Exhibit (a)2

                             LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                        TO TENDER SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                                       OF

                   INCOME OPPORTUNITY REALTY INVESTORS, INC.

                       PURSUANT TO THE OFFER TO PURCHASE
                            DATED NOVEMBER 15, 2002
                                       BY

                   INCOME OPPORTUNITY ACQUISITION CORPORATION
                          A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF

                        AMERICAN REALTY INVESTORS, INC.

         THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT
           NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON DECEMBER 13, 2002, UNLESS EXTENDED.

                        The Depositary for the Offer is:
                   American Stock Transfer and Trust Company

                  By Overnight Courier, Mail Delivery or Hand:
                   American Stock Transfer and Trust Company
                                 59 Maiden Lane
                            New York, New York 10038

                                  By Facsimile
                       (for Eligible Institutions Only):
                                 (718) 234-5001

                           Confirmation by Telephone:
                                 (877) 777-6800

<Table>
                                                                           
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         Account Number
                                                              -------------------------------------
                                                              Number of Shares      CUSIP Number
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</Table>

                                        1


<Table>
<Caption>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OF REGISTERED HOLDERS(S)
           (PLEASE FILL IN, IF BLANK, EXACTLY AS                               SHARES TENDERED
           NAME(S) APPEAR(S) ON CERTIFICATE(S))                 (ATTACH ADDITIONAL SIGNED LIST IF NECESSARY)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                TOTAL NUMBER
                                                                                  OF SHARES         NUMBER OF
                                                               CERTIFICATE     REPRESENTED BY        SHARES
                                                              NUMBER(S)(1)    CERTIFICATE(S)(1)    TENDERED(2)
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        

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

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

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

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

                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
                                                              TOTAL SHARES
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Need not be completed by Book-Entry Stockholders.
(2) Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Shares described above are being tendered. See
  Instruction 4.
IF YOUR CERTIFICATES HAVE BEEN LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED, PLEASE SEE INSTRUCTION 11.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</Table>

     DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS, OR TRANSMISSION OF
INSTRUCTIONS VIA A FACSIMILE NUMBER, OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT
CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

     THE INSTRUCTIONS SET FORTH IN THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ
CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.

     This Letter of Transmittal is to be used either if certificates for Shares
(as defined below) are to be forwarded herewith or, unless an Agent's Message
(as defined in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase (as defined below)) is used,
if delivery of Shares is to be made by book-entry transfer to an account
maintained by the Depositary at The Depositary Trust Company. Stockholders who
deliver Shares by book-entry transfer are referred to herein as "Book-Entry
Stockholders" and other stockholders are referred to herein as "Certificate
Stockholders." Stockholders whose certificates for Shares are not immediately
available or who cannot deliver either the certificates for, or a Book-Entry
Confirmation (as defined in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase) with respect to
their Shares and all other documents required hereby to the Depositary prior to
the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) must tender their
Shares in accordance with the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in
Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase. See Instruction 2 below. Delivery of
documents to The Depositary Trust Company does not constitute delivery to the
Depositary.

[ ]  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
     MADE TO AN ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE DEPOSITARY. ENCLOSE A PHOTOCOPY OF
     SUCH NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY WITH THE DEPOSITARY TRUST COMPANY AND
     COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING (ONLY PARTICIPANTS IN THE DEPOSITARY TRUST COMPANY
     MAY DELIVER SHARES BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER):

    Name of Tendering Institution    -------------------------------------------

    Account Number    ----------------------------------------------------------

   Transaction Code Number     -------------------------------------------------

                                        2


[ ]  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF
     GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE DEPOSITARY. ENCLOSE A PHOTOCOPY
     OF SUCH NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

    Name(s) of Registered
Owner(s)                        ------------------------------------------------

    Window Ticket Number (if any) or DTC Participant
Number                                                  ------------------------

    Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery                                           -----------------------------

    Name of Institution that Guaranteed
Delivery                                     -----------------------------------

    For Book Entry Transfer Complete the following:

    Account Number  ------------------  Transaction Code Number  ---------------

                                        3


                    NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW
              PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     The undersigned hereby tenders to Income Opportunity Acquisition
Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the "Purchaser") and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of American Realty Investors, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the
"Parent"), the above described shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share
(collectively, the "Shares"), of Income Opportunity Realty Investors, Inc., a
Nevada corporation (the "Company"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in the Purchaser's Offer to Purchase dated November 15, 2002 (the
"Offer to Purchase"), and this Letter of Transmittal (which, together with any
amendments or supplements thereto or hereto, collectively constitute the
"Offer"), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.

     Upon the terms of the Offer, subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for
payment of, and payment for, the Shares tendered herewith in accordance with the
terms of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms or
conditions of any such extension or amendment), the undersigned hereby sells,
assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Purchaser all right, title
and interest in and to all the Shares that are being tendered hereby (and any
and all other Shares or other securities or rights issued or issuable in respect
of such Shares on or after November 15, 2002) and irrevocably constitutes and
appoints the Depositary the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the
undersigned with respect to such Shares (and any such other Shares or securities
or rights), with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed
to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to (a) deliver
certificates for such Shares (and any such other Shares or securities or rights)
or transfer ownership of such Shares (and any such other Shares or securities or
rights) on the account books maintained by The Depositary Trust Company
together, in any such case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and
authenticity to, or upon the order of, the Purchaser, (b) present such Shares
(and any such other Shares or securities or rights) for transfer on the
Company's books and (c) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights
of beneficial ownership of such Shares (and any such other Shares or securities
or rights), all in accordance with the terms of the Offer.

     The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has
full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the tendered
Shares (and any and all other Shares or other securities or rights issued or
issuable in respect of such Shares on or after November 15, 2002) and, when the
same are accepted for payment by the Purchaser, the Purchaser will acquire good
title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, claims and
encumbrances and the same will not be subject to any adverse claim. The
undersigned will, upon request, execute any additional documents deemed by the
Depositary or the Purchaser to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale,
assignment and transfer of the tendered Shares (and any such other Shares or
other securities or rights).

     All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred pursuant to this Letter
of Transmittal shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs, executors,
administrators, trustees in bankruptcy and legal representatives of the
undersigned and shall not be affected by, and shall survive, the death or
incapacity of the undersigned. Except as stated in the Offer to Purchase, this
tender is irrevocable.

     The undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints Purchaser, its officers and
designees, and each of them, the attorneys-in-fact and proxies of the
undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to vote at any annual,
special or adjourned meeting of the Company's stockholders or otherwise in such
manner as each such attorney-in-fact and proxy or his substitute shall in his
sole discretion deem proper with respect to, to execute any written consent
concerning any matter as each such attorney-in-fact and proxy or his substitute
shall in his sole discretion deem proper with respect to, and to otherwise act
as each such attorney-in-fact and proxy or his substitute shall in his sole
discretion deem proper with respect to, all the Shares tendered hereby that have
been accepted for payment by the Purchaser prior to the time any such action is
taken and with respect to which the undersigned is entitled to vote (and with
respect to any and all other Shares or other securities or rights issued or
issuable in respect of such Shares on or after

                                        4


November 15, 2002). This appointment is effective when, and only to the extent
that, the Purchaser accepts for payment such Shares as provided in the Offer to
Purchase. This power of attorney and proxy are irrevocable and are granted in
consideration of the acceptance for payment of such Shares in accordance with
the terms of the Offer. Such acceptance for payment shall, without further
action, revoke all prior powers of attorney and proxies appointed by the
undersigned at any time with respect to such Shares (and any such other Shares
or securities or rights) and no subsequent powers of attorney, proxies, consent
or revocations may be given (and, if given, will not be deemed effective) by the
undersigned. Purchaser reserves the right to require that, in order for the
Shares to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon Purchaser's acceptance
for payment of such Shares, Purchaser must be able to exercise full voting,
consent and other rights with respect to such Shares (and any and all
distributions), including voting at any meeting of the Company's stockholders.

     The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has
full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Shares
tendered hereby and all distributions in respect of the Shares and that, when
the same are accepted for payment by Purchaser, Purchaser will acquire good,
marketable and unencumbered title thereto and to all distributions, free and
clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and the same will not
be subject to any adverse claims. The undersigned will, upon request, execute
and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Depositary or Purchaser to be
necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the
Shares tendered hereby and all distributions. In addition, the undersigned shall
remit and transfer promptly to the Depositary for the account of Purchaser all
distributions in respect of the Shares tendered hereby, accompanied by
appropriate documentation of transfer, and, pending such remittance and transfer
or appropriate assurance thereof, Purchaser shall be entitled to all rights and
privileges as owner of each such distribution and may withhold the entire
purchase price of the Shares tendered hereby or deduct from such purchase price
the amount or value of such distribution as determined by Purchaser in its sole
discretion.

     All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred 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, successors and assigns of the
undersigned. This tender is irrevocable; provided that the Shares tendered
pursuant to the Offer may be withdrawn at any time on or prior to the Expiration
Date and, unless theretofore accepted for payment as provided in the Offer to
Purchase, may also be withdrawn at any time after January 13, 2003, subject to
the withdrawal rights set forth in Section 4 of the Offer to Purchase. The
undersigned understands that the valid tender of the Shares pursuant to any 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 Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (and if
the Offer is extended or amended, the terms or conditions of any such extension
or amendment). Without limiting the foregoing, if the price to be paid in the
Offer is amended in accordance with the terms of the Offer to Purchase, the
price to be paid to the undersigned will be the amended price notwithstanding
the fact that a different price is stated in this Letter of Transmittal. The
undersigned recognizes that under certain circumstances set forth in the Offer
to Purchase, Purchaser 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 purchase price and/or return any certificates for
Shares not tendered or accepted for payment in the name(s) of the registered
holder(s) appearing under "Description of Shares Tendered." Similarly, unless
otherwise indicated under "Special Delivery Instructions," please mail the check
for the purchase price and/or return any certificates for Shares not tendered or
accepted for payment (and accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the
address(es) of the registered holder(s) appearing under "Description of Shares
Tendered." In the event that both the Special Delivery Instructions and the
Special Payment Instructions are completed, please issue the check for the
purchase price and/or return any certificates for Shares not tendered or
accepted for payment (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) in the
name of, and deliver such check and/or return such certificates (and any
accompanying documents, as appropriate) to, the person or persons so indicated.
Please credit any Shares tendered herewith by book-

                                        5


entry transfer that are not accepted for payment by crediting the account at The
Depositary Trust Company designated above. The undersigned recognizes that the
Purchaser has no obligation pursuant to the "Special Payment Instructions" to
transfer any Shares from the name of the registered holder thereof if the
Purchaser does not accept for payment any of the Shares so tendered.

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

                          SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
                        (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1, 5, 6 AND 7)

        To be completed ONLY if certificates for Shares not tendered or not
   accepted for payment and/or the check for the purchase price of Shares
   accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of someone other than
   the undersigned, or if Shares delivered by book-entry transfer that are
   not accepted for payment are to be returned by credit to an account
   maintained at The Depositary Trust Company other than the account
   indicated above.

   Issue check and/or certificate(s) to:

   Name ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (PLEASE PRINT)

   Address ---------------------------------------------------------------
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                               (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)

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

                         SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
                        (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1, 5, 6 AND 7)

        To be completed ONLY if certificates for Shares not tendered or not
   accepted for payment and/or the check for the purchase price of Shares
   accepted for payment are to be sent to someone other than the undersigned
   or to the undersigned at an address other than that indicated above.

   Issue check and/or certificate(s) to:

   Name ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (PLEASE PRINT)

   Address ---------------------------------------------------------------
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                               (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)

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

                                        6


                                   SIGN HERE
                   (ALSO COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 BELOW)

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

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        (SIGNATURE(S) OF STOCKHOLDER(S))

Dated:  ------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Must be signed by registered holder(s) as name(s) appear(s) on the
certificate(s) for the Shares 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 corporations or others acting in a
fiduciary or representative capacity, please provide the following information
and see Instruction 5.)

Name(s)  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (PLEASE PRINT)

Capacity (full
title)                ----------------------------------------------------------

Address  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)

Area Code and Telephone No.   --------------------------------------------------

                           GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
                   (IF REQUIRED -- SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1 AND 5)

Authorized Signature          --------------------------------------------------
                                 (PLEASE PRINT)

Address  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)

Area Code and Telephone
No.                         ----------------------------------------------------

Dated:  ------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                        7


                                  INSTRUCTIONS
             FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER

     1. GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES.  No signature guarantee is required on this
Letter of Transmittal if (a) this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the
registered holder(s) (which term, for purposes of this Instruction, includes any
participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facilities' system whose name appears on
a security position listing as the owner of the Shares) of Shares tendered
herewith, unless such registered holder(s) has completed either the box entitled
"Special Payment Instructions" or the box entitled "Special Delivery
Instructions" on this Letter of Transmittal or (b) such Shares are tendered for
the account of a firm that is a participant in the Security Transfer Agents
Medallion Program or the New York Stock Exchange Guarantee Program or the Stock
Exchange Medallion Program or by any other "eligible guarantor institution," as
such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (each, an "Eligible Institution"). In all other cases, all signatures
on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. See
Instruction 5.

     2. REQUIREMENTS OF TENDER.  This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed
by stockholders either if certificates are to be forwarded herewith or, unless
an Agent's Message (as defined below) is used, if delivery of Shares is to be
made pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in Section 3
of the Offer to Purchase. For a stockholder validly to tender Shares pursuant to
the Offer, either (a) a Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof), properly
completed and duly executed, together with any required signature guarantees or,
in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message, and any other required
documents, must be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth
herein prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) and
either certificates for tendered Shares must be received by the Depositary at
one of such addresses or Shares must be delivered pursuant to the procedures for
book-entry transfer set forth herein (and a Book-Entry Confirmation (as defined
in the Offer to Purchase) must be received by the Depositary), in each case,
prior to the Expiration Date, or (b) the tendering stockholder must comply with
the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below and in Section 3 of the Offer
to Purchase.

     Stockholders whose certificates for Shares are not immediately available or
who cannot deliver their certificates and all other required documents to the
Depositary or complete the procedures for book-entry transfer prior to the
Expiration Date may tender their Shares by properly completing and duly
executing the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery pursuant to the guaranteed delivery
procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase. Pursuant to such
procedures, (a) such tender must be made by or through an Eligible Institution,
(b) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
substantially in the form provided by the Purchaser must be received by the
Depositary prior to the Expiration Date and (c) the certificates for all
tendered Shares in proper form for transfer (or a Book-Entry Confirmation with
respect to all such Shares), together with a Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile
thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature
guarantees, or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message, and
any other required documents, must be received by the Depositary within three
business days after the date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
as provided in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase. A "business day" is any day
on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for business.

     "Agent's Message" means a message transmitted by The Depositary Trust
Company to, and received by, the Depositary and forming a part of a Book-Entry
Confirmation, that states that The Depositary Trust Company has received an
express acknowledgment from the participant in The Depositary Trust Company
tendering the Shares that such participant has received and agrees to be bound
by the terms of the Letter of Transmittal and that the Purchaser may enforce
such agreement against such participant.

     THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF SHARES, THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING DELIVERY THROUGH THE DEPOSITARY TRUST COMPANY, IS
AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING STOCKHOLDER. SHARES WILL BE DEEMED
DELIVERED ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY (INCLUDING, IN THE CASE
OF A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, BY BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION). IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL,
REGISTERED MAIL,

                                        8


WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, PROPERLY INSURED, IS RECOMMENDED. IN ALL CASES,
SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.

     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 Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), waive any right to receive
any notice of the acceptance of their Shares for payment.

     3. INADEQUATE SPACE.  If the space provided herein is inadequate, the
certificate numbers and/or the number of Shares should be listed on a separate
schedule attached hereto.

     4. PARTIAL TENDERS (APPLICABLE TO CERTIFICATE STOCKHOLDERS ONLY).  If fewer
than all the Shares evidenced by any certificate submitted are to be tendered,
fill in the number of Shares that are to be tendered in the box entitled "Number
of Shares Tendered." In any such case, new certificate(s) for the remainder of
the Shares that were evidenced by the old certificate(s) will be sent to the
registered holder, unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box on this
Letter of Transmittal as soon as practicable after the acceptance or payment of,
and payment for the Shares tendered herewith. All Shares represented by
certificates delivered to the Depositary will be deemed to have been tendered
unless otherwise indicated.

     5. SIGNATURES ON LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL; STOCK POWERS AND ENDORSEMENTS.  If
this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder of the Shares
tendered hereby, the signature must correspond with the name written on the face
of the certificate(s) without any change whatsoever.

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

     If any tendered Shares are registered in different names on several
certificates, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate
Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of certificates.

     If this Letter of 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 the Purchaser of their authority so to act must be submitted.

     When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of
the Shares listed and transmitted hereby, no endorsements of certificates or
separate stock powers are required unless payment is to be made to or
certificates for Shares not tendered or accepted for payment are to be issued to
a person other than the registered holder(s). Signatures on such certificates or
stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

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

     6. STOCK TRANSFER TAXES.  The Purchaser will pay any stock transfer taxes
with respect to the transfer and sale of Shares to it or its order pursuant to
the Offer. If, however, payment of the purchase price is to be made to, or if
certificates for Shares not tendered or accepted for payment are to be
registered in the name of, any persons other than the registered holder(s), or
if tendered certificates are registered in the name of any person other than the
person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, the amount of any stock transfer
taxes (whether imposed on the registered owner(s) or such person(s)) payable on
account of the transfer to such person(s) will be deducted from the purchase
price unless satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes or exemption
therefrom is submitted.

     EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS INSTRUCTION 6, IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY FOR
TRANSFER TAX STAMPS TO BE AFFIXED TO THE CERTIFICATES LISTED IN THIS LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL.

                                        9


     7. SPECIAL PAYMENT AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS.  If a check is to be issued
in the name of, and/or certificates for Shares not tendered or not accepted for
payment are to be returned to, a person other than the signer of this Letter of
Transmittal or if a check is to be sent and/or such certificates are to be
returned to a person other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal or to
an address other than that shown above, the appropriate boxes on this Letter of
Transmittal should be completed.

     8. WAIVER OF CONDITIONS.  The Purchaser reserves the absolute right in its
sole discretion to waive any of the specified conditions of the Offer, in whole
or in part, in the case of any Shares tendered.

     9. 31% BACKUP WITHHOLDING.  In order to avoid backup withholding of federal
income tax on payments of cash pursuant to the Offer, a stockholder surrendering
Shares in the Offer must, unless an exemption applies, provide the Depositary
with such stockholder's correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN") on
Substitute Form W-9 below in this Letter of Transmittal and certify under
penalties of perjury that such TIN is correct and that such stockholder is not
subject to backup withholding. If a stockholder does not provide such
stockholder's correct TIN or fails to provide the certifications described
above, the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") may impose a $50 penalty on such
stockholder and payment of cash to such stockholder pursuant to the Offer may be
subject to backup withholding of 31%.

     Backup withholding is not an additional income tax. Rather, the amount of
the backup withholding can be credited against the Federal income tax liability
of the person subject to the backup withholding, provided that the required
information is given to the IRS. If backup withholding results in an overpayment
of tax, a refund can be obtained by the stockholder upon filing an income tax
return.

     The stockholder is required to give the Depositary the TIN (i.e., social
security number or employer identification number) of the record owner of the
Shares. If the Shares are held in more than one name or are not in the name of
the actual owner, consult the enclosed "Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer
Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9" for additional guidance on which
number to report.

     The box in Part 3 of the Substitute Form W-9 may be checked if the
tendering stockholder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a TIN or
intends to apply for a TIN in the near future. If the box in Part 3 is checked,
the stockholder or other payee must also complete the Certificate of Awaiting
Taxpayer Identification Number below in order to avoid backup withholding.
Notwithstanding that the box in Part 3 is checked and the Certificate of
Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number is completed, the Depositary will
withhold 31% on all payments made prior to the time a properly certified TIN is
provided to the Depositary. However, such amounts will be refunded to such
stockholder if a TIN is provided to the Depositary within 60 days.

     Certain stockholders (including corporations) are not subject to backup
withholding. Noncorporate foreign stockholders should complete and sign the main
signature form and a Form W-8, Certificate of Foreign Status, a copy of which
may be obtained from the Depositary, in order to avoid backup withholding. See
the enclosed "Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on
Substitute Form W-9" for more instructions.

     10. REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR ADDITIONAL COPIES.  Questions and requests
for assistance or additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of
Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and the Guidelines for
Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 may be
directed to the Information Agent at its respective address set forth below.

     11. LOST, DESTROYED OR STOLEN CERTIFICATES.  If any certificate
representing Shares has been lost, destroyed or stolen, the stockholder should
promptly notify the Depositary by checking the box immediately preceding the
special payment/special delivery instructions and indicating the number of
Shares so lost, destroyed or stolen, or call the Transfer Agent, American Stock
Transfer and Trust Company, at 59 Maiden Lane, New York, New York 10038. The
stockholder will then be instructed by the Depositary as to the steps that must
be taken in order to replace the certificate. This Letter of Transmittal and
related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost or
destroyed certificates have been followed.

                                        10


     IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (OR A MANUALLY SIGNED FACSIMILE
THEREOF) TOGETHER WITH ANY SIGNATURE GUARANTEES, OR, IN THE CASE OF A BOOK-ENTRY
TRANSFER, AN AGENT'S MESSAGE, AND ANY OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, MUST BE RECEIVED
BY THE DEPOSITARY PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE AND EITHER CERTIFICATES FOR
TENDERED SHARES MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY OR SHARES MUST BE DELIVERED
PURSUANT TO THE PROCEDURES FOR BOOK- ENTRY TRANSFER, IN EACH CASE PRIOR TO THE
EXPIRATION DATE, OR THE TENDERING STOCKHOLDER MUST COMPLY WITH THE PROCEDURES
FOR GUARANTEED DELIVERY.

<Table>
                                                                              
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            SUBSTITUTE              PART 1 -- PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN IN THE BOX AT Social Security Number OR Employer
             FORM W-9               RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND DATING BELOW         Identification Number
                                                                                       ---------------------------
    Department of the Treasury      PART 2 -- CERTIFICATION -- Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:
     Internal Revenue Service       (1) The number shown on this form is my correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or
       PAYER'S REQUEST FOR          I am waiting for a number to be issued for me) and
     TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION        (2) I am not subject to backup withholding either because: (a) I am exempt from
           NUMBER (TIN)             backup withholding or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service
                                    (the "IRS") that I am subject to the 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
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    PART 3: Awaiting TIN  [ ]
                   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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 of underreporting interest or dividends on your tax return. However,
 if after being notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding, you received another notification from
               IRS that you are no longer subject to backup withholding, do not cross out such item (2).



 SIGNATURE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DATE --------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</Table>

NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING
      OF 31% OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW
      THE ENCLOSED "GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
      NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9" FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

      YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU CHECKED THE BOX IN PART
      3 OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9.

                                        11


             CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

     I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer identification number
has not been issued to me, and either (1) 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 (2)
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 payment, 31%
of all reportable payments made to me will be withheld, but that such amounts
will be refunded to me if I then provide a Taxpayer Identification Number within
sixty (60) days.

Signature                                                    Date
          --------------------------------------------------     --------------

     Manually signed facsimile copies of the Letter of Transmittal will be
accepted. The Letter of Transmittal, certificates for Shares and any other
required documents should be sent or delivered by each stockholder of the
Company or such stockholder's broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or
other nominee to the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth below.

                        The Depositary for the Offer is:
                   American Stock Transfer and Trust Company

                  By Overnight Courier, Mail Delivery or Hand:
                   American Stock Transfer and Trust Company
                                 59 Maiden Lane
                            New York, New York 10038

                                  By Facsimile
                       (for Eligible Institutions Only):
                                 (718) 234-5001

                           Confirmation by Telephone:
                                 (877) 777-6800

     Questions and requests for assistance or additional copies of the Offer to
Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may
be directed to the Information Agent at the telephone numbers and location
listed below. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust
company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer.

                    The Information Agent for the Offer is:
                   Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc.
                          17 State Street, 10th Floor
                            New York, New York 10004
                    Bankers and Brokers Call: (212) 440-9800
                   All Others Call Toll Free: (866) 423-4879

                                        12