The board of directors of Williams Companies, Inc. has approved a regular dividend of $0.33875 on the company's common stock, payable March 25, 2013, to holders of record at the close of business on March 8, 2013. The first-quarter 2013 dividend is an increase of $0.01375, or 4.2%, over the previous quarterly dividend of $0.325 per share. The new amount is an increase of $0.08, or 30.9%, over the first-quarter 2012 dividend. The increased dividend is consistent with the company's previously announced plan to increase its dividend more frequently - with increases every quarter.

The company continues to expect the full-year dividend it pays shareholders in each 2013 and 2014 to increase by 20% - to $1.44 and $1.75 per share, respectively. The company's full-year dividend for 2012 was $1.20 per share. The expected quarterly increases in Williams' dividend are subject to quarterly approval of the company's board of directors.