PLEASE SIGN HERE
(TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS WHETHER OR NOT
INITIAL NOTES ARE BEING PHYSICALLY TENDERED HEREBY)
(Please Also Complete and Return the Accompanying Substitute Form W-9)
x
x
Signature(s) of Owner(s) Date
Area Code and Telephone Number:
This Letter must be signed by the registered holder(s) tendering any Initial Notes exactly as the name(s) of the holder(s) appear(s) on the certificate(s) for the Initial Notes or on a security position listing as the owner of Initial Notes by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by a properly completed bond power from the registered holder(s), a copy of which must be transmitted with this Letter. If Initial Notes to which this Letter relates are held of record by two or more joint holders, then all such holders must sign this Letter. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, officer or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, then such person must (i) set forth his or her full title below and (ii) unless waived by the Company, submit evidence satisfactory to the Company of such person's authority to so act. See Instruction 3.
Name(s):
(Please Type or Print)
(Please Type or Print)
Capacity:
Address:
(Including Zip Code)
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE BY AN ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION
(If required by Instruction 3)
Signature(s) Guaranteed by
an Eligible Institution:
(Authorized Signature)
(Title)
(Name of Firm)
(Address, Include Zip Code)
(Area Code and Telephone Number)
Dated:
INSTRUCTIONS
Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of the Exchange Offer
1. Delivery of this Letter and Initial Notes; Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.
This Letter is to be completed by noteholders either if certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if tenders are to be made pursuant to the procedures for delivery by book-entry transfer set forth in "The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Initial Notes—Book-Entry Delivery Procedure" section of the Prospectus and an Agent's Message is not delivered. Certificates for all physically tendered Initial Notes, or Book-Entry Confirmation, as the case may be, as well as a properly completed and duly executed Letter (or manually signed facsimile hereof) and any other documents required by this Letter, must be received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth herein on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, or the tendering holder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below. Initial Notes tendered hereby must be in denominations of principal amount that are integral multiples of $1,000. The term "Agent's Message" means a message, transmitted by the Book-Entry Transfer Facility and received by the Exchange Agent and forming a part of the Book-Entry Confirmation, which states that the Book-Entry Transfer Facility has received an express acknowledgment from a participant tendering Initial Notes which are subject to the Book-Entry Confirmation and that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by this Letter and that the Company may enforce this Letter against such participant.
For the registered holders of Initial Notes who wish to tender their Initial Notes, but for which (a) such Initial Notes are not immediately available, (b) time will not permit such Initial Notes or other required documents to reach the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date, or (c) the procedures for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis, the registered holders must tender their Initial Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in "The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Initial Notes—Guaranteed Delivery Procedure" section of the Prospectus. Pursuant to such procedures,
(i) such tender must be made through an Eligible Institution (as defined in Instruction 3 below),
(ii) on or before the Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent must receive from such Eligible Institution a properly completed and duly executed Letter (or a facsimile thereof) and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form provided by the Company (by telegram, telex, facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery), with the name and address of the holder of Initial Notes and the amounts of Initial Floating Rate Notes and Initial Discount Notes tendered, stating that the tender is being made by that letter and notice, and guaranteeing that within three New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") trading days after the Expiration Date, the certificates for all tendered Initial Notes, in proper form for transfer, or a Book-Entry Confirmation with an Agent's Message, as the case may be, and any other documents required by the Letter will be deposited by the Eligible Institution with the Exchange Agent, and
(iii) the certificates for all tendered Initial Notes, in proper form for transfer, or Book-Entry Confirmation, as the case may be, and all other documents required by this Letter, must be received by the Exchange Agent within three NYSE trading days after the Expiration Date.
The method of delivery of this Letter, the Initial Notes and all other required documents is at the election and risk of the tendering holders, but the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received or confirmed by the Exchange Agent. If Initial Notes are sent by mail, it is suggested that the mailing be made sufficiently in advance of the Expiration Date to permit delivery to the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.
For more information, see "The Exchange Offer" section of the Prospectus.
2. Partial Tenders (not applicable to noteholders who tender by book-entry transfer).
Tenders of Initial Notes will be accepted only in integral multiples of $1,000. If less than the entire principal amount of any Initial Floating Rate Notes is tendered, the tendering holder(s) should fill in the
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principal amount of Initial Floating Rate Notes to be tendered in the box above entitled "Description of Initial Floating Rate Notes." If less than the entire principal amount of any Initial Discount Notes is tendered, the tendering holder(s) should fill in the principal amount of Initial Discount Notes to be tendered in the box above entitled "Description of Initial Discount Notes." The entire principal amount of the Initial Notes delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated. If the entire principal amount of Initial Notes is not tendered, then Initial Notes for the principal amount of Initial Notes not tendered and Exchange Notes issued in exchange for any Initial Notes accepted will be sent to the holder at his or her registered address, unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box on this Letter, promptly after the Initial Notes are accepted for exchange.
3. Signatures on this Letter; Bond Powers and Endorsements; Guarantee of Signatures.
If this Letter is signed by the registered holder of the Initial Notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the certificates representing such Initial Notes without alteration or any change whatsoever.
If this Letter is signed by a participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, the signature must correspond with the name as it appears on the security position listing as the holder of the Initial Notes.
If any tendered Initial Notes are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all of such owners must sign this Letter.
If any tendered Initial 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 as there are different registrations of certificates.
When this Letter is signed by the registered holder or holders of the Initial Notes specified herein and tendered hereby, no endorsements of certificates or separate bond powers are required. If, however, the Exchange Notes are to be issued, or any untendered Initial Notes are to be reissued, to a person other than the registered holder, then endorsements of any certificates transmitted hereby or separate bond powers are required. Signatures on such certificate(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (defined herein).
If this Letter is signed by a person other than the registered holder or holders of any certificate(s) specified herein, such certificate(s) must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate bond powers and a proxy that authorizes this person to tender the Initial Notes on behalf of the registered holder, in form satisfactory to the Company determined in its sole discretion, in each case, signed exactly as the name or names of the registered holder or holders appear(s) on the certificate(s) and signatures on such certificate(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
If this Letter or any certificates 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, and, unless waived by the Company, evidence satisfactory to the Company of such person's authority to so act must be submitted with this Letter.
Endorsements on certificates for Initial Notes or signatures on bond powers required by this Instruction 3 must be guaranteed by a firm which is a member of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or an "eligible guarantor" institution within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (each an "Eligible Institution").
Signatures on this Letter need not be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution if the Initial Notes are tendered: (i) by a registered holder of Initial Notes (which term, for purposes of the Exchange Offer, includes any participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility system whose name appears on a security position listing as the holder of such Initial Notes) who has not completed the box entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" or "Special Delivery Instructions" on this Letter and only if the Exchange Notes are being issued directly to this registered holder or deposited into any participant's account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, or (ii) for the account of an Eligible Institution.
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4. Special Issuance and Delivery Instructions.
Tendering holders of Initial Notes should indicate, in the applicable box or boxes, the name and address (or account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility) to which Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer, or substitute Initial Notes not tendered or accepted for exchange, are to be issued or sent, if different from the name or address of the person signing this Letter. In the case of issuance in a different name, the employer identification or social security number of the person named must also be indicated. Holders tendering Initial Notes by book-entry transfer may request that Initial Notes not exchanged be credited to such account maintained at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility as such noteholder may designate hereon. If no such instructions are given, such Initial Notes not exchanged will be returned to the name or address of the person signing this Letter.
5. Tax Identification Number.
Under the federal income tax laws, payments that may be made by the Company on account of Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be subject to backup withholding at the rate specified in Section 3406(a)(1) of the Code (the "Specified Rate"). In order to avoid such backup withholding, each tendering holder that is a U.S. person (including a U.S. alien individual) generally is required to complete, sign and submit the Substitute Form W-9 included in this Letter (providing such holder's correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN") and certifying, under penalties of perjury, that (a) the TIN provided is correct; (b) that (i) the holder has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") that the holder is subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report all interest or dividends, (ii) the IRS has notified the holder that the holder is no longer subject to backup withholding, or (iii) the holder is exempt from backup withholding; and (c) the holder is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien)). Alternatively, a tendering holder that is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien individual) may establish another basis for exemption from backup withholding. A holder that is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien individual) must cross out item (2) in the Certification box on Substitute Form W-9 if such holder is subject to backup withholding.
If the tendering holder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for one, or intends to apply for one in the near future, such holder should write "Applied For" in the space provided for the TIN in Part I of the Substitute Form W-9, sign and date the Substitute Form W-9, and sign the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number. If "Applied For" is written in Part I, the Company (or the Paying Agent under the Indenture governing the Exchange Notes) shall retain the Specified Rate of payments made to the tendering holder during the sixty (60) day period following the date of the Substitute Form W-9. If the holder furnishes the Exchange Agent or the Company with his or her TIN within sixty (60) days after the date of the Substitute Form W-9, the Company (or the Paying Agent) shall remit such amounts retained during the sixty (60) day period to the holder and no further amounts shall be retained or withheld from payments made to the holder thereafter. If, however, the holder has not provided the Exchange Agent or the Company with his or her TIN within such sixty (60) day period, the Company (or the Paying Agent) shall remit such previously retained amounts to the IRS as backup withholding.
In general, if a holder is an individual, the TIN is the Social Security number of such individual. If the Exchange Agent or the Company is not provided with the correct TIN, the holder may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed by the IRS. 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, certain foreign persons and corporations) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. Exempt holders should furnish their TIN, write "Exempt" on the face of the Substitute Form W-9, and sign, date and return the Substitute Form W-9. For further information concerning backup withholding and instructions for completing the Substitute Form W-9 (including how to obtain a TIN if you do not have one and how to complete the Substitute Form W-9 if Initial Notes are registered in more than one name), consult the enclosed "Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9."
Generally, each tendering holder that is not a U.S. person (other than a U.S. resident alien individual) including entities, must submit an appropriate properly completed IRS Form W-8 BEN, W-8 ECI, W-8 IMY, or W-8 EXP, as applicable, certifying, under penalties of perjury, to such holder's foreign status in
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order to establish an exemption from backup withholding. An appropriate IRS Form W-8 can be obtained from the IRS website (at http://www.irs.gov).
Failure to complete and submit the Substitute Form W-9 or, in the case of non-U.S. persons (other than a U.S. resident alien individual), the appropriate IRS Form W-8, will not, by itself, cause Initial Notes to be deemed invalidly tendered, but may require the Company (or the Paying Agent) to withhold the Specified Rate of the amount of any payments made on account of the Exchange Notes. Backup withholding is not an additional federal income tax. Rather, the federal income tax liability of a person 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 obtainable from the IRS, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.
6. Transfer Taxes.
Except as set forth in this Instruction 6, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of Initial Notes to it or its order pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, Exchange Notes or substitute Initial Notes not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be registered or issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder of the Initial Notes tendered hereby, or if tendered Initial Notes are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing this Letter, or if a transfer tax is payable for any reason other than the transfer of Initial Notes to the Company or its order pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or any other persons) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted with this Letter, the Company may refuse to register such Exchange Notes or Initial Notes in the name of any person other than the registered holder of the Initial Notes tendered and bill the tendering holder directly for the amount of the transfer taxes.
7. Waiver of Conditions.
The Company reserves the absolute right to amend, waive or modify, in whole or in part, any or all conditions to the Exchange Offer. All conditions to the Exchange Offer must be satisfied or waived before the Expiration Date. If the Company waives any condition to the Exchange Offer, the waiver will be applied equally to all holders of Initial Notes. The Company also reserves the right to extend or terminate the Exchange Offer.
8. No Conditional Tenders.
No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tenders will be accepted. All tendering holders of Initial Notes, by execution of this Letter, shall waive any right to receive notice of the acceptance of their Initial Notes for exchange.
Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person is under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities with respect to any tender of Initial Notes. Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person will incur any liability for any failure to give notification of these defects or irregularities.
9. Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Initial Notes.
Any holder whose Initial Notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed should contact the Exchange Agent at the address indicated above for further instructions. This Letter and related documents cannot be processed until the Initial Notes have been replaced. The replacement of mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed Initial Notes may require an indemnity undertaking and may take considerable time to complete. The Company may refuse to accept tenders of any mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed Initial Notes that are not replaced to the Company's satisfaction prior to the expiration of the Exchange Offer.
10. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies.
Questions relating to the procedure for tendering, as well as requests for additional copies of the Prospectus, this Letter and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, may be directed to the Exchange Agent, at the address and telephone number indicated above.
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11. Incorporation of Letter of Transmittal.
This Letter shall be deemed to be incorporated in and acknowledged and accepted by any tender through the Book-Entry Transfer Facility's ATOP procedures by any participant on behalf of itself and the beneficial owners of any Initial Notes so tendered.
12. Withdrawals.
Tenders of Initial Notes may be withdrawn only pursuant to the limited withdrawal rights set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange Offer—Withdrawal of Tenders."
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TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS THAT ARE U.S. PERSONS (INCLUDING U.S. RESIDENT ALIENS)
(See Instruction 5)
PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THE IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION BELOW
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
SUBSTITUTE Form W-9 Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Payer's Request for Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) |  | PART I — PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IN THE BOX AT RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND DATING BELOW. See the enclosed "Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9" for instructions. |  | __________________________ Social Security Number(s) OR __________________________ Employer Identification Number(s) (If awaiting TIN, write "Applied For") |
Please Fill in Your Name and Address Below |  | PART II — Check this box if you are a U.S. payee exempt from backup withholding (see enclosed Guidelines) ![[ ]](https://capedge.com/proxy/S-4/0000950136-05-002490/ebox.gif) |
PART III — CERTIFICATION |  |
Name: __________________ ______________________ Address (Number and Street) ______________________ City, State and Zip Code
|  | 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), and |  |
(2) I am not subject to backup withholding either because (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service ("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). |  |
|  | |
______________________ Status (individual, corporation, partnership, other) |  | Signature: ________________________ |  | Date: ________________________ |
|  | |  | |
CERTIFICATION GUIDELINES—You must cross out item (2) of the above certification if you have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding because of under reporting of 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 stating that you are no longer subject to backup withholding, do not cross out item (2). |
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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 (a) 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 (b) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I understand that if I do not provide a taxpayer identification number to the payer, the Specified Rate of all payments made to me on account of the Exchange Notes shall be retained until I provide a taxpayer identification number to the payer and that, if I do not provide my taxpayer identification number within sixty (60) days, such retained amounts shall be remitted to the Internal Revenue Service as backup withholding and the Specified Rate of all reportable payments made to me thereafter will be withheld and remitted to the Internal Revenue Service until I provide a taxpayer identification number.
Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: __________________________
 |  |
NOTE: | FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF THE SPECIFIED RATE OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU UNDER THE EXCHANGE NOTES. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED "GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9" FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. |
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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. All "Section" references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). "IRS" is the Internal Revenue Service.
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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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 account or single-owner LLC |  | The owner(3) |
6. A valid trust, estate, or pension trust |  | The legal entity(4) |
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For this type of account: |  | Give the EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF — |
7. Corporate account or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832 |  | The corporation |
8. Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization account |  | The organization |
9. Partnership account 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 |
 |
 |  |
(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. You may also enter your business name. You may use either your Social Security number or your Employer Identification number. |
 |  |
(4) | List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate, or pension trust. (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.) |
 |  |
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. |
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GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
Obtaining a Number
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 (for individuals), Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, at the local office of the Social Security Administration or the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") and apply for a number. U.S. resident aliens who cannot obtain a Social Security number must apply for an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) on Form W-7.
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) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or an individual retirement plan or a custodial account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Code, if the account satisfies the requirements of Section 401(f)(2) of the Code. |
 |  |
• | 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. |
Other payees that MAY BE EXEMPT from backup withholding include the following:
 |  |
• | A corporation. |
 |  |
• | A financial institution. |
 |  |
• | A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the U.S., the District of Columbia or a possession of the U.S. |
 |  |
• | A real estate investment trust. |
 |  |
• | A common trust fund operated by a bank under Section 584(a) of the Code. |
 |  |
• | A trust exempt from tax under Section 664 of the Code or a trust described in Section 4947 of the Code. |
 |  |
• | An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
 |  |
• | A foreign central bank of issue. |
 |  |
• | A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. |
 |  |
• | A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian. |
Payments Exempt from Backup Withholding
Payment of dividends and patronage dividends not generally subject to backup withholding include the following:
 |  |
• | Payments to nonresident aliens subject to withholding under Section 1441 of the Code. |
 |  |
• | 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) payments made by an ESOP. |
Payments of interest not generally subject to backup withholding include the following:
 |  |
• | Payment 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. |
 |  |
• | Payment of tax-exempt interest (including exempt interest dividends under Section 852 of the Code). |
 |  |
• | Payment described in Section 6049(b)(5) to nonresident aliens. |
 |  |
• | Payments on tax-free covenant bonds under Section 1451 of the Code. |
 |  |
• | Payments made by certain foreign organizations. |
 |  |
• | Mortgage or student loan interest paid to you. |
Exempt payees described above that are U.S. persons (including a U.S. resident alien individual) should file Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. ENTER YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, STATUS AND TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, WRITE "EXEMPT" ON THE FACE OF PART II OF THE FORM, SIGN AND DATE THE FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE PAYER. IF YOU ARE A NONRESIDENT ALIEN OR A FOREIGN ENTITY NOT SUBJECT TO BACKUP WITHHOLDING, FILE WITH THE PAYER A COMPLETED INTERNAL REVENUE FORM W-8BEN, W-8ECI, W-8IMY or W-8EXP, AS APPLICABLE .
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, 6042, 6044, 6045, 6049, and 6050A and 6050N of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Privacy Act Notice. Section 6109 requires most recipients of dividends, 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 tax returns. 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) 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.
(4) Misuse of TINS. If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of Federal law, the register may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX CONSULTANT OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
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