
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 99.4


                             LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                            To Tender for Exchange
                     9% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
                                      of

                              POLYMER GROUP, INC.

               Pursuant to the Prospectus dated           , 1997

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK
 CITY TIME, ON            , 1997 UNLESS EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION DATE").
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                PLEASE READ CAREFULLY THE ATTACHED INSTRUCTIONS

If you desire to accept the Exchange Offer, this Letter of Transmittal should be
            completed, signed, and submitted to the Exchange Agent:

                         Harris Trust and Savings Bank
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
<S>                                          <C>                                          <C> 
              By Mail:                                By Overnight Courier:                             By Hand:
c/o Harris Trust Company of New York         c/o Harris Trust Company of New York         c/o Harris Trust Company of New York
        Wall Street Station                        77 Water Street, 4th Floor                         Receive Window
           P.O. Box 1023                               New York, NY  10005                     77 Water Street, 5th Floor
      New York, NY  10268-1023                     Attn: Reorganization Dept.                      New York, NY  10005
     Attn: Reorganization Dept.                                                                 Attn: Reorganization Dept.
</TABLE> 
                           By Facsimile Transmission:
                        (for Eligible Institutions Only)
                             (212) 701-7636 or 7637

                   For Information Telephone (call collect):
                                 (212) 701-7624

     Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal to an address, or transmission via
facsimile to a number, other than as set forth above will not constitute a valid
delivery.

     For any questions regarding this Letter of Transmittal or for any
additional information, you may contact the Exchange Agent.

     The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus dated
________, 1997 (as it may be supplemented and amended from time to time, the
"Prospectus") of Polymer Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Company"), and
this Letter of Transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal"), that together
constitute the Company's offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange $1,000 in
principal amount of its 9% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007, Series B (the
"Exchange Notes"), which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"), pursuant to a Registration Statement, for
each $1,000 in principal amount of its outstanding 9% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2007 (the "Notes"), of which $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount is
outstanding. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

     The undersigned hereby tenders the Notes described in Box 1 below (the
"Tendered Notes") pursuant to the terms and conditions described in the
Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal. The undersigned is the registered
owner of all the Tendered Notes and the undersigned represents that it has
received from each beneficial owner of the Tendered Notes ("Beneficial Owners")
a duly completed and executed form of "Instruction to Registered Holder and/or
Book-Entry Transfer Facility Participant from Beneficial Owner" accompanying
this Letter of Transmittal, instructing the undersigned to take the action
described in this Letter of Transmittal.
<PAGE>
 
     Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of the Tendered
Notes, the undersigned hereby exchanges, assigns and transfers to, or upon the
order of, the Company all right, title, and interest in, to and under the
Tendered Notes.

     Please issue the Exchange Notes exchanged for Tendered Notes in the name(s)
of the undersigned. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under "SPECIAL
DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS" below (see Box 3), please send or cause to be sent the
certificates for the Exchange Notes (and accompanying documents, as appropriate)
to the undersigned at the address shown below in Box 1.

     The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Exchange
Agent as the true and lawful agent and attorney in fact of the undersigned with
respect to the Tendered Notes, with full power of substitution (such power of
attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to
(i) deliver the Tendered Notes to the Company or cause ownership of the Tendered
Notes to be transferred to, or upon the order of, the Company, on the books of
the registrar for the Notes and deliver all accompanying evidences of transfer
and authenticity to, or upon the order of, the Company upon receipt by the
Exchange Agent, as the undersigned's agent, of the Exchange Notes to which the
undersigned is entitled upon acceptance by the Company of the Tendered Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and (ii) receive all benefits and otherwise
exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of the Tendered Notes, all in
accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer.

     The undersigned understands that tenders of Notes pursuant to the
procedures described under the caption "The Exchange Offer" in the Prospectus
and in the instructions hereto will constitute a binding agreement between the
undersigned and the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Exchange Offer, subject only to withdrawal of such tenders on the terms set
forth in the Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange Offer-- Withdrawal of
Tenders." All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall survive
the death or incapacity of the undersigned and any Beneficial Owner(s), and
every obligation of the undersigned or any Beneficial Owner(s) hereunder shall
be binding upon the heirs, representatives, successors, and assigns of the
undersigned and such Beneficial Owner(s).

     The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has
full power and authority to tender, exchange, assign, and transfer the Tendered
Notes and that the Company will acquire good and unencumbered title thereto,
free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges, encumbrances, and adverse
claims when the Tendered Notes are acquired by the Company as contemplated
herein. The undersigned and each Beneficial Owner will, upon request, execute
and deliver any additional documents reasonably requested by the Company or the
Exchange Agent as necessary or desirable to complete and give effect to the
transactions contemplated hereby.

     The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the information set
forth in Box 2 is true and correct.

     By accepting the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby represents and
warrants that (i) the Exchange Notes to be acquired by the undersigned and any
Beneficial Owner(s) in connection with the Exchange Offer are being acquired by
the undersigned and any Beneficial Owner(s) in the ordinary course of business
of the undersigned and any Beneficial Owner(s), (ii) the undersigned and each
Beneficial Owner are not participating, do not intend to participate, and have
no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes, (iii) except as otherwise disclosed in
writing herewith, neither the undersigned nor any Beneficial Owner is an
"affiliate," as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of the Company,
and (iv) the undersigned and each Beneficial Owner acknowledge and agree that
any person participating in the Exchange Offer with the intention or for the
purpose of distributing the Exchange Notes must comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the "Securities
Act"), in connection with a secondary resale of the Exchange Notes acquired by
such person and cannot rely on the position of the Staff of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") set forth in the no-action letters that
are discussed in the section of the Prospectus entitled "The Exchange Offer." In
addition, by accepting the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby (i) represents
and warrants that, if the undersigned or any Beneficial Owner of the Notes is a
Participating Broker-Dealer, such Participating Broker-Dealer acquired the Notes
for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities and has not entered into any arrangement or understanding with the
Company or any "affiliate" of the Company (within the meaning of Rule 405 under
the Securities Act) to distribute the Exchange Notes to be received in the
Exchange Offer, and (ii) acknowledges that, by receiving Exchange Notes for its
own account in exchange for Notes, where such Notes were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities,

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
such Participating Broker-Dealer will deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such
Exchange Notes.

     Holders of Notes that are tendering by book-entry transfer to the Exchange
Agent's account at DTC can execute the tender through the DTC Automated Tender
Offer Program ("ATOP"), for which the transaction will be eligible. DTC
participants that are accepting the Exchange Offer must transmit their
acceptance to DTC, which will verify the acceptance and execute a book-entry
delivery to the Exchange Agent's DTC account. DTC will then send an Agent's
Message to the Exchange Agent for its acceptance. DTC participants may also
accept the Exchange Offer prior to the Expiration Date by submitting a Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery through ATOP.


[_]  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED HEREWITH.


[_]  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF
     GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY DELIVERED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE
     "USE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY" BELOW (Box 4).


[_]  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
     MADE TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT WITH THE BOOK-ENTRY
     TRANSFER FACILITY AND COMPLETE "USE OF BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER" BELOW (Box 5).

                 PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
                     CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE BOXES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               BOX 1

                                                   DESCRIPTION OF NOTES TENDERED
                                          (Attach additional signed pages, if necessary)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Note Holder(s), exactly as     Certificate      Aggregate Principal   Aggregate Principal
            name(s) appear(s) on Note Certificate(s)                 Number(s) of           Amount                Amount
                   (Please fill in, if blank)                           Notes*          Represented by          Tendered**
                                                                                        Certificate(s)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                  <C>             <C>                    <C>  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                        Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  *   Need not be completed by persons tendering by book-entry transfer.

  **  The minimum permitted tender is $1,000 in principal amount of Notes. All other tenders must be in integral multiples of 
      $1,000 of principal amount. Unless otherwise indicated in this column, the principal amount of all Note Certificates 
      identified in this Box 1 or delivered to the Exchange Agent herewith shall be deemed tendered. See Instruction 4.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE> 
                                      -3-
<PAGE>

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                     BOX 2

                              BENEFICIAL OWNER(S)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
State of Principal Residence of Each     Principal Amount of Tendered Notes
 Beneficial Owner of Tendered Notes     Held for Account of Beneficial Owner
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------



---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     BOX 3

                         SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
                         (See Instructions 5, 6 and 7)
TO BE COMPLETED ONLY IF EXCHANGE NOTES EXCHANGED FOR NOTES AND UNTENDERED NOTES
ARE TO BE SENT TO SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE UNDERSIGNED, OR TO THE UNDERSIGNED AT
AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THAT SHOWN ABOVE.
 
Mail Exchange Note(s) and any untendered Notes to:
Name(s):
 
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(please print)
 
Address:
 
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(include Zip Code)
 
Tax Identification or
Social Security No.:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     BOX 4

                          USE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
                              (See Instruction 2)

TO BE COMPLETED ONLY IF NOTES ARE BEING TENDERED BY MEANS OF A NOTICE OF
GUARANTEED DELIVERY.
 
Name(s) of Registered Holder(s): _______________________________________________
 
Window Ticket No. (if any): ____________________________________________________
 
Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery: ____________________________
 
Name of Institution that Guaranteed Delivery: __________________________________
 
If Delivered by Book-Entry Transfer:
 
           Account Number with DTC: ____________________________________________
 
           Transaction Code Number: ____________________________________________


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     BOX 5

                          USE OF BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
                              (See Instruction 1)

TO BE COMPLETED ONLY IF DELIVERY OF TENDERED NOTES IS TO BE MADE BY BOOK-ENTRY
TRANSFER.
 
Name of Tendering Institution: _________________________________________________
 
Account Number: ________________________________________________________________
 
Transaction Code Number: _______________________________________________________


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                      -5-
<PAGE>
<TABLE> 
 <CAPTION> 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               BOX 6
                                                    TENDERING HOLDER SIGNATURE
                                                    (See Instructions 1 and 5)
                                             In Addition, Complete Substitute Form W-9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                         <C>
                                                            Signature Guarantee
X ___________________________________________________       (If required by Instruction 5)
 
X ___________________________________________________       Authorized Signature
          (Signature of Registered Holder(s)
             or Authorized Signatory)
                                                            X __________________________________________________
Note: The above lines must be signed by the registered
holder(s) of Notes as their name(s) appear(s) on the        Name:   ____________________________________________
Notes or by persons(s) authorized to become registered               (please print)
holder(s) (evidence of such authorization must be
transmitted with this Letter of Transmittal).  If           Title:  ____________________________________________
signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator,
guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer, or other person        Name of Firm:_______________________________________
acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such                   (Must be an Eligible Institution as
person must set forth his or her full title below.  See                   defined in Instruction 2)
Instruction 5.
                                                            Address: ___________________________________________
Name(s):  ___________________________________________
                                                                     ___________________________________________
Capacity:  __________________________________________
                                                                     ___________________________________________
Street Address:  ____________________________________                                             (Zip Code)
 
                 ____________________________________       Area Code and Telephone Number:
                                        (Zip Code)
                                                                      __________________________________________
Area Code and Telephone Number:
                                                            Dated:    __________________________________________
                 ____________________________________
 
Tax Identification or Social Security Number:
 
                 ____________________________________
 
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               BOX 7
 
                                                       BROKER-DEALER STATUS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [_]  Check this box if the Beneficial Owner of the Notes is a Participating Broker-Dealer and such Participating Broker-Dealer
       acquired the Notes for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. If this box is
       checked, regardless of whether you are tendering by book-entry transfer through ATOP, an executed copy of this Letter of
       Transmittal must be received within three NYSE trading days after the Expiration Date by Polymer Group, Inc., attention James
       G. Boyd, facsimile (803) 747-4092.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                                                -6-
<PAGE>
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            PAYORS' NAME:  HARRIS TRUST & SAVINGS BANK
<S>                                <C>                                                              <C>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Name (if joint names, list first and circle the name of the person or entity whose number you
                                   enter in Part 1 below. See instructions if your name has changed.)
                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUBSTITUTE                         Address
                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form W-9                           City, State and ZIP Code
                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of the Treasury         List account number(s) here (optional)
                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Revenue Service           Part 1--PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER        Social Security Number or TIN
                                   ("TIN") IN THE BOX AT RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND 
                                   DATING BELOW
                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Part 2--Check the box if you are NOT subject to backup withholding under the provisions of
                                   section 3406(a)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code because (1) you have not been notified that
                                   you are subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report all interest or dividends
                                   or (2) the Internal Revenue Service has notified you that you are no longer subject to backup
                                   withholding. [_]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   CERTIFICATION--UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY, I CERTIFY THAT                Part 3--
                                   THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS FORM IS TRUE, CORRECT AND               Awaiting TIN   [_]
                                   COMPLETE.
 
                                   SIGNATURE                        DATE
                                            -----------------------     ---------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note:  FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 31% OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE
       EXCHANGE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM
       W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
</TABLE> 
        

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
                              POLYMER GROUP, INC.


                     INSTRUCTIONS TO LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                    FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
                             OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER


     1. Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal and Notes. This Letter of 
Transmittal is to be completed by registered Holders of Notes if certificates 
representing such Notes are to be forwarded herewith pursuant to the procedures 
set forth in the Prospectus under "The Exchange Offer -- Procedures for 
Tendering," unless delivery of such certificates is to be made by book-entry 
transfer to the Exchange Agent's account maintained by DTC through ATOP. For a 
holder to properly tender Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, a properly 
completed and duly executed copy of this Letter of Transmittal, including 
Substitute Form W-9, and any other documents required by this Letter of 
Transmittal must be received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth 
herein, and either (i) certificates for Tendered Notes must be received by the 
Exchange Agent at its address set forth herein, or (ii) such Tendered Notes must
be transferred pursuant to the  procedures for book-entry transfer described 
in the Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for 
Tendering" (and a confirmation of such transfer received by the Exchange Agent),
in each case prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. The
method of delivery of certificates for Tendered Notes, this Letter of 
Transmittal and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent is at the 
election and risk of the tendering holder and the delivery will be deemed made 
only when actually received by the Exchange Agent. If delivery is by mail, 
registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended.
Instead of delivery by mail, it is recommended that the Holder use an overnight 
or hand delivery service. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to 
assure timely delivery. No Letter of Transmittal or Tendered Notes should be 
sent to the Company. Neither the Company nor the Exchange Agent is under any 
obligation to notify any tendering holder of the Company's acceptance of 
tendered Notes prior to the closing of the Exchange Offer.

     2. Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. If a registered Holder desires to tender
Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer and (a) certificates representing such
tendered Notes are not immediately available, (b) time will not permit such
Holder's Letter of Transmittal, certificates representing such tendered Notes
and all other required documents to reach the Exchange Agent on or prior to the
Expiration Date, or (c) the procedures for book-entry transfer cannot be
completed on or prior to the Expiration Date, such Holder may nevertheless
tender such tendered Notes with the effect that such tender will be deemed to
have been received on or prior to the Expiration Date if the procedures set
forth below and in the Statement under "The Exchange Offer -- Guaranteed
Delivery Procedures" (including the completion of Box 4 above) are followed.
Pursuant to such procedures, (i) the tender must be made by or through an
Eligible Institution (as defined), (ii) a properly completed and duly executed
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form provided by the Company
herewith, or an Agent's Message with respect to a guaranteed delivery that is
accepted by the Company, must be received by the Exchange Agent on or prior to
the Expiration Date, and (iii) the certificates for the tendered Notes, in
proper form for transfer (or a Book-Entry Confirmation of the transfer of such
tendered Notes to the Exchange Agent's account at DTC as described in the
Prospectus), together with a Letter of Transmittal (or manually signed facsimile
thereof) properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature
guarantees and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal or a
properly transmitted Agent's Message, must be received by the Exchange Agent
within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the date of execution of
the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. Any holder who wishes to tender Notes
pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described above must ensure that
the Exchange Agent's receives the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery relating to such
tendered Notes prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.
Failure to complete the guaranteed delivery procedures outlined above will not,
of itself, affect the validity or effect a revocation of any Letter of
Transmittal form properly completed and executed by an Eligible Holder who
attempted to use the guaranteed delivery process.

     3. Beneficial Owner Instructions to Registered Holders. Only a holder in
whose name Tendered Notes are registered on the books of the registrar (or the
legal representative or attorney-in-fact of such registered holder) may execute
and deliver this Letter of Transmittal. Any Beneficial Owner of Tendered Notes
who is not the registered holder must arrange promptly with the registered
holder to execute and deliver this Letter of Transmittal on his or her behalf
through the execution and delivery to the registered holder of the "Instructions
to Registered Holder and/or Book-Entry Transfer Facility Participant from
Beneficial Owner" form accompanying this Letter of Transmittal.


                                      -8-

<PAGE>
 
     4. Partial Tenders. Tenders of Notes will be accepted only in integral
multiples of $1,000 in principal amount. If less than the entire principal
amount of Notes held by the holder is tendered, the tendering holder should fill
in the principal amount tendered in the column labeled "Aggregate Principal
Amount Tendered" of the box entitled "Description of Notes Tendered" (see Box 1)
above. The entire principal amount of Notes delivered to the Exchange Agent will
be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated. If the entire
principal amount of all Notes held by the holder is not tendered, then Notes for
the principal amount of Notes not tendered and Exchange Notes issued in exchange
for any Notes tendered and accepted will be sent to the Holder at his or her
registered address, unless a different address is provided in the appropriate
box on this Letter of Transmittal, as soon as practicable following the
Expiration Date.

     5. Signatures on the Letter of Transmittal; Bond Powers and Endorsements;
Guarantee of Signatures. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the
registered holder(s) of the Tendered Notes, the signature must correspond with
the name(s) as written on the face of the Tendered Notes without alteration,
enlargement or any change whatsoever.

     If any of the Tendered Notes are owned of record by two or more joint
owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal. If any Tendered
Notes are held in different names, it will be necessary to complete, sign and
submit as many separate copies of the Letter of Transmittal as there are
different names in which Tendered Notes are held.

     If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of
Tendered Notes, and Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor are to be issued
(and any untendered principal amount of Notes is to be reissued) in the name of
the registered holder(s), then such registered holder(s) need not and should not
endorse any Tendered Notes, nor provide a separate bond power. In any other
case, such registered holder(s) must either properly endorse the Tendered Notes
or transmit a properly completed separate bond power with this Letter of
Transmittal, with the signature(s) on the endorsement or bond power guaranteed
by a Medallion Signature Guarantor (as defined below).

     If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the
registered holder(s) of any Tendered Notes, such Tendered Notes must be endorsed
or accompanied by appropriate bond powers, in each case, signed as the name(s)
of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on the Tendered Notes, with the
signature(s) on the endorsement or bond power guaranteed by a Medallion
Signature Guarantor.

     If this Letter of Transmittal or any Tendered Notes or bond powers are
signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorney-in-fact,
officers of corporations, or others acting in a fiduciary or representative
capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing and, unless waived by the
Company, evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to so act must
be submitted with this Letter of Transmittal.

     Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a recognized
participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York
Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion
Program (each a "Medallion Signature Guarantor"), unless the Tendered Notes are
tendered (i) by a registered Holder of Tendered Notes (or by a participant in
DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of such
Tendered Notes) who has not completed Box 3 ("Special Delivery Instructions") on
this Letter of Transmittal, or (ii) for the account of a member firm of a
registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") or a commercial bank or trust company having
an office or correspondent in the United States (each of the foregoing being
referred to as an "Eligible Institution"). If the Tendered Notes are registered
in the name of a person other than the signor of the Letter of Transmittal or if
Notes not tendered are to be returned to a person other than the registered
Holder, then the signature on this Letter of Transmittal accompanying the
Tendered Notes must be guaranteed by a Medallion Signature Guarantor as
described above. Beneficial owners whose Notes are registered in the name of a
broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee must contact
such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee if they
desire to tender such Notes.

     6. Special Delivery Instructions. Tendering holders should indicate in Box
3 the name and address to which the Exchange Notes and/or substitute Notes for
principal amounts not tendered or not accepted for exchange are to be sent, if
different from the name and address of the person signing this Letter of
Transmittal. In the case of issuance in a different name, the taxpayer
identification or social security number of the person named must also be
indicated.

     7. Transfer Taxes. The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any,
applicable to the exchange of Tendered Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If,
however, a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the transfer and


                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
exchange of Tendered Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then the amount of
any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or on any
other person) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence
of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted with this
Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed directly
to such tendering holder.

     Except as provided in this Instruction 7, it will not be necessary for
transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the Tendered Notes listed in this Letter of
Transmittal.
 
     8. Tax Identification Number. Federal income tax law requires that the
holder(s) of any Tendered Notes which are accepted for exchange must provide the
Exchange Agent (as payor) with its correct taxpayer identification number
("TIN"), which, in the case of a holder who is an individual, is his or her
social security number. If the Exchange Agent is not provided with the correct
TIN, the Holder may be subject to backup withholding and a $50 penalty imposed
by the Internal Revenue Service. (If withholding results in an over-payment of
taxes, a refund may be obtained.) Certain holders (including, among others, all
corporations and certain foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup
withholding and reporting requirements. See the enclosed "Guidelines for
Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9" for
additional instructions.
 
     To prevent backup withholding, each holder of Tendered Notes must provide
such holder's correct TIN by completing the Substitute Form W-9 set forth
herein, certifying that the TIN provided is correct (or that such holder is
awaiting a TIN), and that (i) the holder has not been notified by the Internal
Revenue Service that such holder is subject to backup withholding as a result of
failure to report all interest or dividends or (ii) if previously so notified,
the Internal Revenue Service has notified the holder that such holder is no
longer subject to backup withholding. If the Tendered Notes are registered in
more than one name or are not in the name of the actual owner, consult the
"Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute
Form W-9" for information on which TIN to report.
 
     The Company reserves the right in its sole discretion to take whatever
steps are necessary to comply with the Company's obligation regarding backup
withholding.

     9. Validity of Tenders. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility
(including time of receipt), acceptance and withdrawal of Tendered Notes will be
determined by the Company in its sole discretion, which determination will be
final and binding. The Company reserves the right to reject any and all Notes
not validly tendered or any Notes the Company's acceptance of which would, in
the opinion of the Company or its counsel, be unlawful. The Company also
reserves the right to waive any conditions of the Exchange Offer or defects or
irregularities in tenders of Notes as to any ineligibility of any holder who
seeks to tender Notes in the Exchange Offer. The interpretation of the terms and
conditions of the Exchange Offer (including this Letter of Transmittal and the
instructions hereto) by the Company shall be final and binding on all parties.
Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Notes
must be cured within such time as the Company shall determine. Neither the
Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person shall be under any duty to give
notification of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of Notes, nor
shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give such notification.
Tenders of Notes will not be deemed to have been made until such defects or
irregularities have been cured or waived. Any Notes received by the Exchange
Agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or
irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the Exchange
Agent to the tendering holders, unless otherwise provided in this Letter of
Transmittal, as soon as practicable following the Expiration Date.
 
     10. Waiver of Conditions. The Company reserves the absolute right to amend,
waive or modify any of the conditions in the Exchange Offer in the case of any
Tendered Notes.

     11. No Conditional Tender. No alternative, conditional, irregular, or
contingent tender of Notes or transmittal of this Letter of Transmittal will be
accepted.
 
     12. Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Notes. Any tendering Holder whose
Notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed should contact the Exchange
Agent at the address indicated herein for further instructions. 
 
     13. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Questions and requests
for assistance and requests for additional copies of the Prospectus or this
Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Exchange Agent at the address
indicated herein. Holders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial
bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Exchange
Offer.
   

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
     14. Acceptance of Tendered Notes and Issuance of Exchange Notes; Return of
Notes. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, the Company
will accept for exchange all validly tendered Notes as soon as practicable after
the Expiration Date and will issue Exchange Notes therefor as soon as
practicable thereafter. For purposes of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall be
deemed to have accepted Tendered Notes when, as and if the Company has given
written or oral notice (immediately followed in writing) thereof to the Exchange
Agent. If any Tendered Notes are not exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer
for any reason, such unexchanged Notes will be returned, without expense, to the
undersigned at the address shown in Box 1 or at a different address as may be
indicated herein under "Special Delivery Instructions" (Box 3).       
 
     15. Withdrawal. Tenders may be withdrawn only pursuant to the procedures
set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange Offer--Withdrawal of
Tenders."

                                      -11-
