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Exhibit 4.4
RURAL/METRO CORPORATION
$150,000,000
7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2008
Unconditionally Guaranteed by the Signatories Hereto
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
March 11, 1998
BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
SBC WARBURG DILLON READ INC.
FIRST UNION CAPITAL MARKETS
c/o Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
245 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10167
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Rural/Metro Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"),
proposes to issue and sell to Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. ("Bear Stearns"), Salomon
Brothers Inc, SBC Warburg Dillon Read Inc. and First Union Capital Markets, a
division of Wheat First Securities, Inc., (collectively, the "Initial
Purchasers"), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement of even date
herewith (the "Purchase Agreement"), $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
its 7 7/8% Senior Notes Due 2008 (the "Initial Securities") to be
unconditionally guaranteed by the guarantor subsidiaries of the Issuer
signatories hereto (the "Guarantors" and together with the Issuer, the
"Company"). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture,
dated as of March 16, 1998, (the "Indenture") among the Issuer, the Guarantors
named therein and The First National Bank of Chicago (the "Trustee"). As an
inducement to the Initial Purchasers, the Company agrees with the Initial
Purchasers, for the benefit of the holders of the Initial Securities (including,
without limitation, the Initial Purchasers), of the Exchange Securities (as
defined below in Section 1) and of the Private Exchange Securities (as defined
below in Section 1) (collectively the "Holders"), as follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall, at its own cost,
prepare and, not later than 45 days after (or if the 45th day is not a business
day, the first business day thereafter) the date of original issue of the
Initial Securities (the "Issue Date"), file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement (the "Exchange Offer
Registration
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Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), with respect to a proposed offer (the "Registered
Exchange Offer") to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in
Section 6(e) hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of the
Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and
deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like
aggregate principal amount of debt securities (the "Exchange Securities") of the
Company issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to the
Initial Securities (except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Initial
Securities and the provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6
hereof) that would be registered under the Securities Act. The Company shall use
its best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become
effective under the Securities Act within 90 days (or if the 90th day is not a
business day, the first business day thereafter) after the Issue Date of the
Initial Securities and shall keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
effective for not less than 30 business days (or longer, if required by
applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed
to the Holders (such period being called the "Exchange Offer Registration
Period").
If the Company effects the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company will
be entitled to close the Registered Exchange Offer 30 business days after the
commencement thereof provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial
Securities theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the
Registered Exchange Offer.
Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered
Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to
enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities electing to exchange the
Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an
affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the
Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no
arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange
Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from
participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange
Securities, from and after their receipt, without any limitations or
restrictions under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under
the securities laws of the several states of the United States.
The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer
electing to exchange Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of
market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities
(an "Exchanging Dealer"), is required to deliver a prospectus containing the
information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in
the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer"
section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of such
prospectus in
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connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such
Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an Initial
Purchaser that elects to sell Exchange Securities acquired in exchange for
Initial Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment is required
to deliver a prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 or 508
of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with
such sale.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the prospectus
contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered
by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that (i) in the
case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be
delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be
the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the
Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless such
period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company shall
make such prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, available to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities
for a period of not less than 90 days after the consummation of the Registered
Exchange Offer.
If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial
Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in
exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Initial Securities held by such
Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company
issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects (including the
existence of restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act and the
securities laws of the several states of the United States, but excluding
provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) to the Initial
Securities (the "Private Exchange Securities"). The Initial Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively
called the "Securities."
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an
appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than
30 business days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the
date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
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Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time
prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day
on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer
or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(x) accept for exchange all the Securities validly tendered
and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the
Private Exchange;
(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial
Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to
each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to
the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be
subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the
Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class
separate from one another on any matter.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security will
accrue from (A) the later of (i) the last interest payment date on which
interest was paid on the Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or
(ii) if the Initial Securities are surrendered for exchange on a date in a
period which includes the record date for an interest payment date to occur on
or after the date of such exchange and as to which interest will be paid, the
date of such interest payment date or (B) if no interest has been paid on the
Initial Securities, from the Issue Date.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder
will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act to the
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extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not
engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange
Securities and (v) if such Holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive
Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that
were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading and (iii) any prospectus forming part of
any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with any supplement to such
prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
2. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of applicable law, Commission
policy, or applicable interpretations by the staff of the Commission, the
Company is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated
by Section 1 hereof, or (ii) any holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
notifies the Company prior to the 20th day following consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer that (a) it is prohibited by law or Commission policy
from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or (b) that it may not
resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Registered Exchange Offer
to the public without delivering a prospectus and the prospectus contained in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for
such resales or (c) that it is a broker-dealer and owns Initial Securities
acquired directly from the Company or an affiliate of the Company, the Company
shall take the following actions:
(a) The Company shall, at its cost, use its best efforts to,
within 30 days after so required or requested pursuant to this Section
2, file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its best efforts
to cause to be declared effective a registration statement (the "Shelf
Registration Statement" and, together with the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, a "Registration Statement") on an appropriate
form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6(e) hereof) by
the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of
distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415
under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the "Shelf Registration");
provided, however, that no Holder (other than an
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Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it
covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees
in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement
applicable to such Holder.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) cause the
Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the
Securities Act within 90 days after the filing obligation with respect
thereto arises; and (ii) subject to Section 6(b) below, keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of
the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer
period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its
effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when all the
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been
sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer restricted securities (as
defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor rule
thereof). Subject to Section 6(b), the Company shall be deemed not to
have used its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any
action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not
being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period, unless
the Company believes in good faith that such action is required by
applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to
the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement
and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as
of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or
supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration
contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall
apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser,
prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the
Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement,
if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an
Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment
from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange
Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its
best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the
Commission, such comments as such
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Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose; (ii) include the information
set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the
"Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange
Offer" section and in Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution"
section of the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and include the information set forth in Annex D
hereto in the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser,
include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K
under the Securities Act, as applicable, in the prospectus forming a
part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (iv) include within
the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a
section entitled "Plan of Distribution," reasonably acceptable to the
Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary statement of the
positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with
respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that
is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of Exchange
Securities received by such broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange
Offer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions or
policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission
or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the
Initial Purchasers based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house
counsel), represent the prevailing views of the staff of the
Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement,
include the names of the Holders, who propose to sell Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as selling
securityholders.
(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial
Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any Participating
Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice
that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall
be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus
until the requisite changes have been made):
(i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments
or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus
included therein or for additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose;
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(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal
counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of
the qualification of the Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the
Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the
prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the
prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material
fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the
case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading.
(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain
the withdrawal, at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities
included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge,
at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits
thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).
(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and
each Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests,
without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such
Holder requests, all exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by
reference).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period,
deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of
the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the
prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the
Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as
such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to
the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of the
Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities
covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
included in the Shelf Registration Statement.
(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any
Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other
persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered
Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus
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included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The
Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the
use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any
Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and
such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the
Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of
the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities, pursuant
to any Registration Statement, the Company shall register or qualify or
cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their
respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification
of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky"
laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the
Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts
or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such
jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i)
qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not
then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to
general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject.
(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the
Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any
Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such
denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a
reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to
such Registration Statement.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for
which the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration
Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related
prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter
delivered to Holders of the Securities or purchasers of Securities, the
prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the
Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known
Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through
(v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until
the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the
Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any such
Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of
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such prospectus, and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above
shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the
date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the
Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known
Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or
supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j).
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the
Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with
printed certificates for the Initial Securities, the Exchange
Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a
form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of
the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the
Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make
generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in
accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings
statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90
days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month
of the Company's first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective
date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such
12-month period.
(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner
and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such
qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the
appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall
appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions
of the Indenture.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the
Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of
the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require
for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may
exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that
unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time
after receiving such request.
(o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements
(including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form)
and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities
shall
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reasonably request in writing in order to facilitate the disposition of
the Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.
(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall
(i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the
Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or
other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such
underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the
Company's officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to
supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of
the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent
in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as
shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a
reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the
Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and
information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial
Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel
designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in
Section 4 hereof.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if
requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i)
its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the
Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing
underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial
opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it
being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall
include, without limitation, the due incorporation and good standing of
the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and
its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the due
authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the
type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the due authorization,
execution, authentication and issuance, and the validity and
enforceability, of the applicable Securities; the absence of material
legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company and its
subsidiaries; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the
offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement of the
type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the compliance as to form of
such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by
reference therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, respectively; and, as of
the date of the opinion and as of the effective date of the Shelf
Registration Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto,
as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration Statement
and the prospectus included therein, as then amended or supplemented,
and from any documents incorporated by reference therein of an untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission
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to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of
any such documents, in the light of the circumstances existing at the
time that such documents were filed with the Commission under the
Exchange Act)); (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary
documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any
underwriters of the applicable Securities and (iii) its independent
public accountants and the independent public accountants with respect
to any other entity for which financial information is provided in the
Shelf Registration Statement to provide to the selling Holders of the
applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings,
subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and
only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.
(r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested
by any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the
Company shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial
Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a signed opinion
respecting the matters set forth in Exhibit A of the Purchase Agreement
with such changes as are customary in connection with the preparation
of a Registration Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants
and the independent public accountants with respect to any other entity
for which financial information is provided in the Registration
Statement to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating
Broker-Dealer a comfort letter in substantially the form delivered in
Section 8(g) of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date changes.
(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to
be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to
the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in
exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or caused to be
marked, on the Initial Securities so exchanged that such Initial
Securities are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities
or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no event
shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(t) The Company will use its best efforts to (a) if the
Initial Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such
Initial Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities
covered by a Registration Statement, or (b) if the Initial Securities
were not previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a
Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating
agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement,
or by the managing underwriters, if any.
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(u) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member
of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the
distribution" (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the "Rules") of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof,
whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a
placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or
otherwise, the Company will assist such broker-dealer in complying with
the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i)
if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require, engaging a
"qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in Rule 2720) to
participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating
to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in
respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by
such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made
through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such
Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent
underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters
provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to
such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer
to comply with the requirements of the Rules.
(v) The Company shall cause all Securities covered by any
Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange on
which any Securities are listed.
(w) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other
steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by
a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
4. Registration Expenses.
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or
compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company regardless of
whether a Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective, including
without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including
filings made by any Initial Purchasers or Holder with the NASD (and, if
applicable, the reasonable fees and expenses of any "qualified independent
underwriter" and its counsel that may be required by the rules and regulations
of the NASD)); (ii) all fees and expenses associated with compliance with
federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii) all expenses of
printing (including printing certificates for the Securities to be issued in the
Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services
and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and,
subject to Section 4(b) below, the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing Securities on a
national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the
requirements hereof, if Securities are so listed; and (vi) all fees and
disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company
(including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters
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required by or incident to such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of their officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the
fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the
Company.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by
this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the
Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered in the Exchange Offer
and/or resold pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more
than one counsel, who shall be Morrison & Foerster LLP or such other counsel as
may be chosen by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement is
being prepared.
5. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Initial Purchasers, each Holder of the Securities, any Participating
Broker-Dealer and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or such
Participating Broker-Dealer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act (each Holder, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling
persons are referred to collectively as the "Indemnified Parties") from and
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any
actions in respect thereof as incurred (including, but not limited to, any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales
of the Securities and including reasonable attorneys' fees and any and all
expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against
any investigation or litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever, and in enforcing this indemnification, and any and all amounts paid
in settlement of any claim or litigation) to which each Indemnified Party may
become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar
as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arise out of, or are
based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, and shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any
reasonable legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection
with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action in respect thereof; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
liable in any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission made in a Registration Statement or prospectus
or in any
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amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will
be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such
Indemnified Party under any other agreement or under applicable law. The Company
shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person
who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the
indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.
(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly,
will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions
in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may
become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar
as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arise out of or are
based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only
to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such
Holder specifically for inclusion therein; provided, however, that in no case
shall any Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the dollar
amount of the proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Securities
giving rise to such indemnification obligation. This indemnity agreement will be
in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company
or any of its controlling persons under any other agreement or under applicable
law.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 5(a) or (b) of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding
(including a governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
Section 5, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the
omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not, in any event, relieve the
indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party. In case any
such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and
after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof except to the extent set forth below
the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other
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than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to employ its
or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless (i) the
employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the
indemnifying parties in connection with the defense of such action, (ii) the
indemnifying parties shall not have employed counsel to take charge of the
defense of such action within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of
the action, or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably
concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different
from or additional to those available to one or all of the indemnifying parties
(in which case the indemnifying party or parties shall not have the right to
direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or
parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses of counsel shall be
borne by the indemnifying parties; provided, however, that the indemnifying
party under subsection (a) or (b) above shall only be liable for the legal
expenses of one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified
parties in each jurisdiction in which any claim or action is brought. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of
which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could
have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement
includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability
on any claims that are the subject matter of such action.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) above in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the
indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions
that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Holder or such other indemnified
party, as the case may be, on the other, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of
this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d).
The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account
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the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required to contribute any
amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holder
from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the
amount of damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason
of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this
paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party within
the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights
to contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall
have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive
the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain
in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this
Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
6. Liquidated Damages.
(a) If (i) any of the Registration Statements required by this
Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for
such filing in this Agreement, (ii) any of such Registration Statements has not
been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for
such effectiveness in this Agreement (the "Effectiveness Target Date"), (iii)
the Registered Exchange Offer has not been consummated within 30 business days
after the Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be
effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded
immediately by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that
cures such failure and that is itself immediately declared effective, (each such
event referred to in clauses (ii) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), the
Company agrees to pay liquidated damages ("Liquidated Damages") to each Holder
of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to the first 90-day period
immediately following the occurrence of the first Registration Default, in an
amount equal to one-half of one percentage point (0.5%) per annum of the
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder. The
amount of the Liquidated Damages shall increase by an additional one-half of one
percent (0.5%) per annum of the principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration
Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of Liquidated Damages of one
and one-half percent (1.5%) per annum of the principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities held by such Holder. All accrued Liquidated Damages shall
be paid by the Company on each Interest Payment Date (as defined in the
Indenture) to each Holder of a Global Note (as defined in the Indenture) by wire
transfer of immediately available funds
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or by federal funds check and to Holders of Certificated Securities by wire
transfers to the accounts specified by them or by mailing checks to their
registered addresses if no such accounts have been specified, on each Interest
Payment Date, as provided for in the Indenture. The filing of a Registration
Statement after the date specified for such filing, the declaration of
effectiveness of a Registration Statement after the Effectiveness Target Date or
the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer at any time, as appropriate,
shall constitute a cure of the related Registration Default. Following the cure
of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular Transfer Restricted
Securities, the accrual of liquidated damages with respect to such Transfer
Restricted Securities will cease.
(b) All obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding
paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security
at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall
survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such security
shall have been satisfied in full.
(c) For the purposes of this Agreement, a Registration
Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable when either (1) any
event occurs as a result of which the related prospectus forming part of such
Registration Statement would include any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (2) it
shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement the
related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the
respective rules thereunder.
(d) Any amounts of liquidated damages due pursuant to Section
6(a) above will be determined by multiplying the applicable rate by the
principal amount of the Securities, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of days such liquidated damage rate was applicable during
such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve
30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.
(e) "Transfer Restricted Securities" means each Security until
(i) the date on which such Transfer Restricted Security has been exchanged by a
person other than a broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in
the Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in
the Registered Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Security,
the date on which such Exchange Security is sold to a purchaser who receives
from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the
prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the
date on which such Initial Security has been effectively registered under the
Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration
Statement or (iv) the date on which such Initial Security is distributed to the
public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
7. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its best efforts to file
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the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file
such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities,
make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales
of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that
it will take such further action as any Holder of Initial Securities may
reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such
Holder to sell Initial Securities without registration under the Securities Act
within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A
(including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy
of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to
the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any
Holder of Initial Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written
statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company
to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
8. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten
offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers
that will administer the offering ("Managing Underwriters") will be selected by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer
Restricted Securities to be included in such offering; provided, however, that
such Managing Underwriters shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, it
being understood that Bear Stearns shall be deemed reasonably satisfactory to
the Company.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement
may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to
departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company
and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or
consents.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class
mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight
delivery:
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(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current
address given by such Holder to the Company.
(2) if to the Initial Purchasers, at the following address:
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
245 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, New York 10167
Telecopy No.: (212) 272-3092
Attention: Corporate Finance Group
with a copy to:
Morrison & Foerster LLP
19900 MacArthur Boulevard, 12th Floor
Irvine, California 92612
Telecopy No.: (714) 251-0900
Attention: Tamara Powell Tate, Esq.
(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:
Rural/Metro Corporation
8401 East Indian School Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
Telecopy No.: (602) 994-3886
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to:
O'Connor, Cavanagh, Anderson,
Killingsworth & Beshears
One E. Camelback, Suite 1100
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
Telecopy No.: (602) 263-2900
Attention: Jean E. Harris
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three
business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when receipt is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile machine operator, if sent
by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications
shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at
the address specified in the Indenture.
(c) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of
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the date hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter
into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the
rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof. The Company will take no action with respect to the Securities that
would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to consummate
any Exchange Offer.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities.
(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD
TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
(h) Severability. If any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(i) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or
approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities
is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other
than subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to
be affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not
be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the
Holders of such required percentage.
(j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the
parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete
and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto
in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to
herein with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with
respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such
subject matter.
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(k) Remedies. The Company agrees that monetary damages
(including the Liquidated Damages contemplated hereby) would not be adequate
compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions
of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive the defense in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
[Intentionally left blank]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Issuer a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the several Initial Purchasers, the Issuer and the Guarantors in
accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
RURAL/METRO CORPORATION
By: /s/ Mark E. Liebner
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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AID AMBULANCE AT VIGO COUNTY, INC.
an Indiana corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
AMBULANCE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS, INC.
a New Jersey corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
AMERICAN LIMOUSINE SERVICE, INC.
an Ohio corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
ARROW AMBULANCE, INC.
an Idaho corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
BEACON TRANSPORTATION, INC.
a New York corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
CITY WIDE AMBULANCE SERVICE, INC.
an Ohio corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
25
CORNING AMBULANCE SERVICE INC.
a New York corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
DONLOCK, LTD.
a Pennsylvania corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
E.M.S. VENTURES, INC.
a Georgia corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
EMS VENTURES OF SOUTH CAROLINA, INC.
a South Carolina corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
EASTERN AMBULANCE SERVICE, INC.
a Nebraska corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
EASTERN PARAMEDICS, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
26
GOLD CROSS AMBULANCE SERVICES, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
GOLD CROSS AMBULANCE SERVICES OF PA., INC.
an Ohio corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
KEEFE & KEEFE, INC.
a New York corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
KEEFE & KEEFE AMBULETTE, LTD.
a New York corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
LASALLE AMBULANCE INC.
a New York corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
27
MEDI-CAB OF GEORGIA, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
MEDICAL EMERGENCY DEVICES AND
SERVICES (MEDS), INC.
an Arizona corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, INC.
a South Dakota corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
MEDSTAR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
MERCURY AMBULANCE SERVICE, INC.
a Kentucky corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
28
METRO CARE CORP.
an Ohio corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
MO-RO-KO, INC.
an Arizona corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
MULTI CAB INC..
a New Jersey corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
MULTI-CARE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
a New Jersey corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
MULTI-CARE MEDICAL CAR SERVICE, INC.
a New Jersey corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
29
MULTI-HEALTH CORP.
a Florida corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
MYERS AMBULANCE SERVICE, INC.
an Indiana corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
NATIONAL AMBULANCE & OXYGEN
SERVICE, INC.
a New York corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
NORTH MISS. AMBULANCE SERVICE, INC.
a Mississippi corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
PHYSICIANS AMBULANCE SERVICE, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
30
PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL SERVICES, INC.
an Arkansas corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RISC AMERICA ALABAMA
FIRE SAFETY SERVICES, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
R/M MANAGEMENT CO., INC.
an Arizona corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
R/M OF MISSISSIPPI, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
R/M OF TENNESSEE G.P., INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
31
R/M OF TENNESSEE L.P., INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
R/M OF TEXAS G.P., INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
R/M PARTNERS, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RMC CORPORATE CENTER, L.L.C.
an Arizona limited liability company
By: RURAL/METRO CORPORATION,
an Arizona corporation
Its Member
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
32
RURAL/METRO ARGENTINA, L.L.C.
an Arizona limited liability company
By: RURAL/METRO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
a Delaware corporation
Its Member
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO BRASIL, L.L.C.
an Arizona corporation
By: RURAL/METRO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
a Delaware corporation
Its Member
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO CANADIAN HOLDINGS, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO COMMUNICATIONS
SERVICES, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
33
RURAL/METRO CORPORATION
an Arizona corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO CORPORATION OF FLORIDA
a Florida corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO CORPORATION OF
TENNESSEE
a Tennessee corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO FIRE DEPT., INC.
an Arizona corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
34
RURAL/METRO MID-ATLANTIC, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF ALABAMA, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF ARGENTINA, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF ARKANSAS, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF ARLINGTON, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF BRASIL, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
35
RURAL/METRO OF CALIFORNIA, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF CENTRAL ALABAMA, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF CENTRAL OHIO, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF GEORGIA, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF INDIANA, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
36
RURAL/METRO OF INDIANA, L.P.
a Delaware limited partnership
By: THE AID AMBULANCE COMPANY, INC.
a Delaware corporation
Its General Partner
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF INDIANA II., L.P.
a Delaware corporation
By: THE AID AMBULANCE COMPANY, INC.
a Delaware corporation
Its General Partner
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF KENTUCKY, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF MISSISSIPPI, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF NEBRASKA, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
37
RURAL/METRO OF NEW YORK, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF NORTH FLORIDA, INC.
a Florida corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF OHIO, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF OREGON, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF ROCHESTER, INC.
a New York corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
38
RURAL/METRO OF SAN DIEGO, INC.
a California corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF SOUTH CAROLINA, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF SOUTH DAKOTA, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF TENNESSEE, L.P.
a Delaware limited partnership
By: R/M OF TENNESSEE, G.P., INC.,
a Delaware corporation
Its General Partner
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO OF TEXAS, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
39
RURAL/METRO OF TEXAS, L.P.
a Delaware limited partnership
By: R/M OF TEXAS G.P., INC.
a Delaware corporation
Its General Partner
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
RURAL/METRO PROTECTION SERVICES, INC.
an Arizona corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:______________________________
Title: ______________________________
RURAL/METRO TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
SW GENERAL, INC.
an Arizona corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
SIOUX FALLS AMBULANCE, INC.
a South Dakota corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
40
SOUTH GEORGIA EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES, INC.
a Georgia corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By: _________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
SOUTHWEST AMBULANCE OF CASA
GRANDE, INC.
an Arizona corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By: _________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
SOUTHWEST AMBULANCE OF
SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA, INC.
an Arizona corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By: _________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
SOUTHWEST AMBULANCE OF TUCSON, INC.
an Arizona corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By: _________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
SOUTHWEST GENERAL SERVICES, INC.
an Arizona corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By: _________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
41
THE AID AMBULANCE COMPANY, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By: _________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
THE AID COMPANY, INC.
an Indiana corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By: _________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
THE WESTERN NEW YORK EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES TRAINING INSTITUTE INC.
a New York corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By: _________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
TOWNS AMBULANCE SERVICE, INC.
a New York corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By: _________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
UNITED MEDICAL SERVICES, INC.
a Washington corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By: _________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
42
VALLEY FIRE SERVICE, INC.
a Delaware corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By: _________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
W & W LEASING COMPANY, INC.
an Arizona corporation
/s/ Mark E. Liebner
By: _________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
43
The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written.
Acting on behalf of itself and as the Representative of the Initial Purchasers
BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
By:____________________________________
Name:
Title:
44
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter
of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities
where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it
will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."
45
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account in exchange for Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired
by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."
46
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in
exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has
agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make
this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for
use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until , 1998,
all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to
deliver a prospectus.(1)
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were
received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker
or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be
deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any
profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or
concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
- -----------
(1) In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will
appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.
47
ANNEX D
CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL
COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name: _____________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________
____________________________________________________
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents
that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of
Exchange Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive
Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that
were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with
any resale of such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by
delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is
an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.