SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit
99.1
THIS
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated January 25, 2008, by and among
Accipiter Life Sciences Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Accipiter
Life
Sciences Fund II, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Accipiter Life Sciences
Fund (Offshore), Ltd., a Cayman Islands company, Accipiter Life Sciences Fund
II
(Offshore), Ltd., a Cayman Islands company, Accipiter Life Sciences Fund II
(QP), LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Accipiter Capital Management, LLC,
a
Delaware limited liability company, Candens Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, Xxxx Xxxxxxx (collectively, “Accipiter”), Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx,
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, (each of Xx. Xxxxx and Xx. Xxxxxxx, as well as any individuals
appointed as their substitutes or successors pursuant to Section 3.3(a) of
this
Agreement, an “Accipiter Nominee” and together, the “Accipiter Nominees”) and
Rural/Metro Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
Accipiter is the beneficial owner of 3,701,647 shares of common stock, $.01
par
value, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), or approximately 14.96% of the
Common Stock issued and outstanding;
WHEREAS,
on October 4, 2007, Accipiter delivered to the Company a notice of intention
to
nominate persons for election as directors indicating that Accipiter planned
to
seek representation on the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Rural Board”) by
nominating certain individuals for election as directors at the 2007 annual
meeting of stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”) currently
scheduled to be held on March 13, 2008, as set forth herein;
WHEREAS,
on December 21, 2007, Accipiter filed a preliminary proxy statement (the
“Preliminary Proxy Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) with respect to the solicitation of proxies to be used at the Annual
Meeting to elect Accipiter’s nominees as members of the Rural Board (the
“Proposed Solicitation”);
WHEREAS,
Accipiter and the Company have determined that the best interests of Accipiter
and the Company would be served by Accipiter not engaging in a solicitation
of
proxies for the election of Accipiter’s nominees in opposition to the nominees
of the Rural Board, and the other arrangements set forth herein;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises, mutual representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
and
intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:
Section
1.
Representations
and
Warranties of the Company.
The
Company hereby represents, warrants and agrees that (a) it has full legal right,
power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, and
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
actions, and (c) this Agreement constitutes valid, legal and binding
obligations
of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except
that
such enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium (whether general or specific) or other laws now or hereafter in
effect. Except as set forth in Section 3.4, the performance of the
terms of this Agreement shall not conflict with, constitute a violation of,
or
require any notice or consent under, the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws
of the Company or any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party
or
by which the Company is bound, and shall not require any consent, approval
or
notice under any provision of any judgment, order, decree, statute, rule or
regulation applicable to the Company. Neither the Company nor any other person
makes any other express or implied representation or warranty on behalf of
the
Company other than as expressly set forth in this Section 1.
Section
2.
Representations
and
Warranties of Accipiter and the Accipiter Nominees.
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(a)
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Accipiter
hereby represents, warrants and agrees that (a) it has full legal
right,
power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement,
and
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) the execution
and
delivery of this Agreement, and the consummation by Accipiter of
the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate and limited partnership actions, and (c) this
Agreement constitutes valid, legal and binding obligations of Accipiter,
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except that
such
enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium (whether general or specific) or other laws now or hereafter
in
effect. The performance of the terms of this Agreement shall not
conflict
with, constitute a violation of, or require any notice or consent
under,
the organizational documents of Accipiter or any agreement or instrument
to which Accipiter is a party or by which Accipiter is bound, and
shall
not require any consent, approval or notice under any provision of
any
judgment, order, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to
Accipiter.
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(b)
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Each
of the Accipiter Nominees hereby severally, but not jointly, represents,
warrants and agrees that (a) he has full legal right, power and authority
to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, and consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) this Agreement constitutes
valid, legal and binding obligations of such Accipiter Nominee,
enforceable against him in accordance with its terms, except that
such
enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium (whether general or specific) or other laws now or hereafter
in
effect. The performance of the terms of this Agreement shall not
conflict
with, constitute a violation of, or require any notice or consent
under,
any agreement or instrument to which such Accipiter Nominee is a
party or
by which such Accipiter Nominee is bound, and shall not require any
consent, approval or notice under any provision of any judgment,
order,
decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to such Accipiter
Nominee.
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(c)
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Neither
Accipiter nor any Accipiter Nominee nor any other person makes any
other
express or implied representation or warranty on behalf of Accipiter
or any Accipiter Nominee other than as expressly set forth in this
Section
2.
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Section
3.
Board Composition;
Corporate Governance and Stockholder Rights; Compensation;
Standstill.
3.1
Board Composition Prior
to
Annual Meeting
As
soon as practicable following the
execution of this Agreement and prior to the Annual Meeting, the Rural Board
will take the necessary action to effectuate the following:
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(a)
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Subject
to the provisions of Section 3.7(b), effective on the date of the
Annual
Meeting, the number of directors constituting the Rural Board will
be
increased to nine (9), and the Rural Board will appoint Xxxxxx Xxxxx
to
serve as a Class III director and Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx (the
“Rural
Nominee”) to serve as a Class II director to fill the vacancies on the
Rural Board created by such increase for the balance of the respective
terms of such classes.
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(b)
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The
Rural Board will accept the decision of Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx to retire
from
the Rural Board upon the conclusion of her current term (such decision
to
retire and not seek re-election is reflected in the executed notification
attached hereto as Exhibit
A), and
cause Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx to be included in the Company’s slate of Class I
director nominees for election to the Rural Board in the Company’s proxy
statement prepared in connection with the Annual
Meeting. Should Xx. Xxxxxxx be unable to serve as a nominee,
Accipiter shall have the right to designate a substitute subject
to
approval by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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(c)
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The
Rural Board will appoint at least one Accipiter Nominee to serve
on each
committee of the Rural Board, subject to the satisfaction of any
qualifications for such service required pursuant to applicable law
or
regulation or by any national securities exchange or automated securities
quotation system on which any securities of the Company are traded.
Specifically, the Company shall cause the Rural Board to appoint
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx and Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx to the Audit Committee and the Compensation
Committee, respectively, with remaining committee appointments to
be
determined as soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement.
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(d)
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The
Rural Board will eliminate the position of Vice Chairman of the Rural
Board.
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3.2
Board Composition Following
Annual Meeting
Following
the Annual Meeting and no
later than the applicable deadline set forth below, the Rural Board will take
the necessary action to effectuate the following:
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(a)
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The
Rural Board has obtained the commitment of Cor X. Xxxxxxx, Xx. to
remain
as Chairman of the Board for a transition period through and including
June 30, 2008 and to retire from the Rural Board effective as of
such date
(as reflected in the executed notification attached hereto as Exhibit
B).
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(b)
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The
Rural Board will cause the number of directors constituting the Rural
Board as of July 1, 2008 to be fixed at a maximum of eight (8) until
the
annual meeting of stockholders of the Company first following the
end of
the Company’s fiscal year ending on June 30, 2008 (the “2008 Annual
Meeting”), and will identify a new Chairman of the Rural Board, who is a
resident of the United States of America, as soon as practicable,
whose
appointment shall be effective following the transition period described
in Section 3.2(a).
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(c)
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Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx will not be re-nominated for re-election and his service
as a
director of the Company will end as of the date of the 2008 Annual
Meeting.
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(d)
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Effective
as of the date of the 2008 Annual Meeting, the Rural Board will cause
the
number of directors constituting the Rural Board to be fixed at a
maximum
of seven (7). This agreement as to the size of the Rural Board shall
remain in effect until the one-year anniversary of the expiration
of the
Standstill Period, at which time it will have no further force or
effect.
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(e)
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Cause
Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx to be included in the Company’s slate of Class
II director nominees for election to the Rural Board in the Company’s
proxy statement prepared in connection with the 2008 Annual
Meeting. Should Xx. Xxxxxxxxxx decline to stand for
re-election, the Rural Board shall have the right to designate an
individual approved by Accipiter (which approval may not be unreasonably
withheld) subject to approval by the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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(f)
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The
Rural Board will appoint at least one Accipiter Nominee to serve
on each
committee of the Rural Board formed after the appointment of the
Accipiter
Nominees to the Rural Board, subject to the satisfaction of any
qualifications for such service required pursuant to applicable law
or
regulation or by any national securities exchange or automated securities
quotation system on which any securities of the Company are traded.
This
Section 3.2(e) will terminate upon the last to expire of the initial
terms
of service on the Rural Board of the Accipiter Nominees.
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3.3
Vacancies
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(a)
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In
the event a vacancy occurs such that one of the Accipiter Nominees
no
longer serves on the Rural Board, Accipiter will have the right
to
designate an individual for appointment as a successor to hold
office for
the unexpired term of the Accipiter Nominee whose position is vacant,
subject to approval by the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee,
which approval may not be unreasonably withheld. Designation of
a
successor pursuant to this Section 3.3(a) shall be made by written
notice
delivered to the Company pursuant to Section 4.14 hereof. Accipiter
will
have the right to appoint a successor to an Accipiter Nominee pursuant
to
this Section 3.3(a) only if the vacancy occurs during the initial
term of
service on the Rural Board of such Accipiter Nominee, and then
only if at
the time of such vacancy Accipiter beneficially owns at least 2,473,910
shares of the Common Stock (as adjusted for any stock splits,
recapitalizations or similar transactions after the date of this
Agreement).
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(b)
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In
the event a vacancy occurs such that the Rural Nominee no longer
serves on
the Rural Board, the Rural Board will have the right to designate
an
individual who is (i) approved by Accipiter (which approval may not
be
unreasonably withheld), and (ii) deemed qualified by the Nominating
and
Corporate Governance Committee of the Rural Board, for appointment
as a
successor to the Rural Nominee, to hold office for the unexpired
term of
the Rural Nominee. Accipiter will have the right to approve a successor
to
the Rural Nominee pursuant to this Section 3.3(b) only if the vacancy
occurs during the initial terms of service on the Rural Board of
the
Accipiter Nominees, and then only if at the time of such vacancy
Accipiter
beneficially owns at least 2,473,910 shares of the Common Stock (as
adjusted for any stock splits, recapitalizations or similar transactions
after the date of this Agreement).
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3.4
Corporate Governance and
Stockholder Rights
As
soon as practicable following the
execution of this Agreement and prior to the Annual Meeting (except as set forth in Sections
3.4(d)-(e) below), the Rural Board will take the necessary action
(including adopting amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
of
the Company, if necessary, and recommending that stockholders approve such
amendments, if such approval is required) to effectuate the
following:
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(a)
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Allow
special meetings of the stockholders of the Company to be called
upon
written request to the secretary of the Company of holders of 35%
of the
voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.
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(b)
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From
the date of this Agreement until the earlier of (i) the day before
the
2008 Annual Meeting, or (ii) the date that is 15 months following
the date
of this Agreement, allow special meetings of the stockholders of
the
Company to be called upon written request to the secretary of the
Company
by three members of the Rural Board. Pursuant to the Company’s Bylaws,
special meetings of the stockholders of the Company may always be
called
by the Chairman of the Rural Board or a majority of the members of
the
Rural Board.
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(c)
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Prohibit
the Rural Board from amending the Company’s Bylaws in any manner without
stockholder approval, except for non-material amendments or those
required
by applicable law or regulation or by any national securities exchange
or
automated securities quotation system on which any securities of
the
Company are traded.
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(d)
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Evaluate
all supermajority stockholder voting provisions of the Company’s
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and ratify, alter or remove
each
such supermajority provision by the vote of no less than 75% of the
members of the Rural Board, with such review to be completed following
the
Annual Meeting and prior to the Company’s filing with the SEC of its
preliminary proxy statement, if so required, and if not so required,
its
definitive proxy statement, in respect of the 2008 Annual Meeting.
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(e)
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Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 3.5, the Company shall cause the Rural
Board to
begin a review of the Company’s “poison pill” as soon as practicable
following the end of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, with such
review to be completed prior to the Company’s filing with the SEC of its
preliminary proxy statement, if so required, and if not so required,
its
definitive proxy statement, in respect of the 2008 Annual Meeting.
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3.5
Poison
Pill. In the event that the Company and its advisors determine
an “ownership change” of the Company has occurred within the meaning of Section
382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 382”), (a) the
Company will increase its “poison pill” threshold to 33% as promptly as
practicable and (b) the Company will report such event in the annual report
on
Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q that the Company first files with
the
SEC following such event. In addition, the Company confirms that it
will continue to provide disclosure to investors relating to Section 382,
including the risks surrounding Section 382 and the potential inability of
the
Company to realize the benefits of its net operating loss carry-forwards upon
an
ownership change, all in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States.
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3.6
Compensation
No
later than the applicable deadline
set forth below, the Rural Board will take the necessary action to effectuate
the following:
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(a)
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As
previously publicly announced by the Company, finalize its ongoing
project
to establish an equity incentive compensation plan for senior management,
directors and employees based upon advice of the independent, nationally
recognized compensation consulting firm previously engaged by the
Company.
Such plan shall be for a term of ten (10) years, unless earlier terminated
by the Rural Board in accordance with the terms thereof and the aggregate
number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant thereto
shall
not exceed one million (1,000,000)
shares (as adjusted for any stock splits, recapitalizations or similar
transactions after the date of this Agreement).
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(b)
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Finalize
stock ownership guidelines for directors to be achieved over a multi-year
period, with no less than half the first year’s pro-rated stock ownership
total to be purchased in the open market.
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(c)
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As
previously determined by the Compensation Committee of the Rural
Board and
communicated to Accipiter, restrict the Company’s current Chief Executive
Officer (“CEO”) from receiving any equity-based compensation under any new
incentive plan of the Company unless such CEO’s current all-cash
compensation agreements are amended to conform to industry comparables.
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(d)
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Disclose
the comparable companies used to determine executive compensation
in the
Company’s public filings in accordance with applicable rules.
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3.7
Annual
Meeting.
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(a)
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Without
Accipiter’s prior written consent, the only matters that the Rural Board
shall propose and recommend to its stockholders for approval at the
Annual
Meeting shall be the election of directors, amendment of the Second
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company consistent with
the
provisions of Section 3.4, and the adoption of an equity-based
compensation plan that conforms to the description set forth in Section
3.6(a), each as provided herein, and the ratification of the appointment
of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
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(b)
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The
Company shall use reasonable efforts to hold the Annual Meeting on
March
27, 2008; provided, however, that if the Company does not deliver
to
Broadridge Financial Services (“Broadridge”) by the close of business on
February 28, 2008 all proxy materials in connection with the Annual
Meeting for mailing to all shareholders of the Company who hold their
shares of common stock in “street name” as of the Record Date, the Company
shall promptly re-schedule the Annual Meeting to be held on such
date that
is not less than 30 nor more than 40 calendar days after Broadridge
receives such proxy materials and publicly announce the date of such
re-scheduled Annual Meeting. To the extent the Annual Meeting
is scheduled to be held on a date after April 1, 2008, the Rural
Board
shall be increased to nine and Messrs. Xxxxx (as a Class III director)
and
Xxxxxxxxxx (as a Class II director) shall be appointed to fill the
new
vacancies thus created. If Xx. Xxxxx declines to accept such appointment,
the provisions of Section 3.3(a) shall apply, and if Xx. Xxxxxxxxxx
declines to accept such appointment, the provisions of Section 3.3(b)
shall apply. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to take
all actions necessary to enable it to hold the Annual Meeting on
March 27,
2008 or as soon as practicable
thereafter in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.7
by, among
other things, filing proxy materials with the SEC and responding
to any
comments thereto by the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance
of
the SEC as soon as practicable.
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(c)
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The
Rural Board shall take the necessary action to (i) cause the Company’s
slate of director nominees for election at the Annual Meeting to
be
composed of Messrs. Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and Xxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
(the “Class I Slate”), (ii) publicly recommend and solicit proxies for the
election of the Class I Slate and the other Annual Meeting proposals,
as
described in Section 3.7(a) above, and (iii) retain a
nationally-recognized proxy solicitation firm to assist with such
solicitation of proxies.
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(d)
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The
Company shall use its reasonable efforts to cause the current members
of
the Rural Board and their Affiliates and Associates to (i) vote all
shares
of Common Stock which they are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting
in
favor of the election of each of the members of the Class I Slate
and (ii)
refrain from revoking such votes in any manner. For purposes of this
Agreement, the terms “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective
meanings set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated by the SEC under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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3.8
Standstill
Accipiter,
on behalf of itself, and
solely with respect to Section 3.8(c), each of the Accipiter Nominees, severally
but not jointly and solely on behalf of himself, hereby covenants as
follows:
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(a)
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Accipiter
Life Sciences Fund, LP hereby withdraws its letter to the Company
dated
October 3, 2007 nominating the Accipiter Nominees and another individual
as directors for election to the Rural Board at the Annual Meeting.
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(b)
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Accipiter
shall, on the date hereof, terminate the Proposed Solicitation and,
within
one business day of the date hereof, send a letter to the staff of
the
Division of Corporation Finance of the SEC that (i) states that its
nominees have been withdrawn pursuant to Section 3.8(a) hereof, and
(ii)
withdraws the Preliminary Proxy Statement.
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(c)
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For
a period commencing upon the date hereof and ending on the earlier
of (i)
the date that is thirty (30) days after the one-year anniversary
date of
the Annual Meeting or (ii) March 31, 2009 (such period, the “Standstill
Period”), neither Accipiter nor any of its members or any of their
affiliates (including the Accipiter Nominees), without the prior
written
consent of the Rural Board, will, directly or indirectly (i)
effect, seek,
offer, engage in, propose or cause or participate in any “solicitation” of
“proxies” (as such
terms are defined in the rules and regulations promulgated under
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)),
relating to the election of directors of the Company at the Annual
Meeting
or the 2008 Annual Meeting in opposition to the Company, (ii)
submit any
nomination of an individual for election to the Rural Board (other
than
pursuant to this Agreement) or any other proposal for consideration
at any
annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company
(including
pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act), (iii)
otherwise engage in any course of conduct with the purpose of
causing
other stockholders of the Company to vote contrary to the recommendation
of the Rural Board on the election of directors or any matter
described in
Section 3.7 that is presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting;
(iv)
otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, to seek to control
or
influence the management or policies of the Company or the Rural
Board;
(v) seek to advise or influence any person with respect to the
voting of
any securities of the Company on the election of directors or
any matter
described in Section 3.7 that is presented for a vote at the
Annual
Meeting (provided that this Section 3.8(c)(v) shall not limit
Accipiter
from providing information to third parties in a neutral manner
regarding
the Company and the industry in which it participates), (vi)
form, join or
in any way participate in a “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3)
of the Exchange Act with respect to any voting securities of
the Company
(other than a “group” that exists as of the date of this Agreement), and
(vii) enter into any discussions, negotiations, arrangements
or
understandings with any person other than the Company with respect
to any
of the foregoing, advise, assist, encourage or seek to persuade
others to
take any action with respect to any of the foregoing or announce
any plan
or proposal to take any action with respect to any of the foregoing;
provided that clause (iv) shall not limit Accipiter from non-public
communications with the Board and further shall not apply to
actions taken
by an Accipiter Nominee while serving as a member of the Rural
Board and
in his capacity as such.
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(d)
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During
the Standstill Period, Accipiter shall not call for a special meeting
of
the stockholders of the Company.
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(e)
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Accipiter
shall cause all Common Stock beneficially owned by Accipiter to be
present
at the Annual Meeting and the 2008 Annual Meeting for the purposes
of
establishing quorum and to be voted (i) for the director nominees
recommended by the Rural Board for election at the Annual Meeting
and the
2008 Annual Meeting (provided such nominations do not constitute
a
violation of this Agreement), and (ii) in accordance with the
recommendations of the Rural Board on the proposals to be presented
at the
Annual Meeting as referenced in Section 3.7. No later than five business
days prior to each such meeting of stockholders, Accipiter shall
cause all
Common Stock beneficially owned by Accipiter to be voted in accordance
with this Section 3.8(e).
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Section
4.
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Miscellaneous.
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4.1
Covenant Not to
Xxx. Accipiter and the Accipiter Nominees and each of its and
their Associates and Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company and its
directors and each of its and their Associates and Affiliates, on the other
hand, agrees not to xxx or otherwise commence or continue in any manner,
directly or indirectly, any suit, claim, action, right or cause of action
relating to any acts or omissions in connection with the Annual Meeting,
including without limitation, the nomination or election of directors, the
solicitation of proxies or any acts or filings in connection therewith; provided, however,
that neither
party hereto shall be prohibited from enforcing its rights under and pursuant
to
this Agreement.
4.2
Company
Release. The Company, on behalf of itself, its directors,
officers, employees, representatives and agents (collectively, the “Company
Releasors”), does hereby, fully and forever, release and discharge Accipiter,
its partners, members, directors, officers, employees, attorneys,
representatives and agents, including, without limitation, the Accipiter
Nominees (collectively, the “Accipiter Releasees”) from any and all actions,
claims, complaints, rights or causes of action, debts, demands or suits of
any
kind or nature whatsoever, statutory, equitable or legal, foreseen or
unforeseen, known or unknown, matured or unmatured that the Company Releasors
have, may have or might claim to have against the Accipiter Releasees through
the date hereof.
4.3
Accipiter
Release. Accipiter, on behalf of itself, its partners,
members, directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents, and the
Accipiter Nominees (collectively, the “Accipiter Releasors”) do hereby, fully
and forever, release and discharge the Company, its directors, officers,
employees, attorneys, representatives and agents (collectively, the “Company
Releasees”) from any and all actions, claims, complaints, rights or causes of
action, debts, demands or suits of any kind or nature whatsoever, statutory,
equitable or legal, foreseen or unforeseen, known or unknown, matured or
unmatured that the Accipiter Releasors have, may have or might claim to have
against the Company Releasees through the date hereof.
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4.4
Specific
Performance. Accipiter, including the Accipiter Nominees, on
the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, acknowledges and agrees that
irreparable injury to the other party hereto would occur in the event any of
the
provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their
specific terms or were otherwise breached and that such injury would not be
adequately compensable in damages. It is accordingly agreed that
Accipiter, including the Accipiter Nominees, on the one hand, and the Company,
on the other hand (the “Moving Party”), shall each be entitled to specific
enforcement of, and injunctive relief to prevent any violation of, the terms
hereof and the other party hereto will not take action, directly or indirectly,
in opposition to the Moving Party seeking such relief on the grounds that any
other remedy or relief is available at law or in equity, nor shall such other
party seek the posting of a bond as a condition for obtaining any such
relief. An application for specific performance pursuant to this
Section 4.4 shall not preclude the Moving Party from seeking other relief
available at law or in equity.
4.5
Press
Release. Promptly following the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Company shall issue the press release attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Press
Release”). None of the parties hereto, including any individual
member of the Rural Board (including the
Accipiter
Nominees), will make any public statements regarding the Annual Meeting
(including in any filing with the SEC or any other regulatory or governmental
agency, including any stock exchange) that are inconsistent with, or otherwise
contrary to, the statements in the Press Release issued pursuant to this Section
4.5.
4.6
Other
Announcements.
|
(a)
|
In
furtherance, and not in limitation, of Section 4.5, from the date
of this
Agreement through and until the Annual Meeting, none of the parties
hereto
shall make any public statement (including any statement in any
filing
with the SEC or any other governmental agency), nor make any private
statement to any of the Company’s stockholders or potential stockholders,
that is critical of or disparages this Agreement or any actions
taken
prior to the date hereof by any of the foregoing in connection
with the
Annual Meeting, except as and to the extent expressly permitted
in clause
4.6(b) below.
|
|
(b)
|
Any
statement otherwise prohibited by clause 4.6(a) may nevertheless
be made
without violating clause 4.6(a) if such statement is required by
applicable law, rule or regulation (including any statement required
by
any filing with the SEC or any other governmental agency and any
statement
made in response to any inquiry under oath or in response to any
inquiry
by a governmental or regulatory authority) or is required to be made
by
the person seeking to make such statement in order to comply with
such
person’s fiduciary duties to the Company or its stockholders, in each case
as reasonably determined by such person based on the advice of outside
counsel and, to the extent practicable, upon reasonable prior written
notice to the parties hereto of the nature of the statement and the
basis
pursuant to which it is required to be made.
|
-10-
4.7
Proxy
Statement.
|
(a)
|
The
Company agrees to provide Accipiter an opportunity to review and
comment
on the portions of all proxy materials to be filed by the Company
in
connection with the Annual Meeting containing statements relating
to
Accipiter, the Accipiter Nominees and this Agreement.
|
|
(b)
|
Accipiter
agrees to provide to the Company, without unreasonable delay, true
and
complete information regarding each Accipiter Nominee required for
inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement prepared in connection with the
Annual Meeting.
|
4.8
No
Waiver. Any waiver by either Accipiter or the Company of a
breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed
to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any
other provision of this Agreement. The failure of either party to
insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on one or more
occasions
shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter
to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this
Agreement.
4.9
Successors and
Assigns. All the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the successors and assigns
of the parties hereto.
4.10
Survival of
Representations. All representations and warranties made by
the parties in this Agreement or pursuant hereto shall survive the execution
of
this Agreement.
4.11
Entire Agreement;
Amendments. This Agreement and the Exhibits hereto contain the
entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to its subject
matter. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises,
representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings other than those
expressly set forth herein. This Agreement may be amended only by a
written instrument duly executed by the parties hereto or their respective
successors or assigns. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this
Agreement is intended to, nor shall be construed as, limiting or otherwise
changing any of the duties and other obligations the Accipiter Nominees may
have
in their respective capacities as directors of the Company.
4.12
Severability. The
invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof in any jurisdiction
will
not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder hereof in that
jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, including
that
provision, in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by
applicable law, each party waives any provision of applicable law that renders
any provision hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect. If
any provision of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable for any reason,
it
will be adjusted rather than voided, if possible, in order to achieve the intent
of the parties to the extent possible.
4.13
Headings. The
section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only
and
shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
-11-
4.14
Notices. All
notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications hereunder will
be
in writing and will be delivered by electronic transmission:
If
to the
Company:
Rural/Metro
Corporation
0000
Xxxx
Xxx Xx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn:
Corporate Secretary
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
E-mail:
Xxxxxx_Xxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
With
a
copies to:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Wala Xxxx & Xxxxx, PLC
0000
Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx
Xxxxx
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
E-mail:
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
and
Weil,
Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
E-mail:
xxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxx.xxx
If
to
Accipiter:
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000)
E-mail:
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
with
a
copy to:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Frome Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
00
Xxxx
00xx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
E-mail:
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
or
to
such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have previously
furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.
-12-
4.15
Governing Law;
Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware
without reference to the conflict of laws principles thereof. The
parties hereto agree to submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent
jurisdiction located in the State of Delaware to resolve any dispute relating
to
this Agreement and waive any right to move to dismiss or transfer any such
action brought in any such court on the basis of any objection to personal
jurisdiction or venue.
4.16
Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original,
but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement.
4.17
No
Admission. Nothing contained herein shall constitute an
admission by any party hereto of liability or wrongdoing.
4.18
No Third Party
Beneficiary. The terms and provisions of this Agreement are
intended solely for the benefit of each party hereto, and it is not the
intention of the parties to confer third party beneficiary rights upon any
other
person.
[SIGNATURES
ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
-13-
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement or caused
this Agreement to be duly executed by their authorized representative, as of
the
day and year first above written.
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND, LP
|
|
By:
|
Candens
Capital, LLC
its
general partner
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Managing Member
|
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND II, LP
|
|
By:
|
Candens
Capital, LLC
its
general partner
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Managing Member
|
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND II (QP), LP
|
|
By:
|
Candens
Capital, LLC
its
general partner
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Managing Member
|
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND (OFFSHORE), LTD.
|
|
By:
|
its
investment manager
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Managing Member
|
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND II (OFFSHORE), LTD.
|
|
By:
|
its
investment manager
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Managing Member
|
-14-
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Managing Member
|
CANDENS
CAPITAL, LLC
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Managing Member
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |
XXXX
XXXXXXX
|
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
XXXXXX
X. XXXXX
|
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
XXXX
X. XXXXXXX
|
RURAL/METRO
CORPORATION
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Vice Chair
|
-15-
EXHIBIT
A
The
undersigned hereby retires from service on the Board of Directors of Rural/Metro
Corporation effective upon the conclusion of the term to which the undersigned
has been elected.
/s/
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
January
22, 2008
|
|
Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
16
EXHIBIT
B
Cor
X.
Xxxxxxx, Xx. hereby agrees to continue as Chairman of the Board of Directors
of
Rural/Metro Corporation through June 30, 2008, and retires from the Board
effective June 30, 2008.
/s/
Cor X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
|
January
22, 2008
|
|
Cor
X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
|
17
EXHIBIT
C
CONTACT: Xxx
Xxxxxxx, Rural/Metro Corporation (investors)
(000)
000-0000
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Hayden Communications
(media)
(000)
000-0000
For
immediate
release
RURAL/METRO
AND ACCIPITER ANNOUNCE SETTLEMENT
SCOTTSDALE,
Ariz. (Jan. [__],
2008) – Rural/Metro Corporation (NASDAQ: RURL) (“Rural/Metro” or the “Company”)
and Accipiter Capital Management, LLC (“Accipiter”) today jointly announced that
Rural/Metro and Accipiter (together with its affiliates) have reached an
agreement to settle the proposed election contest in connection with
Rural/Metro’s upcoming annual meeting of stockholders. Pursuant to
the agreement, the size of the Rural/Metro Board of Directors will be
temporarily increased from seven to nine members, and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, an
Accipiter nominee approved by Rural/Metro, will be appointed as a Class III
director and Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, a Rural/Metro nominee approved
by Accipiter, will be appointed as a Class II director, effective as
of the date of Rural/Metro’s annual meeting of stockholders. Xx.
Xxxxxxxxxx is a managing partner of Coliseum Capital Management, LLC, a
significant shareholder of the Company.
In
addition, the Board of Directors will accept Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx’x retirement
from the Board, which will be effective at the annual meeting of
stockholders. As a result, the slate of nominees to be presented by
Rural/Metro for election as Class I directors for a three-year term at the
annual meeting of stockholders will consist of current Board members Xxxx X.
Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, as well as Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, an Accipiter nominee
approved by Rural/Metro.
The
Board
of Directors has also obtained the commitment of Cor. X. Xxxxxxx, Xx. to
continue serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors through the end of
Rural/Metro’s current fiscal year, at which time he will retire and the size of
the Board of Directors will be reduced to eight members. In addition,
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx will not be nominated for re-election upon the conclusion of
his
current term, which expires at the annual meeting of stockholders following
Rural/Metro’s 2008 fiscal year, at which time the size of the Board of Directors
will be reduced back to seven members.
Pursuant
to the settlement agreement, Rural/Metro will also implement certain corporate
governance reforms, including seeking stockholder approval for amendments to
the
Company’s certificate of incorporation to allow special meetings of stockholders
to be called by stockholders holding an aggregate of 35% or more of the
outstanding voting power of the Company’s voting stock or, for a defined period
of
time,
three directors and to generally prohibit the Board of Directors from amending
the Company’s bylaws without stockholder approval.
As
previously announced, the Company will present an equity-based compensation
plan
for stockholder approval at the upcoming annual meeting. The Company
will also announce stock ownership guidelines for non-employee directors to
be
achieved over a multi-year period, with no less than half the first year’s
pro-rated stock ownership total to be purchased in the open
market. In addition, as provided in the settlement agreement, the
Company will use a peer group of comparable companies as a factor in determining
executive compensation and will disclose the companies selected for such peer
group in accordance with SEC rules.
A
complete version of the settlement agreement will be filed as an exhibit to
a
current report on Form 8-K to be filed shortly by the Company.
Cor
X.
Xxxxxxx, Xx. commented, “Rural/Metro’s board is pleased to have reached this
agreement with Accipiter, appreciates Coliseum’s support through this process,
and welcomes the new members of the board. We recognize that all
parties share a strong desire to enhance the Company’s
performance. We are confident that our new directors will be
productive members of our Board of Directors and, in that spirit, the Board
concluded that this settlement was in the best interest of the Company and
its
shareholders.”
18
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx of Accipiter said, “We invested in Rural/Metro because we believe in the
Company's potential. We are pleased that the Rural/Metro Board has undertaken
to
implement some very positive corporate governance and other initiatives that
benefit all Rural/Metro stockholders. It's time now to focus on the
future. Our independent nominees, Xx. Xxxxx and Xx. Xxxxxxx, have
extensive experience in the healthcare industry as well as in business
management and are committed to working with the other Board members and
management to improve the Company’s performance and increase value for all
stockholders.”
Rural
Metro also announced that it has postponed the date of its annual meeting of
stockholders in Scottsdale, Arizona until March 27, 2008.
About
Rural/Metro
Rural/Metro
Corporation provides emergency and non-emergency ambulance services and private
fire protection services in 23 states and approximately 400 communities
throughout the United States. For more information, visit the company’s web site
at xxx.xxxxxxxxxx.xxx.
About
Accipiter
Accipiter
Capital Management, LLC is a New York-based investment manager of certain of
the
Accipiter family of private investment funds. Accipiter, which focuses on the
healthcare industry, was founded in 2002 and manages over $700 million in
assets.
(RURL/F)
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