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15:15 EDT Southwest Gas announces settlement with Carl Icahn - Southwest Gas announced that it has entered into a settlement agreement with Carl Icahn and his affiliated entities. Pursuant to the Agreement, at least three, and up to four, new directors will join the Southwest Gas Board of Directors. Following the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Board will continue the previously announced review of a full range of strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value including a sale of the company, a separate sale of one or more of its business units and/or the spin-off of Centuri, which is expected to be tax-free to stockholders. Under the terms of the Agreement, Icahn has the right to appoint at least three directors effective immediately following the Annual Meeting: Andrew W. Evans, H. Russell Frisby, Jr., and Henry P. Linginfelter. A fourth director - Andrew J. Teno, unless he is otherwise already appointed to the Board, in which case one of Evans, Frisby, Jr. or Linginfelter will be appointed instead - will join the Board in the event that the company determines to not spin-off Centuri. The decision whether to spin-off Centuri will be made within 90 days after the date of the Agreement. Icahn may elect to have Teno replace one of the three new directors within 90 days after the date of the Agreement. Current Board members, Robert L. Boughner and Thomas A. Thomas, have resigned effective immediately following the Annual Meeting. Current Board member, Jose A. Cardenas, will resign from the Board if and when a fourth new director joins the Board. Current Board member, E. Renae Conley, will be appointed as Chair of the Board following the Annual Meeting. Following the changes in the composition of the Board, the Board will comprise 11 directors, 10 of whom will be independent. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Board's Strategic Transactions Committee will be expanded following the Annual Meeting to comprise six members: three current directors and Committee members, Anne Mariucci, Carlos Ruisanchez and Jane Lewis-Raymond, and three new directors, Evans, Frisby, and Linginfelter. If Teno joins the Board, he may replace one of the new Committee members at Icahn's discretion. Mariucci will continue to serve as Chair of the Committee. Under the terms of the Agreement, Icahn will withdraw his slate of director nominees with respect to the Annual Meeting and vote in favor of the Company's nominees. The Company will amend the terms of its stockholder rights plan to increase the triggering percentage from 10% to 24.9%. In addition, Icahn will amend his $82.50 tender offer to acquire the outstanding shares of Southwest Gas to extend the expiration date to the date that is 10 business days following the date of the amendment, and will purchase shares validly tendered and not withdrawn as of that date, subject to a cap on his aggregate ownership of 24.9%. Icahn will not further extend or amend the tender offer. The Agreement includes customary standstill and voting commitments that will extend until 30 days prior to the end of the advance notice period for the submission of director nominees in connection with the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In the event there is a definitive agreement for the sale of the entire company or its natural gas utility, Southwest Gas Corporation, prior to that date, the standstill will extend until 30 days prior to the end of the advance notice period for the submission of director nominees in connection with the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. While the standstill is in effect, Icahn has agreed to vote all of his shares in favor of any Board-approved sale of the entire Company or its natural gas utility, Southwest Gas Corporation. Pursuant to the Agreement, Icahn has withdrawn his litigation against the company.