The information in this document is not complete and may be changed. CNX Resources Corporation may not sell the securities offered by this document until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, of which this document is a part, is declared effective. This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY—SUBJECT TO COMPLETION – DATED AUGUST 12, 2020
On July 26, 2020, CNX Resources Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“CNX”), CNX Resources Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of CNX (“Merger Sub”), CNX Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“CNXM”), and CNX Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of CNXM (the “General Partner”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into CNXM, with CNXM surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of CNX (the “Merger”).
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each outstanding common unit representing limited partner interests in CNXM (“CNXM Common Units”) immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, other than CNXM Common Units held directly or indirectly by CNX and its subsidiaries (all such CNXM Common Units held by persons other than CNX or its subsidiaries, the “CNXM Public Common Units,” and the holders of such units, the “CNXM Public Unitholders”), will be converted into the right to receive 0.88 shares (the “Exchange Ratio”) of CNX common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“CNX Common Stock,” and the shares of CNX Common Stock to be issued in the Merger, the “Merger Consideration”). Except for the Class B units representing limited partner interests in CNXM (the “CNXM Class B units”), which shall automatically be canceled immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger for no consideration in accordance with the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CNX Midstream Partners LP, dated as of January 29, 2020 (the “Partnership Agreement”), the interests in CNXM owned by CNX and its subsidiaries will remain outstanding as limited partner interests in the surviving entity. The General Partner will continue to own the non-economic general partner interest in the surviving entity.
On July 26, 2020, the board of directors of CNX (the “CNX Board”) determined, by unanimous vote, that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger and the issuance of the Merger Consideration, are advisable, fair and reasonable to and in the best interests of CNX and its stockholders, approved the execution, delivery and performance of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger and the issuance of Merger Consideration in the Merger, and authorized and empowered CNX to enter into the Merger Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Merger) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.
On July 26, 2020, the conflicts committee (the “CNXM Conflicts Committee”) of the board of directors of the General Partner (the “GP Board”), by unanimous vote, (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and the Merger are in the best interests of CNXM and the CNXM Unitholders (other than CNX, the General Partner and their respective affiliates (the “CNXM Unaffiliated Unitholders”)), (ii) approved the Merger and the execution, delivery and performance by CNXM of the Merger Agreement (such approval constituting Special Approval as defined in the Partnership Agreement), (iii) recommended that the GP Board approve the Merger Agreement and the Merger and (iv) recommended that the GP Board direct that the Merger Agreement be submitted to a vote of the Limited Partners (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) and authorized the Limited Partners to act by written consent to approve the Merger pursuant to the Partnership Agreement.
Upon receipt of such recommendation by the CNXM Conflicts Committee, the GP Board, by unanimous vote at a meeting held on July 26, 2020, determined (i) that the Merger and the Related Arrangements (as defined in the Merger Agreement), including the Merger Agreement and the Support Agreement (as defined below), are in the best interests of CNXM, including the CNXM Unitholders, (ii) to approve the Merger and the Related Arrangements, including the Merger Agreement and the Support Agreement, and (iii) to submit the Merger Agreement to a vote of the Limited Partners and authorized the Limited Partners to act by written consent to approve the Merger pursuant to the Partnership Agreement.
Pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, the approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger by CNXM requires the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding CNXM Common Units and CNXM Class B units, voting as a single class (the “Required Limited Partner Written Consent”). CNXM has entered into a Support Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2020 (the “Support Agreement”), with CNX Gas Company LLC, a Virginia limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of CNX (“CNX Gas”), and CNX Gas Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of CNX (“Holdings”), pursuant to which CNX Gas and Holdings have irrevocably and unconditionally agreed to deliver a written consent, covering all of the CNXM Common Units beneficially owned by them, approving the adoption of the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement (together, the “Support Written Consents”), within two business days following the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this consent statement/prospectus forms a part. As of August 10, 2020, CNX Gas beneficially owned 46,794,206 CNXM Common Units and Holdings beneficially owned 897,992 CNXM Common Units, which collectively represent approximately 51.4% of the outstanding CNXM Common Units and CNXM Class B units (collectively, the “CNXM Limited Partner Interests”). Accordingly, the delivery of the Support Written Consents will be sufficient to approve the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, on behalf of holders of the CNXM Limited Partner Interests (the “CNXM Limited Partners”).
The GP Board has set , 2020 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determining the CNXM Limited Partners entitled to execute and deliver written consents with respect to the Merger. If you were a record holder of outstanding CNXM Limited Partner Interests as of the close of business on the Record Date, you may complete, date and sign the enclosed written consent and promptly return it to CNXM. See the section titled “Written Consents of CNXM Limited Partners” beginning on page 27 of this consent statement/prospectus.
This consent statement/prospectus provides you with detailed information about the proposed Merger and related matters. CNX and CNXM both encourage you to read the entire document carefully. In particular, please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page 17 of this consent statement/prospectus for a discussion of risks relevant to the Merger, the tax consequences of the Merger and owning the CNX Common Stock received in the Merger, an investment in CNX Common Stock and CNX’s business following the Merger.
CNX Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “CNX” and CNXM Common Units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “CNXM.”
On behalf of the GP Board,
Nicholas J. DeIuliis
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Chief Executive Officer
CNX Midstream GP LLC
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER OR DETERMINED THAT THIS CONSENT STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
This consent statement/prospectus is dated , 2020 and is first being mailed to CNXM Limited Partners on or about , 2020.