13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Product Delivery Claim

 

We have been notified by a customer of potential claims related to our alleged delivery of a different product than the one the customer had ordered. Our customer claims that it was unaware that the different product had been delivered until after that product had been used to manufacture materials which were subsequently sold. Originally, the customer stated that it had been notified of claims by its customers of up to an aggregate of €153 million (approximately $179 million) relating to this matter and claimed that we may be responsible for all or a portion of these potential claims. Our customer has since resolved some of these claims and the aggregate amount of the current claims is now approximately €113 million (approximately $132 million). Based on the facts currently available, we believe that we are insured for any liability we may ultimately have in excess of $10 million. However, no assurance can be given regarding our ultimate liability or costs. We believe our range of possible loss in this matter is between €0 and €113 million (approximately $132 million), and we have made no accrual with respect to this matter.

 

Indemnification Matters

 

On July 3, 2012, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“the Banks”) demanded that we indemnify them for claims brought against them by certain MatlinPatterson entities that were formerly our stockholders (“MatlinPatterson”) in litigation filed by MatlinPatterson on June 19, 2012 in the 9th District Court in Montgomery County, Texas (the “Texas Litigation”). We denied the Banks’ indemnification demand for the Texas Litigation. These claims allegedly arose from the failed acquisition by and merger with Hexion. The Texas Litigation was dismissed, which was upheld by the Ninth Court of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court denied review by final order entered January 7, 2016.

 

On July 14, 2014, the Banks demanded that we indemnify them for additional claims brought against them by certain other former Company stockholders in litigation filed June 14, 2014 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (the “Wisconsin Litigation”). We denied the Banks’ indemnification demand for the Wisconsin Litigation and have made no accrual with respect to this matter. The stockholders in the Wisconsin Litigation have made essentially the same factual allegations as MatlinPatterson made in the Texas Litigation and, additionally, have named Apollo Global Management LLC and Apollo Management Holdings, L.P. as defendants. Stockholder

plaintiffs in the Wisconsin Litigation assert claims for misrepresentation and conspiracy to defraud. On June 30, 2016, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the Apollo defendants and on December 5, 2016, the court dismissed Deutsche Bank for lack of personal jurisdiction, but denied Credit Suisse's motion to dismiss. Subsequently, Credit Suisse asked the court to reconsider its decision or certify its judgment to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals for an immediate appeal, which remains pending. Subsequent to discovery, Credit Suisse filed a motion for summary judgment on August 25, 2017, which also remains pending.

 

Other Proceedings

 

We are a party to various other proceedings instituted by private plaintiffs, governmental authorities and others arising under provisions of applicable laws, including various environmental, products liability and other laws. Except as otherwise disclosed in this report, we do not believe that the outcome of any of these matters will have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.