National Fuel Gas (NFG) 424B5 Prospectus supplement for primary offering

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-223773

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not offers to sell these securities and are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion

Preliminary prospectus supplement dated May 19, 2020

Preliminary prospectus supplement

(To prospectus dated March 19, 2018)

$            

National Fuel Gas Company

    % Notes due

National Fuel Gas Company (the “Company”) is offering $        principal amount of     % notes due                     , which the Company refers to in this prospectus supplement as the “notes.” The Company will pay interest on the notes semi-annually in arrears on                and                of each year, beginning on                , 2020. The notes will be issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The notes will mature on                ,                 . The Company may redeem some or all of the notes at any time or from time to time at the applicable redemption price discussed in this prospectus supplement under the heading “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.” If a change of control triggering event as described in this prospectus supplement under the heading “Description of the Notes—Change of Control Offer” occurs, the Company may be required to offer to repurchase the notes from the holders. The interest rate payable on the notes will be subject to adjustments from time to time as discussed in this prospectus supplement under the heading “Description of the Notes – Interest Rate Adjustment.”

The notes will constitute the Company’s direct unsecured general obligations and will rank equally with all of the Company’s other unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding.

We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering, for general corporate purposes, which may include the payment of a portion of the purchase price of the Acquisition (as defined herein) and the repayment and refinancing of debt. See “Summary—Recent Developments” and “Use of Proceeds.”

The closing of this offering is not conditioned on the consummation of the Acquisition, which, if consummated, will occur subsequent to the closing of this offering. Accordingly, if you decide to purchase the notes in this offering, you should be willing to do so whether or not we complete the Acquisition.

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.

The interest rate on the notes may be adjusted under the circumstances described in this prospectus supplement under “Description of the Notes—Interest Rate Adjustment.”

Investing in the notes involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on pageS-9 of this prospectus supplement.

	Per Note		Total
Public offering price (1)		%	$
Underwriting discounts		%	$
Proceeds before expenses		%	$

(1) Plus accrued interest from May     , 2020, if settlement occurs after that date.

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company against payment therefor in New York, New York and its participants, including Clearstream Banking, S.A., and Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., on                 , 2020.

Joint Book-Running Managers

J.P. Morgan BofA Securities

Prospectus supplement dated May    , 2020.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
Prospectus Supplement

About This Prospectus Supplement S-ii

Where You Can Find More Information S-ii

Information We Incorporate by Reference S-ii

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements S-iii

Summary S-1

Risk Factors S-9

Use of Proceeds S-12

Description of the Notes S-13

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations S-22

Underwriting S-28

Experts S-34

Legal Matters	S-34
Prospectus

About This Prospectus 1

Risk Factors 2

National Fuel Gas Company 3

Where You Can Find More Information 4

Incorporation by Reference 5

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 6

Use of Proceeds 7

Description of Debt Securities 8

Description of Common Stock 17

Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units 19

Plan of Distribution 20

Experts 22

Legal Opinions 22

S-i

About This Prospectus Supplement

We provide information to you about this offering in two separate documents. The accompanying prospectus provides general information about us and the securities we may offer from time to time, some of which may not apply to this offering. This prospectus supplement describes the specific details regarding the notes offered hereby. Additional information is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. If information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on this prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, in the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus that we may provide to you. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date mentioned on the cover page of these documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making offers to sell the securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation.

References in this prospectus supplement to the terms “we,” “us,” the “Company” or other similar terms mean National Fuel Gas Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless we state otherwise or the context indicates otherwise.

Where You Can Find More Information

The Company files annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Information about the Company is also available on the Company’s website, www.natfuel.com. Other than any SEC filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, the information available on the Company’s website is not part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Information We Incorporate by Reference

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means:

• incorporated documents are considered part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus;

• we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents; and

• information that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and incorporated filings.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”):

• our Annual Report onForm10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019;

• our Quarterly Reports on Form10-Q for the quarterly periods endedDecember 31, 2019 andMarch 31, 2020; and

S-ii

• our Current Reports on Form8-K filed with the SEC onDecember 13, 2019,January  22, 2020,March  16, 2020 andMay 4, 2020.

We also incorporate by reference each of the documents that we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus supplement. We will not, however, incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus any documents or portions thereof that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of our Current Reports on Form8-K after the date of this prospectus supplement unless, and except to the extent, specified in such Current Reports.

We will provide you with a copy of any of these filings (other than an exhibit to these filings, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into the filing requested) at no cost, if you submit a request to us by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:

National Fuel Gas Company

6363 Main Street

Williamsville, New York 14221

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Telephone: (716)857-7000

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, projections, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements which are other than statements of historical facts. Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “believe,” “seek,” “will,” “may,” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements and accordingly involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The Company’s expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and are believed by the Company to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that management’s expectations, beliefs or projections will result or be achieved or accomplished. In addition to other factors and matters discussed elsewhere herein, the following are important factors that, in the view of the Company, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements:

• the Company’s ability to complete planned acquisitions, as well as successfully integrate acquired assets and achieve expected cost synergies;

• impairments under the SEC’s full cost ceiling test for natural gas and oil reserves;

• changes in the price of natural gas or oil;

• financial and economic conditions, including the availability of credit, and occurrences affecting the Company’s ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms for working capital, capital expenditures and other investments, including any downgrades in the Company’s credit ratings and changes in interest rates and other capital market conditions;

• the length and severity of the recentCOVID-19 pandemic, including its impacts across our businesses on demand, operations, global supply chains and liquidity;

S-iii

• changes in economic conditions, including global, national or regional recessions, and their effect on the demand for, and customers’ ability to pay for, the Company’s products and services;

• the creditworthiness or performance of the Company’s key suppliers, customers and counterparties;

• changes in laws, regulations or judicial interpretations to which the Company is subject, including those involving derivatives, taxes, safety, employment, climate change, other environmental matters, real property, and exploration and production activities such as hydraulic fracturing;

• delays or changes in costs or plans with respect to Company projects or related projects of other companies, including disruptions due toCOVID-19, as well as difficulties or delays in obtaining necessary governmental approvals, permits or orders or in obtaining the cooperation of interconnecting facility operators;

• governmental/regulatory actions, initiatives and proceedings, including those involving rate cases (which address, among other things, target rates of return, rate design and retained natural gas), environmental/safety requirements, affiliate relationships, industry structure, and franchise renewal;

• changes in price differentials between similar quantities of natural gas or oil at different geographic locations, and the effect of such changes on commodity production, revenues and demand for pipeline transportation capacity to or from such locations;

• the impact of information technology disruptions, cybersecurity or data security breaches;

• factors affecting the Company’s ability to successfully identify, drill for and produce economically viable natural gas and oil reserves, including among others geology, lease availability, title disputes, weather conditions, shortages, delays or unavailability of equipment and services required in drilling operations, insufficient gathering, processing and transportation capacity, the need to obtain governmental approvals and permits, and compliance with environmental laws and regulations;

• increasing health care costs and the resulting effect on health insurance premiums and on the obligation to provide other post-retirement benefits;

• other changes in price differentials between similar quantities of natural gas or oil having different quality, heating value, hydrocarbon mix or delivery date;

• the cost and effects of legal and administrative claims against the Company or activist shareholder campaigns to effect changes at the Company;

• uncertainty of oil and gas reserve estimates;

• significant differences between the Company’s projected and actual production levels for natural gas or oil;

• changes in demographic patterns and weather conditions;

• changes in the availability, price or accounting treatment of derivative financial instruments;

• changes in laws, actuarial assumptions, the interest rate environment and the return on plan/trust assets related to the Company’s pension and other post-retirement benefits, which can affect future funding obligations and costs and plan liabilities;

S-iv

• economic disruptions or uninsured losses resulting from major accidents, fires, severe weather, natural disasters, terrorist activities or acts of war;

• significant differences between the Company’s projected and actual capital expenditures and operating expenses;

• increasing costs of insurance, changes in coverage and the ability to obtain insurance; or

• other risks described in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or incorporated by reference through the Company’s filings with the SEC, including in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended September 30, 2019 and Part II, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

For a discussion of these risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from results referred to in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law.

S-v

Summary

This summary highlights information about us and the notes being offered by this prospectus supplement. This summary is not complete and may not contain all of the information that you should consider prior to investing in our securities. For a more complete understanding of our company, we encourage you to read this prospectus supplement, including the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the other documents to which we have referred you.

National Fuel Gas Company

National Fuel Gas Company, incorporated in 1902, is a holding company organized under the laws of New Jersey. The Company is engaged in the business of owning and holding securities issued by its subsidiaries.

The Company and its subsidiaries comprise a diversified energy company consisting of four business segments:

• the Exploration and Production segment, which is engaged in the exploration for, and the development and production of, natural gas and oil reserves in California and in the Appalachian region of the United States;

• the Pipeline and Storage segment, which provides interstate natural gas transportation and storage services;

• the Gathering segment, which builds, owns and operates natural gas processing and pipeline gathering facilities in the Appalachian region; and

• the Utility segment, which provides natural gas utility services to customers through a local distribution system located in western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.

The Company’s other businesses are engaged in the marketing of natural gas to industrial, wholesale, commercial, public authority and residential customers in western and central New York and northwestern Pennsylvania and the marketing of timber.

The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 6363 Main Street, Williamsville, New York 14221 and its telephone number is(716) 857-7000.

Recent Developments

Purchase Agreement for Pennsylvania Upstream and Midstream Assets

On May 4, 2020, Seneca Resources Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, NFG Midstream Covington, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“NFG Midstream” and, together with Seneca, the “Purchasers”), National Fuel Gas Midstream Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, as guarantor of the liabilities of NFG Midstream, and the Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with SWEPI, LP (the “Seller”), effective as of January 1, 2020 (the “Effective Date”) pursuant to which, among other things, the Purchasers will acquire all of the Seller’s right, title and interest in certain upstream and midstream assets located principally in Pennsylvania in exchange for a purchase price of $541.0 million, subject to customary adjustments, including to account for revenues and expenses incurred from and after the Effective Date (the “Purchase Price”), as provided in the Purchase Agreement (the “Acquisition”). The Purchase Price will be paid in cash or a combination of cash and stock; in

S-1

particular, the Purchasers may elect to pay up to $150.0 million of the Purchase Price in the form of shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Stock Consideration”). If the Purchasers exercise their option to pay a portion of the Purchase Price as Stock Consideration, then the number of shares of common stock to be issued at closing as Stock Consideration would be based on a share price of $38.97. In addition, if the Purchasers exercise their option to pay a portion of the Purchase Price as Stock Consideration, then the Purchasers would be obligated to make two additional contingent payments to the Seller, in each case, in an amount equal to 10% of the value of the Stock Consideration, to the extent the calendar year average NYMEX gas price for the calendar year 2021 or 2022, as applicable, equals or exceeds $2.75/MMBtu as calculated pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. If the Purchasers elect to pay Stock Consideration, the parties will enter into a registration rights and standstill agreement upon the closing of the Acquisition in the form attached as an exhibit to the Purchase Agreement. In addition, the Purchasers have made a $27.1 million deposit that will be credited against the Purchase Price at the closing of the Acquisition. The Acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of the Company’s 2020 fiscal year.

The Company believes that the Acquisition satisfies its strategic priorities as it: (i) is a unique acquisition opportunity that builds on the Company’s diversified, integrated business model, with assets that are geographically contiguous and highly synergistic to existing Company operations in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, and (ii) allows the company to acquire proved developed producing natural gas reserves at less than $0.40 per Mcfe.

The upstream assets being acquired pursuant to the Purchase Agreement include: (i) hydrocarbon and mineral leasehold interests and royalties (excluding overriding royalty interests) and associated lands; (ii) oil, gas, water and disposal wells and hydrocarbons produced therefrom; (iii) surface interests and field offices used or held for use in connection with the oil and gas interests; (iv) associated equipment and facilities; and (v) licenses, permits, records, vehicles, field offices and certain other assets, properties, rights and interests associated with the leases, lands and wells (collectively, the “Upstream Assets”). The midstream assets being acquired pursuant to the Purchase Agreement include: (i) a gas gathering, treating, compression, transmission and handling system, and all pipelines, flowlines and transmission lines utilized in relation to the Upstream Assets; (ii) related surface interests; and (iii) related equipment, machinery, fixtures and facilities (collectively, the “Midstream Assets”, and together with the Upstream Assets, the “Acquired Assets”). The Acquired Assets include an estimated (i) approximately 710 billion cubic feet of net P90 proved reserves (100% developed producing) and net production of 215 to 230 million cubic feet per day estimated at closing, (ii) 142 miles of gathering pipelines, compression, and related facilities, (iii) over 400,000 total net acres across Pennsylvania, approximately 200,000 of which holds significant, highly economic development potential, contiguous to the Company’s existing acreage footprint, and (iv) 300,000 dekatherms per day of attractive firm transportation capacity.

Before the closing of the Acquisition, the Purchasers intend to conduct due diligence to assess the aggregate dollar value of any environmental defects. If the aggregate value of environmental defects, any casualty losses and any properties excluded from the Acquisition as provided in the Purchase Agreement equals or exceeds 20% of the unadjusted purchase price under the Purchase Agreement, each of the Purchasers and the Seller has the right to decline to close the Acquisition. In addition to the termination right, if an environmental defect is neither waived by the Purchasers nor cured by the Seller, then the Purchasers may exercise certain remedies under the Purchase Agreement with respect to such environmental defects. The Purchase Agreement contains various representations, warranties, covenants, and indemnification obligations of the Purchasers and the Seller that are customary in transactions of this type. The Purchase Agreement also contains additional representations as to the Midstream Assets, including with respect to title and operational matters. The closing of the Acquisition is subject to satisfaction or waiver of customary specified conditions, including, among other things, the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers and the Seller (generally subject to customary materiality qualifiers). The Agreement contains certain customary termination rights for both the

S-2

Purchasers and the Seller, including the rights of either party to terminate in the event that the Transaction has not been completed by August 31, 2020.

COVID-19

The Company is closely monitoring developments related toCOVID-19 and is taking steps to limit operational impacts and the potential exposure for our workforce and customers. In accordance with government mandates, a significant portion of the Company’s workforce is working remotely from home where possible. Steps have been taken to protect those employees that are required to work in the field as well as the Company’s customers. These steps include increased cleaning and sanitation of equipment and buildings, the use of safety masks, gloves and goggles as appropriate, given the nature of the work being performed and the level of contact with customers andco-workers, and requiring employees to maintain social distancing at work. The extent and duration of the pandemic crisis will determine how significant the additional costs associated with combatingCOVID-19 will be. In addition to measures to protect our workforce and customers, the Company has also taken proactive steps to ensure business continuity and the safe operation of our businesses. The Company is actively managing its supply chains, contractor work, counterparties and customer service functions and has had no material issues occur to date. The length of the pandemic crisis will also impact other aspects of the Company’s operations, the most significant of which will be the future level of the Company’s revenue stream from all segments of the business as significant numbers of commercial and industrial customers have been forced to shut down operations based on government mandates. The financial strains on businesses and individuals could have a significant impact on their ability to pay their bills, which could lead to a significant increase in uncollectible expense for customer receivables, primarily within the Utility segment. While the federal government has taken steps to alleviate the financial burden on companies and individuals and no discernible impact has been experienced to date, the Company is anticipating that there will be some level of increase in uncollectible expense depending, once again, on the depth and duration of the pandemic crisis. It is uncertain at this point as to whether there would be any regulatory relief for the Utility segment with regard to an increase in costs associated with the pandemic crisis.

One of the steps taken by the federal government to help companies during the pandemic crisis was the passage of the CARES Act on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act, among other things, includes provisions relating to alternative minimum tax (AMT) credit refunds, refundable payroll tax credits, deferment of employer side social security payments, net operating loss carryback periods, and modifications to the net interest deduction limitation. The Company has filed for the acceleration of the remaining AMT credit refunds (under the CARES Act) of $42.5 million, which has been recorded as a current receivable as of March 31, 2020. In addition, the Company is pursuing certain payroll tax related provisions included in the CARES Act and continues to evaluate other elements of the CARES Act for potential adoption by the Company.

From a financing perspective, despite the unsettled nature of financial markets resulting from the pandemic crisis, the Company has been able to meet its short-term borrowing needs through the use of its committed and uncommitted lines of credit. Before the pandemic crisis began, the Company had expected to use cash on hand, cash from operations and short-term debt to meet its capital expenditure needs for fiscal 2020, while issuing long-term debt during fiscal 2020 if needed. The length of the pandemic crisis is expected to reduce capital spending during the second half of fiscal 2020, which would reduce the Company’s needs for borrowings. However, potential increased costs and lower revenue streams as a result of the pandemic crisis could result in an increased need for borrowings during fiscal 2020. In addition, continued turmoil in credit markets, due to the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, may make it difficult for the Company to obtain financing on acceptable terms, or at all, for working capital, capital expenditures and other investments, including the Acquisition, or to refinance maturing debt.

The current pandemic crisis has seen a continuation of the low natural gas and oil price environment that existed before the pandemic began, with oil prices being much lower than they were before the crisis.

S-3

Government mandated shut downs have reduced demand for natural gas and oil, contributing to the imbalance between supply and demand that existed prior to the crisis. The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for determining the book value of its oil and natural gas properties in the Exploration and Production segment and that book value is subject to a quarterly ceiling test. The Company recorded an impairment under the ceiling test during the quarter ended March 31, 2020 of $177.8 million ($129.3 millionafter-tax) and anticipates that the current low commodity price environment will lead to impairments during the remaining quarters of fiscal 2020 and likely in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 as well. Depending on the magnitude of future impairments, it is possible that the Company’s indenture covenants would restrict the Company’s ability to issue additional long-term unsecured indebtedness for a period of time. However, this would not preclude the Company from issuing new indebtedness to replace maturing debt.

364-Day Credit Agreement

On May 4, 2020, the Company entered into a364-Day Credit Agreement (the“364-Day Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the following lenders: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N. A.; Bank of America, N.A.; HSBC Bank USA, National Association; U.S. Bank National Association; Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, New York Branch; KeyBank, National Association; PNC Bank, National Association; M&T Bank Corporation; Truist Bank; and Comerica Bank.

The364-Day Credit Agreement provides a $200 million364-day unsecured committed revolving credit facility. The Company may use the proceeds of loans under the364-Day Credit Agreement (i) for general corporate purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries (other than certain restricted payments) in the ordinary course of business, including for working capital, capital expenditure and other lawful corporate purposes and (ii) to fund certain permitted acquisitions and other investments, including the Acquisition.

S-4

The Offering

The summary below describes the principal terms of the notes. Certain of the terms and conditions described below are subject to important limitations and exceptions. Refer to the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Description of Notes” and the section of the accompanying prospectus entitled “Description of Debt Securities” for a more detailed description of the terms of the notes. As used in this section, the terms “Company,” “us,” “we,” or “our” refer to National Fuel Gas Company and not any of its subsidiaries.

Issuer National Fuel Gas Company, a New Jersey corporation.

Securities Offered $         aggregate principal amount of     % Notes due                     .

Interest Rate Adjustment The interest rate payable on the notes will be subject to adjustment from time to time if there is a downgrade of the credit rating assigned to the notes (or if the credit rating assigned to the notes is subsequently upgraded), as set forth under “Description of the Notes—Interest Rate Adjustment” below.

Maturity Date                     ,         .

Interest Payment Dates                 and                 , beginning on                     , 2020.

Optional Redemption At the Company’s option, any or all of the notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time prior to                         ,     20     (     months prior to maturity), at the redemption price discussed in this prospectus supplement under the heading “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption,” which includes a make-whole premium, plus accrued but unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date. If the Company elects to redeem the notes at any time on or after                     , 20     (     months prior to maturity), the notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes then outstanding to be redeemed, plus accrued but unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

Ranking The notes will constitute the Company’s direct unsecured general obligations and will rank equally with all of the Company’s other unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding.

Use of Proceeds We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions but before estimated offering expenses payable by us for this offering, will be approximately $         million. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include the payment of a portion of the purchase price of the Acquisition and the repayment and refinancing of debt. The closing of this offering is not conditioned on the closing of the Acquisition.

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations Certain U.S. federal income tax considerations of owning and disposing of the notes are described in “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

S-5

Change of Control If a change of control triggering event as described in this prospectus supplement under the heading “Description of the Notes—Change of Control Offer” occurs, each holder of the notes may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of such holder’s notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of repurchase.

Further Issuances of Notes The Company may, without the consent of the holders of the notes, create and issue additional notes ranking equally with the notes offered hereby and otherwise identical in all respects to the notes offered hereby (except for the issue date, issue price, the date from which interest first accrues and, if applicable, the first interest payment date). Such additional notes will form a single series with the notes offered hereby provided such additional notes are fungible with the notes offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Denomination and Form The Company will issue the notes in the form of one or more fully registered global notes registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. Beneficial interests in the notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Except in limited circumstances described in this prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in the notes will not be entitled to have notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive notes in definitive form and will not be considered holders of notes under the indenture. The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Risk Factors See “Risk Factors” beginning on pageS-9 of this prospectus supplement for a discussion of risks you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in the notes.

S-6

Summary Financial Data

The following summary financial data is qualified in its entirety by, and should be considered in conjunction with, the more detailed information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement or in the accompanying prospectus.

	(In thousands)
	Six Months Ended March 31					Fiscal Year Ended September 30
	2020			2019		2019		2018		2017
Summary of Operations
Operating revenues	$	935,283		$	1,042,791	$	1,693,332	$	1,592,668	$	1,579,881
Net income (loss) available for common stock	$	(19,477	)	$	193,256	$	304,290	$	391,521	$	283,482

S-7

Capitalization

The following table shows the Company’s consolidated capitalization and short-term debt at March 31, 2020. You should read this table in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the notes thereto and the other financial data incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

	(In thousands, except percentages)
	At March 31,     2020		Percent
Capitalization
Comprehensive Shareholders’ Equity	$	2,079,959		49.3%
Long-term debt, net of current portion and unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$	2,134,964		50.7%
Total Capitalization	$	4,214,923		100.0%
Short-term debt, including current portion of long-term debt	$	230,000

S-8

Risk Factors

Investing in the notes involves risks. In considering whether you should invest in the notes, you should consider all of the information we have included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. In particular, you should carefully consider the risk factors described below, as well as in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and our Quarterly Report on Form10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 under Part II. Other Information, Item “1A. Risk Factors.”

You should also read all other information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before deciding to invest in the notes. If any of the risks actually occur, they may materially harm our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flow. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not yet identified or that we think are immaterial may also materially harm our business, financial condition, operating results, or cash flow and could result in a complete or partial loss of your investment.

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the incorporated documents also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks faced by us as described in this prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. For more information see “Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus supplement. Capitalized but undefined terms used in this “Risk Factors” section have the meanings assigned to them in “Description of Notes.”

Risks Related to theCOVID-19 Pandemic

TheCOVID-19 global pandemic could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

The actual or perceived effects of a widespread public health concern or pandemic, such asCOVID-19, could negatively affect our business and results of operations. While to date the Company has not experienced any material negative effects as a result ofCOVID-19, the situation continues to rapidly evolve and could result in material negative effects on our business and results of operations. The Company and its Pandemic Response Team are closely monitoring the impacts of the pandemic on the Company’s workforce, customers, suppliers, business continuity, and liquidity.

A protracted slowdown of broad sectors of the economy or significant changes in legislation or regulatory policy to addressCOVID-19 could adversely impact the Company. Although it is not possible to predict the ultimate impact ofCOVID-19, including on the Company’s business, results of operations, cash flows or financial positions, such impacts that may be material include, but are not limited to: (i) a significant reduction in demand for natural gas; (ii) increased late or uncollectible customer payments; (iii) the inability for the Company’s contractors or suppliers to fulfill their contractual obligations; (iv) significant changes in the Company’s human capital management approach, and increased cybersecurity threats associated with work-from-home arrangements; (v) difficulties in obtaining financing on acceptable terms or at all for working capital, capital expenditures and other investments, or to refinance maturing debt; and (vi) impacts on natural gas pricing and the potential impairment of the recorded value of certain assets as a result of reduced projected cash flows. To the extent the duration of any of these conditions extends for a longer period of time, the adverse impact will generally be more severe. The impact ofCOVID-19 may also exacerbate other risks discussed in Item 1A of the Company’s 2019 Form10-K and Item 1A of the Company’s Form10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, any of which could have a material effect on us. This situation is changing rapidly and additional impacts may arise that we are not aware of currently.

S-9

Risks Related to the Notes

The Company’s credit ratings could negatively affect the Company’s ability to access capital.

In the event of a downgrade in the Company’s credit ratings, the Company’s interest cost on debt issued could increase and its availability of money from banks, commercial paper purchases and other sources could be negatively impacted. In particular, the interest rate payable on the notes offered hereby is subject to adjustment depending upon the ratings assigned to such notes as described in “Description of the Notes—Interest Rate Adjustment.”

The Company cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop for the notes.

The notes constitute a new issue of securities with no established trading market and will not be listed on any securities exchange. Each of the underwriters has informed the Company that it intends to make a market in the notes after this offering is completed. However, the underwriters are not obligated to make a market in the notes and may cease their market-making at any time without notice.

The market price of the notes will fluctuate.

Any material differences between the Company’s actual results and historical results contained in the Company’s annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus could have a significant adverse impact on the market price of the notes, assuming a market for the notes develops.

Likewise, any downgrade of the Company’s credit ratings could have a significant adverse impact on the market price of the notes, assuming a market for the notes develops.

The notes will be effectively subordinated to the liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries.

Because the Company is a holding company, the notes will be effectively subordinated to the existing and future liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries. The Company conducts all of its operations through its subsidiaries, thus its ability to meet its obligations under the notes will be dependent on the earnings and cash flows of those subsidiaries and the ability of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to the Company. Holders of the notes will generally have a position junior to claims of creditors of the Company’s subsidiaries, including trade creditors of and holders of indebtedness issued by any such subsidiary and preferred stockholders of the subsidiaries of the Company. No subsidiary currently has (i) outstanding shares of preferred stock or (ii) any outstanding long-term debt other than to the Company.

The Company may not have sufficient funds to repurchase the notes upon a change of control triggering event and this covenant provides limited protection to investors.

Holders of the notes may require the Company to repurchase their notes upon a “change of control triggering event” as defined under “Description of the Notes—Change of Control Offer.” The Company cannot assure you that it will have sufficient financial resources, or will be able to arrange sufficient financing, to pay the purchase price of the notes, particularly if a change of control event triggers a similar repurchase requirement for, or results in the acceleration of, the Company’s other then-existing debt.

The change of control offer covenant is limited to the transactions specified in “Description of the Notes—Change of Control Offer.” The Company has no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a change of control triggering event, although it is possible that the Company could decide to do so in the future. The Company could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations, that would not constitute a change of control triggering event under the notes, but that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at such time or otherwise materially adversely affect the Company’s capital structure or credit ratings.

S-10

The indenture does not restrict the amount of additional debt that the Company may incur.

The notes and the indenture under which the notes will be issued do not place any limitation on the amount of unsecured debt that may be incurred by the Company. The Company’s incurrence of additional debt may have important consequences for you as a holder of the notes, including making it more difficult for the Company to satisfy its obligations with respect to the notes, a loss in the trading value of your notes, if any, and a risk that the credit rating of the notes is lowered or withdrawn.

There is uncertainty regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the provision in the notes that adjusts the interest rate in the event of a ratings downgrade.

The Company intends to take the position for U.S. federal income tax purposes that any payments of additional interest resulting from adjustments to the ratings assigned to the notes, as described under “Description of the Notes—Interest Rate Adjustment,” will be taxable to a holder as additional interest income when received or accrued, in accordance with the holder’s method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, may take a contrary position and treat the notes as “contingent payment debt instruments,” as described under “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Additional Payments.” If the notes are treated as contingent payment debt instruments, a holder might be required to accrue income on its notes in excess of stated interest for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and to treat as ordinary income rather than capital gain any income realized on the taxable disposition of a note prior to maturity. Holders should consult their own tax advisors concerning the potential application to the notes of the rules regarding contingent payment debt instruments and the consequences thereof.

S-11

Use of Proceeds

The Company estimates the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $        million after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated expenses payable by the Company in this offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the issuance and sale of the notes for general corporate purposes, which may include the payment of a portion of the purchase price of the Acquisition and the repayment and refinancing of debt.

Pending final use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in short-term investment grade, interest-bearing securities.

S-12

Description of the Notes

The following description is a summary of certain particular terms of our notes. The following summary supplements and, to the extent that it is inconsistent therewith, replaces the description of the general terms and provisions of the notes in the accompanying prospectus. Certain capitalized terms used and not defined in this prospectus supplement are defined under “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.

General

The notes will be issued as a series of debt securities under an indenture, dated as of October 1, 1999, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York), as trustee. An officer’s certificate will supplement the indenture and establish the specific terms of the notes. The notes will be issued only in book-entry form, that is as one or more global certificates registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, and in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund, which means that the Company will not deposit money on a regular basis into any separate custodial account to repay your notes.

Interest and Payment

Each note will bear interest at         % per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on              and                  of each year, subject to adjustment as described below under “—Interest Rate Adjustment.” Interest on the notes will initially accrue from (and including) the date of original issuance. The record date for interest payable on any interest payment date on the notes shall be the close of business (1) on the business day immediately preceding such interest payment date so long as the notes remain in book-entry form or (2) on the 15th calendar day before each interest payment date if the notes do not remain in book-entry form. See “—Book-entry Only Issuance—The Depository Trust Company.”

Interest accrued on the notes that is payable at maturity or earlier redemption will be payable to the persons entitled to payment of principal as a result of maturity or redemption, as the case may be. The initial interest payment date will be                 , 2020, and the payment on that date will include all interest accrued from, and including, the date of original issuance. The amount of interest payable will be computed on the basis of a360-day year consisting of twelve30-day months and, for any period shorter than a full calendar month, on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed. In the event that any interest payment date is not a business day, then payment of the interest will be made on the next business day, without any interest or other payment in respect of the delay. In addition, if there has been a default in the payment of interest on any note, the defaulted interest may be payable to the holder of the note as of the close of business on a date selected by the trustee not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date proposed by the Company for payment of this defaulted interest, and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the trustee of the Company’s notice of the proposed payment, or in any other lawful manner as provided in the indenture.

Maturity

The entire principal amount of the notes, unless previously redeemed or otherwise repaid, will mature and become due and payable, together with any unpaid interest accrued to (but excluding) the maturity date, on                 ,                 . In the event that the maturity date or any redemption date is not a business day, then payment of principal and any interest will be made on the next business day, without any interest or other payment in respect of the delay.

Ranking

The notes will constitute the Company’s direct unsecured general obligations and will rank equally with all of the Company’s other unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding.

S-13

Further Issuances of Notes

The Company may, without the consent of the holders of the notes, create and issue additional notes ranking equally with the notes offered hereby and otherwise identical in all respects to the notes offered hereby (except for the issue date, issue price, the date from which interest first accrues and, if applicable, the first interest payment date). Such additional notes will form a single series with the notes offered hereby provided such additional notes are fungible with the notes offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Optional Redemption

The notes will be redeemable by the Company, in whole or in part, at its option, at any time prior to                 , 20     (     months prior to maturity), at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

• 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed; and

• the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the notes being redeemed that would be due if such notes matured on                 , 20                 but for the redemption (excluding the portion of any such interest accrued to the redemption date), discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a360-day year consisting of twelve30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus         %;

plus, in each case, accrued but unpaid interest on those notes to, but not including, the redemption date.

At any time on or after                 , 20     (     months prior to maturity), the notes will be redeemable by the Company, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes then outstanding to be redeemed, plus accrued but unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption.

The Company will provide written notice of its intent to redeem the notes not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed (assuming for this purpose that the notes matured on                     , 20    ) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations or (ii) if the Company obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Independent Investment Banker” means an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City appointed by the Company.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation” means, with respect to the Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable

S-14

Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by the Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

If, at the time notice of redemption is given, the redemption moneys are not held by the trustee, the redemption may be made subject to their receipt on or before the date fixed for redemption and such notice shall be of no effect unless such moneys are so received. If the redemption notice is given and funds deposited as required by the indenture, then interest will cease to accrue on and after the redemption date on the notes or portions of notes called for redemption. If any redemption date is not a business day, the Company will pay the redemption price on the next business day without any interest or other payment due to the delay. If the Company does not deposit redemption moneys on or before the date fixed for redemption, the principal amount of the notes called for redemption will continue to bear interest at the rate indicated on the cover of this prospectus supplement until paid.

Interest Rate Adjustment

The interest rate payable on the notes will be subject to adjustments from time to time if an interest rate adjustment triggering event (as defined below) occurs or, if following an interest rate adjustment triggering event, any of Moody’s (as defined below), S&P (as defined below) or Fitch (as defined below), or any substitute rating agency (as defined below), subsequently upgrades the debt rating assigned to the notes, in each case in the manner described below. The interest rate payable on the notes is also subject to adjustments if any of the rating agencies (as defined below) ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside the Company’s control, subject to the conditions described below.

If an interest rate adjustment triggering event occurs, the interest rate payable on the notes will increase from the interest rate payable on the notes on the date of their issuance by an amount equal to the sum of the percentages set forth in the following tables opposite the ratings of the notes immediately following such interest rate adjustment triggering event; provided, that only the two lowest ratings assigned to the notes will be taken into account for purposes of any interest rate adjustment:

Moody’s Rating*	Percentage
Ba1		0.25%
Ba2		0.50%
Ba3		0.75%
B1 or below		1.00%

* Including successor ratings of Moody’s or the equivalent ratings of any substitute rating agency for Moody’s.

S&P Rating*	Percentage
BB+		0.25%
BB		0.50%
BB-		0.75%
B+ or below		1.00%

* Including successor ratings of S&P or the equivalent ratings of any substitute rating agency for S&P.

Fitch Rating*	Percentage
BB+		0.25%
BB		0.50%
BB-		0.75%
B+ or below		1.00%

* Including successor ratings of Fitch or the equivalent ratings of any substitute rating agency for Fitch.

S-15

If at any time after an interest rate adjustment triggering event has occurred, any rating agency (or, in either case, a substitute rating agency therefor), as the case may be, subsequently increases its rating of the notes to any of the threshold ratings set forth above, the interest rate payable on the notes will be decreased such that the interest rate payable for the notes equals the interest rate payable on the notes on the date of their issuance plus (if applicable) the percentages set forth opposite the ratings from the tables above with respect to the two lowest ratings assigned to the notes in effect immediately following the increase. If at any time after an interest rate adjustment triggering event has occurred, Moody’s (or any substitute rating agency therefor) subsequently increases its rating of the notes to Baa3 (or its equivalent, in the case of a substitute rating agency) or higher, S&P (or any substitute rating agency therefor) increases its ratingto BBB- (or its equivalent, in the case of a substitute rating agency) or higher and Fitch (or any substitute rating agency therefor) increases its ratingto BBB- (or its equivalent, in the case of a substitute rating agency) or higher, the interest rate payable on the notes will be decreased to the interest rate payable on the notes on the date of their issuance (and if any two rating agencies increase their ratings assigned to the notes toBaa3, BBB- or BBB- or higher, as the case may be, and the third rating agency does not, the interest rate payable on the notes will be decreased so that it does not reflect any increase attributable to the upgrading rating agencies). In addition, the interest rates on the notes will permanently cease to be subject to any adjustment described above (notwithstanding any subsequent decrease in the ratings by any or all rating agencies) if the notes become rated Baa1, BBB+ or BBB+, as the case may be (or the equivalent of any such rating, in the case of a substitute rating agency), or higher by any two of Moody's, S&P and Fitch (or, in any case, a substitute rating agency thereof), respectively.

Each adjustment required by any decrease or increase in a rating set forth above, whether occasioned by the action of any of the rating agencies (or, in either case, a substitute rating agency therefor), shall be made independent of any and all other adjustments. In no event shall (1) the interest rate for the notes be reduced to below the interest rate payable on the notes on the date of their issuance or (2) the total increase in the interest rate payable on the notes exceed 2.00% above the interest rate payable on the notes on the date of the issuance.

No adjustments in the interest rate payable on the notes shall be made solely as a result of a rating agency ceasing to provide a rating of the notes. If at any time a rating agency ceases to provide a rating of the notes for a reason beyond the Company’s control, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a rating of the notes from another rating agency, to the extent one exists, and if another such rating agency rates the notes (such rating agency, a “substitute rating agency”), for purposes of determining any increase or decrease in the interest rate payable on the notes pursuant to the tables above (a) such substitute rating agency will be substituted for the last rating agency to provide a rating of the notes but which has since ceased to provide such rating and (b) the relative ratings scale used by such substitute rating agency to assign ratings to senior unsecured debt will be determined in good faith by an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company and, for purposes of determining the applicable ratings included in the applicable table above with respect to such substitute rating agency, such ratings will be deemed to be the equivalent ratings used by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, as applicable, in such table. If a rating agency has ceased to provide a rating of the notes for any reason and the Company is unable to or otherwise does not designate a successor rating agency, that rating agency will be deemed to have rated the notes at the lowest level contemplated by the tables above; however, if only one of the rating agencies ceases to provide a rating of the notes for any reason, the deemed rating of that rating agency will be disregarded for purposes of all interest rate adjustments. If two of the rating agencies cease to provide a rating of the notes for any reason and the Company is unable to or otherwise does not designate a successor rating agency for both rating agencies, the deemed rating of only one of such two rating agencies will be disregarded. If all three rating agencies cease to provide a rating of the notes for any reason and the Company is unable to or otherwise does not designate a successor rating agency for all three rating agencies, the interest rate on the notes will increase to, or remain at, as the case may be, 2.00% above the interest rate payable on the notes on the date of their issuance.

Any interest rate increase or decrease described above will take effect from the first day of the semi-annual interest period commencing after the date on which a rating change occurs that requires an adjustment in the interest rate.

S-16

If the interest rate payable on the notes is increased as described in this “—Interest Rate Adjustment,” the term “interest,” as applicable to the notes, will be deemed to include any such additional interest unless the context otherwise requires.

For purposes of the interest rate adjustment provisions of the notes, the following terms will be applicable:

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc., or any successor thereto.

“interest rate adjustment triggering event” means the rating on the notes is lowered by at least one rating agency such that the rating on the notes is below investment grade.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or any successor thereto.

“rating agency” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a substitute rating agency.

“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, Inc., or any successor thereto.

“substitute rating agency” means a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Notes—The Company’s credit ratings could negatively affect the Company’s ability to access capital.”

Change of Control Offer

If a change of control triggering event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem such notes as described above, the Company will be required to make an offer (a “change of control offer”) to each holder of the notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that holder’s notes on the terms set forth in such notes. In the change of control offer, the Company will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase (a “change of control payment”), subject to the right of holders of record on the applicable record date to receive interest due on the next interest payment date.

Within 30 days following any change of control triggering event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any change of control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the change of control, a notice will be mailed to holders of the notes describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the change of control triggering event and offering to repurchase such notes on the date specified in the applicable notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (a “change of control payment date”). The notice, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the change of control, will state that the change of control offer is conditioned on the change of control triggering event occurring on or prior to the applicable change of control payment date.

Upon the change of control payment date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

• accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the change of control offer;

• deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the change of control payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and

S-17

• deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being repurchased.

The Company will not be required to make a change of control offer upon the occurrence of a change of control triggering event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and the third party repurchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, the Company will not repurchase any notes if there has occurred and is continuing on the change of control payment date an event of default under the indenture, other than a default in the payment of the change of control payment upon a change of control triggering event.

The Company will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a change of control triggering event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the change of control offer provisions of the notes, the Company will comply with those securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the change of control offer provisions of the notes by virtue of any such conflict.

For purposes of the change of control offer provisions of the notes, the following terms will be applicable:

“change of control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and the assets of the Company’s subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than the Company or one of the Company’s subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules13d-3 and13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Company’s outstanding voting stock or other voting stock into which the Company’s voting stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any person, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the Company’s outstanding voting stock or the voting stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Company’s voting stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the voting stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, immediately after giving effect to such transaction; or (4) the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation or dissolution.

The term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

“change of control triggering event” means the occurrence of both a change of control and a rating event.

“investment grade rating”means a rating equal to or higher thanBBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch(as defined above under “—Interest Rate Adjustment”) , Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s (as defined above under “—Interest Rate Adjustment”) andBBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P (as defined above under “—Interest Rate Adjustment”), and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by the Company.

“rating event” means the rating on the notes is lowered by at least two of the three rating agencies (as defined above under “—Interest Rate Adjustment”) and the notes are rated below an investment grade rating by

S-18

at least two of the three rating agencies, in any case on any day during the period (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the rating agencies) commencing 60 days prior to the first public notice of the occurrence of a change of control or the Company’s intention to effect a change of control and ending 60 days following consummation of such change of control.

“voting stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

Unless the Company defaults in the change of control payment, on and after the change of control payment date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions of the notes tendered for repurchase pursuant to the change of control offer.

The definition of change of control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of the Company’s assets and the assets of the Company’s subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of notes to require the Company to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the Company’s assets and those of the Company’s subsidiaries taken as a whole to another person or group may be uncertain.

Book-entry Only Issuance—The Depository Trust Company

DTC will act as the initial securities depository for the notes. The notes will be issued only as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC’s partnership nominee, or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One or more fully registered global note certificates will be issued, representing in the aggregate the total principal amount of the notes, and will be deposited with the trustee on behalf of DTC.

The following is based upon information furnished by DTC:

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million issues of U.S. andnon-U.S. equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues and money market instruments from over 100 countries that DTC’s participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. andnon-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”).

DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. andnon-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). The DTC rules applicable to its Direct and Indirect Participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com and www.dtc.org. The contents of such websites do not constitute part of this Prospectus Supplement.

S-19

Purchases of notes under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of notes (“Beneficial Owner”) is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases. Beneficial Owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participants through which the Beneficial Owners purchased notes. Transfers of ownership interests in the notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the notes is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all notes deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any changes in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the notes. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such notes are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the notes are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of interest of each Direct Participant in such notes to be redeemed.

Although voting with respect to the notes is limited, in those cases where a vote is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the notes unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to the Company as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).

Payments on the notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from the Company or the trustee on the relevant payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by Direct or Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such Direct or Indirect Participant and not of DTC or the Company, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of the Company, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

Except as provided herein, a Beneficial Owner of a global note will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of notes. Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the notes. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global note.    

S-20

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Company. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, certificates for the notes will be required to be printed and delivered to the holders of record. Additionally, the Company may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository) with respect to the notes. In that event, certificates for the notes will be printed and delivered to DTC.

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that the Company believes to be reliable, but neither the Company nor any underwriter takes any responsibility for the accuracy thereof. The Company has no responsibility for the performance by DTC or its Direct or Indirect Participants of their respective obligations as described herein or under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations.

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

Because of time-zone differences, credits of notes received in Clearstream Banking, S.A. (“Clearstream”) or the Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”) as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in such notes settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear participant or Clearstream on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or the Euroclear as a result of sales of the notes by or through a Clearstream participant or a Euroclear participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or the Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

Although DTC, Clearstream and the Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of notes among participants of DTC, Clearstream and the Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued or changed at any time.

S-21

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes. It is not a complete analysis of all the potential tax considerations relating to the notes. This summary is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions and administrative rulings, all as in effect on the date of this prospectus supplement and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect, which may result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those set forth below.

This summary is limited to beneficial owners of the notes (“Holders”) that purchase the notes for cash at the initial “issue price” (i.e., the first price at which a substantial amount of the notes is sold for cash to investors, excluding sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers) and that hold the notes as “capital assets” within the meaning of section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This summary does not address U.S. federalnon-income taxes (such as estate or gift taxes) or the tax considerations arising under the laws of any U.S. state or local ornon-U.S. jurisdiction or under any particular income tax treaty. In addition, this summary does not address all tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular investor in light of the investor’s circumstances (such as the effects of section 451(b) of the Code conforming the timing of certain income accruals to financial statements) or to certain categories of investors that may be subject to special rules (for example, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies,tax-exempt entities, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, brokers and dealers in securities or commodities, traders in securities that elect to use themark-to-market method of tax accounting for their securities holdings, former U.S. citizens or long-term residents of the United States, U.S. Holders (as defined below) that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, U.S. Holders (as defined below) that hold their notes in foreign accounts or through foreign brokers or other foreign intermediaries, entities or arrangements classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and other pass-through entities, investors in partnerships or other pass-through entities, or persons that hold the notes as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale, risk-reduction transaction or other integrated transaction).

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes will own any of the notes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in such partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Entities and arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and partners in such partnerships, should consult their own tax advisors with regard to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes by the partnership.

Investors considering the purchase, ownership or disposition of the notes should consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal tax consequences in light of their particular situations as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction or under any applicable tax treaty.

Additional Payments

In certain circumstances (see “Description of the Notes—Change of Control Offer” and “Description of the Notes—Interest Rate Adjustment”), the Company may be obligated to pay amounts in excess of stated interest or principal on the notes or may be obligated to pay additional interest on the notes. The obligation to make such payments may implicate the provisions of the Treasury Regulations relating to “contingent payment debt instruments,” which, if applicable, could cause the timing, amount and character of an investor’s income, gain or loss with respect to the notes to be different from the consequences discussed herein. In particular, a Holder might be required to accrue income on its notes in excess of stated interest for U.S. federal income tax

S-22

purposes, and to treat as ordinary income rather than capital gain any income realized on the taxable disposition of a note prior to maturity. According to the applicable Treasury Regulations, certain contingencies will not cause a debt instrument to be treated as a contingent payment debt instrument if such contingencies in the aggregate, as of the date of issuance, are remote or incidental or, in certain circumstances, if it is “significantly more likely than not” that none of the contingencies will occur.

We believe that it is significantly more likely than not that interest on the notes will be paid over the life of the notes at the stated interest rate or the possibility of additional payments on the notes is remote and/or incidental. Therefore, we do not intend to treat the notes as contingent payment debt instruments. Our treatment will be binding on all Holders of the notes, except a Holder that discloses its differing treatment in a statement attached to its timely filed U.S. federal income tax return for the taxable year during which the note was acquired. Our treatment is not binding on the IRS, which may take a contrary position. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the notes are not treated as contingent payment debt instruments. With respect to any payments of additional interest resulting from adjustments to the ratings assigned to the notes, as described under “Description of the Notes—Interest Rate Adjustment,” we intend to take the position for U.S. federal income tax purposes that such payments will be taxable to a Holder as additional interest income when received or accrued, in accordance with the Holder’s method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential application to the notes of the rules regarding contingent payment debt instruments and the consequences thereof.

U.S. Holders

The following portion of this discussion is a summary of the general U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to an investor that is a “U.S. Holder.” For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of notes that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

• an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

• a corporation that was created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

• an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of source; or

• a trust, if (a) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over administration of the trust and one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of the Code) have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) it has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a “United States person” (within the meaning of the Code).

Payments of Interest

Payments of stated interest on the notes generally will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time such interest is received or accrued in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If the stated principal amount of the notes exceeds their “issue price” (as defined above) by more than a statutorily defined “de minimis” amount, a U.S. Holder (whether a cash method or accrual method taxpayer) will be required to include the excess in gross income as original issue discount (“OID”), as it accrues, in accordance with a constantyield-to-maturity method (unless otherwise accelerated), in advance of receipt of the cash payments to which such OID is attributable. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the OID rules. It is expected, and the remainder of this discussion assumes, that the notes will not be treated as issued with OID of more than a de minimis amount for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

S-23

Sale, Exchange, Redemption, Retirement or Other Taxable Disposition of Notes

Upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between (1) the amount realized on such disposition (except to the extent any amount realized is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which amount will be taxed as ordinary interest income to the extent not previously included in income) and (2) such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note generally will equal the amount paid for the note, reduced by any cash payments previously received in respect of the notes (other than qualified stated interest payments). Gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder in respect of the disposition generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder has held the note for more than one year at the time of such disposition. Long-term capital gains of individuals and certain othernon-corporate taxpayers generally are eligible for preferential rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Medicare Tax

Certain U.S. Holders who are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds are subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on an amount up to their “net investment income” (“undistributed net investment income” in the case of an estate or trust). A U.S. Holder’s net investment income generally will include interest received with respect to the notes and net gains from the disposition of the notes, unless such interest or gains are derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive trading activities). U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax with respect to their investment in the notes.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

In general, interest paid on or with respect to the notes and the amount of any tax withheld from such payments will be reported to U.S. Holders of notes and to the IRS, and information reporting requirements will also apply to the proceeds of certain sales and other taxable dispositions (including retirements and redemptions) of notes, unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient. Backup withholding (currently at a rate of 24%) will apply to such payments if a U.S. Holder fails to provide its taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), provides an incorrect TIN, has been notified by the IRS that payments to such U.S. Holder are subject to backup withholding, or fails to certify, under penalties of perjury, that it has provided its correct TIN and is not subject to backup withholding (generally on a properly completed and executed IRS FormW-9). Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules generally will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Consequences toNon-U.S. Holders

The following is a summary of the general U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to a“Non-U.S. Holder” of the notes. A“Non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of a note that is neither a U.S. Holder nor a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Payments of Interest

Subject to the discussions of backup withholding and FATCA withholding below, payments of interest on the notes to aNon-U.S. Holder generally will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax and withholding tax under the “portfolio interest” exemption if suchNon-U.S. Holder properly certifies as to its foreign status (as described below) and:

• it does not conduct a trade or business within the United States to which the interest income is effectively connected;

S-24

• it does not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote within the meaning of section 871(h)(3) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder;

• it is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related directly or constructively to the Company through stock ownership;

• it is not a bank that acquired the notes in consideration for an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business; and

• it provides a properly executed IRS FormW-8BEN or IRS FormW-8BEN-E, as applicable (or appropriate successor form), to the Company or its paying agent certifying under penalty of perjury that such Holder is not a “United States person” (within the meaning of the Code). If aNon-U.S. Holder holds the notes through a securities clearing organization, financial institution or other agent acting on its behalf, it may be required to provide appropriate certifications to such agent. The agent then generally will be required to provide appropriate certifications to the Company or its paying agent, either directly or through other intermediaries. Special rules apply to foreign partnerships, estates and trusts and other intermediaries, and in certain circumstances certifications as to foreign status of partners, trust owners or beneficiaries may have to be provided. In addition, special rules apply to qualified intermediaries that enter into withholding agreements with the IRS.

If aNon-U.S. Holder cannot satisfy the requirements described above for the portfolio interest exemption, payments of interest made to such Holder on the notes will be subject to the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless it provides us either with (1) a properly executed IRS FormW-8BEN or IRS FormW-8BEN-E, as applicable (or appropriate successor form), establishing an exemption from (or a reduction of) withholding under the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty or (2) a properly executed IRS FormW-8ECI (or appropriate successor form) certifying that interest paid on the note is not subject to withholding tax because the interest is effectively connected with such Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (as discussed below under “—Income or gain effectively connected with a United States trade or business”).

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Notes

Subject to the discussions of backup withholding and FATCA withholding below, aNon-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note unless:

• the gain is effectively connected with such Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to its permanent establishment or fixed base in the United States); or

• such Holder is an individual who has been present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other requirements are met.

In the case of aNon-U.S. Holder described in the first bullet point, such Holder should see “—Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a United States Trade or Business” below. In the case of aNon-U.S. Holder described in the second bullet point, such Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% on the amount by which its capital gains allocable to United States sources, including gain from such disposition, exceed any capital losses allocable to United States sources, except as otherwise required by an applicable income tax treaty.

To the extent that the amount realized on a sale, redemption, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of the notes is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest on the notes, this amount generally will be treated in the same manner as described in “—Payments of Interest” above.

S-25

Income or Gain Effectively Connected With a United States Trade or Business

If aNon-U.S. Holder is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United States and interest on a note or gain recognized from the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business, such Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on that interest (and not the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax on such interest if certain certification requirements are satisfied) and on that gain on a net income basis in the same manner as if it were a “United States person” (within the meaning of the Code). Such Holder generally can meet these certification requirements by providing a properly executed IRS FormW-8ECI (or appropriate successor form) to the Company or its paying agent. If aNon-U.S. Holder is eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty between the United States and such Holder’s country of residence, any effectively connected income or gain generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by such Holder in the United States. In addition, if aNon-U.S. Holder is a foreign corporation, such Holder may be subject to an additional branch profits tax equal to 30% (or a lower applicable income tax treaty rate) of its earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to adjustments, that are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Generally, information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of interest on the notes and proceeds from the sale or other taxable disposition (including a retirement or redemption) of the notes.

Copies of the information returns reporting such payments and any withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which aNon-U.S. Holder resides under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. ANon-U.S. Holder may be subject to backup withholding of tax on payments of interest and, depending on the circumstances, the proceeds of a sale or other taxable disposition (including a retirement or redemption) unless it complies with certain certification procedures to establish that it is not a “United States person” (within the meaning of the Code). The certification procedures required to claim an exemption from withholding of tax on interest described above generally will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid backup withholding as well. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules generally will be allowed as a credit against a Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle a Holder to a refund, provided that it furnishes the required information to the IRS on a timely basis.Non-U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of backup withholding rules in their particular situation, the availability of an exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable.

FATCA Withholding

Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder (“FATCA”) impose a 30% withholding tax on any U.S.-source interest paid on the notes, and on the gross proceeds from a disposition (including a retirement or redemption) of such notes, in each case, if paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a“non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), including when acting as an intermediary, unless: (i) in the case of a foreign financial institution, such institution enters into an agreement with the IRS to withhold on certain payments, and to collect and provide to the IRS information regarding U.S. account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that arenon-U.S. entities with United States owners); (ii) in the case of anon-financial foreign entity, such entity certifies that it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or provides the withholding agent with a certification identifying its direct and indirect substantial United States owners; or (iii) the foreign financial institution ornon-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. The IRS has issued proposed Treasury Regulations that eliminate withholding on payments of gross proceeds (but not on payments of interest). Pursuant to the preamble to the proposed Treasury Regulations, we and any other applicable withholding agent may (but are not required

S-26

to) rely on this proposed change to FATCA withholding until final Treasury Regulations are issued or until such proposed Treasury Regulations are rescinded. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States with respect to FATCA may be subject to different rules. Under certain circumstances, a beneficial owner of notes might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. The rules under FATCA are complex. We will not pay any additional amounts in respect of any amounts withheld, including pursuant to FATCA.Non-U.S. Holders are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisor regarding the implications of FATCA on an investment in the notes.

THE PRECEDING SUMMARY OF CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED TO BE TAX OR OTHER LEGAL ADVICE. ACCORDINGLY, INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS, AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSIDERATIONS ARISING UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL ORNON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY, AND THE POTENTIAL EFFECT OF CHANGES IN APPLICABLE TAX LAW.

S-27

Underwriting

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement between the Company and the underwriters, for whom J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. are acting as representatives, the Company has agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has severally agreed to purchase from the Company the principal amount of the notes offered hereby set forth opposite its name below:

Underwriter	Principal amount of notes
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC	$
BofA Securities, Inc.
Total	$

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the notes are subject to, among other things, the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and certain other conditions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part. The underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all the notes if any are taken.

The Company and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute to payments the Company or the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

Commissions and Discounts

The underwriters propose to offer the notes directly to the public initially at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. Notes sold by the underwriters to dealers may be sold at the public offering price less a concession not to exceed        %, of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and dealers mayre-allow, a concession not to exceed        % the principal amount of the notes to other dealers. After the initial offering of the notes to the public, the underwriters may change the public offering price and concessions.

The Company’s expenses in connection with the offer and sale of the notes, other than the underwriting discount, are estimated to be $        .

It is expected that delivery of the notes will be made, against payment for the notes, on or about May    , 2020, which will be the            business day following the pricing of the notes. Under Rule15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to a trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes on the date of this prospectus supplement or the next                succeeding business days will be required, because the notes initially will settle within                business days (T+    ), to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade on the date of this prospectus supplement or the next                succeeding business days should consult their own legal advisors.

New Issue of Securities

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The Company does not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any national securities exchange or for quotation of the notes on any automated dealer quotation system. The Company has been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters intend to make a market in the notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market-making at any time without notice. The Company cannot assure the liquidity of the trading market for the notes or that an active public market for the notes will develop. If an active trading market for the notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected.

S-28

Price Stabilization and Short Positions

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of notes than the underwriters are required to purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain the price of the notes.

These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time without notice. These transactions may be effected in theover-the-counter market or otherwise.

Neither the Company nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the notes. In addition, neither the Company nor the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

The underwriters have in the past engaged, and the underwriters and their respective affiliates expect in the future to engage, in transactions with, and have provided, and may in the future provide, various financial advisory, commercial banking, corporate trust and investment banking services for, the Company and the Company’s affiliates, for which they have in the past received, and will in the future receive, customary fees.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and instruments of the Company or the Company’s affiliates. Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates that have a lending relationship with the Company routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters may hedge, their credit exposure to the Company consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in the Company’s securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long or short positions in such securities and instruments.

An affiliate of BofA Securities, Inc. is a syndication agent,co-bookrunner,co-lead arranger, a lender and an issuing bank and an affiliate of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is administrative agent, advisor,co-bookrunner,co-lead arranger, a lender and an issuing bank under the Company’s fourth amended and restated credit agreement dated as of October 25, 2018. An affiliate of BofA Securities, Inc. is a lender and an affiliate of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is administrative agent and a lender under the364-Day Credit Agreement.

Selling Restrictions

European Economic Area and the United Kingdom

The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) or in the United Kingdom (“UK”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer

S-29

within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the “Prospectus Regulation”). Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA or in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA or in the UK may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of the notes in any Member State of the EEA or in the UK will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of the notes. Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus are prospectuses for purposes of the Prospectus Regulation.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Regulation) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19 (5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus must not be acted on or relied on in the United Kingdom by persons who are not relevant persons. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relates is only available to, and will be engaged in with, relevant persons.

Each underwriter has represented, warranted and agreed that:

(i) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”)) received by it or them in connection with the issue or sale of any notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us; and

(ii) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Canada

The notes may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus (including any amendment hereto or thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

S-30

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Switzerland

This prospectus supplement is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the notes. The notes may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the notes to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Hong Kong

The notes have not and may not be offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made thereunder, or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning thereunder. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes has been or may be issued, or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made thereunder.

The contents of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any Hong Kong regulatory authority, including the Securities and Future Commission and the Companies Registry of Hong Kong and neither has it been nor will it be registered with the Companies Registry of Hong Kong. You are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer. If you are in doubt about any contents of this document, you should obtain independent professional advice. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may not be issued, circulated or distributed (in whole or in part) in Hong Kong, and the notes may not be offered for subscription to members of the public in Hong Kong. Each person acquiring the securities will be required, and is deemed by the acquisition of the securities, to confirm that he is aware of the restriction on offers of the securities described in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus and that he is not acquiring, and has not been offered any securities in circumstances that contravene any such restrictions.

Japan

The offering of the notes has not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended; the “Financial Instruments and Exchange Act”) or any other laws, regulations or ministerial guidelines of Japan, and accordingly the notes may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan and any branch or other office in Japan of a corporation or other entity organized under the laws of any foreign state), or to others forre-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

S-31

South Korea

The notes may not be offered, sold and delivered directly or indirectly, or offered or sold to any person for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in South Korea or to any resident of South Korea except pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations of South Korea, including the Korea Securities and Exchange Act and the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and the decrees and regulations thereunder. The notes have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Services Commission of Korea for public offering in South Korea. Furthermore, the notes may not be resold to South Korean residents unless the purchaser of the notes complies with all applicable regulatory requirements (including but not limited to government approval requirements under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and its subordinate decrees and regulations) in connection with the purchase of the notes.

Singapore

Each underwriter has acknowledged that this prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has not offered or sold any notes or caused the notes to be made subject of an invitation for purchase and will not offer or sell any notes or cause the notes to be made the subject of an invitation for purchase, and has not circulated or distributed, nor will it circulate or distribute, this prospectus supplement or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for purchase, of the notes, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than:

(i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289) of Singapore, as modified from time to time (the SFA) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA;

(ii) to a relevant person as defined in Section 4A of the SFA pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA; or

(iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with, the conditions of any other applicable exemption or provision of the SFA.

Where the notes are purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a Relevant Person which is:

(i) a corporation (which is not an Accredited Investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)), the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an Accredited Investor; or

(ii) a trust (where the trustee is not an Accredited Investor), the sole purpose of which is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an Accredited Investor,

securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation and the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust, shall not be transferred within 6 months after that corporation or that trust has subscribed for or acquired the notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

(i) to an Institutional Investor, or an Accredited Investor or other Relevant Person, or which arises from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

(ii) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

(iii) where the transfer is by operation of law;

(iv) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

S-32

(v) as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018.

Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification—Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA, the Company has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the notes are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS NoticeFAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Taiwan

The notes have not been and will not be registered or filed with, or approved by, the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan and/or any other regulatory authority of Taiwan pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be offered, issued or sold within Taiwan through a public offering or in any manner which would constitute an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of Taiwan or relevant laws and regulations that requires a registration, filing or approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan and/or other regulatory authority of Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan has been authorized to offer, sell, distribute or otherwise intermediate the offering of the notes in Taiwan.

S-33

Experts

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended September 30, 2019 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The information incorporated in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended September 30, 2019, relating to the oil and gas reserves of Seneca Resources Company, LLC, has been so incorporated in reliance on the audit report of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., an independent petroleum engineering firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in petroleum engineering.

Legal Matters

The validity of the notes and certain other matters will be passed upon for us by Jones Day. Matters of New Jersey law, including the incorporation of the Company, will be passed upon only by Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Roseland, New Jersey. Certain legal matters relating to the offering of the notes will be passed upon for the underwriters by Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.

S-34

PROSPECTUS

National Fuel Gas Company

DEBT SECURITIES

COMMON STOCK

STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS

and

STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

National Fuel Gas Company may periodically sell any or all of the following securities to the public:

• debt securities;

• common stock;

• stock purchase contracts; and

• stock purchase units.

National Fuel Gas Company will provide specific terms of its securities, including their offering prices, in supplements to this prospectus. The supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplements carefully before you invest.

National Fuel Gas Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol “NFG.”

Investing in the securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 2 for information on certain risks related to the purchase of securities.

National Fuel Gas Company may offer these securities directly or through underwriters, agents or dealers. The supplements to this prospectus will describe the terms of any particular plan of distribution, including any underwriting arrangements. The “Plan of Distribution” section on page 20 of this prospectus also provides more information on this topic.

National Fuel Gas Company’s principal executive offices are located at 6363 Main St., Williamsville, New York 14221 and its telephone number is(716) 857-7000.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is March 19, 2018.

No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities described in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstance in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, nor any sale made under this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of National Fuel Gas Company since the date of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement or that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such information.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		1
RISK FACTORS		2
NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY		3
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION		4
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE		5
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES		6
USE OF PROCEEDS		7
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES		8
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK		17
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS		19
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		20
EXPERTS		22
LEGAL OPINIONS		22

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that National Fuel Gas Company (“National”) has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, National may sell the securities or combinations of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that National may offer. Each time National sells securities, National will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

For more detailed information about the securities, you can read the exhibits to the registration statement. Those exhibits have been either filed with the registration statement or incorporated by reference to earlier SEC filings listed in the registration statement.

References in this prospectus and the prospectus supplement to “National” or “National Fuel” are to National Fuel Gas Company, National Fuel Gas Company and its subsidiaries or National Fuel Gas Company’s subsidiaries as appropriate in the context of the disclosure.

- 1 -

RISK FACTORS

In considering whether or not to purchase securities of National, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in any prospectus supplement and in the documents National incorporates by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, as well as the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement.

- 2 -

NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY

National, incorporated in 1902, is a holding company organized under the laws of New Jersey. National is engaged in the business of owning and holding securities issued by its subsidiaries.

National and its subsidiaries comprise a diversified energy company consisting of five business segments:

• the Exploration and Production segment, which is engaged in the exploration for, and the development and production of, natural gas and oil reserves in California and in the Appalachian region of the United States;

• the Pipeline and Storage segment, which provides interstate natural gas transportation and storage services;

• the Gathering segment, which builds, owns and operates natural gas processing and pipeline gathering facilities in the Appalachian region;

• the Utility segment, which sells natural gas and provides natural gas transportation services to customers through a local distribution system located in western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania; and

• the Energy Marketing segment, which markets natural gas to industrial, wholesale, commercial, public authority and residential customers primarily in western and central New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.

National’s other businesses are engaged in the marketing of timber and in the development and operation of natural gas processing and pipeline gathering facilities in the Appalachian region.

National’s principal executive offices are located at 6363 Main Street, Williamsville, New York 14221 and its telephone number is (716)857-7000.

- 3 -

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

National files annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any of these SEC filings at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. Information about National is also available on National’s website, www.natfuel.com. Other than any SEC filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the information available on National’s website is not part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement thereto.

- 4 -

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

National discloses important information to you by referring you to documents that it has filed with the SEC that are “incorporated by reference” in this prospectus.

The following documents have been filed by National with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference:

(a) National’s Annual Report onForm10-K (SEC FileNo. 001-03880) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, filed with the SEC on November 17, 2017;

(b) The portions of National’s Definitive Proxy Statement onSchedule 14A filed with the SEC on January 19, 2018 that are incorporated by reference into Part III of National’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 (SEC FileNo. 001-03880);

(c) National’s Quarterly Report onForm10-Q (SEC FileNo. 001-03880) for the period ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on February 2, 2018;

(d) National’s Current Reports on Form8-K (SEC FileNo. 001-03880), filed with the SEC onDecember  22, 2017,January  12, 2018 (Items 1.01, 3.03 and 9.01 only),January  16, 2018,January 17, 2018 andMarch 13, 2018, and onForm8-K/A filed on December 27, 2017; and

(e) The description of National’s Common Stock contained in the Registration Statements onForm8-A filed with the SEC under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents filed by National with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. National will not, however, incorporate by reference any documents or portions thereof that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of National’s Current Reports on Form8-K unless, and except to the extent, specified in such reports.

Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

We will provide you with a copy of any of these filings (other than an exhibit to these filings, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into the filing requested) at no cost, if you submit a request to us by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:

National Fuel Gas Company

6363 Main Street

Williamsville, New York 14221

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Telephone: (716)857-7000

- 5 -

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table shows the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:

	Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
Three Months Ended December 31, 2017	2017		2016			2015			2014		2013
4.78		4.50		—	(2)		—	(1)		5.36		4.92

(1) The ratio coverage for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 was less than 1:1. The Company would have needed to generate additional earnings of approximately $698,977,000 to achieve a coverage of 1:1 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

(2) The ratio coverage for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 was less than 1:1. The Company would have needed to generate additional earnings of approximately $523,855,000 to achieve a coverage of 1:1 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.

For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “Fixed Charges” represent the sum of interest expense, including capital interest and excluding any amounts recorded in interest expense as allowance for borrowed funds used in construction or amortization of loss on reacquired debt, and an estimate of the interest within rental expense. “Earnings” represents the amount resulting from adding the following items: pretax income from continuing operations before adjustment for income or loss from equity investees (unconsolidated subsidiaries), fixed charges (as defined in the previous sentence), and distributed income of equity investees (unconsolidated subsidiaries).

- 6 -

USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as may otherwise be set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement, the proceeds from the sale of these securities may be used to reduce short-term indebtedness, to redeem or discharge indebtedness, to finance a portion of National’s capital expenditures, for corporate development purposes, including, without limitation, acquisitions made by or on behalf of National or its subsidiaries, and for other general corporate purposes.

- 7 -

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

General

The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of National’s unsecured debt securities, consisting of debentures and medium-term notes, that National may offer by this prospectus. National will describe the particular terms of the debt securities, and provisions that vary from those described below, in one or more prospectus supplements.

The debt securities will be National’s direct unsecured general obligations. The debt securities will be senior debt securities. National may issue the debt securities from time to time in one or more series, under an indenture, dated as of October 1, 1999, between National and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York), as trustee (the “Trustee”). This indenture, as it may be amended and supplemented from time to time, is referred to in this prospectus as the “Indenture.”

The following descriptions of the debt securities and the Indenture are summaries and are qualified by reference to the Indenture. This summary does not contain a complete description of the debt securities. You should read this summary together with the Indenture and the officer’s certificates or other documents establishing the debt securities for a complete understanding of the provisions that may be important to you. References to certain sections of the Indenture are included in parentheses. Whenever particular provisions or defined terms in the Indenture are referred to under this “Description of Debt Securities,” such provisions or defined terms are incorporated by reference herein. The Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You should refer to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for provisions that apply to the debt securities.

The debt securities will rank equally with all of National’s other senior, unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

Because National is a holding company that conducts all of its operations through subsidiaries, holders of debt securities will generally have a position junior to claims of creditors (including trade creditors of and holders of indebtedness issued by any such subsidiary) and preferred stockholders of the subsidiaries of National. No subsidiary currently has outstanding shares of preferred stock.

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to that offering. These terms will include any of the following terms that apply to that series:

• the title of the debt securities;

• the total principal amount of the debt securities;

• the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable and how it will be paid;

• the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear interest, or how such rate or rates will be determined;

• the date or dates from which interest on the debt securities will accrue, the interest payment dates on which interest will be paid, and the record dates for interest payments;

• any right to extend the interest payment periods for the debt securities and the duration of the extension;

• the percentage, if less than 100%, of the principal amount of the debt securities that will be payable if the maturity of the debt securities is accelerated;

• any date or dates on which, and the price or prices at which, the debt securities may be redeemed at the option of National and any restrictions on such redemptions;

• any sinking fund or other provisions or options held by holders of debt securities that would obligate National to repurchase or otherwise redeem the debt securities;

- 8 -

• any changes or additions to the events of default under the Indenture or changes or additions to the covenants under the Indenture;

• if the debt securities will be issued in denominations other than $1,000;

• if payments on the debt securities may be made in a currency or currencies other than United States dollars;

• any convertible feature or options regarding the debt securities;

• any rights or duties of another person to assume the obligations of National with respect to the debt securities;

• any collateral, security, assurance or guarantee for the debt securities; and

• any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the terms of the Indenture.

(See Section 301.)

The Indenture does not limit the principal amount of debt securities that may be issued. The Indenture allows debt securities to be issued up to the principal amount that may be authorized by National. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series may be increased without the consent of any holders and additional debt securities of such series may be authenticated and delivered up to the limit on the aggregate principal amount authorized with respect to such series as so increased. Accordingly, the debt securities of any series may be increased on the same terms and conditions, except for the issue price and the issue date, and with the same CUSIP numbers as the debt securities of such series initially offered.

Debt securities may be sold at a discount below their principal amount. United States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities sold at an original issue discount may be described in the prospectus supplement. In addition, certain United States federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any debt securities which are denominated or payable in a currency or currency unit other than United States dollars may be described in the prospectus supplement.

Except as may otherwise be described in a prospectus supplement, the covenants contained in the Indenture will not afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving National or in the event of a change in control.

Payment And Paying Agents

Except as may be provided in the prospectus supplement, interest, if any, on each debt security payable on each interest payment date will be paid to the person in whose name such debt security is registered as of the close of business on the regular record date for the interest payment date. However, interest payable at maturity will be paid to the person to whom the principal is paid. If there has been a default in the payment of interest on any debt security, the defaulted interest may be paid to the holder of such debt security as of the close of business on a date to be fixed by the Trustee, which will be between 10 and 15 days prior to the date proposed by National for payment of such defaulted interest or in any other manner permitted by any securities exchange on which such debt security may be listed, if the Trustee finds it practicable. (See Section 307.)

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities at maturity will be payable upon presentation of the debt securities at the corporate trust office of the Trustee, as paying agent, in The City of New York. National may change the place of payment on the debt securities, may appoint one or more additional paying agents (including National) and may remove any paying agent, all at the discretion of National. (See Section 602.)

- 9 -

Registration And Transfer

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the transfer of debt securities may be registered, and debt securities may be exchanged for other debt securities of the same series or tranche, of authorized denominations and with the same terms and principal amount, at the corporate trust office of the Trustee in The City of New York. National may change the place for registration of transfer and exchange of the debt securities and may designate additional places for such registration and exchange. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, no service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities. However, National may require payment to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed. National will not be required to execute or to provide for the registration of transfer of, or the exchange of, (a) any debt security during a period of 15 days prior to giving any notice of redemption or (b) any debt security selected for redemption except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part. (See Section 305.)

Satisfaction And Discharge

National will be discharged from its obligations on the debt securities of a particular series, or any portion of the principal amount of the debt securities of such series, if it irrevocably deposits with the Trustee sufficient cash or government securities to pay the principal, or portion of principal, interest, any premium and any other sums when due on the debt securities of such series at their maturity, stated maturity date, or redemption. (See Section 701.)

The Indenture will be deemed satisfied and discharged when no debt securities remain outstanding and when National has paid all other sums payable by National under the Indenture. (See Section 702.)

All moneys National pays to the Trustee or any paying agent on debt securities which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after payments have become due will be paid to or upon the order of National. Thereafter, the holder of such debt security may look only to National for payment thereof. (See Section 603.)

Limitation On Liens On Subsidiary Capital Stock

The Indenture provides that, except as otherwise specified with respect to a particular series of debt securities, National will not pledge, mortgage, hypothecate or grant a security interest in, or permit any pledge, mortgage, security interest or other lien upon, any capital stock of any of its majority-owned subsidiaries, which capital stock National now or hereafter directly owns, to secure any Indebtedness, as defined below, without also securing the outstanding debt securities (so long as the other Indebtedness shall be so secured) equally and ratably, with or, at National’s option, prior to, the other Indebtedness and any other Indebtedness similarly entitled to be so secured.

This limitation does not apply to, or prevent the creation or existence of:

(1) any pledge, mortgage, security interest, lien or encumbrance upon any such capital stock created at the time National acquires that capital stock or within 270 days after that time to secure the purchase price for that capital stock so acquired;

(2) any pledge, mortgage, security interest, lien or encumbrance upon any such capital stock existing at the time National acquires that capital stock, whether or not National assumes the secured obligations; or

(3) any extension, renewal, replacement or refunding of any pledge, mortgage, security interest, lien or encumbrance permitted by (1) and (2) above, or of any Indebtedness secured thereby; provided, that,

(a) the principal amount of Indebtedness so secured immediately after the extension, renewal, replacement or refunding may not exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness so secured immediately before the extension, renewal, replacement or refunding; and

- 10 -

(b) the extension, renewal, replacement or refunding of such pledge, mortgage, security interest, lien or encumbrance is limited to no more than the same proportion of all shares of capital stock as were covered by the pledge, mortgage, security interest, lien or encumbrance that was extended, renewed, refunded or replaced; or

(4) any judgment, levy, execution, attachment or other similar lien arising in connection with court proceedings, provided that:

(a) the execution or enforcement of the lien is effectively stayed within 30 days after entry of the corresponding judgment, or the corresponding judgment has been discharged within such 30 day period, and the claims secured thereby are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings timely commenced and diligently prosecuted; or

(b) the payment of the lien is covered in full by insurance and the insurance company has not denied or contested coverage thereof; or

(c) so long as the lien is adequately bonded, any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of the corresponding judgment, decree or order shall not have been fully terminated or the period within which these proceedings may be initiated shall not have expired.

Any pledge, mortgage, security interest, lien or encumbrance on any shares of the capital stock of any of the majority-owned subsidiaries of National, which shares of capital stock National now or hereafter directly owns, to secure any Indebtedness other than as described in (1) through (4) above, is referred to in this prospectus as a “Restricted Lien.” This limitation on liens does not apply to the extent that National creates any Restricted Liens to secure Indebtedness that, together with all other Indebtedness of National secured by Restricted Liens, does not at the time exceed 5% of National’s Consolidated Capitalization. (See Section 608.)

For this purpose, “Consolidated Capitalization” means the sum of:

(1) Consolidated Common Shareholders’ Equity;

(2) Consolidated Indebtedness, exclusive of any that is due and payable within one year of the date the sum is determined; and, without duplication

(3) any preference or preferred stock of National or any Consolidated Subsidiary, as defined below, which is subject to mandatory redemption or sinking fund provisions.

The term “Consolidated Common Shareholders’ Equity,” as used above, means the total assets of National and its Consolidated Subsidiaries that would, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, be classified on a balance sheet as assets, less: (a) all liabilities of National and its Consolidated Subsidiaries that would, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, be classified on a balance sheet as liabilities; (b) minority interests owned by third parties in Consolidated Subsidiaries of National; and (c) preference or preferred stock of National and its Consolidated Subsidiaries only to the extent any such preference or preferred stock is subject to mandatory redemption or sinking fund provisions.

The term “Consolidated Indebtedness,” as used above, means total indebtedness as shown on the consolidated balance sheet of National and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

The term “Consolidated Subsidiary,” as used above, means at any date any majority-owned subsidiary the financial statements of which under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States would be consolidated with those of National in its consolidated financial statements as of such date.

For purposes of the limitation described in the first paragraph under this heading, “Indebtedness” means:

(1) all indebtedness created or assumed by National for the repayment of money borrowed;

- 11 -

(2) all indebtedness for money borrowed secured by a lien upon capital stock owned by National and upon which indebtedness for money borrowed National customarily pays interest, although National has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness for money borrowed; and

(3) all indebtedness of others for money borrowed which is guaranteed as to payment of principal by National or in effect guaranteed by National through a contingent agreement to purchase such indebtedness for money borrowed, but excluding from this definition any other contingent obligation of National in respect of indebtedness for money borrowed or other obligations incurred by others.

The foregoing limitation does not limit in any manner the ability of: (1) National to place liens on any of its assets other than the capital stock of directly held, majority-owned subsidiaries; (2) National to cause the transfer of its assets or those of its subsidiaries, including the capital stock covered by the foregoing restrictions; or (3) any of the direct or indirect subsidiaries of National to place liens on any of their assets.

In addition, the Indenture provides that if debentures issued by National under the indenture dated as of October 15, 1974, as supplemented (1974 Indenture), between National and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, in an aggregate principal amount in excess of 5% of National’s Consolidated Capitalization become secured pursuant to the provisions of the 1974 Indenture, National will secure any outstanding debt securities equally and ratably with those debentures. If National secures the outstanding debt securities, as provided in the prior sentence, then if and for so long as the aggregate principal amount of the debentures secured pursuant to the 1974 Indenture at any time decreases and as a result constitutes 5% or less of National’s Consolidated Capitalization, the outstanding debt securities will no longer be secured. (See Section 608.)

As of December 31, 2017, the Consolidated Capitalization of National was approximately $3,944,388,000.

Consolidation, Merger, And Sale Of Assets

Under the terms of the Indenture, National may not consolidate with or merge into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any entity, unless:

• the surviving or successor entity is organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction and it expressly assumes National’s obligations on all debt securities and under the Indenture;

• immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

• National shall have delivered to the Trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel as to compliance with the foregoing.

The terms of the Indenture do not restrict National in a merger in which National is the surviving entity. (See Section 1101.)

Events Of Default

“Event of default” when used in the Indenture with respect to any series of debt securities, means any of the following:

• failure to pay interest, if any, on any debt security of the applicable series for 30 days after it is due;

• failure to pay the principal of or premium, if any, on any debt security of the applicable series when due (whether at maturity or upon earlier redemption);

• failure to perform any other covenant in the Indenture, other than a covenant that does not relate to that series of debt securities, that continues for 90 days after National receives written notice from the

- 12 -

Trustee, or National and the Trustee receive a written notice from the holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the debt securities of such series; however, the Trustee or the Trustee and the holders of such principal amount of debt securities of this series can agree to an extension of the 90 day period and such an agreement to extend will be automatically deemed to occur if National is diligently pursuing action to correct the default;

• certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of National; or

• any other event of default included in any supplemental indenture or officer’s certificate for a specific series of debt securities.

(See Section 801).

The Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except default in the payment of principal, premium or interest, if it considers such withholding of notice to be in the interests of the holders. An event of default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under the Indenture.

Remedies

Acceleration of Maturity

If an event of default with respect to fewer than all the series of debt securities occurs and continues, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the debt securities of such series may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of such series, together with accrued interest, to be due and payable immediately. However, if the event of default is applicable to all outstanding debt securities under the Indenture, only the Trustee or holders of at least 33% in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of all series, voting as one class, and not the holders of any one series, may make such a declaration of acceleration.

At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the debt securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the event of default giving rise to such declaration of acceleration will be considered waived, and such declaration and its consequences will be considered rescinded and annulled, if:

• National has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

• all overdue interest, if any, on all debt securities of the series;

• the principal of and premium, if any, on any debt securities of the series which have otherwise become due and interest, if any, that is currently due;

• interest, if any, on overdue interest; and

• all amounts due to the Trustee under the Indenture; and

• any other event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series shall have been cured or waived as provided in the Indenture.

There is no automatic acceleration, even in the event of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of National. (See Section 802.)

Right to Direct Proceedings

Other than its duties in case of an event of default, the Trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders offer the Trustee a reasonable indemnity. (See Section 903.) If they provide a reasonable indemnity, the holders of a

- 13 -

majority in principal amount of any series of debt securities will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the Trustee. However, if the event of default relates to more than one series, only the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all affected series will have the right to give this direction. (See Section 812). The Trustee is not obligated to comply with directions that conflict with law or other provisions of the Indenture.

Limitation on Right to Institute Proceedings

No holder of debt securities of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding under the Indenture, or to exercise any remedy under the Indenture, unless:

• the holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing event of default;

• the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series in respect of which an event of default shall have occurred and be continuing have made a written request to the Trustee, and have offered reasonable indemnity to the Trustee to institute proceedings; and

• the Trustee has failed to institute any proceeding for 60 days after notice and has not received any direction inconsistent with the written request of holders during such period.

(See Section 807.)

No Impairment of Right to Receive Payment

However, such limitations do not apply to a suit by a holder of a debt security for payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such debt security on or after the applicable due date. (See Section 808.)

Annual Notice to Trustee

National will provide to the Trustee an annual statement by an appropriate officer as to National’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Indenture. (See Section 606.)

Modification and Waiver

National and the Trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures without the consent of any holder of debt securities for any of the following purposes:

• to evidence the assumption by any permitted successor of the covenants of National in the Indenture and in the debt securities;

• to add additional covenants of National or to surrender any right or power of National under the Indenture;

• to add additional events of default;

• to change, eliminate, or add any provision to the Indenture; provided, however, if the change, elimination, or addition will adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any series in any material respect, such change, elimination, or addition will become effective only:

• when the consent of the holders of debt securities of such series has been obtained in accordance with the Indenture; or

• when no debt securities of the affected series remain outstanding under the Indenture;

• to provide collateral security for all but not part of the debt securities;

• to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any other series as permitted by the Indenture;

- 14 -

• to provide for the authentication and delivery of bearer securities and coupons attached thereto;

• to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a successor trustee;

• to provide for the procedures required for use of a noncertificated system of registration for the debt securities of all or any series;

• to change any place where principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be payable, debt securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and notices to National may be served; or

• to cure any ambiguity or inconsistency or to make any other provisions with respect to matters and questions arising under the Indenture; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any series in any material respect.

(See Section 1201.)

The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of all series then outstanding may waive compliance by National with certain restrictive provisions of the Indenture. (See Section 607.) The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the Indenture with respect to that series, except a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest and certain covenants and provisions of the Indenture that cannot be modified or be amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the series affected. (See Section 813.)

If the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after the date of the Indenture in such a way as to require changes to the Indenture, the Indenture will be deemed to be amended so as to conform to such amendment of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. National and the Trustee may, without the consent of any holders, enter into one or more supplemental indentures to evidence such an amendment. (See Section 1201.)

The consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of all series then outstanding, voting as one class, is required for all other modifications to the Indenture. However, if less than all of the series of debt securities outstanding are directly affected by a proposed supplemental indenture, then the consent only of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all series that are directly affected, voting as one class, will be required. No such amendment or modification may:

• change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any debt security, or reduce the principal amount of any debt security or its rate of interest or change the method of calculating such interest rate or reduce any premium payable upon redemption, or change the currency in which payments are made, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity of any debt security, without the consent of the holder;

• reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series which consent is required for any supplemental indenture or any waiver of compliance with a provision of the Indenture or any default thereunder and its consequences, or reduce the requirements for quorum or voting, without the consent of all the holders of the series; or

• modify certain of the provisions of the Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waivers of certain covenants and waivers of past defaults with respect to the debt securities of any series, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby.

A supplemental indenture which changes the Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of debt securities, or modifies the rights of the holders of debt securities of one or more series, will not affect the rights under the Indenture of the holders of the debt securities of any other series. (See Section 1202.)

The Indenture provides that debt securities owned by National or anyone else required to make payment on the debt securities shall be disregarded and considered not to be outstanding in determining whether the required holders have given a request or consent. (See Section 101.)

- 15 -

National may fix in advance a record date to determine the required number of holders entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other such act of the holders, but National shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act of the holders may be given before or after such record date, but only the holders of record at the close of business on that record date will be considered holders for the purposes of determining whether holders of the required percentage of the outstanding debt securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act of the holders. For that purpose, the outstanding debt securities shall be computed as of the record date. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other act of a holder shall bind every future holder of the same debt securities and the holder of every debt security issued upon the registration of transfer of or in exchange of such debt securities. A transferee will be bound by acts of the Trustee or National taken in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such debt security. (See Section 104.)

Resignation Of The Trustee

The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice to National or may be removed at any time by act of the holders of a majority in principal amount of all series of debt securities then outstanding delivered to the Trustee and National. No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee will be effective until the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee. So long as no event of default or event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default has occurred and is continuing and except with respect to a Trustee appointed by act of the holders, if National has delivered to the Trustee a resolution of its Board of Directors appointing a successor trustee and such successor has accepted such appointment in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Trustee will be deemed to have resigned and the successor will be deemed to have been appointed as trustee in accordance with the Indenture. (See Section 910.)

Notices

Notices to holders of debt securities will be given by mail to the addresses of such holders as they may appear in the security register therefor. (See Section 106.)

Title

National, the Trustee, and any agent of National or the Trustee, may treat the person in whose name debt securities are registered as the absolute owner thereof, whether or not such debt securities may be overdue, for the purpose of making payments and for all other purposes irrespective of notice to the contrary. (See Section 308.)

Governing Law

The Indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. (See Section 112.)

Regarding The Trustee

The Trustee will be The Bank of New York Mellon. In addition to acting as Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon acts, and may act, as trustee under various indentures and trusts of National and its affiliates.

- 16 -

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

The following description of National’s common stock is a summary and is qualified by reference to the terms and provisions of National’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (Restated Certificate of Incorporation) and itsBy-Laws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement to which this prospectus relates and incorporated herein by reference. Reference is also made to the indenture dated as of October 15, 1974, as supplemented (1974 Indenture), between National Fuel and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. (The 1974 Indenture includes a limitation on the payment of dividends, as described below under “Dividend Rights.” National’s other indenture, dated as of October 1, 1999, between National and The Bank of New York Mellon, contains no such limitation.)

No shares of preferred stock of National are currently outstanding. However, the Board of Directors of National has the ability to issue one or more series of preferred stock from time to time. The actual effect of the preferred stock upon the rights of the holders of National’s common stock will not be known until National’s Board of Directors determines the respective rights of the holders of one or more series of preferred stock. Such effects, however, might include: (a) restrictions on dividends on National’s common stock if dividends on the preferred stock are in arrears; (b) dilution of the voting power of National’s common stock; (c) restrictions on the rights of the holders of National’s common stock to share in National’s assets upon liquidation due to satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the preferred stock; and (d) dilution of rights of holders of National’s common stock to share in National’s assets upon liquidation if the preferred stock is participating with respect to distributions upon such liquidation.

Dividend Rights

The holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends as declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available for the purpose and subject to a limitation in the 1974 Indenture. The 1974 Indenture prohibits the payment of cash dividends on, and the purchase or redemption of, common stock if the cumulative dividends on and amounts paid for purchase or redemption of common or preferred stock since December 31, 1967 exceed or would exceed consolidated net income available for dividends for that same period plus $10 million plus any additional amount authorized or approved, upon application of National, by the SEC. The amount available for the declaration and payment of dividends on National’s common stock pursuant to this restriction will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The Board of Directors’ ability to declare dividends on common stock may also be limited by the rights and preferences of certain series of preferred stock, which may be issued from time to time, and by the terms of instruments defining the rights of holders of outstanding indebtedness of National.

Voting Rights And Classification Of The Board Of Directors

The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share. The affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by the holders of the common stock is required for the merger or consolidation of National or for the sale of substantially all of its assets. The Board of Directors is divided into three classes, each with, as nearly as possible, an equal number of directors.

Liquidation Rights

Upon any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of National, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive pro rata all of National’s assets and funds remaining after payment of or provision for creditors and subject to the rights and preferences of each series of preferred stock.

Preemptive Rights

Holders of common stock and any series of preferred stock that may be issued have no preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of capital stock of National.

- 17 -

Business Combinations

National’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that certain conditions must be met before the consummation of any merger or other business combination by National or any of its subsidiaries with any stockholder who is directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of 5% or more of National’s outstanding common stock (substantial stockholder) or with an affiliate of any substantial stockholder. The term substantial stockholder does not include National, any of its subsidiaries, or any trustee holding common stock of National for the benefit of the employees of National or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to one or more employee benefit plans or arrangements. The conditions, which are in addition to those otherwise required by law, prescribe the minimum amount per share that must be paid to holders of common stock and the form of consideration paid, and require that the holders of common stock be furnished certain information about the business combination prior to voting on it. A business combination, as defined in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, generally means any of the following transactions:

• a merger, consolidation or share exchange;

• a sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of any assets in exchange for property having a fair market value of more than $10 million, if determined to be a business combination by certain directors of National in accordance with provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation;

• the issuance or transfer of securities in exchange for property having a fair market value of more than $10 million, if determined to be a business combination by certain directors of National in accordance with provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation;

• the adoption of a plan of liquidation or dissolution of National; or

• any reclassification of securities, recapitalization or reorganization that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of securities of National that is owned by any substantial stockholder or by any affiliate of a substantial stockholder.

The approval of at least three-fourths of the entire Board of Directors or, in the event that the Board of Directors consists of directors elected by the holders of preferred stock, the approval of a majority of the entire Board, is required to amend or repeal the classified board or business combination provisions contained in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

Listing

The common stock is, and will be, listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Transfer Agent And Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, a division of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

- 18 -

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

National may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts that obligate holders to purchase from National, and National to sell to these holders, a specified number of shares of common stock at a future date or dates. The consideration per share of common stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of stock purchase units consisting of a stock purchase contract and either debt securities of National or U.S. Treasury securities that are pledged to secure the holders’ obligations to purchase the common stock under the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may require National to make periodic payments to the holders of some or all of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under these stock purchase contracts in a specified manner.

A prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units being offered. The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete, and reference will be made to the stock purchase contracts. Some of the important United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the stock purchase units and stock purchase contracts will be discussed in the related prospectus supplement.

- 19 -

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

National may periodically sell its securities in one or more of the following ways:

• to underwriters or dealers for resale to the public or to institutional investors;

• directly to the public or institutional investors; or

• through agents to the public or to institutional investors.

The prospectus supplement will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

• the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

• the purchase price of such securities and the proceeds to be received by National;

• any underwriting discounts, commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation;

• any initial public offering price;

• any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

• any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed.

If National uses underwriters in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell them in one or more transactions, including:

• negotiated transactions;

• at a fixed public offering price or prices; or

• at varying prices determined at the time of sale.

Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any securities will be conditioned on customary closing conditions and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of securities, if any are purchased.

If National uses dealers in the sale, the dealers will acquire the securities as principals and may resell them to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealers at the time of resale.

Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, any agent selling securities on National’s behalf will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

This prospectus may be delivered by underwriters and dealers in connection with short sales undertaken to hedge exposures under commitments to acquire the securities described in this prospectus that may be issued on a delayed or contingent basis.

Underwriters, agents and dealers may be entitled under agreements entered into with National to indemnification by National against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribution with respect to payments that the underwriters, agents or dealers may be required to make. Underwriters, agents and dealers may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for National and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

Any securities offered by this prospectus, other than National’s common stock, will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market. National’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and any shares of National’s common stock sold will also be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, upon official notice of issuance. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold by National for public offering

- 20 -

and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Any of these securities, other than National’s common stock, may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. National gives no assurance as to the liquidity of or the existence of any trading market for any of these securities, other than National’s common stock.

- 21 -

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended September 30, 2017 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The information incorporated in this prospectus by reference to National’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended September 30, 2017, relating to the oil and gas reserves of Seneca Resources Corporation, has been so incorporated in reliance on the audit report of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., an independent petroleum engineering firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in petroleum engineering.

LEGAL OPINIONS

The validity of the debt securities, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units will be passed upon for National by Jones Day, Cleveland, Ohio and for the underwriters, dealers, or agents by Hunton & Williams LLP, New York, New York. However, all matters of New Jersey law, including the incorporation of National and the validity of the common stock, will be passed upon by Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Roseland, New Jersey.

- 22 -

$            

National Fuel Gas Company

    % Notes due

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

May     , 2020

Joint Book-Running Managers

J.P. Morgan BofA Securities