HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit 1Draft Revised 11/25/08
Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement
By and Among
The City of Miami,
The Virginia Key Beach Park Trust,
BEA International Corporation and Michael Phelan as Assignee for the
Benefit of Creditors,
Huff+Gooden Architects, LLC,
And
BEA Architects, Inc.
This ASSIGNMENT, ASSUMPTION AND RATIFICATION AGREEMENT
(this "Assignment Agreement") is made as of December _, 2008 by and among BEA
International Corporation, a Florida corporation whose principal address is
and an original joint venture partner ("BEA Intl" and
"Assignor"), Michael Phelan of Michael Moecker & Associates, Inc., a Florida
corporation whose principal address is as assignee for the benefit
of creditors of Assignor ("Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors"), BEA Architects, Inc., a
Florida for -profit corporation whose principal address is 3075 South River Road, Miami,
Florida 33142 as the substitute joint venture partner ("BEA Architects" and "New
Assignee"), Huff+Gooden Architects, LLC, a South Carolina limited liability company
whose principal address is 302B King Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401-1441 as
an original joint venture partner and a continuing joint venture partner ("Huff+Gooden"),
the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust, a limited agency and instrumentality of the City of
Miami whose principal address is 4020 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, Florida 33149 (the
"Trust"), and the City of Miami, a Florida municipal corporation whose principal address
is 3500 Pan American Drive Miami , FL 33133-5595 (the "City") on behalf of its
Depaitiiient of Capital Improvements whose principal address is 444 S.W. 2nd Avenue,
Miami, Florida 33130 (the "Department").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, on October 12, 2006, pursuant to Resolution No.06-0609, the Miami City
Commission ("City Commission") (1) authorized the selection of the joint venture of
BEA International Corporation/Huff +Gooden Architects, LLC as the top ranked
proposer pursuant to Request for Qualifications No. 05-06-081 ("RFQ") to provide
professional architectural and engineering design services for the Historic Virginia Key
Beach Park Museum, Project B-30508 (the "B-30508 Project") and (2) authorized the
City Manager through the Department of Capital Improvements and the Executive
Director of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust ("Trust") to negotiate a professional
services agreement with the selected proposer; and
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WHEREAS, on July 10, 2007, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 07-0402 (a
copy of which is attached hereto, incorporated hereby, and made a part hereof as Exhibit
A) authorizing the City Manager and the Executive Director of the Virginia Key Beach
Park Trust to execute a professional services agreement in an amount not to exceed One
Million, Four Hundred and Sixty Thousand Dollars ($1,460,000) with BEA International
Corporation/Huff +Gooden Architects, LLC to provide professional architectural and
engineering design services for the B-30508 Project; and
WHEREAS, BEA International Corporation, a Florida corporation ("BEA Intl" and
"Assignor") on April 29, 2008 entered into an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors
("Assignment for Benefit of Creditors" a copy of which is attached hereto, incorporated
hereby, and made a part hereof as Exhibit B) with Michael Phelan of Michael Moecker &
Associates, Inc. ("Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors"), and subsequently the Assignee
For the Benefit of the Creditors of BEA Int'l on May 27, 2008 preliminarily entered into
a Purchase and Sale Agreement with BEA Architects, Inc., a Florida corporation ("BEA
Architects" and "New Assignee") subject to approval by anticipated court order; and
WHEREAS, on June 25, 2008, the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami -
Dade County, Florida, Civil Division, in Case No. 08-24248 CA 27 entered an Order
Approving Assignee's Motion to Approve Sale of Assets Free & Clear of Liens and
Claims (the "Court Order", a copy of which is attached hereto, incorporated hereby and
made a part hereof as Exhibit C); and
WHEREAS, on September 10, 2008, the Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors as Seller
and BEA Architects as Buyer completed the Purchase and Sale Agreement (the
"Purchase and Sale Agreement", a copy of which is attached hereto, incorporated hereby
and made a part hereof as Exhibit D) and on September 11, 2008 the Assignee for the
Benefit of Creditors as Seller executed a related Bill of Sale (the "Bill of Sale", a copy of
which is attached hereto, incorporated hereby and made a part hereof as Exhibit E), all in
accordance with the Court Order; and
WHEREAS, the Court Order provides a mechanism whereby agreements of BEA Int'l
are to be assigned in connection with the Assignment for Benefit of Creditors through the
Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors to BEA Architects, subject to the necessary
approvals of the other parties to such agreements; and
WHEREAS, Huff+Gooden Architects, LLC ("Huff+Gooden") as joint venture partner
with BEA Intl has agreed to the requested assignment from BEA Intl to BEA
Architects; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the processes set forth by the Court Order, (1) BEA
Intl, Huff+Gooden, the Trust, and the City have entered into a Professional Services
Agreement ("PSA", a copy of which is attached hereto, incorporated hereby, and made a
part hereof as Exhibit F) on December _, 2008 with BEA Int'UHuff+Gooden to provide
architectural and engineering design services ("Services") for the B-30508 Project, and
(2) BEA Intl, the Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors as Seller, and BEA Architects as
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Buyer have requested in connection with the Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, the
Court Order, and the Purchase and Sale Agreement for the City and the Trust to assign
the PSA from BEA Int'l as a joint venture partner with Huff +Gooden to BEA Architects
as a joint venture partner with Huff +Gooden; and
WHEREAS, all of the principals of BEA Intl under the response to the RFQ and the
PSA are also now principals of BEA Architects; and
WHEREAS, the PSA contains provisions stating that it shall not be transferred, pledged,
sold, delegated or assigned in whole or in part without the City's written consent and the
Trust's written consent; and
WHEREAS, the Trust and the City wish that BEA Architects continue to provide the
Services under the PSA formerly provided by BEA Int'l, and the Board of Trustees of the
Trust has approved Resolution No. 11032008-01 a copy of which is attached hereto,
incorporated hereby, and made a part hereof as Exhibit G, and consented to the
assignment at its November 3, 2008 meeting, and the City Commission has adopted
Resolution No. 08- a copy of which is attached hereto, incorporated hereby, and
made a part hereof as Exhibit H, on , 2008 authorizing the assignment; and
WHEREAS, in order for BEA Architects to continue to provide Services to the City and
the Trust for the B-30508 Project, it is necessary to assign the PSA with BEA Int'l/Huff
+Gooden to BEA Architects/Huff+Gooden; and
WHEREAS, BEA Int'l, the Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors, Huff+Gooden, and
BEA Architects have each provided their respective corporate authorizations (originals of
which are each attached hereto, incorporated hereby, and made a part hereof as
Composite Exhibit 1) to enter into this Assignment Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, The City, the Trust, BEA Int'l, the Assignee for the
Benefit of Creditors, Huff+Gooden, and BEA Architects, in consideration of the
following mutual covenants and obligations, hereby agree as follows:
1. Assignment.
(a) Each of BEA Int'l as Assignor and original joint venture partner and Michael
Phelan as Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors hereby assigns, sells, grants,
transfers, contributes, conveys and delivers to BEA Architects as New Assignee
and as new, continuing joint venture partner and to its successors and assigns free
and clear of all liens, and New Assignee hereby (i) purchases, acquires and
accepts from BEA as Assignor and from Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors, all
of Assignor's and Assignee for the Benefit of Creditor's rights, titles and interests
in the PSA, and (ii) accepts the role, duties, and responsibilities as new,
continuing joint venture partner. BEA Architects hereby represents and warrants
that it accepts an assignment of all aspects of the PSA.
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(b) The City, the Trust, and Huff+Gooden hereby consent to such assignment of the
PSA by BEA Int'l as Assignor and by Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors to
BEA Architects as the New Assignee and as new, continuing joint venture
partner.
2.Ratification and Assumption of Assumed Liabilities and Contractual Obligations.
(a) BEA Intl, as Assignor and as original joint venture partner, and Assignee for
the Benefit of Creditors hereby assign, sell, transfer, grant, contribute, and
deliver, to BEA Architects, and BEA Architects as New Assignee and new,
continuing joint venture partner hereby assumes and agrees to accept, pay,
perform and discharge when due or required to be performed, all of the
liabilities of BEA Intl as original joint venture partner relating to the PSA
(the "Assumed Liabilities").
(b) BEA Architects hereby ratifies the PSA. BEA Architects affirms that it is
fully responsible for the performance of all obligations of, and shall meet all
requirements of, the PSA.
(c) Huff+Gooden hereby ratifies the PSA. Huff+Gooden affirms that it is fully
responsible for the performance of all obligations of, and shall meet all
requirements of, the PSA.
3. Responsibility for Work Performed Previously by BEA Intl. BEA Architects
hereby affirms that it is fully responsible for all work performed by and obligations of
BEA Intl. under the PSA as if such work had been performed previously by BEA
Architects itself instead of by BEA Intl., and each of BEA Architects and BEA Intl.
agrees to indemnify the City and the Trust, and their respective officials, employees, and
agents, against all loss(es) and/or damage(s) arising, or alleged to have arisen, from the
work performed previously by BEA Intl. and its sub -consultants under the PSA, claims
for non-payment by BEA Intl. and its sub -consultants, and claims for non-payment from
BEA Intl and its sub -consultants.
4. Proper Amendment and Assignment In Accordance with PSA and In Accordance
with Assignment for Benefit of Creditors, Court Order, Bill of Sale,and Purchase & Sale
Agreement.
(a) The City, the Trust, BEA Int'l, the Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors,
Huff+Gooden, and BEA Architects each affirm that this Assignment, Assumption
and Ratification Agreement is a proper amendment to and assignment the PSA
under Article 10.03 of the PSA, as approved by Resolution No. 11032008-01 of
the Board of Trustees of the Trust and by Resolution No. of the City
Commission.
(b)BEA Int'1, the Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors, and BEA Architects each
affirm, represent and warrant to the City, to the Trust, and to Huff+Gooden that
this Assignment, Assumption, and Ratification Agreement is a proper assignment
in accordance with the Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, the Court Order,
Bill of Sale, and the Purchase and Sale Agreement.
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5. Further Assurances.
(a) Assignor and Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors agree and covenant
that Assignor and Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors, as applicable, will,
whenever and as often as reasonably requested to do so by Assignee for the
Benefit of Creditors, by New Assignee or its successors and assigns, by
Huff+Gooden, and as often as reasonably requested by the City and/or the Trust,
as applicable, and without further consideration, execute, acknowledge and
deliver such further instruments of sale, grant, transfer, contribution, assignment,
conveyance, assumption and delivery and such consents, assurances, powers of
attorney and other instruments and take such other actions as may reasonably be
necessary in order to vest in New Assignee all right, title and interest in and to the
PSA and to otherwise further effectuate and carry out the transactions
contemplated by this Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement, the
PSA, the Trust's Resolutions, the City's Resolutions, the RFQ, the Assignment
for Benefit of Creditors, the Court Order, the Bill of Sale, the Purchase and Sale
Agreement, any future City and Trust amendments to the PSA; and any related
documents, including the retention by Assignor of the any retained liabilities and
the assumption by Assignee of the Assumed Liabilities.
(b) New Assignee agrees and covenants that it will, whenever and as often as
reasonably requested to do so by Assignor, the Assignee for the Benefit of
Creditors, or its successors and assigns, by Huff+Gooden, and as often as
reasonably requested by the City and/or the Trust, as applicable, execute,
acknowledge and deliver such further instruments of assumption and take such
other actions as may reasonably be necessary to otherwise further effectuate the
assumption by New Assignee and its successors and assigns of the Assumed
Liabilities and without further consideration, execute, acknowledge and deliver
such further instruments of sale, grant, transfer, contribution, assignment,
conveyance, assumption and delivery and such consents, assurances, powers of
attorney and other instruments and take such other actions as may reasonably be
necessary in order to vest in New Assignee all right, title and interest in and to the
PSA and to otherwise further effectuate and carry out the transactions
contemplated by this Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement, the
PSA, the Trust's Resolutions, the City's Resolutions, the RFQ, Assignment for
the Benefit of Creditors, the Court Order, the Bill of Sale, the Purchase and Sale
Agreement, any future City and Trust amendments to the PSA; and any related
documents, including the retention by Assignor of the any retained liabilities and
the assumption by New Assignee of the Assumed Liabilities.
6. Financial and Insurance Requirements. New Assignee has provided any and all
financial requirements and continuing insurance requirements required by the RFQ, the
PSA, and the Court Order satisfactory to the City's Capital Improvements Department
Director and the City's Risk Management Director, copies of which are attached hereto
as Composite Exhibit J.
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7. No Further Assignment without Prior Written Consent of Parties. This
Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement and the PSA shall not be further
assigned without the express written prior approvals and consents of the City
Commission, the Board of Trustees of the Trust, Huff+Gooden, and of New Assignee,
and if still applicable by the Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors. The City's approval
and consent may be withheld or conditioned, in the City's sole discretion by the City
Commission. The Trust's approval and consent may be withheld or conditioned, in the
Trust's sole discretion, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
8. No Solicitation. Assignor, Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors, and New
Assignee represent to the City and to the Trust that none of them has employed or
retained any person or company employed by the City or by the Trust to solicit or secure
this Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement and that none of them has
offered to pay, paid, or agreed to pay any person any fee, commission, percentage,
brokerage fee, or gift of any kind contingent upon or in connection with, the receipt of
this Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement.
9. Public Records. Assignor, Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors, and New
Assignee understand and agree that the public shall have access, at all reasonable times,
to all documents and infolination pertaining to City agreements and Trust agreements
including this Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement, subject to the
provisions of Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and agree to allow access by the City, the
Trust, and the public to all documents subject to disclosure under applicable laws. The
failure or refusal by any of Assignor, Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors, and/or New
Assignee to comply with the provisions of this section shall result in the immediate
cancellation of this Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement by the City and
the Trust.
10. Governance. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Assignment,
Assumption and Ratification Agreement to the contrary, nothing contained in this
Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement shall in any way supersede,
modify, replace, amend, change, rescind, waive, exceed, expand, enlarge or in any way
affect the provisions set forth in the Court Order except as required by the City's
Resolutions, the Trust's Resolutions, and the RFQ, as applicable, nor shall this
Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement reduce, expand or enlarge any
remedies under the Court Order except as required in connection with the City's
Resolutions, the Trust's Resolutions, and the RFQ as applicable. This Assignment,
Assumption and Ratification Agreement is intended only to effect the assignment of the
PSA and the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities concurrently with the transactions
contemplated by the PSA, the Court Order, the Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors,
the Bill of Sale, the Purchase and Sale Agreement, and by the City's Resolutions, the
Trust's Resolutions, and the RFQ.
11. Counterparts. This Assignment, Assumption, and Ratification Agreement may be
executed in one or more counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signatures of
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more than one person, but all such counterparts taken together will constitute one and the
same instrument.
12. Successors. This Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal
representatives, successors and assigns.
13. Governing Law. This Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement shall
be construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of Florida. Venue in any
proceedings between the parties shall be in Miami -Dade County, Florida. Each party
shall bear its own attorney's fees. Each party waives any defense, whether asserted by
motion or pleading, that the aforementioned courts are an improper or inconvenient
venue. Moreover, the parties consent to the personal jurisdiction of the aforementioned
courts and irrevocably waive any objections to said jurisdiction. The parties irrevocably
waive any rights to a jury trial.
14. Notices. All notices or other communications required under this Assignment
and Assumption Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by hand -delivery or by
registered or certified U.S. Mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the other party at
the address indicated herein or to such other address as a party may designate by notice
given herein provided. Notice shall be deemed given on the day on which personally
delivered; or if by U.S. Mail, on the fifth day after being posted or the date of actual
receipt, whichever is earlier.
To the City:
City Manager
City of Miami
444 S.W. 2na Avenue, 10th Floor
Miami, Florida 33130
With copies to:
Director, Department of Capital Improvements
City of Miami
444 S.W. 2na Avenue, 8th Floor
Miami, Florida 33130
AND:
Executive Director
Virginia Key Beach Park Trust
4020 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami, Florida 33149
AND:
City Attorney
City of Miami
444 S.W. 2na Avenue, 9th Floor
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Miami, Florida 33130
ASSIGNOR:
To Assignee for Benefit of Creditors:
To New Assignee:
Attention:
BEA Architects, Inc.
3075 South River Road
Miami, Florida 33142
With copies to their Counsel:
Attention:
To Huff+Gooden:
Attention:
Huff+Gooden Architects LLC
302B King Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29401-1441
15. Miscellaneous.
A. No waiver or breach of any provision of this Assignment, Assumption and
Ratification Agreement shall constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or
any other provision hereof, and no waiver shall be effective unless made in writing.
B. Should any provision, paragraph, sentence, word or phrase contained in
this Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement be determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable under the laws of
the State of Florida or the City of Miami, such provision, paragraph, sentence, word or
phrase shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary in order to conform with such
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laws, or if not modifiable, then the same shall be deemed severable, and in either event,
the remaining terms and provisions of this Assignment, Assumption and Ratification
Agreement shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect or limitation of its use.
16. Corporate Authorizations. The respective corporate authorizations of Assignor,
New Assignee, Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors, and Huff+Gooden to each enter
into this Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement are hereby attached and
incorporated herein as Composite Exhibit I, and each of the Assignor, New Assignee,
Assignee for Benefit of Creditors, and Huff+Gooden represents and warrants to the City
and the Trust that their respective corporate authorizations remain valid and in full force
and effect as of the date first written above.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Assignment,
Assumption and Ratification Agreement on the date first written above.
Assignor: BEA International
Corporation, A Florida corporation
Attest: By:
By: Name:
Name Title:
Title:
Attest: Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors:
By:
Name: By:
Title: Name:
Title:
Attest: New Assignee: BEA Architects, Inc.
By: A Florida corporation
Name: By:
Title: Name:
Title:
Attest: Huff+Gooden Architects LLC
By: A South Carolina limited liability
company
Name: By:
Title: Name:
Title:
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Attest:
By:
Priscilla A. Thompson, City Clerk
Date:
Virginia Key Beach Park Trust,
a limited agency and instrumentality
of the City of Miami
By:
David Shorter, Executive Director
Approved as to Insurance Requirements:
By:
LeeAnn Brehm, Risk Management
Director
CITY OF MIAMI, a Florida municipal
corporation
By:
Pedro G. Hernandez, City Manager
Department of Capital Improvements
By:
Ola Aluko, Director
Approved as to Form and Correctness:
By:
Julie O. Brue, City Attorney
Note: All Exhibits to be attached at time of document execution
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