EXHIBIT 10.4
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT
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THIS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of this 9th day of September, 1997, by and between Security
Capital Atlantic Incorporated, a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), and SC
Group Incorporated, a Texas corporation ("SC Group"), and a wholly owned direct
or indirect subsidiary of Security Capital Group Incorporated.
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to purchase from SC Group certain
administrative services designed to assist the Company in the cost-efficient
management of the Company's corporate and business affairs in the manner and
pursuant to terms and conditions as more specifically described herein; and
WHEREAS, SC Group desires to provide or cause to be provided those services
requested by the Company under such terms and conditions; and
WHEREAS, SC Group will perform similar administrative services for other
entities (collectively "SC Group Clients") which may vary from time to time; and
WHEREAS, the Company will retain the sole and absolute right and authority
to fully and completely operate and manage its business and properties.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and
intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Services.
1.1 Services to be Rendered. SC Group shall provide the Company with
the services described below (each, a "Service", and collectively, the
"Services") as selected by the Company from time to time:
(a) Insurance Administration. Assistance in securing all forms of
insurance, including property, casualty, workers' compensation and
directors' and officers' liability coverage; managing insurance policies;
negotiation of premiums; arranging payment terms; managing claims; and
preparation of loss fund analysis. The amount and levels of insurance
shall be determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Company.
(b) Accounts Payable. Provision of all accounts payable functions
(currently all non site-level invoices); processing of all employee expense
reports and reimbursements of travel and entertainment expenses; and
maintenance of accounts payable and cash disbursement systems, including
reasonable internal controls.
(c) Internal Audit. Provision of internal audit coverage and audit
support, including property audits, financial audits, operational audits
and information system audits, as requested and authorized in advance by
the Company.
(d) Cash Management. Operation and maintenance of collection systems,
concentration systems, and electronic disbursements (including wire
transfers, ACH payments and short term investing); maintenance of bank
accounts, including opening and closing of operating, security deposits,
local depository and xxxxx cash accounts; bank administration, and
maintenance of bank relationships.
(e) Human Resources.
(i) Benefit Administration. Negotiation and administration of
all health, dental, vision, life and long-term and short-term
disability insurance plans as well as 401(k) and flexible spending
plans; and administration of other miscellaneous employee benefits.
(ii) Human Resources Information Systems. Administration and
employee and labor relations including statutory compliance with all
governmental agencies, affirmative action, work force demographics;
processing wage and hour claims and utilization and EEO charges; and
compliance with annual reporting requirements.
(iii) Payroll. Production of payroll and related items;
maintenance of required records; compliance with federal and state
wage and hour regulations; tracking benefit hours; tracking and paying
wage garnishments and related orders; maintenance of Forms W-2; and
production and processing of special payroll checks.
(iv) Pre-Employment. Development of employment policies and
procedures; verification of applicant information such as drivers
license numbers, social security numbers, education, criminal
offenses, and past employment; and drug testing.
(v) Recruiting. Recruiting and retaining employees of the
Company for the El Paso Operations Center who will perform services
for the Company, including placement of newspaper advertisements,
contracting and negotiating with search consultants, screening of
candidates, interviews and employee orientation; processing new hires,
terminations, transfers, leaves of absence and miscellaneous status
changes as requested and authorized in advance by the Company.
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(f) Management Information Systems.
(i) Applications Development. Development, maintenance and
continuing evolution of system applications to provide technology
solutions to business needs and problems, as requested and authorized
in advance by the Company.
(ii) Telecommunications. Design, operation and maintenance of
network infrastructure, including telephone and data transmission
lines, voice mail, facsimile machines, cellular phones, pager, etc.;
negotiation of contracts with third party vendors and suppliers; and
local area network and wide area network communications support.
(iii) Operations/Technical Support and User Support. Design,
maintenance and operation of the computing environment, including
business specific applications, network wide applications, electronic
mail and other systems; purchase and maintenance of equipment,
including hardware and software; configuration, installation and
support of computer equipment; and education and training of the user
community.
(g) Tax Administration. Supervision and direction of the preparation,
review and filing of all federal, state and other required tax returns;
supervision and direction of ad hoc requests for assistance on tax related
matters; and coordination of all activities with the Company's outside tax
preparer, as requested and authorized in advance by the Company. All tax
matters shall be determined by the Company in its absolute and sole
discretion.
(h) Special Projects. Direction and support of all special projects,
as requested and authorized in advance by the Company.
(i) Legal. Coordination and supervision of all third party legal
services; assistance in the preparation of public filings and registration
statements; and oversight of processing of claims against the Company.
(j) Research. Provision of periodic market research reports and
special research assignments as requested by the Company.
(k) Investor Relations/Communications.
(i) Capital Markets. Advice and services relating to capital
raising transactions and relationship with shareholders, but not
including solicitation of investors as a broker, dealer or underwriter
in any capital raising transactions of the Company.
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(ii) Communications. Preparation and coordination of annual and
quarterly reports to shareholders; presentations to public; public
relations; preparation of marketing materials; and investor relations
services.
(l) Debt Financing. Advice and services relating to revolving lines
of credit and other issuances of indebtedness.
1.2 Scope of Services and Charges. The parties will agree from time
to time on the Services to be provided, the scope of Services listed in Section
1.1 and the charges for such Services. The scope of Services shall consist of
the estimated amount of items to be processed or hours to be spent for a
category of the Services in any year as agreed to by the parties. The charges
for Services shall consist of an amount equal to SC Group's costs incurred in
providing such Services, multiplied by 120%. If the scope of Services actually
performed by SC Group in any category of Services is different than that agreed
to by the parties, or if the scope of Services is increased at the request of
the Company, then the parties shall negotiate in good faith to revise the scope
of Services and to adjust the charges for such Services. The parties shall
review annually the Services provided, the scope of Services and the charges for
such Services and negotiate in good faith and make appropriate adjustments. The
parties agree to complete each annual review not later than November 30 in each
year of this Agreement.
1.3 Performance of Services. SC Group covenants that it will perform
or cause to be performed the Services in a timely, efficient and workmanlike
manner and in substantially the same manner in which SC Group is providing such
services to the Company currently. SC Group further covenants that it will
maintain or contract for a sufficient staff of trained personnel to enable it to
perform the Services hereunder. SC Group may retain third parties or its
affiliates to provide certain of the Services hereunder. In such cases, and
notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall reimburse SC
Group for only its actual cost for arranging for such Services. Any
arrangements between SC Group and its affiliates for the provision of Services
hereunder shall be commercially reasonable and on terms not less favorable than
those which could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
1.4 Payment for Services. SC Group shall xxxx the Company, at the
end of each calendar month, one-twelfth of the amount agreed to from time to
time pursuant to Section 1.2 for the applicable Service. Such amount shall be
payable by the Company in full within 30 days of receipt thereof by the Company.
On the forty-fifth day following the end of each calendar year, SC Group shall
provide to the Company a statement, certified by a senior officer of SC Group,
setting forth by category of Service the amount and nature of such Services
actually performed during the period covered by such statement. Such statement
shall also set forth the dollar amount, if any, by which the amounts previously
paid by the Company for the provision of each specific category of Services for
such period is greater or less than the charges agreed for such Services (in
each such case, an "excess", and, if a shortfall, a "shortfall"). Any such
excess or shortfall shall be refunded to the Company or paid by the Company, as
applicable, within 30 days of the receipt of the statement. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the aggregate fees for Services
provided by SC Group to the
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Company (exclusive of reimbursement of third-party costs) shall not exceed
$5,201,985 during the Initial Term (subject to the actual usage of Services by
the Company not being materially in excess of that set forth in the budget
previously provided by SC Group to the Company).
1.5 Reimbursement. The Company shall reimburse SC Group for all
reasonable third party out-of-pocket expenses it incurs on behalf of the Company
not billed directly to the Company within 30 days of receipt of the invoice
therefor.
Section 2. Facilities. SC Group hereby grants to the Company the right
to use the Facilities set forth on Exhibit A. The Company shall not pay any
additional compensation to SC Group for the use of such Facilities during the
twelve-month period following the date of this Agreement. From and after the
expiration of such twelve-month period, the Company shall pay SC Group rental
for the use of such Facilities as may be agreed between the parties negotiating
in good faith. SC Group and the Company agree that during the term of this
Agreement they shall cooperate and use reasonable efforts in order to allocate
the Facilities in accordance with the reasonable requests (based on their
business needs) of each of SC Group, the Company and other SC Group Clients.
The Company acknowledges and agrees that within 60 days of the expiration of the
term of this Agreement, it shall leave the Facilities in the same condition as
at the commencement of the term of the Agreement, ordinary wear and tear and
damage by casualty excepted.
Section 3. Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall commence on
the date hereof and shall be through December 31, 1998 (the "Initial Term") and
shall be renewable by the Company every year thereafter, subject to approval by
a majority of the Independent Directors (which they may withhold or grant in
their sole discretion). Absent written notice of non-renewal as provided in
this Section 3, this Agreement shall be automatically renewed for successive
one-year terms (each, a "Renewal Term") upon the expiration of the Initial Term
and each Renewal Term. Upon termination of this Agreement, SC Group shall
promptly return to the Company all monies, books, records and other materials
held by it for or on behalf of the Company. Notice of non-renewal, if given,
shall be given in writing by either party hereto not less than ninety (90)
calendar days before the expiration of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term. As
used herein, the term "Independent Directors" means each member of the Company's
Board of Directors who is not affiliated with Security Capital Group
Incorporated ("SCG") or any of its affiliates, directly or indirectly, whether
by ownership of, ownership interest in, employment by, any material business or
professional relationship with, or service as an officer of SCG or any of its
affiliates, and is not serving as a trustee or director for more than three real
estate investment trusts organized by a sponsor of the Company.
Section 4. Audit of Services. At any time during regular business hours
and as often as reasonably requested by the Company's officers, SC Group shall
permit the Company or its authorized representatives to examine and make copies
and abstracts from the records and books of SC Group for the purpose of auditing
the performance of, and the charges of, SC Group under the terms of this
Agreement; provided, that all costs and expenses of such inspection shall be
borne by the Company.
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Section 5. Prevention of Performance. SC Group shall not be determined
to be in violation of this Agreement if it is prevented from performing any
Services hereunder for any reason beyond its reasonable control, including
without limitation, acts of God, nature, or of public enemy, strikes, or
limitations of law, regulations or rules of the Federal or of any state or local
government or of any agency thereof.
Section 6. Indemnification.
6.1 By the Company. The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold SC
Group, and its directors, officers, and employees harmless from and against all
damages, losses and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including fees) incurred
by them in the course of performing the duties on behalf of the Company and its
subsidiaries as prescribed hereby, except for matters covered by subsection 6.2
hereof.
6.2 By SC Group. SC Group shall indemnify, defend and hold the
Company, its directors, officers and employees harmless from and against all
damages, losses and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including fees) caused by
or arising out of any willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance
of any obligation or agreement of SC Group herein.
6.3 Remedy. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6.2 hereof,
SC Group does not assume any responsibility under this Agreement other than to
render the services called for under this Agreement in good faith and in a
manner reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company. Except
as otherwise provided in subsection 6.2 hereof, the Company's sole remedy on
account of the failure of SC Group to render the services as and when required
hereunder shall be to procure services elsewhere and to charge SC Group the
difference between the reasonable increased cost, if any, to procure new
services, and the current cost to the Company to procure services under this
Agreement.
Section 7. Notices.
7.1 Manner of Delivery. Each notice, demand, request, consent,
report, approval or communication (each a "Notice") which is or may be required
to be given by either party to the other party in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be in writing, and given by
telecopy, personal delivery, receipted delivery service, or by certified mail,
return receipt requested, prepaid and properly addressed to the party to be
served.
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7.2 Addresses. Notices shall be addressed as follows:
If to the Company:
Security Capital Atlantic Incorporated
Six Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
If to SC Group:
SC Group Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xx Xxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
7.3 Effective Date. Notices shall be effective on the date sent via
telecopy, the date delivered personally or by receipted delivery service, or
three (3) days after the date mailed.
7.4 Change of Address. Each party may designate by notice to the
others in writing, given in the foregoing manner, a new address to which any
notice may thereafter be so given, served or sent.
Section 8. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Exhibit
hereto, constitutes and sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the
parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof, and no prior or contemporaneous
written or oral agreements, understandings, undertakings, negotiations,
promises, discussions, warranties or covenants not specifically referred to or
contained herein or attached hereto shall be valid and enforceable. No
supplement, modification, termination in whole or in part, or waiver of this
Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party to be bound
thereby. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed,
or shall constitute, a waiver of any other provision hereof (whether or not
similar), nor shall any such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless
otherwise expressly provided.
Section 9. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, each of their respective
successors and permitted assigns, but may not be assigned by either party
without the prior written consent of the other party, and no other persons shall
have or derive any right, benefit or obligation hereunder.
Section 10. Headings. The headings and titles of the various paragraphs
of this Agreement are inserted merely for the purpose of convenience, and do not
expressly or by implication limit, define, extend or affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement or the specific terms or text of the paragraph
so designated.
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Section 11. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all
respects, whether as to validity, construction, capacity, performance or
otherwise, by the laws of the State of Texas.
Section 12. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be
held invalid by a court with jurisdiction over the parties to this Agreement,
then and in that event such provision shall be deleted from the Agreement, which
shall then be construed to give effect to the remaining provisions thereof. If
any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other
instrument referred to herein shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then in that event, to the maximum
extent permitted by law, such invalidity, illegality or enforceability shall not
affect any other provisions of this Agreement or any other such instrument.
Section 13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken
together shall be considered one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.
SECURITY CAPITAL ATLANTIC INCORPORATED
By:/s/ XXXXXXXXX X. XXXXX
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Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Co-Chairman
SC GROUP INCORPORATED
By:/s/ XXXX X. XXXXXX
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Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Managing Director
EXHIBIT A
Description of Facilities
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For purposes of the Administrative Services Agreement, Facilities shall
mean the facilities maintained by SC Group or one of its affiliates at the
following addresses:
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xx Xxxx, Xxxxx 00000
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Facilities shall also include any other premises owned, leased or subleased
by SC Group at which the Company desires to utilize such premises as well as the
utilities, fixtures, furniture and equipment used in connection with the
operation of such premises.
