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Mines D'Or Orbec Inc. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2025
Nov 18, 2025
47507_rns_2025-11-18_501d9fb9-6139-477e-94b9-17eee17239f4.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (THE “LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL”) SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED. YOU ARE STRONGLY URGED TO READ THE ACCOMPANYING CIRCULAR BEFORE COMPLETING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS FOR DEPOSITING WARRANTS OF MINES D'OR ORBEC INC. IN CONNECTION WITH THE PLAN OF ARRANGEMENT UNDER SECTION 182 OF THE BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT (ONTARIO) INVOLVING MINES D'OR ORBEC INC. AND IAMGOLD CORPORATION.
THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS FOR USE ONLY BY WARRANTHOLDERS OF MINES D'OR ORBEC INC. NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONSTITUTES, OR IS INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE, AN OFFER OF SECURITIES TO THE PUBLIC OR AN ADVERTISEMENT IN RELATION TO AN OFFER OF SECURITIES TO THE PUBLIC IN ANY JURISDICTION.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
FOR WARRANTS OF MINES D'OR ORBEC INC.
This Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed by a holder (a “Warrantholder”) of common share purchase warrants (the “Warrants”) of Mines D’Or Orbec Inc. (“Orbec” or the “Company”), together with all other required documents, must accompany certificate(s) representing the Warrants deposited in connection with the proposed arrangement (the “Arrangement”) involving Orbec and IAMGOLD Corporation (the “Purchaser”) that is being submitted for approval at the special meeting of shareholders of Orbec to be held on December 15, 2025, or any adjournment or postponement thereof (the “Meeting”), as described in the accompanying management information circular of the Company dated November 10, 2025 (the “Circular”). Under the terms of the Arrangement, following the Effective Time, each Warrantholder (other than the Purchaser) will receive, in exchange for each Warrant held, a cash amount (without interest) equal to the positive amount (if any) by which C$0.125 exceeds the exercise price of such Warrant, multiplied by the number of Orbec Shares such Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase (the “Warrant Consideration Amount”). Where such amount is zero or negative, such Warrantholder will not be entitled to receive any amount in respect of such Warrant.
Please note that the delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, together with your Warrant certificate(s), does not constitute a vote in favor of the Arrangement. To exercise your right to vote at the Meeting, you must attend the Meeting virtually or vote by proxy.
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Letter of Transmittal that are defined in the Circular have the meanings set out in the Circular. Copies of the Arrangement Agreement and the Circular are available under the Company’s issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Warrantholders should refer to the full text of the Plan of Arrangement which is appended to the Circular as Appendix B, and are encouraged to carefully review the Circular in its entirety.
In order to receive the Warrant Consideration Amount under the Arrangement, if any, Warrantholders are required to deposit the certificate(s) representing the Warrants held by them with Computershare Investor Services Inc. (the “Depositary” or “Computershare”). This Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, together with all other required documents, must accompany all certificates for Warrants deposited in exchange for the applicable Warrant Consideration Amount pursuant to the Arrangement. Reference should be made to the Circular for more information regarding expected timing for completion of the Arrangement.
The Effective Date of the Arrangement is currently expected to occur prior to the end of 2025, after all conditions to completion of the Arrangement have been satisfied or waived. COMPLETION OF THE ARRANGEMENT IS SUBJECT TO THE SATISFACTION OR WAIVER OF CERTAIN CONDITIONS. NO DELIVERY OF THE WARRANT CONSIDERATION AMOUNT WILL BE MADE PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME.
TO: MINES D'OR ORBEC INC.
AND TO: COMPUTERSHARE INVESTOR SERVICES INC. at its offices set out herein.
In connection with the Arrangement being considered for approval at the Meeting, the undersigned delivers to you the enclosed certificate(s) representing Warrants (the “Deposited Warrants”), details of which are as follows:
| Certificate Number(s) (if any) | Name in Which Registered | Number of Warrants Deposited |
|---|---|---|
(If the space in the above table is not sufficient, please attach a list in the above form)
The undersigned transmits herewith the certificate(s) described above for cancellation upon the Effective Time. The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Circular and represents and warrants that (i) the undersigned is the registered and legal owner of, and has good right and title and sufficient authority to deposit, sell and transfer, the Deposited Warrants; (ii) such Deposited Warrants are owned, directly or indirectly, by the undersigned free and clear of all mortgages, liens, charges, encumbrances, security interests and adverse claims; (iii) the Deposited Warrants have not been sold, assigned or transferred, nor has any agreement been entered into to sell, assign or transfer any such Deposited Warrants to any other person; (iv) the undersigned has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Letter of Transmittal and to deposit, sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Deposited Warrants and at the Effective Time, the Purchaser will acquire good title to the Deposited Warrants (as the same are modified pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement) free from all liens, charges, encumbrances, claims and equities; (v) the undersigned will not, prior to the Effective Time, transfer or permit to be transferred any Deposited Warrants; (vi) the surrender of the Deposited Warrants complies with all applicable Laws; (vii) all information inserted by the undersigned into this Letter of Transmittal is complete, true and accurate; and (viii) the delivery of the Warrant Consideration Amount will discharge any and all obligations of Orbec, the Purchaser, and the Depositary with respect to the matters contemplated by this Letter of Transmittal and the Arrangement. These representations and warranties shall survive the completion of the Arrangement.
The undersigned hereby agrees to transfer, effective at the Effective Time and pursuant to the Arrangement, all right, title and interest in the Deposited Warrants and irrevocably constitutes and appoints any one officer or director of the Purchaser, or any other person designated by the Purchaser in writing, the true and lawful agent, attorney and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with respect to the Deposited Warrants purchased in connection with the Arrangement with full power of substitution (such power of attorney, being coupled with an interest, being irrevocable) to, in the name of and on behalf of the undersigned, (i) register or record the transfer of such Deposited Warrants consisting of securities on the registers of Orbec; and (ii) execute and negotiate any cheques or other instruments representing any such distribution payable to or to the order of the undersigned.
The undersigned revokes any and all other authority, whether as agent, attorney-in-fact, attorney, proxy or otherwise, previously conferred or agreed to be conferred by the undersigned at any time with respect to the Deposited Warrants or any distributions other than as set out in this Letter of Transmittal and in any proxy granted for use at the Meeting. Other than in connection with the Meeting, no subsequent authority, whether as agent, attorney-in-fact, attorney, proxy or otherwise, will be granted with respect to the Deposited Warrants or any distributions by or on behalf of the undersigned, unless the Deposited Warrants are not transferred to, acquired and paid for by the Purchaser in connection with the Arrangement.
The undersigned covenants and agrees to execute all such documents, transfers and other assurances as may be necessary or desirable to convey the Deposited Warrants and distributions effectively to the Purchaser.
The undersigned agrees that all questions as to validity, form, eligibility (including timely receipt) and acceptance of any Warrants deposited in connection with the Arrangement shall be determined by the Purchaser in its sole discretion and that such determination shall be final and binding. The Purchaser reserves the absolute right to reject any and all deposits which it determines not to be in proper form or which may be unlawful to accept under the laws of any jurisdiction. The Purchaser further reserves the absolute right to waive any defects or irregularities in the deposit of any Warrants. The undersigned acknowledges that there is no duty or obligation upon Orbec, the Purchaser, the Depositary or any other person to give notice of any defect or irregularity in any such surrender of Warrants and no liability will be incurred by any of them for failure to give any such notice.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges that the delivery of the Deposited Warrants shall be effected, and the risk of loss to such Deposited Warrants shall pass, only upon proper receipt thereof by the Depositary.
Each authority conferred or agreed to be conferred by the undersigned shall survive the death, legal incapacity, bankruptcy or insolvency of the undersigned and in this Letter of Transmittal may be exercised during any subsequent legal incapacity of the undersigned and all obligations of the undersigned in this Letter of Transmittal shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.
The undersigned acknowledges that the Company and the Purchaser may be required to disclose personal information in respect of the undersigned and consents to disclosure of personal information in respect of the undersigned to (i) stock exchanges or securities regulatory authorities, (ii) the Depositary, (iii) any of the parties to the Arrangement, (iv) legal counsel to any of the parties to the Arrangement, and (v) as otherwise required by any applicable law.
The undersigned instructs the Depositary, upon the Arrangement becoming effective, to deliver the cheque(s) or wire, as applicable, representing the Warrant Consideration Amount that the undersigned is entitled to pursuant to the Arrangement in exchange for the Deposited Warrants, by first class mail, postage prepaid, or to hold such cheque(s) for pick-up, in accordance with the instructions given below. Should the Arrangement not proceed for any reason, the Deposited Warrants and other relevant documents shall be returned in accordance with the instructions in the preceding sentence. The undersigned acknowledges that the delivery of Deposited Warrants pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal is irrevocable and may not be withdrawn by the undersigned, unless the Arrangement is not completed and the Arrangement Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms.
The undersigned acknowledges that, in accordance with the Arrangement, the Company, the Company's subsidiaries, the Purchaser, and the Depositary shall be entitled to deduct or withhold from any amounts otherwise payable or deliverable to any Person under the Plan of Arrangement (including, without limitation, the Warrant Consideration Amount payable or otherwise deliverable to any Warrantholder) such amounts as the Company, the Company's subsidiaries, the Purchaser, or the Depositary are required, entitled or permitted to deduct and withhold with respect to such payment under the Tax Act, the Code or any other provisions of any Laws. To the extent that Taxes or other amounts are so deducted or withheld, such deducted or withheld Taxes or other amounts shall be treated for all purposes hereof as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made; provided that such deducted or withheld Taxes or other amounts are actually remitted to the appropriate Governmental Entity. The undersigned acknowledges that it has consulted or has had the opportunity to consult its own tax advisor with respect to the potential income tax consequences to it of the Arrangement.
The undersigned acknowledges that by execution of this Letter of Transmittal, except as otherwise agreed with the Purchaser in writing, the undersigned is in agreement with the Purchaser that effective as of the Effective Time, the undersigned irrevocably and unconditionally releases, acquits and forever discharges, and shall be deemed to have irrevocably released, acquitted and forever discharged, the Company, the Purchaser and their respective past and present subsidiaries, affiliates, associates, directors, officers, employees, advisors, agents and assigns (the "Releasees") of and from all actions, causes of actions, suits, claims and demands whatsoever, whether presently known or unknown, which the undersigned ever had, now has or may hereafter have against such entities and persons, or any of them, for or by reason of, or in any way arising out of any cause, matter or thing, by reason of or in connection with the undersigned having been a holder of Shares, Warrants, Orbec Options or other securities of the Company. Provided, however, that the foregoing release shall not release the Releasees from any of their obligations under this Letter of Transmittal, any obligations of the Releasees arising directly from the Arrangement or rights of the undersigned arising from an order of the Court in connection with the Arrangement.
By reason of the use by the undersigned of an English language form of Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned shall be deemed to have required that any contract evidenced by the Arrangement as accepted through this Letter of Transmittal, as well as all documents related thereto, be drawn exclusively in the English language. En raison de l'usage d'une lettre d'envoi en langue anglaise par le soussigné, le soussigné et les destinataires sont présumés d'avoir requis que tout contrat attesté par l'arrangement et son acceptation par cette lettre d'envoi, de même que tous les documents qui s'y rapportent, soient rédigés exclusivement en langue anglaise.
This Letter of Transmittal will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING BOXES, AS APPROPRIATE
| BOX A
ENTITLEMENT DELIVERY
All payments representing the Warrant Consideration Amount will be issued and mailed to your existing registration unless otherwise stated. If you would like your cash delivered to a different address, please complete BOX B
☐ MAIL CHEQUE TO ADDRESS ON RECORD (DEFAULT)
☐ MAIL CHEQUE TO A DIFFERENT ADDRESS (MUST COMPLETE BOX B)
☐ HOLD CHEQUE FOR PICKUP AT COMPUTERSHARE TORONTO OFFICE:
Computershare Investor Services Inc.
320 Bay Street, 14^{th} Floor
Toronto, ON
☐ DELIVER FUNDS VIA WIRE (COMPLETE BOX E) | BOX B
MAIL PAYMENT TO 3^{rd} PARTY ADDRESS:**
☐ CHECK BOX IF SAME AS EXISTING REGISTRATION (DEFAULT)
(ATTENTION NAME)
(STREET NUMBER & NAME)
(CITY AND PROVINCE/STATE)
(COUNTRY AND POSTAL/ZIP CODE)
(TELEPHONE NUMBER (BUSINESS HOURS))
(SOCIAL INSURANCE/SECURITY NUMBER)
- THE PAYMENT WILL REMAIN IN THE NAME OF THE REGISTRATION |
| --- | --- |
BOX C
RESIDENCY DECLARATION
ALL WARRANTHOLDERS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A RESIDENCY DECLARATION. FAILURE TO COMPLETE A RESIDENCY DECLARATION MAY RESULT IN A DELAY IN YOUR PAYMENT.
The undersigned represents that:
☐ The beneficial owner of Warrants deposited herewith is a U.S. Holder or is acting on behalf of a U.S. Warrantholder.
☐ The beneficial owner of Warrants deposited herewith is not a U.S. Holder and is not acting on behalf of a U.S. Warrantholder.
A “U.S. Holder” is any Warrantholder who either (i) has a registered account address that is located within the United States or any territory or possession thereof or who provides an address in Box B above or an account in the United States or any territory or possession thereof pursuant to the wire instructions below, or (ii) is a “U.S. person” for the United States federal income tax purposes as defined in Instruction 7 below. If you are a U.S person or acting on behalf of a U.S. person, then in order to avoid backup withholding of U.S federal income tax you must provide a complete IRS Form W-9 (enclosed) below or otherwise provide certification that the U.S. person is exempt from backup withholding, as provided in the instructions (see Part VIII). If you are not a U.S. Holder as defined in (ii) above, but you provide an address that is located within the United States or any territory or possession thereof, you must complete an appropriate Form W-8.
BOX D
LOST CERTIFICATES
If your lost certificate(s) forms part of an estate or trust, or are valued at more than CAD $200,000.00, please contact Computershare for additional instructions. Any person who, knowingly and with intent to defraud any insurance company or other person, files a statement of claim containing any materially false information or conceals for the purpose of misleading, information concerning any fact material thereto, commits a fraudulent insurance act, which is a crime.
PREMIUM CALCULATION:
Number of lost Warrants __ X CAD 0.000375 = Premium Payable $__ NOTE: Payment NOT required if premium is less than $5.00
The option to replace your certificate by completing this Box D will expire one year after the Effective Date. After this date Warrantholders must contact Computershare for alternative replacement options. Please enclose a certified cheque, bank draft or money order payable to Computershare Investor Services Inc.
STATEMENT OF LOST CERTIFICATES:
The undersigned (solitarily, jointly and severally, if more than one) represents and agrees to the following: (i) the undersigned is (and, if applicable, the registered owner of the Original(s), at the time of their death, was) the lawful and unconditional owner of the Original(s) and is entitled to the full and exclusive possession thereof; (ii) the missing certificate(s) representing the Original(s) have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and have not been endorsed, cashed, negotiated, transferred, assigned, pledged, hypothecated, encumbered in any way, or otherwise disposed of; (iii) a diligent search for the certificate(s) has been made and they have not been found; and (iv) the undersigned makes this Statement for the purpose of transferring or exchanging the Original(s) (including, if applicable, without probate or letters of administration or certification of estate trustee(s) or similar documentation having been granted by any court), and hereby agrees to surrender the certificate(s) representing the Original(s) for cancellation should the undersigned, at any time, find the certificate(s).
The undersigned hereby agrees, for myself and my heirs, assigns and personal representatives, in consideration of the transfer or exchange of the Original(s), to completely indemnify, protect and hold harmless Orbec, Computershare Investor Services Inc., Aviva Insurance Company of Canada, each of their lawful successors and assigns, and any other party to the transaction (the "Obligees"), from and against all losses, costs and damages, including court costs and attorneys' fees that they may be subject to or liable for in respect of the cancellation and/or replacement of the Original(s) and/or the certificate(s) representing the Original(s) and/ or the transfer or exchange of the Originals represented thereby, upon the transfer, exchange or issue of the Originals and/or a cheque or wire, as applicable, for any cash payment. The rights accruing to the Obligees under the preceding sentence shall not be limited by the negligence, inadvertence, accident, oversight or breach of any duty or obligations on the part of the Obligees or their respective officers, employees and agents or their failure to inquire into, contest, or litigate any claim, whenever such negligence, inadvertence, accident, oversight, breach or failure may occur or have occurred. I acknowledge that a fee of CAD 0.000375 per lost Warrant is payable by the undersigned. Surety protection for the Obligees is provided under Blanket Lost Original Instruments/Waiver of Probate or Administration Bond No. 35900-16 issued by Aviva Insurance Company of Canada.
BOX E
WIRE PAYMENT*
*PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A $100 (PLUS APPLICABLE TAXES) BANKING FEE ON WIRE PAYMENTS. ALTERNATIVELY, CHEQUE PAYMENTS ARE ISSUED AT NO ADDITIONAL COST
*AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE, ALL PAYMENTS WILL BE ISSUED BY CHEQUE.
*IF WIRE DETAILS ARE INCORRECT OR INCOMPLETE, COMPUTERSHARE WILL ATTEMPT TO CONTACT YOU AND CORRECT THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, IF WE CANNOT CORRECT THE ISSUE PROMPTLY, A CHEQUE WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY ISSUED AND MAILED TO THE ADDRESS ON RECORD. NO FEES WILL BE CHARGED
Please provide email address and phone number in the event that we need to contact you for corrective measures:
EMAIL ADDRESS: _____ PHONE NUMBER: _______
Beneficiary Name(s) that appears on the account at your financial institution – this MUST be the same name and address that your shares are registered to
Beneficiary Address (Note: PO Boxes will not be accepted) City Province/State Postal Code/Zip Code
Beneficiary Bank/Financial Institution
Bank Address City Province/State Postal Code/Zip Code
PLEASE ONLY COMPLETE THE APPLICABLE BOXES BELOW, AS PROVIDED BY YOUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO COMPLETE ALL BOXES
Bank Account No.
Bank No. & Transit No. (Canadian Banks)
ABA/Routing No. (US Banks)
(1 digit & 5 digits)
(# digits)
SWIFT or BIC Code
IBAN Number
Sort Code (GBP)
(11 characters – if you only have eight, put 'XXX' for the last three)
Additional Notes and special routing instructions:
Mandatory fields
WARRANTHOLDER SIGNATURE(S):
Signature guaranteed by
(if required under Instruction 3)
Authorized Signature
Name of Guarantor (please print or type)
Address of Guarantor (please print or type)
Dated: _________
Signature of Warrantholder or authorized representative
(see Instructions 2 and 4)
Address
Name of Warrantholder (please print or type)
Telephone No
Name of authorized representative, if applicable
(please print or type)
Form W-9
(Rev. March 2024)
Department of the treasury
Internal Revenue Services
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification
Give form to the requester. Do not send to the IRS.
Go to www.irs.gov/FormW9 for instructions and the latest information.
Before you begin. For guidance related to the purpose of Form W-9, see Purpose of Form, below.
| Print or type.
See Specific Instructions on page 3. | 1 Name of entity/individual. An entry is required. (For a sole proprietor or disregarded entity, enter the owner's name on line 1, and enter the business/disregarded entity's name on line 2.) | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | 2 Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above. | | |
| | 3a Check the appropriate box for federal tax classification of the entity/individual whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one of the following seven boxes.
☐ Individual/sole proprietor ☐ C corporation ☐ S corporation ☐ Partnership ☐ Trust/estate
☐ LLC. Enter the tax classification (C = C corporation, S = S corporation, P = Partnership)
Note: Check the "LLC" box above and, in the entry space, enter the appropriate code (C, S, or P) for the tax classification of the LLC, unless it is a disregarded entity. A disregarded entity should instead check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner.
☐ Other (see instructions) | | 4 Exemptions (codes apply only to certain entities, not individuals; see instructions on page 3):
Exempt payee code (if any)
Exemption from Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) reporting code (if any)
(Applies to accounts maintained Outside the United States.) |
| | 5 Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.). See instructions. | Requester's name and address (optional) | |
| | 6 City, state, and ZIP code | | |
| | 7 List account number(s) here (optional) | | |
Part I Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is generally your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the instructions for Part I, later. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN, later.
Note: If the account is in more than one name, see the instructions for line 1. See also What Name and Number To Give the Requester for guidelines on whose number to enter.
| Social security number | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | |||||||||
| OF | ||||||||||
| Employer identification number | ||||||||||
| - |
Part II Certification
Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:
- 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
- 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
- I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below); and
- The FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that I am exempt from FATCA reporting is correct.
Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and, generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions for Part II, later.
| Sign Here | Signature of U.S. person | Date |
|---|---|---|
General Instructions
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.
Future developments. For the latest information about developments related to Form W-9 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to www.irs.gov/FormW9.
What's New
Line 3a has been modified to clarify how a disregarded entity completes this line. An LLC that is a disregarded entity should check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner. Otherwise, it should check the "LLC" box and enter its appropriate tax classification.
New line 3b has been added to this form. A flow-through entity is required to complete this line to indicate that it has direct or indirect foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries when it provides the Form W-9 to another flow-through entity in which it has an ownership interest. This change is intended to provide a flow-through entity with information regarding the status of its indirect foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries, so that it can satisfy any applicable reporting requirements. For example, a partnership that has any indirect foreign partners may be required to complete Schedules K-2 and K-3. See the Partnership Instructions for Schedules K-2 and K-3 (Form 1065).
Purpose of Form
An individual or entity (Form W-9 requester) who is required to file an information return with the IRS is giving you this form because they
Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024)
must obtain your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN), which may be your social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN), or employer identification number (EIN), to report on an information return the amount paid to you, or other amount reportable on an information return. Examples of information returns include, but are not limited to, the following.
- Form 1099-INT (interest earned or paid).
- Form 1099-DIV (dividends, including those from stocks or mutual funds).
- Form 1099-MISC (various types of income, prizes, awards, or gross proceeds).
- Form 1099-NEC (nonemployee compensation).
- Form 1099-B (stock or mutual fund sales and certain other transactions by brokers).
- Form 1099-S (proceeds from real estate transactions).
- Form 1099-K (merchant card and third-party network transactions).
- Form 1098 (home mortgage interest), 1098-E (student loan interest), and 1098-T (tuition).
- Form 1099-C (canceled debt).
- Form 1099-A (acquisition or abandonment of secured property).
Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN.
Caution: If you don't return Form W-9 to the requester with a TIN, you might be subject to backup withholding. See What is backup withholding, later.
By signing the filled-out form, you:
- Certify that the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number to be issued);
- Certify that you are not subject to backup withholding; or
- Claim exemption from backup withholding if you are a U.S. exempt payee; and
- Certify to your non-foreign status for purposes of withholding under chapter 3 or 4 of the Code (if applicable); and
- Certify that FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that you are exempt from the FATCA reporting is correct. See What Is FATCA Reporting, later, for further information.
Note: If you are a U.S. person and a requester gives you a form other than Form W-9 to request your TIN, you must use the requester's form if it is substantially similar to this Form W-9.
Definition of a U.S. person. For federal tax purposes, you are considered a U.S. person if you are:
- An individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien;
- A partnership, corporation, company, or association created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States;
- An estate (other than a foreign estate); or
- A domestic trust (as defined in Regulations section 301.7701-7).
Establishing U.S. status for purposes of chapter 3 and chapter 4 withholding. Payments made to foreign persons, including certain distributions, allocations of income, or transfers of sales proceeds, may be subject to withholding under chapter 3 or chapter 4 of the Code (sections 1441-1474). Under those rules, if a Form W-9 or other certification of non-foreign status has not been received, a withholding agent, transferee, or partnership (payor) generally applies presumption rules that may require the payor to withhold applicable tax from the recipient, owner, transferor, or partner (payee). See Pub. 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities.
The following persons must provide Form W-9 to the payor for purposes of establishing its non-foreign status.
- In the case of a disregarded entity with a U.S. owner, the U.S. owner of the disregarded entity and not the disregarded entity.
- In the case of a grantor trust with a U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner, generally, the U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner of the grantor trust and not the grantor trust.
- In the case of a U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust), the U.S. trust and not the beneficiaries of the trust.
See Pub. 515 for more information on providing a Form W-9 or a certification of non-foreign status to avoid withholding.
Foreign person. If you are a foreign person or the U.S. branch of a foreign bank that has elected to be treated as a U.S. person (under Regulations section 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv) or other applicable section for chapter 3 or 4 purposes), do not use Form W-9. Instead, use the appropriate Form W-8 or Form 8233 (see Pub. 515). If you are a qualified foreign pension fund under Regulations section 1.897(l)-1(d), or a partnership that is wholly owned by qualified foreign pension funds, that is treated as a non-foreign person for purposes of section 1445 withholding, do not use Form W-9. Instead, use Form W-8EXP (or other certification of non-foreign status).
Nonresident alien who becomes a resident alien. Generally, only a nonresident alien individual may use the terms of a tax treaty to reduce or eliminate U.S. tax on certain types of income. However, most tax treaties contain a provision known as a saving clause. Exceptions specified in the saving clause may permit an exemption from tax to continue for certain types of income even after the payee has otherwise become a U.S. resident alien for tax purposes.
If you are a U.S. resident alien who is relying on an exception contained in the saving clause of a tax treaty to claim an exemption from U.S. tax on certain types of income, you must attach a statement to Form W-9 that specifies the following five items.
- The treaty country. Generally, this must be the same treaty under which you claimed exemption from tax as a nonresident alien.
- The treaty article addressing the income.
- The article number (or location) in the tax treaty that contains the saving clause and its exceptions.
- The type and amount of income that qualifies for the exemption from tax.
- Sufficient facts to justify the exemption from tax under the terms of the treaty article.
Example. Article 20 of the U.S.-China income tax treaty allows an exemption from tax for scholarship income received by a Chinese student temporarily present in the United States. Under U.S. law, this student will become a resident alien for tax purposes if their stay in the United States exceeds 5 calendar years. However, paragraph 2 of the first Protocol to the U.S.-China treaty (dated April 30, 1984) allows the provisions of Article 20 to continue to apply even after the Chinese student becomes a resident alien of the United States. A Chinese student who qualifies for this exception (under paragraph 2 of the first Protocol) and is relying on this exception to claim an exemption from tax on their scholarship or fellowship income would attach to Form W-9 a statement that includes the information described above to support that exemption.
If you are a nonresident alien or a foreign entity, give the requester the appropriate completed Form W-8 or Form 8233.
Backup Withholding
What is backup withholding? Persons making certain payments to you must under certain conditions withhold and pay to the IRS 24% of such payments. This is called "backup withholding." Payments that may be subject to backup withholding include, but are not limited to, interest, tax-exempt interest, dividends, broker and barter exchange transactions, rents, royalties, nonemployee pay, payments made in settlement of payment card and third-party network transactions, and certain payments from fishing boat operators. Real estate transactions are not subject to backup withholding.
You will not be subject to backup withholding on payments you receive if you give the requester your correct TIN, make the proper certifications, and report all your taxable interest and dividends on your tax return.
Payments you receive will be subject to backup withholding if:
- You do not furnish your TIN to the requester;
- You do not certify your TIN when required (see the instructions for Part II for details);
- The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN;
- The IRS tells you that you are subject to backup withholding because you did not report all your interest and dividends on your tax return (for reportable interest and dividends only); or
- You do not certify to the requester that you are not subject to backup withholding, as described in item 4 under "By signing the filled-out form" above (for reportable interest and dividend accounts opened after 1983 only).
Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024)
Page 3
Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding. See Exempt payee code, later, and the separate Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information.
See also Establishing U.S. status for purposes of chapter 3 and chapter 4 withholding, earlier.
What Is FATCA Reporting?
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires a participating foreign financial institution to report all U.S. account holders that are specified U.S. persons. Certain payees are exempt from FATCA reporting. See Exemption from FATCA reporting code, later, and the Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information.
Updating Your Information
You must provide updated information to any person to whom you claimed to be an exempt payee if you are no longer an exempt payee and anticipate receiving reportable payments in the future from this person. For example, you may need to provide updated information if you are a C corporation that elects to be an S corporation, or if you are no longer tax exempt. In addition, you must furnish a new Form W-9 if the name or TIN changes for the account, for example, if the grantor of a grantor trust dies.
Penalties
Failure to furnish TIN. If you fail to furnish your correct TIN to a requester, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.
Civil penalty for false information with respect to withholding. If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.
Criminal penalty for falsifying information. Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.
Misuse of TINs. If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.
Specific Instructions
Line 1
You must enter one of the following on this line; do not leave this line blank. The name should match the name on your tax return.
If this Form W-9 is for a joint account (other than an account maintained by a foreign financial institution (FFI)), list first, and then circle, the name of the person or entity whose number you entered in Part I of Form W-9. If you are providing Form W-9 to an FFI to document a joint account, each holder of the account that is a U.S. person must provide a Form W-9.
- Individual. Generally, enter the name shown on your tax return. If you have changed your last name without informing the Social Security Administration (SSA) of the name change, enter your first name, the last name as shown on your social security card, and your new last name.
Note for ITIN applicant: Enter your individual name as it was entered on your Form W-7 application, line 1a. This should also be the same as the name you entered on the Form 1040 you filed with your application.
-
Sole proprietor. Enter your individual name as shown on your Form 1040 on line 1. Enter your business, trade, or "doing business as" (DBA) name on line 2.
-
Partnership, C corporation, S corporation, or LLC, other than a disregarded entity. Enter the entity's name as shown on the entity's tax return on line 1 and any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2.
-
Other entities. Enter your name as shown on required U.S. federal tax documents on line 1. This name should match the name shown on the charter or other legal document creating the entity. Enter any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2.
-
Disregarded entity. In general, a business entity that has a single owner, including an LLC, and is not a corporation, is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner (a disregarded entity). See Regulations section 301.7701-2(c)(2). A disregarded entity should check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner. Enter the owner's name on line 1. The name of the owner entered on line 1 should never be a disregarded entity. The name on line 1 should be the name shown on the income tax return on which the income should be reported. For example, if a foreign LLC that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal tax purposes has a single owner that is a U.S. person, the U.S. owner's name is required to be provided on line 1. If the direct owner of the entity is also a disregarded entity, enter the first owner that is not disregarded for federal tax purposes. Enter the disregarded entity's name on line 2. If the owner of the disregarded entity is a foreign person, the owner must complete an appropriate Form W-8 instead of a Form W-9. This is the case even if the foreign person has a U.S. TIN.
Line 2
If you have a business name, trade name, DBA name, or disregarded entity name, enter it on line 2.
Line 3a
Check the appropriate box on line 3a for the U.S. federal tax classification of the person whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one box on line 3a.
| IF the entity/individual on line 1 is a(n) . . . | THEN check the box for . . . |
|---|---|
| • Corporation | Corporation. |
| • Individual or | |
| • Sole proprietorship | Individual/sole proprietor. |
| • LLC classified as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes or | |
| • LLC that has filed Form 8832 or 2553 electing to be taxed as a corporation | Limited liability company and enter the appropriate tax classification: |
| P = Partnership, | |
| C = C corporation, or | |
| S = S corporation. | |
| • Partnership | Partnership. |
| • Trust/estate | Trust/estate. |
Line 3b
Check this box if you are a partnership (including an LLC classified as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes), trust, or estate that has any foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries, and you are providing this form to a partnership, trust, or estate, in which you have an ownership interest. You must check the box on line 3b if you receive a Form W-8 (or documentary evidence) from any partner, owner, or beneficiary establishing foreign status or if you receive a Form W-9 from any partner, owner, or beneficiary that has checked the box on line 3b.
Note: A partnership that provides a Form W-9 and checks box 3b may be required to complete Schedules K-2 and K-3 (Form 1065). For more information, see the Partnership Instructions for Schedules K-2 and K-3 (Form 1065).
If you are required to complete line 3b but fail to do so, you may not receive the information necessary to file a correct information return with the IRS or furnish a correct payee statement to your partners or beneficiaries. See, for example, sections 6698, 6722, and 6724 for penalties that may apply.
Line 4 Exemptions
If you are exempt from backup withholding and/or FATCA reporting, enter in the appropriate space on line 4 any code(s) that may apply to you.
Exempt payee code.
- Generally, individuals (including sole proprietors) are not exempt from backup withholding.
- Except as provided below, corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain payments, including interest and dividends.
- Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding for payments made in settlement of payment card or third-party network transactions.
- Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding with respect to attorneys' fees or gross proceeds paid to attorneys, and corporations that provide medical or health care services are not exempt with respect to payments reportable on Form 1099-MISC.
The following codes identify payees that are exempt from backup withholding. Enter the appropriate code in the space on line 4.
1—An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), any IRA, or a custodial account under section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements of section 401(f)(2).
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Page 4
2—The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.
3—A state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or territory, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities.
4—A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities.
5—A corporation.
6—A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. commonwealth or territory.
7—A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
8—A real estate investment trust.
9—An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
10—A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a).
11—A financial institution as defined under section 581.
12—A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian.
13—A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947.
The following chart shows types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt payees listed above, 1 through 13.
| IF the payment is for . . . | THEN the payment is exempt for . . . |
|---|---|
| • Interest and dividend payments | All exempt payees except for 7. |
| • Broker transactions | Exempt payees 1 through 4 and 6 through 11 and all C corporations. S corporations must not enter an exempt payee code because they are exempt only for sales of noncovered securities acquired prior to 2012. |
| • Barter exchange transactions and patronage dividends | Exempt payees 1 through 4. |
| • Payments over $600 required to be reported and direct sales over $5,000¹ | Generally, exempt payees 1 through 5.² |
| • Payments made in settlement of payment card or third-party network transactions | Exempt payees 1 through 4. |
¹ See Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Information, and its instructions.
² However, the following payments made to a corporation and reportable on Form 1099-MISC are not exempt from backup withholding: medical and health care payments, attorneys' fees, gross proceeds paid to an attorney reportable under section 6045(f), and payments for services paid by a federal executive agency.
Exemption from FATCA reporting code. The following codes identify payees that are exempt from reporting under FATCA. These codes apply to persons submitting this form for accounts maintained outside of the United States by certain foreign financial institutions. Therefore, if you are only submitting this form for an account you hold in the United States, you may leave this field blank. Consult with the person requesting this form if you are uncertain if the financial institution is subject to these requirements. A requester may indicate that a code is not required by providing you with a Form W-9 with "Not Applicable" (or any similar indication) entered on the line for a FATCA exemption code.
A—An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a) or any individual retirement plan as defined in section 7701(a)(37).
B—The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.
C—A state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or territory, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities.
D—A corporation the stock of which is regularly traded on one or more established securities markets, as described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i).
E—A corporation that is a member of the same expanded affiliated group as a corporation described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i).
F—A dealer in securities, commodities, or derivative financial instruments (including notional principal contracts, futures, forwards, and options) that is registered as such under the laws of the United States or any state.
G—A real estate investment trust.
H—A regulated investment company as defined in section 851 or an entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
I—A common trust fund as defined in section 584(a).
J—A bank as defined in section 581.
K—A broker.
L—A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947(a)(1).
M—A tax-exempt trust under a section 403(b) plan or section 457(g) plan.
Note: You may wish to consult with the financial institution requesting this form to determine whether the FATCA code and/or exempt payee code should be completed.
Line 5
Enter your address (number, street, and apartment or suite number). This is where the requester of this Form W-9 will mail your information returns. If this address differs from the one the requester already has on file, enter "NEW" at the top. If a new address is provided, there is still a chance the old address will be used until the payor changes your address in their records.
Line 6
Enter your city, state, and ZIP code.
Part I. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. If you are a resident alien and you do not have, and are not eligible to get, an SSN, your TIN is your IRS ITIN. Enter it in the entry space for the Social security number. If you do not have an ITIN, see How to get a TIN below.
If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN or EIN.
If you are a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner, enter the owner's SSN (or EIN, if the owner has one). If the LLC is classified as a corporation or partnership, enter the entity's EIN.
Note: See What Name and Number To Give the Requester, later, for further clarification of name and TIN combinations.
How to get a TIN. If you do not have a TIN, apply for one immediately. To apply for an SSN, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, from your local SSA office or get this form online at www.SSA.gov. You may also get this form by calling 800-772-1213. Use Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to apply for an ITIN, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to apply for an EIN. You can apply for an EIN online by accessing the IRS website at www.irs.gov/EIN. Go to www.irs.gov/Forms to view, download, or print Form W-7 and/or Form SS-4. Or, you can go to www.irs.gov/OrderForms to place an order and have Form W-7 and/or Form SS-4 mailed to you within 15 business days.
If you are asked to complete Form W-9 but do not have a TIN, apply for a TIN and enter "Applied For" in the space for the TIN, sign and date the form, and give it to the requester. For interest and dividend payments, and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable instruments, you will generally have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to the requester before you are subject to backup withholding on payments. The 60-day rule does not apply to other types of payments. You will be subject to backup withholding on all such payments until you provide your TIN to the requester.
Note: Entering "Applied For" means that you have already applied for a TIN or that you intend to apply for one soon. See also Establishing U.S. status for purposes of chapter 3 and chapter 4 withholding, earlier, for when you may instead be subject to withholding under chapter 3 or 4 of the Code.
Caution: A disregarded U.S. entity that has a foreign owner must use the appropriate Form W-8.
Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024)
Page 5
Part II. Certification
To establish to the withholding agent that you are a U.S. person, or resident alien, sign Form W-9. You may be requested to sign by the withholding agent even if item 1, 4, or 5 below indicates otherwise.
For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign (when required). In the case of a disregarded entity, the person identified on line 1 must sign. Exempt payees, see Exempt payee code, earlier.
Signature requirements. Complete the certification as indicated in items 1 through 5 below.
-
Interest, dividend, and barter exchange accounts opened before 1984 and broker accounts considered active during 1983. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.
-
Interest, dividend, broker, and barter exchange accounts opened after 1983 and broker accounts considered inactive during 1983. You must sign the certification or backup withholding will apply. If you are subject to backup withholding and you are merely providing your correct TIN to the requester, you must cross out item 2 in the certification before signing the form.
-
Real estate transactions. You must sign the certification. You may cross out item 2 of the certification.
-
Other payments. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification unless you have been notified that you have previously given an incorrect TIN. "Other payments" include payments made in the course of the requester's trade or business for rents, royalties, goods (other than bills for merchandise), medical and health care services (including payments to corporations), payments to a nonemployee for services, payments made in settlement of payment card and third-party network transactions, payments to certain fishing boat crew members and fishermen, and gross proceeds paid to attorneys (including payments to corporations).
-
Mortgage interest paid by you, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, qualified tuition program payments (under section 529), ABLE accounts (under section 529A), IRA, Coverdell ESA, Archer MSA or HSA contributions or distributions, and pension distributions. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.
What Name and Number To Give the Requester
| For this type of account: | Give name and SSN of: |
|---|---|
| 1. Individual | The individual |
| 2. Two or more individuals (joint account) other than an account maintained by an FFI | The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account^{1} |
| 3. Two or more U.S. persons (joint account maintained by an FFI) | Each holder of the account |
| 4. Custodial account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act) | The minor^{2} |
| 5. a. The usual revocable savings trust (grantor is also trustee) | The grantor-trustee^{1} |
| b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law | The actual owner^{1} |
| 6. Sole proprietorship or disregarded entity owned by an individual | The owner^{3} |
| 7. Grantor trust filing under Optional Filing Method 1 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(A))** | The grantor* |
| For this type of account: | Give name and EIN of: |
| --- | --- |
| 8. Disregarded entity not owned by an individual | The owner |
| 9. A valid trust, estate, or pension trust | Legal entity^{4} |
| 10. Corporation or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832 or Form 2553 | The corporation |
| 11. Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization | The organization |
| 12. Partnership or multi-member LLC | The partnership |
| 13. A broker or registered nominee | The broker or nominee |
| 14. Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments | The public entity |
| 15. Grantor trust filing Form 1041 or under the Optional Filing Method 2, requiring Form 1099 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(B))** | The trust |
1 List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has an SSN, that person's number must be furnished.
2 Circle the minor's name and furnish the minor's SSN.
3 You must show your individual name on line 1, and enter your business or DBA name, if any, on line 2. You may use either your SSN or EIN (if you have one), but the IRS encourages you to use your SSN.
4 List first and circle the name of the trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the TIN of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.)
*Note: The grantor must also provide a Form W-9 to the trustee of the trust.
** For more information on optional filing methods for grantor trusts, see the Instructions for Form 1041.
Note: If no name is circled when more than one name is listed, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed.
Secure Your Tax Records From Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name, SSN, or other identifying information, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund.
To reduce your risk:
- Protect your SSN,
- Ensure your employer is protecting your SSN, and
- Be careful when choosing a tax return preparer.
If your tax records are affected by identity theft and you receive a notice from the IRS, respond right away to the name and phone number printed on the IRS notice or letter.
If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft but you think you are at risk due to a lost or stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity, or a questionable credit report, contact the IRS Identity Theft Hotline at 800-908-4490 or submit Form 14039.
For more information, see Pub. 5027, Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers.
Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024)
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Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a systemic problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD 800-829-4059.
Protect yourself from suspicious emails or phishing schemes.
Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common act is sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.
The IRS does not initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS does not request personal detailed information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts.
If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward this message to [email protected]. You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 800-366-4484. You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission at [email protected] or report them at www.ftc.gov/complaint. You can contact the FTC at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or 877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338). If you have been the victim of identity theft, see www.IdentityTheft.gov and Pub. 5027.
Go to www.irs.gov/IdentityTheft to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk.
Privacy Act Notice
Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code requires you to provide your correct TIN to persons (including federal agencies) who are required to file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, or certain other income paid to you; mortgage interest you paid; the acquisition or abandonment of secured property; the cancellation of debt; or contributions you made to an IRA, Archer MSA, or HSA. The person collecting this form uses the information on the form to file information returns with the IRS, reporting the above information. Routine uses of this information include giving it to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and territories for use in administering their laws. The information may also 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, payors must generally withhold a percentage of taxable interest, dividends, and certain other payments to a payee who does not give a TIN to the payor. Certain penalties may also apply for providing false or fraudulent information.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Use of Letter of Transmittal
Registered Warrantholders should read the accompanying Circular prior to completing this Letter of Transmittal. This Letter of Transmittal, duly completed and signed, together with any accompanying certificate(s) representing the Deposited Warrants and all other required documents must be sent or delivered to the Depositary at the addresses set out on the back of this Letter of Transmittal. In order for registered Warrantholder to receive the Warrant Consideration Amount for their Warrants, such holders must deposit the certificate(s) representing their Warrants with the Depositary. This Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, together with all other documents and instruments referred to in this Letter of Transmittal or reasonably requested by the Depositary, must accompany all certificates representing Warrants deposited for payment pursuant to the Arrangement.
The method used to deliver this Letter of Transmittal and any accompanying certificate(s) representing Warrants is at the option and risk of the holder, and delivery will be deemed effective only when such documents are actually received by the Depositary. The Purchaser recommends that the necessary documentation be hand delivered to the Depositary at its office(s) specified on the last page of this Letter of Transmittal, and a receipt obtained; otherwise the use of registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended.
2. Signatures
This Letter of Transmittal must be filled in and signed by the Warrantholder described above or by such holder’s duly authorized representative (in accordance with Instruction 4).
(a) If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the accompanying certificate(s) representing the Warrants, such signature(s) on this Letter of Transmittal must correspond with the names(s) as registered or as written on the face of such certificate(s) without any change whatsoever, and the certificate(s) need not be endorsed. If such deposited certificate(s) evidences Warrants that are held of record by two or more joint holders, all such holders must sign the Letter of Transmittal.
(b) If this Letter of Transmittal is signed on behalf of a registered Warrantholder by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the accompanying certificate(s) representing the Warrants:
(i) such deposited certificate(s) must be endorsed or be accompanied by an appropriate transfer power of attorney duly and properly completed by the registered holder(s); and
(ii) the signature(s) on such endorsement or transfer power of attorney must correspond exactly to the name(s) of the registered holder(s) as registered or as appearing on the certificate(s) and must be guaranteed as noted in Instruction 3 below.
(c) If any of the Deposited Warrants are registered in different names on several certificate(s), it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of such Deposited Warrants.
3. Guarantee of Signatures
If (i) this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the Deposited Warrants, (ii) in the event the Arrangement is not completed, Deposited Warrants are to be returned to a person other than such registered holder(s) or sent to an address other than the address of the registered holder(s) as shown on the registers of Orbec, or (iii) the Warrant Consideration Amount is to be issued or delivered in the name of a person other than the registered holder of the Deposited Warrants, such signature(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (as defined below), or in some other manner satisfactory to the Depositary (except that no guarantee is required if the signature is that of an Eligible Institution).
An “Eligible Institution” means a Canadian Schedule I chartered bank, a major trust company in Canada, a commercial bank or trust company in the United States, a member of the Securities Transfer Association Medallion Program (STAMP), a member of the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP) or a member of the New York Stock Exchange Inc. Medallion Signature Program (MSP). Members of these programs are usually members of a recognized stock exchange in Canada and the United States, members of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or banks and trust companies in the United States.
- Fiduciaries, Representatives and Authorizations
Where this Letter of Transmittal is executed by a person acting as an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, corporation, partnership or association, or on behalf of a corporation, partnership or association or is executed by any other person acting in a representative capacity, this Letter of Transmittal must be accompanied by satisfactory evidence of the authority to act. Each of the Purchaser or the Depositary, at its discretion, may require additional evidence of authority or additional documentation.
- Miscellaneous
(a) If the space on this Letter of Transmittal is insufficient to list all certificate(s) for Deposited Warrants, additional certificate numbers and number of Deposited Warrants may be included on a separate signed list affixed to this Letter of Transmittal.
(b) If Deposited Warrants are registered in different forms (e.g. “John Doe” and “J. Doe”) a separate Letter of Transmittal should be signed for each different registration.
(c) No alternative, conditional or contingent deposits will be accepted.
(d) The Arrangement, this Letter of Transmittal and any agreement in connection with the Arrangement will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein. The holder of the Deposited Warrants that are the subject of this Letter of Transmittal hereby unconditionally and irrevocably attorns to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Ontario and the courts of appeal therefrom.
(e) Additional copies of the Circular and this Letter of Transmittal may be obtained from the Depositary at any of its respective offices at the addresses listed below. Before completing this Letter of Transmittal, you are urged to read the accompanying Circular and discuss any questions with your financial, legal and/or tax advisors.
(f) Except where otherwise specified, all references to currency herein are to lawful money of Canada and “$” refers to Canadian dollars.
(g) Under no circumstances will interest accrue or be paid on the Warrant Consideration Amount payable in respect of the Arrangement.
(h) Any representation made by a registered Warrantholder in this Letter of Transmittal will survive the Effective Time of the Arrangement.
- Lost Certificates
If, prior to the Effective Time, any certificate(s) that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented one or more outstanding Warrants has been lost, stolen or destroyed, you are instructed to contact the transfer agent and registrar for the Warrants to obtain a replacement certificate representing such Warrants. If, following the Effective Time:
Option #1: If a certificate representing Warrants has been lost, stolen or destroyed, this Letter of Transmittal should be completed as fully as possible and forwarded together with a letter describing the loss to the Depositary. The Depositary will respond with the replacement requirements in order to receive payment of the Warrant Consideration Amount.
Option #2: Alternatively, Warrantholders who have lost, stolen, or destroyed their certificate(s) may participate in Computershare’s blanket bond program with Aviva Insurance Company of Canada by completing BOX D above, and submitting the applicable certified cheque or money order made payable to Computershare Investor Services Inc.
If a certificate representing the Warrant(s) has been lost, stolen or destroyed, either of the foregoing actions must be taken sufficiently in advance of the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Effective Date in order to satisfy the replacement requirements in sufficient time to permit the Warrants to be deposited with the Depositary at or prior to the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Effective Date.
- Cancellation of Rights after Six Years
Pursuant to the terms of the Arrangement, any certificate(s) formerly representing Warrants that are not deposited with the Depositary together with a duly completed Letter of Transmittal and any other documents the Depositary reasonably requires, on or before the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Effective Date, shall cease to represent a right or claim of any kind or nature and the right of the holder of certificate(s) representing Warrants to receive the Warrant Consideration Amount for such Warrants shall be deemed to be surrendered together with all dividends or distributions thereon held for such holder (less any applicable withholding tax).
Pursuant to the terms of the Arrangement, any payment made by way of cheque or wire, as applicable, by the Depositary that has not been deposited or that otherwise remains unclaimed, in each case, on or before the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Effective Time, and any right or claim to payment that remains outstanding on the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Effective Time shall cease to represent a right or claim of any kind or nature and the right of the holder to receive the applicable consideration for the Warrants pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement shall terminate and be deemed to be surrendered and forfeited to the Purchaser or Orbec, as applicable, for no consideration.
- Substitute Form W-9 — U.S. Warrantholders
The following does not constitute a summary of any U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Arrangement. Warrantholders should review the Circular and consult with their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the Arrangement.
In order to avoid "backup withholding" of U.S. federal income tax on payments made on the Warrants, a Warrantholder that is a U.S. holder (as defined below) must generally provide the person's correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN") on the Form W-9 above and certify, under penalties of perjury, that (a) such TIN is correct, (b) that such Warrantholder is not subject to backup withholding because (i) such Warrantholder has not been notified by the IRS that such Warrantholder is subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, (ii) the IRS has notified such U.S. holder that he, she or it is no longer subject to backup withholding, or (iii) such Warrantholder is exempt from backup withholding, and (c) such Warrantholder is a U.S. person (as defined below) (including a U.S. resident alien). If the correct TIN is not provided or if any other information is not correctly provided, payments made with respect to the Warrants may be subject to backup withholding of 24%. For the purposes of this Letter of Transmittal, a "U.S. holder" or "U.S. person" for U.S. federal income tax purposes means: a beneficial owner of Warrants that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is (a) a citizen or resident of the United States, (b) a corporation, or other entity classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, that is created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state in the United States, including the District of Columbia, (c) an estate if the income of such estate is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of the source of such income, (d) a trust if (i) such trust has validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (ii) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of such trust, or (e) a partnership, limited liability company or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state in the United States, including the District of Columbia.
Backup withholding is not an additional U.S. tax. Rather, the U.S. federal income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If backup withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.
Certain persons (including, among others, corporations, certain "not-for-profit" organizations, and certain non-U.S. persons) are not subject to backup withholding. A Warrantholder that is a U.S. holder should consult his or her tax advisor as to the holder's qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining such exemption.
The TIN for an individual U.S. citizen or resident is the individual's social security number.
If the Warrantholder is a U.S. holder but does not have a TIN, the Warrantholder should apply for a TIN immediately (if it has not yet applied) and enter "Applied For" in the space for the TIN, sign and date the form, and remit it with this Letter of Transmittal. Entering "Applied For" in the space for the TIN means that the Warrantholder has applied for a TIN or intends to apply for a TIN in the near future. If a Warrantholder that is a U.S. holder enters "Applied For" in the space for the TIN, such Warrantholder generally will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 24% until a TIN is provided.
Failure to furnish TIN — If you fail to furnish your correct TIN, you are subject to a penalty of US$50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.
Non-U.S. holders receiving payments in the U.S. should return an appropriate, properly completed and executed, IRS Form W-8 (including, without limitation, IRS Form W-8BEN (for individuals) or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (for entities)), copies of which are available from the Depositary upon request.
9. Privacy Notice
Computershare is committed to protecting your personal information. In the course of providing services to you and our corporate clients, we receive non-public personal information about you from transactions we perform for you, forms you send us, other communications we have with you or your representatives, etc. This information could include your name, contact details (such as residential address, correspondence address, email address), social insurance number, survey responses, securities holdings and other financial information. We use this to administer your account, to better serve your and our clients' needs and for other lawful purposes relating to our services. Computershare may transfer personal information to other companies located outside of your province within Canada, or outside of Canada that provide data processing and storage or other support in order to facilitate the services it provides. Where we share your personal information with other companies to provide services to you, we ensure they have adequate safeguards to protect your personal information as per applicable privacy laws. We also ensure the protection of rights of data subjects under the General Data Protection Regulation, where applicable. We have prepared a Privacy Code to tell you more about our information practices, how your privacy is protected and how to contact our Chief Privacy Officer. It is available at our website, www.computershare.com, or by writing to us at 320 Bay Street, 14th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5H 4A6.
The Depositary is:
COMPUTERSHARE INVESTOR SERVICES INC.
By Hand or by Courier
320 Bay Street, 14th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 4A6
By Mail
P.O. Box 7021
31 Adelaide St E
Toronto, ON M5C 3H2
Attention: Corporate Actions
For Enquiries Only
Toll Free: 1-800-564-6253
E-Mail: [email protected]
ANY QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE DEPOSITARY
AT THE TELEPHONE NUMBER OR E-MAIL SET OUT ABOVE.