EX-99.A1II 3 d798371dex99a1ii.htm EX-99.A1II EX-99.a1ii

Exhibit (a)(1)(ii)

Letter of Transmittal To Tender Shares of Common Stock

of

RAND WORLDWIDE, INC.

at $1.20 Per Share in Cash Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated October 3, 2014 by

Rand Worldwide, Inc.

The undersigned represents that I (we) have full authority to surrender without restriction the certificate(s) listed below. You are hereby authorized and instructed to deliver to the address indicated below (unless otherwise instructed in the boxes on the following pages) a check representing a cash payment for shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Rand Worldwide, Inc. (the “Issuer”) (collectively, the “Shares”) tendered pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal, at a price of $1.20 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated October 3,2014 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Offer to Purchase” and, together with this Letter of Transmittal, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Offer”).

THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED (SUCH DATE AND TIME, AS IT MAY BE EXTENDED, THE “EXPIRATION DATE”) OR EARLIER TERMINATED.

Method of delivery of the certificate(s) is at the option and risk of the owner thereof. See Instruction 2.

Mail or deliver this Letter of Transmittal, together with the certificate(s) representing your shares, to:

 

LOGO

Phone: Toll-free (877) 248-6417 and (718) 921-8317

Fax: 718 234-5001

 

If delivering by mail:   

If delivering by hand, express mail, courier

or any other expedited service:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

P.O. Box 2042

New York, New York 10272-2042

  

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, New York 11219

Pursuant to the offer of Rand Worldwide, Inc., (the “Issuer”) to purchase up to 27,530,816 of the outstanding Shares of the Issuer, the undersigned encloses herewith and surrenders the following certificate(s) representing Shares of the Issuer:

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED – See Instructions 3 and 4

Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Owner(s)

(Please fill in exactly as name(s) appear(s) on certificate(s))

   Shares Tendered
(attach additional list if necessary)
     Certificate
Number(s)*
   Number of Shares
Represented by
Certificate(s)*
   Number of Shares
Represented by
Book Entry
(electronic form)
   Number
of Shares
Tendered**
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
     

 

  

 

  

 

   Total Shares         
     

 

  

 

  

 

 

  *   Need not be completed if Shares are delivered by book-entry transfer.
  **   Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Shares represented by any certificates delivered to the Depositary are being tendered. See Instruction 4.


PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

FOR THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO BE PROPERLY DELIVERED, IT MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY AT ONE OF THE ADDRESSES ABOVE BEFORE THE OFFER EXPIRES (IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS DETAILED IN THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ITS INSTRUCTIONS). DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN EITHER OF THOSE SHOWN ABOVE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY. DELIVERIES TO THE COMPANY, THE INFORMATION AGENT, OR THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

You have received this Letter of Transmittal in connection with the offer of Rand Worldwide Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), to purchase 27,530,816 of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Issuer (collectively, the “Shares”), at a price of $1.20 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, as described in the Offer to Purchase, dated October 3, 2014 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Offer to Purchase” and, together with this Letter of Transmittal, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Offer”).

This Letter of Transmittal is to be used if certificates for the Shares are to be forwarded herewith or, unless an Agent’s Message (defined below) is utilized, if delivery of the Shares is to be made by book-entry transfer to an account maintained by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Depositary”) at DTC.

If certificates for your Shares are not immediately available or you cannot deliver your certificates and all other required documents to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date, or you cannot complete the book-entry transfer procedures prior to the Expiration Date, you may nevertheless tender your Shares according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in Section 7 of the Offer to Purchase.

Your attention is directed in particular to the following:

 

  1. If you want to retain your shares, you do not need to take any action.

 

  2. If you want to participate in the Offer, you should complete the appropriate portions of this Letter of Transmittal.

We urge stockholders who hold Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to consult their nominee to determine whether transaction costs are applicable if they tender Shares through their nominee and not directly to the Depositary.

ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE OR THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION AGENT SET FORTH AT THE END OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.


Additional Information if Shares Have Been Lost, Are Being Delivered By Book-Entry Transfer

or Are Being Delivered Pursuant to a Previous Notice of Guaranteed Delivery

If any certificate representing the Shares that you are tendering with this Letter of Transmittal has been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, please contact the Depositary immediately at (877) 248-6417 or (718) 921-8317 to obtain instructions as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace the certificate(s). This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost or destroyed certificates have been followed. Please contact the Depositary immediately to permit timely processing of the replacement documentation. See Instruction 10.

 

¨   LOST CERTIFICATES: My certificate(s) for                  shares have been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, and I require assistance in replacing shares. See Instruction 10.
¨   CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE DEPOSITARY WITH DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING (ONLY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE PARTICIPANTS IN DTC MAY DELIVER SHARES BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER):

 

Name of Tendering Institution:   

 

DTC Participant Number:   

 

DTC Account Number:   

 

Transaction Code Number:   

 

 

¨   CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE DEPOSITARY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING (PLEASE ENCLOSE A PHOTOCOPY OF SUCH NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY):

 

Name(s) of Registered Owner(s):   

 

Window Ticket Number (if any) or DTC Participant Number:   

 

Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:   

 

Name of Institution that Guaranteed Delivery:   

 

NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.

PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.


ODD LOTS

(See Instruction 12)

As described in Section 6 of the Offer to Purchase, under certain conditions, stockholders holding fewer than 100 Shares may have their Shares accepted for payment before any proration of other tendered Shares. This preference is not available to partial tenders, or to beneficial or record holders of an aggregate of 100 or more Shares, even if such holders have separate accounts or certificates representing fewer than 100 Shares. Accordingly, this section is to be completed ONLY if Shares are being tendered by or on behalf of a person owning, beneficially or of record, an aggregate of fewer than 100 Shares.

The undersigned either (check one box):

 

¨

  owns, whether beneficially or of record, an aggregate of fewer than 100 Shares and is tendering all such Shares; or

¨

  is a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company, or other nominee that (a) is tendering for the beneficial owner(s), Shares with respect to which it is the record holder, and (b) believes, based upon representations made to it by the beneficial owner(s), that each such person is the beneficial owner of an aggregate of fewer than 100 Shares and is tendering all such Shares.

ORDER OF PURCHASE IN EVENT OF PRORATION

(See Instruction 13)

Indicate below the order (by certificate number) in which Shares are to be purchased in the event of proration (attached additional signed list, if necessary). If you do not designate an order and if less than all Shares tendered are purchased due to proration, Shares to be purchased will be selected by the Depositary.

 

1st:  

 

  
2nd:  

 

  
3rd:  

 

  
4th:  

 

  
5th:  

 

  
6th:  

 

  


Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned hereby tenders to Rand Worldwide Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the above-described shares of common stock of the Issuer, par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), at a price of $1.20 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and this Letter of Transmittal (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, this “Letter of Transmittal” and, together with the Offer to Purchase, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Offer”).

On the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of such extension or amendment), subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for payment and payment for the Shares validly tendered herewith, and not properly withdrawn, prior to the Expiration Date, in accordance with the terms of the Offer, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Issuer, all right, title and interest in and to all of the Shares being tendered hereby and hereby irrevocably appoints American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Depositary”) the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact and proxy of the undersigned with respect to such Shares with full power of substitution (such proxies and power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest in the tendered shares) to the full extent of such stockholder’s rights with respect to the Shares (a) to deliver certificates representing the Shares (the “Share Certificates”), or transfer of ownership of such Shares on the account books maintained by DTC, together, in either such case, with all accompanying evidence of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of the Issuer, (b) to present such Shares for transfer on the books of the Issuer, and (c) to receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Shares, all in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Shares tendered hereby and, when the same are accepted for payment by the Issuer, the Issuer will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and the same will not be subject to any adverse claim. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned is the registered owner of the Shares, or the Share Certificate(s) have been endorsed to the undersigned in blank, or the undersigned is a participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Shares. The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Depositary or the Issuer to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Shares tendered hereby.

It is understood that the undersigned will not receive payment for the Shares unless and until the Shares are accepted for payment and until the Share Certificate(s) owned by the undersigned are received by the Depositary at the address set forth above, together with such additional documents as the Depositary may require, or, in the case of Shares held in book-entry form, ownership of the Shares is validly transferred on the account books maintained by DTC, and until the same are processed for payment by the Depositary.

IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THE SHARES, THE SHARE CERTIFICATE(S) AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (INCLUDING DELIVERY THROUGH DTC) IS AT THE OPTION AND RISK OF THE UNDERSIGNED AND THAT THE RISK OF LOSS OF SUCH SHARES, SHARE CERTIFICATE(S) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS SHALL PASS ONLY AFTER THE DEPOSITARY HAS ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE SHARES OR SHARE CERTIFICATE(S) (INCLUDING, IN THE CASE OF A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, BY BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION (AS DEFINED BELOW)). IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL SUCH DOCUMENTS BE SENT BY PROPERLY INSURED REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.

All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal shall not be affected by, and shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy, 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 acceptance for payment by the Issuer of the Shares tendered pursuant to one of the procedures described in Section 7 of the Offer to Purchase and in the instructions hereto will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Issuer upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer. The undersigned further understands that it is a violation of Rule 14e-4 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for a person acting alone or in concert with others, directly or indirectly, to tender Shares for such person’s own account unless at the time of tender and until 5:00 p.m. midnight, New York City time, on the Expiration Date, such person has a “net long position” in (a) the Shares that is equal to or greater than the amount tendered and will deliver or cause to be delivered such Shares for the purpose of tender to the Issuer within the period specified in the Offer, or (b) other securities immediately convertible into, exercisable for or exchangeable into the Shares (“Equivalent Securities”) that is equal to or greater than the amount tendered and, upon the acceptance of such tender, will acquire such Shares by conversion, exchange or exercise of such Equivalent Securities to the extent required by the terms of the Offer and will deliver or cause to be delivered such Shares so acquired for the purpose of tender to the Issuer within the period specified in the Offer.


Rule 14e-4 also provides a similar restriction applicable to the tender or guarantee of a tender on behalf of another person. A tender of Shares made pursuant to any method of delivery set forth in this Letter of Transmittal will constitute the tendering stockholder’s representation and warranty to the Issuer that (y) such stockholder has a “net long position” in Shares or Equivalent Securities being tendered within the meaning of Rule 14e-4, and (z) such tender of Shares complies with Rule 14e-4.

The undersigned understands that all shares properly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be purchased at the purchase price, without interest, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, including its proration provisions, “odd lot” provisions and conditional tender provisions, and that the Issuer will return at its expense all other shares including shares not purchased because of proration or conditional tenders, promptly following the Expiration Time.

Under the circumstances set forth in the Offer to Purchase, the Issuer expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Offer at any time and from time to time, upon the occurrence of any of the events set forth in Section 10 of the Offer to Purchase and to extend the period of time during which the Offer is open and thereby delay acceptance for payment of, and payment for, any Shares by giving oral or written notice of such extension to the Depositary and making a public announcement thereof. During any such extension, all Shares previously tendered and not properly withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer and to the rights of a tendering stockholder to withdraw such stockholder’s Shares.

The Issuer has advised the undersigned to consult with the undersigned’s own advisors as to the consequences of tendering Shares pursuant to the Offer. THE UNDERSIGNED UNDERSTANDS THAT THE OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE TO (NOR WILL TENDERS OF SHARES BE ACCEPTED FROM OR ON BEHALF OF) HOLDERS IN ANY JURISDICTION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH THE MAKING OR ACCEPTANCE OF THE OFFER WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THAT JURISDICTION.

Unless otherwise indicated herein under “Special Payment Instructions,” please issue the check for the purchase price in the name(s) of, and/or return any Share Certificates representing Shares not tendered or accepted for payment to, the registered owner(s) appearing under “Description of Shares Tendered.” Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under “Special Delivery Instructions,” please mail the check for the purchase price and/or return any Share Certificates representing Shares not tendered or accepted for payment (and accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the address(es) of the registered owner(s) appearing under “Description of Shares Tendered.” In the event that both the Special Delivery Instructions and the Special Payment Instructions are completed, please issue the check for the purchase price and/or issue any Share Certificates representing Shares not tendered or accepted for payment (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) in the name of, and deliver such check and/or return such Share Certificates (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) to, the person or persons so indicated. Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box titled “Special Payment Instructions,” please credit any Shares tendered hereby or by an Agent’s Message and delivered by book-entry transfer, but which are not purchased, by crediting the account at DTC designated above. The undersigned recognizes that Issuer has no obligation pursuant to the Special Payment Instructions to transfer any Shares from the name of the registered owner thereof if the Issuer does not accept for payment any of the Shares so tendered.

NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.


SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 1, 4, 5 and 7)

To be completed ONLY if Share Certificate(s) not tendered or not accepted for payment and/or the check for the purchase price in consideration of the Shares accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of someone other than the undersigned or if Shares tendered by book-entry transfer which are not accepted for payment are to be returned by credit to an account maintained at DTC other than that designated above.

Issue:  ¨ Check  ¨ Share Certificates to:

 

Name (Please Print):   

 

Address (Include Zip Code):   

 

 

Tax Identification or Social Security Number (See Enclosed Substitute Form W-9):   

 

¨  Credit Shares tendered by book-entry transfer that are not accepted for payment to the DTC account set forth below.

 

DTC Account Number:   

 

SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 1, 4, 5 and 7)

To be completed ONLY if Share Certificate(s) not tendered or not accepted for payment and/or the check for the purchase price of Shares accepted for payment are to be sent to someone other than the undersigned or to the undersigned at an address other than that shown in the box titled “Description of Shares Tendered” above.

Deliver:  ¨    Check(s) and/or  ¨    Share Certificates to:

 

Name (Please Print):   

 

Address (Include Zip Code):   

 

 


IMPORTANT—SIGN HERE

(U.S. Holders Please Also Complete the Enclosed Substitute Form W-9)

(Non-U.S. Holders Please Obtain and Complete IRS Form W-8BEN-E or Other Applicable IRS Form W-8)

By signing below, the undersigned expressly agrees to the terms and conditions set forth above:

 

Signature(s):   

 

 

Name(s):   

 

Dated:                  , 2014

(Must be signed by registered owner(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Share Certificate(s) or on a security position listing or by person(s) authorized to become registered owner(s) by certificates and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth full title and see Instruction 5. For information concerning signature guarantees, see Instruction 1.)

Please Print:

 

Capacity (See Instruction 5):   

 

Address (Include Zip Code):   

 

 

Area Code and Telephone Number:   

 

Tax Identification or Social Security Number (See Enclosed Substitute Form W-9):   

 

GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)

(For use by Eligible Institutions only; See Instructions 1 and 5)

 

Authorized Signature:   

 

Please Print:

 

Name(s):   

 

Name of Firm:   

 

Area Code and Telephone Number:   

 

Dated:                  , 2014

Place medallion guarantee in space below:

 

   
      
   
      
   
      
   
      


INSTRUCTIONS

Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of the Offer

1. Guarantee of Signatures. Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal need not be guaranteed (a) if this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered owner(s) (which term, for purposes of this document, includes any participant in any of DTC’s systems whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Shares) of the Shares tendered herewith and such registered owner has not completed the box titled “Special Payment Instructions” or the box titled “Special Delivery Instructions” on this Letter of Transmittal or (b) if such Shares are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5. Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentence, all signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a member in good standing of a recognized Medallion Program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, Inc., including the Security Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (each, an “Eligible Institution”). If you have any questions regarding the need for a signature guarantee, please call the Information Agent at (866) 357-4029.

2. Delivery of Letter of Transmittal and Certificates or Book-Entry Confirmations. This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by stockholders if Share Certificates are to be forwarded herewith. If tenders are to be made pursuant to the procedures for tender by book-entry transfer set forth in Section 7 of the Offer to Purchase, an Agent’s Message must be utilized. A manually executed facsimile of this document may be used in lieu of the original. Share Certificates representing all physically tendered Shares, or confirmation of any book-entry transfer into the Depositary’s account at DTC of Shares tendered by book-entry transfer (“Book Entry Confirmation”), as well as this Letter of Transmittal properly completed and duly executed with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent’s Message in the case of a book-entry transfer, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary at its address set forth herein prior to the Expiration Date. Please do not send your Share Certificates directly to the Issuer.

Stockholders whose Share Certificates are not immediately available or who cannot deliver all other required documents to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date or who cannot complete the procedures for book-entry transfer prior to the Expiration Date may nevertheless tender their Shares by properly completing and duly executing a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in Section 7 of the Offer to Purchase. Pursuant to such procedure: (a) such tender must be made by or through an Eligible Institution, (b) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery substantially in the form provided by the Issuer must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date (or prior to the expiration of the Subsequent Offering Period, as applicable), and (c) Share Certificates representing all tendered Shares, in proper form for transfer (or a Book Entry Confirmation with respect to such Shares), this Letter of Transmittal (or 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), and all other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, if any, must be received by the Depositary within three business days after the date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

A properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) must accompany each such delivery of Share Certificates to the Depositary.

The term “Agent’s Message” means a message, transmitted through electronic means by DTC to, and received by, the Depositary and forming part of a Book-Entry Confirmation, which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in DTC tendering the Shares which are the subject of such Book-Entry Confirmation that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of this Letter of Transmittal and that the Issuer may enforce such agreement against the participant. The term “Agent’s Message” also includes any hard copy printout evidencing such message generated by a computer terminal maintained at the Depositary’s office.

THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THE SHARES, THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING DELIVERY THROUGH DTC, IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING STOCKHOLDER. DELIVERY OF ALL SUCH DOCUMENTS WILL BE DEEMED MADE AND RISK OF LOSS OF THE SHARE CERTIFICATES SHALL PASS ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY (INCLUDING, IN THE CASE OF A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, BY BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION). IF SUCH DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL SUCH DOCUMENTS BE SENT BY PROPERLY INSURED REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. 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. All tendering stockholders, by execution of this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), waive any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of their Shares for payment.


All questions as to validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of the surrender of any Share Certificate hereunder, including questions as to the proper completion or execution of any Letter of Transmittal, Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or other required documents and as to the proper form for transfer of any certificate of Shares, will be determined by the Issuer in its sole and absolute discretion (which may delegate power in whole or in part to the Depositary) which determination will be final and binding. The Issuer reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders determined by it not to be in proper form or the acceptance for payment of or payment for which may be unlawful. The Issuer also reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the surrender of any Shares or Share Certificate(s) whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of any other stockholder. A surrender will not be deemed to have been validly made until all defects and irregularities have been cured or waived. The Issuer and the Depositary shall make reasonable efforts to notify any person of any defect in any Letter of Transmittal submitted to the Depositary.

3. Inadequate Space. If the space provided herein is inadequate, the certificate numbers and/or the number of Shares should be listed on a separate schedule attached hereto and separately signed on each page thereof in the same manner as this Letter of Transmittal is signed.

4. Partial Tenders (Not Applicable to Stockholders Who Tender By Book-Entry). If fewer than all the Shares evidenced by any Share Certificate delivered to the Depositary are to be tendered, fill in the number of Shares which are to be tendered in the column titled “Number of Shares Tendered” in the box titled “Description of Shares Tendered.” In such cases, new certificate(s) for the remainder of the Shares that were evidenced by the old certificate(s) but not tendered will be sent to the registered owner, unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box on this Letter of Transmittal, as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date. All Shares represented 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 owner(s) of the Shares tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the Share Certificate(s) without alteration or any other change whatsoever.

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

If any tendered Shares are registered in the names of different holder(s), it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal (or facsimiles thereof) as there are different registrations of such Shares.

If this Letter of Transmittal or any certificates or stock powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to the Issuer of their authority so to act must be submitted with this Letter of Transmittal.

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

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

6. Transfer Taxes. The Issuer will pay any transfer taxes with respect to the transfer and sale of Shares to it or to its order pursuant to the Offer (for the avoidance of doubt, transfer taxes do not include United States federal income or backup withholding taxes). If, however, payment of the purchase price is to be made to, or (in the circumstances permitted hereby) if Share Certificates not tendered or accepted for payment are to be registered in the name of, any person other than the registered owner(s), or if tendered Share Certificates are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing this Letter of Transmittal, the amount of any transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered owner(s) or such person) payable on account of the transfer to such person will be deducted from the purchase price unless satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes, or exemption therefrom, is submitted with this Letter of Transmittal.

Except as provided in this Instruction 6, it will not be necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the Share Certificates listed in this Letter of Transmittal.


7. Special Payment and Delivery Instructions. If a check for the purchase price is to be issued, and/or Share Certificates representing Shares not tendered or accepted for payment are to be issued or returned to, a person other than the signer(s) of this Letter of Transmittal or to an address other than that shown in the box titled “Description of Shares Tendered” above, the appropriate boxes on this Letter of Transmittal should be completed. Stockholders delivering Shares tendered hereby or by Agent’s Message by book-entry transfer may request that Shares not purchased be credited to an account maintained at DTC as such stockholder may designate in the box titled “Special Payment Instructions” herein. If no such instructions are given, all such Shares not purchased will be returned by crediting the same account at DTC as the account from which such Shares were delivered.

8. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at its respective address and telephone number set forth below or to your broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and other tender offer materials may be obtained from the Information Agent as set forth below, and will be furnished at the Issuer’s expense.

9. Backup Withholding. Under U.S. federal income tax laws, the Depositary will be required to withhold a portion of the amount of any payments made to certain stockholders pursuant to the Offer, as applicable. In order to avoid such backup withholding, each tendering stockholder or payee that is a United States person (for U.S. federal income tax purposes), must provide the Depositary with such stockholder’s or payee’s correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) and certify that such stockholder or payee is not subject to such backup withholding by completing the attached Form W-9. Certain stockholders or payees (including, among others, corporations, non-resident foreign individuals and foreign entities) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. A tendering stockholder who is a foreign individual or a foreign entity should complete, sign, and submit to the Depositary the appropriate Form W-8. A Form W-8BEN-E may be obtained from the Depositary or downloaded from the Internal Revenue Service’s website at the following address: http://www.irs.gov. Failure to complete the Form W-9 will not, by itself, cause Shares to be deemed invalidly tendered, but may require the Depositary to withhold a portion of the amount of any payments made of the Offer Price pursuant to the Offer.

NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE FORM W-9 MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF A PORTION OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE “IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION” SECTION BELOW.

10. Lost, Destroyed, Mutilated or Stolen Share Certificates. If any Share Certificate has been lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen, the stockholder should promptly notify the Issuer’s stock transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC at (877) 248-6417 or (718) 921-8317. The stockholder will then be instructed as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace the Share Certificate. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, mutilated, destroyed or stolen Share Certificates have been followed.

11. Waiver of Conditions; Irregularities. All questions as to the number of Shares to be accepted and the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tender of Shares, or as to the validity (including time of receipt) and form of any notice of withdrawal of tendered Shares, will be determined by the Issuer, in its sole discretion, and its determination will be final and binding on all persons participating in the Offer, subject to such Offer participants disputing such determination in a court of competent jurisdiction. The Issuer may delegate power in whole or in part to the Depositary. The Issuer reserves the absolute right prior to the Expiration Date to reject any or all tenders of any Shares that the Issuer determines are not in proper form or the acceptance for payment of or payment for which may, in the opinion of the Issuer’s counsel, be unlawful. The Issuer reserves the absolute right to reject any notices of withdrawal that it determines are not in proper form. The Issuer also reserves the absolute right, subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to waive any of the conditions of the Offer prior to the Expiration Date, or any defect or irregularity in any tender or withdrawal with respect to any particular Shares or any particular stockholder, and the Issuer’s interpretation of the terms of the Offer (including these instructions) will be final and binding on all persons participating in the Offer, subject to such Offer participants disputing such determination in a court of competent jurisdiction. No tender or withdrawal of Shares will be deemed to have been properly made until all defects or irregularities have been cured by the tendering or withdrawing stockholder or waived by the Issuer. The Issuer will not be liable for failure to waive any condition of the Offer, or any defect or irregularity in any tender or withdrawal of Shares. None of the Issuer, the Information Agent, the Depositary or any other person will be obligated to give notice of any defects or irregularities in any tender or withdrawal, nor will any of the foregoing incur any liability for failure to give any such notice.

12. Odd Lots. As described in Section 6 of the Offer to Purchase, if the Issuer is to purchase fewer than all Shares tendered before the Expiration Date and not properly withdrawn, the Shares purchased first will consist of all Odd Lots of less than 100 Shares from stockholders who properly tender all of their Shares and who do not properly withdraw them before the Expiration Date (tenders of less than all of the Shares owned, beneficially or of record, by such Odd Lot Holder will not qualify for this preference). This preference will not be available unless the section captioned “Odd Lots” in this Letter of Transmittal is completed.

13. Order of Purchase in Event of Proration. As described in Section 6 of the Offer to Purchase, stockholders may designate the order in which their Shares are to be purchased in the event of proration. The order of purchase may have an effect on the U.S. federal income tax classification and the amount of any gain or loss on the Shares purchased. See Section 6 and Section 16 of the Offer to Purchase.


IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (OR A MANUALLY EXECUTED FACSIMILE COPY THEREOF) OR AN AGENT’S MESSAGE, TOGETHER WITH SHARE CERTIFICATE(S) OR BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION OR A PROPERLY COMPLETED AND DULY EXECUTED NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.

IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION

Under U.S. federal income tax law, a stockholder that is a non-exempt U.S. person (for U.S. federal income tax purposes) whose tendered Shares are accepted for payment is required by law to provide the Depositary (as payer) with such stockholder’s correct TIN on Form W-9 below. If such stockholder is an individual, the TIN is such stockholder’s social security number. If the Depositary is not provided with the correct TIN, the stockholder may be subject to penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and payments that are made to such stockholder with respect to Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer, may be subject to backup withholding.

If backup withholding applies, the Depositary is required to withhold 28% of any payments of the purchase price made to the stockholder. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the 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 or credit may be obtained from the IRS provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.

Form W-9

To prevent backup withholding on payments that are made to a U.S. stockholder with respect to Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer, as applicable, the stockholder is required to notify the Depositary of such stockholder’s correct TIN by completing Form W-9 certifying, under penalties of perjury, (i) that the TIN provided on Form W-9 is correct (or that such stockholder is awaiting a TIN), (ii) that such stockholder is not subject to backup withholding because (a) such stockholder has not been notified by the IRS that such stockholder is subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, (b) the IRS has notified such stockholder that such stockholder is no longer subject to backup withholding or (c) such stockholder is exempt from backup withholding, and (iii) that such stockholder is a U.S. person.

What Number to Give the Depositary

Each United States stockholder is generally required to give the Depositary its social security number or employer identification number. If the tendering stockholder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a number or intends to apply for a number in the near future, the stockholder should write “Applied For” in Part I, sign and date the Form W-9. Notwithstanding that “Applied For” is written in Part I, the Depositary will withhold 28% of all payments of the purchase price to such stockholder until a TIN is provided to the Depositary. Such amounts will be refunded to such surrendering stockholder if a TIN is provided to the Depositary within 60 days. We note that your Form W-9, including your TIN, may be transferred from the Depositary to the Paying Agent, in certain circumstances.

Please consult your accountant or tax advisor for further guidance regarding the completion of IRS Form W-9, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, or another version of IRS Form W-8 to claim exemption from backup withholding, or contact the Depositary.


Payer’s Name: American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

 

       

 

SUBSTITUTE

 

FORM W-9

 

Department of the

Treasury

Internal Revenue Service    

  Part 1 — PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN IN THE BOX AT RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND DATING BELOW   Social Security Number
   

 

OR

   

 

         

Employer Identification

Number

  Part 2 — FOR PAYEES EXEMPT FROM BACKUP WITHHOLDING    
   

(See Page 2 of enclosed Guidelines)

 

 

 

         
    Part 3 — Certification Under Penalties of Perjury, I certify that:    
     
    (1)   The number shown on this form is my current taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me),  

 

Part 4 —

 

Awaiting TIN  ¨

 

Payer’s Request for Taxpayer

Identification

Number (TIN) and

Certification

 

 

(2)

 

 

I am not subject to backup withholding either because I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report all interest or dividends, or the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding and

 
 

 

(3)

 

 

I am a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

 
   

 

Certification instructions — You must cross out item (2) in Part 3 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding because of underreporting interest or dividends on your tax return. However, if after being notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding you receive another notification from the IRS stating that you are no longer subject to backup withholding, do not cross out item (2).

 

  SIGNATURE                                                                                                 DATE                           
    NAME                                                                                                                                                   
    ADDRESS                                                                                                                                            
   

CITY                                         STATE                           ZIP CODE                                                   

 

 

YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU

CHECK THE BOX IN PART 4 OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

 

PAYER’S NAME: American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

 

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 if I do not provide a taxpayer identification number before payment is made, a portion of such reportable payment will be withheld.

   

 

     

 

Signature           Date

NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 28% OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.


IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION

Under current U.S. federal income tax law, a stockholder whose Shares are accepted for payment may be subject to backup withholding. In order to avoid such backup withholding, the stockholder must provide the Depositary with such stockholder’s correct taxpayer identification number and certify that such stockholder is not subject to such backup withholding by completing the Substitute Form W-9 provided herewith. In general, if a stockholder is an individual, the taxpayer identification number is the Social Security number of such individual. If the Depositary is not provided with the correct taxpayer identification number, the stockholder may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed by the IRS. For further information concerning backup withholding and instructions for completing the Substitute Form W-9 (including how to obtain a taxpayer identification number if you do not have one and how to complete the Substitute Form W-9 if your certificates are held in more than one name), consult the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9.

Certain stockholders (including, among others, all corporations and certain foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. In order to satisfy the Exchange Agent that a foreign individual qualifies as an exempt recipient, such stockholder must submit a statement, signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to that individual’s exempt status, on a properly completed Form W-8BEN-E, or successor form. Such statements can be obtained from the Depositary.

Failure to complete the Substitute Form W-9 will not, by itself, cause the stock certificates to be deemed invalidly tendered, but may require the Depositary to withhold a portion of the amount of any payments made pursuant to the Offer. Backup withholding is not an additional federal income tax. Rather, the federal income tax liability of a person 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 Internal Revenue Service.

NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 28% OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.


GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

Guidelines for Determining the Proper Identification Number to Give the Payer — Social Security Numbers have nine digits separated by two hyphens: i.e., 000-00-0000. Employer Identification Numbers have nine digits separated by only one hyphen: i.e., 00-0000000. The table below will help determine the number to give the payer.

 

For this type of account:

  

Give the SOCIAL

SECURITY number of —

     

For this type of account:

  

Give the EMPLOYER

IDENTIFICATION number of —

1.   An individual’s account    The individual     8.    Sole proprietorship account    The owner(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)     9.    A valid trust, estate or pension trust    The legal entity(5)
3.   Husband and wife (joint account)    The actual owner of the account or, if joint funds, the first individual on the account (1)     10.    Corporate account    The corporation
4.  

Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)

   The minor(2)     11.    Religious, charitable, or educational organization account    The organization
5.   Adult and minor (joint account)    The adult or, if the minor is the only contributor, the minor(1)     12.    Partnership account held in the name of the business    The partnership
6.   Account in the name of guardian or committee for a designated ward, minor, or incompetent person    The ward, minor, or incompetent person(3)     13.    Association, club, or other tax-exempt organization    The organization
7.   a.    The usual revocable savings trust account (grantor is also trustee)    The grantor-trustee(1)     14.    A broker or registered nominee    The broker or nominee
  b.    So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law    The actual owner(1)     15.    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) Circle the ward’s, minor’s or incompetent person’s name and furnish such person’s social security number.
(4) 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).
(5) 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 there is more than one name, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed.


GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

Page 2

Obtaining a Number

If you do not have a taxpayer identification number or if you do not know your number, obtain Form SS-5, Application for Social Security Card, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, at the local office of the Social Security Administration or the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and apply for a number. Section references in these guidelines refer to sections under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Payees specifically exempted from backup withholding include:

 

    An organization exempt from tax under Section 501(a), an individual retirement account (IRA), or a custodial account under Section 403(b)(7), if the account satisfies the requirements of Section 401(f)(2).

 

    The United States or a state thereof, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or a political subdivision or wholly-owned agency or instrumentality of any one or more of the foregoing.

 

    An international organization or any agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

    A foreign government or any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof.

Payees that may be exempt from backup withholding include:

 

    A corporation.

 

    A financial institution.

 

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

 

    A real estate investment trust.

 

    A common trust fund operated by a bank under Section 584(a).

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

    A foreign central bank of issue.

 

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

Payments of dividends and patronage dividends not generally subject to backup withholding include the following:

 

    Payments to nonresident aliens subject to withholding under Section 1441.

 

    Payments to partnerships not engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. and which have at least one nonresident alien partner.

 

    Payments of patronage dividends where the amount received is not paid in money.

 

    Payments made by certain foreign organizations.

 

    Section 404(k) payments made by an ESOP.

Payments of interest not generally subject to backup withholding include the following:

 

    Payments of interest on obligations issued by individuals. Note: You may be subject to backup withholding if this interest is $600 or more and is paid in the course of the payer’s trade or business and you have not provided your correct taxpayer identification number to the payer.

 

    Payments of tax-exempt interest (including exempt-interest dividends under Section 852).

 

    Payments described in Section 6049(b)(5) to nonresident aliens.

 

    Payments on tax-free covenant bonds under Section 1451.

 

    Payments made by certain foreign organizations.

 

    Mortgage or student loan interest paid to you.

Exempt payees described above should file Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. FILE THIS FORM WITH THE PAYER, FURNISH YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, WRITE “EXEMPT” IN PART 2 OF THE FORM, SIGN AND DATE THE FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE PAYER.

Certain payments other than interest, dividends, and patronage dividends, which are not subject to information reporting are also not subject to backup withholding. For details, see the regulations under Sections 6041, 6041A, 6045, 6050A and 6050N.

Privacy Act Notice. — Section 6109 requires most recipients of dividend, interest, or certain other income to give taxpayer identification numbers to payers who must report the payments to the IRS. The IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of tax returns. 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. The IRS may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, or to Federal and state agencies to enforce Federal nontax criminal laws and to combat terrorism. Payers must be given the numbers whether or not recipients are required to file tax returns. Payers must generally withhold a portion of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not furnish a taxpayer identification number to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.

Penalties

(1) Penalty for Failure to Furnish Taxpayer Identification Number. — If you fail to furnish your taxpayer identification number to a payer, 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.


GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

Page 3

(2) Civil Penalty for False Information With Respect to Withholding. — If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis which results in no imposition of backup withholding, you are subject to a penalty of $500.

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

(4) Misuse of Taxpayer Identification Numbers. — If the requester discloses or uses taxpayer identification numbers in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.

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


The Depositary for the Offer is:

 

LOGO

Phone: Toll-free (877) 248-6417 and (718) 921-8317

Fax: 718 234-5001

 

If delivering by mail:  

If delivering by hand, express mail, courier

or any other expedited service:

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

P.O. Box 2042

New York, New York 10272-2042

 

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, New York 11219

DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY TO THE DEPOSITARY.

Any questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at its telephone number and location listed below. Requests for additional copies of this Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Information Agent at its respective telephone number and location listed below. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer.

The Information Agent for the Offer is:

 

LOGO

480 Washington Blvd., — 26th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

Stockholders, Banks and Brokers

Call Toll-Free: (866) 357-4029