EX-99.1 FORM OF LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Published on September 23, 2005
EXHIBIT 99.1
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., EASTERN STANDARD
TIME,
ON ,
2005, UNLESS EXTENDED (THE EXPIRATION DATE). TENDERS
MAY BE WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.
NOVELIS INC.
3399 Peachtree Road, N.E., Suite 1500
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
To Exchange
71/4%
Senior Notes due 2015
Exchange Agent:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.
By Facsimile (Eligible Institutions Only): (212) 298-1915 Attention: Randolph Holder Confirm by telephone to: (212) 815-5098 |
By mail/hand delivery/overnight delivery: Corporate Trust Operations Reorganization Unit 101 Barclay Street 7 East New York, NY 10286 Attention: Randolph Holder |
Delivery of this instrument to an address, or transmission of
this instrument via facsimile, other than as set forth above
does not constitute a valid delivery.
The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus
dated ,
2005 (the Prospectus) of Novelis Inc., a corporation
organized under the laws of Canada (the Issuer), and
this Letter of Transmittal (this Letter) for the
Issuers
71/4%
Senior Notes due 2015 (the Old Notes) which together
constitute the Issuers offer (the Exchange
Offer) to exchange $1,000 principal amount of its newly
issued
71/4%
Senior Notes due 2015 (the Exchange Notes) for each
$1,000 in principal amount of its outstanding Old Notes that
were issued and sold in a transaction exempt from registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
Securities Act).
The undersigned has completed, executed and delivered this
Letter to indicate the action he or she desires to take with
respect to the Exchange Offer.
All holders of Old Notes who wish to tender their Old Notes
must, prior to the Expiration Date: (1) complete, sign,
date and deliver this Letter, or a facsimile thereof, to the
Exchange Agent, in person or to the address set forth above; and
(2) tender his or her Old Notes or, if a tender of Old
Notes 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), confirm such book-entry transfer (a
Book-Entry Confirmation), in each case in accordance
with the procedures for tendering described in the Instructions
to this Letter. Holders of Old Notes whose certificates are not
immediately available, or who are unable to deliver their
certificates or Book-Entry Confirmation and all other documents
required by this Letter to be delivered to the Exchange Agent on
or prior to the Expiration Date, must tender their Old Notes
according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth under
the caption The Exchange Offer-How to Use the Guaranteed
Delivery Procedures if You Will Not Have Enough Time to Send All
Documents to Us in the Prospectus. (See
Instruction 1).
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange
Offer, the acceptance for exchange of Old Notes validly tendered
and not withdrawn and the issuance of the Exchange Notes will be
made on the exchange date. The initial exchange date will be the
first business day following the Expiration Date. For the
purposes of the Exchange Offer, the Issuer shall be deemed to
have accepted for exchange validly tendered Old Notes when, as
and if the Issuer has given written notice thereof to the
Exchange Agent. The Instructions included with this Letter must
be followed in their entirety. Questions and requests for
assistance or for additional copies of the Prospectus or this
Letter may be directed to the Exchange Agent, at the address
listed above, or Investor Relations, Novelis Inc.,
3399 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 1500, Atlanta,
Georgia 30326, (404) 814-4200.
PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE LETTER, INCLUDING THE INSTRUCTIONS
CAREFULLY BEFORE CHECKING ANY BOX BELOW.
Capitalized terms used in this Letter and not defined herein
shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the
Prospectus. List in Box 1 below the Old Notes of which you
are the holder. If the space provided in Box 1 is
inadequate, list the certificate numbers and principal amount of
Old Notes on a separate signed schedule and affix that schedule
to this Letter.
BOX 1 | ||||||
TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS | ||||||
Certificate | Aggregate Principal | Principal Amount of Old | ||||
Name(s) and Address(es) of | Number(s)(1) | Amount of Old Notes | Notes Tendered if less | |||
Registered Holder(s) | than all(2) | |||||
(Please fill in if blank) | ||||||
Total | ||||||
1. | Need not be completed if Old Notes are being tendered by book-entry. |
2. | Unless otherwise indicated, the entire principal amount of Old Notes represented by a certificate or Book-Entry Confirmation delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered. |
The Exchange Offer is subject to the more detailed terms set
forth in the Prospectus and, in case of any conflict between the
terms of the terms of the Prospectus and this Letter, the
Prospectus shall prevail.
[ ] | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT WITH DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: |
Name of Tendering Institution: | ||
DTC Account Number: | ||
Transaction Code Number: | ||
[ ] | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: |
Name(s) of Registered Owner(s): | ||
Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery: | ||
Window Ticket Number (if available): | ||
Name of Eligible Institution which Guaranteed Delivery: | ||
[ ] | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND NON-EXCHANGED OR UNTENDERED OLD NOTES ARE TO BE RETURNED BY CREDITING THE DTC ACCOUNT NUMBER(S) SET FORTH ABOVE. |
[ ] | 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: | ||
Telephone Number: | ||
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange
Offer, the undersigned tenders to the Issuer the principal
amount of Old Notes indicated above. Subject to, and effective
upon, the acceptance for exchange of the Old Notes tendered with
this Letter, the undersigned exchanges, assigns and transfers
to, or upon the order of, the Issuer all right, title and
interest in and to the Old Notes tendered. The undersigned
constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent as his or her agent
and attorney-in-fact (with full knowledge that the Exchange
Agent also acts as the agent of the Issuer) with respect to the
tendered Old Notes, with full power of substitution, to:
(a) deliver certificates for such Old Notes;
(b) deliver Old Notes and all accompanying evidence of
transfer and authenticity to or upon the order of the Issuer
upon receipt by the Exchange Agent, as the undersigneds
agent, of the Exchange Notes to which the undersigned is
entitled upon the acceptance by the Issuer of the Old Notes
tendered under the Exchange Offer; and (c) receive all
benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial
ownership of the Old Notes, all in accordance with the terms of
the Exchange Offer. The power of attorney granted in this
paragraph shall be deemed irrevocable and coupled with an
interest.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that he or she
has full power and authority to tender, exchange, assign and
transfer the Old Notes tendered hereby and to acquire the
Exchange Notes and that the Issuer will acquire good, marketable
and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all security
interests, liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and not
subject to any adverse claim. The undersigned will, upon
request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by
the Issuer to be necessary or desirable to complete the
exchange, assignment and transfer of the Old Notes tendered for
exchange hereby. The undersigned agrees that acceptance of any
tendered Old Notes by the Issuer and the issuance of Exchange
Notes in exchange therefor shall constitute performance in full
by the Issuer of its obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement (as defined in the Prospectus) and that, upon the
issuance of the Exchange Notes, the Issuer will have no further
obligations or liabilities thereunder (except in certain limited
circumstances).
The undersigned hereby further represents to the Issuer that
(i) the Exchange Notes to be acquired pursuant to the
Exchange Offer will be acquired in the ordinary course of
business of the person acquiring the Exchange Notes, whether or
not such person is the undersigned, (ii) neither the
undersigned nor any person receiving any Exchange Notes directly
or indirectly from the undersigned pursuant to the Exchange
Offer is engaging or intends to engage in the distribution of
the Exchange Notes and none of them have any arrangement or
understanding with any person to participate in the distribution
of the Exchange Notes, (iii) the undersigned and each
person receiving any Exchange Notes directly or indirectly from
the undersigned pursuant to the Exchange Offer acknowledge and
agree that any broker-dealer or any person participating in the
Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange
Notes (x) must comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a
secondary resale transaction of the Exchange Notes acquired by
such person and (y) cannot rely on the position of the
staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
Commission) set forth in the Morgan Stanley &
Co. Incorporated no-action letter (available June 5, 1991),
as interpreted in the Commissions letter to Shearman &
Sterling (dated July 2, 1993), or the Exxon Capital
Holdings Corporation no-action letter (available May 13,
1988) or similar letters, (iv) the undersigned and each
person receiving any Exchange Notes directly or indirectly from
the undersigned pursuant to the Exchange Offer understand that a
secondary resale transaction described in clause
(iii) above should be covered by an effective registration
statement and (v) neither the undersigned nor any person
receiving any Exchange Notes directly or indirectly from the
undersigned pursuant to the Exchange Offer is an
affiliate of the Company, as defined under
Rule 405 under the Securities Act. If the undersigned is a
broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes for its own
account in exchange for Old Notes that were acquired as a result
of market making or other trading activities, it acknowledges
that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of
the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such
Exchange Notes received in respect of such Old Notes pursuant to
the Exchange Offer; 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.
All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred by this Letter
shall survive the death, incapacity, liquidation, dissolution,
winding up or any other event relating to the undersigned, and
every obligation of the undersigned under this Letter shall be
binding upon the undersigneds heirs, personal
representatives, successors, assigns, executors and
administrators. Tenders may be withdrawn only in connection with
the procedures set forth in the Instructions contained in this
Letter. Except as otherwise stated in the Prospectus, this
tender is irrevocable. Unless otherwise indicated under
Special Delivery Instructions in Box 4 below,
the Exchange Agent will deliver Exchange Notes (and, if
applicable, a certificate for any Old Notes not tendered but
represented by a certificate also encompassing Old Notes which
are tendered) to the undersigned at the address set forth in
Box 1.
PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
BOX 2
PLEASE SIGN HERE WHETHER OR NOT OLD NOTES ARE BEING
PHYSICALLY TENDERED HEREBY
This box must be signed by registered holder(s) of Old Notes
exactly as their name(s) appear(s) on certificate(s) for Old
Notes, or by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s)
by endorsement and documents transmitted with this Letter. If
signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator,
attorney-in-fact, guardian, officer or other person acting in a
fiduciary or representative capacity, such person must set forth
his or her full title below. (See Instruction 3)
X
|
X
|
(Signature(s) of Owner(s) or Authorized Signatory)
|
Date: ------------------------------ , 2005
|
Name(s)
|
(Please Print)
|
Capacity (Full Title):
|
Address:
|
(Include Zip Code)
|
Area Code and Telephone
No.:
|
Taxpayer Identification Number or Social Security Number:
|
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
(See Instruction 3 Below)
(certain signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible
institution)
(Name of Eligible Institution Guaranteeing Signatures)
|
Address (Including Zip Code)
|
Telephone Number (Including Area Code) of
Firm:
|
(Authorized Signature)
------------------------------------------------------------ (Title)
------------------------------------------------------------ (Print
Name)
|
Date: ---------------------------------------, 2005
|
BOX 3
SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 3 and 4)
To be completed ONLY if certificates for Old Notes in a
principal amount not exchanged, or Exchange Notes, are to be
issued in the name of someone other than the person whose
signature appears in Box 2, or if Old Notes delivered by
book-entry transfer which are not accepted for exchange are to
be returned by credit to an account maintained at the Book-Entry
Transfer facility other than the account indicated above.
Issue and deliver:
|
(Check appropriate boxes)
|
[ ] Old Notes not tendered
|
[ ] Exchange Notes, to:
|
(Please Print)
|
Name:
|
Address:
|
Please complete the Substitute Form W-9 below.
|
Tax I.D. or Social Security Number:
|
BOX 4
SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 3 and 4)
To be completed ONLY if the Exchange Notes and/or any Old Notes
that are not tendered are to be sent to someone other than the
registered holder of the Old Notes whose signature appears in
Box 2, or to such registered holder at an address other than
that shown in Box 2.
Mail:
|
(Check appropriate boxes)
|
[ ] Old Notes not tendered
|
[ ] Exchange Notes, to:
|
(Please Print)
|
Name:
|
Address:
|
Please complete the Substitute Form W-9 below.
|
Tax I.D. or Social Security Number:
|
INSTRUCTIONS FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
1. Delivery of this Letter and Certificates.
Certificates for Old Notes or a Book-Entry Confirmation, as
the case may be, as well as a properly completed and duly
executed copy of this Letter and any other documents required by
this Letter, must be received by the Exchange Agent at one of
its addresses set forth herein on or before the Expiration Date.
The method of delivery of this Letter, certificates for Old
Notes or a Book-Entry Confirmation, as the case may be, and any
other required documents is at the election and risk of the
tendering holder, but except as otherwise provided below, the
delivery will be deemed made when actually received by the
Exchange Agent. If delivery is by mail, the use of registered
mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is
suggested.
If tendered Old Notes are registered in the name of the signer
of this Letter and the Exchange Notes to be issued in exchange
therefor are to be issued (and any untendered Old Notes are to
be reissued) in the name of the registered holder and delivered
to the registered holders address as set forth in
Box 2 or if the Old Notes are tendered for the account of
an Eligible Institution (as defined below), the signature of
such signer need not be guaranteed. In any other case, the
tendered Old Notes must be endorsed or accompanied by written
instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and
duly executed by the registered holder and the signature on the
endorsement or instrument of transfer must be guaranteed by a
bank, broker, dealer, credit union, savings association,
clearing agency or other institution (each an Eligible
Institution) that is a member of a recognized signature
guarantee medallion program within the meaning of
Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act.
Any beneficial owner whose Old Notes are registered in the name
of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other
nominee and who wishes to tender Old Notes should contact such
holder promptly and instruct such holder to tender Old Notes on
such beneficial owners behalf. If such beneficial owner
wishes to tender such Old Notes himself or herself, such
beneficial owner must, prior to completing and executing this
Letter and delivering such Old Notes, either make appropriate
arrangements to register ownership of the Old Notes in such
beneficial owners name or follow the procedures described
in the immediately preceding paragraph. The transfer of record
ownership may take considerable time.
Holders whose Old Notes are not immediately available or who
cannot deliver their Old Notes or a Book-Entry Confirmation, as
the case may be, and all other required documents to the
Exchange Agent on or before the Expiration Date may tender their
Old Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set
forth in the Prospectus. Pursuant to such procedure:
(i) tender must be made by or through 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)
(x) setting forth the name and address of the holder, the
description of the Old Notes and the principal amount of Old
Notes tendered, (y) stating that the tender is being made
thereby and (z) guaranteeing that, within three New York
Stock Exchange trading days after the date of execution of such
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, this Letter together with the
certificates representing the Old Notes or a Book-Entry
Confirmation, as the case may be, and any other documents
required by this Letter will be deposited by the Eligible
Institution with the Exchange Agent; and (iii) the
certificates for all tendered Old Notes or a Book-Entry
Confirmation, as the case may be, as well as all other documents
required by this Letter, must be received by the Exchange Agent
within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the date
of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, all as
provided in the Prospectus under the caption The Exchange
Offer-How to Use the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures if You Will
Not Have Enough Time to Send All Documents to Us. The
method of delivery of Old Notes and all other documents is at
the election and risk of the holder. If sent by mail, it is
recommended that registered mail, return receipt requested, be
used, proper insurance be obtained, and the mailing be made
sufficiently in advance of the Expiration Date to permit
delivery to the Exchange Agent on or before the Expiration Date.
A tender will be deemed to have been received as of the date
when the tendering holders properly completed and duly
signed Letter accompanied by the Old Notes (or a timely
Book-Entry Confirmation)
is received by the Exchange Agent. Issuances of Exchange Notes
in exchange for Old Notes tendered pursuant to a Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery or letter or facsimile transmission to
similar effect (as provided above) by an Eligible Institution
will be made only against deposit of this Letter (and any other
required documents) and the tendered Old Notes (or a timely
Book-Entry Confirmation).
All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including
time of receipt), acceptance and withdrawal of tendered Old
Notes will be determined by the Issuer, in its sole discretion,
whose determination will be final and binding. The Issuer
reserves the absolute right to reject any or all tenders that
are not in proper form or the acceptance of which, in the
opinion of the Issuer or its counsel, would be unlawful. The
Issuer also reserves the right to waive any irregularities or
conditions of tender as to particular Old Notes. All tendering
holders, by execution of this Letter, waive any right to receive
notice of acceptance of their Old Notes. The Issuers
interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer
(including this Letter and the instructions thereto) will be
final and binding.
Neither the Issuer, the Exchange Agent nor any other person
shall be obligated to give notice of defects or irregularities
in any tender, nor shall any of them incur any liability for
failure to give any such notice.
2. Partial Tenders; Withdrawals. Tenders of Old
Notes will be accepted only in integral multiples of $1,000
principal amount. If less than the entire principal amount of
any Old Note evidenced by a submitted certificate or by a
Book-Entry Confirmation is tendered, the tendering holder must
fill in the principal amount tendered in the fourth column of
Box 1 above. All of the Old Notes represented by a
certificate or by a Book-Entry Confirmation delivered to the
Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless
otherwise indicated. A certificate for Old Notes not tendered
will be sent to the holder, unless otherwise provided in Box 4,
as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date, in the event
that less than the entire principal amount of Old Notes
represented by a submitted certificate is tendered (or, in the
case of Old Notes tendered by book-entry transfer, such
non-exchanged Old Notes will be credited to an account
maintained by the holder with the Book-Entry Transfer Facility).
If not yet accepted, a tender pursuant to the Exchange Offer may
be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date. For a
withdrawal to be effective, a written or facsimile transmission
notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Exchange
Agent at its address or facsimile number set forth in the back
cover of the Prospectus prior to the Expiration Date. Any such
notice of withdrawal must specify the person named in this
Letter as having tendered Old Notes to be withdrawn, the
certificate numbers of Old Notes to be withdrawn, the principal
amount of Old Notes to be withdrawn, a statement that such
holder is withdrawing his election to have such Old Notes
exchanged, and the name of the registered holder of such Old
Notes, and must be signed by the holder in the same manner as
the original signature on this Letter (including any required
signature guarantees) or be accompanied by evidence satisfactory
to the Issuer that the person withdrawing the tender has
succeeded to the beneficial ownership of the Old Notes being
withdrawn. The Exchange Agent will return the properly withdrawn
Old Notes promptly following receipt of notice of withdrawal.
All questions as to the validity of notices of withdrawals,
including time of receipt, will be determined by the Issuer, and
such determination will be final and binding on all parties.
3. Signatures on this Letter; Assignments; Guarantee of
Signatures. If this Letter is signed by the holder(s) of Old
Notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond with the
name(s) as written on the face of the certificate(s) for such
Old Notes, without alteration, enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
If any of the Old Notes tendered hereby are owned by two or more
joint owners, all owners must sign this Letter. If any tendered
Old Notes are held in different names on several certificates,
it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many
separate copies of this Letter as there are names in which
certificates are held.
If this Letter is signed by the holder of record and
(i) the entire principal amount of the holders Old
Notes are tendered; and/or (ii) untendered Old Notes, if
any, are to be issued to the holder of record, then the holder
of record need not endorse any certificates for tendered Old
Notes, nor provide a separate bond power. In any other case, the
holder of record must transmit a separate bond power with this
Letter.
If this Letter or any certificate or assignment is 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 proper evidence satisfactory to the
Issuer of their authority to so act must be submitted, unless
waived by the Issuer.
Signatures on this Letter must be guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution, unless Old Notes are tendered: (i) by a holder
who has not completed the Box entitled Special Issuance
Instructions or Special Delivery Instructions
on this Letter; or (ii) for the account of an Eligible
Institution. In the event that the signatures in this Letter or
a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, are required to be
guaranteed, such guarantees must be by an Eligible Institution.
If Old Notes are registered in the name of a person other than
the signer of this Letter, the Old Notes surrendered for
exchange must be endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written
instrument or instruments of transfer or exchange, in
satisfactory form as determined by the Issuer, in its sole
discretion, duly executed by the registered holder with the
signature thereon guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
4. Special Issuance and Delivery Instructions.
Tendering holders should indicate, in Box 3 or 4, as
applicable, the name and address to which the Exchange Notes or
certificates for Old Notes not exchanged are to be issued or
sent, if different from the name and address of the person
signing this Letter. In the case of issuance in a different
name, the tax identification number of the person named must
also be indicated. Holders tendering Old Notes by book-entry
transfer may request that Old Notes not exchanged be credited to
such account maintained at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility as
such holder may designate.
5. Tax Identification Number. Federal income tax law
requires that a holder whose tendered Old Notes are accepted for
exchange must provide the Exchange Agent (as payor) with his or
her correct taxpayer identification number (TIN),
which, in the case of the holder who is an individual, is his or
her social security number. If the Exchange Agent is not
provided with the correct TIN, the holder may be subject to a
$50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. In
addition, delivery to the holder of the Exchange Notes pursuant
to the Exchange Offer may be subject to back-up withholding on
all reportable payments made after the exchange. (If withholding
results in overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained.)
Exempt holders (including, among others, all corporations and
certain foreign individuals) are not subject to these back-up
withholding and reporting requirements. See the enclosed
Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number
on Substitute Form W-9 for additional instructions.
Under federal income tax laws, payments that may be made by the
Issuer on account of Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the
Exchange Offer may be subject to back-up withholding at a rate
of 28%. In order to prevent back-up withholding, each tendering
holder must provide his or her correct TIN by completing the
Substitute Form W-9 referred to below,
certifying that the TIN provided is correct (or that the holder
is awaiting a TIN) and that: (i) the holder has not been
notified by the Internal Revenue Service that he or she is
subject to back-up withholding as a result of failure to report
all interest or dividends; (ii) the Internal Revenue
Service has notified the holder that he or she is no longer
subject to back-up withholding; or (iii) in accordance with
the Guidelines, such holder is exempt from back-up withholding.
If the Old Notes are in more than one name or are not in the
name of the actual owner, consult the enclosed Guidelines for
information on which TIN to report. For more information,
including information regarding Non-U.S. Holders, see
Important Tax Information below.
6. Transfer Taxes. The Issuer will pay all transfer
taxes, if any, applicable to the transfer of Old Notes to it or
its order pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, the
Exchange Notes or certificates for Old Notes not exchanged are
to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of, any
person other than the record holder, or if tendered certificates
are recorded in the name of any person other than the person
signing this Letter, or if a transfer tax is imposed by any
reason other than the transfer of Old Notes to the Issuer or its
order pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then the amount of such
transfer taxes (whether imposed on the record holder or any
other person) will be payable by the tendering holder. If
satisfactory evidence of payment of taxes or exemption from
taxes is not submitted with this Letter, the amount of
transfer taxes will be billed directly to the tendering holder.
Except as provided in this Instruction 6, it will not be
necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the
certificates listed in this Letter.
7. Waiver of Conditions. The Issuer reserves the
absolute right to amend or waive any of the specified conditions
in the Exchange Offer in the case of any Old Notes tendered.
8. Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.
Any holder whose certificates for Old Notes have been
mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed should contact the Exchange
Agent at the address indicated above, for further instructions.
9. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies.
Questions relating to the procedure for tendering, as well
as requests for additional copies of the Prospectus or this
Letter, may be directed to the Exchange Agent.
IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER (TOGETHER WITH CERTIFICATES
REPRESENTING TENDERED OLD NOTES OR A BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION AND
ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS) MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE
AGENT ON OR BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE.
IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION
Under U.S. federal income tax law, a U.S. Holder who tenders Old
Notes is required to provide the Exchange Agent with such
U.S. Holders current taxpayer identification number,
or TIN, on Substitute Form W-9 below, or, alternatively, to
establish another basis for an exemption from backup
withholding. If such U.S. Holder is an individual, the TIN is
his or her Social Security Number. If the Exchange Agent is not
provided with the correct TIN, the U.S. Holder or other
payee may be subject to a U.S.$50 penalty imposed by the
Internal Revenue Service. More serious penalties may be imposed
for providing false information which, if willfully done, may
result in fines and/or imprisonment.
You are a U.S. Holder if you are, for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, a citizen or a resident of the United States
(including a U.S. resident alien), a partnership, corporation,
company, or association created or organized in the United
States or under the laws of the United States, an estate whose
income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its
source, or a trust if a U.S. court can exercise primary
supervision over the trusts administration and one or more
U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions
of the trust.
Certain U.S. holders 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.
In general, non-U.S. Holders also qualify as exempt recipients.
To establish the exemption, a non-U.S. Holder must submit to the
Exchange Agent a properly completed Internal Revenue Service
Form W-8BEN (or other appropriate Form W-8) signed
under penalties of perjury, attesting to that individuals
exempt status. A Form W-8BEN (or other appropriate
Form W-8) can be obtained from the Exchange Agent. If you
are a non-U.S. Holder and you are the beneficial owner of the
Old Notes tendered, you generally should furnish Internal
Revenue Service Form W-8BEN. You must provide the
information requested in Part I of the form and must date
and sign the form under penalties of perjury in part IV of
the form. You are not required, however, to provide the
information requested in lines 6, 7 and 8 of part I of
the Form W-8BEN. If you are a non-U.S. Holder and you are a
partnership or other fiscally transparent entity, you should
generally furnish Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY. If
you are a non-U.S. Holder and you hold the Old Notes in
connection with a trade or business within the United States,
you should generally furnish Internal Revenue Service
Form W-8ECI. If you hold your Old Notes in connection with
a trade or business within the United States, but you are
eligible for an exemption from United States taxation in respect
of the exchange of the Old Notes under the provisions of an
applicable tax treaty, however, you must furnish
Form W-8BEN and must, in addition to the information
described above, provide your TIN in line 6 of part I
of Form W-8BEN and the information requested in
part II of the form.
Purpose of Substitute Form W-9 and Form W-8. To
prevent backup withholding with respect to the exchange of the
Old Notes tendered, a U.S. Holder is required to notify the
Exchange Agent of the U.S. Holders current TIN (or
the TIN of any other payee) by completing the form below,
certifying that the TIN provided on Substitute Form W-9 is
correct (or that such U.S. Holder is awaiting a TIN) and
that (a) the U.S. Holder has not been notified by the
Internal Revenue Service that the U.S. Holder is subject to
backup withholding as a result of failure to report all interest
or dividends or (b) the Internal Revenue Service has
notified the U.S. Holder that the U.S. Holder is no longer
subject to backup withholding.
A non-U.S. Holder is required to furnish the appropriate
Form W-8 to avoid backup withholding and information
reporting. The appropriate Form W-8 can be obtained from
the Exchange Agent.
What Number to Give the Exchange Agent. The U.S. Holder
is required to give the Exchange Agent the TIN (e.g., Social
Security Number or Employer Identification Number) of the
registered owner of the Old Notes. If the Old Notes are
registered in more than one name or are not registered in the
name of the actual owner, consult the enclosed Guidelines
for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on
Substitute Form W-9 for additional guidance on which
number to report.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld
are creditable against the shareholders regular United
States federal income tax liability, and any amount overwithheld
generally will be refundable to the shareholder if the
shareholder properly files a United States federal income tax
return.
THE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 BELOW MUST BE COMPLETED AND
SIGNED. If you are a U.S. Holder, please provide your
social security number or other taxpayer identification number
(TIN) and certify that you are not subject to backup
withholding.
Substitute Form W-9 | ||
Department of the Treasury International Revenue Service | ||
Payers Request for TIN and Certification | ||
Name:
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Please check the appropriate box indicating your status: o Individual/ Sole proprietoro Corporationo Partnershipo Other |
o Exempt from backup withholding | |
Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.)
|
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City, State, and ZIP code
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Part I TIN
|
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PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN ON THE APPROPRIATE LINE AT THE RIGHT. For most individuals, this is your social security number. If you do not have a number, see the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9. If you are awaiting a TIN, write Applied For in this Part I, complete the Certification of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number below and see Instruction 5 below. |
Social Security Number OR |
|
Part II 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 |
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(2) I am not subject to backup withholding 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 |
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(3) I am a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). |
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Certification Instructions You must cross out item (2) above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding. |
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Sign Here Signature of U.S. person Date |
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NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE SUBSTITUTE
FORM W-9 MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 28% IN RESPECT
OF THE EXCHANGE OF OLD NOTES. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED
GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND SEE THE
INSTRUCTIONS ABOVE.
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION IF YOU WROTE
APPLIED FOR INSTEAD OF A TIN ON THE SUBSTITUTE
FORM W-9.
CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER | ||||
I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer identification number has not been issued to me, and either (a) I have mailed or delivered an application to receive a TIN to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office or (b) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I understand that if I do not provide a TIN by the time of payment, 28% of all reportable payments made to me will be withheld. |
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Sign | ||||
Here
|
Signature of U.S. person | Date | ||
GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
Specific Instructions
Name. If you are an individual, you must generally enter
the name shown on your social security card. However, if you
have changed your last name, for instance, due to marriage
without informing the Social Security Administration of the name
change, enter your first name, the last name shown on your
social security card, and your new last name.
If the account is in joint names, list first and then circle the
name of the person or entity whose number you enter in
Part I of the form.
Sole proprietor. Enter your individual name as
shown on your social security card on the Name line.
You may enter your business, trade, or doing business as
(DBA) name on the Business name line.
Limited liability company (LLC). If you are a
single-member LLC (including a foreign LLC with a domestic
owner) that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner
under Treasury regulations section 301.7701-3, enter the
owners name on the Name line. Enter the
LLCs name on the Business name line. Check the
appropriate box for your filing status (sole proprietor,
corporation, etc.), then check the box for Other and
enter LLC in the space provided.
Caution: A disregarded domestic entity that has a
foreign owner must use the appropriate Form W-8.
Other entities. Enter your business name as shown on
required Federal tax documents on the Name line.
This name should match the name shown on the charter or other
legal document creating the entity. You may enter any business,
trade, or DBA name on the Business name line.
Note. You are requested to check the appropriate box for
your status (individual/sole proprietor, corporation, etc.)
Exempt From Backup Withholding
If you are exempt, enter your name as described above and check
the appropriate box for your status, then check the Exempt
from backup withholding box in the line following the
business name, sign and date the form.
Generally, individuals (including sole proprietors) are not
exempt from backup withholding. Corporations are exempt from
backup withholding for certain payments, such as interest and
dividends.
Note. If you are exempt from backup withholding, you
should still complete this form to avoid possible erroneous
backup withholding.
Exempt payees. Backup withholding is not required on any
payments made to the following payees:
1. An organization exempt from tax under
section 501(a), any IRA, or a custodial account under
section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements
of section 401(f)(2),
2. The United States or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities,
3. A state, the District of Columbia, a possession of the
United States, or any of their political subdivisions or
instrumentalities,
4. A foreign government or any of its political
subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, or
5. An international organization or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities.
6. A corporation,
7. A foreign central bank of issue,
8. A dealer in securities or commodities required to
register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a
possession of the United States,
9. A futures commission merchant registered with the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission,
10. A real estate investment trust,
11. An entity registered at all times during the tax year
under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
12. A common trust fund operated by a bank under
section 584(a), and
13. A financial institution.
Part ITaxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Enter your TIN on the appropriate line.
If you are a resident alien and you do not have and are
not eligible to get an SSN, your TIN is your IRS individual
taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Enter it on the social
security number line. If you do not have an ITIN, see How to
get a TIN below.
If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may
enter either your SSN or EIN. However, the IRS prefers that you
use your SSN.
If you are an LLC that is disregarded as an entity
separate from its owner (see Limited liability company
(LLC) above), and are owned by an individual, enter your
SSN (or EIN, if you have one). If the owner of a disregarded LLC
is a corporation, partnership, etc., enter the owners EIN.
Note: See the chart on this page for further
clarification of name and TIN combinations.
How to get a TIN. If you do not have a TIN, apply for one
immediately. To apply for an SSN, get Form SS-5,
Application for a Social Security Card, from your local Social
Security Administration office or get this form on-line at
www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf. You may also get this
form by calling 1-800-772-1213. Get Form W-7,
Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number,
to apply for an ITIN or Form SS-4, Application for
Employer Identification Number, to apply for an EIN. You can
apply for an EIN online by accessing the IRS website at
www.irs.gov/businesses/ and clicking on Employer ID
numbers under Related Topics. You may get Forms W-7 and
SS-4 from the IRS by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) or
from the IRSs Internet Web Site at www.irs.gov.
If you do not have a TIN, write Applied For in the
space for the TIN, sign and date the form, and give it to the
requester. For interest and dividend payments, and certain
payments made with respect to readily tradable instruments,
generally you will have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to
the requester before you are subject to backup withholding on
payments. The 60-day rule does not apply to other types of
payments. You will be subject to backup withholding on all such
payments until you provide your TIN to the requester.
Note: Writing Applied For means that you
have already applied for a Tin orthat you intend to apply
for one soon.
Part IICertification
To establish to the withholding agent that you are a U.S.
person, or resident alien, sign Form W-9. You may be
requested to sign by the withholding agent even if items 1,
4, and 5 below indicate otherwise.
For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in
Part I should sign (when required).
1. Interest, dividend, and barter exchange accounts
opened before 1984 and broker accounts considered active during
1983. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to
sign the certification.
2. Interest, dividend, broker, and barter exchange
accounts opened after 1983 and broker accounts considered
inactive during 1983. You must sign the certification or
backup withholding will apply. If you are subject to backup
withholding and you are merely providing your correct TIN to the
requester, you must cross out item 2 in the
certification before signing the form.
3. Real estate transactions. You must sign the
certification. You may cross out item 2 of the
certification.
4. Other payments. You must give your correct TIN,
but you do not have to sign the certification unless you have
been notified that you have previously given an incorrect TIN.
Other payments include payments made in the course
of the requesters trade or business for rents, royalties,
goods (other than bills for merchandise), medical and health
care services (including payments to corporations), payments to
a nonemployee for services, payments to certain fishing boat
crew members and fishermen, and gross proceeds paid to attorneys
(including payments to corporations).
Privacy Act Notice
Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code requires you to
give your correct TIN to persons who must file information
returns with the IRS to
report interest, dividends, and certain other income paid to
you, mortgage interest you paid, the acquisition or abandonment
of secured property, cancellation of debt, or contributions you
made to an IRA, or Archer MSA or HSA. The IRS uses the numbers
for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of
your tax return. The IRS may also provide this information to
the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation, and
to cities, states, and the District of Columbia to carry out
their tax laws. The IRS may also disclose this information to
other countries under a tax treaty, or to Federal and state
agencies to enforce Federal nontax criminal laws and to combat
terrorism. The authority to disclose information to combat
terrorism expired on December 31, 2003. Legislation is
pending that would reinstate this authority.
You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to
file a tax return. Payers must generally withhold applicable
rates of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments
to a payee who does not give a TIN to a payer. Certain penalties
may also apply.
What Name and Number To Give the Requestor
For this type of account: | Give name and SSN of: | |
1. Individual
|
The individual | |
2. Two or more individuals (joint
account)
|
The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account(1) | |
3. Custodian account of a minor (Uniform
Gift to Minors Act)
|
The minor(2) | |
4. a. The usual revocable savings trust
(grantor is also trustee)
|
The grantor-trustee(1) | |
b. So-called trust account that is not a
legal or valid trust under state law
|
The actual owner(1) | |
5. Sole proprietorship or single-owner
LLC
|
The owner(3) |
For this type of account: | Give name and EIN of: | |
6. Sole proprietorship or single-owner
LLC
|
The owner(3) | |
7. A valid trust, estate, or pension
trust
|
Legal entity(4) | |
8. Corporate or LLC electing corporate
status on Form 8832
|
The corporation | |
9. Association, club, religious,
charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization
|
The organization | |
10. Partnership or multi-member LLC
|
The partnership | |
11. A broker or registered nominee
|
The broker or nominee | |
12. Account with the Department of Agriculture
in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local
government, school district, or prison) that receives
agricultural program payments
|
The public entity |
(1) | List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has an SSN, that persons number must be furnished. |
(2) | Circle the minors name and furnish the minors SSN. |
(3) | You must show your individual name, but you may also enter your business or DBA name on the second name line. You may use either your SSN or EIN (if you have one). If you are a sole proprietor, the IRS encourages you to use your SSN. |
(4) | List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate or pension trust. (Do not furnish the TIN of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.) |
Note: If no name is circled when more than one name is
listed, the number will be considered to be that of the first
name listed.