EX-(a)(2)

Exhibit (a)(2)

Letter of Transmittal

To Tender Shares of Common Stock

BARE ESCENTUALS, INC.

Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated January 25, 2010

BLUSH ACQUISITION CORPORATION

An indirect wholly owned subsidiary of

SHISEIDO COMPANY, LIMITED

THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT,

NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.

The Depositary for the Offer is:

BNY Mellon Shareowner Services

By Facsimile Transmission (for Eligible Institutions only): 201-680-4626

Confirm by Telephone: 201-680-4860


By Mail:		By Hand or Overnight Courier:
BNY Mellon Shareowner Services		BNY Mellon Shareowner Services
Corporate Action Department		Corporate Action Department
PO Box 3301		480 Washington Blvd., 27th Fl
South Hackensack, NJ 07606		Jersey City, NJ 07310


DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED
Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s)
(Please fill in, if Blank, Exactly as Name(s) Appear(s)	Share Certificate(s) and Share(s) Tendered
on Share Certificate(s))	(Attach additional list, if necessary)
		Total Number
	Share	of Shares	Number of
	Certificate	Evidenced By	Share(s)
	Number(s)*	Share Certificate(s)*	Tendered**








	Total Shares

* Need not be completed by stockholders delivering Shares by book-entry transfer.
** Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Shares evidenced by each Share Certificate delivered to the Depositary are being tendered hereby. See Instruction 4.

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by stockholders of Bare Escentuals, Inc. either if certificates evidencing Shares (“Share Certificates”) are to be forwarded herewith or if delivery of Shares is to be made by book-entry transfer to an account maintained by the Depositary at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility (as defined in and pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase). Delivery of documents to a Book-Entry Transfer Facility does not constitute delivery to the Depositary.

Stockholders whose Certificates are not immediately available or who cannot deliver their Share Certificates and all other documents required hereby to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase) or who cannot complete the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer on a timely basis and who wish to tender their Shares must do so pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure described in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase. See Instruction 2.


o	CHECK HERE IF SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER TO THE DEPOSITARY’S ACCOUNT AT THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:


	Name of Tendering Institution:


	Account Number:


	Transaction Code Number:


o	CHECK HERE IF SHARES ARE BEING TENDERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE DEPOSITARY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:


	Name(s) of Registered Holder(s)


	Window Ticket No. (if any)


	Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery


	Name of Institution that Guaranteed Delivery

If delivery is by book-entry transfer, give the following information:


	Account Number:


	Transaction Code Number:

	Transaction Code Number:

DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS, OR TRANSMISSION OF
INSTRUCTIONS VIA A FACSIMILE NUMBER, OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE,
WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ
CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.

NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW
PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned hereby tenders to Blush Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser”) and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Shiseido Company, Limited, a corporation organized under the laws of Japan, the above-described shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share (“Shares”), of Bare Escentuals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to Purchaser’s offer to purchase all Shares at $18.20 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest and subject to applicable withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated January 25, 2010 (the “Offer to Purchase”), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in this Letter of Transmittal (which, together with the Offer to Purchase and any amendments or supplements hereto or thereto, collectively constitute the “Offer”). The undersigned understands that Purchaser reserves the right to transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more of its affiliates the right to purchase all or any portion of Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer.

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (and if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms of any such extension or amendment), and subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for payment of Shares tendered herewith, in accordance with the terms of the Offer, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to or upon the order of Purchaser all right, title and interest in and to all Shares that are being tendered hereby and all dividends, distributions (including, without limitation, distributions of additional Shares) and rights declared, paid or distributed in respect of such Shares on or after January 25, 2010 (collectively, “Distributions”) and irrevocably appoints the Depositary the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with respect to such Shares (and all Distributions), with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to (i) deliver Share Certificates evidencing such Shares (and all Distributions), or transfer ownership of such Shares (and all Distributions) on the account books maintained by the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, together, in either case, with all accompanying evidence of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of Purchaser, (ii) present such Shares (and all Distributions) for transfer on the books of the Company and (iii) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Shares (and all Distributions), all in accordance with the terms of the Offer.

By executing this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints Purchaser’s officers and directors and each of them, as the attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to vote in such manner as each such attorney and proxy or his substitute shall, in his sole discretion, deem proper and otherwise act (by written consent or otherwise) with respect to all Shares tendered hereby which have been accepted for payment by Purchaser prior to the time of such vote or other action and all Shares and other securities issued in Distributions in respect of such Shares, which the undersigned is entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders of the Company (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting) or consent in lieu of any such meeting or otherwise. This proxy and power of attorney is coupled with an interest in Shares tendered hereby, is irrevocable and is granted in consideration of, and is effective upon, the acceptance for payment of such Shares by Purchaser in accordance with the other terms of the Offer. Such acceptance for payment shall revoke all other proxies and powers of attorney granted by the undersigned at any time with respect to such Shares (and all Shares and other securities issued in Distributions in respect of such Shares), and no subsequent proxies, powers of attorney, consents or revocations may be given by the undersigned with respect thereto (and if given will not be deemed effective). The undersigned understands that, in order for Shares or Distributions to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon Purchaser’s acceptance of such Shares for payment, Purchaser must be able to exercise full voting and other rights with respect to such Shares (and any and all Distributions), including, without limitation, voting at any meeting of the Company’s stockholders then scheduled.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer Shares tendered hereby and all Distributions, that when such Shares are accepted for payment by Purchaser, Purchaser will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto and to all Distributions, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances, and that none of such Shares and Distributions will be subject to any adverse claim. The undersigned, upon request, shall execute and deliver all additional documents deemed by the Depositary or Purchaser to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of Shares tendered hereby and all Distributions thereto. In addition, the undersigned shall remit and transfer promptly to the Depositary for the account of Purchaser all Distributions in respect of Shares tendered hereby, accompanied by appropriate documentation of transfer, and pending such remittance and transfer

or appropriate assurance thereof, Purchaser shall be entitled to all rights and privileges as owner of each such Distribution and may withhold the entire purchase price of Shares tendered hereby, or deduct from such purchase price, the amount or value of such Distribution as determined by Purchaser in its sole discretion.

No authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall be affected by, and all such authority shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned. All obligations of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned. Except as stated in the Offer to Purchase, this tender is irrevocable.

The undersigned understands that the valid tender of Shares pursuant to any one of the procedures described in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase and in the Instructions hereto will constitute the undersigned’s acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Offer. Purchaser’s acceptance of such Shares for payment will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (and, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms or conditions of any such extension or amendment).

Unless otherwise indicated below in the box entitled “Special Payment Instructions”, please issue the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased and return all Share Certificates evidencing Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment in the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appearing above under “Description of Shares Tendered”. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated below in the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions”, please mail the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased and return all Share Certificates evidencing Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment (and accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the address(es) of the registered holder(s) appearing above under “Description of Shares Tendered” on the reverse hereof. In the event that the boxes below entitled “Special Payment Instructions” and “Special Delivery Instructions” are both completed, please issue the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased and return all Share Certificates evidencing Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment in the name(s) of, and deliver such check and return such Share Certificates (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) to, the person(s) so indicated. Unless otherwise indicated below in the box entitled “Special Payment Instructions”, please credit any Shares tendered hereby and delivered by book-entry transfer that are not accepted for payment by crediting the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility designated above. The undersigned recognizes that Purchaser has no obligation, pursuant to the Special Payment Instructions, to transfer any Shares from the name of the registered holder(s) thereof if Purchaser does not accept for payment any Shares tendered hereby.

SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 1, 5, 6 and 7)

To be completed ONLY if the check for the purchase price of Shares and Share Certificates evidencing Shares not tendered or not purchased are to be issued in the name of someone other than the undersigned.

Issue Check and Share Certificate(s) to:


Name:

(Please Print)


Address:

(Zip Code)

(Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number)

(See Form W-9)

Account


Number:

SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 1, 5, 6 and 7)

To be completed ONLY if the check for the purchase price of Shares purchased and Share Certificates evidencing Shares not tendered or not purchased are to be mailed to someone other than the undersigned, or the undersigned at an address other than that shown under “Description of Shares Tendered”.

Mail Check and Share Certificate(s) to:


Name:

(Please Print)


Address:

(Zip Code)

(Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number)

(See Form W-9)

IMPORTANT

STOCKHOLDERS: SIGN HERE

(Please Complete Form W-9 Below)

Signature(s) of Holder(s)

Dated: , 2010.

(Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Share Certificates or on a security position listing by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by certificates and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please provide the following information and see Instruction 5.)


Name(s):

Please Print


Capacity (full title):


Address:

Include Zip Code


Daytime Area Code and Telephone No:

Taxpayer Identification


or Social Security No.:

(See Form W-9)

GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)

(See Instructions 1 and 5)

FOR USE BY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ONLY.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: PLACE MEDALLION

GUARANTEE IN SPACE BELOW

####

INSTRUCTIONS

Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of the Offer

1. Guarantee of Signatures. All signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a firm which is a member of the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Signature Program, or by any other “eligible guarantor institution”, as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (each of the foregoing being an “Eligible Institution”) unless (i) this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of Shares (which term, for purposes of this document, shall include any participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of Shares) tendered hereby and such holder(s) has (have) not completed the box entitled “Special Payment Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” on the reverse hereof or (ii) such Shares are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5.

2. Delivery of Letter of Transmittal and Share Certificates. This Letter of Transmittal is to be used either if Share Certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if tenders are to be made pursuant to the procedures for tenders by book-entry transfer pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase. Share Certificates evidencing all physically tendered Shares, or a confirmation of a book-entry transfer into the Depositary’s account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility of all Shares delivered by book-entry transfer, as well as a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed facsimile thereof) and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth below prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase) or the expiration of a subsequent offering period, if applicable. If Share Certificates are forwarded to the Depositary in multiple deliveries, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal must accompany each such delivery. Stockholders whose Share Certificates are not immediately available, who cannot deliver their Share Certificates and all other required documents to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date or who cannot complete the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer on a timely basis may tender their Shares pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure described in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase. Pursuant to such procedure: (i) such tender must be made by or through an Eligible Institution; (ii) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form made available by Purchaser, must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date; and (iii) the Share Certificates evidencing all physically delivered Shares in proper form for transfer by delivery, or a confirmation of a book-entry transfer into the Depositary’s account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility of all Shares delivered by book-entry transfer, in each case together with a Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees (or in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message (as defined in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase)) and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary within three Nasdaq National Market (Nasdaq) trading days after the date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, all as described in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase.

The method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, Share Certificates and all other required documents, including delivery through the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, is at the option and risk of the tendering stockholder, and the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the Depositary. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.

No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted and no fractional Shares will be purchased. By execution of this Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed facsimile hereof), all tendering stockholders waive any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of their Shares for payment.

3. Inadequate Space. If the space provided on the reverse hereof under “Description of Shares Tendered” is inadequate, the Share Certificate numbers, the number of Shares evidenced by such Share Certificates and the number of Shares tendered should be listed on a separate signed schedule and attached hereto.

4. Partial Tenders (not applicable to stockholders who tender by book-entry transfer). If fewer than all Shares evidenced by any Share Certificate delivered to the Depositary herewith are to be tendered hereby, fill in the number of Shares that are to be tendered in the box entitled “Number of Shares Tendered”. In such cases, new Share Certificate(s) evidencing the remainder of Shares that were evidenced by the Share Certificates delivered to the Depositary herewith will be sent to the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, unless otherwise provided in the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” on the reverse hereof, as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date or the termination of the

Offer. All Shares evidenced by Share Certificates delivered to the Depositary will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.

5. Signatures on Letter of Transmittal; Stock Powers and Endorsements. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of Shares tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the Share Certificates evidencing such Shares without alteration, enlargement or any other change whatsoever.

If any Shares tendered hereby are held of record by two or more persons, all such persons must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

If any Shares tendered hereby are registered in different names, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of such Shares.

If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of Shares tendered hereby, no endorsements of Share Certificates or separate stock powers are required, unless payment is to be made to, or Share Certificates evidencing Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered holder(s). If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the Share Certificate(s) evidencing Shares tendered, the Share Certificate(s) tendered hereby must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on such Share Certificate(s). Signatures on such Share Certificate(s) and stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of Shares tendered hereby, the Share Certificate(s) evidencing Shares tendered hereby must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on such Share Certificate(s). Signatures on such Share Certificate(s) and stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

If this Letter of Transmittal or any Share Certificate or stock power is signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to Purchaser of such person’s authority so to act must be submitted.

6. Stock Transfer Taxes. Except as otherwise provided in this Instruction 6, Purchaser will pay all stock transfer taxes with respect to the sale and transfer of any Shares to it or its order pursuant to the Offer. If, however, payment of the purchase price of any Shares purchased is to be made to, or Share Certificate(s) evidencing Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder(s) or if tendered certificates are registered in the name of any person other than the person(s) signing the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of any stock transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder(s), or such other person, or otherwise) payable on account of the transfer to such other person will be deducted from the purchase price of such Shares purchased, unless evidence satisfactory to Purchaser of the payment of such taxes, or exemption therefrom, is submitted.

Except as provided in this Instruction 6, it will not be necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the Share Certificates evidencing Shares tendered hereby.

7. Special Payment and Delivery Instructions. If a check for the purchase price of any Shares tendered hereby is to be issued in the name of, and/or Share Certificate(s) evidencing Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of and/or returned to, a person other than the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal or if such check or any such Share Certificate is to be sent to a person other than the signor of this Letter of Transmittal or to the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal but at an address other than that shown in the box entitled “Description of Shares Tendered” on the reverse hereof, the appropriate boxes herein must be completed.

8. Questions and Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at its address or telephone number set forth below. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and Form W-9 may be obtained from the Information Agent.

9. Form W-9. Each tendering stockholder that is a “U.S. person” is required to provide the Depositary with a correct Taxpayer Identification Number (“TIN”) (i.e., social security number or employer identification number) on Form W-9, which is provided under “Important Tax Information” below. For this purpose, a stockholder is a U.S. person if

he, she or it is (i) an individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien, (ii) a partnership, corporation, company, or association created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States, (iii) an estate (other than a foreign estate), or (iv) a domestic trust. A stockholder that is not a U.S. person should not complete Form W-9 and should consult the instructions under “Important Tax Information” below.

To prevent backup withholding on payments that are made to a stockholder who is a U.S. person, the stockholder must certify, under penalty of perjury, that (i) the TIN provided on Form W-9 is correct (or the stockholder is awaiting a TIN), (ii) the stockholder is not subject to backup withholding because (a) it is exempt from backup withholding, (b)it has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) that it is subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends or (c) the IRS has notified it that it is no longer subject to backup withholding, and (iii) such stockholder is a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person. If a tendering stockholder has been notified by the IRS that such stockholder is subject to backup withholding, such stockholder must cross out item (2) of the Certification section of Form W-9, unless such stockholder has since been notified by the IRS that such stockholder is no longer subject to backup withholding. Failure to provide the information on the Form W-9 may subject the tendering stockholder to 28% backup withholding on the payment of the purchase price of all Shares purchased from such stockholder. If the tendering stockholder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for one or intends to apply for one in the near future, such stockholder should write “Applied For” in the space provided for the TIN in Part I of Form W-9, and sign and date the Form W-9. If “Applied For” is written in Part I and the Depositary is not provided with a TIN within 60 days, the Depositary will withhold 28% on all payments of the purchase price to such stockholder until a TIN is provided to the Depositary.

Important: This Letter of Transmittal (or manually signed facsimile hereof), properly completed and duly executed (together with any required signature guarantees (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message) and Share Certificates or confirmation of book-entry transfer and all other required documents) or a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) or the expiration of a subsequent offering period, if applicable.

IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION

Under U.S. federal income tax law, a stockholder who is a U.S. person and whose tendered Shares are accepted for payment is generally required to provide the Depositary (as payer) with such stockholder’s correct TIN on Form W-9 provided herewith. The stockholder is required to give the Depositary the TIN of the record holder of Shares tendered hereby. If Shares are in more than one name or are not in the name of the actual owner, consult the enclosed instructions to Form W-9 for guidance on which number to report. If such stockholder is an individual, the TIN generally is such stockholder’s social security number. If the Depositary is not provided with the correct TIN, the stockholder may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed by the IRS and payments that are made to such stockholder with respect to Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer may be subject to backup withholding of 28%. In addition, if a stockholder makes a false statement that results in no imposition of backup withholding, and there was no reasonable basis for making such statement, a $500 penalty may also be imposed by the IRS.

Certain stockholders (including, among others, corporations and certain foreign individuals and entities) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. In order for a foreign individual or entity to qualify as an exempt recipient, such individual or entity generally must submit a statement on the appropriate IRS Form W-8, signed under penalty of perjury, attesting to such individual’s or entity’s exempt status. Forms of such statements can be obtained from the Depositary. See the enclosed instructions to Form W-9 for additional instructions. A stockholder should consult his or her tax advisor as to such stockholder’s qualification for exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining such exemption.

If backup withholding applies, the Depositary is required to withhold 28% of any payments made to the stockholder. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the U.S. federal income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.




Form W-9 (Rev. October 2007) Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service	Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification	Give form to the requester. Do not send to the IRS.

Name (as shown on your income tax return)

Business name, if different from above





Check appropriate box: o Individual/Sole proprietor o Corporation o Partnership o Limited liability company. Enter the tax classification (D=disregarded entity, C=corporation, P=partnership) ► _ _ _ _ _ _ _ o Other (see instructions) ►		o Exempt payee



Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.)		Requester’s name and address (optional)


City, state, and ZIP code


List account number(s) here (optional)

Part I

Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on Line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the Part I instructions on page 3. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN on page 3.

Note. If the account is in more than one name, see the chart on page 4 for guidelines on whose number to enter.

Social security number

Employer identification number

Part II

Certification

Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:


1.	The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me), and

2.	I am not subject to backup withholding because: (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding, and

3.	I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below).

Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the Certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions on page 4.




Sign Here	Signature of U.S. person ►	Date ►

General Instructions

Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.

Purpose of Form

A person who is required to file an information return with the IRS must obtain your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) to report, for example, income paid to you, real estate transactions, mortgage interest you paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, or contributions you made to an IRA.

Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN to the person requesting it (the requester) and, when applicable, to:

1. Certify that the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number to be issued),

2. Certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, or

3. Claim exemption from backup withholding if you are a U.S. exempt payee. If applicable, you are also certifying that as a U.S. person, your allocable share of any partnership income from a U.S. trade or business is not subject to the withholding tax on foreign partners’ share of effectively connected income.

Note. If a requester gives you a form other than Form W-9 to request your TIN, you must use the requester’s form if it is substantially similar to this Form W-9.

Definition of a U.S. person. For federal tax purposes, you are considered a U.S. person if you are:


•	An individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien,

• A partnership, corporation, company, or association created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States,

• An estate (other than a foreign estate), or

• A domestic trust (as defined in Regulations section 301.7701-7).

Special rules for partnerships. Partnerships that conduct a trade or business in the United States are generally required to pay a withholding tax on any foreign partners’ share of income from such business. Further, in certain cases where a Form W-9 has not been received, a partnership is required to presume that a partner is a foreign person, and pay the withholding tax. Therefore, if you are a U.S. person that is a partner in a partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States, provide Form W-9 to the partnership to establish your U.S. status and avoid withholding on your share of partnership income.

The person who gives Form W-9 to the partnership for purposes of establishing its U.S. status and avoiding withholding on its allocable share of net income from the partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States is in the following cases:


•	The U.S. owner of a disregarded entity and not the entity,

• The U.S. grantor or other owner of a grantor trust and not the trust, and

• The U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust) and not the beneficiaries of the trust.

Foreign person. If you are a foreign person, do not use Form W-9. Instead, use the appropriate Form W-8 (see Publication 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities).

Nonresident alien who becomes a resident alien. Generally, only a nonresident alien individual may use the terms of a tax treaty to reduce or eliminate U.S. tax on certain types of income. However, most tax treaties contain a provision known as a “saving clause.” Exceptions specified in the saving clause may permit an exemption from tax to continue for certain types of income even after the payee has otherwise become a U.S. resident alien for tax purposes.

If you are a U.S. resident alien who is relying on an exception contained in the saving clause of a tax treaty to claim an exemption from U.S. tax on certain types of income, you must attach a statement to Form W-9 that specifies the following five items:

1. The treaty country. Generally, this must be the same treaty under which you claimed exemption from tax as a nonresident alien.

2. The treaty article addressing the income.

3. The article number (or location) in the tax treaty that contains the saving clause and its exceptions.

4. The type and amount of income that qualifies for the exemption from tax.

5. Sufficient facts to justify the exemption from tax under the terms of the treaty article.

Example. Article 20 of the U.S.-China income tax treaty allows an exemption from tax for scholarship income received by a Chinese student temporarily present in the United States. Under U.S. law, this student will become a resident alien for tax purposes if his or her stay in the United States exceeds 5 calendar years. However, paragraph 2 of the first Protocol to the U.S.-China treaty (dated April 30, 1984) allows the provisions of Article 20 to continue to apply even after the Chinese student becomes a resident alien of the United States. A Chinese student who qualifies for this exception (under paragraph 2 of the first protocol) and is relying on this exception to claim an exemption from tax on his or her scholarship or fellowship income would attach to Form W-9 a statement that includes the information described above to support that exemption.

If you are a nonresident alien or a foreign entity not subject to backup withholding, give the requester the appropriate completed Form W-8.

What is backup withholding? Persons making certain payments to you must under certain conditions withhold and pay to the IRS 28% of such payments. This is called “backup withholding.” Payments that may be subject to backup withholding include interest, tax-exempt interest, dividends, broker and barter exchange transactions, rents, royalties, nonemployee pay, and certain payments from fishing boat operators. Real estate transactions are not subject to backup withholding.

You will not be subject to backup withholding on payments you receive if you give the requester your correct TIN, make the proper certifications, and report all your taxable interest and dividends on your tax return.

Payments you receive will be subject to backup withholding if:

1. You do not furnish your TIN to the requester,

2. You do not certify your TIN when required (see the Part II instructions on page 3 for details),

3. The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN,

4. The IRS tells you that you are subject to backup withholding because you did not report all your interest and dividends on your tax return (for reportable interest and dividends only), or

5. You do not certify to the requester that you are not subject to backup withholding under 4 above (for reportable interest and dividend accounts opened after 1983 only).

Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding. See the instructions below and the separate Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9.

Also see Special rules for partnerships on page 1.

Penalties

Failure to furnish TIN. If you fail to furnish your correct TIN to a requester, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.

Civil penalty for false information with respect to withholding. If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.

Criminal penalty for falsifying information. Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.

Misuse of TINs. If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.

Specific Instructions

Name

If you are an individual, you must generally enter the name shown on your income tax return. However, if you have changed your last name, for instance, due to marriage without informing the Social Security Administration of the name change, enter your first name, the last name shown on your social security card, and your new last name.

If the account is in joint names, list first, and then circle, the name of the person or entity whose number you entered in Part I of the form.

Sole proprietor. Enter your individual name as shown on your income tax return on the “Name” line. You may enter your business, trade, or “doing business as (DBA)” name on the “Business name” line.

Limited liability company (LLC). Check the “Limited liability company” box only and enter the appropriate code for the tax classification (“D” for disregarded entity, “C” for corporation, “P” for partnership) in the space provided.

For a single-member LLC (including a foreign LLC with a domestic owner) that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner under Regulations section 301.7701-3, enter the owner’s name on the “Name” line. Enter the LLC’s name on the “Business name” line.

For an LLC classified as a partnership or a corporation, enter the LLC’s name on the “Name” line and any business, trade, or DBA name on the “Business name” line.

Other entities. Enter your business name as shown on required federal tax documents on the “Name” line. This name should match the name shown on the charter or other legal document creating the entity. You may enter any business, trade, or DBA name on the “Business name” line.

Note. You are requested to check the appropriate box for your status (individual/sole proprietor, corporation, etc.).

Exempt Payee

If you are exempt from backup withholding, enter your name as described above and check the appropriate box for your status, then check the “Exempt payee” box in the line following the business name, sign and date the form.

Generally, individuals (including sole proprietors) are not exempt from backup withholding. Corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain payments, such as interest and dividends.

Note. If you are exempt from backup withholding, you should still complete this form to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding.

The following payees are exempt from backup withholding:

1. An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), any IRA, or a custodial account under section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements of section 401(f)(2),

2. The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities,

3. A state, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities,

4. A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, or

5. An international organization or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.

Other payees that may be exempt from backup withholding include:

6. A corporation,

7. A foreign central bank of issue,

8. A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a possession of the United States,

9. A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission,

10. A real estate investment trust,

11. An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940,

12. A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a),

13. A financial institution,

14. A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian, or

15. A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947.

The chart below shows types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt payees listed above, 1 through 15.



		THEN the payment is exempt
IF the payment is for . . .		for . . .

Interest and dividend payments		All exempt payees except for 9

Broker transactions		Exempt payees 1 through 13. Also, a person registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 who regularly acts as a broker

Barter exchange transactions and patronage dividends		Exempt payees 1 through 5

Payments over $600 required to be reported and direct sales over 5,000 ¹		Generally, exempt payees 1 through 7 ²


¹	See Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, and its instructions.

²	However, the following payments made to a corporation (including gross proceeds paid to an attorney under section 6045(f), even if the attorney is a corporation) and reportable on Form 1099-MISC are not exempt from backup withholding: medical and health care payments, attorneys’ fees, and payments for services paid by a federal executive agency.

Part I. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. If you are a resident alien and you do not have and are not eligible to get an SSN, your TIN is your IRS individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Enter it in the social security number box. If you do not have an ITIN, see How to get a TIN below.

If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN or EIN. However, the IRS prefers that you use your SSN.

If you are a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner (see Limited liability company (LLC) on page 2), enter the owner’s SSN (or EIN, if the owner has one). Do not enter the disregarded entity’s EIN. If the LLC is classified as a corporation or partnership, enter the entity’s EIN.

Note. See the chart on page 4 for further clarification of name and TIN combinations.

How to get a TIN. If you do not have a TIN, apply for one immediately. To apply for an SSN, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, from your local Social Security Administration office or get this form online at www.ssa.gov. You may also get this form by calling 1-800-772-1213. Use Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to apply for an ITIN, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to apply for an EIN. You can apply for an EIN online by accessing the IRS website at www.irs.gov/businesses and clicking on Employer Identification Number (EIN) under Starting a Business. You can get Forms W-7 and SS-4 from the IRS by visiting www.irs.gov or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

If you are asked to complete Form W-9 but do not have a TIN, write “Applied For” in the space for the TIN, sign and date the form, and give it to the requester. For interest and dividend payments, and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable instruments, generally you will have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to the requester before you are subject to backup withholding on payments. The 60-day rule does not apply to other types of payments. You will be subject to backup withholding on all such payments until you provide your TIN to the requester.

Note. Entering “Applied For” means that you have already applied for a TIN or that you intend to apply for one soon.

Caution: A disregarded domestic entity that has a foreign owner must use the appropriate Form W-8.

Part II. Certification

To establish to the withholding agent that you are a U.S. person, or resident alien, sign Form W-9. You may be requested to sign by the withholding agent even if items 1, 4, and 5 below indicate otherwise.

For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign (when required). Exempt payees, see Exempt Payee on page 2.

Signature requirements. Complete the certification as indicated in 1 through 5 below.

1. Interest, dividend, and barter exchange accounts opened before 1984 and broker accounts considered active during 1983. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.

2. Interest, dividend, broker, and barter exchange accounts opened after 1983 and broker accounts considered inactive during 1983. You must sign the certification or backup withholding will apply. If you are subject to backup withholding and you are merely providing your correct TIN to the requester, you must cross out item 2 in the certification before signing the form.

3. Real estate transactions. You must sign the certification. You may cross out item 2 of the certification.

4. Other payments. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification unless you have been notified that you have previously given an incorrect TIN. “Other payments” include payments made in the course of the requester’s trade or business for rents, royalties, goods (other than bills for merchandise), medical and health care services (including payments to corporations), payments to a nonemployee for services, payments to certain fishing boat crew members and fishermen, and gross proceeds paid to attorneys (including payments to corporations).

5. Mortgage interest paid by you, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, qualified tuition program payments (under section 529), IRA, Coverdell ESA, Archer MSA or HSA contributions or distributions, and pension distributions. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.



What Name and Number To Give the Requester


For this type of account:		Give name and SSN of:

1.	Individual	The individual
2.	Two or more individuals (joint account)	The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account ¹
3.	Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)	The minor ²
4.	a. The usual revocable savings trust (grantor is also trustee)	The grantor-trustee ¹
	b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law	The actual owner ¹
5.	Sole proprietorship or disregarded entity owned by an individual	The owner ³

For this type of account:		Give name and EIN of:


6.	Disregarded entity not owned by an individual	The owner
7.	A valid trust, estate, or pension trust	Legal entity ⁴
8.	Corporate or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832	The corporation
9.	Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization	The organization
10.	Partnership or multi-member LLC	The partnership
11.	A broker or registered nominee	The broker or nominee
12.	Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments	The public entity


¹	List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has an SSN, that person’s number must be furnished.

²	Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s SSN.

³	You must show your individual name and you may also enter your business or “DBA” name on the second name line. You may use either your SSN or EIN (if you have one), but the IRS encourages you to use your SSN.

⁴	List first and circle the name of the trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the TIN of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.) Also see Special rules for partnerships on page 1.

Note. If no name is circled when more than one name is listed, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed.

Secure Your Tax Records from Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, social security number (SSN), or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund.

To reduce your risk:


•	Protect your SSN,

•	Ensure your employer is protecting your SSN, and

•	Be careful when choosing a tax preparer.

Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if you think your identity has been used inappropriately for tax purposes.

Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a system problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD 1-800-829-4059.

Protect yourself from suspicious emails or phishing
schemes. Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common act is sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.

The IRS does not initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS does not request personal detailed information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts.

If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward this message to phishing@irs.gov. You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, or other IRS personal property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484. You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission at: spam@uce.gov or contact them at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or 1-877-IDTHEFT(438-4338).

Visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk.

Privacy Act Notice

Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code requires you to provide your correct TIN to persons who must file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, and certain other income paid to you, mortgage interest you paid, the acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, or contributions you made to an IRA, or Archer MSA or HSA. The IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of your tax return. The IRS may also provide this information to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation, and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions to carry out their tax laws. We may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce federal nontax criminal laws, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism.

You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Payers must generally withhold 28% of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not give a TIN to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.

Facsimilies of the Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly signed, will be accepted. The Letter of Transmittal and Share Certificates and any other required documents should be sent or delivered by each stockholder or such stockholder’s broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the Depositary at one of its addresses or to the facsimile number set forth below.

The Depositary for the Offer is:

BNY Mellon Shareowner Services

By Facsimile Transmission (for Eligible Institutions only): 201-680-4626

Confirm by Telephone: 201-680-4860


By Mail:		By Hand or Overnight Courier:

BNY Mellon Shareowner Services		BNY Mellon Shareowner Services
Corporate Action Department		Corporate Action Department
PO Box 3301		480 Washington Blvd., 27th Fl
South Hackensack, NJ 07606		Jersey City, NJ 07310

Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at its respective address and telephone numbers listed below. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be obtained from the Information Agent. A stockholder may also contact brokers, dealers, commercial banks or trust companies for assistance concerning the Offer.

The Information Agent for the Offer is:

Innisfree M&A Incorporated

501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor

New York, New York 10022

Stockholders May Call Toll-Free: (877) 750-9499

Banks and Brokers May Call Collect: (212) 750-5833