EX-99.(A)(1)(B) 3 a17-17997_1ex99da1b.htm EX-99.(A)(1)(B)

Exhibit (a)(1)(B)

 

Letter of Transmittal

to

Tender Shares of Common Stock

of

WINMARK CORPORATION-CUSIP 974250102

 

Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase 400,000 Shares of Common Stock

At A Purchase Price of $124.48 Per Share

 

THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, ON AUGUST 16, 2017, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.

 

The Depositary Agent for the Offer is:

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

 

***By Mail:
By 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Expiration Date (otherwise the guaranteed delivery process should be followed)
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Shareowner Services
Voluntary Corporate Actions
P.O. Box 64858
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0858

 

***By Hand or Overnight Courier:
By 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Expiration Date (otherwise the guaranteed delivery process should be followed)
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Shareowner Services
Voluntary Corporate Actions
1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101
Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120

 

Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal to an address other than as set forth above will not constitute a valid delivery to the Depositary Agent.  You must sign this Letter of Transmittal in the appropriate space provided below, with signature guarantee if required, and complete the Substitute Form W-9 set forth below.

 

The instructions contained within this Letter of Transmittal should be read carefully before this Letter of Transmittal is completed.

 

ACCOUNT NUMBER

 

CERT SHARES

 

BOOK SHARES

 

TOTAL SHARES

 

ISSUE NUMBER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Approved

 

 

W-9 Completed

 

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED

 

 

 

Share Certificate(s) and Share(s) Tendered
(Please attach additional signed list, if necessary)

Account Registration
(Please Fill in, if blank)

 

Certificate
Number(s) and/or
indicate Book-
Entry
shares

 

Total Number of
Shares
Represented
by Certificate(s)

 

Number
of Shares
Tendered (1),(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Shares Tendered

 

 

 

 

 


(1)              If shares are held in Book-Entry form, you must indicate the number of shares you are tendering. By signing and submitting this Letter of Transmittal you warrant that these shares will not be sold, including through limit order request, unless properly withdrawn from the Offer.

(2)   Unless otherwise indicated, all Shares represented by Share Certificates delivered to the Depositary Agent will be deemed to have been tendered.  See Instruction 4.

 

o    Check here if Share Certificates have been lost or mutilated.  See Instruction 10.

 

Lost certificates. I have lost my certificate(s) for             shares and require assistance in replacing them. A $75.00 replacement fee must be sent in with the completed letter of transmittal. The check must be made payable to Shareowner Services. If additional forms and fees are needed, you will be contacted. See Instruction 10.

 



 

The names and addresses of the registered holders of the tendered Shares should be printed, if not already printed above, exactly as they appear on the Share Certificates (as defined below) tendered hereby.

 

This Letter of Transmittal is to be used by shareholders if certificates for Shares are to be forwarded herewith or if shares are held in book-entry form on the records of the Depositary.

 

Holders of Shares whose certificates for such Shares (the “Share Certificates”) are not immediately available, or who cannot complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, or who cannot deliver all other required documents to the Depositary Agent prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), must tender their Shares according to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in “Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase—Procedures for Tendering Shares” of the Offer to Purchase.  See Instruction 2.

 

IMPORTANT

SHAREHOLDER: SIGN HERE

(Please Complete Substitute Form W-9 Included Herein)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Signature(s) of Owner(s))

 

 

Name(s)

 

 

 

 

 

Capacity (Full Title)

 

 

(See Instructions)

 

 

Address

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Include Zip Code)

 

(Must be signed by the registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on stock certificate(s) or on a security position listing or by the 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 set forth full title and see Instruction 5.)

 

GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)

(If required—See Instructions 1 and 5)

 

APPLY MEDALLION GUARANTEE STAMP BELOW

 

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Indicate below the order (by certificate number) in which shares are to be purchased in the event of proration. If you do not designate an order, if less than all shares tendered are purchased due to proration, shares will be selected for purchase by the Depositary. See Instruction 12.

 

1st o                          2nd o                          3rd o                          4th o                          5th o

 

SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 1, 5 and 6)


To be completed ONLY if the check accepted for payment is to be issued in the name of someone other than the undersigned.

 

 

 

SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

To be completed ONLY if the check is to be sent to someone other than the undersigned or to the undersigned at an address other than that shown under “Description of Shares Tendered.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issue To:

 

Mail To:

 

 

 

Name

 

 

Name

 

(Please Print)

 

(Please Print)

 

 

 

 

 

Address

 

 

Address

 

 

 

 

(Include Zip Code)

 

(Include Zip Code)

(Recipient must complete Substitute Form W-9 below)

 

 

 

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PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS SET FORTH
IN THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned hereby tenders to Winmark Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”) pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated July 19, 2017 (the “Offer to Purchase”), the above-described shares of common stock, no par value (the “Shares”), pursuant to the and upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in the Offer to Purchase, dated July 19, 2017 (the “Offer to Purchase”), and this Letter of Transmittal (which, together with the Offer to Purchase, as they may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitute 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 effective upon acceptance for payment of the Shares tendered herewith in accordance with the terms of the Offer, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to or upon the order of the Company all right, title and interest in and to all of the Shares that are being tendered hereby, and irrevocably constitutes and appoints Wells Fargo, N.A. (the “Depositary Agent”) the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with respect to such Shares, with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to (i) deliver certificates for such Shares or transfer ownership of such Shares on the account books maintained by the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, together, in any such case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of the Company, (ii) present such Shares for transfer on the books of the Company, and (iii) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Shares, all in accordance with the terms of the Offer. This appointment will be effective if and when, and only to the extent that, the Company accepts such Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer.  This power of attorney is irrevocable and is granted in consideration of the acceptance for payment of such Shares in accordance with the terms of the Offer.  Such acceptance for payment shall, without further action, revoke any prior powers of attorney granted by the undersigned at any time with respect to such Shares, and no subsequent powers of attorney, proxies, consents or revocations may be given by the undersigned with respect thereto (and, if given, will not be deemed effective).

 

The undersigned has complied with all requirements as stated in the instructions, and the undersigned is the registered holder(s) of the shares represented by the enclosed certificate(s), have full authority to tender these certificate(s), and give the instructions in this Letter of Transmittal and warrant that the shares represented by the enclosed certificate(s) are free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances, security interests, claims, restrictions and equities whatsoever and that when, as and if the shares tendered hereby are accepted for payment by the Company, the Company will acquire good title thereto, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances, security interests, claims, restrictions and equities and the same will not be subject to any adverse claim or right. The undersigned makes the representations and warranties to the Company set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase and understands that the tender of shares made hereby constitutes an acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Offer (including if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of such extension or amendment).

 

All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned, and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives, trustees in bankruptcy, successors and assigns of the undersigned.  Except as stated in the Offer, this tender is irrevocable.

 

The undersigned understands that the valid tender of the Shares pursuant to any one of the procedures described in “The Offer—Procedures for Tendering Shares” in the Offer to Purchase and in the Instructions hereto will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Company 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).  Without limiting the foregoing, if the price to be paid in the Offer is amended in accordance with the Agreement, the price to be paid to the undersigned will be the amended price notwithstanding the fact that a different price is stated in this Letter of Transmittal.  The undersigned recognizes that under certain circumstances set forth in the Offer to Purchase, and in this Letter of Transmittal, the Company may not be required to accept for payment any of the Shares tendered hereby.

 

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INSTRUCTIONS

 

FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER

 

1.     Guarantee of Signatures.  No signature guarantee is required on this Letter of Transmittal if this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of  Shares tendered herewith, unless such registered holder(s) has completed  the box entitled “Special Payment Instructions” on the Letter of Transmittal.  See Instruction 5.

 

2.     Requirements of Tender.  This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by shareholders if certificates are to be forwarded herewith or shares are held in book-entry form on the records of the Depositary.  Share Certificates evidencing tendered Shares, as well as this Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile hereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary Agent at one of its addresses set forth herein prior to the Expiration Date.  Shareholders whose Share Certificates are not immediately available or who cannot deliver all other required documents to the Depositary Agent prior to the Expiration Date, may tender their Shares by properly completing and duly executing a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in “Section 3—Procedure for Tendering Shares” in 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,  must be received by the Depositary Agent prior to the Expiration Date; and (iii) the Share Certificates  evidencing all tendered Shares, in proper form for transfer, in each case together with the Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary Agent within three trading days after the date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.  If Share Certificates are forwarded separately to the Depositary Agent, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal must accompany each such delivery.

 

By signing and submitting this Letter of Transmittal you warrant that these shares will not be sold, including through limit order request, unless properly withdrawn from the Offer.

 

The method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, Share Certificates and all other required documents is at the option and the risk of the tendering shareholder and the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the Depositary Agent.  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.

 

LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE OFFICE OF THE DEPOSITARY BY (5:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time) ON THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE OFFER. GUARANTEED DELIVERIES WILL BE ACCEPTED VIA FAX UNTIL THE EXPIRATION TIME OF THE OFFER ON EXPIRATION DATE.

 

No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted and no fractional Shares will be exchanged.  All tendering shareholders, by execution of this Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile hereof), waive any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of their Shares for payment.

 

3.     Inadequate Space.  If the space provided herein is inadequate, the certificate numbers and/or the number of Shares and any other required information should be listed on a separate signed schedule attached hereto.

 

4.     Partial Tenders.  If fewer than all of the Shares evidenced by any Share Certificate or fewer that all Direct Registration book entry shares are to be tendered, fill in the number of Shares that are to be tendered in the box entitled “Number of Shares Tendered.” In this case, you will receive a Direct Registration (book entry) share statement for the Shares that were evidenced by your old Share Certificates, but were not tendered by you, will be sent to you, 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 Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless indicated.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

If this Letter of Transmittal or any certificates or stock powers are 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 (Company name) of the authority of

 

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such person so to act must be submitted. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares listed and transmitted hereby, no endorsements of certificates or separate stock powers are required unless payment is to be made or certificates for Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of a person other than the registered holder(s). Signatures on any 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 holder(s) of the certificate(s) listed and transmitted hereby, the certificate(s) 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 the certificate(s).  Signature(s) on any such Share Certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

 

6.     Special Payment.  If a check is to be issued in the name of a person other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal the appropriate boxes on this Letter of Transmittal must be completed. Tax implications apply to the registered holder  at the time of transfers unless Gift or Inheritance Rules apply. For tax-related information or questions, contact your tax advisor.

 

7.     IRS Form W-9.  A tendering shareholder is required to provide the Depositary Agent with a correct Taxpayer Identification Number (“TIN”) on the enclosed Form W-9. The purpose for this form is explained below under “Important Tax Information.” The shareholder must, under penalties of perjury, certify that such number is correct and that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding of federal income tax or, alternatively, to establish another basis for exemption from backup withholding. If a tendering shareholder is subject to backup withholding, the shareholder must mark the “Notification of Backup Withholding” box. Failure to provide the information requested on the enclosed Form W-9 may subject the tendering shareholder to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service and to federal income tax backup withholding at the applicable federal withholding rate of any payments made to the shareholder or other payee.

 

Certain shareholders (including, for example, corporations, financial institutions, tax-exempt entities and IRA plans) are not subject to backup withholding. A foreign (“nonresident alien”) shareholder should submit an appropriate and properly completed IRS Form W-8, a copy of which may be obtained from the Depositary Agent, in order to avoid backup withholding. See the enclosed “Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on the enclosed Form W-9” for more instructions. We cannot accept a facsimile, photocopy or scanned image of a Form W-8BEN.

 

8.     Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies.  Questions and requests for assistance or additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, IRS Form W-8 and the Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 may be directed to the Information Agent at the addresses and phone numbers set forth below, or from brokers, dealers, commercial banks or trust companies.

 

9.     Waiver of Conditions.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer, the Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive, at any time or from time to time, any of the specified conditions of the Offer, in whole or in part, in the case of any Shares tendered.

 

10.  Lost, Destroyed or Stolen Certificates.  If your certificates are lost, please check the box. A $75.00 lost certificate replacement fee must be mailed in with your completed Letter of Transmittal. If there are additional forms or fees needed, you will be contacted. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost or destroyed certificates have been followed.

 

11.  Withdrawal of Shares Tendered.  Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date. After an effective withdrawal you may resubmit to the Depositary Agent a completed replacement of this document and any other documents required by the Offer for properly tendering Shares prior to the Expiration Date.

 

12.  Order of Purchase in Event of Proration.  As described in the Offer to Purchase, shareholders 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 federal income tax classification of any gain or loss on the shares purchased.

 

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13.  Stock Transfer Taxes.  Except as otherwise provided in this Instruction 13, we will pay any stock transfer taxes with respect to the transfer and sale of shares to it pursuant to the tender offer. If, however, payment of the purchase price is to be made to, or if shares not tendered or accepted for payment are to be registered in the name of, any person(s) other than the registered owner(s), or if shares tendered hereby are registered in the name(s) of any person(s) other than the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, the amount of any stock transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered owner(s), such person(s)) or otherwise payable on account of the transfer to such person(s) 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.

 

Important:  This Letter of Transmittal together with any required signature guarantees, and any other required documents, must be received by the Depositary Agent prior to the Expiration Date and certificates for tendered Shares must be received by the Depositary Agent prior to the Expiration Date, or the tendering shareholder must comply with the procedures for guaranteed delivery.

 

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IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION

 

Under the federal income tax law, unless an exemption applies, a shareholder whose tendered Shares are accepted for payment is required to provide the Depositary Agent with such shareholder’s correct TIN on the enclosed Form W-9. If such shareholder is an individual, the TIN is such shareholder’s Social Security Number If the Depositary Agent is not provided with the correct TIN, the shareholder may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, payments that are made to such shareholder may be subject to backup withholding based on 28% of the reportable amount.

 

Certain shareholders (for example, corporations) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. In order for a non-U.S. person to claim nonresident alien (or foreign) tax status and qualify for an exemption from backup withholding, such individual must submit an appropriate and properly completed IRS Form W-8, attesting to that individual’s foreign status. Normally, a foreign individual or corporation will provide a Form W-8BEN. Intermediary entities will provide a Form W-8IMY for the entity and a Form W-8BEN or Form W-9 for each beneficial owner along with a withholding statement. Such a Form W-8 may be obtained from the Depositary Agent. Exempt U.S. shareholders, other than foreign individuals (i.e., corporations, etc.) should furnish their TIN, check the “Exempt payee” line and sign, date and return the Substitute Form W-9 to the Depositary Agent.

 

If backup withholding applies, the Depositary Agent is required to withhold a percentage of any reportable payments made to the shareholder at the Withholding Rate. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the federal income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If backup withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service when completing a tax return for that applicable year, based on the withholding amount reported on the Form 1099.

 

Purpose of IRS Form W-9

 

To prevent backup withholding on payments that are made to a shareholder with respect to Shares exchanged pursuant to the Offer, the shareholder is required to notify the Depositary Agent of such shareholder’s correct TIN (or the TIN of another payee) by completing the enclosed Form W-9 enclosed certifying that the TIN provided is correct.

 

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Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent or the Dealer Manager at their respective addresses and telephone numbers set forth below. Requests for copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, the IRS Form W-8 and other tender offer materials may also be directed to the Information Agent. A Stockholder may also contact such stockholders’ broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer.

 

The Information Agent for the Offer is:

 

D. F. King & Co., Inc.

48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor

New York, New York 10005

Banks and Brokers call collect: (212) 269-5550

All others call toll free: (800) 290-6427

Email: Winmark@dfking.com

 

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