Exhibit
99.7
September
8, 2008
Huntsman
Corporation,
10003
Woodloch Forest Drive,
The
Woodlands, Texas 77380
Attention: |
Peter
R. Huntsman
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
We
write
to you to follow up on our August 28, 2008 offer to provide merger financing
to
Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc. (“Hexion”) and Apollo Global Management, LLC
(“Apollo”).
We
remain
ready to provide financing to Hexion on the terms and conditions described
in
our August 28 letter (the “CVR Financing Letter”). We also have informed Hexion
that we would be willing to provide other types of cash equity financing in
consideration of the consummation of the merger. However, Hexion rejected our
offer and, to our knowledge, refuses to consider supplemental equity financing
on any terms.
Although
we believe the CVR financing continues to be the best method for us to provide
supplemental financing to Hexion, we cannot implement the CVR financing
unilaterally. Accordingly, we are willing to explore other options.
In
order
to adjust our proposal for the lack of cooperation from Hexion, we would like
to
make to Huntsman Corporation (the “Company”) the following backstop commitment.
This backstop commitment will not provide the same amount of cash to the
combined company as the CVR financing, but it has the advantage of not requiring
the same involvement from Hexion.
By
its
signature below, each of the undersigned severally agrees that it will make
a
payment in cash to the Company (a “Backstop Payment”) in connection with the
consummation of the merger in the amount listed opposite our name below. We
will
receive no equity, debt or other instrument in return for making the Backstop
Payments. There are only three conditions to our commitments:
|
(1)
|
The
Company concludes that, for whatever reason, it is not practical
on a
timely basis to cause Hexion to accept the CVR financing.
|
|
(2)
|
The
merger is consummated on the terms provided in the current merger
agreement on or prior to November 2, 2008.
|
|
(3)
|
The
Huntsman Family Stockholders (as defined in the CVR Financing Letter)
make
similar backstop commitments (“Other Commitment Letters”) to the Company
in an aggregate amount (including our commitment hereunder) of
$416,460,102, and the Company does not release any party from such
commitments once made.
|
Please
understand that our offer to purchase CVRs from Hexion continues to be
outstanding pursuant to its original terms. However, our commitments herein
to
make Backstop Payments are not intended to supplement the CVRs. If any of the
undersigned purchases CVRs or makes an equity or similar investment in the
combined company as may be agreed with Hexion (an “Investing Stockholder”) , and
the other stockholders which have executed this letter and the Huntsman Family
Stockholders are also offered the opportunity to purchase CVRs or make such
investments on the same terms and conditions, in each case in amounts
proportionate to their respective Backstop Payments, then each Investing
Stockholder’s commitment to make Backstop Payments to the Company will
terminate.
As
a
result of this backstop commitment, we can be certain that at least $416,460,102
in cash will be added to the combined balance sheet at closing. This will
enhance the Company’s already strong balance sheet contribution to the combined
company. Obviously, if Hexion pursues the CVR financing, the amount of capital
available to it and its lenders at closing would be greater because of
additional shareholder participation in the CVRs. We believe the CVRs remain
a
preferable solution for both us and Hexion, and we remain committed to working
with Hexion to provide CVRs or other equity financing.
If
you
agree to accept our commitment, please countersign this letter and return a
copy
to each of us. Upon delivery of your counterpart signature page to this letter
and your entering into the Other Commitment Letters, this letter will become
a
binding contract between us. If you do not so accept this commitment and enter
into the Other Commitment Letters on or prior to September 11, our offer to
make
the Backstop Payments will terminate without effect. You have informed us that
you will request the consent of Hexion prior to accepting our commitments and
you hereby represent and warrant to each of us that your acceptance of our
commitments and entry into this letter will not conflict with or constitute
a
breach of your obligations under the merger agreement.
This
letter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York. Our obligations under this letter are solely for your
benefit, and may not be relied upon or enforced by any other person. The terms
of this letter may be amended or waived only by a written instrument signed
by
the Company and each of the undersigned that is affected by the amendment or
waiver. This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which
when taken together shall constitute a single instrument. You and we hereby
irrevocably waive to the full extent permitted by applicable law all right
to
trial by jury in any suit, action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based
on
contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this letter or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
We
would
welcome other stockholders of the Company to make a similar commitment. However,
we recognize that this backstop proposal may not gain as broad institutional
shareholder support as the CVR financing proposal or other equity alternatives,
and our offer is not conditional upon any other stockholders making a
commitment.
Very
truly yours,
D.
E.
SHAW VALENCE PORTFOLIOS, L.L.C.
By:
/s/
Julius Gaudio
Name:
Julius
Gaudio
Title:
Authorized
Signatory
Backstop
Payments: US$53,463,541.04
D.
E.
SHAW OCULUS PORTFOLIOS, L.L.C.
By: /s/
Julius Gaudio
Name:
Julius
Gaudio
Title:
Authorized
Signatory
Backstop
Payments: US$25,612,041.00
MATLINPATTERSON
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES PARTNERS (BERMUDA) L.P.
By:
MATLINPATTERSON
GLOBAL ADVISERS
LLC,
its
Investment Advisor
By:/s/
Lawrence Teitelbaum
Name:
Lawrence
Teitelbaum
Title:
Chief
Financial Officer
Backstop
Payments: US$18,365,703.72
MATLINPATTERSON
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES PARTNERS L.P.
By:
MATLINPATTERSON
GLOBAL ADVISERS
LLC,
its
Investment Advisor
By:/s/
Lawrence Teitelbaum
Name:
Lawrence
Teitelbaum
Title:
Chief
Financial Officer
Backstop
Payments: US$52,704,830.36
CITADEL
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:
CITADEL
INVESTMENT GROUP, L.L.C., its General Partner
By:/s/
John C. Nagel
Name:
John
C.
Nagel
Title:
Authorized Signatory
Backstop
Payments: US$80,080,000
ACCEPTED
AND AGREED
on
September ___, 2008:
HUNTSMAN
CORPORATION
By:_______________________
Name:
Peter
Huntsman
Title:
President
and Chief Executive Officer