INSTRUCTIONS FORMING PART OF
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
1. BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATIONS. Any confirmation of a book-entry transfer to the exchange agent’s account at DTC of Original 2.95% 2020 Notes tendered by book-entry transfer, as well as an agent’s message, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the exchange agent at its address set forth on the cover page of this Letter of Transmittal prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.
THE COMPANY WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY ALTERNATIVE, CONDITIONAL OR CONTINGENT TENDERS. EACH TENDERING HOLDER BY DELIVERY OF AN AGENT’S MESSAGE WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO RECEIVE ANY NOTICE OF THE ACCEPTANCE OF SUCH TENDER.
Delivery of documents to DTC or to the Trustee does not constitute delivery to the exchange agent.
2. VALIDITY OF TENDERS. The Company has the sole right to decide any questions about the validity, form, eligibility, time of receipt, acceptance or withdrawal of tendered Original 2.95% 2020 Notes, and its decision will be final and binding. The Company’s interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, including the instructions contained in this Letter of Transmittal and in the Prospectus, will be final and binding on all parties.
The Company has the absolute right to reject any or all of the tendered Original 2.95% 2020 Notes if:
| • | | the Original 2.95% 2020 Notes are not properly tendered; or |
| • | | in the opinion of counsel, the acceptance of those Original 2.95% 2020 Notes would be unlawful. |
The Company may also decide to waive any conditions of the Exchange Offer or any defects or irregularities of tenders of Original 2.95% 2020 Notes and accept such Original 2.95% 2020 Notes for exchange whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of other Holders. Any defect or irregularity in the tender of Original 2.95% 2020 Notes that is not waived by the Company must be cured within the period of time set by the Company.
It is your responsibility to identify and cure any defect or irregularity in the tender of your Original 2.95% 2020 Notes. Your tender of Original 2.95% 2020 Notes will not be considered to have been made until any defect or irregularity is cured or waived. Although the Company intends to notify Holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tender of the Original 2.95% 2020 Notes, neither the Company, the exchange agent, the Trustee, nor any other person is required to notify you that your tender was defective or irregular, and no one will be liable for any failure to notify you of such a defect or irregularity in your tender of Original 2.95% 2020 Notes. Tenders of the Original 2.95% 2020 Notes will not be deemed made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any Original 2.95% 2020 Notes received by the exchange agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned to the tendering Holder as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date of the Exchange Offer.
3. PARTIAL TENDERS. Tenders of Original 2.95% 2020 Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be accepted only in principal amounts equal to $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder will be deemed to have tendered the entire aggregate principal amount represented by the Original 2.95% 2020 Notes credited to the exchange agent’s account at DTC using ATOP. Any untendered Original 2.95% 2020 Notes and any New 2.95% 2020 Notes issued in exchange for tendered and accepted Original 2.95% 2020 Notes will be credited to accounts at DTC.
4. TRANSFER TAXES. You will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the tendering of Original 2.95% 2020 Notes to the Company and the issuance of New 2.95% 2020 Notes in the Exchange Offer, unless the Company is instructed to issue or cause to be issued New 2.95% 2020 Notes, or Original 2.95%
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