New Mountain Vantage (California) II, L.P. c/o New Mountain Vantage Advisers, L.L.C.

New Mountain Vantage (California) II, L.P.

c/o New Mountain Vantage Advisers, L.L.C.

000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx

Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000

National Fuel Gas Company

0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000

Attn:  Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.

January 2, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is hereby made to the Settlement Agreement, dated January 24, 2008 (the “Agreement”), by and among the New Mountain Group (as defined in the Agreement), and National Fuel Gas Company, a New Jersey corporation.  Terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Agreement.

In accordance with Section 4(b)(4) of the Agreement, on January 2, 2009, New Mountain Vantage, L.P., New Mountain Vantage (California), L.P., New Mountain Vantage (Texas), L.P. and New Mountain Vantage HoldCo Ltd. transferred Voting Securities to New Mountain Vantage (California) II, L.P., a controlled Affiliate of the New Mountain Group.  New Mountain Vantage (California) II, L.P. herby agrees to be bound by the terms of the Agreement applicable to the New Mountain Group.

                           Sincerely,

	NEW MOUNTAIN VANTAGE (CALIFORNIA) II, L.P.
	By:	New Mountain Vantage GP, L.L.C., its general partner
	By:	/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
		Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
		Managing Member

cc: Wachtell, Lipton, Xxxxx & Xxxx

     Attn:  Xxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.