CONSOL Energy Announces HSR Clearance for its Pending Sale of Five West Virginia Longwall Coal Mines to Murray Energy

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CONSOL Energy Inc. CNX announced today that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, has expired in connection with the previously announced sale of its Consolidation Coal Company subsidiary, which contains all five of its longwall coal mines in West Virginia, to a subsidiary of Murray Energy Corporation for $3.5 billion in value.  CONSOL Energy signed a definitive agreement regarding the sale to Murray Energy on October 28, 2013.  The closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of various other customary closing conditions, and CONSOL Energy anticipates closing the transaction in the next few weeks.    

Forward-Looking Statements

Various statements in this release, including those that express a belief, expectation or intention, may be considered forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 21E of the Exchange Act) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates concerning the timing and success of specific projects and our future production, revenues, income and capital spending. When we use the words "believe," "intend," "expect," "may," "should," "anticipate," "could," "estimate," "plan," "predict," "project," or their negatives, or other similar expressions, the statements which include those words are usually forward-looking statements. When we describe strategy that involves risks or uncertainties, we are making forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release, if any, speak only as of the date of this press release; we disclaim any obligation to update these statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. These risks, contingencies and uncertainties relate to, among other matters, the following with respect to the proposed transaction: The ability to obtain regulatory approvals for the transaction on the proposed terms and schedule; disruption to our business, including customer, employee and supplier relationships resulting from this transaction; risks that the conditions to closing may not be satisfied; and the impact of the transaction on our future operating results, our capital investment program, and our dividend, and other factors discussed in the 2012 Form 10-K under "Risk Factors," as updated by any subsequent Form 10-Qs, which are on file at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE CONSOL Energy Inc.