Exhibit 99.2
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Berry Plastics Corporation
(formerly Berry Plastics Holding Corporation)
Offer to Exchange
$680,600,000 First Priority Floating Rate Senior Secured Notes due 2015
registered under the Securities Act of 1933
For
A Like Principal Amount of First Priority Floating Rate Senior Secured Notes due 2015
Pursuant to the Prospectus dated , 2008
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME,
ON
, 2008 , UNLESS EXTENDED (SUCH DATE AND TIME, AS IT MAY BE
EXTENDED, THE EXPIRATION DATE). TENDERS MAY BE WITHDRAWN
PRIOR TO
5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.
The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:
By Registered and Certified Mail: | By Overnight Courier or Regular Mail: | By Hand Delivery: | ||
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | ||
Corporate Trust Operations | Corporate Trust Operations | Corporate Trust Services | ||
MAC N9303-121 | MAC N9303-121 | 608 2nd Avenue South | ||
Northstar East Building-12th Floor | ||||
P.O. Box 1517 | 6th & Marquette Avenue | Minneapolis, MN 55402 | ||
Minneapolis, MN 55480 | Minneapolis, MN 55479 | |||
Or | ||||
By Facsimile Transmission: | ||||
(612) 667-6282 | ||||
Telephone: | ||||
(800) 344-5128 |
Delivery of this instrument to an address other than as set forth above, or transmission of instructions via facsimile other than as set forth above, will not constitute a valid delivery.
The undersigned acknowledges that he or she has received the prospectus, dated , 2008 (the “Prospectus”), of Berry Plastics Corporation (formerly Berry Plastics Holding Corporation), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and this Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), which together constitute the Company’s offer (the “Exchange Offer”)
to exchange an aggregate principal amount of up$680,600,000 First Priority Floating Rate Senior Secured Notes due 2015 registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Exchange Notes”) of the Company for a like principal amount of the Company’s outstanding First Priority Floating Rate Senior Secured Notes due 2015 (the “Outstanding Notes”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same meaning given to them in the Prospectus. Where the context requires, references herein to the Exchange Notes and the Outstanding Notes shall be deemed to be references to the associated guaranty (the terms of which are described in the indenture which governs both the Exchange Notes and Outstanding Notes).
For each of the Outstanding Notes accepted for exchange, the holder of such Outstanding Notes will receive a new note having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered Outstanding Note. The terms of the Exchange Notes are substantially identical to the terms of the Outstanding Notes, except that the transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest provisions relating to the Outstanding Notes will not apply to the Exchange Notes.
The Company reserves the right, at any time or from time to time, to extend the Exchange Offer at its discretion, in which event the term Expiration Date shall mean the latest time and date to which the Exchange Offer is extended. The Company will notify the registered holders of the Outstanding Notes of any extension promptly by oral or written notice thereof.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a holder of the Outstanding Notes either if certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if a tender of the Outstanding Notes is to be made by book-entry transfer to the account maintained by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Exchange Agent”) at The Depository Trust Company (the “Book-Entry Transfer Facility”) pursuant to the procedures set forth in The Exchange Offer section of the Prospectus. Holders of the Outstanding Notes whose certificates are not immediately available, or who are unable to deliver their certificates or confirmation of the book-entry tender of their Outstanding Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility (a “Book-Entry Confirmation”) and all other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date, must tender their Outstanding Notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in The Exchange Offer-Guaranteed Delivery Procedures section of the Prospectus and Instruction 1 herein. Delivery of documents to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility does not constitute delivery to the Exchange Agent.
The undersigned has completed the appropriate boxes below and signed this Letter of Transmittal to indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect to the Exchange Offer.
List below the Outstanding Notes to which this Letter of Transmittal relates. If the space provided below is inadequate, the numbers and principal amount of the Outstanding Notes should be listed on a separate signed schedule affixed hereto.
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DESCRIPTION OF OUTSTANDING NOTES
1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
Names and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s) (Please fill in, if blank) | Certificate Number(s)* | Aggregate Principal Amount of Outstanding Notes Represented by Certificate | Principal Amount of Outstanding Notes Tendered** | |||
Total |
* | Need not be completed if the Outstanding Notes are being tendered by book-entry transfer. |
** | Unless otherwise indicated in this column, a holder will be deemed to have tendered ALL of the Outstanding Notes represented by the Outstanding Notes indicated in column 2. See Instruction 2. |
The Outstanding Notes tendered must be in an integral multiple of $1,000 in principal amount, subject to a minimum denomination of $2,000.
See Instruction 1.
¨ | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED ORIGINAL NOTES ARE ENCLOSED HEREWITH. |
¨ | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED ORIGINAL NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT WITH THE BOOK ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: |
Name of Tendering Institution: |
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Account Number: |
| Transaction Code Number: |
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By crediting the Outstanding Notes to the Exchange Agent’s Account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility in accordance with the Book-Entry Transfer Facility’s Automated Tender Offer Program (ATOP) and by complying with applicable ATOP procedures with respect to the Exchange Offer, including transmitting an agent’s message to the Exchange Agent in which the holder of the Outstanding Notes acknowledges receipt of this Letter of Transmittal and agrees to be bound by the terms of this Letter of Transmittal, the participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility confirms on behalf of itself and the beneficial owners of such Outstanding Notes all provisions of this Letter of Transmittal applicable to it and such beneficial owners as fully as if it had completed the information required herein and executed and transmitted this Letter of Transmittal to the Exchange Agent.
¨ | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED ORIGINAL NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: |
Name(s) of Registered Holder(s): |
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Window Ticket Number (if any): |
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Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery: |
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Name of Institution which guaranteed delivery: |
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If Delivered by Book-Entry Transfer, Complete the Following:
Account Number: |
| Transaction Code Number: |
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¨ | CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO. |
Name: |
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Address: |
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If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not participating in, and does not intend to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Outstanding Notes, it represents that the Outstanding Notes to be exchanged for Exchange Notes were acquired by it as a result of market-making or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
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PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby tenders to the Company the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes indicated above. Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of each of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Company all right, title and interest in and to such Outstanding Notes as are being tendered hereby.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby and that the Company will acquire good and marketable title thereto, free and clear of all liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, adverse claims and restrictions of any kind. The undersigned hereby further represents (i) that any Exchange Notes acquired in exchange for Outstanding Notes tendered hereby will have been acquired in the ordinary course of business of the person receiving such Exchange Notes, whether or not such person is the undersigned, (ii) that neither the holder of such Outstanding Notes nor any such other person is participating in or intends to participate in a distribution of such Exchange Notes within the meaning of the federal securities laws, or has an arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to participate in any distribution of such Exchange Notes, (iii) that neither the holder of such Outstanding Notes nor any such other person is an affiliate, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of the Company and (iv) that the undersigned is not acting on behalf of any person or entity who could not truthfully make the statements set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above.
The undersigned also acknowledges that this Exchange Offer is being made by the Company based upon the Company’s understanding of an interpretation by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) as set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, that the Exchange Notes issued in exchange for the Outstanding Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by holders thereof (other than any such holder that is an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act), without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such Exchange Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holders’ business, and such holders are not engaged in, and do not intend to engage in, a distribution of such Exchange Notes and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of such Exchange Notes. However, the staff of the Commission has not considered this Exchange Offer in the context of a no-action letter, and there can be no assurance that the staff of the Commission would make a similar determination with respect to this Exchange Offer as in other circumstances. If a holder of Outstanding Notes is an affiliate of the Company, or is engaged in or intends to engage in a distribution of the Exchange Notes or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the Exchange Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, such holder could not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of the Commission and must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any secondary resale transaction. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Outstanding Notes, it represents that the Outstanding Notes to be exchanged for the Exchange Notes were acquired by it for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a Prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes; however, by so acknowledging that it will deliver, and by delivering, a Prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Company to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby. All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred in this Letter of Transmittal and every obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy and legal representatives of the undersigned and shall not be affected by, and shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned. This tender may be withdrawn only in accordance with the procedures set forth in The Exchange Offer—Withdrawal Rights section of the Prospectus.
Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled Special Issuance Instructions below, please deliver the Exchange Notes in the name of the undersigned or, in the case of a book-entry delivery of Outstanding Notes, please
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credit the account indicated above maintained at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under the box entitled Special Delivery Instructions below, please send the Exchange Notes to the undersigned at the address shown above in the box entitled Description of Outstanding Notes.
THE UNDERSIGNED, BY COMPLETING THE BOX ENTITLED DESCRIPTION OF OUTSTANDING NOTES ABOVE AND SIGNING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE TENDERED THE OUTSTANDING NOTES AS SET FORTH IN SUCH BOX ABOVE.
SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 3 and 4)
To be completed ONLY if certificates of Outstanding Notes not exchanged and/or Exchange Notes are to be issued in the name of and sent to someone other than the person(s) whose signature(s) appear(s) on this Letter of Transmittal above, or if Outstanding Notes delivered by book-entry transfer which are not accepted for exchange are to be returned by credit to an account maintained at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility other than the account indicated above.
Issue Exchange Notes and/or Outstanding Notes to:
Name(s): |
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(Please Type or Print) | ||
Address: |
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(Include Zip Code) |
(Complete Accompanying Substitute Form W-9)
Credit unexchanged Outstanding Notes delivered by book-entry transfer to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility account set forth below.
(Book-Entry Transfer Facility
Account Number, if applicable)
SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 3 and 4)
To be completed ONLY if certificates of Outstanding Notes not exchanged and/or Exchange Notes are to be sent to someone other than the person(s) whose signature(s) appear(s) on this Letter of Transmittal above, or to such person(s) at an address other than shown in the box entitled Description of Outstanding Notes on this Letter of Transmittal above.
Mail Exchange Notes and/or Outstanding Notes to:
Name(s): |
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(Please Type or Print) |
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Address: |
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(Include Zip Code) |
IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR A FACSIMILE HEREOF (TOGETHER WITH THE CERTIFICATES FOR ORIGINAL NOTES OR A BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS OR THE NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY) MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.
PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING ANY BOX ABOVE.
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PLEASE SIGN HERE
(To Be Completed By All Tendering Holders)
(Complete accompanying Substitute Form W-9 also)
x: |
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| , 2008 | |||||||
x: |
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| , 2008 | |||||||
(Signatures of Registered Owner(s)) | (Date) |
Area Code and Telephone Number: |
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If a holder is tendering any Outstanding Notes, this Letter of Transmittal must be signed by the registered holder(s) as the name(s) appear(s) on the certificate(s) for such Outstanding Notes or by any person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by endorsements and documents transmitted herewith. If a signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, officer or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth your full title. See Instruction 3.
Name(s): |
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(Please Type or Print) | ||
Title: |
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Capacity: |
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Address: |
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(Include Zip Code) |
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
(If Required by Instruction 3)
Signature Guaranteed by an Eligible Institution: |
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(Authorized Signature) | ||
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(Title) | ||
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(Name and Firm) |
Date: , 2008
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INSTRUCTIONS
Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of the Exchange Offer
1.Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal and Outstanding Notes; Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by holders of Outstanding Notes 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 Outstanding Notes section of the Prospectus. Certificates for all physically tendered Outstanding Notes, or Book-Entry Confirmation, as the case may be, as well as a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth herein on or prior to the Expiration Date, or the tendering holder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below. Outstanding Notes tendered hereby must be in integral multiple of $1,000 in principal amount, subject to a minimum denomination of $2,000.
Holders of Outstanding Notes whose certificates for Outstanding Notes are not immediately available or who cannot deliver their certificates and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date, or who cannot complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, may tender their Outstanding Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in The Exchange Offer — Guaranteed Delivery Procedures section of the Prospectus. Pursuant to such procedures, (i) such tender must be made through an Eligible Institution (as defined below), (ii) prior to the Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent must receive from such Eligible Institution a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form provided by the Company (by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery), setting forth the name and address of the holder of Outstanding Notes, the certificate number or numbers of such Outstanding Notes and the principal amount of Outstanding Notes tendered, stating that the tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing that within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the Expiration Date, the Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), together with the certificate or certificates representing the Outstanding Notes to be tendered in proper form for transfer, or a book-entry confirmation, as the case may be, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal will be deposited by the Eligible Institution (as defined below) with the Exchange Agent, and (iii) such properly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), as well as the certificate or certificates representing all tendered Outstanding Notes in proper form for transfer, or a book-entry confirmation, as the case may be, and all other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal are received by the Exchange Agent within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the Expiration Date.
The method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, the Outstanding Notes and all other required documents is at the election and risk of the tendering holders. Instead of delivery by mail, it is recommended that holders use an overnight or hand delivery service. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to assure delivery to the Exchange Agent before the Expiration Date. No Letter of Transmittal or Outstanding Notes should be sent to the Company. Holders may request their respective brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or nominees to effect the tenders for such holders.
See The Exchange Offer section of the Prospectus.
2.Partial Tenders (not applicable to holders of Outstanding Notes who tender by book-entry transfer); Withdrawals.
If less than all of the Outstanding Notes evidenced by a submitted certificate are to be tendered, the tendering holder(s) should fill in the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Notes to be tendered in the applicable box of boxes above entitled Description of Outstanding Notes — Principal Amount of Outstanding Notes Tendered, as the case may be. A newly reissued certificate for the Outstanding Notes submitted but not tendered will be sent to such holder as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date. All of the Outstanding Notes delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise clearly indicated.
If not yet accepted, a tender pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date. To be effective with respect to the tender of Outstanding Notes, a notice of withdrawal must: (i) be received by the Exchange Agent before the Company notifies the Exchange Agent that it has accepted the tender of Outstanding
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Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer; (ii) specify the name of the Outstanding Notes; (iii) contain a description of the Outstanding Notes to be withdrawn, the certificate numbers shown on the particular certificates evidencing such Outstanding Notes and the principal amount of Outstanding Notes represented by such certificates; and (iv) be signed by the holder in the same manner as the original signature on this Letter of Transmittal (including any required signature guarantee). The Exchange Agent will return the properly withdrawn Outstanding Notes promptly following receipt of the notice of withdrawal. If Outstanding Notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to be credited with the withdrawn Outstanding Notes or otherwise comply with the Book-Entry Transfer Facility’s procedures. All questions as to the validity of any notice of withdrawal, including time of receipt, will be determined by the Company, and such determination will be final and binding on all parties.
3.Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal, Bond Powers and Endorsements; Guarantee of Signatures.
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond exactly with the name as written on the face of the certificates without alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.
If any tendered Outstanding Notes are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.
If any tendered Outstanding 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 as there are different registrations of certificates.
When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder (which term, for the purposes described herein, shall include the Book-Entry Transfer Facility whose name appears on a security listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes) of the Outstanding 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 to a person other than the registered holder, then endorsements of any certificates transmitted hereby or separate bond powers are required. Signatures on such certificates or bond powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (as defined below).
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder or holders of any Outstanding Notes specified herein, then certificate(s) representing such Outstanding Notes must be endorsed by such registered holder(s) or accompanied by separate written instruments of transfer or endorsed in blank by such registered holder(s) in form satisfactory to the Company and duly executed by the registered holder, in either case signed exactly as such registered holder(s) name or names appear(s) on the Outstanding Notes. If the Letter of Transmittal or any certificates of Outstanding Notes or separate written instruments of transfer or exchange are signed or endorsed 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 their authority to so act must be submitted with this Letter of Transmittal.
Signature(s) on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution unless the Outstanding Notes tendered pursuant thereto are tendered (i) by a registered holder who has not completed the box entitled Special Issuance Instructions or Special Delivery Instructions on this Letter of Transmittal or (ii) for the account of an Eligible Institution. In the event that signatures on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, are required to be guaranteed, such guarantee must be by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or another eligible guarantor institution within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (an “Eligible Institution”).
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4.Special Issuance and Delivery Instructions.
Tendering holders of Outstanding Notes should indicate in the applicable box the name and address to which Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer are to be issued or sent, if different from the name or address of the person signing this Letter of Transmittal. In the case of issuance in a different name, the employer identification or social security number of the person so named must also be indicated. Holders tendering Outstanding Notes by book-entry transfer may request that Outstanding Notes not exchanged be credited to such account maintained at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility as such holder may designate hereon. If no such instructions are given, such Outstanding Notes not exchanged will be returned to the name or address of the person signing this Letter of Transmittal or credited to the account listed beneath the box entitled Description of Outstanding Notes.
5.Tax Identification Number.
Payments of principal and interest on a note are generally subject to backup withholding unless the holder provides the Company (as payor) or other payor with such holder’s correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) on Substitute Form W-9 below or otherwise establishes a basis for exemption. If such holder is an individual, the TIN is his or her social security number. If the payor is not provided with the current TIN or an adequate basis for an exemption, such tendering holder may be subject to a penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and all payments that are made to such holder may be subject to backup withholding. 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 the Outstanding Notes are held in more than one name), consult the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 (the W-9 Guidelines) attached hereto.
Certain holders (including, among others, all corporations and certain foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. See the enclosed W-9 Guidelines for additional instructions.
To prevent backup withholding on reportable payments of principal and interest by the Company (when acting as payor), each tendering holder of Outstanding Notes must provide its correct TIN by completing the Substitute Form W-9 set forth below, certifying that the TIN provided is correct, that the holder is a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person and that either (i) the holder is exempt from backup withholding, (ii) the holder has not been notified by the IRS that such holder is subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends or (iii) the Internal Revenue Service has notified the holder that such holder is no longer subject to backup withholding. If the tendering holder of Outstanding Notes is a nonresident alien or foreign entity not subject to backup withholding, such holder must give the Company a completed Form W-8BEN Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding, or other appropriate Form W-8. These forms may be obtained from the Exchange Agent. If the Outstanding Notes are in more than one name or are not in the name of the actual owner, such holder should consult the W-9 Guidelines for information on which TIN to report. If such holder does not have a TIN, such holder should consult the W-9 Guidelines for instructions on applying for a TIN, apply for a TIN, check the box in Part III of the Substitute Form W-9 and complete the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number at the bottom of the Substitute Form W-9. Note: checking this box and completing the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number means that such holder has already applied for a TIN or that such holder intends to apply for one in the near future. If a holder checks the box in Part III of the Substitute Form W-9 and completes the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number at the bottom of Substitute Form W-9, backup withholding at a rate of 28% will nevertheless apply to all reportable payments made to such holder.
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 overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained from the IRS.
6.Transfer Taxes.
Holders who tender their Outstanding Notes for exchange will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in connection therewith. If, however, Exchange Notes are to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, or if tendered Outstanding Notes
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are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing this Letter of Transmittal, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of Outstanding Notes in connection with the Exchange Offer, 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 herewith, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.
Except as provided in this Instruction 6, it will not be necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the Outstanding Notes specified in this Letter of Transmittal.
7.Waiver of Conditions.
The Company reserves the right to waive satisfaction of any or all conditions enumerated in the Prospectus.
8.No Conditional Tenders.
No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tenders will be accepted. All tendering holders of Outstanding Notes, by execution of this Letter of Transmittal, shall waive any right to receive notice of the acceptance of their Outstanding Notes for exchange.
Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person is obligated to give notice of any defect or irregularity with respect to any tender of Outstanding Notes nor shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give any such notice.
9.Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Outstanding Notes.
Any holder whose Outstanding Notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed should contact the Exchange Agent at the address indicated above for further instructions.
10.Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies.
Questions relating to the procedure for tendering, as well as requests for additional copies of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal, may be directed to the Exchange Agent, at the address and telephone number indicated above.
11.Incorporation of Letter of Transmittal.
This Letter of Transmittal 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 Outstanding Notes so tendered.
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TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS
(See Instruction 5)
SUBSTITUTE Form W-9 Payer’s Request for Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) | PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (TIN) IN PART I AT THE RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND DATING BELOW. IF YOU ARE AWAITING A TIN, CHECK THE BOX IN PART III. FOR ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS, SEE THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TIN ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9.
| Part I-Social Security Number OR Employer Identification Number
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Name
Business Name (if different from above) | Part II-For Payees exempt from
Exempt¨ | |||
Please check appropriate box
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¨ Individual/ Sole Proprietor¨ Corporation ¨ Partnership ¨ Limited Liability Company. Enter the tax classification (D = Disregarded Entity, C = Corporation, P = Partnership)¾ ¨ Other
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Part III Awaiting TIN¨ Please complete the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Number below. | |||
Address
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City, State, Zip Code |
Certification—Under 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 because (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (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. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below).
Certification Instructions–You must cross out item (2) above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. However, if after being notified by the IRS that you were subject to backup withholding, you received notification from the IRS that you are no longer subject to backup withholding, do not cross out item (2). (Also see instructions in the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9.)
The Internal Revenue Service does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding.
SIGNATURE: |
| DATE: |
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Definition of U.S. person.For federal tax purposes, you are considered a U.S. person if you are:
• | An individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien, |
• | A partnership, corporation, company, or association created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States, |
• | An estate (other than a foreign estate), or |
• | A domestic trust (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-7). |
YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU CHECKED THE BOX IN PART III OF THE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9.
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, 28% of all reportable payments made to me will be withheld until I provide a taxpayer identification number.
SIGNATURE: |
| DATE: |
|
NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 MAY RESULT IN A PENALTY IMPOSED BY THE IRS AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 28% OF ANY PAYMENT. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES.
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GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING THE PROPER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
TO GIVE THE EXCHANGE AGENT.
Social Security numbers have nine digits separated by two hyphens: i.e. 000-00-0000. Employer identification numbers have nine digits separated by only one hyphen: i.e. 00-0000000. The table below will help determine the number to give the payer.
For this type of account: | Give the SOCIAL SECURITY number of: | |||||
1. | Individual | The individual | ||||
2. | Two or more individuals (joint account) | The actual owner of the account or, of 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 disregarded entity owned by an individual | The owner(3) | ||||
For this type of account: | Give the EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION number of: | |||||
6. | Disregarded entity not owned by an individual | The owner | ||||
7. | A valid trust, estate, or pension trust | The legal entity (Do not furnish the identifying number of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.)(4) | ||||
8. | Corporate or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832 | The corporation | ||||
9. | Association, club, Religious, charity, educational organization or other tax-exempt organization account | 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 an entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments | The public entity |
(1) | List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has a social security number, that person’s number must be furnished. |
(2) | Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s social security number. |
(3) | You must show your individual name, but you may also enter your business or doing business as name. You may use either your social security number or employer identification number (if you have one). |
(4) | List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate, or pension trust. |
NOTE: | If no name is circled when there is more than one name, 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 do not have a taxpayer identification number, obtain Form SS-5, Application for Social Security Card, or 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. Section references in these guidelines refer to sections under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Form SS-5 can also be obtained online athttp://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf or by calling 1-800-772-1213. Form SS-4 can also be obtained online atwww.irs.gov or by calling 1-800-829-3676.
Payees specifically exempted from backup withholding include:
• | An organization exempt from tax under Section 501(a), an individual retirement account (IRA), 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 of its agencies or instrumentalities, |
• | A state, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities, |
• | A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, or |
• | An international organization or any of its agencies or instrumentalities. |
Payees that may be exempt from backup withholding include:
• | 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 during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, |
• | 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, or |
• | A trust exempt from tax under Section 664 or described in Section 4947. |
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 United States 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, or |
• | Section 404(k) distributions made by an ESOP. |
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 described in Section 6049(b)(5) to nonresident aliens, |
• | Payments on tax-free covenant bonds under Section 1451, |
• | Payments made by certain foreign organizations, or |
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• | Mortgage or student loan interest paid to you. |
Exempt payees described above should file Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. FILE THIS FORM WITH THE PAYER, FURNISH YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, CHECK THE BOX LABELED “EXEMPT” IN PART II OF THE FORM, SIGN AND DATE THE FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.
Certain payments other than interest, dividends, and patronage dividends, which are not subject to information reporting are also not subject to backup withholding. For details, see the regulations under Sections 6041, 6041A, 6045, 6050A and 6050N.
Privacy Act Notice. Section 6109 requires most recipients of dividend, interest, or certain other income 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 tax returns. The IRS may also provide this information to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation and to cities, states and the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions to carry out their tax laws. The IRS may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, or to federal and state agencies to enforce federal nontax criminal laws and to combat terrorism. Payers must be given the numbers whether or not recipients are required to file tax returns. Payers must generally withhold a portion of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not furnish a taxpayer identification number to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.
Penalties
(1) Penalty for Failure to Furnish Taxpayer Identification Number. If you fail to furnish your 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 Taxpayer Identification Numbers. If the requester discloses or uses taxpayer identification numbers in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX CONSULTANT OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
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