refined Product and crude oil prices could reduce demand for our storage services. If federal, state or international regulations are passed that discourage our customers from storing these commodities, demand for our storage services could decrease, in which case we may be unable to identify customers willing to contract for such services or be forced to reduce the rates we charge for our services. The realization of any of these risks could adversely affect our business.

We depend on producers, gathering systems, refineries and pipelines owned and operated by others to supply our assets in our Refined Products and Crude segment, and any closures, interruptions or reduced activity levels at these facilities may adversely affect our business.

Following the Magellan Acquisition, we depend on crude oil production and on connections with gathering systems, refineries and pipelines owned and operated by third parties to supply our assets in our Refined Products and Crude segment. We cannot control or predict the amount of crude oil that will be delivered to us by the gathering systems and pipelines that supply our crude oil assets, nor can we control or predict the output of refineries that supply our Refined Products pipelines and terminals. Changes in the quality or quantity of this crude oil production, outages at these refineries or reduced or interrupted throughput on these gathering systems or pipelines due to weather-related or other natural causes, competitive forces, testing, line repair, damage, reduced operating pressures or other causes could reduce shipments on our pipelines or result in our being unable to receive products at or deliver products from our terminals or receive products for processing at our condensate splitter, any of which could adversely affect our business.

Refineries that supply or are supplied by our facilities are subject to regulatory developments, including but not limited to low carbon fuel standards, regulations regarding fuel specifications, plant emissions and safety and security requirements that could significantly increase the cost of their operations and reduce their operating margins. In addition, the profitability of the refineries that supply our facilities is subject to regional and global supply and demand dynamics that are difficult to predict. A period of sustained weak demand or increased costs could make refining uneconomic for some refineries, including those directly or indirectly connected to our Refined Products and crude oil pipelines. The closure of a refinery that delivers product to or receives crude oil from our pipelines could reduce the volumes we transport. Further, the closure of these or other refineries could result in our customers electing to store and distribute Refined Products and crude oil through their proprietary terminals, which could result in a reduction in demand for our storage services.

Rate regulation, challenges by shippers of the rates we charge for transportation on our pipelines or changes in the jurisdictional characterization of our assets or activities by federal, state or local regulatory agencies may reduce the amount of cash we generate.

The FERC regulates the rates we can charge and the terms and conditions we can offer for interstate transportation service on our pipelines. State regulatory authorities regulate the rates we can charge and the terms and conditions we can offer for intrastate movements on our pipelines. The determination of the interstate or intrastate character of shipments on our pipelines may change over time, which may change the regulatory framework and the rates we are allowed to charge for transportation and other related services. Shippers may protest our pipeline tariff filings, and the FERC or state regulatory authorities may investigate and require changes to tariff terms as a result of the protests or complaints. Further, other than for rates set under market-based rate authority, the FERC may order refunds of amounts collected under interstate rates that are determined to be in excess of a just and reasonable level. State regulatory authorities could take similar measures for intrastate tariffs. In addition, shippers may challenge by complaint the lawfulness of tariff rates that have become final and effective. If existing rates are determined to be in excess of a just and reasonable level, we could be required to pay refunds to shippers, reduce rates and make other concessions.

The FERC’s ratemaking methodologies may limit our ability to increase rates by amounts sufficient to reflect our actual cost or may delay the use of rates that reflect increased costs. We use the FERC’s indexing methodology to establish our rates in approximately 30% of the markets serviced by our Refined Products pipelines. The FERC’s indexing methodology is subject to review every five years and currently allows a pipeline to change its rates each year to a new ceiling level. When the change in the ceiling level is negative, we are required to reduce our rates that are subject to the FERC’s indexing methodology.

The FERC and most relevant state regulatory authorities allow us to establish rates based on conditions in competitive markets without regard to the FERC’s index level or our cost-of-service. We establish market-based rates in approximately 70% of the markets for our Refined Products pipelines. The tariffs on most of our long-haul crude oil pipelines are at negotiated rates, but are still subject to regulation by the FERC or state agencies and subject to protest by shippers. If we were to lose our market-based rate authority, or if our negotiated rates were determined to not be just and reasonable, we could be required to establish rates on some other basis, such as our cost-of-service. Establishing our rates through a cost-of-service filing could be expensive and could result in tariff reductions, which would adversely affect our business.

Our gas liquids blending activities subject us to federal regulations that govern renewable fuel requirements in the U.S.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 expanded the required use of renewable fuels in the U.S. Each year, the EPA establishes a renewable volume obligation (“RVO”) requirement for refiners and fuel manufacturers based on overall quotas established by the federal government. By virtue of our gas liquids blending activity and resulting gasoline production, we are an obligated party and receive an annual RVO from the EPA. We typically purchase renewable energy credits, called RINs, to meet this obligation. Increases in the cost or decreases in the availability of RINs could have an adverse impact on our business.

Our business could be affected adversely by union disputes and strikes or work stoppages by our unionized employees.

As of September 25, 2023, approximately 4% of our workforce was represented by the United Steelworkers and covered by a collective bargaining agreement expiring January 2026. We could experience a work stoppage in the future as a result of disagreements with the labor union. A prolonged work stoppage could have an adverse effect on our business.

The failure to successfully combine the businesses of ONEOK and Magellan may adversely affect our future results.

The success of the Magellan Acquisition will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from combining the businesses of ONEOK and Magellan. To realize these anticipated benefits, ONEOK’s and Magellan’s businesses must be successfully combined. If the businesses are not successfully combined, the anticipated benefits of the Magellan Acquisition may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected. In addition, the integration may result in additional and unforeseen expenses, which could reduce the anticipated benefits of the Magellan Acquisition. It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, as well as the disruption of our ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in our standards, controls, procedures and policies. Any or all of those occurrences could affect adversely the combined company’s ability to maintain relationships with customers and employees after the Magellan Acquisition or to achieve the anticipated benefits of the Magellan Acquisition. Integration efforts between the two companies will also divert management attention and resources. These integration matters could have an adverse effect on us.

Securities class action lawsuits and derivative lawsuits are often brought against public companies that have entered into acquisition, merger or other business combination agreements. Even if such a lawsuit is without merit, defending against these claims can result in substantial costs and divert management time and resources. An adverse judgment could result in monetary damages, which could have a negative impact on our liquidity and financial condition. Lawsuits that may be brought against us or our directors could also seek, among other things, injunctive relief or other equitable relief. Additionally, the defense or settlement of any lawsuits or claims against us or Magellan that were unresolved at the time of the Magellan Acquisition could affect adversely the combined company’s business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

Our investors should consider the risks set forth in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of our Annual Report that could affect us and our business. Although we have tried to discuss key factors, our investors need to be aware that other risks may prove to be important in the future. New risks may emerge at any time, and we cannot predict such risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our financial performance. Investors should consider carefully the discussion of risks and the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report, including “Forward-Looking Statements,” which are included in Part I, Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

**ITEM 2.**UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Not applicable.

**ITEM 3.**DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not applicable.

**ITEM 4.**MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.