Exhibit 5.1
 |
August 11, 2023
National Fuel Gas Company
6363 Main Street
Williamsville, New York 14221
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-8 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We refer to your Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by National Fuel Gas Company (the “Company”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the registration of 350,000 shares of your common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Shares”) to be offered pursuant to the National Fuel Gas Company Tax-Deferred Savings Plan (the “Plan”). This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K of the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, other than as to the validity of the Shares.
We have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Plan and such corporate records, certificates and other documents and such questions of law as we have considered necessary and appropriate for the purposes of the opinion contained herein. In our examination of such documents and records, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to any facts material to our opinion, we have, when relevant facts were not independently established, relied upon the Registration Statement and the aforesaid records, certificates and documents.
Upon the basis of such examination, we advise you that, in our opinion, the Shares issuable under the Plan will be, when issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, provided that:
| (a) | The Board of Directors of the Company, or a duly authorized committee thereof, shall have taken all appropriate action (i) to authorize and approve the issuance and delivery of the Shares in connection with the Plan, (ii) to fix or otherwise determine the consideration to be received therefor and (iii) to take or, subject to specified guidelines (including the specified pool of Shares that may be issued), to delegate to appropriate officers (being officers other than those to which the relevant Shares may be issued) of the Company the authority to take and, pursuant thereto, such officers shall have taken, all other final action necessary to consummate the authorization of the issuance and delivery of such Shares in connection with the Plan; |
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| (b) | Such Shares shall have been issued and delivered for the consideration contemplated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan, which shall not be less than par value per share, and as contemplated by the Registration Statement; and |
| (c) | If such Shares are certificated, certificates in the form required under the New Jersey Business Corporation Act representing the Shares shall have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered upon receipt of payment of the agreed upon consideration therefor and as contemplated by the Registration Statement. |
Our opinion herein is expressed solely with respect to the federal laws of the United States and the laws of the State of New Jersey as in effect on the date hereof, and we express no opinion as to the effect on the matters covered by this letter of the laws of any other jurisdiction. We assume no obligation to advise you of facts or circumstances that come to our attention or changes in law that occur which could affect the opinion contained herein. Our opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth above, and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company, the Shares, the Plan or the Registration Statement.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to this firm in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Lowenstein Sandler LLP
LOWENSTEIN SANDLER LLP |