Exhibit 99.1
NORTEK,
INC.
LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL
OFFER TO
EXCHANGE
$750,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of its 10% Senior
Secured Notes due December 1, 2013, which have been
Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933, as Amended, for any
and all of its Outstanding 10% Senior Secured Notes due December
1, 2013
THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND
WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY
TIME,
ON ,
2008 (THE EXPIRATION DATE) UNLESS
EXTENDED.
The Exchange Agent is:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
| |
|
|
|
|
|
By Regular Mail or Overnight Courier:
U.S. Bank National Association
Corporate Trust Services
P.O. Box 64452
St. Paul, MN 55164-0111
|
|
By Facsimile (for Eligible Institutions only):
N/A
|
|
By Registered & Certified Mail:
|
|
In Person by Hand Only:
|
|
|
|
U.S. Bank National Association
Corporate Trust Services
P.O. Box 64452
St. Paul, MN 55164-0111
|
|
U.S. Bank National Association
Corporate Trust Services
60 Livingston Avenue
1st Floor Bond Drop Window
St. Paul, MN 55107
|
|
For Information or Confirmation by Telephone:
(800) 934-6802
|
Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal to an address other than
as set forth above or transmission via a facsimile transmission
to a number other than as set forth above will not constitute a
valid delivery.
The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus
dated ,
2008 (the Prospectus) of Nortek, Inc. (the
Issuer), and this Letter of Transmittal (the
Letter of Transmittal), which together describe the
Issuers offer (the Exchange Offer) to exchange
their 10% Senior Secured Notes due December 1, 2013
which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the Securities Act) (the Exchange
Notes) for their outstanding 10% Senior Secured Notes
due December 1, 2013 (the Outstanding Notes
and, together with the Exchange Notes, the Notes)
from the holders thereof.
The terms of the Exchange Notes are identical in all material
respects (including principal amount, interest rate and
maturity) to the terms of the Outstanding Notes for which they
may be exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer, except that the
Exchange Notes are freely transferable by holders thereof
(except as provided herein or in the Prospectus).
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the
same meaning given them in the Prospectus.
YOUR BANK OR BROKER CAN ASSIST YOU IN COMPLETING THIS FORM. THE
INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MUST
BE FOLLOWED. QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR FOR
ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND THIS LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.
The undersigned has checked the appropriate boxes below and
signed this Letter of Transmittal to indicate the action the
undersigned desires to take with respect to the Exchange Offer.
PLEASE
READ THE ENTIRE
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND THE PROSPECTUS
CAREFULLY BEFORE CHECKING ANY BOX BELOW.
List below the Outstanding Notes to which this Letter of
Transmittal relates. If the space provided below is inadequate,
the certificate numbers and aggregate principal amounts should
be listed on a separate signed schedule affixed hereto.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DESCRIPTION OF OUTSTANDING
NOTES TENDERED HEREWITH
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Principal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s)
|
|
|
Certificate
|
|
|
Represented by
|
|
|
Principal Amount
|
|
(Please fill in)
|
|
|
Number(s)*
|
|
|
Outstanding Notes*
|
|
|
Tendered**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Need not be completed by book-entry holders.
|
|
** Unless otherwise indicated, the holder will be deemed to
have tendered the full aggregate principal amount represented by
such Outstanding Notes. See instruction 2.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holders of Outstanding Notes whose Outstanding Notes are not
immediately available or who cannot deliver all other required
documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration
Date or who cannot complete the procedures for book-entry
transfer on a timely basis, must tender their Outstanding Notes
according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the
Prospectus.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the term
holder for purposes of this Letter of Transmittal
means any person in whose name Outstanding Notes are registered
or any other person who has obtained a properly completed bond
power from the registered holder or any person whose Outstanding
Notes are held of record by The Depository Trust Company
(DTC).
|
|
|
o
|
CHECK
HERE IF TENDERED OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED
PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY AND COMPLETE THE
FOLLOWING:
|
|
|
|
| |
Name of Registered
Holder(s):
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Name of Eligible Guarantor
Institution that Guaranteed Delivery:
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Date of Execution of Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery:
|
|
If Delivered by Book-Entry
Transfer:
|
|
|
| |
Name of Tendering
Institution:
|
|
2
|
|
|
o
|
CHECK
HERE IF EXCHANGE NOTES ARE TO BE DELIVERED TO PERSON OTHER
THAN PERSON SIGNING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL:
|
|
|
|
o
|
CHECK
HERE IF EXCHANGE NOTES ARE TO BE DELIVERED TO ADDRESS
DIFFERENT FROM THAT LISTED ELSEWHERE IN THIS LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL:
|
|
|
|
o
|
CHECK
HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER WHO ACQUIRED OUTSTANDING
NOTES FOR YOUR OWN ACCOUNT AS A RESULT OF MARKET MAKING OR
OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL
COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR
SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
|
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the
undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not
intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Notes. If the
undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes
for its own account in exchange for Outstanding Notes that were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes;
however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the
undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities
Act. A broker-dealer may not participate in the Exchange Offer
with respect to Outstanding Notes acquired other than as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities.
Any holder who is an affiliate of the Issuer or who
has an arrangement or understanding with respect to the
distribution of the Exchange Notes to be acquired pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, or any broker-dealer who purchased
Outstanding Notes from the Issuer to resell pursuant to
Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any other available
exemption under the Securities Act must comply with the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements under the
Securities Act.
3
PLEASE
READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange
Offer, the undersigned hereby tenders to the Issuer the
principal amount of the Outstanding Notes indicated above.
Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of
all or any portion of the Outstanding Notes tendered herewith in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer
(including, if the Exchange Offer is extended or amended, the
terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment), the
undersigned hereby exchanges, assigns and transfers to, or upon
the order of, the Issuer all right, title and interest in and to
such Outstanding Notes as are being tendered herewith. The
undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the
Exchange Agent as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact
of the undersigned (with full knowledge that the Exchange Agent
also acts as the agent of the Issuer, in connection with the
Exchange Offer) to cause the Outstanding Notes to be assigned,
transferred and exchanged.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it has full power
and authority to tender, exchange, assign and transfer the
Outstanding Notes and to acquire Exchange Notes issuable upon
the exchange of such tendered Outstanding Notes, and that, when
the same are accepted for exchange, the Issuer will acquire good
and unencumbered title to the tendered Outstanding Notes, free
and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances
and not subject to any adverse claim. The undersigned also
warrants that it will, upon request, execute and deliver any
additional documents deemed by the Exchange Agent or the Issuer
to be necessary or desirable to complete the exchange,
assignment and transfer of the tendered Outstanding Notes or
transfer ownership of such Outstanding Notes on the account
books maintained by the book-entry transfer facility. The
undersigned further agrees that acceptance of any and all
validly tendered Outstanding Notes by the Issuer and the
issuance of Exchange Notes in exchange therefor shall constitute
performance in full by the Issuer of its obligations under the
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 20, 2008,
among Nortek, Inc., the Guarantors Signatory thereto and Credit
Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC and
Goldman, Sachs & Co. (the Registration Rights
Agreement), and that the Issuer shall have no further
obligations or liabilities thereunder. The undersigned will
comply with its obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement. The undersigned has read and agrees to all terms of
the Exchange Offer.
The undersigned understands that tenders of Outstanding Notes
pursuant to any one of the procedures described in the
Prospectus and in the instructions attached hereto will, upon
the Issuers acceptance for exchange of such tendered
Outstanding Notes, constitute a binding agreement between the
undersigned and the Issuer upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of the Exchange Offer. The undersigned recognizes
that, under circumstances set forth in the Prospectus, the
Issuer may not be required to accept for exchange any of the
Outstanding Notes.
By tendering shares of Outstanding Notes and executing this
Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned represents that Exchange
Notes acquired in the exchange will be obtained in the ordinary
course of business of the undersigned, that the undersigned has
no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate
in a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of
such Exchange Notes, that the undersigned is not an
affiliate of the Issuer within the meaning of
Rule 405 under the Securities Act and that if the
undersigned or the person receiving such Exchange Notes, whether
or not such person is the undersigned, is not a broker-dealer,
the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does
not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Notes. If
the undersigned or the person receiving such Exchange Notes,
whether or not such person is the undersigned, is a
broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes for its own
account in exchange for Outstanding Notes that were acquired as
a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes; however, by
so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned
will not be deemed to admit that it is an
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
Any holder of Outstanding Notes using the Exchange Offer to
participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes
(i) cannot rely on the position of the staff of the
Securities and Exchange Commission enunciated in its
interpretive letter with respect to Exxon Capital Holdings
Corporation (available April 13, 1989) or similar
interpretive letters and (ii) must
4
comply with the registration and prospectus requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction.
All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall
survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned and every
obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon
the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of
the undersigned. Tendered Outstanding Notes may be withdrawn at
any time prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with the
terms of this Letter of Transmittal. Except as stated in the
Prospectus, this tender is irrevocable.
Certificates for all Exchange Notes delivered in exchange for
tendered Outstanding Notes and any Outstanding Notes delivered
herewith but not exchanged, and registered in the name of the
undersigned, shall be delivered to the undersigned at the
address shown below the signature of the undersigned.
The undersigned, by completing the box entitled
Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered Herewith
above and signing this letter, will be deemed to have tendered
the Outstanding Notes as set forth in such box.
5
TENDERING
HOLDER(S) SIGN HERE
(Complete accompanying substitute
Form W-9)
Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s)
appear(s) on certificate(s) for Outstanding Notes hereby
tendered or in whose name Outstanding Notes are registered on
the books of DTC or one of its participants, or by any person(s)
authorized to become the registered holder(s) by endorsements
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 the full title of
such person. See Instruction 3.
(Signature(s) of
Holder(s))
(Please Print)
(Including Zip Code)
|
|
| Daytime Area Code and Telephone No. |
|
|
|
| Taxpayer Identification No. |
|
GUARANTEE
OF SIGNATURE(S)
(If Required See Instruction 3)
(Include Zip Code)
|
|
| Area Code and Telephone No. |
|
6
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 3 and 4)
|
|
|
SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 3 and 4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To be completed ONLY if Exchange Notes or
Outstanding Notes not tendered are to be issued in the name of
someone other than the registered holder of the Outstanding
Notes whose name(s) appear(s) above.
|
|
|
To be completed ONLY if Exchange Notes or
Outstanding Notes not tendered are to be sent to someone other
than the registered holder of the Outstanding Notes whose
name(s) appear(s) above, or such registered holder(s) at an
address other than that shown above.
|
|
Issue: o Outstanding Notes not tendered to:
o Exchange Notes to:
|
|
|
Mail: o Outstanding Notes not tendered to:
o Exchange Notes to:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name(s)
|
|
|
Name(s)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Include Zip Code)
|
|
|
(Include Zip Code)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daytime Area Code and Telephone
No.
|
|
|
Area Code and Telephone
No.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax Identification No.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7
INSTRUCTIONS
FORMING
PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE
OFFER
|
|
|
1.
|
Delivery
of this Letter of Transmittal and Certificates; Guaranteed
Delivery Procedures.
|
A holder of Outstanding Notes may tender the same by
(i) properly completing and signing this Letter of
Transmittal or a facsimile hereof (all references in the
Prospectus to the Letter of Transmittal shall be deemed to
include a facsimile thereof) and delivering the same, together
with the certificate or certificates, if applicable,
representing the Outstanding Notes being tendered and any
required signature guarantees and any other documents required
by this Letter of Transmittal, to the Exchange Agent at its
address set forth above on or prior to the Expiration Date, or
(ii) complying with the procedure for book-entry transfer
described below, or (iii) complying with the guaranteed
delivery procedures described below.
Holders of Outstanding Notes may tender Outstanding Notes by
book-entry transfer by crediting the Outstanding Notes to the
Exchange Agents account at DTC in accordance with
DTCs Automated Tender Offer Program (ATOP) and
by complying with applicable ATOP procedures with respect to the
Exchange Offer. DTC participants that are accepting the Exchange
Offer should transmit their acceptance to DTC, which will edit
and verify the acceptance and execute a book-entry delivery to
the Exchange Agents account at DTC. DTC will then send a
computer-generated message (an Agents Message)
to the Exchange Agent for its acceptance in which the holder of
the Outstanding Notes acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the
terms of, and makes the representations and warranties contained
in, this Letter of Transmittal or the DTC participant confirms
on behalf of itself and the beneficial owners of such
Outstanding Notes all provisions of this Letter of Transmittal
(including any representations and warranties) applicable to it
and such beneficial owner as fully as if it had completed the
information required herein and executed and transmitted this
Letter of Transmittal to the Exchange Agent. Delivery of the
Agents Message by DTC will satisfy the terms of the
Exchange Offer as to execution and delivery of a Letter of
Transmittal by the participant identified in the Agents
Message. DTC participants may also accept the Exchange Offer by
submitting a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery through ATOP.
The method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, the
Outstanding Notes and any other required documents is at the
election and risk of the holder, and except as otherwise
provided below, the delivery will be deemed made only when
actually received or confirmed by the Exchange Agent. If such
delivery is by mail, it is suggested that registered mail with
return receipt requested, properly insured, be used. In all
cases sufficient time should be allowed to permit timely
delivery. No Outstanding Notes or Letters of Transmittal should
be sent to the Issuer.
Holders whose Outstanding Notes are not immediately available or
who cannot deliver their Outstanding Notes and all other
required documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the
Expiration Date or comply with book-entry transfer procedures on
a timely basis must tender their Outstanding Notes pursuant to
the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in the Prospectus.
Pursuant to such procedure: (i) such tender must be made by
or through an Eligible Guarantor Institution (as defined below);
(ii) prior to the Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent must
have received from such Eligible Guarantor Institution a letter,
telegram or facsimile transmission (receipt confirmed by
telephone and an original delivered by guaranteed overnight
courier) setting forth the name and address of the tendering
holder, the names in which such Outstanding Notes are
registered, and, if applicable, the certificate numbers of the
Outstanding Notes to be tendered; and (iii) all tendered
Outstanding Notes (or a confirmation of any book-entry transfer
of such Outstanding Notes into the Exchange Agents account
at a book-entry transfer facility) as well as this Letter of
Transmittal and all other documents required by this Letter of
Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent within five
business days after the date of execution of such letter,
telegram or facsimile transmission, all as provided in the
Prospectus.
No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tenders
will be accepted. All tendering holders, by execution of this
Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), shall waive any
right to receive notice of the acceptance of the Outstanding
Notes for exchange.
|
|
|
2.
|
Partial
Tenders; Withdrawals.
|
If less than the entire principal amount of Outstanding Notes
evidenced by a submitted certificate is tendered, the tendering
holder must fill in the aggregate principal amount of
Outstanding Notes tendered in the box entitled Description
of Outstanding Notes Tendered Herewith. A newly issued
certificate for the Outstanding Notes submitted but not
8
tendered will be sent to such holder as soon as practicable
after the Expiration Date. All Outstanding Notes delivered to
the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless
otherwise clearly indicated.
If not yet accepted, a tender pursuant to the Exchange Offer may
be withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date.
To be effective with respect to the tender of Outstanding Notes,
a written notice of withdrawal must: (i) be received by the
Exchange Agent at the address for the Exchange Agent set forth
above before the Issuer notifies the Exchange Agent that they
have accepted the tender of Outstanding Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer; (ii) specify the name of the person who
tendered the Outstanding Notes to be withdrawn;
(iii) identify the Outstanding Notes to be withdrawn
(including the principal amount of such Outstanding Notes, or,
if applicable, the certificate numbers shown on the particular
certificates evidencing such Outstanding Notes and the principal
amount of Outstanding Notes represented by such certificates);
(iv) include a statement that such holder is withdrawing
its election to have such Outstanding Notes exchanged; and
(v) be signed by the holder in the same manner as the
original signature on this Letter of Transmittal (including any
required signature guarantee). The Exchange Agent will return
the properly withdrawn Outstanding Notes promptly following
receipt of notice of withdrawal. If Outstanding Notes have been
tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer, any
notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the
account at the book-entry transfer facility to be credited with
the withdrawn Outstanding Notes or otherwise comply with the
book-entry transfer facilitys procedures. All questions as
to the validity of notices of withdrawals, including time of
receipt, will be determined by the Issuer, and such
determination will be final and binding on all parties.
Any Outstanding Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have
been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the Exchange
Offer. Any Outstanding Notes which have been tendered for
exchange but which are not exchanged for any reason will be
returned to the holder thereof without cost to such holder (or,
in the case of Outstanding Notes tendered by book-entry transfer
into the Exchange Agents account at the book entry
transfer facility pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures
described above, such Outstanding Notes will be credited to an
account with such book-entry transfer facility specified by the
holder) as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of
tender or termination of the Exchange Offer. Properly withdrawn
Outstanding Notes may be retendered by following one of the
procedures described under the caption The Exchange
Offers Procedures for Tendering in the
Prospectus at any time prior to the Expiration Date.
|
|
|
3.
|
Signature
on this Letter of Transmittal; Written Instruments and
Endorsements; Guarantee of Signatures.
|
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered
holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, the
signature must correspond with the name(s) as written on the
face of the certificates without alteration, enlargement or any
change whatsoever. If any of the Outstanding Notes tendered
hereby are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such
owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.
If a number of Outstanding Notes registered in different names
are tendered, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit
as many separate copies of this Letter of Transmittal as there
are different registrations of Outstanding Notes.
When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered
holder or holders (which term, for the purposes described
herein, shall include the book-entry transfer facility whose
name appears on a security listing as the owner of the
Outstanding Notes) of Outstanding Notes listed and tendered
hereby, no endorsements of certificates or separate written
instruments of transfer or exchange are required.
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than
the registered holder or holders of the Outstanding Notes
listed, such Outstanding Notes must be endorsed or accompanied
by separate written instruments of transfer or exchange in form
satisfactory to the Issuer and duly executed by the registered
holder, in either case signed exactly as the name or names of
the registered holder or holders appear(s) on the Outstanding
Notes.
If this Letter of Transmittal, any certificates or separate
written instruments of transfer or exchange 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, unless waived by the Issuer, proper
evidence satisfactory to the Issuer of their authority so to act
must be submitted.
Endorsements on certificates or signatures on separate written
instruments of transfer or exchange required by this
Instruction 3 must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor
Institution.
9
Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by
an Eligible Guarantor Institution, unless Outstanding Notes are
tendered: (i) by a holder who has not completed the box
entitled Special Issuance Instructions or
Special Delivery Instructions on this Letter of
Transmittal; or (ii) for the account of an Eligible
Guarantor Institution (as defined below). In the event that the
signatures in this Letter of Transmittal or a notice of
withdrawal, as the case may be, are required to be guaranteed,
such guarantees must be by an eligible guarantor institution
which is a member of a firm of a registered national securities
exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States or another eligible
guarantor institution within the meaning of
Rule 17Ad-15
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (an
Eligible Guarantor Institution). If Outstanding
Notes are registered in the name of a person other than the
signer of this Letter of Transmittal, the Outstanding Notes
surrendered for exchange must be endorsed by, or be accompanied
by a written instrument or instruments of transfer or exchange,
in satisfactory form as determined by the Issuer, in its sole
discretion, duly executed by the registered holder with the
signature thereon guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor
Institution.
|
|
|
4.
|
Special
Issuance and Delivery Instructions.
|
Tendering holders should indicate, as applicable, the name and
address to which the Exchange Notes or certificates for
Outstanding Notes not exchanged are to be issued or sent, if
different from the name and address of the person signing this
Letter of Transmittal. In the case of issuance in a different
name, the tax identification number of the person named must
also be indicated. Holders tendering Outstanding Notes by
book-entry transfer may request that Outstanding Notes not
exchanged be credited to such account maintained at the
book-entry transfer facility as such holder may designate.
The Issuer shall pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to
the transfer and exchange of Outstanding Notes to it or its
order pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, certificates
representing Exchange Notes or Outstanding Notes for principal
amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be
delivered to, or are to be registered or issued in the name of,
any other person other than the registered holder of the
Outstanding Notes tendered, or if tendered Outstanding Notes are
registered in the name of any person other than the person
signing the Letter of Transmittal, or if a transfer tax is
imposed for any reason other than the transfer and exchange of
Outstanding Notes to the Issuer or its order pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether
imposed on the registered holder or any other person) will be
payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence of
payment of such taxes or exception therefrom is not submitted
herewith the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed
directly to such tendering holder.
The Issuer reserve the absolute right to waive, in whole or in
part, any of the conditions to the Exchange Offer set forth in
the Prospectus.
|
|
|
7.
|
Mutilated,
Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Securities.
|
Any holder whose Outstanding Notes have been mutilated, lost,
stolen or destroyed, should contact the Exchange Agent at the
address indicated below for further instructions.
Each holder of Outstanding Notes whose Outstanding Notes are
accepted for exchange (or other payee) is generally required to
provide a correct taxpayer identification number
(TIN) (e.g., the holders Social Security or
federal employer identification number) and certain other
information, on Substitute
Form W-9,
which is provided under Important Tax Information
below, and to certify under penalties of perjury that the holder
(or other payee) is not subject to backup withholding. Failure
to provide the information on the Substitute
Form W-9
may subject the holder (or other payee) to a $50 penalty imposed
by the Internal Revenue Service and 28% federal income tax
backup withholding on payments made in connection with the
Outstanding Notes or the Exchange Notes. The box in Part 3
of the Substitute
Form W-9
may be checked if the holder (or other payee) has not been
issued a TIN and has applied for a TIN or intends to apply for a
TIN in the near future. If the box in Part 3 is checked and
a TIN is not provided by the time any payment is made in
connection with the Outstanding Notes or the Exchange Notes, 28%
of all such payments will be withheld until a TIN is
10
provided and, if a TIN is not provided within 60 days, such
withheld amounts will be paid over to the Internal Revenue
Service.
|
|
|
9.
|
Requests
for Assistance or Additional Copies.
|
Questions relating to the procedure for tendering, as well as
requests for additional copies of the Prospectus and this Letter
of Transmittal, may be directed to the Exchange Agent at the
address and telephone number set forth above. In addition, all
questions relating to the Exchange Offer, as well as requests
for assistance or additional copies of the Prospectus and this
Letter of Transmittal, may be directed to the Exchange Agent at
the address and telephone number indicated above.
IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR A
FACSIMILE OR COPY THEREOF (TOGETHER WITH CERTIFICATES OF
OUTSTANDING NOTES OR CONFIRMATION OF BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND ALL
OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS) OR A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT ON OR PRIOR TO THE
EXPIRATION DATE.
IMPORTANT
TAX INFORMATION
Under U.S. federal income tax law, a holder of Outstanding
Notes whose Outstanding Notes are accepted for exchange may be
subject to backup withholding unless the holder provides
U.S. Bank National Association as Paying Agent (the
Paying Agent), with either (i) such
holders correct taxpayer identification number
(TIN) on Substitute
Form W-9
attached hereto, certifying (A) that the TIN provided on
Substitute
Form W-9
is correct (or that such holder of Outstanding Notes is awaiting
a TIN), (B) that the holder of Outstanding Notes is not
subject to backup withholding because (x) such holder of
Outstanding Notes is exempt from backup withholding,
(y) such holder of Outstanding Notes has not been notified
by the Internal Revenue Service that he or she is subject to
backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all
interest or dividends or (z) the Internal Revenue Service
has notified the holder of Outstanding Notes that he or she is
no longer subject to backup withholding and (C) that the
holder of Outstanding Notes is a U.S. person (including a
U.S. resident alien); or (ii) an adequate basis for
exemption from backup withholding. If such holder of Outstanding
Notes is a U.S. individual, the TIN is such holders
social security number. If the Paying Agent is not provided with
the correct TIN, the holder of Outstanding Notes may also be
subject to certain penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue
Service.
Certain holders of Outstanding Notes (including, among others,
all corporations and certain foreign individuals and entities)
are not subject to these backup withholding requirements.
However, exempt holders of Outstanding Notes should indicate
their exempt status on Substitute
Form W-9.
For example, a corporation should complete the Substitute
Form W-9,
provide its TIN and indicate by checking the appropriate boxes
in Part 4 of the Substitute
Form W-9
that it is a corporation and that it is exempt from backup
withholding. In order for a foreign individual to qualify as an
exempt recipient, the holder must submit the appropriate
Form W-8BEN,
rather than a
Form W-9,
signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to that
individuals exempt status. A
Form W-8BEN
can be obtained from the Paying Agent. See the enclosed
Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification
Number on Substitute
Form W-9
for more instructions.
If backup withholding applies, the Paying Agent is required to
withhold 28% of any payments made to the holder of Outstanding
Notes or Exchange Notes or other payee. 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 may be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service,
provided the required information is furnished.
The box in Part 3 of the Substitute
Form W-9
may be checked if the surrendering holder of Outstanding Notes
has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a TIN or intends
to apply for a TIN in the near future. If the box in Part 3
is checked, the holder of Outstanding Notes or other payee must
also complete the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer
Identification Number below in order to avoid backup
withholding. Notwithstanding that the box in Part 3 is
checked and the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification
Number is completed, the Paying Agent will withhold 28% of all
payments made prior to the time a properly certified TIN is
provided to the Paying Agent and, if the Paying Agent is not
provided with a TIN within 60 days, such amounts will be
paid over to the Internal Revenue Service.
11
The holder of Outstanding Notes is required to give the Paying
Agent the TIN (e.g., social security number or employer
identification number) of the record owner of the Outstanding
Notes. If the Outstanding Notes are in more than one name or are
not in the name of the actual owner, consult the enclosed
Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification
Number on Substitute
Form W-9
for additional guidance on which number to report.
TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED BY THE IRS,
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT ANY DISCUSSION OF FEDERAL TAX
ISSUES CONTAINED HEREIN (I) IS WRITTEN IN CONNECTION WITH
THE PROMOTION OR MARKETING BY US OF THE TRANSACTIONS OR MATTERS
ADDRESSED HEREIN AND (II) IS NOT INTENDED OR WRITTEN TO BE
USED, AND CANNOT BE USED, BY ANY TAXPAYER FOR THE PURPOSE OF
AVOIDING PENALTIES UNDER THE CODE. EACH TAXPAYER SHOULD SEEK
ADVICE BASED ON THE TAXPAYERS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES
FROM AN INDEPENDENT TAX ADVISOR.
12
GUIDELINES
FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE
FORM W-9
GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING THE PROPER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
TO GIVE THE PAYING AGENT. Social Security numbers
and individual taxpayer identification 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 name and the SOCIAL SECURITY number (or individual
taxpayer identification number) of
|
|
1.
|
|
|
An individuals account
|
|
The individual
|
|
2.
|
|
|
Two or more individuals (joint account)
|
|
The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first
individual on the account
|
|
3.
|
|
|
Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)
|
|
The minor
|
|
4.
|
|
|
a. The usual revocable savings trust account (grantor is
also trustee)
|
|
The grantor-trustee
|
|
|
|
|
b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid
trust under State law.
|
|
The actual owner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
For this type of account:
|
|
Give the name and the EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION number
of
|
|
5.
|
|
|
Sole proprietorship account or single owner LLC
|
|
The owner (you may use the owners Social Security number
or employer identification number) (you must show the name of
the owner but you may also enter your business or doing
business as name)
|
|
6.
|
|
|
A valid trust, estate or pension trust
|
|
The legal entity (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)
|
|
7.
|
|
|
Corporate or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832
|
|
The corporation
|
|
8.
|
|
|
Religious, charitable, or educational organization account or an
association, club or other tax-exempt organization
|
|
The organization
|
|
9.
|
|
|
Partnership or multi-member LLC
|
|
The partnership
|
|
10.
|
|
|
A broker or registered nominee
|
|
The broker or nominee
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Note: If no name is circled when there is more than one
name listed, the TIN will be considered to be that of the first
name listed.
13
GUIDELINES
FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE
FORM W-9
Obtaining
a Number
If you do not have a taxpayer identification number, obtain
Form SS-5,
Application for a Social Security Card at the local office of
the Social Security Administration, or
Form SS-4,
Application for Employer Identification Number or
Form W-7,
Application for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number at the
Internal Revenue Service and apply for a number.
To complete Substitute
Form W-9,
if you do not have a taxpayer identification number, write
Applied For in the space for the taxpayer
identification number in Part 1, check the box in
Part 3, sign and date the Form, and give it to the
requester.
Payee
Exempt from Backup Withholding
Payees specifically exempted from backup withholding on ALL
payments include the following:
|
|
|
| |
|
An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), or an
individual retirement plan, or a custodial account under
section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements
of section 401(f)(2).
|
| |
| |
|
The United States, or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
|
| |
| |
|
A State, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United
States, or any of their political subdivisions or
instrumentalities.
|
| |
| |
|
An international organization or any agency, or instrumentality
thereof.
|
| |
| |
|
A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions,
agencies or instrumentalities.
|
Payees that may be specifically exempted from backup
withholding on certain payments include the following:
|
|
|
| |
|
A corporation.
|
| |
| |
|
A financial institution.
|
| |
| |
|
A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission.
|
| |
| |
|
A dealer in securities or commodities registered in the United
States, the District of Columbia or a possession of the United
States.
|
| |
| |
|
A real estate investment trust.
|
| |
| |
|
A nominee or custodian.
|
| |
| |
|
A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a).
|
| |
| |
|
A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in
section 4947.
|
| |
| |
|
An entity registered at all times during the taxable year under
the Investment Company Act of 1940.
|
| |
| |
|
A foreign central bank of issue.
|
EXEMPT PAYEES SHOULD FILE
FORM W-9
TO AVOID POSSIBLE ERRONEOUS BACKUP WITHHOLDING. FILE THIS
FORM WITH THE PAYING AGENT, FURNISH YOUR TAXPAYER
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, CHECK THE BOX LABELLED EXEMPT FROM
BACKUP WITHHOLDING, SIGN AND DATE THE FORM AND RETURN
IT TO THE PAYER.
Privacy Act Notice. Section 6109 of
the Internal Revenue Code requires you to provide your correct
TIN to persons who must file information returns with the IRS to
report interest, dividends, and certain other income paid to
you, mortgage interest you paid, the acquisition or abandonment
of secured property, cancellation of debt, or contributions you
made to an IRA or Archer MSA or HSA. The IRS uses the numbers
for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of
your tax return. The IRS may also provide this information to
the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation, and
to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and
U.S. possessions to carry out their tax laws. We may also
disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty,
or to Federal and state agencies to enforce Federal nontax
criminal laws and to combat terrorism.
You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to
file a tax return. Payers must generally withhold 28% of taxable
interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who
does not give a TIN to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.
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.
2. Civil Penalty for False Information With
Respect to Withholding. If you make a false
statement with no reasonable basis that 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 be subject 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 ADVISOR OR THE
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
14
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PAYERS NAME:
U.S. Bank National Association, as Exchange Agent
|
SUBSTITUTE
FORM W-9
|
|
|
Part 1 PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN AND CERTIFY BY
SIGNING AND DATING BELOW
|
|
|
Name and Address
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Social Security Number
OR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employer Identification Number
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service
Payors Request for Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
|
|
|
Part 2 Certification
Under the penalties of perjury, I certify that:
|
|
|
|
(1) The number shown on this form is my correct Taxpayer
Identification Number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued
to me),
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I am
exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified
by the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) that I am
subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report
all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I
am no longer subject to backup withholding, and
|
|
|
|
|
(3) I am a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident
alien).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Part 3
Awaiting
TIN o
|
|
|
Part 4 Check appropriate boxes:
Individual/Sole
proprietor o
Exempt from backup
withholding o
Partnership o
Corporation o
Other
(specify) o
|
|
|
|
|
Certificate Instructions You must cross out
item (2) above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are
currently subject to backup withholding because 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 such item (2).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Internal Revenue Service does
not require your consent to any provision of this document other
than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature:
|
|
|
Date:
, 20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 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.
|
YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU CHECKED THE
BOX IN PART 3 OF THE SUBSTITUTE
FORM W-9.
15
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
(1) 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 (2) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the
near future. I understand that if I do not provide a taxpayer
identification number by the time of payment, 28% of all
reportable payments made to me will be withheld.
| |
|
|
|
Signature:
|
|
Date:
, 20
|