UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
In the Matter of
| NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY | THIRD |
| NATIONAL FUEL GAS DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION | CERTIFICATE |
| NATIONAL FUEL GAS SUPPLY CORPORATION | PURSUANT TO |
| HORIZON ENERGY DEVELOPMENT, INC. | RULE 24 |
| AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES | |
| HIGHLAND FOREST RESOURCES, INC. | |
| LEIDY HUB, INC. | |
| DATA-TRACK ACCOUNT SERVICES, INC. | |
| SENECA INDEPENDENCE PIPELINE COMPANY | |
| SENECA RESOURCES CORPORATION | |
| AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES | |
| UPSTATE ENERGY INC. | |
| NIAGARA INDEPENDENCE MARKETING COMPANY | |
| NATIONAL FUEL RESOURCES, INC. | |
| HORIZON POWER, INC. |
File No. 70-10074
(Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935)
THIS IS TO CERTIFY, pursuant to Rule 24, that certain transactions proposed by National Fuel Gas Company (“National”) and its subsidiaries, National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (“Distribution Corporation”), National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation (“Supply Corporation”), Horizon Energy Development, Inc. (“Horizon Energy”) and its subsidiaries, Highland Forest Resources, Inc. (“Highland”), Leidy Hub, Inc. (“Leidy”), Data-Track Account Services, Inc. (“Data-Track”), Seneca Independence Pipeline Company (“SIP”), Seneca Resources Corporation (“Seneca”) and its subsidiaries, Upstate Energy Inc. (“Upstate”), Niagara Independence Marketing Company (“NIM”), National Fuel Resources, Inc. (“NFR”) and Horizon Power, Inc. (“Power”) (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), in their Application-Declaration on Form U-1, as amended (“Application-Declaration”), in SEC File No. 70-10074, have been carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions of, and for the purposes as represented by, said Application-Declaration and the Order of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) (HCAR No. 35-27600, dated November 12, 2002) with respect thereto.
1. EXTERNAL FINANCING BY NATIONAL
a. Common Stock
During the quarter ended September 30, 2003 (the "Quarter"), National issued the following shares of common stock through the following plans:
Number of Newly Number of Shares Number of Shares Exchanged as
Name Of Plan Issued Shares Purchased in Open Market Consideration For Share Issuances
Direct Stock Purchase and 91,648 -0- -0-
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Tax Deferred Savings 69,814 -0- -0-
Plans (401(k))
Employee Stock Ownership Plan -0- 2,232 -0-
Thrift Plan -0- 7,952 -0-
1997 Award & Option Plan 16,800 -0- 140
1993 Award & Option Plan 96,099 -0- 4,207
1984 Stock Plan -0- -0- -0-
1983 Incentive Stock Option Plan -0- -0- -0-
Retainer Policy for 2,400 -0- -0-
Outside Directors
Total 276,761 10,184 4,347
Net New Shares 272,414
Aggregate gross consideration received upon issuance of 272,414 shares: $6,154,223.29.
Other than as set forth above, National did not sell any common stock during the Quarter. National did not issue any common stock as consideration in connection with any acquisition during the Quarter.
On September 11, 2003, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of National awarded 125,000 stock options pursuant to the National Fuel Gas Company 1997 Award and Option Plan. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of National Fuel did not award any shares of restricted stock, performance units, performance share or other common stock-based awards.
b. Preferred Securities
National has no preferred securities outstanding.
c. Long-Term Debt
During the Quarter, National redeemed $62,000 principal amount of its $97,700,000 - 6.50% Notes due 2022 at a price of 100%, plus accrued interest in accordance with the “death put” provisions of those Notes. As of the end of the Quarter, there were $97,400,000 of such Notes still outstanding.
d. Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units
National did not issue any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units during the Quarter.
e. Short-term Debt
(1) Short-term Notes
National issued short-term notes (in all cases having maturities of no more than 270 days) to banks or other financial institutions during the Quarter. The maximum amount of such notes outstanding at any time during the Quarter was $185,500,000.
(2) Commercial Paper
National sold commercial paper during the Quarter through Merrill Lynch Money Markets, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and/or Goldman, Sachs & Co. The maximum amount of commercial paper outstanding at any time during the Quarter was $190,900,000.
(3) Total Short-term Debt
The maximum aggregate amount of short-term debt securities of National outstanding at any time during the Quarter was $340,600,000.
2. FINANCING SUBSIDIARIES AND SPECIAL PURPOSE SUBSIDIARIES
National did not organize any new Financing Subsidiaries or Special Purpose Subsidiaries during the Quarter. In connection with the sale of its Southeast Saskatchewan oil properties, National sold Seneca New Brunswick L.P. during the Quarter. National’s Financing Subsidiaries and Special Purpose Subsidiaries are as follows:
------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------
Seneca Player Corp. 3062782 Nova Scotia 3062783 Nova Scotia
Co. Co.
------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------
Balance sheet account fully consolidated fully consolidated fully consolidated
where investment and into National into National into National
cost booked
------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------
Form of organization corporation unlimited liability unlimited liability
company company
------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------
Percentage owned by 100% 100% 100%
National or a
Nonutility Subsidiary
------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------
Identification of other N/A N/A N/A
owners if not 100% owned
------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------
Purpose of investment increase tax increase tax increase tax
in subsidiary efficiencies efficiencies efficiencies
------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------
Securities authorized 1,000 shares of 1,000,000 shares, in 1,000,000 shares, in
to be issued common stock such classes, and such classes, and
with such rights and with such rights and
conditions, as conditions, as
directors may directors may
determine determine
------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------
Information regarding National's investments in these subsidiaries is filed confidentially pursuant to Rule 104(b).
3. FINANCING BY SUBSIDIARIES
Distribution Corporation issued short-term debt securities through the system money pool (“Money Pool”) as set forth below under Section 4. The Nonutility Subsidiaries did not engage in financing transactions other than exempt transactions.
4. MONEY POOL
During the Quarter, National coordinated the borrowing requirements of certain Subsidiaries through the money pool. For each participant in the Money Pool, the following table lists the maximum amount of borrowings through, and the maximum amount of investments made in, the Money Pool during the Quarter:
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Maximum Borrowings
Through Money Pool Maximum Investments
($) in Money Pool ($)
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
National n/a 46,500,000
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Distribution Corporation 93,000,000 11,100,000
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Supply Corporation 13,300,000 0
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Horizon Energy n/a 900,000
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Highland 204,600,000 0
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Leidy 0 800,000
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Data-Track 0 500,000
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
SIP 14,400,000 0
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Seneca 73,600,000 0
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Upstate 48,300,000 0
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
NIM 0 0
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
NFR 0 51,100,000
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Power 0 0
---------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
The interest rates applied to Money Pool borrowings and investments during the Quarter are set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.
5. GUARANTEES
During the Quarter, National issued two guarantees on behalf of NFR, in the following amounts: $1,000,000 and $10,000,000.
National issued one guarantee on behalf of Seneca Resources Corporation in the amount of $25,000,000.
The maximum amount of guarantees and credit support that National had outstanding on behalf of its Subsidiaries at any time during the Quarter was $592,252,266. The guarantees and credit support relate primarily to: (i) obligations under derivative financial instruments, which are included on the consolidated balance sheet in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133; (ii) NFR obligations to purchase gas or to purchase gas transportation/storage services where the amounts due on those obligations each month are included on National’s consolidated balance sheet as a current liability; and (iii) other obligations which are reflected on National’s consolidated balance sheet. National believes that the likelihood it would be required to make payments under the guarantees is remote.
6. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS
7. CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE OF MAJORITY-OWNED NONUTILITY SUBSIDIARIES
8. NONUTILITY SUBSIDIARY REORGANIZATIONS
During the Quarter, National reorganized its Canadian exploration and production subsidiaries in connection with the sale of its Southeast Saskatchewan oil properties. The structure of National’s wholly owned exploration and production subsidiary, Seneca Resources Corporation, and its Canadian operations is now as follows:
9. OTHER ITEMS
National filed a Form U-6B-2 on August 29, 2003.
National’s consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2003 is included in National’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.
Distribution Corporation’s balance sheet as of September 30, 2003 is set forth in Exhibit 2 hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference and filed confidentially pursuant to Rule 104(b).
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the undersigned companies have duly caused this Second Certificate Pursuant to Rule 24 to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY |
| By: /s/ P. C. Ackerman |
| P. C. Ackerman |
| Chairman, President & CEO |
| NATIONAL FUEL GAS DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION |
| By: /s/ D. F. Smith |
| D. F. Smith |
| President |
| NATIONAL FUEL GAS SUPPLY CORPORATION |
| By: /s/ D. J. Seeley |
| D. J. Seeley |
| President |
| HORIZON ENERGY DEVELOPMENT, INC. |
| By: /s/ P. C. Ackerman |
| P. C. Ackerman |
| President |
| HIGHLAND FOREST RESOURCES, INC. |
| By: /s/ J. A. Beck |
| J. A. Beck |
| President |
| LEIDY HUB, INC. |
| By: /s/ W. E. DeForest |
| W. E. DeForest |
| President |
| DATA-TRACK ACCOUNT SERVICES, INC. |
| By: /s/ P. C. Ackerman |
| P. C. Ackerman |
| President |
| SENECA INDEPENDENCE PIPELINE COMPANY |
| By: /s/ W. E. DeForest |
| W. E. DeForest |
| President, Secretary & Treasurer |
| SENECA RESOURCES CORPORATION |
| By: /s/ J. A. Beck |
| J. A. Beck |
| President |
| UPSTATE ENERGY INC. |
| By: /s/ B. H. Hale |
| B. H. Hale |
| President |
| NIAGARA INDEPENDENCE MARKETING COMPANY |
| By: /s/ T. L. Atkins |
| T. L. Atkins |
| Treasurer |
| NATIONAL FUEL RESOURCES, INC. |
| By: /s/ D. L. DeCarolis |
| D. L. DeCarolis |
| Vice President and Secretary |
| HORIZON POWER, INC. |
| By: /s/ B. H. Hale |
| B. H. Hale |
| President |
Dated: December 17, 2003