EX-99.1 7 d448570dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

SILGAN HOLDINGS INC.

Offer to Exchange

$300,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of 4 34% Senior Notes due 2025

and

€650,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of 3 14% Senior Notes due 2025

That Have Been Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933

for All Outstanding

$300,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of 4 34% Senior Notes due 2025

and

€650,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of 3 14% Senior Notes due 2025

That Have Not Been Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933

Pursuant to the Prospectus, dated                 , 2017

THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 PM, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON                 , 2017, UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE COMPANY (SUCH TIME AND DATE, AS THE SAME MAY BE EXTENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “EXPIRATION DATE”). TENDERS MAY BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.

The Exchange Agent for the Outstanding Dollar Notes (the “Dollar Exchange Agent”) in the Exchange Offer is:

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

        By Mail, Hand Delivery or Overnight Courier:    By Facsimile Transmission:

U.S. Bank National Association

Attention: Specialized Finance

111 Fillmore Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55107-1402

Reference: Silgan Holdings Inc.

  

(651) 466-7367

Attention: Specialized Finance

Reference: Silgan Holdings Inc.

 

Confirm by Telephone:

(800) 934-6802

For Information Call: (800) 934-6802

For Information Email: cts.specfinance@usbank.com

The Exchange Agent for the Outstanding Euro Notes (the “Euro Exchange Agent”) in the Exchange Offer is:

ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES DAC, UK BRANCH

 

        By Mail, Hand Delivery or Overnight Courier:    By Facsimile Transmission:

Elavon Financial Services DAC

Attention: MBS Relationship Management

125 Old Broad Street

London

EC2N 1AR

United Kingdom

Reference: Silgan Holdings Inc.

  

+44 (0)207 365 2577

Attention: MBS Relationship Management

Reference: Silgan Holdings Inc.

 

Confirm by Telephone:

+44 (0) 207 330 2000

For Information Call:             

For Information Email: mbs.relationship.management@usbank.com

 

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Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal to an address other than the one set forth above or transmission of instructions to a facsimile number other than the one listed above will not constitute a valid delivery. The instructions set forth in this Letter of Transmittal should be read carefully before this Letter of Transmittal is completed.

The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus dated             , 2017 (the “Prospectus”), of Silgan Holdings Inc. (the “Company”), and this Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), which, together with the Prospectus, constitute the Company’s offer to exchange (the “Exchange Offer”) an aggregate principal amount of up to $300,000,000 of the Company’s 4 34% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Dollar Exchange Notes”) and €650,000,000 of the Company’s Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Euro Exchange Notes” and, together with the Euro Exchange Notes, the “Exchange Notes”), which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for an equal aggregate principal amount of the Company’s issued and outstanding 4 34% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Outstanding Dollar Notes”) and €650,000,000 of the Company’s Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Outstanding Euro Notes” and, together with the Outstanding Dollar Notes, the “Outstanding Notes”) from the holders thereof. Recipients of the Prospectus should read the requirements described in such Prospectus with respect to eligibility to participate in the Exchange Offer. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Prospectus.

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a holder of Outstanding Dollar Notes:

 

    if certificates representing tendered Outstanding Notes are to be forwarded herewith; or

 

    if a tender is made by book-entry transfer to the Dollar Exchange Agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”) pursuant to the procedures set forth in the section “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering” of the Prospectus, unless an Agent’s Message (as defined below) is transmitted in lieu thereof.

The term “Agent’s Message” means a message, electronically transmitted by DTC to the Dollar Exchange Agent, forming part of a book-entry transfer, which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the tendering holder of the Outstanding Notes that such holder has received and agrees to be bound by, and makes each of the representations and warranties contained in, this Letter of Transmittal, and further, that such holder agrees that the Company may enforce this Letter of Transmittal against such holder.

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a holder of Outstanding Euro Notes if the tender of Outstanding Euro Notes will be made by book-entry transfer to the account maintained by the Euro Exchange Agent at Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system (“Euroclear”), or Clearstream Banking S.A. (“Clearstream”) according to the procedures described in the prospectus under the heading “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering” and an Electronic Consent Instruction (as defined below) is not being transmitted.

The Original Euro Notes are held in book-entry form through Euroclear or Clearstream. A holder of Outstanding Euro Notes with Euroclear or Clearstream wishing to participate in the Exchange Offer should submit, or arrange to have submitted on its behalf, an electronic exchange instruction (“Electronic Consent Instruction”) through the relevant clearing system in accordance with the procedures of, and within the time limits specified by, the relevant clearing system for receipt by the Euro Exchange Agent. If delivery is made through an Electronic Consent Instruction, Euroclear or Clearstream will send an “agent’s message” to the Euro Exchange Agent. By using the Electronic Consent Instruction procedures to exchange the Original Euro Notes, holders will be deemed to have agreed to the terms of this letter of transmittal.

Holders of Outstanding Dollar Notes whose certificates are not immediately available, or who are unable to deliver their certificates or confirmation of the book-entry tender of their Outstanding Notes into the Dollar Exchange Agent account at the book-entry facility (a “Book Entry Confirmation”) and all other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal to the Dollar Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date, must tender their Outstanding Notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the section “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures” of the Prospectus. See Instruction 2 hereto.

Delivery of documents to DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream does not constitute delivery to the Dollar Exchange Agent or the Euro Exchange Agent.

 

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As used in this Letter of Transmittal, the term “holder” with respect to the Exchange Offer (as defined below) means any person in whose name Outstanding Notes are registered on the books of the Company or whose notes are held of record by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream who desires to deliver such notes by book-entry transfer at the applicable depository. Holders who wish to tender their Outstanding Notes must complete this Letter of Transmittal in its entirety.

The undersigned hereby tenders the Outstanding Notes described in the box entitled “Description of Outstanding Notes” below pursuant to the terms and conditions described in the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal. The undersigned is the registered holder of all the Outstanding Notes covered by this Letter of Transmittal and the undersigned represents that it has received from each beneficial owner of Outstanding Notes (“Beneficial Owners”) a duly completed and executed form of “Instructions to Registered Holder from Beneficial Owner” accompanying this Letter of Transmittal, instructing the undersigned to take the action described in this Letter of Transmittal. Registered holder, as used herein, refers to a participant in DTC’s, Euroclear’s or Clearstream’s security position listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby. Any Beneficial Owner whose Outstanding Notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes to tender should contact such registered holder of Outstanding Notes to tender on behalf of the Beneficial Owner.

In order to properly complete this Letter of Transmittal, a holder of Outstanding Dollar Notes must (i) complete the box entitled “Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered,” (ii) if appropriate, check and complete the boxes relating to Book-Entry Transfer, Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, and Special Registration or Delivery Instructions, (iii) sign this Letter of Transmittal by completing the box entitled “Please Sign Here,” and (iv) complete and sign the attached Substitute Form W-9, or if applicable, the appropriate Form W-8 (which may be obtained from the Exchange Agent or can be found at www.irs.gov). Each holder of Outstanding Notes should carefully read the detailed instructions below prior to completing this Letter of Transmittal.

 

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Box 1

Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered

 

 

Name(s) and Address(es) of
Registered Holder(s)
(Please fill in, if blank, exactly as
name(s) appear(s)

on Certificate(s))

   Certificate or
Registration
Number(s) of
Outstanding
Notes*
   Aggregate
Principal
Amount
Represented by
Outstanding
Notes
   Aggregate
Principal
Amount of
Outstanding
Notes
Being
Tendered**
    
    
    
    
    
           Total

 

 

    * Need not be completed by book-entry holders (see below).
    ** All tenders of Outstanding Dollar Notes must be in the amount of $2,000 or in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and all tenders of Outstanding Euro Notes must be in the amount of €100,000 or in integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof. The aggregate principal amount of all of the Outstanding Notes represented by the Outstanding Notes identified in this column, or delivered to the Exchange Agent herewith, will be deemed tendered unless a lesser amount is specified in this column. See Instruction 4.

 

Box 2

Book-Entry

 

  ☐    CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT WITH DTC, EUROCLEAR OR CLEARSTREAM AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:  
   Name of Tendering Institution:    

 

 
   Account Number:  

 

 
   Transaction Code Number:  

 

 

By crediting Outstanding Notes to the Dollar Exchange Agent’s account at DTC in accordance with ATOP and by complying with applicable ATOP procedures with respect to the Exchange Offer, including transmitting an Agent’s Message to the Dollar Exchange Agent in which the holder of the Outstanding Dollar Notes acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the terms of this Letter of Transmittal, the participant in ATOP confirms on behalf of itself and the beneficial owners of such Outstanding Dollar Notes all provisions of this Letter of Transmittal applicable to it and such beneficial owners as if it had completed the information herein and executed and delivered this Letter of Transmittal to the Dollar Exchange Agent.

In order to exchange Outstanding Euro Notes for Euro Exchange Notes, a holder of Outstanding Euro Notes need not submit a Letter of Transmittal. However, in order for a tender to be considered valid, a holder of Outstanding Euro Notes must deliver an electronic confirmation of acceptance of the Exchange Offer to Euroclear or Clearstream on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the Exchange Offer.

 

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Box 3

Notice of Guaranteed Delivery

(See Instruction 2 below)

 

   CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OUTSTANDING DOLLAR NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE DOLLAR EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
   Name(s) of Registered Holder(s):                                                                                                                                      
   Window Ticket Number (if any):                                                                                                                                      
   Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:                                                                                                     
   Name of Institution which Guaranteed Delivery:                                                                                                            
   IF GUARANTEED DELIVERY IS TO BE MADE BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER:
   Name of Tendering Institution:                                                                                                                                         
   DTC Account Number:                                                                                                                                                     
  

Transaction Code Number:                                                                                                                                               

 

 

Box 4

Return of Non-Exchanged Outstanding Notes

Tendered by Book-Entry Transfer

 

   CHECK HERE IF OUTSTANDING NOTES TENDERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND NON- EXCHANGED OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE TO BE RETURNED BY CREDITING THE ACCOUNT NUMBER SET FORTH ABOVE.

 

Box 5

Participating Broker-Dealer

 

   CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER WHO ACQUIRED THE OUTSTANDING NOTES FOR YOUR OWN ACCOUNT AS A RESULT OF MARKET-MAKING OR OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES (A “PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER”) AND WISH TO RECEIVE TEN (10) ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO, AS WELL AS ANY NOTICES FROM THE COMPANY TO SUSPEND AND RESUME USE OF THE PROSPECTUS. PROVIDE THE NAME OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SHOULD RECEIVE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDER, ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS, AND AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO, AND ANY NOTICES TO SUSPEND AND RESUME USE OF THE PROSPECTUS.
   Name:                                                                                                                                                                                  
   Address:                                                                                                                                                                              
   Telephone No.:                                                                                                                                                                  
  

Facsimile No.:                                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

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If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is acquiring the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of its business, it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Outstanding Notes, it represents that the Outstanding Notes to be exchanged for the Exchange Notes were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale or transfer of such Exchange Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

Box 6

Special Registration Instructions

(See Instructions 1, 5 and 6 below)

To be completed ONLY if Certificates for the Outstanding Notes not exchanged and/or Certificates for the Exchange Notes are to be issued in the name of someone other than the registered holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes whose name(s) appear(s) above.

Issue the Exchange Notes and/or the Outstanding Notes to:

 

Name(s):  

 

 

 

  (Please Type or Print)
Address:  

 

 

 

 

 

  (Include Zip Code)

 

(Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number)

 

Box 7

Special Delivery Instructions

(See Instructions 1, 5 and 6 below)

To be completed ONLY if Certificates for the Outstanding Notes not exchanged and/or Certificates for the Exchange Notes are to be sent to someone other than the registered holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes whose name(s) appear(s) above, or to such registered holder(s) at an address other than that shown above.

Deliver the Exchange Notes and/or the Outstanding Notes to:

 

Name(s):  

 

  (Please Type or Print)
Address:  

 

 

 

 

 

  (Include Zip Code)

 

(Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number)

 

6


SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW

PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby tenders to the Company the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes indicated above. Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including if the Exchange Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment), the undersigned hereby exchanges, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Company all right, title and interest in and to such Outstanding Notes as are being tendered hereby.

The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent as the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned (with full knowledge that the Exchange Agent also acts as agent of the Company) with respect to the tendered Outstanding Notes, with full power of substitution and resubstitution (such power of attorney being deemed an irrevocable power coupled with an interest) to (1) deliver certificates representing such Outstanding Notes, or transfer ownership of such Outstanding Notes on the account books maintained by the book-entry facility, together, in each such case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity to, or upon the order of, the Company, (2) present and deliver such Outstanding Notes for transfer on the books of the Company and (3) receive all benefits or otherwise exercise all rights and incidents of beneficial ownership of such Outstanding Notes, all in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that (a) the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, exchange, assign and transfer the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, (b) when such tendered Outstanding Notes are accepted for exchange, the Company will acquire good and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and (c) the Outstanding Notes tendered for exchange are not subject to any adverse claims or proxies when the same are accepted by the Company. The undersigned hereby further represents that any Exchange Notes acquired in exchange for Outstanding Notes tendered hereby will have been acquired in the ordinary course of business of the person receiving such Exchange Notes, whether or not such person is the undersigned, that neither the holder of such Outstanding Notes nor any such other person is engaged in, or intends to engage in, a distribution of such Exchange Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act, or has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of such Exchange Notes, and that neither the holder of such Outstanding Notes nor any such other person is an “affiliate” of the Company, as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

The undersigned also acknowledges that this Exchange Offer is being made based on the Company’s understanding of an interpretation by the staff of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, including Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (available June 5, 1991), Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the SEC’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, or similar no-action letters, that the Exchange Notes issued in exchange for the Outstanding Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by each holder thereof (other than a broker-dealer who acquires such Exchange Notes directly from the Company for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any other available exemption under the Securities Act or any such holder that is an “affiliate” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act), without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such Exchange Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder’s business and such holder is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of such Exchange Notes and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of such Exchange Notes. If a holder of the Outstanding Notes is an affiliate of the Company, is not acquiring the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of its business, is engaged in, or intends to engage in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the Exchange Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, such holder (x) may not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC and (y) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any secondary resale transaction. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive the Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for the Outstanding Notes, it represents that the

 

7


Outstanding Notes to be exchanged for the Exchange Notes were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale or transfer of such Exchange Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

The undersigned will, upon request, sign and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Company or the Exchange Agent to be necessary or desirable to complete the exchange, assignment and transfer of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby. The undersigned further agrees that acceptance of any and all validly tendered Outstanding Notes by the Company and the issuance of Exchange Notes in exchange therefor shall constitute performance in full by the Company of its obligations under the registration rights agreement, dated as of February 13, 2017, by and among the Company and the initial purchasers of the Outstanding Notes and that the Company shall have no further obligations or liabilities thereunder except as provided in Section 5 of such agreement. The undersigned will comply with its obligations under the registration rights agreement.

The Exchange Offer is subject to certain conditions as set forth in the section “The Exchange Offer—Conditions” of the Prospectus. The undersigned recognizes that as a result of these conditions (which may be waived, in whole or in part, by the Company), as more particularly set forth in the Prospectus, the Company may not be required to exchange any of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby and, in such event, the Outstanding Notes not exchanged will be returned to the undersigned at the address shown above, promptly following the Expiration Date if any of the conditions set forth under “The Exchange Offer—Conditions” occurs.

All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred in this Letter of Transmittal and every obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy and legal representatives of the undersigned and shall not be affected by, and shall survive, the death, incapacity, liquidation, dissolution, winding up or any other event relating to the undersigned. Tendered Outstanding Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Prospectus.

Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled “Special Registration Instructions” below, please deliver the Exchange Notes (and, if applicable, substitute certificates representing the Outstanding Notes for any Outstanding Notes not exchanged) in the name of the undersigned or, in the case of a book-entry delivery of the Outstanding Notes, please credit the account indicated above maintained at DTC. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated in the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” below, please send the Exchange Notes (and, if applicable, substitute certificates representing the Outstanding Notes for any Outstanding Notes not exchanged) to the undersigned at the address shown above in the box entitled “Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered.”

THE UNDERSIGNED, BY COMPLETING THE BOX ENTITLED “DESCRIPTION OF OUTSTANDING NOTES TENDERED” ABOVE AND SIGNING THIS LETTER, WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE TENDERED THE OUTSTANDING NOTES AS SET FORTH IN SUCH BOX.

 

8


PLEASE SIGN HERE

Tendering Holder Signature

In Addition, Complete Substitute Form W-9 (or, if applicable, the appropriate Form W-8)—See Below

 

Signature of registered holder(s) or Authorized Signatory(ies):

 

 

Date:  

 

Note: The above lines must be signed by the registered holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes as their name(s) appear(s) on the Outstanding Notes or on a security position listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes or by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by properly completed bond powers or endorsements transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, 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):  

 

(Please Type or Print)
Capacity (full title):  

 

Address:  

 

(Including Zip Code)
Area Code and Telephone Number:  

 

Tax Identification or Social Security Number:  

 

 

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

(See Instruction 5 below)

 

Signature(s) Guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution:  

 

(Authorized Signature)

 

(Title)

 

(Name and Firm)

 

(Address)
Date:    
Area Code and Telephone Number:    
Tax Identification or Social Security Number:    

 

9


Substitute W-9

(Rev. December 2014)

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

 

Request for Taxpayer

 

Identification Number and Certification

 

Give Form to the requester. Do not send to the IRS.

Print or type

See Specific Instructions on page 2.

 

1  Name (as shown on your income tax return). Name is required on this line; do not leave this line blank.

 

                   
 

2  Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above

 

                             
  3  Check appropriate box for federal tax classification; check only one of the following seven boxes:            4 Exemptions (codes apply only to
certain entities, not individuals;
see instructions on page 3):
  ☐ Individual/sole proprietor or
     single-member LLC   
  ☐  C Corporation   ☐     S Corporation   ☐     Partnership   ☐     Trust/estate       

 

Exempt payee code
(if any)             

 

 

 Limited liability company. Enter the tax classification (C = C corporation, S = S corporation, P = partnership)  u                      

 

 

Note. For a single-member LLC that is disregarded, do not check LLC; check the appropriate box in the line above for the tax
classification of the single-member owner.

 

Other (see instructions)  u

 

      

 

Exemption from FATCA
reporting code (if
any)                         

 

(Applies to accounts maintained
outside the U.S.)

 

 

 

5  Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.)

 

      

 

    Requester’s name and address (optional)

 

 

6  City, state, and ZIP code

 

      
    

 

7  List account number(s) here (optional)

 

              
Part I    Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

 

Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is generally your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the Part I instructions on page 3. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN on page 3.

 

Note. If the account is in more than one name, see the instructions for line 1 and the chart on page 4 for guidelines on whose number to enter.

                 
 

Social security number

                               
     or
 

Employer identification number

                                 
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

 

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

 

3.   I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below); and

 

4.   The FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that I am exempt from FATCA reporting is correct.

 

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. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions on page 3.

  

 

Sign
Here
   Signature of
U.S. person  
u
     Date  u

 

General Instructions

Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.

Future developments. Information about developments affecting Form W-9 (such as legislation enacted after we release it) is at www.irs.gov/fw9.

Purpose of Form

An individual or entity (Form W-9 requester) who is required to file an information return with the IRS must obtain your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) which may be your social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN), or employer identification number (EIN), to report on an information return the amount paid to you, or other amount reportable on an information return. Examples of information returns include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

  Form 1099-INT (interest earned or paid)

 

  Form 1099-DIV (dividends, including those from stocks or mutual funds)

 

  Form 1099-MISC (various types of income, prizes, awards, or gross proceeds)

•  Form 1099-B (stock or mutual fund sales and certain other transactions by brokers)

 

  Form 1099-S (proceeds from real estate transactions)

 

  Form 1099-K (merchant card and third party network transactions)

 

  Form 1098 (home mortgage interest), 1098-E (student loan interest), 1098-T (tuition)

 

  Form 1099-C (canceled debt)

 

  Form 1099-A (acquisition or abandonment of secured property)

Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN.

If you do not return Form W-9 to the requester with a TIN, you might be subject to backup withholding. See What is backup withholding? on page 2.

By signing the filled-out form, you:

1. Certify that the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number to be issued),

2. Certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, or

 

 

    Cat. No. 10231X  

Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014)

 

10


Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014)

Page 2

 

 

3. Claim exemption from backup withholding if you are a U.S. exempt payee. If applicable, you are also certifying that as a U.S. person, your allocable share of any partnership income from a U.S. trade or business is not subject to the withholding tax on foreign partners’ share of effectively connected income, and

4. Certify that FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that you are exempt from the FATCA reporting, is correct. See What is FATCA reporting? on page 2 for further information.

Note. If you are a U.S. person and a requester gives you a form other than Form W-9 to request your TIN, you must use the requester’s form if it is substantially similar to this Form W-9.

Definition of a U.S. person. For federal tax purposes, you are considered a U.S. person if you are:

 

  An individual who is a U.S. citizen or 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 (other than a foreign estate); or

 

  A domestic trust (as defined in Regulations section 301.7701-7).

Special rules for partnerships. Partnerships that conduct a trade or business in the United States are generally required to pay a withholding tax under section 1446 on any foreign partners’ share of effectively connected taxable income from such business. Further, in certain cases where a Form W-9 has not been received, the rules under section 1446 require a partnership to presume that a partner is a foreign person, and pay the section 1446 withholding tax. Therefore, if you are a U.S. person that is a partner in a partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States, provide Form W-9 to the partnership to establish your U.S. status and avoid section 1446 withholding on your share of partnership income.

In the cases below, the following person must give Form W-9 to the partnership for purposes of establishing its U.S. status and avoiding withholding on its allocable share of net income from the partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States:

•  In the case of a disregarded entity with a U.S. owner, the U.S. owner of the disregarded entity and not the entity;

•  In the case of a grantor trust with a U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner, generally, the U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner of the grantor trust and not the trust; and

•  In the case of a U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust), the U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust) and not the beneficiaries of the trust.

Foreign person. If you are a foreign person or the U.S. branch of a foreign bank that has elected to be treated as a U.S. person, do not use Form W-9. Instead, use the appropriate Form W-8 or Form 8233 (see Publication 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities).

Nonresident alien who becomes a resident alien. Generally, only a nonresident alien individual may use the terms of a tax treaty to reduce or eliminate U.S. tax on certain types of income. However, most tax treaties contain a provision known as a “saving clause.” Exceptions specified in the saving clause may permit an exemption from tax to continue for certain types of income even after the payee has otherwise become a U.S. resident alien for tax purposes.

If you are a U.S. resident alien who is relying on an exception contained in the saving clause of a tax treaty to claim an exemption from U.S. tax on certain types of income, you must attach a statement to Form W-9 that specifies the following five items:

1. The treaty country. Generally, this must be the same treaty under which you claimed exemption from tax as a nonresident alien.

2. The treaty article addressing the income.

3. The article number (or location) in the tax treaty that contains the saving clause and its exceptions.

4. The type and amount of income that qualifies for the exemption from tax.

5. Sufficient facts to justify the exemption from tax under the terms of the treaty article.

Example. Article 20 of the U.S.-China income tax treaty allows an exemption from tax for scholarship income received by a Chinese student temporarily present in the United States. Under U.S. law, this student will become a resident alien for tax purposes if his or her stay in the United States exceeds 5 calendar years. However, paragraph 2 of the first Protocol to the U.S.-China treaty (dated April 30, 1984) allows the provisions of Article 20 to continue to apply even after the Chinese student becomes a resident alien of the United States. A Chinese student who qualifies for this exception (under paragraph 2 of the first protocol) and is relying on this exception to claim an exemption from tax on his or her scholarship or fellowship income would attach to Form W-9 a statement that includes the information described above to support that exemption.

If you are a nonresident alien or a foreign entity, give the requester the appropriate completed Form W-8 or Form 8233.

Backup Withholding

What is backup withholding? Persons making certain payments to you must under certain conditions withhold and pay to the IRS 28% of such payments. This is called “backup withholding.” Payments that may be subject to backup withholding include interest, tax-exempt interest, dividends, broker and barter exchange transactions, rents, royalties, nonemployee pay, payments made in settlement of payment card and third party network transactions, and certain payments from fishing boat operators. Real estate transactions are not subject to backup withholding.

You will not be subject to backup withholding on payments you receive if you give the requester your correct TIN, make the proper certifications, and report all your taxable interest and dividends on your tax return.

Payments you receive will be subject to backup withholding if:

1. You do not furnish your TIN to the requester,

2. You do not certify your TIN when required (see the Part II instructions on page 3 for details),

3. The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN,

4. The IRS tells you that you are subject to backup withholding because you did not report all your interest and dividends on your tax return (for reportable interest and dividends only), or

5. You do not certify to the requester that you are not subject to backup withholding under 4 above (for reportable interest and dividend accounts opened after 1983 only).

Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding. See Exempt payee code on page 3 and the separate Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information.

Also see Special rules for partnerships above.

What is FATCA reporting?

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires a participating foreign financial institution to report all United States account holders that are specified United States persons. Certain payees are exempt from FATCA reporting. See Exemption from FATCA reporting code on page 3 and the Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information.

Updating Your Information

You must provide updated information to any person to whom you claimed to be an exempt payee if you are no longer an exempt payee and anticipate receiving reportable payments in the future from this person. For example, you may need to provide updated information if you are a C corporation that elects to be an S corporation, or if you no longer are tax exempt. In addition, you must furnish a new Form W-9 if the name or TIN changes for the account; for example, if the grantor of a grantor trust dies.

Penalties

Failure to furnish TIN. If you fail to furnish your correct TIN to a requester, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.

Civil penalty for false information with respect to withholding. If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.

Criminal penalty for falsifying information. Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.

Misuse of TINs. If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.

Specific Instructions

Line 1

You must enter one of the following on this line; do not leave this line blank. The name should match the name on your tax return.

If this Form W-9 is for a joint account, list first, and then circle, the name of the person or entity whose number you entered in Part I of Form W-9.

a. Individual. Generally, enter the name shown on your tax return. If you have changed your last name without informing the Social Security Administration (SSA) of the name change, enter your first name, the last name as shown on your social security card, and your new last name.

Note. ITIN applicant: Enter your individual name as it was entered on your Form W-7 application, line 1a. This should also be the same as the name you entered on the Form 1040/1040A/1040EZ you filed with your application.

b. Sole proprietor or single-member LLC. Enter your individual name as shown on your 1040/1040A/1040EZ on line 1. You may enter your business, trade, or “doing business as” (DBA) name on line 2.

c. Partnership, LLC that is not a single-member LLC, C Corporation, or S Corporation. Enter the entity’s name as shown on the entity’s tax return on line 1 and any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2.

d. Other entities. Enter your name as shown on required U.S. federal tax documents on line 1. 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 line 2.

e. Disregarded entity. For U.S. federal tax purposes, an entity that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner is treated as a “disregarded entity.” See Regulations section 301.7701-2(c)(2)(iii). Enter the owner’s name on line 1. The name of the entity entered on line 1 should never be a disregarded entity. The name on line 1 should be the name shown on the income tax return on which the income should be reported. For example, if a foreign LLC that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal tax purposes has a single owner that is a U.S. person, the U.S. owner’s name is required to be provided on line 1. If the direct owner of the entity is also a disregarded entity, enter the first owner that is not disregarded for federal tax purposes. Enter the disregarded entity’s name on line 2, “Business name/disregarded entity name.” If the owner of the disregarded entity is a foreign person, the owner must complete an appropriate Form W-8 instead of a Form W-9. This is the case even if the foreign person has a U.S. TIN.

Line 2

If you have a business name, trade name, DBA name, or disregarded entity name, you may enter it on line 2.

 

 

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Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014)

Page 3

 

 

Line 3

Check the appropriate box in line 3 for the U.S. federal tax classification of the person whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one box in line 3.

Limited Liability Company (LLC). If the name on line 1 is an LLC treated as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes, check the “Limited Liability Company” box and enter “P” in the space provided. If the LLC has filed Form 8832 or 2553 to be taxed as a corporation, check the “Limited Liability Company” box and in the space provided enter “C” for C corporation or “S” for S corporation. If it is a single-member LLC that is a disregarded entity, do not check the “Limited Liability Company” box; instead check the first box in line 3 “Individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC.”

Line 4, Exemptions

If you are exempt from backup withholding and/or FATCA reporting, enter in the appropriate space in line 4 any code(s) that may apply to you.

Exempt payee code.

•  Generally, individuals (including sole proprietors) are not exempt from backup withholding.

•  Except as provided below, corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain payments, including interest and dividends.

•  Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding for payments made in settlement of payment card or third party network transactions.

•  Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding with respect to attorneys’ fees or gross proceeds paid to attorneys, and corporations that provide medical or health care services are not exempt with respect to payments reportable on Form 1099-MISC.

The following codes identify payees that are exempt from backup withholding. Enter the appropriate code in the space in line 4.

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 U.S. commonwealth or possession, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities

4—A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities

5—A corporation

6—A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. commonwealth or possession

7—A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission

8—A real estate investment trust

9—An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940

10—A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a)

11—A financial institution

12—A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian

13—A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947

The following chart shows types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt payees listed above, 1 through 13.

 

IF the payment is for . . .   THEN the payment is exempt for . . .
Interest and dividend payments   All exempt payees except for 7
Broker transactions   Exempt payees 1 through 4 and 6 through 11 and all C corporations. S corporations must not enter an exempt payee code because they are exempt only for sales of noncovered securities acquired prior to 2012.
Barter exchange transactions and patronage dividends   Exempt payees 1 through 4
Payments over $600 required to be reported and direct sales over $5,0001   Generally, exempt payees 1 through 52
Payments made in settlement of payment card or third party network transactions   Exempt payees 1 through 4

 

1  See Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, and its instructions.

 

2  However, the following payments made to a corporation and reportable on Form 1099-MISC are not exempt from backup withholding: medical and health care payments, attorneys’ fees, gross proceeds paid to an attorney reportable under section 6045(f), and payments for services paid by a federal executive agency.

Exemption from FATCA reporting code. The following codes identify payees that are exempt from reporting under FATCA. These codes apply to persons submitting this form for accounts maintained outside of the United States by certain foreign financial institutions. Therefore, if you are only submitting this form for an account you hold in the United States, you may leave this field blank. Consult with the person requesting this form if you are uncertain if the financial institution is subject to these requirements. A requester may indicate that a code is not required by providing you with a Form W-9 with “Not Applicable” (or any similar indication) written or printed on the line for a FATCA exemption code.

A—An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a) or any individual retirement plan as defined in section 7701(a)(37)

B—The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities

C—A state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or possession, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities

D—A corporation the stock of which is regularly traded on one or more established securities markets, as described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i)

E—A corporation that is a member of the same expanded affiliated group as a corporation described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i)

F—A dealer in securities, commodities, or derivative financial instruments (including notional principal contracts, futures, forwards, and options) that is registered as such under the laws of the United States or any state

G—A real estate investment trust

H—A regulated investment company as defined in section 851 or an entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940

I—A common trust fund as defined in section 584(a)

J—A bank as defined in section 581

K—A broker

L—A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947(a)(1)

M—A tax exempt trust under a section 403(b) plan or section 457(g) plan

Note. You may wish to consult with the financial institution requesting this form to determine whether the FATCA code and/or exempt payee code should be completed.

Line 5

Enter your address (number, street, and apartment or suite number). This is where the requester of this Form W-9 will mail your information returns.

Line 6

Enter your city, state, and ZIP code.

Part I. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. 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 in the social security number box. 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 a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner (see Limited Liability Company (LLC) on this page), enter the owner’s SSN (or EIN, if the owner has one). Do not enter the disregarded entity’s EIN. If the LLC is classified as a corporation or partnership, enter the entity’s EIN.

Note. See the chart on page 4 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 SSA office or get this form online at www.ssa.gov. You may also get this form by calling 1-800-772-1213. Use 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 Identification Number (EIN) under Starting a Business. You can get Forms W-7 and SS-4 from the IRS by visiting IRS.gov or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

If you are asked to complete Form W-9 but do not have a TIN, apply for a TIN and 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. Entering “Applied For” means that you have already applied for a TIN or that you intend to apply for one soon.

Caution: A disregarded U.S. entity that has a foreign owner must use the appropriate Form W-8.

Part II. Certification

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, or 5 below indicate otherwise.

For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign (when required). In the case of a disregarded entity, the person identified on line 1 must sign. Exempt payees, see Exempt payee code earlier.

Signature requirements. Complete the certification as indicated in items 1 through 5 below.

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.

 

 

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Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014)

Page 4

 

 

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 requester’s 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 made in settlement of payment card and third party network transactions, payments to certain fishing boat crew members and fishermen, and gross proceeds paid to attorneys (including payments to corporations).

5. Mortgage interest paid by you, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, qualified tuition program payments (under section 529), IRA, Coverdell ESA, Archer MSA or HSA contributions or distributions, and pension distributions. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.

What Name and Number To Give the Requester

 

    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 account1
 
  3.   Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)   The minor2
 
  4.   a. The usual revocable savings trust (grantor is also trustee)   The grantor-trustee1
 
  b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law   The actual owner1
 
  5.   Sole proprietorship or disregarded entity owned by an individual   The owner3
 
  6.   Grantor trust filing under Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 1 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(A))   The grantor*
    For this type of account:   Give name and EIN of:
  7.   Disregarded entity not owned by an individual   The owner
 
  8.   A valid trust, estate, or pension trust   Legal entity4
 
  9.   Corporation or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832 or Form 2553   The corporation
 
10.   Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization   The organization
 
11.   Partnership or multi-member LLC   The partnership
 
12.   A broker or registered nominee   The broker or nominee
 
13.   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
 
14.   Grantor trust filing under the Form 1041 Filing Method or the Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 2 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(B))   The trust

 

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 person’s number must be furnished.

 

2  Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s SSN.

 

3  You must show your individual name and you may also enter your business or DBA name on the “Business name/disregarded entity” name line. You may use either your SSN or EIN (if you have one), but the IRS encourages you to use your SSN.
4  List first and circle the name of the 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.) Also see Special rules for partnerships on page 2.

* Note. Grantor also must provide a Form W-9 to trustee of trust.

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.

Secure Your Tax Records from Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, SSN, or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund.

To reduce your risk:

 

  Protect your SSN,

 

  Ensure your employer is protecting your SSN, and

 

  Be careful when choosing a tax preparer.

If your tax records are affected by identity theft and you receive a notice from the IRS, respond right away to the name and phone number printed on the IRS notice or letter.

If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft but you think you are at risk due to a lost or stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity or credit report, contact the IRS Identity Theft Hotline at 1-800-908-4490 or submit Form 14039.

For more information, see Publication 4535, Identity Theft Prevention and Victim Assistance.

Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a system problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD 1-800-829-4059.

Protect yourself from suspicious emails or phishing schemes. Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common act is sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.

The IRS does not initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS does not request personal detailed information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts.

If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward this message to phishing@irs.gov. You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484. You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission at: spam@uce.gov or contact them at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).

Visit IRS.gov to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk.

Privacy Act Notice

Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code requires you to provide your correct TIN to persons (including federal agencies) who are required to file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, or certain other income paid to you; mortgage interest you paid; the acquisition or abandonment of secured property; the cancellation of debt; or contributions you made to an IRA, Archer MSA, or HSA. The person collecting this form uses the information on the form to file information returns with the IRS, reporting the above information. Routine uses of this information include giving it to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and possessions for use in administering their laws. The information also may be disclosed to other countries under a treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce civil and criminal laws, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism. You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Under section 3406, payers must generally withhold a percentage of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not give a TIN to the payer. Certain penalties may also apply for providing false or fraudulent information.

 

 

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INSTRUCTIONS TO LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

General

Please do not send Certificates for Outstanding Notes directly to the Company. Your Certificates for Outstanding Notes, together with your signed and completed Letter of Transmittal and any required supporting documents, should be mailed or otherwise delivered to the applicable Exchange Agent at the address set forth on the first page hereof. The method of delivery of Certificates, this Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents is at your sole option and risk and the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the applicable Exchange Agent. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, or overnight or hand delivery service is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.

1. Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal and Certificates.

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by holders of Outstanding Notes (which term, for purposes of the Exchange Offer, includes any participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the holder of such Outstanding Notes) if either (a) Certificates for such Outstanding Notes are to be forwarded herewith or (b) tenders are to be made pursuant to the procedures for tender by book-entry transfer set forth in the section “The Exchange Offer—Book-Entry Transfer” of the Prospectus and an Agent’s Message (as defined below) is not delivered. The term “Agent’s Message” means a message, transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the Dollar Exchange Agent and forming a part of a book-entry confirmation, which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the tendering participant, which acknowledgment states that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by, and makes the representations and warranties contained in, this Letter of Transmittal and that the Company may enforce this Letter of Transmittal against such participant. Certificates representing the tendered Outstanding Notes, or timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Outstanding Notes into the Dollar Exchange Agent’s account at DTC, as well as a properly completed and duly executed copy of this Letter of Transmittal, or a facsimile hereof (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message), a substitute Form W-9 (or, if applicable, the appropriate Form W-8) and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Dollar Exchange Agent at its address set forth herein on or prior to the Expiration Date, or the tendering holder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below.

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a holder of Outstanding Euro Notes if the tender of Outstanding Euro Notes will be made by book-entry transfer to the account maintained by the Euro Exchange Agent at Euroclear or Clearstream according to the procedures described in the prospectus under the heading “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering” and an Electronic Consent Instruction (as defined below) is not being transmitted. A holder of Outstanding Euro Notes with Euroclear or Clearstream wishing to participate in the Exchange Offer should submit, or arrange to have submitted on its behalf, an electronic exchange instruction (“Electronic Consent Instruction”) through the relevant clearing system in accordance with the procedures of, and within the time limits specified by, the relevant clearing system for receipt by the Euro Exchange Agent. If delivery is made through an Electronic Consent Instruction, Euroclear or Clearstream will send an “agent’s message” to the Euro Exchange Agent. By using the Electronic Consent Instruction procedures to exchange the Original Euro Notes, holders will be deemed to have agreed to the terms of this letter of transmittal to the Euro Exchange Agent.

2. Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.

Holders who wish to tender their Outstanding Dollar Notes and (i) whose Outstanding Dollar Notes are not immediately available or (ii) who cannot deliver their Outstanding Dollar Notes, this Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents to the Dollar Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date or (iii) who cannot complete the procedures for delivery by book-entry transfer on a timely basis, may effect a tender by properly completing and duly executing a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the section “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures” of the Prospectus and by completing Box 3. Pursuant to these procedures, holders may tender their Outstanding Dollar Notes if: (i) the tender is made by or through an Eligible Guarantor Institution (as defined

 

14


below); (ii) a properly completed and signed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery in the form provided with this Letter of Transmittal is delivered to the Dollar Exchange Agent on or before the Expiration Date (by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery), setting forth the name and address of the holder of Outstanding Notes, the registered number(s) of such Outstanding Notes and the amount of Outstanding Notes tendered, stating that the tender is being made thereby; and (iii) the Certificates or a confirmation of book- entry transfer and a properly completed and signed Letter of Transmittal is delivered to the Dollar Exchange Agent within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the Expiration Date. The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand, facsimile or mail to the Dollar Exchange Agent, and a guarantee by an Eligible Guarantor Institution must be included in the form described in the notice.

Any holder who wishes to tender Outstanding Dollar Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described above must ensure that the Dollar Exchange Agent receives the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery relating to such Outstanding Dollar Notes prior to 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 a holder who attempted to use the guaranteed delivery procedures.

The Company will not accept any alternative, conditional or contingent tenders. Each tendering holder of Outstanding Notes, by execution of a Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), waives any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of such tender.

Guarantee of Signatures

No signature guarantee on this Letter of Transmittal is required if:

 

  (i) this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) (which term, for purposes of this document, shall include any participant in a book-entry facility whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes) of Outstanding Notes tendered herewith, unless such holder(s) has (have) completed either the box entitled “Special Registration Instructions” (Box 6) or “Special Delivery Instructions” (Box 7) above; or

 

  (ii) such Outstanding Notes are tendered for the account of a firm that is an Eligible Guarantor Institution.

In all other cases, an Eligible Guarantor Institution must guarantee the signature(s) in the Signature Guarantee Box on this Letter of Transmittal. See Instruction 5.

Inadequate Space

If the space provided in the box captioned “Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered” (Box 1) is inadequate, the Certificate or registration number(s) and/or the principal amount of Outstanding Notes and any other required information should be listed an a separate, signed schedule and attached to this Letter of Transmittal.

3. Beneficial Owner Instructions.

Only a holder of Outstanding Notes (i.e., a person in whose name Outstanding Notes are registered on the books of the registrar or, with respect to interests in the Outstanding Notes held through book entry, the applicable book-entry facility), or the legal representative or attorney-in-fact of a holder, may execute and deliver this Letter of Transmittal. Any beneficial owner of Outstanding Notes who wishes to accept the Exchange Offer must arrange promptly for the appropriate holder to execute and deliver this Letter of Transmittal on his or her behalf through the execution and delivery to the appropriate holder of the “Instructions to Registered Holder from Beneficial Owner” form accompanying this Letter of Transmittal.

4. Partial Tenders; Withdrawals.

If less than the entire principal amount of Outstanding Notes evidenced by a submitted Certificate is tendered, the tendering holder(s) should fill in the aggregate principal amount tendered in the column entitled “Aggregate Principal Amount of Outstanding Notes Being Tendered” in Box 1 above. A newly issued Certificate for the principal amount of

 

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Outstanding Notes submitted but not tendered will be sent to such holder as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date, unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box on this Letter of Transmittal. All Outstanding Notes delivered to the applicable Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered in full unless otherwise indicated.

Outstanding Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date, after which tenders of Outstanding Notes are irrevocable. To be effective, a written, telegraphic or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth on the first page hereof. Any such notice of withdrawal must (i) specify the name of the person having deposited the Outstanding Notes to be withdrawn (the “Depositor”), (ii) identify the Outstanding Notes to be withdrawn (including the registration number(s) and principal amount of such Outstanding Notes, or, in the case of Outstanding Notes transferred by book-entry transfer, the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited), (iii) be signed by the holder in the same manner as the original signature on this Letter of Transmittal (including any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by documents of transfer sufficient to have the applicable registrar with respect to the Outstanding Notes register the transfer of such Outstanding Notes in the name of the person withdrawing the tender, (iv) specify the name in which any such Outstanding Notes are to be registered, if different from that of the Depositor and (v) include a statement that the Depositor is withdrawing its election to have such Outstanding Notes exchanged. All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of such notices will be determined by the Company, whose determination shall be final and binding on all parties. Any Outstanding Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for purposes of the Exchange Offer and no Exchange Notes will be issued with respect thereto unless the Outstanding Notes so withdrawn are validly re-tendered. Any Outstanding Notes which have been tendered but which are not accepted for exchange for any reason will be returned to the holder thereof without cost to such holder (or, in the case of Outstanding Notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent’s account at the book entry transfer facility pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures described above, such Outstanding Notes will be credited to an account with such book-entry transfer facility specified by the holder) as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the Exchange Offer. Properly withdrawn Outstanding Notes may be retendered by following one of the procedures described in the section “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering” of the Prospectus at any time prior to the Expiration Date.

Neither the Company, any affiliates or assigns of the Company, the Exchange Agents nor any other person will be under any duty to give any notification of any irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any liability for failure to give such notification (even if such notice is given to other persons).

5. Signature on Letter of Transmittal; Written Instruments and Endorsements; Guarantee of Signatures.

If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond exactly with the name(s) as written on the face of the Certificates without alteration, addition, enlargement or any change whatsoever. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a participant in a book-entry facility, the signature must correspond with the name as it appears on the security position listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes.

If any of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

If a number of Outstanding Notes registered in different names are tendered, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate copies of this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimiles thereof) as there are different registrations of Outstanding Notes.

If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of Outstanding Notes (which term, for the purposes described herein, shall include a participant in a book-entry facility whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes) listed and tendered hereby, no endorsements of the tendered Outstanding Notes or separate written instruments of transfer or exchange are required. In any other case, the registered holder(s) (or acting holder(s)) must either properly endorse the Outstanding Notes or transmit properly completed bond powers with this Letter of Transmittal (in either case, executed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on the Outstanding Notes or, with respect to a participant in a book-entry facility, whose name appears on such security position listing), with the signature on the

 

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Outstanding Notes or bond power guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution (except where the Outstanding Notes are tendered for the account of an Eligible Guarantor Institution).

If this Letter of Transmittal, any Certificates, bond powers or separate written instruments of transfer or exchange 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, must submit proper evidence satisfactory to the Company, in its sole discretion, of such persons’ authority to so act.

Endorsements on certificates for the Outstanding Notes or signatures on bond powers required by this Instruction 5 must be guaranteed by a firm that is a member of the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Signature Program or by any other “Eligible Guarantor Institution” within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal need not be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution, provided the Outstanding Notes are tendered: (i) by a registered holder of the Outstanding Notes (which term, for purposes of the Exchange Offer, includes any participant in a book-entry facility whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of such Outstanding Notes) tendered who has not completed Box 6 entitled “Special Registration Instructions” or Box 7 entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” on this Letter of Transmittal or (ii) for the account of an Eligible Guarantor Institution.

6. Special Registration and Delivery Instructions.

Tendering holders should indicate, in the applicable Box 6 or Box 7, the name and address in/to which the Exchange Notes and/or substitute certificates evidencing Outstanding Notes for principal amounts not tendered or not accepted for exchange are to be issued or sent, if different from the name(s) and address(es) of the person signing this Letter of Transmittal. In the case of issuance in a different name, the employer identification number or social security number of the person named must also be indicated and the tendering holder should complete the applicable box. A holder tendering the Outstanding Notes by book-entry transfer may request that the Outstanding Notes not exchanged be credited to such account maintained at the book-entry facility as such holder may designate hereof (See Box 4).

If no instructions are given, the Exchange Notes (and any Outstanding Notes not tendered or not accepted) will be issued in the name of and sent to the holder signing this Letter of Transmittal or deposited into such holder’s account at the applicable book-entry facility.

7. Transfer Taxes.

The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the transfer and exchange of Outstanding Notes to it or its order pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, a transfer tax is imposed because Exchange Notes are delivered or issued in the name of a person other than the registered holder or if a transfer tax is imposed for any other reason other than the transfer and exchange of Outstanding Notes to the Company or its order pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted herewith, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed to the tendering holder by the Exchange Agent.

Except as provided in this Instruction 7, it will not be necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the Outstanding Notes listed in the Letter of Transmittal.

8. Waiver of Conditions.

The Company reserves the right to waive, in whole or in part, any of the conditions to the Exchange Offer set forth in the Prospectus.

 

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9. Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Outstanding Notes.

Any holder whose Outstanding Notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed should promptly contact the applicable Exchange Agent at the address set forth on the first page hereof for further instructions. The holder will then be instructed as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace the Certificate(s). This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, destroyed or stolen Certificate(s) have been completed.

10. Questions and Request for Assistance or Additional Copies.

Questions relating to the procedure for tendering as well as requests for additional copies of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal, may be directed to the applicable Exchange Agent at the address and telephone number set forth on the first page hereof.

11. Validity and Form; No Conditional Tenders; No Notice of Irregularities.

All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt), acceptance of tendered Outstanding Notes and withdrawal of tendered Outstanding Notes will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion, which determination will be final and binding. No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tenders will be accepted. All tendering holders, by execution of this Letter of Transmittal, shall waive any right to receive notice of the acceptance of their Outstanding Notes for exchange. The Company also reserves the right, in its reasonable judgment, to waive any defects, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular Outstanding 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 on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Outstanding Notes must be cured within such time as the Company shall determine. Although the Company intends to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of Outstanding Notes, neither the Company, the Exchange Agents nor any other person is under any obligation to give such notice nor shall they incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of Outstanding Notes will not be deemed to have been made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any Outstanding Notes received by an 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 as soon as practicable following the Expiration Date.

12. Tax Identification Number.

Under U.S. federal income tax law, a holder tendering Outstanding Notes whose Outstanding Notes are accepted for exchange may be subject to backup withholding unless the holder provides either (i) such holder’s correct taxpayer identification (“TIN”) on the Substitute Form W-9 above, certifying (A) that the TIN provided on Substitute Form W-9 is correct (or that such holder of Outstanding Notes is awaiting a TIN), (B) that the holder of Outstanding Notes is not subject to backup withholding because (x) such holder of Outstanding Notes is exempt from backup withholding, (y) such holder of Outstanding Notes has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that he or she is subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends or (z) the Internal Revenue Service has notified the holder of Outstanding Notes that he or she is no longer subject to backup withholding and (C) that the holder of Outstanding Notes is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien); or (ii) an adequate basis for exemption from backup withholding. If such 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 holder may be subject to certain penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Service and any payments that are made to such holder may be subject to backup withholding (see below).

Certain holders (including, among others, all corporations and certain foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. However, exempt holders of Outstanding Notes should indicate their exempt status on Substitute Form W-9 (or, if applicable, the appropriate Form W-8). For example, a U.S. corporation should complete the Substitute Form W-9, providing its TIN and indicating that it is exempt from backup withholding. In order for a foreign individual to qualify as an exempt recipient, that holder must submit a statement, signed under penalty of perjury,

 

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attesting to that individual’s exempt status (Form W-8BEN). Forms for such statements can be obtained from the Exchange Agent. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors to determine whether they are exempt from these backup withholding and reporting requirements.

If backup withholding applies, the Exchange Agent is required to withhold 28% of any payments to be made to the holder or other payee. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service provided the required information is furnished. The Exchange Agent cannot refund amounts withheld by reason of backup withholding.

The holder of Outstanding Notes is required to give to the Exchange Agent the TIN (e.g., social security number or employer identification number) of the record owner of the Outstanding Notes. If the Outstanding Notes are in more than one name or are not in the name of the actual owner, consult the section entitled “What Name and Number To Give the Requester” in the enclosed instructions to Substitute Form W-9” for additional guidance on which number to report.

IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR A FACSIMILE THEREOF (TOGETHER WITH OUTSTANDING NOTES OR CONFIRMATION OF BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS) OR A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT ON OR PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.

 

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