Exhibit (a)(1)(B)
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
to Tender Shares of Common Stock
of
Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc.
a Delaware corporation
at
$106.50 Net Per Share
Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase
Dated November 16, 2020
by
Vale Merger Sub, Inc.
a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of
Inspire Brands, Inc.
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT THAT TIME THAT IS ONE MINUTE FOLLOWING 11:59 P.M. (12:00 MIDNIGHT), EASTERN TIME, ON DECEMBER 14, 2020 UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED. (SUCH DATE AND TIME, AS IT MAY BE EXTENDED, THE “OFFER EXPIRATION TIME”).
The Depositary for the Offer is:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
By Mail or Overnight Courier:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
Operations Center
Attn: Reorganization Department
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11219
Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal to an address other than as set forth above will not constitute a valid delivery to the Depositary (as defined below). You must sign this Letter of Transmittal in the appropriate space provided therefor below, with signature guaranteed, if required. United States Stockholders (as defined below) should complete and sign the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9 included in this Letter of Transmittal. Stockholders other than United States Stockholders should submit a properly completed and signed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or other appropriate IRS Form W-8. Failure to provide the information on IRS Form W-9 or an appropriate IRS Form W-8, as applicable, may subject you to United States backup withholding on any payments made to you pursuant to the Offer (as defined below). The instructions set forth in this Letter of Transmittal should be read carefully before you tender any of your Shares (as defined below) into the Offer (as defined below).
| DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED | ||||||||
| Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s) (Please fill in, if blank, exactly as name(s) appear(s) on certificate(s)) (Attach additional signed list if necessary) |
Shares Tendered | |||||||
| Certificate Number(s)* |
Total Number of Shares Represented by Certificate(s) |
Book-Entry Shares Tendered |
Total Number of Shares Tendered** | |||||
| Total Shares: |
||||||||
|
* Certificate numbers are not required if tender is being made by book-entry transfer ** Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Shares, including Book-Entry Shares, described in the chart above are being tendered. See Instruction 4. | ||||||||
The Offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) holders of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, “blue sky” or other applicable laws of such jurisdiction.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be used by stockholders of Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (“Dunkin’ Brands”) if certificates (the “Certificates”) for shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”), of Dunkin’ Brands are to be forwarded herewith or, unless an Agent’s Message (as defined in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase) is utilized, if delivery of the Shares is to be made by book-entry transfer to an account maintained by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) (as described in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase and pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 3 thereof).
Stockholders whose Certificates are not immediately available, or who cannot complete the procedure for book-entry transfer prior to the Offer Expiration Time, or who cannot deliver all other required documents to the Depositary prior to the Offer Expiration Time, must tender their Shares according to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase in order to participate in the Offer. Shares tendered by the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (as defined below) will be excluded from the calculation of the Minimum Tender Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), unless such Shares and other required documents are received by the Depositary by the Offer Expiration Time. See Instruction 2. Delivery of documents to DTC does not constitute delivery to the Depositary.
Additional Information if Certificates Have Been Lost, Destroyed or Stolen, Are Being Delivered By Book-Entry Transfer, or Are Being Delivered Pursuant to a Previous Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
If Certificates you are tendering have been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, you should contact American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, in its capacity as transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”), toll-free at (877) 248-6417 regarding the requirements for replacement. You may be required to post a bond to secure against the risk that the Certificates may be subsequently recirculated. You are urged to contact the Transfer Agent immediately in order to receive further instructions, for a determination of whether you will need to post a bond and to permit timely processing of this documentation. See Instruction 11. If you are delivering your shares by book-entry or pursuant to a previous notice of guaranteed delivery, please see Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase, entitled “Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares”.
| ☐ | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED HEREWITH. |
| ☐ | CHECK HERE IF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR CERTIFICATE(S) AND REQUIRE ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE(S). BY CHECKING THIS BOX, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MUST CONTACT AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY TO OBTAIN INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPLACING LOST CERTIFICATES. SEE INSTRUCTION 11. |
| ☐ | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO AN ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE DEPOSITARY WITH DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING (NOTE THAT ONLY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SYSTEM OF DTC MAY DELIVER SHARES BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER): |
| Name of Tendering Institution: | ||
| DTC Account Number: |
Transaction Code Number: | |
| ☐ | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE DEPOSITARY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: |
| Name (s) of Tendering Stockholder(s): |
| Window Ticket Number (if any): |
| Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery: |
| Name of Eligible Institution that Guaranteed Delivery: |
2
NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.
PLEASE READ ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby tenders to Vale Merger Sub, Inc. (“Purchaser”), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Inspire Brands, Inc. (“Parent”), a Delaware corporation, the above described shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”), of Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Dunkin’ Brands”), pursuant to Purchaser’s offer to purchase any and all of the issued and outstanding Shares, at a price of $106.50 per Share, without interest, net to the seller in cash, less any applicable withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated November 16, 2020 (the “Offer to Purchase”) and this Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal” and which, together with the Offer to Purchase and other related materials, as each may be amended and supplemented from time to time, constitutes the “Offer”), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.
The Offer is not subject to any financing condition. The Offer is subject to certain conditions, including the Minimum Tender Condition, as defined in the Offer to Purchase. The conditions to the Offer are described in Section 15 of the Offer to Purchase. For purposes of determining whether the Minimum Tender Condition has been satisfied, Shares tendered in the Offer pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures that have not been received prior to the Offer Expiration Time (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) are excluded. The Offer is being made pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 30, 2020 (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), among Dunkin’ Brands, Parent and Purchaser.
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (and if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms of any such extension or amendment), and effective upon acceptance for payment of the Shares validly tendered herewith and not validly withdrawn prior to the Offer Expiration Time in accordance with the terms of the Offer, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to or upon the order of Purchaser all right, title and interest in and to all of the Shares that are being tendered hereby (and any and all dividends, distributions, rights, other Shares or other securities issued or issuable in respect thereof on or after the date hereof (collectively, “Distributions”)), to (i) deliver Certificates for such Shares (and any and all Distributions) or transfer ownership of such Shares (and any and all Distributions) on the account books maintained by The Depositary Trust Company (“DTC”) or otherwise held in book-entry form, together, in any such case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of Purchaser, (ii) present such Shares (and any and all Distributions) for transfer on the books of Dunkin’ Brands and (iii) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Shares (and any and all Distributions), all in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.
By executing this Letter of Transmittal (or taking action resulting in the delivery of an Agent’s Message, as specified in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase), the undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints each of the designees of Purchaser as the attorneys-in-fact and proxies of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, (i) to vote at any annual or special meeting of Dunkin’ Brands stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof or otherwise in such manner as each such attorney-in-fact and proxy or its, his or her substitute shall in its, his or her sole discretion deem proper with respect to, (ii) to execute any written consent concerning any matter as each such attorney-in-fact and proxy or its, his or her substitute shall in its, his or her sole discretion deem proper with respect to and (iii) to otherwise act as each such attorney-in-fact and proxy or its, his or her substitute shall in its, his or her sole discretion deem proper with respect to, all of the Shares (and any and all Distributions) tendered hereby and accepted for payment by Purchaser. This appointment will be effective if and when, and only to the extent that, Purchaser accepts such Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer. This power of attorney and proxy are irrevocable and are granted in consideration of the acceptance for payment of such Shares in accordance with the terms of the Offer. Such acceptance for payment shall, without further action, revoke any prior powers of attorney and proxies granted by the undersigned at any time with respect to such Shares (and any and all Distributions), and no subsequent powers of attorney, proxies, consents or
3
revocations may be given by the undersigned with respect thereto (and, if given, will not be deemed effective). Purchaser reserves the right to require that, in order for the Shares to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon Purchaser’s acceptance for payment of such Shares, Purchaser or its designees must be able to exercise full voting, consent and other rights with respect to such Shares (and any and all Distributions), including voting at any meeting of Dunkin’ Brands’ stockholders.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer any and all of the Shares tendered hereby (and any and all Distributions) and that, when the same are accepted for payment by Purchaser, Purchaser will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title to such Shares (and such Distributions), free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and the same will not be subject to any adverse claims. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned is the registered owner of the Shares, or the Certificate(s) have been endorsed to the undersigned in blank, or the undersigned is a participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Shares. The undersigned shall, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Depositary or Purchaser to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Shares tendered hereby. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall not be affected by, and shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned, and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives, trustees in bankruptcy, successors and assigns of the undersigned. Except as stated in the Offer to Purchase, this tender is irrevocable.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges that delivery of any Certificate shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to such Certificate shall pass, only upon the proper delivery of such Certificate to the Depositary.
The undersigned understands that the valid tender of Shares pursuant to any of the procedures described in the Offer to Purchase and in the Instructions hereto will constitute the undersigned’s acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Offer. Purchaser’s acceptance of such Shares for payment will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (and if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of such extension or amendment). The undersigned recognizes that under certain circumstances set forth in the Offer, Purchaser may not be required to accept for exchange any Shares tendered hereby.
Unless otherwise indicated under “Special Payment Instructions,” please issue a check for the purchase price, less any required withholding of taxes, of all Shares purchased and, if appropriate, return Certificates not tendered or accepted for payment in the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appearing above under “Description of Shares Tendered.” Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under “Special Delivery Instructions,” please mail the check for the purchase price, less any required withholding of taxes, of all Shares purchased and, if appropriate, return any Certificates not tendered or not accepted for payment (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the address(es) of the registered holder(s) appearing above under “Description of Shares Tendered.” In the event that the boxes entitled “Special Payment Instructions” and “Special Delivery Instructions” are both completed, please issue the check for the purchase price, less any required withholding of taxes, of all Shares purchased and, if appropriate, return any Certificates not tendered or not accepted for payment (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) in the name(s) of, and deliver such check and, if appropriate, return any Certificates (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) to, the person(s) so indicated. Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled “Special Payment Instructions,” please credit any Shares tendered herewith by book-entry transfer that are not accepted for payment by crediting the account at DTC designated above. The undersigned recognizes that Purchaser has no obligation, pursuant to the “Special Payment Instructions,” to transfer any Shares from the name of the registered holder thereof if Purchaser does not accept for payment any of the Shares so tendered.
4
5
|
IMPORTANT STOCKHOLDER: YOU MUST SIGN BELOW
(United States Stockholder: In addition, please complete, sign and return the IRS Form W-9 included below) (Stockholders other than United States Stockholders: In addition, please obtain, complete sign and return an appropriate IRS Form W-8)
Sign Here: |
| (Signature(s) of Holder(s) of Shares) |
| Sign Here: |
| (Signature(s) of Holder(s) of Shares) |
|
Dated: |
|
Name(s): |
| (Please Print) |
| Capacity (full title) (See Instruction 5): |
|
Address: |
| (Include Zip Code) |
| Area Code and Telephone No.: |
| Tax Identification Number (if required.) See IRS Form W-9 included below, or the appropriate IRS |
| Form W-8, as applicable: |
| (Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) or on a security position listing or by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by Certificates and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, agent, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or other representative capacity, please set forth full title and see Instruction 5). |
6
INSTRUCTIONS FORMING
PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER
1. Guarantee of Signatures. No signature guarantee is required on this Letter of Transmittal (a) if this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) (which term, for purposes of this Instruction, includes any participant in DTC’s systems whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Shares) of Shares tendered herewith, unless such registered holder has completed either the box entitled “Special Payment Instructions” or the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” on this Letter of Transmittal or (b) if such Shares are tendered for the account of a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a member in good standing of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or any other “eligible guarantor institution,” as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (each, an “Eligible Institution”). In all other cases, all signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5.
2. Requirements of Tender. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted. In order for Shares to be validly tendered pursuant to the Offer, one of the following procedures must be followed:
For Shares held as physical certificates, the Certificates representing tendered Shares, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, together with any required signature guarantees, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the front page of this Letter of Transmittal before the Offer Expiration Time.
For Shares held in book-entry form, either a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, together with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent’s Message in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal, and any other required documents, must be received by the Depositary at the appropriate address set forth on the front page of this Letter of Transmittal, and such Shares must be delivered according to the book-entry transfer procedures (as set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase) and a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of Shares into the Depositary’s account at DTC (a “Book-Entry Confirmation”) must be received by the Depositary, in each case before the Offer Expiration Time.
Stockholders whose Certificates are not immediately available, or who cannot complete the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer prior to the Offer Expiration Time or who cannot otherwise deliver all other required documents to the Depositary prior to the Offer Expiration Time, may tender their Shares by properly completing and duly executing a notice of guaranteed delivery (a “Notice of Guaranteed Delivery”) pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase. Pursuant to such procedure: (i) such tender must be made by or through an Eligible Institution, (ii) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, in the form made available by Purchaser, must be received by the Depositary prior to the Offer Expiration Time and (iii) Certificates (or a Book-Entry Confirmation) evidencing all tendered Shares, in proper form for transfer, in each case together with this Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, together with any required signature guarantees (or, in the case of book-entry transfer of Shares, either this Letter of Transmittal or an Agent’s Message in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal), and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary within two NASDAQ Global Market trading days after the date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. A Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by overnight courier or mailed to the Depositary and must include a guarantee by an Eligible Institution in the form set forth in the form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery made available by Purchaser. In the case of Shares held through DTC, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery must be delivered to the Depositary by a participant by means of the confirmation system of DTC. Shares tendered by the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery will be excluded from the calculation of the Minimum Tender Condition, unless such Shares and other required documents are received by the Depositary by the Offer Expiration Time.
The method of delivery of Shares, this Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents, including delivery through DTC, is at the election and risk of the tendering stockholder. Shares will be deemed
7
delivered (and the risk of loss of Certificates will pass) only when actually received by the Depositary (including, in the case of a book-entry transfer, by Book-Entry Confirmation). If delivery is by mail, then registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.
No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted. By executing this Letter of Transmittal, the tendering stockholder waives any right to receive any notice of the acceptance for payment of Shares.
3. Inadequate Space. If the space provided herein is inadequate, Certificate numbers, the number of Shares represented by such Certificates and/or the number of Shares tendered should be listed on a separate signed schedule attached hereto.
4. Partial Tenders (Not Applicable to Stockholders who Tender by Book-Entry Transfer). If fewer than all the Shares represented by any Certificate delivered to the Depositary are to be tendered, fill in the number of Shares which are to be tendered in the box entitled “Total Number of Shares Tendered.” In such case, a new Certificate for the remainder of the Shares represented by the old Certificate will be sent to the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box on this Letter of Transmittal, as promptly as practicable following the expiration or termination of the Offer. All Shares represented by Certificates or in Book-Entry form delivered to the Depositary will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.
5. Signatures on Letter of Transmittal; Stock Powers and Endorsements.
(a) Exact Signatures. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the Certificates without alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.
(b) Joint Holders. If any of the Shares tendered hereby are held of record by two or more persons, all such persons must sign this Letter of Transmittal.
(c) Different Names on Certificates. If any of the Shares tendered hereby are registered in different names on different Certificates, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of Certificates.
(d) Endorsements. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares tendered hereby, no endorsements of Certificates or separate stock powers are required unless payment of the purchase price is to be made, or Shares not tendered or not purchased are to be returned, in the name of any person other than the registered holder(s). Signatures on any such Certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
(e) Stock Powers. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the Shares tendered hereby, Certificates must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case, signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on the Certificates for such Shares. Signature(s) on any such Certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 1.
(f) Evidence of Fiduciary or Representative Capacity. If this Letter of Transmittal or any Certificate or stock power is signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other legal entity or other person acting in a fiduciary or other representative capacity, such person should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to the Depositary of the authority of such person so to act must be submitted. Proper evidence of authority includes original or certified copies of a power of attorney, a letter of testamentary or a letter of appointment.
8
6. Stock Transfer Taxes. Except as otherwise provided in this Instruction 6, Dunkin’ Brands will pay all stock transfer taxes with respect to the transfer and sale of any Shares to it pursuant to the Offer (for the avoidance of doubt, transfer taxes do not include income taxes or withholding taxes). If, however, consideration is to be paid to, or if Certificate(s) for Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be registered in the name of, any person(s) other than the registered holder(s), or if tendered Certificate(s) for Share(s) are registered in the name of any person(s) other than the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, Dunkin’ Brands will not be responsible for any stock transfer or similar taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder(s) or such other person(s) or otherwise) payable on account of the transfer to such other person(s) and no consideration shall be paid in respect of such Share(s) unless evidence satisfactory to Dunkin’ Brands of the payment of such taxes, or exemption therefrom, is submitted.
7. Special Payment and Delivery Instructions. If a check is to be issued for the purchase price of any Shares tendered by this Letter of Transmittal in the name of, and, if appropriate, Certificates for Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be issued or returned to, any person(s) other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal or if a check and, if appropriate, such Certificates are to be returned to any person(s) other than the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal or to an address other than that shown in this Letter of Transmittal, the appropriate boxes on this Letter of Transmittal must be completed.
8. Backup Withholding. Under the “backup withholding” provisions of United States federal income tax laws, the Depositary may be required to withhold a portion of any payments made to certain stockholders (or, if applicable, other payees) pursuant to the Offer. To avoid this withholding, a tendering United States Stockholder (as defined below) (or other United States payee) is required to provide the Depositary with a correct Taxpayer Identification Number (“TIN”) on IRS Form W-9, which is included herein, and to certify, under penalties of perjury, that the TIN provided on the IRS Form W-9 is correct and that the stockholder is not subject to backup withholding or is exempt from backup withholding. In addition, such United States Stockholder must date and sign the IRS Form W-9 as indicated. If such United States Stockholder is an individual, the TIN is his or her social security number. If a tendering United States Stockholder (or other United States payee) does not provide the correct TIN or an adequate basis for an exemption from backup withholding, such stockholder (or other payee) may be subject to backup withholding at the applicable rate (currently 24%), and may be subject to a penalty imposed by the IRS. If a tendering United States Stockholder does not have a TIN, such stockholder should consult the instructions to IRS Form W-9 for information on applying for a TIN and completing and signing the IRS Form W-9 while the TIN application is in process. See the enclosed IRS Form W-9 and the instructions thereto for additional information.
Certain United States Stockholders (including, among others, C corporations) who are exempt recipients are not subject to backup withholding. See the enclosed copy of the IRS Form W-9 and the instructions to IRS Form W-9. In order to confirm exempt status and avoid erroneous backup withholding, such exempt United States Stockholders should furnish their TIN, check the appropriate box on the IRS Form W-9 and sign, date and return the IRS Form W-9 to the Depositary.
A stockholder (or other payee) that is not a United States Stockholder may qualify as an exempt recipient by providing the exchange agent with a properly completed and signed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or other appropriate IRS Form W-8, signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to such stockholder or payee’s non-U.S. status or by otherwise establishing an exemption. An appropriate IRS Form W-8 may be obtained from the Depositary or the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions).
For purposes of these instructions, a “United States Stockholder” is (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident alien of the United States for United States federal income tax purposes, (ii) a corporation (including an entity taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) or partnership (including an entity taxable as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) created under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source or (iv) a trust if (a) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to
9
control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the United States federal income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If backup withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained from the IRS if eligibility is established and appropriate procedure is followed.
Failure to provide a correct, completed and signed IRS Form W-9 or an appropriate IRS Form W-8, as applicable, may subject you to United States backup withholding on any payments made to you pursuant to the Offer. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT YOU SHOULD SEEK ADVICE BASED ON YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES FROM AN INDEPENDENT TAX ADVISOR.
9. Irregularities. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tender of Shares will be determined by Purchaser, in its sole discretion. Purchaser reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders determined by it not to be in proper form or the acceptance for payment of which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be unlawful. Purchaser also reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the tender of any Shares of any particular stockholder, whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of other stockholders. No tender of Shares will be deemed to have been validly made until all defects and irregularities have been waived or cured within such time as Purchaser shall determine. None of Parent, Purchaser, the Depositary, the Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give notice of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give any such notice. Purchaser’s interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions thereto) will be determined by Purchaser in its sole discretion.
10. Questions and Requests for Additional Copies. The Information Agent may be contacted at the address and telephone number set forth on the last page of this Letter of Transmittal for questions and/or requests for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and other tender offer materials. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance. Such copies will be furnished promptly at Purchaser’s expense.
11. Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates. If any Certificate has been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, the stockholder should promptly notify the Transfer Agent toll-free at (877) 248-6417. The stockholder will then be instructed as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace such Certificates. You may be required to post a bond to secure against the risk that the Certificates(s) may be subsequently recirculated. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, destroyed or stolen certificates have been followed. You are urged to contact the Transfer Agent immediately in order to receive further instructions and for a determination of whether you will need to post a bond and to permit timely processing of this documentation.
Certificates evidencing tendered Shares, or a Book-Entry Confirmation into the Depositary’s account at DTC, as well as this Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent’s Message (if utilized in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal in connection with a book-entry transfer), and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received before the Offer Expiration Time, or the tendering stockholder must comply with the procedures for guaranteed delivery.
10
| Form W-9 (Rev. October 2018) Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service |
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification
u Go to www.irs.gov/FormW9 for instructions and the latest information. |
Give Form to the
requester. Do not | ||
| 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 of the person whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one of the following seven boxes. |
4 Exemptions (codes apply only to
Exempt payee code (if any)
Exemption from FATCA reporting code
(Applies to accounts maintained outside | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ☐ | Individual/sole proprietor or single- member LLC |
☐ | C Corporation | ☐ | S Corporation | ☐ | Partnership | ☐ | Trust/estate | |||||||||||||||||
| ☐ | Limited liability company. Enter the tax classification (C=C corporation, S=S corporation, P=partnership) u | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
☐ |
Note. Check the appropriate box in the line above
for the tax classification of the single-member owner. Do not check
Other (see instructions) u | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.) See instructions. |
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 instructions for Part I, later. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN, later.
Note. If the account is in more than one name, see the instructions for line 1. Also see What Name and Number To Give the Requester 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 for Part II, later.
| Sign Here |
Signature of U.S. person u |
Date u |
| Cat. No. 10231X | Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) |
| Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) |
Page 2 |
| Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) |
Page 3 |
| Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) |
Page 4 |
| Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) |
Page 5 |
The Depositary for the Offer is:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
By Mail and Overnight Courier:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
Operations Center
Attn: Reorganization Department
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11219
The Information Agent may be contacted at the address and telephone number set forth on the last page of this Letter of Transmittal for questions and/or requests for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and other tender offer materials. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance. Such copies will be furnished promptly at Purchaser’s expense.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
Innisfree M&A Incorporated
501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Banks and Brokerage Firms, Please Call: (212) 750-5833
Stockholders and All Others Call Toll-Free: (877) 717-3929