Table of Contents
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(B)(5)
Registration No. 333-202877
 
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 September 18, 2017
Prospectus supplement
(To prospectus dated March 19, 2015)
$                

National Fuel Gas Company
% Notes due

National Fuel Gas Company (“National”) is offering $                principal amount of                % notes due                 , which National refers to in this prospectus supplement as the “notes.” National will pay interest on the notes semi-annually in arrears on                and                of each year, beginning on                , 2018. The notes will be issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The notes will mature on                ,                . National 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, National may be required to offer to repurchase the notes from the holders.
The notes will constitute National’s direct unsecured general obligations and will rank equally with all of National’s other unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding.
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 page S-9 of this prospectus supplement.

 	  	Per note	 	  	Total	 	
Public offering price(1)	  	 	%	 	  	$		 	
Underwriting discount	  	 	%	 	  	$		 	
Proceeds, before expenses, to National	  	 	%	 	  	$		 	
(1)             Plus accrued interest from September    , 2017, 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 in New York, New York and its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anoyme, and Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V. on or about September    , 2017.

 
					
Joint Book-Running Managers	
BofA Merrill Lynch	  	US Bancorp	  	Wells Fargo Securities	
September     , 2017

Table of Contents
 Table of Contents
Prospectus Supplement

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT	  	 	S-1	 	
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	  	 	S-1	 	
INFORMATION WE INCORPORATE BY REFERENCE	  	 	S-1	 	
SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	  	 	S-2	 	
SUMMARY	  	 	S-4	 	
THE OFFERING	  	 	S-5	 	
SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA	  	 	S-7	 	
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES	  	 	S-7	 	
CAPITALIZATION	  	 	S-8	 	
RISK FACTORS	  	 	S-9	 	
USE OF PROCEEDS	  	 	S-11	 	
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES	  	 	S-12	 	
CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS	  	 	S-21	 	
UNDERWRITING	  	 	S-26	 	
EXPERTS	  	 	S-32	 	
LEGAL MATTERS	  	 	S-32	 	
Prospectus

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	  	 	3	 	
RISK FACTORS	  	 	4	 	
NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY	  	 	5	 	
WHERE CAN YOU FIND MORE INFORMATION	  	 	6	 	
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE	  	 	6	 	
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES	  	 	7	 	
USE OF PROCEEDS	  	 	8	 	
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	  	 	8	 	
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK	  	 	17	 	
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS	  	 	20	 	
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	  	 	21	 	
EXPERTS	  	 	22	 	
LEGAL OPINIONS	  	 	22	 	

Table of Contents
 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,” “National,” 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
We are subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the Exchange Act. We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC. Our SEC filings are available over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may read and copy any reports, statements and other information filed by us at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the Public Reference Room. You may also inspect our SEC reports at our web site at http://www.natfuel.com. We do not intend for information contained on our web site to be part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, other than documents that we file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or 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 Exchange Act:
 
 	•	 	our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016;	
 
 	•	 	our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended December 31, 2016, March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017; and	
 
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 	•	 	our Current Reports on Form 8-K and 8-K/A, as applicable, filed on December 14, 2016 (only with respect to item 5.02), December 15, 2016, December 20, 2016 and March 15, 2017.	
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 Form 8-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 sta  tements
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. National’s expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and are believed by National 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 National, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements:
 
 	•	 	Delays or changes in costs or plans with respect to Company projects or related projects of other companies, including 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 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;	
 
 	•	 	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;	
 
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 	•	 	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;	
 
 	•	 	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;	
 
 	•	 	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;	
 
 	•	 	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;	
 
 	•	 	Economic disruptions or uninsured losses resulting from major accidents, fires, severe weather, natural disasters, terrorist activities, acts of war, cyber attacks or pest infestation;	
 
 	•	 	Significant differences between the Company’s projected and actual capital expenditures and operating expenses; or	
 
 	•	 	Increasing costs of insurance, changes in coverage and the ability to obtain insurance.	
 
 	•	 	Other risks described in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or incorporated by reference through National’s filings with the SEC, including in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of National’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016 and Part II, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of National’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.	
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. National disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
 
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 Summary
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 primarily in California and 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 is also engaged in the marketing of timber.
National’s principal executive offices are located at 6363 Main Street, Williamsville, New York 14221 and its telephone number is (716) 857-7000.

 
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 The offering
 
Issuer	National Fuel Gas Company	
 
Notes	$         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 certain change of control events involving a material subsidiary result in 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             , 2018	
 
Use of Proceeds	National intends to use the net proceeds from the issuance and sale of the notes for general corporate purposes, including to repurchase and/or redeem all of its outstanding 6.50% senior notes due April 2018. See “Use of proceeds” in this prospectus supplement.	
 
Optional Redemption	At National’s option, any or all of the notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time prior to                 , (         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 National elects to redeem the notes at any time on or after             ,         (         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 National’s direct unsecured general obligations and will rank equally with all of National’s other unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding.	
 
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 National 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	National 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.	

 
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Denomination and Form	National 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 page S-9 in this prospectus supplement and other information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in the notes.	

 
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 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)	 	
 	  	Nine months ended June 30,	 	 	Fiscal year ended
September 30,	 	
 	  	2017	 	  	2016	 	 	2016	 	 	2015	 	 	2014	 	
Summary of Operations	  				  				 				 				 				
Operating revenues	  	$	1,292,944	 	  	$	1,159,943	 	 	$	1,452,416	 	 	$	1,760,913	 	 	$	2,113,081	 	
Net income available for common stock	  	$	237,906	 	  	$	(328,510	) 	 	$	(290,958	) 	 	$	(379,427	) 	 	$	299,413	 	
	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
The following table shows National’s ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:

Nine months
ended
June 30,	  	Fiscal year ended September 30,	
2017	  	2016	  	2015	  	2014	  	2013	  	2012	
5.02x	  	(A)	  	(B)	  	5.36x	  	4.92x	  	4.63x	
 	  	 	  	 	  	 	  	 	  	 	
For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “Fixed Charges” represent the sum of interest expense, 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), and fixed charges (as defined in the previous sentence).
 
(A)	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 $523,855,000 to achieve a coverage of 1:1 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.	
 
(B)	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 $698,977,000 to achieve a coverage of 1:1 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.	

 
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 Capitalization
The following table shows National’s consolidated capitalization and short-term debt at June 30, 2017.

 	  	(In thousands, except
percentages)	 	
 	  	At June 30, 2017	 	  	Percent	 	
Capitalization:	  				  				
Comprehensive shareholders’ equity	  	$	1,684,048	 	  	 	48.5	% 	
Long-term debt, net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	  	$	1,787,954	 	  	 	51.5	% 	
	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Total capitalization	  	$	3,472,002	 	  	 	100.0	% 	
	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Short-term debt, including current portion of long-term debt	  	$	300,000	 	  				

 
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 Risk factors
General
Investing in the notes involves risks. In addition to the risks disclosed below, you should review all the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before investing in the notes. In particular, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties discussed in National’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016, including under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of such report, and in National’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, including under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part II of such report, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. See “Where you can find more information” and “Information we incorporate by reference.”
National’s credit ratings could negatively affect National’s ability to access capital.
In the event of a downgrade in National’s credit ratings, National’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.
National 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 National 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 National’s actual results and historical results contained in National’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 National’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 National’s subsidiaries.
Because National is a holding company, the notes will be effectively subordinated to the existing and future liabilities of National’s subsidiaries. National 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 National. Holders of the notes will generally have a position junior to claims of creditors of National’s subsidiaries, 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 (i) outstanding shares of preferred stock or (ii) any outstanding long-term debt other than to National.
National 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 National to repurchase their notes upon a “change of control triggering event” as defined under “Description of the notes—Change of control offer.” National cannot assure you that it will
 
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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, National’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.” National has no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a change of control triggering event, although it is possible that National could decide to do so in the future. National 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 National’s capital structure or credit ratings.
The indenture does not restrict the amount of additional debt that National 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 National. National’s incurrence of additional debt may have important consequences for you as a holder of the notes, including making it more difficult for National 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.
National 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 additional interest, if any, as contingent interest. If the IRS treats the additional amounts as contingent interest, 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 appropriate tax treatment of the payment of such additional interest.
 
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 Use of proceeds
National estimates the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $                million after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated expenses payable by National. National intends to use the net proceeds from the issuance and sale of the notes for general corporate purposes, including to repurchase and/or redeem all of its outstanding 6.50% senior notes due April 2018.
National’s 6.50% senior notes due April 2018 bear interest at a rate of 6.50% per year and mature on April 15, 2018. As of June 30, 2017, $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of National’s 6.50% senior notes due April 2018 remained outstanding.
Pending final use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in short-term investment grade, interest-bearing securities.
 
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 Description of the notes
The following description of the particular terms of the notes supplements and supersedes, to the extent inconsistent, the description of the general terms and provisions of the notes set forth under “Description of debt securities” in the accompanying prospectus, to which reference is hereby made. 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 National 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 National 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 15 th 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                , 2018, 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 a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-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 National for payment of this defaulted interest, and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the trustee of National’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 National’s direct unsecured general obligations and will rank equally with all of National’s other unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding.
 
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Further issuances of notes
National 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 National, in whole or in part, at its option, at any time prior to                ,                (                 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                ,                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 a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-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                ,                (                 months prior to maturity), the notes will be redeemable by National, 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.
National 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                ,                ) 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 National 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 National.
“ Reference Treasury Dealer ” means a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City appointed by National.
“ Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation ” means, with respect to the Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by National, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to National by the Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date.
 
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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, National will pay the redemption price on the next business day without any interest or other payment due to the delay. If National 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 under “—Change of control offer”), S&P (as defined under “—Change of control offer”) or Fitch (as defined under “—Change of control offer”), 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 under “—Change of control offer”) ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside National’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.	
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
 
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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 rating to BBB- (or its equivalent, in the case of a substitute rating agency) or higher and Fitch (or any substitute rating agency therefor) increases its rating to 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 to Baa3, 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).
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 National’s control, National 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 National 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 National 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 National 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 National 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.
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.
 
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For purposes of the interest rate adjustment provisions of the notes, the following terms will be applicable:
“ Fundamental change ” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) any transaction of merger or consolidation or amalgamation of any Material Subsidiary (other than a merger or consolidation with or into (i) National, if National shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, or (ii) any other Subsidiary of National, provided that the Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving corporation); (2) any liquidation, winding up or dissolution of any Material Subsidiary; or (3) the direct or indirect conveyance, sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of, in one or more series of related transactions, all or substantially all of any Material Subsidiary’s assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (other than to (i) National or (ii) a Subsidiary of National). Notwithstanding the foregoing, National or any Material Subsidiary may, directly or indirectly convey, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of, in one or more series of related transactions: (1) any or all of its interest in any Subsidiary to any other Subsidiary of National; or (2) up to 10% of the total consolidated assets of National.
“ Fundamental change rating 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 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 fundamental change or National’s intention to effect a fundamental change and ending 60 days following consummation of such fundamental change.
“ Interest rate adjustment triggering event ” means the occurrence of both a fundamental change and a fundamental change rating event.
“ Material Subsidiary ” means, at any time, a Subsidiary of National whose assets exceed 10% of the consolidated assets of National and its Subsidiaries, other than any Subsidiary that is not a U.S. Person.
“ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.
“ U.S. Person ” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Change of control offer
If a change of control triggering event occurs, unless National has exercised its option to redeem such notes as described above, National 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, National 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 National’s option, prior to any change of control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the change of control,
 
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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, National 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	
 
 	•	 	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.	
National 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 National and the third party repurchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, National 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.
National will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 14e-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, National 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 National’s assets and the assets of National’s subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than National or one of National’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 Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of National’s outstanding voting stock or other voting stock into which National’s voting stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) National consolidates with, or merges with or into, any person, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, National, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of National’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 National’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 National’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.
 
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“ change of control triggering event ” means the occurrence of both a change of control and a rating event.
“ Fitch ” means Fitch Ratings, Inc., or any successor thereto.
“ investment grade rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by National.
“ Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or any successor thereto.
“ rating agencies ” 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 National’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act selected by National (as certified by a resolution of National’s Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.
“ rating event ” means the rating on the notes is lowered by at least two of the three rating agencies and the notes are rated below an investment grade rating by 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 National’s intention to effect a change of control and ending 60 days following consummation of such change of control.
“ S&P ” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, Inc., or any successor thereto.
“ 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 National 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 National’s assets and the assets of National’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 National to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of National’s assets and those of National’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
 
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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. and non-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. and non-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. and non-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.
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 National 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).
 
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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 National 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.
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 National believes to be reliable, but neither National nor any underwriter takes any responsibility for the accuracy thereof. National 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, société anonyme (“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.
 
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 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, or 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, so as to 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 any U.S. federal tax considerations other than material U.S. federal income tax considerations or the tax considerations arising under the laws of any U.S. state or local or other non-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 or to certain categories of investors that may be subject to special rules (for example, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, 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 the mark-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 transaction or other integrated transaction).
If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes owns 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.
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.
Additional payments
In certain circumstances (see “Description of the notes—Change of control offer” and “Description of the notes— Interest rate adjustment”), National may be obligated to pay amounts in excess of stated interest or principal 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. For purposes of determining whether a debt instrument is a contingent payment debt instrument, contingencies that are remote or incidental (determined as of the date the notes are issued) are ignored. We believe the possibility of paying additional amounts on the notes to be remote and/or incidental, and therefore 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 Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, which may take a contrary position. The
 
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remainder of this discussion assumes that the notes are not treated as contingent payment debt instruments. Investors are urged to consult their 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 (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) 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
It is anticipated, and this discussion assumes, that the notes will be issued at par or at a discount that is de minimis for U.S. federal income tax purposes. 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.
Sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of notes
Upon the sale, exchange, redemption 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. 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 other non-corporate taxpayers are generally 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% unearned income Medicare contribution 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. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the applicability of the unearned income Medicare contribution tax to their income and gains in respect of 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
 
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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 (at a rate of 28%) will apply to such payments if a U.S. Holder fails 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 Form W-9). Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will generally 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 to Non-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 a Non-U.S. Holder generally will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax and withholding tax under the “portfolio interest” exemption if such Non-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 (and, in the case of an applicable income tax treaty, attributable to its permanent establishment or fixed base in the United States);	
 
 	•	 	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 National 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 Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or appropriate substitute or successor form), to National 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 a Non-U.S. Holder hold 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 will then generally be required to provide appropriate certifications to National 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 a Non-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 Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or appropriate substitute or 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 Form W-8ECI (or appropriate substitute or successor form) certifying that interest paid on the note is not subject to withholding
 
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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, a Non-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 a Non-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 a Non-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.
Income or gain effectively connected with a United States trade or business
If a Non-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 will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax (but not the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax on interest if certain certification requirements are satisfied) on that interest and on 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 Form W-8ECI or appropriate substitute form to National or its paying agent. If a Non-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 a Non-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 a Non-U.S. Holder resides under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. A Non-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
 
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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 will generally 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 or after July 1, 2014, on debt obligations such as the notes, issued on or after July 1, 2014, and on the gross proceeds from a disposition (including a retirement or redemption) of such obligations paid on or after January 1, 2019, 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 are non-U.S. entities with United States owners); (ii) in the case of a non-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 or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States with respect to these rules 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 new and 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 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 OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY, AND THE POTENTIAL EFFECT OF CHANGES IN APPLICABLE TAX LAW.
 
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 Underwriting
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement between National and the underwriters, for whom Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as representatives, National has agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has severally agreed to purchase from National the principal amount of the notes offered hereby set forth opposite its name below:

Underwriter	  	Principal amount of notes	 	
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated	  	$	                	 	
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.	  				
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC	  				
	  	 	 	 	
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.
National 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 National or the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
Commissions and discounts
Notes sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement, and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of         %, of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of         % the principal amount of the notes to other dealers. If all the notes are not sold at the public offering price, the underwriters may change the public offering price and the other selling terms.
National’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 September     , 2017, which will be the seventh business day following the pricing of the notes. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes on the date of this prospectus supplement or the next four succeeding business days will be required, because the notes initially will settle within seven business days (T+7), 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 four 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. National 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. National 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. National 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.
 
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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 the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
Neither National 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 National 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, National and National’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 National or National’s affiliates. Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates that have a lending relationship with National routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters may hedge, their credit exposure to National 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 National’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.
Selling Restrictions
European Economic Area Selling Restriction
Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus is a prospectus for the purposes of the European Union’s Directive 2003/71/EC (and any amendments thereto, including by Directive 2010/73/EU) as implemented in member states of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) (the “Prospectus Directive”). Neither National nor the underwriters have authorized, nor does it or they authorize, the making of any offer of the notes through any financial intermediary, other than offers made by underwriters which constitute the final placement of the notes contemplated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “ Relevant Member State ”), each underwriter has represented and agreed that, with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “ Relevant Implementation Date ”), it has not made and will not make an offer of notes which are the
 
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subject of the offerings contemplated by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to the public in that Relevant Member State except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of the notes to the public in that Relevant Member State:
(a) Qualified investors: at any time to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;
(b) Fewer than 150 officers: at any time to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters nominated by National for any such offer; or
(c) Other exempt offers: at any time in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive
provided that no such offer of notes referred to in (a) to (c) above shall require National or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “ offer of notes to the public ” in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe to the notes, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, the expression “ Prospective Directive ” means Directive 2003/71/EC as amended, including by Directive 2010/73/EU and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.
United Kingdom
Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:
(a) Financial Promotion : it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the United Kingdom Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“ FSMA ”) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to National; and
(b) General Compliance : it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the 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 only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 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 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 (including any amendment 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.
 
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Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Switzerland
We have not and will not register with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”) as a foreign collective investment scheme pursuant to Article 119 of the Federal Act on Collective Investment Scheme of 23 June 2006, as amended (“CISA”), and accordingly the securities being offered pursuant to this offering memorandum have not and will not be approved, and may not be licenseable, with FINMA. Therefore, the notes have not been authorized for distribution by FINMA as a foreign collective investment scheme pursuant to Article 119 CISA and the notes offered hereby may not be offered to the public (as this term is defined in Article 3 CISA) in or from Switzerland. The notes may solely be offered to “qualified investors,” as this term is defined in Article 10 CISA, and in the circumstances set out in Article 3 of the Ordinance on Collective Investment Scheme of 22 November 2006, as amended (“CISO”), such that there is no public offer. Investors, however, do not benefit from protection under CISA or CISO or supervision by FINMA. This offering memorandum and any other materials relating to the notes are strictly personal and confidential to each offeree and do not constitute an offer to any other person. This offering memorandum may only be used by those qualified investors to whom it has been handed out in connection with the offers described herein and may neither directly or indirectly be distributed or made available to any person or entity other than its recipients. It may not be used in connection with any other offer and shall in particular not be copied and/or distributed to the public in Switzerland or from Switzerland. This offering memorandum does not constitute an issue prospectus as that term is understood pursuant to Article 652a and/or 1156 of the Swiss Federal Code of Obligations. We have not applied for a listing of the securities on the SIX Swiss Exchange or any other regulated securities market in Switzerland, and consequently, the information presented in this offering memorandum does not necessarily comply with the information standards set out in the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange and corresponding prospectus schemes annexed to the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange.
Hong Kong
WARNING: The contents of this prospectus supplement have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. You are advised to exercise caution in relation to any offer of the notes. If recipients are in any doubt about any of the contents of this prospectus supplement, they should obtain independent professional advice.
The notes have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes has been issued or will be issued or has been or will 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 in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
Japan
The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) (the “Financial Instruments and Exchange Law”), and the notes have not been
 
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offered or sold and will 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), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and guidelines promulgated by the relevant Japanese governmental and regulatory authorities and in effect at the relevant time.
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 Korea or to any resident of Korea except pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations of 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 Korea. Furthermore, the notes may not be resold to 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
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”)) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA or any person pursuant to an offer referred to in 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 provision of the SFA.
Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a “relevant person,” which is:
 
 	•	 	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	
 
 	•	 	a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,	
shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation and the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:
 
 	•	 	to an institutional investor, a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), or any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA (in the case of that corporation) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA (in the case of that trust);	
 
 	•	 	where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;	
 
 	•	 	where the transfer is by operation of law;	
 
 	•	 	as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or	
 
 	•	 	as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.	
 
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Taiwan
The notes have not been and will not be registered or filed with, or approved by, the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan, the Republic of China (“Taiwan”) pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be offered or sold in 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 would otherwise require registration or filing with or the approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan has been authorized or will be authorized to offer, sell, give advice regarding or otherwise intermediate the offering or sale of the notes in Taiwan.
 
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 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 Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 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 the accompanying prospectus by reference to National’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016, 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 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 National, 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 & Williams LLP.
 
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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 4 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 21 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, 2015.

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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.
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 	  	PAGE #	 	
A BOUT THIS P ROSPECTUS	  	 	3	 	
R ISK F ACTORS	  	 	4	 	
N ATIONAL F UEL G AS C OMPANY	  	 	5	 	
W HERE C AN YOU F IND M ORE I NFORMATION	  	 	6	 	
I NCORPORATION BY R EFERENCE	  	 	6	 	
R ATIO OF E ARNINGS TO F IXED C HARGES	  	 	7	 	
U SE OF P ROCEEDS	  	 	8	 	
D ESCRIPTION OF D EBT S ECURITIES	  	 	8	 	
D ESCRIPTION OF C OMMON S TOCK	  	 	17	 	
D ESCRIPTION OF S TOCK P URCHASE C ONTRACTS AND S TOCK P URCHASE U NITS	  	 	20	 	
P LAN OF D ISTRIBUTION	  	 	21	 	
E XPERTS	  	 	22	 	
L EGAL O PINIONS	  	 	22	 	
 
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 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.
 
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 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.
 
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 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, in the Appalachian region of the United States, and in Kansas;	
 
 	•	 	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.
 
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 WHERE CAN YOU 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 at 1-800-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.
 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 on Form 10-K (SEC File No. 001-03880) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014, filed with the SEC on November 21, 2014;	
 
 	(b)	The portions of National’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on January 23, 2015 that are incorporated by reference into Part III of National’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 (SEC File No. 001-03880);	
 
 	(c)	National’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (SEC File No. 001-03880) for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on January 30, 2015;	
 
 	(d)	National’s Current Reports on Form 8-K (SEC File No. 001-03880), filed with the SEC on December 10, 2014, December 23, 2014, February 27, 2015 and March 16, 2015; and	
 
 	(e)	The description of National’s Common Stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A (Registration No. 001-03880), filed with the SEC under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), on June 14, 1996, 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 Form 8-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.
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or calling Paula M. Ciprich, Secretary, National Fuel Gas Company, 6363 Main Street, Williamsville, New York 14221; telephone number (716) 857-7548.
 
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 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, 2014	 	    2014    	 	 	    2013    	 	 	    2012    	 	 	    2011    	 	 	    2010    	 	
6.03	 	 	5.36	 	 	 	4.92	 	 	 	4.63	 	 	 	6.05	 	 	 	4.71	 	
For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “Fixed Charges” represent the sum of interest expense, 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).
 
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 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.
 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;	
 
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 	•	 	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;	
 
 	•	 	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.)
 
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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.)
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	
 
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 	(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	
 
 	(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.
 
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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;	
 
 	(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, 2014, the Consolidated Capitalization of National was approximately $4,252,129,000.
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;	
 
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 	•	 	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 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.)
 
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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 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;	
 
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 	•	 	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;	
 
 	•	 	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.)
 
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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.)
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.
 
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 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), its By-Laws, and the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of December 4, 2008, between National and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly the Bank of New York)), as rights agent (Rights Agreement), 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.
 
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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.
Common Stock Purchase Rights
The holders of the common stock have one right for each of their shares. Each right, which will initially be evidenced by the common stock certificates representing the outstanding shares of common stock of National, entitles the holder to purchase one-half of one share of common stock at a purchase price of $75.00 per half share, being $150.00 per full share, subject to adjustment (Purchase Price).
The rights become exercisable upon the occurrence of a distribution date. Subject to redemption or exchange of the rights, at any time following a distribution date, each holder of a right will be entitled to receive, upon exercise of the right, common stock of National (or, under certain circumstances, other property of National) having a value equal to two times the amount paid to exercise the right. However, the rights are subject to redemption or exchange by National prior to their exercise as described below.
A distribution date would occur upon the earlier of:
 
 	•	 	ten days after the public announcement that a person or group has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of National’s common stock or other voting stock having 10% or more of the aggregate voting power of National’s common stock and other voting stock, except in the circumstances described below; and	
 
 	•	 	ten business days after the commencement or announcement by a person or group of an intention to make a tender or exchange offer that would result in that person acquiring, or obtaining the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of National’s common stock or other voting stock having 10% or more of the total voting power of National’s common stock and other voting stock.	
Beneficial ownership of National’s common stock includes, among other things, certain derivative or synthetic arrangements having characteristics of a long position in National’s common stock. In addition, the phrase “then outstanding,” when used with reference to a person’s beneficial ownership of securities of National, means the number of securities then issued and outstanding together with the number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such person would be deemed to own beneficially under the Rights Agreement.
A distribution date would not occur where the acquisition described in the first bullet point above results from a reduction in the number of National’s shares of voting stock outstanding due to the repurchase of shares by National, unless and until the acquiring person or group, after becoming aware of its 10% stake, acquires any additional shares of National’s then outstanding voting stock. Similarly, a distribution date would not occur if National’s Board of Directors determines that the person or group that acquired the 10% stake did so inadvertently and without any intention of changing or influencing control of National, and if that person or group, after being advised of the Board of Directors’ determination, reduces its stake below 10% within a period of time set by the Board of Directors.
In certain situations after a person or group has acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the total voting power of National’s stock as described above, each holder of a right will be entitled to receive, upon exercise of the right, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the amount paid to exercise the right. These situations would arise if National is acquired in a merger or other business combination or if 50% or more of National’s assets or earning power are sold or transferred.
At any time prior to the end of business on the tenth day following the announcement that a person or group has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the total voting power of National (except in the circumstances described above in which a distribution date would not occur), National may redeem the rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.005 per right, payable in shares of common stock,
 
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other securities, cash or other assets. A decision to redeem the rights requires the vote of 75% of National’s full Board of Directors. Also, at any time following the announcement that a person or group has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the total voting power of National, 75% of National’s full Board of Directors may vote to exchange the rights, in whole or in part, at an exchange rate of one share of common stock per right, subject to certain adjustments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may not effect an exchange after a person or group has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the Common Stock then outstanding.
After a distribution date, rights that are owned by an acquiring person will be null and void. Upon exercise of the rights, National may need additional regulatory approvals to satisfy the requirements of the Rights Agreement. The rights will expire on July 31, 2018, unless they are exchanged or redeemed earlier than that date.
The rights have anti-takeover effects because they will cause substantial dilution of the common stock if a person attempts to acquire National on terms not approved by the Board of Directors.
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.
 
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 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.
 
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 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 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.
 
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 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 National’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 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 Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2014, 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 securities will be passed upon for 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, will be passed upon by Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Roseland, New Jersey.
 
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$                

National Fuel Gas Company
        % Notes due

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
September     , 2017

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