Exhibit (a)(1)(F)
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: | |
| 1. An individual’s 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(1) | |
| 3. Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act) | The minor(2) | |
| 4. a. The usual revocable savings trust account (grantor is also trustee) | The grantor-trustee(1) | |
| b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under State law | The actual owner(1) | |
| 5. Sole proprietorship or single-owner LLC account | The owner(3) | |
For this type of account | Give the EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION number of: | |
| 6. Sole proprietorship or single-owner LLC account | The owner(3) | |
| 7. A valid trust, estate, or pension trust | Legal entity(4) | |
| 8. Corporate account or LLC electing corporate status | The corporation | |
| 9. Association, club, religious, charitable, educational or other tax-exempt organization | The organization | |
| 10. Partnership or multi-member LLC | The partnership | |
| 11. A broker or registered nominee | The broker or nominee | |
| 12. Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a State or local government, school district or prison) that receives agricultural program payments | The public entity | |
1 List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has a social security number, that person’s number must be furnished. |
2 Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s social security number. |
3 You must show your individual name, but you may also enter your business or “doing business as” name. You may use either your social security number or employer identification number (if you have one). |
4 List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the identifying number of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.) |
Note: If no name is circled when more than one name is listed, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed. |
How to Obtain a TIN
If you don’t have a taxpayer identification number or you don’t know your number, obtain Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Number Card, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, at the local office of the Social Security Administration or the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and apply for a number. If you have applied for a taxpayer identification number or you intend to apply for one soon, write “Applied For” in the space for the taxpayer identification number, sign and date the Substitute Form W-9, and return it to the Depositary.
Payees Exempt from Backup Withholding
Payees exempt from backup withholding on all payments include the following:
| 1. | An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), any IRA, or a custodial account under section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements of Section 401(f)(2). |
| 2. | The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities. |
| 3. | A state, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities. |
| 4. | A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities. |
| 5. | An international organization or any of its agencies or instrumentalities. |
Other payees thatmay be exemptfrom backup withholding include:
| 6. | A corporation. |
| 7. | A foreign central bank of issue. |
| 8. | A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a possession of the United States. |
| 9. | A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. |
| 10. | A real estate investment trust. |
| 11. | An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
| 12. | A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a). |
| 13. | A financial institution. |
| 14. | A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian. |
| 15. | A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947. |
The chart below shows two of the types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt recipients listed above, 1 through 15.
IF the payment is for... | THEN the payment is exempt for... | |
Interest and dividend payments | All exempt recipients except for 9 | |
Broker transactions | Exempt recipients 1 through 13; also, a person who regularly acts as a broker and who is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 | |
Exempt payees should file the Substitute Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. FURNISH YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, WRITE “EXEMPT” IN PART 2 OF THE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9, SIGN AND DATE THE FORM, AND RETURN IT TO THE DEPOSITARY. Foreign payees who are not subject to backup withholding should complete the appropriate IRS Form W-8 and return it to the Depositary.
Privacy Act Notice
Section 6109 requires most recipients of dividend, interest or other payments to give their correct 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. It 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. It may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce federal nontax criminal laws, and to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism.
Payees must provide payers with their taxpayer identification numbers whether or not they are required to file tax returns. Payers must generally withhold 28% 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 correct 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 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.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX CONSULTANT OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.