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EXHIBIT 10.39 -- MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
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MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
THIS MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT is effective as of the 1st day of July, 2004 and
is by and between WS Telecom, Inc. d/b/a eXpeTel Communications, a Mississippi
corporation and its subsidiaries ("eXpeTel") and XFone USA, Inc., a Mississippi
corporation ("XFone USA" or "Manager") and Xxx Xxxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxxx (each a
"Guarantor" and collectively the "Guarantors") (referred to collectively
hereinafter as "the Parties").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of that certain Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of May 28, 2004 (the "Merger Agreement") among eXpeTel, XFone
USA and XFone, Inc. (the "Parent"), eXpeTel is to be merged with and into XFone
USA (the "Merger") for the Merger Consideration to be paid by Parent
(capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning as set
forth in the Merger Agreement); and
WHEREAS, certain regulatory approvals are required before the Merger may
be consummated and the parties desire that XFone USA provide management services
to eXpeTel in accordance with the terms of this Agreement pending the
consummation of the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Retention of XFone USA. eXpeTel does hereby hire and appoint XFone USA
as Manager to be responsible for the operation and management of all of
eXpeTel's business operations (the "Business") and XFone USA hereby accepts such
appointment as Manager and shall manage the operations of the Business upon the
terms set forth herein. The management services to be performed by Manager under
this Agreement shall be performed by Manager as agent for eXpeTel and without
limiting the foregoing, eXpeTel hereby grants the Manager the authority and
powers necessary for the management of the Business in the ordinary and usual
course of business generally consistent with past practice, including, without
limitation, the following:
(a) Personnel. Supervising the current employees and independent
contractors of eXpeTel with the Manager having the authority to hire, discharge
and direct such personnel for the conduct of the Business.
(b) Accounting. Supervision and administration of all accounting and
the maintenance of all books and records for the Business, including, without
limitation, (i) all billing, communications and other services provided to
customers serviced under eXpeTel's licenses; (ii) collection on behalf of
eXpeTel of all fees, charges and other compensation relating to the Business;
(iii) review of all bills received for services, work or supplies in connection
with maintaining and operating the Business and paying all such bills as and
when the same shall become due and payable except for the Special Liabilities
(as defined in the Merger Agreement); and (iv) preparation on a monthly basis of
a balance sheet and income and expense statement with respect to the Business.
(c) Contracts. Maintain all existing contracts necessary for the
operation of the Business and the authority to enter into or renew contracts in
eXpeTel's name as necessary for the continuing operation of the Business
provided that the consent of eXpeTel shall be required for any new contracts or
renewals of existing contracts that are not terminable on 60 days notice, or
that require the commitment of more than $5,000.00, which is not included in an
approved operating budget.
(d) Policies/Procedures. Preparation of all policies and procedures
for the operation of the Business.
(e) Budgets. Preparation of all operating, capital or other budgets
which shall be prepared and submitted on a schedule to be approved by the
Parties.
2. Assignment of Revenues and Payment of Expenses.
(a) For and in consideration of the management services to be
provided hereunder, eXpeTel hereby assigns and transfers to Manager all revenues
generated from the operations of the Business (the "Revenues"), to be used in
accordance with this Agreement and Manager agrees to pay and cause to be paid
from the Revenues the normal operating, maintenance, administrative, and similar
expenses of the Business incurred in the ordinary course of business during the
term hereof, exclusive of the Special Liabilities (as defined in the Merger
Agreement) ("Expenses").
(b) eXpeTel shall designate the Manager as the controlling party of
the current operating accounts of the Business (the "Accounts") and all funds
collected from the operations, fees, sales and other collections and operations
of the Business shall be deposited in the Accounts and the Manager shall control
and have authority with respect to all disbursements from said Accounts and the
Manager agrees that the normal operating expenses shall be paid from the
Revenues collected and deposited in such Accounts and then to the extent of
available funds, the Special Liabilities and other non-recurring liabilities
shall be paid.
3. Loans by Manager. The Manager, in its discretion, shall have the right
to make advances or loans (the "Manager Loans") to eXpeTel payable on demand (or
if no demand payable in equal quarterly installments of principal and interest)
for an amount up to $500,000.00, with interest at 7% per annum from the date
advanced until paid for the payment of any amounts due during the term of this
Management Agreement under any of the Special Liabilities (as defined in the
Merger Agreement) or for any other liabilities the Manager deems appropriate for
which there are not sufficient Revenues generated to pay such debts and
expenses. eXpeTel, by execution of this Agreement, grants to the Manager a
security interest in all of the assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired
and wherever located, of WS Telecom, Inc. and its subsidiaries eXpeTel
Communications, Inc. and Gulf Coast Utilities, Inc. including without
limitation, all accounts, goods, equipment, inventory, contracts and contract
rights, instruments, chattel paper, securities and other investment property.
The Manager is hereby authorized to file such financing statements and
amendments thereto and continuations thereof in such offices as necessary to
perfect the security interest granted hereby.
The Guarantors, by execution hereof, jointly and severally,
unconditionally guarantee the prompt payment as and when due whether at maturity
or by acceleration or otherwise of the Manager Loans, together with any and all
interest or other amounts due with respect to the Manager Loans and any
renewals, extensions or amendments of the Manager Loans. The obligations of each
Guarantor hereunder shall constitute a present and continuing guaranty of
payment and not of collectibility only, shall be absolute and unconditional,
shall not be subject to any counterclaim, setoff, deduction or defense Guarantor
may at any time have against Manager or any other person, and shall remain in
full force and effect without regard to any event whatsoever (whether or not
Guarantor shall have any knowledge or notice thereof or shall have consented
thereto), including without limitation: (1) any extensions, renewals or changes
in form of this Agreement or any other documents evidencing the Manager Loan
(the "Manager Loan Documents"), as the same may be amended and/or supplemented
from time to time, any assignment or transfer of any part thereof, any renewals
or extension of the terms of payment under any of the Manager Loan Documents or
the granting of time in respect of the payment thereof, or any furnishing or
acceptance of security or any release of any security so furnished or accepted
in connection with any of the Manager Loan Documents; (2) any waiver, consent,
extension, forbearance or other action or inaction under or in respect of this
Guaranty or the Manager Loan Documents, or any exercise of or failure to
exercise any right, remedy or power in respect hereof or thereof; (3) any
failure, neglect or omission of Manager to protect, in any manner, the
collection of the Manager Loans, or any portion thereof, or any security given
therefor; (4) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement,
readjustment, composition, liquidation or similar proceedings with respect to
eXpeTel; or (5) any default by eXpeTel, Guarantor or party to any of the Manager
Loan Documents, or the invalidity or any unenforceability of, or any
misrepresentation, irregularity or other defect in, any of the Manager Loan
Documents.
In the event of exercising the abovementioned guarantee, the Guarantors
will have six months to pay the Manager all amounts due pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 3.
4. Terms. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and
shall continue until the consummation of the Merger, provided that this
Agreement may be terminated by either party at any time after December 31, 2004
upon 30 days prior notice.
5. Termination Fee. In the event that the Agreement is terminated by
either party as provided in Paragraph 4 (other than due to the consummation of
the Merger), then the Parties agree that the "Net Revenue" or "Net Loss" during
the term of this Agreement shall be divided 50% to eXpeTel and 50% to the
Manager, provided that in the event the Manager or any of its affiliates has
made any Manager Loans to eXpeTel, that the Manager may offset against any
amounts due under any Manager Loans any amounts due to eXpeTel for the "Net
Revenue" and in the event there is a "Net Loss", then eXpeTel's share of the
"Net Loss" shall be added to the principal due under the Manager Loans. If this
Agreement is terminated due to the consummation of the Merger, then in such
event the Manager shall be entitled to all the Net Revenues or Net Losses. For
purposes of this section "Net Revenue" is the excess of gross revenues derived
from the Business during the Term, over expenses paid and losses incurred during
the Term, and "Net Loss" is the excess of expenses paid and losses incurred
during the Term, over gross revenues derived from the Business during the Term.
6. Insurance. eXpeTel shall include the Manager as an additional insured
on all insurance currently maintained and such insurance shall continue
throughout the term of this Management Agreement.
7. Independent Contractor. It is the expressed intent of eXpeTel, on the
one hand, and Manager, on the other hand, that neither a partnership, joint
venture, nor employment relationship is created between the Parties by this
Agreement; rather, it is the express intent of the Parties that this Agreement
represents an independent contractor relationship under which eXpeTel is
retaining the services of Manager.
8. Force Majeure. The obligations of the Parties hereto shall be excused
during such time as, and to the extent that, performance is prevented by any
occurrence or act beyond their respective control and not due to their fault or
negligence, including, without limitation, action of the elements, riots, fire,
terrorism, war, acts of God, and any ruling, ordinance, law or regulation of any
local, state or federal governmental body having jurisdiction over either party.
9. Compliance with Law. Each of the Parties shall comply in all material
respects with all applicable laws and regulations. Manager and eXpeTel shall
immediately notify the other of any pending or threatened action by the FCC, PSC
or any other Governmental Authority or third party to suspend, revoke,
terminate, or challenge the licenses, or otherwise investigate the licenses of
eXpeTel. eXpeTel shall cooperate with Manager to assist Manager in fulfilling
Manager's obligations under the terms of this Agreement.
10. Modifications. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and
agreement between the Parties and it may not be altered or amended in any way
whatsoever except in writing and signed by all of the Parties hereto.
11. Confidentiality. During the term of this Agreement, each party will
have access to certain confidential information of the other party, including
but not limited to trade secrets, financial data and projections, data regarding
suppliers and customers operations methods and practices, and marketing and
sales approaches (the "Confidential Information"). Each party acknowledges that
all Confidential Information which may be disclosed to it by the other party or
which may come to the attention of such party (or its agents) in connection with
the provision of services under this Agreement is confidential. Accordingly,
each party agrees not to disclose such Confidential Information (or suffer its
agents to disclose such Confidential Information) unless required to do so by
law or unless such party has first obtained the prior written consent of the
other party. Each party further agrees not to use such Confidential Information
(or suffer its agents to use such Confidential Information) in any manner except
in connection with the performance of the services described in this Agreement.
Each party further agrees to take reasonable steps necessary to insure that no
disclosure or use prohibited by this paragraph is made, including, without
limitation, those steps, which a reasonable person would take to protect his own
information, data or other tangible or intangible property, which he regards as
proprietary or confidential. Upon breach of this paragraph, the non-breaching
party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, either pending litigation or
permanently or both, against the breaching party, since the Parties acknowledge
that a remedy at law would be inadequate and insufficient. In addition, the
non-breaching party shall be entitled to recover such damages as it may
demonstrate as sustained by reason of such breach. Nothing contained herein or
in any other provision of this Agreement shall be construed as limiting a
party's remedies under this paragraph in any manner.
12. Delegation and Assignment. Except as expressly provided herein, no
party shall delegate its duties or assign its rights hereunder in whole or in
part, without the prior written consent of the other.
13. Notices. All notices required to be given hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given if delivered in person, transmitted by
electronic facsimile, or deposited in United States first class mail, postage
prepaid, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, addressed to
the Parties as set forth opposite their respective names below. Notice shall be
deemed given on the date it is personally delivered, on the date it is
transmitted by electronic facsimile, or on the date it is deposited in the mail,
as indicated by the United States postmark thereon, in accordance with the
foregoing. Any party may change the address or facsimile number at which to send
notices by notifying the other party of such change of address or facsimile
number in writing in accordance with the foregoing.
14. Further Assurances. Each of the Parties hereto shall execute and
deliver all documents, papers and instruments necessary or convenient to carry
out the terms of this Agreement.
15. Entire Agreement. The Parties acknowledge and agree that this
document, together with all other documents expressly referred to herein,
constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties. Except as set forth in
such other documents (including the exhibits and schedules thereto and ancillary
agreements referenced therein), no representatives, promises, conditions or
warranties with reference to the execution of this document have been made or
entered into between the Parties hereto.
16. Waiver of Provisions. Any waiver of any term and condition hereof must
be in writing and signed by the party giving the waiver. A waiver of any of the
terms and conditions hereof shall not be construed as a waiver of any other
terms and conditions hereof.
17. Captions. Any captions to or headings of the articles, sections,
subsections, paragraphs or subparagraphs of this Agreement are solely for the
convenience of the Parties, are not a part of this Agreement, and shall not be
used for the interpretation or determination of validity of this Agreement or
any provision hereof.
18. Severability. The invalidation of any clause or provision of this
Agreement shall have no effect on the remaining provisions of this Agreement,
and as such, the remaining Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and
be interpreted as consistently as possible.
19. Authority. The Parties hereto represent and warrant that all necessary
corporate action required to approve and authorize the execution of this
Agreement has been accomplished and that this Agreement is a legally binding
obligation of the Parties.
20. Counterparts/Facsimile Delivery. This Agreement and any subsequent
amendments may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same
agreement. This Agreement and any subsequent amendments may be signed and
delivered by facsimile transmission, which delivery shall have the same binding
effect as delivery of the document containing the original signature. At the
request of any party, any document delivered by facsimile signature shall be
followed by or re-executed by all Parties in an original form, provided that the
failure of any party to do so will not invalidate the signature delivered by
facsimile transmission.
21. Mississippi Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
state of Mississippi.
(REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement effective
the day and year first above written.
XFone USA, Inc. WS Telecom, Inc. d/b/a eXpeTel
Communications
By: By:
--------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, President Xxxx Xxxxxxx, President
Address: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
000 Xxxx Xxxx eXpeTel Communications, Inc.
Xxxxxx, X000XX
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone: x00 000-000-0000 By:
------------------------------------
Facsimile: x00 000-000-0000
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, President
Email: xxx@xxxxx.xxx
Gulf Coast Utilities, Inc.
with copy to:
The Oberon Group, LLC By:
------------------------------------
00 Xxxxxxx Xxx., 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, President
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
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Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Individually
Email: xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Individually
Address: 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Winter & Stennis, P.A.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx (39202)
P. O. Xxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 601-949-4804
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
