Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008 or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number: 001-14901

CONSOL Energy Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   51-0337383

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1800 Washington Road

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  15241
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(412) 831-4000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant; (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes   x     No   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer   x     Accelerated filer   ¨     Non-accelerated filer   ¨      Smaller Reporting Company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes   ¨     No   x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

 

Shares outstanding as of April 15, 2008

Common stock, $0.01 par value   182,769,860

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

          Page
ITEM 1.    CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
  

Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007

   1
  

Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007

   2
  

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2008

   4
  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007

   5
  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   6
ITEM 2.   

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   28
ITEM 3.   

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

   45
ITEM 4.   

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

   46
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.   

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

   47
ITEM 6.   

EXHIBITS

   48


Table of Contents

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.    CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2007  

Sales—Outside

   $ 886,325     $ 833,100  

Sales—Gas Royalty Interests

     16,504       12,182  

Sales—Purchased Gas

     3,539       1,159  

Freight—Outside

     44,744       43,633  

Other Income

     74,619       25,111  
                

Total Revenue and Other Income

     1,025,731       915,185  

Cost of Goods Sold and Other Operating Charges (exclusive of depreciation, depletion and amortization shown below)

     636,728       519,249  

Gas Royalty Interests’ Costs

     16,074       10,638  

Purchased Gas Costs

     3,421       1,019  

Freight Expense

     44,744       43,633  

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

     30,470       26,009  

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     92,728       76,789  

Interest Expense

     10,176       7,263  

Taxes Other Than Income

     71,606       68,278  
                

Total Costs

     905,947       752,878  
                

Earnings Before Income Taxes and Minority Interest

     119,784       162,307  

Income Taxes

     35,553       42,934  
                

Earnings Before Minority Interest

     84,231       119,373  

Minority Interest

     (9,149 )     (6,111 )
                

Net Income

   $ 75,082     $ 113,262  
                

Basic Earnings Per Share

   $ 0.41     $ 0.62  
                

Dilutive Earnings Per Share

   $ 0.41     $ 0.61  
                

Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:

    

Basic

     182,572,985       182,371,296  
                

Dilutive

     185,192,551       184,815,136  
                

Dividends Paid Per Share

   $ 0.10     $ 0.07  
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

1


Table of Contents

CONSOL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     (Unaudited)
March 31,
2008
   December 31,
2007

ASSETS

     

Current Assets:

     

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 62,775    $ 41,651

Accounts and Notes Receivable:

     

Trade

     224,002      180,545

Other Receivables

     99,518      69,771

Inventories

     184,360      163,193

Deferred Income Taxes

     158,467      130,820

Recoverable Income Taxes

     12,098      19,090

Prepaid Expenses

     62,933      78,085
             

Total Current Assets

     804,153      683,155

Property, Plant and Equipment:

     

Property, Plant and Equipment

     9,062,145      8,945,312

Less—Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     4,011,091      3,980,270
             

Total Property, Plant and Equipment—Net

     5,051,054      4,965,042

Other Assets:

     

Deferred Income Taxes

     387,223      374,811

Investment in Affiliates

     66,104      94,866

Other

     79,237      90,216
             

Total Other Assets

     532,564      559,893
             

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 6,387,771    $ 6,208,090
             

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

CONSOL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     (Unaudited)
March 31,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current Liabilities:

    

Accounts Payable

   $ 218,510     $ 238,312  

Short-Term Notes Payable

     280,000       247,500  

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt

     18,786       18,283  

Other Accrued Liabilities

     602,752       512,302  
                

Total Current Liabilities

     1,120,048       1,016,397  

Long-Term Debt:

    

Long-Term Debt

     411,256       398,077  

Capital Lease Obligations

     86,610       90,848  
                

Total Long-Term Debt

     497,866       488,925  

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:

    

Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions

     2,383,283       2,336,809  

Pneumoconiosis Benefits

     178,848       171,896  

Mine Closing

     408,050       399,633  

Workers’ Compensation

     130,195       118,356  

Deferred Revenue

     —         3,162  

Salary Retirement

     73,597       67,392  

Reclamation

     31,898       34,317  

Other

     186,846       193,666  
                

Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

     3,392,717       3,325,231  

Minority Interest

     164,178       163,118  
                

Total Liabilities and Minority Interest

     5,174,809       4,993,671  

Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Common Stock, $.01 par value; 500,000,000 Shares Authorized, 185,126,526 Issued and 182,726,354 Outstanding at March 31, 2008; 185,126,526 Issued and 182,291,623 Outstanding at December 31, 2007

     1,851       1,851  

Preferred Stock, 15,000,000 Shares Authorized; None Issued and Outstanding

     —         —    

Capital in Excess of Par Value

     980,993       966,544  

Retained Earnings

     775,707       766,536  

Other Comprehensive Loss

     (459,637 )     (419,284 )

Common Stock in Treasury, at Cost—2,400,172 Shares at March 31, 2008 and 2,834,903 Shares at December 31, 2007

     (85,952 )     (101,228 )
                

Total Stockholders’ Equity

     1,212,962       1,214,419  
                

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 6,387,771     $ 6,208,090  
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

CONSOL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

    Common
Stock
  Capital in
Excess

of Par
Value
  Retained
Earnings
(Deficit)
    Other
Compre-
hensive
Income
(Loss)
    Treasury
Stock
    Total
Stock-
holders’
Equity
 

Balance—December 31, 2007

  $ 1,851   $ 966,544   $ 766,536     $ (419,284 )   $ (101,228 )   $ 1,214,419  
                                           

(Unaudited)

           

Net Income

    —       —       75,082       —         —         75,082  

Treasury Rate Lock (Net of ($12) tax)

    —       —       —         (21 )     —         (21 )

Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial gains (loss) (Net of ($53) tax)

    —       —       —         (87 )     —         (87 )

Minority Interest in Other Comprehensive Income and Stock-based Compensation of CNX Gas

    —       —       —         9,017       —         9,017  

Gas Cash Flow Hedge (Net of ($29,688) tax)

    —       —       —         (49,175 )     —         (49,175 )
                                           

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

    —       —       75,082       (40,266 )     —         34,816  

Cumulative Effect of FASB 158 Measurement Adoption (net of $22,951 tax)

    —       —       (37,647 )     (87 )     —         (37,734 )

Issuance of Treasury Stock

    —       —       (10,009 )     —         15,279       5,270  

Purchases of Treasury Stock

    —       —       —         —         (3 )     (3 )

Tax Benefit from Stock-Based Compensation

    —       9,521     —         —         —         9,521  

Amortization of Stock-Based Compensation Awards

    —       4,928     —         —         —         4,928  

Dividends ($0.10 per share)

    —       —       (18,255 )     —         —         (18,255 )
                                           

Balance—March 31, 2008

  $ 1,851   $ 980,993   $ 775,707     $ (459,637 )   $ (85,952 )   $ 1,212,962  
                                           

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

CONSOL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2007  

Operating Activities:

    

Net Income

   $ 75,082     $ 113,262  

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:

    

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     92,728       76,789  

Stock-based Compensation

     5,658       11,539  

Gain on the Sale of Assets

     (7,286 )     (3,515 )

Change in Minority Interest

     9,149       6,111  

Amortization of Mineral Leases

     2,087       1,454  

Deferred Income Taxes

     14,428       17,646  

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates

     (1,355 )     (879 )

Changes in Operating Assets:

    

Accounts Receivable Securitization

     11,400       —    

Accounts and Notes Receivable

     (81,648 )     (35,669 )

Inventories

     (21,167 )     (24,179 )

Prepaid Expenses

     3,091       7,184  

Changes in Other Assets

     13,341       13,442  

Changes in Operating Liabilities:

    

Accounts Payable

     (13,816 )     (17,143 )

Other Operating Liabilities

     3,487       17,435  

Changes in Other Liabilities

     38,837       (930 )

Other

     2,077       820  
                

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     146,093       183,367  
                

Investing Activities:

    

Capital Expenditures

     (176,342 )     (150,219 )

Net Investment in Equity Affiliates

     1,536       (1,802 )

Proceeds from Sales of Assets

     15,803       3,735  
                

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

     (159,003 )     (148,286 )
                

Financing Activities:

    

Proceeds from (Payments on) Miscellaneous Borrowings

     5,001       (4,485 )

Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings

     32,500       —    

Tax Benefit from Stock-Based Compensation

     9,521       911  

Dividends Paid

     (18,255 )     (12,775 )

Issuance of Treasury Stock

     5,270       1,065  

Purchases of Treasury Stock

     (3 )     (25,618 )
                

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities

     34,034       (40,902 )
                

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     21,124       (5,821 )

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

     41,651       223,883  
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

   $ 62,775     $ 218,062  
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

CONSOL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2008

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

NOTE 1—BASIS OF PRESENTATION:

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for future periods.

The balance sheet at December 31, 2007 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all the notes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2007 included in CONSOL Energy’s Form 10-K.

Certain reclassifications of 2007 data have been made to conform to the three months ended March 31, 2008 classifications.

Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average shares outstanding during the reporting period. Dilutive earnings per share are computed similarly to basic earnings per share except that the weighted average shares outstanding are increased to include additional shares from the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period as calculated in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123R (SFAS 123R). The number of additional shares is calculated by assuming that restricted stock units and performance share units were converted and outstanding stock options were exercised and that the proceeds from such activity were used to acquire shares of common stock at the average market price during the reporting period. Options to purchase 385,653 shares and 1,485,041 shares of common stock were outstanding for the three month period ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, but were not included in the computation of dilutive earnings per share because the effect would be antidilutive. Additionally, unvested restricted stock units and unvested performance share units of 61,246 and 41,581, respectively, were outstanding for the three month period ended March 31, 2008, but were not included in the computation of dilutive earnings per share because the effect would be antidilutive. Options exercised during the three month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 were 392,637 shares and 95,475 shares, respectively. The weighted average exercise price per share of the options exercised during the three month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 was $14.58 and $11.16, respectively. Additionally, during the three month period ended March 31, 2008, 48,538 fully vested restricted stock awards were released.

The computations for basic and dilutive earnings per share from continuing operations are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,
     2008    2007

Net Income

   $ 75,082    $ 113,262

Average shares of common stock outstanding:

     

Basic

     182,572,985      182,371,296

Effect of share based payments

     2,619,566      2,443,840
             

Dilutive

     185,192,551      184,815,136
             

Earnings per share:

     

Basic

   $ 0.41    $ 0.62
             

Dilutive

   $ 0.41    $ 0.61
             

 

6


Table of Contents

NOTE 2—ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS:

In February 2008, CONSOL Energy, through a subsidiary, completed a sale of the Mill Creek Mining Complex located in Kentucky. The sales agreement called for the transfer of all of the assets comprising the complex upon execution. Cash proceeds from the sale were $14,649, with our basis in the assets being $9,934. Accordingly, a gain of $4,715 was recorded on the transaction.

In December 2007, CONSOL Energy, through a subsidiary, completed a sale/lease-back of 35 river barges. Cash proceeds from the sale were $16,895, with our basis in the equipment being $16,951. Accordingly, a loss of $56 was recorded on the transaction. The lease has been accounted for as an operating lease. The lease term is fourteen years.

In October 2007, CONSOL Energy, through a subsidiary, acquired 100% of the outstanding shares in an oil and gas company for a cash payment of $12,385 which was principally allocated to property, plant and equipment. The acquired company is in the business of owning, operating and producing oil and gas wells and related pipelines. The acquired assets consisted of gas wells, equipment and connecting pipelines utilized in well operations. The acquisition was accounted for under the guidance of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 (SFAS 141), “Business Combinations.”

On July 31, 2007, CONSOL Energy acquired 100% of the voting interest of AMVEST Corporation and certain subsidiaries and affiliates (AMVEST) for a cash payment, net of cash acquired, of $296,724 in a transaction accounted for under SFAS 141. The coal reserves acquired consist of approximately 160 million tons of high quality, low sulfur steam and high-volatile metallurgical coal. Also included in the acquisition were four coal preparation plants, several fleets of modern mining equipment and a common short-line railroad that connects the coal preparation plants to the CSX and Norfolk and Southern rail interchanges. The results of operations of the acquired entities are included in CONSOL Energy’s Consolidated Statement of Income as of August 1, 2007.

The AMVEST acquisition, when combined with CONSOL Energy’s adjacent coal reserves, creates a large contiguous block of coal reserves in the Central Appalachian region. Also included in the acquisition was a highly-skilled workforce proficient in Central Appalachian surface mining. This workforce, combined with CONSOL Energy’s underground mining expertise, will allow us to build and transfer knowledge among operations to focus the best skill sets to development requirements of the various parts of this reserve block.

The unaudited pro forma results for the three months ended March 31, 2007, assuming the acquisition had occurred at January 1, 2007 are estimated to be:

 

Revenue

   $ 973,960
      

Earnings Before Taxes

   $ 165,209
      

Net Income

   $ 115,387
      

Basic Earnings Per Share

   $ 0.63
      

Dilutive Earnings Per Share

   $ 0.62
      

The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of what actually would have occurred if the acquisition had been completed as of January 1, 2007, nor are they necessarily indicative of future consolidated results.

In July 2007, CONSOL Energy, through a subsidiary, completed the acquisition of Piping & Equipment, Inc. for a cash payment, net of cash acquired, of $16,914. Piping & Equipment, Inc. is a pipe, valve and fittings supplier with eight locations in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. The fair value of merchandise for resale acquired in this acquisition was $8,481 and was included in inventory on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The pro forma results for this acquisition are not significant to CONSOL Energy’s financial results.

 

7


Table of Contents

During the year ended December 31, 2007, CONSOL Energy purchased $10,000 of CNX Gas stock on the open market at an average price of $26.87 per share. The purchase of these 372,000 shares changed CONSOL Energy’s ownership percentage in CNX Gas from 81.5% to 81.7%.

In June 2007, CONSOL Energy, through a subsidiary, exchanged certain coal assets in Northern Appalachia with Peabody Energy for coalbed methane and gas rights. This transaction was accounted for as a non-monetary exchange under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 153, “Exchanges of Non-Monetary Assets,” and resulted in a pre-tax gain of $50,060.

In June 2007, CONSOL Energy, through a subsidiary, acquired certain coalbed methane and gas rights from Peabody Energy for a cash payment of $15,000 plus approximately $1,650 of various other acquisition costs.

In June 2007, CONSOL Energy, through a subsidiary, sold the rights to certain western Kentucky coal in the Illinois Basin to Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. for $53,309. This transaction resulted in a pre-tax gain of $49,868.

NOTE 3—COMPONENTS OF PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COSTS:

Components of net periodic costs for the three months ended March 31 are as follows:

 

     Pension Benefits     Other Benefits  
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Service costs

   $ 2,438     $ 2,753     $ 2,639     $ 2,747  

Interest costs

     8,257       7,138       39,959       34,791  

Expected return

     (8,418 )     (7,624 )     —         —    

Amortization of prior service credits

     (278 )     (278 )     (12,156 )     (12,750 )

Recognized net actuarial loss

     4,182       3,122       15,376       15,308  

Settlement loss

     —         3,192       —         —    
                                

Net periodic cost

   $ 6,181     $ 8,303     $ 45,818     $ 40,096  
                                

CONSOL Energy adopted the measurement provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” (SFAS 158), on January 1, 2008. As a result of this adoption, the Company recognized an increase of $2,278 and $42,599 in the liabilities for pension and other postretirement benefits, respectively. These increases were accounted for as a reduction in the January 1, 2008 balance of retained earnings.

Our defined benefit pension plan for salaried employees allows such employees to receive a lump-sum distribution in lieu of annual payments when they retire from CONSOL Energy. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 88, “Employers’ Accounting for Settlements & Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits,” requires that when the lump-sum distributions made for a plan year, which for CONSOL Energy is October 1 to September 30, exceed the total of the service cost and interest cost for the plan year, an adjustment equaling the unrecognized actuarial gain or loss resulting from each individual who received a lump sum in that year be recognized. CONSOL Energy recognized a settlement loss of $3,192 in the three months ended March 31, 2007. The settlement loss was included in costs of goods sold and other charges and selling, general and administrative expenses.

For the three month period ended March 31, 2008, $152 of contributions to pension trusts and pension benefits have been paid from operating cash flows. CONSOL Energy presently anticipates contributing a total of approximately $27,000 to the pension trust in 2008.

 

8


Table of Contents

We do not expect to contribute to the other post employment benefit plan in 2008. We intend to pay benefit claims as they become due. For the three month period ended March 31, 2008, $35,958 of other post employment benefits have been paid.

NOTE 4—COMPONENTS OF COAL WORKERS’ PNEUMOCONIOSIS (CWP) AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COSTS:

Components of net periodic costs (benefits) for the three months ended March 31 are as follows:

 

     CWP     Workers’ Compensation  
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2007         2008             2007      

Service costs

   $ 1,259     $ 1,410     $ 7,257     $ 7,415  

Interest costs

     2,937       2,850       2,082       2,078  

Amortization of actuarial gain

     (6,027 )     (5,774 )     (1,235 )     (988 )

Legal and administrative costs

     675       675       806       815  

State administrative fees and insurance bond premiums

     —         —         1,293       2,218  
                                

Net periodic (benefit) cost

   $ (1,156 )   $ (839 )   $ 10,203     $ 11,538  
                                

CONSOL Energy adopted the measurement provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 158, on January 1, 2008. As a result of this adoption, the Company recognized an increase of $4,871 and $10,146 in the liabilities for coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and workers’ compensation, respectively. These increases were accounted for as a reduction in the January 1, 2008 balance of retained earnings.

CONSOL Energy does not expect to contribute to the CWP plan in 2008. We intend to pay benefit claims as they become due. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, $2,715 of CWP benefit claims have been paid.

CONSOL Energy does not expect to contribute to the workers’ compensation plan in 2008. We intend to pay benefit claims as they become due. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, $9,723 of workers’ compensation benefits, state administrative fees and surety bond premiums have been paid.

NOTE 5—INCOME TAXES:

The following is a reconciliation, stated in dollars and as a percentage of pretax income, of the U. S. statutory federal income tax rate to CONSOL Energy’s effective tax rate:

 

     For the Three Months Ended March 31  
     2008     2007  
     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent  

Statutory U.S. federal income tax rate

   $ 41,924     35.0 %   $ 56,807     35.0 %

Excess tax depletion

     (10,409 )   (8.7 )     (18,695 )   (11.5 )

Effect of Domestic Production Activities Deduction

     (1,377 )   (1.2 )     (1,266 )   (0.8 )

Effect of Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003

     299     0.3       479     0.3  

Net effect of state tax

     4,264     3.6       5,195     3.2  

Other

     852     0.7       414     0.3  
                            

Income Tax Expense / Effective Rate

   $ 35,553     29.7 %   $ 42,934     26.5 %
                            

CONSOL Energy adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company

 

9


Table of Contents

recognized an increase of $3,202 in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, which was accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings. There were no additions to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits during the three months ending March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007.

The total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007 were approximately $63,521 and $50,194, respectively. If these unrecognized tax benefits were recognized approximately $12,900 and $10,000, respectively, would affect CONSOL Energy’s effective tax rate.

CONSOL Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal, various states and Canadian tax jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2002. The Internal Revenue Service is in the process of concluding its fieldwork in the examination of CONSOL Energy’s U.S. 2004 and 2005 income tax returns. Within the next twelve months, CONSOL Energy expects to conclude this examination and remit payment of the resulting tax deficiencies to Federal and state taxing authorities. The amount of these deficiencies cannot be estimated at this time, however the Company believes that the amount of the liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits recorded for these periods is adequate. Consequently, the resolution of the IRS’ examination of the Company’s 2004 and 2005 tax returns should have no further impact on net income during the next twelve-month period. During the period ended March 31, 2008, CONSOL Energy classified Federal and state unrecognized tax benefits relating to the 2004 and 2005 tax returns of $25,653 and $5,443, respectively, as current liabilities in its financial statements. The Company also classified interest expense relating to the two-year audit period of $3,828 as a current liability.

The results of the examination of the Company’s 2002 and 2003 tax returns currently under review by the Appeals Division of the IRS will be concluded in the second quarter of 2008. The Company anticipates that a payment of approximately $1,612 of interest will be made as a result of the settlement of an issue relating to the proper year of deducting certain operating costs.

The statute of limitations will expire for a tax period in one of the states in which the Company conducts business, within the next twelve months. At this time the taxing jurisdiction has not commenced an examination of the Company’s tax return filed for this period. Consequently, the amount of the tax payment to be made regarding this year cannot be projected at this time; however, the Company believes that the impact of the expiration of the statute of limitations in this state is insignificant to its financial statements.

CONSOL Energy recognizes interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of interest expense. As of March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007, the Company accrued interest of approximately $9,297 and $5,965, respectively, for interest related to uncertain tax positions. The accrued interest for the three month periods ending March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007 include $792 and $1,131, respectively, of interest expense recorded in the Company’s statement of income related to unrecognized tax benefits.

CONSOL Energy recognizes penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. As of March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007 CONSOL Energy had an accrued liability of approximately $1,200 for tax penalties.

NOTE 6—INVENTORIES:

Inventory components consist of the following:

 

     March 31,
2008
   December 31,
2007

Coal

   $ 67,157    $ 45,614

Merchandise for resale

     24,387      25,418

Supplies

     92,816      92,161
             

Total Inventories

   $ 184,360    $ 163,193
             

 

10


Table of Contents

NOTE 7—ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SECURITIZATION:

CONSOL Energy and certain of our U.S. subsidiaries are party to a trade accounts receivable facility with financial institutions for the sale on a continuous basis of eligible trade accounts receivable. The facility allows CONSOL Energy to receive on a revolving basis, up to $165,000. The facility also allows for the issuance of letters of credit against the $165,000 capacity. At March 31, 2008, there were no letters of credit outstanding against the facility.

CONSOL Energy formed CNX Funding Corporation, a wholly owned, special purpose, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary for the sole purpose of buying and selling eligible trade receivables generated by certain subsidiaries of CONSOL Energy. Under the receivables facility, CONSOL Energy and certain subsidiaries, irrevocably and without recourse, sell all of their eligible trade accounts receivable to financial institutions and their affiliates, while maintaining a subordinated interest in a portion of the pool of trade receivables. This retained interest, which is included in Accounts and Notes Receivable Trade in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, is recorded at fair value. Due to a short average collection cycle for such receivables, our collection experience history and the composition of the designated pool of trade accounts receivable that are part of this program, the fair value of our retained interest approximates the total amount of the designated pool of accounts receivable reduced by the amount of accounts receivables sold to the third-party financial institutions under the program. CONSOL Energy will continue to service the sold trade receivables for the financial institutions for a fee based upon market rates for similar services.

The cost of funds under this facility is based upon commercial paper rates, plus a charge for administrative services paid to the financial institutions. Costs associated with the receivables facility totaled $1,577 and $77 for the three month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. These costs have been recorded as financing fees which are included in Cost of Goods Sold and Other Operating Charges in the Consolidated Statements of Income. No servicing asset or liability has been recorded. The receivables facility expires in April 2012.

At March 31, 2008 and 2007, eligible accounts receivable totaled approximately $144,300 and $133,300, respectively. The subordinated retained interest approximated $7,500 and $133,300 at March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Accounts receivables totaling $136,800 were removed from the Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2008. At March 31, 2007, no accounts receivable were removed from the Consolidated Balance Sheet because CNX Funding retained the total eligible accounts receivable. CONSOL Energy’s $11,400 increase in the accounts receivable securitization program for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 is reflected in cash flows from operating activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

NOTE 8—PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:

The components of property, plant and equipment are as follows:

 

     March 31,
2008
   December 31,
2007

Coal & other plant and equipment

   $ 4,258,499    $ 4,249,698

Coal properties and surface lands

     1,246,862      1,313,440

Gas properties and related development

     981,658      889,057

Gas gathering equipment

     618,344      596,171

Airshafts

     585,651      582,028

Leased coal lands

     500,310      458,216

Mine development

     498,698      490,876

Coal advance mining royalties

     370,165      363,072

Gas advance mining royalties

     1,958      2,754
             

Total property, plant and equipment

     9,062,145      8,945,312

Less: Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

     4,011,091      3,980,270
             

Total Net Property, Plant & Equipment

   $ 5,051,054    $ 4,965,042
             

 

11


Table of Contents

NOTE 9—DEBT:

CONSOL Energy has a five-year, $1,000,000 senior secured credit facility. The facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of CONSOL Energy and certain of its subsidiaries and collateral is shared equally and ratably with the holders of CONSOL Energy Inc. 7.875% bonds maturing in 2012. The Agreement does provide for the release of collateral upon the achievement of certain credit ratings. Fees and interest rate spreads are based on a ratio of financial covenant debt to twelve month trailing earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization (EBITDA), measured quarterly. The facility includes a minimum interest coverage ratio covenant of no less than 4.50 to 1.00, measured quarterly. The interest coverage ratio was 11.23 to 1.00 at March 31, 2008. The facility also includes a maximum leverage ratio of not more than 3.25 to 1.00, measured quarterly. The leverage ratio covenant was 1.73 to 1.00 at March 31, 2008. Affirmative and negative covenants in the facility limit our ability to dispose of assets, make investments, purchase or redeem CONSOL Energy common stock, pay dividends and merge with another corporation. At March 31, 2008, the $1,000,000 facility had borrowings of $280,000 outstanding and $263,754 of letters of credit outstanding, leaving $456,246 of capacity available for borrowings and the issuance of letters of credit.

In October 2005, CNX Gas entered into a five-year $200,000 unsecured credit agreement. The agreement contains a negative pledge provision, whereas CNX Gas assets cannot be used to secure other obligations. Fees and interest rate spreads are based on the percentage of facility utilization, measured quarterly. Covenants in the facility limit CNX Gas’ ability to dispose of assets, make investments, purchase or redeem CNX Gas stock, pay dividends and merge with another corporation. The facility includes a maximum leverage ratio covenant of not more than 3.00 to 1.00, measured quarterly. The leverage ratio was 0.16 to 1.00 at March 31, 2008. The facility also includes a minimum interest coverage ratio covenant of no less than 3.00 to 1.00, measured quarterly. This ratio was 57.57 to 1.00 at March 31, 2008. At March 31, 2008, the CNX Gas credit agreement had no borrowings outstanding and $14,933 of letters of credit outstanding, leaving $185,067 of capacity available for borrowings and the issuance of letters of credit.

NOTE 10—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

CONSOL Energy and its subsidiaries are subject to various lawsuits and claims with respect to such matters as personal injury, wrongful death, damage to property, exposure to hazardous substances, governmental regulations including environmental remediation, employment and contract disputes, and other claims and actions arising out of the normal course of business. Our current estimates related to these pending claims, individually and in the aggregate, are immaterial to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CONSOL Energy. However, it is reasonably possible that the ultimate liabilities in the future with respect to these lawsuits and claims may be material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CONSOL Energy.

On January 30, 2008, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources filed a six-count Complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, asserting claims in both tort and contract against the Company for alleged damage to park property owned by the Commonwealth allegedly due to the Company’s underground mining activities. The matter was the subject of a mediation process with an independent, neutral mediator prior to the filing of the Complaint. That process terminated with no resolution and the Commonwealth then filed its Complaint. The Commonwealth claims that the Company’s underground longwall mining activities in the Summer of 2005 in Greene County, Pennsylvania, caused cracks and seepage damage to the nearby Ryerson Park Dam. The Commonwealth demolished the Ryerson Dam’s spillway allegedly under its role of Parens Patrie to protect persons and property, thereby eliminating the Ryerson Park lake. The Commonwealth claims that the Company is liable for dam reconstruction costs, lake restoration costs, and natural resources damages totaling $58,000. The theories of liability include general allegations of negligence, breach of contract, strict liability, nuisance, an administrative remedy claim under the Bituminous Mine Subsidence Act and a claim of fraud, the last claim seeking punitive damages. The Company has not yet filed its answer to the Complaint, but has filed preliminary motions regarding the propriety of the claims filed by the

 

12


Table of Contents

Commonwealth. The Company believes it was not responsible for the damage to the dam, that there exist numerous grounds upon which to attack the propriety of the claims, and it will vigorously defend the case. However, it is reasonably possible that the ultimate liability in the future with respect to these claims may be material to the financial position, results of operations, or cash flows of CONSOL Energy.

One of our subsidiaries, Fairmont Supply Company (Fairmont), which distributes industrial supplies, currently is named as a defendant in approximately 25,000 asbestos claims in state courts in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Mississippi and New Jersey. Because a very small percentage of products manufactured by third parties and supplied by Fairmont in the past may have contained asbestos and many of the pending claims are part of mass complaints filed by hundreds of plaintiffs against a hundred or more defendants, it has been difficult for Fairmont to determine how many of the cases actually involve valid claims or plaintiffs who were actually exposed to asbestos-containing products supplied by Fairmont. In addition, while Fairmont may be entitled to indemnity or contribution in certain jurisdictions from manufacturers of identified products, the availability of such indemnity or contribution is unclear at this time and, in recent years, some of the manufacturers named as defendants in these actions have sought protection from these claims under bankruptcy laws. Fairmont has no insurance coverage with respect to these asbestos cases. For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and the year ended December 31, 2007, payments by Fairmont with respect to asbestos cases have not been material. Our current estimates related to these asbestos claims, individually and in the aggregate, are immaterial to the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of CONSOL Energy. However, it is reasonably possible that payments in the future with respect to pending or future asbestos cases may be material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CONSOL Energy.

CONSOL Energy was notified in November 2004 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it is a potentially responsible party (PRP) under Superfund legislation with respect to the Ward Transformer site in Wake County, North Carolina. At that time, the EPA also identified 38 other PRPs for the Ward Transformer site. On September 16, 2005, the EPA, CONSOL Energy and two other PRPs entered into an administrative Settlement Agreement and Order of Consent, requiring those PRPs to undertake and complete a PCB soil removal action, at and in the vicinity of the Ward Transformer property. In December 2005, the EPA approved the PRPs’ work plan, and field work began the first week of January 2006. On March 12, 2007, another party joined the participating PRPs and reduced CONSOL Energy’s interim allocation from 46% to 32%. Accordingly, CONSOL Energy recognized a reduction in the previously recognized liability related to this matter. The current estimated cost of remedial action including payment of the EPA’s past and future cost is approximately $30,000. There was no expense recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2008. CONSOL Energy funded $1,440 in the three months ended March 31, 2008 to an independent trust established for this remediation. CONSOL Energy has funded $5,199 since inception of the independent trust established for this remediation. The remaining liability of $4,402 is included in Other Accrued Liabilities at March 31, 2008. CONSOL Energy and the other participating PRPs are investigating contribution claims against other, non-participating PRPs, and such claims will be brought to recover a share of the costs incurred. CONSOL Energy’s portion of probable recoveries are estimated to be $3,420, of which $16 has been collected to date. Accordingly, an asset has been included in Other Assets for these claims. CONSOL Energy expects the majority of payments related to this liability to be made over the next nine months. In addition, the EPA has advised the PRPs that it has completed its investigation of additional areas of potential contamination allegedly related to the Ward Transformer site and published the proposed remedial action plan for public comment. Special notice letters to PRPs have not yet been completed. We are currently working with the EPA in an effort to have special notice letters sent to a large group of PRPs, of which it is probable we will be named. No expense was recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2008 related to the additional areas of Ward Transformer. The $1,000 previously recognized liability related to these areas is included in Other Accrued Liabilities at March 31, 2008. Until the remediation determination is completed, a specific range of potential exposure is not possible to estimate. There may be some delay in negotiating settlements with other PRPs who may want settlement of all Ward-related claims.

 

13


Table of Contents

As part of conducting mining activities at the Buchanan Mine, our subsidiary, Consolidation Coal Company (“CCC”), has to remove water from the mine. Several actions have arisen with respect to the removal of naturally accumulating water from the Buchanan Mine:

Yukon Pocahontas Coal Company, Buchanan Coal Company and Sayers-Pocahontas Coal Company filed an action on March 22, 2004 against CCC which is presently pending in the Circuit Court of Buchanan County, Virginia (the “Yukon Action”). The action is related to untreated water in connection with mining activities at CCC’s Buchanan Mine being deposited in the void spaces of nearby mines of one of our other subsidiaries, Island Creek Coal Company (“ICCC”). The plaintiffs are seeking to stop CCC from depositing any additional water in these areas, to require CCC to remove the water that is stored there along with any remaining impurities, to recover $300,000 of compensatory and trebled damages and to recover punitive damages. Plaintiffs have amended the original complaint to assert additional damage claims of up to $3,252,000, and punitive damages in the amount of $350,000, plus interest, costs, and attorneys’ fees, against CCC and have added CONSOL Energy, CNX Gas Company, LLC and ICCC as additional defendants asserting additional damage claims of $150,000 against those defendants. The plaintiffs in the Yukon Action have moved to amend their Complaint again, and the amendment likely will be permitted by the Court. The amendment seeks primarily to correct defects in the current version of their Complaint and to add a count seeking a declaratory judgment that certain agreements between ICCC and CCC are void. With respect to this action, we believe we had, and continue to have, the right to store water in these areas. The named defendants deny liability and intend to vigorously defend this action; consequently, we have not recognized any liability related to these claims. However, it is reasonably possible that payments in the future, or the issuance of an injunction, with respect to the pending claims may be material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CONSOL Energy.

Levisa Coal Company filed an action on July 10, 2006 against CCC in the Circuit Court of Buchanan County, Virginia (the “Levisa Action”). The action is for injunctive relief and declaratory judgment and sought a court order prohibiting CCC from depositing water from its Buchanan Mine into the void spaces of ICCC’s VP3 mine, part of which is under lease from Levisa Coal Company. The plaintiff claimed the water would adversely affect its remaining coal reserves and coalbed methane production, thereby impacting the plaintiff’s future royalties. In mid-November 2006, Levisa Coal Company petitioned the Court for a temporary restraining order prohibiting the further depositing of water into the void spaces which, after a two-day hearing, the Court denied. Subsequently, the court entered an order declaring the parties’ rights under lease, deciding that CCC has the right to store water in the VP3 mine void and dismissed the action. The Virginia Supreme Court allowed an appeal of that order, heard oral arguments on the appeal, and a decision is imminent. We believe that CCC has the right to deposit the water in that void area. CCC intends to vigorously defend any appeal of this action; consequently, we have not recognized any liability related to this action. However, if an injunction were to be issued, the result may be material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CONSOL Energy.

CCC has obtained revision to its environmental permit from the Division of Mined Land Reclamation (“DMLR”) of the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (“DMME”) to deposit water from its Buchanan Mine into void spaces of VP3, and to permit it in the future to discharge water into the nearby Levisa River under controlled conditions. Plaintiffs in the Yukon Action and the Levisa Action along with the Town of Grundy, Virginia, Buchanan County, and others have requested the DMME to reconsider the permit revisions issued by DMLR. Requests for temporary relief to prevent CCC from constructing and operating pursuant to the permit revisions pending a final hearing before the DMME have been rejected by the Director of the DMME. The hearing to be conducted by the Director of the DMME through a Hearing Officer appointed by the Supreme Court of Virginia has not yet been scheduled. The plaintiffs in the Yukon Action on June 13, 2006 also filed an action against the DMME in the Circuit Court of Buchanan County, Virginia seeking to enjoin DMLR and DMME from issuing the permit revisions, which were ultimately issued in September 2006 and are the subject of the administrative appeal to the Director of DMME described above. The Levisa Action plaintiff filed a nearly identical action. DMME filed demurrers, but no hearing has been conducted since the DMME issued the permit in September 2006.

We believe that CCC had and continues to have the right to deposit mine water from Buchanan Mine into void spaces at nearby mines, including VP3. We also believe DMME properly issued environmental permits to CCC

 

14


Table of Contents

authorizing it to deposit naturally accumulating water from the Buchanan Mine into VP3 as well as discharging water into the Levisa River under the controlled conditions established by the permits. CCC and the other CONSOL Energy defendants deny all liability and intend to vigorously defend the actions filed against them. CCC also intends to vigorously defend the environmental permits issued to it. Consequently, we have not recognized any liability related to these actions. However, if a temporary restraining order or an injunction were to be issued against CCC, if the environmental permits were temporarily suspended or revoked, or if damages were awarded to plaintiffs, the result may be material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CONSOL Energy.

On October 24, 2006, CONSOL Energy and CCC were served with a summons in the name of the Commonwealth of Virginia with the Circuit Court of Buchanan County, Virginia regarding a special grand jury presentment in response to citizens’ complaints that noise resulting from the ventilation fan at the Buchanan Mine constitutes a public nuisance. CONSOL Energy and CCC deny that the operation of the ventilation fan is a public nuisance and intend to vigorously defend this proceeding. However, if the operation of the ventilation fan is ordered to be stopped, the result may be material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CONSOL Energy.

CNX Gas, an 81.7% owned subsidiary, is a party to a case captioned GeoMet Operating Company, Inc. and Pocahontas Mining Limited Liability Company v. CNX Gas Company LLC in the Circuit Court for Buchanan County, Virginia. CNX Gas has a coal seam gas lease with Pocahontas Mining in southwest Virginia and southern West Virginia. With the agreement of Pocahontas Mining, GeoMet constructed a pipeline on the property. CNX Gas sought a judicial determination that under the terms of the lease, CNX Gas has the exclusive right to construct and operate pipelines on the property. On May 23, 2007, the circuit court entered an order granting CNX Gas’ motion for summary judgment against GeoMet and Pocahontas Mining. The order provided that CNX Gas has exclusive rights to construct and operate pipelines on the property and prohibited GeoMet from owning, operating or maintaining its pipeline on the property. The court stayed the portion of its order that required GeoMet to remove its pipeline, pending GeoMet’s appeal of the decision to the Virginia Supreme Court. GeoMet filed an emergency appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court, which on June 20, 2007, overturned the provision of the circuit court’s order requiring GeoMet to remove its pipeline, as well as the related stay and the conditions thereof. The remaining portions of the May 23, 2007 order have been certified for interlocutory appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court and the appeal is pending in the Virginia Supreme Court. Pocahontas Mining has amended its complaint to seek rescission or reformation of the lease. We cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this litigation; however, payments in the future with respect to this lawsuit may be material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CNX Gas.

On February 14, 2007, GeoMet, Inc. and certain of its affiliates filed a lawsuit against CNX Gas Company LLC and Island Creek Coal Company, a subsidiary of CONSOL Energy, in the Circuit Court for the County of Tazewell, Virginia. The lawsuit alleged that CNX Gas conspired with Island Creek and has violated the Virginia Antitrust Act and tortiously interfered with GeoMet’s contractual relations, prospective contracts and business expectancies. CNX Gas and Island Creek filed motions to dismiss all counts of the complaint. On December 19, 2007, the court granted CNX Gas’ and Island Creek’s motions to dismiss all counts, with leave for GeoMet to file an amended complaint. On March 31, 2008, GeoMet filed an amended complaint. The amended complaint is again against CNX Gas and Island Creek, but it added CONSOL Energy and Cardinal States Gathering Company as additional defendants. The amended complaint restates allegations that CNX Gas, Island Creek and now CONSOL Energy and Cardinal States Gathering Company violated the Virginia Antitrust Act and tortiously interfered with GeoMet’s contractual relations, prospective contracts and business expectancies. The amended complaint seeks injunctive relief, compensatory damages of $385,600 and treble damages. CNX Gas continues to believe this lawsuit to be without merit and intends to vigorously defend it. However, it is reasonably possible that the ultimate liabilities in the future with respect to these lawsuits and claims may be material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CNX Gas.

In April 2005, Buchanan County, Virginia (through its Board of Supervisors and Commissioner of Revenue) filed a “Motion for Judgment Pursuant to the Declaratory Judgment Act Virginia Code § 8.01-184” against CNX Gas Company LLC in the Circuit Court of the County of Buchanan for the year 2002; the county has since filed and served two substantially similar cases for years 2003, 2004 and 2005. The complaint alleges that our

 

15


Table of Contents

calculation of the license tax on the basis of the wellhead price (sales price less post production costs) rather than the sales price is improper. For the period from 1999 through mid 2002, we paid the tax on the basis of the sales price, but we have filed a claim for a refund for these years. Since 2002, we have continued to pay Buchanan County taxes based on our method of calculating the taxes. However, we have been accruing an additional liability reflected in Other Liabilities on our balance sheet in an amount based on the difference between our calculation of the tax and Buchanan County’s calculation. We believe that we have calculated the tax correctly and in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of Buchanan County and intend to vigorously defend our position. However, it is reasonably possible that the ultimate liabilities in the future with respect to these lawsuits and claims may be material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CNX Gas.

In October 2005, CDX Gas, LLC alleged that certain of our vertical to horizontal CBM drilling methods infringe several patents which they own. CDX demanded that we enter into a business arrangement with CDX to use its patented technology. Alternatively, CDX informally demanded a royalty of nine to ten percent of the gross production from the wells we drill utilizing the technology allegedly covered by their patents. A number of our wells, particularly in Northern Appalachia, could be covered by their claim. We deny all of these allegations and we are vigorously contesting them. On November 14, 2005, we filed a complaint for declaratory judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, seeking a judicial determination that we do not infringe any claim of any valid and enforceable CDX patent. CDX filed an answer and counterclaim denying our allegations of invalidity and alleging that we infringe certain claims of their patents. A hearing was held before a court-appointed special master with regard to the scope of the asserted CDX patents and the special master’s report and recommendations was adopted by order of the court on October 13, 2006. As a result of that order and subject to appellate review, certain of our wells may be found to infringe certain of the CDX claims of the patents in suit, if those patents are ultimately determined to be valid and enforceable. The report of CDX’s damages expert suggests that CDX will seek (i) reasonable royalty damages on production from allegedly infringing wells at a royalty rate of 10%, or approximately $1,900 based on projected production through June 2007, and (ii) “lost profits” damages of approximately $23,600 for allegedly infringing wells drilled though August 2006, which assumes that CNX Gas would have no choice but to have entered into a joint operating arrangement with CDX. We believe that there is no valid basis in the law as applied to the facts of this case for this “lost profits” theory. Further, if infringement were to be found of a valid, enforceable claim of a CDX patent, the report of CNX Gas’ damages expert indicates that any potential damages award would be based on a royalty of 5%, or approximately $400 for wells drilled through June 2007. An updated damages report was recently provided by CDX to CNX to account for additional accused wells that have been drilled on behalf of CNX, the details of which are currently being reviewed by CNX’s damage expert. Cross-motions for summary judgment as to infringement, invalidity and unenforceability were filed and briefed by CNX Gas and CDX and were before a special master for decision in the form of a report and recommendation to the District Court. The special master issued his report and recommendation on November 19, 2007, denying both the CNX and CDX motions for summary judgment in view of what he identified as genuine issues of material fact. The special master did, however, find that CNX had “produced sufficient evidence to call into serious question the validity and enforceability” of the CDX patents-in-suit. A jury trial has been set by the court for May 5, 2008 on a single, limited issue as to the validity of the CDX patents involved in the suit. We continue to believe that we do not infringe any properly construed claim of any valid, enforceable patent. However, it is reasonably possible that the ultimate liabilities in the future with respect to these lawsuits and claims may be material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CNX Gas.

We expensed and paid approximately $28,000 to the Combined Fund for the plan year beginning October 1, 2003 as a result of the higher per beneficiary premium rate calculated by the Commissioner of Social Security and retroactively imposed by the Combined Fund for beneficiaries assigned to CONSOL Energy and its subsidiaries. Additionally, CONSOL Energy expensed approximately $2,000 related to the higher per beneficiary premium rate for the plan year beginning October 1, 2004. The higher per beneficiary premium rate was imposed as a result of court decisions issued prior to June 10, 2003 arising from litigation over the formula used in the calculation of the annual per beneficiary premium rate owed by assigned operators, including subsidiaries of CONSOL Energy, to the Combined Fund. In August 2005, after additional litigation cases had been filed concerning the calculation and imposition of the higher per beneficiary premium rate, the United States District

 

16


Table of Contents

Court for the District of Maryland ruled that the calculation by the Commissioner of Social Security was improper, arbitrary and capricious. Subsequently, on December 31, 2006, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the decision of the District Court.

On March 28, 2007, the assigned operators, including the subsidiaries of CONSOL Energy, and the Combined Fund entered into a settlement agreement that resolved all issues relating to the calculation and imposition of the higher per beneficiary premium rate. The settlement agreement provides for full reimbursement of the higher per beneficiary premium rate calculated and imposed on the subsidiaries of CONSOL Energy and for the payment of interest on all amounts to be reimbursed. CONSOL Energy received reimbursement of approximately $33,400, which includes the reduction of $2,255 related to the unassigned beneficiary premium liability previously accrued. The reimbursement was reflected as a reduction to cost of goods sold and other changes in the three months ended March 31, 2007.

In July 2007, production at the Buchanan Mine was suspended after several roof falls in previously mined areas damaged some of the ventilation controls inside the mine, requiring a general evacuation of the mine by employees. The mine atmosphere was continually monitored to determine the impact of the roof falls on the mine’s ventilation system and the overall mine atmosphere. On March 17, 2008, Buchanan Mine resumed production. This incident is covered under our property and business interruption insurance policy, subject to certain deductibles. Business interruption recoveries of $50,000 were recognized as Other Income in the three months ended March 31, 2008, $42,000 in the coal segment and $8,000 in the gas segment. Insurance recoveries of $50,000 were reflected in Other Receivables at March 31, 2008. The total recoveries for this incident under our insurance policy were $75,000. No other insurance recoveries for this incident will be received.

At March 31, 2008, CONSOL Energy and certain subsidiaries have provided the following financial guarantees and unconditional purchase obligations. We believe that these guarantees will expire without being funded, and therefore the commitments will not have a material adverse effect on financial condition. The fair value of all liabilities associated with these guarantees have been properly recorded and reported in the financial statements.

 

     Total
Amounts
Committed
   Less Than
1 Year
   1-3 Years    3-5 Years    More
Than

5 Years

Letters of Credit:

              

Employee-Related

   $ 175,183    $ 129,590    $ 45,593    $ —      $ —  

Environmental

     78,969      78,969      —        —        —  

Gas

     14,933      14,761      172      —        —  

Other

     9,602      9,502      100      —        —  
                                  

Total Letters of Credit

   $ 278,687    $ 232,822    $ 45,865    $ —      $ —  
                                  

Surety Bonds:

              

Employee-Related

   $ 202,087    $ 202,087    $ —      $ —      $ —  

Environmental

     307,837      306,370      1,464      3      —  

Gas

     3,196      3,182      14      —        —  

Other

     9,282      9,256      26      —        —  
                                  

Total Surety Bonds

   $ 522,402    $ 520,895    $ 1,504    $ 3    $ —  
                                  

Guarantees:

              

Coal

   $ 95,019    $ 27,653    $ 48,475    $ 15,794    $ 3,097

Gas

     24,415      21,315      —        —        3,100

Gas—Firm Transportation

     47,842      7,902      14,296      9,680      15,964

Other

     199,675      25,270      36,270      20,568      117,567
                                  

Total Guarantees

   $ 366,951    $ 82,140    $ 99,041    $ 46,042    $ 139,728
                                  

Total Commitments

   $ 1,168,040    $ 835,857    $ 146,410    $ 46,045    $ 139,728
                                  

 

17


Table of Contents

Employee-related financial guarantees have primarily been extended to support various state workers’ compensation self-insurance programs and the United Mine Workers’ of America’s 1992 Benefit Plan. Environmental financial guarantees have primarily been extended to support various performance bonds related to reclamation and other environmental issues. Gas financial guarantees have primarily been provided to support various performance bonds related to land usage, pipeline usage and restorative issues. Other contingent liabilities have been extended to support insurance policies, legal matters and various other items necessary in the normal course of business.

CONSOL Energy and certain of its subsidiaries have also provided guarantees for the delivery of specific quantities of coal and gas to various customers. These guarantees are several or joint and several. Other guarantees have also been provided to promise the full and timely payments to lessors of mining equipment and support various other items necessary in the normal course of business.

NOTE 11—OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:

Total comprehensive income, net of tax, was as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2007  

Net Income

   $ 75,082     $ 113,262  

Treasury rate lock

     (21 )     (20 )

Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses

     (87 )     (909 )

Pension settlement accounting

     —         2,132  

Minority interest in other comprehensive income and stock-based compensation of CNX Gas

     9,017       2,168  

Gas cash flow hedge

     (49,175 )     (11,684 )
                

Total Comprehensive Income

   $ 34,816     $ 104,949  
                

NOTE 12—FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

Effective January 1, 2008, CONSOL Energy adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (SFAS 157) and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159 “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (SFAS 159). As a result of the adoption, CONSOL Energy elected not to measure any additional financial assets or liabilities at fair value, other than those which were recorded at fair value prior to the adoption.

The financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

 

Description

   Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2008 Using:
   Quoted Prices
in Active
Market for
Identical Liabilities
(Level 1)
   Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
        
        
        

Gas Cash Flow Hedges

   $ —      $ 69,261    $ —  

Coal Sales Options

   $ —      $ —      $ 10,816

 

18


Table of Contents

The following table represents a reconciliation of the change in liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the three months ended March 31, 2008. The fair values of the Level 3 the coal sales options presented are determined using pricing models that, in managements’ judgment, reflect the assumptions a marketplace participant would use at March 31, 2008.

 

     Fair Value Measurements Using
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 

Total Liability at December 31, 2007

   $ —    

Total unrealized losses included in earnings

     (9,211 )

Issuances

     (1,605 )
        

Total Liability at March 31, 2008

   $ (10,816 )
        

The unrealized losses of $9,211 are included in Other Income on the Consolidated Statement of Income and are related to liabilities held at March 31, 2008.

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 107, “Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments” (SFAS 107) requires the disclosure of the estimated fair value of financial instruments including those financial instruments for which the SFAS 159 fair value option was not elected. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of those financial instruments:

Cash and cash equivalents : The carrying amount reported in the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents approximates its fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments.

Short-term notes payable : The carrying amount reported in the balance sheets for short-term notes payable approximates its fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.

Long-term debt : The fair values of long-term debt are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on CONSOL Energy’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

Capital Leases : The carrying amount reported in the balance sheets for capital leases approximates its fair value due to recording the liability at the present value of minimum lease payments.

The carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments for which SFAS 159 was not elected are as follows:

 

     March 31, 2008     December 31, 2007  
     Carrying
Amount
    Fair Value     Carrying
Amount
    Fair Value  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 62,775     $ 62,775     $ 41,651     $ 41,651  

Short-term notes payable

   $ (280,000 )   $ (280,000 )   $ (247,500 )   $ (247,500 )

Long-term debt

   $ (420,082 )   $ (428,828 )   $ (406,451 )   $ (420,203 )

Capital leases

   $ (96,570 )   $ (96,570 )   $ (100,757 )   $ (100,757 )

NOTE 13—SEGMENT INFORMATION:

CONSOL Energy has two principal business units: Coal and Gas. The principal activities of the Coal unit are mining, preparation and marketing of steam coal, sold primarily to power generators, and metallurgical coal, sold to metal and coke producers. The Coal unit includes four reportable segments. These reportable segments are Northern Appalachian, Central Appalachian, Metallurgical and Other Coal. Each of these reportable segments includes a number of operating segments (mines). For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Northern Appalachian aggregated segment includes the following mines: Blacksville #2, Robinson Run,

 

19


Table of Contents

McElroy, Loveridge, Bailey, Enlow Fork and Mine 84. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Central Appalachian aggregated segment includes the following mines: Jones Fork and Wiley-Mill Creek. It also includes the Fola Complex and the Terry Eagle Complex which were acquired in the July 2007 AMVEST acquisition. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Metallurgical aggregated segment includes the Buchanan and Amonate mines. The Other Coal segment includes our purchased coal activities, idled mine cost, coal segment business units not meeting aggregation criteria, as well as various other activities assigned to the coal segment but not allocated to each individual mine. The principal activity of the Gas unit is to produce pipeline quality methane gas for sale primarily to gas wholesalers. CONSOL Energy’s All Other classification is made up of the Company’s terminal services, river and dock services, industrial supply services and other business activities, including rentals of buildings and flight operations. Intersegment sales have been recorded at amounts approximating market. Operating profit for each segment is based on sales less identifiable operating and non-operating expenses. Certain reclassifications of 2007 segment information have been made to conform to the 2008 presentation.

Industry segment results for the three months ended March 31, 2008:

 

    Northern
Appalachian
  Central
Appalachian
    Metallurgical     Other Coal     Total Coal   Gas   All Other   Corporate
Adjustments
&
Eliminations
    Consolidated  

Sales—outside

  $ 523,163   $ 88,926     $ 10,725     $ 65,276     $ 688,090   $ 127,399   $ 70,836   $ —       $ 886,325  

Sales—gas royalty interest

    —       —         —         —         —       16,504     —       —         16,504  

Sales—purchased gas

    —       —         —         —         —       3,539     —       —         3,539  

Freight—outside

    —       —         —         44,744       44,744     —       —       —         44,744  

Intersegment transfers

    —       —         —         —         —       3,142     32,936     (36,078 )     —    
                                                               

Total Sales and Freight

  $ 523,163   $ 88,926     $ 10,725     $ 110,020     $ 732,834   $ 150,584   $ 103,772   $ (36,078 )   $ 951,112  
                                                               

Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes

  $ 113,589   $ (4,531 )   $ (7,853 )   $ (38,009 )   $ 63,196   $ 77,926   $ 2,513   $ (23,851 )   $ 119,784 (A)
                                                               

Segment assets

          $ 4,082,534   $ 1,454,739   $ 260,527   $ 589,971     $ 6,387,771 (B)
                                         

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

          $ 71,836   $ 15,945   $ 4,947   $ —       $ 92,728  
                                         

Capital Expenditures (Including acquisitions)

          $ 85,202   $ 86,552   $ 4,588   $ —       $ 176,342  
                                         

 

(A) Includes equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates of $456, $110 and $789 for Coal, Gas and All Other, respectively.
(B) Includes investments in unconsolidated equity affiliates of $2,975, $27,440 and $35,689 for Coal, Gas and All Other, respectively.

 

20


Table of Contents

Industry segment results for the three months ended March 31, 2007:

 

    Northern
Appalachian
  Central
Appalachian
  Metallurgical   Other Coal     Total Coal   Gas   All Other   Corporate
Adjustments &
Eliminations
    Consolidated  

Sales—outside

  $ 506,872   $ 47,072   $ 85,916   $ 41,298     $ 681,158   $ 99,182   $ 52,760   $ —       $ 833,100  

Sales—gas royalty interest

    —       —       —       —         —       12,182     —       —         12,182  

Sales—purchased gas

    —       —       —       —         —       1,159     —       —         1,159  

Freight—outside

    —       —       —       43,633       43,633     —       —       —         43,633  

Intersegment transfers

    —       —       —       —         —       1,079     34,803     (35,882 )     —    
                                                           

Total Sales and Freight

  $ 506,872   $ 47,072   $ 85,916   $ 84,931     $ 724,791   $ 113,602   $ 87,563   $ (35,882 )   $ 890,074  
                                                           

Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes

  $ 128,895   $ 6,505   $ 36,211   $ (39,729 )   $ 131,882   $ 52,237   $ 3,262   $ (25,074 )   $ 162,307 (C)
                                                           

Segment assets

          $ 3,609,400   $ 1,197,972   $ 230,468   $ 755,807     $ 5,793,647 (D)
                                         

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

          $ 60,173   $ 12,098   $ 4,518   $ —       $ 76,789  
                                         

Capital Expenditures

          $ 89,879   $ 57,535   $ 2,805   $ —       $ 150,219  
                                         

 

(C) Includes equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates of $139, $207 and $533 for Coal, Gas and All Other, respectively.
(D) Includes investments in unconsolidated equity affiliates of $1,119, $53,312 and $32,469 for Coal, Gas and All Other, respectively. Also, included in the Coal segment is $26,006 of receivables related to the Export Sales Excise Tax resolution.

Reconciliation of Segment Information to Consolidated Amounts

Earnings Before Income Taxes:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
 
     2008     2007  

Segment earnings before income taxes for total reportable business segments

   $ 141,122     $ 184,119  

Segment earnings before income taxes for all other businesses

     2,513       3,262  

Incentive compensation (A)

     (6,779 )     (9,769 )

Compensation from restricted stock unit grants, stock option expense and performance share unit expense (A)

     (4,928 )     (10,775 )

Interest income (expense), net and other non-operating activity (A)

     (12,144 )     (4,530 )
                

Earnings Before Income Taxes

   $ 119,784     $ 162,307  
                

 

(A) Excludes amounts specifically related to the Gas segment.

Total Assets:

 

     March 31,
     2008    2007

Segment assets for total reportable business segments

   $ 5,537,273    $ 4,807,372

Segment assets for all other businesses

     260,527      230,468

Items excluded from segment assets:

     

Cash and other investments (A)

     30,805      98,109

Deferred tax assets

     545,690      656,056

Recoverable Income Taxes

     12,098      —  

Bond issuance costs

     1,378      1,642
             

Total Consolidated Assets

   $ 6,387,771    $ 5,793,647
             

 

(A) Excludes amounts specifically related to the Gas segment.

 

21


Table of Contents

NOTE 14—GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

The payment obligations under the $250,000, 7.875% per annum notes due March 1, 2012 issued by CONSOL Energy are jointly and severally, and also fully and unconditionally guaranteed by several subsidiaries of CONSOL Energy. In accordance with positions established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the following financial information sets forth separate financial information with respect to the parent, CNX Gas, an 81.7% owned guarantor subsidiary, the remaining guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries. CNX Gas is presented in a separate column in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10. CNX Gas Corporation is a reporting company under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, and as such, CNX Gas Corporation files its own financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission and those financial statements, when filed, are publicly available on Edgar. The principal elimination entries include investments in subsidiaries and certain intercompany balances and transactions. CONSOL Energy, the parent, and a guarantor subsidiary manage several assets and liabilities of all other 100% owned subsidiaries. These include, for example, deferred tax assets, cash and other post-employment liabilities. These assets and liabilities are reflected as parent company or guarantor company amounts for purposes of this presentation.

Income Statement for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008:

 

     Parent
Issuer
    CNX Gas
Guarantor
   Other
Subsidiary
Guarantors
   Non-
Guarantors
   Elimination     Consolidated  

Sales—Outside

   $ —       $ 130,541    $ 694,318    $ 65,367    $ (3,901 )   $ 886,325  

Sales—Purchased Gas

     —         3,539      —        —        —         3,539  

Sales—Gas Royalty Interests

     —         16,504      —        —        —         16,504  

Freight—Outside

     —         —        44,744      —        —         44,744  

Other Income (including equity earnings)

     89,140       10,029      56,201      9,243      (89,994 )     74,619  
                                             

Total Revenue and Other Income

     89,140       160,613      795,263      74,610      (93,895 )     1,025,731  

Cost of Goods Sold and Other Operating Charges

     13,601       27,025      515,368      26,320      54,414       636,728  

Purchased Gas Costs

     —         3,421      —        —        —         3,421  

Gas Royalty Interests’ Costs

     —         16,089      —        —        (15 )     16,074  

Related Party Activity

     (3,614 )     —        17,263      38,644      (52,293 )     —    

Freight Expense

     —         —        44,744      —        —         44,744  

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

     —         15,744      12,294      2,432      —         30,470  

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     2,111       15,945      73,922      2,635      (1,885 )     92,728  

Interest Expense

     8,301       1,472      268      135      —         10,176  

Taxes Other Than Income

     1,630       —        67,603      2,373      —         71,606  
                                             

Total Costs

     22,029       79,696      731,462      72,539      221       905,947  
                                             

Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes

     67,111       80,917      63,801      2,071      (94,116 )     119,784  

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

     (7,971 )     30,996      11,745      783      —         35,553  
                                             

Earnings (Loss) before Minority Interest

     75,082       49,921      52,056      1,288      (94,116 )     84,231  

Minority Interest

     —         —        —        —        (9,149 )     (9,149 )
                                             

Net Income (Loss)

   $ 75,082     $ 49,921    $ 52,056    $ 1,288    $ (103,265 )   $ 75,082  
                                             

 

22


Table of Contents

Balance Sheet for March 31, 2008:

 

    Parent
Issuer
  CNX Gas
Guarantor
    Other
Subsidiary
Guarantors
    Non-
Guarantors
  Elimination     Consolidated

Assets:

           

Current Assets:

           

Cash and Cash Equivalents

  $ 25,834   $ 32,375     $ —       $ 4,566   $ —       $ 62,775

Accounts and Notes Receivable:

           

Trade

    —       60,107       54       163,841     —         224,002

Other

    520     13,167       50,389       35,442     —         99,518

Inventories

    80       159,122       25,158     —         184,360

Recoverable Income Taxes

    18,312     (6,214 )     —         —       —         12,098

Deferred Income Taxes

    136,221     22,246       —         —       —         158,467

Prepaid Expenses

    20,128     1,694       38,959       2,152     —         62,933
                                         

Total Current Assets

    201,095     123,375       248,524       231,159     —         804,153

Property, Plant and Equipment:

           

Property, Plant and Equipment

    116,097     1,591,976       7,266,576       87,496     —         9,062,145

Less-Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

    64,309     270,463       3,635,873       40,446     —         4,011,091
                                         

Property, Plant and Equipment—Net

    51,788     1,321,513       3,630,703       47,050     —         5,051,054

Other Assets:

           

Deferred Income Taxes

    591,859     (204,636 )     —         —       —         387,223

Investment in Affiliates

    2,841,553     27,440       530,863       —       (3,333,752 )     66,104

Other

    23,979     9,120       28,470       17,668     —         79,237
                                         

Total Other Assets

    3,457,391     (168,076 )     559,333       17,668     (3,333,752 )     532,564
                                         

Total Assets

  $ 3,710,274   $ 1,276,812     $ 4,438,560     $ 295,877   $ (3,333,752 )   $ 6,387,771
                                         

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:

           

Current Liabilities:

           

Accounts Payable

  $ 69,458   $ 26,369     $ 99,165     $ 23,518   $ —       $ 218,510

Accounts Payable (Receivable)— Related Parties

    1,633,234     —         (1,775,705 )     142,471     —         —  

Short-Term Notes Payable

    280,000     —         —         —       —         280,000

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt

    —       5,753       11,033       2,000     —         18,786

Other Accrued Liabilities

    127,810     88,891       376,742       9,309     —         602,752
                                         

Total Current Liabilities

    2,110,502     121,013       (1,288,765 )     177,298     —         1,120,048

Long-Term Debt:

    258,899     76,304       154,178       8,485     —         497,866

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:

           

Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions

    —       2,806       2,380,477       —       —         2,383,283

Pneumoconiosis

    —       —         178,848       —       —         178,848

Mine Closing

    —       —         400,609       7,441     —         408,050

Workers‘ Compensation

    —       —         130,195       —       —         130,195

Salary Retirement

    73,597     —         —         —       —         73,597

Reclamation

    —       —         11,876       20,022     —         31,898

Other

    54,314     51,680       63,213       17,639     —         186,846
                                         

Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

    127,911     54,486       3,165,218       45,102     —         3,392,717

Minority Interest

        —         —       164,178       164,178

Stockholders‘ Equity

    1,212,962     1,025,009       2,407,929       64,992     (3,497,930 )     1,212,962
                                         

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

  $ 3,710,274   $ 1,276,812     $ 4,438,560     $ 295,877   $ (3,333,752 )   $ 6,387,771
                                         

 

23


Table of Contents

Income Statement for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007:

 

    Parent
Issuer
    CNX Gas
Guarantor
  Other
Subsidiary
Guarantors
  Non-
Guarantors
  Elimination     Consolidated  

Sales—Outside

  $ —       $ 100,261   $ 690,454   $ 44,576   $ (2,191 )   $ 833,100  

Sales—Purchased Gas

    —         1,159     —       —       —         1,159  

Sales—Gas Royalty Interest

    —         12,182     —       —       —         12,182  

Freight—Outside

    —         —       43,633     —       —         43,633  

Other Income (including equity earnings)

    132,657       1,530     10,554     9,399     (129,029 )     25,111  
                                         

Total Revenue and Other Income

    132,657       115,132     744,641     53,975     (129,029 )     915,185  

Cost of Goods Sold and Other Operating Charges

    22,692       23,172     413,394     5,318     54,673       519,249  

Purchased Gas Costs

    —         1,019     —       —       —         1,019  

Gas Royalty Interest

    —         10,665     —       —       (27 )     10,638  

Related Party Activity

    (2,459 )     —       15,241     35,584     (48,366 )     —    

Freight Expense

    —         —       43,633     —       —         43,633  

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

    —         13,721     11,136     1,152     —         26,009  

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

    1,842       12,098     62,348     2,483     (1,982 )     76,789  

Interest Expense

    5,038       1,219     866     140     —         7,263  

Taxes Other Than Income

    1,451       —       65,166     1,661     —         68,278  
                                         

Total Costs

    28,564       61,894     611,784     46,338     4,298       752,878  
                                         

Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes

    104,093       53,238     130,666     7,637     (133,327 )     162,307  

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

    (9,169 )     20,242     29,188     2,673     —         42,934  
                                         

Earnings (Loss) before Minority Interest

    113,262       32,996     101,478     4,964     (133,327 )     119,373  

Minority Interest

    —         —       —       —       (6,111 )     (6,111 )
                                         

Net Income (Loss)

  $ 113,262     $ 32,996   $ 95,367   $ 4,964   $ (133,327 )   $ 113,262  
                                         

 

24


Table of Contents

Balance Sheet for December 31, 2007:

 

    Parent
Issuer
  CNX Gas
Guarantor
    Other
Subsidiary
Guarantors
    Non-
Guarantors
  Elimination     Consolidated

Assets:

           

Current Assets:

           

Cash and Cash Equivalents

  $ 6,519   $ 32,048     $ —       $ 3,084   $ —       $ 41,651

Accounts and Notes Receivable:

           

Trade

    —       38,680       —         141,865     —         180,545

Other

    840     2,428       34,619       31,884     —         69,771

Inventories

    —       —         135,132       28,061     —         163,193

Recoverable Income Taxes

    18,118     972       —         —       —         19,090

Deferred Income Taxes

    132,089     (1,269 )     —         —       —         130,820

Prepaid Expenses

    18,130     13,859       40,985       5,111     —         78,085
                                         

Total Current Assets

    175,696     86,718       210,736       210,005     —         683,155

Property, Plant and Equipment:

           

Property, Plant and Equipment

    103,223     1,480,446       7,274,197       87,446     —         8,945,312

Less-Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

    52,103     251,367       3,638,286       38,514     —         3,980,270
                                         

Property, Plant and Equipment—Net

    51,120     1,229,079       3,635,911       48,932     —         4,965,042

Other Assets:

           

Deferred Income Taxes

    563,226     (188,415 )     —         —       —         374,811

Investment in Affiliates

    2,817,974     56,865       1,305,043       —       (4,085,016 )     94,866

Other

    30,242     6,772       35,600       17,602     —         90,216
                                         

Total Other Assets

    3,411,442     (124,778 )     1,340,643       17,602     (4,085,016 )     559,893
                                         

Total Assets

  $ 3,638,258   $ 1,191,019     $ 5,187,290     $ 276,539   $ (4,085,016 )   $ 6,208,090
                                         

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:

           

Current Liabilities:

           

Accounts Payable

  $ 71,558   $ 30,263     $ 110,370     $ 26,121   $ —       $ 238,312

Accounts Payable (Receivable)— Related Parties

    1,592,539     —         (1,714,595 )     122,056     —         —  

Short-Term Notes Payable

    247,500     —         —         —       —         247,500

Current Portion of Long- Term Debt

    —       5,819       10,464       2,000     —         18,283

Other Accrued Liabilities

    99,169     25,333       378,788       9,012     —         512,302
                                         

Total Current Liabilities

    2,010,766     61,415       (1,214,973 )     159,189     —         1,016,397

Long-Term Debt:

    258,848     66,949       154,143       8,985     —         488,925

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:

           

Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions

    —       2,700       2,334,109       —       —         2,336,809

Pneumoconiosis

    —       —         171,896       —       —         171,896

Mine Closing

    —       —         388,710       10,923     —         399,633

Workers‘ Compensation

    —       —         118,356       —       —         118,356

Deferred Revenue

    —       —         3,162       —       —         3,162

Salary Retirement

    67,065     327       —         —       —         67,392

Reclamation

    —       —         14,497       19,820     —         34,317

Other

    87,160     36,391       52,958       17,157     —         193,666
                                         

Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

    154,225     39,418       3,083,688       47,900     —         3,325,231

Minority Interest

    —       —         —         —       163,118       163,118

Stockholders‘ Equity

    1,214,419     1,023,237       3,164,432       60,465     (4,248,134 )     1,214,419

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’

           
                                         

Equity

  $ 3,638,258   $ 1,191,019     $ 5,187,290     $ 276,539   $ (4,085,016 )   $ 6,208,090
                                         

 

25


Table of Contents

Cash Flow for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008:

 

    Parent
Issuer
    CNX Gas
Guarantor
    Other
Subsidiary
Guarantors
    Non-
Guarantors
    Elimination   Consolidated  

Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Operating Activities

  $ (9,718 )   $ 76,217     $ 77,120     $ 2,474     $ —     $ 146,093  
                                             

Investing Activities:

           

Capital Expenditures

  $ —       $ (86,552 )   $ (89,299 )   $ (491 )   $ —     $ (176,342 )

Investment in Equity Affiliates

    —         954       582       —         —       1,536  

Other Investing Activities

    —         —         15,803       —         —       15,803  
                                             

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

  $ —       $ (85,598 )   $ (72,914 )   $ (491 )   $ —     $ (159,003 )
                                             

Financing Activities:

           

Dividends Paid

  $ (18,255 )   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —     $ (18,255 )

Proceeds from Short Term Borrowing

    32,500       —         —         —         —       32,500  

Purchase of Treasury Stock

    (3 )     —         —         —         —       (3 )

Other Financing Activities

    14,791       9,708       (4,206 )     (501 )     —       19,792  
                                             

Net Cash Provided by (Used in)

           

Financing Activities

  $ 29,033     $ 9,708     $ (4,206 )   $ (501 )   $ —     $ 34,034  
                                             

Cash Flow for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007:

 

    Parent
Issuer
    CNX Gas
Guarantor
    Other
Subsidiary
Guarantors
    Non-
Guarantors
    Elimination   Consolidated  

Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Operating Activities

  $ 21,523     $ 73,119     $ 88,803     $ (78 )   $ —     $ 183,367  
                                             

Investing Activities:

           

Capital Expenditures

  $ (3,867 )   $ (57,535 )   $ (88,599 )   $ (218 )   $ —     $ (150,219 )

Investment in Equity Affiliates

    —         (822 )     (980 )     —         —       (1,802 )

Other Investing Activities

    —         —         3,735       —         —       3,735  
                                             

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

  $ (3,867 )   $ (58,357 )   $ (85,844 )   $ (218 )   $ —     $ (148,286 )
                                             

Financing Activities:

           

Dividends Paid

  $ (12,775 )   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —     $ (12,775 )

Purchase of Treasury Stock

    (25,618 )     —         —         —         —       (25,618 )

Other Financing Activities

    2,029       (608 )     (3,430 )     (500 )     —       (2,509 )
                                             

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities

  $ (36,364 )   $ (608 )   $ (3,430 )   $ (500 )   $ —     $ (40,902 )
                                             

NOTE 15—RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS:

In March 2008, The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement 133” (SFAS 161 ). The new standard is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The new standard also improves transparency about how and why a company uses derivative instruments and how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under Statement 133. It is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early application encouraged. CONSOL Energy’s management is currently assessing the new disclosure requirements required by SFAS 161.

 

26


Table of Contents

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (SFAS 141R), and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, “Accounting and Reporting of Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51” (SFAS 160). SFAS 141R and SFAS 160 will significantly change the accounting for and reporting of business combination transactions and noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated financial statements. SFAS 141R retains the fundamental requirements in Statement 141 “Business Combinations” while providing additional definitions, such as the definition of the acquirer in a purchase and improvements in the application of how the acquisition method is applied. SFAS 160 will change the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests, and classified as a component of equity. These Statements become simultaneously effective January 1, 2009. Early adoption is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

27


Table of Contents
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

General

CONSOL Energy had net income of $75 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to $113 million in the 2007 period. Net income for the 2008 period declined in comparison to the 2007 period primarily due to lower coal volumes sold, coal sales contract buy outs and mark-to- market adjustments related to free standing coal sales options. Coal sales volumes decreased in the period-to-period comparison due to lower production volumes. Lower production volumes were due to suspended production at the Buchanan Mine after several roof falls in previously mined areas damaged some of the ventilation controls in July 2007. Buchanan Mine resumed longwall production on March 17, 2008. Lower production was also related to several Northern Appalachian mines experiencing delays in resuming longwall production following equipment moves because a new area to be mined was not complete. Lower production was offset, in part, by production from the AMVEST mines which were acquired on July 31, 2007. Also, cost of goods sold and other charges included approximately $16 million of costs related to the Buchanan Mine incident. Earnings before income tax in the 2008 period also included approximately $16 million of expense due to the buyout of coal sales contracts with several customers in order to release tons committed under lower priced contracts for sale to other customers at higher prices. No such agreements were made in the 2007 period. Mark-to-market adjustments for three free standing coal sales options resulted in a reduction of earnings before income taxes of approximately $9 million. These unrealized losses will reverse as coal is purchased under these options or as the options expire. Cost of goods sold and other charges per unit of produced coal sold and per million cubic feet of gas sold also increased in the period-to-period comparison, lowering net income. These reductions to net income were offset, in part, by $50 million of pre-tax income related to notification from our insurance carriers that the final settlement related to the Buchanan incident will be paid. Reductions to net income were also offset by higher volumes of gas sold and higher average coal and gas sales prices in the period-to-period comparison.

Total coal sales for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were 16.0 million tons, of which 15.7 million tons were produced by CONSOL Energy operations, our equity affiliates, consolidated variable interest entities, or sold from inventory of company-produced coal. This compares with total coal sales of 17.1 million tons for the three months ended March 31, 2007, of which 17.0 million tons were produced by CONSOL Energy operations, consolidated variable interest entities, or sold from inventory of company-produced coal. Company-produced coal production was 16.2 million tons, including our portion of equity affiliates and consolidated variable interest entities, for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to 17.8 million tons for the three months ended March 31, 2007. Production was lower due to the continued idling of the Buchanan Mine as discussed above and lower production at several Northern Appalachian mines. Lower production was offset, in part, by production from the AMVEST mines that were acquired on July 31, 2007.

Produced coalbed methane gas sales volumes, including a percentage of the sales of equity affiliates equal to our interest in these affiliates, increased 11.2% to 15.9 billion cubic feet in the 2008 period compared with 14.3 billion cubic feet in the 2007 period. Sales volumes in the 2008 period increased as a result of additional wells coming online from our on-going drilling program, offset, in part, by the deferral of active and sealed gob production related to the idling of the Buchanan Mine. Our average sales price for coalbed methane gas, including sales of equity affiliates increased 16.7% to $8.23 per thousand cubic feet in the 2008 period compared with $7.05 per thousand cubic feet in the 2007 period. The increase in average sales price was a result of CNX Gas, an 81.7% owned subsidiary, realizing general market price increases.

In January 2008, CNX Marine Terminal in the Port of Baltimore suspended vessel loading operations in order to repair a small section of a pier on which the coal loading machine operates. Pilings beneath the section of the pier had deteriorated and had to be reinforced or replaced. Normal loading activity resumed at the end of the month. The company does not expect the suspension of loading that occurred during January 2008, to reduce total coal exports for the year below the tonnage forecast.

 

28


Table of Contents

In March 2008, CONSOL Energy’s Buchanan Mine resumed production. Production at the mine was suspended on July 9, 2007, after several roof falls in previously mined areas damaged some of the ventilation controls inside the mine, requiring a general evacuation of the mine. The mine employs approximately 520 people and normally expects to produce between 400,000 and 425,000 tons of high-quality metallurgical grade coal per month.

Also in March 2008, CONSOL Energy, Inc. terminated its proposed exchange offer for the shares of CNX Gas Corporation (NYSE:CXG) common stock that it does not currently own. The company does not intend to sell or otherwise divest itself of the shares of CNX Gas that it currently owns. In addition, the company may continue buying shares of CNX Gas common stock from time to time in open market purchases based on a number of considerations, including price.

CNX Gas, our 81.7% subsidiary, became a registered offset provider on the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) during the fourth quarter 2007. CCX is a rules-based Greenhouse Gas (GhG) allowance trading system. CCX emitting members make a voluntary but legally binding commitment to meet annual GhG emission reduction targets. Those emitting members who exceed their targets have surplus allowances to sell or bank; those who fall short of their targets comply by purchasing offsets which are called CCX Carbon Financial Instruments (CFI) contracts. As a CCX offset provider, CNX Gas is not bound to any emission reduction targets. An offset provider is an owner of an offset project that registers and sells offsets on its own behalf. In order to sell or trade CFI’s, approval must be received by the CCX Committee on Offsets and approved projects must then be validated by an independent CCX verifier. Once verified, CCX then issues CFI’s for each specific project. As of March 31, 2008, we have completed the independent verification process for several CCX approved projects relating to the capture of coal mine methane. Credits are granted on the basis of avoiding methane emissions by diverting gas into gas pipelines for commercial sale. After the issuance of registered CFI’s is complete, credits derived from these projects will be eligible to be sold through CCX. Sales of these credits will be reflected in income as they occur. CONSOL Energy also continues to evaluate additional emission credit opportunities.

Mine accidents involving multiple fatalities occurred during the calendar years 2006 and 2007 at mines operated by other coal companies. These accidents attracted widespread public attention and have resulted in both federal government and some state government changes to statutory and regulatory control of mine safety, particularly for underground mines. Because nearly all of our mines are underground, these legislative and regulatory changes could affect our performance.

The actions taken thus far by federal and state governments include requiring: the caching of additional supplies of self-contained self rescuer (SCSR) devices underground; providing breathable air for all underground miners for 96 hours; the purchase and installation during the next several years of electronic communication and personal tracking devices underground; the placement, in various mine areas, of rescue chambers (structures designed to provide refuge for groups of miners for long periods of time during a mine emergency when evacuation from the mine is not possible and that provide breathable air for all occupants for 96 hours); additional training and testing requirements that created the need to hire additional employees; provide additional mine rescue personnel and equipment; and provide additional transportation for each underground working section. In addition, mines may be required to reconstruct existing seals in worked-out areas.

In reviewing actions taken to date, we estimate that implementation of these new requirements will cost $38 million to $45 million during the period from 2006 until the end of 2009. The actual costs will depend primarily on: the number of additional SCSR oxygen units purchased, the design requirements as well as the extent of deployment of rescue chambers, final guidelines regarding sealed areas, final interpretation of other regulatory requirements, and final approval of mine-by-mine implementation plans.

We have reviewed our coal sales agreements to determine the degree to which costs related to these regulatory requirements may be passed through to customers. While the amount will vary by contract, we have been billing the cost of implementation to customers in most of our existing sales agreements. Responses from customers have varied.

 

29


Table of Contents

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2007

Net Income

Net income changed primarily due to the following items (table in millions):

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Dollar
Variance
    Percentage
Change
 

Coal Sales-Produced and Purchased

   $ 689    $ 681    $ 8     1.2 %

Produced Gas Sales

     127      99      28     28.3 %

Gas Royalty Interest

     17      12      5     41.7 %

Purchased Gas Sales

     4      1      3     300.0 %

Other Sales and Other Income

     189      122      67     54.9 %
                        

Total Revenue and Other Income

     1,026      915      111     12.1 %

Coal Cost of Goods Sold—Produced and Purchased

     464      394      70     17.8 %

Produced Gas Cost of Goods Sold

     35      31      4     12.9 %

Gas Royalty Interest costs of Goods Sold

     16      11      5     45.5 %

Purchased Gas Cost of Goods Sold

     3      1      2     200.0 %

Other Cost of Goods Sold

     137      94      43     45.7 %
                        

Total Cost of Goods Sold

     655      531      124     23.4 %

Other

     251      222      29     13.1 %
                        

Total Costs

     906      753      153     20.3 %
                        

Earnings Before Income Taxes and Minority Interest

     120      162      (42 )   (25.9 )%

Income Tax Expense

     36      43      (7 )   (16.3 )%
                        

Earnings Before Minority Interest

     84      119      (35 )   (29.4 )%

Minority Interest

     9      6      3     50.0 %
                        

Net Income

   $ 75    $ 113    $ (38 )   (33.6 )%
                        

CONSOL Energy had net income of $75 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to $113 million in the 2007 period. Net income for the 2008 period declined in comparison to the 2007 period primarily due to lower coal volumes sold, coal sales contract buy outs and mark-to- market adjustments related to free standing coal sales options. Coal sales volumes decreased in the period-to-period comparison due to lower production volumes. Lower production volumes were due to suspended production at the Buchanan Mine after several roof falls in previously mined areas damaged some of the ventilation controls in July 2007. Buchanan Mine resumed longwall production on March 17, 2008. Lower production was also related to several Northern Appalachian mines experiencing delays in resuming longwall production following equipment moves because a new area to be mined was not complete. Lower production was offset, in part, by production from the AMVEST mines which were acquired in July 2007. Also, cost of goods sold and other charges included approximately $16 million of costs related to the Buchanan Mine incident. Earnings before income tax in the 2008 period also included approximately $16 million of expense due to the buyout of coal sales contracts with several customers in order to release tons committed under lower priced contracts for sale to other customers at higher prices. No such agreements were made in the 2007 period. Mark-to-market adjustments for three free standing coal sales options resulted in a reduction of earnings before income taxes of approximately $9 million. These unrealized losses will reverse as coal is purchased under these options or as the options expire. Cost of goods sold and other charges per unit of produced coal sold and per million cubic feet of gas sold also increased in the period-to-period comparison, lowering net income. These reductions to net income were offset, in part, by $50 million of pre-tax income related to notification from our insurance carriers that the final settlement related to the Buchanan incident will be paid. Reductions to net income were also offset by higher volumes of gas sold and higher average coal and gas sales prices in the period-to-period comparison.

 

30


Table of Contents

Revenue

Revenue and other income increased due to the following items:

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Dollar
Variance
    Percentage
Change
 

Sales:

          

Produced Coal

   $ 668    $ 676    $ (8 )   (1.2 )%

Purchased Coal

     21      5      16     320.0 %

Produced Gas

     127      99      28     28.3 %

Industrial Supplies

     45      31      14     45.2 %

Other

     25      22      3     13.6 %
                            

Total Sales—Outside

     886      833      53     6.4 %

Gas Royalty Interest

     17      12      5     41.7 %

Purchased Gas

     4      1      3     300.0 %

Freight Revenue

     45      44      1     2.3 %

Other Income

     74      25      49     196.0 %
                            

Total Revenue and Other Income

   $ 1,026    $ 915    $ 111     12.1 %
                            

The decrease in company produced coal sales revenue during the 2008 period was due to the decrease in tons sold, offset, in part, by the higher average price per ton sold.

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Variance     Percentage
Change
 

Produced Tons Sold (in millions)

     15.7      17.0      (1.3 )   (7.6 )%

Average Sales Price Per Ton

   $ 42.64    $ 39.68    $ 2.96     7.5 %

Sales of company-produced coal decreased in the period-to-period comparison due to lower production volumes. Lower production volumes were due to the idling of the Buchanan Mine and lower production at several Northern Appalachian mines as previously discussed. These decreases in production were offset, in part, by production from the AMVEST mines acquired in the July 31, 2007 acquisition. The increase in average sales price in the period-to-period comparison primarily reflects an increase in demand.

Purchased coal sales consist of revenues from processing third-party coal in our preparation plants for blending purposes to meet customer coal specifications, coal purchased from third parties and sold directly to our customers and revenues from processing third-party coal in our preparation plants. The increase of $16 million in company-purchased coal sales revenue was primarily due to an increase in demand in the period-to-period comparison.

The increase in produced gas sales revenue in the 2008 period compared to the 2007 period was primarily due to higher sales volumes and higher average sales price per thousand cubic feet sold.

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Variance    Percentage
Change
 

Produced Gas Sales Volumes (in billion cubic feet)

     15.5      14.1      1.4    9.9 %

Average Sales Price Per thousand cubic feet

   $ 8.22    $ 7.04    $ 1.18    16.8 %

The increase in average sales price is the result of realizing general market price increases in the period-to-period comparison. CONSOL Energy’s 81.7% owned subsidiary, CNX Gas, periodically enters into various gas swap transactions that qualify as financial cash flow hedges. These gas swap transactions exist parallel to the underlying physical transactions. These financial hedges represented approximately 6.1 billion cubic feet of our produced gas sales volumes for the three months ended March 31, 2008 at an average price of

 

31


Table of Contents

$8.39 per thousand cubic feet. In the prior year, these financial hedges represented approximately 3.2 billion cubic feet at an average price of $7.77 per thousand cubic feet. Sales volumes increased as a result of additional wells coming online from our on-going drilling program, offset, in part, by the deferral of active and sealed gob production related to the idling of the Buchanan Mine.

The $14 million increase in revenues from the sale of industrial supplies was primarily due to increased sales volumes. Sales volumes have increased primarily due to the July 2007 acquisition of Piping & Equipment, Inc.

The $3 million increase in other sales was attributable to increased revenues from barge towing and terminal services. These increases in revenues were offset, in part, by terminal services being suspended for approximately one month due to maintenance needed on a pier in Baltimore.

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Variance    Percentage
Change
 

Gas Royalty Interest Sales Volumes (in billion cubic feet)

     1.9      1.8      0.1    5.6 %

Average Sales Price Per thousand cubic feet

   $ 8.63    $ 6.62    $ 2.01    30.4 %

Included in gas royalty interest sales volumes are the revenues related to the portion of production belonging to royalty interest owners sold by CNX Gas on their behalf. The increase in market prices, contractual differences among leases and the mix of average and index prices used in calculating royalties contributed to the period-to-period change.

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Variance    Percentage
Change
 

Purchased Gas Sales Volumes (in billion cubic feet)

     0.5      0.2      0.3    150.0 %

Average Sales Price Per thousand cubic feet

   $ 7.18    $ 7.14    $ 0.04    0.6 %

Purchased gas sales volumes represent volumes of gas that are sold at market prices that were purchased from third-party producers, less gathering fees.

Freight revenue is based on weight of coal shipped, negotiated freight rates and method of transportation (i.e., rail, barge, truck, etc.) used for the customers to which CONSOL Energy contractually provides transportation services. Freight revenue is the amount billed to customers for transportation costs incurred.

Other income consists of interest income, gain or loss on the disposition of assets, equity in earnings of affiliates, service income, royalty income, derivative gains and losses, rental income and miscellaneous income.

 

     2008
Period
    2007
Period
   Dollar
Variance
    Percentage
Change
 

Business interruption proceeds

   $ 50     $ —      $ 50     100.0 %

Proceeds from relinquishment of mining rights

     6       —        6     100.0 %

Gain on sale of assets

     7       4      3     75.0 %

Contract towing

     3       —        3     100.0 %

Interest income

     1       6      (5 )   (83.3 )%

Litigation settlement

     —         5      (5 )   (100.0 )%

Unrealized losses on options

     (9 )     —        (9 )   100.0 %

Other miscellaneous

     16       10      6     60.0 %
                         

Total Other Income

   $ 74     $ 25    $ 49     196.0 %
                         

In March 2008, CONSOL Energy received notice from its insurance carriers that $50 million would be paid as final settlement of the insurance claim related the July 2007 Buchanan Mine incident, which was previously

 

32


Table of Contents

discussed. The $50 million represents business interruption coverage which was recognized in other income; the coal segment recognized $42 million and the gas segment recognized $8 million. The final settlement brought the total amount recovered from insurance carriers to $75 million, the maximum allowed per covered event. No additional amounts related to the Buchanan roof caving event will be recovered.

In the three months ended March 31, 2008, approximately $6 million was received from a third party in order for CONSOL Energy to relinquish mining certain in-place coal reserves.

Gain on sale of assets increased $3 million primarily due to the sale of the Mill Creek coal mine. Gain on sale of assets also changed due to various miscellaneous transactions that occurred throughout both periods, none of which were individually material.

The $3 million of contract towing services represents river towing services for third parties which CONSOL Energy now provides. These services were not provided in the three months ended March 31, 2007.

Interest income decreased $5 million in the period-to-period comparison due to lower cash balances throughout the 2008 period compared to the 2007 period. Lower cash balances were primarily the result of the purchase price paid for the July 31, 2007 acquisition of AMVEST, the June 2007 purchase of certain coalbed methane and gas reserves from Peabody Energy and the July 2007 Buchanan Mine incident.

A litigation settlement with a coal customer in the 2007 period resulted in an additional $5 million of income.

Mark-to-market adjustments for three free standing coal sales options resulted in approximately a $9 million unrealized loss. The unrealized loss will reverse as coal is purchased under these options or as the options expire.

Other miscellaneous income increased $6 million in the period-to-period comparison due to various miscellaneous transactions that occurred throughout both periods, none of which were individually material.

Costs

Cost of goods sold and other charges increased due to the following:

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Dollar
Variance
   Percentage
Change
 

Cost of Goods Sold and Other Charges

           

Produced Coal

   $ 441    $ 384    $ 57    14.8 %

Purchased Coal

     23      10      13    130.0 %

Produced Gas

     35      31      4    12.9 %

Industrial Supplies

     42      30      12    40.0 %

Closed and Idle Mines

     26      22      4    18.2 %

Other

     69      42      27    64.3 %
                       

Total Sales—Outside

     636      519      117    22.5 %

Gas Royalty Interest

     16      11      5    45.5 %

Purchased Gas

     3      1      2    200.0 %
                       

Total Cost of Goods Sold

   $ 655    $ 531    $ 124    23.4 %
                       

Increased cost of goods sold and other charges for company-produced coal was due mainly to a higher average unit cost per ton sold, offset, in part, by lower sales volumes.

 

33


Table of Contents
     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Variance     Percentage
Change
 

Produced Tons Sold (in millions)

     15.7      17.0    (1.3 )   (7.6 )%

Average Cost of Goods Sold and Other Charges Per Ton

   $ 28.19    $ 22.54    5.65     25.1 %

Average cost of goods sold and other charges per ton increased in the period-to-period comparison primarily due to the impact on fixed unit costs from lower production volumes. Unit costs have also increased due to higher labor costs, Combined Fund costs and health and retirement costs. Higher labor costs were due to the effects of wage increases at the union and non-union mines from labor contracts which began in 2007. These contracts call for specified hourly wage increases in each year of the contract. Labor also increased due to the higher number of employees in the 2008 period compared to the 2007 period. Combined Fund costs per unit have also increased in the period-to-period comparison. The increase reflects income recorded as a result of a Combined Fund settlement. In March 2007, CONSOL Energy entered into a settlement agreement with the Combined Fund that resolved all previous issues relating to the calculation of the payments. The total income, including interest, as a result of this settlement was approximately $33.4 million, of which approximately $28.1 million impacted cost of goods sold and other charges for produced coal. Higher health and retirement costs were attributable to additional contributions required to be made into employee benefit funds in 2008 compared to 2007 as a result of the five-year labor agreement with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) that commenced January 1, 2007. The contribution increase over 2007 was $1.27 per UMWA hour worked. These increases were offset, in part, by lower volumes of produced coal sold.

Purchased coal cost of goods sold consists of costs from processing purchased coal in our preparation plants for blending purposes to meet customer coal specifications, coal purchased and sold directly to the customer and costs for processing third party coal in our preparation plants. The increase of $13 million in purchased coal cost of goods sold and other charges in the 2008 period was primarily due to higher volumes purchased.

Gas cost of goods sold and other charges increased due primarily to a 3.2% increase in unit costs of goods sold and other charges and a 9.9% increase in volumes of produced gas sold.

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Variance    Percentage
Change
 

Produced Gas Sales Volumes (in billion cubic feet)

     15.5      14.1    1.4    9.9 %

Average Cost Per thousand cubic feet

   $ 2.24    $ 2.17    0.07    3.2 %

The increase in average cost per thousand cubic feet of gas sold was primarily attributable to additional labor, increased service and maintenance costs due to the additional number of wells on-line, increased compression costs due to additional wells, increased water disposal costs and higher road maintenance costs. These increases were offset, in part, by lower firm transportation and lower power costs.

Industrial supplies cost of goods sold increased $12 million primarily due to the July 2007 acquisition of Piping & Equipment, Inc.

Closed and idle mine cost of goods sold increased approximately $4 million in the 2008 period compared to the 2007 period. This increase was primarily due to the idled Shoemaker Mine incurring additional expenses in the current period related to reduced Combined Fund costs in the 2007 period as previously disclosed, higher expenses related to preparing the mine for the new health and safety regulations and increased repairs and maintenance expenses in continuing to maintain the mine in an idled status.

 

34


Table of Contents

Other cost of goods sold increased due to the following items:

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Dollar
Variance
    Percentage
Change
 

Sales contract buy-outs

   $ 16    $ —      $ 16     100.0 %

Buchanan roof collapse

     16      —        16     100.0 %

Terminal/River operations

     21      13      8     61.5 %

Stock-based compensation

     7      12      (5 )   (41.7 )%

Litigation settlements and contingencies

     —        3      (3 )   (100.0 )%

Incentive compensation

     8      11      (3 )   (27.3 )%

Miscellaneous

     1      3      (2 )   (66.7 )%
                        

Total Other Cost of Goods Sold

   $ 69    $ 42    $ 27     64.3 %
                        

In the three months ended March 31, 2008, CONSOL Energy agreed to buy out sales contracts with several customers in order to release tons committed under lower priced contracts for sale to other customers at higher prices. No such agreements were made in the 2007 period.

In July 2007, production at the Buchanan Mine was suspended after several roof falls in previously mined areas damaged some of the ventilation controls inside the mine, requiring a general evacuation of the mine. In 2008, we have incurred approximately $16 million of cost of goods sold and other charges related to the Buchanan Mine event. The mine resumed longwall production on March 17, 2008.

Terminal/River operation charges have increased in the period-to-period comparison due to increased fuel charges resulting from higher prices and increased operating hours, maintenance dredging at Baltimore and higher labor costs.

Stock-based compensation expense decreased $5 million as a result of a change in the vesting period for awards granted to retiree eligible employees. This decrease was offset, in part, by additional awards granted in the 2008 period.

Litigation settlements and contingencies are attributable to various issues that have occurred throughout both periods, none of which were individually material.

The incentive compensation program is designed to increase compensation to eligible employees when CONSOL Energy reaches predetermined earnings targets and the employees reach predetermined performance targets. Incentive compensation expense decreased $3 million due to achieving a lower portion of net income compared to annual projections than in the prior year’s first quarter.

Miscellaneous cost of goods sold decreased $2 million due to various miscellaneous transactions that occurred throughout both periods, none of which were individually material.

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Variance    Percentage
Change
 

Gas Royalty Interest Sales Volumes (in billion cubic feet)

     1.9      1.8      0.1    5.6 %

Average Cost Per thousand cubic feet

   $ 8.40    $ 5.78    $ 2.62    45.3 %

Included in gas royalty interest costs are the expenses related to the portion of production belonging to royalty interest owners sold by CNX Gas on their behalf. The increase in volumes and price relates to the volatility and contractual differences among leases, as well as the mix of average and index prices used in calculating royalties.

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Variance    Percentage
Change
 

Purchased Gas Sales Volumes (in billion cubic feet)

     0.5      0.2      0.3    150.0 %

Average Cost Per thousand cubic feet

   $ 6.94    $ 6.28    $ 0.66    10.5 %

 

35


Table of Contents

Purchased gas costs represent volumes of gas purchased from third party producers, less our gathering and marketing fees, that we sell at market prices. The increase in cost of goods sold and other charges related to purchased gas represents overall price increases and contractual differences among customers in the period-to-period comparison.

Freight expense is based on weight of coal shipped, negotiated freight rates and method of transportation (i.e., rail, barge, truck, etc.) used for the customers to whom CONSOL Energy contractually provides transportation. Freight expense is billed to customers and the revenue from such billing equals the transportation expense.

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Dollar
Variance
   Percentage
Change
 

Freight expense

   $ 45    $ 44    $ 1    2.3 %

Selling, general and administrative costs have increased due to the following items:

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Dollar
Variance
    Percentage
Change
 

Wages and salaries

   $ 10    $ 8    $ 2     25.0 %

Association assessments

     2      —        2     100.0 %

Professional, consulting and other purchased services

     8      9      (1 )   (11.1 )%

Advertising and promotion

     1      1      —       —    

Other

     9      8      1     12.5 %
                        

Total Selling, General and Administrative Costs

   $ 30    $ 26    $ 4     15.4 %
                        

Wages and salaries increased in the period-to-period comparison due to additional staffing at our CNX Gas subsidiary and additional administrative staffing acquired in the July 2007 Piping & Equipment acquisition.

Association assessments have increased in the period-to-period comparison due to CONSOL Energy’s participation in an industry organization, which has launched a program related to the promotion of coal as an energy solution. CONSOL Energy did not participate in this organization in the 2007 period.

Costs of professional, consulting and other purchased services were lower in the 2008 period compared to the 2007 period due to the completion of various projects in prior periods, none of which were individually material.

Advertising and promotion expenses were consistent in the period-to-period comparison.

Other selling, general and administrative costs increased $1 million due to various transactions that occurred throughout both periods, none of which were individually material.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization increased due to the following items:

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Dollar
Variance
   Percentage
Change
 

Coal

   $ 72    $ 60    $ 12    20.0 %

Gas:

           

Production

     11      7      4    57.1 %

Gathering

     5      5      —      0.0 %
                       

Total Gas

     16      12      4    33.3 %

Other

     5      5      —      —    
                       

Total Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

   $ 93    $ 77    $ 16    20.8 %
                       

 

36


Table of Contents

The increase in coal depreciation, depletion and amortization was primarily attributable to additional expense related to the assets purchased in the July 2007 acquisition of AMVEST. The increase was also attributable to assets placed in service after the March 31, 2007 period.

The increase in gas production related depreciation, depletion and amortization was primarily due to increased production combined with an increase in units of production rates in the period-to-period comparison. These rates, which are recalculated annually, increased due to the higher proportion of capital assets placed in service versus the proportion of proved developed reserve additions. Rates are generally calculated using the net book value of assets at the end of the year divided by either proved or proved developed reserves. Gathering depreciation, depletion and amortization is recorded on the straight-line method and remained consistent in the period-to-period comparison.

Other depreciation remained consistent in the period-to-period comparison.

Interest expense increased in the 2008 period compared to the 2007 period due to the following items:

 

     2008
Period
    2007
Period
    Dollar
Variance
    Percentage
Change
 

Revolver

   $ 3     $ —       $ 3     100.0 %

Long-term secured notes

     7       8       (1 )   (12.5 )%

Capitalized lease

     2       2       —       —    

Other

     (2 )     (3 )     1     (33.3 )%
                          

Total Interest Expense

   $ 10     $ 7     $ 3     42.9 %
                          

Revolver interest expense is related to the amounts drawn on the credit facility throughout the 2008 period. There were no amounts drawn on this facility in the 2007 period.

Interest on long-term secured notes decreased $1 million due to the planned June 2007 principal payment on our $45 million secured note.

Capitalized lease interest expense remained consistent in the period-to-period comparison.

Other interest increased $1 million due to lower amounts of interest capitalized in the 2008 period compared to the 2007 period. Capitalized interest was lower in the 2008 period because capital expenditures which qualify for interest capitalization were lower. These lower expenditures were primarily related to the Robinson Run overland belt which was placed in service after the 2007 period.

Taxes other than income increased primarily due to the following items:

 

     2008
Period
   2007
Period
   Dollar
Variance
   Percentage
Change
 

Production taxes:

           

Coal

   $ 41    $ 40    $ 1    2.5 %

Gas

     4      3      1    33.3 %
                       

Total Production Taxes

     45      43      2    4.7 %

Other taxes:

           

Coal

     22      20      2    10.0 %

Gas

     1      1      —      —    

Other

     4      4      —      —    
                       

Total Other Taxes

     27      25      2    8.0 %
                       

Total Taxes Other Than Income

   $ 72    $ 68    $ 4    5.9 %
                       

 

37


Table of Contents

Increased coal production taxes are primarily due to higher severance taxes, reclamation fee taxes and black lung excise taxes attributable to the increase in average sales price for produced coal. These improvements were offset, in part, by lower coal production volumes in the period-to-period comparison.

Gas production taxes increased $1 million due to higher severance taxes attributable to higher average sales prices for gas and higher gas sales volumes.

The $2 million increase in other coal taxes is primarily related to the reduction of the Virginia employment enhancement tax credit. Due to the previously discussed Buchanan Mine incident, our employment figures in Virginia have been temporarily reduced. The employment figure reduction has correspondingly reduced the tax credit that we earn. Other coal taxes have also increased in the 2008 period due to property taxes which are based on current assessment values which have increased over the prior year primarily related to the July 31, 2007 acquisition of AMVEST, as previously disclosed.

Other gas and other taxes have remained consistent in the period-to-period comparison.

Income Taxes

 

     2008
Period
    2007
Period
    Variance     Percentage
Change
 

Earnings Before Income Taxes

   $ 120     $ 162     $ (42 )   $ (25.9 )%

Tax Expense

   $ 36     $ 43     $ (7 )   $ (16.3 )%

Effective Income Tax Rate

     29.7 %     26.5 %     3.2 %  

CONSOL Energy’s effective tax is sensitive to changes to the relationship between pre-tax earnings and percentage depletion. See “Note 5—Income Taxes” in Item 1, Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-Q.

Minority Interest

Minority interest represents 18.3% of CNX Gas net income which CONSOL Energy does not own.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

CONSOL Energy generally has satisfied our working capital requirements and funded our capital expenditures and debt service obligations with cash generated from operations and proceeds from borrowings. We utilize a $1 billion senior secured credit facility which expires in 2012. The facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of CONSOL Energy and certain of its subsidiaries and collateral is shared equally and ratably with the holders of CONSOL Energy Inc. 7.875% bonds maturing in 2012. The agreement provides for the release of collateral upon the achievement of certain credit ratings. Fees and interest rate spreads are based on a ratio of financial covenant debt to twelve-month trailing earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization (EBITDA), measured quarterly. The facility includes a minimum interest coverage ratio covenant of no less than 4.50 to 1.00, measured quarterly. The interest coverage ratio was 11.23 to 1.00 at March 31, 2008. The facility also includes a maximum leverage ratio covenant of not more than 3.25 to 1.00, measured quarterly. The leverage ratio was 1.73 to 1.00 at March 31, 2008. Affirmative and negative covenants in the facility limit our ability to dispose of assets, make investments, purchase or redeem CONSOL Energy common stock, pay dividends and merge with another corporation. At March 31, 2008, the facility had approximately $280 million drawn and $264 million of letters of credit outstanding, leaving $456 million of unused capacity. From time to time, CONSOL Energy is required to post financial assurances to satisfy contractual and other requirements generated in the normal course of business. Some of these assurances are posted to comply with federal, state or other government agencies statutes and regulations. We sometimes use letters of credit to satisfy these requirements and these letters of credit reduce our borrowing facility capacity.

 

38


Table of Contents

CONSOL Energy and certain of our U.S. subsidiaries also participate in a receivables securitization facility for the sale on a continuous basis of eligible trade accounts receivable that will provide, on a revolving basis, up to $165 million of short-term funding. CONSOL Energy formed CNX Funding Corporation, a wholly owned, special purpose, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary, for the sole purpose of buying and selling eligible trade receivables generated by certain subsidiaries of CONSOL Energy. Under the receivables facility, CONSOL Energy and certain subsidiaries, irrevocably and without recourse, sell all of their eligible trade accounts receivable to CNX Funding Corporation. CNX Funding Corporation then sells, on a revolving basis, an undivided percentage interest in the pool of eligible trade accounts receivable to financial institutions and their affiliates, while maintaining a subordinated interest in a portion of the trade receivables. CONSOL Energy has agreed to continue servicing the sold receivables for the financial institutions for a fee based upon market rates for similar services. The cost of funds is consistent with commercial paper rates plus a charge for administrative services paid to the financial institution. At March 31, 2008, eligible accounts receivable totaled approximately $144 million. Subordinated retained interest was approximately $7 at March 31, 2008. Accounts receivable totaling $137 million were removed from the consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2008. There were no letters of credit outstanding against the facility at March 31, 2008.

In October 2005, CNX Gas, an 81.7% controlled and consolidated subsidiary of CONSOL Energy, entered into a credit agreement with a group of commercial lenders. The credit agreement provides for a revolving credit facility providing an initial aggregate outstanding principal amount of up to $200 million, including borrowings and letters of credit. CNX Gas also has the ability to request an increase in aggregate outstanding principal amount to $300 million, including borrowings and letters of credit. The agreement contains a negative pledge provision, whereas CNX Gas assets cannot be used to secure other obligations. Fees and interest rate spreads are based on the percentage of facility utilization, measured quarterly. Covenants in the facility limit CNX Gas’ ability to dispose of assets, make investments, purchase or redeem CNX Gas stock, pay dividends and merge with another corporation. This facility includes a leverage ratio covenant of not more than 3.00 to 1.00, measured quarterly. This ratio was 0.16 to 1.00 at March 31, 2008. The facility also includes an interest coverage ratio covenant of no less than 3.00 to 1.00, measured quarterly. This ratio was 57.57 to 1.00 at March 31, 2008. At March 31, 2008, this facility had approximately $15 million of letters of credit issued and had no outstanding borrowings, leaving approximately $185 million of unused capacity. As a result of entering into the credit agreement, CNX Gas and their subsidiaries executed a Supplemental Indenture and as of October 21, 2005, and are also guarantors of CONSOL Energy’s 7.875% bonds.

CONSOL Energy believes that cash generated from operations and our borrowing capacity will be sufficient to meet our working capital requirements, anticipated capital expenditures (other than major acquisitions), scheduled debt payments, anticipated dividend payments and to provide required letters of credit. Nevertheless, the ability of CONSOL Energy to satisfy our working capital requirements, debt service obligations, to fund planned capital expenditures or pay dividends will depend upon future operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions in the coal and gas industries and other financial and business factors, some of which are beyond CONSOL Energy’s control.

In order to manage the market risk exposure of volatile natural gas prices in the future, CONSOL Energy enters into various physical gas supply transactions with both gas marketers and end users for terms varying in length. CONSOL Energy has also entered into various gas swap transactions that qualify as financial cash flow hedges, which exist parallel to the underlying physical transactions. The fair value of these contracts was a net liability of $69.3 million at March 31, 2008. The ineffective portion of the changes in the fair value of these contracts was insignificant to earnings in the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.

CONSOL Energy frequently evaluates potential acquisitions. CONSOL Energy has funded acquisitions primarily with cash generated from operations and a variety of other sources, depending on the size of the transaction, including debt financing. There can be no assurance that additional capital resources, including debt financing, will be available to CONSOL Energy on terms which CONSOL Energy finds acceptable, or at all.

 

39


Table of Contents

Cash Flows (in millions)

 

     2008     2007     Change  

Cash flows from operating activities

   $ 146     $ 183     $ (37 )

Cash used in investing activities

   $ (159 )   $ (148 )   $ (11 )

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   $ 34     $ (41 )   $ 75  

Cash flows from operating activities changed primarily due to the following items:

 

   

Operating cash flows were lower due to a decrease of approximately $38 million in net income in the 2008 period as previously discussed in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, section of this Form 10-Q.

 

   

Operating cash flows fluctuated due to various changes in operating assets, operating liabilities, other assets and other liabilities which occurred throughout both periods.

 

   

Operating cash flows were higher by approximately $3 million due to coal inventories. Coal inventories increased 0.4 million tons in the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to an increase of 0.8 million tons in the three months ended March 31, 2007.

Net cash used in investing activities changed primarily due to the following items:

 

   

Capital expenditures increased $26 million to $176 million in the 2008 period compared to $150 million in the 2007 period. The increase was primarily related to the expanded gas drilling program.

 

   

Proceeds from the sale of assets were $16 million in the 2008 period compared to $4 million in the 2007 period. Proceeds in the 2008 period were primarily related to the sale of the Mill Creek Mine. Proceeds in the 2007 period were primarily due to the sale of coal lands. Both periods also included proceeds related to the sale of various properties held by CONSOL Energy.

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities changed primarily due to the following items:

 

   

In the 2008 period, CONSOL Energy received proceeds of $33 million from our revolving credit facility. There was no activity under the revolving credit facility in the 2007 period.

 

   

In the 2007 period, approximately $26 million of CONSOL Energy stock was repurchased under the share repurchase program that was approved in December 2005.

 

   

In the 2008 period, approximately $5 million of proceeds were received from miscellaneous borrowings compared to $4 million of payments in the 2007 period. Miscellaneous borrowings consist mainly of debt incurred by variable interest entities and capital leases.

 

   

In the 2008 period, $10 million of cash was retained, compared to $1 million in the 2007 period, as a result of the tax deductibility of increases in the value of equity instruments issued under share-based payment arrangements that are not included in cost of goods sold on the financial statements.

 

   

$5 million of stock was issued in the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to $1 million issued in the three months ended March 31, 2007. Stock issuances in both periods were a result of stock option exercises.

 

   

Dividends of $18 million were paid in the 2008 period compared to $13 million in the 2007 period.

 

40


Table of Contents

The following is a summary of our significant contractual obligations at March 31, 2008 (in thousands):

Payments due by Year

 

     Less Than
1 Year
   1–3
Years
   3-5
Years
   More Than
5 Years
   Total

Short-Term Notes Payable

   $ 280,000    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 280,000

Purchase Order Firm Commitments

     3,467      —        —        —        3,467

Gas Firm Transportation Obligation

     7,902      14,296      9,680      15,964      47,842

Long-Term Debt

     8,827      124,000      264,853      23,239      420,919

Capital Lease Obligations

     16,177      32,356      14,761      63,289      126,583

Operating Lease Obligations

     40,258      62,467      32,290      131,017      266,032

Other Long-Term Liabilities (a)

     343,054      605,755      528,782      2,164,235      3,641,826
                                  

Total Contractual Obligations (b)

   $ 699,685    $ 838,874    $ 850,366    $ 2,397,744    $ 4,786,669
                                  

 

(a) Long-term liabilities include other post-employment benefits, work-related injuries and illnesses, defined benefit pension plans, mine reclamation and closure and other long-term liability costs.
(b) The significant obligation table does not include obligations to taxing authorities due to the uncertainty surrounding the ultimate settlement of amounts and timing of these obligations.

Debt

At March 31, 2008, CONSOL Energy had total long-term debt of $517 million outstanding, including the current portion of long-term debt of $19 million. This long-term debt consisted of:

 

   

An aggregate principal amount of $249 million of 7.875% notes ($250 million of 7.875% notes due in 2012, net of $1 million unamortized debt discount). The notes were issued at 99.174% of the principal amount. Interest on the notes is payable March 1 and September 1 of each year. Payment of the principal and premium, if any, and interest on the notes are guaranteed by most of CONSOL Energy’s subsidiaries. The notes are senior secured obligations and rank equally with all other secured indebtedness of the guarantors;

 

   

An aggregate principal amount of $103 million of two series of industrial revenue bonds which were issued to finance the Baltimore port facility and bear interest at 6.50% per annum and mature in 2010 and 2011;

 

   

$38 million in advance royalty commitments with an average interest rate of 6.67% per annum;

 

   

An aggregate principal amount of $10 million on a variable rate note that bears interest at the prime rate, or 5.25% at March 31, 2008. This note was incurred by a variable interest entity that is fully consolidated in which CONSOL Energy holds a 49% ownership interest;

 

   

An aggregate principal amount of $19 million on various rate notes with a weighted average interest rate of 6.12% at March 31, 2008. These notes were incurred by a variable interest entity that is fully consolidated in which CONSOL Energy holds no ownership interest;

 

   

An aggregate principal amount of $97 million of capital leases with a weighted average interest rate of 7.13% per annum.

 

   

An aggregate principal amount of $1 million of variable rate notes with a weighted average interest rate of 6.52% due at various dates ranging from 2008 through 2031.

At March 31, 2008, CONSOL Energy also had $280 million of aggregate principal amounts of outstanding borrowings and approximately $264 million of letters of credit outstanding under the $1 billion senior secured revolving credit facility.

 

41


Table of Contents

At March 31, 2008, CNX Gas, an 81.7% subsidiary, had no aggregate principal amounts of borrowings and approximately $15 million of letters of credit outstanding under its revolving credit facility.

Stockholders’ Equity and Dividends

CONSOL Energy had stockholders’ equity of $1,213 million at March 31, 2008 and $1,214 million at December 31, 2007. Stockholders equity remained consistent primarily due to increases in net income for the three months ended March 31, 2008, the tax benefit from stock-based compensation and the issuance of treasury stock. These increases were offset by changes to the actuarial long-term liability related to the cumulative effect of adopting the change in measurement date due to adopting Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” and the declaration of dividends. See Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity.

Dividend information for the current year to date is as follows:

 

Declaration Date

   Amount Per Share   

Record Date

  

Payment Date

April 25, 2008

   $ 0.10    May 6, 2008    May 27, 2008

January 30, 2008

   $ 0.10    February 7, 2008    February 22, 2008

The declaration and payment of dividends by CONSOL Energy is subject to the discretion of CONSOL Energy’s Board of Directors, and no assurance can be given that CONSOL Energy will pay dividends in the future. CONSOL Energy’s Board of Directors determines whether dividends will be paid quarterly. The determination to pay dividends will depend upon, among other things, general business conditions, CONSOL Energy’s financial results, contractual and legal restrictions regarding the payment of dividends by CONSOL Energy, planned investments by CONSOL Energy and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant. Our credit facility limits our ability to pay dividends when our leverage ratio covenant is 2.50 to 1.00 or more and our availability is less than $100 million. The leverage ratio was 1.73 to 1.00 and our availability was approximately $456 million at March 31, 2008. The credit facility does not permit dividend payments in the event of default. There were no defaults in the three months ended March 31, 2008.

Off-Balance Sheet Transactions

CONSOL Energy does not maintain any off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or others that are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on CONSOL Energy’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources which are not disclosed in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2008, The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement 133” (SFAS 161 ). The new standard is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The new standard also improves transparency about how and why a company uses derivative instruments and how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under Statement 133. It is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early application encouraged. CONSOL Energy’s management is currently assessing the new disclosure requirements required by SFAS 161.

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (SFAS 141R), and Statement of Financial

 

42


Table of Contents

Accounting Standards No. 160, “Accounting and Reporting of Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51” (SFAS 160). SFAS 141R and SFAS 160 will significantly change the accounting for and reporting of business combination transactions and noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated financial statements. SFAS 141R retains the fundamental requirements in Statement 141 “Business Combinations” while providing additional definitions, such as the definition of the acquirer in a purchase and improvements in the application of how the acquisition method is applied. SFAS 160 will change the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests, and classified as a component of equity. These Statements become simultaneously effective January 1, 2009. Early adoption is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Forward-Looking Statements

Various statements in this document, including those that express a belief, expectation, or intention, as well as those that are not statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). The forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates concerning the timing and success of specific projects and our future production, revenues, income and capital spending. When we use the words “believe,” “intend,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “estimate,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” or their negatives, or other similar expressions, the statements which include those words are usually forward-looking statements. When we describe strategy that involves risks or uncertainties, we are making forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this document speak only as of the date of this document; we disclaim any obligation to update these statements unless required by securities law, and we caution you not to rely on them unduly. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

   

an extended decline in prices we receive for our coal and gas affecting our operating results and cash flows;

 

   

reliance on customers extending existing contracts or entering into new long-term contracts for coal;

 

   

reliance on major customers;

 

   

our inability to collect payments from customers if their creditworthiness declines;

 

   

the disruption of rail, barge and other systems that deliver our coal;

 

   

a loss of our competitive position because of the competitive nature of the coal industry and the gas industry, or a loss of our competitive position because of overcapacity in these industries impairing our profitability;

 

   

our inability to hire qualified people to meet replacement or expansion needs;

 

   

coal users switching to other fuels in order to comply with various environmental standards related to coal combustion;

 

   

the inability to produce a sufficient amount of coal to fulfill our customers’ requirements which could result in our customers initiating claims against us;

 

   

foreign currency fluctuations could adversely affect the competitiveness of our coal abroad;

 

   

the risks inherent in coal mining being subject to unexpected disruptions, including geological conditions, equipment failure, timing of completion of significant construction or repair of equipment, fires, accidents and weather conditions which could cause our results to deteriorate;

 

   

increases in the price of commodities used in our mining operations could impact our cost of production;

 

43


Table of Contents
   

obtaining governmental permits and approvals for our operations;

 

   

the effects of proposals to regulate greenhouse gas emissions;

 

   

the effects of government regulation;

 

   

the effects of stringent federal and state employee health and safety regulations;

 

   

the effects of mine closing, reclamation and certain other liabilities;

 

   

uncertainties in estimating our economically recoverable coal and gas reserves;

 

   

we do not insure against all potential operating risks;

 

   

the outcomes of various legal proceedings, which proceedings are more fully described in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;

 

   

increased exposure to employee related long-term liabilities;

 

   

our participation in multi-employer pension plans may expose us to obligations beyond the obligation to our employees;

 

   

lump-sum payments made to retiring salaried employees pursuant to our defined benefit pension plan;

 

   

our ability to comply with laws or regulations requiring that we obtain surety bonds for workers’ compensation and other statutory requirements;

 

   

acquisitions that we recently have made or may make in the future including the accuracy of our assessment of the acquired businesses and their risks, achieving any anticipated synergies, integrating the acquisitions and unanticipated changes that could affect assumptions we may have made;

 

   

the anti-takeover effects of our rights plan could prevent a change of control;

 

   

risks in exploring for and producing gas;

 

   

new gas development projects and exploration for gas in areas where we have little or no proven gas reserves;

 

   

the disruption of pipeline systems which deliver our gas;

 

   

the availability of field services, equipment and personnel for drilling and producing gas;

 

   

replacing our natural gas reserves which if not replaced will cause our gas reserves and gas production to decline;

 

   

costs associated with perfecting title for gas rights in some of our properties;

 

   

location of a vast majority of our gas producing properties in three counties in southwestern Virginia, making us vulnerable to risks associated with having our gas production concentrated in one area;

 

   

other persons could have ownership rights in our advanced gas extraction techniques which could force us to cease using those techniques or pay royalties;

 

   

the coalbeds and other strata from which we produce methane gas frequently contain water and the gas often contains impurities that may hamper production;

 

   

our hedging activities may prevent us from benefiting from price increases and may expose us to other risks;

 

   

other factors discussed in our 2007 Form 10-K under “Risk Factors” on file at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

44


Table of Contents
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

In addition to the risks inherent in operations, CONSOL Energy is exposed to financial, market, political and economic risks. The following discussion provides additional detail regarding CONSOL Energy’s exposure to the risks of changing natural gas prices, interest rates and foreign exchange rates.

CONSOL Energy is exposed to market price risk in the normal course of selling natural gas production and to a lesser extent in the sale of coal. CONSOL Energy sells coal under both short-term and long-term contracts with fixed price and/or indexed price contracts that reflect market value. CONSOL Energy uses fixed-price contracts, collar-price contracts and derivative commodity instruments that qualify as cash-flow hedges under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 to minimize exposure to market price volatility in the sale of natural gas. Our risk management policy strictly prohibits the use of derivatives for speculative purposes.

CONSOL Energy has established risk management policies and procedures to strengthen the internal control environment of the marketing of commodities produced from its asset base. All of the derivative instruments without other risk assessment procedures are held for purposes other than trading. They are used primarily to mitigate uncertainty and volatility and cover underlying exposures. CONSOL Energy’s market risk strategy incorporates fundamental risk management tools to assess market price risk and establish a framework in which management can maintain a portfolio of transactions within pre-defined risk parameters.

CONSOL Energy believes that the use of derivative instruments along with the risk assessment procedures and internal controls mitigates CONSOL Energy’s exposure to material risk. The use of derivative instruments could materially affect CONSOL Energy’s results of operations depending on interest rates, exchange rates or market prices. However, we believe that use of these instruments will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or liquidity.

For a summary of accounting policies related to derivative instruments, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Sensitivity analyses of the incremental effects on pre-tax income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 of a hypothetical 10 percent and 25 percent change in natural gas prices for open derivative instruments as of March 31, 2008 are provided in the following table:

Incremental Decrease in Pre-tax Income Assuming a Hypothetical Price,

Exchange Rate or Interest Rate Change of:

 

     10%    25%
     (in millions)

Natural Gas (a)

   $ 60.2    $ 150.7

 

(a) CONSOL Energy remains at risk for possible changes in the market value of these derivative instruments; however, such risk should be offset by price changes in the underlying hedged item. CONSOL Energy entered into derivative instruments to convert the market prices related portions of the 2008 through 2010 anticipated sales of natural gas to fixed prices. The sensitivity analyses reflect an inverse relationship between increases in commodity prices and a benefit to earnings. The fair value of these contracts was a net loss of $43.3 million (net of $26.0 million of deferred tax) at March 31, 2008. We continually evaluate the portfolio of derivative commodity instruments and adjust the strategy to anticipated market conditions and risks accordingly.

CONSOL Energy is exposed to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties. The creditworthiness of counterparties is subject to continuing review.

 

45


Table of Contents

CONSOL Energy’s interest expense is sensitive to changes in the general level of interest rates in the United States. At March 31, 2008, CONSOL Energy had $506 million aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding under fixed-rate instruments and $290 million aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding under variable-rate instruments. CONSOL Energy’s primary exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates to our revolving credit facility, under which there were $280 million of borrowings outstanding at March 31, 2008. CONSOL Energy’s revolving credit facility bore interest at a weighted average rate of 4.37% per annum during the three months ended March 31, 2008. Due to the level of borrowings against this facility in the three months ended March 31, 2008, a 100 basis-point increase in the average rate for CONSOL Energy’s revolving credit facility would not have significantly decreased net income for the period.

Almost all of CONSOL Energy’s transactions are denominated in U.S. dollars, and, as a result, it does not have material exposure to currency exchange-rate risks.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure controls and procedures . CONSOL Energy, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including CONSOL Energy’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Based on that evaluation, CONSOL Energy’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of March 31, 2008 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by CONSOL Energy in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by CONSOL Energy in such reports is accumulated and communicated to CONSOL Energy’s management, including CONSOL Energy’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in internal controls over financial reporting . There were no changes that occurred during the fiscal quarter covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

46


Table of Contents

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The first through fourteenth paragraphs of Note 10 – Commitments and Contingencies in the notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q are incorporated herein by reference.

 

47


Table of Contents
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit Index

 

10.1    Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the “1999 Plan”), as amended and restated
10.2    Trust Agreement Regarding Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the “1999 Plan”), as amended and restated
10.3    Directors Deferred Fee Plan (the “2004 Plan”), as amended and restated
10.4    Trust Agreement Regarding Directors Deferred Fee Plan (the “2004 Plan”), as amended and restated
10.5    Short-Term Incentive Compensation Program for Executives (2008)
10.6    Long-Term Incentive Program (2008 - 2010)
10.7    Chairman’s Agreement, as amended and restated
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

In accordance with SEC Release 33-8238, Exhibits 32.1 and 32.2 are being furnished and not filed.

 

48


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

CONSOL ENERGY INC.

Date: April 30, 2008

 

By:   /s/     J. B RETT H ARVEY        
 

J. Brett Harvey,

President and Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Executive Officer)

By:   /s/     W ILLIAM J. L YONS        
 

William J. Lyons,

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President

(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

49


Table of Contents

Exhibit Index

 

10.1    Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the “1999 Plan”), as amended and restated
10.2    Trust Agreement Regarding Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the “1999 Plan”), as amended and restated
10.3    Directors Deferred Fee Plan (the “2004 Plan”), as amended and restated
10.4    Trust Agreement Regarding Directors Deferred Fee Plan (the “2004 Plan”), as amended and restated
10.5    Short-Term Incentive Compensation Program for Executives (2008)
10.6    Long-Term Incentive Program (2008 - 2010)
10.7    Chairman’s Agreement, as amended and restated
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

In accordance with SEC Release 33-8238, Exhibits 32.1 and 32.2 are being furnished and not filed.

 

50

Exhibit 10.1

CONSOL ENERGY INC.

DIRECTORS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

(1999 Plan)

This CONSOL Energy Inc. Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is adopted by CONSOL Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”) for the purpose of providing supplemental retirement benefits to members of the Company’s board of directors as an inducement for continued service. The Plan is not subject to any of the provisions of ERISA unless employee directors are eligible to participate. Benefits due under the Plan constitute a mere promise by the Company to pay benefits as the Plan provides. Accordingly, Participants are general unsecured creditors of the Company with respect to their benefit, and the Plan is unfunded for tax purposes.

ARTICLE I

PARTICIPATION

Participation in the Plan shall be limited to Eligible Directors who were Participants in the Plan on December 4, 2007.

ARTICLE II

DEFERRALS

2.1 Deferral Elections

(a) Elections . A Participant may submit an election for each Plan Year by filing a new Deferral Election in relation to the Fees to be deferred during such Plan Year. By making a Deferral Election, a Participant agrees irrevocably to reduce his or her Fee earned after the effective date of the Deferral Election as specified herein. Any such Deferral Election must be filed with the Company on or before December 31st of the calendar year preceding the beginning of the Plan Year to which the Deferral Agreement relates (or such other date as permitted by the Administrator to the extent consistent with Section 409A). If a Participant fails to timely file a completed Deferral Agreement for a Plan Year, none of such Participant’s Fees will be deferred for that Plan Year Except as provided in subsection (b), a Deferral Election may not be amended or revoked for the remainder of the Plan Year for which it is effective. A Deferral Election shall cause the Company to withhold payment of the Participant’s Fees, and to credit an amount equal to the amount withheld to that Participant’s Account.

(b) Cessation of Deferrals During the Plan Year . A Participant’s Deferral Election shall terminate during a Plan Year if the Participant suffers a disability, receives a distribution on account of Unforeseeable Emergency or dies. The Administrator shall have the sole duty and discretion to determine whether a disability or Unforeseeable Emergency exists with respect to the Participant. For purposes of this Section, a disability refers to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment resulting in the Participant’s inability to perform the duties of his or her position or any substantially similar position, where such impairment can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than six months.

2.2 Vesting. A Participant shall be 100% vested at all times in his or her Account.

ARTICLE III

CREDITS AND CHARGES TO ACCOUNTS

3.1 Account. An account shall be established and maintained for each Participant, which shall be credited with such Participant’s Deferrals and Earnings. The Participant’s Account shall be charged with distributions, income taxes and any other amounts required to be withheld under Section 4.6.


3.2 Earnings. The Participant’s Account shall be adjusted by an amount equal to the amount that would have been earned (or lost) if the amounts deferred under the Plan had been invested in hypothetical investments designated by the Participant, based on a list of hypothetical investments provided by the Administrator from time to time (such hypothetical earnings or losses shall be referred to as “Earnings”). The Participant shall designate the investments used to measure Earnings from the list of authorized investments provided by the Administrator by completing the appropriate form or in such other manner as the Administrator may designate. The Participant may change such designations at such times as are permitted by the Administrator, provided that the Participant shall be entitled to change such designations at least annually. Earnings shall be credited to the Participant’s Account quarterly and shall be credited to a Participant’s Account until all payments with respect to such Account have been made under the Plan. Neither the Company nor the Administrator shall act as a guarantor, or be liable or otherwise responsible for the investment performance of the designated investments (including any losses sustained by a Participant) with respect to a Participant’s Account.

ARTICLE IV

DISTRIBUTIONS

4.1 No Withdrawals. Except as otherwise provided in this article, withdrawals are not available from a Participant’s Account.

4.2 Timing of Distribution. A Participant’s Account shall be paid in a single sum upon Separation from Service. It is intended that any payments made pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be made on the designated payment date or as soon as administratively feasible thereafter (but in no event later than a date within the same calendar year or, if later, by the 15th day of the third calendar month following the designated payment date). Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Director is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, any payment to the Director due upon Separation from Service will be delayed and paid on the six (6) month anniversary of the date the Director Separates from Service (or, if earlier, the death of the Director).

4.3 Death Benefits. Should a Participant die before his or her Account has been fully distributed, the Account shall be paid to the Participant’s Beneficiary.

4.4 Unforeseeable Emergency. Upon the written request of a Participant and a determination by the Administrator that an Unforeseeable Emergency has occurred with respect to the Participant, the Administrator may distribute to the Participant from his or her Account any amount that does not exceed the amount reasonably necessary to satisfy the Unforeseeable Emergency, or the amount of the Account if less. Amounts distributed in the case of an Unforeseeable Emergency shall be made within 60 days following the date of determination and shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy such Unforeseeable Emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes and penalties reasonably anticipated as a result of such distribution. In making the forgoing determination, the Committee or Designated Administrator shall consider the extent to which the Director’s financial hardship resulting from the Unforeseeable Emergency is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, or by liquidation of his or her assets (to the extent such liquidation would not itself cause severe financial hardship).

4.5 Payments to Minors and Incompetents. If any person entitled to any payment under this Plan is, in the judgment of the Administrator, incapable of giving receipt for such payment because of minority, illness, infirmity or other incapacity, the Administrator may pay the amount due such person to a duly appointed legal representative, if there is one, or, if none, to the spouse, children, dependents, or

 

2


such other persons with whom the person entitled to payment resides. Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Company, its Affiliates, and the Plan with respect to such payment.

4.6 Tax Withholding. The Company shall deduct from any payment made under this Plan an amount equal to all or part of the federal, state and local taxes required by law to be withheld by the Company (including but not limited to any amount that may be necessary to satisfy applicable income tax withholding and employment tax obligations), if any, and any other amounts required to be withheld by applicable law or court order.

ARTICLE V

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS

5.1 Designation of Beneficiary. Each Participant may designate in the form and the manner specified by the Administrator a Beneficiary to receive or continue receiving the payment or payments (if any) due under Article V and which remain unpaid at the Participant’s death. The Beneficiary of a married Participant shall be his or her spouse, unless the Participant designates a Beneficiary other than the spouse and the spouse consents in writing to the designation in the form and the manner prescribed by the Administrator. A Participant may revoke such designation at any time and substitute therefor another Beneficiary. A married Participant may revoke a prior Beneficiary designation only with the consent of his or her spouse in the form and the manner prescribed by the Administrator.

5.2 Failure To Designate a Beneficiary. If upon the death of an unmarried Participant a Beneficiary has not been validly designated, the Beneficiary shall be the Participant’s estate.

ARTICLE VI

TRUST OBLIGATION TO PAY BENEFITS

6.1 Establishment of Trust. The Company may, in its discretion, make contributions to a trust, to be invested and utilized to pay benefits under the Plan. If a trust is created by the Company, the provisions of this Article shall apply.

6.2 Deferrals Remitted to Trust. An amount equal to each Participant’s Deferrals and Earnings, determined under Article III, may, in the discretion of the Company, be transferred to the Trustee within thirty (30) days after the end of the calendar quarter, to be held pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement. The assets of any such trust shall be subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors and shall be maintained pursuant to a separate trust document conforming to the terms of the model trust described in Revenue Procedure 92-64.

6.3 Benefits Paid From Trust. Any payment required to be made under this Plan to a Participant or Beneficiary shall be paid by the Trustee to the extent of the assets held in the Trust by the Trustee, and by the Company to the extent the assets in the Trust are insufficient to pay such amount.

6.4 Investment Discretion. The Company may direct the Trustee to invest each Account in any investment that it deems appropriate, including common stock of the Company. Each Account shall otherwise be subject to the investment provisions of the Trust Agreement.

ARTICLE VII

ADMINISTRATION AND CLAIMS

7.1 Plan Administration. The Administrator shall have sole discretionary authority and responsibility for the operation, interpretation, and administration of the Plan. Any action taken on any

 

3


matter within the discretion of the Administrator shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all parties. In order to discharge its duties hereunder, the Administrator shall have the power and authority to adopt, interpret, alter, amend or revoke rules necessary to administer the Plan, to delegate its duties and to employ such outside professionals as may be required for prudent administration of the Plan. The Administrator shall also have the right within the scope of his authority (if a designee of the Company) to enter into agreements on behalf of the Company necessary to administer the Plan. Any Participant who is acting as Administrator shall not be entitled to make decisions with respect to his own participant and entitlement to payment under the Plan.

7.2 Claims Procedures

(a) Applicability . This section sets forth the exclusive procedures governing benefits under the Plan. No legal action may be brought by any person claiming entitlement to benefits until after the procedures set forth herein have been exhausted.

(b) General Rules . Upon a Separation from Service, or as otherwise authorized under the terms of the Plan, the Administrator shall send to the affected Participant (or Beneficiary, as the case may be) a written notice setting forth the Participant’s Account balance and the time and manner in which payment is to commence, and shall direct the Trustee to commence payment of the Participant’s Account in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

(c) Claim for Benefits . Any person claiming entitlement to benefits for which the Administrator refuses to authorize payment shall file a written claim for benefits with the Administrator at the offices of the Company. The claim must set forth the basis for the claim and be signed by the claimant.

(d) Determination . Within 60 days of receiving a claim for benefits, the Administrator shall make a determination on the claim, and notify the claimant in writing of the determination. If the claim is approved, the Administrator shall direct the Trustee to commence payment in accordance with the provisions of Article IV. If the claim is denied, in whole or in part, the Administrator’s notice to the claimant shall explain the specific reasons for the denial, refer to the specific Plan provisions on which the denial is based, describe any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim (if possible), and explain the steps and time limit for requesting appeal of the determination.

(e) Appeal of Determination . A claimant (or authorized representative) shall have 60 days in which to file an appeal of the determination, measured from the date the Administrator’s notice described in paragraph (d) is mailed. An appeal must (i) be in writing, (ii) set forth each ground and supporting fact on which the appeal is based and (iii) provide any other comments the claimant believes pertinent and helpful to his appeal. When making an appeal, a claimant may review the documents that were pertinent to the Administrator’s denial of his claim. Any claimant who fails to file an appeal timely shall be estopped and barred from any further challenge to the Administrator’s determination to deny the claim.

(f) Review by Committee . Upon receipt of a written appeal, the Company shall appoint a committee, composed of at least 2 individuals who did not participate in the original denial of the claim, to conduct a full and fair review of the appeal. The committee shall complete its review and decide the appeal within 60 days after the written appeal was received by the Company. In conducting its review, the committee may, in its sole discretion, require the Company or the claimant to submit such additional documents or other evidence as the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The review committee’s decision shall be final and binding on all persons with respect to the claimant’s appeal. If the appeal is denied in whole or in part, the committee shall notify the claimant in writing, setting forth the

 

4


specific reasons for the denial and the specific plan provisions on which the denial is based. The committee shall have the sole discretion to interpret any provision of the Plan that is pertinent to the outcome of the appeal.

7.3 Reimbursement of Costs. If any person institutes legal action to enforce any of the provisions of the Plan, the prevailing party in such legal action shall be reimbursed by the other party for the prevailing party’s costs, including, without limitation, reasonable fees of attorneys, accountants and similar advisors, and expert witnesses.

7.4 Section 409A. The provisions of this Plan and all Deferral Elections made hereunder shall be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner necessary in order to comply with Section 409A or an exception thereto (or disregarded to the extent such provision cannot be so administered, interpreted or construed). It is intended that distribution events authorized under this Plan qualify as a permissible distribution events for purposes of Section 409A, and this Plan shall be interpreted and construed accordingly in order to comply with Section 409A. The Company reserves the right to accelerate, delay or modify distributions to the extent permitted under Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in no event shall the Administrator (or any member thereof) or the Company or its Affiliates (or the employees, officers or directors of the Company or its Affiliates) have any liability to any Participant (or any other person) due to the failure of the Plan to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A or any other applicable law.

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

8.1 Nontransferability. The right of a Participant or Beneficiary to benefits under the Plan shall not be assigned, alienated, transferred, pledged or encumbered. Neither the Company, its Affiliates, nor the Plan shall be liable for or subject to the debts or liabilities of a Participant.

8.2 Binding Effect. The Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns, and the Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives.

8.3 No Rights Implied. No Plan provision shall confer upon any Participant the right to continue as a member of the Board or as an employee of the Company or any Affiliate.

8.4 Applicable State Law. The Plan shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Pennsylvania.

8.5 Application of ERISA. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (“ERISA”) shall apply to this Plan only if one or more Participants (i) has in effect a Deferral Election while he or she is an employee of the Company or (ii) has an Account some or all of which reflects Deferrals described in clause (i).

8.6 Entire Agreement. The Plan constitutes the entire understanding and agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and there are no agreements, understandings, restrictions, representations or warranties among any Participant or Beneficiary and the Company other than those set forth or provided for herein.

8.7 Amendment or Termination of Plan. The Company may amend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that no such amendment or termination shall be effective if it has the effect of eliminating or reducing a Participant’s Account below the balance calculated under the Plan

 

5


immediately before giving effect to such amendment; provided , further , termination of the Plan shall not be a distribution event under the Plan unless otherwise permitted under Section 409A or other applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any provision of this Plan to the contrary, that the Company may, in its sole discretion and without the Participant’s consent, modify or amend the terms of the Plan or a Deferral Election, or take any other action it deems necessary or advisable, to cause the Plan to comply with Section 409A (or an exception thereto).

ARTICLE IX

DEFINITIONS

The following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this article, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context;

“Account” means the book entry account established and maintained for each Participant under Section 3.1.

“Administrator” means a committee of two or more persons selected to serve by the Board. If no such committee exists, then the Administrator means the Board.

“Affiliate” means any parent corporation (within the meaning of Code § 424(e)) or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of Code § 424(f)), or any entity that is controlled directly or indirectly by the Company, or that the Company has a significant equity interest.

“Beneficiary” means an individual, trust or other entity entitled to receive payment on account of a Participant’s death.

“Board” means the board of directors of CONSOL Energy Inc.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Company” means CONSOL Energy Inc.

“Deferral” means the amount or percentage to be withheld from an Eligible Director’s Fee, pursuant to a Deferral Election.

“Deferral Election” means an Eligible Director’s election to defer all or a portion of his or her Fee under the Plan on the form and in the manner prescribed by the Administrator and as may be required under the Plan. No Deferral Election shall be effective with respect to any Fee payable while the Participant is not an Eligible Director.

“Earnings” means the amount credited to a Participant’s Account each quarter under Section 3.2.

“Eligible Director” means a member of the Board, and who is selected by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, as eligible to participant in the Plan and notified of such in writing.

“Fee” means any fee, such as the annual retainer, meeting fees or other amounts earned by the Eligible Director during the Plan Year for services performed as a member of the Board, and that is paid in cash to the Eligible Director, or would be paid but for a Deferral Election.

“Participant” means an individual for whom either (i) a Deferral Election is in effect or (ii) an Account exists (including a Beneficiary when appropriate in the context).

 

6


“Plan” means the CONSOL Energy Inc. Directors Deferred Compensation Plan as set forth herein, as it may be amended from time to time.

“Plan Year” means the one-year period between the annual stockholders’ meeting and the next following annual stockholders’ meeting.

Section 409A shall mean Section 409A of the Code, the regulations and other binding guidance promulgated thereunder.

Separation from Service shall mean the Director’s death, retirement or other termination of service with the Company and all of its controlled group members within the meaning of Section 409A. For purposes hereof, the determination of controlled group members shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Section 414(b) and 414(c) of the Code; provided that the language “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80 percent” in each place it appears in Section 1563(a)(1),(2) and (3) of the Code and Treas. Reg. § 1.414(c)-2; provided, further, where legitimate business reasons exist (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h)(3)), the language “at least 20 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80 percent” in each place it appears. Whether the Director has a Separation from Service will be determined based on all of the facts and circumstances and in accordance with the guidance issued under Section 409A.

“Trust” means the legal entity created by the Trust Agreement.

“Trust Agreement” means the trust instrument entered into between the Company and a trustee, as it may be amended from time to time.

“Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship resulting from one of the following: an illness or accident of the Director, his or her spouse, beneficiary or dependent (as defined in § 152(a) of the Code, without regard to Section 152(b)(1), (b)(2) and (d)(1)(B)); the need to pay for the funeral expenses of a spouse, beneficiary or dependent (as defined above); loss of the Director’s property due to casualty; or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising from events beyond the Director’s control.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, CONSOL Energy, Inc., has caused this Plan to be executed by a duly authorized officer effective as of March 20, 2008.

 

CONSOL ENERGY INC.
By:  

/s/ William J. Lyons

  William J. Lyons
  Executive Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer

 

7

Exhibit 10.2

TRUST AGREEMENT

(Amended and Restated on March 20, 2008)

(1999 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan)

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT is made by and between CONSOL ENERGY INC. (the “Company”) and PNC Bank, National Association (the “Trustee”).

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the CONSOL Energy Inc. Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), a nonqualified deferred compensation plan; and

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted that certain Trust Agreement (“Trust Agreement”) under the Plan to provide a source of funds from which liabilities under the Plan may be satisfied; and

WHEREAS, the Company is authorized under Section 11 of the Trust Agreement to amend the Trust Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend and restate the Trust Agreement as provided herein (hereinafter “Trust”) and to contribute to the Trust assets that shall be held therein, subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors in the event of the Company’s Insolvency, as herein defined, until paid to Plan participants (“Plan Participants”) and their beneficiaries in such manner and at such times as specified in the Plan;

WHEREAS, it is the intention of the parties that this Trust shall constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the status of the Plan as an unfunded plan maintained for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; and

WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Company to make contributions to the Trust to provide itself with a source of funds to assist it in meeting its obligations under the Plan.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do hereby amend and restate the Trust, and agree that the Trust shall be comprised, held and disposed of as follows:

Section 1. Establishment of Trust

(a) The Company and the Trustee acknowledge and agree that the cash and/or other securities that make up the principal of the Trust will be held, administered and disposed of by the Trustee as provided in this Trust Agreement.

(b) The Trust shall be irrevocable.


(c) The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust, of which the Company is the grantor, within the meaning of subpart E, part I, subchapter J, chapter 1, subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and shall be construed accordingly.

(d) The principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon shall be held separate and apart from other funds of the Company and shall be used exclusively for the uses and purposes of Plan Participants and other general creditors of the Company as herein set forth. Plan Participants and their beneficiaries shall have no preferred claim on, or any beneficial ownership interest in, any assets of the Trust. Any rights created under the Plan and this Trust Agreement shall be mere unsecured contractual rights of Plan Participants and their beneficiaries against the Company. Any assets held by the Trust will be subject to the claims of the Company’s general creditors under federal and state law in the event of Insolvency, as defined in Section 3(a) herein.

(e) The Company may periodically deposit additional cash or other property to the Trust in an amount sufficient to pay each Plan Participant and beneficiary the benefits payable pursuant to the terms of the Plan. The Trustee shall have no duty to calculate such amounts or compel any deposits or contributions to the Trust.

Section 2. Payments to Plan Participants and Their Beneficiaries

(a) As necessary for proper administration of the Plan, the Company shall deliver to Trustee written directions acceptable to the Trustee setting forth the amounts payable in respect of each Plan Participants (and his or her beneficiaries), and the time of commencement for payment of such amounts. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Trustee shall make payments to the Plan Participants and their beneficiaries in accordance with such directions. With respect to payments to Plan Participants, the Company shall be solely responsible for determining the amount of income that is taxable and reportable to the Plan Participant, determining the nature and amounts of taxes, if any, to be withheld and remitted, and for reporting all such income and taxes to the applicable government entities. The Trustee shall have no duties with respect thereto.

(b) The entitlement of a Plan Participant or his or her beneficiaries to benefits under the Plan shall be determined by the Company or such party as it shall designate under the Plan, and any claim for such benefits shall be considered and reviewed under the procedures set out in the Plan.

(c) It is the Company’s intention that all Plan benefits shall be paid to Plan Participants and beneficiaries out of Trust assets to the extent not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan. The Company may, however, make payment of benefits directly to Plan Participants or their beneficiaries as they become due under the terms of the Plan. The Company shall notify the Trustee of its decision to make payment of benefits directly before the time amounts are payable to Plan Participants or beneficiaries. If the principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon, are not sufficient to make payments of benefits in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Company shall make the balance of any such payment as it falls due. The Trustee shall notify the Company where principal and earnings are not sufficient to make benefit payments.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3 or Section 12(e), the Company shall have no right or power to direct the Trustee to return to the Company any of the Trust assets before all payment of benefits have been made to Plan Participants and their beneficiaries pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

 

2


Section 3. Trustee Responsibility Regarding Payments to Trust Beneficiary When the Company Is Insolvent

(a) The Trustee shall cease payment of benefits from the Trust to Plan Participants and their beneficiaries if the Company is Insolvent. The Company shall be considered “Insolvent” for purposes of this Trust Agreement if: (i) the Company is unable to pay its debts as they become due; or (ii) the Company is subject to a pending proceeding as a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code.

(b) At all times during the continuance of this Trust, as provided in Section 1(d) hereof, the principal and income of the Trust shall be subject to claims of general creditors of the Company under federal and state law as set forth below.

(1) The Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall have the duty to inform the Trustee in writing of the Company’s Insolvency. If a person claiming to be a creditor of the Company alleges in writing to the Trustee that the Company has become Insolvent, the Trustee shall determine whether the Company is Insolvent and, pending such determination, the Trustee shall discontinue payment of benefits to Plan Participants or their beneficiaries.

(2) Unless the Trustee has actual knowledge of the Company’s Insolvency, or has received notice from the Company or a person claiming to be a creditor alleging that the Company is Insolvent, the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire whether the Company is Insolvent. The Trustee may in all events rely on such evidence concerning the Company’s solvency as may be furnished to the Trustee by the Company and that provides the Trustee with a reasonable basis for making a determination concerning the Company’s solvency.

(3) If at any time the Trustee has determined that the Company is Insolvent, the Trustee shall discontinue payments to Plan Participants or their beneficiaries and shall hold the assets of the Trust for the benefit of the Company’s general creditors. Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall in any way diminish any rights of Plan Participants or their beneficiaries to pursue their rights as general creditors of the Company with respect to benefits due under the Plan or otherwise.

(4) The Trustee shall resume the payment of benefits to Plan Participants or their beneficiaries in accordance with Section 2 of this Trust Agreement only after Trustee has determined that the Company is not Insolvent (or is no longer Insolvent).

(c) Provided that there are sufficient assets, if the Trustee discontinues the payment of benefits from the Trust pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and subsequently resumes such payments, then as directed in writing by the Company, the first payment following such discontinuance shall include the aggregate amount of all payments due to Plan Participants or their beneficiaries under the terms of the Plan for the period of such discontinuance, less the aggregate amount of any payments made to Plan Participants or their beneficiaries by the Company in lieu of the payments provided for hereunder during any such period of discontinuance. The Trustee shall have no duty to calculate the foregoing amounts.

Section 4. Investment Authority

(a) Except as provided in Section 4(b) or (c), the Company or, if so appointed, the Investment Manager (defined below) shall provide the Trustee with all investment instructions. The Trustee shall neither affect nor change the investments of the Trust, except as directed in writing by the

 

3


Company or the Investment Manager, and shall have no right, duty or responsibility to recommend investments or investment changes; provided, that the Trustee may deposit cash on hand from time to time in any bank savings account, certificate of deposit, or other instrument creating a deposit liability for the bank, including the Trustee’s own banking department if the Trustee is a bank, or in interests in a registered investment company appropriate for short term investment, including a registered investment company from which Trustee or its affiliates receive compensation for providing investment advisory, transfer agency, custody or other services, without such prior direction.

(b) In order to provide for an accumulation of assets comparable to the contractual liabilities accruing under the Plan, the Company may direct the Trustee to invest the assets held in the Trust to correspond to the hypothetical investments made available for Plan Participants under the Plan. Such directions may be made by Plan Participants by use of a service representative, a Voice Response System (VRS), the internet or such other electronic means as may be agreed upon from time to time by the Company and the Trustee, maintained for such purposes by the Trustee or its agents. The Company’s designation of available investment options under the Plan, the maintenance of accounts for each Plan Participant and the crediting of investments to such accounts, the giving of investment directions by Plan Participants under this Section, and the exercise by Plan Participants of any other powers relating to investments under this Section are solely for the purpose of providing a mechanism for measuring the obligation of the Company to any particular Plan Participant under the Plan. As provided in Section 1(d) above, no Plan Participant or beneficiary will have any preferential claim to or beneficial ownership interest in any asset or investment, and the rights of any Plan Participant and his or her beneficiaries under the Plan and this Trust are solely those of the unsecured general creditor of the Company with respect to the benefits of the Plan Participant under the Plan.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(a) hereof, the Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers conferred on the Trustee by applicable law, unless expressly provided otherwise herein, and all rights associated with the assets of the Trust shall be exercised by the Trustee or the person designated by the Trustee, and shall in no event be exercisable by or rest with Plan Participants. The Trustee shall have full power and authority to invest and reinvest the assets of the Trust as directed by the Company or the Investment Manager in any investment permitted by law, including but not limited to investment in securities (including stock or rights to acquire stock) or obligations issued by the Company, and including interests in registered investment companies from which Trustee or its affiliates receive compensation for providing investment advisory, transfer agency, custody or other services.

(d) Voting or other rights in securities shall be exercised by the person or entity responsible for directing such investments, and the Trustee shall have no duty to exercise voting or proxy or other rights relating to any investments managed or directed by the Company or the Investment Manager. If any foreign securities are purchased pursuant to the direction of the Company or the Investment Manager, it shall be the responsibility of the person or entity responsible for directing such investments to advise the Trustee in writing of any laws or regulations, either foreign or domestic, that apply to such foreign securities or to the receipt of dividends or interest on such securities.

(e) The Company may appoint one or more investment managers (“Investment Managers”), each of which, unless otherwise determined by the Company, (1) is (i) registered under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 (the “Act”), (ii) a bank, as defined in the Act, or (iii) an insurance company qualified to manage, acquire and dispose of trust assets in more than one state; (2) acknowledges in writing that it is a fiduciary with respect to the Plan and Trust; and (3), shall have the power to manage, acquire or dispose of any asset of, or all or such portions of the Trust’s assets as the Company shall

 

4


specify (the “Managed Assets”). The Company shall from time to time direct the Trustee in writing with respect to the portion of the assets of the Trust which shall be Managed Assets. The fees and expenses of an Investment Manager, except to the extent paid by Company, may be paid from the Trust.

(f) The Company shall have the right at anytime, and from time to time in its sole discretion, to substitute assets acceptable to the Trustee of equal fair market value for any asset held by the Trust. This right is exercisable by the Company in a nonfiduciary capacity without the approval or consent of any person serving in a fiduciary capacity.

Section 5. Disposition of Income

(a) During the term of this Trust, all income received by the Trust, net of expenses and taxes not otherwise paid by the Company, shall be accumulated and reinvested.

Section 6. Accounting by Trustee

(a) The Trustee shall keep accurate and detailed records of all investments, receipts, disbursements, and all other transactions required to be made, including such specific records as shall be agreed upon in writing between the Company and the Trustee. Within sixty (60) days following the close of each calendar year or after the removal or resignation of the Trustee, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company a written account of its administration of the Trust during such year or during the period from the close of the last preceding year to the date of such removal or resignation, setting forth all investments, receipts, disbursements and other transactions effected by it, including a description of all securities and investments purchased and sold with the cost or net proceeds of such purchases or sales (accrued interest paid or receivable being shown separately), and showing all cash, securities and other property held in the Trust at the end of such year or as of the date of such removal or resignation as the case may be. The Company may approve the account either by written notice of approval delivered to the Trustee or by failure to object in writing to the Trustee within 180 days from the date on which the account statement was delivered to the Company. Upon receipt of written approval of the accounting, or upon the expiration of the 180-day period without written objections, the account statement shall be approved, and the Trustee shall be released and discharged with respect to the account as if the account had been settled and allowed by a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing herein contained, however, shall be deemed to preclude the Trustee of its right to have its account settled by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) Notwithstanding the forgoing, each calendar month the Trustee shall provide the Company an account statement reflecting all of the assets held in the Trust at month end and any changes to the Trust holdings during such preceding month. Such account statement shall be in a form that is mutually agreed upon between the Company and the Trustee and shall be sent each month via US regular first-class mail within ten business days of the end of each month (or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable based on the nature of the assets held in the Trust) to (i) the General Counsel, Attn: P. Jerome Richey, CONSOL Energy Inc., 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241, and (ii) Manager Compensation, Attn: George Witkowsky, CONSOL Energy Inc., 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of any changes in the names or addresses of the foregoing recipients.

 

5


(c) The Company is aware that federal regulations require the Trustee, without charge and within one (1) business day of its receipt of a broker/dealer confirmation for each security transaction in the Trust’s account to forward to the Company a written notification which discloses, among other things: the Trustee’s name, Trust’s name, the capacity (capacities) in which the Trustee is acting, the date (and time, within a reasonable period, upon written request of the Company) of execution, the identity, price, number of share or units or principal amount of debt securities purchased or sold by the Trust, the name of the broker/dealer, the amount of any remuneration received by such broker/dealer from the Trust and the amount of any remuneration received by the Trustee. The Company agrees to accept the monthly written account statements described above in satisfaction of the Trustee’s obligation to provide written notification as described herein; provided, that upon the Company’s request, the Trustee will provide to the Company, within a reasonable time and at no additional cost, the information required by federal regulations.

Section 7. Responsibility of Trustee

(a) The Trustee shall act with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; provided, however, that the Trustee shall incur no liability to any person for any action taken pursuant to a direction, request or approval given by the Company which is contemplated by, and in conformity with, the terms of the Plan or this Trust and is given in writing by the Company; and provided further, that the Trustee shall incur no liability to any person for any reasonable action or failure to act taken pursuant to a reasonable determination of the existence or non-existence of an event of Insolvency pursuant to Section 3 hereunder. In the event of a dispute between the Company and a party, the Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve the dispute.

(b) The Trustee may consult with legal counsel (who may also be counsel for the Company or the Trustee generally) with respect to any of its duties or obligations hereunder and, subject to the provisions of Section 12(f) hereof, shall be fully protected with respect to any act or inaction taken in reasonable reliance upon the written advice of counsel.

(c) The Trustee may hire agents, accountants, actuaries, investment advisors, financial consultants or other professionals to assist it in performing any of its duties or obligations hereunder.

(d) The Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers conferred on Trustees by applicable law, unless expressly provided otherwise herein; provided, however, that if an insurance policy is held as an asset of the Trust, the Trustee shall have no power to name a beneficiary of the policy other than the Trust, to assign the policy (as distinct from conversion of the policy to a different form) other than to a successor Trustee, or to loan to any person the proceeds of any borrowing against such policy.

(e) Notwithstanding any powers granted to the Trustee pursuant to this Trust Agreement or by applicable law, the Trustee shall not have any power that could give this Trust the objective of carrying on a business and dividing the gains therefrom, within the meaning of section 301.7701-2 of the Procedure and Administrative Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.

 

6


Section 8. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee and Other Advisors

(a) The Trustee shall be entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable and proper expenses incurred by the Trustee in connection with its administration of the Trust and such compensation as shall be agreed upon from time to time between the Trustee and the Company. The Company may pay all or any portion of the administrative and Trustee’s fees and expenses. If not so paid, the fees and expenses shall be paid from the Trust. Further and to the extent the Company or the Trustee employ custodians, investment managers, investment advisors, accountants, attorneys or other agents to assist in the administration of the Trust or the Plan, the Trustee may pay out of the Trust assets all or any portion of the reasonable and proper fees and expenses incurred for such services.

Section 9. Resignation and Removal of Trustee

(a) The Trustee may resign at any time by written notice to the Company, which shall be effective 60 days after receipt of such notice unless the Company and the Trustee agree otherwise. The Trustee may be removed by the Company on 60 days written notice or upon shorter notice accepted by the Trustee.

(b) Upon resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee, all assets shall subsequently be transferred to the successor Trustee. The transfer shall be completed within 60 days after receipt of notice of resignation, removal or transfer, unless the Company extends the time limit.

(c) If the Trustee resigns or is removed, a successor shall be appointed, in accordance with Section 10 hereof, by the effective date of resignation or removal under this Section. If no such appointment has been made, the Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor or for instructions. All expenses of the Trustee in connection with the proceeding shall be allowed as administrative expenses of the Trust.

Section 10. Appointment of Successor

(a) If the Trustee resigns or is removed in accordance with Section 9 hereof, the Company shall appoint a successor to replace the Trustee upon resignation or removal. The appointment shall be effective when accepted in writing by the new Trustee, who shall have all of the rights and powers of the former Trustee, including ownership rights in the Trust assets. The former Trustee shall execute any instrument necessary or reasonably requested by the Company or the successor Trustee to evidence the transfer.

(b) The successor Trustee need not examine the records and acts of any prior Trustee and may retain or dispose of existing Trust assets, subject to Sections 6 and 7 hereof. The successor Trustee shall not be responsible for and the Company shall indemnify and defend the successor Trustee from any claim or liability resulting from any action or inaction of any prior Trustee or from any other past event, or any condition existing at the time it becomes successor Trustee.

Section 11. Amendment or Termination

(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended by a written instrument executed by Trustee and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such amendment shall conflict with the terms of the Plan or shall make the Trust revocable.

 

7


(b) The Trust shall not terminate until the date on which Plan Participants and their beneficiaries are no longer entitled to benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan. Subject to Section 11(d) below, upon termination of the Trust, any assets remaining in the Trust shall be returned to the Company.

(c) Upon written consent of all Plan Participants or beneficiaries entitled to payment of benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Company may terminate this Trust prior to the time all benefit payments under the Plan have been made. Subject to Section 11(d) below, all assets in the Trust at termination shall be returned to the Company.

(d) The Trustee shall not be required to return any assets in the Trust to the Company pursuant to Section 11(b) or Section 11(c) unless and until the Company provides the Trustee with documentation or certifications reasonably requested by Trustee to establish that the provisions of Section 11(b) or Section 11(c), as applicable, have been satisfied. The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any such documentation or certifications provided by the Company.

Section 12. Miscellaneous

(a) Any provisions of this Trust Agreement prohibited by law shall be ineffective to the extent of any such prohibition, without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof.

(b) Benefits payable to Plan Participants and their beneficiaries under this Trust Agreement may not be anticipated, assigned (either at law or in equity), alienated, pledged, encumbered or subjected to attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or other legal or equitable process.

(c) This Trust Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

(d) The effective date of this Trust Agreement as amended and restated, shall be March 20, 2008.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this Trust Agreement or the Plan to the contrary: (i) the provisions of this Trust Agreement shall be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner necessary in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”) or an exception thereto (or disregarded to the extent such provision cannot be so administered, interpreted or construed); (ii) no provision of this Trust Agreement shall be construed to restrict the assets of the trust in a manner that would result in a transfer of property as provided under Section 409A(b)(2) (relating to the employer’s financial health) or Section 409A(b)(3) (relating to the funding status of the employer’s defined benefit plans); and (iii) no contribution to this Trust may be made during any “restricted period” within the meaning of Section 409A(b)(3); provided, however, to the extent a contribution is made during any such “restricted period,” the Trustee shall immediately return such contribution to the Company upon written notice thereof from the Company and shall take any such other action reasonably requested by the Company as may be necessary or advisable to avoid a violation of Section 409A(b)(3). The Company shall have the duty to notify the Trustee in writing of the commencement of a “restricted period.” The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the existence of a restricted period and may conclusively presume that no restricted period exists in the absence of written notice from the Company.

 

8


(f) The Trustee shall be indemnified and saved harmless by the Company from and against any and all liability to which the Trustee may be subjected in carrying out its duties under this Agreement (including any liability incurred as a result of compliance with instructions of the Company, its agents or employees), including all expenses reasonably incurred in its defense, except to the extent that any loss or damage is directly attributable to the Trustee’s (a) failure to exercise the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and like aims, (b) negligence or willful misconduct or (c) violation of applicable law or the material provisions of this Trust Agreement. The indemnification provided to the Trustee shall also apply to any liability arising from the actions or nonactions of any predecessor trustee or fiduciary or other fiduciaries of the Plan.

(g) The Company and Plan shall be indemnified and saved harmless by the Trustee from and against any and all liability to which the Company or the Plan may incur or be subjected to (including any liability incurred as a result of the Trustee’s failure to comply with instructions of the Company, its agents or employees, or the Investment Manager), including all expenses reasonably incurred in defense of any claim giving rise to such liability, to the extent that any loss or damage is directly attributable to the Trustee’s (a) gross negligence, or (b) willful misconduct, or (c) violation of applicable law.

 

9


[Signature Page for Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for

1999 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan]

In witness whereof, the Company and Trustee have executed this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement as of the 20 th day of March, 2008.

 

CONSOL Energy Inc.
By:  

/s/ William J. Lyons

Name:   William J. Lyons
Title:   Executive Vice President and CFO
Trustee
By:  

/s/ Dana Luksic

Name:   Dana Luksic

 

10

Exhibit 10.3

CONSOL ENERGY INC.

DIRECTORS’ DEFERRED FEE PLAN

(2004 PLAN)

(Amended and Restated on December 4, 2007)

ARTICLE I

GENERAL

1.1 Purpose . This Plan is established and maintained by the Company to allow non-employee Directors to defer payment of all or a portion of their annual Board Retainer Fees and/or Director Meeting Fees.

1.2 Definitions . Unless a different meaning is plainly implied by the context, the following terms as used in this Plan shall have the following meanings:

(a) “ Account ” shall mean the bookkeeping account established and maintained for each Participant for recording amounts deferred pursuant to Section 3.1.

(b) “ Administrator ” shall mean the Board or any person, group or entity designated by the Board in accordance with the provisions of Article V to administer the Plan.

(c) “ Beneficiary ” shall mean the person or persons designated to receive benefits after the death of the Participant as provided in Section 4.3.

(d) “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

(e) “ Board Retainer Fees ” shall mean the annual retainer fees payable to members of the Board in cash (e.g. the Annual Board Retainer, Annual Committee Chair Retainer, Annual Audit Committee Chair Retainer, Annual and Audit Committee Member Retainer).

(f) “ Change in Control ” shall have the same meaning ascribed to it under the CONSOL Energy Inc. Equity Incentive Plan.

(g) “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any provision or section thereof herein specifically referred to, as such provision or section may from time to time be amended or replaced.

(h) “ Deferral Agreement ” shall mean a written agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1 , entered into between the Company and a Participant pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Plan.

(i) “ Company ” shall mean CONSOL Energy Inc.

(j) “ Director ” shall mean a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any of its affiliates.


(k) “ Director Meeting Fees ” shall mean attendance fees, if any, payable in cash for each meeting of the Board attended by the Director or any committee meeting the Director attends for a committee on which such Director serves.

(l) “ Effective Date ” shall mean the effective date of the Plan, which shall be July 20, 2004.

(m) “ Interest Rate ” shall mean the ten year Moody AAA Bond Rate.

(n) “ Participant ” shall mean a Director who is eligible to participate in the Plan and has elected to do so pursuant to Section 2.3.

(o) “ Plan ” shall mean the CONSOL Energy Inc. Directors’ Deferred Fee Plan.

(p) “ Plan Year ” shall mean the one-year period between the annual stockholders’ meeting and the next following annual stockholders’ meeting; provided, however, for the year in which the Plan becomes effective, “Plan Year” shall mean the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the next following annual stockholders’ meeting.

(q) Section 409A shall mean Section 409A of the Code, the regulations and other binding guidance promulgated thereunder.

(r) Separation from Service shall mean the Director’s death, retirement or other termination of service with the Company and all of its controlled group members within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes hereof, the determination of controlled group members shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Section 414(b) and 414(c) of the Code; provided that the language “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80 percent” in each place it appears in Section 1563(a)(1),(2) and (3) of the Code and Treas. Reg. § 1.414(c)-2; provided, further, where legitimate business reasons exist (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h)(3)), the language “at least 20 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80 percent” in each place it appears. Whether the Director has a Separation from Service will be determined based on all of the facts and circumstances and in accordance with the guidance issued under Section 409A.

1.3 Plurals and Gender . Where appearing in the Plan, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders, and the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning.

1.4 Headings . The headings and subheadings in this Plan are inserted for the convenience of reference only and are to be ignored in any construction of the provisions thereof.

1.5 Severability . In case any provision or portion of this Plan shall be held illegal or void, such provision or portion shall not affect the remainder of this Plan, but shall be fully severable, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if said provision had never been inserted herein.

ARTICLE II

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

2.1 Eligibility . Each member of the Board who is a Director on the Effective Date shall be eligible to participate in the Plan beginning on the Effective Date. Any person who becomes a Director after the Effective Date shall be eligible to participate in the Plan on the day such person becomes a Director.

 

-2-


2.2 Participation . Each Director shall become a Participant in the Plan as of the date on which such Director completes and submits an irrevocable Deferral Agreement in accordance with Section 2.3.

2.3 Election Procedure . A Director may file a Deferral Agreement at any time during the 30-day period following the date on which the Director initially becomes eligible to participate in the Plan. Any such initial Deferral Agreement must be filed with the Company within the 30-day election period; provided, however, that any such Deferral Agreement shall only apply to fees earned and payable for services rendered after the date on which the Deferral Agreement is delivered to the Company. Accordingly, if a Deferral Agreement is made in the first-year of eligibility but after the beginning of the Plan Year, the Deferral Agreement shall only apply to the total amount of such fees multiplied by the ratio of (i) the number of days remaining in the Plan Year after the election to (ii) the total number of days in the Plan Year.

A Director shall also be permitted to submit an annual election for each Plan Year by filing a new Deferral Agreement in relation to the fees to be deferred during such Plan Year. Any such annual election must be filed with the Company on or before December 31st of the calendar year preceding the beginning of the Plan Year to which the Deferral Agreement relates (or such other date as permitted by the Administrator to the extent consistent with Section 409A). If a Director fails to timely file a completed Deferral Agreement for a Plan Year, none of such Director’s Board Retainer Fees or Director Meeting Fees will be deferred for that Plan Year.

To be valid, the Deferral Agreement must indicate the portion of Board Retainer Fees and/or Director Meeting Fees to be deferred and the timing of Plan distribution. A deferral is effective upon receipt by the Company, within the applicable election period, of the correctly completed Deferral Agreement. A Deferral Agreement is irrevocable during the Plan Year to which it applies; provided, however, if the Director suffers a disability or dies, the Director’s deferral election shall be cancelled. For purposes of this Section, a disability refers to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment resulting in the Director’s inability to perform the duties of his or her position or any substantially similar position, where such impairment can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than six months.

ARTICLE III

DEFERRED FEES

3.1 Accounts . The Company shall establish an Account on behalf of each Participant which shall be credited with deferred fees as provided in Section 3.2 and Earnings as provided in Section 3.3, and debited to reflect payments made to such Participant pursuant to Article IV. A Participant shall have no right to receive any amounts credited to his Account except as expressly provided in Article IV of the Plan.

3.2 Board Retainer and Director Meeting Fees . To the extent provided in the Deferral Agreement in effect for any Plan Year, a Participant may elect to defer the right to receive: (i) Board Retainer Fees stated as a whole percentage or a dollar amount of such fees; and/or (ii) Director Meeting Fees on an all or nothing basis. The minimum deferral amount with respect to Board Retainer Fees is $10,000 per Plan Year. The amount of any fees deferred with respect to any Plan Year shall reduce the

 

-3-


amount of such fees otherwise payable to the Participant for such Plan Year on a ratable basis over the period in which such amounts would otherwise be paid, and the amount of each such reduction shall be credited to the Participant’s Account as of the date of such reduction.

3.3 Earnings . The Participant’s Account shall be adjusted by an amount equal to the amount that would have been earned (or lost) if the amounts deferred under the Plan had been invested in hypothetical investments designated by the Participant, based on a list of hypothetical investments provided by the Administrator from time to time (such hypothetical earnings or losses shall be referred to as “Earnings”). The Participant shall designate the investments used to measure Earnings from the list of authorized investments provided by the Administrator by completing the appropriate form or in such other manner as the Administrator may designate. The Participant may change such designations at such times as are permitted by the Administrator, provided that the Participant shall be entitled to change such designations at least annually. Earnings shall be credited to the Participant’s Account quarterly and shall be credited to a Participant’s Account until all payments with respect to such Account have been made under the Plan. Neither the Company nor the Administrator shall act as a guarantor, or be liable or otherwise responsible for the investment performance of the designated investments (including any losses sustained by a Participant) with respect to a Participant’s Account.

If a Participant fails to designate the investment of his or her Account, the Account shall be credited, on a quarterly basis, with interest based on the Interest Rate in effect on the last day of the applicable quarter. In the event any such Participant terminates service during a Plan Year, such Participant’s interest credit for the quarter in which the termination occurs will be based on the Interest Rate in effect on the day of the Participant’s termination and shall be pro-rated based on the Participant’s service during such quarter. No interest will accrue for periods after a Participant’s termination of service during the quarter.

3.4 Vesting . Amounts credited to a Participant’s Account shall be fully vested at all times.

ARTICLE IV

PAYMENT OF DEFERRED FEES

4.1 Method of Distribution . The amount payable to a Participant or his Beneficiary under the Plan shall be paid in cash in a single sum as provided in Section 4.2.

4.2 Timing of Distribution . A Participant’s Account will be paid upon the earlier of the following designated payment dates: (i) the Participant’s Separation from Service, or (ii) the date elected by the Participant which must be at least two years after the end of the Plan Year for which the fees are deferred. It is intended that any payments made pursuant to Section 4.2 shall be made on the designated payment date or as soon as administratively feasible thereafter (but in no event later than a date within the same calendar year or, if later, by the 15th day of the third calendar month following the designated payment date). Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Director is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, any payment to the Director due upon Separation from Service will be delayed and paid on the six (6) month anniversary of the date the Director Separates from Service (or, if earlier, the death of the Director).

4.3 Designation of Beneficiary .

(a) Each Participant shall have the right to designate a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries to receive any amount which may be payable under the Plan after his death. Such designation of

 

-4-


Beneficiary shall be in writing in the form attached as Exhibit 2 , and shall be effective when received by the Company. The Company shall keep records in writing of all such designations. The Participant shall have the right to change such designation by filing a new designation form with the Company. Such change of Beneficiary shall become effective upon its receipt by the Company, and any such change shall be deemed to revoke all prior designations.

(b) If a Participant fails to properly designate a Beneficiary or if no designated Beneficiary survives the Participant, his undistributed Account shall be paid to the person or persons in the first of the following classes of successive preference beneficiaries surviving at the death of the Participant: (1) his widow or widower, or (2) his estate. The Administrator shall decide which Beneficiary, if any, shall be validly designated, and the Administrator’s decision shall be binding and conclusive of all persons.

4.4 Incapacity . If the Company shall receive evidence satisfactory to it that a Participant or Beneficiary entitled to receive any benefit under the Plan is, at the time when such benefit becomes payable, a minor, or is physically or mentally incompetent to receive such benefit and to give a valid release thereof, and that another person or an institution is then maintaining or has custody of such Participant or Beneficiary, and that no guardian, committee or other representative of the estate of such Participant or Beneficiary shall have been duly appointed, payment of such benefit otherwise payable to such Participant or Beneficiary may be made to such other person or institution, including a custodian under a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, or corresponding legislation (who shall be an adult, a guardian of the minor or a trust company), and the release of such other person or institution shall be a valid and complete discharge for such payment.

ARTICLE V

ADMINISTRATION

5.1 Administrative Authority . Except as provided herein, the Board shall be the Administrator and shall have the sole responsibility for the control, operation and administration of the Plan, and shall have the power, authority and discretion to take all actions and to make all decisions and interpretations which it shall determine to be necessary or appropriate in order to administer and operate the Plan, including the power to (i) resolve and determine all disputes or questions arising under the Plan, including the power to determine the rights of Participants and Beneficiaries, and their respective benefits, and to remedy any ambiguities, inconsistencies or omissions in the Plan; (ii) adopt such rules and regulations which, in its sole and absolute discretion, may be necessary or appropriate for the proper and efficient administration of the Plan; (iii) implement the Plan in accordance with its terms and such rules and regulations as may be adopted; (iv) notify the Participants of any amendment or termination of, or change in, any benefits available under the Plan; and (v) prescribe such forms as may be required for Directors to make elections under, and otherwise participate in, the Plan. The Administrator shall have the sole and absolute discretion to interpret and construe the terms of the Plan.

5.2 Conclusive Decisions . The determination of the Administrator on any matter pertaining to the Plan within the powers and discretion granted to it shall be final, binding and conclusive on all Participants, Beneficiaries and all other persons dealing in any way or capacity with the Plan; provided, however, in relation to any action involving the interpretation or application of the terms of the Plan for claims arising in connection with or following a Change in Control, the court or other reviewing entity shall review the interpretations, decisions and actions of the Administrator de novo.

 

-5-


5.3 Duties of Administrator .

(a) The Administrator may appoint persons or firms, or otherwise act to secure specialized advice or assistance as it deems necessary or desirable in connection with the administration and operation of the Plan, and the Administrator shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon, and shall be fully protected in any action or omission taken by it in good faith reliance upon the advice or opinion of such firms or persons.

(b) The Administrator shall have the power and authority to delegate from time to time by written instrument all or any part its duties, powers or responsibilities under the Plan, both ministerial and discretionary, as it deems appropriate, to any person, and in the same manner to revoke any such delegation of duties, powers or responsibilities. Any action of such person in the exercise of such delegated duties, powers or responsibilities shall have the same force and effect for all purposes hereunder as if such action had been taken by the Administrator. Further, the Administrator may authorize one or more persons to execute any certificate or document on behalf of the Administrator, in which event any person notified by the Administrator of such authorization shall be entitled to accept and conclusively rely upon any such certificate or document executed by such person as representing action by the Administrator until such third person shall have been notified of the revocation of such authority. The Administrator shall not be liable for any act or omission of any person to whom the Administrator’s duties, powers or responsibilities have been delegated, nor shall any person to whom any duties, powers or responsibilities have been delegated have any liabilities with respect to any duties, powers or responsibilities not delegated to him.

5.4 Standard of Care . All representatives of the Board and the Administrator shall use ordinary care and diligence in the performance of their duties pertaining to the Plan, but no such individual shall incur any liability: (i) by virtue of any contract, agreement, bond or other instrument made or executed by him or on his behalf in his official capacity with respect to the Plan; (ii) for any act or failure to act, or any mistake or judgment made, in his official capacity with respect to the Plan, unless it is the result of his gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) for the neglect, omission or wrongdoing of any other person involved with the Plan. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each such individual who is an employee or Director of the Company from the effects and consequences of his acts, or from omissions and conduct in his official capacity with respect to the Plan, except to the extent that such effects and consequences shall result from his own willful misconduct or gross negligence. If any matter arises as to which an individual is entitled to indemnity hereunder, the individual shall give the Company prompt written notice thereof. The Company, at its own expense, shall then take charge of the disposition of the asserted liability, including the compromise or the conduct of litigation. The indemnitee may, at his own expense, retain his own counsel and share in the conduct of any such litigation, but the failure to do so shall not adversely affect his right to indemnity.

5.5 Expenses . Expenses incurred in the administration and operation of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

5.6 Attorney Fees . If a Participant’s service as a Director for the Company terminates on or after a Change in Control and the Company does not pay deferred amounts credited to such Participant’s Account when they are due, the Company shall pay the Participant’s reasonable attorneys’ fees to enforce such Participant’s rights under the Plan if the deferred amounts are not paid within 60 days after the Participant’s written demand for payment.

5.7 Section 409A . The provisions of this Plan and all deferral elections made hereunder shall be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner necessary in order to comply with Section 409A or an exception thereto (or disregarded to the extent such provision cannot be so administered,

 

-6-


interpreted or construed). It is intended that distribution events authorized under this Plan qualify as a permissible distribution events for purposes of Section 409A, and this Plan shall be interpreted and construed accordingly in order to comply with Section 409A. The Company reserves the right to accelerate, delay or modify distributions to the extent permitted under Section 409A.

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENTS, TERMINATION AND MERGER

6.1 Amendments and Termination .

(a) The Board reserves the right to modify, amend, discontinue or terminate the Plan either retroactively or prospectively at any time; provided , however , that no modification, amendment, discontinuance or termination shall adversely affect the rights of a Participant to vested amounts credited to his Account before such modification, amendment, discontinuance or termination; provided , further , termination of the Plan shall not be a distribution event under the Plan unless otherwise permitted under Section 409A or other applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any provision of this Plan to the contrary, that the Company may, in its sole discretion and without the Director’s consent, modify or amend the terms of the Plan or a Deferral Agreement, or take any other action it deems necessary or advisable, to cause the Plan to comply with Section 409A (or an exception thereto). Notice of every such modification, amendment, discontinuance or termination shall be given in writing to each affected Participant. In the case of a termination of the Plan, any vested amounts credited to the Account of a Participant shall be distributed in full in the form of a single lump sum payment as soon as reasonably practicable following such termination.

6.2 Consolidation, Merger or Other Transactions of Company . Nothing in this Plan shall prevent the consolidation, merger, reorganization or liquidation of the Company, or prevent the sale by the Company of any or all of its property. Any successor corporation or other entity formed and resulting from any such transaction shall have the right to become a party to this Plan by adopting the same. If, within 180 days from the effective date of such transaction, such new entity does not become a party to this Plan as above provided, this Plan shall be terminated automatically; provided, however, termination of the Plan shall not be a distribution event under the Plan unless otherwise permitted under Section 409A or other applicable law.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

7.1 Limitations on Liability of Company . None of the establishment of the Plan, any modification thereof, the creation of any Account, or the payment of any benefits, shall be construed as giving to any Participant, Beneficiary or other person any legal or equitable right against the Company, or any person connected therewith, except as provided by law or by a specific Plan provision.

7.2 Governing Law . The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern, control and determine a questions arising with respect to the Plan and the interpretation and validity of its respective provisions.

7.3 No Guarantee of Service . Participation in the Plan does not give any person any right to continue as a Director of the Company.

 

-7-


7.4 Spendthrift Provision .

(a) No amount payable under the Plan shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, attachment, garnishment, sale, transfer, assignment (either at law or in equity), levy, execution, pledge, encumbrance, charge or any other legal or equitable process, and any attempt to do so shall be void; nor shall any benefit be in any manner liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of the person entitled thereto. The foregoing shall not preclude any arrangement for the recovery by the Plan of overpayments of benefits previously made to a Participant or Beneficiary, or the direct deposit of benefit payments to an account in a banking institution (if not part of an arrangement constituting an assignment or alienation).

(b) In the event that any Participant’s benefits are garnished or attached by order of court, the Company may bring an action for a declaratory judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction to determine the proper recipient of the benefits to be paid by the Plan. During the pendency of said action, any benefits that become payable shall be paid into the court as they become payable, to be distributed by the court to the recipient it deems proper at the close of said action.

7.5 Tax Treatment . Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create any right or expectation of any Participant, Beneficiary or any other person entitled to any benefit under this Plan to any particular tax consequences with respect to any amounts deferred, credited to an Account or paid under this Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in no event shall the Administrator (or any member thereof) or the Company or its affiliates (or the employees, officers or directors of the Company or its affiliates) have any liability to any Participant (or any other person) due to the failure of the Plan to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A or any other applicable law.

7.6 Funding .

(a) The obligation of the Company to pay benefits under this Plan shall be interpreted solely as an unsecured, unfunded, contractual obligation to pay only those amounts described in Article III in the manner, at the times and under the conditions prescribed under the terms of the Plan, and the Company shall have no obligation to fund, secure or obtain any third-party guarantee of those benefits. If any assets are set aside to provide for benefits payable under the Plan, such assets shall be subject to the claims of the Company’s general creditors, and no person other than the Company shall, by virtue of the provisions of the Plan or any other agreement, have any interest in such assets.

(b) The Company may, in its discretion, make contributions to a trust to be invested and utilized to pay benefits under the Plan. If a trust (the “Trust”) is created by the Company, the following provisions of this Section 7.6 shall apply.

(c) An amount equal to each Participant’s deferred fees and any Earnings thereon, determined under Article III, may, in the discretion of the Company and subject to the terms of the Trust, be transferred to the Trust to be held pursuant to the terms thereof. The assets of the Trust shall be subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors and shall be maintained pursuant to a separate trust document (“Trust Agreement”) conforming to the terms of the model trust described in Revenue Procedure 92-64.

(d) Any payment required to be made under this Plan to a Participant or a Beneficiary shall be paid by the trustee of the Trust (the “Trustee”) to the extent of the assets held in the Trust by the Trustee, and by the Company to the extent the assets in the Trust are insufficient to pay such amount.

 

-8-


(e) The Company may direct the Trustee to invest the Trust assets in any investment that it deems appropriate, including common stock of the Company, subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement.

7.7 Account Statements . Periodically, as determined by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion, each Participant shall receive a statement indicating the amounts credited to and distributed from his Account.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Plan amended and restated as of December 4, 2007 is executed on March 20, 2008.

 

CONSOL ENERGY INC.
By:  

/s/ William J. Lyons

  William J. Lyons
 

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

 

-9-


EXHIBIT 1

CONSOL ENERGY INC.

DIRECTORS’ DEFERRED FEE PLAN

DEFERRAL AGREEMENT

Pursuant to the CONSOL Energy Inc. Directors’ Deferred Fee Plan (the “Plan”), I hereby elect to defer receipt of the fees noted below which, absent this Deferral Agreement, I would become entitled to receive in the future. (Check Only One Box for Each Section Below:)

 

  A ANNUAL RETAINER FEE ELECTION (CHOOSE ONLY ONE) :

 

  ¨ I hereby elect to defer [      %] [$              ] of my annual retainer fees for the Plan Year. The minimum election amount is $10,000 per Plan Year.

OR

 

  ¨ I hereby elect NOT to defer any of my annual retainer fees for the Plan Year.

 

  B DISTRIBUTION ELECTION:

I understand that my deferral account will be distributed, subject to the terms of the Plan, in a single sum as soon as administratively feasible following the earlier of: (i) my Separation from Service, or (ii) the date I elect below which must be at least two (2) years after the end of the Plan Year for which the fees are deferred.

(Check a Box Below If You Choose to Specify a Distribution Date and Select the Date You Want to Elect.)

I hereby elect to the following distribution date ( CHOOSE ONLY ONE ):

 

  ¨ [                      , 20      ]; OR

 

  ¨ [      years after the date of this Deferral Agreement].

I understand that my election is subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and that my election hereunder is irrevocable with respect to any payments due for a Plan Year. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto under the Plan.

 

Received and agreed to by CONSOL Energy Inc.:      DIRECTOR:
By:  

 

     By:  

 

Date:  

 

     Date:  

 


NON-COMMUNITY PROPERTY STATES

EXHIBIT 2

CONSOL ENERGY INC.

DIRECTORS’ DEFERRED FEE PLAN

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION FORM

Name of Participant:                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Please complete this form, as indicated below. Unless you indicate otherwise, all benefits will be payable in equal shares if more than one primary or secondary beneficiary is listed.

PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES : I hereby designate the following as my primary beneficiary(ies) to receive any benefits payable on account of my death under the Plan:

 

Full Name   Birthdate   Relationship   Percent of Distribution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I understand that if at the time of my death the sum of the percentages payable as indicated above does not equal 100%, the percentage share of each designated person who survives me will be proportionately adjusted so that the sum of their percentages will equal 100%.

SECONDARY BENEFICIARIES : If all the primary beneficiaries designated by me above die before the complete payment of my benefits, or, if not natural persons, no longer legally exist at my death, I hereby designate the following as my secondary beneficiary(ies) to receive any benefits payable on account of my death under the Plan:

 

Full Name   Birthdate   Relationship   Percent of Distribution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I understand that if at the time of my death the sum of the percentages payable as indicated above does not equal 100%, the percentage share of each designated person who survives me will be proportionately adjusted so that the sum of their percentages will equal 100%.

VALIDITY

I understand that this designation is valid only if it is filed with the Administrator before my death and that, if this designation is valid under the Plan, all designations that I filed before this one will be REVOKED. This designation will remain in full force and effect unless and until a new Beneficiary Designation Form is filed with the Administrator in writing and duly dated and signed.

 

Date:

 

 

  

 

     Participant’s Signature

Exhibit 10.4

TRUST AGREEMENT

(Amended and Restated on March 20, 2008)

(2004 Directors Deferred Fee Plan)

THIS TRUST AGREEMENT is made by and between CONSOL ENERGY INC. (the “Company”) and PNC Bank, National Association (the “Trustee”).

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the CONSOL Energy Inc. Directors Deferred Fee Plan (the “Plan”), a nonqualified deferred compensation plan; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to establish this Trust Agreement (hereinafter “Trust”) and to contribute to the Trust assets that shall be held therein, subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors in the event of the Company’s Insolvency, as herein defined, until paid to Plan participants (“Plan Participants”) and their beneficiaries in such manner and at such times as specified in the Plan;

WHEREAS, it is the intention of the parties that this Trust shall constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the status of the Plan as an unfunded plan maintained for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; and

WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Company to make contributions to the Trust to provide itself with a source of funds to assist it in meeting its obligations under the Plan.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do hereby amend and restate the Trust and agree that the Trust shall be comprised, held and disposed of as follows:

Section 1. Establishment of Trust

(a) The principal of the Trust shall be held, administered and disposed of by the Trustee as provided in this Trust Agreement.

(b) The Trust shall be irrevocable.

(c) The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust, of which the Company is the grantor, within the meaning of subpart E, part I, subchapter J, chapter 1, subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and shall be construed accordingly.

(d) The principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon, shall be held separate and apart from other funds of the Company and shall be used exclusively for the uses and purposes of Plan Participants and other general creditors of the Company as herein set forth. Plan Participants and their beneficiaries shall have no preferred claim on, or any beneficial ownership interest in, any assets of the Trust. Any rights created under the Plan and this Trust Agreement shall be mere unsecured contractual rights of Plan Participants and their beneficiaries against the Company. Any assets held by the Trust will be subject to the claims of the Company’s general creditors under federal and state law in the event of Insolvency, as defined in Section 3(a) herein.


(e) The Company may periodically deposit additional cash or other property to the Trust in an amount sufficient to pay each Plan Participant and beneficiary the benefits payable pursuant to the terms of the Plan. The Trustee shall have no duty to calculate such amounts or compel any deposits or contributions to the Trust.

Section 2. Payments to Plan Participants and Their Beneficiaries

(a) As necessary for proper administration of the Plan, the Company shall deliver to Trustee written directions acceptable to the Trustee setting forth the amounts payable in respect of each Plan Participant (and his or her beneficiaries), and the time of commencement for payment of such amounts. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Trustee shall make payments to the Plan Participants and their beneficiaries in accordance with such directions. With respect to payments to Plan Participants, the Company shall be solely responsible for determining the amount of income that is taxable and reportable to the Plan Participant, determining the nature and amounts of taxes, if any, to be withheld and remitted, and for reporting all such income and taxes to the applicable government entities. The Trustee shall have no duties with respect thereto.

(b) The entitlement of a Plan Participant or his or her beneficiaries to benefits under the Plan shall be determined by the Company or such party as it shall designate under the Plan, and any claim for such benefits shall be considered and reviewed under the procedures set out in the Plan.

(c) It is the Company’s intention that all Plan benefits shall be paid to Plan Participants and beneficiaries out of Trust assets to the extent not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan. The Company may, however, make payment of benefits directly to Plan Participants or their beneficiaries as they become due under the terms of the Plan. The Company shall notify the Trustee of its decision to make payment of benefits directly before the time amounts are payable to Plan Participants or beneficiaries. If the principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon, are not sufficient to make payments of benefits in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Company shall make the balance of any such payment as it falls due. The Trustee shall notify the Company where principal and earnings are not sufficient to make benefit payments.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3 or Section 12(e), the Company shall have no right or power to direct the Trustee to return to the Company any of the Trust assets before all payment of benefits have been made to Plan Participants and their beneficiaries pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

Section 3. Trustee Responsibility Regarding Payments to Trust Beneficiary When the Company Is Insolvent

(a) The Trustee shall cease payment of benefits from the Trust to Plan Participants and their beneficiaries if the Company is Insolvent. The Company shall be considered “Insolvent” for purposes of this Trust Agreement if: (i) the Company is unable to pay its debts as they become due; or (ii) the Company is subject to a pending proceeding as a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code.

(b) At all times during the continuance of this Trust, as provided in Section 1(d) hereof, the principal and income of the Trust shall be subject to claims of general creditors of the Company under federal and state law as set forth below.

(1) The Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall have the duty to inform the Trustee in writing of the Company’s Insolvency. If a person claiming to be a

 

2


creditor of the Company alleges in writing to the Trustee that the Company has become Insolvent, the Trustee shall determine whether the Company is Insolvent and, pending such determination, the Trustee shall discontinue payment of benefits to Plan Participants or their beneficiaries.

(2) Unless the Trustee has actual knowledge of the Company’s Insolvency, or has received notice from the Company or a person claiming to be a creditor alleging that the Company is Insolvent, the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire whether the Company is Insolvent. The Trustee may in all events rely on such evidence concerning the Company’s solvency as may be furnished to the Trustee by the Company and that provides the Trustee with a reasonable basis for making a determination concerning the Company’s solvency.

(3) If at any time the Trustee has determined that the Company is Insolvent, the Trustee shall discontinue payments to Plan Participants or their beneficiaries and shall hold the assets of the Trust for the benefit of the Company’s general creditors. Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall in any way diminish any rights of Plan Participants or their beneficiaries to pursue their rights as general creditors of the Company with respect to benefits due under the Plan or otherwise.

(4) The Trustee shall resume the payment of benefits to Plan Participants or their beneficiaries in accordance with Section 2 of this Trust Agreement only after Trustee has determined that the Company is not Insolvent (or is no longer Insolvent).

(c) Provided that there are sufficient assets, if the Trustee discontinues the payment of benefits from the Trust pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and subsequently resumes such payments, then as directed in writing by the Company, the first payment following such discontinuance shall include the aggregate amount of all payments due to Plan Participants or their beneficiaries under the terms of the Plan for the period of such discontinuance, less the aggregate amount of any payments made to Plan Participants or their beneficiaries by the Company in lieu of the payments provided for hereunder during any such period of discontinuance. The Trustee shall have no duty to calculate the foregoing amounts.

Section 4. Investment Authority

(a) Except as provided in Section 4(b) or (c), the Company or, if so appointed, the Investment Manager (defined below) shall provide the Trustee with all investment instructions. The Trustee shall neither affect nor change the investments of the Trust, except as directed in writing by the Company or the Investment Manager, and shall have no right, duty or responsibility to recommend investments or investment changes; provided, that the Trustee may deposit cash on hand from time to time in any bank savings account, certificate of deposit, or other instrument creating a deposit liability for the bank, including the Trustee’s own banking department if the Trustee is a bank, or in interests in a registered investment company appropriate for short term investment, including a registered investment company from which Trustee or its affiliates receive compensation for providing investment advisory, transfer agency, custody or other services, without such prior direction.

(b) In order to provide for an accumulation of assets comparable to the contractual liabilities accruing under the Plan, the Company may direct the Trustee to invest the assets held in the Trust to correspond to the hypothetical investments made available for Plan Participants under the Plan. Such directions may be made by Plan Participants by use of a service representative, a Voice Response System (VRS), the internet or such other electronic means as may be agreed upon from time to time by the Company and the Trustee, maintained for such purposes by the Trustee or its agents. The Company’s designation of available investment options under the Plan, the maintenance of accounts for each Plan

 

3


Participant and the crediting of investments to such accounts, the giving of investment directions by Plan Participants under this Section, and the exercise by Plan Participants of any other powers relating to investments under this Section are solely for the purpose of providing a mechanism for measuring the obligation of the Company to any particular Plan Participant under the Plan. As provided in Section 1(d) above, no Plan Participant or beneficiary will have any preferential claim to or beneficial ownership interest in any asset or investment, and the rights of any Plan Participant and his or her beneficiaries under the Plan and this Trust are solely those of the unsecured general creditor of the Company with respect to the benefits of the Plan Participant under the Plan.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(a) hereof, the Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers conferred on the Trustee by applicable law, unless expressly provided otherwise herein, and all rights associated with the assets of the Trust shall be exercised by the Trustee or the person designated by the Trustee, and shall in no event be exercisable by or rest with Plan Participants. The Trustee shall have full power and authority to invest and reinvest the assets of the Trust as directed by the Company or the Investment Manager in any investment permitted by law, including but not limited to investment in securities (including stock or rights to acquire stock) or obligations issued by the Company, and including interests in registered investment companies from which Trustee or its affiliates receive compensation for providing investment advisory, transfer agency, custody or other services.

(d) Voting or other rights in securities shall be exercised by the person or entity responsible for directing such investments, and the Trustee shall have no duty to exercise voting or proxy or other rights relating to any investments managed or directed by the Company or the Investment Manager. If any foreign securities are purchased pursuant to the direction of the Company or the Investment Manager, it shall be the responsibility of the person or entity responsible for directing such investments to advise the Trustee in writing of any laws or regulations, either foreign or domestic, that apply to such foreign securities or to the receipt of dividends or interest on such securities.

(e) The Company may appoint one or more investment managers (“Investment Managers”), each of which, unless otherwise determined by the Company, (1) is (i) registered under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 (the “Act”), (ii) a bank, as defined in the Act, or (iii) an insurance company qualified to manage, acquire and dispose of trust assets in more than one state; (2) acknowledges in writing that it is a fiduciary with respect to the Plan and Trust; and (3), shall have the power to manage, acquire or dispose of any asset of, or all or such portions of the Trust’s assets as the Company shall specify (the “Managed Assets”). The Company shall from time to time direct the Trustee in writing with respect to the portion of the assets of the Trust which shall be Managed Assets. The fees and expenses of an Investment Manager, except to the extent paid by Company, may be paid from the Trust.

(f) The Company shall have the right at anytime, and from time to time in its sole discretion, to substitute assets acceptable to the Trustee of equal fair market value for any asset held by the Trust. This right is exercisable by the Company in a nonfiduciary capacity without the approval or consent of any person serving in a fiduciary capacity.

Section 5. Disposition of Income

(a) During the term of this Trust, all income received by the Trust, net of expenses and taxes not otherwise paid by the Company, shall be accumulated and reinvested.

 

4


Section 6. Accounting by Trustee

(a) The Trustee shall keep accurate and detailed records of all investments, receipts, disbursements, and all other transactions required to be made, including such specific records as shall be agreed upon in writing between the Company and the Trustee. Within sixty (60) days following the close of each calendar year or after the removal or resignation of the Trustee, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company a written account of its administration of the Trust during such year or during the period from the close of the last preceding year to the date of such removal or resignation, setting forth all investments, receipts, disbursements and other transactions effected by it, including a description of all securities and investments purchased and sold with the cost or net proceeds of such purchases or sales (accrued interest paid or receivable being shown separately), and showing all cash, securities and other property held in the Trust at the end of such year or as of the date of such removal or resignation as the case may be. The Company may approve the account either by written notice of approval delivered to the Trustee or by failure to object in writing to the Trustee within 180 days from the date on which the account statement was delivered to the Company. Upon receipt of written approval of the accounting, or upon the expiration of the 180-day period without written objections, the account statement shall be approved, and the Trustee shall be released and discharged with respect to the account as if the account had been settled and allowed by a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing herein contained, however, shall be deemed to preclude the Trustee of its right to have its account settled by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) Notwithstanding the forgoing, each calendar month the Trustee shall provide the Company an account statement reflecting all of the assets held in the Trust at month end and any changes to the Trust holdings during such preceding month. Such account statement shall be in a form that is mutually agreed upon between the Company and the Trustee and shall be sent each month via US regular first-class mail within ten business days of the end of each month (or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable based on the nature of the assets held in the Trust) to (i) the General Counsel, Attn: P. Jerome Richey, CONSOL Energy Inc., 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241, and (ii) Manager Compensation, Attn: George Witkowsky, CONSOL Energy Inc., 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of any changes in the names or addresses of the foregoing recipients.

(c) The Company is aware that federal regulations require the Trustee, without charge and within one (1) business day of its receipt of a broker/dealer confirmation for each security transaction in the Trust’s account to forward to the Company a written notification which discloses, among other things: the Trustee’s name, Trust’s name, the capacity (capacities) in which the Trustee is acting, the date (and time, within a reasonable period, upon written request of the Company) of execution, the identity, price, number of share or units or principal amount of debt securities purchased or sold by the Trust, the name of the broker/dealer, the amount of any remuneration received by such broker/dealer from the Trust and the amount of any remuneration received by the Trustee. The Company agrees to accept the monthly written account statements described above in satisfaction of the Trustee’s obligation to provide written notification as described herein; provided, that upon the Company’s request, the Trustee will provide to the Company, within a reasonable time and at no additional cost, the information required by federal regulations.

 

5


Section 7. Responsibility of Trustee

(a) The Trustee shall act with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; provided, however, that the Trustee shall incur no liability to any person for any action taken pursuant to a direction, request or approval given by the Company which is contemplated by, and in conformity with, the terms of the Plan or this Trust and is given in writing by the Company; and provided further, that the Trustee shall incur no liability to any person for any reasonable action or failure to act taken pursuant to a reasonable determination of the existence or non-existence of an event of Insolvency pursuant to Section 3 hereunder. In the event of a dispute between the Company and a party, the Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve the dispute.

(b) The Trustee may consult with legal counsel (who may also be counsel for the Company or the Trustee generally) with respect to any of its duties or obligations hereunder and, subject to the provisions of Section 12(f) hereof, shall be fully protected with respect to any act or inaction taken in reasonable reliance upon the written advice of counsel.

(c) The Trustee may hire agents, accountants, actuaries, investment advisors, financial consultants or other professionals to assist it in performing any of its duties or obligations hereunder.

(d) The Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers conferred on Trustees by applicable law, unless expressly provided otherwise herein; provided, however, that if an insurance policy is held as an asset of the Trust, the Trustee shall have no power to name a beneficiary of the policy other than the Trust, to assign the policy (as distinct from conversion of the policy to a different form) other than to a successor Trustee, or to loan to any person the proceeds of any borrowing against such policy.

(e) Notwithstanding any powers granted to the Trustee pursuant to this Trust Agreement or by applicable law, the Trustee shall not have any power that could give this Trust the objective of carrying on a business and dividing the gains therefrom, within the meaning of section 301.7701-2 of the Procedure and Administrative Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 8. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee and Other Advisors

(a) The Trustee shall be entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable and proper expenses incurred by the Trustee in connection with its administration of the Trust and such compensation as shall be agreed upon from time to time between the Trustee and the Company. The Company may pay all or any portion of the administrative and Trustee’s fees and expenses. If not so paid, the fees and expenses shall be paid from the Trust. Further and to the extent the Company or the Trustee employ custodians, investment managers, investment advisors, accountants, attorneys or other agents to assist in the administration of the Trust or the Plan, the Trustee may pay out of the Trust assets all or any portion of the reasonable and proper fees and expenses incurred for such services.

Section 9. Resignation and Removal of Trustee

(a) The Trustee may resign at any time by written notice to the Company, which shall be effective 60 days after receipt of such notice unless the Company and the Trustee agree otherwise. The Trustee may be removed by the Company on 60 days written notice or upon shorter notice accepted by the Trustee.

 

6


(b) Upon resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee, all assets shall subsequently be transferred to the successor Trustee. The transfer shall be completed within 60 days after receipt of notice of resignation, removal or transfer, unless the Company extends the time limit.

(c) If the Trustee resigns or is removed, a successor shall be appointed, in accordance with Section 10 hereof, by the effective date of resignation or removal under this section. If no such appointment has been made, the Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor or for instructions. All expenses of the Trustee in connection with the proceeding shall be allowed as administrative expenses of the Trust.

Section 10. Appointment of Successor

(a) If the Trustee resigns or is removed in accordance with Section 9 hereof, the Company shall appoint a successor to replace the Trustee upon resignation or removal. The appointment shall be effective when accepted in writing by the new Trustee, who shall have all of the rights and powers of the former Trustee, including ownership rights in the Trust assets. The former Trustee shall execute any instrument necessary or reasonably requested by the Company or the successor Trustee to evidence the transfer.

(b) The successor Trustee need not examine the records and acts of any prior Trustee and may retain or dispose of existing Trust assets, subject to Sections 6 and 7 hereof. The successor Trustee shall not be responsible for and the Company shall indemnify and defend the successor Trustee from any claim or liability resulting from any action or inaction of any prior Trustee or from any other past event, or any condition existing at the time it becomes successor Trustee.

Section 11. Amendment or Termination

(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended by a written instrument executed by Trustee and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such amendment shall conflict with the terms of the Plan or shall make the Trust revocable.

(b) The Trust shall not terminate until the date on which Plan Participants and their beneficiaries are no longer entitled to benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan. Subject to Section 11(d) below, upon termination of the Trust, any assets remaining in the Trust shall be returned to the Company.

(c) Upon written consent of all Plan Participants or beneficiaries entitled to payment of benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Company may terminate this Trust prior to the time all benefit payments under the Plan have been made. Subject to Section 11(d) below, all assets in the Trust at termination shall be returned to the Company.

(d) The Trustee shall not be required to return any assets in the Trust to the Company pursuant to Section 11(b) or Section 11(c) unless and until the Company provides the Trustee with documentation or certifications reasonably requested by Trustee to establish that the provisions of Section 11(b) or Section 11(c), as applicable, have been satisfied. The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any such documentation or certifications provided by the Company.

 

7


Section 12. Miscellaneous

(a) Any provisions of this Trust Agreement prohibited by law shall be ineffective to the extent of any such prohibition, without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof.

(b) Benefits payable to Plan Participants and their beneficiaries under this Trust Agreement may not be anticipated, assigned (either at law or in equity), alienated, pledged, encumbered or subjected to attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or other legal or equitable process.

(c) This Trust Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

(d) The effective date of this Trust Agreement, as amended and restated, shall be March 20, 2008.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this Trust Agreement or the Plan to the contrary: (i) the provisions of this Trust Agreement shall be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner necessary in order to comply with Section 409A or an exception thereto (or disregarded to the extent such provision cannot be so administered, interpreted or construed); (ii) no provision of this Trust Agreement shall be construed to restrict the assets of the Trust in a manner that would result in a transfer of property as provided under Section 409A(b)(2) (relating to the employer’s financial health) or Section 409A(b)(3) (relating to the funding status of the employer’s defined benefit plans); and (iii) no contribution to this Trust may be made during any “restricted period” within the meaning of Section 409A(b)(3); provided, however, to the extent a contribution is made during any such “restricted period,” the Trustee shall immediately return such contribution to the Company upon written notice thereof from the Company and shall take any such other action reasonably requested by the Company as may be necessary or advisable to avoid a violation of Section 409A(b)(3). The Company shall have the duty to notify the Trustee in writing of the commencement of a “restricted period.” The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the existence of a restricted period and may conclusively presume that no restricted period exists in the absence of written notice from the Company.

(f) The Trustee shall be indemnified and saved harmless by the Company from and against any and all liability to which the Trustee may be subjected in carrying out its duties under this Agreement (including any liability incurred as a result of compliance with instructions of the Company, its agents or employees), including all expenses reasonably incurred in its defense, except to the extent that any loss or damage is directly attributable to the Trustee’s (a) failure to exercise the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and like aims, (b) negligence or willful misconduct or (c) violation of applicable law or the material provisions of this Trust Agreement. The indemnification provided to the Trustee shall also apply to any liability arising from the actions or nonactions of any predecessor trustee or fiduciary or other fiduciaries of the Plan.

(g) The Company and Plan shall be indemnified and saved harmless by the Trustee from and against any and all liability to which the Company or the Plan may incur or be subjected to (including any liability incurred as a result of the Trustee’s failure to comply with instructions of the Company, its

 

8


agents or employees, or the Investment Manager), including all expenses reasonably incurred in defense of any claim giving rise to such liability, to the extent that any loss or damage is directly attributable to the Trustee’s (a) gross negligence, or (b) willful misconduct, or (c) violation of applicable law.

 

9


[Signature Page for Trust Agreement for

2004 Directors Deferred Fee Plan]

In witness whereof, the Company and Trustee have amended and restated this Trust Agreement as of the 20 th day of March, 2008.

 

CONSOL Energy Inc.
By:  

/s/ William J. Lyons

Name:   William J. Lyons
Title:   Executive Vice President and CFO
Trustee  
By:  

/s/ Dana Luksic

Name:   Dana Luksic

 

10

Exhibit 10.5

Execution Copy

2008 STIC Plan

The following sets forth the performance conditions and measures as approved by the Compensation Committee on February 19, 2008 for the 2008 annual bonus awards authorized under the CONSOL Energy Inc. Equity Incentive Plan: test

 

Eligibility    All Section 16 Officers (using the opportunity percentages as approved by the Compensation Committee on January 23, 2008, and with respect to Brett Harvey, as approved by the Compensation Committee on January 23, 2008 and ratified by the independent members of the Board on February 19, 2008)
Performance Period    January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008

Performance

Measures/Conditions

(for Maximum

Funding)

  

Subject to Compensation Committee’s exercise of negative discretion, the Maximum Annual Award shall be earned if any one or more of the performance goals are achieved: 1

 

(i) Total Shareholder Return relative to the peer companies 2 equals or is greater than the 50 th percentile as compared to peers for fiscal year 2008.

 

(ii) Annual EBITDA (i.e., earnings before deducting net interest expense (interest expense less interest income), income taxes and depreciation, depletion and amortization) 3 for fiscal year 2008 equals or exceeds 50% of the Compensation Committee-approved target EBITDA for 2008.

 

(iii) Annual Net Income 2 for fiscal year 2008 equals or exceeds 50% of the Compensation Committee-approved target Net Income for 2008.

 

The maximum funding for any individual will be:

 

  

Base Salary

(as of

December 31,

2008)

   ×   

Opportunity

Percentage

   ×    200%    =    Maximum Annual Award*
   Note: Irrespective of the above formula, the maximum annual award amount shall not exceed $2,000,000 for any officer for fiscal year 2008.

 

1

Each as approved by (and in accordance with the procedures established by) the Committee on February 19, 2008 and March 25, 2008 and on file with the Compensation Committee, for the performance period of January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010.

2

See Attachment A for list of companies.

3

The Committee shall make adjustments to the EBITDA and Net Income calculations for the following items: (i) the effect of changes in accounting principles; (ii) expenses associated with reorganizations and/or restructuring programs, including, but not limited to, reductions in force (pursuant to FASB 146) and early retirement incentives; and (iii) impairment of intangible or intangible assets pursuant to FAS 144.

 


Negative Discretion    The Compensation Committee will exercise its negative discretion to determine the actual annual cash bonus paid to each officer under the following formula and guidelines:
   Base Salary    ×   

Opportunity

Percentage

   ×   

Annual Incentive

Compensation Award Factor (“Award Factor”)

   =    Annual Award
   The Compensation Committee will determine the Award Factor of each officer as follows:
    

Target

       

Weight

       

Performance Rating
Range

         
   CONSOL Performance Factor (Board-approved corporate P.O. Net income)        1 / 2    ×    70 – 200%    +   
   Individual Objectives        1 / 2    ×    70 – 200%    =    Award Factor 4
   Notwithstanding the foregoing, no awards shall be paid in the event CONSOL does not achieve a minimum net income threshold approved by the Compensation Committee for fiscal year 2008.

After the end of the Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing the extent to which the applicable Performance Condition and any other material terms of the awards have been achieved. For purposes of this provision, and for so long as the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 permits, the approved minutes of the Committee meeting in which the certification is made may be treated as written certification.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, awards earned by a participant will be paid the calendar year immediately following the end of the Performance Period on a date determined in the Committee’s discretion, but in no event later than March 15 th of such calendar year.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned hereby certifies on the day and year indicated below that the foregoing performance conditions and measures were approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors on February 19, 2008.

 

Dated: March 28, 2008  

/s/ John Whitmire

  John Whitmire, Chairman, on behalf of the
  Board of Directors
Dated: March 28, 2008  

/s/ William Powell

  William Powell, Chairman, on behalf of the
  Compensation Committee

 

4

In exercising its negative discretion, the Committee may make adjustments to calculations for extraordinary, unusual, infrequent, unanticipated or non-recurring items, and may take into account aggregate limits on compensation payouts for all awards to the employees of the Company (e.g., not to exceed $57.3 million for fiscal year 2008).


Attachment A

Total Shareholder Return Peer Companies*

 

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.    International Coal Group Inc.
Alpha Natural Resources, Inc.    James River Coal Company
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation    Massey Energy Company
Apache Corporation    Newfield Exploration Company
Arch Coal Inc.    Nexen Inc.
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation    Noble Energy Inc.
Callon Petroleum Co/DE    Peabody Energy Corporation
Chesapeake Energy Corporation    Penn Virginia Corporation
Cimarex Energy Co.    Pioneer Natural Resources Company
Comstock Resources Inc.    Rio Tinto Group (GBR) –ADR
Denbury Resources Inc.    St. Mary Land & Explor Company
Devon Energy Corporation    Stone Energy Corporation
Encana Corporation    Ultra Petroleum Corporation
EOG Resources, Inc.    Westmoreland Coal Company
Foundation Coal Holdings Inc.   

 

* The Houston Exploration Co. and the Pogo Producing Company used to be in the Shareholder Return Peer Group, but they are no longer in existence, and accordingly, are no longer in this group.

Exhibit 10.6

Execution Copy

CONSOL ENERGY INC.

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PROGRAM (2008 - 2010)

CONSOL ENERGY INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), hereby establishes this CONSOL ENERGY INC. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PROGRAM (2008 - 2010) (the “ Program ”), in accordance with the provisions of the CONSOL Energy Inc. Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “ Plan ”), and the terms provided herein.

WHEREAS, the Company maintains the Plan for the benefit of its key employees and that of its Affiliates and wishes to further align the interests of key employees with the interests of the stockholders by providing long-term incentive compensation; and

WHEREAS, the Program is intended to enhance the Company’s ability to retain the employment of participants in the Program, and also to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, including its confidential information, customer relationships, and goodwill, through the use of restrictive covenants; and

WHEREAS, Section 8 of the Plan authorizes the Company to make performance-based awards.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company hereby adopts the Program on the following terms and conditions:

1. Purpose . The purposes of the Program are to: (i) provide long-term incentive compensation to key employees to further align their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders; and (ii) protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, including its confidential information, customer relationships, and goodwill, through the use of restrictive covenants. In addition to the terms and conditions set forth herein, awards under the Program are subject to, and governed by, the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms used in this Program and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Program and the Plan, the Committee shall have full authority and discretion to resolve such conflict and any such determination shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Participant and all interested parties.

2. Effective Date . The effective date of this Program is February 19, 2008. The Program will remain in effect until the earlier of December 31, 2010, unless otherwise terminated sooner as provided herein.

3. Eligibility . The Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “ CEO ”) shall nominate the employees of the Company and its Affiliates (other than the CEO) who shall be eligible to participate in the Program. The Committee shall select from a group consisting of the CEO and the nominated employees those individuals who shall participate in the Program (each a “ Participant ” and collectively the “ Participants ”), subject to the Board’s ratification of awards to the CEO. In the event that an employee is hired by the Company or an Affiliate during the Performance Period, upon nomination by the CEO and to the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall determine whether such employee will become a Participant in the Program, subject to such terms, conditions and adjustments as the Committee determines to be necessary or desirable.


4. Performance Share Unit Awards .

4.1 The Committee shall determine the number of performance share units (the “ Performance Share Units ”) to be awarded to each Participant. Each Performance Share Unit awarded under the Program shall represent a contingent right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock as described more fully herein, to the extent such Performance Share Unit is earned and becomes payable pursuant to the terms of this Program. Notwithstanding, Performance Share Units as initially awarded have no independent economic value, but rather are mere units of measurement used for purpose of calculating the value of benefits, if any, to be paid under the Program.

4.2 Performance Share Units shall be increased and/or decreased in accordance with the terms of the Program as described more fully herein. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, (i) the Committee, in its sole discretion, may reduce the amount of any Performance Share Units that would otherwise be earned by a Participant upon attainment of the Performance Condition (as defined below) if it concludes that such reduction is necessary or appropriate in accordance with the guidelines established by the Committee, and (ii) the Committee shall not use its discretionary authority to increase the number of Performance Share Units that would otherwise be earned upon attainment of the Performance Condition (as defined below) with respect to any award that is intended to be performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

5. Performance Condition of the Performance Share Units . The total number of Performance Share Units awarded a Participant will be earned (at a maximum award level of 200% of Performance Share Units awarded), subject to the Committee’s exercise of its negative discretion to reduce the number of Performance Share Units earned, if any one or more of the performance goals are achieved for the following performance measures: (i) the Company’s total stockholder return relative to the total stockholder return of each company in the peer group (as set forth on Attachment A); (ii) cumulative EBITDA of the Company (i.e., earnings before deducting net interest expense (interest expense less interest income), income taxes and depreciation, depletion and amortization); or (iii) cumulative net income of the Company, each as approved by (and in accordance with the procedures established by) the Committee on February 19, 2008 and March 25, 2008 and on file with the Committee (each a “ Performance Condition ”), for the performance period of January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010 (the “ Performance Period ”); provided, however, that except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the ability to earn Performance Share Units and to receive payment thereon under the Program is expressly contingent upon achievement of the performance goal for one or more Performance Condition and otherwise satisfying all other terms and conditions of the Program.

6. Issuance and Distribution .

6.1 After the end of the Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing prior to payment the extent to which the applicable Performance Condition and any other material terms of the Program have been achieved. For purposes of this provision, and for so long as the Code permits, the approved minutes of the Committee meeting in which the certification is made may be treated as written certification.

6.2 Subject to the terms and conditions of this Program, Performance Share Units earned by a Participant will be settled and paid in shares of the Company’s common stock in calendar year 2011 on a date determined in the Committee’s discretion, but in no event later than March 15th of such year (the “ Payment Date ”).

6.3 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Program, in the event of a Change in Control the Performance Condition will be deemed to have been achieved (at a target award level of

 

2


100% of Performance Share Units awarded) and the value of such units will be settled on the closing date of the Change in Control transaction (the “ CiC Payment Date ”); provided, further, in the event of a Change in Control, Performance Share Units may, in the Committee’s discretion, be settled in cash and/or securities or other property.

7. Dividends . Each Performance Share Unit will be cumulatively credited with dividends that are paid on the Company’s common stock in the form of additional units. These additional units shall be deemed to have been purchased on the record date for the dividend using the closing stock price of the Company’s common stock as reported in The Wall Street Journal and shall be subject to all the same conditions and restrictions as provided in this Program applicable to Performance Share Units.

8. Change in Participant’s Status .

8.1 In the event a Participant Separates from Service (i) on or after the date the Participant has reached the age of 55 by reason of an “ Early Retirement ” or “ Incapacity Retirement ,” (ii) by reason of a “ Normal Retirement ,” (iii) on account of death or Disability (other than an Incapacity Retirement), or (iv) by reason of a reduction in force as specified and implemented by the Company, prior to the Payment Date or the CiC Payment Date, as applicable, the Participant shall be entitled to retain the Performance Share Units and receive payment therefore to the extent earned and payable pursuant to the provisions of this Program; provided, however, that in the case of a Separation from Service on account of Disability, the Participant shall only be entitled to retain a prorated portion of the Performance Share Units determined at the end of the Performance Period and based on the ratio of the number of complete months the Participant is employed or serves during the Performance Period to the total number of months in the Performance Period (or the number of remaining months in the Performance Period if the Participant is admitted after the start of the Performance Period). In the event a Participant Separates from Service for any other reason, including, but not limited to, by the Participant voluntarily, or by the Company with Cause or without Cause (other than in connection with a reduction in force as specified above), prior to the Payment Date or the CiC Payment Date, as applicable, the Performance Share Units awarded to the Participant shall be cancelled and forfeited, whether payable or not, without payment by the Company or any Affiliate. Any payments due a deceased Participant shall be paid to his estate as provided herein after the end of the Performance Period.

8.2 For purposes of the Program: the terms “ Early Retirement ,” “ Incapacity Retirement ” and “ Normal Retirement ,” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto under the CONSOL Energy Inc. Employee Retirement Plan, as amended, or any successor thereto applicable to the Participant; provided, however, for purposes of the Program a Participant shall not be considered to have Separated from Service on account of (i) “Early Retirement” unless the Participant shall also have completed at least one year of continuous service with the Company after the Effective Date of this Program, or (ii) “Normal Retirement” unless the Participant shall also have attained the age of sixty-two (62).

9. Responsibilities of the Committee . In addition to the authority granted to the Committee under the Plan, the Committee has responsibility for all aspects of the Program’s administration, including but not limited to: ensuring that the Program is administered in accordance with the provisions of the Program and the Plan; approving Participants; authorizing Performance Share Unit awards to Participants; and adjusting Performance Share Units as authorized hereunder consistent with the terms of the Program. The ministerial responsibility of the Program (e.g., management of day-to-day matters) is a function that has been delegated to the Company’s officers as permitted by the terms of the Plan and in compliance with applicable law and regulation. All decisions of the Committee under the Program shall be final, conclusive and binding on all interest parties. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith on the Program or any Performance Share Units awarded thereunder.

 

3


10. Tax Consequences/Withholding .

10.1 It is intended that: (i) a Participant’s Performance Share Units shall be considered to be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture in accordance with those terms as defined in Section 409A and 3121(v)(2) of the Code; and (ii) a Participant shall have merely an unfunded, unsecured promise to be paid a benefit, and such unfunded promise shall not consist of a transfer of “property” within the meaning of Code Section 83.

10.2 A Participant shall timely remit to the Company all applicable federal, state and local income and employment taxes (including taxes of any foreign jurisdiction) which the Company is required to withhold at any time with respect to the Performance Share Units. Such payment shall be made to the Company in full, in cash or check, or as otherwise authorized under the terms of the Plan.

10.3 This Program is intended to be excepted from coverage under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder and shall be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly. Notwithstanding any provision of this Program to the contrary, if any benefit provided under this Program is subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder (and not excepted therefrom), the provisions of the Program shall be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner necessary to comply with Section 409A (or disregarded to the extent such provision cannot be so administered, interpreted, or construed). Notwithstanding, Section 409A may impose upon the Participant certain taxes or other charges for which the Participant is and shall remain solely responsible, and nothing contained in this Program or the Plan shall be construed to obligate any member of the Committee or Board, the Company or any Affiliate (or its employees, officers or directors) for any such taxes or other charges.

10.4 Notwithstanding any provision of the Program to the contrary, if an award of Performance Share Units under this Program is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder and a provision of this Program would prevent such award from so qualifying, such provision shall be administered, interpreted and construed to carry out such intention (or disregarded to the extent such provision cannot be so administered, interpreted or construed).

11. Non-Competition .

11.1 The Participants hereunder agree that this Section 11 is reasonable and necessary in order to protect the legitimate business interests and goodwill of the Company, including the Company’s trade secrets, valuable confidential business and professional information, substantial relationships with prospective and existing customers and clients, and specialized training provided to Participants and other employees of the Company. The Participants acknowledge and recognize the highly competitive nature of the business of the Company and its Affiliates and accordingly agree that during the term of each of their employment and for a period of two (2) years after the termination thereof:

(a) The Participants will not directly or indirectly engage in any business substantially similar to any line of business conducted by the Company or any of its Affiliates, including, but not limited to, where such engagement is as an officer, director, proprietor, employee, partner, investor (other than as a holder of less than 1% of the outstanding capital stock of a publicly traded corporation), consultant, advisor, agent or sales representative, in any geographic region in which the Company or any of its Affiliates conducted business;

 

4


(b) The Participants will not contact, solicit, perform services for, or accept business from any customer or prospective customer of the Company or any of its Affiliates;

(c) The Participants will not directly or indirectly induce any employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates to: (1) engage in any activity or conduct which is prohibited pursuant to subparagraph 11.1(a); or (2) terminate such employee’s employment with the Company or any of its Affiliates. Moreover, the Participants will not directly or indirectly employ or offer employment (in connection with any business substantially similar to any line of business conducted by the Company or any of its Affiliates) to any person who was employed by the Company or any of its Affiliates unless such person shall have ceased to be employed by the Company or any of its Affiliates for a period of at least 12 months; and

(d) The Participants will not directly or indirectly assist others in engaging in any of the activities, which are prohibited under subparagraphs (a) — (c) above.

11.2 It is expressly understood and agreed that although the Participants and the Company consider the restrictions contained in this Section 11 to be reasonable, if a final judicial determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Program is an unenforceable restriction against any Participant, the provisions of this Program shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable against such Participant. Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Program is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein. The restrictive covenants set forth in this Section 11 shall be extended by any amount of time that a Participant is in breach of such covenants, such that the Company receives the full benefit of the time duration set forth above.

12. Confidential Information and Trade Secrets . The Participants and the Company agree that certain materials, including, but not limited to, information, data and other materials relating to customers, development programs, costs, marketing, trading, investment, sales activities, promotion, credit and financial data, manufacturing processes, financing methods, plans or the business and affairs of the Company and its Affiliates, constitute proprietary confidential information and trade secrets. Accordingly, the Participants will not at any time during or after a Participant’s employment with the Company (including any Affiliate) disclose or use for such Participant’s own benefit or purposes or the benefit or purposes of any other person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other business organization, entity or enterprise other than the Company and any of its Affiliates, any proprietary confidential information or trade secrets, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to information which is not unique to the Company or any of its Affiliates or which is generally known to the industry or the public other than as a result of such Participant’s breach of this covenant. The Participants agree that upon termination of employment with the Company (including any Affiliate) for any reason, the Participants will immediately return to the Company all memoranda, books, papers, plans, information, letters and other data, and all copies thereof or therefrom, which in any way relate to the business of the Company and its Affiliates, except that the Participants may retain personal notes, notebooks and diaries. The Participants further agree that the Participants will not retain or use for their own account at any time any trade names, trademark or other proprietary business designation used or owned in connection with the business of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

5


13. Remedies/Forfeiture .

13.1 The Participants acknowledge that a violation or attempted violation on a Participant’s part of Sections 11 and 12 will cause irreparable damage to the Company and its Affiliates, and the Participants therefore agree that the Company and its Affiliates shall be entitled as a matter of right to an injunction, out of any court of competent jurisdiction, restraining any violation or further violation of such promises by the Participants or a Participant’s employees, partners or agents. The Participants agree that such right to an injunction is cumulative and in addition to whatever other remedies the Company (including any Affiliate) may have under law or equity. Specifically, the Participants agree that such right to an injunction is cumulative and in addition to the Participants’ obligations to make timely payment to the Company as set forth in Section 13.2 of this Program. The Participants further acknowledge and agree that a Participant’s Performance Share Units shall be cancelled and forfeited without payment by the Company if such Participant breaches any of his or her obligations set forth in Section 12 and 13 herein.

13.2 At any point after becoming aware of a breach of any obligation set forth in Sections 11 and 12 of this Program, the Company shall provide notice of such breach to a Participant. By agreeing to participate in this Program, the Participants agree that within ten (10) days after the date the Company provides such notice, a Participant shall pay to the Company in cash an amount equal to any and all distributions paid to or on behalf of such Participant under of this Program within the six (6) months prior to the date of the earliest breach. The Participants agree that failure to make such timely payment to the Company constitutes an independent and material breach of the terms and conditions of this Program, for which the Company may seek recovery of the unpaid amount as liquidated damages, in addition to all other rights and remedies the Company may have resulting from a Participant’s breach of the obligations set forth in Sections 11 and 12. The Participants agree that timely payment to the Company as set forth in this provision of the Program is reasonable and necessary because the compensatory damages that will result from breaches of Sections 11 and/or 12 cannot readily be ascertained. Further, the Participants agree that timely payment to the Company as set forth in this provision of the Program is not a penalty, and it does not preclude the Company from seeking all other remedies that may be available to the Company, including without limitation those set forth in this Section 13.

14. Assignment/Nonassignment .

14.1 The Company shall have the right to assign this Program, including without limitation Sections 11 and 12, and the Participants agree to remain obligated by all provisions of this Program that are assigned to any successor, assign or surviving entity. Any successor to the Company is an intended third party beneficiary of this Program.

14.2 The Performance Share Units shall not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of (a “ Transfer ”) in any manner, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any attempt by a Participant to Transfer the Performance Share Units in violation of the terms of the Program shall render the Performance Share Units null and void, and result in the immediate forfeiture of such Performance Share Units, without payment by the Company.

15. Impact on Benefit Plans . Payments under the Program shall not be considered as earnings for purposes of the Company’s and/or Affiliate’s qualified retirement plans or any such retirement or benefit plan unless specifically provided for therein. Nothing herein shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from maintaining additional compensation plans and arrangements for its employees.

 

6


16. Successors; Changes in Stock . The obligation of the Company under the Program shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company. If a dividend or other distribution shall be declared upon the Company’s common stock payable in shares of Company common stock, the Performance Share Units and the shares of Company common stock on which the Performance Condition is based shall be adjusted by adding thereto the number of shares of Company common stock which would have been distributable thereon if such shares and Performance Share Units had been actual Company shares and outstanding on the date fixed for determining the stockholders entitled to receive such stock dividend or distribution. In the event of any spin-off, split-off or split-up, dividend in property other than cash, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company, or any merger, consolidation, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets (other than a normal cash dividend), or any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing, or extraordinary distribution to stockholders of the Company’s common stock, the Performance Share Units and the shares of Company common stock on which the Performance Condition is based shall be appropriately adjusted to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants which would otherwise result from any such transaction, provided such adjustment shall be consistent with Code Section 162(m) and Section 409A, as applicable.

In the case of a Change in Control, any obligation under the Program shall be handled in accordance with the terms of Sections 6 hereof. In any case not constituting a Change in Control in which the Company’s common stock is changed into or becomes exchangeable for a different number or kind of shares of stock or other securities of the Company or another corporation, or cash or other property, whether through reorganization, reclassification, recapitalization, stock split-up, combination of shares, merger or consolidation, then (i) the value of the Performance Share Units constituting an award shall be calculated based on the closing price of such common stock on the closing date of the transaction on the principal market on which such common stock is traded, (ii) there shall be substituted for each Performance Share Unit constituting an award, the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities (or cash or other property) into which each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock shall be so changed or for which each such share shall be exchangeable, and (iii) the share of Company common stock on which the Performance Condition is based shall be appropriately and equitably adjusted, provided any such adjustments shall be consistent with Code Section 162(m) and Section 409A, as applicable. In the case of any such adjustment, the Units shall remain subject to the terms of the Program.

17. Governing Law, Jurisdiction, and Venue .

17.1 This Program shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law.

17.2 Participant hereby irrevocably submits to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania or the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in any action or proceeding arising out of, or relating to, this Program (whether such action or proceeding arises under contract, tort, equity or otherwise). Participant hereby irrevocably waives any objection which Participant now or hereafter may have to the laying of venue or personal jurisdiction of any such action or proceeding brought in said courts.

17.3 Jurisdiction over, and venue of, any such action or proceeding shall be exclusively vested in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania or the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

17.4 Provided that the Company commences any such action or proceeding in the courts identified in Section 17(3), Participant irrevocably waives Participant’s right to object to or challenge the above selected forum on the basis of inconvenience or unfairness under 28 U.S.C. § 1404,

 

7


42 Pa. C.S. § 5322 or similar state or federal statutes. Participant agrees to reimburse the Company for all of the attorneys fees and costs it incurs to oppose Participant’s efforts to challenge or object to litigation proceeding in the courts identified in Section 17(3) with respect to actions arising out of or relating to this Program (whether such actions arise under contract, tort, equity or otherwise).

18. Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver . The failure of the Company to enforce at any time any provision of this Program shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof.

19. Severability . In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Program shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

20. Funding . The Program is not funded and all amounts payable hereunder, if any, shall be paid from the general assets of the Company or its Affiliate, as applicable. No provision contained in this Program or the Plan and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Program or the Plan shall create a trust of any kind or require the Company to maintain or set aside any specific funds to pay benefits hereunder. To the extent a Participant acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Program, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

21. Headings . The descriptive headings of the Sections of this Program are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Program.

22. Amendment or Termination of this Program . This Program may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Committee at any time; provided, however, that no modification, amendment, suspension or termination of this Plan shall adversely affect the rights of a Participant under the Program without the consent of such Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any provision of this Program to the contrary, that the Company may, in its sole discretion and without the Participant’s consent, modify or amend the terms of the Program or a Performance Share Unit award, or take any other action it deems necessary or advisable, to cause the Program to comply with Section 409A or Section 162(m) (or an exception thereto). Any modification, amendment, suspension or termination shall only be effective upon a writing issued by the Company, and a Participant shall not offer evidence of any purported oral modifications or amendments to vary or contradict the terms of this Program document.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Program on the day and year indicated below. This Program may be executed in more than one counterpart, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

 

Dated: March 28, 2008

 

/s/ John Whitmire

 

John Whitmire, Chairman, on behalf of the

Board of Directors

Dated: March 26, 2008

 

/s/ William Powell

 

William Powell, Chairman, on behalf of the

Compensation Committee

 

8


ATTACHMENT A

Total Shareholder Return Peer Companies*

 

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.    International Coal Group Inc.
Alpha Natural Resources, Inc.    James River Coal Company
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation    Massey Energy Company
Apache Corporation    Newfield Exploration Company
Arch Coal Inc.    Nexen Inc.
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation    Noble Energy Inc.
Callon Petroleum Co/DE    Peabody Energy Corporation
Chesapeake Energy Corporation    Penn Virginia Corporation
Cimarex Energy Co.    Pioneer Natural Resources Company
Comstock Resources Inc.    Rio Tinto Group (GBR) – ADR
Denbury Resources Inc.    St. Mary Land & Explor Company
Devon Energy Corporation    Stone Energy Corporation
Encana Corporation    Ultra Petroleum Corporation
EOG Resources, Inc.    Westmoreland Coal Company
Foundation Coal Holdings Inc.   

 

* The Houston Exploration Co. and the Pogo Producing Company used to be in the Shareholder Return Peer Group, but they are no longer in existence, and accordingly, are not in this group.

Exhibit 10.7

CHAIRMAN’S AGREEMENT

(as Amended & Restated)

THIS CHAIRMAN’S AGREEMENT, as amended and restated (the “Agreement”), is made as of the 29th day of April, 2008, between CONSOL Energy Inc., 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and JOHN WHITMIRE, an individual, of Houston, Texas (“Mr. Whitmire”).

In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. BACKGROUND.

Mr. Whitmire has served as the non-executive Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”) since March 3, 1999 and, in such role, has made and is expected to continue to make major contributions to the short- and long-term profitability, growth and financial strength of the Company. Mr. Whitmire is currently provided compensation for his services as Chairman in accordance with a letter agreement dated as of April 27, 2004, between Mr. Whitmire and J. Brett Harvey on behalf of the Board (the “2004 Chairman’s Agreement”). The Company and Mr. Whitmire are amending and restating the 2004 Chairman’s Agreement to document Mr. Whitmire’s current duties and responsibilities as Chairman, and his compensation arrangements for his services as Chairman.

 

2. TERM OF SERVICE AS NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.

Mr. Whitmire’s term of service as Chairman hereunder (the “Service Period”) shall commence as of the date of the organizational meeting of the Board that follows the Company’s 2008 annual meeting of shareholders (“Effective Date”) and shall continue until the earlier of (i) the date on which he ceases to serve as a member of the Board for any reason (including, without limitation, retirement from the Board, death, disability or incapacity, resignation, or removal by the Board) or (ii) the date on which he ceases to serve as Chairman, while remaining (with his agreement) a member of the Board. For purposes hereof, the term “Service Year” shall mean each approximately 12-month period during the Service Period commencing on the date of the organizational meeting of the Board that follows the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders and ending on the close of business on the day before the next such succeeding organizational meeting, with the initial Service Year beginning on the Effective Date.

 

3. DUTIES.

(a) During the Service Period, Mr. Whitmire shall serve as the non-executive Chairman of the Board and shall have the duties, responsibilities and authority of such position, as set forth in the bylaws of the Company and in the description of duties attached to this Agreement as ATTACHMENT A, subject to the power of the Board to expand or limit such duties, responsibilities and authority.

 


(b) Mr. Whitmire shall devote reasonable time and efforts in the discharge of his duties and, among other things, shall use his best efforts to attend each and every meeting of the Board and of any committee of the Board on which he serves. Mr. Whitmire shall perform his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement to the best of his abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner.

(c) For purposes of this Agreement, it is understood that Mr. Whitmire is a director of the Company, but he is not an employee of the Company.

 

4. COMPENSATION.

(a) For serving as Chairman during the Service Period, Mr. Whitmire shall be paid cash compensation in quarterly installments at the rate of $100,000 per annum, which amount shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s established practices for payments to its outside directors.

(b) In addition, Mr. Whitmire shall receive for each Service Year during the Service Period a grant of restricted stock units with respect to shares of common stock of the Company having a fair market value, on the date of grant, equal to $250,000. Such restricted stock units shall vest, subject to Mr. Whitmire’s continued service as a director, upon the one-year anniversary of the grant date of such award. Any and all such restricted stock units shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the CONSOL Energy Inc. Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, and the award agreement under which such restricted stock units are granted.

(c) In addition, during the Service Period, the Company shall provide clerical support to Mr. Whitmire at his office in Houston, Texas, at an annual cost not to exceed $30,000, and shall reimburse Mr. Whitmire for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by him in the course of performing his duties under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to reimbursement of travel and other business expenses of directors of the Company. All reimbursements of expenses incurred by Mr. Whitmire, or in-kind benefits, provided under this Agreement shall be made, subject to the provisions of Section 9 of this Agreement and the terms of the Company’s policies, as applicable, in accordance with the following conditions: (i) the reimbursement of any eligible expense shall be made not later than on or before the last day of Mr. Whitmire’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred; (ii) the amount of expense eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits, shall not affect the amount of expense eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year; and (iii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

(d) The compensation set forth above shall be in lieu of any and all cash, equity or other compensation to which Mr. Whitmire would otherwise be entitled during the Service Period as a member of the Board (including, without limitation, retainers, committee fees and meeting fees).

 


5. TERMINATION OF SERVICE.

Mr. Whitmire’s service as Chairman (and the Service Period hereunder) may be terminated by either Mr. Whitmire or the Company, on at least ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the other or at any time by mutual consent of the parties; PROVIDED that such notice of removal by the Company shall not be required if such removal is effected by means of the Board’s failure in any annual definitive proxy statement to nominate Mr. Whitmire to serve as a director for another Service Year (with his removal as a director in such case to be effective as of the close of business on the day of the relevant organizational meeting of the Board); and PROVIDED FURTHER, that the Service Period shall terminate immediately and automatically upon Mr. Whitmire’s death, or upon his permanent disability or incapacity (as determined by the Board in its good faith judgment). In the event that Mr. Whitmire terminates his service as Chairman, such termination shall, unless the Board expressly agrees otherwise, serve also to terminate simultaneously his service as a member of the Board.

 

6. COMPENSATION ON TERMINATION OF SERVICE AS CHAIRMAN.

In the event that Mr. Whitmire’s service as Chairman terminates during a Service Year, then he shall thereafter receive no additional cash compensation hereunder, but he shall be entitled to retain his restricted stock units to the extent provided under the terms of the applicable award agreement. If, following such termination, Mr. Whitmire remains on the Board, then he shall thereafter be entitled to such compensation as is provided by the Company to its directors under any relevant Company policy, plan or program for director compensation; provided, that for the remainder of such Service Year, Mr. Whitmire shall not be entitled to any additional stock, option or restricted stock unit grants by virtue of such non-Chairman Board service.

 

7. NOTICES.

For all purposes of this Agreement, all communications, including without limitation notices, consents, requests or approvals, required or permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when hand delivered or dispatched by electronic facsimile transmission (with receipt thereof orally confirmed by the recipient), or five (5) business days after having been mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or three (3) business days after having been sent by a nationally recognized courier service for overnight/next-day delivery, such as FedEx, UPS or the United States Postal Service, addressed to the Company (to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company) at its principal executive office and to the Chairman at his principal residence, or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing and in accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of address will be effective only upon receipt.

 

8. COMPLETE AGREEMENT.

This Agreement and those documents expressly referred to herein embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way (including, without limitation, the 2004 Chairman’s Agreement).


9. SECTION 409A.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, if any benefit provided under this Agreement is subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the regulations or other binding guidance promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”), the provisions of this Agreement will be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner necessary to comply with Section 409A or an exception thereto (or disregarded to the extent such provision cannot be so administered, interpreted, or construed). With respect to payments subject to Section 409A: (i) it is intended that distribution events authorized under this Agreement qualify as permissible distribution events for purposes of Section 409A; and (ii) the Company reserves the right to accelerate and/or defer any payment to the extent permitted and consistent with Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, to the extent applicable, whether Mr. Whitmire has separated from service will be determined based on all of the facts and circumstances and in accordance with the guidance issued under Section 409A. Notwithstanding, in no event shall the Company (or its employees, officers, directors or affiliates) have any liability to Mr. Whitmire (or any other person) due to the failure of this Agreement or any payments hereunder to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A or any other applicable law.

 

10. COUNTERPARTS.

This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

CONSOL Energy Inc.
By:   /s/ J. Brett Harvey
Name:   J. Brett Harvey
Title:   Chief Executive Officer/Board Member

 

By:   /s/ William P. Powell
Name:   William P. Powell
Title:   Chair, Compensation Committee

 

By:   /s/ William E. Davis
Name:   William E. Davis
Title:   Chair, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

JOHN WHITMIRE
/s/ John Whitmire


ATTACHMENT A

 

   

Provide leadership to the Board for the development, implementation and monitoring of near- and long-term strategic plans for the corporation.

 

   

Establish procedures to govern the Board’s work.

 

   

Schedule Board meetings and work with committee chairs to coordinate the schedule for meetings.

 

   

Ensure the proper flow of information to the Board, reviewing the adequacy and timing of documentary materials in support of management’s proposals.

 

   

Oversee the preparation and distribution of proxy materials to stockholders.

 

   

Organize and present the agenda for all Board meetings with input from the directors.

 

   

Act as liaison between Board and management.

 

   

Working with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, ensure proper committee structure, including assignment of members and committee chairs (including, without limitation, ensuring that such appointments meet all applicable qualification and independence requirements under applicable law or New York Stock Exchange listing requirements).

 

   

Ensure the Board fully discharges its duties; strive to optimize the performance of the Board and all its committees.

 

   

Ensure adequate lead time for effective study and discussion of business under consideration.

 

   

Consult periodically with the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) to obtain such information concerning the Company’s business, operations and strategic plans as may be necessary for the Board to discharge its duties.

 

   

Conduct executive sessions of the Board; prepare agenda for the same, after consultation with other directors.

 

   

Facilitate discussions of the Board regarding corporate strategy and critical issues facing the Company.

 

   

Along with the CEO and other directors, represent the Company to its major constituencies (shareholders, customers, employees, etc.)

 

   

Serve as ex officio member of Board committees for which he is not a formal member.

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, J. Brett Harvey, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of CONSOL Energy Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13(a)-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13(a)-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent quarter (the registrant’s fourth quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: April 30, 2008

 

/s/ J. Brett Harvey
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, William J. Lyons, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of CONSOL Energy Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13(a)-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13(a)-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent quarter (the registrant’s fourth quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information;

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: April 30, 2008

 

/s/ William J. Lyons
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,

18 U.S.C. Section 1350

I, J. Brett Harvey, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of CONSOL Energy Inc. (the “Registrant”), certify that to my knowledge, based upon a review of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2008, of the Registrant (the “Report”):

 

  (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

  (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

Date: April 30, 2008

 

/s/ J. Brett Harvey
J. Brett Harvey
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,

18 U.S.C. Section 1350

I, William J. Lyons, Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of CONSOL Energy Inc. (the “Registrant”), certify that to my knowledge, based upon a review of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2008, of the Registrant (the “Report”):

 

  (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

  (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

Date: April 30, 2008

 

/s/ William J. Lyons
William J. Lyons
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President