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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
THE READER'S DIGEST ASSOCIATION, INC.
OFFER TO EXCHANGE
$525,000,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THEIR
FLOATING RATE SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2017 (CUSIP NUMBER 755267AJ0),
WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
FOR A LIKE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THEIR
FLOATING RATE SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2017 (CUSIP NUMBERS 757267AG6/U75338AC4)
| THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON , 2010, UNLESS EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION DATE"). TENDERS OF INITIAL NOTES MAY BE WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE. |
Delivery to: Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
| By Registered or Certified Mail: | By Overnight Courier: | By Hand: | By Facsimile: (For Eligible Institutions only): | ||||
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. PO Box 1517 Minneapolis, MN 55480 Attn: Corporate Trust Operations—MAC N9303-121 | Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. National Association Sixth & Marquette Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55479 Attn: Corporate Trust Operations—MAC N9303-121 | Wells Fargo Bank, National Association 12th Floor—Northstar East Building 608 Second Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55479 Attn: Corporate Trust Services | Wells Fargo Bank, N/A (612) 667-6282 Attn: Bondholder Communications Confirm by telephone: (800) 344-5128, Option 0 Attn: Bondholder Communications | ||||
For information, call: (800) 344-5128, Option 0 | |||||||
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.
PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING ANY BOX BELOW.
The undersigned acknowledges that he or she has received the prospectus, dated , 2010 (the "Prospectus"), of The Reader's Digest Association, Inc, a Delaware corporation, (the "Issuer"), which constitutes an offer (the "Exchange Offer") to issue $525,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its Floating Rate Senior Secured Notes due 2017 (CUSIP Number 755267AJ0) (the "Exchange Notes") in exchange for a like aggregate principal amount of its outstanding Floating Rate Senior Secured Notes due 2017 (CUSIP Numbers 757267AG6/U75338AC4) (the "Initial Notes") that were issued and sold in reliance upon an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
For each Initial Note accepted for exchange, the holder of such Initial Note will receive an Exchange Note having an aggregate principal amount equal to that of the surrendered Initial Note.
This Letter is to be completed by a holder of Initial Notes either if certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if a tender of certificates for Initial Notes, if available, 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—Procedures for Tendering Initial Notes" section of the Prospectus and an Agent's Message (as defined herein) is not delivered. Delivery of this Letter and any other required documents should be made to the Exchange Agent. Delivery of documents to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility does not constitute delivery to the Exchange Agent.
Holders of Initial Notes whose certificates are not immediately available, or who are unable to deliver their certificates (or cannot obtain a confirmation of the book-entry tender of their Initial Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility (a "Book-Entry Confirmation") on a timely basis) and all other documents required by this Letter to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date, must tender their Initial Notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in "The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Initial Notes—Guaranteed Delivery Procedure" section of the Prospectus. See Instruction 1.
The undersigned has completed the appropriate boxes below and signed this Letter to indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect to the Exchange Offer. Holders who wish to exchange their Initial Notes must complete this Letter in its entirety.
The instructions included with this Letter must be followed. Questions and requests for assistance or for additional copies of the Prospectus and this Letter may be directed to the Exchange Agent.
List below the Initial Notes to which this Letter relates. If the space provided below is inadequate, the certificate numbers and principal amount of Initial Notes should be listed on a separate signed schedule affixed to this Letter.
| DESCRIPTION OF INITIAL NOTES (See Instruction 2) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s) Exactly as Name(s) appear(s) on Initial Notes (Please fill in, if blank) | Certificate Number(s)* | Aggregate Principal Amount Represented by Certificate | Principal Amount Tendered (if less than all)** | |||||
| | ||||||||
| | ||||||||
| | ||||||||
| | ||||||||
| | ||||||||
| Total | ||||||||
| * Need not be completed if Initial Notes are being tendered by book-entry transfer. | ||||||||
| ** Unless otherwise indicated in this column, the holder will be deemed to have tendered the full aggregate principal amount represented by such Initial Notes. See Instruction 2. Initial Notes tendered hereby must be in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. See Instruction 1. | ||||||||
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o | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED INITIAL 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: | ||||
| Account Number: | Transaction Code Number: | |||||||
By crediting Initial Notes to the Exchange Agent's Account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility in accordance with the Book-Entry Transfer Facility's Automatic 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 Initial Notes acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the terms of this Letter, the participant in ATOP confirms on behalf of itself and the beneficial owners of such Initial Notes all provisions of this Letter applicable to it and such beneficial owners as if it had completed the information required herein and executed and transmitted this Letter to the Exchange Agent.
o | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED INITIAL NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: |
| Name(s) of Registered Holder(s): | ||||
| Window Ticket Number (if any): | ||||
| Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery: | ||||
| Name of Eligible Institution that Guaranteed Delivery: | ||||
If Delivered by Book-Entry Transfer, Complete the Following: | ||||
| Account Number: | Transaction Code Number: | |||||||
o | CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER. | |
o | CHECK HERE IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO. |
| Name: | ||||
Address: | ||||
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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 Issuer for exchange the aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes indicated above. Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of the Initial Notes tendered hereby, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Issuer all right, title and interest in and to such Initial Notes as are being tendered hereby.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent as the attorney-in-fact and proxy of the undersigned (with full knowledge that the Exchange Agent also acts as the agent of the Issuer in connection with the Exchange Offer) with respect to the tendered Initial Notes with full power of substitution and resubstitution to the full extent of the rights of the undersigned on the Initial Notes tendered. The Exchange Agent is empowered to exercise all voting and other rights of the holders as it may deem proper at any meeting of note holders or otherwise. The power of attorney granted in this paragraph shall be deemed to be irrevocable and coupled with an interest.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Initial Notes tendered hereby and to acquire Exchange Notes issuable upon the exchange of such tendered Initial Notes, and that the Issuer will acquire good and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and not subject to any adverse claim when the same are accepted by the Company.
The undersigned acknowledges that this Exchange Offer is being made in reliance on interpretations by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, that the Exchange Notes issued in exchange for the Initial Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by holders thereof (other than (i) any such holder that is an "affiliate" of the Issuer within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act or (ii) any broker-dealer that purchases Initial Notes from the Issuer to resell pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("Rule 144A") or any other available exemption), 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 have no arrangement with any person to participate in the distribution of such Exchange Notes and are not participating in, and do not intend to participate in, the distribution of the Exchange Notes. The undersigned acknowledges that the Issuer does not intend to request the SEC to consider, and the SEC has not considered the Exchange Offer in the context of a no-action letter, and there can be no assurance that the staff of the SEC would make a similar determination with respect to the Exchange Offer as in other circumstances. The undersigned acknowledges that any holder that is an affiliate of the Issuer, or is participating in or intends to participate in or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the Exchange Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, (i) cannot rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC and (ii) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.
The undersigned hereby further represents that (i) any Exchange Notes acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being acquired in the ordinary course of business of the person receiving such Exchange Notes, whether or not such person is the holder; (ii) such holder or other person has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of such Exchange Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act and is not participating in, and does not intend to participate in, the distribution of such Exchange Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act and (iii) such holder or such other person is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of the Issuer or, if such holder or such other person is an affiliate, such holder or such other person will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable.
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaging in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Notes. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Initial Notes, it represents that the Initial Notes to be exchanged for the Exchange Notes were acquired by it as a result of market-making or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale, offer to resell or other transfer 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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The undersigned also warrants that acceptance of any tendered Initial Notes by the Issuer and the issuance of Exchange Notes in exchange therefor shall constitute performance in full by the Issuer of its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement relating to the Initial Notes, which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement in connection with the Exchange Offer.
The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Issuer to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Initial Notes tendered hereby. All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred in this Letter 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 this Letter.
The undersigned understands that tenders of the Initial Notes pursuant to any one of the procedures described under "The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Initial Notes" in the Prospectus and in the instructions hereto will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Issuer in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer.
The undersigned recognizes that, under certain circumstances set forth in the Prospectus under "The Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer" the Issuer may not be required to accept for exchange any of the Initial Notes tendered. Initial Notes not accepted for exchange or withdrawn will be returned to the undersigned at the address set forth below unless otherwise indicated under "Special Delivery Instructions" below.
Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" below, please deliver the Exchange Notes (and, if applicable, substitute certificates representing Initial Notes for any Initial Notes not exchanged) in the name of the undersigned or, in the case of a book-entry delivery of Initial Notes, please 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 (and, if applicable, substitute certificates representing Initial Notes for any Initial Notes not exchanged) to the undersigned at the address shown below the undersigned's signature(s). In the event that both "Special Issuance Instructions" and "Special Delivery Instructions" are completed, please issue the Exchange Notes issued in exchange for the Initial Notes accepted for exchange (and, if applicable, substitute certificates representing Initial Notes for any Initial Notes not exchanged) in the names of the person(s) so indicated. The undersigned recognizes that the Issuer has no obligation pursuant to the "Special Issuance Instructions" and "Special Delivery Instructions" to transfer any Initial Notes from the name of the registered holder(s) thereof if the Issuer does not accept for exchange any of the Initial Notes so tendered for exchange.
The Book-Entry Transfer Facility, as the holder of record of certain Initial Notes, has granted authority to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility participants whose names appear on a security position listing with respect to such Initial Notes as of the date of tender of such Initial Notes to execute and deliver this Letter as if they were the holders of record. Accordingly, for purposes of this Letter, the term "holder" shall be deemed to include such Book-Entry Transfer Facility participants.
THE UNDERSIGNED, BY COMPLETING THE BOX ENTITLED "DESCRIPTION OF INITIAL NOTES" ABOVE AND SIGNING THIS LETTER AND DELIVERING SUCH NOTES AND THIS LETTER TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT, WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE TENDERED THE INITIAL NOTES AS SET FORTH IN SUCH BOX ABOVE.
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SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 3, 4 and 5)
To be completed ONLY if certificates for Initial Notes not tendered or not accepted for exchange, or Exchange Notes issued in exchange for Initial Notes accepted for exchange, are to be issued in the name of and sent to someone other than the undersigned, or if Initial 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 (certificates) to:
| Name(s): | (Please Type or Print) | |
(Please Type or Print) | ||
Address | ||
(Include Zip Code) | ||
(Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number) | ||
(Complete IRS Form W-9)
•Credit unexchanged Initial 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, 4 and 5)
To be completed ONLY if certificates for Initial Notes not tendered or not accepted for exchange, or Exchange Notes issued in exchange for Initial Notes accepted for exchange, are to be sent to someone other than the undersigned or to the undersigned at an address other than shown in the box entitled "Description of Initial Notes" above.
Mail to:
| Name(s): | (Please Type or Print) | |
(Please Type or Print) | ||
Address: | ||
(Include Zip Code) | ||
(Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number) | ||
(Complete IRS Form W-9)
IMPORTANT: UNLESS GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES ARE COMPLIED WITH, THIS LETTER OR A FACSIMILE HEREOF OR AN AGENT'S MESSAGE IN LIEU HEREOF (IN EACH CASE, TOGETHER WITH THE CERTIFICATE(S) FOR INITIAL NOTES OR A CONFIRMATION OF BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS) 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 WHETHER OR NOT
INITIAL NOTES ARE BEING PHYSICALLY TENDERED HEREBY)
(Please Also Complete and Return the Accompanying IRS Form W-9)
| x | | | ||
x | Signature(s) of Owner(s) | Date |
| Area Code and Telephone Number: | |
If a holder is tendering any Initial Notes, this Letter must be signed by the registered holder(s) exactly as the name(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 Issuer, submit evidence satisfactory to the Issuer 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: |
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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 $2,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The term "Agent's Message" means a message, transmitted by The Depository Trust Company 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 Issuer may enforce this Letter against such participant.
Noteholders who wish to tender their Initial Notes and (a) whose certificates for Initial Notes are not immediately available, or (b) who cannot deliver their certificates and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date, or (c) who cannot complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, 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 a properly completed and duly executed Letter (or a facsimile thereof) and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form provided by the Issuer, with the name and address of the holder of Initial Notes and the amount of Initial Notes tendered, stating that the tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing that within three New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") trading days after the Expiration Date, the certificates for all the Initial Notes tendered, 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, are received by the Exchange Agent within three NYSE trading days after the Expiration Date.
The method of delivery of the Initial Notes, this Letter 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 by registered mail, properly insured, with return receipt requested, 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.
See "The Exchange Offer" section of the Prospectus.
2. Partial Tenders (not applicable to noteholders who tender by book-entry transfer).
Initial Notes tendered hereby must be in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. If less than the entire principal amount of any Initial Notes is tendered, the tendering holder(s) should fill in the principal amount of Initial Notes to be tendered in the box above entitled "Description of Initial 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.
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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, enlargement or any change whatsoever.
If this Letter is signed by a participant in the Depository Trust Company, 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.
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 authorize this person to tender the Initial Notes on behalf of the registered holder, in satisfactory form to the Issuer as determined in its sole discretion, in each case, as the name of the registered holder or holders appears on the Initial Notes.
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 Issuer, evidence satisfactory to the Issuer of their authority to so act must be submitted with the 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 Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, 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, or (ii) for the account of an Eligible Institution.
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. IRS Form W-9.
Under U.S. federal income tax law, payments made in respect of Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be subject to backup withholding at the rate, currently 28%, specified in Section 3406(a)(1) of the Code (the "Specified Rate"). In order to avoid such backup withholding, each tendering holder (or other payee) that is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien) should complete and sign the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") Form W-9 included with this Letter, on which form such holder must provide the correct taxpayer
9
identification number ("TIN") and certify, under penalties of perjury, that (a) the TIN provided is correct or that such holder is awaiting a TIN; (b) the holder is not subject to backup withholding because (i) the holder has not been notified by the IRS that the holder is subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report 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" (which term includes a U.S. resident alien). If a holder has been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding, it must follow the applicable instructions included with the IRS Form W-9.
The holder (other than an exempt or foreign holder subject to the requirements described below) is required to give the TIN (in general, if an individual, the holder's Social Security number, otherwise, the holder's employer identification number) of the record holder of the Initial Notes. 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 follow the applicable instructions included with the IRS Form W-9. If the Exchange Agent or the Issuer is not provided with the correct TIN, the holder may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed by the Code in addition to backup withholding at the Specified Rate on payments to such holder.
Certain holders (including all corporations and certain holders that are neither U.S. persons nor U.S. resident aliens ("foreign holders")) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. Such an exempt holder, other than a foreign holder, should enter the holder's name, address, status and TIN on the IRS Form W-9 and check the "Exempt Payee" box on the IRS Form W-9, and sign, date and return the IRS Form W-9 to the Paying Agent and should follow the additional instructions included with the IRS Form W-9. A foreign holder should not complete the IRS Form W-9. In order for a foreign holder to qualify as an exempt recipient, such holder must submit a statement (generally, the IRS Form W-8BEN), signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to that person's exempt status. Such statements can be obtained from the Exchange Agent or online from the IRS at www.irs.gov. For further information concerning backup withholding and instructions for completing the IRS Form W-9 (including how to obtain a TIN if you do not have one and how to complete the IRS Form W-9 if Initial Notes are registered in more than one name), consult the instructions included with the IRS Form W-9.
Failure to complete the IRS Form W-9 will not, by itself, cause Initial Notes to be deemed invalidly tendered, but may require the Issuer (or the Paying Agent) to withhold at the Specified Rate on payments made in respect of Exchange Notes. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, if the required information is furnished to the IRS, 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 obtained provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
6. Transfer Taxes.
The Issuer will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of Initial Notes in accordance with 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 exchange of Initial Notes in the Exchange Offer, the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or any other persons) will be paid by the tendering holder.
If the tendering holder does not submit satisfactory evidence of the payment of any of these taxes or of any exemption from this payment with this Letter, the Company will bill the tendering holder directly the amount of these transfer taxes.
Except as provided in this Instruction 6, it will not be necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the Initial Notes specified in this Letter or for funds to cover such stamps to be provided with the Initial Notes specified in this Letter.
7. Waiver of Conditions.
The Issuer reserves the absolute right to amend, waive or modify, in whole or in part, any or all conditions to the Exchange Offer.
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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 Issuer, the Exchange Agent nor any other person is obligated to give notice of any defect or irregularity with respect to any tender of Initial Notes nor shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give any such notice.
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.
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.
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" in the Prospectus.
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Form W-9 | Request for Taxpayer | |
Print or type
SeeSpecific Instructions on page 2.
| Name (as shown on your income tax return) | ||||||||||||||
| Business name, if different from above | ||||||||||||||
Check appropriate box: | o Individual/Sole proprietor | o Corporation | o Partnership | o Exempt | ||||||||||
| o Limited liability company. Enter the tax classification (D=disregarded entity, C=corporation, P=partnership)> ...... | payee | |||||||||||||
| o Other (see instructions)> | ||||||||||||||
| Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.) | Requester's name and address (optional) | |||||||||||||
| City, state, and ZIP code | ||||||||||||||
| List account number(s) here (optional) | ||||||||||||||
Part I Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on Line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the Part I instructions on page 3. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN on page 3.
Note.If the account is in more than one name, see the chart on page 4 for guidelines on whose number to enter.
| Social security number [ ][ ][ ]-[ ][ ]-[ ][ ][ ][ ] | or | Employer identification number [ ][ ]-[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] |
Part II 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. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the Certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions on page 4.
| Sign Here | Signature of U.S. person> | Date> |
General Instructions
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.
Purpose of Form
A person who is required to file an information return with the IRS must obtain your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) to report, for example, income paid to you, real estate transactions, mortgage interest you paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, or contributions you made to an IRA.
Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN to the person requesting it (the requester) and, when applicable, to:
1. Certify that the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number to be issued),
2. Certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, or
3. Claim exemption from backup withholding if you are a U.S. exempt payee. If applicable, you are also certifying that as a U.S. person, your allocable share of any partnership income from a U.S. trade or business is not subject to the withholding tax on foreign partners' share of effectively connected income.
Note. If a requester gives you a form other than Form W-9 to request your TIN, you must use the requester's form if it is substantially similar to this Form W-9.
Definition of a 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 Regulations section 301.7701-7).
Special rules for partnerships. Partnerships that conduct a trade or business in the United States are generally required to pay a withholding tax on any foreign partners' share of income from such business. Further, in certain cases where a Form W-9 has not been received, a partnership is required to presume that a partner is a foreign person, and pay the withholding tax. Therefore, if you are a U.S. person that is a partner in a partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States, provide Form W-9 to the partnership to establish your U.S. status and avoid withholding on your share of partnership income.
| Cat. No. 10231X | FormW-9 (Rev. 10-2007) | |||
| Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2007) | Page2 | |
The person who gives Form W-9 to the partnership for purposes of establishing its U.S. status and avoiding withholding on its allocable share of net income from the partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States is in the following cases:
• The U.S. owner of a disregarded entity and not the entity,
• The U.S. grantor or other owner of a grantor trust and not the trust, and
• The U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust) and not the beneficiaries of the trust.
Foreign person. If you are a foreign person, do not use Form W-9. Instead, use the appropriate Form W-8 (see Publication 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities).
Nonresident alien who becomes a resident alien. Generally, only a nonresident alien individual may use the terms of a tax treaty to reduce or eliminate U.S. tax on certain types of income. However, most tax treaties contain a provision known as a "saving clause." Exceptions specified in the saving clause may permit an exemption from tax to continue for certain types of income even after the payee has otherwise become a U.S. resident alien for tax purposes.
If you are a U.S. resident alien who is relying on an exception contained in the saving clause of a tax treaty to claim an exemption from U.S. tax on certain types of income, you must attach a statement to Form W-9 that specifies the following five items:
1. The treaty country. Generally, this must be the same treaty under which you claimed exemption from tax as a nonresident alien.
2. The treaty article addressing the income.
3. The article number (or location) in the tax treaty that contains the saving clause and its exceptions.
4. The type and amount of income that qualifies for the exemption from tax.
5. Sufficient facts to justify the exemption from tax under the terms of the treaty article.
Example. Article 20 of the U.S.-China income tax treaty allows an exemption from tax for scholarship income received by a Chinese student temporarily present in the United States. Under U.S. law, this student will become a resident alien for tax purposes if his or her stay in the United States exceeds 5 calendar years. However, paragraph 2 of the first Protocol to the U.S.-China treaty (dated April 30, 1984) allows the provisions of Article 20 to continue to apply even after the Chinese student becomes a resident alien of the United States. A Chinese student who qualifies for this exception (under paragraph 2 of the first protocol) and is relying on this exception to claim an exemption from tax on his or her scholarship or fellowship income would attach to Form W-9 a statement that includes the information described above to support that exemption.
If you are a nonresident alien or a foreign entity not subject to backup withholding, give the requester the appropriate completed Form W-8.
What is backup withholding? Persons making certain payments to you must under certain conditions withhold and pay to the IRS 28% of such payments. This is called "backup withholding." Payments that may be subject to backup withholding include interest, tax-exempt interest, dividends, broker and barter exchange transactions, rents, royalties, nonemployee pay, and certain payments from fishing boat operators. Real estate transactions are not subject to backup withholding.
You will not be subject to backup withholding on payments you receive if you give the requester your correct TIN, make the proper certifications, and report all your taxable interest and dividends on your tax return.
Payments you receive will be subject to backup withholding if:
1. You do not furnish your TIN to the requester,
2. You do not certify your TIN when required (see the Part II instructions on page 3 for details),
3. The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN,
4. The IRS tells you that you are subject to backup withholding because you did not report all your interest and dividends on your tax return (for reportable interest and dividends only), or
5. You do not certify to the requester that you are not subject to backup withholding under 4 above (for reportable interest and dividend accounts opened after 1983 only).
Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding. See the instructions below and the separate Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9.
Also seeSpecial rules for partnerships on page 1.
Penalties
Failure to furnish TIN. If you fail to furnish your correct TIN to a requester, 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.
Civil penalty for false information with respect to withholding. If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.
Criminal penalty for falsifying information. Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.
Misuse of TINs. If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.
Specific Instructions
Name
If you are an individual, you must generally enter the name shown on your income tax return. However, if you have changed your last name, for instance, due to marriage without informing the Social Security Administration of the name change, enter your first name, the last name shown on your social security card, and your new last name.
If the account is in joint names, list first, and then circle, the name of the person or entity whose number you entered in Part I of the form.
Sole proprietor. Enter your individual name as shown on your income tax return on the "Name" line. You may enter your business, trade, or "doing business as (DBA)" name on the "Business name" line.
Limited liability company (LLC). Check the "Limited liability company" box only and enter the appropriate code for the tax classification ("D" for disregarded entity, "C" for corporation, "P" for partnership) in the space provided.
For a single-member LLC (including a foreign LLC with a domestic owner) that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner under Regulations section 301.7701-3, enter the owner's name on the "Name" line. Enter the LLC's name on the "Business name" line.
For an LLC classified as a partnership or a corporation, enter the LLC's name on the "Name" line and any business, trade, or DBA name on the "Business name" line.
Other entities. Enter your business name as shown on required federal tax documents on the "Name" line. This name should match the name shown on the charter or other legal document creating the entity. You may enter any business, trade, or DBA name on the "Business name" line.
Note. You are requested to check the appropriate box for your status (individual/sole proprietor, corporation, etc.).
| Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2007) | Page3 | |
Exempt Payee
If you are exempt from backup withholding, enter your name as described above and check the appropriate box for your status, then check the "Exempt payee" box in the line following the business name, sign and date the form.
Generally, individuals (including sole proprietors) are not exempt from backup withholding. Corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain payments, such as interest and dividends.
Note. If you are exempt from backup withholding, you should still complete this form to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding.
The following payees are exempt from backup withholding:
1. An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), any IRA, or a custodial account under section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements of section 401(f)(2),
2. The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities,
3. A state, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities,
4. A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, or
5. An international organization or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.
Other payees that may be exempt from backup withholding include:
6. A corporation,
7. A foreign central bank of issue,
8. A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a possession of the United States,
9. A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission,
10. A real estate investment trust,
11. An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
12. A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a),
13. A financial institution,
14. A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian, or
15. A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947.
The chart below shows types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt payees listed above, 1 through 15.
| IF the payment is for . . . | THEN the payment is exempt for . . . | |
| Interest and dividend payments | All exempt payees except for 9 | |
| Broker transactions | Exempt payees 1 through 13. Also, a person registered under the investment Advisers Act of 1940 who regularly acts as a broker | |
| Barter exchange transactions and patronage dividends | Exempt payees 1 through 5 | |
| Payments over $600 required to be reported and direct sales over $5,0001 | Generally, exempt payees 1 through 72 |
1 See Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, and its instructions.
2 However, the following payments made to a corporation (including gross proceeds paid to an attorney under section 6045(f), even if the attorney is a corporation) and reportable on Form 1099-MISC are not exempt from backup withholding: medical and health care payments, attorneys' fees, and payments for services paid by a federal executive agency.
Part I. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Enter your TIN in the appropriate box.If you are a resident alien and you do not have and are not eligible to get an SSN, your TIN is your IRS individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Enter it in the social security number box. If you do not have an ITIN, seeHow to get a TIN below.
If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN or EIN. However, the IRS prefers that you use your SSN.
If you are a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner (seeLimited liability company (LLC) on page 2), enter the owner's SSN (or EIN, if the owner has one). Do not enter the disregarded entity's EIN. If the LLC is classified as a corporation or partnership, enter the entity's EIN.
Note.See the chart on page 4 for further clarification of name and TIN combinations.
How to get a TIN. If you do not have a TIN, apply for one immediately. To apply for an SSN, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, from your local Social Security Administration office or get this form online atwww.ssa.gov. You may also get this form by calling 1-800-772-1213. Use Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to apply for an ITIN, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to apply for an EIN. You can apply for an EIN online by accessing the IRS website atwww.irs.gov/businesses and clicking on Employer Identification Number (EIN) under Starting a Business. You can get Forms W-7 and SS-4 from the IRS by visitingwww.irs.gov or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).
If you are asked to complete Form W-9 but do not have a TIN, write "Applied For" in the space for the TIN, sign and date the form, and give it to the requester. For interest and dividend payments, and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable instruments, generally you will have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to the requester before you are subject to backup withholding on payments. The 60-day rule does not apply to other types of payments. You will be subject to backup withholding on all such payments until you provide your TIN to the requester.
Note.Entering "Applied For" means that you have already applied for a TIN or that you intend to apply for one soon.
Caution:A disregarded domestic entity that has a foreign owner must use the appropriate Form W-8.
Part II. Certification
To establish to the withholding agent that you are a U.S. person, or resident alien, sign Form W-9. You may be requested to sign by the withholding agent even if items 1, 4, and 5 below indicate otherwise.
For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign (when required). Exempt payees, seeExempt Payee on page 3.
Signature requirements. Complete the certification as indicated in 1 through 5 below.
1. Interest, dividend, and barter exchange accounts opened before 1984 and broker accounts considered active during 1983. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.
2. Interest, dividend, broker, and barter exchange accounts opened after 1983 and broker accounts considered inactive during 1983. You must sign the certification or backup withholding will apply. If you are subject to backup withholding and you are merely providing your correct TIN to the requester, you must cross out item 2 in the certification before signing the form.
| Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2007) | Page4 | |
3. Real estate transactions. You must sign the certification. You may cross out item 2 of the certification.
4. Other payments. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification unless you have been notified that you have previously given an incorrect TIN. "Other payments" include payments made in the course of the requester's trade or business for rents, royalties, goods (other than bills for merchandise), medical and health care services (including payments to corporations), payments to a nonemployee for services, payments to certain fishing boat crew members and fishermen, and gross proceeds paid to attorneys (including payments to corporations).
5. Mortgage interest paid by you, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, qualified tuition program payments (under section 529), IRA, Coverdell ESA, Archer MSA or HSA contributions or distributions, and pension distributions. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.
| What Name and Number To Give the Requester | ||||||
| For this type of account: | Give name and SSN of: | |||||
| 1. | Individual | The individual | ||||
| 2. | Two or more individuals (joint account) | The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account 1 | ||||
| 3. | Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act) | The minor 2 | ||||
| 4. | a. | The usual revocable savings trust (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 name and EIN of: | |||||
| 6. | Disregarded entity not owned by an individual | The owner | ||||
| 7. | A valid trust, estate, or pension trust | Legal entity 4 | ||||
| 8. | Corporate or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832 | The corporation | ||||
| 9. | Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization | The organization | ||||
| 10. | Partnership or multi-member LLC | The partnership | ||||
| 11. | A broker or registered nominee | The broker or nominee | ||||
| 12. | Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments | The public entity | ||||
1 List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has an SSN, that person's number must be furnished.
2 Circle the minor's name and furnish the minor's SSN.
3 You must show your individual name and you may also enter your business or "DBA" name on the second line. You may use either your SSN or EIN (if you have one), but the IRS encourages you to use your SSN.
4 List first and circle the name of the trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the TIN of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.) Also seeSpecial rules for partnerships on page 1.
Note.If no name is circled when more than one name is listed, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed.
Secure Your Tax Records from Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, social security number (SSN), or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund.
To reduce your risk:
• Protect your SSN,
• Ensure your employer is protecting your SSN, and
• Be careful when choosing a tax preparer.
Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if you think your identity has been used inappropriately for tax purposes.
Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a system problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD 1-800-829-4059.
Protect yourself from suspicious emails or phishing schemes. Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common act is sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.
The IRS does not initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS does not request personal detailed information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts.
If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward this message tophishing@irs.gov. You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, or other IRS personal property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484. You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission at:spam@uce.gov or contact them atwww.consumer.gov/idtheft or 1-877-IDTHEFT(438-4338).
Visit the IRS website atwww.irs.gov to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk.
Privacy Act Notice
Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code requires you to provide your correct TIN to persons who must file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, and certain other income paid to you, mortgage interest you paid, the acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, or contributions you made to an IRA, or Archer MSA or HSA. The IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of your tax return. The IRS may also provide this information to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation, and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions to carry out their tax laws. We may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce federal nontax criminal laws, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism.
You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Payers must generally withhold 28% of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not give a TIN to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.
INSTRUCTIONS Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of the Exchange Offer