LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
TO TENDER FOR EXCHANGE
9% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2009
OF
DURA OPERATING CORP.
PURSUANT TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED AUGUST 9, 1999
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THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY
TIME, ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1999 UNLESS EXTENDED (THE EXPIRATION DATE).
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PLEASE READ CAREFULLY THE ATTACHED INSTRUCTIONS
If you desire to accept the Exchange Offer, this Letter of Transmittal should be
completed, signed and submitted to the Exchange Agent:
BY MAIL: OVERNIGHT COURIER:
U.S. Bank Trust National Association U.S. Bank Trust National Association
180 E. 5(th) Street 180 E. 5(th) Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Attention: Specialized Finance Department Attention: Specialized Finance Department
BY HAND: FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION:
U.S. Bank Trust National Association (651) 244-1537
180 E. 5(th) Street CONFIRM BY TELEPHONE:
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 (651) 244-1572
Attention: Specialized Finance Department
DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OR FACSIMILE NUMBER
OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.
FOR ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR FOR ANY ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION, YOU MAY CONTACT THE EXCHANGE AGENT BY TELEPHONE AT (651) 244-1572,
OR BY FACSIMILE AT (651) 244-1537.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus dated August
9, 1999 (the "Prospectus") of Dura Operating Corp., a Delaware corporation
("Company"), and this Letter of Transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal"), that
together constitute the Company's offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange: (i)
$1,000 in principal amount of its Series B 9% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009
(the "Dollar Exchange Notes"), which have been registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), pursuant to a Registration
Statement, for each $1,000 in principal amount of its outstanding 9% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the "Old Dollar Notes"); and (ii) [EURO]1,000 in
principal amount of its Series B 9% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the
"Euro Exchange Notes" and, together with the Dollar Exchange Notes, the
"Exchange Notes"), which have been registered under the Securities, pursuant to
a Registration Statement, for each [EURO]1,000 in principal amount of its
outstanding 9% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the "Old Euro Notes" and,
together with the Old Dollar Notes, the "Notes") . Capitalized terms used but
not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.
The undersigned hereby tenders the Notes described in Box 1 below (the
"Tendered Notes") pursuant to the terms and conditions described in the
Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal. The undersigned is the registered
owner of all the Tendered Notes and the undersigned represents that it has
received from each beneficial owner of the Tendered Notes ("Beneficial Owners")
a duly completed and executed form of "INSTRUCTION TO REGISTERED HOLDER AND/OR
BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY PARTICIPANT FROM BENEFICIAL OWNER" accompanying
this Letter of Transmittal, instructing the undersigned to take the action
described in this Letter of Transmittal.
Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of the Tendered
Notes, the undersigned hereby exchanges, assigns and transfers to, or upon the
order of, the Company all right, title, and interest in, to and under the
Tendered Notes.
Please issue the Exchange Notes exchanged for Tendered Notes in the name(s)
of the undersigned. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under "SPECIAL
DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS" below (Box 3), please send or cause to be sent the
certificates for the Exchange Notes (and accompanying documents, as appropriate)
to the undersigned at the address shown below in Box 1.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Exchange
Agent as the true and lawful agent and attorney in fact of the undersigned with
respect to the Tendered Notes, with full power of substitution (such power of
attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to
(i) deliver the Tendered Notes to the Company or cause ownership of the Tendered
Notes to be transferred to, or upon the order of, the Company, on the books of
the registrar for the Notes and deliver all accompanying evidences of transfer
and authenticity to, or upon the order of, the Company upon receipt by the
Exchange Agent, as the undersigned's agent, of the Exchange Notes to which the
undersigned is entitled upon acceptance by the Company of the Tendered Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and (ii) receive all benefits and otherwise
exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of the Tendered Notes, all in
accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer.
The undersigned understands that tenders of Notes pursuant to the procedures
described under the caption "The Exchange Offer" 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, subject only to withdrawal of such tenders on the terms set forth in the
Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange Offer-- Procedures for
Tendering--Withdrawal of Tenders of Notes Deposited with DTC." All authority
herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall survive the death or incapacity
of the undersigned and any Beneficial Owner(s), and every obligation of the
undersigned or any Beneficial Owner(s) hereunder shall be binding upon the
heirs, representatives, successors, and assigns of the undersigned and such
Beneficial Owner(s).
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full
power and authority to tender, exchange, assign, and transfer the Tendered Notes
and that the Company will acquire good and unencumbered title thereto, free and
clear of all liens, restrictions, charges, encumbrances, and adverse claims when
the Tendered Notes are acquired by the Company as contemplated herein. The
undersigned and each Beneficial Owner will, upon request, execute and deliver
any additional documents reasonably requested by the Company or the Exchange
Agent as necessary or desirable to complete and give effect to the transactions
contemplated hereby.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the information set
forth in Box 2 is true and correct.
By accepting the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby represents and
warrants that (i) the Exchange Notes to be acquired by the undersigned and any
Beneficial Owner(s) in connection with the Exchange Offer are being acquired by
the undersigned and any Beneficial Owner(s) in the ordinary course of business
of the undersigned and any Beneficial Owner(s), (ii) the undersigned and each
Beneficial Owner are not participating, do not intend to participate, and have
no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes, (iii) except as otherwise disclosed in
writing herewith, neither the undersigned nor any Beneficial Owner is an
"affiliate," as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of the Company,
and (iv) the undersigned and each Beneficial Owner acknowledge and agree that
any person participating in the Exchange Offer with the intention or for the
purpose of distributing the Exchange Notes must comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the "Securities
Act"), in connection with a secondary resale of the Exchange Notes acquired by
such person and cannot rely on the position of the Staff of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") set forth in the no-action letters that
are discussed in the section of the Prospectus entitled "The Exchange Offer." In
addition, by accepting the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby (i) represents
and warrants that, if the undersigned or any Beneficial Owner of the Notes is a
Participating Broker-Dealer, such Participating Broker-Dealer acquired the Notes
for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities and has not entered into any arrangement or understanding with the
Company or any "affiliate" of the Company (within the meaning of Rule 405 under
the Securities Act) to distribute the Exchange Notes to be received in the
Exchange Offer, and (ii) acknowledges that, by receiving Exchange Notes for its
own account in exchange for Notes, where such Notes were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities, such Participating
Broker-Dealer will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes.
/ / CHECK HERE IF TENDERED NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED HEREWITH.
/ / CHECK HERE IF TENDERED NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF
GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY DELIVERED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE
"USE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY" BELOW (Box 4).
/ / CHECK HERE IF TENDERED 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 "USE OF BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER" BELOW (Box 5).
PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE BOXES
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BOX 1
DESCRIPTION OF NOTES TENDERED
(ATTACH ADDITIONAL SIGNED PAGES, IF NECESSARY)
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AGGREGATE
NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OF REGISTERED NOTE PRINCIPAL AGGREGATE
HOLDER(S), EXACTLY AS NAME(S) APPEAR(S) ON NOTE CERTIFICATE AMOUNT PRINCIPAL
CERTIFICATE(S) NUMBER(S) OF REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT
(PLEASE FILL IN, IF BLANK) NOTES* CERTIFICATE(S) TENDERED**
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TOTAL
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* Need not be completed by persons tendering by book-entry transfer.
** The minimum permitted tender is $1,000, in the case of Old Dollar Notes, or [EURO]1,000, in the
case of Old Euro Notes, in principal amount of Notes. All other tenders must be in integral
multiples of $1,000 or [EURO]1,000, as the case may be, of principal amount. Unless otherwise
indicated in this column, the principal amount of all Note Certificates identified in this Box
1 or delivered to the Exchange Agent herewith shall be deemed tendered. See Instruction 4.
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BOX 2
BENEFICIAL OWNER(S)
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STATE OF PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE OF EACH PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF TENDERED NOTES
BENEFICIAL OWNER OF TENDERED NOTES HELD FOR ACCOUNT OF BENEFICIAL OWNER
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BOX 3
SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS 5, 6 AND 7)
TO BE COMPLETED ONLY IF EXCHANGE NOTES EXCHANGED FOR NOTES AND UNTENDERED
NOTES ARE TO BE SENT TO SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE UNDERSIGNED, OR TO THE
UNDERSIGNED AT AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THAT SHOWN ABOVE.
Mail Exchange Note(s) and any untendered Notes to:
Name(s):
____________________________________________________________________________
(PLEASE PRINT)
Address:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
(INCLUDE ZIP CODE)
Tax Identification or
Social Security No.:
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BOX 4
USE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
(SEE INSTRUCTION 2)
TO BE COMPLETED ONLY IF NOTES ARE BEING TENDERED BY MEANS OF A NOTICE OF
GUARANTEED DELIVERY.
Name(s) of Registered Holder(s):
____________________________________________________________________________
Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery: ________________________
Name of Institution which Guaranteed Delivery: _____________________________
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BOX 5
USE OF BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
(SEE INSTRUCTION 1)
TO BE COMPLETED ONLY IF DELIVERY OF TENDERED NOTES IS TO BE MADE BY BOOK-
ENTRY TRANSFER.
Name of Tendering Institution: _____________________________________________
Account Number: ____________________________________________________________
Transaction Code Number: ___________________________________________________
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BOX 6
TENDERING HOLDER SIGNATURE
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1 AND 5)
IN ADDITION, COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
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X Signature Guarantee
X (If required by Instruction 5)
(SIGNATURE OF REGISTERED HOLDER(S) Authorized Signature
OR AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY)
Note: The above lines must be signed by the X
registered holder(s) of Notes as their name(s) Name:
appear(s) on the Notes or by persons(s) (PLEASE PRINT)
authorized to become registered holder(s) Title:
(evidence of such authorization must be Name of Firm:
transmitted with this Letter of Transmittal). If (MUST BE AN ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION AS
signature is by a trustee, executor, DEFINED IN INSTRUCTION 2)
administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact,
officer, or other person acting in a fiduciary
or representative capacity, such person must set
forth his or her full title below. See
Instruction 5.
Name(s): Address:
Capacity: (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)
Area Code and Telephone Number:
Street Address:
Dated:
(INCLUDE ZIP CODE)
Area Code and Telephone Number:
Tax Identification or Social Security Number:
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BOX 7
BROKER-DEALER STATUS
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/ / Check this box if the Beneficial Owner of the Notes is a Participating
Broker-Dealer and such Participating Broker-Dealer acquired the Notes
for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities. IF THIS BOX IS CHECKED, PLEASE SEND A COPY OF THIS
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO DURA OPERATING CORP., ATTENTION CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER, FACSIMILE (248) 299-7518.
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PAYORS' NAMES: DURA OPERATING CORP.
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Name (if joint names, list first and circle the name of the person or entity
whose number you enter in Part 1 below. See instructions if your name has
changed.)
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Address
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SUBSTITUTE City, State and ZIP Code
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FORM W-9 List account number(s) here (optional)
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Department of the PART 1--PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION Social Security Number
Treasury NUMBER ("TIN") IN THE BOX AT RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY or TIN
Internal Revenue SIGNING AND DATING BELOW
Service
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PART 2--Check the box if you are NOT subject to backup withholding under the
provisions of section 3406(a)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code because (1)
you have not been notified that you are subject to backup withholding as a
result of failure to report all interest or dividends or (2) the Internal
Revenue Service has notified you that you are no longer subject to backup
withholding. / /
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CERTIFICATION--UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY, I PART 3--
CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS FORM IS Awaiting TIN / /
TRUE, CORRECT AND COMPLETE.
SIGNATURE DATE
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NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING
OF 31% OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER. PLEASE
REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
DURA OPERATING CORP.
INSTRUCTIONS TO LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
1. DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND NOTES. A properly completed
and duly executed copy of this Letter of Transmittal, including Substitute Form
W-9, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal must be
received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth herein, and either
certificates for Tendered Notes must be received by the Exchange Agent at its
address set forth herein or such Tendered Notes must be transferred pursuant to
the procedures for book-entry transfer described in the Prospectus under the
caption "EXCHANGE OFFER--PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING OUTSTANDING NOTES DEPOSITED
WITH DTC" (and a confirmation of such transfer received by the Exchange Agent),
in each case prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. The
method of delivery of certificates for Tendered Notes, this Letter of
Transmittal and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent is at the
election and risk of the tendering holder and the delivery will be deemed made
only when actually received by the Exchange Agent. If delivery is by mail,
registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended.
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 timely delivery. No Letter of Transmittal or Notes should be sent to the
Company. Neither the Company nor the registrar is under any obligation to notify
any tendering holder of the Company's acceptance of Tendered Notes prior to the
closing of the Exchange Offer.
2. GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES. Holders who wish to tender their Notes
but whose Notes are not immediately available, and who cannot deliver their
Notes, this Letter of Transmittal or any other documents required hereby to the
Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date must tender their Notes according to
the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below, including completion of Box
4. Pursuant to such procedures: (i) such tender must be made by or through a
firm which is a member of a recognized Medallion Program approved by the
Securities Transfer Association Inc. (an "Eligible Institution") and the Notice
of Guaranteed Delivery must be signed by the holder; (ii) prior to the
Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent must have received from the holder and the
Eligible Institution a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery (by mail, hand delivery or facsimile transmission) setting forth the
name and address of the holder, the certificate number(s) of the Tendered Notes
and the principal amount of Tendered Notes, stating that the tender is being
made thereby and guaranteeing that, within five New York Stock Exchange trading
days after the Expiration Date, this Letter of Transmittal together with the
certificate(s) representing the Notes and any other required documents will be
deposited by the Eligible Institution with the Exchange Agent; and (iii) such
properly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal, as well as all other
documents required by this Letter of Transmittal and the certificate(s)
representing all Tendered Notes in proper form for transfer, must be received by
the Exchange Agent within five New York Stock Exchange trading days after the
Expiration Date. Any holder who wishes to tender Notes pursuant to the
guaranteed delivery procedures described above must ensure that the Exchange
Agent receives the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery relating to such Notes prior to
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. Failure to complete the
guaranteed delivery procedures outlined above will not, of itself, affect the
validity or effect a revocation of any Letter of Transmittal form properly
completed and executed by an Eligible Holder who attempted to use the guaranteed
delivery process.
3. BENEFICIAL OWNER INSTRUCTIONS TO REGISTERED HOLDERS. Only a holder in
whose name Tendered Notes are registered on the books of the registrar (or the
legal representative or attorney-in-fact of such registered holder) may execute
and deliver this Letter of Transmittal. Any Beneficial Owner of Tendered Notes
who is not the registered holder must arrange promptly with the registered
holder to execute and deliver this Letter of Transmittal on his or her behalf
through the execution and delivery to the registered holder of the INSTRUCTIONS
TO REGISTERED HOLDER AND/OR BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY PARTICIPANT FROM
BENEFICIAL OWNER form accompanying this Letter of Transmittal.
4. PARTIAL TENDERS. Tenders of Notes will be accepted only in integral
multiples of $1,000, in the case of Old Dollar Notes, and [EURO]1,000, in the
case of Old Euro Notes, in principal amount. If less than the entire principal
amount of Notes held by the holder is tendered, the tendering holder should fill
in the principal amount tendered in the column labeled "Aggregate Principal
Amount Tendered" of the box entitled "Description of Notes Tendered" (Box 1)
above. The entire principal amount of Notes delivered to the Exchange Agent will
be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated. If the entire
principal amount of all Notes held by the holder is not tendered, then Notes for
the principal amount of Notes not tendered and Exchange Notes issued in exchange
for any Notes tendered and 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, as soon as practicable following the
Expiration Date.
5. SIGNATURES ON THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL; BOND POWERS AND ENDORSEMENTS;
GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the
registered holder(s) of the Tendered Notes, the signature must correspond with
the name(s) as written on the face of the Tendered Notes without alteration,
enlargement or any change whatsoever.
If any of the Tendered Notes are owned of record by two or more joint
owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal. If any Tendered
Notes are held in different names, it will be necessary to complete, sign and
submit as many separate copies of the Letter of Transmittal as there are
different names in which Tendered Notes are held.
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of
Tendered Notes, and Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor are to be issued
(and any untendered principal amount of Notes is to be reissued) in the name of
the registered holder(s), then such registered holder(s) need not and should not
endorse any Tendered Notes, nor provide a separate bond power. In any other
case, such registered holder(s) must either properly endorse the Tendered Notes
or transmit a properly completed separate bond power with this Letter of
Transmittal, with the signature(s) on the endorsement or bond power guaranteed
by an Eligible Institution.
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the
registered holder(s) of any Tendered Notes, such Tendered Notes must be endorsed
or accompanied by appropriate bond powers, in each case, signed as the name(s)
of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on the Tendered Notes, with the
signature(s) on the endorsement or bond power guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution.
If this Letter of Transmittal or any Tendered 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, evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to so act must
be submitted with this Letter of Transmittal.
Endorsements on Tendered Notes or signatures on bond powers required by this
Instruction 5 must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution unless the Tendered Notes are tendered (i) by a registered holder
who has not completed the box set forth herein entitled "Special Delivery
Instructions" (Box 3) or (ii) by an Eligible Institution.
6. SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS. Tendering holders should indicate, in
the applicable box (Box 3), the name and address to which the Exchange Notes
and/or substitute Notes for principal amounts not tendered or not accepted for
exchange are to be 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 Tendered Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If,
however, a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the transfer and
exchange of Tendered Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then the amount of
any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or on any
other person) will be 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 Tendered Notes listed in this Letter of
Transmittal.
8. TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. Federal income tax law requires that the
holder(s) of any Tendered Notes which are accepted for exchange must provide the
Company (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 backup withholding and 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 holder of Tendered Notes 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 Tendered Notes are registered in more than one name or are
not in the name of the actual owner, consult the "Guidelines for Certification
of Taxpayer Identification Number on 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), acceptance
and withdrawal of Tendered 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 Notes not validly tendered or any 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
Notes as to any ineligibility of any holder who seeks to tender Notes in the
Exchange Offer. The interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange
Offer (including 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 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 or
irregularities with respect to tenders of Notes, nor shall any of them incur any
liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of Notes will not be
deemed to have been made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or
waived. Any 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 holders, unless otherwise
provided in this Letter of Transmittal, as soon as practicable following the
Expiration Date.
10. WAIVER OF CONDITIONS. The Company reserves the absolute right to
amend, waive or modify any of the conditions in the Exchange Offer in the case
of any Tendered Notes.
11. NO CONDITIONAL TENDER. No alternative, conditional, irregular, or
contingent tender of Notes or transmittal of this Letter of Transmittal will be
accepted.
12. MUTILATED, LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED NOTES. Any tendering Holder whose
Notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed should contact the Exchange
Agent at the address indicated herein for further instructions.
13. REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR ADDITIONAL COPIES. Questions and requests
for assistance and requests for additional copies of the Prospectus or this
Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Exchange Agent at the address
indicated herein. Holders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial
bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Exchange
Offer.
14. ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERED NOTES AND ISSUANCE OF NOTES; RETURN OF
NOTES. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, the Company
will accept for exchange all validly tendered Notes as soon as practicable after
the Expiration Date and will issue Exchange Notes therefor as soon as
practicable thereafter. For purposes of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall be
deemed to have accepted tendered Notes when, as and if the Company has given
written or oral notice (immediately followed in writing) thereof to the Exchange
Agent. If any Tendered Notes are not exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer
for any reason, such unexchanged Notes will be returned, without expense, to the
undersigned at the address shown in Box 1 or at a different address as may be
indicated herein under "Special Delivery Instructions" (Box 3).
15. WITHDRAWAL. Tenders may be withdrawn only pursuant to the procedures
set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange Offer--Procedures
for Tendering--Withdrawal of Tenders of Notes Deposited with DTC."