Akamai (AKAM) SC TO-I Issuer tender offer statement

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 proper identification number to give the payer. All “Section” references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“the Code”). “IRS” is the Internal Revenue Service.

		Give the NAME and
		SOCIAL SECURITY
For this type of account:		number of:
1.	Individual	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	The owner(3)
6.	Sole proprietorship or single-owner LLC	The owner(3)
7.	A valid trust, estate, or pension trust	The legal entity(4)
8.	Corporate or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832	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 “DBA” name. You may use either your social security number or your employee 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 there is more than one name listed, 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

Obtaining a Number

If you don’t have a taxpayer identification number and have already applied for a TIN or intend to apply for one soon or you don’t know your number, write “Applied For” in the space for the TIN and sign and date the form and give it to the requester. To obtain a TIN, use Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Number Card (for individuals), or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number (for businesses and all other entities). These forms are available at the local office of the Social Security Administration or the Internal Revenue Service, on the internet at http://www.irs.gov, or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM.

Payees 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 subdivision or instrumentality thereof.

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

•  An international organization or any agency, or instrumentality thereof.

Payees that MAY BE EXEMPT from backup withholding include the following (Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code):

•  A corporation.

•  A foreign central bank of issue.

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

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

•  A real estate investment trust.

•  An entity registered at all times under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

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

•  A financial institution.

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

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

Payments Exempt from Backup Withholding

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) distributions made by an employee stock option plan.

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 government bonds under Section 1451.

•  Payments made by certain foreign organizations.

•  Mortgage or student loan interest paid to you.

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

  Certain payments other than interest, dividends, and patronage dividends that are not subject to information reporting are also not subject to backup withholding. For details, see Sections 6041, 6041A(a), 6042, 6044, 6045, 6049, 6050A and 6050N, and the regulations under those sections.

  Privacy Act Notice. Section 6109 requires most recipients of dividend, interest, or other payments 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 your tax return. Payers must be given the numbers whether or not recipients are required to file a tax return. Payers must generally withhold 28% of taxable interest, dividends, 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.

(2) Failure to Report Certain Dividend and Interest Payments. If you fail to include any portion of an includible payment for interest, dividends or patronage dividends in gross income, such failure is strong evidence of negligence. If negligence is shown, you will be subject to a penalty of 20% on any portion of an underpayment attributable to that failure.

(3) 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.

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

(5) 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 or criminal penalties.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX

CONSULTANT OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.