LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Collins & Aikman Products Co.
OFFER TO EXCHANGE ITS 12 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2012,
WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
AS AMENDED, FOR ANY AND ALL OF ITS ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING
12 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2012
(Cusip No. 194832 AE 1 and Cusip No. U19461 AC 3)
PURSUANT TO THE PROSPECTUS, DATED , 2005
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 9:00 A.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON , 2005, UNLESS EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION DATE"). TENDERS MAY BE WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO 9:00 A.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.
The Bank of New York, as Exchange Agent
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| By Registered or Certified Mail: | | By Overnight Courier and by Hand Delivery after 4:30 p.m. on Expiration Date: | | By Hand Delivery Prior to 4:30 p.m. on the Expiration Date: | ||||||
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| BNY Midwest Trust Company | | BNY Midwest Trust Company | | BNY Midwest Trust Company | ||||||
| Corporate Trust Operations Reorganization Unit 101 Barclay Street - 7 East New York, NY 10286 Attention: Ms. Diane Amoroso | | Corporate Trust Operations Reorganization Unit 101 Barclay Street - 7 East New York, NY 10286 Attention: Ms. Diane Amoroso | | Corporate Trust Operations Reorganization Unit 101 Barclay Street - 7 East New York, NY 10286 Attention: Ms. Diane Amoroso | ||||||
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| By Facsimile: (212) 298-1915 | | ||||||||
| Confirm by Telephone: (212) 815-3738 | | ||||||||
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Delivery of this instrument to an address other than as set forth above, or
transmission of instructions other than as set forth above, will not constitute a valid delivery.
The undersigned acknowledges that he or she has received and reviewed the Prospectus, dated , 2005 (the "Prospectus"), of Collins & Aikman Products Co., a company organized under the laws of Delaware, and this Letter of Transmittal, which together constitute the Company's offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange up to $415,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 12 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 (the "Exchange Notes"), which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), for a like principal amount of the Company's issued and outstanding 12 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 (the "Outstanding Notes"), which have not been so registered.
For each Outstanding Note accepted for exchange, the registered holder of such Outstanding Note (collectively with all other registered holders of Outstanding Notes, the "Holders") will receive an Exchange Note having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered Outstanding Note. Registered holders of Exchange Notes on the relevant record date for the first interest payment date following the consummation of the Exchange Offer will receive interest accruing from the most recent date to which interest has been paid. Outstanding Notes accepted for exchange will cease to accrue interest from and after the date of consummation of the Exchange Offer. Accordingly, Holders whose Outstanding Notes are accepted for exchange will not receive any payment in respect of accrued interest on such Outstanding Notes otherwise payable on any interest payment date the record date for which occurs on or after consummation of the Exchange Offer.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a Holder of Outstanding Notes if either certificates for such Outstanding Notes are available to be forwarded herewith or tendered by book-entry transfer to the
account maintained by 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 Outstanding Notes" section of the Prospectus. Holders of 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. See Instruction 1. 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.
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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 Outstanding Notes indicated below. Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange 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 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 hereby further represents 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, that neither the Holder of such Outstanding Notes nor any such other person has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of such Exchange Notes and 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.
The undersigned also 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 pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for the Outstanding Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by a Holder thereof (other than a 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 Holder's business and such Holder has no arrangement with any person to participate in a distribution of such Exchange Notes. However, 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. If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Notes and has no arrangement or understanding to participate in a distribution of Exchange Notes. If any Holder is an affiliate of the Company, is engaged in or intends to engage in, or has any arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a 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 SEC and must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Outstanding Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it 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.
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" herein, please issue the Exchange Notes (and, if applicable, substitute certificates representing Outstanding Notes for any Outstanding Notes not exchanged) in the name of the undersigned or, in the case of a book-entry delivery of Outstanding Notes, please credit the account indicated below maintained at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions" herein, please send the Exchange Notes (and, if applicable, substitute certificates representing Outstanding Notes for any Outstanding Notes not exchanged) to the undersigned at the address shown in the box herein entitled "Description of Outstanding Notes Delivered."
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THE UNDERSIGNED, BY COMPLETING THE BOX BELOW ENTITLED "DESCRIPTION OF OUTSTANDING NOTES DELIVERED" AND SIGNING THIS LETTER, WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE TENDERED OUTSTANDING NOTES AS SET FORTH IN SUCH BOX.
List below the Outstanding Notes to which this Letter of Transmittal relates. If the space provided below is inadequate, the certificate numbers and principal amount of Outstanding Notes should be listed on a separate signed schedule affixed hereto.
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| DESCRIPTION OF OUTSTANDING NOTES DELIVERED | ||||||||||||||||||
| Issue of Notes being Delivered | | Name(s) and Address of Registered Holder(s) (Please fill-in, if blank) | | Certificate Number(s)* | | Aggregate Principal Amount | | Principal Amount Tendered** | ||||||||||
| 12 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 (Cusip No. 194832 AE 1) | | | | | ||||||||||||||
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| 12 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 (Cusip No. U19461 AC 3) | | | | | ||||||||||||||
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| * | Need not be completed if Outstanding Notes are being tendered by book-entry transfer. |
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| ** | Unless otherwise indicated in this column, a Holder will be deemed to have tendered ALL of the Outstanding Notes represented by the listed certificates. See Instruction 2. Outstanding Notes tendered hereby must be in denominations of principal amount of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. See Instruction 1. |
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![[ ]](https://capedge.com/proxy/S-4/0000950136-05-000418/ebox.gif){kind=small} | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OUTSTANDING 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: |
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| Name of Tendering Institution ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Account Number Transaction Code Number ____________________________ |
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| | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: |
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| Name of Registered Holder ______________________________________________________________ |
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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: |
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| Account Number Transaction Code Number ____________________________ |
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| | CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO. (UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES WILL BE FURNISHED.) |
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| Name ______________________________________________________________________________ |
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| Address ____________________________________________________________________________ |
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SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 3 and 4)
To be completed ONLY if certificates for Outstanding Notes not exchanged and/or Exchange Notes are to be issued in the name of someone other than the person or persons whose signature(s) appear(s) on this Letter of Transmittal below 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: ____________________________________
(Please Type or Print)
Address: __________________________________
__________________________________________
(Zip Code)
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| | Credit unexchanged Outstanding Notes delivered by book-entry transfer to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility account set forth below. |
__________________________________________
(Book-Entry Transfer Facility Account)
SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 3 and 4)
To be completed ONLY if certificates for Outstanding Notes not exchanged and/or Exchange Notes are to be sent to someone other than the person or persons whose signature(s) appear(s) on this Letter of Transmittal below or to such person or persons at an address other than shown in the box entitled "Description of Outstanding Notes Delivered" on this Letter of Transmittal above.
Mail Exchange Notes and/or Outstanding Notes to:
Name: ____________________________________
(Please Type or Print)
Address: __________________________________
__________________________________________
(Zip Code)
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IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OR A FACSIMILE HEREOF OR AN AGENT'S MESSAGE IN LIEU HEREOF (TOGETHER WITH THE CERTIFICATES FOR OUTSTANDING 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 9:00 A.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.
PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING ANY BOX ABOVE
PLEASE SIGN HERE
(All Tendering Holders Must Complete This Letter of Transmittal
And The Accompanying Substitute Form W-9)
Dated: ______________________, 2005
X __________________________________________________________________________________
X __________________________________________________________________________________
(Signature(s)
Area Code and Telephone Number: ________________________________________________________
If a holder is tendering any Outstanding Notes, this letter must be signed by the Holder(s) as the name(s) appear(s) on the certificate(s) for the Outstanding Notes or by any person(s) authorized to become Holder(s) by endorsements and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, officer or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth full title. See Instruction 3.
Name: ______________________________________________________________________________
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(Please Type or Print)
Capacity (full title): ____________________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________
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Telephone: ____________________________________________________________________________
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE (If required by Instruction 3)
Signature(s) Guarantees by an Eligible Institution: ______________________________________________
(Authorized Signature)
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(Title)
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(Name and Firm)
Dated: ______________________________, 2005
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INSTRUCTIONS
FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER TO EXCHANGE THE
12 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2012 OF TRIMAS CORPORATION, WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, FOR ANY AND ALL OF THE ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING 12 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2012 OF COLLINS & AIKMAN PRODUCTS CO. (Cusip No. 194832 AE 1 and Cusip No. U19461 AC 3)
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| 1. | Delivery of This Letter 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 "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 a manually signed facsimile hereof) 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 denominations of principal amount of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
Holders 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 "The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures" section of the Prospectus. Pursuant to such procedures, (i) such tender must be made through an Eligible Institution, (ii) on or prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent must receive from such Eligible Institution a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof) and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form provided by the Company (by telegram, telex, facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery), setting forth the name and address of the holder of Outstanding Notes and the amount of Outstanding Notes tendered, stating that the tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing that within three New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") trading days after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, the certificates for all physically tendered Outstanding Notes, 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 with the Exchange Agent, and (iii) the certificates for all physically tendered Outstanding Notes, in proper form for transfer, or Book-Entry Confirmation, as the case may be, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, are deposited by the Eligible Institution within three NYSE trading days after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
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, but delivery will be deemed made only upon actual receipt or confirmation by the Exchange Agent. If Outstanding Notes are sent by mail, it is suggested that the mailing be registered mail, properly insured, with return receipt requested, and made sufficiently in advance of the Expiration Date to permit delivery to the Exchange Agent prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.
See "The Exchange Offer" section of the Prospectus.
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| 2. | Partial Tenders (not Applicable to Holders Who Tender By Book-Entry Transfer). |
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 box above entitled "Description of Outstanding Notes—Principal Amount Tendered." A reissued certificate representing the balance of nontendered Outstanding Notes will be sent to such tendering Holder, unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box of this Letter of Transmittal, promptly after the Expiration Date. See Instruction 4. All of the Outstanding Notes delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.
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| 3. | Signatures on This Letter, Note Powers and Endorsements, Guarantee of Signatures. |
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the Holder of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond exactly with the name as written on the face of the certificates without any change whatsoever.
If any tendered Outstanding Notes are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all of 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 as there are different registrations of certificates.
When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the Holder or Holders of the Outstanding Notes specified herein and tendered hereby, no endorsements of certificates or separate note powers are required. If however, the Exchange Notes are to be issued, or any untendered Outstanding Notes are to be reissued, to a person other than the Holder, then endorsements of any certificates transmitted hereby or separate note powers are required. Signatures on such certificates(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the Holder or Holders of any certificate(s) specified herein, such certificate(s) must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate note powers, in either case signed exactly as the name or names of the Holder or Holders appear(s) on the certificate(s) and signatures on such certificate(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
If this Letter of Transmittal or any certificates or note powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and, unless waived by the Company, proper evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to so act must be submitted.
ENDORSEMENTS ON CERTIFICATES FOR OUTSTANDING NOTES OR SIGNATURES ON NOTE POWERS REQUIRED BY THIS INSTRUCTION 3 MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (INCLUDING MOST BANKS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND BROKERAGE HOUSES) THAT IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE SECURITIES TRANSFER AGENTS MEDALLION PROGRAM, THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE MEDALLION SIGNATURE PROGRAM OR THE STOCK EXCHANGES MEDALLION PROGRAM (EACH, AN "ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION").
SIGNATURES ON THIS LETTER NEED NOT BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION, PROVIDED THE OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE TENDERED: (I) BY A REGISTERED HOLDER OF OUTSTANDING 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 OUTSTANDING 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.
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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 and/or substitute certificates evidencing Outstanding Notes not exchanged 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 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 not exchanged will be returned to the name and address of the person signing this Letter of Transmittal.
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| 5. | Transfer Taxes. |
The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the transfer of Outstanding Notes to it or its order pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, Exchange Notes and/or substitute Outstanding Notes not
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exchanged are to be delivered to, or are to be registered or issued in the name of, any person other than the Holder of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, or if tendered Outstanding Notes 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 transfer of Outstanding Notes to the Company or its order pursuant to 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 to such tendering Holder and the Exchange Agent will retain possession of an amount of Exchange Notes with a face amount equal to the amount of such transfer taxes due by such tendering Holder pending receipt by the Exchange Agent of the amount of such taxes.
Except as provided in this Instruction 5, it will not be necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the Outstanding Notes specified in this Letter of Transmittal.
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| 6. | Waiver of Conditions. |
The Company reserves the absolute right to waive satisfaction of any or all conditions enumerated in the Prospectus.
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| 7. | 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.
Although the Company intends to notify Holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of Outstanding Notes, neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person shall incur any liability for failure to give any such notice.
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| 8. | 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.
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| 9. | Withdrawal of Tenders. |
Tenders of Outstanding Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. For a withdrawal to be effective, a written notice of withdrawal must be received by the Exchange Agent at one of the addresses set forth above. Any such notice of withdrawal must specify the name of the person having tendered the Outstanding Notes to be withdrawn, identify the Outstanding Notes to be withdrawn (including the principal amount of such Outstanding Notes ), and (where certificates for Outstanding Notes have been transmitted) specify the name in which such Outstanding Notes are registered, if different from that of the withdrawing Holder. If certificates for Outstanding Notes have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Exchange Agent, then prior to the release of such certificates the withdrawing Holder must also submit the serial numbers of the particular certificates to be withdrawn and a signed notice of withdrawal with signatures guaranteed by an Eligible Institution unless such Holder is an Eligible Institution in which case such guarantee will not be required. If Outstanding Notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer described above, 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 and otherwise comply with the procedures of such facility. All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of such notices will be determined by the Company, whose determination will be final and binding on all parties. Any Outstanding Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the Exchange Offer. Any Outstanding Notes which have been tendered for exchange but which are not exchanged for any reason will be returned to the Holder thereof without cost to such Holder (or, in the case of Outstanding Notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent's account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures described above, such Outstanding Notes will be credited to an account maintained with such Book-Entry Transfer Facility for the Outstanding Notes) as soon as
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practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the Exchange Offer. Properly withdrawn Outstanding Notes may be retendered by following one of the procedures set forth in "The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes" section of the Prospectus at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date.
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| 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 of Transmittal and other related documents may be directed to the Exchange Agent at the address indicated above.
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IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION
Under current United States federal income tax law, a Holder of Exchange Notes is required to provide the Company (as payor) with such Holder's correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN") on Substitute Form W-9 or otherwise establish a basis for exemption from backup withholding to prevent backup withholding on any Exchange Notes delivered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any payments received in respect of the Exchange Notes. If a Holder of Exchange Notes is an individual, the TIN is such holder's social security number. If the Company is not provided with the correct taxpayer identification number, a Holder of Exchange Notes may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. Accordingly, each prospective Holder of Exchange Notes to be issued pursuant to Special Issuance Instructions should complete the attached Substitute Form W-9. The Substitute Form W-9 need not be completed if the box entitled Special Issuance Instructions has not been completed.
Certain Holders of Exchange Notes (including, among others, all corporations and certain foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. Exempt prospective Holders of Exchange Notes should indicate their exempt status on Substitute Form W-9. A foreign individual may qualify as an exempt recipient by submitting to the Company, through the Exchange Agent, a properly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 BEN or Form W-8 ECI (which the Exchange Agent will provide upon request) signed under penalty of perjury, attesting to the Holder's exempt status. See the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 for additional instructions.
If backup withholding applies, the Company is required to withhold 28% (31% after 2010) of any payment made to the Holder of Exchange Notes or other payee. Backup withholding is not an additional United States federal income tax. Rather, the United States federal income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service.
PURPOSE OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
To prevent backup withholding on any Exchange Notes delivered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any payments received in respect of the Exchange Notes , each prospective Holder of Exchange Notes to be issued pursuant to Special Issuance Instructions should provide the Company, through the Exchange Agent, with either: (i) such prospective Holder's correct TIN by completing the form below, certifying that the TIN provided on Substitute Form W-9 is correct (or that such prospective Holder is awaiting a TIN) and that (A) such prospective Holder has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that he or she is subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends or (B) the Internal Revenue Service has notified such prospective Holder that he or she is no longer subject to backup withholding; or (ii) an adequate basis for exemption.
WHAT NUMBER TO GIVE THE EXCHANGE AGENT
The prospective Holder of Exchange Notes to be issued pursuant to Special Issuance Instructions is required to give the Exchange Agent the TIN (e.g., social security number or employer identification number) of the prospective record owner of the Exchange Notes. If the Exchange Notes will be held in more than one name or are not held in the name of the actual owner, consult the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 for additional guidance regarding which number to report.
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TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS
(SEE IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION)
PAYOR'S NAME: THE BANK OF NEW YORK
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| PART I—PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN IN THE BOX AT RIGHT OR INDICATE THAT YOU APPLIED FOR A TIN AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND DATING BELOW. | | TIN: ____________________ Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number TIN Applied for | |||||||||||
| Substitute Form W-9 | | PART 2—CERTIFICATION—UNDER PENALTIES OF PERJURY, I CERTIFY THAT: | ||||||||||||
| Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service | | (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); | ||||||||||||
| Payor's Request for Taxpayer Identification Number ("TIN") and Certification | | (2) I am not subject to backup withholding either because: (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the "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) any other information provided on this form is true and correct. | |||||||||||||
| Signature: Date: ____________________ Date: ____________________ | |||||||||||||
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You must cross out item (2) of the above certification if you have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding because of underreporting of interest or dividends on your tax return and you have not been notified by the IRS that you are no longer subject to backup withholding.
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| NOTE: | FAILURE BY A PROSPECTIVE HOLDER OF NEW NOTES TO BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THE SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS ABOVE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 28% OF THE NEW NOTES DELIVERED TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND ANY PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY YOU IN RESPECT OF THE NEW NOTES. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. |
YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU CHECKED
THE BOX IN PART 1 OF 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 (a) I have mailed or delivered an application to receive a taxpayer identification number to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office or (b) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I understand that if I do not provide a taxpayer identification number by the time of the exchange, 28% of all reportable payments made to me thereafter will be withheld until I provide a number.
Signature ____________________________________ Date __________________
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