Exhibit (a)(1)(B)
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
For Tender of Shares of Common Stock of
H&R BLOCK, INC.
At a Purchase Price Not Less than $32.25 per Share
and Not Greater than $37.00 per Share
Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, Dated September 2, 2015
| THE OFFER, PRORATION PERIOD AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2015, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED (SUCH DATE AND TIME, AS THEY MAY BE EXTENDED, THE EXPIRATION TIME). |
The Depositary Agent for the Offer is:
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
| By Mail: BY 5:00 P.M. New York City time on Expiration Date Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Shareowner Services Voluntary Corporate Actions P.O. Box 64858 St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0858 |
By Hand or Overnight Courier: BY 5:00 P.M. New York City time on Expiration Date Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Shareowner Services Voluntary Corporate Actions 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101 Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120 |
Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal to an address other than as set forth above will not constitute a valid delivery to the Depositary. THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, PROPERLY COMPLETED AND DULY EXECUTED, TOGETHER WITH CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING SHARES BEING TENDERED AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION TIME.
All capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Offer to Purchase.
| ACCOUNT NUMBER CERT SHARES BOOK SHARES TOTAL SHARES ISSUE NUMBER | ||||||||
| FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Approved W-9 Completed | ||||||||
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED (See Instructions 3 and 4). Attach separate schedule if needed. | ||||||||
| Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s) (Please fill in exactly as name(s) appear(s) on certificate(s)) |
Shares Tendered (Attach additional signed list, if necessary) | |||||||
| Certificate Number(s) |
Number of Shares |
Number of Shares Book Entry |
Total Number of Shares Tendered | |||||
| Total Shares |
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(1) If you wish to tender fewer than all Shares represented by any certificate listed above, please indicate in this column the number of Shares you wish to tender. Otherwise, all Shares represented by Share certificates delivered to the Depositary Agent will be deemed to have been tendered. See Instruction 4. (2) If Shares are held in Book-Entry form or in a Reinvestment Plan, you must indicate the number of Shares you are tendering. | ||||||||
XXXXXXXXXX HRBI C:12345.000 B.98765.000 D.45678.000 T.87654.000
YOU SHOULD READ CAREFULLY THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, INCLUDING THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS, BEFORE YOU COMPLETE IT. FOR THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO BE VALIDLY DELIVERED, IT MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY AT ONE OF THE ABOVE ADDRESSES BEFORE THE EXPIRATION TIME (IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS DETAILED IN THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ITS INSTRUCTIONS). DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THOSE SHOWN ABOVE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY. DELIVERIES TO THE COMPANY, THE INFORMATION AGENT, THE DEALER MANAGER, OR THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.
| Indicate below the order (by certificate number) in which Shares are to be purchased in the event of proration (attach additional signed list, if necessary). If you do not designate an order and if less than all Shares tendered are purchased due to proration, Shares will be selected for purchase by the Depositary. See Instruction 16. | ||||||||||
| 1st: |
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2nd: |
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3rd: |
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| 4th:
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5th:
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YOU MUST SIGN THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IN THE APPROPRIATE SPACE PROVIDED THEREFOR BELOW, WITH SIGNATURE GUARANTEE IF REQUIRED, AND COMPLETE EITHER THE ACCOMPANYING FORM W-9 OR AN APPLICABLE IRS FORM W-8.
The Offer is not being made to nor will any tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of Shares in any jurisdiction within the United States in which it would be illegal to do so.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be used if certificates for shares of common stock, no par value per share (the Shares) are to be forwarded herewith, if Shares are held in book-entry form on the records of the Depositary, or, unless an Agents Message is utilized, if delivery of Shares is to be made by book-entry transfer to an account maintained by the Depositary at The Depository Trust Company (DTC), which is referred to as the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase, dated September 2, 2015 (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the Offer to Purchase). Tendering shareholders must deliver either the certificates for, or timely confirmation of book-entry transfer in accordance with the procedures described in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase with respect to, their Shares and all other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal to the Depositary by the Expiration Time. Tendering shareholders whose certificates for Shares are not immediately available, or who cannot complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, or who cannot deliver all other required documents to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Time, must tender their Shares according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Offer to Purchase.
Your attention is directed in particular to the following:
| 1. | If you want to retain the Shares you own, you do not need to take any action. |
| 2. | If you want to participate in the Offer and wish to maximize the likelihood that H&R Block will accept for payment all of the Shares you are tendering by this Letter of Transmittal, you should check the box marked Purchase Price Tenders: Shares Tendered at a Price Determined Pursuant to the Offer below and complete the other portions of this Letter of Transmittal as appropriate. You should understand that this election may lower the Purchase Price paid for all purchased Shares in the Offer and could result in the tendered Shares being purchased at the minimum price of $32.25 per Share. |
| 3. | If you wish to select a specific price at which you will be tendering your Shares, you should select one of the boxes in the section captioned Auction Price Tenders: Shares Tendered at a Price Determined by You below and complete the other portions of this Letter of Transmittal as appropriate. |
We urge shareholders who hold Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to consult their nominee to determine whether transaction costs are applicable if they tender Shares through such nominee and not directly to the Depositary.
ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE OR THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION AGENT OR THE DEALER MANAGER AT THEIR RESPECTIVE TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES SET FORTH AT THE END OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
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Additional Information if Shares Have Been Lost, Are Being Delivered By Book-Entry Transfer or Are Being Delivered Pursuant to a Previous Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
If any certificate representing Shares that you are tendering with this Letter of Transmittal has been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, please contact the Transfer Agent, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. immediately at (800) 468-9716 or at (651) 450-4064 to obtain instructions 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 or destroyed certificates have been followed. Please contact the Depositary immediately to permit timely processing of the replacement documentation. See Instruction 13.
| ¨ | LOST CERTIFICATES: My certificate(s) for Shares have been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, and I require assistance in replacing the Shares. See Instruction 13. |
NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW. PLEASE READ ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.
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PRICE PER SHARE AT WHICH SHARES ARE BEING TENDERED
(See Instruction 5)
CHECK ONLY ONE BOX UNDER 1 OR 2 BELOW.
| 1. | PURCHASE PRICE TENDERS: SHARES TENDERED AT A PRICE DETERMINED PURSUANT TO THE OFFER |
| ¨ | By checking this box INSTEAD OF ONE OF THE BOXES UNDER 2 BELOW, the undersigned hereby tenders Shares and is willing to accept the Purchase Price determined by H&R Block pursuant to the Offer. This action will maximize the likelihood of having H&R Block purchase all of the Shares tendered by the undersigned (subject to the possibility of proration). You should understand that this election may lower the Purchase Price paid for all purchased Shares in the Offer and could result in the tendered Shares being purchased at the minimum price of $32.25 per Share. |
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| 2. | AUCTION PRICE TENDERS: SHARES TENDERED AT A PRICE DETERMINED BY YOU |
By checking ONE of the boxes below INSTEAD OF THE BOX UNDER 1 ABOVE, the undersigned hereby tenders Shares at the price checked. This action could result in none of your Shares being purchased if the Purchase Price selected by H&R Block for the Shares is less than the price checked below. If the Purchase Price for the Shares is equal to or greater than the price checked, then the Shares purchased by H&R Block will be purchased at the Purchase Price. All Shares so purchased by H&R Block will be purchased at the same price regardless of whether the shareholder tendered at a lower price. A shareholder who wishes to tender Shares at more than one price must complete a separate Letter of Transmittal for each price at which Shares are being tendered. The same Shares cannot be tendered (unless previously validly withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the Offer) at more than one price.
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AUCTION PRICE TENDERS: PRICE (IN DOLLARS) PER SHARE | ||||||||
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CHECK ONLY ONE BOX BELOW. | ||||||||
| ¨ $32.25 | ¨ $33.25 | ¨ $34.25 | ¨ $35.25 | ¨ $36.25 | ||||
| ¨ $32.50 | ¨ $33.50 | ¨ $34.50 | ¨ $35.50 | ¨ $36.50 | ||||
| ¨ $32.75 | ¨ $33.75 | ¨ $34.75 | ¨ $35.75 | ¨ $36.75 | ||||
| ¨ $33.00 | ¨ $34.00 | ¨ $35.00 | ¨ $36.00 | ¨ $37.00 | ||||
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ODD LOTS
(See Instruction 15)
As described in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase, under certain conditions, shareholders holding fewer than 100 Shares may have their Shares accepted for payment before any proration of other tendered Shares. This preference is not available to partial tenders, or to beneficial or record holders of an aggregate of 100 or more Shares, even if such holders have separate accounts or certificates representing fewer than 100 Shares. Accordingly, this section is to be completed ONLY if Shares are being tendered by or on behalf of a person owning, beneficially or of record, an aggregate of fewer than 100 Shares. The undersigned either (check one box):
| ¨ | owns, whether beneficially or of record, an aggregate of fewer than 100 Shares and is tendering all such Shares; or |
| ¨ | is a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company, or other nominee that (i) is tendering for the beneficial owner(s) Shares with respect to which it is the record holder and (ii) believes, based upon representations made to it by the beneficial owner(s), that each such person is the beneficial owner of an aggregate of fewer than 100 Shares and is tendering all such Shares. |
CONDITIONAL TENDER
(See Instruction 14)
A tendering shareholder may condition his or her tender of Shares upon H&R Block purchasing a specified minimum number of the Shares tendered, as described in Section 6 of the Offer to Purchase. Unless at least the minimum number of Shares you indicate below is purchased by H&R Block pursuant to the terms of the Offer, none of the Shares tendered by you will be purchased. It is the tendering shareholders responsibility to calculate and appropriately indicate the minimum number of Shares that must be purchased from the shareholder in order for the shareholder to qualify for sale or exchange (rather than distribution) treatment for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Each shareholder should consult with his or her own broker and/or financial or tax advisor with respect to the advisability of making a conditional offer before completing this section. No assurances can be provided that a conditional tender will achieve the intended U.S. federal income tax result for any shareholder tendering Shares. Unless this box has been checked and a minimum specified, your tender will be deemed unconditional.
| ¨ | The minimum number of Shares that must be purchased from me, if any are purchased from me, is: Shares. |
If, because of proration, the minimum number of Shares designated will not be purchased, H&R Block may accept conditional tenders by random lot, if necessary. However, to be eligible for purchase by random lot, the tendering shareholder must have tendered all of his or her Shares and checked this box:
| ¨ | The tendered Shares represent all Shares held by the undersigned. |
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby tenders to H&R Block, Inc., a Missouri corporation (H&R Block or the Company), the above-described Shares, pursuant to (i) auction tenders at prices specified by the tendering shareholders of not less than $32.25 and not greater than $37.00 per Share (Auction Tenders) or (ii) purchase price tenders (Purchase Price Tenders), in either case, net to the seller in cash, less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest, upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in the Offer to Purchase and in this Letter of Transmittal (which together with the Offer to Purchase, as they may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitute the Offer), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.
Subject to and effective upon acceptance for payment of, and payment for, the Shares tendered pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal in accordance with, and subject to, the terms of the Offer, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, H&R Block, all right, title and interest in and to all the Shares that are being tendered hereby and irrevocably constitutes and appoints Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (the Depositary), the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to the full extent of the undersigneds rights with respect to such tendered Shares, to (i) deliver certificates for such tendered Shares or transfer ownership of such tendered Shares or book-entry Shares on the records of the Depository, or on the account books maintained by DTC (the Book-Entry Transfer Facility), together, in any such case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity to, or upon the order of, H&R Block upon receipt by the Depositary, as the undersigneds agent, of the aggregate purchase price with respect to such tendered Shares, (ii) present such tendered Shares for cancellation and transfer on H&R Blocks books and (iii) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such tendered Shares, all in accordance with the terms of the Offer.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Shares tendered hereby and that, when the same are accepted for payment by H&R Block, H&R Block will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title to such Shares, free and clear of all liens, security interests, restrictions, charges, claims, encumbrances, conditional sales agreements or other similar obligations relating to the sale or transfer of the tendered Shares, and the same will not be subject to any adverse claim or right. The undersigned will, on request by the Depositary or H&R Block, execute any additional documents deemed by the Depositary or H&R Block to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Shares tendered hereby, all in accordance with the terms of the Offer.
All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding on the successors, assigns, heirs, personal representatives, executors, administrators and other legal representatives of the undersigned.
The undersigned understands that:
| 1. | the valid tender of Shares pursuant to any of the procedures described in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase and in the instructions to this Letter of Transmittal constitutes the undersigneds acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Offer; H&R Blocks acceptance of the tendered Shares will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and H&R Block on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer; |
| 2. | it is a violation of Rule 14e-4 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for a person acting alone or in concert with others, directly or indirectly, to tender Shares for such persons own account unless at the time of tender and until the Expiration Time, such person has a net long position in (i) the Shares that is equal to or greater than the amount tendered and will deliver or cause to be delivered such Shares for the purpose of tender to H&R Block within the period specified in the Offer, or (ii) other securities immediately convertible into, exercisable for or exchangeable into Shares (Equivalent Securities) that is equal to or greater than the amount tendered and, upon the acceptance of such tender, |
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| will acquire such Shares by conversion, exchange or exercise of such Equivalent Securities to the extent required by the terms of the Offer and will deliver or cause to be delivered such Shares so acquired for the purpose of tender to H&R Block within the period specified in the Offer. Rule 14e-4 also provides a similar restriction applicable to the tender or guarantee of a tender on behalf of another person. A tender of Shares made pursuant to any method of delivery set forth in this Letter of Transmittal will constitute the tendering shareholders representation and warranty to H&R Block that (A) such shareholder has a net long position in Shares or Equivalent Securities being tendered within the meaning of Rule 14e-4, and (B) such tender of Shares complies with Rule 14e-4; |
| 3. | H&R Block will, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, determine a single per Share price (the Purchase Price), not less than $32.25 and not greater than $37.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest, that it will pay for Shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn, taking into account the number of Shares so tendered and the prices specified by tendering shareholders; |
| 4. | the Purchase Price will be the lowest single Purchase Price, not less than $32.25 and not greater than $37.00 per Share, that will allow H&R Block to purchase Shares having an aggregate purchase price of up to $1,500,000,000 (or, if Shares having an aggregate purchase price of less than $1,500,000,000 are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn, all Shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn); |
| 5. | H&R Block reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to increase or decrease the per Share Purchase Price range and to increase or decrease the value of Shares sought in the Offer and may increase the aggregate purchase price offered in the Offer to an amount of more than $1,500,000,000, subject to applicable law; |
| 6. | upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, all Shares validly tendered prior to the Expiration Time at or below the Purchase Price and not validly withdrawn will be purchased in the Offer at the Purchase Price, including the odd lot priority, proration (in the event that more than the value of Shares sought are validly tendered) and conditional tender provisions described in the Offer to Purchase; |
| 7. | H&R Block will return at its expense all Shares it does not purchase, including Shares tendered at prices greater than the Purchase Price and not validly withdrawn and Shares not purchased because of proration or conditional tenders, promptly following the Expiration Time; |
| 8. | under the circumstances set forth in the Offer to Purchase, H&R Block expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Offer at any time and from time to time, upon the occurrence of any of the events set forth in Section 7 of the Offer to Purchase and to extend the period of time during which the Offer is open and thereby delay acceptance for payment of, and payment for, any Shares by giving oral or written notice of such extension to the Depositary and making a public announcement thereof. During any such extension, all Shares previously tendered and not validly withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer and to the rights of a tendering shareholder to withdraw such shareholders Shares; |
| 9. | shareholders who cannot deliver their certificates and all other required documents to the Depositary or complete the procedures for book-entry transfer prior to the Expiration Time may tender their Shares by validly completing and duly executing the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase; |
| 10. | H&R Block has advised the undersigned to consult with the undersigneds broker and/or financial or tax advisor as to the consequences of tendering Shares pursuant to the Offer; and |
| 11. | THE OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE TO (NOR WILL TENDERS OF SHARES BE ACCEPTED FROM OR ON BEHALF OF) HOLDERS IN ANY JURISDICTION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH THE MAKING OR ACCEPTANCE OF THE OFFER WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THAT JURISDICTION. |
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The undersigned agrees to all of the terms and conditions of the Offer.
Unless otherwise indicated under Special Payment Instructions, please issue the check for the purchase price of any Shares purchased (less the amount of any federal income or backup withholding tax required to be withheld), and return any Shares not tendered or not purchased, in the name(s) of the undersigned. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under Special Delivery Instructions, in connection with tenders of Share certificates, please mail certificates for Shares not tendered or not purchased (and accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the undersigned at the address shown below the undersigneds signature(s).
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PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
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| IMPORTANT SHAREHOLDER: SIGN HERE (PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING IRS FORM W-9 OR AN APPLICABLE IRS FORM W-8)
By signing below, the undersigned expressly agrees to the terms and conditions set forth above. | ||
| Signature(s) of Owner(s) |
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| Dated , 2015 | ||||
(Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Share certificate(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 representative capacity, please set forth full title. See Instruction 6.)
GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
(If required See Instructions 1 and 6)
APPLY MEDALLION GUARANTEE STAMP BELOW
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INSTRUCTIONS
Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of the Offer
| 1. | Guarantee of Signatures. No signature guarantee is required if either: |
(a) this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder of the Shares exactly as the name of the registered holder appears on the certificate(s) for the Shares tendered with this Letter of Transmittal or in the case of book-entry Shares, on the records of the Depositary, and payment and delivery are to be made directly to such registered holder and such registered holder has not completed the box entitled Special Payment Instructions; or
(b) Shares are tendered for the account of a bank, broker, dealer, credit union, savings association or other entity which is a member in good standing of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or an eligible guarantor institution, as the term is defined in Rule 17Ad15 under the Exchange Act (each of the foregoing constituting an Eligible Institution).
| 2. | Requirements of Tender. You must use this Letter of Transmittal to forward certificates for Shares and to tender any/all Shares held in book-entry form on the records of the Depositary (or if the certificates will be delivered pursuant to a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery previously sent to the Depositary). Certificates for all physically tendered Shares along with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, including any required signature guarantees, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, should be mailed or delivered to the Depositary at the appropriate address set forth herein and must be delivered to the Depositary on or before the Expiration Time. |
LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE OFFICE OF THE DEPOSITARY BY THE EXPIRATION TIME. GUARANTEED DELIVERIES WILL BE ACCEPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE OFFER AND THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL UNTIL THE EXPIRATION TIME.
Guaranteed Delivery. If you cannot deliver your Share certificates and all other required documents to the Depositary by the Expiration Time or the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis, you may tender your Shares pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure outlined in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase. Pursuant to such procedure:
(a) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery substantially in the form provided to you by H&R Block must be received by the Depositary by the Expiration Time, specifying the price at which Shares are being tendered, including (where required) a signature guarantee by an Eligible Institution in the form set forth in the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery; and
(b) the certificates for all physically delivered Shares, or a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of all Shares delivered electronically into the Depositarys account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal with any required signature guarantees, an Agents Message in the case of a book-entry transfer or a specific acknowledgment in the case of a tender through the Automated Tender Offer Program of the Book-Entry Transfer Facility and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary within three business days after the receipt by the Depositary of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
The method of delivery of all documents, including certificates for Shares, is at the option and risk of the tendering shareholder. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to assure timely delivery.
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Except as specifically permitted by Section 6 of the Offer to Purchase, H&R Block will not accept any alternative, conditional or contingent tenders, nor will it purchase any fractional Shares. By executing this Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile of it), you waive any right to receive any notice of the acceptance for payment of the Shares.
| 3. | Inadequate Space. If the space provided in this Letter of Transmittal is inadequate, the certificate numbers and/or the number of Shares should be listed on a separate signed schedule attached hereto. |
| 4. | Partial Tenders. If fewer than all of the Shares evidenced by any certificate are to be tendered, fill in the number of Shares that are to be tendered in the column entitled Number of Shares Tendered in the box entitled Description of Shares Tendered above. Unless otherwise indicated, all Shares represented by the certificate(s) set forth above and delivered to the Depositary will be deemed to have been tendered. In each case, Shares will be returned or credited without expense to the shareholder. |
| 5. | Indication of Price at Which Shares are Being Tendered. For Shares to be validly tendered, the shareholder may either (i) check the box in the section captioned Purchase Price Tenders: Shares Tendered at a Price Determined Pursuant to the Offer in order to maximize the likelihood of having H&R Block accept for payment all of the Shares tendered (subject to the possibility of proration) or (ii) check the box indicating the price per Share at which such shareholder is tendering Shares under Auction Price Tenders: Shares Tendered at a Price Determined by You. Selecting option (i) could result in the shareholder receiving a price per Share as low as $32.25. |
Shareholders who validly tender Shares without specifying whether they are making an Auction Tender or a Purchase Price Tender will be deemed to have made a Purchase Price Tender.
ONLY ONE BOX UNDER (i) OR (ii) MAY BE CHECKED. A SHAREHOLDER WISHING TO TENDER PORTIONS OF SUCH SHAREHOLDERS SHARE HOLDINGS AT DIFFERENT PRICES MUST COMPLETE A SEPARATE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL FOR EACH PRICE AT WHICH SUCH SHAREHOLDER WISHES TO TENDER EACH SUCH PORTION OF SUCH SHAREHOLDERS SHARES. The same Shares cannot be tendered more than once (unless previously validly withdrawn as provided in Section 4 of the Offer to Purchase) at more than one price. Any shareholder who wishes to tender Shares at more than one price must complete a separate Letter of Transmittal for each price at which Shares are being tendered.
| 6. | Signatures on Letter of Transmittal, Stock Powers and Endorsements. 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 Share certificate(s) without any change or alteration whatsoever. |
If any of the Shares tendered hereby are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such persons must sign this Letter of Transmittal.
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.
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 person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person should so indicate when signing and submit valid evidence satisfactory to H&R Block of his or her authority to so act.
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 certificates for Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be issued, 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.
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the Shares tendered hereby, the certificate(s) representing such Shares must be validly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by
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appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on the certificates(s). The signature(s) on any such certificate(s) or stock power(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
| 7. | Stock Transfer Taxes. H&R Block will pay all stock transfer taxes, if any, payable on the transfer to H&R Block of Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer. If, however, payment of the Purchase Price is to be made to, or (in circumstances permitted by the Offer) unpurchased Shares are to be registered in the name of, any person(s) other than the registered holder(s), or if tendered book-entry accounts are registered in the name(s) of any person(s) other than the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, the amount of any stock transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder(s) or such other person(s)) payable on account of the transfer to such person(s) will be deducted from the purchase price unless satisfactory evidence of the payment of such stock transfer taxes, or exemption therefrom, is submitted with this Letter of Transmittal. |
Except as provided in this Instruction 7, it will not be necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the certificates listed in this Letter of Transmittal.
| 8. | Special Payment Instructions. If the check is to be issued in the name of a person other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal, signatures must be guaranteed as described in Instructions 1 and 6. |
| 9. | Waiver of Conditions; Irregularities. All questions as to the number of Shares to be accepted, the Purchase Price to be paid for Shares to be accepted and the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tender of Shares, or as to the validity (including time of receipt) and form of any notice of withdrawal of tendered Shares, will be determined by H&R Block, in its sole discretion, and its determination will be final and binding on all persons participating in the Offer, subject to such Offer participants disputing such determination in a court of competent jurisdiction. H&R Block reserves the absolute right, subject to applicable law, to reject any or all tenders of any Shares that H&R Block determines are not in valid form or the acceptance for payment of or payment for which may, in the opinion of H&R Blocks counsel, be unlawful. H&R Block reserves the absolute right, subject to applicable law, to reject any notices of withdrawal that it determines are not in valid form. H&R Block also reserves the absolute right, subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to waive any of the conditions of the Offer prior to the Expiration Time, or any defect or irregularity in any tender or withdrawal with respect to any particular Shares or any particular shareholder, and H&R Blocks interpretation of the terms of the Offer (including these instructions) will be final and binding on all persons participating in the Offer, subject to such Offer participants disputing such determination in a court of competent jurisdiction. No tender or withdrawal of Shares will be deemed to have been validly made until all defects or irregularities have been cured by the tendering or withdrawing shareholder or waived by H&R Block. H&R Block will not be liable for failure to waive any condition of the Offer, or any defect or irregularity in any tender or withdrawal of Shares. None of H&R Block, the Dealer Manager, the Information Agent, the Depositary or any other person will be obligated to give notice of any defects or irregularities in any tender or withdrawal, nor will any of the foregoing incur any liability for failure to give any such notice. |
| 10. | Backup Withholding. In order to avoid backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax on payments of cash pursuant to the Offer, a shareholder that is a U.S. person (as defined in the instructions to IRS Form W-9) and that receives cash for tendered Shares in the Offer must (i) qualify for an exemption, as described below, and if required, establish such exemption to the satisfaction of the payor, or (ii) provide the Depositary with such shareholders correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) (i.e., social security number or employer identification number) on IRS Form W-9 included with this Letter of Transmittal. On such IRS Form W-9, the shareholder must certify under penalties of perjury that (x) the TIN provided is correct (or such shareholder is awaiting a TIN), (y) (A) the shareholder is exempt from backup withholding, (B) the shareholder has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) that such shareholder is subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (C) the IRS has notified the shareholder that such shareholder is no longer subject to backup withholding, and (z) the shareholder is a U.S. person. |
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A tendering shareholder is required to give the Depositary the TIN of the record owner of the Shares being tendered. If the Shares are held in more than one name or are not in the name of the actual owner, consult the instructions to the enclosed IRS Form W-9 for guidance on which number to report.
If a shareholder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for one or intends to apply for one in the near future, such shareholder should write Applied For in the space provided for the TIN in Part I of the IRS Form W-9, and sign and date the IRS Form W-9. Writing Applied For means that a shareholder has already applied for a TIN or that such shareholder intends to apply for one soon. Notwithstanding that the shareholder has written Applied For in Part I, the Depositary will withhold at the applicable statutory rate (currently 28%) on all payments made prior to the time a validly certified TIN is provided to the Depositary, unless the shareholder otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding.
Some shareholders are exempt from backup withholding. To prevent possible erroneous backup withholding, exempt shareholders should consult the instructions to the enclosed IRS Form W-9 for additional guidance. A shareholder that is a foreign person (for U.S. federal income tax purposes) should complete and sign the main signature form and IRS Form W-8BEN, Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting (Individuals) or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting (Entities), copies of which may be obtained from the Depositary or the IRS website (www.irs.gov), or other applicable IRS Form W-8, in order to avoid backup withholding. A foreign person that is a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes must deliver a validly completed and executed IRS Form W-8IMY (together with all required attachments). See the instructions to the enclosed IRS Form W-9 and Section 14 of the Offer to Purchase for more information.
| 11. | Withholding on Foreign Persons. Even if a foreign person has provided the required certification to avoid backup withholding, the Depositary will withhold U.S. federal income taxes equal to 30% of the gross payments payable to a foreign person unless the Depositary determines that a reduced rate of withholding is available pursuant to a tax treaty or that an exemption from withholding is applicable because such gross proceeds are effectively connected with the foreign persons conduct of a trade or business within the United States. See Section 14 of the Offer to Purchase. In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding pursuant to a tax treaty, a foreign person must deliver to the Depositary before the payment a validly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable IRS Form W-8). In order to obtain an exemption from withholding on the grounds that the gross proceeds paid pursuant to the Offer are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States, a foreign person must deliver to the Depositary a validly completed and executed IRS Form W-8ECI. A foreign person may be eligible to obtain a refund of all or a portion of any tax withheld if such foreign person meets those tests described in Section 14 of the Offer to Purchase that would characterize the exchange as a sale (as opposed to a distribution) or is otherwise able to establish that no tax or a reduced amount of tax is due. |
A foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity that tenders Shares which are accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer will generally be subject to withholding tax imposed under sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such sections commonly referred to as FATCA) and the final Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder at a rate of 30% of the gross proceeds payable to such foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity unless such foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity provides to the Depositary an applicable IRS Form W-8 demonstrating the FATCA withholding is not warranted. If the Depositary withholds tax under FATCA, it will not also withhold the 30% U.S. federal income tax described in the previous paragraph.
FOREIGN PERSONS MAY BE SUBJECT TO UNITED STATES WITHHOLDING TAX AT A 30% RATE ON THE SALE OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER, EVEN IF NO SUCH WITHHOLDING WOULD APPLY IF THOSE SAME SHARES WERE SOLD ON THE OPEN MARKET. IN ADDITION, FOREIGN PERSONS MAY BE SUBJECT TO THIS 30% WITHHOLDING TAX ON THE SALE OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER OR TO 30% WITHHOLDING UNDER FATCA EVEN IF THE TRANSACTION IS NOT SUBJECT TO INCOME TAX. FOREIGN PERSONS
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ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING RULES, INCLUDING ELIGIBILITY FOR A WITHHOLDING TAX REDUCTION OR EXEMPTION, AND THE REFUND PROCEDURE.
Any payments made pursuant to the Offer that are treated as wages will be subject to applicable wage withholding (regardless of whether an IRS Form W-9 or applicable IRS Form W-8 is provided).
| 12. | Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Questions and requests for assistance should be directed to the Information Agent or the Dealer Manager at their respective addresses and telephone numbers set forth below. Requests for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, the IRS Form W-9 (which can also be obtained at www.irs.gov) or other Offer materials should be directed to the Information Agent. Copies will be furnished promptly at H&R Blocks expense. |
| 13. | Lost, Destroyed or Stolen Certificates. If any certificate representing Shares has been lost, destroyed or stolen, the shareholder should promptly notify the Transfer Agent, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. at the toll-free number (800) 468-9716 or at (651) 450-4064. The shareholder will then be instructed by the Depositary as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace the certificate. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, destroyed or stolen certificates have been followed. |
| 14. | Conditional Tenders. As described in Sections 3 and 6 of the Offer to Purchase, a tendering shareholder may condition his or her tender of Shares upon H&R Block purchasing a specified minimum number of the Shares tendered. |
If you wish to make a conditional tender you must indicate this in the box captioned Conditional Tender in this Letter of Transmittal and, if applicable, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. In such box, you must calculate and appropriately indicate the minimum number of Shares that must be purchased if any are to be purchased.
As discussed in Sections 3 and 6 of the Offer to Purchase, proration may affect whether H&R Block accepts conditional tenders and may result in Shares tendered pursuant to a conditional tender being deemed withdrawn if the minimum number of Shares would not be purchased. If, because of proration (because more than the value of Shares sought are validly tendered), the minimum number of Shares that you designate will not be purchased, H&R Block may accept conditional tenders by random lot, if necessary. However, to be eligible for purchase by random lot, you must have tendered all of your Shares and check the box so indicating. Upon selection by lot, if any, H&R Block will limit its purchase in each case to the designated minimum number of Shares.
All tendered Shares will be deemed unconditionally tendered unless the Conditional Tender box is completed. If you are an Odd Lot Holder and you tender all of your Shares, you cannot conditionally tender, because your Shares will not be subject to proration.
The conditional tender alternative is made available so that a shareholder may seek to structure the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer in such a manner that the purchase will be treated as a sale of such Shares by the shareholder, rather than the payment of a dividend to the shareholder, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. It is the tendering shareholders responsibility to calculate and appropriately indicate the minimum number of Shares that must be purchased from the shareholder in order for the shareholder to qualify for sale or exchange (rather than distribution) treatment for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Each shareholder should consult with his or her own broker and/or financial or tax advisor with respect to the advisability of making a conditional offer before completing this section. No assurances can be provided that a conditional tender will achieve the intended U.S. federal income tax result for any shareholder tendering Shares. See Section 6 and Section 14 of the Offer to Purchase.
| 15. | Odd Lots. As described in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase, if H&R Block is to purchase fewer than all Shares tendered before the Expiration Time and not validly withdrawn, the Shares purchased first will |
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| consist of all Odd Lots of less than 100 Shares from shareholders who validly tender all of their Shares at or below the Purchase Price and who do not validly withdraw them before the Expiration Time (tenders of less than all of the Shares owned, beneficially or of record, by such Odd Lot Holder will not qualify for this preference). This preference will not be available unless the section captioned Odd Lots in this Letter of Transmittal is completed. |
| 16. | Order of Purchase in Event of Proration. As described in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase, shareholders may designate the order in which their Shares are to be purchased in the event of proration. The order of purchase may have an effect on the U.S. federal income tax classification and the amount of any gain or loss on the Shares purchased. See Section 1 and Section 14 of the Offer to Purchase. |
IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, PROPERLY COMPLETED AND DULY EXECUTED, TOGETHER WITH CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING SHARES BEING TENDERED AND ANY REQUIRED SIGNATURE GUARANTEES, OR, IN THE CASE OF A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, CONFIRMATION OF BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, AN AGENTS MESSAGE, AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION TIME, OR THE TENDERING SHAREHOLDER MUST COMPLY WITH THE PROCEDURES FOR GUARANTEED DELIVERY.
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| Form 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.
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1 Name (as shown on your income tax return). Name is required on this line; do not leave this line blank.
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| 2 Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above
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| 3 Check appropriate box for federal tax classification; check only one of the following seven boxes: | 4 Exemptions (codes apply only to
Exempt payee code (if any)
Exemption from FATCA reporting
(Applies to accounts maintained | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ¨ | Individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC |
¨ | C Corporation | ¨ | S Corporation | ¨ | Partnership ¨ Trust/estate | |||||||||||||||||||||
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¨ Limitedliability 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
¨ Other(see instructions) u
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5 Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.)
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Requesters name and address (optional) |
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6 City, state, and ZIP code
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7 List account number(s) here (optional)
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| 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. |
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| Social security number | ||||||||||||||||||
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| or | ||||||||||||||||||
| Employer identification number | ||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 |
| Cat. No. 10231X | Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014) |
| Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014) |
Page 2 |
| Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014) |
Page 3 |
| Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014) |
Page 4 |
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.
The Depositary for the Offer is:
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
| By Mail: BY 5:00 P.M. New York City time on Expiration Date Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Shareowner Services Voluntary Corporate Actions P.O. Box 64858 St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0858 |
By Hand or Overnight Courier: BY 5:00 P.M. New York City time on Expiration Date Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Shareowner Services Voluntary Corporate Actions 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101 Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120 |
Any questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent or the Dealer Manager at their respective telephone numbers and addresses set forth below. Requests for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or other Offer materials may be directed to the Information Agent at its telephone numbers or address set forth below. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
You may obtain information regarding the Offer
from the Information Agent as follows:
480 Washington Blvd., 26th Floor
Jersey City, New Jersey 07310
Toll-Free: (866) 695-6078
Direct: (781) 575-2137
The Dealer Manager for the Offer is:
J.P. Morgan
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
Toll-Free: (877) 371-5947
Direct: (212) 622-4401