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The
Direct Registration System is a system for book-entry ownership. It
is a service in which shares are owned, recorded and transferred electronically
without issuing a physical share certificate. Instead of being represented
by a physical share certificate, shares are held in registered form
and recorded electronically on the books and records, which are maintained
by Securities Transfer Corporation ("STC"). This book-entry form of
ownership permits shareholders to hold and transfer share(s) in a new
way. Shareholders still have all the traditional rights and privileges
afforded to shareholders, without the necessity of having a physical
certificate. A physical share certificate can still be issued upon request. |
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Registration advantages Holding shares in the Direct Registration System relieves the shareholder of the worry and responsibility of keeping track of valuable share certificate(s), not to mention the time and expense of replacing them if they are lost or misplaced. Under book-entry form of ownership, traditional voting and other rights and benefits as a shareholder remain the same. Book-entry shares can be sold directly. Physical share certificates representing all or a portion of the book-entry shares can be requested at any time. For safekeeping, existing physical share certificate(s) can be converted to book-entry share ownership. Book-entry shares can be transferred without surrendering a physical share certificate. All or some of the shares held by a broker can be transferred electronically to Direct Registration. All or some of book-entry shares can be transferred electronically to a broker. Book-entry through the Direct Registration System is the new standard in share ownership. It is in line with the U.S. securities industry's overall movement towards statement-based share ownership, and has the support and approval of both the Securities and Exchange Commission and The New York Stock Exchange. It reduces overall distribution costs to the Company. Tracking Shares Any movement of book-entry shares into or out of a Direct Registration account will be reported by a transaction statement mailed within approximately three business days of the transaction. A yearly account statement will be issued from Securities Transfer Corporation. Selling Direct Registration Shares Through a Bank or Broker Shareholders can have sales handled by a broker/dealer by instructing Securities Transfer Corporation to transfer the book-entry shares electronically to the shareholders broker/dealer account. This will avoid delays in completing transactions through the broker/dealer. The transaction statement confirming the Direct Registration transaction will contain instructions on how to add the information to the shareholders broker/dealer account. The transfer form requires a Medallion Signature Guarantee available from most financial institutions, such as a commercial bank, trust company, national bank, credit union, brokerage firm, etc., or a if a non U.S. Resident by certification or notary and/or bank guarantee, or by a consulate or an embassy. Share certificates can also be obtained by contacting Securities Transfer Corporation who will deliver the share certificate to the broker/dealer for sale. |
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Medallion
Signature Guarantee To Our Brokers |