1 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO TENDER UNREGISTERED 10 1/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2008 OF HOME INTERIORS & GIFTS, INC. PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND PROSPECTUS DATED AUGUST , 1998 THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON SEPTEMBER , 1998 (THE "EXPIRATION DATE"), UNLESS THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS EXTENDED BY THE COMPANY. THE EXCHANGE AGENT FOR THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS: UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK Deliver to: United States Trust Company of New York, Exchange Agent By Registered or Certified Mail: By Hand or Overnight Delivery before 4:30 p.m.: United States Trust Company United States Trust Company of New York of New York P.O. Box 843, Cooper Station 111 Broadway New York, New York 10276 New York, New York 10006 Attn: Corporate Trust Services Attn: Lower Level Corporate Trust Window By Facsimile (for Eligible Institutions): (212) 780-0592 Attention: Customer Service For Information or Confirmation by Telephone: (212) 568-6565 (Originals of all documents sent by facsimile should be sent promptly by registered or certified mail, by hand or by overnight delivery service) DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OR TRANSMISSION OF INSTRUCTIONS VIA FACSIMILE OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY. IF YOU WISH TO EXCHANGE UNREGISTERED 10 1/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2008, FOR AN EQUAL AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF REGISTERED 10 1/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2008, PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER, YOU MUST VALIDLY TENDER (AND NOT WITHDRAW) OLD NOTES TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE. SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED. PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 2 DESCRIPTION OF TENDERED OLD NOTES - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OF REGISTERED OWNER(S) AGGREGATE AS IT APPEARS ON THE 10 1/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE CERTIFICATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT 2008 NUMBER(S) OF OLD NOTES (PLEASE FILL IN, IF BLANK) OF OLD NOTES TENDERED - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ TOTAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF OLD NOTES TENDERED - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: 1. The undersigned hereby tenders to Home Interiors & Gifts, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Company"), the 10 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "Old Notes"), described above pursuant to the Company's offer of $1,000 principal amount of 10 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "New Notes"), in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount of the Old Notes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Prospectus dated August , 1998 (the "Prospectus"), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in this Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the "Exchange Offer"). 2. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that it has full authority to tender the Old Notes described above. The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Company to be necessary or desirable to complete the tender of Old Notes. 3. The undersigned understands that the tender of the Old Notes pursuant to all of the procedures set forth in the Prospectus will constitute an agreement between the undersigned and the Company as to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus. 4. Unless the box under the heading "Special Registration Instructions" is checked, the undersigned hereby represents and warrants that: (i) the New Notes acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being obtained in the ordinary course of business of the undersigned, whether or not the undersigned is the holder; (ii) neither the undersigned nor any such other person is engaging in or intends to engage in a distribution of such 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 such term is defined under Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the Company. 5. The undersigned may, if, and only if, unable to make all of the representations and warranties contained in Item 4 above, elect to have its Old Notes registered in the shelf registration described in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 4, 1998, between the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the "Registration Agreement") (all terms used in this Item 5 with their initial letters capitalized, unless otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings given them in the Registration Agreement). Such election may be made by checking the box under "Special Registration Instructions" on page 5. By making such election, the undersigned agrees, as a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities participating in a shelf registration, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors, their directors, officers, representatives and agents and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Guarantors within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with defending or investigating any matter), joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Company or Guarantors, or any such director, officer, representative, agent or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of, or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the undersigned furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of the undersigned expressly for use therein. Any such indemnification shall be governed by the terms and subject to 4 the conditions set forth in the Registration Agreement, including, without limitation, the provisions regarding notice, retention of counsel, contribution and payment of expenses set forth therein. The above summary of the indemnification provision of the Registration Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registration Agreement. 6. 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 that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes; however, by so acknowledging and delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer and Old Notes held for its own account were not acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, such Old Notes cannot be exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer. 7. Any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy and legal and personal representatives of the undersigned. 8. Unless otherwise indicated herein under "Special Delivery Instructions," the certificates for the New Notes will be issued in the name of the undersigned. SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS (See Instruction 1) To be completed ONLY IF the New Notes are to be issued or sent to someone other than the undersigned or to the undersigned at an address other than that provided above. Mail [ ] Issue [ ] (check appropriate boxes) certificates to: Name: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (PLEASE PRINT) Address: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (INCLUDING ZIP CODE) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPECIAL REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS (See Item 5) To be completed ONLY IF (i) the undersigned satisfies the conditions set forth in Item 5 above, (ii) the undersigned elects to register its Old Notes in the shelf registration described in the Registration Agreement, and (iii) the undersigned agrees to indemnify certain entities and individuals as set forth in the Registration Agreement and summarized in Item 5 above. [ ] By checking this box the undersigned hereby (i) represents that it is unable to make all of the representations and warranties set forth in Item 4 above, (ii) elects to have its Old Notes registered pursuant to the shelf registration described in the Registration Agreement, and (iii) agrees to indemnify certain entities and individuals identified in, and to the extent provided in, the Registration Agreement and summarized in Item 5 above. 5 SPECIAL BROKER-DEALER INSTRUCTIONS (See Item 6) [ ] 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: ------------------------------------------------------------ (PLEASE PRINT) Address: ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ (INCLUDING ZIP CODE) 6 SIGNATURE To be completed by all exchanging noteholders. Must be signed by registered holder exactly as name appears on Old Notes. If signature is by trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth full title. See Instruction 3. X - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SIGNATURE(S) OF REGISTERED HOLDER(S) OR AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE Dated: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name(s): - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT) Capacity: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Address: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (INCLUDING ZIP CODE) Area Code and Telephone No.: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- SIGNATURE GUARANTEE (IF REQUIRED BY INSTRUCTION 1) Certain Signatures Must be Guaranteed by an Eligible Institution - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NAME OF ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION GUARANTEEING SIGNATURES) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (ADDRESS (INCLUDING ZIP CODE) AND TELEPHONE NUMBER (INCLUDING AREA CODE) OF FIRM) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (PRINTED NAME) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (TITLE) Dated: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW, WHICH FORM A PART OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 7 INSTRUCTIONS 1. GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES. Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution that is a member of or participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program or by an "eligible guarantor institution" within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Exchange Act (an "Eligible Institution") unless the box entitled "Special Registration Instructions" or "Special Delivery Instructions" above has not been completed or the Old Notes described above are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. 2. DELIVERY OF LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND OLD NOTES. The Old Notes, together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or copy thereof), should be mailed or delivered to the Exchange Agent at the address set forth above. THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF OLD NOTES AND THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE HOLDER. INSTEAD OF DELIVERY BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT HOLDERS USE AN OVERNIGHT OR HAND DELIVERY SERVICE. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ASSURE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE. NO LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR OLD NOTES SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMPANY. HOLDERS MAY REQUEST THEIR RESPECTIVE BROKERS, DEALERS, COMMERCIAL BANKS, TRUST COMPANIES, OR NOMINEES TO EFFECT THE ABOVE TRANSACTIONS FOR SUCH HOLDERS. 3. SIGNATURE ON LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, BOND POWERS AND ENDORSEMENTS. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than a registered holder of any Old Notes, such Old Notes must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate bond powers, signed by such registered holder exactly as such registered holder's name appears on such Old Notes. If this Letter of Transmittal or any Old Notes 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 Company, proper evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to so act must be submitted with this Letter of Transmittal. 4. MISCELLANEOUS. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt), acceptance, and withdrawal of tendered Old Notes will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion, which determination will be final and binding on all parties. The Company reserves the absolute right to reject any or all Old Notes not properly tendered or any Old Notes the Company's acceptance of which would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be unlawful. The Company also reserves the right to waive any defects, irregularities, or conditions of tender as to particular Old Notes. The Company's interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including the instructions in this Letter of Transmittal) will be final and binding. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Old Notes must be cured within such time as the Company shall determine. Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent, nor any other person shall be under any duty to give notification of defects in such tenders or shall incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of Old Notes will not be deemed to have been made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any Old Notes received by the Exchange Agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the Exchange Agent to the tendering holder thereof as soon as practicable following the Expiration Date.