1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1
 
                             LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
                                      FOR
         TENDER OF 9 5/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2008, SERIES A
                                IN EXCHANGE FOR
              9 5/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2008, SERIES B
                          TALON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
 
        THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME,
         ON           , 1998, UNLESS EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION DATE").
           OLD NOTES TENDERED IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER MAY BE WITHDRAWN
                   AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.
 
                         DELIVER TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT:
 
                      U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 

                                                     
                                 By Registered/Certified
     By First Class Mail:        or Overnight Delivery:          Hand Delivery:
     U.S. Bank Trust N.A.         U.S. Bank Trust N.A.        U.S. Bank Trust N.A.
        P.O. Box 64485          Attn: Specialized Finance  4th Floor Bond Drop Window
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-9549          SPFT0414             180 East Fifth Street
                                  180 East Fifth Street    St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
                                St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
      Telephone Number:                                         Facsimile Number
         612-244-8161                                             612-244-1537

 
                               ------------------
 
     DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE OR
TRANSMISSION OF INSTRUCTIONS VIA A FACSIMILE NUMBER OTHER THAN THE ONE LISTED
ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY. THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
IS COMPLETED.
 
     The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt and review of the Prospectus
dated         , 1998 (the "Prospectus") of Talon Automotive Group, Inc. (the
"Company") and this Letter of Transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal"), which
together describe the Company's offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange its
9 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due May 1, 2008, Series B (the "New Notes"),
which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), pursuant to a Registration Statement of which the Prospectus
is a part, for a like principal amount of its issued and outstanding 9 5/8%
Senior Subordinated Notes due May 1, 2008, Series A (the "Old Notes").
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective meaning given
to them in the Prospectus.
 
     The Company reserves the right, at any time or from time to time, to extend
the Exchange Offer at its discretion, in which event the term "Expiration Date"
shall mean the latest time and date in which the Exchange Offer is extended. The
Company shall notify the holders of the Old Notes of any extension by oral or
written notice prior to 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the next business day
after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.
 
     This Letter of Transmittal is to be used by a Holder of Old Notes either if
original Old Notes are to be forwarded herewith or if delivery of Old Notes, if
available, is to be made 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 Prospectus under the
caption "The Exchange Offer-Book-Entry Transfer." Holders of Old Notes whose Old
Notes are not immediately available, or who are unable to deliver
   2
 
their Old Notes and all other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal
to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date, or who are unable to
complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, must tender
their Old Notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the
Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange Offer-Guaranteed Delivery
Procedures." See Instruction 1. Delivery of documents to the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility does not constitute delivery to the Exchange Agent.
 
     The term "Holder" with respect to the Exchange Offer means any person in
whose name Old Notes are registered on the books of the Company or any other
person who has obtained a properly completed bond power from the registered
Holder. The undersigned has completed, executed and delivered this Letter of
Transmittal to indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect
to the Exchange Offer. Holders who wish to tender their Old Notes must complete
this Letter of Transmittal in its entirety.
 
     The undersigned has checked 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.
 
     PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND THE PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY
BEFORE CHECKING ANY BOX BELOW.
 
     THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MUST BE FOLLOWED.
QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS
AND THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.
 
     List below the Old Notes to which this Letter of Transmittal relates. If
the space below is inadequate, list the registered numbers and principal amounts
on a separate signed schedule and affix the list to this Letter of Transmittal.
 


- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       DESCRIPTION OF OLD NOTES TENDERED
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 AGGREGATE
                                                                                 PRINCIPAL
      NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OF REGISTERED HOLDER(S),                             AMOUNT         PRINCIPAL
         EXACTLY AS NAMES(S) APPEAR(S) ON OLD NOTES             REGISTERED      REPRESENTED         AMOUNT
                 (PLEASE FILL IN, IF BLANK)                     NUMBER(S)*       BY NOTE(S)       TENDERED**
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       
 
                                                             ----------------
 
                                                             ----------------
 
                                                             ----------------
 
                                                             ----------------
 
                                                             ----------------
                                                             TOTAL
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   * Need not be completed by book-entry Holders.
  ** Unless otherwise indicated, any tendering Holder of Old Notes will be deemed to have tendered the entire
     aggregate principal amount represented by such Old Notes. All tenders must be in integral multiples of
     $1,000.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   3
 
[ ]  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD NOTES ARE ENCLOSED HEREWITH.
 
[ ]  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD 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 (FOR USE BY ELIGIBLE
     INSTITUTIONS ONLY):
 
Name of Tendering Institution:
                              --------------------------------------------------
 
Account Number:
               -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
Transaction Code Number:
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
 
[ ]  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE
     OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY ENCLOSED HEREWITH AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING (FOR
     USE BY ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS ONLY):
 
Name(s) of Registered Holder(s) of Old Notes:
                                             -----------------------------------
 
Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:
                                                   -----------------------------
 
Window Ticket Number (if available):
                                    --------------------------------------------
 
Name of Eligible Institution that Guaranteed Delivery:
                                                      --------------------------
 
Account Number (if delivered by book-entry transfer):
                                                     ---------------------------
 
[ ]  CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL
     COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS
     THERETO.
 
Name:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Address:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     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 New
Notes. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive New Notes for its
own account in exchange for Old Notes, it acknowledges that the Old Notes were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and
that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New
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.
 
                       SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW
              PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
     Subject to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, the undersigned
hereby tenders to the Company for exchange the principal amount of Old Notes
indicated above. Subject to and effective upon the acceptance for exchange of
the principal amount of Old Notes tendered in accordance with this Letter of
Transmittal, the undersigned hereby exchanges, assigns and transfers to the
Company all right, title and interest in and to the Old Notes tendered for
exchange hereby. The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the
Exchange Agent, the agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned (with full
knowledge that the Exchange Agent also acts as the agent of the Company in
connection with the Exchange Offer) with respect to the tendered Old Notes with
full power of substitution to (i) deliver such Old Notes, or transfer ownership
of such Old Notes on the account books maintained by the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility, to the Company and deliver all accompanying evidences of transfer and
authenticity, and (ii) present such Old Notes for transfer on the books of the
Company and receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial
ownership of such Old Notes, all in accordance with the terms of the Exchange
Offer. The power of attorney granted in this paragraph shall be deemed to be
irrevocable and coupled with an interest.
   4
 
     The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has
full power and authority to tender, exchange, assign and transfer the Old Notes
tendered hereby and to acquire the New Notes issuable upon the exchange of such
tendered Old Notes, 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
for exchange by the Company.
 
     The undersigned acknowledge(s) that this Exchange Offer is being made in
reliance upon interpretations contained in no-action letters issued to third
parties by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") that the New Notes issued in exchange for the Old Notes pursuant
to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise
transferred by Holders thereof (other than any such Holder that is an
"affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities
Act), without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery
provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such New Notes are acquired in
the ordinary course of such Holders' business and such Holders are not engaging
in and do not intend to engage in a distribution of the New Notes and have no
arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of
such New Notes. The undersigned hereby further represent(s) to the Company that
(i) any New Notes acquired in exchange for Old Notes tendered hereby are being
acquired in the ordinary course of business of the person receiving such New
Notes, whether or not such person is the undersigned, (ii) neither the
undersigned nor any such other person is engaging in or intends to engage in a
distribution of the New Notes, (iii) neither the undersigned nor any such other
person has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of such New Notes, and (iv) neither the Holder nor any such other
person is an "affiliate," as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of
the Company or, if it is an affiliate, it will comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable.
 
     If the undersigned or the person receiving the New Notes is a broker-dealer
that is receiving New Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes that
were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, the undersigned acknowledges that it or such other person will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes; however,
by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be
deemed to admit that the undersigned or such other person is an "underwriter"
within the meaning of the Securities Act. The undersigned acknowledges that if
the undersigned is participating in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of
distributing the New Notes (i) the undersigned cannot rely on the position of
the staff of the Commission in certain no-action letters and, in the absence of
an exemption therefrom, must comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary
resale transaction of the New Notes, in which case the registration statement
must contain the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or
Item 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K of the Commission, and (ii) failure
to comply with such requirements in such instance could result in the
undersigned incurring liability under the Securities Act for which the
undersigned is not indemnified by the Company.
 
     If the undersigned or the person receiving the New Notes is an "affiliate"
(as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), the undersigned represents to
the Company that the undersigned understands and acknowledges that the New Notes
may not be offered for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by the
undersigned or such other person without registration under the Securities Act
or an exemption therefrom.
 
     The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional
documents deemed by the Exchange Agent or the Company to be necessary or
desirable to complete the exchange, assignment and transfer of the Old Notes
tendered hereby, including the transfer of such Old Notes on the account books
maintained by the Book-Entry Transfer Facility.
 
     For purposes of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall be deemed to have
accepted for exchange validly tendered Old Notes when, as and if the Company
gives oral or written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent. Any tendered Old
Notes that are not accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer for any
reason will be returned, without expense, to the undersigned at the address
shown below or at a different address as may be indicated herein under "Special
Delivery Instructions" as promptly as practicable after the Expiration Date.
   5
 
     All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred by this Letter of
Transmittal shall survive the death, incapacity or dissolution of the
undersigned, and every obligation of the undersigned under this Letter of
Transmittal shall be binding upon the undersigned's heirs, personal
representatives, successors and assigns.
 
     The undersigned acknowledge(s) that the Company's acceptance of properly
tendered Old Notes pursuant to the procedures described under the caption "The
Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering" in the Prospectus and in the
instructions hereto will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned
and the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange
Offer.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated under "Special Issuance Instructions," please
issue the New Notes issued in exchange for the Old Notes accepted for exchange
and return any Old Notes not tendered or not exchanged, in the name(s) of the
undersigned. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under "Special Delivery
Instructions," please mail or deliver the New Notes issued in exchange for the
Old Notes accepted for exchange and any Old Notes not tendered or not exchanged
(and accompanying documents, as appropriate) 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 New Notes issued in exchange for the Old Notes accepted for exchange
in the name(s) of, and return any Old Notes not tendered or not exchanged to,
the person(s) so indicated. The undersigned recognize(s) that the Company has no
obligation pursuant to the "Special Issuance Instructions" and "Special Delivery
Instructions" to transfer any Old Notes from the name of the registered holer(s)
thereof if the Company does not accept for exchange any of the Old Notes so
tendered for exchange.
   6
 
==========================================================
     SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
      (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 5 AND 6)
 
      To be completed ONLY (i) if Old
 Notes in a principal amount not
 tendered, or New Notes issued in
 exchange for Old Notes accepted for
 exchange, are to be issued in the
 name of someone other than the
 undersigned, or (ii) if Old Notes
 tendered by book-entry transfer which
 are not exchanged are to be returned
 by credit to an account maintained by
 the Book-Entry Transfer Facility.
 Issue New Notes and/or Old Notes to:
 
 Name(s):
         -----------------------------
 
 -------------------------------------
        (Please Type or Print)
 
 Address:
         -----------------------------
 
 -------------------------------------
          (Include Zip Code)
 
 -------------------------------------
     (Tax Identification or Social
             Security No.)
 
    (Complete Substitute Form W-9)
 
 [ ] Credit unexchanged Old Notes
     delivered by book-entry transfer
     to the Book-Entry Transfer
     Facility set forth below:
 
 -------------------------------------
 (Book-Entry Transfer Facility Account
        Number, if applicable)
 
==========================================================
 
     SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
 
     (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 5 AND 6)
 
 To be completed ONLY if Old Notes in 
 a principal amount not tendered, or
 New Notes issued in exchange for Old
 Notes accepted for exchange, are to
 be mailed or delivered to someone
 other than the undersigned, or to the
 undersigned at an address other than
 that shown below the undersigned's
 signature(s).
 
 Mail or deliver New Notes and/or Old
 Notes to:
 
 -------------------------------------
 
 Name:
      --------------------------------
 
 -------------------------------------
        (Please Type or Print)
 
 Address:
         -----------------------------
 
 -------------------------------------
          (Include Zip Code)
 
 -------------------------------------
     (Tax Identification or Social
             Security No.)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                        PLEASE SIGN HERE WHETHER OR NOT
                 OLD NOTES ARE BEING PHYSICALLY TENDERED HEREBY
          (Complete Accompanying Substitute Form W-9 on Reverse Side)
 

                                                               
  X    ------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------------
                                                                               Date
  X
       ------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------------
                                                                               Date

 
 Area Code and Telephone Number:
                                ------------------------------------------------

      The above lines must be signed by the registered Holder(s) of Old Notes
 as name(s) appear(s) on the Old Notes or on a security position listing, or 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 of Transmittal. If Old Notes to which this Letter of
 Transmittal relate are held of record by two or more joint Holders, then all
 such Holders must sign this Letter of Transmittal. If signature is by a
 trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a
 corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity,
 then such person must (i) set forth his or her full title below and (ii)
 unless waived by the Company, submit evidence satisfactory to the Company of
 such person's authority so to act. See Instruction 5 regarding the completion
 of this Letter of Transmittal, printed below.
 
 Name(s):
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             (Please Type or Print)
 
 Capacity:
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 Address:
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               (Include Zip Code)
 
                         MEDALLION SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
                         (If Required by Instruction 5)
 
 Certain signatures must be Guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
 
 Signature(s) Guaranteed by an Eligible Institution:
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                       (Authorized Signature)
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    (Title)
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (Name of Firm)
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          (Address, Include Zip Code)
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        (Area Code and Telephone Number)
 
 Dated:                                                                , 1997
       ----------------------------------------------------------------
   7
 
                                  INSTRUCTIONS
 
         FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
     1. Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal and Old Notes or Book-Entry
Confirmations. All physically delivered Old Notes or any confirmation of a
book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent's account at the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility of Old Notes tendered by book-entry transfer (a "Book-Entry
Confirmation"), as well as a properly completed and duly executed copy of this
Letter of Transmittal or facsimile hereof, and any other documents required by
this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent at its
address set forth herein prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
Expiration Date. The method of delivery of the tendered Old Notes, this Letter
of Transmittal and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent is at the
election and risk of the Holder and, except as otherwise provided below, the
delivery will be deemed made only when actually received or confirmed by the
Exchange Agent. Instead of delivery by mail, it is recommended that the Holder
use an overnight or hand delivery service. In all cases, sufficient time should
be allowed to assure delivery to the Exchange Agent before the Expiration Date.
No Letter of Transmittal or Old Notes should be sent to the Company.
 
     2. Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. Holders who wish to tender their Old
Notes and (a) whose Old Notes are not immediately available, or (b) who cannot
deliver their Old Notes, this Letter of Transmittal or any other documents
required hereby to the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date or (c) who
are unable to complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis,
must tender their Old Notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set
forth in the Prospectus. Pursuant to such procedures: (i) such tender must be
made by or through a firm which is a member of a registered national securities
exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers Inc. or a
commercial bank or a trust company having an office or correspondent in the
United States (an "Eligible Institution"); (ii) prior to the Expiration Date,
the Exchange Agent must have received from the Eligible Institution a properly
completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (by facsimile
transmission, mail or hand delivery) setting forth the name and address of the
Holder of the Old Notes, the registration number(s) of such Old Notes and the
principal amount of Old Notes tendered, stating that the tender is being made
thereby and guaranteeing that, within three (3) New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
("NYSE") trading days after the Expiration Date, this Letter of Transmittal (or
facsimile hereof) together with the Old Notes (or a Book-Entry Confirmation) in
proper form for transfer, will be received by the Exchange Agent within three
(3) NYSE trading days after the Expiration Date; and (iii) the certificates for
all physically tendered Old Notes, in proper form for transfer, or Book-Entry
Confirmation, as the case may be, and all other documents required by this
Letter of Transmittal are received by the Exchange Agent within three (3) NYSE
trading days after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
 
     Any Holder of Old Notes who wishes to tender Old Notes pursuant to the
guaranteed delivery procedures described above must ensure that the Exchange
Agent receives the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery prior to 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the Expiration Date. Upon request of the Exchange Agent, a Notice
of Guaranteed Delivery will be sent to Holders who wish to tender their Old
Notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth above.
 
     See "The Exchange Offer -- Guaranteed Delivery Procedures" section of the
Prospectus.
 
     3. Tender by Holder. Only a Holder of Old Notes may tender such Old Notes
in the Exchange Offer. Any beneficial Holder of Old Notes who is not the
registered Holder and who wishes to tender should arrange with the registered
Holder to execute and deliver this Letter of Transmittal on his behalf or must,
prior to completing and executing this Letter of Transmittal and delivering his
Old Notes, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the Old
Notes in such Holder's name or obtain a properly completed bond power from the
registered Holder.
 
     4. Partial Tenders. Tenders of Old Notes will be accepted only in integral
multiples of $1,000. If less than the entire principal amount of any Old Notes
is tendered, the tendering Holder should fill in the principal amount tendered
in the third column of the box entitled "Description of Old Notes" above. The
entire principal amount of Old Notes delivered to the Exchange Agent will be
deemed to have been tendered unless
   8
 
otherwise indicated. If the entire principal amount of all Old Notes is not
tendered, then Old Notes for the principal amount of Old Notes not tendered and
New Notes issued in exchange for any Old Notes accepted will be sent to the
Holder at his or her registered address, unless a different address is provided
in the appropriate box on this Letter of Transmittal, promptly after the Old
Notes are accepted for exchange.
 
     5. Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal; Bond Powers and Endorsements;
Medallion Guarantee of Signatures. If this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile
hereof) is signed by the record Holder(s) of the Old Notes tendered hereby, the
signature must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the Old
Notes without alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever. If this Letter
of Transmittal is signed by a participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility,
the signature must correspond with the name as it appears on the security
position listing as the Holder of the Old Notes.
 
     If this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) is signed by the
registered Holder or Holders of Old Notes listed and tendered hereby and the New
Notes issued in exchange therefor are to be issued (or any untendered principal
amount of Old Notes is to be reissued) to the registered Holder, the said Holder
need not and should not endorse any tendered Old Notes, nor provide a separate
bond power. In any other case, such Holder must either properly endorse the Old
Notes tendered or transmit a properly completed separate bond power with this
Letter of Transmittal, with the signatures on the endorsement or bond power
guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
 
     If this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) is signed by a person
other than the registered Holder or Holders of any Old Notes listed, such Old
Notes must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate bond powers, in each case
signed as the name of the registered Holder or Holders appears on the Old Notes.
 
     If this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) or any Old Notes or
bond powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians,
attorneys-in-fact, or officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary
or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and,
unless waived by the Company, evidence satisfactory to the Company of their
authority so to act must be submitted with this Letter of Transmittal.
 
     Endorsements on Old Notes or signatures on bond powers required by this
Instruction 5 must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
 
     No signature guarantee is required if (i) this Letter of Transmittal is
signed by the registered holder(s) of the Old Notes tendered herewith (or by a
participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility whose name appears on a security
position listing as the owner of the tendered Old Notes) and the issuance of New
Notes (and any Old Notes not tendered or not accepted) are to be issued directly
to such registered holder(s) (or, if signed by a participant in the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility, any New Notes or Old Notes not tendered or not accepted are
to be deposited to such participant's account at such Book-Entry Transfer
Facility) and neither the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions" nor the
box entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" has been completed, or (ii) such
Old Notes are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. In all other
cases, all signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an
Eligible Institution.
 
     6. Special Issuance and Delivery Instructions. Tendering holders should
indicate, in the applicable box or boxes, the name and address (or account at
the Book-Entry Transfer Facility) to which New Notes or substitute Old Notes for
principal amounts not tendered or not accepted for exchange are to be issued or
sent, if different from the name and address of the person signing this Letter
of Transmittal. In the case of issuance in a different name, the taxpayer
identification or social security number of the person named must also be
indicated.
 
     7. Transfer Taxes. The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any,
applicable to the exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If,
however, New Notes or Old Notes for principal amounts 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 Old Notes tendered
hereby, or if tendered Old 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 exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, then the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on
the registered Holder or any other persons) will be
   9
 
payable by the tendering Holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such
taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted with this Letter of Transmittal,
the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering
Holder.
 
     EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS INSTRUCTION 7, IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY FOR
TRANSFER TAX STAMPS TO BE AFFIXED TO THE OLD NOTES LISTED IN THIS LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL.
 
     8. Tax Identification Number. Federal income tax law requires that a holder
of any Old Notes which are accepted for exchange must provide the Exchange Agent
(as payor) with its correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN"), which, in
the case of a holder who is an individual is his or her social security number.
If the Company is not provided with the correct TIN, the Holder may be subject
to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. (If withholding
results in an over-payment of taxes, a refund may be obtained.) Certain holders
(including, among others, all corporations and certain foreign individuals) are
not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. See the
enclosed "Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on
Substitute Form W-9" for additional instructions.
 
     To prevent backup withholding, each tendering holder must provide such
holder's correct TIN by completing the Substitute Form W-9 set forth herein,
certifying that the TIN provided is correct (or that such holder is awaiting a
TIN), and that (i) the holder has not been notified by the Internal Revenue
Service that such holder is subject to backup withholding as a result of failure
to report all interest or dividends or (ii) the Internal Revenue Service has
notified the holder that such holder is no longer subject to backup withholding.
If the Old Notes are registered in more than one name or are not in the name of
the actual owner, see the enclosed "Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer
Identification Number of Substitute Form W-9" for information on which TIN to
report.
 
     The Company reserves the right in its sole discretion to take whatever
steps are necessary to comply with the Company's obligation regarding backup
withholding.
 
     9. Validity of Tenders. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility
(including time of receipt), and acceptance of tendered Old Notes will be
determined by the Company, in its sole discretion, which determination will be
final and binding. The Company reserves the right to reject any and all Old
Notes not validly tendered or any Old Notes, the Company's acceptance of which
would, in the opinion of the Company or its counsel, be unlawful. The Company
also reserves the right to waive any conditions of the Exchange Offer or defects
or irregularities in tenders of Old Notes as to any ineligibility of any holder
who seeks to tender Old Notes in the Exchange Offer. The interpretation of the
terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (which includes this Letter of
Transmittal and the instructions hereto) by the Company shall be final and
binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in
connection with tenders of Old Notes must be cured within such time as the
Company shall determine. The Company will use reasonable efforts to give
notification of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of Old Notes,
but shall not incur any liability for failure to give such notification.
 
     10. Waiver of Conditions. The Company reserves the absolute right to waive,
in whole or part, any of the conditions to the Exchange Offer set forth in the
Prospectus.
 
     11. No Conditional Tender. No alternative, conditional, irregular or
contingent tender of Old Notes on transmittal of this Letter of Transmittal will
be accepted.
 
     12. Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Old Notes. Any Holder whose Old
Notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed should contact the Exchange
Agent at the address indicated above for further instructions.
 
     13. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Requests for assistance
or for additional copies of the Prospectus or this Letter of Transmittal may be
directed to the Exchange Agent at the address or telephone number set forth on
the cover page of this Letter of Transmittal. Holders may also contact their
broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance
concerning the Exchange Offer.
 
     14. Acceptance of Tendered Old Notes and Issuance of New Notes; Return of
Old Notes. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, the
Company will accept for exchange all validly tendered Old
   10
 
Notes as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date and will issue New Notes
therefor as soon as practicable thereafter. For purposes of the Exchange Offer,
the Company shall be deemed to have accepted tendered Old Notes when, as and if
the Company has given written and oral notice thereof to the Exchange Agent. If
any tendered Old Notes are not exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer for any
reason, such unexchanged Old Notes will be returned, without expense, to the
undersigned at the address shown above (or credited to the undersigned's account
at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility designated above) or at a different address
as may be indicated under the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions."
 
     15. Withdrawal. Tenders may be withdrawn only pursuant to the limited
withdrawal rights set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange
Offer -- Withdrawal of Tenders."
 
     IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR A MANUALLY SIGNED FACSIMILE HEREOF
(TOGETHER WITH THE OLD NOTES) WHICH MUST BE DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER OR
IN ORIGINAL HARD COPY FROM) OR THE NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY MUST BE
RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE
EXPIRATION DATE.
   11
 
         (TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS (SEE INSTRUCTION 8))
     PAYOR'S NAME: U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS EXCHANGE AGENT
 

                                                                
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          SUBSTITUTE               PART I--Taxpayer Identification
           FORM W-9                No.--For all accounts, enter
  DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY       your taxpayer identification         ----------------------------
   INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE        number in the appropriate box.         Social Security Number
                                   For most individuals and sole
                                   proprietors, this is your            OR
                                   social security number. For            --------------------------                       
                                   other entities, it is your                    Employer        
                                   Employer Identification Number.         Identification Number 
                                   If you do not have a number,
                                   see How to Obtain a TIN in the
                                   enclosed Guidelines. Note: If
                                   the account is in more than one
                                   name, see the chart on page 2
                                   of the enclosed Guidelines to
                                   determine what number to enter.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Payor's Request for Taxpayer      PART II--For Payees Exempt From Backup Withholding (see enclosed
     Identification Number         Guidelines)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
 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 either 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) Any other information provided on this form is true, correct and complete.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 SIGNATURE                                            DATE               , 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING
      OF 31% OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU WITH RESPECT TO THE NEW NOTES. PLEASE
      REVIEW THE ENCLOSED "GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER
      IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9" FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.