EX-99.6 12 a2156236zex-99_6.htm EXHIBIT 99.6
QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Exhibit 99.6


REQUESTER'S NAME:            , As Depositary





SUBSTITUTE
FORM
W-9
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)




 




Part 1—PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN IN THE BOX AT THE RIGHT OR, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A TIN, WRITE "APPLIED FOR" AND SIGN THE CERTIFICATION BELOW.




 





Social Security Number
OR
Taxpayer Identification Number
o    
Exempt

Payer's Request for Taxpayer
Identification Number (TIN)
Please fill in your name and
address below.

 

 

 

 

 

 
   


Name

 

Part 2Certification—Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:

Business Name
  (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),

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

City, State and Zip Code
  (3)   I am a U.S. person (as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes).
   
    Certification Instructions—You must cross out item (2) in Part 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding because of under reporting interest or dividends on your tax return. However, if after being notified by the IRS that you were subject to backup withholding, you received another notification from the IRS that you are no longer subject to backup withholding, do not cross out item (2). If you are exempt from backup withholding, check the box in Part 1 and see the enclosed "Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9".

 

 

Signature:                                                      

 

Date:                           


NOTE:

 

FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN A $50 PENALTY IMPOSED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING AT A RATE OF 28% ON ANY CASH PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED "GUIDELINES FOR REQUEST FOR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9" FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

 

 

YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION IF YOU WROTE "APPLIED FOR" ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
.

CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer identification number has not been issued to me, and either (a) I have mailed or delivered an application to receive a taxpayer identification number to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office or (b) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I understand that until I provide a taxpayer identification number, all reportable payments made to me will be subject to backup withholding, but will be refunded if I provide a certified taxpayer identification number within 60 days.

Signature:       
  Date:       
 

THE IRS DOES NOT REQUIRE YOUR CONSENT TO ANY PROVISION OF THIS DOCUMENT OTHER THAN THE CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED TO AVOID BACKUP WITHHOLDING.



GUIDELINES FOR REQUEST FOR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER AND CERTIFICATION ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

What Name and Number to Give the Requester

    Name

        If you are an individual, you must generally enter the name shown on your Social Security card. 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 enter in Part I of the form.

        Sole Proprietor—You must enter your individual name as shown on your Social Security card. You may enter your business, trade or "doing business as" name on the business name line.

        Limited Liability Company (LLC)—If you are a single-member LLC (including a foreign LLC with a domestic owner) that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner under Treasury regulations § 301.7701-3, enter the owner's name. Enter the LLC's name on the business name line. A disregarded domestic entity that has a foreign owner must use the appropriate Form W-8.

        Other Entities—Enter the business name as shown on required federal income tax documents. This name should match the name shown on the charter or other legal document creating the entity. You may enter any business, trade or "doing business as" name on the business name line.

    Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

        You must enter your taxpayer identification number in the appropriate box. If you are a resident alien and you do not have and are not eligible to get a Social Security number, your taxpayer identification number is your IRS individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Enter it in the Social Security number box. If you do not have an individual taxpayer identification number, see How to Get a TIN below. If you are a sole proprietor and you have an employer identification number, you may enter either your Social Security number or employer identification number. However, using your employer identification number may result in unnecessary notices to the requester, and the IRS prefers that you use your Social Security number. If you are an LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner under Treasury regulations § 301.7701-3, and are owned by an individual, enter the owner's Social Security number. If the owner of a disregarded LLC is a corporation, partnership, etc., enter the owner's employer identification number. See the chart below for further clarification of name and TIN combinations.

        Social Security numbers (SSN's) have nine digits separated by two hyphens: i.e. 000-00-0000. Employer identification numbers (EIN's) have nine digits separated by only one hyphen: i.e. 00-0000000.

        The table below will help determine the number to give the requester.

1



 
For this type of account:

  Give Name and TIN of

  For this type of account:

  Give Name and TIN of:


 
1.   Individual   The individual   6.   A valid trust, estate or pension(4)   Legal entity(4)
2.   Two or more individuals (joint account)   The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account(1)   7.   Corporation or LLC electing corporate status on IRS Form 8832   The corporation
3.   Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)   The minor(2)   8.   Association, club, religious, charitable, educational or other tax-exempt organization   The organization
4.   a. The usual revocable savings trust (grantor is also trustee)   The grantor-trustee(1)   9.   Partnership or multimember LLC   The partnership or LLC
    b. The so-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law   The actual owner(1)   10.   A broker or registered nominee   The broker or nominee
5.   Sole proprietorship or single owner LLC not described in 7   The owner(3)   11.   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 a Social Security number, that person's number must be furnished.
(2)
Circle the minor's name and furnish the minor's Social Security number.
(3)
You must show your individual name, but you may also enter your business or "doing business as" name. You may use either your Social Security number or employer identification number (if you have one).
(4)
List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate or pension trust. (Do not furnish the taxpayer identification number of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.)
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.

2


    How to Get a TIN

    If you do not have a taxpayer identification number, apply for one immediately. To apply for a Social Security number, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Number Card, from your local Social Security Administration office. Get Form W-7 to apply for an individual taxpayer identification number or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to apply for an employer identification number. You can get Forms W-7 and SS-4 from the IRS.

            If you do not have a taxpayer identification number, write "Applied For" in the space for the taxpayer identification number, sign and date the form (including the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number), and give it to the requester. For interest and dividend payments and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable instruments, you will generally have 60 days to get a taxpayer identification number and give it to the requester before you are subject to backup withholding. Other payments are subject to backup withholding without regard to the 60-day rule, until you provide your taxpayer identification number.

            Note: Writing "Applied For" means that you have already applied for a taxpayer identification number or that you intend to apply for one soon.

    Exemption From Backup Withholding

    Payees Exempt From Backup Withholding

        Individuals (including sole proprietors and LLCs disregarded as entities separate from their individual owners) are NOT automatically exempt from backup withholding.

        For interest and dividends, the following payees are generally exempt from backup withholding:

1)
An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), an individual retirement account (IRA), or a custodial account under section 403(b)(7) of the Code if the account satisfies the requirements of section 401(f)(2) of the Code.

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.

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

6)
A corporation.

7)
A foreign bank of central 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 real estate investment trust.

10)
An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

11)
A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a) of the Code.

12)
A financial institution (as defined for purposes of section 3406 of the Code).

13)
A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or who is listed in the most recent publication of the American Society of Corporate Secretaries, Inc., Nominee List.

14)
A trust exempt from tax under section 664 of the Code or described in section 4947 of the Code.

        For broker transactions, persons listed in items 1-12, above, as well the persons listed in items 15-16, below, are exempt from backup withholding.

15)
A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

16)
A person registered under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 who regularly acts as a broker.

    Payments Exempt From Backup Withholding

        Dividends and patronage dividends that are generally exempt from backup withholding include:

    Payments to nonresident aliens subject to withholding under section 1441 of the Code.

    Payments to partnerships not engaged in a trade or business in the United States and that have at least one nonresident alien partner.

    Payments of patronage dividends not paid in money.

    Payments made by certain foreign organizations.

    Payments made by an ESOP pursuant to section 404(k) of the Code.

            Interest payments that are generally exempt from backup withholding include:

    Payments of interest on obligations issued by individuals. Note, however, that such a payment may be subject to backup withholding if the amount of interest paid during a taxable year in the course of the payor's trade or business is $600 or more, and you have not provided your correct taxpayer identification number or you have provided an incorrect taxpayer identification number to the payer.

    Payments of tax-exempt interest (including exempt-interest dividends under section 852 of the Code).

    Payments described in section 6049(b)(5) of the Code to nonresident aliens.

    Payments on tax-free covenant bonds under section 1451 of the Code.

    Payments made by certain foreign organizations.

            Payments that are not subject to information reporting are also not subject to backup withholding. For details, see sections 6041, 6041A, 6042, 6044, 6045, 6049, 6050A and 6050N of the Code, and the Treasury regulations thereunder.

            If you are exempt from backup withholding, you should still complete and file Substitute Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. Enter your correct taxpayer identification number in Part 1, write "Exempt" in Part 2, and sign and date the form and return it to the requester.

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

            Privacy Act Notice.—Section 6109 of the Code requires you to give your correct taxpayer identification number to persons who must file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends and certain other income paid to you. 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, and the District of Columbia to carry out their tax laws. You must provide your taxpayer identification number whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Payers must generally withhold at the applicable rate on payments of taxable interest, dividends and certain other items to a payee who does not furnish a taxpayer identification number to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.

    Penalties

(1)
Failure to Furnish Taxpayer Identification Number.—If you fail to furnish your correct taxpayer identification number to a requester, you are subject to a penalty of $50.00 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.

(2)
Civil Penalty for False Information With Respect to Withholding.—If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis which results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500.00 penalty.

(3)
Criminal Penalty for Falsifying Information.—Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR TAX CONSULTANT OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

3




QuickLinks

GUIDELINES FOR REQUEST FOR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER AND CERTIFICATION ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9