Exhibit 99.1
SONIC
AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
OFFER TO
EXCHANGE
9.0 % Senior Subordinated
Notes Due 2018, Series B,
Which Have Been Registered
Under The Securities Act of 1933, As Amended
For Any And All
Outstanding
9.0% Senior Subordinated
Notes Due 2018, Series A,
Which Have Not Been
Registered Under The Securities Act of 1933, As
Amended
Pursuant to the Prospectus
dated April 7, 2010.
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE
AT 5:00 P.M. NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON MAY 7, 2010,
UNLESS EXTENDED (THE EXPIRATION DATE). TENDERS MAY
BE WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE
EXPIRATION DATE.
The Exchange Agent for the
Exchange Offer is:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
By Messenger, Mail, or Overnight Delivery:
U.S. Bank National Association
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55107
Attention: Specialized Finance
Facsimile Transmission:
(651) 495-8158
(MN)
Confirm by Telephone:
(800) 934-6802
(MN)
DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET
FORTH ABOVE, OR TRANSMISSION OF INSTRUCTIONS VIA FACSIMILE
OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID
DELIVERY.
The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus, dated
April 7, 2010 (the Prospectus), of Sonic
Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
Company), and this Letter of Transmittal (this
Letter), which together constitute the offer (the
Exchange Offer) to exchange an aggregate principal
amount of up to $210,000,000 9.0% Senior Subordinated
Notes Due 2018, Series B (the New Notes)
for an equal principal amount of the outstanding 9.0% Senior
Subordinated Notes Due 2018, Series A (the Old
Notes).
For each Old Note accepted for exchange, the holder of such Old
Note will receive a New Note having a principal amount at
maturity equal to that of the surrendered Old Note. The New
Notes will bear interest at a rate equal to 9.0% per annum.
Interest on the New Notes is payable semiannually, commencing
September 15, 2010, on March 15 and September 15 of each
year (each, an Interest Payment Date) and shall
accrue from March 12, 2010, or from the most recent
Interest Payment Date with respect to the Old Notes to which
interest was paid or for which interest was duly provided. The
New Notes will mature on March 15, 2018.
Holders of New Notes will not be and, upon consummation of the
Exchange Offer, holders of Old Notes will no longer be, entitled
to (i) the right to receive additional interest, if any or
(ii) certain other rights intended for holders of Old
Notes, in either case, under a Registration Rights Agreement
dated as of March 12, 2010 by and among the Company, the
guarantors named therein and Banc of America Securities LLC, as
representative of several initial purchasers identified therein.
The Exchange Offer shall be deemed consummated upon the
occurrence of the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under
the Indenture of New Notes in the same aggregate principal
amount as the aggregate principal amount of Old Notes that are
tendered by holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion,
(i) to delay accepting any Old Notes, (ii) to extend
the Exchange Offer, in which event the term Expiration
Date shall mean the latest time and date to which the
Exchange Offer is extended, (iii) if the Commission does
not declare the Registration Statement effective, to terminate
the Exchange Offer, by giving oral or written notice of such
delay, extension, or termination to the Exchange Agent, and
(iv) to amend the terms of the Exchange Offer in any
manner. If the Exchange Offer is amended in a manner determined
by the Company to constitute a material change, the Company will
promptly disclose such amendments by means of a prospectus
supplement that will be distributed to the registered holders of
the Old Notes. The Exchange Offer will then be extended so that
at least five (5) business days remain from the date of
such amendment until the Expiration Date. Modifications of the
Exchange Offer, including but not limited to (i) extension
of the period during which the Exchange Offer is open and
(ii) satisfaction of the conditions set forth under the
caption The Exchange OfferConditions in the
Prospectus, may require that at least ten (10) business
days remain in the Exchange Offer. In order to extend the
Exchange Offer, the Company will notify the Exchange Agent of
any extension, amendment, non-acceptance or termination by oral
or written notice and will make a public announcement thereof,
each prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next
business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.
This Letter must be completed and delivered by a holder of Old
Notes if: (i) certificates are to be forwarded herewith or
(ii) tenders are to be made by book-entry transfer to the
account maintained by the Exchange Agent at The Depository
Trust Company (DTC or the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility) pursuant to the procedures set forth in
The Exchange OfferBook-Entry Transfer section
of the Prospectus. Holders of Old Notes whose Old Notes are not
immediately available, or who are unable to deliver their Old
Notes or confirmation of the book-entry tender of their Old
Notes into the Exchange Agents account at the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility (a Book-Entry Confirmation), as
the case may be, and all other documents required by this Letter
to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date, must
tender their Old Notes according to the guaranteed delivery
procedures set forth in The Exchange OfferGuaranteed
Delivery Procedures section of the Prospectus. See
Instruction 1 to this Letter. Delivery of documents to the
Book Entry Transfer Facility does not constitute delivery to the
Exchange Agent.
Tenders by book-entry transfer may also be made by delivering an
Agents Message in lieu of this Letter. The term
Agents Message means a message transmitted by
the Book-Entry Transfer Facility and received by the Exchange
Agent and forming a part of a Book-Entry Confirmation, which
states that the Book-Entry Transfer Facility has received an
express acknowledgement from the tendering participant, which
acknowledgement states that such participant has received and
agrees to be bound by this Letter and the Company may enforce
this Letter against such participant.
The undersigned has completed the appropriate boxes below and
signed this Letter to indicate the action the undersigned
desires to take with respect to the Exchange Offer.
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned
represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to
engage in, a distribution of New Notes. If the undersigned is a
broker-dealer holding Old Notes that will receive New Notes, the
undersigned represents that the Old Notes to be exchanged for
the New Notes were acquired for its own account as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities, and the
undersigned acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, in connection with any resale of such New Notes
received in respect of such Old Notes pursuant to this exchange
offer; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering such a
prospectus in connection with the exchange of Old Notes, the
undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
List below the Old Notes to which this Letter relates. If the
space provided below is inadequate, the Note numbers and
principal amount of Old Notes should be listed on a separate
signed schedule affixed hereto.
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DESCRIPTION OF OLD
NOTES
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Name(s) and Address(es) of
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1
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2
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3
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Registered Holder(s)
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Certificate
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Principal Amount
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Principal Amount
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(Please fill in, if blank)
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Number(s)*
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Of Old Note(s)
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Tendered**
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Total
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* Need not be complete if Old Notes are being tendered by
book-entry transfer.
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** Unless otherwise indicated in this column, a holder will
be deemed to have tendered the entire principal amount
represented by the Old Note indicated in column 2. See
Instruction 2. Old Notes tendered hereby must be in
denominations of principal amount of $1,000 and any integral
multiple thereof. See Instruction 1.
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CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD 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 THE FOLLOWING:
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Name of Tendering Institution
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CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED
PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO
THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
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Name of Registered Holder(s)
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Window Ticket Number (if any)
Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
Name of Institution which Guaranteed Delivery
IF DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, COMPLETE THE
FOLLOWING:
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CHECK HERE IF TENDERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND
NON-EXCHANGED ORIGINAL NOTES ARE TO BE RETURNED BY
CREDITING THE ACCOUNT NUMBER SET FORH ABOVE.
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CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10
ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY
AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
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3
PLEASE
READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange
Offer, the undersigned hereby tenders to the Company the
aggregate principal amount of Old Notes indicated above. Subject
to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of the Old
Notes tendered hereby, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and
transfers to, or upon the order of, the Company all right, title
and interest in and to such Old Notes as are being tendered
hereby.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the
Exchange Agent as the undersigneds true and lawful agent
and attorney-in-fact with respect to such tendered Old Notes,
with full power of substitution, among other things, to cause
the Old Notes to be assigned, transferred and exchanged. The
undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned
has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and
transfer the Old Notes tendered hereby, and to acquire the New
Notes issuable upon the exchange of such tendered Old Notes, and
that the Company will acquire good and unencumbered title
thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and
encumbrances and not subject to any adverse claim when the same
are accepted by the Company. The undersigned hereby further
represents that any New Notes acquired in exchange for Old Notes
tendered hereby will have been acquired in the ordinary course
of business of the person receiving such New Notes, whether or
not such person is the undersigned, that neither the holder of
such Old Notes nor any such other person is engaged in, or
intends to engage in, a distribution of such New Notes, or has
an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate
in the distribution of such New Notes or in the exchange offer
for the purpose of distributing the New Notes, is not a
broker-dealer tendering Old Notes acquired directly from the
Company for its own account and that neither the holder of such
Old Notes nor any such other person is an affiliate,
as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the Securities Act), of the Company or, if
such holder or any such other person is an
affiliate, that such holder or any such other person
will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable.
The undersigned acknowledges that this Exchange Offer is being
made in reliance on interpretations by the staff of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission),
as set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, that
the New Notes issued in exchange for the Old Notes pursuant to
the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and
otherwise transferred by holders thereof (other than any such
holder that is an affiliate of the Company within
the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act), without
compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery
provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such holders are
not broker-dealers, such New Notes are acquired in the ordinary
course of such holders business and such holders are not
engaged in, and do not intend to engage in, a distribution of
such New Notes and have no arrangement with any person to
participate in the distribution of such New Notes. However, the
Commission has not considered the Exchange Offer in the context
of a no-action letter and there can be no assurance that the
staff of the Commission would make a similar determination with
respect to the Exchange Offer as in other circumstances. If a
holder of Old Notes is an affiliate of the Company, or is
engaged in or intends to engage in a distribution of the New
Notes or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to
the distribution of the New Notes to be acquired pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, such holder could not rely on the applicable
interpretations of the staff of the Commission and must comply
with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of
the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction. By
tendering Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer and executing
this Letter, a holder of Old Notes which is a broker-dealer
represents and agrees, consistent with certain interpretive
letters issued by the staff of the Division of Corporation
Finance of the Commission to third parties, and, whether or not
it is also an affiliate of the Company or any of the
guarantors within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities Act), that such Old Notes held by the broker-dealer
are held only as a nominee or that the Old Notes to be exchanged
for the New Notes were acquired by it for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities
and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale
of such New Notes received in respect of such Old Notes pursuant
to this exchange offer; however, by so acknowledging and by
delivering such a prospectus in connection with the exchange of
Old Notes, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it
is an underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act.
The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any
additional documents reasonably deemed by the Company to be
necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and
transfer of the Old Notes tendered hereby. All authority
conferred or agreed to be conferred in this Letter and every
obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon
the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators,
trustees in bankruptcy and legal representatives of
4
the undersigned and shall not be affected by, and shall survive,
the death or incapacity of the undersigned. This tender may be
withdrawn only in accordance with the procedures set forth in
The Exchange OfferWithdrawal Rights section of
the Prospectus.
The undersigned acknowledges that tenders of Old Notes pursuant
to any one of the procedures described in The Exchange
OfferProcedures for Tendering in the Prospectus and
in the instructions hereto will, upon the Companys
acceptance for exchange of such tendered Old Notes, constitute a
binding agreement between the undersigned and the Company upon
the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer.
The undersigned recognizes that, under certain circumstances set
forth in the Prospectus, the Company may not be required to
accept for exchange any of the Old Notes tendered hereby.
Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled
Special Issuance Instructions below, please deliver
the New Notes (and, if applicable, a substitute Old Note
representing the remaining principal balance of any Old Note
exchanged only in part) in the name of the undersigned or, in
the case of a book-entry delivery of Old Notes, please credit
the account indicated above maintained at the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under
the box entitled Special Delivery Instructions
below, please send the New Notes (and, if applicable, a
substitute Old Note representing the remaining principal balance
of any Old Note exchanged only in part) to the undersigned at
the address shown above in the box entitled Description of
Old Notes.
All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred in this
Letter shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned
and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding
upon the heirs, executors, administrators, personal
representatives, trustees in bankruptcy, legal representatives,
successors and assigns of the undersigned. Except as stated in
the Prospectus, this tender is irrevocable.
The undersigned, by completing the box entitled
Description of Old Notes on page 3 and signing
this Letter, will be deemed to have tendered the Old Notes as
set forth in such box on page 3.
5
SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 3 and 4)
To be completed ONLY if Notes for Old Notes not exchanged
and/or New
Notes are to be issued in the name of and sent to someone other
than the person(s) whose signature(s) appear(s) on this Letter
on page 7, or if Old Notes delivered by book-entry transfer
which are not accepted for exchange are to be returned by credit
to an account maintained at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility
other than the account indicated above.
Issue New Notes
and/or Old
Notes to:
(Please Type or Print)
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Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number: |
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(Complete accompanying Substitute
Form W-9)
Credit unexchanged Old Notes delivered by book-entry transfer to
the Book-Entry Transfer Facility account set forth below.
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(Book-Entry Transfer Facility Account Number, if applicable): |
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SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 3 and 4)
To be completed ONLY if Notes or Old Notes not exchanged
and/or New
Notes are to be sent to someone other than the person(s) whose
signature(s) appear(s) on this Letter above or to such person(s)
at an address other than shown in the box entitled
Description of Old Notes on this Letter above.
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Mail New Notes and/or Old Notes to: |
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(Please Type or Print)
(Please
Type or Print)
(Including
Zip Code)
IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OR A FACSIMILE HEREOF
(TOGETHER WITH THE OLD NOTES AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED
DOCUMENTS OR THE NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY), OR A BOOK-ENTRY
CONFIRMATION, AS THE CASE MAY BE, MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE
EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK TIME, ON THE
EXPIRATION DATE.
PLEASE READ THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING ANY BOX ABOVE
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PLEASE SIGN HERE
(TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS)
(COMPLETE ACCOMPANYING SUBSTITUTE
FORM W-9)
Dated: ,
2010
(Date)
If a holder is tendering any Old Notes, this letter must be
signed by the registered holder(s) or DTC participant(s) exactly
as the name(s) appear(s) on the Note(s) for the Old Notes or by
any person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by
endorsements and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is
by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, officer or
other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity,
please provide the following information. See Instruction 3.
(Please Type or Print)
(Including Zip Code)
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Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number: |
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SIGNATURE
GUARANTEE
(IF REQUIRED BY INSTRUCTION 3)
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Signature(s) Guaranteed by an Eligible Institution: |
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(Authorized Signature)
(Title)
(Name and Firm)
Dated: ,
2010
INSTRUCTIONS
FORMING
PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER TO EXCHANGE
9.0% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2018, SERIES B,
WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED, FOR ANY AND ALL OUTSTANDING 9.0% SENIOR SUBORDINATED
NOTES DUE 2018, SERIES A OF SONIC AUTOMOTIVE,
INC.
1. Delivery of this Letter and Old Notes; Guaranteed
Delivery Procedures. This Letter must be
completed by holders of Old Notes either if certificates are to
be forwarded herewith or if tenders are to be made pursuant to
the procedures for delivery by book-entry transfer set forth in
The Exchange OfferBook-Entry Transfer section
of the Prospectus. Certificates for all physically tendered Old
Notes, or Book-Entry Confirmation, as the case may be, as well
as a properly completed and duly executed Letter (or manually
signed facsimile thereof), with any required signature
guarantees, and any other documents required by this Letter,
must be received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth
herein on or prior to the Expiration Date, or the tendering
holder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures set
forth below. Old Notes tendered hereby must be in denominations
of principal amount of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof.
Holders who tender their Old Notes by delivering an Agents
Message do not need to submit this Letter.
Holders whose Old Notes are not immediately available or who
cannot deliver their Old Notes or a Book-Entry Confirmation, as
the case may be, and all other required documents to the
Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date, may tender
their Old Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures
set forth in The Exchange OfferGuaranteed Delivery
Procedures section of the Prospectus. Pursuant to such
procedures, (i) such tender must be made by or through an
Eligible Institution (as defined below) and a Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery in the Form of Exhibit 99.2 to the
Registration Statement of which the Prospectus forms a part, a
copy of which may be obtained from the Exchange Agent (a
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery), must be properly
completed and duly executed by such holder, (ii) on or
prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Expiration
Date, the Exchange Agent must receive from such Eligible
Institution a properly completed and duly executed Letter and
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form
provided by the Company (by facsimile transmission, mail or hand
delivery), setting forth the name and address of the holder of
Old Notes, the certificate number or numbers of the tendered Old
Notes and the principal amount of Old Notes tendered, stating
that the tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing that
within three New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) trading
days after the Expiration Date, the certificates for all
physically tendered Old Notes, in proper form for transfer, or a
Book-Entry Confirmation, as the case may be, as well as all
other documents required by this Letter will be deposited by the
Eligible Institution with the Exchange Agent, and (iii) the
certificates for all physically tendered Old Notes, in proper
form for transfer, or a Book-Entry Confirmation, as the case may
be, as well as all other documents required by this Letter
(properly completed and duly executed), must be received by the
Exchange Agent within three NYSE trading days after the
Expiration Date.
The method of delivery of this Letter, certificates for the Old
Notes or a Book-Entry Confirmation, as the case may be, and all
other required documents is at the election and risk of the
tendering holders, but the delivery will be deemed made only
when actually received or confirmed by the Exchange Agent. If
Old Notes are sent by mail, it is recommended that the mailing
be made by registered mail, properly insured, with return
receipt requested, and that such mailing be made sufficiently in
advance of the Expiration Date to permit delivery to the
Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
the Expiration Date. 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 for
timely delivery.
See The Exchange Offer section of the Prospectus.
2. Partial Tenders (Not Applicable to Holders of Old
Notes Who Tender by Book-entry Transfer). If
less than the entire principal amount of any submitted Old Note
is to be tendered, the tendering holder(s) should fill in the
aggregate principal amount to be tendered in the box above
entitled Description of Old NotesPrincipal Amount
Tendered. A reissued Note representing the balance of
nontendered principal of any submitted Old Notes will be sent to
such tendering holder, unless otherwise provided in the
appropriate box on this Letter, promptly after the Expiration
Date. THE ENTIRE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF ANY OLD
NOTES DELIVERED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT WILL BE DEEMED TO
HAVE BEEN TENDERED UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED.
3. Signatures on this Letter; Bond Powers and
Endorsement; Guarantee of Signatures. If this
Letter is signed by the registered holder of the Old Notes
tendered hereby, the signature must correspond exactly with the
name as written on the face of
the Notes without any change whatsoever. If this Letter is
signed by a participant in DTC, the signature must correspond
with the name as it appears on the security position listing as
the owner of the Old Notes.
If any tendered Old Notes are owned of record by two or more
joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter. If any
tendered Old Notes are registered in different names on several
Old Notes, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as
many separate copies of this Letter as there are different
registrations of Old Notes.
When this Letter is signed by the registered holder of the Old
Notes specified herein and tendered hereby, no endorsements of
the submitted Old Notes or separate bond powers are required.
If, however, the New Notes are to be issued, or any untendered
Old Notes are to be reissued, to a person other than the
registered holder, then endorsements of any Old Notes
transmitted hereby or separate bond powers are required.
Signatures on such Old Notes or bond power must be guaranteed by
an Eligible Institution.
If this Letter is signed by a person other than the registered
holder of any Old Notes specified herein, such Notes must be
endorsed or accompanied by appropriate bond powers, in either
case signed exactly as the name of the registered holder appears
on the Old Notes (or security position listing) and the
signatures on such Old Notes or bond power must be guaranteed by
an Eligible Institution.
If this Letter or any Old Notes or bond powers are signed by
trustees, executors, administrators, guardians,
attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in
a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so
indicate when signing, and, unless waived by the Company, must
submit proper evidence satisfactory to the Company of their
authority to so act.
Endorsements on Old Notes or signatures on bond powers required
by this Instruction 3 must be guaranteed by a firm or other
entity identified in
Rule 17Ad-15
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as an
eligible guarantor institution, including (as such
terms are defined therein) (i) a bank, (ii) broker,
dealer, municipal securities broker or dealer or government
securities broker or dealer, (iii) credit union,
(iv) a national securities exchange, registered securities
association or clearing agency, or (v) a savings
association that is a participant in a Securities Transfer
Association (an Eligible Institution).
Signatures on this Letter need not be guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution, provided the Old Notes are tendered: (i) by a
registered holder of Old Notes (which term, for purposes of the
Exchange Offer, includes any participant in the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility system whose name appears on a security
position listing as the holder of such Old Notes) tendered who
has not completed the box entitled Special Issuance
Instructions or Special Delivery Instructions
on this Letter, or (ii) for the account of an Eligible
Institution.
4. Special Issuance and Delivery
Instructions. Tendering holders of Old Notes
should indicate in the applicable box the name and address to
which New Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer
and/or
substitute Notes evidencing Old Notes not exchanged are to be
issued or sent, if different from the name or address of the
person signing this Letter. In the case of issuance in a
different name, the employer identification or social security
number of the person named must also be indicated. A holder of
Old Notes tendering Old Notes by book-entry transfer may request
that Old Notes not exchanged be credited to such account
maintained at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility as such holder of
Old Notes may designate hereon. If no such instructions are
given, such Old Notes not exchanged will be returned to the name
or address of the person signing this Letter.
5. Tax Identification Number. Federal
income tax law generally requires that a tendering holder whose
Old Notes are accepted for exchange must provide the Company (as
payor) with such Holders correct Taxpayer Identification
Number (TIN) on Substitute
Form W-9
below, which, in the case of a tendering holder who is an
individual, is his or her social security number. If the Company
is not provided with the current TIN or an adequate basis for an
exemption, such tendering holder may be subject to a $50 penalty
imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, delivery
of New Notes to such tendering holder may be subject to backup
withholding in an amount equal to 28% of all reportable payments
made after the exchange. If withholding results in an
overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained.
Exempt holders of Old Notes (including, among others, all
corporations and certain foreign individuals) are not subject to
these backup withholding and reporting requirements. Exempt
holders, other than foreign individuals, should furnish their
TIN, write Exempt on the face of the Substitute
Form W-9
and sign, date and return the form to the Exchange Agent. See
the enclosed Guidelines of Certification of Taxpayer
identification Number on Substitute
Form W-9
(the
W-9
Guidelines) for additional instructions. If the tendering
holder of Old Notes is a nonresident alien or foreign entity not
subject to backup
2
withholding, such holder must give the Exchange Agent a
completed
Form W-8
Certificate of Foreign Status, a form of which is included on
page 13.
To prevent backup withholding, each tendering holder of Old
Notes must provide its correct TIN by completing the Substitute
Form W-9
on page 12, certifying, under penalties of perjury, that
the TIN provided is correct (or that such holder is awaiting a
TIN), and that (i) the holder is exempt from backup
withholding, (ii) the holder has not been notified by the
Internal Revenue Service that such holder is subject to a backup
withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or
dividends or (iii) the Internal Revenue Service has
notified the holder that such holder is no longer subject to
backup withholding. If the tendering holder of Old Notes is a
nonresident alien or foreign entity not subject to backup
withholding, such holder must give the Exchange Agent a
completed
Form W-8,
Certificate of Foreign Status. These forms may be obtained from
the Exchange Agent. If the Old Notes are in more than one name
or are not in the name of the actual owner, such holder should
consult the
W-9
Guidelines for information on which TIN to report. If such
holder does not have a TIN, such holder should consult the
W-9
Guidelines for instructions on applying for a TIN, check the box
in Part 2 of the Substitute
Form W-9
and write applied for in lieu of its TIN. Note:
checking-this box and writing applied for on the
form means that such holder has already applied for a TIN or
that such holder intends to apply for one in the near future. If
the box in Part 2 of the Substitute
Form W-9
is checked, the Exchange Agent will retain 28% of reportable
payments made to a holder during the
60-day
period following the date of the Substitute
Form W-9.
If the holder furnishes the Exchange Agent with his or her TIN
within 60 days of the Substitute
Form W-9,
the Exchange Agent will remit such amounts retained during such
60-day to
such holder and no further amounts will be retained or withheld
from payments made to the holder thereafter. If, however, such
holder does not provide its TIN to the Exchange Agent within
such 60-day
period, the Exchange Agent will remit such previously withheld
amounts to the Internal Revenue Service as backup withholding
and will withhold 28% of all reportable payments to the holder
thereafter until such holder furnishes its TIN to the Exchange
Agent.
6. Transfer Taxes. The Company will pay
all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of Old
Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, New Notes
and/or
substitute Old Notes not exchanged are to be delivered to, or
are to be registered or issued in the name of, any person other
than the registered holder of the Old Notes tendered hereby, or
if tendered Old Notes are registered in the name of any person
other than the person signing this Letter, or if a transfer tax
is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of Old Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the amount of any such transfer
taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or any other
persons) will be payable by the tendering holder. If
satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption
therefrom is not submitted herewith, the amount of such transfer
taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS INSTRUCTION 6, IT IS NOT
NECESSARY FOR TRANSFER TAX STAMPS TO BE AFFIXED TO THE OLD
NOTES SPECIFIED IN THIS LETTER.
7. Waiver of Conditions. The Company
reserves the absolute right to waive satisfaction of any or all
conditions enumerated in the Prospectus.
8. No Conditional Tenders. No
alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tenders will
be accepted. All tendering holders of Old Notes, by execution of
this Letter, shall waive any right to receive notice of the
acceptance of their Old Notes for exchange. Neither the Company,
the Exchange Agent nor any other person is obligated to give
notice of any defect or irregularity with respect to any tender
of Old Notes nor shall any of them incur any liability for
failure to give any such notice.
9. Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Old
Notes. Any holder whose Old Notes have been
mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed should contact the Exchange
Agent at the address indicated above for further instructions.
This Letter and related documents cannot be processed until the
procedures for replacing mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed
certificates have been followed.
10. Withdrawal Rights. Tenders of Old
Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 P.M., New
York City times, on the Expiration Date. For a withdrawal of a
tender of Old Notes to be effective, a written notice of
withdrawal must be received by the Exchange Agent at the address
on page 1 prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on
the Expiration Date. Any such notice of withdrawal must
(i) specify the name of the person having tendered the Old
Notes to be withdrawn (the Depositor),
(ii) identify the Old Notes to be withdrawn (including
certificate number or numbers and the principal amount of such
Old Notes), (iii) contain a statement that such holder is
withdrawing his election to have such Old Notes exchanged,
(iv) be signed by the holder in the same manner as the
original signature on the Letter by which such Old Notes were
tendered (including any required signature guarantees) or be
accompanied by documents of transfer to have the Trustee with
respect to the Old Notes
3
register the transfer of such Old Notes in the name of the
person withdrawing the tender and (v) specifying the name
in which such Old Notes are registered, if different from that
of the Depositor. If Old Notes have been tendered pursuant to
the procedure for book-entry transfer set forth in The
Exchange OfferBook-Entry Transfer section of the
Prospectus, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and
number of the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to be
credited with the withdrawn Old Notes and otherwise comply with
the procedures of such facility.
All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility
(including time of receipt) of such notices will be determined
by the Company, whose determination shall be final and binding
on all parties. Any Old Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to
have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the
Exchange Offer and no New Notes will be issued with respect
thereto unless the Old Notes so withdrawn are validly
retendered. Any Old Notes that have been tendered for exchange
but which are not exchanged for any reason will be returned to
the holder thereof without cost to such holder (or, in the case
of Old Notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the Exchange
Agents account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility
pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures set forth in
The Exchange OfferBook-Entry Transfer section
of the Prospectus, such Old Notes will be credited to an account
maintained with the Book-Entry Transfer Facility for the Old
Notes) as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of
tender or termination of the Exchange Offer. Properly withdrawn
Old Notes may be retendered by following the procedures
described above at any time on or prior to 5:00 P.M., New
York City time, on the Expiration Date.
11. Requests for Assistance or Additional
Copies. Questions relating to the procedure for
tendering, as well as requests for additional copies of the
Prospectus, this Letter, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and
other related documents, should be directed to the Exchange
Agent, at the address and telephone number indicated on
page 1. All other questions should be addressed to Sonic
Automotive, Inc., 6415 Idlewild Rd., Suite 109, Charlotte,
North Carolina 28212,
(704) 566-2400,
Attention: Stephen K. Coss.
4
TO BE
COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS
(See Instruction 5)
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PAYORS NAME: U.S. BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
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SUBSTITUTE
Form W-9
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Part 1PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN IN THE BOX AT RIGHT
AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND DATING BELOW.
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TIN:
(Social Security Number or
Employer Identification Number)
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Part 2TIN Applied
for o
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Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Services
Payers Request for Taxpayer Identification Number
(TIN)
and Certification
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Certification: Under the penalties of perjury, I certify
that:
(1) the number shown on this form is my correct Taxpayer
Identification Number (or I am writing for a number to be issued
to me),
(2) I am not subject to backup withholding either because
(a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been
notified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that
I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to
report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me
that I am no longer subject to backup withholding, and
(3) any other information provided on this form is true and
correct.
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Signature:
Date:
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You must cross out item (2) above if you have been notified by
the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding because of
underreporting of interest or dividends on your tax return and
you have not been notified by the IRS that you are no longer
subject to backup withholding.
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YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU CHECKED
THE BOX IN PART 2 OF SUBSTITUTE
FORM W-9
CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAPER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer
identification number has not been issued to me, and either
(a) I have mailed or delivered an application to receive a
taxpayer identification number to the appropriate Internal
Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office
or (b) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the
near future. I understand that if I do not provide a taxpayer
identification number by the time of the exchange, twenty-eight
percent (28%) of all reportable payments made to me thereafter
will be withheld until I provide a taxpayer identification
number.
Signature
Date
5
Certificate
of Foreign Status
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SUBSTITUTE
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Form W-8
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Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
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Name of owner (If joint account, also give joint owners
name.)
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Please Print or Type
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Permanent address (If you are an individual, provide the address
of your permanent residence. If you are a partnership or
corporation, provide the address of your principal office. If
you are an estate or trust, provide the permanent address or
principal office of any fiduciary.)
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City, province or state, postal code, and country
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Current mailing address, if different from permanent address
(Include apt. or suite no., or P.O. box if mail is not delivered
to street address.)
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City, town or post office, state and ZIP code (If foreign
address, enter city, province or state, postal code, and
country.)
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Please Sign Here
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CertificationUnder penalties of perjury, I certify
that I am an exempt foreign person, for Backup Withholding
purposes, under the U.S. Federal income tax laws, because:
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1. I am a nonresident alien individual or a foreign
corporation, partnership, estate or trust,
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2. If an individual, I have not been, and do not plan to
be, present in the United States for a total of 183 days or more
during the calendar year, and
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3. I am neither engaged, nor plan to be engaged during the
year, in a U.S. trade or business that has effectively connected
gains from transactions with a broker or barter exchange.
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Signature
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Date
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6