1. What is CNBC’s Call the Close?

CNBC’s Call the Close is an online stock market prediction game and a sweepstakes.  The game invites players to make their prediction for the closing value of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) for the upcoming trading day.  Beginning at 4:30pm ET at the conclusion of each trading day through 1:00pm ET the following trading day, players can submit their estimate for the DJIA close.  The player who comes closest to the closing value of the DJIA to the .00 decimal point will be declared the winner.

All participants who play the game will receive an automatic entry into the sweepstakes.  One player will be randomly selected as the sweepstakes winner.

1. When does Call the Close begin?

Both the game and sweepstakes begin February 26, 2010 at 4:30pm ET and end April 2, 2010 at 1:00pm ET.

1. Who can play Call the Close?

Permanent legal residents of the United States or the District of Columbia who are at least18 years old or the age of majority in their state of residence as of February 26, 2010 are eligible to participate.  Participants must also have either a valid social security number and/or a valid U.S. personal tax I.D. number.

1. How do I sign-up to play?

To play, visit http://calltheclose.cnbc.com and click on the Sign In link on the Call the Close Play page if you are already a registered CNBC.com user.  Once you are signed in, you will need to complete a one-time Call the Close opt-in form.  If you have played a previous iteration of Call the Close, you will be required to complete a new one time opt-in in order to participate.

If you are not already a registered user, you will be required to complete the CNBC.com registration process outlined below (See #5).

1. How do I register to play Call the Close at CNBC.com?

To register as a CNBC.com user, click on the Register link online or on your mobile device. You will be taken to the CNBC.com Registration page where you will be asked to provide the following:  First Name, Last Name, Email and Password (for your CNBC.com log-in), Year of Birth, Gender, and Country.  You will also be asked to select a security question and provide the corresponding answer.  Upon reading and accepting the terms and conditions, submit your information.

Once your submission has been made, CNBC.com will send you a registration confirmation to the email address you have entered. Please make sure to have your Spam filter settings set to allow emails from CNBC.com to arrive in your inbox.

Click the registration confirmation link in the email and you will be automatically directed to the Call the Close opt-in page. Here you will be required to provide your date of birth and phone number. After checking the Call the Close terms and conditions agreement box and clicking the submit button, you will be directed to the Call the Close play page and you may begin calling.

1. How is Call the Close played?

At the conclusion of each trading day between the hours of 4:30pm ET (after the market settles) and 1:00pm ET the following trading day, participants will have the opportunity to make their best guess for the closing value of the DOW for the coming/current day.  Players will be required to enter their best guess for the DJIA close to the .00 decimal point.  They will also be asked to enter their guess for the S&P 500 to the .00 decimal point for tiebreaker purposes.  Once guesses are submitted, users will view a Thank You page with confirmation of their DJIA guess along with the option to print a receipt for their records.

After a guess has been made for the current calling period, the user’s call will be displayed in the upper right corner of the game page.  Users can return to the Play page at any time during the calling period to revise their call.

1. What does it cost to play Call The Close?

There is no fee to participate in Call the Close.  Simply access the game site, register or sign in and start playing.

1. How often can I change my call?

You may change your call as often as you wish within the call period.  The call window typically begins at 4:30pm EST following the close of the trading day and ends at 1:00pm ET the following trading day.  The only exception would be on days when the market closes early.  In this case, the site will indicate if the call period has changed (for instance, in the case of an early holiday closing) and provide the deadline to submit calls for the upcoming day.

1. Do I receive a sweepstakes entry each time I change my call?

No, you will only receive a sweepstakes entry for each entry period.  Each entry period begins at 4:30pm ET and concludes at 1:00pm ET the following trading day.

1. Can I play during weekends and holidays?

Yes, you may continue calling over weekends and holidays when the market is closed.  Feel free to log-in and update your call as frequently as you like during active calling hours.

1. Can I play from my mobile device?

Yes, you may play and register from your mobile device.  Using your wireless web-enabled device, go to http://m.calltheclose.cnbc.com to reach the landing page for the game.  Click on Sign In using your CNBC.com user information and enter your DJIA call for the upcoming/current trading day to the .00 decimal point.  You will also need to provide your S&P 500 tiebreaker guess as well.

1. What if the market has an early closing, such as the day prior to a holiday?

On days that the market closes early, the site will clearly direct you to make your call by the preassigned time.

1. Will I be notified if I am a game winner?

CNBC will contact you by phone to confirm you as the game winner once your call and user information have been verified by CNBC.com’s registration team.  CNBC’s game administration team will provide you with a declaration of eligibility release to complete and return within three (3) days.  You will not be declared an official winner until these documents are completed and returned.

1. What if there is a tie?

In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by the player who comes closest to the actual closing value of the S&P 500 for that trading day.  In the event that a tie still exists, the winner will be the player whose entry submission was received first by the CNBC.com servers.

1. Will my name be announced on CNBC?

CNBC may choose to announce your name on-air and/or online as part of its editorial coverage of Call the Close.  Winners will be noted as tentative pending official verification.

1. Are there prizes?

GAME PRIZE:  Each Game Winner (twenty-five (25) total) will receive a CNBC T-Shirt (”Game Prize”) and a souvenir from Maserati. Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of each Game Prize is one hundred and sixty-five dollars ($165).

SWEEPSTAKES PRIZE:  The Sweepstakes Winner will receive a 2010 Maserati GranTourismo Convertible vehicle (”Sweepstakes Prize”).  All Sweepstakes Prize features and options, interior and exterior colors, and all other details of the Sweepstakes Prize will be determined by Maserati in its sole discretion.  Sweepstakes Prize will include payment of certain titles and fees as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.  CNBC will provide the Sweepstakes Winner with a cash payment in an amount to be determined by CNBC in its sole discretion, based on Sweepstakes Winner’s tax profile (”Tax Mitigation Payment”). The Tax Mitigation Payment is intended to mitigate any potential tax liability for Sweepstakes Winner resulting from the Sweepstakes Prize and may be higher or lower than the Sweepstakes Winner’s actual individual tax liability, as determined by CNBC in its sole discretion.  All other expenses, costs, fees or additional tax associated with the acceptance and/or use of Sweepstakes Prize are the sole responsibility of Sweepstakes Winner. ARV of Sweepstakes Prize is one hundred and forty thousand dollars ($140,000) plus the total Tax Mitigation Amount paid to Sweepstakes Winner.

Total ARV of all Prizes is one hundred and forty-four thousand one hundred and twenty-five dollars ($144,125) plus the Tax Mitigation Amount.  Each winner is responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes.  All Prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion.

1. When will prizes be delivered?

GAME PRIZES: Prizes will be delivered within one month from winner notification and verification of eligibility.

SWEEPSTAKES PRIZE: Sweepstakes winner must take delivery of the Prize at a location (”Delivery Site”) and on a date designated by Maserati in its sole discretion. Maserati and/or its representatives reserve the right, but not the obligation, to designate the Delivery Site as the Sweepstakes Winner’s residence or a dealership near such residence.  In order to accept the Sweepstakes Prize, Sweepstakes Winner must possess and present adequate personal identification, evidence of legally required insurance, and a valid U.S. driver’s license issued by one (1) of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia. Sweepstakes Winner bears the risk of damage to Sweepstakes Prize after delivery to specified Delivery Site and Sweepstakes Prize will be forfeited if not picked up within the number of days designated by Maserati after delivery thereto.

1. How will prize winners be selected?

GAME WINNERS:  The Participant who’s “call” is closest to the closing value of the DJIA to the .00 decimal point (based on CNBC’s published DJIA closing at 4:30pm ET) for each Game Entry Period will be named a winner of the Game (the “Game Winner”).  In case of a tie, the tied Participant who came closest to the actual closing value of the S&P 500 (as determined by CNBC in its sole discretion as of 4:40pm on the applicable Trading Day) for that Game Entry Period, without exceeding the closing value of the S&P 500, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion will be selected as the Game Winner.  In the event a tie still exists, the Game Winner will be the Participant who first correctly submitted an Entry during the applicable Game Entry Period, based on the date/time of the prediction as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.

SWEEPSTAKES WINNER:  On or about April 2, 2010, employees or representatives of Sponsor will select one (1) potential Sweepstakes winner (the “Sweepstakes Winner”) in a random drawing from among all eligible Entries received during the Sweepstakes Entry Period.  Odds of winning depend on the total number of Entries received during the Sweepstakes Entry Period.

1. When will the sweepstakes prize winner be notified?

On or about April 2, 2010, employees or representatives of Sponsor will select one (1) potential Sweepstakes winner (the “Sweepstakes Winner”) in a random drawing from among all eligible Entries received during the Sweepstakes Entry Period.  The potential Sweepstakes Winner may be required to complete, sign, have notarized and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability Release (”Affidavit and Release”) and Publicity Release (where legal) within five (5) days of date of attempted delivery.