NATIONAL FUEL GAS CO 10-Q

Item 1A. Risk Factors The risk factors in Item 1A of the Company’s 2023 Form 10-K, as amended by Item 1A of Part II of the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, have not materially changed other than as set forth below. The risk factor presented below supersedes the corresponding risk factor in the 2023 Form 10-K and should otherwise be read in conjunction with all of the risk factors disclosed in the 2023 Form 10-K and the March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q. 49 Table of Content FINANCIAL RISKS Financial accounting requirements regarding exploration and production activities may affect the Company's profitability. The Company accounts for its exploration and production activities under the full cost method of accounting. Each quarter, the Company must perform a "ceiling test" calculation, comparing the level of its unamortized investment in exploration and production properties to the present value of the future net revenue projected to be recovered from those properties according to methods prescribed by the SEC. In determining present value, the Company uses a 12-month historical average price for commodity pricing (based on first day of the month prices and adjusted for hedging) as well as the SEC mandated discount rate. If, at the end of any quarter, the amount of the unamortized investment exceeds the net present value of the projected future cash flows, such investment may be considered to be "impaired," and the full cost authoritative accounting and reporting guidance require that the investment must be written down to the calculated net present value. Such an instance would require the Company to recognize an immediate expense in that quarter, and its earnings would be reduced. Depending on the magnitude of any decrease in average prices, that charge could be material. Under the Company's existing indenture covenants, an impairment could restrict the Company's ability to issue incremental long-term unsecured indebtedness for a period of time, beginning with the fourth calendar month following the impairment and ending not later than June 13, 2025, the maturity date of the Company’s remaining indebtedness outstanding under its 1974 indenture. In addition, because an impairment results in a charge to retained earnings, it lowers the Company's total capitalization, all other things being equal, and increases the Company's debt to capitalization ratio. As a result, an impairment can impact the Company's ability to maintain compliance with the debt to capitalization covenant set forth in its committed credit facility. The Company recorded an impairment under the ceiling test during the quarter ended June 30, 2024 in the amount of $200.7 million. Looking ahead, the first day of the month Henry Hub spot price for natural gas in July 2024 was $2.39 per MMBtu. Given the July price, and the expected replacement of higher gas prices with lower gas prices in the historical 12-month average that will be used in the ceiling test calculation for the next two quarters, the Company could experience a ceiling test impairment for the quarter ending September 30, 2024 as well as the quarter ending December 31, 2024.