NATIONAL
FUEL GAS COMPANY
|
(Name
of Issuer)
|
Common
Stock, par value $1 per
share
|
(Title
of Class of
Securities)
|
636180101
|
(CUSIP
Number)
|
Steven
B. Klinsky
New
Mountain Vantage, L.P.
787
Seventh Avenue, 49th Floor
New
York, NY 10019
(212)
720-0300
Copies
to:
Paul
Reinstein
Fried,
Frank, Harris, Shriver &
Jacobson LLP
One
New York Plaza
New
York, NY
10004-1980
(212)
859-8000
|
August
3,
2007
|
(Date
of Event which Requires Filing of this
Statement)
|
CUSIP No. 636180101 |
Page
2 of 18
|
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S.
OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
New
Mountain Vantage GP, L.L.C.
|
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A
GROUP
(a) ý
(b)
o
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
4
|
SOURCE
OF FUNDS
AF
|
5
|
CHECK
BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2e) o
|
6
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
|
NUMBER
OF
SHARES
|
7
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
|
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED
BY
|
8
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
5,153,200
|
EACH
REPORTING
|
9
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
|
PERSON
WITH
|
10
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
5,153,200
|
11
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
5,153,200
|
12
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
o
|
13
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
6.2%
|
14
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
OO
|
CUSIP No. 636180101 |
Page 3
of 18
|
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S.
OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
New
Mountain Vantage, L.P.
|
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A
GROUP
(a) ý
(b)
o
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
4
|
SOURCE
OF FUNDS
WC
|
5
|
CHECK
BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2e) o
|
6
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
|
NUMBER
OF
SHARES
|
7
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
|
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED
BY
|
8
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
869,100
|
EACH
REPORTING
|
9
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
|
PERSON
WITH
|
10
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
869,100
|
11
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
869,100
|
12
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
o
|
13
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
1.0%
|
14
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
PN
|
CUSIP No. 636180101 |
Page 4
of 18
|
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S.
OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
New
Mountain Vantage (California), L.P.
|
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A
GROUP
(a) ý
(b)
o
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
4
|
SOURCE
OF FUNDS
WC
|
5
|
CHECK
BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2e) o
|
6
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
|
NUMBER
OF
SHARES
|
7
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
|
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED
BY
|
8
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
866,700
|
EACH
REPORTING
|
9
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
|
PERSON
WITH
|
10
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
866,700
|
11
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
866,700
|
12
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
o
|
13
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
1.0%
|
14
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
PN
|
CUSIP No. 636180101 |
Page 5
of 18
|
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S.
OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
New
Mountain Vantage (Texas), L.P.
|
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A
GROUP
(a) ý
(b)
o
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
4
|
SOURCE
OF FUNDS
WC
|
5
|
CHECK
BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2e) o
|
6
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
|
NUMBER
OF
SHARES
|
7
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
|
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED
BY
|
8
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
740,400
|
EACH
REPORTING
|
9
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
|
PERSON
WITH
|
10
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
740,400
|
11
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
740,400
|
12
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
o
|
13
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
0.9%
|
14
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
PN
|
CUSIP No. 636180101 |
Page 6
of 18
|
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S.
OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
New
Mountain Vantage Advisers, L.L.C.
|
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A
GROUP
(a) ý
(b)
o
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
4
|
SOURCE
OF FUNDS
AF
|
5
|
CHECK
BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2e) o
|
6
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
|
NUMBER
OF
SHARES
|
7
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
|
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED
BY
|
8
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
4,451,100
|
EACH
REPORTING
|
9
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
|
PERSON
WITH
|
10
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
4,451,100
|
11
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
4,451,100
|
12
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
o
|
13
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
5.3%
|
14
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
OO
|
CUSIP No. 636180101 |
Page 7
of 18
|
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S.
OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
New
Mountain Vantage (Cayman) Ltd.
|
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A
GROUP
(a) ý
(b)
o
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
4
|
SOURCE
OF FUNDS
WC
|
5
|
CHECK
BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2e) o
|
6
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Cayman
Islands
|
NUMBER
OF
SHARES
|
7
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
|
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED
BY
|
8
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
1,974,900
|
EACH
REPORTING
|
9
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
|
PERSON
WITH
|
10
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,974,900
|
11
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,974,900
|
12
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
o
|
13
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
2.4%
|
14
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
CO
|
CUSIP No. 636180101 |
Page 8
of 18
|
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S.
OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
New
Mountain Vantage HoldCo Ltd.
|
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A
GROUP
(a) ý
(b)
o
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
4
|
SOURCE
OF FUNDS
WC
|
5
|
CHECK
BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2e) o
|
6
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Cayman
Islands
|
NUMBER
OF
SHARES
|
7
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
|
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED
BY
|
8
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
1,974,900
|
EACH
REPORTING
|
9
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
|
PERSON
WITH
|
10
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,974,900
|
11
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,974,900
|
12
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
o
|
13
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
2.4%
|
14
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
CO
|
CUSIP No. 636180101 |
Page 9
of 18
|
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S.
OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Steven
B. Klinsky
|
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A
GROUP
(a) ý
(b)
o
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
4
|
SOURCE
OF FUNDS
AF,
PF
|
5
|
CHECK
BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2e) o
|
6
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United
States of America
|
NUMBER
OF
SHARES
|
7
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
|
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED
BY
|
8
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
7,128,100
|
EACH
REPORTING
|
9
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
|
PERSON
WITH
|
10
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
7,128,100
|
11
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
7,128,100
|
12
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
o
|
13
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
8.5%
|
14
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
|
CUSIP No. 636180101 |
Page 10
of 18
|
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S.
OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
NMV
Special Holdings, LLC
|
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A
GROUP
(a) ý
(b)
o
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
4
|
SOURCE
OF FUNDS
WC
|
5
|
CHECK
BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2e) o
|
6
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
|
NUMBER
OF
SHARES
|
7
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
|
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED
BY
|
8
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
2,677,000
|
EACH
REPORTING
|
9
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
|
PERSON
WITH
|
10
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,677,000
|
11
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,677,000
|
12
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
o
|
13
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
3.2%
|
14
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
OO
|
CUSIP No. 636180101 |
Page 11
of 18
|
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S.
OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
California
Public Employees' Retirement System
|
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A
GROUP
(a) ý
(b)
o
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
4
|
SOURCE
OF FUNDS
WC
|
5
|
CHECK
BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2e) o
|
6
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United
States of America
|
NUMBER
OF
SHARES
|
7
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
609,726
|
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED
BY
|
8
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
2,677,000
|
EACH
REPORTING
|
9
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
608,926
|
PERSON
WITH
|
10
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,677,800
|
11
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,286,726
|
12
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
o
|
13
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
3.9%
|
14
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
EP
|
1
|
Neither
the present filing nor anything contained herein shall be construed
as an
admission that any Reporting Person constitutes a “person” for any
purposes other than Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934,
as amended.
|
NEW
MOUNTAIN VANTAGE GP, L.L.C.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
Steven B. Klinsky
|
||
Steven
B. Klinsky
|
|||
Managing
Member
|
NEW
MOUNTAIN VANTAGE, L.P.
By: New
Mountain Vantage GP, LLC,
its
general partner
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
Steven B. Klinsky
|
||
Steven
B. Klinsky
|
|||
Managing
Member
|
|||
NEW
MOUNTAIN VANTAGE
(CALIFORNIA), L.P.
By: New
Mountain Vantage GP, L.L.C.,
its
general partner
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
Steven B. Klinsky
|
||
Steven
B. Klinsky
|
|||
Managing
Member
|
NEW
MOUNTAIN VANTAGE (TEXAS), L.P.
By: New
Mountain Vantage GP, LLC,
its
general partner
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
Steven B. Klinsky
|
||
Steven
B. Klinsky
|
|||
Managing
Member
|
NEW
MOUNTAIN VANTAGE ADVISERS, L.L.C.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
Steven B. Klinsky
|
||
Steven
B. Klinsky
|
|||
Managing
Member
|
NEW
MOUNTAIN VANTAGE (CAYMAN) LTD.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
Steven B. Klinsky
|
||
Steven
B. Klinsky
|
|||
Director
|
NEW
MOUNTAIN VANTAGE HOLDCO LTD.
|
By:
|
/s/
Steven B. Klinsky
|
Steven
B. Klinsky
|
|||
Director
|
/s/
Steven B.
Klinsky
Steven
B. Klinsky
|
By:
|
/s/
Steven B.
Klinsky
|
NMV
SPECIAL HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
By: New
Mountain Vantage GP, L.L.C.,
its
managing member
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
Steven B. Klinsky
|
||
Steven
B. Klinsky
|
|||
Managing
Member
|
|||
California
Public Employees' Retirement System
/s/
Christianna Wood
_
By: Christianna
Wood
Title:
Senior Investment
Officer
|
Date
|
Shares
of Common Stock Purchased
|
Approximate
Price per Share
(inclusive
of commissions)
|
6/28/2007
|
50,000
|
43.14
|
7/10/2007
|
36,100
|
43.80
|
7/11/2007
|
3,000
|
43.96
|
8/2/2007
|
4,600
|
43.93
|
8/3/2007
|
2,100
|
43.99
|
Date
|
Shares
of Common Stock Purchased
|
Approximate
Price per Share
(inclusive
of commissions)
|
7/10/2007
|
93,200
|
43.80
|
7/11/2007
|
7,700
|
43.96
|
8/2/2007
|
75,600
|
43.93
|
8/3/2007
|
34,700
|
43.99
|
Date
|
Shares
of Common Stock Purchased
|
Approximate
Price per Share
(inclusive
of commissions)
|
6/21/2007
|
(5,680)
|
44.14
|
6/21/2007
|
5,680
|
44.14
|
6/22/2007
|
(164)
|
44.59
|
6/22/2007
|
(5,680)
|
44.24
|
6/29/2007
|
(800)
|
43.30
|