EX-99.(a)(1)(B)

Exhibit (a)(1)(B)

Letter of Election and Transmittal to Tender Shares of

Common Stock of

BLUEBIRD BIO, INC.

at either

(x) $3.00 in cash per share, plus one contingent value right per share representing the right to receive

a contingent payment of $6.84 in cash upon the achievement of the milestone

(y) $5.00 in cash per share

BEACON MERGER SUB, INC., a wholly-owned subsidiary of

BEACON MIDCO, INC., a wholly-owned subsidiary of

BEACON PARENT HOLDINGS, L.P., whose general partner is

BEACON GENERAL PARTNER, LLC, an affiliate of

CARLYLE PARTNERS GROWTH, L.P.,

SK CAPITAL PARTNERS VI-A, L.P. and SK CAPITAL PARTNERS VI-B, L.P.

THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT ONE MINUTE AFTER 11:59 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON MAY 29, 2025, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED.

Method of delivery of the certificate(s) is at the option and risk of the owner thereof. See Instruction 2.

Mail or deliver this Letter of Election and Transmittal, together with the certificate(s) representing your shares (if any), to:

LOGO

If delivering by hand, express mail, courier
or other expedited service:

Equiniti Trust Company, LLC
55 Challenger Road

Suite # 200

Ridgefield Park, New Jersey 07600

Attn: Reorganization Department

By mail:

Equiniti Trust Company, LLC
Operations Center
Attn: Reorganization Department
P.O. Box 525

Ridgefield Park, New Jersey 07600

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES SURRENDERED

Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Owner(s)
(If blank, please fill in exactly as name(s) appear(s) on share certificate(s))

Shares Surrendered

(attach additional list if necessary)

Certificated Shares**

Certificate
Number(s)*

Total Number
of Shares
Represented
by Certificates*

Number of
Shares
Surrendered

Book-Entry
Shares
Surrendered

Drip
shares to
be tendered

Total Shares

* Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all shares
of common stock represented by certificates described above are
being tendered hereby. See Instruction 4.

** Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all shares of
common stock held in book-entry form are being tendered hereby.

The instructions accompanying this Letter of Election and Transmittal should be read carefully before this Letter of Election and Transmittal is completed.

Delivery of this Letter of Election and Transmittal to an address other than as set forth above for the Depositary will not constitute valid delivery. You must sign this Letter of Election and Transmittal in the appropriate space provided below, with signature guarantee (if applicable), and complete the IRS Form W-9 set forth below or the applicable IRS Form W-8, if required.

All questions regarding the Offer should be directed to the Information Agent, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, at (877) 825 8793 or the address set forth on the back page of the Offer to Purchase. If you would like additional copies of this Letter of Election and Transmittal or any of the other offering documents, you should contact the Information Agent, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, at (877) 825 8793.

The Offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of holders of) Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction.

This Letter of Election and Transmittal is being delivered to you in connection with the offer by Beacon Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”), a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Beacon Parent Holdings, L.P. (“Parent”), a Delaware limited partnership, to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), of bluebird bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in exchange for, at the election of the holder of such Share, either (but not both):

(i) (a) $3.00 in cash per Share on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated March 7, 2025 (as amended and restated on May 14, 2025, and as may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Offer to Purchase”) and in this Letter of Election and Transmittal (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Letter of Election and Transmittal,” which, together with the Offer to Purchase, as they may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, collectively constitute the “Offer”), subject to any applicable withholding taxes and without interest thereon (the “Cash and CVR Consideration Closing Amount”), plus (b) one contingent value right (each, a “CVR”) per Share, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Contingent Value Rights Agreement that will be entered into by and among Parent, a rights agent mutually agreeable to Parent and the Company, and, solely for certain purposes, the Surviving Corporation (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) (the “CVR Agreement”), representing the right to receive one contingent payment of $6.84 in cash, subject to any applicable withholding taxes and without interest thereon, payable upon the achievement of the milestone set forth in, and subject to the terms and conditions of the CVR Agreement, the Offer to Purchase and this Letter of Election and Transmittal (the Cash and CVR Consideration Closing Amount plus one CVR, collectively, or any greater amount per Share that may be paid pursuant to the Offer after May 14, 2025, the “Cash and CVR Consideration”), or

(ii) $5.00 in cash per Share on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer, subject to any applicable withholding taxes and without interest thereon (or any greater amount per Share that may be paid pursuant to the Offer after May 14, 2025, the “All-Cash Consideration”).

The Offer expires at the Expiration Time. “Expiration Time” means one minute after 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on May 29, 2025, unless the Offer is extended pursuant to and in accordance with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 21, 2025, by and among Parent, Merger Sub and the Company (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”). In the event that the Offer is extended pursuant to and in accordance with the Merger Agreement, then the term “Expiration Time” means such subsequent time.

You should use this Letter of Election and Transmittal to deliver to Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (the “Depositary”) Shares represented by stock certificates, or held in book-entry form on the books of the Company or its stock transfer agent, for tender. If you are delivering your Shares by book-entry transfer to an account maintained by the Depositary at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), you must use an Agent’s Message (as defined in Instruction 2 below). Delivery of documents to DTC will not constitute delivery to the Depositary.

If any certificate representing any Shares you are tendering with this Letter of Election and Transmittal has been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, you should contact Equiniti Trust Company, LLC in its capacity as the Company’s stock transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) at (877) 248-6417 (toll free in the United States) regarding the requirements for replacement. You will be required to make an affidavit of fact and may be required to post a bond to secure against the risk that such certificates may be subsequently recirculated. You are urged to contact the Transfer Agent immediately in order to receive further instructions, for a determination of whether you will need to post a bond and to permit timely processing of this documentation. See Instruction 10.

TENDER OFFER ELECTION

(See Instruction 12)

A. Check ONE box if you wish to tender ALL of your Shares for one of the elections:

☐	CHECK HERE TO ELECT TO RECEIVE THE CASH AND CVR CONSIDERATION (I.E. $3.00 IN CASH AND ONE CVR PER SHARE) FOR ALL SHARES TENDERED.

☐	CHECK HERE TO ELECT TO RECEIVE THE ALL-CASH CONSIDERATION (I.E. $5.00 IN CASH PER SHARE) FOR ALL SHARES TENDERED.

If you check more than one box, we will treat your shares as if you made the election for the Cash and CVR Consideration.

B. If you would like to make more than one election for the Shares that you are tendering, list below the number of Shares you desire to tender by election type:

If you did not check a box above and would like to make more than one election for the Shares you would like to tender, indicate the number of Shares next to each desired election below. The total number of Shares next to the two elections should equal the number of Shares listed in the box titled “Description of Shares Surrendered” above. If you have checked one of the boxes above, that election will govern all of your Shares and any numbers entered next to the election below will be disregarded. If you make elections for more Shares than the Shares described in the box titled “Description of Shares Surrendered,” your elections will be reduced on a pro rata basis relative to the number of Shares you indicated for each election. If you make elections for fewer Shares than the Shares described in the box titled “Description of Shares Surrendered,” you will be deemed to have made the election for Cash and CVR Consideration with respect to the number of shares with respect to which you have not made an election.

NUMBER OF SHARES TO RECEIVE THE CASH AND CVR CONSIDERATION (I.E. $3.00 IN CASH AND ONE CVR PER SHARE)

NUMBER OF SHARES TO RECEIVE THE ALL-CASH CONSIDERATION (I.E. $5.00 IN CASH PER SHARE)

All elections are subject to the election procedures described in the Offer. Any Shares tendered but for which no election is made above will be treated as if the holder made an election to receive the Cash and CVR Consideration.

If tendered shares are being delivered by book-entry transfer to the account maintained by the Depositary with DTC, complete the following (only financial institutions that are participants in DTC may deliver shares by book-entry transfer):


Name of Tendering Institution:

DTC Participant Number:

Transaction Code Number:

NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.

PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned hereby tenders to Beacon Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”), a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Beacon Parent Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Parent”), to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), of bluebird bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in exchange for, at the election of the holder of such Share, either (but not both):

(i) (a) $3.00 in cash per Share on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated March 7, 2025 (as amended and restated on May 14, 2025, and as may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Offer to Purchase”) and in this Letter of Election and Transmittal (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Letter of Election and Transmittal,” which, together with the Offer to Purchase, as they may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, collectively constitute the “Offer”), subject to any applicable withholding taxes and without interest thereon (the “Cash and CVR Consideration Closing Amount”), plus (b) one contingent value right (each, a “CVR”) per Share, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Contingent Value Rights Agreement that will be entered into by and among Parent, a rights agent mutually agreeable to Parent and the Company, and, solely for certain purposes, the Surviving Corporation (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) (the “CVR Agreement”), representing the right to receive one contingent payment of $6.84 in cash, subject to any applicable withholding taxes and without interest thereon, payable upon the achievement of the milestone set forth in, and subject to the terms and conditions of the CVR Agreement, the Offer to Purchase and this Letter of Election and Transmittal (the Cash and CVR Consideration Closing Amount plus one CVR, collectively, or any greater amount per Share that may be paid pursuant to the Offer after May 14, 2025, the “Cash and CVR Consideration”), or

The Offer expires at the Expiration Time. “Expiration Time” means one minute after 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on May 29, 2025, unless the Offer is extended pursuant to and in accordance with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 21, 2025, by and among Parent, Merger Sub and the Company (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”). In the event that the Offer is extended pursuant to and in accordance with the Merger Agreement, then the term “Expiration Time” means such subsequent time.

The undersigned hereby acknowledges that Merger Sub reserves the right to assign, in its sole discretion, in whole or in part, to any affiliate of Parent, without the consent of the Company, the right to purchase the Shares tendered herewith.

On the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of such extension or amendment), subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for payment of the Shares validly tendered herewith and not validly withdrawn prior to the Expiration Time in accordance with the terms of the Offer, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, Merger Sub, all right, title and interest in and to all of the Shares being tendered hereby and any and all dividends, distributions, rights, other Shares or other securities issued or issuable in respect of such Shares on or after the date hereof (collectively, “Distributions”). In addition, the undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints Merger Sub as the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact and proxy of the undersigned with respect to such Shares and any and all Distributions with full power of substitution (such proxies and power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest in the tendered Shares and any Distributions) to the full extent of such stockholder’s rights with respect to such Shares and any Distributions (a) to deliver certificates representing such Shares (the “Share Certificates”) and any and all Distributions, or transfer of ownership of such Shares and any and all Distributions on the account books maintained by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), together, in either such case, with all accompanying evidence of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of Merger Sub, (b) to present such Shares and any and all Distributions for transfer on the books of the Company and (c) to

receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Shares and any and all Distributions, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.

By executing this Letter of Election and Transmittal (or taking action resulting in the delivery of an Agent’s Message (as defined in Instruction 2 below)), the undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints each of the designees of Merger Sub the attorneys-in-fact and proxies of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to the full extent of such stockholder’s rights with respect to the Shares tendered hereby and not properly withdrawn which have been accepted for payment and with respect to any and all Distributions. The designees of Merger Sub will, with respect to such Shares and Distributions, be empowered to exercise all voting and any other rights of such stockholder, as they, in their sole discretion, may deem proper at any annual, special, adjourned or postponed meeting of the Company stockholders, by written consent in lieu of any such meeting or otherwise as such designee, in its, his or her sole discretion, deems proper with respect to all Shares and any and all Distributions. This proxy and power of attorney will be irrevocable and coupled with an interest in the tendered Shares and any and all Distributions. Such appointment is effective when, and only to the extent that, Merger Sub accepts the Shares tendered with this Letter of Election and Transmittal for payment pursuant to the Offer after May 14, 2025. Upon the effectiveness of such appointment, without further action, all prior powers of attorney, proxies and consents given by the undersigned with respect to such Shares and any and all associated Distributions (other than prior powers of attorney, proxies or consent given by the undersigned to Merger Sub or the Company) will be revoked, and no subsequent powers of attorney, proxies, consents or revocations (other than powers of attorney, proxies, consents or revocations given to Merger Sub or the Company) may be given (and, if given, will not be deemed effective).

Merger Sub reserves the right to require that, in order for Shares to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon Merger Sub’s acceptance for payment of such Shares, Merger Sub must be able to exercise full voting, consent and other rights, to the extent permitted under applicable law, with respect to such Shares and any and all Distributions, including voting at any meeting of stockholders or executing a written consent concerning any matter.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer any and all of the Shares tendered hereby and any and all Distributions and, when the same are accepted for payment by Merger Sub, Merger Sub will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances, and that the same will not be subject to any adverse claim. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned is the registered owner of the Shares, or the Share Certificate(s) have been endorsed to the undersigned in blank, or the undersigned is a participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Shares. The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Depositary or Merger Sub to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of any and all of the Shares tendered hereby and any and all Distributions. In addition, the undersigned will promptly remit and transfer to the Depositary for the account of Merger Sub any and all Distributions in respect of any and all of the Shares tendered hereby, accompanied by appropriate documentation of transfer and, pending such remittance and transfer or appropriate assurance thereof, Merger Sub will be entitled to all rights and privileges as owner of any such Distributions and may withhold the entire Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable) or deduct from such Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable) the amount or value thereof, as determined by Merger Sub in its sole discretion.

It is understood that the undersigned will not receive payment for the Shares unless and until the Shares are accepted for payment and until the Share Certificate(s) owned by the undersigned are received by the Depositary at the address set forth above, together with such additional documents as the Depositary may require, or, in the case of Shares held in book-entry form, ownership of Shares is validly transferred on the account books maintained by DTC, and until the same are processed for payment by the Depositary.

It is understood that the method of delivery of the Shares, the Share Certificate(s) and all other required documents (including delivery through DTC) is at the election and risk of the undersigned and that the risk of loss of such Shares, Share Certificate(s) and other documents will pass only when they are

actually received by the Depositary (including, in the case of a book-entry transfer of Shares, by Book-Entry Confirmation with respect to such Shares). If such delivery is by mail, it is recommended that the Shares (or Share Certificates), the Letter of Election and Transmittal and all other required documents be sent by properly insured registered mail with return receipt requested. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.

All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred pursuant to this Letter of Election and Transmittal will not be affected by, and will survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder will be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned. Except upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, this tender is irrevocable.

The undersigned understands that the acceptance for payment by Merger Sub of Shares tendered pursuant to one of the procedures described in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase and in the instructions hereto will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and Merger Sub upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer. The undersigned recognizes that under certain circumstances, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, Merger Sub may not be required to accept for payment any of the Shares tendered hereby.

Unless otherwise indicated herein under “Special Payment Instructions,” please issue the check for the Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable) in the name(s) of, and/or return any Share Certificates representing Shares not validly tendered or accepted for payment to, the registered owner(s) appearing under “Description of Shares Surrendered.” Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under “Special Delivery Instructions,” please mail the check for the Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable) and/or return any Share Certificates representing Shares not validly tendered or accepted for payment (and accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the address(es) of the registered owner(s) appearing under “Description of Shares Surrendered.”

In the event that both the Special Delivery Instructions and the Special Payment Instructions are completed, please issue the check for the Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable) and/or issue any Share Certificates representing Shares not validly tendered or accepted for payment (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) in the name of, and deliver such check and/or return such Share Certificates (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) to, the person or persons so indicated. Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box titled “Special Payment Instructions,” please credit any Shares validly tendered hereby or by an Agent’s Message and delivered by book-entry transfer, but which are not purchased, by crediting the account at DTC designated above. The undersigned recognizes that Merger Sub has no obligation pursuant to the Special Payment Instructions to transfer any Shares from the name of the registered owner thereof if Merger Sub does not accept for payment any of the Shares so validly tendered.

SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 1, 4, 5, and 7)

To be completed ONLY if Share Certificate(s) not validly tendered or not accepted for payment and/or the check for the Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable) in consideration of Shares validly tendered and accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of someone other than the undersigned or if Shares validly tendered by book-entry transfer which are not accepted for payment are to be returned by credit to an account maintained at DTC other than that designated above.


Issue:

☐ Check and/or

☐ Shares to:

Name

(Please Print)

Address








(Include Zip Code)

(Tax Identification or Social Security Number)

(Please additionally complete IRS Form W-9

(attached) or the applicable IRS Form W-8,

available at irs.gov)

SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 1, 4, 5, and 7)

To be completed ONLY if Share Certificate(s) not validly tendered or not accepted for payment and/or the check for the Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable) in consideration of Shares validly tendered and accepted for payment are to be sent to someone other than the undersigned or to the undersigned at an address other than that shown in the box titled “Description of Shares Surrendered” above.

Deliver:


☐ Check and/or

☐ Shares to:

☐ Please check here if address change is permanent.

Name


		(Please Print)

Address








		(Include Zip Code)

IMPORTANT - SIGN HERE

Signature(s) of Stockholder(s):

Dated:

(Must be signed by registered owner(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Share Certificate(s) or on a security position listing or by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by certificates and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of a corporation or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth full title and see Instruction 5. For information concerning signature guarantees, see Instruction 1.)


Name:
		(Please Print)
Capacity (Full Title):

Address:
		(Include Zip Code)

Area Code and Telephone Number:

Tax Identification or Social Security No:

(Please additionally complete IRS Form W-9 (attached) or the applicable IRS Form W-8, available at irs.gov)

GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)

(For use by Eligible Institutions only;

see Instructions 1 and 5)


Name of Firm:

Address:
		(Include Zip Code)

Authorized Signature:

Name:
		(Please Print)

Area Code and Telephone Number:

Place medallion guarantee in space below:

INSTRUCTIONS

Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of the Offer

1. Guarantee of Signatures for Shares. No signature guarantee is required on this Letter of Election and Transmittal (a) if this Letter of Election and Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) (which term, for purposes of this Section 1, includes any participant in DTC’s systems whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Shares) of the Shares tendered therewith, unless such holder or holders have completed either the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” or the box entitled “Special Payment Instructions” within this Letter of Election and Transmittal or (b) if the Shares are tendered for the account of a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a member in good standing of the Security Transfer Agents Medallion Program or any other “eligible guarantor institution,” as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 of the Exchange Act (each an “Eligible Institution” and collectively “Eligible Institutions”) (for example, the Security Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program). In all other cases, all signatures on this Letter of Election and Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5.

2. Requirements of Tender. In order for Shares to be validly tendered pursuant to the Offer, one of the following procedures must be followed:

For Shares held as physical certificates, the Share Certificates representing tendered Shares, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Election and Transmittal together with any required signature guarantees and any other documents required by this Letter of Election and Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the front page of this Letter of Election and Transmittal before the Offer expires.

For Shares held in book-entry form on the books of the Company, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Election and Transmittal, together with any required signature guarantees, and any other required documents, must be received by the Depositary at the appropriate address set forth on the front page of this Letter of Election and Transmittal, and such Shares must be delivered according to the book-entry transfer procedure (as set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase), before the Offer expires.

For Shares held in “street” name in book-entry form, an Agent’s Message in lieu of this Letter of Election and Transmittal and a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of Shares into the Depositary’s account at DTC (a “Book-Entry Confirmation”) must be received by the Depositary before the Offer expires. Stockholders holding Shares in “street” name in book-entry form need not complete a Letter of Election and Transmittal.

The term “Agent’s Message” means a message transmitted through electronic means by DTC in accordance with the normal procedures of DTC to, and received by, the Depositary and forming part of a Book-Entry Confirmation, that states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in DTC tendering the Shares that are the subject of such Book-Entry Confirmation that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of, this Letter of Election and Transmittal, and that Merger Sub may enforce such agreement against such participant. The term “Agent’s Message” also includes any hard copy printout evidencing such message generated by a computer terminal maintained at the Depositary’s office.

The method of delivery of the Shares (or Share Certificates), this Letter of Election and Transmittal and all other required documents, including delivery through DTC, is at the election and risk of the tendering stockholder. Delivery of the Shares (or Share Certificates), this Letter of Election and Transmittal and all other required documents will be deemed made, and risk of loss thereof will pass, only when they are actually received by the Depositary (including, in the case of a book-entry transfer of Shares, by Book-Entry Confirmation with respect to such Shares). If such delivery is by mail, it is recommended that the Shares (or Share Certificates), this Letter of Election and Transmittal and all other required documents be sent by properly insured registered mail with return receipt requested. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.

No Guaranteed Delivery. We are not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures. Therefore, Company stockholders must allow sufficient time for the necessary tender procedures to be completed prior to the Expiration Time. In addition, for Company stockholders who are registered holders, the Letter of Election and Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, together with any required signature guarantees and any other documents required by the Letter of Election and Transmittal (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message in lieu of the Letter of Election and Transmittal and such other documents) must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Time.

No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted and no fractional Shares will be purchased. All tendering stockholders, by execution of this Letter of Election and Transmittal, waive any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of their Shares for payment.

All questions as to validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of the surrender of any Share Certificate hereunder, including questions as to the proper completion or execution of any Letter of Election and Transmittal or other required documents and as to the proper form for transfer of any certificate of Shares, will be determined by Merger Sub in its sole and absolute discretion (which may be delegated in whole or in part to the Depositary), which determination will be final and binding, subject to any judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction. Merger Sub reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders determined by it not to be in proper form or the acceptance for payment of or payment for which may be unlawful. Merger Sub also reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the surrender of any Shares or Share Certificate(s) whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of any other stockholder. A surrender will not be deemed to have been validly made until all defects and irregularities have been cured or waived.

3. Inadequate Space. If the space provided on the cover page to this Letter of Election and Transmittal is inadequate, the certificate numbers and/or the number of Shares should be listed on a separate schedule attached hereto and separately signed on each page thereof in the same manner as this Letter of Election and Transmittal is signed.

4. Partial Tenders. Unless otherwise indicated, it will be considered that all Shares represented by a certificate(s) delivered with the Letter of Election and Transmittal or held in the account in book-entry form are to be tendered.

5. Signatures on Letter of Election and Transmittal; Stock Powers and Endorsements. If this Letter of Election and Transmittal is signed by the registered owner(s) of the Shares tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the Share Certificate(s) without alteration or any other change whatsoever.

If any Shares tendered hereby are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Election and Transmittal.

If any tendered Shares are registered in the names of different holder(s), it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of such Shares.

If this Letter of Election and Transmittal or any certificates or stock 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 proper evidence satisfactory to Merger Sub of their authority so to act must be submitted.

If this Letter of Election and Transmittal is signed by the registered owner(s) of the Shares listed and transmitted hereby, no endorsements of Share Certificates or separate stock powers are required unless payment is to be made to, or Share Certificates representing Shares not tendered or accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered owner(s), in which case the Share Certificates representing the Shares tendered by this Letter of Election and Transmittal must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case, signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered owner(s) or holder(s) appear(s) on the Share Certificates. Signatures on such Share Certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

If this Letter of Election and Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered owner(s) of the Share(s) listed, the Share Certificate(s) must be endorsed or accompanied by the appropriate stock powers, in either case, signed exactly as the name or names of the registered owner(s) or holder(s) appear(s) on the Share Certificate(s). Signatures on such Share Certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

6. Transfer Taxes. Except as otherwise provided in this Instruction 6, all transfer taxes with respect to the transfer and sale of Shares contemplated hereby will be paid or caused to be paid by Merger Sub. If payment of the Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable) is to be made to, or (in the circumstances permitted hereby) if Share Certificates not validly tendered or accepted for payment are to be registered in the name of, any person other than the registered owner(s), or if tendered Share Certificates are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing this Letter of Election and Transmittal, the amount of any transfer taxes whether imposed on the registered owner(s) or such person payable on account of the transfer to such person will be deducted from the Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable) unless satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes, or exemption therefrom, is submitted.

7. Special Payment and Delivery Instructions. If a check for the Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable) is to be issued, and/or Share Certificates representing Shares not validly tendered or accepted for payment are to be issued or returned to, a person other than the signer(s) of this Letter of Election and Transmittal or to an address other than that shown in the box titled “Description of Shares Surrendered” above, the appropriate boxes on this Letter of Election and Transmittal should be completed. Stockholders delivering Shares tendered hereby or by Agent’s Message by book-entry transfer may request that Shares not purchased be credited to an account maintained at DTC as such stockholder may designate in the box titled “Special Payment Instructions” herein. If no such instructions are given, all such Shares not purchased will be returned by crediting the same account at DTC as the account from which such Shares were delivered.

8. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to Innisfree M&A Incorporated (the “Information Agent”) at its address and telephone number set forth below or to your broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Election and Transmittal and other tender offer materials may be obtained from the Information Agent as set forth below, and will be furnished at Merger Sub’s expense.

9. U.S. Federal Backup Withholding. Under U.S. federal income tax laws, the Depositary will be required to withhold a portion of the amount of any payments made to certain stockholders (or other payees) pursuant to the Offer (including the value of the CVR as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes). To avoid backup withholding, each tendering stockholder (or other payee) that is or is treated as a United States person (for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and that does not otherwise establish an exemption from U.S. federal backup withholding must complete and return the attached Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9, certifying that such stockholder (or other payee) is a United States person, that the taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) provided is correct, and that such stockholder (or other payee) is not subject to backup withholding. If such stockholder (or other payee) is a U.S. individual, the TIN is such stockholder’s (or other payee’s) social security number.

Certain stockholders and other payees (including, among others, corporations, non-resident foreign individuals and certain foreign entities) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. To avoid backup withholding, exempt U.S. persons should furnish their TIN and indicate their exempt status on IRS Form W-9 and sign, date and return the IRS Form W-9 to the Depositary. A tendering stockholder (or other payee) that is a foreign individual or a foreign entity should complete, sign, and submit to the Depositary IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable IRS Form W-8) attesting to such stockholder’s (or payee’s) foreign status or should otherwise establish an exemption. Special rules apply for foreign entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The appropriate IRS Form W-8 may be downloaded from the Internal Revenue Service’s website at the following address: http://www.irs.gov. Failure to complete the IRS Form W-9 or the appropriate IRS Form W-8 will not, by itself, cause Shares to be deemed invalidly tendered, but may require the Depositary to withhold a portion of the amount of any payments made of

the Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable) pursuant to the Offer. Tendering stockholders (or other payees) should consult their own tax advisors as to any qualification for exemption from backup withholding, and the procedure for obtaining the exemption.

If backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax on payments for Shares made in the Offer or under the Merger Agreement applies, the Depositary is required to withhold (currently at a rate of 24%) form any payments of the Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable) made to the stockholder (or other payee). Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against a stockholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, if the stockholder timely furnishes the required information to the IRS.

Note: Failure to complete and return the IRS Form W-9 (or appropriate IRS Form W-8, as applicable) may result in backup withholding of a portion of any payments made to you pursuant to the Offer.

10. Lost, Destroyed, Mutilated or Stolen Share Certificates. If any Share Certificate has been lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen, the stockholder should promptly notify the Transfer Agent, at (877) 248-6417 (toll free in the United States). The stockholder will then be instructed as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace the Share Certificate. This Letter of Election and Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, mutilated, destroyed or stolen Share Certificates have been followed.

11. Waiver of Conditions. Parent and Merger Sub expressly reserve the right, at any time and from time to time, to waive, in whole or in part, any of the Offer Conditions (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) and to make any change in the terms of or conditions to the Offer in a manner consistent with the terms of the Merger Agreement or to increase the Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable). However, without the prior written consent of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub may not (and Parent may not permit Merger Sub to): (i) waive or modify the Minimum Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), the No Injunction Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) or the No Termination Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase); or (ii) make any change in the terms of or conditions to the Offer that: (A) changes the form of consideration to be paid in the Offer; (B) decreases the Cash and CVR Consideration or All-Cash Consideration (as applicable) or the number of Shares sought in the Offer; (C) extends the Offer or the Expiration Time, except as permitted or required by the Merger Agreement; (D) imposes conditions or requirements on the Offer other than the Offer Conditions, as described in Section 15 of the Offer to Purchase; (E) amends or modifies any term or condition of the Offer in any manner that is (or would reasonably be expected to be) material and adverse to the Company stockholders; or (F) would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Offer or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Offer, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

12. Election Procedure; Revocation or Change of Election. The “Tender Offer Election” section must be completed if you desire to elect the type of consideration to be received in exchange for the Shares being tendered hereby. You may check (i) one box to designate all of your shares for one election option, (ii) fill in the number of shares next to one or both of the election options or (iii) leave the election options blank and not check a box. If you leave the election options blank or you make elections for less than all the shares you describe in the box titled “Description of Shares Surrendered,” you will be treated as if you made the election to receive the Cash and CVR Consideration as consideration with regards to those shares for which an election was not made. If you check one of the boxes designating all shares for one election, that election will govern all of your Shares tendered in the offer and any numbers entered next to the election options will be disregarded. If you check more than one box above, you will be treated as if you made an election to receive the Cash and CVR Consideration. If you make elections for more than the shares you describe in the box titled “Description of Shares Surrendered,” your elections will be reduced on a pro rata basis relative to the number of Shares you indicated for each election.

Tender offer elections (whether actual or deemed) are irrevocable, except that Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration date. After an effective withdrawal, Shares may

be retendered with another election by submitting to the Paying Agent a completed replacement of this Letter of Election and Transmittal (and any other documents required by the Offer for properly tendering Shares) prior to the expiration date of the Offer.

Important: This Letter of Election and Transmittal or an Agent’s Message, together with Share Certificate(s) or Book-Entry Confirmation and all other required documents, must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Time.



Form W-9 (Rev. March 2024) Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service	Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification Go to *www.irs.gov/FormW9* for instructions and the latest information.	Give form to the requester. Do not send to the IRS.
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.

4 Exemptions (codes apply only to certain entities, not individuals; see instructions on page 3):

☐ Individual/sole proprietor

☐ C corporation

☐

S corporation

☐

Partnership

☐

Trust/estate

Exempt payee code (if any)

☐ 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)

Exemption from Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) reporting code (if any)

(Applies to accounts maintained outside the United States.)

3b If on line 3a you checked “Partnership” or “Trust/estate,” or checked “LLC” and entered “P” as its tax classification, and you are providing this form to a partnership, trust, or estate in which you have an ownership interest, check this box if you have any foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries. See instructions . . . . . . . . . ☐

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

–

Employer identification number

–


Part II		Certification

Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:

1. The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me); and

2. I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding; and

3. I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below); and

4. The FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that I am exempt from FATCA reporting is correct.

Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and, generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions for Part II, later.


Sign Here		Signature of U.S. person		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.


		Cat. No. 10231X		Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024)


Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024)		Page		2

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 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:

1. Certify that the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number to be issued);

2. Certify that you are not subject to backup withholding; or

3. Claim exemption from backup withholding if you are a U.S. exempt payee; and

4. Certify to your non-foreign status for purposes of withholding under chapter 3 or 4 of the Code (if applicable); and

5. 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.

1. The treaty country. Generally, this must be the same treaty under which you claimed exemption from tax as a nonresident alien.

2. The treaty article addressing the income.

3. The article number (or location) in the tax treaty that contains the saving clause and its exceptions.

4. The type and amount of income that qualifies for the exemption from tax.

5. 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:

1. You do not furnish your TIN to the requester;

2. You do not certify your TIN when required (see the instructions for Part II for details);

3. The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN;

4. 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

5. 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).

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.


Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024)		Page		3

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).

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.

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.


Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024)		Page		4

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.

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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Real estate transactions. You must sign the certification. You may cross out item 2 of the certification.

4. 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).

5. 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 account¹

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 minor²

5.	a. The usual revocable savings trust (grantor is also trustee)	The grantor-trustee¹

	b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law	The actual owner¹

6.	Sole proprietorship or disregarded entity owned by an individual	The owner³

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 entity⁴

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.


Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024)		Page		5

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.

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 phishing@irs.gov. 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 spam@uce.gov 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.

The Depositary for the Offer is:

LOGO

If delivering by hand, express mail, courier or other expedited service:

Equiniti Trust Company, LLC

55 Challenger Road

Suite # 200

Ridgefield Park, New Jersey 07600

Attn: Reorganization Department

By mail:

Equiniti Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

P.O. Box 525

Ridgefield Park, New Jersey 07600

Phone: Toll-free (877) 248-6417

(718) 921-8317

Facsimile (718) 765-8758

Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at the address and telephone numbers listed below. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Election and Transmittal and other materials may also be obtained from the Information Agent. Stockholders may also contact brokers, dealers, commercial banks or trust companies for assistance concerning the Offer.

The Information Agent for the Offer is:

LOGO

Innisfree M&A Incorporated

501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor

New York, New York 10022

Stockholders may call toll-free: (877) 825 8793

Banks and Brokers may call collect: (212) 750 5833