UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 15, 2008
RURAL/METRO CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE | 0-22056 | 86-0746929 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
9221 East Via de Ventura
Scottsdale, Arizona
85258
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (480) 994-3886
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Section 1 | Registrant’s Business and Operations |
Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
On September 15, 2008, Rural/Metro Corporation (the “Company”) and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as successor to Computershare Trust Company, Inc. (the “Rights Agent”) amended (the “Amendment”) the Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), dated August 24, 2005 between the Company and the Rights Agent. The Amendment amends the terms of the Rights associated with the common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company to reduce from 15.0% to 5.0% the Beneficial Ownership triggering percentage at which a Person will become an Acquiring Person and at which a Distribution Date will occur (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement). Existing shareholders with holdings of 5.0% or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock were grandfathered in under the Amendment, and as such, will not entitle any shareholders to exercise Rights under the Rights Agreement. The Board of Directors of the Company will regularly review the triggering percentage under the Rights Agreement. The Amendment is intended to limit the risk that the Company may not be able to fully utilize its net operating losses pursuant to Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
A copy of the Amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.
Section 3 | Securities and Trading Markets |
Item 3.03 | Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
See the description set forth under “Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement,” which is incorporated into this Item 3.03 by reference.
Section 9 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) | Exhibits. |
4.1 | Amendment No. 1 dated as of September 15, 2008 to the certain Stockholders Rights Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2005, between Rural/Metro Corporation and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as successor to Computershare Trust Company, Inc., as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on September 18, 2008). |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
RURAL/METRO CORPORATION | ||||||||
Date: September 18, 2008 | By: | /s/ Kristine B. Ponczak | ||||||
Kristine B. Ponczak Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. | ||
4.1 | Amendment No. 1 dated as of September 15, 2008 to the certain Stockholders Rights Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2005, between Rural/Metro Corporation and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as successor to Computershare Trust Company, Inc., as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on September 18, 2008). |