Source: http://corpdocs.msci.com/FormerCEOs/fceo_81220.htm
Timestamp: 2018-02-19 13:51:17
Document Index: 750445840

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 9', '§ 951', '§ 260', '§ 290', '§ 194', '§ 215', '§ 201', 'art.\n16']

FIRST STATES GROUP, L.P.
WHEREAS, American Financial Realty Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “REIT”), is a limited partner and the sole owner of the general partner of the Company;
WHEREAS, this Agreement amends and restates the Employment Agreement between the Company and the Executive, dated May 15, 2003 (the “May 2003 Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the May 2003 Agreement amended and restated the Employment Agreement between the REIT (which assigned that agreement to the Company) and the Executive, dated September 10, 2002 (the “Original Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Executive has extensive experience in owning and operating real estate companies which own commercial real estate and, prior to entering into the Original Agreement, had been the owner of certain businesses that, in connection with the formation of the REIT and the private placement of common shares (“Common Shares”) of beneficial ownership, par value $.001 per share of the REIT (referred to herein as the “144A Offering”), were acquired by the REIT or the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to continue to employ the Executive in the capacities and on the terms and conditions set out below, and the Executive has agreed to continue such employment, in the capacities and on the terms and conditions set forth below.
(a) POSITIONS. The Executive shall be employed by the Company as its President and Chief Executive Officer. The Executive shall also be an officer of the REIT as its Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees (“Board”), President and Chief Executive Officer.
(b) DUTIES. The Executive’s principal employment duties and responsibilities shall be those duties and responsibilities customary for the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer and such other executive duties and responsibilities as the Board shall from time to time reasonably assign to the Executive. The Executive shall be responsible for and have authority over the day-to-day operational management of the Company and the REIT. The Executive shall report directly to the Board. All other officers of the Company and
the REIT shall report to the Executive or such person(s) as the Executive may designate from time to time.
(c) EXTENT OF SERVICES. Except for illnesses and vacation periods, the Executive shall devote a substantial majority of his business time and attention and his best efforts to the performance of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive (i) shall be permitted to continue to manage, operate and devote time and attention to those properties and businesses he owned, operated or controlled at the time of the 144A Offering that were not transferred to or purchased by the Company or the REIT in connection with the 144A Offering or any properties and businesses that were transferred to the Company and that Executive subsequently reacquires pursuant to the terms of the Contribution Agreement dated September 4, 2002 (collectively referred to herein as the “Excluded Businesses”), (ii) may make any passive investment where he is not obligated or required to, and shall not in fact, devote any managerial efforts, (iii) may participate in charitable, academic or community activities, and in trade or professional organizations, or (iv) may hold directorships in other companies consistent with the Company’s conflict of interest policies and corporate governance guidelines as in effect from time to time.
2. TERM. This Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Date and shall continue in full force and effect thereafter until May 15, 2008 (the “Initial Term”), and shall be automatically extended for an additional one (1) year period on May 15, 2004 and on each May 15 thereafter, including each May 15 that occurs within the Initial Term (the last day of each such term is referred to herein as a “Term Date”), unless either party terminates this Agreement not later than sixty (60) days prior to a Term Date by providing written notice to the other party of such party’s intent not to renew, or it is sooner terminated pursuant to Section 7. For purposes of this Agreement, “Term” shall mean the actual duration of the Executive’s employment hereunder, taking into account any extensions pursuant to this Section 2 or early termination of employment pursuant to Section 7.
3. BASE SALARY. The Company shall pay the Executive a base salary annually (the “Base Salary”), which shall be payable in periodic installments according to the Company’s normal payroll practices. The initial Base Salary shall be $825,000. The Board or the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the REIT (the “Compensation Committee”) shall review the Base Salary at least once a year to determine whether the Base Salary should be increased effective January 1 of any year during the Term; provided, however, that on each January 1 during the Term, the Base Salary shall be increased by a minimum positive amount equal to the Base Salary in effect on January 1 of the prior year multiplied by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for such year. The amount of the increase shall be determined before March 31 of each year and shall be retroactive to January 1. The Base Salary, including any increases, shall not be decreased during the Term. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Base Salary” shall mean the amount established and adjusted from time to time pursuant to this Section 3.
ANNUAL INCENTIVE BONUS. The Executive’s annual cash incentive bonus for 2003 shall be based on the provisions of the May 2003 Agreement. Beginning January 1,
2004, and for each year thereafter, the Executive shall be entitled to receive an annual cash incentive bonus for each fiscal year during the Term of this Agreement consistent with a bonus policy adopted by the Compensation Committee for each fiscal year containing individual performance goals for participants and corporate performance goals set at Threshold, Target and Maximum levels, and allocating each participant’s annual cash incentive bonus on a percentage basis between individual and corporate performance goals (the “Bonus Policy”). For each fiscal year, the annual incentive bonus shall be determined under the Bonus Policy in effect for such fiscal year by how well the Executive has met his individual performance goals and by how well the overall corporate goals have been met, as follows:
total annual incentive bonus = individual performance bonus + corporate performance bonus
individual performance bonus = individual performance level achieved (Threshold, Target or Maximum percentage) x individual goals allocation percentage x Base Salary
corporate performance bonus = corporate performance level achieved (Threshold, Target or Maximum percentage) x corporate goals allocation percentage x Base Salary
The percentages established for the Executive for the performance bonus levels for 2004 shall be 50% for Threshold Level and 100% for Target Level. There shall be no cap on the percentage for the Maximum Level, which shall be determined by the Compensation Committee. After 2004 the percentages shall not be less than the 2004 percentages for each performance bonus level without the written agreement of the Executive. If Executive or the Company, as the case may be, fails to satisfy the performance criteria contained in such Bonus Policy for a fiscal year, the Executive may be eligible to receive an incentive bonus for such fiscal year, in such amount as is recommended by the Chief Executive Officer and subject to approval by the Compensation Committee. The annual incentive bonus shall be paid to the Executive no later than thirty (30) days after the date the Compensation Committee approves the annual incentive bonus payable to the Executive for such fiscal year. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Incentive Bonus” shall mean the amount established pursuant to this Section 4(a).
(a) OUTPERFORMANCE PLAN BONUS. The REIT has established the 2003 Outperformance Plan (the “OPP”) as an incentive compensation plan for key employees with awards determined based on the annual and the three-year total return to shareholders of the REIT. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in the OPP in an amount as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has established that, during the Term, the Executive will receive a minimum allocation of at least 40.0% of the aggregate outperformance reward under the OPP or under any outperformance plan that replaces the OPP; and the Executive will receive economically consistent results appropriate in respect of his position as Chief Executive Officer for any outperformance plan for executives that the Company or the REIT puts into effect after the OPP. The Executive, as Chief Executive Officer, will have the right to make recommendations to the Compensation Committee as to which Company employees are eligible to receive an allocation under the OPP and the amount of that allocation, subject to Compensation Committee review and approval.
5. STOCK BASED AWARDS.
(a) 2002 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN OPTION GRANTS. The REIT has established the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan (“Equity Incentive Plan”). Under the Original Agreement, on the closing of the 144A Offering, the REIT granted the Executive an initial grant of options to purchase 1,515,625 Common Shares (the “Initial Grant Options”). The Initial Grant Options have an exercise price of $10.00 per share and a term of ten (10) years and will vest and become exercisable with respect to 25% of the underlying Common Shares on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant and 6.25% of the underlying Common Shares on the last day of each fiscal quarter thereafter until fully vested; provided, however, that the Executive will be 100% vested in the Initial Grant Options upon (i) a Change in Control (as defined herein), (ii) a termination by the Company without Cause (as defined herein), (iii) a termination by the Executive for Good Reason (as defined herein), (iv) his death, (v) his becoming Permanently Disabled (as defined herein), or (vi) the Company’s failure to renew this Agreement. The Executive will forfeit all unvested Initial Grant Options if he is terminated for Cause or he terminates his employment hereunder for other than Good Reason. The Executive shall be eligible to receive future option grants as determined by the Compensation Committee.
(b) 2002 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN RESTRICTED SHARE AWARDS. The Equity Incentive Plan provides for the issuance of Common Shares as restricted Common Shares (“Restricted Share Grants”) to the extent that such Common Shares are available thereunder. The Executive shall be eligible to receive Restricted Share Grants as approved by the Compensation Committee, and if the Compensation Committee approves Restricted Share Grants to executives of the Company, then, as appropriate in the context, the Executive will receive Restricted Share Grants consistent with, and appropriate in respect of, his position as Chief Executive Officer. The REIT granted the Executive initial Restricted Share Grants for 600,000 Common Shares on July 1, 2003 and 149,000 Common Shares on January 1, 2004 (the “Initial Restricted Share Grants”). The Compensation Committee has approved, subject to the effectiveness of this Agreement, a Restricted Share Grant to the Executive for 120,000 Common Shares to be granted on January 2, 2004 (the “January 2004 Restricted Share Grant”). The January 2004 Restricted Share Grant and future awards of Restricted Share Grants shall be on the following terms: vesting at the rate of 25% of the underlying Common Shares on the one-year anniversary of the effective date of the grant of Common Shares as Restricted Share Grants and 6.25% of the underlying Common Shares on the last day of each fiscal quarter thereafter until fully vested; provided, however, that the Executive will be 100% vested and all restrictions will lapse upon (i) a Change in Control (as defined herein), (ii) a termination by the Company without Cause (as defined herein), (iii) a termination by the Executive for Good Reason (as defined herein), (iv) his death, (v) his becoming Permanently Disabled (as defined herein), or (vi) the Company’s failure to renew this Agreement. If the Executive is terminated for Cause or if he voluntarily terminates his employment for other than Good Reason, the Company has the right to repurchase any unvested Restricted Share Grants in accordance with the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan. The Common Shares issued as Restricted Share Grants will have voting and dividend rights, and, following the restriction period, shall be registered and fully transferable by the Executive.
(a) VACATION. The Executive shall be entitled to eight (8) weeks of paid vacation per full calendar year, which shall accrue during the Executive’s employment with the
Company. The Executive shall be entitled to cash in lieu of any accrued but unused vacation time in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy.
(b) SICK AND PERSONAL DAYS. The Executive shall be entitled to sick and personal days on an as needed basis.
(i) PARTICIPATION IN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. The Executive and his spouse and eligible dependents, if any, and their respective designated beneficiaries where applicable, will be eligible for and entitled to participate in any Company sponsored employee benefit plans, including but not limited to benefits such as group health, dental, accident, disability insurance, group life insurance, and a 401(k) plan, as such benefits may be offered from time to time, on a basis no less favorable than that applicable to any other executive of the Company.
(ii) SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN. The Company shall provide to the Executive a supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) benefit on the terms and conditions set forth in Appendix A to this Agreement.
(iii) DISABILITY INSURANCE. The Company shall maintain, at its cost, supplemental renewable long-term disability insurance as agreed to by the Company and the Executive.
(i) ANNUAL PHYSICAL. The Company shall provide, at its cost, a medical examination for the Executive on an annual basis by a licensed physician in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area selected by the Executive.
(ii) CAR ALLOWANCE. The Company shall pay Executive a monthly car allowance of $2,000.
(iii) TAX PREPARATION AND FINANCIAL PLANNING. The Company shall pay or promptly reimburse the Executive for costs incurred by him in connection with tax preparation and financial planning assistance, to be furnished by such advisors as chosen by the Executive, up to a maximum aggregate of $30,000 annually.
(iv) DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INSURANCE. During the Term and the Severance Period, the Executive shall be entitled to director and officer insurance coverage for his acts and omissions while an officer and director of the Company and the REIT on a basis no less favorable to him than the coverage provided to any other current officers and trustees.
(v) LIFE INSURANCE. The Company may purchase on the life of the Executive $15 million of key man life insurance with the Company as the beneficiary of the death benefit. The Company shall purchase on the life of the Executive a 30 year vanishing premium, whole life insurance policy with a death benefit of $15 million with the Executive (or his assignee) as the owner of the policy and with the right to designate the beneficiary of the
death benefit. The premiums paid on this policy shall be imputed as income to the Executive, and the Company will pay to the Executive such additional amount as necessary to have no federal, state or local tax effect on the Executive (the “Executive Life Insurance Program”). The Executive Life Insurance Program shall be issued by a AA or better rated (by AM Best) insurer. The Company will obtain bids for this program and review the final program with the Executive and the Chairman of Compensation Committee for approval. The program will be structured to comply with all requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or similar requirements.
(vi) EXPENSES, OFFICE AND SECRETARIAL SUPPORT. The Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable expenses, in accordance with the Company’s policy as in effect from time to time and on a basis no less favorable than that applicable to any other executive of the Company, including, without limitation, telephone, reasonable travel and reasonable entertainment expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the business of the Company, promptly upon the presentation by the Executive of appropriate documentation. The Executive shall also be entitled to appropriate office space, administrative support, and such other facilities and services as are suitable to the Executive’s positions and adequate for the performance of the Executive’s duties.
(vi) FINANCIAL ASSISTANT. The Company shall pay or promptly reimburse the Executive for costs incurred by him in connection with the employment by the Executive of an assistant to manage the Executive’s financial affairs, including the cost of salary and employee benefits, plus such additional amount as necessary to have no federal, state or local tax effect on the Executive.
7. TERMINATION. The employment of the Executive by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following:
(a) DEATH OR PERMANENT DISABILITY. Immediately upon death or Permanent Disability of the Executive. As used in this Agreement, “Permanent Disability” shall mean an inability due to a physical or mental impairment to perform the material services contemplated under this Agreement for a period of six (6) months, whether or not consecutive, during any 365-day period. A determination of Permanent Disability shall be made by a physician satisfactory to both the Executive and the Company, provided that if the Executive and the Company do not agree on a physician, the Executive and the Company shall each select a physician and these two together shall select a third physician, whose determination as to Permanent Disability shall be binding on all parties. The appointment of one or more individuals to carry out the offices or duties of the Executive during a period of the Executive’s inability to perform such duties and pending a determination of Permanent Disability shall not be considered a breach of this Agreement by the Company.
(b) FOR CAUSE. At the election of the Company and subject to the provisions of this Section 7(b), immediately upon written notice by the Company to the Executive of his termination for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” for termination shall be deemed to exist solely in the event of (i) the conviction of the Executive of, or the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by the Executive to, a felony (exclusive of any felony relating to negligent operation of a motor vehicle and not including a conviction, plea of guilty or nolo contendere arising solely under a statutory provision imposing criminal liability upon the
Executive on a per se basis due to the Company offices held by the Executive, so long as any act or omission of the Executive with respect to such matter was not taken or omitted in contravention of any applicable policy or directive of the Board), (ii) a willful breach of his duty of loyalty which is materially detrimental to the Company, (iii) a willful failure to perform or adhere to explicitly stated duties that are consistent with the terms of this Agreement, or the Company’s reasonable and customary guidelines of employment or reasonable and customary corporate governance guidelines or policies, including without limitation any business code of ethics adopted by the Board, or to follow the lawful directives of the Board (provided such directives are consistent with the terms of this Agreement), which, in any such case, continues for thirty (30) days after written notice from the Board to the Executive, or (iv) gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of the Executive’s duties. For purposes of this Section 7(b), no act, or failure to act, on the Executive’s part will be deemed “gross negligence” or “willful misconduct” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without a reasonable belief that the Executive’s act, or failure to act, was in the best interest of the Company. The parties agree that in order to terminate the Executive pursuant to Subsections (ii) and (iv) hereof, the Company shall first be required to prove to the reasonable satisfaction of the Executive that he engaged in improper conduct under these Subsections, and if the Executive shall not agree with the Company’s assessment of his conduct, then the Executive shall not be terminated until an arbitrator, as provided for in Section 13(b), has determined that the Executive’s conduct constituted improper conduct under the applicable Subsection.
(c) WITHOUT CAUSE; WITHOUT GOOD REASON. At the election of the Company, without Cause, and at the election of the Executive, without Good Reason, in either case upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Executive or the Company, as the case may be.
(i) removal from the Board, or the failure to be nominated or elected to the Board,
(ii) failure to renew this Agreement on at least comparable terms at any Term Date,
(iii) a material reduction of the Executive’s duties, responsibilities or reporting requirements, or the assignment to the Executive of any duties, responsibilities, or reporting requirements that are inconsistent with his positions as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman of the Board, as the case may be,
(iv) a reduction by the Company in the Executive’s annual Base Salary,
(v) the Company’s failure to continue in effect the Equity Incentive Plan or the OPP, unless comparable alternative compensation arrangements (embodied in ongoing
substitute or alternative plans) have been provided to the reasonable satisfaction of the Executive,
(vi) a reduction or loss of employee benefits or material fringe benefits, both in terms of the amount of the benefit and the level of the Executive’s participation therein, enjoyed by the Executive under the employee benefit and welfare plans of the Company, including without limitation such benefits as group health, dental, 401(k), accident, disability insurance, or group life insurance, that is caused by the Company except as is required by applicable law,
(vii) absent the Executive’s prior written consent, the requirement by the Company that the principal place of business at which the Executive performs his duties be changed to a location that is outside of a 50 mile radius of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. The parties acknowledge that for these purposes, Executive’s principal place of business will be Jenkintown, Pennsylvania for approximately 36 to 38 weeks per calendar year, and the remainder, as the Executive decides, will be in Richmond, Virginia and Avalon, New Jersey, or
(viii) a breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement that continues for a period of thirty (30) days after Executive provides written notice to the Company of such breach.
(a) TERMINATION ON PERMANENT DISABILITY; BY THE COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE; BY THE EXECUTIVE FOR GOOD REASON. If the employment of the Executive should terminate by reason of his becoming Permanently Disabled, a termination by the Company for any reason other than Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, then the Company shall pay all compensation and benefits for the Executive as follows:
(i) any Base Salary, Incentive Bonus, expense reimbursements and all other compensation related payments that are payable as of his termination of employment date that are related to his period of employment preceding his termination date, including pay in lieu of accrued, but unused, vacation, and
(ii) the prorated amount of the Incentive Bonus at the Target Level for both corporate and individual performance for the year in which the termination of employment occurs, pro rated for the portion of such year during which the Executive was employed prior to the effective date of his termination, and
(iii) the amount equal to his Base Salary at the rate in effect on the effective date of his termination of employment, that would have been paid or payable during the five (5) year period immediately following the effective date of his termination (the “Severance Period”).
The sum of the amount payable under subsections (ii) and (iii) hereof is referred to herein as his “Severance Payment”.
(iv) The Severance Payment shall be made in a single, lump sum cash payment no later than thirty (30) days after the effective date of the Executive’s termination of employment. With respect to any Severance Payment attributable to a period after the expiration of 18 calendar months after the termination of the Executive’s employment, such payment shall be reduced for compensation earned from other employment or self-employment after that date, and the Executive shall refund to the Company any amount due as a result of such reduction; provided, however, that there shall be no reduction for any amounts earned or paid to him with respect to the Excluded Businesses.
(v) The Company shall allow the Executive to continue to participate during the Severance Period in any healthcare, dental, vision and prescription drug plans in which the Executive was entitled to participate immediately prior to his termination, to the same extent and upon the same terms as the Executive participated in such plans prior to his termination, provided that the Executive’s continued participation is permissible or otherwise practicable under the general terms and provisions of such benefit plans and programs. During the Severance Period, the Company shall pay for the Executive’s continued participation in said healthcare, dental, vision and prescription drug plans, including but not limited to premiums for such programs. To the extent that continued participation is neither permissible nor practicable, the Company shall take such actions as may be necessary to provide the Executive with substantially comparable benefits (without additional cost to the Executive) outside the scope of such plans, including, without limitation, reimbursing the Executive for his costs in obtaining such coverage, such as COBRA premiums paid by the Executive and/or his eligible dependents. If the Executive engages in regular employment after his termination of employment (whether as an executive or as a self-employed person), any employee benefit and welfare benefits received by the Executive in consideration of such employment which are similar in nature to the healthcare, dental, vision and prescription drug plans provided by the Company will relieve the Company of its obligation under this Section 8(a)(v) to provide comparable benefits to the extent of the benefits soreceived.
(vi) The Executive’s stock options awarded under the Equity Incentive Plan (or any other or successor plan) shall immediately become 100% vested and he shall have a two-year period following the effective date of his termination of employment in which to exercise his vested stock options, including those stock options that vested upon his termination of employment.
(vii) The Executive’s restricted Common Shares awarded under the Equity Incentive Plan (or any other or successor plan) shall immediately become 100% vested and all restrictions shall lapse.
(viii) The Executive’s SERP benefit shall immediately become 100% vested.
(ix) The Executive Life Insurance Program would be fully funded by the Company.
(x) Prior to January 1, 2004, the Executive shall vest in and receive 75% of his total OPP allocation for the three-year term of the OPP (the “OPP Allocation”), and
thereafter, the Executive would be entitled to vest in and receive 100% of his OPP Allocation; provided, however that this subsection (x) shall not apply for any termination by the Executive for a Good Reason other than a Good Reason in Section 7(d)(i), Section 7(d)(iii) and in Section 7(d)(iv). This percentage of his OPP Allocation shall be paid to the Executive (less any cash OPP payments previously received by the Executive) after the OPP reward is determined at the end of the OPP plan term, and will be reduced by a minimum amount paid as severance at the time of his termination of employment. This minimum amount paid at the time of his termination of employment would be equal to the OPP reward for the Executive determined at the date of his termination of employment (applying the 75% OPP Allocation for a termination prior to January 1, 2004, if applicable), and the Compensation Committee would have the discretion to pay the minimum amount to the Executive in cash or Common Shares or a combination of cash and Common Shares.
(b) TERMINATION ON DEATH. Upon a termination of employment due to the Executive’s death, the Executive shall become 100% vested in his stock options and restricted Common Shares awarded under the Equity Incentive Plan. The Executive’s personal representative shall have a one-year period following the Executive’s death in which to exercise his vested stock options, including those stock options that vested on death. The Company shall pay to the Executive’s personal representative any Base Salary, Incentive Bonus, OPP reward, expense reimbursements and all other compensation related payments that are payable as of his date of death and that are related to his period of employment preceding his date of death. The Executive’s surviving spouse or beneficiary shall receive his vested SERP benefit, determined on the date of his death, payable pursuant to the terms of the SERP as in effect on the date of his death, and within 60 days after the Executive’s death, shall pay to the Executive’s personal representative the prorated amount of Incentive Bonus at the Target Level for both corporate and individual performance for the year in which the Executive’s death occurs, prorated for the portion of the year during which the Executive was employed prior to his death.
(c) BY THE COMPANY FOR CAUSE OR BY THE EXECUTIVE WITHOUT GOOD REASON. In the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by the Executive without Good Reason, the Company shall pay the Executive his Base Salary, Incentive Bonus, expense reimbursements and all other compensation related payments that are payable as of his termination of employment date and that are related to his period of employment preceding his termination date. The Executive shall be entitled to exercise his vested stock options, determined as of his termination date, pursuant to the terms of the option grant. If the Executive is terminated for Cause or if he voluntarily terminates his employment for other than Good Reason, he shall forfeit all unvested options, subject to Section 9(b) below, and the Company has the right to repurchase any unvested Restricted Share Grants in accordance with the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan. The Executive shall also be entitled to all benefits accrued and vested under any employee benefit plan of the Company.
(d) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY. Immediately upon the Executive terminating or being terminated from his employment with the Company for any reason, notwithstanding anything else appearing in this Agreement or otherwise, the Executive will stop serving the functions of his terminated or expired positions, and shall be without any of the authority or responsibility for such positions. On request of the Board at any time following his
termination of employment for any reason, the Executive shall resign from the Board if then a member.
(i) any person, entity or affiliated group, excluding the REIT or any employee benefit plan of the REIT, acquiring more than 50% of the then outstanding voting shares of the REIT,
(ii) the consummation of any merger or consolidation of the REIT into another company, such that the holders of the voting shares of the REIT immediately prior to such merger or consolidation is less than 50% of the voting power of the securities of the surviving company or the parent of such surviving company,
(iii) the complete liquidation of the REIT or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the REIT’s assets, such that after the transaction, the holders of the voting shares of the REIT immediately prior to the transaction is less than 50% of the voting securities of the acquiror or the parent of the acquiror, or
(iv) a majority of the Board of the REIT votes in favor of a decision that a Change of Control has occurred.
(b) CERTAIN BENEFITS UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event of a Change of Control, the Executive shall become 100% vested in the stock options and restricted Common Shares awarded under the Equity Incentive Plan (or any other or successor plan) and in his SERP benefit and if the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment without Good Reason after the Change of Control, then the Executive shall have a one-year period following the Change of Control in which to exercise his vested stock options, including those stock options that vested upon the Change of Control.
(i) In the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by the Executive in connection with a change in control or a termination of the Executive’s employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any person whose actions result in a change in control or any person affiliated with the Company or such person) (all such payments and benefits being hereinafter called “Total Payments”), such that the Executive will be subject (in whole or in part) to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Excise Tax”) on such payments and benefits, then the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional amount (the “Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount retained by the Executive, after deduction of the Excise Tax and any federal, state and local tax on the Gross-Up Payment, will be equal to the Total Payments. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and
state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of the Executive’s residence on such date, net of the maximum deduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes.
(ii) The Executive or the Company may request, prior to the time any payments under this Agreement are made, a determination of whether any or all of the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and, if so, the amount of such Excise Tax and the federal, state and local tax imposed on the Gross-Up Payment. If such a determination is requested, it shall be made promptly, at the Company’s expense, by tax counsel selected by the Executive and approved by the Company (with such approval not being unreasonably withheld), and such determination shall be conclusive and binding on both parties. The Company agrees to provide any information reasonably requested by such tax counsel. Tax counsel may engage accountants or other experts, at the Company’s expense, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable for them to reach a determination. For these purposes, the term “tax counsel” shall mean a law firm with expertise in federal income tax matters.
(iii) In the event that the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder, the Executive will repay to the Company, at the time that the amount of such reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined, the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction plus that portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to the Excise Tax and federal, state and local income tax imposed on the Gross-Up Payment, without any interest thereon. In the event that the Excise Tax is determined to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder, the Company will make an additional Gross-Up Payment in respect of such excess and in respect of any portion of the Excise Tax with respect to which the Company had not previously made a Gross-Up Payment (plus any interest, penalties or additions payable by the Executive with respect to such excess and such portion) at the time that the amount of such excess is finally determined, without any interest thereon.
(iv) Each party agrees to notify the other party, in writing, of any claim that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of a Gross-Up Payment or might entitle the Company to a refund of all or part of any previous Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than ten (10) business days after the Executive or Company is informed in writing of such claim or otherwise becomes aware of such claim. If notice of the claim arose as a result of a claim made against the Executive by a taxing authority, Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the thirty (30) day period following the date on which he gives notice to the Company. If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall: (A) give the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim, (B) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney selected by the Executive and approved by the Company (with such approval not being unreasonably withheld), (C) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to effectively contest such claim, and (D) permit the Company to reasonably participate in any proceedings relating to such claim. The Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including legal fees and additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax (including interest and penalties
with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses.
(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall control all audits and proceedings taken in connection with any claim, audit or proceeding involving Excise Taxes or Gross-Up Payments and, at its sole option, may pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of any such claim, audit or proceeding and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the tax in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs the Executive to pay such tax and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive, (including interest or penalties with respect thereto) and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance. The Company shall be required to consult with and keep the Executive fully apprised of developments and actions being considered or taken with respect to such claim, audit or proceeding. The Company’s control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which such a Gross-Up Payment would be payable or refundable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue. Each party agrees to keep the other party fully apprised of developments concerning such claim, audit or proceeding and to cooperate with the other in good faith in order to effectively resolve such claim, audit or proceeding.
(vi) For purposes of this Subsection (c), a determination of whether a payment is subject to Excise Taxes, including but not limited to, a determination of change in control, shall be made pursuant to Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
10. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive recognizes and acknowledges that certain assets of the Company constitute Confidential Information. The term “Confidential Information” as used in this Agreement shall mean all information which is known only to the Executive or the Company, other employees of the Company, or others in a confidential relationship with the Company, and relating to the Company’s business including, without limitation, information regarding clients, customers, pricing policies, methods of operation, proprietary Company programs, sales products, profits, costs, markets, key personnel, formulae, product applications, technical processes, and trade secrets, as such information may exist from time to time, which the Executive acquired or obtained by virtue of work performed for the Company, or which the Executive may acquire or may have acquired knowledge of during the performance of said work. The Executive shall not, during or after the Term, disclose all or any part of the Confidential Information to any person, firm, corporation, association, or any other entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever, directly or indirectly, except as may be required pursuant to his employment hereunder, unless and until such Confidential Information becomes publicly available other than as a consequence of the breach by the Executive of his confidentiality obligations hereunder by law or in any judicial or administrative proceeding (in which case, the Executive shall provide the Company with notice). In the event of the
termination of his employment, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether by the Company or the Executive, the Executive shall deliver to the Company all documents and data pertaining to the Confidential Information and shall not take with him any documents or data of any kind or any reproductions (in whole or in part) or extracts of any items relating to the Confidential Information. The Company acknowledges that prior to his employment with the Company, the Executive has lawfully acquired extensive knowledge of the industries and businesses in which the Company engages in business, and that the provisions of this Section 10 are not intended to restrict the Executive’s use of such previously acquired knowledge.
In the event that the Executive receives a request or is required (by deposition, interrogatory, request for documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose all or any part of the Confidential Information, the Executive agrees to (a) promptly notify the Company in writing of the existence, terms and circumstances surrounding such request or requirement, (b) consult with the Company on the advisability of taking legally available steps to resist or narrow such request or requirement, and (c) assist the Company in seeking a protective order or other appropriate remedy. In the event that such protective order or other remedy is not obtained or that the Company waives compliance with the provisions hereof, the Executive shall not be liable for such disclosure unless disclosure to any such tribunal was caused by or resulted from a previous disclosure by the Executive not permitted by this Agreement.
11. NON-COMPETITION AND NONSOLICITATION. During the Term and for a period of 18 calendar months after the termination of the Executive’s employment (the “Noncompete Period”), the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, either as a principal, agent, employee, employer, stockholder, partner or in any other capacity whatsoever: (a) engage or assist others engaged, in whole or in part, in any business which is engaged in a business or enterprise that is substantially similar to the business of the Company that the Company was engaged in during the period of the Executive’s employment with the Company, or (b) without the prior consent of the Board, employ or solicit the employment of, or assist others in employing or soliciting the employment of, any individual employed by the Company (other than the Executive’s personal assistant or Executive’s secretary) at any time while the Executive was also so employed; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 11 shall not apply in the event the Company materially breaches this Agreement or the Release.
Nothing in this Section 11 shall impede, restrict or otherwise interfere with the Executive’s management and operation of the Excluded Businesses. Further, nothing in this Section 11 shall prohibit Executive from making any passive investment in a public company, or where he is the owner of five percent (5%) or less of the issued and outstanding voting securities of any entity, provided such ownership does not result in his being obligated or required to devote any managerial efforts.
The Executive agrees that the restraints imposed upon him pursuant to this Section 11 are necessary for the reasonable and proper protection of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, and that each and every one of the restraints is reasonable in respect to subject matter, length of time and geographic area. The parties further agree that, in the event that any provision of this Section 11 shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of its being extended over too great a time, too large a geographic
area or too great a range of activities, such provision shall be deemed to be modified to permit its enforcement to the maximum extent permitted by law.
12. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. During the Term, the Executive shall promptly disclose to the Company or any successor or assign, and grant to the Company and its successors and assigns without any separate remuneration or compensation other than that received by him in the course of his employment, his entire right, title and interest in and to any and all inventions, developments, discoveries, models, or any other intellectual property of any type or nature whatsoever (“Intellectual Property”), whether developed by him during or after business hours, or alone or in connection with others, that is in any way related to the business of the Company, its successors or assigns. This provision shall not apply to books or articles authored by the Executive during non-work hours, consistent with his obligations under this Agreement, so long as such books or articles (a) are not funded in whole or in part by the Company, and (b) do not contain any Confidential Information or Intellectual Property of the Company. The Executive agrees, at the Company’s expense, to take all steps necessary or proper to vest title to all such Intellectual Property in the Company, and cooperate fully and assist the Company in any litigation or other proceedings involving any such Intellectual Property.
(a) EQUITABLE RELIEF. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that upon any breach by the Executive of his obligations under Sections 10, 11, or 12 hereof, the Company will have no adequate remedy at law, and accordingly will be entitled to specific performance and other appropriate injunctive and equitable relief.
(b) ARBITRATION. Excluding only requests for equitable relief by the Company under Section 13(a), in the event that there is any claim or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach hereof, and the parties hereto shall not have resolved such claim or dispute within 60 days after written notice from one party to the other setting forth the nature of such claim or dispute, then such claim or dispute shall be settled exclusively by binding arbitration in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, in accordance with the Employment Dispute Resolution Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“Rules”), by an arbitrator mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto or, in the absence of such agreement, by an arbitrator selected according to such Rules. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if either the Company or the Executive shall request, such arbitration shall be conducted by a panel of three (3) arbitrators, one selected by the Company, one selected by the Executive and the third selected by agreement of the first two arbitrators, or, in the absence of such agreement, in accordance with such Rules. Judgment upon the award rendered by such arbitrator(s) shall be entered in any Court having jurisdiction thereof upon the application of either party. The parties agree to use their reasonable best efforts to have such arbitration completed as soon as is reasonably practicable. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except as provided in (c) below the losing party shall pay the reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney fees and expenses) of the prevailing party with respect to such arbitration, except the Executive, if he is the losing party, shall not be required to pay such expenses and costs if the claim relates to statutory discrimination claims that he would not otherwise be required to pay if such claim had been brought in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) LEGAL FEES. The Company shall pay or promptly reimburse the Executive for the reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Executive in successfully enforcing or defending any right of the Executive pursuant to this Agreement even if the Executive does not prevail on each issue.
14. INDEMNIFICATION. The Company shall indemnify the Executive, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, against all costs, charges and expenses incurred or sustained by the Executive, including the cost of legal counsel selected and retained by the Executive in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to which the Executive may be made a party by reason of the Executive being or having been an officer, director, or employee of the Company or the REIT.
15. COOPERATION IN FUTURE MATTERS. The Executive hereby agrees that for a period of 18 months following his termination of employment he shall cooperate with the Company’s reasonable requests relating to matters that pertain to the Executive’s employment by the Company, including, without limitation, providing information or limited consultation as to such matters, participating in legal proceedings, investigations or audits on behalf of the Company, or otherwise making himself reasonably available to the Company for other related purposes. Any such cooperation shall be performed at scheduled times taking into consideration the Executive’s other commitments, and the Executive shall be compensated at a reasonable hourly or per diem rate to be agreed upon by the parties to the extent such cooperation is required on more than an occasional and limited basis. The Executive shall not be required to perform such cooperation to the extent it conflicts with any requirements of exclusivity of services for another employer or otherwise, nor in any manner that in the good faith belief of the Executive would conflict with his rights under or ability to enforce this Agreement.
(a) NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing or by written telecommunication, and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally or if sent by overnight courier or by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or sent by written telecommunication or telecopy, to the relevant address set forth below, or to such other address as the recipient of such notice or communication shall have specified in writing to the other party hereto, in accordance with this Section 16(a).
Attn: Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Facsimile: 215-887-2585
If to Executive, at his last residence shown on the records of the Company.
(f) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties, supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, including the Original Agreement and the May 2003 Agreement, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof and may not be amended except by a written instrument hereafter signed by the Executive and a duly authorized representative of the Board (other than the Executive).
(g) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and the performance hereof shall be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.
(h) CONSTRUCTION. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party. The headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect its meaning or construction. Whenever any word is used herein in one gender, it shall be construed to include the other gender, and any word used in the singular shall be construed to include the plural in any case in which it would apply and vice versa.
(k) WITHHOLDING. Any payments provided for in this Agreement shall be paid net of any applicable income tax withholding required under federal, state or local law.
(l) CONSUMER PRICE INDEX. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “CPI” refers to the Consumer Price Index as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor, U.S. City Average, All Items for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (1982-1984=100). If the CPI is hereafter converted to a different standard reference base or otherwise revised, the determination of the CPI adjustment shall be made with the use of such conversion factor, formula or table for converting the CPI, as may be published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or, if the bureau shall no longer publish the same, then with the use of such conversion factor, formula or table as may be published by an agency of the United States, or failing such publication, by a nationally recognized publisher of similar statistical information.
(m) SURVIVAL. The provisions of Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
First States Group, LLC
Senior Vice President – Asset Management and Chief Operating Officer
For good and valuable consideration, including the Executive’s agreement to serve as an officer of American Financial Realty Trust, the obligations of First States Group, L.P. under this Employment Agreement, dated January 1, 2004, with Nicholas S. Schorsch, shall be guaranteed by American Financial Realty Trust.
The Company shall maintain for the benefit of the Executive a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) which shall provide to the Executive a minimum annual pension, commencing at the Executive’s attaining age 60 and payable as a single life annuity, equal to 50% of the Executive’s average annual compensation (including Base Salary, Incentive Bonus and payments under the OPP) for the three (3) calendar years of the last ten (10) years of his employment by the Company which produce the highest average amount (or the annualized average of such compensation for his actual period of employment if less than three (3) calendar years) with a maximum annual benefit of $475,000. The Executive shall vest in his SERP benefit over a 5-year period, pursuant to the following vesting schedule:
A year of vesting service under the SERP is the 12-month period ending on each anniversary of his commencement of his employment with the Company, provided he is an employee of the Company on that vesting date. Executive also shall become 100% vested in his SERP benefit upon (a) the effective date of a Change of Control, (b) his termination date if the Company terminates him without Cause, (c) his termination date if he terminates for Good Reason, (d) the date he dies, or (e) the date he becomes Permanently Disabled.
The Executive’s annual SERP benefit shall be paid to the Executive in annual payments commencing on the first day of the month immediately following his 60th birthday, or if later, his termination of employment with the Company after age 60 (referred to herein as his “Retirement Date”) and continuing annually thereafter until the year in which the Executive dies. The Executive may elect, at least 30 days prior to the date on which SERP benefit payments are scheduled to begin, to receive monthly installment payments. The Executive shall receive his annual SERP benefit for a minimum of ten (10) years. The Executive may elect, within 30 days of his termination of employment date, that payment of his vested SERP benefit shall commence at any time selected by the Executive after he shall have terminated employment from the Company, provided that if payment begins prior to the Executive’s 60th birthday, such payment shall be actuarially reduced, as reasonably determined by the Board, to account for the commencement of such payments prior to age 60. Payment of such SERP benefits shall continue until the date of the Executive’s death if he has received at least ten (10) annual payments. In the event Executive dies prior to receiving ten (10) annual SERP payments, his surviving spouse (or his designated beneficiary) shall receive the actuarial equivalence of the balance due him in a single, lump sum cash payment. If Executive dies prior to the time benefit payments are scheduled to begin, his surviving spouse (or designated beneficiary) shall receive the actuarial
equivalence of his vested SERP benefit, determined as of the date of his death, in a single, lump sum cash payment. For purposes of determining actuarial equivalence, the 1983 GAM Mortality Table and interest at the average rate on 30-year Treasury Securities (or such other rate as in effect under section 417(e)(3)(A)(ii)(II) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) shall be used.
The SERP is an unfunded plan and the Executive is an unsecured general creditor of the Company. The Company shall establish a “rabbi trust” to be used in connection with the SERP.
WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company have entered into an Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”), dated as of August 30, 2005; and
WHEREAS, the Executive’s employment with and service to the Company and its affiliates, including but not limited to American Financial Realty Trust (“AFRT”), shall end effective as of August 16, 2006 (the “Separation Date”); and
WHEREAS, the Executive has agreed to execute a release and waiver in the form set forth herein in consideration of the Company’s agreement to provide its release and waiver and the compensation and benefits set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Executive’s separation is amicable and on mutually satisfactory terms; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to settle all rights, duties and obligations between them, including without limitation all such rights, duties, and obligations arising under the Employment Agreement or otherwise out of the Executive’s employment or service by the Company and its affiliates.
NOW THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound and for good and valid consideration the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Executive and the Company agree as follows:
1. SEVERANCE BENEFITS. The Company shall pay and provide the Executive severance benefits as follows:
(a) In satisfaction of any outstanding obligations to the Executive under the Employment Agreement and recognizing that a material portion of the following payment is being made in consideration for the Executive’s continued obligations to comply with the covenants as set forth in Section 5 of this Separation Agreement, the Company shall pay the Executive the sum of $5,444,773, less the amount set forth in Section 3(a) hereof, and less any applicable income tax withholding required under federal, state, or local law, which applicable withholding shall be calculated at the rate permitted by applicable law or regulation that is most favorable to the Executive (the “Separation Payment”). The Separation Payment shall be paid by wire transfer in a single lump sum cash payment no later than the business day following the Separation Date. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Separation Payment shall be in full and complete satisfaction of (i) all amounts due and payable as salary, cash incentive bonus, severance or otherwise under the terms of the Executive’s Employment Agreement; provided, that in addition to the Separation Payment, the Executive will receive his salary, in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, for the period between the date for which his salary was last paid by the Company and the Separation Date; (ii) the Company’s agreement to provide health or other insurance for the Executive; (iii) all business expenses incurred through the Separation Date and reimbursed prior to the Separation Date; (iv) accrued but unused vacation through the Separation Date; and (v) any other similar amounts or benefits payable to the Executive pursuant to the Employment Agreement or otherwise.
(b) At the same time that the Separation Payment is paid to the Executive, the Company shall pay to the Executive the sum of $6,237,000, less any applicable income tax withholding required under federal, state, or local law, which applicable withholding shall be calculated at the rate permitted by applicable law or regulation that is most favorable to the Executive (the “LTIP Payment”). The LTIP Payment shall be in full and complete satisfaction of the forfeiture by the Executive of all rights under AFRT’s 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan and any rights in respect of the 2006 LTIP pursuant to the Employment Agreement.
(c) 266,997 common shares of beneficial interest, $0.001 par value, (the “Common Shares”) of AFRT that were previously granted to the Executive1 but remain subject to vesting shall vest immediately as of the Separation Date and all restrictions on the sale of such Common Shares (as well as all restricted Common Shares previously vested) shall lapse, other than those that may be imposed by federal or state securities laws, and the certificates representing such shares shall, to the extent permitted by applicable federal or state securities laws, be unlegended. Prior to the delivery of any of such Common Shares, the Executive shall satisfy all applicable income tax withholding required under federal, state or local law in respect of the vesting of and lapse of restrictions on such Common Shares.
(d) The Executive was granted an option to purchase 1,515,625 Common Shares on September 10, 2002, exercisable at $10.00 per share. This option is fully vested2 as to all 852,539 remaining unexercised shares, except with respect to 94,726 shares, as to which it is scheduled to vest on September 30, 2006. Pursuant to this Agreement, such option shall become exercisable as to such remaining 94,726 shares as of the Separation Date, and such option shall remain exercisable by the Executive through and including August 16, 2008.
(e) In full and complete satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under the AFRT Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”), on the first business day following the date that is six months after the Separation Date, the Company shall pay to the Executive, in a lump sum by wire transfer, the amount of $1,484,974, less any applicable income tax withholding required under federal, state, or local law, which applicable withholding shall be calculated at the rate permitted by applicable law or regulation that is most favorable to the Executive, and the SERP shall terminate.
(f) Within five (5) days after the Separation Date, the Company shall (i) make payments to carriers of the 30 year vanishing premium, whole life insurance policies purchased by the Company with the Executive as the owner pursuant to Section 6(d)(v) of the Employment Agreement sufficient to fully fund such policies and (ii) pay to the Executive an additional amount as a “gross-up” for any and all ordinary income tax, federal, state, and local, that results from the imputation of income that results from the funding of such policies, which for purposes of clarity shall not include any additional taxes imposed pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. Following the funding of the final premium payment for each policy, the Company shall not have any further obligation to pay any future premium that might hereafter become due with respect to such policies. Promptly after funding the premium payments for each such policy, the Company shall provide to the Executive proof thereof. Furthermore, to the extent practicable following the funding of the final premium payment for each such policy, the Company shall transfer such policies to the Executive to the extent not already owned by the Executive.
(g) As soon as administratively practicable following the Separation Date, if requested by the Executive, the Company will take reasonable action to cause the plan administrator to facilitate the Executive’s request (after completion of the required documentation by the Executive) for a transfer of the Executive’s 401(k) account (or the balance thereof) into another such account or another retirement savings plan, as applicable, designated by the Executive.
(h) Through the sixth anniversary of the Separation Date, the Company shall maintain directors and officers insurance coverage for the Executive covering his acts or omissions while an officer and trustee of the Company and AFRT on a basis no less favorable to him than the coverage provided to the current officers and trustees or, in the event of a Change of Control (as defined in the Employment Agreement), to former officers and trustees of the Company and AFRT and the then-current officers and trustees of their respective successor entities.
(i) The Company or an affiliate thereof is currently the lessee under leases to properties, located at 106 Old York Road and 1725 Fairway in Jenkintown, PA, owned by the Executive, members of his family and/or trusts for their benefit. At the time that the Separation Payment is paid to the Executive, the Company shall pay to the owner(s) of such properties the aggregate amounts of $194,044.63 and $212,562.85, respectively, as consideration for cancellation of such leases, such cancellation and payment to be subject to the further terms and conditions of the lease termination agreements attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(j) As soon as administratively practicable following the Separation Date, the Company will reimburse the Executive for any previously unreimbursed bona fide business expenses incurred by the Executive prior to the Separation Date in accordance with the Company’s usual policy for such reimbursements.
(k) Sections 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the Employment Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference. The Executive understands and agrees that the Company shall not be responsible for paying or reimbursing the costs and expenses of the Executive of negotiating this Separation Agreement.
2. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT; RESIGNATION FROM BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICER POSITIONS.
(a) Upon the execution of this Separation Agreement, the Employment Agreement, except as specifically set forth herein, shall be terminated in its entirety, and neither the Executive nor the Company, nor any of their respective affiliates, shall have any further rights, duties or obligations with respect to the employment or service of Executive by the Company or its affiliates. This Separation Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the Company and the Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(b) Upon the execution of this Separation Agreement, the Executive shall resign from his position as a trustee of AFRT, as well as from all officer positions he holds with AFRT, the Company and any of their affiliates, by executing the Letter of Resignation attached hereto as Exhibit B. The Executive also acknowledges that, as of the Separation Date, he has no rights with respect to appointment, observation or similar rights with respect to the board of trustees of AFRT or the corresponding governing body of the Company or any affiliate thereof.
3. RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY; POST-SEPARATION COMMUNICATIONS.
(a) The Executive confirms that he has returned, or will promptly return, all Company property, except that Executive shall purchase from the Company, for an amount equal to $35,000, all of the computers, cellular and non-cellular phones (other than the Cisco phones), pdas, wiring, routers and other similar electronic and other equipment currently utilized by the Executive personally outside the New York City office, including at his places of residence and personal office. The Company will make satisfactory arrangements to retrieve from the Executive any Company property that he does not purchase in accordance with this Section 3(a).
(b) Following the Separation Date, the Executive shall no longer have access to the e-mail or other computer systems of the Company or AFRT, but shall remain entitled to utilize the Company’s phone systems until August 21, 2006. The Company agrees that, for a period of six (6) months following the Separation Date, it shall make arrangements, through a third-party service provider, to forward all e-mails that it receives addressed to the addresses listed on Schedule I to the appropriate person listed thereon. All such messages shall be forwarded on the day received (or, if such day is not a business day, on the next business day).
(c) Following the Separation Date, the Executive shall forward all correspondence that he or any of his affiliates receives addressed to the Company to the Company. All such correspondence shall be forwarded as expeditiously as possible, but in no case more than three (3) business days following receipt thereof.
4. STANDSTILL AGREEMENT. The Executive agrees that, through and including April 26, 2007, unless such shall have been specifically invited in writing by AFRT, neither the Executive nor any of his affiliates which he controls (as such term is defined under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) or any representative acting on behalf of the Executive will in any manner, directly or indirectly, (a) effect or seek, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect, or cause or participate in or in any way assist any other person to effect or seek, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect or participate in, (i) any acquisition of any securities (or beneficial ownership thereof) (excluding securities acquired pursuant to any AFRT benefit plan or this Agreement, securities acquired upon conversion of securities owned beneficially by the Executive on the Separation Date, and up to an additional 2% of the outstanding common shares of AFRT) or assets (unless such assets are otherwise being marketed by AFRT or constitute, in the aggregate, less than 20% of AFRT’s real estate assets (measured by square footage), and the offer or proposal to acquire such assets is made confidentially to the Board of Trustees of AFRT) of AFRT or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or divisions; (ii) any tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination involving AFRT or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or divisions; (iii) any recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other extraordinary transaction with respect to AFRT or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or divisions; or (iv) any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)) or consents to vote any voting securities of AFRT; (b) form, join or in any way participate in a “group” (as defined under the Exchange Act) with respect to any of the activities set forth in clause (a) of this sentence; (c) otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, to seek to control or influence the management, Board of Directors or Trustees or policies of AFRT or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or divisions; (d) take any action which might force AFRT to make a public announcement regarding any of the types of matters set forth in (a) above; (e) request AFRT, directly or indirectly, to amend or waive any provision of this Section 4; or (f) enter into any discussions or arrangements with any third party with respect to any of the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph 4, the Executive may form, join or participate in a “group” with respect to the activities set forth in clause (a) of the preceding sentence with any person or entity who or which has entered into a standstill agreement with AFRT within the 12-month period ending on the Separation Date.
5. CONFIDENTIALITY; NO COMPETITION; NONSOLICITATION. Executive hereby confirms and agrees to his confidentiality, nonsolicitation and non-competition obligations under the Employment Agreement; provided, that the hiring by the Executive of up to two Company employees who served as his executive assistants and one Company employee who served as a driver for the Company immediately prior to the Separation Date shall not be deemed a breach of this Section 5. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company and the Executive acknowledge that the “Noncompete Period” as defined in the Employment Agreement shall expire on February 15, 2008, and shall not be earlier terminated absent a material breach by the Company of its obligations under this Separation Agreement.
6. NO DISPARAGEMENT; CHARACTERIZATION OF SEPARATION.
(a) Each of the Executive (on behalf of his family members or employees, or their respective agents) and the Company (on behalf of itself, AFRT and the members of AFRT’s board of trustees, as well as the officers and employees of AFRT, the Company and their respective affiliates and agents) agree not to disparage the other, including making any statement or comments or engaging in any conduct that is disparaging or derogatory toward the Executive or the Company, as the case may be, whether directly or indirectly, by name or innuendo; provided, however, that nothing in this Separation Agreement shall restrict (i) communications protected as privileged under federal or state law relating to testimony or (ii) communications ordered or required by a court or an administrative agency of competent jurisdiction. The Company shall be responsible for any breach of this Section 6(a) by its or AFRT’s trustees, officers or employees and their respective agents or any of them. The Executive shall be responsible for any breach of this Section 6(a) by his family members or employees, and their respective agents or any of them.
(b) The cessation of Executive’s employment and service with the Company and its affiliates shall not be deemed to constitute a termination for Cause or a termination for Good Reason, both as defined in the Employment Agreement, and neither the Executive nor the Company shall characterize it as such.
7. FILING WITH SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. Each of the Executive and the Company acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement shall be filed by AFRT with the SEC as an exhibit to certain periodic and current reports under the Exchange Act.
8. RELEASE BY EXECUTIVE. In consideration for the payments to be made pursuant to this Separation Agreement:
(a) Executive knowingly and voluntarily releases, acquits and forever discharges the Company, AFRT and their respective owners, parents, stockholders, predecessors, successors, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, divisions and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Releasees”) from any and all charges, complaints, claims, liabilities, obligations, promises, agreements, damages, causes of action, suits, rights, costs, losses, debts and expenses of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, foreseen or unforeseen, matured or unmatured, against them which the Executive or any of his heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns (“Executive Persons”) ever had, now has or at any time hereafter may assert, own or hold by reason of any matter, fact, or cause whatsoever from the beginning of time up to and including the date of this Separation Agreement, including, without limitation, any claims under the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance; Phila., Pa. Code §§ 9-1100 et seq.; the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, 43 Pa. C.S.A. § 951 et seq.; the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law, 43 Pa. C.S.A. § 260.1 et seq.; the New York Human Rights Law, N.Y. Exec. Law §§ 290 et seq.; the New York Equal Pay Law; N.Y. Lab. Law §§ 194 to 198-a; the New York Whistleblower Protection Law, N.Y. Lab. Law §§ 215 and 740; the New York Child Care Leave Law, N.Y. Lab. Law § 201-C; all claims for salary, bonuses, severance pay, vacation pay or any benefits arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; any claims of sexual harassment, or discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, medical condition or disability under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the American with Disabilities Act, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1871, the Equal Pay Act, The Rehabilitation Act, The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, as amended, The Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, and any other federal, state or local law prohibiting discrimination in employment; any claims of age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, or under any other federal, state or local law prohibiting age discrimination; claims of breach of implied or express contract, breach of promise, misrepresentation, negligence, fraud, estoppel, defamation, infliction of emotional distress, violation of public policy, wrongful or constructive discharge, or any other employment-related tort; any claim for costs, fees, or other expenses, including attorneys fees; and all claims under any other federal, state or local laws relating to employment, except in any case to the extent such release is prohibited by applicable federal, state and/or local law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall this Separation Agreement apply to (i) Executive’s rights as a shareholder of the Company, (ii) the enforcement of the obligations of the Company or any other Releasee under this Separation Agreement, (iii) the Executive’s right to indemnification under this Separation Agreement or otherwise, and (iv) any claims for workers’ compensation benefits or vested retirement or welfare benefits that the Executive is entitled to under the terms of the Company’s broad-based retirement and welfare benefit plans, as in effect from time to time.
(b) Executive represents that he has not filed or permitted to be filed against the Releasees, any complaints, charges or lawsuits and covenants and agrees that he will not seek or be entitled to any personal recovery in any court or before any governmental agency, arbitrator or self-regulatory body against any of the Releasees arising out of any matters set forth in Section 8(a) hereof that he is releasing. If Executive has filed any such complaint, charge, grievance, lawsuit or similar action, he agrees to remove, dismiss or take similar action to eliminate such complaint, charge, grievance, lawsuit or similar action within five (5) days of signing this Separation Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Separation Agreement is not intended to interfere with Executive’s right to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “EEOC”) in connection with any claim he believes he may have against the Company. However, the Executive hereby agrees to waive the right to recover money damages in any proceeding he may bring before the EEOC or any other similar body or in any proceeding brought by the EEOC or any other similar body on his behalf.
9. RELEASE BY THE COMPANY. The Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Releasees, does hereby knowingly and voluntarily release, acquit and forever discharge the Executive and his heirs, executors and administrators (hereinafter all included within the term “Executive”), from any and all charges, complaints, claims, liabilities, obligations, promises, agreements, damages, causes of action, suits, rights, costs, losses, debts and expenses of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, foreseen or unforeseen, matured or unmatured against the Executive which the Company or any of the Releasees ever had, now has or at any time hereafter may assert, own or hold by reason of any matter, fact or cause whatsoever from the beginning of time up to and including the date of this Separation Agreement. Notwithstanding the above, if the Executive is convicted of the commission of a felony, including criminal fraud, against the Company, or if he enters into a settlement with the SEC that states that it is being entered into in order to settle an assertion by the SEC that, in his capacity as an officer of the Company, he has committed a criminal violation of the securities laws or regulations, the Company may seek indemnity against the Executive for all financial liability imposed upon it as a direct result of said crime or criminal violation of the securities laws or regulations in an arbitration proceeding conducted pursuant to Section 13 of the Employment Agreement and, in such proceeding, the Executive shall be awarded his reasonable attorneys’ fees and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and costs of the proceeding if the Company does not prevail.
10. PRESS RELEASES. AFRT’s press release announcing the cessation of the Executive’s employment is attached hereto as Exhibit C.
11. ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The Company has advised the Executive to consult with an attorney of his choosing prior to signing this Separation Agreement and the Executive hereby represents to the Company that he has been offered an opportunity to consult with an attorney prior to signing this Separation Agreement. The Executive shall have twenty-one (21) days to consider the waiver of his rights in this Separation Agreement, although he may sign this Separation Agreement sooner if he chooses. Once he has signed this Separation Agreement, the Executive shall have seven (7) additional days from the date of execution to revoke his consent to the waiver of his rights under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”). If no such revocation occurs, the Executive’s waiver of such rights in this Separation Agreement shall become effective seven (7) days from the date of execution by the Executive. In the event that the Executive revokes his waiver of rights in this Separation Agreement, this Separation Agreement shall be deemed revised to revoke his waiver of his rights under the ADEA.
12. COOPERATION. The Executive shall make himself available to the Company following the Separation Date to assist the Company and its affiliates, as may be requested by the Company at mutually convenient times and places, with respect to pending and future litigations, arbitrations, governmental investigations or other dispute resolutions relating to matters that arose during the Executive’s employment with the Company. The Company will reimburse the Executive for all reasonable expenses and costs he may incur as a result of providing assistance under this paragraph, upon receipt of his statement and appropriate documentation thereof, and shall pay the Executive a fee of $5,000 per day (or a prorated amount for a partial day) that the Executive provides such assistance.
13. NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing or by written telecommunication, and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally or if sent by overnight courier or by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or sent by written telecommunication or telecopy, to the relevant address set forth below, or to such other address as the recipient of such notice or communication shall have specified in writing to the other party hereto, in accordance with this Section 13.
Facsimile: 215-572-1596
14. GOVERNING LAW. This Separation Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without giving effect to principles of conflicts law.
15. COUNTERPARTS. This Separation Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. In making proof of this Separation Agreement, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.
16. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Separation Agreement sets forth the entire understanding and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous oral and written agreements between the parties relating to the subject matter contained herein or therein, and merges all prior and contemporaneous discussions between them.
1 For background purposes only, the restricted share grants to the Executive consisted of grants of: (a) 600,000 shares on July 1, 2003; (b) 149,000 shares on January 1, 2004; (c) 120,000 shares on January 2, 2004; (d) 128,734 shares on January 4, 2005; and (e) 116,703 shares on March 31, 2006. Of such shares, a total of 266,997 remain unvested on the date hereof.
2 This option vested 25% on the first anniversary of its date of grant, and 6.25% on the last day of each quarter beginning with the quarter ended September 30, 2003.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have executed this Separation Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
For good and valuable consideration, including the Executive’s agreement to provide the release and waiver contained in this Separation Agreement, the obligations of First States Group, L.P. under this Separation Agreement, dated August 16, 2006, with Nicholas S. Schorsch, shall be guaranteed by American Financial Realty Trust and American Financial Realty Trust agrees to be bound to all obligations of First States Group, L.P. hereunder to the same extent as First States Group, L.P.
THIS TERMINATION OF LEASE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the 16th day of August, 2006, by and between York Court Realty, L.P. (“Landlord”) and First States Group, L.P. (“Tenant”).
Tenant is leasing certain space (the “Leased Premises”) in a building located at 106 Old York Road Jenkintown, PA (the “Building”), pursuant to that certain lease dated July 31, 2002, as amended January 1, 2004, by and between Landlord and Strategic Alliance Realty Group, LLC, predecessor to American Financial Realty Trust (“AFR”), with a lease expiration date of August 31, 2008 (the “Lease”), the Lease having been assigned by AFR to Tenant effective September 10, 2002;
A portion of the Leased Premises (“Subleased Premises”) are subleased pursuant to that certain sublease (“Sublease”) dated March 30, 2006 by and between Tenant, as sublandlord and Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. (“Subtenant”) as subtenant;
Landlord and Tenant desire to provide for the early termination of the Lease upon the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
Upon such termination, Landlord agrees to recognize Subtenant as a direct tenant of the Subleased Premises, all as more fully set forth herein.
NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, covenant and agree as follows:
1. The Lease is hereby terminated and canceled and of no further force or effect as of August 16, 2006 (the “Effective Date”) and Tenant releases, relinquishes and quit claims to Landlord any and all right, title, interest or demand possessed or claimed by Tenant in or to the Leased Premises as of the Effective Date.
2. On or before the Effective Date, and as an express condition of the lease termination herein expressed, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord and Landlord shall have received the sum of One Hundred Ninety Four Thousand Forty-Four and 63/100 Dollars ($194,044.63) by wire transfer of immediately available federal funds.
3. No later than the Effective Date, Tenant shall surrender the Leased Premises (except for the Subleased Premises) to Landlord in their current “AS IS, WHERE IS” condition, free of all tenancies, occupants and any and all of Tenant’s furniture, trade fixtures, equipment and personal property. Tenant hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Landlord from and against any and all losses, costs and liabilities incurred by Landlord (including, without limitation any damage to the Leased Premises caused by the removal of such personal property, furnishings, trade fixtures and equipment, ordinary wear and tear incidental to such removal excepted) as a result of Tenant’s occupancy of the Leased Premises.
4. Landlord and Tenant, for themselves and their respective successors and assigns are hereby released from any and all liability now or hereafter accruing, of whatever kind or character, by reason of or growing out of or arising or existing in connection with the execution of the Lease or any of the terms or provisions thereof, or by reason of the breach or alleged breach, or conduct or activity resulting in breach or alleged breach, of any of the terms or provisions of the Lease; provided, however, nothing herein shall (i) preclude full enforcement of the obligations of the respective parties arising pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) release Landlord and Tenant from their respective indemnity obligations under the Lease to the extent that such indemnities relate to events that occurred on or prior to the Effective Date and to the extent that such indemnities, by the express terms of the lease, survive lease termination, subject to Section 27(h) of the Lease.
5. From and after the Effective Date, Landlord shall recognize the Sublease as a direct lease, and Landlord shall recognize Subtenant as a direct tenant with respect to the Subleased Premises. Tenant shall indemnify and hold harmless Landlord from any and all losses, costs and liabilities, of whatever kind or character, by reason of or growing out of or arising or existing in connection with any of the terms or provisions of the Sublease, or by reason of the breach or alleged breach, or conduct or activity resulting in breach or alleged breach, of any of the terms or provisions of the Sublease, to the extent such losses, costs, and liabilities are the result of acts or omissions on the part of Tenant as Sublandlord which occurred prior to the Effective Date. Landlord shall indemnify and hold harmless Tenant from any and all losses, costs and liabilities, of whatever kind or character, by reason of or growing out of or arising or existing in connection with any terms or provisions of the Sublease, or by reason of the breach or alleged breach, or conduct or activity resulting in breach or alleged breach, of any of the terms or provisions of the Sublease, to the extent that such losses, costs, and liabilities are the result of acts or omissions of Landlord in succeeding to the obligations of Tenant as Sublandlord, which obligations first accrue on or after the Effective Date. Rents under the Sublease shall be adjusted between Landlord and Tenant based on rents actually collected by Tenant. Landlord shall pay to Tenant any rents received by Landlord after the Effective Date which are attributable to the period prior to the Effective Date. Tenant shall pay to Landlord any rents received by Tenant after the Effective Date attributable to the period after the Effective Date. The provisions of this section shall survive the Effective Date.
6. This Agreement shall be governed by Pennsylvania law, without reference to principles of conflicts of law.
7. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have executed this Agreement, by their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.
By: FIRST STATES GROUP, LLC.
Name: Glenn Blumenthal
YORK COURT REALTY, L.P.
By: YORK COURT MANAGEMENT, LLC
THIS TERMINATION OF LEASE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the 16th day of August, 2006, by and between Glen Court Management, Inc. (“Landlord”) and First States Group, L.P. (“Tenant”).
Tenant is leasing certain space (the “Leased Premises”) in a building located at 1725 The Fairway, Jenkintown, PA (the “Building”), pursuant to that certain lease dated January 1, 1998 by and between Landlord and American Financial Resource Group, Inc., predecessor to First States Group, L.P.; with a lease expiration date of July 31, 2009 (the “Lease”); and
Landlord and Tenant desire to provide for the early termination of the Lease, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.
1. The Lease is hereby terminated and canceled and of no further force or effect as of August 16, 2006 (“the Effective Date”) and Tenant releases, relinquishes and quit claims to Landlord any and all right, title, interest or demand possessed or claimed by Tenant in or to the Leased Premises as of the Effective Date.
2. On or before the Effective Date, and as an express condition of the lease termination herein expressed, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord and Landlord shall have received the sum of Two Hundred Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Sixty-Two and 85/100 Dollars ($212,562.85) by wire transfer of immediately available federal funds.
3. No later than the Effective Date, Tenant shall, subject to Section 28 of the Lease relating to furnishings owned by Landlord, surrender the Leased Premises to Landlord in their current “AS IS, WHERE IS” condition, free of all tenancies, occupants and any and all of Tenant’s furniture, trade fixtures, equipment and personal property. Tenant represents that it has not sublet any portion of the Leased Premises. Tenant hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Landlord from and against any and all losses, costs and liabilities incurred by Landlord (including, without limitation any damage to the Leased Premises caused by the removal of such personal property, furnishings, trade fixtures and equipment, ordinary wear and tear incidental to such removal excepted) as a result of Tenant’s occupancy of the Leased Premises.
5. This Agreement shall be governed by Pennsylvania law, without reference to principles of conflicts of law.
6. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.
By: FIRST STATES GROUP, L.L.C.
GLEN COURT MANAGEMENT, INC.
THE UNDERSIGNED, intending to be legally bound hereby, does hereby resign as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of American Financial Realty Trust and from any other official position the undersigned holds (whether as an officer, director or otherwise) with American Financial Realty Trust, First States Group, LLC, First States Group, L.P. and each of their respective subsidiaries and affiliates, effective as of the date set forth below.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Resignation this 16th day of August, 2006.
[See Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K]