ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
AGREEMENT
THIS
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”)
is dated and effective as of January 30, 2006 (the “Effective
Date”), by and among RSM McGladrey, Inc.
(“RSMM”), which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary
of H&R Block, Inc. (“Block”), and McGladrey &
Pullen, LLP (“M&P”).
WHEREAS,
M&P is licensed to hold itself out as a licensed certified
public accounting firm in numerous states and jurisdictions;
and
WHEREAS,
RSMM has performed certain administrative services under an
Administrative Services Agreement dated August 2, 1999 (the
“Original Agreement”); and
WHEREAS,
the Original Agreement provided that its term shall end on
August 2, 2004, which term was extended to January 30,
2006; and
WHEREAS,
the parties have decided to terminate the Original Agreement as of
the Effective Date and execute this Agreement in its place;
and
WHEREAS,
M&P desires to continue to focus its effort, energy and
expertise generally on the provision of accounting services
including Public Accounting Services (as defined below) and certain
tax preparation services to clients (the “Business”),
and to accomplish this goal, desires to outsource certain
administrative functions of the Business to RSMM; and
WHEREAS,
M&P desires to retain the administrative services of RSMM in
connection with the provision of certain services and products
relating to the Business that do not involve the provision of
Public Accounting Services; and
WHEREAS,
M&P and RSMM have agreed upon a fair compensation for the
administrative services provided by RSMM hereunder; and
WHEREAS,
the parties also entered into a letter agreement dated
August 2, 1999 relating to the mutual provisions of
professional services to each other on a subcontract basis;
and
WHEREAS,
such letter agreement was of indefinite duration and the parties
wish to incorporate its provisions, as revised, into this
Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1.1.
Appointment of RSMM; Administrative Services . M&P
hereby retains RSMM and RSMM agrees to provide the administrative
services described in Schedule 1.1 hereto (collectively, the
“Administrative Services”). From time to time RSMM may
replace any of its employees or independent contractors (including
hiring and firing employees and terminating the relationship with
any independent contractors providing the Administrative Services
hereunder), and may obtain alternative types or sources of the
Administrative Services in RSMM’s reasonable
discretion.
1.2.
Records . For purposes of performing records management
services for M&P, RSMM shall be granted access to all M&P
files. M&P may impose reasonable restrictions on RSMM’s
management of client engagement files for Public Accounting
Services (as defined below). Such files shall be maintained at
RSMM’s and/or M&P’s offices and such offsite
storage as may be obtained by RSMM.
1.3. Limitation
on RSMM’s Authority . Administrative Services shall not
include, and RSMM shall not at any time or in any manner engage,
pursuant to this Agreement, in providing to M&P or any client
or customer of M&P, any services which, under applicable state
law, constitute the practice of public accounting, or which require
registration with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(“PCAOB”), such services to be collectively referred to
herein as “Public Accounting Services.” If any
Administrative Services or acts required or requested of RSMM
herein would be reasonably likely to be construed by a court of
competent jurisdiction or the applicable state agency, board or
other authority charged under the laws of the state with the
licensing, registration and/or regulation of public accountants
(each a “State Board”) or by the PCAOB to be Public
Accounting Services, the requirement or other request to perform
that act shall be deemed waived. M&P shall have complete
control and supervision over its provision of any Public Accounting
Services including, but not limited to (i) the establishment
and maintenance of quality assurance policies, (ii) the
hiring, training, promotion and termination of professional staff
and partners, (iii) the acceptance and continuation of
clients, and (iv) the management and supervision of client
engagements. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, although M&P has delegated to RSMM under the
terms of this Agreement various ministerial administrative matters,
M&P retains the exclusive right, through its own personnel, to
manage its own Business (including Public Accounting Services)
subject to the surviving terms and conditions of the Asset Purchase
Agreement of June 28, 1999 and the Operations Agreement of
August 2, 1999 and the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement of
even date herewith.
1.4. Execution
of Contracts . RSMM is hereby authorized to execute contracts
on behalf of M&P provided that the contracts so executed relate
to the provision of Administrative Services, and do not relate to
the performance of Public Accounting Services. M&P grants to
RSMM a limited and special power of attorney (the “Power of
Attorney”) for the execution of contracts (with amounts due
and payable thereunder not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000)). Notwithstanding the foregoing, RSMM may execute
contracts (including those exceeding $50,000 in annual
expenditures) that benefit both RSMM and M&P and relate to
services provided by RSMM under this Agreement. A form of the Power
of Attorney is set forth as Exhibit 1.4 hereto. The M&P
Board of Directors (the “McGladrey Board”) or
Managing
Partner, or
his/her or its designees, must authorize contracts with total
amounts due and payable thereunder in excess of such amount or
which relate to the performance of Public Accounting
Services.
2.
Term . The term of this Agreement shall commence on
the Effective Date and shall end at midnight central time on
January 31, 2011 (unless sooner terminated pursuant to
Section 9 hereof) (the “Initial Term”), provided
that, if not sooner terminated, this Agreement shall continue
thereafter from year to year, subject to termination by either
party at any time following the Initial Term, with or without
cause, upon two hundred ten (210) days prior written notice or
as otherwise set forth in Section 9. The Initial Term and any
continuation thereafter shall be collectively referred to herein as
the “Term.”
3. Shared
Expenses and Fee . RSMM and M&P shall agree to jointly
share in certain common overhead costs which are necessary
operating expenses for the performance of attest, accounting, tax
and consulting services (the “Shared Expenses”). Such
Shared Expenses may include but are not limited to certain human
resources, client service, sales and marketing, lease and
occupancy, equipment and technology, and administrative expenses.
RSMM and M&P agree that such annual cost sharing arrangement
will be allocated based upon budgeted Shared Expenses and an
allocation method (the “Allocation Method”) based to
the extent feasible and reasonable on actual usage by the
respective parties and agreed upon in advance by the President of
RSMM and the Board of Directors of M&P. RSMM will be
responsible for payment of the Shared Expenses (except those
expenses directly related to the practice of Public Accounting
Services) and will be reimbursed monthly by M&P for its portion
based on the Allocation Method. M&P shall pay RSMM an annual
administration fee for all of its Administrative Services equal to
15% of M&P’s share of the budgeted Shared Expenses,
payable monthly.
4.
Occupancy and Partner Benefits .
4.1. Occupancy
and Notice to Vacate Premises . M&P shall be entitled to
occupy all office space from time to time occupied by RSMM. M&P
agrees to give RSMM at least 210 days’ prior written notice
of its intention to vacate any particular office space then
occupied by M&P. RSMM agrees to give M&P at least
210 days’ prior written notice of its intention to
vacate any office space at the time occupied by both RSMM and
M&P, unless such intent to vacate is due to an office
relocation or closing which is generally known. In the event of any
termination of this Agreement by either party for any reason,
except an M&P default for nonpayment of fees, M&P shall in
any case be entitled if it so elects to occupy all office space
which it then occupies for 210 days after such termination,
subject to having received earlier notice of RSMM’s intention
to vacate such space as stated above. In the event M&P occupies
such office space after termination of the Administrative Services,
the parties shall agree on rent payable during M&P’s
continued occupancy, or if they fail to do so, the rent shall be
prorated according to the Allocation Method.
4.2. Partner
Benefits . RSMM and M&P agree that certain partner benefits
may, if the parties agree, be paid by RSMM and in such case M&P
will reimburse RSMM for the payment of those benefits. In such
case, RSMM and M&P will agree to the allocation methodology as
a part of the annual budgeting process and payment for such
benefits will be made monthly by M&P.
4.3.
Independent Identity . M&P shall maintain a separate
legal identity and shall observe all legal requirements and
customary practices necessary to maintain M&P as a separate and
distinct legal entity from any other person or entity. M&P
shall also maintain its own business identity, including, without
limitation, letterhead and business cards and shall have the right
at its option to conduct its own marketing activities. Nothing
herein shall prevent M&P from being acquired by or otherwise
combining with any other person.
5.
Engagement Letters, Billing and Collection of Fees;
Accounting .
5.1. Engagement
Letters . M&P will prepare engagement letters in accordance
with its policies for services and/or products to be provided by
M&P to its clients. The content of such letters shall be solely
under the control of M&P and shall be executed only by a
partner or employee of M&P.
5.2. Billing
and Collection . As part of the Administrative Services, RSMM
shall prepare and mail statements for all services provided by or
on behalf of M&P to clients of M&P based upon time records,
expense payments and other information provided by M&P to RSMM.
M&P shall and shall cause its partners and employers to provide
RSMM all records reasonably necessary for billing and collection of
accounts pursuant to the provisions of this Section.
5.3.
Accounting . As a part of the Administrative Services, RSMM
shall maintain books of account for M&P. In addition, RSMM
shall prepare the monthly and annual operational and financial
reports for M&P.
6. Mutual
Nondisclosure . Neither M&P nor RSMM shall at any time
or in any manner, directly or indirectly, use or disclose to any
third party any trade secrets or other Confidential Information
(defined herein) learned or obtained from the other party hereto as
a result of its relationship with the other party hereto or any
direct or indirect subsidiary or affiliate (i.e., a person which
controls, is controlled by or under common control with a party) of
the other party. As used herein, the term “Confidential
Information” means information disclosed to or known by one
party herein as a consequence of its relationship with the other
party hereto (whether before or after the date of this Agreement)
and not generally known in the industry in which the parties or any
of their direct or indirect subsidiaries or (in the case of
information of or about clients of either party) clients is
engaged, and that in any way relates to the products, processes,
services, inventions (whether patentable or not), formulas,
techniques or know-how, including, but not limited to, information
relating to distribution systems and methods, research,
development, purchasing, accounting, procedures, marketing,
customers, vendors, merchandising and selling, of RSMM or M&P
or any of their direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates, or
the clients of either party, and regardless of the format in which
it is presented or embodied (written, graphic, electromagnetic or
otherwise). The term “Confidential Information,” as
used herein, does not include information (a) which was
already in the public domain through disclosure by the party or a
person owning such Confidential Information or (b) which is
disclosed as a matter of right by a third party source after the
execution of this Agreement provided such third party source is not
bound by confidentiality obligations in favor of the owner of the
Confidential Information in question. This Section 6 shall
survive the termination of this Agreement. Each party agrees that
it will adopt reasonable precautions to guard against unauthorized
release or use of Confidential Information, and that it will not
use or disclose such Confidential Information in any manner
that
will unfairly
benefit itself or damage the other party hereto. Each party agrees
to return to the other party all such Confidential Information
pertaining to the other party upon termination of this Agreement.
In lieu of returning all Confidential Information, a party may
destroy such Confidential Information provided that the other party
hereto has agreed in writing that destruction is
acceptable.
7.
Administrative Services, Warranties, Disclaimers, Limitations
on Liability and Required Notices . RSMM will act
diligently and use reasonable care in providing Administrative
Services to M&P. M&P and each Partner hereby release and
forever discharge RSMM and its affiliates, parents, employees,
agents and assigns from any liability in any way connected with
this Agreement, except for any liability for intentional torts or
gross negligence. RSMM does not warrant the success or results of
M&P. RSMM shall not be liable to M&P or any Partner under
any circumstances for special, exemplary, punitive or consequential
damages relating to the Administrative Services except for
intentional torts or gross negligence. Neither M&P nor any
Partner shall be liable to RSMM for special, exemplary, punitive or
consequential damages relating to this Agreement.
8. Mutual
Provision of Professional Services . RSMM and M&P may
from time to time request assistance from the other’s
professionals and other personnel in meeting the Contractor’s
professional service obligations to its clients (the
“Professional Services”). The party requesting such
assistance and billing the client for the Professional Services
rendered is referred to in this Section 8 as the
“Contractor”. The party providing the requested
Professional Services to on or behalf of the Contractor and billing
the Contractor is referred to in this Section 8 as the
“Subcontractor”. In no case shall the Administrative
Services rendered by RSMM to M&P pursuant to other sections of
this Agreement be subject to this Section 8. The Subcontractor
may at its sole option and discretion, provide or decline to
provide the requested Professional Services to the Contractor. The
provisions set forth below shall apply with respect to all
Professional Services so provided pursuant to this
Section 8.
8.1. Nature of
Requests . Such a request may be made by any person authorized
by the Contractor to do so, and such request may be accepted by any
person authorized by the Subcontractor to do so. No formalities are
required.
8.2. Contractor
to Bill Client . The Contractor shall have sole responsibility
for billing and collecting from its own client with respect to the
Subcontractor’s Professional Services. No delay or failure by
the client to pay for such Professional Services shall relieve the
Contractor from its obligations to pay the Subcontractor for such
Professional Services as provided herein.
8.3.
Subcontractor’s Billing for Services Rendered . The
Subcontractor shall bill the Contractor for actual hours expended
by its personnel to provide Professional Services to the client of
the Contractor. The rate to be charged shall be mutually agreed
upon from time to time between Contractor and Subcontractor, in
writing. The fees in effect as of the date hereof are 69% of the
standard rate typically charged by the Subcontractor to its own
clients. The objective of Contractor and Subcontractor is
to
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