2009 Notice & Proxy Statement
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant  x

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ¨

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨ Preliminary Proxy Statement.

 

¨ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)).

 

x Definitive Proxy Statement.

 

¨ Definitive Additional Materials.

 

¨ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12.

CONSOL Energy Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x No fee required.

 

¨ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

  (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 
  (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 
  (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 
  (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 
  (5) Total fee paid:

 

 

 

¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

¨ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

  (1) Amount Previously Paid:

 

 
  (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 
  (3) Filing Party:

 

 
  (4) Date Filed:

 

 


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LOGO

CONSOL Energy Inc.

CNX Center

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317

Telephone (724) 485-4000

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

to be held on April 28, 2009

Dear Shareholder:

You are cordially invited to attend CONSOL Energy Inc.’s 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 28, 2009, at 11:30 a.m., Eastern Time, at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh International Airport, Allegheny Room, 1111 Airport Boulevard, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15231.

The enclosed Notice of Annual Meeting and the Proxy Statement describe the various matters to be acted upon during the meeting. In addition, there will be a report on the state of CONSOL Energy Inc.’s business and an opportunity for you to ask questions on subjects related to CONSOL Energy Inc.’s operations.

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you can ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting by promptly voting and submitting your proxy by telephone or by internet (as described in the enclosed instructions, if applicable), or by completing and returning the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction card, which requires no additional postage if mailed in the United States.

If you need assistance, please contact CONSOL Energy Inc.’s Investor Relations Office at 724-485-4000. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 accompanies these enclosures.

The Annual Meeting gives us an opportunity to review CONSOL Energy Inc.’s results and discuss the steps CONSOL Energy Inc. has taken to assure a strong performance in the future. We appreciate your ownership of CONSOL Energy Inc., and I hope you will be able to join us at this year’s Annual Meeting.

 

Sincerely,
/s/ John Whitmire

John Whitmire

Chairman of the Board

March 23, 2009


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LOGO

CONSOL Energy Inc.

CNX Center

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, PA 15317

Telephone (724) 485-4000

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON APRIL 28, 2009

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of CONSOL Energy Inc. will be held on April 28, 2009, at 11:30 a.m., Eastern Time, at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh International Airport, Allegheny Room, 1111 Airport Boulevard, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the following purposes:

 

  1. To elect directors to hold office in accordance with the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of CONSOL Energy Inc.;

 

  2. To ratify the anticipated selection of Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as the independent auditor of CONSOL Energy Inc. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009;

 

  3. To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend and restate the CONSOL Energy Inc. Equity Incentive Plan to, among other matters, increase the number of shares authorized for issuance thereunder;

 

  4. If properly presented, to consider and vote upon a proposal regarding majority voting in non-contested director elections; and

 

  5. If properly presented, to consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt a policy for the early disclosure of shareholder proposal voting results.

By resolution of the Board of Directors, we have fixed the close of business on March 5, 2009, as the record date for determining the shareholders of CONSOL Energy Inc. entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof.

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you can ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting by promptly voting and submitting your proxy by telephone or by internet (as described in the enclosed instructions, if applicable), or by completing and returning the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction card, which requires no additional postage if mailed in the United States. Your prompt response will be helpful and your cooperation is appreciated. If you attend the meeting, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in person, if you so choose.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 28, 2009:

The Proxy Statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K and related materials are available at http://materials.proxyvote.com/20854P.

 

Sincerely,
LOGO

P. Jerome Richey

Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

March 23, 2009


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

   1

Voting

   1

Annual Report

   1

Record Date and Vote Required for Approval

   1

Revocation of Proxy

   2

Proxy Solicitation

   2

Secrecy in Voting

   2

Attendance at the Meeting

   3

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMPENSATION INFORMATION

   3

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES

   3

Board of Directors

   3

Committees of the Board of Directors

   3

Audit Committee

   3

Compensation Committee

   3

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

   5

Finance Committee

   6

Corporate Governance Web Page and Available Documents

   6

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

   6

Membership and Meetings of the Board of Directors and its Committees

   6

Communication with the Board of Directors

   7

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE - 2008

   8

UNDERSTANDING OUR DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE

   10

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

   15

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

   17

PROPOSAL NO. 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

   17

Biographies of Directors

   17

Related Party Policy and Procedures

   20

Determination of Director Independence

   21

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND STOCK OPTION INFORMATION

   23

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

   23

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

   39

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE - 2008, 2007 AND 2006

   40

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS - 2008

   43

UNDERSTANDING OUR SUMMARY COMPENSATION AND GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS TABLES

   44

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS TABLES AT FISCAL YEAR END - 2008

   50

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED TABLE - 2008

   52

PENSION BENEFITS TABLE

   53

UNDERSTANDING OUR PENSION BENEFITS TABLE

   54

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION TABLE - 2008

   57

UNDERSTANDING OUR DEFERRED COMPENSATION TABLE

   58

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL TABLES

   58

UNDERSTANDING OUR CHANGE IN CONTROL AND EMPLOYMENT TERMINATION TABLES

   66

ACCOUNTANTS AND AUDIT COMMITTEE

   81

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

   81

Audit Fees

   82

Audit-Related Fees

   82

Tax Fees

   82

All Other Fees

   82

Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services

   82

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

   83


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PROPOSAL NO. 2 - RATIFICATION OF ANTICIPATED APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITOR

   83

SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER CONSOL ENERGY EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

   84

PROPOSAL NO. 3 - AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

   84

PROPOSAL NO. 4 - SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING MAJORITY VOTING

   93

PROPOSAL NO. 5 - SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING EARLY DISCLOSURE OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL VOTING RESULTS

   95

ADDITIONAL MATTERS

   96

Shareholder Proposals for Inclusion in Next Year’s Proxy Statement or Presentation at Next Year’s Annual Meeting

   96

General Information Regarding the Content of Proposals

   97

Householding of Proxy Materials

   97

Other

   97


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CONSOL Energy Inc.

CNX Center

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, PA 15317

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

March 23, 2009

The enclosed proxy is being solicited by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of CONSOL Energy Inc. (“CONSOL Energy” or the “Corporation”) to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 28, 2009, at 11:30 a.m., Eastern Time, at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh International Airport, Allegheny Room, 1111 Airport Boulevard, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15231 (the “Annual Meeting”).

The specific proposals to be considered, and voted upon, at the Annual Meeting are summarized in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Each proposal is described in more detail in this Proxy Statement.

Voting

The persons named as proxies on the accompanying proxy card have informed CONSOL Energy of their intention, if no contrary instructions are given, to vote the shares represented by such proxies:

 

   

in favor of the election as directors of CONSOL Energy of those persons nominated in this Proxy Statement to hold office in accordance with the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of CONSOL Energy;

 

   

in favor of the ratification of the anticipated selection of Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as the independent auditor of CONSOL Energy for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009;

 

   

in favor of the adoption of the Amended and Restated CONSOL Energy Inc. Equity Incentive Plan to, among other matters, increase the number of shares authorized for issuance thereunder;

 

   

against the adoption of the shareholder proposal regarding majority voting in non-contested director elections;

 

   

against the adoption of the shareholder proposal to adopt a policy for the early disclosure of voting results of shareholder proposals; and

 

   

in accordance with their judgment, on any other matters which may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

The Board does not know of any business to be brought before the Annual Meeting other than as indicated in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Annual Report

CONSOL Energy’s Annual Report to Shareholders and Annual Report on Form 10-K are being mailed to shareholders together with this Proxy Statement on or about March 23, 2009 to holders of record, as of March 5, 2009, of CONSOL Energy common stock.

Record Date and Vote Required for Approval

The record date with respect to this solicitation is March 5, 2009. All holders of record of CONSOL Energy common stock as of the close of business on March 5, 2009 are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and any

 

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adjournment or postponement thereof. As of March 5, 2009, the Corporation had 180,637,172 shares of common stock outstanding. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote. Shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum at a meeting of shareholders, except in certain limited circumstances. Election of directors at all meetings of the shareholders at which directors are to be elected shall be by ballot, and, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, the affirmative votes of a plurality of the votes cast is required for the election of directors. The approval of the proposal to amend and restate the CONSOL Energy Inc. Equity Incentive Plan requires the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of common stock present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote; provided that the total vote cast on this proposal represents over 50% in interest of all securities entitled to vote on the proposal. Except as otherwise provided by law, CONSOL Energy’s Certificate of Incorporation or Third Amended and Restated Bylaws, on all other matters, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter is required for approval. If you hold shares beneficially in street name and do not provide your broker with voting instructions, your shares may constitute “broker non-votes.” Generally, broker non-votes occur on a matter when a broker is not permitted to vote on that matter without instructions from the beneficial owner and instructions are not given. Brokers that have not received voting instructions from their clients cannot vote on their clients’ behalf on “non-routine” proposals, such as the CONSOL Energy Equity Incentive Plan and the shareholder proposals, although they may vote their clients’ shares on the election of directors and the ratification of the anticipated selection of Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to serve as the independent auditor. In tabulating the voting result for any particular proposal, shares that constitute broker non-votes are not considered entitled to vote on that proposal. Thus, broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of any matter being voted on at the meeting, assuming that a quorum is obtained. Abstentions have the same effect as votes against the matter. Proxies received but marked as abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for quorum purposes.

The voting instruction form also serves as the voting instruction for the trustees who hold shares of record for participants in the CONSOL Energy Inc. Investment Plan for Salaried Employees. If voting instructions representing shares in this plan are not received, those shares will not be unvoted.

Revocation of Proxy

A proxy may be revoked by a shareholder at any time prior to the time that the proxy is exercised by delivery to the Corporate Secretary of a notice of revocation or a properly executed proxy bearing a later date or by voting in person at the meeting. If a proxy is properly executed and is not revoked by the shareholder, the shares it represents will be voted at the meeting in accordance with the instructions from the shareholder. If the proxy card is signed and returned without specifying choices, the shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board and in accordance with their judgment, on any other matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the meeting without a request to revoke a proxy will not effectively revoke a previously executed and delivered proxy.

Proxy Solicitation

All costs relating to the solicitation of proxies will be borne by CONSOL Energy. Georgeson Inc. has been retained by CONSOL Energy to aid in the solicitation of proxies, at an estimated cost of $8,500 plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. Proxies may also be solicited by officers, directors and employees personally, by mail, or by telephone, facsimile transmission or other electronic means. On request, CONSOL Energy will pay brokers and other persons holding shares of common stock in their names or in those of their nominees for their reasonable expenses in sending soliciting material to, and seeking instructions from, their principals.

Secrecy in Voting

As a matter of policy, proxies, ballots and voting tabulations that identify individual shareholders are held confidential by CONSOL Energy. Such documents are available for examination only by the inspectors of election and certain employees who assist in the tabulation of the vote. The identity of the vote of any shareholder is not disclosed except as may be necessary to meet legal requirements.

 

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Attendance at the Meeting

Subject to space availability, all shareholders as of the record date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend the Annual Meeting. Since seating is limited, admission to the meeting will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration will begin at 10 a.m. Those who attend may be asked to present valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, and may be issued a ticket for admission to the meeting. Cameras, recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the meeting. Please also note that if shares are held in “street name” (that is, through a broker or other nominee), a copy of a brokerage statement reflecting stock ownership as of the record date must be provided during check-in at the registration desk at the Annual Meeting.

CONSOL Energy will provide to any shareholder, without charge and upon the written request of the shareholder, a copy (without exhibits, unless otherwise requested) of CONSOL Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for CONSOL Energy’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. Any such request should be directed to CONSOL Energy Inc., Investor Relations Department, 1000 CONSOL Energy Drive, Canonsburg, PA 15317.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMPENSATION INFORMATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES

Board of Directors

The business and affairs of CONSOL Energy are under the direction of our Board. Our Board is currently comprised of eleven members. Those members are John Whitmire, James E. Altmeyer, Sr., Philip W. Baxter, William E. Davis, Raj K. Gupta, Patricia A. Hammick, David C. Hardesty, Jr., J. Brett Harvey, John T. Mills, William P. Powell, and Joseph T. Williams. We do not have a policy regarding directors’ attendance at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders; however, directors are encouraged to attend. All of the members of our Board attended the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, except for Mr. Baxter, who was not appointed to our Board until January  16, 2009.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Our Board has four standing committees: Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance, and Finance. Current charters for each committee are available on the Corporate Governance section of CONSOL Energy’s website at www.consolenergy.com. Actions taken by our committees are reported to the full Board. On February 17, 2009, the Board determined that all members of each of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are independent under the current listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. See “Determination of Director Independence” on page 21 for additional information regarding the Board’s independence determinations of its members.

Audit Committee

Our Audit Committee, which currently consists of five directors, provides assistance to our Board in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations with respect to matters involving the accounting, financial reporting, internal control and compliance functions of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. Our Audit Committee employs an independent registered public accounting firm to audit the financial statements of CONSOL Energy and its subsidiaries and perform other assigned duties. Further, our Audit Committee provides general oversight with respect to the accounting principles employed in financial reporting and the adequacy of CONSOL Energy’s internal controls. In discharging its responsibilities, our Audit Committee may rely on the reports, findings and representations of the Corporation’s auditors, legal counsel, and responsible officers. Our Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are financially literate within the meaning of SEC rules and under the current listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. Our Board has also determined that Mr. Gupta qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert.” A copy of the audit committee’s report for the 2008 fiscal year is set forth in this Proxy Statement.

Compensation Committee

Our Compensation Committee, which currently consists of four directors, establishes executive compensation policies consistent with corporate objectives and shareholder interests. Our Compensation Committee also reviews

 

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the performance of executive officers and establishes, adjusts and awards compensation, including incentive-based compensation, as more fully discussed below. In addition, our Compensation Committee generally is responsible for:

 

   

establishing and periodically reviewing our compensation philosophy and the adequacy of compensation plans and programs for directors, executive officers and other Corporation employees;

 

   

overseeing our compensation plans;

 

   

reviewing and monitoring management development and succession plans and activities;

 

   

overseeing executive employment contracts, special retirement benefits, severance, change in control arrangements or similar plans;

 

   

reviewing and recommending to our Board the compensation of our non-employee directors for their service as directors; and

 

   

oversight of the outside consultant engaged by the Compensation Committee.

Our Compensation Committee’s charter generally permits it to delegate authority, duties and responsibilities or functions to one or more members of the Compensation Committee or to the Corporation’s officers other than for matters which laws or listing standards prohibit delegation. Under our Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), our Compensation Committee is also permitted to delegate its power and authority to our officers. In February 2008, the Compensation Committee authorized our Chief Executive Officer to grant up to 380,000 shares (underlying stock option or restricted stock unit awards) to our non-executive employees in compliance with the terms and conditions of such delegation, the plan and applicable law and regulation.

Our Compensation Committee periodically reviews the compensation of non-employee directors, including the Chairman of the Board, and the principles upon which their compensation is determined, and periodically reports to our Board how the non-employee directors’ compensation practices compare with those of other similarly situated public corporations and, if the Compensation Committee deems it appropriate, recommends changes to our director compensation practices to our Board for approval.

Outside consulting firms retained by our Compensation Committee and management also provide assistance to the Compensation Committee in making its compensation-related decisions. In 2008, our Compensation Committee directly engaged Deloitte Consulting LLP (“Deloitte”) to assist with an evaluation of our compensation program for executive officers and directors. The scope of our consultants’ work for the Compensation Committee included, among other matters:

 

   

develop a relevant peer group of companies;

 

   

benchmark the components of our compensation program with the peer group;

 

   

assist our Compensation Committee with the development of performance goals related to the Long-Term Incentive Program under the Plan;

 

   

assess our stock ownership guidelines applicable to our directors and executive officers;

 

   

assess the overall competitiveness of our compensation program;

 

   

assess Board compensation relative to the same peer group used to benchmark executive compensation and make recommendations based on the market analysis; and

 

   

assist in calculating the estimated potential Internal Revenue Code Section 280G tax gross-up for named executives.

 

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The compensation committee of the board of directors of CNX Gas Corporation, a publicly-traded subsidiary of CONSOL Energy (“CNX Gas”), separately retained in 2008 Deloitte to perform executive and director compensation services for that company. See the CNX Gas proxy statement filed on or about March 23, 2009, for a description of the scope of work performed by those firms for that company.

Our Compensation Committee has a charter, which is available on the Corporation’s website at www.consolenergy.com. For additional information regarding the Compensation Committee’s processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive officer compensation, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” on page 23.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which currently consists of four directors, is responsible for recommending to the Board nominees for election of directors at the Annual Meeting or appointment of directors in the event of any vacancy, generally monitoring CONSOL Energy’s corporate governance system and performing any other functions or duties deemed appropriate by the Board. In making director recommendations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider nominations submitted by shareholders. See “Additional Matters” on page 96 for more information on submitting director nominations.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews with our Board the size, function, and needs of the Board and, in doing so, takes into account that the Board as a whole should have competency in the following areas:

 

   

industry knowledge;

 

   

accounting and finance;

 

   

business judgment;

 

   

management;

 

   

leadership;

 

   

international markets;

 

   

business strategy;

 

   

crisis management;

 

   

corporate governance; and

 

   

risk management.

Our Board also seeks members from diverse backgrounds so that it consists of members with a broad spectrum of experience and expertise and with a reputation for integrity. Directors must have experience in positions with a high degree of responsibility and leadership experience in the companies or institutions with which they are or have been affiliated. Directors are selected based upon contributions that they can make to CONSOL Energy. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s process for identifying and evaluating director nominees is as follows:

 

   

determines what types of backgrounds, skills, and attributes of Board members are needed to help strengthen and balance it, taking into account the competencies described above;

 

   

at appropriate times, actively seeks individuals qualified to become members of the Board; and

 

   

evaluates and recommends to our Board the slate of nominees for directors to be elected by the shareholders at CONSOL Energy’s next annual meeting of shareholders.

 

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Recommendations include a review by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the contribution of fellow directors, as well as the qualifications of new nominees.

On January 16, 2009, our Chairman and our CEO recommended to the Board that Philip W. Baxter rejoin the Board, and this recommendation was approved on such date.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee, which currently consists of five directors, monitors and provides advice and counsel to our Board and management regarding our asset mix, potential mergers and acquisitions, capital structure and policies, financial position and policies, financing activities, compliance with debt covenants, dividend policies and material investments and contracts. No member of the Finance Committee may be an officer or employee of CONSOL Energy or any of our subsidiaries.

Corporate Governance Web Page and Available Documents

We maintain a corporate governance page on our website at www.consolenergy.com that includes information about our corporate governance. The following documents are currently included on the website:

 

   

CONSOL Energy Corporate Governance Guidelines;

 

   

CONSOL Energy Code of Director Business Conduct and Ethics;

 

   

CONSOL Energy Code of Employee Business Conduct and Ethics, which covers all employees of CONSOL Energy, including executive employees; and

 

   

Charters of the Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance, Compensation, and Finance Committees.

We will also provide a printed copy of these documents if you contact the Investor Relations department in writing at CONSOL Energy Inc., 1000 CONSOL Energy Drive, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During 2008, the members of the Compensation Committee were Messrs. Powell, Altmeyer, Mills and Ms. Hammick.

Mr. Altmeyer, a member of the Board (and member of the CNX Gas board of directors (which we refer to as the “CNX Gas Board”)) has a brother who is a member of Phillips, Gardill, Kaiser & Altmeyer, PLLC, a twelve attorney law firm based in Wheeling, West Virginia. The Corporation and CNX Gas paid this law firm approximately $318,703 and $215,684, respectively, in 2008 for workmen’s compensation, litigation and land-related legal services, which amounts represented approximately less than 2.0% and 0.8% of total amounts paid by the Corporation and CNX Gas respectively to all law firms retained in 2008. CONSOL Energy engaged Phillips Gardill Kaiser & Altmeyer PLLC many years prior to Mr. Altmeyer becoming a member of the Board.

Membership and Meetings of the Board of Directors and its Committees

All of the incumbent directors attended no fewer than 88% of the sum of:

 

   

the total number of meetings held by our Board (held during the period for which he or she was a director during 2008); and

 

   

the total number of meetings held by all committees of our Board on which he or she served (during the period that he or she served).

 

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Current committee membership and the number of meetings of the full Board and its committees are shown in the following table:

 

      Board of
Directors
  Audit
Committee
   Compensation
Committee
   Nominating
and Corporate
Governance
Committee
   Finance
Committee

John Whitmire(1)

   Chair   -    -    -    -

James E. Altmeyer, Sr.

   Member   Member    Member    -    -

Philip W. Baxter(2)

   Member   Member    -    -    Member

William E. Davis

   Member   Member    -    Chair    -

Raj K. Gupta

   Member   Chair    -    -    Member

Patricia A. Hammick

   Member   -    Member    Member    -

David C. Hardesty, Jr.

   Member   -    -    Member    Member

J. Brett Harvey

   Member   -    -    -    -

William P. Powell

   Member   -    Chair    -    Member

Joseph T. Williams

   Member   -    -    Member    Chair

John T. Mills

   Member   Member    Member    -    -

Number of 2008 Meetings

   10(3)   10    4    3    5

 

(1) Mr. Whitmire serves ex officio, meaning, as Chairman of the Board of CONSOL Energy, he attends and participates in meetings of the committees of the Board but is not a voting member of such committees.

 

(2) Mr. Baxter did not attend any of the 2008 Board or committee meetings, as he was not appointed to the Board until January 16, 2009.

 

(3) Of the 10 Board meetings, 5 were “Regularly Scheduled” and 5 were “Special Meetings.”

During 2008, the non-management directors held 5 executive sessions of the Board. The presiding director for these sessions was the Chairman of the Board.

Communication with the Board of Directors

Shareholders and other interested persons who wish to communicate with the Board may do so by writing to it and should address their communications to the attention of the Corporate Secretary at CONSOL Energy Inc., 1000 CONSOL Energy Drive, Canonsburg, PA 15317 or by sending an e-mail to directors@consolenergy.com. The Corporate Secretary will relay all such communication to the Board in its entirety or individual directors (as appropriate) at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting (or earlier as necessary). In accordance with instructions from the Board, the Corporate Secretary reviews all correspondence, organizes the communications for review by the Board and delivers communications to the full Board or individual directors, as appropriate. In the ordinary course, the Corporate Secretary does not deliver certain items that are unrelated to the Board’s duties, such as spam, junk mail, mass mailings, solicitations, resumes and job inquiries. Communications that are intended specifically for the chairman, the independent directors or the non-management directors should be sent to the street address or e-mail address noted above, to the attention of the chairman. Information concerning communications with the Board also is contained on CONSOL Energy’s website at www.consolenergy.com.

 

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE - 2008

The following table sets forth the compensation of the Board for the 2008 fiscal year, and includes fees paid for service on the CONSOL and CNX Gas Boards, as applicable:

 

Name(1)   Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
    Stock Awards(2)     Option
Awards(3)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
  Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
  All Other
Compensation
    Total

John Whitmire

  $100,000 (4)   $166,711 (5)   -     -   -   $30,000 (6)   $ 296,711

James E. Altmeyer, Sr.

  $173,542 (7)   $190,874 (8)   $26,307 (9)   -   -   -     $ 390,723

Philip W. Baxter(10)

  -     -     -     -   -   -       -

William E. Davis

  $  95,000     $105,870     $17,971     -   -   -     $ 218,841

Raj K. Gupta

  $180,000 (11)   $203,387 (12)   $26,307 (13)   -   -   -     $ 409,694

Patricia A. Hammick

  $  80,000     $105,870 (14)   $17,971     -   -   -     $ 203,841

David C. Hardesty, Jr.

  $  80,000     $105,870 (15)   $28,734     -   -   -     $ 214,604

John T. Mills

  $  87,500     $105,870 (16)   $33,976     -   -   -     $ 227,346

William P. Powell

  $  87,500     $105,870 (17)   $17,971     -   -   -     $ 211,341

Joseph T. Williams

  $157,500 (18)   $151,422 (19)   $37,973 (20)   -   -   -     $ 346,895

 

(1) Mr. Harvey is a member of the Boards of Directors of CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas. Mr. Harvey’s compensation is reported in the Summary Compensation Table and other sections of this Proxy Statement. As an employee of CONSOL Energy, he does not receive any additional compensation in connection with his service on the Boards of Directors of CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas.

 

(2) The values set forth in this column are based on the compensation cost recognized in 2008 for financial statement reporting purposes and computed in accordance with FAS 123R (disregarding any estimate of forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions) and relate to equity awards granted by CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas. The compensation cost for CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas is computed based upon the closing price of that company’s stock on the date of grant. The values reflect the accounting expense for these awards, and do not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the named executives.

 

  With respect to CONSOL Energy stock awards: (i) the aggregate grant date fair value for 2008 stock awards for each director was $95,000, other than for Mr. Whitmire for whom it was $250,000; (ii) each director had 2,882 restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2008 other than Mr. Whitmire who had 3,179 restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2008; (iii) Ms. Hammick, Messrs. Hardesty and Powell each had 1,326 deferred restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2008; (iv) Mr. Williams had 675 deferred restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2008; (v) Mr. Gupta had 651 deferred restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2008; and (vi) Messrs. Whitmire and Gupta had 10,587 and 2,330 deferred stock units, respectively, outstanding as of December 31, 2008. The aggregate grant date fair value was computed in accordance with FAS 123R (disregarding any estimate for forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions).

 

  With respect to CNX Gas stock awards: (x) the aggregate grant date fair value for 2008 restricted stock unit awards was $100,000 for each of Messrs. Altmeyer, Gupta and Williams; and (y) Messrs. Altmeyer and Gupta each had 4,325 restricted stock units outstanding and Mr. Williams had 4,031 restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2008. The aggregate grant date fair value was computed in accordance with FAS 123R (disregarding any estimate for forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions).

 

(3) The values set forth in this column are based on the compensation cost recognized in 2008 for financial statement reporting purposes and computed in accordance with FAS 123R (disregarding any estimate of forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions) and relate to option awards granted by CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas. The compensation cost for CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas is computed using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

 

  A discussion of the relevant assumptions made in the valuation of the CONSOL Energy option awards is stated in CONSOL Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (the “Form 10-K”) (Note 18 in the Form 10-K). The values reflect the accounting expense for these awards, and do not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the named executives. As of December 31, 2008 with respect to CONSOL Energy, the number of options held by our non-employee directors was: (i) 12,962 for Messrs. Davis and Gupta, and Ms. Hammick. (ii) 19,744 for Mr. Whitmire; (iii) 15,962 for Mr. Powell; (iv) 2,692 for Mr. Hardesty; (v) 2,962 for Mr. Williams; (vi) 8,592 for Mr. Mills and (vii) 3,643 for Mr. Altmeyer. The aggregate grant date fair value was computed in accordance with FAS 123R (disregarding any estimate for forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions).

 

 

With respect to the CNX Gas option awards: (x) for 2008 grants: fair value of grants $15.02, risk free interest rate 4.58%, expected volatility 34.5% and expected term 4.5 years; (y) for 2007 grants: fair value of grants $9.61, risk free interest rate 4.58%, expected volatility 34.5%

 

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and expected term 4.5 years; and (z) for 2006 grants: fair value of grants $9.83, risk free interest rate 4.65%, expected volatility 32.39% and expected term 4.5 years. As of December 31, 2008 with respect to CNX Gas, the number of CNX Gas options held by the non-employee directors was 2,544 for each of Messrs. Altmeyer and Gupta and 7,184 for Mr. Williams. The aggregate grant date fair market was computed in accordance with FAS 123R (disregarding any estimate for forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions).

 

(4) Mr. Whitmire elected to defer $100,000 of his cash fees earned in 2008 under the Corporation’s 1999 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, into which he chose to hypothetically invest such amounts in the Corporation’s common stock thereunder. 2,184 units, including dividend equivalent rights, were allocated to him, which shall be settled and paid in cash upon his termination from service on our Board.

 

(5) Mr. Whitmire elected to receive 3,157 deferred stock units in lieu of $250,000 of common stock of CONSOL Energy. Please see “Understanding Our Director Compensation Table” on page 10 for a description of deferred stock units granted under our Plan. The aggregate grant date fair value of these deferred stock units was $250,065, and was computed in accordance with FAS 123R (disregarding any estimate for forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions).

 

(6) Mr. Whitmire is provided clerical support by CONSOL Energy at an annual cost not to exceed $30,000, which for 2008 totaled $30,000.

 

(7) Mr. Altmeyer’s fees include $87,500 for service on CONSOL Energy’s Board, which was paid by CONSOL Energy, and $86,042 for service on the CNX Gas Board, which was paid by CNX Gas.

 

(8) Amount represents $105,870 of 2008 expense relating to CONSOL Energy stock awards and $85,004 of 2008 expense relating to CNX Gas stock awards.

 

(9) Amount represents $17,971 of 2008 expense relating to CONSOL Energy option awards and $8,336 of 2008 expense relating to CNX Gas option awards.

 

(10) Mr. Baxter joined our Board in January 2009 and thus did not earn any compensation from CONSOL Energy in 2008. He did, however, earn compensation as Chairman of the CNX Gas Board in fiscal year 2008. For a description of the amounts he earned as Chairman of the CNX Gas Board in fiscal year 2008, see the CNX Gas proxy statement filed on or about March 23, 2009.

 

(11) Mr. Gupta’s fees include $95,000 for service on CONSOL Energy’s Board, which was paid by CONSOL Energy, and $85,000 for service on the CNX Gas Board, which was paid by CNX Gas. Mr. Gupta elected to defer $95,000 of his 2008 Board fees into the CONSOL Energy Directors Deferred Fee Plan and $77,917 of his 2008 CNX Gas Board fees into the CNX Gas Directors Deferred Fee Plan. Please see “Understanding Our Director Compensation Table” on page 10 for a description of the Directors Deferred Fee Plan and deferred stock units granted under our Plan.

 

(12) Amount represents $105,870 of 2008 expense relating to CONSOL Energy stock awards, $12,513 of 2008 expense relating to CONSOL Energy deferred stock units and $85,004 of 2008 expense relating to CNX Gas stock awards. Mr. Gupta elected to defer until termination of service 100% (or 1,200 restricted stock units) of his restricted stock unit award granted on April 29, 2008. Upon termination of service, shares underlying the restricted stock unit award will be delivered in successive equal installments over a 5-year period.

 

(13) Amount represents $17,971 of 2008 expense relating to CONSOL Energy option awards and $8,336 of 2008 expense relating to CNX Gas option awards.

 

(14) Ms. Hammick elected to defer until termination of service 100% (or 1,200 restricted stock units) of her restricted stock unit award granted on April 29, 2008. Upon termination of service, all of the shares underlying this restricted stock unit award will be delivered to her.

 

(15) Mr. Hardesty elected to defer until termination of service, 100% (or 1,200 restricted stock units) of his restricted stock unit award granted on April 29, 2008. Upon termination of service, shares underlying the restricted stock unit award will be delivered to him.

 

(16) Mr. Mills elected to defer until termination of service, 100% (or 1,200 restricted stock units) of his restricted stock unit award granted on April 29, 2008. Upon termination of service, shares underlying the restricted stock unit award will be delivered to him.

 

(17) Mr. Powell elected to defer until termination of service, 100% (or 1,200 restricted stock units) of his restricted stock unit award granted on April 29, 2008. Upon termination of service, shares underlying the restricted stock unit award will be delivered to him.

 

(18) Mr. Williams’ fees include $87,500 for service on CONSOL Energy’s Board, which was paid by CONSOL Energy, and $70,000 for service on the CNX Gas Board. Mr. Williams elected to defer $29,167 of his 2008 Board fees into the CONSOL Energy Directors Deferred Fee Plan and $23,334 of his 2008 Board fees into the CNX Gas Directors Deferred Fee Plan. Please see “Understanding Our Director Compensation Table” on page 10 for a description of the Directors Deferred Fee Plan and deferred stock units granted under our Plan.

 

(19) Mr. Williams elected to defer until termination of service, 100% (or 1,200 restricted stock units) of his restricted stock unit award granted on April 29, 2008. Upon termination of service, shares underlying the restricted stock unit award will be delivered to him. Amount represents $105,870 of 2008 expense relating to CONSOL Energy stock awards and $45,552 of 2008 expense relating to CNX Gas stock awards.

 

(20) Amount represents $17,971 of 2008 expense relating to CONSOL Energy option awards and $20,002 of 2008 expense relating to CNX Gas option awards.

 

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UNDERSTANDING OUR DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE

Executive Summary of Director Compensatory Arrangements

We use a combination of cash and stock-based compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on our Board. Each of our non-employee directors is entitled to receive annual fees for their service, any portion of which may be deferred at such director’s election. In lieu of all or any portion of the annual retainer otherwise payable to our non-employee directors, our Board may grant deferred stock units, which carry dividend equivalent rights. The nature of each of these fees and awards are described in greater detail below.

CONSOL Energy Non-Employee Director Annual Fees and Awards

Our non-employee director compensation program is set forth in the following table:

 

Element of Compensation    Dollar Value

Annual Board Retainer

  

$80,000

Annual Committee Chair Retainer
(excluding Audit Committee Chair Retainer)
  

$7,500

Annual Audit Committee Chair Retainer   

$15,000

Annual Audit Committee Retainer
(excluding Audit Committee Chair Retainer)
  

$7,500

Annual Equity Award
(restricted stock units)
   $95,000

CONSOL Energy Non-Employee Director Stock Options

Prior to October 2006, our non-employee directors received nonqualified stock options to acquire shares of the Corporation’s common stock. The exercise price per share of each nonqualified stock option award granted to a director was the fair market value of the Corporation’s common stock on the grant date and, accordingly, was intended to be exempt from coverage under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). The options vest ratably and become exercisable in one-third increments on each anniversary of the grant date. Subject to the provisions of the particular nonqualified stock option agreement and the Plan, the holder of the option may exercise all or any part of the vested portion of the option at any time prior to the tenth anniversary of the grant date, which is the expiration date.

Upon a “change in control,” the unvested portion of option awards vest, and, unless otherwise provided, remain exercisable for the lesser of a one-year period or until the expiration date of the option award.

If the director ceases to be a director of the Corporation on account of death, disability or retirement at normal retirement age for directors, all unvested option awards immediately vest and become exercisable and remain exercisable until the normal expiration of the option award. If the director is terminated for any other reason other than “cause,” unvested option awards are forfeited and vested option awards remain exercisable for three months following the termination date. If the director is terminated for “cause,” all options, whether vested or not, are forfeited as of the termination date. See “CONSOL Energy Equity Incentive Plan Definitions” on page 73 for definitions of change in control, cause and disability under the Plan.

CONSOL Energy Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Units

Each restricted stock unit received as part of an award represents the right to receive one share of common stock following the vesting date of that unit. Upon a change in control, restricted stock unit awards accelerate and vest.

Prior to February 19, 2008, restricted stock units were paid in three successive equal annual installments upon each director’s completion of continued service with us over the three-year period measured from the award date (subject

 

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to any deferral election that may have been made with respect to the payment of such shares). On February 19, 2008, the Board approved changes to the vesting schedule of restricted stock units, such that an award will now vest one year from the grant date or the next shareholders’ meeting, whichever comes first. Directors may make an elective deferral under the terms of their restricted stock units agreements, to delay distribution of restricted stock units until their separation from service. Subject to any such deferral election, restricted stock units are structured to be paid concurrent with vesting and are intended to comply with the short-term deferral exception under Section 409A of the Code.

As with the deferred stock units, a director is not entitled to shareholder rights until the director becomes the record holder of the shares following their actual issuance. Should a regular cash dividend be declared on our common stock at a time when unissued shares of common stock are subject to an award, then the number of shares subject to the award will automatically be increased by an amount determined in accordance with a pre-established formula. The additional shares resulting from this calculation will be subject to the same terms and conditions as the unissued shares of common stock to which they relate under the award.

For awards granted prior to February 19, 2008, if a director ceases to be a director on account of death, disability or retirement at normal retirement age (as defined in our Plan) for directors, all shares subject to such award will vest automatically and be delivered to the director immediately, or as soon as administratively practical thereafter (but in no event later than the 15th day of the third month following that date). If the director is terminated for “cause” (as defined in our Plan) or ceases to provide services for any reason other than death, disability or retirement at a normal age, the director’s award will be cancelled with respect to any unvested shares, and the number of restricted stock units will be reduced accordingly. The director will then cease to have any rights or entitlements to receive any shares of common stock under those cancelled units. In addition, in the event of a termination for “cause” or a breach of the proprietary information covenant, (i) the director will also forfeit all of his or her right, title and interest in and to any shares which have vested under the award and which are either held by him or her at that time or are otherwise subject to deferred issuance and (ii) to the extent the director sold any vested shares within the six (6) month period ending with the date of termination for “cause” or breach of the proprietary information covenant, the director will be required to repay to CONSOL Energy the cash proceeds received upon each such sale (which we refer to as the “clawback provisions”). In January 2008, the Board approved changes to the non-employee director restricted stock unit awards going forward, which include eliminating retirement as a trigger event for accelerated vesting and the clawback provisions. See “CONSOL Energy Equity Incentive Plan Definitions” on page 73 for definitions of cause and disability under our Plan.

As a condition to a director’s right and entitlement to receive shares subject to an award, the director must agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the proprietary information covenant and must return Corporation materials also as described above.

CONSOL Energy Chairman Agreement with Mr. Whitmire

We entered into an agreement with Mr. Whitmire on February 22, 1999 pursuant to which he was engaged as the non-executive Chairman of our Board, subject to election by our shareholders. In order to more formally and completely document his duties and responsibilities as Chairman, as well as his compensation arrangements, a new agreement was entered into with him as of April 27, 2004. This agreement was amended and restated on April 29, 2008. Under the terms of this agreement, as amended and restated, Mr. Whitmire receives annual compensation as follows:

 

   

$100,000, in quarterly installments; and

 

   

restricted stock units having a fair market value of $250,000 on the grant date

The above-described compensation will be in lieu of any and all cash, equity or other compensation to which other Board members are entitled to receive in connection with their service on our Board. In addition, Mr. Whitmire is provided clerical support by us at an annual cost not to exceed $30,000 and is reimbursed for business expenses for performing his duties for the Corporation.

 

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Mr. Whitmire’s term of service as Chairman will continue until the earlier of the date on which he ceases to serve as a member of our Board for any reason, or the date on which he ceases to serve as Chairman, while remaining a member of our Board. Mr. Whitmire’s service as Chairman may be terminated by either Mr. Whitmire or us, with or without “cause” (as defined in this agreement), on at least 90 days prior written notice to the other party or at any time by mutual consent of the parties and provided, further, that the service period will terminate immediately and automatically upon Mr. Whitmire’s death or permanent disability or incapacity, as determined in the good faith judgment of our Board.

In the event that Mr. Whitmire’s service as Chairman terminates during a service year, then he will thereafter receive no additional cash compensation under the agreement but he will retain his entire grant of restricted stock units for the service year in which the termination occurs. If, following such termination, he remains on our Board, he will thereafter be entitled to compensation as is provided by us to our other non-employee directors; provided that for the remainder of that service year, he will not be entitled to any additional stock, option or restricted stock unit grants by virtue of non-Chairman Board service.

CONSOL Energy Non-Employee Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (adopted 1999)

The CONSOL Energy Directors Deferred Compensation Plan was adopted on October 25, 1999. The CONSOL Energy Directors Deferred Compensation Plan permits members of our Board to defer all or a portion of any Board fees, such as the annual retainer, meeting fees or other amounts earned for services performed as a member of our Board and allows each participant’s earnings under the plan to be based on the performance of specified authorized hypothetical investments that participants may periodically designate. These hypothetical investment options may include hypothetical investments in CONSOL Energy’s common stock. The CONSOL Energy Directors Deferred Compensation Plan is an unfunded and unsecured liability of CONSOL Energy, and benefits will be paid from our general assets. Accordingly, participants are general unsecured creditors of the Corporation with respect to the benefits. Currently, Mr. Whitmire is the only participant in the CONSOL Energy Directors Deferred Compensation Plan. The CONSOL Energy Directors Deferred Compensation Plan was amended in 2007 to ensure compliance with Section 409A of the Code. The changes include clarifying the timing of distribution events, including upon separation from service; clarifying the timing and implementation of deferral elections; and, to the extent applicable, providing that the payment benefits will be subject to a six-month delay in the event the participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A) at the time of termination. The amendments were not intended to materially increase the benefits payable under the CONSOL Energy Directors Deferred Compensation Plan.

CONSOL Energy Non-Employee Directors Deferred Fee Plan (adopted 2004)

The CONSOL Energy Directors Deferred Fee Plan was adopted on July 20, 2004 to allow non-employee directors of the Corporation to defer payment of all or a portion of their annual cash Board retainer and director meeting fees. Participation is at the election of the particular director and, upon the Corporation receiving a deferral agreement from a director, we will establish an account on behalf of such person which will be credited with the deferred fees. Previously, the account of each participant was credited, on a quarterly basis, with interest based on the interest rate in effect on the last day of the applicable quarter. On February 21, 2006, our Board approved an amendment to the CONSOL Energy Directors Deferred Fee Plan which provides that a participant’s account will be adjusted by an amount equal to the amount that would have been earned (or lost) if amounts deferred under the plan had been invested in hypothetical investments designated by the participant based on a list of hypothetical investments provided by the plan administrator from time to time or, in the event that a participant fails to designate such hypothetical investments, the participant’s account shall earn interest as provided in the plan. Earnings will be credited to the participant’s account quarterly. The amount payable to a director participant will be paid in cash as soon as administratively practicable after the earlier of: the director’s termination of service as a director or the date elected by such director which must be at least two years after the end of the plan year for which fees are deferred. The CONSOL Energy Directors Deferred Fee Plan is an unfunded and unsecured liability of the Corporation, and benefits will be paid from our general assets. Accordingly, participants are general unsecured creditors of the Corporation with respect to the benefits. Currently, Messrs. Gupta and Williams are the only participants in the Directors Deferred Fee Plan.

The CONSOL Energy Directors Deferred Fee Plan was recently amended to ensure compliance with Section 409A of the Code. The changes include clarifying the timing of distribution events, including upon separation from

 

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service; clarifying the timing and implementation of deferral elections; and, to the extent applicable, providing that the payment benefits will be subject to a six-month delay in the event the participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A) at the time of termination. The amendments were not intended to materially increase the benefits payable under the CONSOL Energy Directors Deferred Fee Plan.

CONSOL Energy Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock Units

Our Board may grant deferred stock units to directors who are not employees of CONSOL Energy or any of its affiliates, referred to as eligible directors, in lieu of all or any portion of the annual cash retainer otherwise payable to the eligible directors. Under the terms of our Plan, the Board may permit a director to elect to receive deferred stock units in lieu of all or any portion of the annual retainer or meeting fees otherwise payable to an eligible director in cash, or to defer receipt of shares or cash to be paid pursuant to deferred stock units. The deferred stock units have dividend equivalent rights. Deferred stock units that have vested are paid following the earlier of: the director’s separation from service; or the date elected by the director on his or her payment date election form previously filed with the Corporation. Upon a change in control, unvested deferred stock units will accelerate and vest.

A director is not entitled to shareholder rights, including voting rights and actual dividend rights, with respect to the shares subject to an award until the director becomes the record holder of the shares following their actual issuance. Should a regular cash dividend be declared on the Corporation’s common stock at a time when the director holds deferred stock units, he or she will be entitled to dividend equivalent payments equal to the cash dividends declared on the shares. Dividend equivalents are converted into additional deferred stock units based on a pre-established formula. The additional deferred stock units resulting from this calculation will be subject to the same terms and conditions as the deferred stock units subject to the award.

If the director ceases to be a director on account of death, disability, or retirement at normal retirement age for directors, all unvested deferred stock units granted to a director will automatically vest and become non-forfeitable. If the director is terminated for “cause” or ceases to provide services for any reason other than death, disability or retirement at a normal age, all unvested deferred stock units and any rights to the underlying shares are immediately forfeited for no consideration. In addition, in the event of a termination for “cause” or a breach of the proprietary information covenant, the director will also forfeit all of his or her right, title and interest in and to any shares which have vested under their award. See “CONSOL Energy Equity Incentive Plan Definitions” on page 73 for definitions of cause and disability under our Plan. Deferred stock units are structured to comply with Section 409A of the Code. Accordingly, distributions shall be made only upon a permissible distribution event, including upon separation from service, and the timing and implementation of deferral elections must occur as prescribed by Section 409A of the Code.

CONSOL Energy Stock Ownership Guidelines for Directors

Our Board has adopted stock ownership guidelines for the directors to further align their interests with our shareholders and ensure that they maintain an appropriate financial stake in CONSOL Energy. The stock ownership guidelines provide, among other things, that directors hold CONSOL Energy common stock (not including shares issuable upon the exercise of options) equal to three times the annual Board cash retainer on or before the fifth anniversary of becoming a Board member.

 

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CNX Gas Non-Employee Director Annual Fees and Awards

The CNX Gas Board amended the compensation program for non-employee directors. Changes were made in January 2009, including the elimination of the CNX Gas Board’s Compensation, Finance and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees.

 

Element of Compensation    Dollar Value       

Annual Board Retainer (Non-Chairman)

   $70,000      
Annual Board Retainer (Non-Executive Chairman)    $120,000 *    
Annual Committee Chair Retainer
(excluding Audit Committee Chair Retainer)
   $7,500 *    
Audit Committee Chair Retainer    $15,000      
Audit Committee Member Retainer
(excluding Audit Committee Chair)
   $7,500      
Annual Equity Award (Non-Executive Chairman)
(restricted stock units)
   $200,000 *    
Annual Equity Award (Non-Chairman)
(restricted stock units)
   $100,000      

In connection with the management reorganization, effective January 16, 2009, the Non-Executive Chairman of the CNX Gas Board position and all CNX Gas Board committees other than its Audit Committee have been eliminated, and as such, the fees and/or equity awards denoted by an asterisk above have also been eliminated. Additionally, the other equity awards described above are scheduled to be first made in 2009 after the CNX Gas Annual Meeting of Stockholders. However, the CNX Gas Board is expected to re-evaluate its Director compensation after the CNX Gas Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and accordingly, the fees and equity awards might change.

All cash payments are to be made quarterly in arrears.

In addition, the Non-Executive Chairman in 2008 was provided clerical support by CNX Gas at an annual cost not to exceed $24,000.

CNX Gas Non-Employee Director Stock Options

The exercise price per share of each nonqualified stock option award granted to a CNX Gas director is the fair market value of CNX Gas’ common stock on the grant date. Options vest and become exercisable in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date. Subject to the provisions of the particular nonqualified stock option agreement and CNX Gas’ Equity Incentive Plan, the holder of the option may exercise all or any part of the vested portion of the option at any time prior to the tenth anniversary of the grant date. See “CNX Gas Stock Options” on page 78 for a discussion of the effects of termination and “change in control” on the CNX Gas nonqualified stock options. CNX Gas directors no longer receive CNX Gas stock options.

CNX Gas Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Units

CNX Gas restricted stock unit awards entitle a CNX Gas director to receive shares of CNX Gas’ common stock in a series of installments over their period of continued service with CNX Gas. The restricted stock unit awards (including associated dividend equivalent rights) are made annually. Beginning with the grants made in 2008, those annual grants vest in their entirety on the one-year anniversary of the grant date. For grants made prior to 2008, the restricted stock units vest in 3 equal annual amounts over the 3-year period measured from the grant date. With respect to all grants, each unit represents the right to receive one share of CNX Gas common stock following the vesting date of that unit. A CNX Gas director is not entitled to shareholder rights until the CNX Gas director becomes the record holder of the shares following their actual issuance. Should a regular cash dividend be declared on CNX Gas’ common stock at a time when unissued shares of common stock are subject to an award, then the number of shares subject to the award will automatically be increased by an amount determined in accordance with

 

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a pre-established formula. The additional shares resulting from this calculation will be subject to the same terms and conditions as the unissued shares of common stock to which they relate under the award. Upon a change in control, the award accelerates and vests.

CNX Gas Non-Employee Directors Deferred Fee Plan

The CNX Gas Corporation Directors Deferred Fee Plan was adopted on December 10, 2007 to allow non-employee directors of CNX Gas to defer payment of all or a portion of their annual cash fees paid in 2008 or thereafter with respect to service in 2008 or thereafter. Participation is at the election of the particular director and, upon CNX Gas receiving a deferral agreement from a director, CNX Gas establishes an account on behalf of such person which is credited with the deferred fees. A participant’s account will be adjusted by an amount equal to the amount that would have been earned (or lost) if amounts deferred under the plan had been invested in hypothetical investments designated by the participant based on a list of hypothetical investments provided by the plan administrator from time to time or, in the event that a participant fails to designate such hypothetical investments, the participant’s account shall earn interest as provided in the plan. These hypothetical investment options may include hypothetical investments in CNX Gas common stock. The amount payable to a director participant will be paid in cash as soon as administratively practicable after the earlier of: the director’s termination of service as a director or the date elected by such director, which must be at least two years after the end of the plan year for which fees are deferred. The CNX Gas Corporation Directors Deferred Fee Plan is an unfunded and unsecured liability of CNX Gas, and benefits will be paid from its general assets. Accordingly, participants are general unsecured creditors of CNX Gas with respect to the benefits. Currently, Messrs. Gupta and Williams are the only participants in the CNX Gas Directors Deferred Fee Plan.

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

The following table sets forth information with respect to beneficial ownership of the Corporation’s common stock by:

 

   

beneficial owners of more than five percent of CONSOL Energy’s common stock as of December 31, 2008, based upon information filed with the SEC; and

 

   

each director and each nominee for director, each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table set forth below, and all directors and executive officers of the Corporation as a group, based on information known to the Corporation as of March 5, 2009.

Amounts shown include options that are currently exercisable or that may become exercisable within 60 days and the shares underlying deferred stock units and restricted stock units which a person listed below may acquire within 60 days. Unless otherwise indicated, the named person has the sole voting and dispositive powers with respect to shares of CONSOL Energy common stock set forth opposite such person’s name.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

   Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership(1)
   Percent of Class  

Wellington Management Company, LLP(2)
75 State Street
Boston, MA 02109

   15,491,813    8.55 %

Capital World Investors(3)
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071

   17,556,400    9.7 %

BlackRock, Inc.(4)
40 East 52
nd Street
New York, NY 10022

   12,290,856    6.78 %

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.(5)
100 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

   12,055,017    6.6 %

 

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Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

   Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership(1)
   Percent of Class

J. Brett Harvey(6)(7)

   1,302,763    *

William J. Lyons(6)

   215,118    *

Nicholas J. DeIuliis(6)

   3,999    *

P. Jerome Richey(6)

   31,700    *

Robert P. King(6)

   20,829    *

Robert F. Pusateri(6)(8)

   20,580    *

John Whitmire(6)(9)

   33,548    *

David C. Hardesty, Jr.(6)

   8,305    *

Patricia A. Hammick(6)

   21,585    *

Raj K. Gupta(6)(9)

   25,114    *

William E. Davis(6)

   22,490    *

Joseph T. Williams(6)

   12,495    *

James E. Altmeyer, Sr.(6)(10)

   18,394    *

William P. Powell(6)

   23,499    *

John T. Mills(6)

   24,120    *

Philip W. Baxter(11)

   -    *

All directors and executive officers as a group (16)(6)

   1,784,539    *

 

* Indicates less than one percent (1%) ownership.

 

(1) As of March 5, 2009, there were 180,637,172 shares of CONSOL Energy common stock outstanding.

 

(2) Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed by Wellington Management Company, LLP on February 17, 2009. Wellington Management Company, LLP is deemed to be the beneficial owner of, and have shared dispositive power with respect to 15,491,813 shares and shared voting power with respect to 9,885,643 shares.

 

(3) Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2009. The filing was made by Capital World Investors, an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and the Growth Fund of America, Inc., an investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Capital World Investors is deemed to be the beneficial owner of, and has sole dispositive power with respect to 17,556,400 shares and has no sole or shared voting power with respect to such shares, as a result of its acting as investment adviser to various investment companies registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, including The Growth Fund of America, Inc., which has no sole or shared dispositive power with respect to its shares, but has sole voting power with respect to 10,856,400 shares.

 

(4) Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed by BlackRock, Inc. on February 10, 2009. BlackRock, Inc., as a parent holding company for a number of investment management subsidiaries, is deemed to be the beneficial owner of, and have shared voting and dispositive power with respect to all 12,290,856 shares. The following subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. are investment advisors which hold shares of our common stock: BlackRock Advisors LLC, BlackRock Asset Management U.K. Limited, BlackRock Capital Management, Inc., BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., BlackRock Investment Management, LLC, BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited, BlackRock (Channel Islands) Ltd, BlackRock Japan Co. Ltd, BlackRock Investment Management UK Ltd and State Street Research & Management Co.

 

(5) Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. on February 12, 2009. T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, is deemed to be the beneficial owner of, and have sole dispositive power with respect to 12,055,017 shares. T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. is deemed to have sole voting power with respect to 2,740,091 of the shares.

 

(6)

Includes shares issuable pursuant to options that are currently exercisable (or may become exercisable on or before May 5, 2009) as follows: Mr. Harvey, 1,093,628; Mr. Lyons, 161,569; Mr. DeIuliis, 2,940; Mr. Richey, 17,793; Mr. King, 10,432; Mr. Pusateri, 10,394; Mr. Whitmire, 19,744; Ms. Hammick, 12,962; Mr. Williams, 2,962; Mr. Altmeyer, 3,643; Mr. Davis, 12,962; Mr. Powell, 15,962; Mr. Gupta, 12,962; Mr. Mills, 8,592; Mr. Hardesty, 2,692, and for all directors and executive officers as a group, 1,389,237. Also includes restricted stock units that will be vested on or before May 5, 2009, as follows: Mr. Harvey, 22,457; Mr. Lyons, 4,806; Mr. DeIuliis, 1,050;

 

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Mr. Richey, 2,610; Mr. Pusateri, 1,512; Mr. Whitmire, 3,179; Ms. Hammick, 2,207; Mr. Williams, 2,207; Mr. Altmeyer, 2,207; Mr. Davis, 2,207; Mr. Powell, 2,207; Mr. Gupta, 2,207; Mr. Mills, 2,207; Mr. Hardesty, 2,207, and for all directors and executive officers as a group, 53,270.

 

(7) Includes 2,000 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Harvey’s spouse. Mr. Harvey disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, and the inclusion of such shares shall not be an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner for purposes of Section 16 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

(8) Includes 1,700 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Pusateri’s spouse. Mr. Pusateri disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, and the inclusion of such shares shall not be an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner for purposes of Section 16 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

(9) Includes 10,625 and 2,337 deferred stock units held by Messrs. Whitmire and Gupta, respectively.

 

(10) Includes 1,600 shares of common stock held in a trust established for the benefit of Mr. Altmeyer’s spouse. Mr. Altmeyer disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, and the inclusion of such shares shall not be an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner for purposes of Section 16 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

(11) Mr. Baxter joined our Board in January 2009 and received an initial equity grant of 994 restricted stock units.

Brokerage account agreements may grant security interests in securities held at the broker to secure payment and performance obligations of the brokerage account holder in the ordinary course. Shares shown in the table for the directors and executive officers may be subject to this type of security interest.

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

CONSOL Energy’s directors and its executive officers are required under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of CONSOL Energy common stock with the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange. Based upon a review of filings with the SEC, written representations that no other reports were required, and on CONSOL Energy’s records, CONSOL Energy believes that during 2008, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its executive officers and directors were complied with, except that J. Brett Harvey filed an amended Form 4 on March 31, 2008, to correct the total number of restricted stock units and shares subject to an option granted to Mr. Harvey on February 19, 2008, which were, due to an administrative error, incorrectly reported on a Form 4 filed on February  21, 2008.

PROPOSAL NO. 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The nominees for election as directors are identified as follows. Each director holds office until the next annual election of directors at the Annual Meeting and until the director’s successor is elected and qualified. All nominees are current members of the Board. If any nominee should for any reason become unable to serve, the shares represented by all valid proxies will be voted for the election of such other person as the Board may designate following recommendation by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, or the Board may reduce the number of directors to eliminate the vacancy. The following contains information concerning the nominees, including their recent employment, positions with CONSOL Energy, other directorships, and age as of March  20, 2009.

Biographies of Directors

John Whitmire

Chairman of the Board, age 68

John Whitmire has served as Chairman of the Board of CONSOL Energy since March 3, 1999. Mr. Whitmire currently serves ex officio on the Audit, Compensation, Finance and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. Mr. Whitmire is also a director of Transocean Inc. (formerly Global Santa Fe Corporation before it was merged into Transocean Inc.), which is engaged in the business of offshore drilling for oil and natural gas reserves and El Paso Corporation, which provides natural gas and related energy products. Mr. Whitmire currently serves as Chair of the executive compensation committee of Transocean Inc., Chair of the health, safety and environmental committee of El Paso Corporation, and is a member of the audit committee of El Paso Corporation as well.

 

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J. Brett Harvey

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, age 58

J. Brett Harvey has been President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of CONSOL Energy since January 1998. He has been a director of CNX Gas since June 30, 2005, the date of its formation, and was appointed as chairman of the CNX Gas Board in January 2009. Mr. Harvey was also elected to the position of chairman and chief executive officer of CNX Gas in January 2009. Mr. Harvey is a member of the board of directors of the Bituminous Coal Operators’ Association and a member of the executive committee and the board of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Energy. In December 2005, Mr. Harvey was elected to the board of directors of Barrick Gold Corporation, the world’s largest gold producer (“Barrick”). He serves on the Barrick compensation and environmental, health and safety committees. In December of 2007, Mr. Harvey was also elected to the board of directors of Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, a specialty metals producer, and serves on its nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees.

James E. Altmeyer, Sr.

Director, age 70

James E. Altmeyer, Sr. has been a director of CONSOL Energy since November 2003 and a director of CNX Gas since June 30, 2005, the date of its formation. He currently serves as a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees of CONSOL Energy. He also serves as a member of the audit committee of CNX Gas. Mr. Altmeyer served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Altmeyer Funeral Homes, Inc. of West Virginia, Ohio, and Virginia from 1972 until 2007, at which time he became Chairman of Altmeyer Funeral Homes, Inc. He has also been President of Altmeyer Realty, a real estate holding company, and of Martin-Steadfast Insurance Company since 1972. Since 1987, Mr. Altmeyer has served on the board of directors of WesBanco, Inc., a multi-state bank holding company, and currently serves on its audit committee. Mr. Altmeyer also serves as a member of the executive committee of the board of directors of Wheeling Hospital; President of the American Legion Home Corporation; Vice Chairman of the Chambers Foundation and as a member of the board of directors of the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation.

Philip W. Baxter

Director, age 60

Philip W. Baxter rejoined the Board in January 2009. He currently serves as a member of the Audit and Finance Committees of the Board. Mr. Baxter served as the Chairman of the board of directors of CNX Gas from June 30, 2005, the date of its formation, until January 2009, and continues to serve as a director of CNX Gas. Mr. Baxter served as Chairman of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee of CONSOL Energy and served as a Director of CONSOL Energy from August 1999 until August 2, 2005. Mr. Baxter has been the President of Stan Johnson Company, a nationally recognized leader in commercial real estate brokerage specializing in single-tenant properties, since September 2002. Mr. Baxter was Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of the Tulsa-based energy conglomerate, Mapco Inc., until March 1998 when it merged with The Williams Company. During his 18-year career at Mapco, Mr. Baxter held a number of officer level positions including Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning. Prior to his career at Mapco, he held a number of financial positions with Williams Energy Company, a subsidiary of The Williams Company.

William E. Davis

Director, age 66

William E. Davis joined the Board in January 2004. He currently serves as Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee. Since November 2007, Mr. Davis has been a director of AbitibiBowater Inc., which produces a broad range of paper and forest products marketed around the world, and serves on its nominating and governance and compensation committees. Mr. Davis was a director of Abitibi Consolidated Inc, which produced newsprint, commercial printing paper and other wood products, from April 2003 to November 2007, and served on its audit and nominating and governance committees. Mr. Davis was also the chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, an electricity and natural gas utility located in upstate New York from May 1993 to February 2002. Following the sale

 

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of Niagara Mohawk in February 2002 and until his retirement in April 2003, Mr. Davis served as chairman of National Grid USA and as an executive director of National Grid (UK), owner and operator of the electricity transmission network in England and Wales. He served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Development Foundation of Central New York until December 4, 2008.

Raj K. Gupta

Director, age 66

Raj K. Gupta has been a director of CONSOL Energy since February 2004 and a director of CNX Gas since June 30, 2005, the date of its formation. He currently serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee. He also serves as a member of the audit committee of CNX Gas. Since July 2007, Mr. Gupta has also served as chairman of the board of directors of Quetzal Energy, Inc., a Canadian-based international oil and gas company operating in Guatemala, Central America. Mr. Gupta currently works as an independent management consultant. From 2000 to December 2004, Mr. Gupta served on the board of directors of Yukos Oil Company, Moscow, Russia, chaired its compensation committee and was a member of its audit and finance committees. Since 2000, Mr. Gupta has been a member of the Advisory Council of the Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering at Kansas State University. He also serves on the advisory board of Preng & Associates in Houston.

Patricia A. Hammick

Director, age 62

Patricia A. Hammick has served on the Board since June 2001. She currently serves on the Nominating and Corporate Governance and Compensation Committees. Mrs. Hammick also currently serves as lead independent director for the board of directors of Dynegy Inc., an independent power producer to which she was elected in April of 2003. Since January 2007, she has also been a director of SNC – Lavalin Group, Inc. (“SNC”), a company engaged in engineering and construction, infrastructure ownership and management, and facilities and operations management. She serves as a member of SNC’s audit and health, safety & environment committees. She is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and was an adjunct professor in graduate studies at The George Washington University from 2001 to 2003.

David C. Hardesty, Jr.

Director, age 63

David C. Hardesty, Jr. joined the Board in October 2005. He currently serves as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance and Finance Committees. Mr. Hardesty is President Emeritus and Professor of Law at West Virginia University (WVU). He was President of WVU from 1995 to 2007. While serving as President, he was also a member of the National Security Higher Education Advisory Board. In addition, Mr. Hardesty served as the permanent chair of WVU’s affiliated research corporation, teaching hospital and the hospital’s parent health care system of hospitals. He also serves on the board of numerous professional and civic organizations. Prior to his career in academia, Mr. Hardesty was a partner in the law firm of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love in Charleston, West Virginia, where he practiced in the areas of state and local taxation, corporate and banking and administrative law, and is currently Of Counsel at this law firm. Mr. Hardesty was also State Tax Commissioner during Senator John D. Rockefeller IV’s first term as governor of West Virginia (1977-1980). He also served as chairman of the National 4-H Council, a director and officer in the Big East Conference, and a member of the Bowl Championship Series Presidential Oversight Committee, as well as a founding directors of the Blanchettee Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute.

John T. Mills

Director, age 61

John T. Mills joined the Board in March 2006. Mr. Mills currently serves as a member of the Audit and the Compensation Committees. In January 2008, Mr. Mills became a member of the board of directors and audit, conflicts and risk management committees of Regency GP, LLC, the general partner of Regency GP, LP, the general partner of Regency Energy Partners LP, a natural gas gathering, processing and transportation master limited partnership. Mr. Mills served as the chairman of the board of directors of Horizon Offshore, Inc., a marine

 

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construction company, from September 2004 until December 11, 2007, when it was acquired by Cal Dive International Inc. He currently serves on the board of directors of Cal Dive International Inc., a marine contractor providing manned diving, derrick, pipelay and pipe burial services to the offshore oil and natural gas industry, and serves on the audit, compensation and corporate governance and nominating committees. Mr. Mills was the Chief Financial Officer of Marathon Oil Corporation, an integrated energy company, from January 2002 until his retirement in December 2003.

William P. Powell

Director, age 53

William P. Powell has served on the Board since January 2004. He currently serves as Chairman of the Compensation Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee. Since 1993, Mr. Powell has also been a director of Cytec Industries, a global specialty chemicals and materials company, where he chairs the governance committee and has served on the audit committee. Until May 2007, Mr. Powell was a managing director of Williams Street Advisors, a New York City-based merchant banking boutique. Mr. Powell resigned from William Street Advisors to establish a family office, 535 Partners LLC. Mr. Powell serves as managing partner of 535 Partners LLC.

Joseph T. Williams

Director, age 71

Joseph T. Williams has been a director of CONSOL Energy since January 2004. He currently serves as Chairman of the Finance Committee and a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Williams also served as a director of CNX Gas from July 10, 2006 until January 2009. Mr. Williams is a retired oil and natural gas industry executive who has held positions as chairman or Chief Executive Officer or both for NASDAQ, American, and New York Stock Exchange listed companies. He is currently a member of a number of industry organizations, including the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the 25 Year Club of the Petroleum Industry.

Related Party Policy and Procedures

Our Audit Committee adopted a written Related Party Policy and Procedures for the review and approval or ratification of related party transactions with directors, nominees for director and executive officers. A copy of the policy is available on our website at www.consolenergy.com.

Under the policy, prior to entering into a related person transaction, a director, nominee or executive officer is to notify our chief financial officer and general counsel of the material facts regarding it. If our chief financial officer and general counsel determine that the proposed transaction is a related person transaction, it is presented to our Audit Committee (or if it is not practicable or desirable to wait until the next Audit Committee meeting, to the chairman of the Audit Committee) for approval. The Audit Committee will consider all relevant facts and circumstances including the terms of the transaction and terms that would be available to unrelated parties, the benefits to us, and, if it involves an independent director, any impact on independence. The Audit Committee will also inform our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of any related party transactions involving directors or nominees. Since the SEC’s related party regulation also applies to directors’ and executive officers’ family members as well as entities in which they may be deemed to have an indirect material interest, it is possible that related person transactions could occur without a director or executive officer being aware of them and bringing them to us for approval. When we become aware of a related person transaction that has not been previously approved, the policy provides that it will be presented to our Audit Committee for ratification or other action. The policy also provides that our Audit Committee will review on an annual basis ongoing related person transactions having a remaining term of more than six months or a remaining amount in excess of $120,000. The transactions described above in “Related Party Transactions” and the transactions that were described in “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” on page 6 were ratified under this policy. We also require that officers and directors complete director and officer questionnaires annually and that they adhere to written codes of business conduct and ethics regarding various topics including conflicts of interest, loans from the Corporation, the receipt of gifts, service in outside organizations, political activity and corporate opportunities; officers and directors certify compliance with these codes in writing each year. With respect to CNX Gas, its audit committee’s charter

 

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addresses its review, and, if appropriate, approval or ratification of transactions between it (including its subsidiaries) and related persons that are required to be reported by it under the SEC’s related party regulation.

For a description of certain relationships and related transactions, see “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” on page 6.

Determination of Director Independence

Our Board is required under the New York Stock Exchange rules to affirmatively determine the independence of each director and to disclose this determination in the Proxy Statement for each annual meeting of shareholders of CONSOL Energy. Based on the independence standards set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines which are described below, our Board at its meeting held on February 17, 2009, determined that all non-employee directors (i.e., all directors except J. Brett Harvey) had no material relationship with CONSOL Energy (either directly or indirectly, including as a partner, shareholder, or officer of an organization that has a relationship with CONSOL Energy) and are “independent” under our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the corporate governance rules of the New York Stock Exchange codified in Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. The Board considered the transactions described in “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” on page 6 with respect to Mr. Altmeyer. Each member of the Audit Committee meets the heightened independence standards required for audit committee members under the NYSE listing standards and the SEC rules.

The Board established the following standards for determining director independence in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available on the Corporate Governance section of the Corporation’s website at www.consolenergy.com.

A director will not be deemed independent if:

 

   

(i) the director is, or has been within the previous three years, employed by CONSOL Energy, or an immediate family member is, or has been within the previous three years, an executive officer of CONSOL Energy; provided, that employment as an interim Chairman or CEO or other executive officer shall not disqualify a director from being considered independent following that employment;

 

   

(ii) the director or an immediate family member has received, during any twelve-month period within the last three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from CONSOL Energy, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service); provided, that compensation received by a director for former service as an interim Chairman or CEO or other executive officer need not be considered in determining independence under this paragraph (ii) and provided, further, that compensation received by an immediate family member for service as an employee of CONSOL Energy (other than an executive officer) need not be considered in determining independence under this paragraph (ii);

 

   

(iii) (A) the director or an immediate family member is a current partner of the firm that is CONSOL Energy’s internal auditor or external auditor (each an “Audit Firm”); (B) the director is a current employee of an Audit Firm; (C) the director has an immediate family member who is a current employee of an Audit Firm and who personally works on CONSOL Energy’s audit; or (D) the director or an immediate family member was, within the previous three years (but is no longer), a partner or employee of an Audit Firm and personally worked on CONSOL Energy’s audit within that time;

 

   

(iv) the director or an immediate family member is, or has been within the previous three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of CONSOL Energy’s present executive officers at the same time serves or served on such company’s compensation (or equivalent) committee of the board of directors; or

 

   

(v) the director is a current employee, or an immediate family member is an executive officer, of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, CONSOL Energy for property or services in an amount which, in any of the previous three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1 million or

 

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2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues. For purposes of the foregoing, both the payments and the consolidated gross revenues to be measured shall be those reported in the last completed fiscal year; and

 

   

(vi) for members of the audit committee only: other than in the capacity as a member of the audit committee, the Board, or any other committee of the Board, the director (A) does not accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from CONSOL Energy, provided that compensatory fees do not include the receipt of fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service with CONSOL Energy (provided that such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service), or (B) is not an affiliated person of CONSOL Energy.

“Immediate family members” of a director are the director’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mothers and fathers-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law, and anyone (other than domestic employees) who share such person’s home. When applying the look-back period referenced in clauses (i) – (v) above, directors need not consider individuals who are no longer immediate family members as a result of legal separation or divorce, or those who have died or become incapacitated.

“Executive officer” has the meaning specified for the term “officer” in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Any related person transaction required to be disclosed under SEC Regulation S-K, Item 404, shall be considered in determining the independence of a director or nominee.

Required Vote

As more fully set forth in Section 2.9 of CONSOL Energy’s Third Amended and Restated Bylaws, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting shall elect directors.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR”

THE ABOVE-NAMED NOMINEES FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND STOCK OPTION INFORMATION

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Executive Summary

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis section is designed to explain the material elements of compensation paid to our executive officers and to describe the manner and context in which compensation is awarded to and earned by these individuals.

Our executive compensation program consists of base salary, time-based restricted stock units and at-risk compensation, both short and long-term. The elements of our executive compensation program include base salary, annual cash incentive awards, long-term incentive awards, retirement and other post-employment programs and perquisites.

The Compensation Committee uses a variety of resources, including tally sheets, competitive market analysis, and input from independent consultants to make decisions regarding our executives’ compensation which are consistent with our executive compensation philosophy and objectives. The Compensation Committee considers the Corporation’s business performance, financial goals, the current industry environment and various tax considerations in determining how to apply the Corporation’s executive compensation philosophy to decisions regarding executive compensation.

The five individuals identified in the Summary Compensation Table of this Proxy Statement comprise our “named executives.” In 2008, four of our named executives were employees of CONSOL Energy, and one was an employee of CONSOL Energy’s publicly-traded subsidiary – CNX Gas. The four employees of CONSOL Energy included our Chief Executive Officer (Mr. Harvey), our Chief Financial Officer (Mr. Lyons), our former President – Coal Group (Mr. Lilly, who has since retired) and our Chief Legal Officer (Mr. Richey), and their compensation in 2008 was determined by our Compensation Committee (and the independent members of our Board in the case of our Chief Executive Officer). The CNX Gas employee was its Chief Executive Officer (Mr. DeIuliis) and his compensation for 2008 was determined in December 2008 by the CNX Gas Board and its former compensation committee.

As a result of a management reorganization of CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas in January 2009 (as described immediately below), Mr. DeIuliis, now President and Chief Operating Officer of CNX Gas, became an employee of CONSOL Energy and assumed the title of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of CONSOL Energy. Although the CNX Gas Board and its compensation committee approved his 2009 compensation package in December 2008, the Compensation Committee for CONSOL Energy also reviewed and approved his 2009 compensation package in February 2009 since he is now the Chief Operating Officer of CONSOL Energy.

The analysis that follows describes the material elements of CONSOL Energy’s compensation programs for the four named executives who were CONSOL Energy employees during 2008 (except with respect to an equity award granted to Mr. DeIuliis, who was an employee of CNX Gas in 2008). For information regarding the executive compensation arrangements for our Chief Operating Officer for 2008, please refer to the CNX Gas proxy statement filed in March 2009.

Management Reorganization

On January 16, 2009, our Board and the CNX Gas Board implemented a reorganization of the management structure of the two companies. In this proxy statement, we will refer to this reorganization as the “management reorganization.” The changes effected by this management reorganization are as follows:

 

   

J. Brett Harvey, President and Chief Executive Officer of CONSOL Energy, was appointed to the additional position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CNX Gas.

 

   

Nicholas J. DeIuliis, President and Chief Executive Officer of CNX Gas, was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for CONSOL Energy. He also will serve as President and Chief Operating Officer of CNX Gas.

 

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William J. Lyons, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CONSOL Energy and Chief Financial Officer of CNX Gas, is now also an Executive Vice President of CNX Gas.

 

   

P. Jerome Richey, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of CONSOL Energy, was appointed Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs and Chief Legal Officer CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas and also will serve as Secretary for CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas.

 

   

Robert P. King was appointed Executive Vice President – Business Advancement and Support Services for CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas.

 

   

Robert F. Pusateri was appointed Executive Vice President – Energy Sales and Transportation Services, for both CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas.

Effective January 16, 2009, these persons became the executive officers of CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas.

The goal of the management reorganization is to improve performance and profitability of both CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas, as well as to increase efficiency and reduce costs across all business areas by creating a more unified organizational structure that will have functional, operational, and financial responsibility for all coal, gas and related assets, while still recognizing the status of CNX Gas as a separate public company.

Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program

The Compensation Committee seeks to achieve its objectives through the following elements of our executive compensation program:

 

   

Base Salary

 

   

Short-Term Incentive Compensation

 

   

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

-  Restricted Stock Units

-  Options

-  Performance Share Units

 

   

Post-Employment Compensation

-  Retirement Benefits

-  Employment and Letter Agreements

-  Change in Control Agreements

 

   

Perquisites

Objectives of Our Executive Compensation Program

One of the primary objectives of our executive compensation program is to attract and retain talented individuals to manage and lead CONSOL Energy. Accordingly, our Compensation Committee is responsible for approving the compensation of our executive officers and, in the case of our Chief Executive Officer, recommending his compensation to the independent members of the Board for final approval.

We believe that the quality, skills and dedication of our named executives are critical factors affecting the short and long-term value of CONSOL Energy. As a result, the objectives of our compensation program are as follows:

 

   

promote the achievement by CONSOL Energy of annual and long-term performance objectives;

 

   

provide incentives for our named executives to achieve performance goals;

 

   

reward our named executives for the achievement of performance goals;

 

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align our named executives’ interests with the interests of CONSOL Energy and its shareholders; and

 

   

provide compensation opportunities that will attract and retain superior executive personnel who will make significant contributions to CONSOL Energy’s short and long-term success.

Through the use of our long-term compensation program, executive officers have the opportunity to receive total compensation at the top quartile among our peer group of companies, only if absolute and relative performance warrant such a payout.

Role of Outside Compensation Consultants

The Compensation Committee has engaged outside compensation consulting firms to assist it with the development of our compensation program, and these consultants, engaged by the Compensation Committee, work for the Compensation Committee in coordination with management.

The Compensation Committee looks to the outside compensation consultants to review the elements of our compensation program and recommend any modifications thereto, including the appropriate mix of short and long-term incentives, based on the consultants’ review of the market practices of a peer group of companies (which are recommended by the consultant after discussions with the Compensation Committee and management, and approved by the Compensation Committee). The consultants also provide ongoing input on the design of our incentive programs and the underlying performance metrics.

The Compensation Committee also uses the compensation consultants’ benchmarking studies to determine the market pay practices of similarly situated executives to our named executives. The Compensation Committee’s policy is to use the data prepared and presented by the outside compensation consultants as a reference point or guideline. Actual compensation may be higher or lower than the compensation for executives in similar positions at comparable companies.

The rationale for having higher or lower compensation than other executives at comparable companies is a function of that person’s performance, skills, experience and specific role in the organization, as well as CONSOL Energy’s overall performance. For example, with respect to each of our named executives, the compensation consultant found in February 2008, the 2008 compensation packages recommended by the Compensation Committee were between the median and 86th percentile of proxy data. It was determined that for each of these individuals, their history with the Corporation, the depth and breadth of their experiences, their job responsibilities and CONSOL Energy’s performance in 2007 warranted the recommended level of compensation. Additionally, when reviewing the ranking of CONSOL Energy’s compensation packages to its peers, the Compensation Committee analyzes the size of CONSOL Energy relative to the Peer Group. For example, at the end of 2007, CONSOL Energy’s revenues of $3.7 billion positioned itself at the 74th percentile of the Peer Group and CONSOL Energy’s market capitalization of $10.5 billion was positioned at the 63rd percentile of the Peer Group.

2008 Peer Group

For purposes of establishing 2008 compensation, the Compensation Committee approved a Peer Group that consisted of the following 14 companies (the “Peer Group”):

 

          Allegheny Energy Inc.

  Massey Energy Company

          Alpha Natural Resources, Inc.

  Noble Energy, Inc.

          Arch Coal, Inc.

  Peabody Energy Corporation

          Chesapeake Energy Corporation

  PPL Corporation

          Equitable Resources, Inc.

  Questar Corporation

          EOG Resources, Inc.

  Teco Energy, Inc.

          Foundation Coal Holdings, Inc.

  Vectren Corporation

The Peer Group was modified in 2008 to better reflect CONSOL Energy’s size and business operations. The compensation consultant explained that the Peer Group should be increased in size to ensure there are sufficient

 

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matches for each position and to minimize the potential impact of one or two outliers which could bias the data. Additionally, the consultant’s standard methodology is to recommend that peer companies are in the same sub-industry (coal) and/or industry (energy) as CONSOL Energy and then to examine the size of companies based on revenues and market capitalization to identify the most comparable companies. Applying this methodology, the consultant suggested adding five companies to the Peer Group (Chesapeake Energy Corporation, EOG Resources, Inc., Noble Energy, Inc., PPL Corporation and Questar Corporation). The consultant continued to include Foundation Coal and Alpha Natural Resources in the proposed peer group due to their focus on coal (even though they did not meet the revenue and market capitalization parameters). Finally, Barrick Gold Corporation (for industry reasons) and Apache Corp. (for size considerations) were eliminated from the Peer Group for 2008.

In connection with the 2008 compensation program, the compensation consultant also used data of S&P 500 companies (excluding financial services companies) and proxy data from fifteen similarly-sized general industry companies to supplement its findings and provide the Compensation Committee with a general industry perspective on competitive pay levels. This data was used as a reference point only and was not directly used for benchmarking purposes.

2009 Peer Group

In December 2008, our outside compensation consultants reviewed additional companies in the coal and energy industries. Based on that review, the consultants recommended, and our Compensation Committee approved, adding Patriot Coal Corporation to the Peer Group for purposes of establishing 2009 compensation levels. Patriot Coal Corporation is a coal company that was spun off from Peabody Energy Corporation in November 2007. While it is one of the smaller companies in the Peer Group based on revenue and market capitalization, it is an appropriate comparator company based on business focus and the geographic location of its operations.

Considerations of the Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee relies on its own judgment in setting each executive officer’s compensation and not on any rigid guidelines or strict formulas. To establish compensation for a particular executive officer, the Corporation’s human resources personnel make an initial assessment and submit it to our Chief Executive Officer for review (except in the case of the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation). This assessment considers relevant industry salary practices, the position’s complexity and level of responsibility, its importance to us in relation to other executive positions, and the competitiveness of an executive officer’s total compensation. Our Chief Executive Officer may make appropriate changes to this assessment based on his determination of such named executive’s past performance. The Compensation Committee then reviews:

 

   

our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation recommendations for each named executive (other than himself);

 

   

our Chief Executive Officer’s evaluation of each named executive’s performance and internal value; and

 

   

the benchmarking studies compiled by the outside compensation consultant.

From this information, the Compensation Committee approves, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer and the outside compensation consultant, the amount of each executive officer’s annual base salary, bonus and long-term incentive compensation.

To establish compensation for our Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee reviews:

 

   

the benchmarking studies and compensation recommendation compiled by the outside compensation consultant; and

 

   

the Chief Executive Officer’s self-evaluation of his performance in light of the prior year’s goals and objectives, and the Board of Director’s evaluation of his performance.

The Compensation Committee’s current intent is to perform at least annually a strategic review of our named executives’ overall compensation packages to determine whether they provide adequate incentives and whether they

 

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properly compensate our executive officers relative to comparable officers in other companies with which we compete for executives. Our Compensation Committee’s most recent overall compensation review occurred in early 2009. Our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer typically attend all or a portion of the Compensation Committee meetings. However, the named executives are not present during that portion of the meeting in which their compensation is considered and approved.

Performance of CONSOL Energy in 2008

In 2008, CONSOL Energy achieved certain milestones in a number of critical areas in which we judge our performance:

 

   

We recorded our best safety performance in the history of the Corporation, with our reportable incidence rate improving by 19% in 2008 (2.7 times better than the industry average).

 

   

Our total revenue and net cash from operations were the highest in the 145-year history of the Company, and our net income was higher than any year but 2005 when we sold a portion of CNX Gas to the public.

 

   

Our average realized prices for coal and gas were the highest since we became a publicly-owned company in 1999.

 

   

We completed several strategic acquisitions.

 

   

We successfully recruited employees in a tight market for talent by positioning the Company as safe, stable, and growing.

 

   

Our share price reached a record high $119.10 prior to the unprecedented economic events during the fall of 2008.

Objectives and Performance of Named Executives

2008 Performance Goals and Objectives

As mentioned above, the performance of our named executives is considered when establishing individual compensation. This means that the individual’s performance is taken into account when compensating a named executive for prior performance and/or approving a compensation package for the following year. This section is intended to explain the considerations used with respect to our named executives’ performance.

Our Corporation takes a team approach to achieving our strategic vision for CONSOL Energy. For 2008, our named executives had the following as their combined primary performance goals and objectives:

 

   Executives’ Primary Goals and Objectives for 2008
Safety    Improving safety by continuing CONSOL Energy’s efforts to achieve a zero incidence rate (e.g., establishing an effective incentive and training program)
Productivity    Continuing to optimize production rates and offsetting rising costs through efficient deployment of CONSOL Energy’s resources (e.g., investment in upgrading older mines with new technology)
Sales and
Marketing
   Expanding both financial margins and market share for CONSOL Energy’s coal
Finance    Maintaining and protecting current financial margins measured by CONSOL Energy’s (i) net income and (ii) earnings before deducting net interest expense (interest expense less interest income), income taxes and depreciation, depletion and amortization (which we refer to as EBITDA)*

 

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   Executives’ Primary Goals and Objectives for 2008
Organization    Continuing to analyze CONSOL Energy’s corporate and management structure to identify opportunities for enhancement and to unlock value
Business Development    Expanding core business and business support via acquisitions and joint ventures
Environmental    Participating in Greenhouse Gas initiatives and developing innovative environmental mitigation measures to maintain regulatory compliance
Recruiting    Continuing to enhance CONSOL Energy’s image as an employer and becoming the employer of choice for prospective employees
Corporate
Governance
   Effectuating good corporate governance by continuing to assist the Board in its oversight of CONSOL Energy and further enhancing communication between management and the Board

 

* CONSOL Energy’s EBITDA target for 2008 constitutes confidential information. At the time in which the EBITDA target was established, the Compensation Committee believed that it was a challenging, but achievable target that would be met based upon CONSOL Energy’s prior performance, business plan and objectives. The EBITDA target used by the Compensation Committee represented a significant improvement from the prior year’s target and was based on an annual profit objective that was approved by our Finance Committee and then by the full Board. Additionally, the Chairman of the Finance Committee does not serve on the Compensation Committee, thereby providing further separation between the process for establishing our profit objective and the process for establishing executive compensation. Additionally, the Chairman of the Compensation Committee serves on the Finance Committee and as part of that Committee, oversees the development of our profit objective.

The Compensation Committee, in conjunction with our Chief Executive Officer, determined that our named executives exceeded their 2008 goals and objectives.

2009 Performance Goals and Objectives

Our named executives’ collective goals and objectives for 2009 are substantially similar to their goals and objectives for 2008. The goals and objectives largely remained the same because these goals are long-term objectives which will be realized over time and which will drive CONSOL Energy’s strategic success. The Compensation Committee will review in 2010, as it did in 2009 prior to approving 2008 award pay-outs, whether our named executives made measurable strides toward the achievement of these goals in the one-year period.

Mix of Total Compensation

The Compensation Committee analyzed the mix of salary, short-term incentive compensation and long-term compensation for purposes of setting 2008 compensation.

 

2008 PAY MIX

 

Named Executive

   Salary     Annual
Incentive
Compensation
Awards*
    Long-Term
Incentive
Compensation**
    Total At-Risk
Compensation (Short-
Term Incentive
Compensation,*
Options, and
Performance Share
Units**)
 

Chief Executive Officer

   12 %   14 %   74 %   76 %

Chief Financial Officer

   24 %   16 %   60 %   56 %

President – Coal Group (retired 1/31/09)

   23 %   16 %   61 %   57 %

Chief Legal Officer

   38 %   21 %   40 %†   48 %

 

* For purposes of short-term incentive compensation awards, assumes target payout.
** For purposes of Performance Share Unit awards, assumes target payout.
Salary, Annual Incentive and Long-Term Incentive do not add to 100% due to rounding.

 

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Base Salary

2008 Base Salary

The objectives of base salary are to provide fixed compensation necessary to attract and retain key executives and to offset the cyclicality in our business that may impact variable pay year-to-year. Factors considered in establishing base salaries include competitiveness with external market data, internal worth and value assigned to the named executive’s role and responsibilities at CONSOL Energy, and the named executive’s skill and performance.

The Compensation Committee (and in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, the independent members of the Board) approved the base salaries of our named executives in February 2008 after the 2007 proxy data (containing 2006 compensation information) and survey data became available.

In January 2008, the Compensation Committee approved annual base salary increases for each of our named executives, except the Chief Executive Officer (whose base salary was not increased for the reasons described below). For those named executives receiving an annual base salary increase, the increases ranged from 2% to 9% from 2007.

The annual base salaries were approved as follows:

 

Named Executive

   Salaries for 2008

Chief Executive Officer

   $ 1,000,000

Chief Financial Officer

   $ 480,000

President – Coal Group (retired 1/31/09)

   $ 600,000

Chief Legal Officer

   $ 380,000

Based in part on each person’s 2007 performance, it was deemed reasonable to have salaries for each of the executive officers that are aligned at or above the 75th percentile of the Peer Group. This is consistent with our revenue and market capitalization position relative to our Peer Group at the end of 2007.

2009 Base Salary

In February 2009, the Compensation Committee approved annual base salary increases for each of our named executive officers, except the Chief Executive Officer (whose base salary was not increased for the reasons described below). For our new Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Legal Officer, the increases ranged from 6.0 to 7.1% from 2008. These increases were attributable, in part, to the additional responsibilities assumed by the named executives as a result of the management reorganization.

Short-Term Incentive Compensation

2008 Short-Term Incentive Compensation

We implemented the Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (which we call the “Short-Term Plan”) to provide incentives to our employees to achieve performance goals and to reward our employees for the achievement of those goals. The Short-Term Plan is designed to deliver greater cash awards when CONSOL Energy and the employees are successful in achieving established targets and to pay less when CONSOL Energy and/or the employee fall short of these targets. The Short-Term Plan is also designed to provide incentive compensation (measured at target) that is comparable to compensation provided by companies with which CONSOL Energy competes for executive talent.

In February 2008, the Compensation Committee approved design changes to the short-term incentive compensation awards in order to qualify the 2008 awards thereunder as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code (as described below). With respect to the 2008 cash incentive awards, the Compensation Committee granted such awards as performance-based compensation under the Equity Incentive Plan (subject to a maximum annual award for each executive of $2,000,000). Each of the named executives had an opportunity to earn a 2008

 

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bonus if CONSOL Energy achieved threshold level goals for any of the following reasons: (i) total shareholder return relative to the Shareholder Return Peer Group (50th percentile), (ii) EBITDA, or (iii) annual net income. If any of the thresholds were achieved, each named executive had the opportunity to earn his maximum bonus which the Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, reduce through the exercise of negative discretion.

In exercising its negative discretion, the Compensation Committee may rely on a number of factors, including the following formula, to determine the amount actually paid:

 

Base Salary    x          Opportunity
    Percentage
   x          Annual Incentive
    Compensation
    Factor
   =     

    Annual Award

    Payment

The “Opportunity Percentage” referenced in the above formula is expressed as a percentage of base salary. In early 2008, the Compensation Committee determined the Opportunity Percentages for our named executives after the 2007 proxy data (containing 2006 compensation information) and survey data became available. The Compensation Committee (and in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, the independent members of the Board) approved the Opportunity Percentages as follows:

 

Named Executive

   Opportunity Percentages
for 2008
    Target Payout under the
Short-Term Plan*

Chief Executive Officer

   120 %   $ 1,200,000

Chief Financial Officer

   65 %   $ 312,000

President – Coal Group (retired 1/31/09)

   70 %   $ 420,000

Chief Legal Officer

   55 %   $ 209,000

 

* The 2008 target payout amounts for the named executives under the Short-Term Plan ranged from a 2% to 9% increase from the 2007 target payout amounts, except in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, whose target payout amount increased by 20% from 2007. The Compensation Committee increased the Chief Executive Officer’s target payout, as opposed to his annual salary (which remained constant relative to his salary in 2007) in order to link more of his cash compensation to performance.

The “Opportunity Percentages” and target payouts are benchmarked against the Peer Group and survey data (as available). This data was utilized to ensure that recommendations were within market. As a result of this study, the Compensation Committee approved the named executives’ (other than himself) Opportunity Percentages and target payouts as proposed by the Chief Executive Officer and noted that the target payouts were generally competitive between median and 75th percentile levels of the Peer Group.

The “Annual Incentive Compensation Award Factor,” as referred to in the above formula, consists of two targets (each weighted equally). One target consists of individual performance (which includes those objectives set forth in the section above), and the other target consists of CONSOL Energy performance (which is a function of whether CONSOL Energy achieved its profit objective). Each of these targets is measured independently such that if one target is not achieved, an opportunity exists for the other target to be achieved, resulting in an annual award payment. The scores may range from 70-200% for each target, with a 100% score indicating achievement of a target and a higher score (up to 200%) indicating that the target was exceeded. If the minimum score of 70% is not reached for a target, a score of zero will be recorded for that target.

The CONSOL Energy performance target for 2008 was CONSOL Energy’s profit objective net income, while the minimum threshold score was equal to 80% of the financial target and the maximum score was equal to 120% of the financial target. The profit objective net income number is derived directly from the Board-approved plan for the year and is deemed confidential information. When this net income target was established, the Compensation Committee believed that it was a challenging, but achievable net income target based upon CONSOL Energy’s prior performance and its business plan and objectives.

In early 2009, the Compensation Committee and the independent members of the Board reviewed and evaluated the Chief Executive Officer’s self-assessment in light of his stated goals and objectives and agreed to an individual

 

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performance score of 185. In the case of our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer, their individual performance targets were based on the target goals referenced above. In January 2009, our Chief Executive Officer reviewed and discussed with the Compensation Committee his assessment of their performances in 2008 relative to the goals. Our Compensation Committee concurred with our Chief Executive Officer’s assessment of executive performance and approved performance scores for our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer that were at or within the following range: 160 to 180.

Consequently, the ultimate payouts under the 2008 short-term incentive awards were as follows:

 

Named Executive

   Short-Term Incentive
Plan Payout
for 2008 Performance

Chief Executive Officer

   $ 1,832,400

Chief Financial Officer

   $ 550,000

President – Coal Group (retired 1/31/09)

     *

Chief Legal Officer

   $ 350,000

 

* Our former President – Coal Group retired on January 31, 2009 and was not eligible for a payout for 2008 performance under the Short-Term Incentive Plan.

Section 162(m)

With some exceptions, Section 162(m) of the federal income tax laws limits CONSOL Energy’s deduction for compensation in excess of $1 million paid to certain covered employees (generally our Chief Executive Officer and the four next highest-paid executive officers). Compensation paid to covered employees is not subject to the deduction limitation if it is considered “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

For 2008, the Compensation Committee decided to administer the short-term incentive compensation awards under the Equity Incentive Plan in order to comply with Section 162(m) and obtained shareholder approval for a new Executive Annual Incentive Plan at the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders for annual grants of cash bonus awards thereafter. As part of the Corporation’s long-term incentive compensation program, the Corporation maintains the performance share unit and option programs which are also intended to be in compliance with Section 162(m).

2009 Short-Term Incentive Compensation

In February 2009, the Compensation Committee approved the 2009 Short-Term Plan target payouts which, if earned, would be paid to the Company’s officers and other employees in the first quarter of 2010. The target payouts were approved under the new shareholder-approved CONSOL Energy Inc. Executive Annual Incentive Plan so that awards to be granted thereunder to covered employees would comply with Section 162(m) of the Code. In consultation with the outside compensation consultant and management, the Compensation Committee determined to retain the design of the Short-Term Plan and approved target payouts with substantially similar terms and conditions to the 2008 Short-Term Plan target payouts.

The Compensation Committee maintained Opportunity Percentages for the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Legal Officer, but increased our Chief Executive Officer’s Opportunity Percentage from 120% to 130%. This increase was determined simultaneously with the decision to maintain the base salary for our Chief Executive Officer in 2009 at $1,000,000.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

Mix of Long-Term Incentive Compensation

The Compensation Committee believes that combined grants of stock options, restricted stock units and performance share units provide a balance for our named executives between risk and potential reward consistent

 

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with the market trends of our peers. In February 2008, the Compensation Committee determined that target long-term incentive expected value would be derived 1/3 from stock options, 1/3 from restricted stock units and 1/3 from performance share units (assuming target performance is achieved). This allocation was based primarily on a desire to balance risk and retention. It was further determined by the Compensation Committee that this general mix, for officer awards, provided rewards for stock price appreciation and financial performance over the short and long-term.

For the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the independent members of the Board approved, altering the long-term incentive mix for him in order to provide compensation that is more performance oriented, and the Compensation Committee decreased the emphasis on time-based restricted stock units. Accordingly, his target long-term incentive expected value in 2008 was derived 42% from stock options, 42% from performance share units and 16% from restricted stock units. The rationale for this mix was to link our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation more to performance-related equity (as opposed to time-based restricted stock units). The number of units and options to be received is based on the closing market price of CONSOL Energy’s common stock on the grant date and the Black-Scholes value, respectively.

2008 Long-Term Incentive Compensation

In February 2008, the Compensation Committee reviewed the matters described above for purposes of establishing each executive’s target long-term incentive value. The Compensation Committee, in coordination with our Chief Executive Officer, approved maintaining the same mix of restricted stock units, options and performance share units to be granted to our named executives, other than the Chief Executive Officer. As discussed above, the Compensation Committee decided in 2008 to place more emphasis on the long-term performance component of our named executives’ 2008 total direct compensation to incentivize our key management members to achieve our longer-term performance objectives and strategic plan.

In light of these objectives, the Compensation Committee approved an increase from 2007 in the long-term incentive opportunity for each of our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer, our former President – Coal Group, and our Chief Legal Officer of 29.98%, 22.20%, 18.21% and 20.12%, respectively. As a result, the Compensation Committee approved the following equity awards (in the dollar amounts shown below):

 

Named Executive

   Stock Options    Restricted Stock Units    Performance Share Units
(Target)
   Total  

Chief Executive Officer

   $ 2,600,000    $ 1,000,000    $ 2,600,000    $ 6,200,000  

Chief Financial Officer

   $ 400,000    $ 400,000    $ 400,000    $ 1,200,000  

President – Coal Group (retired 1/31/09)

   $ 533,333    $ 533,333    $ 533,333    $ 1,600,000 *

Chief Legal Officer

   $ 133,333    $ 133,333    $ 133,333    $ 400,000 *

 

* Numbers for stock options, restricted stock units and performance share units may not add to total due to rounding.

These increased long-term incentive opportunities are positioned between the median and 75th percentile of the peer group.

Additional information regarding each of the equity grants and their terms and conditions is more fully described in “Understanding Our Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Tables” on page 44.

2009 Long-Term Incentive Compensation

In February 2009, the Compensation Committee, in coordination with our Chief Executive Officer, approved maintaining the same mix of restricted stock units, options and performance share units to be granted to our named executives, other than the Chief Executive Officer. Consistent with its decisions in 2008, the Compensation Committee decided to place more emphasis on the long-term performance component of our named executives’ 2009 total direct compensation to incentivize our key management members to achieve our longer-term performance objectives consistent with our strategic plan. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee approved an increase from 2008 in the long-term incentive opportunity of each of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer of approximately 6.5%, 6.3% and 7.9%, respectively.

 

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The Compensation Committee maintained the same equally weighted mix of long-term equity awards for the named executives. The independent members of the Board approved stock options, restricted stock units and performance share units comprising approximately 45%, 15% and 40% for the Chief Executive Officer’s long-term incentive compensation.

As a result of the management reorganization, our new Chief Operating Officer will participate in the CONSOL Energy long-term incentive compensation program. In February 2009, the Compensation Committee approved equity awards for Mr. DeIuliis. As with the other CONSOL Energy named executives, the award has three components – restricted stock units, stock options and performance share units. The mix is evenly weighted among the three components, and the award replaces the long-term award made by the CNX Gas Compensation Committee in December 2008.

Options and Restricted Stock Units

The Compensation Committee has the authority to administer the Equity Incentive Plan and make annual awards of non-qualified options to purchase our common stock and restricted stock units (along with associated dividend equivalent rights, which accrue and are ultimately paid in stock only if the underlying units vest) to our named executives. The Compensation Committee believes that our stock option and restricted stock unit awards promote the achievement by CONSOL Energy of short and long-term performance objectives, while aligning our named executives’ interests with CONSOL Energy’s shareholders.

The stock option and restricted stock unit awards vest ratably over a three-year period to enhance our retention objectives. The stock option and restricted stock unit awards also provide that, upon a change in control, the unvested portion of the awards will vest. In the event of a potential change in control transaction, this provision will motivate executives to take actions that are in the best interests of CONSOL Energy and its shareholders and reduce the distraction regarding the impact of such a transaction on the personal situation of the executives.

Additionally, our award agreements contain confidentiality provisions, two-year non-competition and two-year non-solicitation provisions, which protect our business by, for example, causing a forfeiture of awards if a named executive violates these covenants. See “CONSOL Energy Stock Options” on page 71 and “CONSOL Energy Restricted Stock Units” on page 72 for a more detailed description of the restrictive covenants in option and restricted stock unit awards and the effects of employment termination.

The Compensation Committee has determined that it should grant equity awards at the beginning of the year that follows the year in which performance occurred, and therefore, such awards will be granted (when and as appropriate) at the first regularly scheduled Compensation Committee and Board meetings in which comprehensive compensation packages are approved. By doing so, equity awards will be granted closer in time to a review of each named executive’s year-end performance.

2008 Long-Term Incentive Program (“LTIP”)

In 2008, the Compensation Committee retained outside compensation consultants to assist it in designing an LTIP that would address the Compensation Committee’s objectives. In connection with developing the LTIP, the outside compensation consultants provided the Compensation Committee with general energy sector compensation data from published compensation surveys and proxy data of the Peer Group. The data reflected the use of different long-term incentive programs and the pay magnitude in terms of both target opportunity and actual payouts.

In February 2008, the Compensation Committee (and the independent members of the Board with respect to the Chief Executive Officer) approved performance unit awards for each of our named executive officers. For the performance period of January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010, the program provides that each named executive’s maximum award will be eligible for potential vesting if a threshold level of performance is achieved for any one of three performance goals: (i) total shareholder return relative to CONSOL Energy’s peers (50th percentile), (ii) cumulative EBITDA for the period, or (iii) cumulative net income for the period. If any of these goals is achieved, the maximum awards will be subject to Compensation Committee discretion to reduce the awards by exercising negative discretion, which negative discretion may include considerations of CONSOL Energy’s

 

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performance relative to total shareholder return to its peers during the period and EBITDA performance. The incorporation of “negative discretion” will provide flexibility to reduce an award, after taking into account each executive’s performance and the performance of CONSOL Energy.

The target information for our total shareholder return performance metric is as follows:

 

OUTCOME RELATIVE TO TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN PEER GROUP

Level of Performance

  

Percentage
Ranking in TSR

  

Percent of

Performance Units Earned

Below Threshold

   Below 25th percentile    0%

Threshold

   25th percentile    12.5%

Target

   50th percentile    50%

Outstanding

   75th percentile    100%

The target information for our EBITDA performance metric is as follows:

 

EBITDA

Level of Performance

  

Absolute EBITDA

  

Percent of
Performance Units Earned

Below Threshold

   *    0%

Threshold (80% of Target)

   *    25%

Target

   *    50%

Outstanding (120% of Target)

   *    100%

 

* The Compensation Committee determined that the EBITDA and net income target numbers constitute confidential information. When EBITDA and net income goals were established, the Compensation Committee believed that they were challenging, yet achievable target levels based upon a review of CONSOL Energy’s performance in the prior three-year period and its business goals and objectives for the performance period covering 2008-2010. The cumulative EBITDA target for 2008-2010 represented a significant improvement over the cumulative EBITDA target for 2007-2009 as used in the 2007 LTIP.

The performance share unit award agreements include a change in control provision, which provides that in the event of a change in control of CONSOL Energy, the units will accelerate and vest at target. In the event of a potential change in control transaction, this provision will motivate executives to take actions that are in the best interests of CONSOL Energy and its shareholders and reduce the distraction regarding the impact of such a transaction on the personal situation of the executives.

The Shareholder Return Peer Group (as referenced above) is comprised of the following 29 companies:

 

    Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

   International Coal Group, Inc.

    Alpha Natural Resources, Inc.

   James River Coal Company

    Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

   Massey Energy Company

    Apache Corp.

   Newfield Exploration Company

    Arch Coal, Inc.

   Nexen Inc.

    Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation

   Noble Energy, Inc.

    Callon Petroleum Company

   Peabody Energy Corporation

    Chesapeake Energy Corporation

   Penn Virginia Corporation

    Cimarex Energy Co.

   Pioneer Natural Resources Company

    Comstock Resources, Inc.

   Rio Tinto Group (GBR) – ADR

    Denbury Resources Inc.

   St. Mary Land & Exploration Company

    Devon Energy Corporation

   Stone Energy Corporation

    Encana Corporation

   Ultra Petroleum Corporation

    EOG Resources, Inc.

   Westmoreland Coal Company

    Foundation Coal Holdings, Inc.

  

 

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For purposes of measuring total shareholder return, the Compensation Committee selected the above group of 29 energy companies in which we compete for capital in the market. How well CONSOL Energy performs in that competition is measured by our respective total shareholder return. The Compensation Committee further believes that these companies are similar to CONSOL Energy from an investor’s perspective. Unlike the 14-company Peer Group used to benchmark pay levels, this peer group was not adjusted based on company size, and represents a broader mix of energy companies.

2009 Long-Term Incentive Program

In February 2009, the Compensation Committee (and the independent members of the Board with respect to the Chief Executive Officer) approved new performance unit awards for each of our named executives. The program is structured substantially similar to the 2008 Long-Term Incentive Program and covers the performance period of January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2011.

Exchange Offer

On January 16, 2009 the boards of CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas decided to consolidate the management teams of the companies, as discussed above under “Management Reorganization.” Among other matters, our Chief Executive Officer became the Chief Executive Officer of CNX Gas, while the former Chief Executive Officer of CNX Gas became our and CNX Gas’ Chief Operating Officer, and our other executive officers became the executive officers of CNX Gas. Prior to this management reorganization, CNX Gas had adopted three long-term performance share award programs for its executives and management, or as we call them, “PSUs”: the 2007 PSUs, the 2008 PSUs and the 2009 PSUs. None of our executive officers have any PSUs other than our Chief Operating Officer who received them prior to the management reorganization in his capacity as the then Chief Executive Officer of CNX Gas.

Due to the management reorganization, no awards were made nor will be made relative to the CNX Gas 2009 PSUs, as these were cancelled by the CNX Gas board. With respect to the outstanding 2007 PSUs and 2008 PSUs, due to our executives becoming the executive officers of CNX Gas and the CNX Gas Chief Executive Officer becoming our Chief Operating Officer and former CNX Gas employees assuming responsibilities at CONSOL Energy, we decided that we should treat those awards as though they had ended effective on the date of the management reorganization. Thus, we computed the value of those awards assuming that the end date for measurement purposes was January 16, 2009 (the date of the management reorganization). Although earned 2007 PSUs and 2008 PSUs were to be settled in cash following the end date, we desired not to pay them out in cash, but rather to use CONSOL Energy restricted stock units (“CONSOL RSUs”) to incentivize (i) performance for both companies, (ii) former CNX Gas employees who assumed responsibilities with CONSOL Energy to stay with CONSOL Energy, and (iii) other employees who remained at CNX Gas to continue employment, all through the original measurement date.

To achieve these goals, we took the value of the CNX Gas PSUs and determined what an equivalent value at January 16, 2009 would be for CONSOL RSUs. In order to effectuate this, on March 13, 2009, CONSOL Energy filed a registration statement on Form S-4 relating to the registration of CONSOL Energy RSUs and the common stock underlying those RSUs, to be issued to the holders of the 2007 PSUs and 2008 PSUs. Since the PSUs are governed by existing award agreements, we intend to accomplish this by requesting the holders of the PSUs to surrender them to CNX Gas in exchange for CONSOL Energy issuing CONSOL RSUs on substantially similar terms (including but not limited to vesting periods and forfeiture terms). This proxy statement does not constitute an offer of CONSOL RSUs or the underlying CONSOL Energy common stock to the holders of the 2007 PSUs or the 2008 PSUs; any such offer will only be made pursuant to a prospectus.

 

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Stock Ownership Guidelines for Executives

The stock ownership guidelines provide that all employees designated as officers for purposes of the policy should own shares of the Corporation’s stock, the value of which is a multiple of that person’s base salary. Shares issuable upon the exercise of options or settlement of performance share units held by an individual are not counted for purposes of determining whether an individual has satisfied the ownership guideline requirement. For the named executives, the stock ownership guidelines are as follows:

 

Named Executive        

   Multiple of Base Salary

Chief Executive Officer

   5

Chief Financial Officer

   3

Chief Operating Officer

   3

President – Coal Group (retired 1/31/09)

   3

Chief Legal Officer

   2

Our stock ownership guidelines were implemented by the Compensation Committee in order to further align our named executives’ interest with shareholders and to comply with best practices. The Compensation Committee believes that long-term stock ownership by our named executives further ensures that their interests are aligned with those of other shareholders. CONSOL Energy reviews compliance with the stock ownership guidelines annually. As of early 2009, Messrs. Harvey, Lyons, Lilly and Richey had satisfied their stock ownership guidelines. Mr. DeIuliis, our newest employee to CONSOL Energy, has approximately five years to comply with the stock ownership guidelines.

Post Employment Benefits

Retirement Benefits

In 2005 and 2006, the Compensation Committee studied CONSOL Energy’s retirement plans with the assistance of the outside compensation consultants. These plans included the Employee Retirement Plan (which we call the “Pension Plan”) and the Retirement Restoration Plan (which we call the “Restoration Plan”). The Compensation Committee reviewed a market study prepared by an outside compensation consultant which surveyed 86 pension plans of energy and mining industry companies to determine “market” practices with retirement benefit plans and to develop an overall retirement benefit program which was consistent with such market practices. The Compensation Committee determined, after that review, that CONSOL Energy’s cumulative retirement benefits for the named executives were below the median of the peer group.

In April 2005, the Board, after discussions with, and upon the recommendation of, the Compensation Committee, amended the Pension Plan to, among other matters, modify the benefit formulas applicable to participants’ future accrual of benefits under the plan. The modification to the benefit formula reduced the benefits offered to all employees and also eliminated the lump sum feature of the Pension Plan for benefits accruing after December 31, 2005. The Compensation Committee retained outside compensation consultants to review the impact of this modification to the Pension Plan on the Restoration Plan, which provides some employees (including our named executives) with supplemental retirement benefits that are otherwise linked to and limited by the Pension Plan due to statutory limitations applicable to the Pension Plan. In October 2006, the consultants advised the Compensation Committee that, without amending the Restoration Plan or adopting a supplemental retirement plan, the amendment to the Pension Plan (effective January 1, 2006) would result (over time) in an inadequate retirement benefit being provided to the named executives and other executives eligible to receive a supplemental retirement benefit for the following reasons:

 

   

The Pension Plan amendment reduced the defined benefit component of total retirement benefits to a level that was not competitive with industry and peer practices for executives (on a total benefit basis); and

 

   

The Pension Plan amendment caused retirement benefits for executives to be disproportionately lower than those for non-executives when stated as a percentage of the final average pay.

After a review of the Restoration Plan and based on an outside compensation consultant’s analysis and recommendations, our Compensation Committee determined in December 2006 that it was advisable to restore

 

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benefits offered to certain levels of employees through the adoption of the Supplemental Retirement Plan. The CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan, unlike the Restoration Plan, is independent of the Pension Plan formula. Benefits under the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan are calculated by taking 50% of the average of the highest five consecutive annual compensation amounts (including short-term incentive compensation payments), and multiplying by a service fraction.

In light of the foregoing, the Compensation Committee recommended to our Board, and our Board authorized, that the Restoration Plan be frozen effective December 31, 2006, for CONSOL Energy employees and that the Restoration Plan be replaced prospectively with the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan effective January 1, 2007. The objective of the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan is to promote the interests of CONSOL Energy and our shareholders by facilitating the attraction and retention of key employees vital to our success.

Because CNX Gas employees do not participate in the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan, they were offered a one-time distribution election of benefits accrued through December 31, 2005 under the Restoration Plan calculated as of January 1, 2006. Accordingly, Mr. DeIuliis made this election and received a lump sum payment from the Restoration Plan on January 30, 2007 of $199,353. In addition, in August 2007, Mr. DeIuliis executed a letter agreement with CONSOL Energy in which CONSOL Energy agreed to pay him approximately $407,000 for various matters, including benefits that would have otherwise accrued in 2006 under CONSOL Energy’s Retirement Restoration Plan, but for certain plan amendments that were approved by the Board in December 2006. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. DeIuliis agreed, among other matters, that he would not assert any claims regarding any retirement benefits or other deferred compensation benefits provided by CONSOL Energy. However, as a result of the management reorganization and the fact that Mr. DeIuliis is now an employee of CONSOL Energy, he will participate in the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan effective January 16, 2009 (the date of the management reorganization).

Additional details regarding the Pension Plan, the Restoration Plan, the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan and the agreements are more fully described in “Understanding Our Pension Benefits Table” on page 54.

Employment and Letter Agreements

We have entered into an employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer and into letter agreements with our Chief Legal Officer and our former President – Coal Group, who retired effective January 31, 2009. CONSOL Energy entered into each of these agreements for purposes of attracting the named executive to CONSOL Energy. In the case of our Chief Executive Officer’s most recent employment agreement, the Compensation Committee believed that such an agreement was necessary for purposes of maintaining consistency with market and past practice and retaining our Chief Executive Officer. For a description of the additional terms of each of these agreements, see “Understanding our Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Tables” on page 44 and “Understanding Our Change in Control and Employment Termination Tables” on page 66.

Change in Control Agreements

We have entered into Change in Control Agreements with each of our named executives (which we refer to as “CIC Agreements”). The Compensation Committee believes that the CIC Agreements will motivate executives to take actions that are in the best interests of CONSOL Energy and its shareholders and reduce the distraction regarding the impact of such a transaction on the personal situation of the executives. Under the CIC Agreements, each named executive will receive severance benefits if such named executive’s employment is terminated or constructively terminated after, or in connection with, a change in control (as defined in the respective CIC Agreements) if such named executive enters into a general release of claims reasonably satisfactory to us. Under these circumstances, these named executives would be entitled to, among other severance payments and benefits, a lump sum cash payment equal to a multiple of base pay plus a multiple of incentive pay as follows:

 

Named Executive        

   Multiple of Base Salary
and Incentive Pay

Chief Executive Officer

   3   

Chief Financial Officer

   2.5

President – Coal Group (retired 1/31/09)

   2.5

Chief Legal Officer

   2   

 

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In connection with a review of all of CONSOL Energy’s CIC Agreements, management noted that the multiplier for Mr. Lyons’ CIC Agreement (as well as the agreements for other employees) needed to be modified for internal pay equity purposes. Accordingly, in September 2008, management proposed, and the Compensation Committee approved, changing Mr. Lyons’ from 2.0 to 2.5 such that it was consistent with Mr. Lilly’s.

Additionally, equity grants would accelerate and vest. To protect our business interests, the CIC Agreements also contain confidentiality obligations, a one-year non-competition covenant and a two-year non-solicitation covenant. Additional terms of these agreements are more fully described in “Understanding Our Change in Control and Employment Termination Tables” on page 66.

In connection with the sale of approximately 18.5% of CNX Gas to investors in 2005, CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas wanted to ensure the retention and smooth transition of executive officers of CONSOL Energy to CNX Gas by providing them with agreements substantially similar to the CONSOL Energy CIC Agreements. The Compensation Committee reviewed with CONSOL Energy’s executive officers information regarding the potential cost of entering into change in control agreements with key employees of CNX Gas if a change in control triggering event occurred (including cost by individual agreement, total cost with respect to all agreements and market analysis of such costs). After consideration of this information, our Compensation Committee determined that the potential costs were consistent with market practice and such agreements were approved and authorized by the Compensation Committee.

Pete Lilly’s Letter Agreement (for Retirement)

Mr. Lilly retired from his position as President – Coal Group of CONSOL Energy effective January 31, 2009. In connection with Mr. Lilly’s retirement, CONSOL Energy and Mr. Lilly entered into a letter agreement effective March 10, 2009, pursuant to which the Corporation will provide Mr. Lilly certain separation benefits, subject to his release of claims against the Corporation and his continued compliance with restrictive covenants in his equity award agreements under the Corporation’s Equity Incentive Plan, including two-year non-competition and two-year non-solicitation covenants, and confidentiality provisions. Pursuant to this letter agreement, Mr. Lilly will be entitled to the following cash payments, in addition to certain accrued benefits: a one-time severance payment of $635,000, minus required deductions, and a one-time bonus payment of $450,000, minus required deductions.

Additionally, the provisions applicable to a “reduction in force” will be applied to his equity awards. These provisions generally (subject to the other terms and conditions of the equity award agreements) have the following effect: (i) with respect to performance share unit awards, such awards are retained and scheduled to be paid, to the extent earned as determined at the end of the applicable performance period and the terms of the program documents; (ii) with respect to option awards, the unvested portion of such awards will continue to vest in accordance with the applicable award’s vesting schedule and, once vested, remain exercisable until the expiration of such option’s term; and (iii) with respect to restricted stock unit awards, the unvested portion of such awards accelerates and vests. As of January 31, 2009, Mr. Lilly held options to purchase 187,488 shares of the Company’s common stock, 26,874 restricted stock units and 19,727 performance share units.

Change in Control Tax Gross-Up

In connection with the Compensation Committee’s objective to provide compensation opportunities that will attract and retain superior executive personnel who will make significant contributions to CONSOL Energy, our CIC agreements provide for tax gross-ups in the event of a change in control. If a change in control of CONSOL Energy causes compensation, including performance-based compensation, or awards, including but not limited to equity awards, to be paid or result in accelerating the vesting, a disqualified individual could, in some cases, be considered to have received “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 4999 and Section 280G of the federal income tax laws. Pursuant to Section 4999, a disqualified individual can be subject to a 20% excise tax on excess parachute payments. Similarly, under Section 280G, CONSOL Energy is denied a deduction for excess parachute payments. As indicated above, CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas have entered into change in control agreements whereby, if it is determined that any payment or distribution by CONSOL Energy or CNX Gas (in the case of its Chief Executive Officer) to or for the disqualified person’s benefit would constitute an “excess parachute payment,” CONSOL Energy or CNX Gas (in the case of its Chief Executive Officer) will pay to the disqualified person a gross-up

 

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payment, subject to certain limitations, such that the net amount retained by the disqualified person after deduction of any excise tax imposed under Section 4999, and any tax imposed upon the gross-up payment, will be equal to the excise tax on such payments or distributions. Gross-up payments will not be deductible by CONSOL Energy or CNX Gas (in the case of its Chief Executive Officer). In connection with incorporating gross-up provisions in the CIC agreements, the Compensation Committee determined that such gross-up payments were consistent with general market practice and ensured that each executive received the intended level of severance benefits, unencumbered by the 20% excise tax.

Perquisites

We provide our named executives and other senior officers with perquisites that we believe are reasonable, competitive and consistent with CONSOL Energy’s compensation program. We believe that our perquisites help maximize an executive’s time, and assist us in recruiting and retaining our named executives and senior officers. Our principal perquisite programs primarily include the personal use of the corporate aircraft in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Aircraft Policy, country club memberships, financial planning assistance, a vehicle allowance and certain associated tax gross-ups. These programs are more fully described in the footnotes to the Summary Compensation Table and “Understanding Our Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Tables” on page 44.

Section 409A

Section 409A of the Code generally provides that amounts deferred under nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements will be subject to accelerated income recognition, interest and substantial penalties unless the arrangement satisfies certain design and operational requirements. Final regulations for Section 409A were issued in April 2007, and the transition period for amending plans to comply with Section 409A ended on December 31, 2008. CONSOL Energy has amended our compensatory arrangements affected by Section 409A, including the employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer and the CIC Agreements. These changes are intended to ensure that compensation payable under the arrangements is not subject to taxation under Section 409A, and principally include clarifying the timing of compensatory payments and incorporating definitional modifications in order to comply with Section 409A (or certain exceptions thereto). Any such amendments are not intended to materially increase the benefits payable under our plans and arrangements.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth above with CONSOL Energy’s management and, based upon such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to our Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement. The Compensation Committee’s charter is available on our website at www.consolenergy.com.

Members of the Compensation Committee:

              William P. Powell, Chairman

              Patricia A. Hammick

              James E. Altmeyer, Sr.

              John T. Mills

March 23, 2009

The foregoing Compensation Committee Report does not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing of CONSOL Energy under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Corporation specifically incorporates the Report by reference therein.

 

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE - 2008, 2007 AND 2006

The following table discloses the compensation for Mr. Harvey, the principal executive officer of CONSOL Energy, William J. Lyons, the principal financial officer of CONSOL Energy, and the other three most highly compensated executive officers of CONSOL Energy or its subsidiaries who were serving as executive officers at the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, whose total annual compensation (excluding items described in the column entitled “Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings”) exceeded $100,000.

 

Name and Principal
Position

(a)

 

Year

(b)

 

Salary

(c)

 

Stock
Awards(1)

(d)

   

Option
Awards(2)

(e)

   

Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation(3)

(f)

 

Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings(4)

(g)

   

All Other
Compensation

(h)

   

Total

(i)

J. Brett Harvey(5)

President and Chief Executive Officer – CONSOL, Chief Executive Officer – CNX Gas

  2008   $ 1,000,000   $ 2,256,368 (7)   $ 1,085,755 (7)   $ 1,832,400   $ 1,825,480     $ 214,993 (8)   $ 8,214,996
  2007   $ 996,108   $ 3,240,838 (7)   $ 2,708,068 (7)   $ 1,470,000   $ 2,335,863     $ 149,391 (8)   $ 10,900,268
  2006

 

 

  $ 956,192   $ 3,085,407 (6)(7)   $ 3,314,455 (7)   $ 1,450,000   $ 1,444,179     $ 134,383 (8)   $ 10,384,616

William J. Lyons(9)

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer – CONSOL & CNX Gas

  2008   $ 477,404   $ 467,322 (11)   $ 184,892 (11)   $ 550,000   $ 732,849     $ 45,023 (12)   $ 2,457,490
  2007   $ 450,400   $ 589,047 (11)   $ 466,848 (11)   $ 434,000   $ 402,229     $ 39,837 (12)   $ 2,382,361
  2006

 

 

  $ 418,615   $ 637,582 (10)(11)   $ 670,265 (11)   $ 400,000   $ 786,151     $ 47,934 (12)   $ 2,960,547

Peter B. Lilly

President – Coal Group (retired 1/31/09)

  2008   $ 598,806   $ 828,504     $ 621,618     $ 0   $ 423,851     $ 70,828 (14)   $ 2,543,607
  2007   $ 581,689   $ 747,842     $ 565,570     $ 575,000   $ 474,938     $ 62,015 (14)   $ 3,007,054
  2006

 

  $ 541,346   $ 493,438 (13)   $ 589,050     $ 500,000   $ 124,292     $ 167,290 (14)   $ 2,415,416

Nicholas J. DeIuliis(15)

Executive VP & COO – CONSOL, President & COO – CNX Gas

  2008   $ 546,154   $ 3,567,212 (16)   $ 944,139 (17)   $ 1,106,000   $ 22,663     $ 59,915 (18)   $ 6,246,083
  2007   $ 495,769   $ 864,451 (19)   $ 974,627 (20)   $ 755,300   $ 377,661 (21)   $ 48,954 (18)   $ 3,516,762
  2006
  $ 432,692   $ 346,503 (22)   $ 826,849 (23)   $ 747,000   $ 180,614     $ 55,528 (18)   $ 2,589,186

P. Jerome Richey

Executive VP – Corporate Affairs, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary – CONSOL & CNX Gas

  2008   $ 376,885   $ 248,653 (24)   $ 160,159     $ 350,000   $ 148,738     $ 39,442 (25)   $ 1,323,877
  2007
  $ 346,462   $ 158,974 (26)   $ 114,897     $ 282,000   $ 225,302     $ 40,111 (25)   $ 1,167,746

 

(1) The values set forth in this column are based on the compensation cost recognized in 2006 (except in the case of Mr. Richey), 2007 and 2008 for financial statement reporting purposes and computed in accordance with FAS 123R. Pursuant to the SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. The compensation cost for CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas is computed based upon the closing price of that company’s stock on the date of grant. These amounts reflect the accounting expense for these awards, and do not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the named executives.

 

(2) The values set forth in this column are based on the compensation cost recognized in 2006 (except in the case of Mr. Richey), 2007 and 2008 for financial statement reporting purposes and computed in accordance with FAS 123R. Pursuant to the SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. With respect to the CONSOL Energy equity awards, a discussion of the relevant assumptions made in the valuation of these awards is stated in CONSOL Energy’s Form 10-K (Note 18 in the Form 10-K). With respect to the CNX Gas awards, the following assumptions were used to recognize compensation cost in 2006, 2007 and 2008 for financial statement purposes: (A) for 2008 grants: fair value of grants $15.02, risk free interest rate 4.58%, expected volatility 34.50% and expected term 4.5 years; (B) for 2007 grants: fair value of grants $9.61, risk free interest rate 4.58%, expected volatility 34.5% and expected term 4.5 years; and (C) for 2006 grants: fair value of grants $9.83, risk free interest rate 4.65%, expected volatility 32.39% and expected term 4.5 years.

 

(3) Includes bonuses earned in 2006 (except in the case of Mr. Richey), 2007 and 2008 respectively. Under the CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plans, the relevant performance measures for the cash awards are satisfied in the applicable annual performance period.

 

(4)

Amounts reflect the actuarial increase in the present value of the named executive’s benefits under the CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan, CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan and the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan for

 

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Messrs. Harvey, Lilly, Lyons and Richey, and under certain of these plans and the CNX Gas Retirement Plan for Mr. DeIuliis. This increase includes amounts which the named executive may not be entitled to receive such as unvested amounts. Amounts determined using the interest rate and mortality assumptions consistent with those used in the Form 10-K (Note 15 in the Form 10-K).

 

(5) Mr. Harvey does not receive any compensation from CONSOL Energy or CNX Gas in connection with his service as a director on each of their respective boards of directors.

 

(6) Mr. Harvey elected to defer until retirement 50% (or 21,372 restricted stock units) of a restricted stock unit award granted to him on May 2, 2006 under our Plan. For more information, please see the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table” on page 57.

 

(7) Under the early retirement provisions of our stock option award and restricted stock unit agreements, Mr. Harvey is eligible for early retirement in which case the unvested portion of his outstanding awards will continue to vest and, in the case of his options, become exercisable even if he terminates employment with us. As a result of the early retirement provisions contained in Mr. Harvey’s award agreements, the Corporation is required, under FAS 123R, to report the full grant date fair value of the awards granted to him in 2006, 2007, and 2008 for financial statement reporting purposes. These values are set forth in the column.

 

(8) Personal benefits include for 2008, an annual vehicle allowance, annual physical exam, country club membership, financial planning, and certain associated tax gross ups. The total also includes $13,800 in matching contributions made by CONSOL Energy under its 401(k) plan and $137,695 for air travel on the Corporation’s airplane, plus associated tax gross up of $10,275. Personal benefits include for 2007, an annual vehicle allowance, annual physical exam, country club membership, luncheon and city club dues, financial planning, use of company lodge and certain associated tax gross ups. The total also includes $13,500 in matching contributions made by CONSOL Energy under its 401(k) plan and $66,901 for air travel on the Corporation’s airplane, plus associated tax gross up of $1,525. Personal benefits include for 2006, an annual vehicle allowance, annual physical exam, country club membership, luncheon and city club dues, financial planning and certain associated tax gross ups. The total also includes $13,200 in matching contributions made by CONSOL Energy under its 401(k) plan and $55,837 for air travel on the Corporation’s airplane, plus associated tax gross up of $2,060. The aggregate incremental cost of Mr. Harvey’s personal use of the corporate aircraft is determined on a per flight basis and includes the cost of fuel used, the cost of onboard catering, landing fees, trip related hangar and parking costs, crew expenses (including hotel lodging and meals) and other variable costs specifically incurred. On occasion, Mr. Harvey had one or more family members accompanying him on the airplane. Mr. Harvey has also used for personal matters administrative and other staff, of which there has been no additional incremental cost to the Corporation.

 

(9) Mr. Lyons did not receive any compensation from CONSOL Energy or CNX Gas in connection with his service as a director on the CNX Gas Board.

 

(10) Mr. Lyons elected to defer until retirement 100% (or 10,500 restricted stock units) of a restricted stock unit award granted on May 2, 2006 under our Plan. For more information, please see the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table” on page 57.

 

(11) Under the early retirement provisions of our stock option and restricted stock unit agreements, Mr. Lyons is eligible for early retirement in which case the unvested portion of his outstanding awards will continue to vest and, in the case of his options, become exercisable even if he terminates employment with us. As a result of the early retirement provisions contained in Mr. Lyons’ award agreements, the Corporation is required, under FAS 123R, to report the full grant date fair value of the awards granted to him in 2006, 2007, and 2008 for financial statement reporting purposes. These values are set forth in the column.

 

(12) Personal benefits for 2008 include an annual vehicle allowance, annual physical exam, country club membership, financial planning and certain associated tax gross ups. The total also includes $13,800 in matching contributions made by CONSOL Energy under its 401(k) plan. Personal benefits for 2007 include an annual vehicle allowance, annual physical exam, financial planning, and certain associated tax gross ups. The total also includes $13,500 in matching contributions made by CONSOL Energy under its 401(k) plan. Personal benefits for 2006 include an annual vehicle allowance, annual physical exam, financial planning, air travel and certain associated tax gross ups. The total also includes $13,200 in matching contributions made by CONSOL Energy under its 401(k) plan. On one occasion, Mr. Lyons had one family member accompanying him on the airplane.

 

(13) Mr. Lilly elected to defer until retirement 100% (or 14,354 restricted stock units) of a restricted stock unit award granted on May 2, 2006 under our Plan. For more information, please see the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table” on page 57.

 

(14)

Personal benefits for 2008 include an annual vehicle allowance, annual physical exam, country club membership, luncheon and city club dues, financial planning, air travel on the Corporation’s airplane, and certain associated tax gross ups. The total also includes $13,800 in matching contributions made by CONSOL Energy under its 401(k) plan. Personal benefits for 2007 include an annual vehicle allowance, annual physical exam, country club membership, luncheon and city club dues, financial planning, air travel on the Corporation’s airplane, and certain associated tax gross ups. The total also includes $13,500 in matching contributions made by CONSOL Energy under its 401(k) plan. Personal benefits for 2006 include an annual vehicle allowance, annual physical exam, country club membership, luncheon and city club dues, financial planning, air travel on the Corporation’s airplane, certain associated tax gross ups and an award for excellence in safety. The total amount also includes (a) $100,000 out of a total of $400,000 paid as consideration to Mr. Lilly for lost compensation resulting from his resignation from the boards of directors of Penn Virginia Resources, LLC and of Penn Virginia Corporation (as a condition to his employment with us), which was paid in four (4) equal installments, with each installment made annually on the anniversary date of his employment with CONSOL Energy commencing on October 28, 2003 and ending on October 28, 2006, and (b) $13,200 in matching

 

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contributions made by CONSOL Energy under its 401(k) plan. On occasion, Mr. Lilly had one family member accompanying him on the airplane. Mr. Lilly retired on January 31, 2009, and in connection with his retirement, he entered into a letter agreement, which is more fully described in the “Compensation, Discussion and Analysis.”

 

(15) All payments and awards made, as referenced herein, are made by CNX Gas and relate to CNX Gas equity (excluding the change in pension value, which includes an increase in the CONSOL Energy qualified plan in 2006 and compensation expense included in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns relating to equity awards granted to Mr. DeIuliis by CONSOL Energy under our Plan in years prior to 2006). With respect to Mr. DeIuliis, he did not receive any compensation from CONSOL Energy or CNX Gas in connection with his service as a director on the CNX Gas Board.

 

(16) Of this amount, $33,402 is derived from awards granted by CONSOL Energy, and $3,533,810 is derived from awards granted by CNX Gas.

 

(17) Of this amount, $35,366 is derived from awards granted by CONSOL Energy, and $908,773 is derived from awards granted by CNX Gas.

 

(18) Personal benefits for 2008 include an annual vehicle allowance, annual physical exam, country club membership, financial planning, and certain associated tax gross ups. The total amount also includes $13,800 in matching contributions paid by CNX Gas under CONSOL Energy’s 401(k) plan. Personal benefits for 2007 include an annual vehicle allowance, country club membership, financial planning and certain associated tax gross ups. The total amount also includes $12,981 in matching contributions paid by CNX Gas under CONSOL Energy’s 401(k) plan. Personal benefits for 2006 include an annual vehicle allowance, annual physical exam, financial planning and certain associated tax gross ups. The total amount also includes $13,200 in matching contributions paid by CNX Gas under CONSOL Energy’s 401(k) plan and $9,300 paid due to an administrative error in connection with the sale of shares under his 10b5-1 plan. On one occasion, Mr. DeIuliis had one family member accompanying him on the airplane.

 

(19) Of this amount, $81,317 is derived from awards granted by CONSOL Energy, and $783,134 is derived from awards granted by CNX Gas.

 

(20) Of this amount, $66,921 is derived from awards granted by CONSOL Energy, and $907,706 is derived from awards granted by CNX Gas.

 

(21) The positive change in Mr. DeIuliis’ pension value in 2007 is primarily due to: (i) his election to be paid a lump sum for all benefits accrued through December 31, 2005 under the CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan and (ii) a lump sum payment to him of the benefits that would have accrued in 2006 under the CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan in exchange for his entering into a letter agreement in which among other matters he agreed he had no further claim under this plan. Unlike the actuarial increase in the present value of Mr. DeIuliis’ benefits under the CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan and CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan which are determined based on FAS 87 assumptions as stated in Footnote 4 above, these payments were determined using the PBGC rate in effect at January 1, 2007 and assumed mortality in accordance with the 1971 Group Annuity Mortality Table set back two years.

 

(22) Of this amount, $120,551 is derived from awards granted by CONSOL Energy, and $225,952 is derived from awards granted by CNX Gas.

 

(23) Of this amount, $96,922 is derived from awards granted by CONSOL Energy, and $729,927 is derived from awards granted by CNX Gas.

 

(24) Mr. Richey elected to defer until retirement 100% (or 1,685 restricted stock units) of a restricted stock unit award granted on February 19, 2008 under our Plan. For more information, please see the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table” on page 57.

 

(25) Personal benefits for 2008 include an annual vehicle allowance, financial planning, and certain associated tax gross ups. The total also includes $13,800 in matching contributions made by CONSOL Energy under its 401(k) plan. Personal benefits for 2007 include an annual vehicle allowance, financial planning, air travel on the Corporation’s plane and certain associated tax gross ups. The total amount also includes $13,500 in matching contributions made by CONSOL Energy under its 401(k) plan.

 

(26) Mr. Richey elected to defer until retirement 100% (or 3,185 restricted stock units) of a restricted stock unit award granted on February 20, 2007 under our Plan. For more information, please see the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table” on page 57.

 

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GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS - 2008

The following table sets forth each grant of awards made to a named executive in the 2008 fiscal year under plans established by CONSOL Energy or CNX Gas.

 

            Estimated Possible Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(1)
  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive Plan
Awards(2)
 

All
Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of
Shares
of Stock
or
Units(3)

(#)

(i)

 

All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options

(#)

(j)

 

Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards

($/Sh)

(k)

 

Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock
and
Option
Awards(5)

($)

(l)

Name

(a)

 

Grant
Date

(b)

   

Threshold

($)

(c)

 

Target

($)

(d)

 

Maximum

($)

(e)

 

Threshold

(#)

(f)

 

Target

(#)

(g)

 

Maximum

(#)

(h)

       

J. Brett Harvey

  2/19/08 (4)   -   -   -   -   -   -   12,715   -   -   1,000,035
  2/19/08 (4)   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   89,885   78.65   2,719,920
  2/19/08 (4)   -   -   -   16,529   33,058   66,116   -   -   -   5,200,023
  -     350,000   1,200,000   2,000,000               -   -   -   -
William J. Lyons   2/19/08 (4)   -   -   -   -   -   -   5,086   -   -   400,014
  2/19/08 (4)   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   13,828   78.65   418,435
  2/19/08 (4)   -   -   -   2,543   5,086   10,172   -   -   -   800,028
  -     109,200   312,000   624,000   -   -   -   -   -   -   -

Peter B. Lilly

(retired

1/31/09)

  2/19/08 (4)   -   -   -   -   -   -   6,781   -   -   533,326
  2/19/08 (4)   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   18,438   78.65   557,934
  2/19/08 (4)   -   -   -   3,390   6,781   13,562   -   -   -   1,066,651
  -     147,000   420,000   840,000   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
Nicholas J. DeIuliis   1/1/08 (6)   -   -   -   33,451   66,902   167,255   -   -   -   5,199,958
  -     392,000   560,000   1,120,000   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
P. Jerome Richey   2/19/08 (4)   -   -   -   -   -   -   1,695   -   -   133,312
  2/19/08 (4)   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   4,609   78.65   139,468
  2/19/08 (4)   -   -   -   847   1,695   3,390   -   -   -   266,624
  -     73,150   209,000   418,000   -   -   -   -   -   -   -

 

(1) Payments made to Messrs. Harvey, Lyons, Lilly and Richey were made pursuant to the CONSOL Energy Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended, and payments to Mr. DeIuliis were made pursuant to the CNX Gas Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended.

 

(2) These columns report the number of performance share units that may be earned based on the awards granted to Messrs. Harvey, Lyons, Lilly and Richey under the CONSOL Energy 2008 Long-Term Incentive Program under the Plan and to Mr. DeIuliis under the CNX Gas 2008 Long-Term Incentive Program under its equity incentive plan. The amounts reflect threshold (50%), target (100%), and maximum (200%) performance levels with respect to the awards granted to Messrs. Harvey, Lyons, Lilly and Richey and threshold (50%), target (100%), and maximum (250%) with respect to Mr. DeIuliis.

 

(3) Each of the restricted stock unit awards included in this column have associated dividend equivalent rights.

 

(4) Grants were made under the Plan.

 

(5) The full grant date fair value calculations are computed in accordance with FAS 123R for the equity awards granted by CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas, as the case may be, in 2008 under each company’s equity incentive plan, as applicable (disregarding any estimates of forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions). The calculations relating to the performance share units granted under the equity incentive plans were based on achievement at a maximum performance level. A discussion of the relevant assumptions made in the valuation of these awards is stated in CONSOL Energy’s Form 10-K (Note 18 in the Form 10-K). In the case of Mr. DeIuliis’ grant of performance share units from CNX Gas, the grant date fair value of each performance share unit was $31.09. The value was calculated by averaging the closing price of one share of CNX Gas common stock for the ten trading days prior to the grant date of January 1, 2008.

 

(6) Grant made under the CNX Gas Equity Incentive Plan. This award was also disclosed in the CONSOL Energy proxy statement filed in March 2008.

 

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UNDERSTANDING OUR SUMMARY COMPENSATION AND

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS TABLES

Executive Summary of CONSOL Energy Plans and Agreements with Named Executive Officers

In addition to their base salary, our executive officers receive a mix of at-risk compensation, both short and long-term, for their services. Pursuant to various plans which have been adopted by the Corporation, our executive officers are eligible to receive annual cash incentive awards based on the achievement of certain performance targets, stock options, restricted stock units and performance share units. Executive officers are also entitled to use of the Corporation’s owned and chartered aircraft, pursuant to certain terms and conditions set forth below. The executive officers of CNX Gas are entitled to similar awards. Each of these elements of compensation and the plans under which they are awarded are discussed below in greater detail.

Certain of our executive officers have executed agreements with the Corporation or its subsidiary, CNX Gas, entitling them to additional benefits aside from those available under our various plans. The following is a list of agreements relating to the compensation arrangements between the Corporation or CNX Gas and those individuals (each of which are discussed below in greater detail):

 

   

Employment Agreement with our Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

Letter Agreement with our former President-Coal Group;

 

   

Letter Agreement with our Chief Legal Officer; and

 

   

Time Sharing Agreement with our Chief Executive Officer

Employment Agreement with our Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Harvey entered into an employment agreement with CONSOL Energy on June 3, 2005. The Employment Agreement was amended and restated on December 2, 2008. The following is a description of the Employment Agreement, as amended and restated (the “Employment Agreement”).

The current term of the Employment Agreement ends on June 3, 2009, unless sooner terminated, and is automatically extended for additional one year terms thereafter, unless not later than ninety (90) days immediately preceding such anniversary, the Corporation or Mr. Harvey shall have given written notice to the other that it does not wish to extend the Employment Agreement. Under the Original Employment Agreement, Mr. Harvey received an annual base salary of $850,000. Under the Employment Agreement, Mr. Harvey will receive an annual base salary of $1,000,000. The Employment Agreement further provides that Mr. Harvey is eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan on terms established from time to time by the Board. His annual target bonus under that plan will not be less than 100% of his then current base salary. During the term of the Employment agreement, he is also eligible to participate in any Corporation long-term incentive plan, and in all employee benefit and fringe benefit plans and arrangements made available by the Corporation to its executives and key management employees upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable plan or arrangement.

The Employment Agreement provides, among other matters, that if our Chief Executive Officer resigns for good reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or is terminated without cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement) and in each such case has delivered a signed release of claims reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation to the Corporation’s General Counsel within thirty (30) days of the date of his termination and not revoked such release within the seven-day revocation period provided for in such release, he is entitled to receive, among other severance payments and benefits, an amount equal to two times his then current base salary and two times the target annual bonus amount (subject to his compliance with the confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions set forth in the employment agreement). The confidentiality provisions survive the termination of his employment with us and the non-competition and non-solicitation provisions survive for a period of two years following the termination of his employment.

 

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Additionally, the employment agreement provides our Chief Executive Officer with service credit for eleven additional years of service under the CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan and our retiree medical plan, which benefits represent his years of service at PacifiCorp Energy Inc. and its affiliates; and provided further that if this credit cannot be provided under the CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan, CONSOL Energy will provide these benefits under a supplemental retirement plan. The amount of unreduced retirement benefits payable to Mr. Harvey (i.e., amount owed to him at normal retirement age) from PacifiCorp Energy Inc. will be deducted from benefits paid by the Corporation to Mr. Harvey under the CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan or the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan, as applicable. Credited service was negotiated and agreed to with our Chief Executive Officer in 1997, as an inducement for him to leave PacifiCorp Energy Inc. and join our Corporation as its Chief Executive Officer, and was re-affirmed in the 2005 employment agreement.

For more information regarding Mr. Harvey’s employment agreement, see “Understanding our Change in Control and Employment Termination Tables” on page 66.

Letter Agreement with our Former President-Coal Group

In October 2002, the Corporation entered into an agreement with Mr. Lilly to induce him to join the Corporation. However, this letter agreement is no longer effective since he retired on January 31, 2009.

The agreement provided for:

 

   

an initial annual base salary of $380,000;

 

   

with respect to the Short-Term Plan, an annual compensation opportunity which was initially set at 65% of his base salary;

 

   

a stock option grant to purchase 80,000 shares of the Corporation’s common stock (vesting ratably over a four-year period);

 

   

participation in the Corporation’s severance pay plan based on the years of his total industry service with one week of pay under the plan equal to each full year of industry service with a maximum of 25 weeks; and

 

   

other benefits including, without limitation, a vehicle allowance, country club membership and standard employee benefits offered by the Corporation to its employees.

In addition, the Corporation agreed, as consideration for Mr. Lilly’s lost compensation resulting from his resignation from the board of directors of Penn Virginia Resources, LLC and of Penn Virginia Corporation (as a condition to his employment with the Corporation), to pay him $400,000 in four equal installments, with each installment to be made annually on the anniversary date of his employment with the Corporation commencing on October 28, 2003 and ending on October 28, 2006. Mr. Lilly is also entitled to credited service from August 1, 1977 with respect to retiree medical benefits under The CONSOL Energy Inc. Comprehensive Medical Expense Benefits Plan For Salaried Employees.

Letter Agreement with our Chief Legal Officer

Mr. Richey’s agreement provides for the following:

 

   

an annual base salary of $280,000;

 

   

an annual incentive compensation opportunity to earn up to 50% of his annual base salary;

 

   

participation in the Corporation’s Plan with an initial grant equal in fair market value to $300,000 on the grant date in the form of stock options and restricted stock units;

 

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one year’s severance pay, in addition to all salary, compensation and benefits due; and

 

   

other benefits including a vehicle allowance and five weeks paid vacation per year.

CONSOL Energy Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

To be eligible for an annual award under the Short-Term Plan, a named executive must be an active, full-time, employee on December 31, have worked for at least three months of that same year and be an active employee on the date the annual award is distributed unless the named executive is an early, normal, or incapacity retiree then the named executive must only be an active, full-time employee on December 31. For more information on the Short-Term Plan, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” on page 23.

Stock Options Awarded under the CONSOL Energy Equity Incentive Plan

Our Plan permits the granting of options, both incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options, to purchase shares of CONSOL Energy common stock. Our Compensation Committee establishes the exercise price at the time each option is granted. The Plan provides that the option exercise price for each share covered by an option, including incentive and non-qualified options, must equal or exceed the fair market value of a share of CONSOL Energy common stock on the date the option is granted, and that the term of the option may not exceed ten years from the grant date. Accordingly, options are intended to be excepted from coverage under Section 409A of the Code.

The exercise price of options granted under the Plan may be paid for by (i) cash, or its equivalent, (ii) by exchanging shares of CONSOL Energy common stock (which are not the subject of any pledge or other security interest) with a fair market value on the exercise date equal to the aggregate exercise price of the options, or (iii) a participant electing to pay all or any portion of the aggregate exercise price by having shares with a fair market value on the exercise date equal to the aggregate exercise price withheld by CONSOL Energy or sold by a broker-dealer.

Our Plan also provides that the Compensation Committee may provide in an award agreement for the automatic grant of a restoration option to a participant who delivers shares in payment of the exercise price of any option granted under our Plan, or in the event that the withholding tax liability arising upon exercise of any such option by a participant is satisfied through the withholding by CONSOL Energy of shares otherwise deliverable upon exercise of the option. A restoration option entitles the holder to purchase a number of shares equal to the number of such shares delivered or withheld upon exercise of the original option. A restoration option must have an exercise price of not less than 100% of the fair market value on the grant date. To date, the Compensation Committee has not granted any options with a restoration provision.

The Plan was recently amended to ensure compliance with Section 409A of the Code. The changes include clarifying eligible service recipients; the timing of distribution events, including upon separation from service; clarifying the timing and implementation of deferral elections; and, to the extent applicable, providing that the payment benefits will be subject to a six-month delay in the event a participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A) at the time of termination. The amendments were not intended to materially increase the benefits payable under the Plan.

Restricted Stock Units Awarded under the CONSOL Energy Equity Incentive Plan

Restricted stock units are also be granted under our Plan. Our Compensation Committee determines the number of restricted stock units to be granted to each participant, the duration of such awards, the conditions under which the restricted stock units may be forfeited to CONSOL Energy, and the other terms and conditions of such awards. Restricted stock units are structured to comply with Section 409A of the Code. Accordingly, distributions shall be made only upon a permissible distribution event, including upon separation from service, and the timing and implementation of deferral elections must occur with rules prescribed by Section 409A of the Code.

Variable Long-Term Incentive Compensation Award under the CONSOL Energy Equity Incentive Plan

In 2005, the Compensation Committee developed a variable long-term incentive compensation award (which we call the “LTIC”), which was payable in stock options and restricted stock units in 2007 to our Chief Executive

 

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Officer, if he attained certain pre-determined performance goals in 2006. The payout of this award, made in February 2007 is included in the “Summary Compensation Table – 2008, 2007 and 2006” on page 40.

The terms of this award provided that if at the time of the performance review of the Chief Executive Officer, the independent members of the Board determined that our Chief Executive Officer had achieved any of the pre-established performance goals during the performance period, the Chief Executive Officer would be entitled to a pro rata portion of the award. Additionally, our Board reserved the discretion to grant all or any portion of the award if any or none of the performance goals was achieved during the performance period. In February 2007, our Board determined that our Chief Executive Officer had met certain performance goals for 2006, and options and restricted stock units were granted to him under our Plan, and which grants are subject to the terms and conditions, including vesting restrictions, contained in the Corporation’s standard nonqualified stock option and restricted stock unit award agreements. The Board’s assessment of our Chief Executive Officer’s 2006 performance in connection with determining the LTIC award amounts is described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section in CONSOL Energy’s proxy statement filed on March 30, 2007. Options are valued using the Black-Scholes option valuation methodology. The exercise price of any options and the value of any shares underlying restricted stock units issued in satisfaction of an equity award are based on the fair market value of our common stock on the grant date as provided under the terms of our Plan.

Long-Term Incentive Performance Program

The 2008 LTIP, as approved by the Board upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, provides each named executive and the other executives with a number of performance share units, including dividend rights. The number of performance share units is equal to the target cash value of the award as so determined for an executive, divided by the average closing price of a share of CONSOL Energy’s common stock on the grant date. The performance share units represent a contingent right to receive one share of CONSOL Energy common stock to the extent such unit is earned and becomes payable pursuant to the terms of the LTIP. Compensatory payments under the 2007 LTIP are structured to comply with the short-term deferral exception under Section 409A of the Code. For more information on the 2008 LTIP, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” on page 23.

CNX Gas Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

CNX Gas’ Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan has a threshold level of net income which must be achieved for incentive payments to be made pursuant to the program. In 2008, CNX Gas’ compensation committee approved short-term incentive compensation awards for several individuals, including Mr. DeIuliis. CNX Gas’ compensation committee authorized the payment of an annual incentive (i.e., bonus) award to Mr. DeIuliis, which is set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table – 2008, 2007 and 2006” on page 40. For 2008, the threshold net income threshold was $90 million, which was achieved. If the threshold level of net income is achieved, incentive payments are paid with respect to the program based on:

 

   

corporate performance criteria consisting of safety, unit cost and production; and

 

   

the achievement of individual performance goals.

The actual bonuses earned are then determined by comparing CNX Gas’ actual performance during fiscal year 2008 against the target performance goals for each of the above mentioned criteria and the employee’s actual performance against his or her individual performance goals.

Stock Options Awarded under the CNX Gas Equity Incentive Plan

Stock options were granted to Mr. DeIuliis under CNX Gas’ equity incentive plan. The exercise price per share of each stock option award granted is the fair market value of CNX Gas’ common stock on the grant date. The options granted to the Mr. DeIuliis during 2005 vest in four equal installments on the first four anniversaries of the grant date while the options granted during 2006 vest in their entirety on the third anniversary of the grant date. Subject to the provisions of the particular option agreement and CNX Gas’ equity incentive plan, the holder of the option may exercise all or any part of the vested portion of the option at any time prior to the tenth anniversary of the grant date, which is the expiration date. See “CNX Gas Stock Options” on page 78 for a description of the employment termination, change in control and restrictive covenant provisions of the CNX Gas option agreements.

 

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CNX Gas Long-Term Incentive Programs under the CNX Gas Equity Incentive Plan

On October 11, 2006 and December 10, 2007, CNX Gas approved and adopted programs under CNX Gas’ equity incentive plan, each called the CNX Gas Long-Term Incentive Program. The performance share units represent a contingent right to receive a cash payment, determined by reference to the value of one share of CNX Gas’ common stock, if such performance share unit is earned and becomes payable pursuant to the terms of the program. The total number of performance share units earned, if any, by a participant is based on CNX Gas’ total shareholder return relative to the total shareholder return of each company in a peer group of companies for the period of October 11, 2006 to December 31, 2009, in the case of the 2006 awards, and January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010, in the case of the December 2007 awards.

A determination of total stockholder return for each performance period will be calculated based on the same methodology as used by CONSOL Energy for its Long-Term Incentive Performance Program (as described in “Long-Term Incentive Performance Program” on page 47), except that the analysis will use the stock prices of CNX Gas and its peers, and the payout schedule will be as follows:

OUTCOME RELATIVE TO PEER GROUP

 

Level of Performance

   Percentage Ranking in
Total Stockholder Return
   Percent of
Performance Units Earned
Below Threshold    Below 25th percentile    0%
Threshold    25th percentile    50%
Target    50th percentile    100%
Outstanding    75th percentile    200%
Maximum    90th percentile or greater    250%

Note: Interpolation between points will be made on a straight line basis. Below the 25th percentile and above the 90th percentile, there will be no interpolation.

Any performance share units earned by a participant will be settled and paid in cash by CNX Gas or its affiliates, as applicable, with the amount calculated to be based on how well the CNX Gas’ stock price performs relative to its peers over the performance period.

Exchange Offer

See “Exchange Offer” in “Compensation and Discussion Analysis” on page 23.

Aircraft Policy

We have a policy titled the “Use of Corporate-Owned or – Leased or Chartered Aircraft” (which we refer to as the “Aircraft Policy”). To best utilize the time of directors, executive officers, and members of management as well as due to potential security concerns, we own, lease and charter aircraft for use by our directors, executives, members of management and their spouses in connection with business travel. To comply with applicable laws and prevent any abuse of this aircraft by having it used for personal reasons, we have instituted the Aircraft Policy. The policy sets forth the detailed procedures by which a person may use CONSOL Energy-owned or – leased aircraft and chartered aircraft including, without limitation, completing a request form which details the trip and a description of the business activities and accompanying persons and, in the case of CONSOL Energy-owned or – leased aircraft, the prior approval of our Chief Executive Officer for trips for which he is not present. In the case of flights on which our Chief Executive Officer is present, the flight manifest is approved by our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer. The Aircraft Policy also informs any user of CONSOL Energy-owned or – leased or chartered aircraft that such use could result in imputed income, as a taxable employee benefit, to the director(s), executive(s) or member(s) of management under federal tax regulations relating to the non-business use of aircraft.

 

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Time Sharing Agreement

On May 1, 2007, the Corporation entered into a Time Sharing Agreement (which we refer to as the “Time Sharing Agreement”) with Mr. Harvey. The Time Sharing Agreement provides that CONSOL Energy will, from time to time, lease its Gulfstream Aerospace G-II59 aircraft (the “Aircraft”) to Mr. Harvey with a flight crew for the operation thereof, as and when required by Mr. Harvey, so long as the Aircraft is not otherwise employed on behalf of the Corporation . Mr. Harvey’s use of the Aircraft will constitute a non-exclusive lease and the Time Sharing Agreement will only be applicable in instances in which the Corporation seeks partial reimbursement of Aircraft-related costs. Pursuant to the Time Sharing Agreement, Mr. Harvey has agreed that the rates to be charged for any particular flight (round-trip between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Toronto, Canada) will be $1,500 unless otherwise modified by the Chairman of the Compensation Committee in compliance with the Time Sharing Agreement and applicable law. The Corporation has the right to charge Mr. Harvey on a flight-by-flight basis up to an amount which equals: (i) fuel, oil, lubricants, and other additives; (ii) travel expenses of the crew; (iii) hangar and tie-down costs away from the Aircraft’s base of operation; (iv) insurance obtained for the specific flight; (v) landing fees, airport taxes, and similar assessments; (vi) customs, foreign permit, and similar fees directly related to the flight, if applicable; (vii) in-flight food and beverages; (viii) passenger ground transportation; (ix) flight planning and weather contract services; and (x) an additional charge equal to 100% of the expenses listed in (i) above.

CONSOL Energy is also obligated to provide and maintain Aircraft third party aviation legal liability insurance under the Time Sharing Agreement, naming Mr. Harvey as an additional insured and to indemnify and agree to hold Mr. Harvey harmless from and against any and all liabilities, claims, demands, suits, judgments, damages, losses, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal expenses and attorneys’ fees) arising in connection with the Aircraft. The Corporation and Mr. Harvey will both have the right to terminate the Time Sharing Agreement with immediate effect upon written notice to the other party and the Time Sharing Agreement will automatically terminate upon the cessation of Mr. Harvey’s employment with us.

 

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS TABLES AT FISCAL YEAR-END - 2008

The following tables set forth all unexercised options, restricted stock units and performance share unit awards that have been awarded to our named executives by each of CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas (as applicable) and were outstanding as of December 31, 2008.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End for CONSOL Energy - 2008

 

     Option Awards   Stock Awards

Name

(a)

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(Exercisable)

(#)

(b)

   

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(Unexercisable)

(#)

(c)

   

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options

(#)

(d)

 

Option
Exercise
Price

($)

(e)

 

Option
Expiration
Date

(f)

 

Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
That
Have Not
Vested(12)

(#)

(g)

   

Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
That
Have Not
Vested(13)

($)

(h)

 

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested(14)

(#)

(i)

 

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested(13)

($)

(j)

J. Brett Harvey

  200 (1)   -     -   15.090   3/1/2011   -     -   -   -
    200,000 (2)   -     -   13.265   10/25/2011   -     -   -   -
    120,000 (3)   -     -   6.805   9/10/2012   -     -   -   -
    240,200 (4)   -     -   8.600   4/30/2013   -     -   -   -
    133,740 (5)   -     -   15.390   4/27/2014   -     -   -   -
    90,752 (6)   30,184 (6)   -   22.750   5/3/2015   -     -   -   -
    21,176 (7)   21,178 (7)   -   32.785   2/24/2016   -     -   -   -
    65,658 (8)   65,660 (8)   -   44.100   5/2/2016   -     -   -   -
    13,720 (9)   27,443 (9)   -   34.850   2/20/2017   -     -   -   -
    45,450 (10)   90,902 (10)   -   34.850   2/20/2017   -     -   -   -
    -     89,885 (11)   -   78.650   2/19/2018   -     -   -   -
    -     -     -   -   -   94,273 (9)   2,694,322   -   -
    -     -     -   -   -   -     -   124,306   3,552,665

William J. Lyons

  200 (1)   -     -   15.090   3/1/2011   -     -   -   -
  50,200 (4)   -     -   8.600   4/30/2013   -     -   -   -
  41,240 (5)   -     -   15.390   4/27/2014   -     -   -   -
    16,862 (6)   5,554 (6)   -   22.750   5/3/2015   -     -   -   -
    16,128 (8)   16,128 (8)   -   44.100   5/2/2016   -     -   -   -
    9,356 (10)   18,715 (10)   -   34.850   2/20/2017   -     -   -   -
    -     13,828 (11)   -   78.650   2/19/2018   -     -   -   -
    -     -     -   -   -   18,958     541,820   -   -
    -     -     -   -   -   -     -   23,872   682,262

Peter B. Lilly

  200 (4)   -     -   8.600   4/30/2013   -     -   -   -
    44,390 (5)   -     -   15.390   4/27/2014   -     -   -   -
    31,301 (6)   10,369 (6)   -   22.750   5/3/2015   -     -   -   -
    22,048 (8)   22,050 (8)   -   44.100   5/2/2016   -     -   -   -
    12,897 (10)   25,795 (10)   -   34.850   2/20/2017   -     -   -   -
    -     18,438 (11)   -   78.650   2/19/2018   -     -   -   -
    -     -     -   -   -   26,874     768,059   -   -
    -     -     -   -   -   -     -   32,673   933,794

Nicholas J. DeIuliis

  200 (6)   2,740 (6)   -   22.750   5/3/2015   -     -   -   -
  -     -     -   -   -   1,050     30,009   -   -

P. Jerome Richey

  -     4,445 (6)   -   22.750   5/3/2015   -     -   -   -
  2,734 (8)   5,470 (8)   -   44.100   5/2/2016   -     -   -   -
  3,172 (10)   6,347 (10)   -   34.850   2/20/2017   -     -   -   -
    -     4,609 (11)   -   78.650   2/19/2018   -     -   -   -
    -     -     -   -   -   7,378     210,863   -   -
    -     -     -   -   -   -     -   8,065   230,498

 

(1) Options granted March 1, 2001 vest and become exercisable in their entirety on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

(2) Options granted October 25, 2001 vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments (subject to rounding) beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

(3) Options granted September 10, 2002 vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments (subject to rounding) beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

(4) Options granted April 20, 2003 vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments (subject to rounding) beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, except for 200 shares, which vest and become exercisable in their entirety on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

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(5) Options granted April 27, 2004 vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments (subject to rounding) beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, except for 200 shares, which vest and become exercisable in their entirety on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

(6) Options granted May 3, 2005 vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments (subject to rounding) beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, except for 200 shares, which vest and become exercisable in their entirety six months after the grant date.

 

(7) Options granted February 24, 2006 vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments (subject to rounding) beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

(8) Options granted May 2, 2006 vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments (subject to rounding) beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

(9) Under the LTIC, Mr. Harvey’s option and restricted stock unit awards were granted on February 20, 2007 for 2006 performance. Mr. Harvey was granted 13,773 restricted stock units and options to purchase 41,163 shares of our common stock. The market value of the restricted stock units was $480,000 (which was determined by multiplying the closing market price of $34.85 of CONSOL Energy common stock on February 20, 2007 (the grant date) by the number of shares underlying the restricted stock unit award).

 

(10) Options granted February 20, 2007 vest and become exercisable in three equal annual installments (subject to rounding) beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

(11) Options granted February 19, 2008 vest and become exercisable in three equal annual installments (subject to rounding) beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

(12) Restricted stock units granted on April 27, 2004, May 3, 2005, February 24, 2006 and May 2, 2006 vest in four equal annual installments (subject to rounding) beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. However, certain restricted stock units granted on April 27, 2004, February 20, 2007 and February 19, 2008 vest in three equal annual installments (subject to rounding) beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

(13) The market value for restricted stock units and performance share units was determined by multiplying the closing market price for CONSOL Energy common stock on December 31, 2008 ($28.58) by the number of shares underlying the restricted stock unit awards and performance share units.

 

(14) This column shows the aggregate number of unvested performance shares as of December 31, 2008. The performance period for each of the performance share awards granted in 2007 is January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2009 and for awards granted in 2008 is January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010, assuming the achievement of pre-established performance objectives. The performance share amounts presented for the 2007 and 2008 performance share awards are based on achieving performance goals at maximum and target levels, respectively.

Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year End For CNX Gas - 2008

 

Name

(a)

  Option Awards   Stock Awards
 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)
Exercisable

(b)

   

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)
Unexercisable

(c)

   

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options

(#)

(d)

 

Option
Exercise
Price

($)

(e)

 

Option
Expiration
Date

(f)

 

Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested

(#)

(g)

 

Market
Value
of
Shares
or
Units
of
Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested

($)

(h)

 

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested(3)

(#)

(i)

 

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested(4)

($)

(j)

J. Brett Harvey

  -     -     -     -   -   -   -   -     -

William J. Lyons

  -     -     -     -   -   -   -   -     -

Peter B. Lilly

  -     -     -     -   -   -   -   -     -

Nicholas J. DeIuliis

  211,110 (1)   70,371 (1)   -   $ 16.00   8/8/2015   -   -   -     -
    -

-

 

 

  162,768

-

(2)

 

  -

-

  $

 

28.50

-

  4/28/2016

-

  -

-

  -

-

  -

319,726

   

$

-

8,728,520

P. Jerome Richey

  -     -     -     -   -   -   -   -     -

 

(1) Options granted August 8, 2005 vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments (subject to rounding) beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

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(2) Options granted April 28, 2006 vest and become exercisable in their entirety on the third anniversary of the grant date.

 

(3) Total number of performance share units reported in this column is based on achieving actual performance goals. As of December 31, 2008, the 160,525 performance share unit awards vest, if earned, on December 31, 2009, and the 159,201 performance share unit awards vest, if earned, on December 31, 2010. As of January 16, 2009, the date in which the pending exchange offer will be measured, Mr. DeIuliis may exchange 303,547 CNX Gas performance share units for 291,625 CONSOL Energy restricted stock units.

 

(4) The values for the performance share unit awards were determined by multiplying the closing market price of CNX Gas common stock on December 31, 2008 ($27.30 per share) by the number of shares underlying the awards at outstanding performance level which was determined to be between target and maximum. As of January 16, 2009, the date in which the pending exchange offer will be measured, Mr. DeIuliis may exchange $7,722,236 of CNX Gas performance share units (measured by multiplying 303,547 CNX Gas performance share units by $25.44 – the CNX Gas stock price on January 16, 2009) pursuant to the pending exchange offer. In return, he would receive 291,635 CONSOL Energy restricted stock units.

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED TABLE - 2008

The following table set forth information concerning each exercise of CONSOL Energy stock options and the vesting of restricted stock units of CONSOL Energy during the 2008 fiscal year.

 

Name

(a)

  Option Awards   Stock Awards  
 

Number of Shares
Acquired
on Exercise

(#)

(b)

 

Value Realized
on Exercise

($)

(c)

 

Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting

(#)

(d)

   

Value Realized
on Vesting

($)

(e)

 

J. Brett Harvey

  -   -   55,052 (1)   $ 4,496,785 (1)

William J. Lyons

  -   -   10,675 (2)   $ 876,091 (2)

Peter B. Lilly

  -   -   17,824 (3)   $ 1,465,260 (3)

Nicholas J. DeIuliis (4)

  8,580   557,234   2,606     $ 216,347  

P. Jerome Richey

  4,443   343,222   3,649 (5)   $ 301,514 (5)

 

(1) Mr. Harvey elected to defer 50% of his restricted stock unit award, granted on May 2, 2006, to be paid in a lump sum at the time of termination. Included in the above number are 5,416 shares valued at $465,515 at vesting that have been deferred.

 

(2) Mr. Lyons elected to defer 50% of his restricted stock unit award, granted on April 27, 2004, and 100% of his restricted stock unit award, granted on May, 2, 2006 to be paid in a lump sum at the time of termination. Included in the above number are 4,042 shares valued at $337,784 at vesting that have been deferred.

 

(3) Mr. Lilly elected to defer 100% of his restricted stock unit award, granted on May 2, 2006, to be paid in a lump sum at the time of termination. Included in the above number are 3,634 shares valued at $306,310 at vesting that have been deferred.

 

(4) In 2008, Mr. DeIuliis exercised options to purchase CONSOL Energy common stock through a 10b5-1 Plan, but not options to purchase CNX Gas common stock and had not received any grants of restricted stock units from CONSOL Energy or CNX Gas.

 

(5) Mr. Richey elected to defer 100% of his restricted stock unit awards, granted on May 2, 2006 and February 20, 2007, to be paid in a lump sum at the time of termination. Included in the above number are 1,967 shares valued at $159,738 at vesting that have been deferred.

 

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PENSION BENEFITS TABLE

The following table provides information with respect to each plan that provides for specified retirement payments or benefits, or payments or benefits that will be provided primarily following retirement, including tax-qualified defined benefit plans and supplemental employee retirement plans (which we refer to as the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan), but excluding defined contribution plans.

 

Name

(a)

 

Plan Name

(b)

 

Number of
Years
Credited Service

(#)

(c)

 

Present
Value of
Accumulated
Benefit(1)

($)

(d)

 

Payments During
Last Fiscal
Year

($)

(e)

J. Brett Harvey

 

CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan

CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan

CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan  

  11

20(2)

20(2)

  $

$

$

214,219

3,494,597

3,399,649

  -

-

-

William J. Lyons

 

CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan

CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan

CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan

  33

31

20

  $

$

$

819,482

1,876,927

566,563

  -

-

-

Peter B. Lilly

 

CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan

CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan

CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan

  6

4

6

  $

$

$

110,150

317,159

799,702

  -

-

-

Nicholas J. DeIuliis

 

CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan

CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan

CNX Gas Employee Retirement Plan

  15

16

3

  $

$

$

130,625

0

9,628

  -

-

-

P. Jerome Richey

 

CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan

CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan

CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan

  3

1

4

  $

$

$

25,327

4,507

355,271

  -

-

-

 

(1) Accumulated benefit computed through December 31, 2008 computed using FAS 87 assumptions as stated in the Form 10-K (Note 15 in the Form 10-K). This increase includes amounts which the named executive may not be entitled to receive such as unvested amounts.

 

(2) Mr. Harvey’s employment agreement provides service credit for eleven additional years of service under the CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan and under our supplemental retirement plans (up to a total maximum of twenty years under the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan) which represent his years of service at PacifiCorp Energy Inc. and its affiliates. Of the amounts shown above, $1,949,979 and $1,090,275 represent the benefit resulting from service credit provided to Mr. Harvey for his service at PacifiCorp Energy Inc. under the CONSOL Energy Restoration Plan and CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan, respectively. The amount of unreduced retirement benefits payable to Mr. Harvey (i.e., the amount owed to him at normal retirement age) from PacifiCorp Energy Inc. and its affiliates will be deducted from benefits paid by CONSOL Energy to Mr. Harvey under the CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan and the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan. Amounts shown have been reduced by amounts payable to Mr. Harvey by PacifiCorp Energy Inc. and its affiliates.

 

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UNDERSTANDING OUR PENSION BENEFITS TABLE

Executive Summary of CONSOL Energy Pension Plans

This section provides information regarding the Corporation’s retirement programs, which include the following:

 

   

CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan;

 

   

CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan;

 

   

CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan; and

 

   

CNX Gas Employee Retirement Plan.

CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan (the “Pension Plan”)

The Pension Plan is a defined benefit plan that pays retirement benefits based on years of service and compensation. It is a qualified plan, meaning that it is subject to a variety of IRS rules. These rules contain various requirements on coverage, funding, vesting, and the amount of compensation that can be taken into account in calculating benefits. The Pension Plan has a fairly broad application across the employee population, and forms a part of the general retirement benefit program available to employees.

Eligibility

Full-time (or those who have completed 1,000 or more hours of service during a twelve-month consecutive period beginning on the employment date), salaried, production and maintenance and operations and maintenance employees who have completed five years of employment with the Corporation, earn the right to receive benefits upon retirement at the normal retirement age of 65. Payments commencing prior to age 65 are reduced based on various early reduction schedules depending upon age at the payment commencement date and years of service at the time of termination. Payment under the Pension Plan may not commence prior to age 50 except in the event of an incapacity retirement as described below.

Incapacity Retirement

Employees who have attained age 40 with at least ten years of service who are deemed disabled and consequently receive a Social Security disability award (proving the disability occurred while engaged in employment with CONSOL Energy or CNX Gas) are eligible for an incapacity retirement resulting in an unreduced benefit, payable in the form of an annuity, commencing the month following termination. Messrs. Harvey, Lyons and DeIuliis would have been eligible for incapacity retirement under the Pension Plan as of December 31, 2008 if they had incurred a qualifying disability on that date.

Separation Retirement

Employees who terminate employment with five years or more of service prior to attaining age 50 or have attained age 50 but have fewer than ten years of service upon termination qualify for a separation retirement. Payment of the accrued vested benefit is payable at an amount reduced for age beginning at age 50, or the full benefit may be paid at age 65. Messrs. DeIuliis and Lilly are currently eligible for separation retirement under the Pension Plan, however, Mr. DeIuliis would not be entitled to payment until he attained age 50. Mr. Richey will be eligible for Separation Retirement once he attains five years of service.

Early Retirement

Employees who have completed ten or more years of service with the Corporation and are age 50 or older upon termination are eligible for early retirement. Under early retirement, an employee may elect to defer payment to age 65 or elect to begin payment the first of any month up to age 65, subject to a reduction for age as mentioned above. Messrs. Harvey and Lyons are eligible for early retirement under the Pension Plan.

 

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Normal Retirement

Employees who terminate employment with five or more years of service and have attained age 65 qualify for normal retirement. Payment of the full benefit commences the month following termination. None of the named executives qualify for normal retirement under the Pension Plan as of December 31, 2008.

Form of Payment

The portion of accrued pension benefit earned under the Pension Plan as of December 31, 2005 may be elected to be paid in the form of a lump-sum payment except in the case of an incapacity retirement as discussed above. Pension benefits earned after January 1, 2006 are payable in the form of a single life annuity, 50% joint and survivor annuity, 75% joint and survivor annuity or 100% joint and survivor annuity.

Calculation of Benefits

Pension benefits for salaried employees under the Pension Plan, as amended, are based on an employee’s years of service and average monthly pay during the employee’s five highest-paid years, which is referred to as the covered compensation. Average monthly pay for this purpose includes regular compensation but excludes compensation in excess of limits imposed by the federal income tax laws. Such covered compensation is reflected in the “Salary” column of the Summary Compensation Table (up to $230,000). Prior to January 1, 2006, pension benefits under the Pension Plan were based on the average monthly pay during the employee’s three highest-paid years and included annual amounts payable under the Corporation’s Short-Term Plan not in excess of limits imposed by the federal income tax laws, which limits the amount of annual benefits which may be payable from the qualified pension trust. Retirement benefits provided under the Pension Plan in excess of these limitations are paid from the Corporation’s general revenues under the separate, non-funded, non-qualified Pension Plans, which are described below.

CNX Gas Employees

Compensation earned by employees of CNX Gas on and after January 1, 2006 is included in determining the employee’s final average compensation for purposes of calculating retirement benefits attributable to service earned prior to January 1, 2006 under the Pension Plan, to the extent that the final average compensation does not increase by more than 4.25% per year from January 1, 2006 onward. Any benefits that are attributable to this prior service due to increases in the final average compensation earned on and after January 1, 2006 in excess of the 4.25% per year threshold, not in excess of limits imposed by federal income tax laws, are paid under the CNX Gas Employee Retirement Plan. This applies only to those CNX Gas employees who were previously employed by CONSOL Energy prior to August 1, 2004 and who are otherwise eligible to participate in the Pension Plan. Mr. DeIuliis is eligible for this additional compensation growth under the Pension Plan. Years of service earned on or after January 1, 2006 by employees of CNX Gas who are members of the Pension Plan are used in determining eligibility for early, incapacity and separation retirement and when calculating early reduction factors for payments commencing prior to age 65. For additional information on the CNX Gas retirement plan, please see “CNX Gas Employee Retirement Plan” on page 57.

CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan (the “Restoration Plan”)

The Restoration Plan is an unfunded deferred compensation plan maintained by the Corporation for the benefit of employees whose eligible compensation under the Pension Plan exceeded limits imposed by the federal income tax laws. The Corporation established this plan in order to attract and maintain persons that the Corporation considered to be important to its success by providing retirement benefits that are not restricted by the artificial limits imposed by the Code. The reasons for the existence of this plan, and the reasons that changes were made to this plan, are also discussed above in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” on page 23.

In December 2006, the Board authorized amendments which froze the Restoration Plan effective December 31, 2006 for CONSOL Energy employees and December 31, 2005 for CNX Gas employees. After that date, no existing participant accrues benefits and no compensation or service is counted for purposes of the Restoration Plan. A participant’s benefit is calculated as of that date with reference to the participant’s benefits under the Pension Plan as of that date.

 

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To comply with Section 409A of the federal income tax laws, the Restoration Plan was further amended to provide that all distributions of benefits accrued and vested under the plan as of December 31, 2006, and through December 31, 2005 for CNX Gas employees, will be paid in a lump sum, which will be paid no later than 30 days following the later to occur of the end of the month following the month in which the participant turns age 50 or the end of the month following the month in which the participant incurs a separation of service. The benefit will be calculated and actuarially reduced, as necessary (using assumptions specified in the Pension Plan), based on a participant’s benefit being initially expressed as a single life annuity payable commencing on such participant’s normal retirement date.

Payment under the plan may not commence prior to age 50 except in the event of an incapacity retirement or under a termination due to a change in control. Payments commencing prior to age 65 are reduced based on various early reduction schedules depending upon age at the payment commencement date and years of service at the time of termination. The Restoration Plan provides the same types of retirement options as described above for the Pension Plan. Messrs. Harvey and Lyons are eligible for early retirement under the Restoration Plan. Mr. Lilly is eligible for separation retirement under the Restoration Plan. Mr. Richey will be eligible for separation retirement under the Restoration Plan once he attains five years of service. In addition, CNX Gas employee participants were also eligible to elect to receive in 2007 lump sum payments of accrued benefits. Mr. DeIuliis made this election and is no longer entitled to any other benefits under the Restoration Plan.

CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan

On December 5, 2006, the Corporation’s Board approved and adopted the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan, effective January 1, 2007. Certain modifications were made to the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan which became effective December 4, 2007. The CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan is designed primarily for the purpose of providing benefits for a select group of management and highly compensated employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and is intended to qualify as a “top hat” plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan is an unsecured obligation of the Corporation, the benefits of which will be paid from its general assets. CNX Gas’ employees do not participate in the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan.

Thus, the currently-employed named executives, and Mr. DeIuliis (as of January 16, 2009), and other eligible individuals are participants in the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan.

We established this Plan in order to attract and maintain persons that we considered to be important to our success by providing benefits that are not restricted by the artificial limits imposed by the federal income tax laws. The reasons for this Plan and the general change in the manner in which supplemental retirement compensation is described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” on page 23.

The Compensation Committee has reserved the right to terminate a participant’s participation in the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan at any time. Additionally, if a participant’s employment is terminated or if a participant no longer meets the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan’s basic eligibility standards, the participant’s participation in the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan (and right to accrue any benefits under it) will terminate automatically, with no further action required. Final average compensation and years of service will be determined at this time.

The amount of each participant’s benefit as of age 65 (expressed as an annual amount) will be equal to 50% of “final average compensation” multiplied by the “service fraction” as calculated on the participant’s date of employment termination with the Corporation. “Final average compensation” means the average of a participant’s five highest consecutive annual compensation amounts (annual base salary plus amounts received under the Corporation’s Short-Term Plan) while employed by the Corporation or its subsidiaries. The “service fraction” means a fraction with a numerator equal to a participant’s number of years of service and with a denominator of 20. The service fraction can never exceed one.

The benefit described above will be reduced by a participant’s age 65 vested benefits (including benefits which have been paid or are payable in the future (converted to an annual amount)) under: (a) the Pension Plan; (b) the

 

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Restoration Plan; and (c) any other plan or arrangement providing retirement type benefits, including arrangements with prior employers, to the extent service with such other employer or under such arrangement is credited under the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan.

No benefit will be vested under the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan until a participant has five years of service with the Corporation or its participating subsidiaries while the participant meets the eligibility standards in the plan. For a description of the effect of employment termination or change in control upon a participant’s right to benefits under the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan, see “Understanding Our Change in Control and Employment Termination Tables” on page 66.

Benefits under the CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan will be paid in the form of a life annuity with a guaranteed term of 20 years (which will be the actuarial equivalent of a single life annuity) commencing in the month following the later to occur of: (a) the end of the month following the month in which the participant turns age 50; or (b) the end of the month following the month in which the employment termination of a participant occurs. In the event the benefits commence prior to the participant’s normal retirement age, the benefit will be actuarially reduced, as necessary (using assumptions specified in the Pension Plan).

CNX Gas Employee Retirement Plan

CNX Gas established pension benefits for salaried employees under the CNX Gas Employee Retirement Plan which are very similar to the benefits these employees had under the Pension Plan. The benefits are calculated based on an employee’s years of service and average monthly pay during the employee’s five highest-paid years, which is referred to as the covered compensation. Average monthly pay for this purpose includes regular compensation but excludes compensation in excess of limits imposed by the Code. Such covered compensation is reflected in the “Salary” column of the Summary Compensation Table (up to $230,000).

The portion of accrued pension benefit earned under the CNX Gas Retirement Plan is payable in the form of a single life annuity, 50% joint and survivor annuity, 75% joint and survivor annuity or 100% joint and survivor annuity. Payment under the CNX Gas Employee Retirement Plan may not commence prior to age 50 except in the event of an incapacity retirement. Payments commencing prior to age 65 are reduced based on various early reduction schedules depending upon age at the payment commencement date and years of service at the time of termination. The CNX Gas Employee Retirement Plan provides the same type of retirement options as described above for the Pension Plan. Mr. DeIuliis is eligible for separation retirement under the CNX Gas Employee Retirement Plan. Compensation earned by employees of CNX Gas on and after January 1, 2006 is included in determining the employee’s final average compensation for purposes of calculating retirement benefits attributable to service earned prior to January 1, 2006 under the Pension Plan, to the extent that the final average compensation does not increase by more than 4.25% per year from January 1, 2006 onward. Any benefits that are attributable to this prior service due to increases, not in excess of limits imposed by federal income tax laws, in the final average compensation earned on and after January 1, 2006 in excess of the 4.25% per year threshold are paid under the CNX Gas Employee Retirement Plan. This applies only to those CNX Gas employees who were previously employed by CONSOL Energy prior to August 1, 2004 and eligible to participate in the Pension Plan. Mr. DeIuliis is eligible for this additional compensation growth under the Pension Plan.

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION TABLE - 2008

 

Name

(a)

 

Executive
Contributions
in Last FY

($)

(b)

   

Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY

($)

(c)

 

Aggregate Earnings
in Last FY

($)

(d)

   

Aggregate
Withdrawals/Distributions

($)

(e)

 

Aggregate Balance
at Last FYE(6)

($)

(f)

J. Brett Harvey

    -     -   $ (329,880 )(2)(3)   -   $ 623,592

Williams J. Lyons

    -     -   $ (371,024 )(2)(4)   -   $ 700,295

Peter B. Lilly

    -     -   $ (221,513 )(2)(5)   -   $ 418,736

Nicholas J. DeIuliis

    -     -     -     -     -

P. Jerome Richey

  $ 133,312 (1)   -   $ (104,168 )(2)(7)   -   $ 220,928

 

(1) Mr. Richey elected to defer until retirement, 100% (or 1,685 restricted stock units) of a restricted stock unit award granted to him on February 19, 2008.

 

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(2) Under our Plan, in the event the Corporation declares a cash dividend, the restricted stock units are automatically increased in connection with the associated dividend equivalent rights. The amount shown reflects the expense calculated on the dividend equivalent rights based on our closing stock price on the dividend payment date. The dividend amounts for each of the executives were as follows: $8,534 (Mr. Harvey); $9,442 (Mr. Lyons); $5,738 (Mr. Lilly); and $2,114 (Mr. Richey). The remaining amount consists of stock price appreciation (or depreciation).

 

(3) Mr. Harvey elected to defer until retirement, 50% (or 21,372 restricted stock units) of a restricted stock unit award granted to him on May 2, 2006.

 

(4) Mr. Lyons elected to defer until retirement, 100% (or 10,500 restricted stock units) of a restricted stock unit award granted to him on May 2, 2006 and 50% (or 13,279 restricted stock units) of a restricted stock award granted to him on April 27, 2004.

 

(5) Mr. Lilly elected to defer until retirement, 100% (or 14,354 restricted stock units) of a restricted stock unit award granted to him on May 2, 2006.

 

(6) The financial statement expense relating to the deferred restricted stock unit awards is included in the Summary Compensation Table under the “Stock Awards” column. The amount for Mr. Harvey shown in the 2006 row relating to his May 2, 2006 award is $952,780. The amount for Mr. Lyons shown in the 2006 row relating to his April 27, 2004 and May 2, 2006 award is $528,772, shown in the 2007 row relating to his April 27, 2004 award is $40,761 and shown in the 2008 row relating to his April 27, 2004 award is $9,027. The amounts shown for Mr. Lilly relating to his May 2, 2006 award are $159,951 in the 2006 row, $158,252 in the 2007 row and $158,253 in the 2008 row. The amount for Mr. Richey shown in the 2007 row relating to his May 2, 2006 award is $39,271, and $37,000 relating to the February 20, 2007 award and shown in the 2008 row relating to his May 2, 2006 award is $26,262, $27,218 relating to the February 20, 2007 award and $37,271 relating to the February 20, 2008 award.

 

(7) Mr. Richey elected to defer until retirement, 100% (or 1,781 restricted stock units) of a restricted stock unit award granted to him on May 2, 2006 and 100% (or 3,185 restricted stock units) of a restricted stock unit award granted to him on February 20, 2007.

UNDERSTANDING OUR DEFERRED COMPENSATION TABLE

Our Plan permits the granting of restricted stock units (with associated dividend equivalent rights). A person may, prior to December 31 of the calendar year that precedes the beginning of the service period, file a deferral election with us pursuant to which the recipient may elect to defer the issuance of each annual share installment which vests under his or her award. The deferral may be 100% or 50% of each installment (i) until 5 years from the grant date, (ii) termination of employment or (iii) upon a “change in control.” The dividend equivalent rights associated with our restricted stock unit awards automatically increase the number of shares underlying a restricted stock unit award when we declare and pay a regular cash dividend on our common stock.

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE-IN-CONTROL TABLES

Except as otherwise provided, the following narrative and tables set forth the potential payments and the value of other benefits that would vest or otherwise accelerate vesting at, following, or in connection with any termination, including without limitation resignation, severance, retirement or a constructive termination of a named executive, or a “change in control” of CONSOL Energy or CNX Gas, in the case of Mr. DeIuliis, or a change in the named executive’s responsibilities, as such scenarios are contemplated in the contracts, agreements, plans or arrangements described below. For the currently employed named executives, the amounts in each table represent the total amount of benefits “payable” to an individual assuming an employment termination and/or change in control occurred on December 31, 2008. A description of some elements of the plans, arrangements and agreements covered by the following tables and which provide for payments or benefits in connection with a termination of employment or change in control are also described under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” on page 23 and “Understanding Our Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Tables” on page 44. The footnotes to the tables describe the assumptions that were used.

 

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J. Brett Harvey*

 

Executive Benefits and
Payments Upon Termination
   Early
Retirement
   Incapacity
Retirement
(with a
social
security
disability)
   Termination
for Good
Reason or
Not for
Cause
(reduction
in force)
   Termination
For Cause
   Death    Disability
(without a
social
security
disability)
   Change in
Control(1)

Compensation:

                    

Base Salary

     -      -    $ 2,000,000      -      -      -    $ 3,000,000

Short-term Incentive(2)

   $ 1,200,000    $ 1,200,000    $ 2,400,000      -    $ 1,200,000    $ 1,200,000    $ 4,642,671

Severance Pay(3)

     -      -      -      -      -      -      -

Long-Term Incentive Compensation:(4)

                    

CONSOL Energy Options: Unvested

   $ 175,973    $ 175,973    $ 175,973      -    $ 175,973    $ 175,973    $ 175,973

CONSOL Energy Restricted Stock Units: Unvested

   $ 2,694,322    $ 2,694,322    $ 2,694,322      -    $ 2,694,322    $ 2,694,322    $ 2,694,322

CONSOL Energy Performance Share Units: Unvested

   $ 2,248,732    $ 2,248,732    $ 2,248,732      -    $ 2,248,732    $ 2,248,732    $ 2,248,732

Benefits and Perquisites:

                    

Outplacement service

     -      -    $ 25,000      -      -      -    $ 25,000

Retiree medical benefits(5)

   $ 71,566    $ 71,566    $ 71,566    $ 71,566    $ 35,783    $ 71,566    $ 71,566

401(k) payment

     -      -      -      -      -      -    $ 41,400

CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan(6)

   $ 295,543    $ 371,146    $ 295,543    $ 295,543    $ 126,393    $ 295,543    $ 295,543

CONSOL Energy Restoration Plan(7)

   $ 5,232,761    $ 6,137,017    $ 5,232,761    $ 5,232,761    $ 2,473,081    $ 5,232,761    $ 6,032,488

CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan(8)

   $ 3,496,882    $ 5,839,228    $ 3,496,882      -    $ 3,227,601    $ 5,832,025    $ 7,190,728

Accrued Vacation Pay(9)

   $ 96,154    $ 96,154    $ 96,154    $ 96,154    $ 96,154    $ 96,154    $ 96,154

Disability Benefits(10)

     -      -      -      -      -      -      -

Basic Life Insurance(11)

     -      -      -      -    $ 1,000,000      -      -

Funeral Allowance(12)

     -      -      -      -    $ 10,000      -      -

280G Tax Gross-up(13)

     -      -      -      -      -      -      -

Total:

   $ 15,511,933    $ 18,834,138    $ 18,736,933    $ 5,696,024    $ 13,288,039    $ 17,847,076    $ 26,514,577

 

* Applicable footnotes follow the last table in this section of the Proxy Statement.

 

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William Lyons*

 

Executive Benefits and
Payments Upon Termination
   Early
Retirement
   Incapacity
Retirement
(with a
social
security
disability)
   Termination
Not for
Cause
(reduction
in force)
   Termination
for Cause
   Death    Disability
(without
a social
security
disability)
   Change
in
Control(1)

Compensation:

                    

Base Salary

     -      -      -      -      -      -    $ 1,200,000

Short-term Incentive(2)

   $ 312,000    $ 312,000    $ 312,000      -    $ 312,000    $ 312,000    $ 1,103,333

Severance Pay(3)

     -      -    $ 230,769      -      -      -      -

Long-Term Incentive Compensation:(4)

                    

CONSOL Energy Options: Unvested

   $ 32,380    $ 32,380    $ 32,380      -    $ 32,380    $ 32,380    $ 32,380

CONSOL Energy Restricted Stock Units: Unvested

   $ 541,820    $ 541,820    $ 541,820      -    $ 541,820    $ 541,820    $ 541,820

CONSOL Energy Performance Share Units: Unvested

   $ 413,810    $ 413,810    $ 413,810      -    $ 413,810    $ 413,810    $ 413,810

Benefits and Perquisites:

                    

Outplacement service

     -      -      -      -      -      -    $ 25,000

Retiree medical benefits(5)

   $ 90,451    $ 90,451    $ 90,451    $ 90,451    $ 45,226    $ 90,451    $ 90,451

401(k) payment

     -      -      -      -      -      -    $ 34,500

CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan(6)

   $ 1,180,757    $ 1,239,351    $ 1,180,757    $ 1,180,757    $ 503,633    $ 1,180,757    $ 1,180,757

CONSOL Energy Restoration Plan(7)

   $ 2,755,156    $ 2,903,430    $ 2,755,156    $ 2,755,156    $ 1,267,197    $ 2,755,156    $ 2,901,766

CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan(8)

   $ 575,959    $ 868,143    $ 575,959      -    $ 539,298    $ 849,622    $ 1,844,751

Accrued Vacation Pay(9)

   $ 46,154    $ 46,154    $ 46,154      -    $ 46,154    $ 46,154    $ 46,154

Disability Benefits(10)

     -      -      -      -      -      -      -

Basic Life Insurance(11)

     -      -      -      -    $ 910,000      -      -

Funeral Allowance(12)

     -      -      -      -    $ 10,000      -      -

280G Tax Gross-up(13)

     -      -      -      -      -      -      -

Total:

   $ 5,948,487    $ 6,447,539    $ 6,179,256    $ 4,026,364    $ 4,621,518    $ 6,222,150    $ 9,414,722

 

* Applicable footnotes follow the last table in this section of the Proxy Statement.

 

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Peter Lilly (retired 1/31/09)*(14)

 

Executive Benefits and
Payments Upon Termination
   Separation
Retirement
   Incapacity
Retirement
(with a
social
security
disability)
   Termination
Not for
Cause
(reduction
in force)
   Termination
for Cause
   Death    Disability
(without a
social
security
disability)
   Change in
Control(1)

Compensation:

                    

Base Salary

     -      -      -      -      -      -    $ 1,500,000

Short-term Incentive(2)

     -      -      -      -      -      -    $ 1,437,500

Severance Pay(3)

     -      -    $ 288,462      -      -      -      -

Long-Term Incentive Compensation:(4)

                    

CONSOL Energy Options: Unvested

     -      -      -      -    $ 60,451      -    $ 60,451

CONSOL Energy Restricted Stock Units: Unvested

     -      -      -      -    $ 768,059      -    $ 768,059

CONSOL Energy Performance Share Units: Unvested

     -      -      -      -    $ 563,798    $ 311,236    $ 563,798

Benefits and Perquisites:

                    

Outplacement service

     -      -      -      -      -      -    $ 25,000

Retiree Medical Benefits(5)

   $ 91,358    $ 91,358    $ 91,358    $ 91,358    $ 45,679    $ 91,358    $ 91,358

401(k) payment

     -      -      -      -      -      -    $ 34,500

CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan(6)

   $ 114,027    $ 114,027    $ 114,027    $ 114,027    $ 50,687    $ 114,027    $ 114,027

CONSOL Energy Restoration Plan(7)

   $ 333,022    $ 333,022    $ 333,022    $ 333,022    $ 155,938    $ 333,022    $ 404,597

CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan(8)

   $ 812,681    $ 1,191,440    $ 812,681      -    $ 761,462    $ 1,191,440    $ 1,876,183

Accrued Vacation Pay(9)

     -      -    $ 57,692      -    $ 57,692      -    $ 57,692

Disability Benefits(10)

     -      -      -      -      -      -      -

Basic Life Insurance(11)

     -      -      -      -    $ 1,000,000      -      -

Funeral Allowance(12)

     -      -      -      -    $ 10,000      -      -

280G Tax Gross-up(13)

     -      -      -      -      -      -      -

Total:

   $ 1,351,088    $ 1,729,847    $ 1,697,242    $ 538,407    $ 3,473,766    $ 2,041,083    $ 6,933,165

 

* Applicable footnotes follow the last table in this section of the Proxy Statement.

 

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Nicholas DeIuliis*

 

Executive Benefits and
Payments Upon Termination
   Separation
Retirement
   Incapacity
Retirement
(with a
social
security
disability)
   Termination
Not for
Cause
(reduction
in force)
   Termination
for Cause
   Death    Disability
(without
a social
security
disability)
   Change in
Control(1)
 

Compensation

                    

Base Salary

   -      -      -    -      -      -    $ 1,400,000  

Short-term Incentive(2)

   -      -      -    -      -      -    $ 1,835,250  

Severance Pay(3)

   -      -    $ 183,077    -      -      -      -  

Long-Term Incentive Compensation:(4)

                    

CONSOL Energy Options: Unvested

   -      -      -    -    $ 15,974      -    $ 15,974  

CONSOL Energy Restricted Stock Units: Unvested

   -      -      -    -    $ 30,009      -    $ 30,009  

CNX Gas Options: Unvested

   -      -      -    -    $ 795,192      -    $ 795,192  

CNX Gas Long-Term Incentive Plan: Performance Share Units

   -      -      -    -    $ 4,482,660    $ 4,482,660    $ 8,728,520  

Benefits and Perquisites:

                    

Outplacement service

   -      -      -    -      -      -    $ 25,000  

Estimated premiums for continued life/medical/dental benefits

   -      -      -    -      -      -    $ 25,500  

401(k) payment

   -      -      -    -      -      -    $ 34,500  

CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan(6)

   -    $ 887,525      -    -      -      -      -  

CONSOL Energy Restoration Plan(7)

   -      -      -    -      -      -      -  

CNX Gas Employee Retirement Plan(6)

   -    $ 60,707      -    -      -      -      -  

Accrued Vacation Pay(9)

   -      -    $ 53,846    -    $ 53,846      -    $ 53,846  

Disability Benefits(10)

   -      -      -    -      -    $ 2,079,655      -  

Basic Life Insurance(11)

   -      -      -    -    $ 1,000,000      -      -  

Funeral Allowance(12)

   -      -      -    -    $ 10,000      -      -  

280G Tax Gross-up(13)

   -      -      -    -      -      -    $ 5,155,587  

Other:(15)

   -      -      -    -      -      -    $ 18,262  

Total:

   -    $ 948,232    $ 236,923    -    $ 6,387,681    $ 6,562,315    $ 18,117,640 (15)

 

* Applicable footnotes follow the last table in this section of the Proxy Statement.

 

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P. Jerome Richey*

 

Executive Benefits and
Payments Upon Termination
   Separation
Retirement
   Incapacity
Retirement
(with a
social
security
disability)
   Termination
Not for
Cause
(reduction
in force)
   Termination
For Cause
   Death    Disability
(without a
social
security
disability)
   Change in
Control(1)

Compensation:

                    

Base Salary

   -      -    $ 380,000    -      -      -    $ 760,000

Short-term Incentive(2)

   -      -    $ 244,000    -      -      -    $ 488,000

Severance Pay(3)

   -      -    $ 380,000    -      -      -      -

Long-Term Incentive Compensation:(4)

                    

CONSOL Energy Options: Unvested

   -      -    $ 25,914    -    $ 25,914      -    $ 25,914

CONSOL Energy Restricted Stock Units: Unvested

   -      -    $ 210,863    -    $ 210,863      -    $ 210,863

CONSOL Energy Performance Share Units: Unvested

   -      -    $ 139,470    -    $ 139,470    $ 76,823    $ 139,470

Benefits and Perquisites:

                    

Outplacement service

   -      -      -    -      -      -    $ 25,000

Estimated premiums for continued life/medical/dental benefits

   -      -      -    -      -      -    $ 20,400

401(k) payment

   -      -      -    -      -      -    $ 27,600

CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan(6)

   -      -      -    -      -      -      -

CONSOL Energy Restoration Plan(7)

   -      -      -    -      -      -    $ 16,841

CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan(8)

   -    $ 547,686      -    -    $ 338,103    $ 547,686    $ 804,472

Accrued Vacation Pay(9)

   -      -    $ 36,538    -    $ 36,538      -    $ 36,538

Disability Benefits(10)

   -      -      -    -      -    $ 444,984      -

Basic Life Insurance(11)

   -      -      -    -    $ 700,000      -      -

Funeral Allowance(12)

   -      -      -    -    $ 10,000      -      -

280G Tax Gross-up(13)

   -      -      -    -      -      -    $ 804,596

Total:

   -    $ 547,686    $ 1,416,785    -    $ 1,460,888    $ 1,069,493    $ 3,359,694

 

* Applicable footnotes follow the last table in this section of the Proxy Statement.

 

(1) If a change in control occurred and the executive’s employment did not terminate, the named executive would be entitled only to the payments and benefits shown under Long-Term Incentive Compensation. The narrative following these tables contains a description of a “change in control.”

 

(2) The amount shown for the “short-term incentive” compensation, other than for the change in control, is the target bonus for which the executive was eligible for during the period ended December 31, 2008. In the event of a qualifying termination in connection with a change in control, each named executive, pursuant to his change in control agreement, would be entitled to a pro rated payment of his “short-term incentive” compensation based upon the length of service during the year in which the termination occurs. Using the assumption that a change in control occurred at year-end, the executive would have already earned the short-term incentive award and we have not, therefore, reflected this amount in the table. Assuming a target payout for 2008 and a change in control at year-end, each individual would receive—in addition to the amount shown in the table—the amounts set forth in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table under the target amounts for non-equity incentive plan awards. In the event of a termination not for cause or a termination for good reason, Mr. Harvey would also be entitled to the pro rated payment of his “short-term incentive” compensation for the year in which the termination occurs pursuant to his employment agreement, and assuming a target payout for 2008, he would receive the amount set forth in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table under the target amount for non-equity incentive plan awards.

 

(3) The CONSOL Energy Inc. Severance Pay Plan for Salaried Employees, provides 1 week of severance for every year of service up to a maximum of 25 weeks in the event that employment is involuntarily terminated because of a reduction in workforce. The letter agreement with Mr. Lilly gives him credit for years of industry service; accordingly, Mr. Lilly is entitled to 25 weeks of severance. And Messrs. Harvey, Lyons, DeIuliis and Richey who are entitled to 10 weeks, 25 weeks, 17 weeks and 1 year, respectively, of severance. Mr. Richey is entitled to 1 year’s severance pursuant to his letter agreement, as more fully described in “Understanding Our Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Tables.”

 

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(4) The values for long-term incentive compensation represent the value of the unvested CONSOL Energy stock options, CONSOL Energy restricted stock units, CONSOL Energy performance share units and/or CNX Gas stock options and performance share units (as applicable), which would, in the case of death or change in control, accelerate and vest and in all other termination scenarios would continue to vest according to the vesting schedule. The value of the CONSOL Energy unvested options and restricted stock units and performance share units was calculated using a closing market price of $28.58 for CONSOL Energy, and assumes target payout. The value of the CNX Gas unvested options was calculated using a closing market price of $27.30. In the event that a participant’s employment in CNX Gas terminates due to death or disability, the participant is entitled to a prorated portion of the performance share units, based on the ratio of the number of complete months the participant was employed or served during the relevant period to the total number of months in the relevant period; full payment is due upon a change in control.

 

   

In the event of a termination as a result of a reduction in force (as determined by CNX Gas in its sole discretion), Mr. DeIuliis would be entitled to retain his unvested CNX Gas options which would continue to vest and become exercisable in accordance with the ordinary vesting schedule, resulting in a value of $795,192 to Mr. DeIuliis.

 

(5) Messrs. Harvey, Lyons and Lilly are entitled to receive retiree medical benefits under The CONSOL Energy Inc. Comprehensive Medical Expense Benefits Plan For Salaried Employees.

 

   

Mr. Lilly is entitled to credited service from August 1, 1977 with respect to retiree medical benefits under The CONSOL Energy Inc. Comprehensive Medical Expense Benefits Plan For Salaried Employees.

 

   

Additionally, Mr. Harvey’s employment agreement provides service credit for eleven additional years of service under The CONSOL Energy Inc. Comprehensive Medical Expense Benefits Plan for Salaried Employees, which represents his years of service at PacifiCorp Energy Inc. and its affiliates.

 

(6) Amounts represent the present value of accumulated benefit computed through December 31, 2008 payable January 1, 2009 using FAS 87 assumptions as stated in Note 15 to the Form 10-K. Amounts shown for Incapacity Retirement represent the unreduced benefit otherwise payable at age 65 for Messrs. Harvey, Lyons and DeIuliis. Entire amount shown for Incapacity Retirement for Mr. Lilly is due to benefit earned under Separation Retirement. Amounts shown for death represent the Surviving Spouse Benefit under the Pension Plan and, in the case of Messrs. DeIuliis, the CNX Gas Retirement Plan payable in the form of an annuity to the spouse commencing the month following death if the employee had attained age 50 or the month following the month the deceased would have attained age 50. In the event of Separation Retirement, Mr. DeIuliis has accrued vested benefits under the CONSOL Energy Employee Retirement Plan of $130,625 and under the CNX Gas Employee Retirement Plan of $9,628, which amounts are not payable until he attains age 50. Mr. Richey has less than five years of service as of December 31, 2008 therefore no benefits are vested as of this date.

 

(7) Amounts represent the lump sum actuarial equivalent value of the accumulated benefit computed through December 31, 2008 for Messrs. Harvey, Lyons and Lilly, in each case computed using the PBGC rate in effect January 1, 2009 and assumed mortality in accordance with the 1971 Group Annuity Mortality Table set back two years. See “CONSOL Energy Retirement Restoration Plan” on page 55 for a discussion on mandatory form of payment for the plan. Amounts shown for Incapacity Retirement represent the unreduced benefit otherwise payable at age 65. Entire amount shown for Incapacity Retirement for Mr. Lilly is due to benefit earned under Separation Retirement. Amounts shown for death represent the Surviving Spouse Benefit under the Restoration Plan payable in the form of a lump sum payable the month following death if the employee had attained age 50 or the month following the month the deceased would have attained age 50. Amounts shown for termination under a change in control represent the full value payable at December 31, 2008.

 

(8) Amounts represent the present value of accumulated benefit computed through December 21, 2008 payable January 1, 2009 using FAS 87 assumptions as stated in Note 15 to the Form 10-K except for amounts shown for termination under a change in control which represent the lump sum actuarial equivalent value of accumulated benefits through December 31, 2008 using the PBGC rate in effect January 1, 2009 and assumed mortality in accordance with the 1971 Group Annuity Mortality Table set back two years. See “CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan” on page 56 for a discussion on mandatory forms of payment for the plan. Amounts shown for Incapacity Retirement and Disability represent the unreduced benefit otherwise payable at age 65. Amounts shown for death represent the benefit payable to the participant’s beneficiary for a guaranteed twenty year term determined as if the participant had separated from service immediately prior to his death. Amounts shown for termination under a change of control represent the full value payable at December 31, 2008. Of the amount shown, $3,496,882 and $575,959 represent the amount due to benefit earned under Early Retirement for Messrs. Harvey and Lyons, respectively, and $812,681 represents the amount due to benefit earned under Separation Retirement for Mr. Lilly. Mr. Richey has less than five years of service as of December 31, 2008 therefore no benefits are vested as of this date, except in the case of an Incapacity Retirement, Disability or change in control where benefits vest immediately.

 

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(9) Accrued vacation is paid when an employee retires under a normal, early or incapacity retirement, or is terminated because of a reduction in force or dies. Each of the executives is entitled to 5 weeks of accrued vacation pay.

 

(10) Disability benefits are paid up until age 65 at 60% of base salary in all cases except Mr. Richey whose benefits are paid at 70% of base salary pursuant to his election, and are offset by the amount of any social security disability benefits and retirement benefits received.

 

(11) Basic life insurance is provided to the executive payable at two times base salary (with a maximum total benefit of $1,000,000).

 

(12) A fixed amount of $10,000 is provided as an allowance for funeral expenses.

 

(13) This calculation is an estimate for proxy disclosure purposes only. Payments on an actual change of control may differ based on factors such as transaction price, timing of employment termination and payments, methodology for valuing stock options, changes in compensation, reasonable compensation analyses and the value of the covenant not to compete. Assumptions used in the Proxy Statement include:

 

   

Marginal federal, Pennsylvania state and FICA tax rates of 35%, 3.07% and 1.45%, respectively;

 

   

Any payments with respect to the 2008 bonus were not contingent on the change-in-control (and thus, not required to be included in the calculation);

 

   

Stock options are assumed to become fully vested and/or exercisable and are valued in accordance with Rev. Proc. 98-34 and Q&A 24(c) of Internal Code Section 280G based on expected life of the option; and

 

   

We did not attribute any value to non-competition covenants or take the position that any part of the value of the performance-based equity and long-term incentive plans provided to Mr. Harvey and CNX Gas executives was reasonable compensation for services prior to the change of control, which would have reduced the estimated excise tax gross-up payment, if any.

 

(14) Mr. Lilly retired from the Corporation on January 31, 2009. For a description of the payments he received in connection with his employment termination, See Compensation Discussion and Analysison page 23.

 

(15) Amount represents present value of the accrued pension benefit to which Mr. DeIuliis would have been entitled under the CNX Gas Retirement Plan had he continued to participate for an additional 30 months.

 

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UNDERSTANDING OUR CHANGE IN CONTROL AND EMPLOYMENT TERMINATION TABLES

Executive Summary Regarding CONSOL Energy Agreements and/or Programs with Change of Control Provisions

This section provides information regarding the following Corporation agreements and/or programs which provide for benefits to be paid to named executives, in connection with employment termination and/or a change in control of the Corporation or, with respect to Mr. DeIuliis, CNX Gas:

 

   

Employment Agreement with our Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

CONSOL Energy Change in Control Agreements;

 

   

CONSOL Energy Stock Options;

 

   

CONSOL Energy Restricted Stock Units;

 

   

CONSOL Energy Long-Term Incentive Program;

 

   

CONSOL Energy Supplemental Retirement Plan;

 

   

CONSOL Energy Severance Pay Plan for Salaried Employees;

 

   

CNX Gas Change in Control Agreements;

 

   

CNX Gas Long-Term Incentive Programs; and

 

   

CNX Gas Stock Options.

The severance provisions of Mr. Richey’s letter agreement with the Corporation are described in this Proxy Statement in “Understanding our Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Tables” on page 44.

Employment Agreement with our Chief Executive Officer

As previously discussed in the “Compensation, Discussion and Analysis” on page 23 and “Understanding our Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Tables” on page 44, Mr. Harvey has an employment agreement with CONSOL Energy.

If Mr. Harvey resigns for “good reason” (as defined below) or is terminated without “cause” (as defined below), and in each case he delivers a signed release of claims reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation to the Corporation’s General Counsel within thirty (30) days of the date of his termination and does not revoke such release within the seven-day revocation period provided for in the release, he is entitled to receive severance payments in the form of:

 

   

his then current base salary through the date of termination and any annual bonus awarded in accordance with the Corporation’s bonus program but not yet paid;

 

   

an amount equal to two times his then current base salary and two times the target annual bonus amount (provided that Mr. Harvey has not breached the confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions set forth in the employment agreement);

 

   

payment of the pro-rata portion of his target bonus in the year of termination if the relevant performance goals are met;

 

   

medical benefits or reimbursements for a maximum period of 24 months;

 

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payment of all accrued but unused vacation time;

 

   

payment for reasonable outplacement assistance services actually incurred by him in seeking other employment within 12 months of his termination; and

 

   

reimbursement for business expenses incurred prior to such termination.

Except for the payments relating to the pro-rata portion of Mr. Harvey’s target bonus and outplacement services, these amounts are to be paid in a single lump sum within 10 days after the date of termination, provided that no amount will be paid until expiration of the seven day statutory revocation period with respect to the release described above. The pro-rata portion of Mr. Harvey’s target bonus is to be paid in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan subject to the attainment of the performance goals applicable to such bonus award and the payment for outplacement services is to be paid no later than the end of the calendar year following the year in which such expense is incurred by Mr. Harvey. If Mr. Harvey’s employment is terminated for good reason or without cause, he and his dependents will continue to receive his medical insurance benefits from the Corporation, on terms substantially comparable to terms of the Corporation’s medical plan, for up to 24 months following the termination date.

If Mr. Harvey’s employment is terminated due to death or “permanent disability,” which is defined in accordance with the Corporation’s long-term disability plan applicable to Mr. Harvey, he (or his estate, if applicable) will be entitled to receive:

 

   

his then current base salary through the date of termination;

 

   

a pro-rata portion of his target bonus for the year of termination;

 

   

payment for all accrued, but unused vacation time; and

 

   

reimbursement for business expenses incurred prior to such termination, with such amounts payable in a single lump sum within 10 days following termination.

If Mr. Harvey’s employment is terminated for “cause” or by Mr. Harvey other than for good reason and not due to death or permanent disability, he will be entitled to receive solely his base salary through the termination date, payment for all accrued but unused vacation time through the termination date, and reimbursement of reimbursable expenses incurred prior to termination.

The employment agreement defines “Cause” as:

 

   

gross negligence in the performance of Mr. Harvey’s duties which results in material financial harm to the Corporation;

 

   

Mr. Harvey’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any felony, or any misdemeanor involving fraud, embezzlement or theft;

 

   

Mr. Harvey’s intentional failure or refusal to perform his duties and responsibilities with the Corporation, without the same being corrected within 15 days after being given written notice thereof;

 

   

the material breach by Mr. Harvey of any of the covenants contained in the employment agreement discussed below;

 

   

Mr. Harvey’s willful violation of any material provision of the Corporation’s code of conduct for executives and management employees; or

 

   

Mr. Harvey’s at will engagement in conduct that is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Corporation, monetarily or otherwise.

 

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Mr. Harvey may be terminated for “cause” only by majority vote of all members of the Board (other than Mr. Harvey), which vote must be communicated to Mr. Harvey in writing.

The employment agreement defines “good reason” as, without Mr. Harvey’s written consent:

 

   

the material diminution of Mr. Harvey’s duties or responsibilities including the assignment of any duties and responsibilities materially inconsistent with his position;

 

   

a material reduction in Mr. Harvey’s base salary;

 

   

a material reduction in Mr. Harvey’s annual target bonus opportunity (excluding any reduction that is generally applicable to all or substantially all executive officers of the Corporation);

 

   

a material reduction in the overall level of employee benefits (including long-term incentive opportunities) provided to Mr. Harvey (excluding any reduction that is generally applicable to all or substantially all executive officers of the Corporation);

 

   

the breach of the agreement by the Corporation caused by the failure to obtain a written assumption of the employment agreement by any person acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation prior to such acquisition;

 

   

the relocation of Mr. Harvey’s principal work location to a location more than 50 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; or

 

   

the Corporation giving Mr. Harvey notice of nonextension of the term of the employment agreement solely at either the end of the initial three year term or the end of the first one year extension of the term;

provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Mr. Harvey must give written notice to the Corporation of his intention to terminate his employment for Good Reason within sixty days after the event or omission which constitutes “good reason;” the event must remain uncorrected by the Company for 30 days following the notice; and the termination must occur within 60 days following the expiration of the notice period. Any failure to give such written notice within such per