NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
FOR
TENDER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
(INCLUDING THE ASSOCIATED PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS)
OF
NATIONAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.
(NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEES)
As set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase (as defined below), this
form or one substantially equivalent hereto, must be used to accept the Offer
(as defined below) if certificates representing shares of common stock, par
value $0.03 per share, including the associated preferred stock purchase rights
(the "Shares"), of National Computer Systems, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the
"Company"), are not immediately available or if the procedures for book-entry
transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis or time will not permit all
required documents to reach the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date (as
defined in the Offer to Purchase). This form may be delivered by hand to the
Depositary or transmitted by telegram, facsimile transmission or mail to the
Depositary and must include a guarantee by an Eligible Institution (as defined
in the Offer to Purchase). See Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase.
BY MAIL: BY HAND: BY COURIER:
ChaseMellon Shareholder ChaseMellon Shareholder ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C. Services, L.L.C. Services, L.L.C.
Reorganization Department Reorganization Department Reorganization Department
P.O. Box 3301 120 Broadway 85 Challenger Road
South Hackensack, New Jersey 13th Floor Mail Stop--Reorg
07606 New York, New York Ridgefield Park, New Jersey
10271 07660
BY FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION:
(For Eligible Institutions
only)
(201) 296-4293
CONFIRM FACSIMILE
TRANSMISSION:
By telephone only
(201) 296-4860
DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS, OR TRANSMISSION OF INSTRUCTIONS
VIA A FACSIMILE NUMBER, OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A
VALID DELIVERY.
THIS FORM IS NOT TO BE USED TO GUARANTEE SIGNATURES. IF A SIGNATURE ON A
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS REQUIRED TO BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION
UNDER THE INSTRUCTIONS THERETO, SUCH SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MUST APPEAR IN THE
APPLICABLE SPACE PROVIDED IN THE SIGNATURE BOX ON THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
THE GUARANTEE ON THE REVERSE SIDE MUST BE COMPLETED.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby tenders to PN Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., a
Minnesota corporation (the "Purchaser") and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary
of Pearson plc, a public limited company registered in England and Wales, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Purchaser's Offer to
Purchase dated August 7, 2000 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and in the related
Letter of Transmittal (which, together with any amendments or supplements
thereto, collectively constitute the "Offer"), receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, the number of Shares set forth below, all pursuant to the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase.
- -------------------------------------------
Number of Shares ___________________________________________________________
Certificate Nos. (if available) ____________________________________________
(Check box if Shares will be tendered by book-entry transfer) / /
The Depository Trust Company _______________________________________________
Account Number _____________________________________________________________
Dated ______________________________________________________________________
Name(s) of Record Holder(s):
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE PRINT
Address(es): _______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
(ZIP CODE)
Daytime Area Code and Tel. No.:
____________________________________________________________________________
Signature(s): ______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
- ------------------------------------------
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GUARANTEE
(NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)
The undersigned, a firm that is a participant in the Security Transfer
Agents Medallion Program or the New York Stock Exchange Guarantee Program or the
Stock Exchange Medallion Program or an "eligible guarantor institution", as such
term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, hereby guarantees to deliver to the Depositary either the certificates
representing the Shares tendered hereby, in proper form for transfer, or a
Book-Entry Confirmation (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) with respect to
such Shares, in any such case together with a properly completed and duly
executed Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof), with any required
signature guarantees, or an Agent's Message (as defined in the Offer to
Purchase), and any other required documents, within three National Association
of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System trading days (as defined in the
Letter of Transmittal) after the date hereof.
The Eligible Institution that completes this form must communicate the
guarantee to the Depositary and must deliver the Letter of Transmittal and
certificates for Shares to the Depositary within the time period shown herein.
Failure to do so could result in a financial loss to such Eligible Institution.
- -------------------------------------------
Name of Firm: ______________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
ZIP CODE
Area Code and Tel. No.:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE
Name: ______________________________________________________________________
PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT
__________________________________________________________________________
Title: _____________________________________________________________________
Dated: _____________________________________________________________________
- ------------------------------------------
NOTE: DO NOT SEND CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES WITH THIS NOTICE. CERTIFICATES FOR
SHARES SHOULD BE SENT WITH YOUR LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
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