Akamai Technologies, Inc.
THE OFFER HAS BEEN AMENDED AND EXTENDED. THE OFFER, PRORATION PERIOD AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 9:00 A.M., EASTERN TIME, ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2004, UNLESS THE OFFER IS FURTHER EXTENDED.
The Depositary for this Offer is:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
| By Registered or Certified Mail, Overnight Courier or Hand Delivery: U.S. Bank National Association Corporate Trust Services 180 East Fifth Street St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 Attn: Specialized Finance 4th Floor | By Facsimile: U.S. Bank National Association Corporate Trust Services (651) 244-1537 Attn: Specialized Finance 4th Floor Confirm by telephone: (800) 934-6802 |
DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS, OR TRANSMISSION VIA FACSIMILE TO A NUMBER, OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE VALID DELIVERY.
The Instructions contained herein and in the Offer to Purchase (as defined herein) should be read carefully before this Letter of Transmittal is completed.
This Letter of Transmittal and instructions hereto (as the same may be supplemented or amended from time to time, the “Letter of Transmittal”) together with the Offer to Purchase dated February 10, 2004 as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the related Schedule TO filed on February 19, 2004 and as supplemented on March 10, 2004 (as the same may be further supplemented or amended from time to time, the “Offer to Purchase”), of Akamai Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Akamai”), constitutes the “Offer” with respect to Akamai’s 5 1/2% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the “Notes”). All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Offer to Purchase.
This Letter of Transmittal may be used by holders if:
| • | certificates representing Notes are to be physically delivered to the Depositary herewith by holders; or | |
| • | tender of Notes is to be made by book-entry transfer to the Depositary’s account at The Depositary Trust Company, or DTC, pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Section 7, “Procedures for Tendering Notes — Tender of Notes Held Through DTC,” by any financial institution that is a participant in DTC and whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of Notes. |
Holders who are tendering Notes through DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”), for which the offer will be eligible, may use an Agent’s Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) in lieu of submitting this Letter of Transmittal.
Delivery of documents to DTC does not constitute delivery to the Depositary.
The undersigned has completed, executed and delivered this Letter of Transmittal to indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect to the Offer.
The instructions included with this Letter of Transmittal must be followed. Questions and requests for assistance or for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase and this Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Information Agent at the address and telephone numbers set forth on the back cover page of this Letter of Transmittal. See Instruction 13 below.
List in the box entitled “Description of Notes Tendered” on page 2 hereof certificate numbers and principal amounts of Notes being tendered and the tender price for Notes at a price not greater than $1,012.50 nor less that $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the date of payment.
The lowest price in the price range listed above ($1,000) is referred to as the “Minimum Offer Price” for the Notes. The maximum aggregate principal amount listed above ($101,000,000) is referred to as the “Offer Amount” for the Notes.
The CUSIP numbers for the Notes are 00971T AA 9, 00971T AB 7 and 00971T AC 5.
List below the Notes to which this Letter of Transmittal relates and either:
| • | specify the price (in multiples of $2.50 per $1,000 principal amount at which the Notes are being tendered), within the range specified above for the Notes; or | |
| • | do not specify a price, in which case the holder will be deemed to have specified the Minimum Offer Price for the Notes being tendered and to accept the Purchase Price (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) determined by Akamai with respect to the terms of the Offer. |
If the space provided below is inadequate, list the certificate numbers, principal amounts and tender prices of the Notes being tendered on a separately executed schedule and affix the schedule to this Letter of Transmittal.
| DESCRIPTION OF NOTES TENDERED | ||||||||||||||
| (See Instruction 4) | ||||||||||||||
| Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s) | ||||||||||||||
| or Name of DTC Participant and Participant’s | NOTES TENDERED | |||||||||||||
| DTC Account Number (Please fill in if blank) | (Attach additional signed list, if necessary). | |||||||||||||
| Principal | Principal | Prices at | ||||||||||||
| Amount of | Amount of | Which Notes | ||||||||||||
| Certificate | Notes | Notes | Are Being | |||||||||||
| Number(s)* | Represented | Tendered** | Tendered*** | |||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| * Need not be completed by book-entry holders. | ||||||||||||||
| ** Unless otherwise indicated, the entire aggregate principal amount represented by the Notes specified above is being tendered. | ||||||||||||||
| *** Each tender price must be in multiples of $2.50 per $1,000 principal amount within the price range for the Notes subject to the Offer, namely $1,000 to $1,012.50. In the event no tender price is specified, the holder will be deemed to have tendered the Notes at the Minimum Offer Price. | ||||||||||||||
The names and addresses of the holders should be printed exactly as they appear on the certificates representing Notes tendered hereby. The Notes and the principal amount of Notes represented that the undersigned wishes to tender should be indicated in the appropriate boxes.
HOLDERS WHO WISH TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE PURCHASE PRICE PER $1,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER MUST VALIDLY TENDER (AND NOT WITHDRAW) THEIR NOTES ON OR PRIOR TO 9:00 A.M., EASTERN TIME, ON MARCH 24, 2004 UNLESS THE OFFER IS FURTHER EXTENDED (SUCH TIME AND DATE, AS IT MAY BE EXTENDED, THE “EXPIRATION DATE”).
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| o | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE DEPOSITARY WITH DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: |
Name of Tendering Institution:
Account Number with DTC:
Transaction Code Number:
| o | CHECK HERE IF NOTES ARE BEING TENDERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE DEPOSITARY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: |
Name(s) of Registered Holder(s):
Window Ticket No. (if any):
Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:
Name of Institution that Guaranteed Delivery:
If delivery is by book-entry transfer, give the following information:
Account Number with DTC:
Transaction Code Number:
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NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW
PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, the undersigned hereby tenders to Akamai the principal amount of the Notes indicated in the box entitled “Description of Notes Tendered” on page 2.
Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for purchase of, and payment for, the principal amount of Notes tendered with this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby (i) irrevocably sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, Akamai, all right, title and interest in and to such Notes, (ii) waives any and all other rights with respect to such Notes (including without limitation, any existing or past defaults and their consequences in respect of the Notes and the indenture under which the Notes were issued) and (iii) releases and discharges Akamai from any and all claims the undersigned may have now, or may have in the future, arising out of, or related to, such Notes, including without limitation, any claims that the undersigned is entitled to receive additional principal or interest payments with respect to such Notes, to participate in any redemption or defeasance of the Notes or to be entitled to any of the benefits under the Indenture. The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Depositary as the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned (with full knowledge that the Depositary also acts as the agent of Akamai) with respect to such Notes, with full power of substitution and resubstitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest) to:
| • | deliver certificates representing such Notes, or transfer ownership of such Notes, on the account books maintained by DTC, together, in any such case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of Akamai; | |
| • | present such Notes for transfer on the security register for the Notes; and | |
| • | receive all benefits or otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Notes (except that the Depositary will have the rights to, or control over, funds from Akamai, except as agent of Akamai, for the Purchase Price for any Notes tendered pursuant to the Offer that are purchased by Akamai), all in accordance with the terms of the Offer. |
The undersigned understands that tenders of Notes may be withdrawn by written notice of withdrawal received by the Depositary at any time prior to the Expiration Date, but not thereafter, provided, that if we have not accepted for payment the Notes you have tendered to us, you may also withdraw tendered Notes at any time after April 6, 2004. For a withdrawal of Notes tendered pursuant to the Offer to be effective, a written or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal or a “Request Message” must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date or after April 6, 2004, if the Notes have not been accepted for payment, at its address set forth on the back cover of this Letter of Transmittal. Any such notice of withdrawal must:
| • | specify the name of the person who tendered the Notes to be withdrawn; | |
| • | contain a description of the Notes to be withdrawn and identify the certificate number or numbers shown on the particular certificates evidencing such Notes (unless such Notes were tendered by book-entry transfer) and the aggregate principal amount represented by such Notes; and | |
| • | be signed by the holder of such Notes in the same manner as the original signature on the Letter of Transmittal by which such Notes were tendered (including any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by (x) documents of transfer sufficient to have the Trustee or DTC, as the case may be, register the transfer of Notes into the name of the person withdrawing such Notes and (y) a properly completed irrevocable proxy that authorizes such person to effect such withdrawal on behalf of such holder. |
The signature on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (as defined in Instruction 1) unless such Notes have been tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. The Purchase
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The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Notes tendered hereby, and that when such Notes are accepted for purchase and payment by Akamai, Akamai will acquire good title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and not subject to any adverse claim or right. The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Depositary or Akamai to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Notes tendered hereby.
Tenders of Notes pursuant to any of the procedures described in the Offer to Purchase and in the instructions hereto and acceptance thereof by Akamai will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and Akamai upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.
For purposes of the Offer, Akamai will be deemed to have accepted for payment validly tendered Notes if, as and when Akamai gives oral (confirmed in writing) or written notice thereof to the Depositary.
Akamai’s obligation to accept for payment, and to pay for, Notes validly tendered pursuant to the Offer is subject to satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in Section 10 of the Offer to Purchase under the caption “Conditions to the Offer” which conditions Akamai may, in its sole discretion waive, subject to applicable law. Any Notes not accepted for payment will be returned, without expense, to the tendering holder (or, in the case of Notes tendered by book-entry transfer, those Notes will be credited to the account maintained at DTC from which those Notes were delivered) unless otherwise requested by such holder under “Special Delivery Instructions” below, promptly following the Expiration Date or termination of the Offer.
All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred by this Letter of Transmittal shall not be affected by, and survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned and every obligation of the undersigned under this Letter of Transmittal shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, personal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, assigns, trustees in bankruptcy and other legal representatives.
The delivery and surrender of the Notes is not effective, and the risk of loss of the Notes does not pass to the Depositary until receipt by the Depositary of this Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed facsimile hereof) properly completed and duly executed, together with all accompanying evidences of authority and any other required documents in form satisfactory to Akamai or receipt of an Agent’s Message. All questions as to the form of all documents and the validity (including time of receipt) and acceptance of tenders and withdrawals of Notes will be determined by Akamai, in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding.
Unless otherwise indicated under “Special Payment Instructions” below, please issue a check from the Depositary for the Purchase Price for any Notes tendered hereby (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the date of purchase) that are purchased, and/or return any certificates representing Notes not tendered or not accepted for purchase in the name(s) of the holder(s) appearing under “Description of Notes Tendered.” Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under “Special Delivery Instructions,” please mail the check for the Purchase Price (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the date of purchase) and/or return any certificates representing Notes not tendered or not accepted for purchase (and accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the address(es) of the holder(s) appearing under “Description of Notes Tendered.” In the event that both the Special Payment Instructions and the Special Delivery Instructions are completed, please issue the check for the Purchase Price (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the date of purchase) and/or return any certificates representing Notes not tendered or not accepted for purchase (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the person or persons so indicated. In the case of a book-entry delivery of Notes, please credit the account maintained at DTC with any Notes not tendered or not accepted for purchase. The undersigned recognizes that Akamai does not have any obligation pursuant to the Special Payment Instructions to transfer any Notes from the name of the holder thereof if Akamai does not accept for purchase any of the Notes so tendered and that Akamai does not have any obligation pursuant to either the “Special
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The undersigned represents and warrants that:
| • | such holder has a net long position in the Notes being tendered pursuant to the Offer within the meaning of Rule 14e-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and | |
| • | the tender of such Notes complies with Rule 14e-4. |
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PLEASE SIGN HERE
This Letter of Transmittal must be signed by the registered holder(s) of Notes exactly as their name(s) appear(s) on certificate(s) for Notes or on a security position listing, or by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by endorsements and documents transmitted with this Letter of Transmittal. If the signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person must set forth his or her full title below under “Capacity” and submit evidence satisfactory to Akamai of such person’s authority to so act. See Instruction 5 below.
X
X
Dated: ______________________________ , 2004.
Name(s):
Capacity:
Address:
Area Code and Telephone No.:
Tax Identification or Social Security Number:
PLEASE COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 HEREIN
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE (See Instructions 1 and 5)
Date: ______________________________ , 2004.
SPACE BELOW FOR MEDALLION GUARANTORS ONLY:
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To be completedONLYif certificate(s) for Notes not tendered or purchased and/or checks constituting payments for Notes purchased in connection with the Offer are to be issued to the order of someone other than the person or persons whose signature(s) appear(s) within this Letter of Transmittal.
Issue: o check o certificates to:
Name:
Address:
SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
To be completedONLYif certificate(s) for Notes in a principal amount not tendered or not accepted for purchase and/or checks constituting payments for Notes purchased in connection with the Offer are to be sent to someone other than the person or persons whose signature(s) appear(s) within this Letter of Transmittal or to an address different from that shown in the box entitled “Description of Notes Tendered” within this Letter of Transmittal or if Notes tendered hereby and delivered by book-entry transfer which are not purchased are to be returned by credit to an account or the book entry transfer facility other than that designated above.
Mail: o check o certificates to:
Name:
Address:
o Credit Notes delivered by book-entry transfer and not purchased to the account set forth below:
Account Number:
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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 the Notes tendered are tendered and delivered:
| • | by a registered holder of Notes (or by a participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of such Notes) who has not completed the boxes entitled “Special Payment Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” on this Letter of Transmittal; or | |
| • | for the account of a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or another “Eligible Guarantor Institution” as defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act (each of the foregoing being referred to as an “Eligible Institution”). |
If the Notes are registered in the name of a person other than the signer of the Letter of Transmittal or if Notes not accepted for payment or not tendered are to be returned to a person other than the registered holder, then the signature on this Letter of Transmittal accompanying the tendered Notes must be guaranteed by a recognized participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (a “Medallion Signature Guarantor”). Beneficial owners whose Notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee must contact such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee if they desire to tender Notes so registered. See Section 7, “Procedures for Tendering Notes,” in the Offer to Purchase.
2. Requirements of Tender. This Letter of Transmittal may be completed by holders of Notes if certificates representing such Notes are to be forwarded herewith, or if delivery of such certificates is to be made by book-entry transfer to the account maintained by DTC, pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Section 7, “Procedures for Tendering Notes.” For a holder validly to tender Notes pursuant to the Offer, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed facsimile thereof), or a properly transmitted Agent’s Message, together with any signature guarantees and any other documents required by these Instructions, must be received by the Depositary at its address set forth herein on or prior to the Expiration Date and either (a) certificates representing such Notes must be received by the Depositary at its address or (b) such Notes must be transferred pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer described in the Offer to Purchase under Section 7, “Procedures for Tendering Notes” and a Book-Entry Confirmation must be received by the Depositary, in each case, on or prior to the Expiration Date.
The method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, the Notes and all other required documents, including delivery through DTC and acceptance of an Agent’s Message transmitted through ATOP, is at the sole option and risk of the tendering holder and the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the Depositary. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed for such documents to reach the Depositary.
No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders shall be accepted. All tendering holders, by execution of this Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed facsimile thereof), waive any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of their Notes for payment.
3. Withdrawal of Tenders; Amendment and Extension. A holder of Notes may withdraw its tendered Notes at any time prior to the Expiration Date but not thereafter, except if Akamai has not yet accepted them for payment, after April 6, 2004, and until such Notes are accepted for payment. If Akamai terminates the Offer or does not purchase any Notes in the Offer, Akamai will instruct the Depositary to return such Notes, at Akamai’s expense, to the tendering holder (or, in the case of Notes tendered by book-entry transfer, those Notes will be credited to the account maintained at DTC from which those Notes were delivered) unless otherwise requested by such holder under “Special Delivery Instructions” below, promptly following the Expiration Date or termination of the Offer.
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If, for any reason whatsoever, acceptance for payment of, or payment for, any Notes tendered pursuant to the Offer is delayed (whether before or after Akamai’s acceptance for payment of Notes) or Akamai is unable to accept for payment or pay for the Notes tendered pursuant to the Offer, Akamai may (without prejudice to its rights set forth in the Offer to Purchase) instruct the Depositary to retain tendered Notes, and such Notes may not be withdrawn except in accordance with Section 8, “Withdrawal of Tenders,” in the Offer to Purchase (subject to Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, which requires that the offeror pay the consideration offered or return the securities deposited by or on behalf of the investor promptly after the termination or withdrawal of a tender offer).
For a withdrawal of Notes tendered pursuant to the Offer to be effective, a written or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal or a “Request Message” must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date at its address set forth on the cover of this Letter of Transmittal. Any such notice of withdrawal must:
| • | specify the name of the person who tendered the Notes to be withdrawn; | |
| • | contain a description of the Notes to be withdrawn and identify the certificate number or numbers shown on the particular certificates evidencing such Notes (unless such Notes were tendered by book-entry transfer) and the aggregate principal amount represented by such Notes; and | |
| • | be signed by the holder of such Notes in the same manner as the original signature on the Letter of Transmittal by which such Notes were tendered (including any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by (x) documents of transfer sufficient to have the Trustee or DTC, as the case may be, register the transfer of Notes into the name of the person withdrawing such Notes and (y) a properly completed irrevocable proxy that authorizes such person to effect such withdrawal on behalf of such holder. |
The signature on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution unless such Notes have been tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. If the Notes to be withdrawn have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Depositary, a signed timely and properly completed and presented notice of withdrawal or a Request Message is effective immediately upon receipt thereof, even if physical release is not yet effected.
Any permitted withdrawal of tendered Notes may not be rescinded, and any Notes properly withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not validly tendered. However, properly withdrawn Notes may be re-tendered, by again following one of the procedures described in Section 7, “Procedures for Tendering Notes,” in the Offer to Purchase, at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date.
All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be determined by Akamai, in Akamai’s sole discretion (whose determination shall be final and binding). None of Akamai, the Dealer Manager, the Information Agent, the Depositary, nor any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or Request Message, or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.
If Akamai makes a material change in the terms of the Offer or the information concerning the Offer or waives a material condition of the Offer, Akamai will disseminate additional materials relating to the Offer and extend the Offer to the extent required by law. In addition, Akamai may, if it deems appropriate, extend the Offer for any other reason. In addition, if the consideration to be paid in the Offer is increased or decreased or the principal amount of Notes subject to the Offer is increased or decreased, that Offer will remain open at least 10 business days from the date Akamai first gives notice of such increase or decrease to holders of Notes subject to the Offer, by press release or otherwise.
4. Partial Tenders. Tenders of Notes pursuant to the Offer will be accepted only in principal amounts equal to $1,000 or integral multiples thereof. If less than the entire principal amount of any Notes evidenced by a submitted certificate is tendered, the tendering holder must fill in the principal amount tendered in the appropriate column of the box entitled “Description of Notes Tendered” herein. The entire principal amount represented by the certificates for all Notes delivered to the Depositary will be deemed to have been tendered
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5. Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal, Bond Powers and Endorsement; Guarantee of Signatures. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Notes 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 this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a participant in DTC whose name is shown as the owner of the Notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond with the name shown on the security position listing as the owner of the Notes.
If any of the Notes tendered hereby are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign the Letter of Transmittal. If any tendered Notes are registered in different names on several certificates, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate copies of this Letter of Transmittal and any necessary accompanying documents as there are different names in which certificates are held.
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder, the certificates for any principal amount of Notes not tendered or accepted for purchase are to be issued (or if any principal amount of Notes that is not tendered or not accepted for purchase is to be reissued or returned) to or, if tendered by book-entry transfer, credited to the account at DTC of the registered holder, and checks constituting payments for Notes to be purchased in connection with the Offer are to be issued to the order of the registered holder, then the registered holder need not endorse any certificates for tendered Notes, nor provide a separate bond power. In any other case (including if this Letter of Transmittal is not signed by the registered holder), the registered holder must either properly endorse the certificates for Notes tendered or transmit a separate properly completed bond power with this Letter of Transmittal (in either case, executed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on such Notes, and, with respect to a participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of Notes, exactly as the name(s) of the participant(s) appear(s) on such security position listing), with the signature on the endorsement or bond power guaranteed by a Medallion Signature Guarantor, unless such certificates or bond powers are executed by an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 1.
If this Letter of Transmittal or any certificates of Notes or bond 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. The proper evidence satisfactory to Akamai of their authority to so act must be submitted with this Letter of Transmittal.
6. Special Payment and Special Delivery Instructions.Tendering holders should indicate in the applicable box or boxes the name and address to which Notes for principal amounts not tendered or not accepted for purchase or checks constituting payments for Notes to be purchased in connection with the Offer are to be issued or sent, if different from the name and address of the registered holder signing this Letter of Transmittal. In the case of issuance in a different name, the taxpayer identification or social security number of the person named must also be indicated. If no instructions are given, Notes not tendered or not accepted for purchase will be returned to the registered holder of the Notes tendered. For holders of Notes tendering by book-entry transfer, Notes not tendered or not accepted for purchase will be returned by crediting the account at DTC designated above. The undersigned recognizes that Akamai does not have any obligation pursuant to the Special Payment Instructions to transfer any Notes from the name of the holder thereof if Akamai does not accept for purchase any of the Notes so tendered and that Akamai does not have any obligation pursuant to either the Special Payment Instructions or Special Delivery Instructions to make payments or deliver Notes pursuant thereto unless any and all taxes payable by virtue of such Instructions have been paid by the undersigned.
7. Backup Withholding; Substitute Form W-9; Form W-8.Each tendering holder that is not a foreign person is required to provide the Depositary with the holder’s correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”),
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8. Transfer Taxes. Akamai will pay all transfer taxes applicable to the purchase and transfer of Notes pursuant to the Offer except in the case of deliveries of certificates for Notes for principal amounts not tendered or not accepted for payment that are registered or issued in the name of any person other than the registered holder of Notes tendered hereby pursuant to special instructions. See Instruction 6. Except as provided in this Instruction 8, it will not be necessary for transfer stamps to be affixed to the certificates listed in this Letter of Transmittal.
9. Irregularities. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tendered Notes pursuant to any of the procedures described above and the form and validity (including time of receipt of notices of withdrawal) of all related documents will be determined by Akamai, in Akamai’s sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding. Akamai reserves the absolute right to reject any or all tenders of any Notes determined by it not to be in proper form or if the acceptance of or payment for such Notes may, in the opinion of Akamai’s counsel, be unlawful. Akamai also reserves the absolute right, in its sole discretion, to waive any defect or irregularity in any tender with respect to Notes of any particular holder, whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of other holders. Akamai’s interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the Instructions thereto) will be final and binding. None of Akamai, the Dealer Manager, the Information Agent, the Depositary or any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or will incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.
10. Waiver of Conditions. Akamai expressly reserves the absolute right, in its sole discretion, to waive any of the conditions to the Offer in the case of any Notes tendered, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time. If Akamai chooses to waive one of the conditions to the Offer discussed in Section 10, “Conditions to the Offer,” in the Offer to Purchase with respect to one holder of Notes, Akamai will waive that same condition to the Offer for all holders of Notes.
11. Mutilated, Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates for Notes. If a holder desires to tender Notes, but the certificates evidencing such Notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, such holder should contact U.S. Bank National Association, Corporate Trust Services at 225 Asylum Street, 23rd Floor, Hartford, Connecticut 06103, Attention: Art Blakeslee, by telephone at (860) 241-6859 or by facsimile at (860) 241-6881 to receive information about the procedures for obtaining replacement certificates for Notes.
12. Guaranteed Delivery.If a holder desires to tender Notes pursuant to the Offer and:
| • | certificates representing that holder’s Notes are not immediately available; | |
| • | time will not permit the holder’s Letter of Transmittal, certificates representing Notes and all other required documents to reach the Depositary on or prior to the Expiration Date; or |
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| • | the procedures for book-entry transfer (including delivery of an Agent’s Message) cannot be completed on or prior to the Expiration Date, |
the holder may nevertheless tender Notes with the effect that the tender will be deemed to have been received on or prior to the Expiration Date if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
| • | the tender is made by or through an Eligible Institution; | |
| • | prior to the Expiration Date, the Depositary has received from such Eligible Institution, at the address of the Depositary set forth on the front cover of this Letter of Transmittal, a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (by telegram, facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery) substantially in the form provided by us, setting forth the name(s) and address(es) of the holder(s) and the principal amount at maturity of Notes being tendered, and stating that the tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing that, within three business days after the date of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, a properly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed facsimile thereof), together with any required signature guarantees (or in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message) and certificates evidencing the Notes (or confirmation of book-entry transfer of such Notes into the Depositary’s account with DTC), and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal and the Instructions thereto, will be deposited by such Eligible Institution with the Depositary; and | |
| • | the certificates for the tendered Notes, in proper form for transfer (or a Book-Entry Confirmation of the transfer of such Notes into the Depositary’s account at DTC as described above), together with a Letter of Transmittal (or manually signed facsimile thereof) properly completed and duly executed, with any signature guarantees and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal or a properly transmitted Agent’s Message, are received by the Depositary within three business days after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. |
13. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies.Questions relating to the procedure for tendering Notes and requests for assistance or additional copies of the Offer to Purchase and this Letter of Transmittal may be directed to, and additional information about the Offer may be obtained from the Information Agent, whose address and telephone numbers appear on the last page of this Letter of Transmittal.
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IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION
Under U.S. federal income tax laws, a holder whose tendered Notes are accepted for payment is required to provide the Depositary (as payor) with such holder’s correct TIN on Substitute Form W-9 below and to certify that the TIN provided on Substitute Form W-9 is correct (or that such holder is waiting for a TIN to be issued) or otherwise establish a basis for exemption from backup withholding. If such holder is an individual, the TIN is his or her social security number or individual taxpayer identification number, as the case may be. If the Depositary is not provided with the correct TIN, a $50 penalty may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), and payments made with respect to Notes purchased pursuant to the Offer may be subject to backup withholding (currently at a 28% rate). Failure to comply truthfully with the backup withholding requirements also may result in the imposition of severe criminal and/or civil fines and penalties.
Certain holders (including, among others, all corporations and certain foreign individuals) may not be subject to these backup withholding requirements. Exempt holders should enter their name, address, status and TIN, check the “Exempt From Backup Withholding” box on the Substitute Form W-9, and sign, date and return the Substitute Form W-9 to the Depositary. A foreign person (a holder that is not a U.S. person nor a resident U.S. alien) may qualify as an exempt recipient by submitting to the Depositary an appropriate, properly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 signed under penalties of perjury, certifying to that holder’s foreign status. An appropriate Form W-8 can be obtained from the Information Agent. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors to determine whether they are exempt from these backup withholding and reporting requirements. See the enclosed “Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9” for additional instructions.
If backup withholding applies, the Depositary is required to withhold 28% of the gross amount of any payments made to the holder or other payee. Backup withholding is not an additional federal income tax. Rather, the federal income 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 IRS, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS. The Depositary cannot refund amounts withheld by reason of backup withholding.
Purpose of Substitute Form W-9
To prevent backup withholding on payments made with respect to Notes purchased pursuant to the Offer, the holder (other than an exempt or foreign holder subject to the requirements set forth above) is required to provide the Depositary with the holder’s correct TIN by completing the Substitute Form W-9 herein, certifying that (i) the TIN provided is correct (or that such holder is awaiting a TIN) and that (ii) the holder is not subject to backup withholding because (a) the holder is exempt from backup withholding, (b) the holder has not been notified by the IRS that the holder is subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report all interest or dividends or (c) the IRS has notified the holder that the holder is no longer subject to backup withholding; and (iii) the holder is a U.S. Person (including a resident alien).
What Number to Give the Depositary
The holder (other than an exempt or foreign holder subject to the requirements set forth above) is required to give the Depositary the TIN (i.e., social security number, individual taxpayer identification number or employer identification number) of the registered holder of the Notes. If the Notes are held in more than one name or are held 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. If the holder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a number or intends to apply for a number in the near future, the holder may return a properly completed, signed Substitute Form W-9 with “Applied For” written in Part I. If “Applied For” is written in Part I, the holder must also complete the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number in order to avoid backup withholding. If “Applied For” is written in Part I and the Depositary is not provided with a TIN within 60 days, backup withholding will begin and continue until the holder furnishes its TIN to the Depositary.
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| PAYER’S NAME: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | |||||
| To be completed by all holders of Notes other than foreign holders | |||||
| (See Instruction 7 and attached “Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute | |||||
| Form W-9”) | |||||
| Name: Business name, if different than above: Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.): City, State, and Zip Code: Status (Individual, Corporation, Partnership, Other): | |||||
| SUBSTITUTE Form W-9 Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Payer’s Request for Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) | Part I — | o Exempt From Backup Withholding | |||
| Please provide the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) of the person submitting this Letter of Transmittal in the box at right and certify by signing and dating below | |||||
| Social Security Number OR Employee Identification Number (If awaiting TIN, write “Applied For”) | |||||
| Part II Certification — Under penalties of perjury, the undersigned hereby certifies the following: (1) The Taxpayer Identification Number shown in Part I above 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; (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the Internal Revenue Service 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). Note:You must cross out item (2) above if you have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return and you have not been notified by the IRS that you are no longer subject to backup withholding. | |||||
| SIGNATURE: ------------------------------ DATE: NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING (CURRENTLY AT A 28% RATE) OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. IN ADDITION, FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN A $50 PENALTY IMPOSED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED “GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9” FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. | |||||
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 within sixty (60) days, the specified rate of all reportable payments made to me thereafter will be withheld and remitted to the Internal Revenue Service as backup withholding until I provide a taxpayer identification number.
Signature ______________________________ Date
Questions and requests for assistance or for additional copies of this Letter of Transmittal, the Offer to Purchase (including the Supplement dated March 10, 2004) or the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be directed to the Information Agent at the address and telephone numbers listed below. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
Citigate Financial Intelligence
850 Third Avenue
Banks and Brokers Call Collect: (201) 499-3500
All Others Call Toll Free: (877) 746-3583
The Dealer Manager for the Offer is:
The Blackstone Group L.P.
345 Park Avenue
Toll Free: (866) 800-8933