DATED 25 May 2006 THE SHAREHOLDERS OF EQUITALK.CO.UK LIMITED and XFONE, INC. AGREEMENT relating to the sale and purchase of EQUITALK.CO.UK LIMITED
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Exhibit
10.73
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DATED
25 May 2006
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THE
SHAREHOLDERS OF XXXXXXXX.XX.XX LIMITED
and
XFONE,
INC.
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AGREEMENT
relating
to
the
sale and purchase of
XXXXXXXX.XX.XX
LIMITED
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-1-
INDEX
-2-
THIS
AGREEMENT is
made
on 25 May 2006
BETWEEN:
(1)
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THOSE
PERSONS whose
names are set out in Schedule 1 which expression shall include the
legal
personal representatives of any such persons (collectively the
“Vendors”
and individually a “Vendor”);
and
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(2)
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XFONE,
INC.
a
company incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada, USA (the
"Purchaser"
or “Xfone”)
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RECITALS:
(A)
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The
Company (as defined below) is a private company limited by shares
incorporated in England and Wales, further information about which
is
contained in Part 1 of Schedule 2.
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(B)
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The
Vendors are the beneficial owners of or are otherwise able to procure
the
sale and transfer, free from Encumbrances (as defined below), of
the
Shares (as defined below).
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(C)
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The
Vendors have agreed to sell and the Purchaser has agreed to purchase
all
of their issued shares in the capital of the Company subject to and
on the
following terms and conditions.
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(D)
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Pursuant
to Article 14 (as defined below), the Vendors can procure the sale
to the
Purchaser of the remaining shares in the share capital of the
Company.
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IT
IS AGREED as
follows:
1
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INTERPRETATION
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1.1
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Definitions
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In
this
Agreement unless the context otherwise requires:
“Abbreviated
Accounts”
means
the
balance sheet of the Company made up as at the Balance Sheet Date and the profit
and loss account of the Company for the period ended on the Balance Sheet Date
prepared in accordance with s247B Companies Xxx 0000, and the notes, reports,
statements and other documents which are annexed to the accounts of the Company
concerned, a copy of which has been initialled by or on behalf of the parties
for the purpose of identification;
-3-
“Agreement”
means
this agreement and all schedules and recitals in and appendices to this
agreement;
"AMEX"
means
the
American Stock Exchange;
"Article
14"
means
Article 14 of the Articles of Association of the Company;
“Auditors”
means
Hazlewoods LLP;
“Balance
Sheet Date”
means
31
March 2005;
“Business”
means
the
telecommunications reseller business of the Company;
“CAA”
means
the
Capital Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx 0000;
“Company”
means
Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx Limited, incorporated in England and Wales with registered number
03894765;
-4-
“Completion”
means
completion of the sale and purchase of the Shares as contemplated in clause
7
of this
Agreement;
“Completion
Accounts”
has
the
meaning given to it in clause 8.1.1(b);
“Completion
Date”
means
the
date on which Completion takes place;
“Completion
Net Asset Value”
has
the
meaning given to it in clause 8.1.9;
“Conditions”
means
the
conditions precedent set out in clause 4;
“Confidential
Information”
means
all
information or data of the Company in relation to the Business (in whatever
medium stored) which is of a confidential nature including but without
limitation, all business, financial, commercial, technical, operational,
organisational, legal, management and marketing information, data, know how
and
trade secrets of the Company;
“Consideration
Shares”
means
the
number of Purchaser Common Stock which
are
to be issued and allotted to the Vendors by the Purchaser pursuant to the
provisions of Clause 3 having
an
agreed market value of US $1,100,000 determined using the weighted average
price
as reported on the website of the American Stock Exchange of the Purchaser
Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days preceding the trading day immediately
prior to the Completion Date (which weighted average price shall in no event
be
less than $2.50 per share or greater than $3.50 per share);
-5-
“Consideration
Warrants”
means
the
number of Purchaser Stock Warrants which
are
to be issued to the Vendors by the Purchaser pursuant to the provisions of
Clause 3 having
an
agreed value of $550,000 with the value calculated as at Completion Date
assuming 90% volatility of the underlying Purchaser Common Stock pursuant to
the
Black Scholes option - pricing model.
“Disclosure
Letter“
means
the
letter of even date from the Vendors to the Purchaser disclosing:
(a)
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information
constituting exceptions to the Warranties;
and
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(b)
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particulars
of other matters referred to in this
Agreement;
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"Dragged
Along Shares"
Means
the
shares in the share capital of the Company which are the subject of Clause
4.1.2;
“Effective
Time”
means
the
time of Completion;
“Encumbrance”
includes
any interest of any person including, without prejudice to the generality of
the
foregoing, any fixed security, debenture, mortgage, charge, assignation, pledge,
deposit by way of security, xxxx of sale, lease, hire-purchase, credit-sale
and
other agreements for payment on deferred terms, right to acquire, option, lien
or right of pre-emption, security interest, title retention or other right
of
retention or any other security agreement or arrangement
whatsoever;
“Event”
includes
any act, omission, event or transaction and, without limitation, the receipt
or
accrual of any income profits or gains, the declaration making or payment of
any
distribution, the ownership of any asset membership of or ceasing to be a member
of any group or partnership or any other association, death, any residence
or
change in the residence of any person for Tax purposes, the expiry of any period
of time and Completion;
-6-
“Intellectual
Property”
means
all
inventions (whether patentable or not), patents, utility models, designs (both
registered and unregistered and including rights in semiconductor topographies),
copyright, database rights, trade and service marks (both registered and
unregistered) together with all applications for, rights to the grant of and
extensions of the same, and all other intellectual and industrial property
including but not limited to all similar or analogous rights throughout the
world, in each case for the full term of the relevant right;
“Intellectual
Property Rights”
means
all
Intellectual Property that is owned by the Company and used or proposed to
be
used by the Company in its businesses and including without limitation that
listed in Part 1 of Schedule 3;
“Key
Employees “
means
Xxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxx
Xxxxx.
“Licensed
Rights”
means
the
Intellectual Property that is licensed to the Company.
“Management
Accounts”
means
the
unaudited management accounts of the Company for the period from the Balance
Sheet Date to the Management Accounts Date;
“Management
Accounts Date”
means
31
March 2006;
“Net
Asset Value Statement”
has
the
meaning given it in clause 8.1.1(b)
-7-
"Purchaser
Common Stock"
means
restricted shares of the common stock of Purchaser.
"Purchaser
Stock Warrants"
means
warrants convertible on a one to one basis into Purchaser Common Stock with
a
term of five (5) years, a strike price that is 10% above the closing price
of
the Purchaser Common Stock on the Completion Date with the Purchaser Common
Stock into which the warrant is convertible is restricted stock.
“Properties”
means
the
serviced offices occupied by the Company at Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
Xxxx;
“Purchaser’s
Accountants”
means
X.
X.
Xxxxx & Company Limited
of
Britannia House 000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx X00 0XX,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx;
“Purchaser’s
Group”
means
the
Purchaser, any holding company of the Purchaser and/or any subsidiary of the
Purchaser or of any holding company of the Purchaser;
“Purchaser’s
Solicitors”
means
Preiskel & Co LLP of 0-00 Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx, XX0X 0XX.
“SDLT”
means
Stamp Duty Land Tax introduced under the Finance Xxx 0000;
-8-
“SEC”
means
the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
means
the
service agreements to be entered into upon Completion between the Purchaser
and/or Swiftnet and each of Xxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxx Xxxxx in the agreed
form;
“Shares”
means
(a)
collectively in relation to the Vendors, all the shares in the Company held
by
the Vendors to be sold under this Agreement; and (b) separately in relation
to a
Vendor, the shares in the Company held by that Vendor as specified in Schedule
1
and includes any rights of the holder attaching to, or accruing in relation
to,
those shares as at the date of this Agreement and the Completion
Date;
"Swiftnet"
means
Swiftnet Limited (registered No. 02469394)
whose
registered office is at Britannia House 000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx X00 0XX, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx (a
subsidiary of the Purchaser)
“Tax”
means
any
form of taxation, duty, impost, levy, tariff of any nature whatsoever whether
of
the United Kingdom, the United States or elsewhere whether or not any such
taxation, duty, impost, levy or tariff arises in respect of actual deemed gross
or net income profits, gains, value, receipt, payment, distribution, sale,
purchase, disposal, use occupation, franchise, value added property or right
and
includes, without limitation, any withholding amount subject to PAYE or other
amount of or in respect of any of the foregoing payable by virtue of any Tax
Statute and any penalty, charge, surcharge, fine or interest payable in
connection with any such taxation, duty, impost, levy or tariff;
“TCGA”
means
the
Taxation of Chargeable Gains Xxx 0000;
“Taxes
Act”
means
the
Income and Corporation Taxes Xxx 0000;
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“Tax
Authority”
means
the
HMRC and any other governmental, state, federal, principal, local government
or
municipal body or official whether of the United Kingdom, the United States
or
elsewhere in the world competent to impose, administer or collect
Tax;
“Tax
Deed”
means
the
deed in the form set out in Schedule 12;
“Tax
Statute”
means
any
primary or secondary statute instrument, enactment, order, law, by-law, act,
rule or regulation making any provision for or in relation to Tax including,
for
the avoidance of doubt any European Union directive or regulation;
“Tax
Warranties”
means
those Warranties set out in paragraph 10 of Schedule 7;
“TMA”
means
the
Taxes Management Xxx 0000;
“VATA”
means
the
Value Added Taxes Xxx 0000;
“VAT
Regulations”
means
the
Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/2518);
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“Vendor‘s
Solicitors”
means
Gordons Partnership LLP of 00 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx;
“Warranties”
means
the
warranties set out in Clause 9 and Schedule 7;
“Warrantors”
means
Xxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxx
Xxxxx; and
“Working
Capital Deficit”
means
the
total liabilities of the Company less current assets.
1.2
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Interpretation
and Construction
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1.2.1. In
this
Agreement, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise
requires:-
(a) words
importing the singular only shall include the plural and vice
versa;
(b) words
importing the whole shall be treated as including a reference to any part
thereof;
(c) words
importing any gender shall include all other genders;
(d) reference
to a Schedule, Appendix, Recital, Clause or Paragraph is to the relevant
schedule, appendix, recital, clause or paragraph of this Agreement;
(e) reference
to this Agreement or to any other document is a reference to this Agreement
or
to that other document as modified, amended, varied, supplemented, assigned,
novated or replaced from time to time;
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(f) reference
to any provision of law is a reference to that provision as modified or
re-enacted from time to time except to the extent that any modification or
re-enactment takes effect after the date of execution of this Agreement and
has
the effect of increasing or extending any obligation or liability or otherwise
adversely affects the rights of any party to this Agreement ;
(g) reference
to any statutory provision is a reference to any subordinate legislation made
under that provision from time to time;
(h) reference
to any legal term for any action, remedy, method of judicial proceeding, legal
document, legal status, court, official or any legal concept, state of affairs
or thing shall in respect of any jurisdiction other than England be deemed
to
include that which most approximates in that jurisdiction to the English legal
term.
1.2.2. Headings
used in this Agreement shall not affect its construction or
interpretation.
1.2.3. Obligations
and liabilities assumed by more than one person in this Agreement as a single
party or otherwise are assumed jointly and severally unless otherwise
specified.
1.3. Other
references
In
this
Agreement a reference to:-
1.3.1. “in
writing” or “written” includes faxes and any non-transitory form of visible
reproduction or words but excludes electronic mail and text messaging via mobile
phone;
1.3.2. a
document being “in the agreed form” means that it shall be in the form agreed by
the Vendor‘s Solicitors and the Purchaser’s Solicitors and signed or initialled
by or on behalf of the Vendor and the Purchaser for identification prior to
the
Purchaser’s execution of this Agreement;
1.3.3. a
“person” includes any individual, firm, company, corporation, body corporate,
government, state or agency of state, trust or foundation, or any association,
partnership or unincorporated body of two or more of the foregoing (whether
or
not having separate legal personality and wherever incorporated or
established);
-12-
1.3.4. a
“business day” means any day which is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a public
holiday in England or the United States;
1.3.5. a
“subsidiary” means a subsidiary as defined in section 736 and 736A of the
Companies Xxx 0000;
1.3.6. a
“subsidiary undertaking“ means a subsidiary undertaking as defined in section
258 of the Companies Xxx 0000;
1.3.7. a
“holding company “ means a holding company as defined in section 736 and 736A of
the Companies Xxx 0000; and
1.3.8. any
reference to a person being an “associate” of another shall be interpreted in
accordance with section 435 of the Insolvency Xxx 0000, and a person shall
be
regarded as being “connected” or “associated” with any person which is an
associate of his and with any company of which any director is an associate
of
his.
2.
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AGREEMENT
FOR
SALE
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2.1. Sale
and Purchase
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Vendors shall sell, with
full
title guarantee, and the Purchaser shall purchase, as at the Effective Time,
the
Shares.
2.2. Waiver
of rights
The
Vendors hereby waive or agree to procure the waiver of any pre-emption rights
which may exist in relation to the Shares pursuant to the articles of
association of the Company or otherwise.
2.3. Simultaneous
acquisition
On
Completion the Purchaser shall not be obliged to complete the purchase of the
Shares unless the purchase of all the Shares is completed simultaneously but
completion of the purchase of some of the Shares shall not affect the rights
of
the Purchaser with respect to the others.
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2.4. Covenants
for title
Upon
Completion the Vendors shall be deemed to have given to the Purchaser the same
covenants in relation to the sale of the Shares as are implied by Part 1 of
the
Law of Property
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 (the “Act”) where a disposition is expressed
to be made with full title guarantee except that s6(2) of the Act shall be
excluded and s3(1) of the Act shall apply as if the words “other than” to the
end of the sub-section were deleted therefrom.
3.1. Consideration
The
consideration for the sale by the Vendors of the Shares shall be the issue
to
the Vendors of the Consideration Shares and Consideration Warrants.
3.2.
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The
Vendors hereby undertake to the Purchaser that, without the prior
written
consent of the Purchaser, they shall not sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any of the Consideration Shares issued and allotted to
them
under this Agreement (or any interest in such shares) prior to the
first
anniversary of Completion.
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3.3.
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The
Purchaser’s obligations in relation to the Consideration Shares
and Consideration Warrants shall be satisfied by the issue of the
Consideration Shares and Consideration Warrants set out in Clause
3.1
above to the Vendors in the numbers listed in Schedule
1.
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3.4.
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The
Consideration Shares and Consideration Warrants are subject to the
provisions set out in Schedule 13.
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Piggyback
Registration Rights
3.5.
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The
Purchaser covenants and agrees as
follows:
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3.5.1. For
purposes of this Clause 3.5:
The
term
“Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States of America, as
amended;
The
term
“Vendor”
means
any person owning or having the right to acquire Registerable Securities
pursuant to this Agreement or any assignee thereof;
-14-
The
terms
“register,”
“registered,”
and “registration”
refer to
a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or
similar document in compliance with the Act, and the declaration or ordering
of
effectiveness of such registration statement or document;
The
term
“Registerable
Securities”
means
the
Purchaser Common Stock underlying the
Consideration Warrants;
3.5.2. On
the
first occasion, after the expiry of one year from the date of issuance of the
Consideration Warrants, that the Purchaser proposes to register any of its
shares of common stock under the Act in connection with the public offering
of
such securities, the Purchaser shall, at such time, promptly (and in any event
not less than 30 days before such registration will become effective) give
each
Vendor a written one-off notice of such intended registration, such written
notice to be deemed effective if sent by fax or email to the Vendor’s Solicitors
requesting them to notify all of the Vendors, and shall be deemed served the
first business day after the date of the email or fax.
3.5.3. Upon
the
written request of any Vendor at any time within 10 days of the service
of such notice, the Purchaser shall, at its own expense, use ommercially
reasonable efforts to cause to be registered under the Act all of the
Registerable Securities that any Vendor has requested to be
registered.
4.
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CONDITIONS
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4.1. Conditions
Precedent
Completion
is in all respects conditional upon:
4.1.1. Purchaser's
shareholders approving the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, if such
approval is required by AMEX.
4.1.2. AMEX
approving the issuance and listing of the Consideration Shares and the Purchaser
Common Stock underlying the Consideration Warrants;
4.1.3. The
Vendors having exercised their rights under Article 14 to require all those
persons owning shares in the share capital of the Company to sell those shares
to the Purchaser on the terms of this Agreement.
Satisfaction
of Conditions
Each
party hereby undertakes to the others that he will use all reasonable endeavours
to procure that the Conditions set out in clauses 4. 1.1 to 4.1.3 are fulfilled
on or prior to 60 days from the date of this Agreement (the “Long Stop Date”)
and will promptly notify such fulfilment to the others in writing of the
fulfilment of such Condition.
-15-
Notwithstanding
the above, in the event that AMEX requires that the Purchaser's shareholders
approve the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, the Long Stop Date
shall
be on or prior to 120 days from the date of this Agreement.
4.2. Waiver
of conditions precedent
The
Purchaser reserves the right to waive the Condition in clauses 4.1.3 provided
that no such waiver shall be permitted if the failure to satisfy such condition
would constitute a breach of applicable law.
4.3. Notification
of anticipated failure
Each
party shall notify the others immediately in writing on becoming aware of any
matter which may give rise to a condition which they are obliged to satisfy
not
being fulfilled.
4.4. Failure
to satisfy or waive conditions
If
any of
the Conditions has not been fulfilled or waived by the Long Stop Date (or such
later date as may be agreed in writing by the parties) then, without prejudice
to the accrued rights of the parties arising in respect of the any provisions
of
this Agreement, and except for the provisions of clauses 17
(Confidentiality), 18
(Announcements), 19
(Costs),
27
(Governing Law) and 28
(Jurisdiction), this Agreement shall cease to have effect.
5.
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CONDUCT
OF BUSINESS PENDING
COMPLETION
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5.1. Ordinary
and usual course
The
Warrantors undertake to the Purchaser that during the period from the date
of
execution of this Agreement until Completion the business of the Company shall
be carried on in the ordinary and normal course and with a view to long term
profit and so as to maintain the same as a going concern.
5.2. Specific
pre-Completion restrictions
Without
prejudice to the generality of clause 5.1
each of
the Warrantors undertakes to the Purchaser that during the period between the
date of execution of this Agreement and Completion shall:
5.2.1. comply
with the undertakings set out in Schedule 9;
and
-16-
5.2.2. procure
that the Company complies with the undertakings set out in Schedule 10.
6.
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ASSISTANCE
PENDING
COMPLETION
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Pending
Completion, the Warrantors shall procure:
6.1.
|
that
the Purchaser and any persons authorised by it shall, upon reasonable
notice, be allowed full access to the Property, books and records
of the
Company and the Vendors; and
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6.2.
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the
supply of any information reasonably required by the Purchaser relating
to
the Company or the Vendors.
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7.
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COMPLETION
|
7.1. Date
and place
Completion
shall take place at the offices of the Purchaser’s Solicitors on the first
Monday following the satisfaction of Clauses 4.1.1 (if applicable) and 4.1.2
and
subject to Clause 4.2, Clause 4.1.3, save that if the Monday is a UK or a US
public holiday, then on the next working day, or such later date as the parties
may agree in writing.
7.2. Warrantors'
obligations
At
Completion the Warrantors shall:
7.2.1.
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deliver,
give or make available to the Purchaser the documents listed in
Schedule 6
(Completion Documents);
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7.2.2. procure
that board meetings of the Company are held at which it shall be resolved
that:
(a) each
of
the transfers in respect of the Shares be approved for registration and that,
subject only to the transfers being duly stamped, the Purchaser shall be
registered as the holder of the Shares concerned in the Company’s register of
members and that share certificates in respect thereof be executed by the
Company and delivered to the Purchaser;
-17-
(b) the
resignations of Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx as directors
and
Xxxxx Xxxxxx as secretary of the Company be tabled and approved;
(c) Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx shall be appointed directors of the
Company;
(d) Xxxx
Xxxxxx be appointed as the secretary of the Company;
(e) deliver
bank mandate forms replacing all existing authorities relating to bank accounts
and appointing such persons as the Purchaser may nominate to
operate;
(f) the
registered offices of the Company be changed to Britannia
House 000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx X00 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx;
(g) the
Service Agreements be approved;
7.2.3.
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repay
to the Company all moneys owing as at Completion by the Vendors to
the
Company whether or not such sums are due for
repayment;
|
7.2.4.
|
procure
the discharge of all guarantees and like obligations given by the
Company
in respect of the obligations of any other person, other than the
fixed
and floating charges in favour of Barclays Bank
plc;
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7.2.5. execute
the Tax Deed.
7.3. Purchaser’s
obligations
At
Completion the Purchaser shall, subject to compliance by the Vendors with the
obligations set out in clause 7.2:
7.3.1.
|
allot
and issue to the Vendors the number of Consideration Shares and
Consideration Warrants set out opposite their names in Schedule 1
and
deliver definitive certificates in respect of such securities to
the
Vendors' Solicitors (who are authorised to receive the same) and
their
receipt shall be sufficient discharge to the
Purchaser.
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7.3.2. execute
the Tax Deed.
-18-
7.4. Sale
of all Shares
The
Purchaser shall not be obliged to complete the purchase of any of the Shares
unless the purchase of all the Shares is completed in accordance with this
Agreement and the Purchaser is reasonably satisfied that (i) it will acquire
title to the Dragged Along Shares so that the Purchaser acquires the issued
and
to be issued share capital of the Company and (ii) (based upon the information
supplied by the Warrantors in accordance with paragraph 5 of Schedule 9) the
Working Capital Deficit will not be greater than the figure specified in Clause
8.2.1.
7.5. Failure
to comply
7.5.1.
|
If
in any respect the obligations of either party set out in this clause
7
are not complied with on the date specified in clause 7.1,
the party not in default shall not be obliged to complete this Agreement
and may (without prejudice to its rights under this Agreement):
|
(a) defer
Completion to a date not more than forty eight (48) days after that
date;
(b) proceed
to Completion as far as practicable (but not including completion of some only
of the Shares); or
(c) waive
all
or any of the requirements set out in clause 7.2
(if any
of the Vendors is the defaulting party) or 7.3
(if the
Purchaser is the defaulting party) at its discretion by means of a notice to
that effect in writing served on the other.
7.5.2.
|
If,
and only if, the party not in default shall have deferred Completion
in
accordance with clause 7.5.1(a)
for a period of at least twenty one (21) days and the party in default
is
still unable to comply with the obligations in this clause 7
and Schedule 6
by
such date then the party not in default may rescind this
Agreement.
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7.6. Continuing
obligations
The
Warranties and all other provisions of this Agreement in so far as the same
shall not have been performed at Completion shall not be extinguished or
affected by Completion, or by any other event or matter whatsoever, except
by a
specific and duly authorised written waiver or release by the
Purchaser.
-19-
8.1. Preparation
of Completion Accounts
8.1.1. The
Purchaser shall procure that:-
(a) as
soon
as practicable following Completion (and, in any event, within ten (10) business
days after Completion), a balance sheet for the Company as at the last day
of
the month before the month in which the Completion Date falls and a profit
and
loss account for the Company in respect of the period from the day immediately
following the Balance Sheet Date to the Completion Date inclusive shall be
prepared in accordance with the principles set out in paragraphs 1 to 5 of
Schedule 11;
(b) the
Auditors will, as part of their work on the audit for the period to 31 March
2006 be instructed to review such balance sheet and profit and loss account
(together the “Completion Accounts”) and to issue a written statement of the net
asset value of the Company as at the Completion Date as derived from the balance
sheet (the “Net Asset Value Statement”); and
(c) as
soon
as practicable after the final form of the Net Asset Value Statement is issued
by the Auditors, it shall be delivered to the Vendors and the
Purchaser.
8.1.2. Unless
within twenty (20) business days after receipt by the Purchaser of the Net
Asset
Value Statement pursuant to clause 8.1.1
the
Purchaser notifies the Warrantors in writing of any disagreement or difference
of opinion relating to the Completion Accounts and/or the Net Asset Value
Statement, the parties shall be deemed to have accepted that the Completion
Accounts and the Net Asset Value Statement are correct.
8.1.3. If
within
the period of twenty (20) business days referred to in clause 8.1.2
the
Purchaser notifies the Vendors of any disagreement or difference of opinion
relating to the Completion Accounts and/or the Net Asset Value Statement, the
Warrantors and the Purchaser shall respectively use reasonable endeavours to
resolve such disagreement or difference of opinion within twenty (20) business
days after such notification.
8.1.4. If
the
Warrantors and the Purchaser are unable to reach agreement within twenty (20)
business days after such notification, the matter in dispute shall be referred
to the decision of an independent chartered accountant (the “Independent
Accountant”) agreed between the parties or in the absence of such agreement
appointed at the instance of either of them by the President for the time being
of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
8.1.5. The
Independent Accountant shall act as expert and not as an
arbitrator.
8.1.6. The
Independent Accountant shall furnish the parties with a written reasoned
decision within twenty (20) business days. The decision of the Independent
Accountant shall be final and binding on the Vendors and the
Purchaser.
-20-
8.1.7. The
costs
of the Independent Accountant shall be borne equally between the Vendors and
the
Purchaser (or as the Independent Accountant shall determine).
8.1.8. The
Warrantors shall procure that the Auditors shall give the Purchaser and the
Purchaser’s Accountants unrestricted access to all their working papers (with
the right to take copies) during their review of the Completion Accounts and
the
Net Asset Value Statement at every location at which work on them is done and
the Vendors agree that the Purchaser and the Purchaser’s Accountants shall be at
liberty to disclose to each other any information and copies of any documents
which they receive by virtue of this clause.
8.1.9. The
net
asset value of the Company as at the Completion Date (“Completion Net Asset
Value”) shall be:-
(a) the
net
asset value of the Company as at the Completion Date as stated in the Net Asset
Value Statement; or
(b) if
the
Purchaser notifies the Warrantors in accordance with clause 8.1.3
of any
disagreement or difference of opinion relating to the Completion Accounts and/or
the Net Asset Value Statement and such disagreement or difference of opinion
is
resolved in accordance with clause 8.1.3,
the net
asset value of the Company as at the Completion Date as stated in the Net Asset
Value Statement adjusted to take account of any such disagreement or difference
of opinion, as resolved; or
(c) if
any
matter is referred to the Independent Accountant in accordance with clause
8.1.4,
the net
asset value of the Company as at the Completion Date as stated in the Net Asset
Value Statement adjusted to take account of any disagreement or difference
of
opinion (to the extent any such disagreement or difference of opinion is
resolved in accordance with clause 8.1.3)
and
further adjusted to take account of any matter decided upon by the Independent
Accountant.
8.2. Adjustment
of Consideration
8.2.1. if
the
Completion Net Asset Value shows a Working Capital Deficit of greater than
£114,647.83 Consideration Warrants and Consideration Shares granted to the
Vendors to the extent of the excess above such figure shall forthwith be
rendered null and void and the Vendors agree to sign any documentation that
may
be required to cancel such Consideration Warrants and Consideration Shares
in
such proportions as the Vendors shall agree between them or, failing agreement,
pro rata to their shareholdings in the Company.
9.
|
WARRANTIES
BY THE WARRANTORS
& THE PURCHASER
|
9.1. Accuracy
of warranties
Each
of
the Warrantors severally warrants to the Purchaser that, save as fairly
disclosed in the Disclosure Letter, the Warranties are true and accurate in
all
material respects.
-21-
9.2. Updating
to Completion
Each
of
the Warrantors further warrants and represents to the Purchaser
that:
9.2.1. subject
to clause 9.1,
the
Warranties will be true and accurate in all respects and not misleading in
any
respect at Completion as if they had been given again at Completion;
and
9.2.2. if
after
the signing of this Agreement and before Completion any event shall occur or
matter shall arise of which any of the Warrantors becomes aware and which
results or may result in any of the Warranties being unfulfilled, untrue,
misleading or incorrect in any respect at Completion the Warrantors shall
immediately notify the Purchaser in writing fully thereof prior to Completion
and shall make any investigation concerning the event or matter which the
Purchaser may require.
9.3. Purchaser’s
remedies
The
rights and remedies of the Purchaser in respect of any breach of the Warranties
shall not be affected by:
9.3.1. completion
of the purchase of the Shares;
9.3.2. the
Purchaser failing to exercise or delaying the exercise of any of its rights
or
remedies.
9.4. Knowledge
of the Warrantors
Where
any
Warranty refers to the knowledge, information or belief of the Warrantors,
they
undertake that they have made full enquiry into the subject matter of the
Warranty.
9.5. Information
supplied to the Warrantors
9.5.1. No
information supplied by or on behalf of any employee, agent or adviser of the
Company to the Warrantors in connection with the Warranties or the preparation
of the Disclosure Letter shall constitute a warranty or representation as to
the
accuracy of such information.
-22-
9.5.2. Each
of
the Warrantors hereby undertakes to the Purchaser to waive any claim which
he
may have against any employee, agent or adviser of the Company in respect of
any
information referred to in clause 9.5.1.
9.6. Reliance
The
Purchaser has entered into this Agreement exclusively in reliance of the
Warranties.
9.7. Payments
under Warranties to be deemed reduction of consideration
Any
amount payable under this Agreement for breach of the Warranties shall be deemed
to be a reduction in the consideration payable for the Shares.
9.8. Right
of Termination
If
prior
to Completion:
9.8.1. it
shall
be found that any of the Warranties have not been carried out or complied with
to the Purchaser’s reasonable satisfaction or are otherwise untrue or misleading
the Purchaser shall be entitled (in addition to and without prejudice to all
other rights or remedies available to it and its successors in title including
the right to claim damages) by notice in writing to Vendors to terminate this
Agreement but failure to exercise this right shall not constitute a waiver
of
any other rights of the Purchaser or its successors in title arising out of
any
breach of Warranty; or
9.8.2. any
event
shall occur (other than an event constituting or giving rise to a breach of
any
of the Warranties) which affects or is likely to affect adversely to a material
degree the financial position or business prospects of the Company not being
an
event affecting or likely to affect generally all companies carrying
on
similar businesses in the United Kingdom, the Purchaser shall be entitled by
notice in writing to the Vendors to terminate this Agreement; but the occurrence
of such an event shall not give rise to any right to damages or
compensation.
10.
|
LIMITATIONS
OF
LIABILITY
|
10.1. Limitation
of Warrantors' liability
The
provisions of Schedule 8 shall operate to limit the liability of the Warrantors
under the Warranties save those Warranties set out in paragraph 1 of Schedule
7.
The provisions of Schedule 17 shall operate to limit the liability of the
Purchaser under the Purchaser's Warranties.
-23-
10.2. No
limitation in case of fraud etc
The
provisions of Clause 10.1 shall not operate to limit the liability of the
Warrantors or Purchaser (as applicable) where the liability arises as a result
of fraud on the part of any of the Warrantor of Purchaser (as applicable),
the
Company or any of the officers or employees of the Company, or any agents or
representatives of the Company or where a matter has been deliberately concealed
or withheld by any of the Warrantors or Purchaser (as applicable) or the Company
or any of the officers or employees of the company or any of the agents or
representatives of the Company.
11.
|
PENSIONS
|
The
provisions of Part 2 of Schedule 4
confirm
that there are no pension schemes that relate to the Company or any of its
officers or employees other than the payment to each of the Key Employees of
£4,500 per annum (which arrangement will terminate upon entry of the Service
Agreements).
12.
|
12.1. Prohibition
on use of name
Each
of
the Vendors undertakes that it shall not, and shall procure that no company
in
which he, she or it holds over 10% of the shares shall:
12.1.1. contain
in their name or trade under a name including the words “Equitalk“
or
any
word or words which when read together imply that any such company or business
is or may be connected in any way with the Company;
12.1.2. in
any
way hold themselves out as being in any way connected with the Company (other
than the Key Employees); or
12.1.3. apply
for
registration of any trade xxxx or domain name that includes the words Equitalk
or any word or words which when read together imply that any such company or
business is or may be connected in any way with the Company or any word or
words
used in any trade xxxx or domain name owned or used by the Company or any member
of the group.
-24-
FUTURE
ACTIVITIES
12.2. Restrictions
on Warrantors
For
the
purpose of assuring to the Purchaser the full benefit of the goodwill and
connections of the Company each of the Warrantors agrees with the Purchaser
that
he will not:
12.2.1. at
any
time following Completion disclose to any person or use for any purpose, and
shall use all reasonable endeavours to prevent the publication or disclosure
of,
any Confidential Information except:
(a) where
the
Confidential Information concerned enters the public domain otherwise than
as a
result of a breach by the Warrantors of their obligations under this clause
12.2.1.;
or
(b) if
and to
the extent that use or disclosure is made:
12.2.1.b.1.
|
in
compliance with any requirement of law or regulation or pursuant
to the
order of a court of competent jurisdiction;
or
|
12.2.1.b.2.
|
in
response to a requirement of the regulations of a recognised stock
exchange or any other applicable regulatory
authority;
|
12.2.2. for
a
period of 12 months following Completion either on his own account or through
any other person, so as to compete with the Business, directly or indirectly
solicit, interfere with, or endeavour to entice away from the Purchaser any
person who is immediately prior to Completion or has, during the two years
preceding Completion, been a customer of the Company;
12.2.3. for
a
period of 12 months following Completion either on his own account or through
any other person, directly or indirectly solicit, interfere with, or endeavour
to entice away from the Purchaser any person who is immediately prior to
Completion or has, during the two years preceding Completion, been an employee
of the Company.
12.3. Severability
Each
of
the Warrantors agrees that they consider that the restrictions contained in
this
clause are no greater than is reasonable and necessary for the protection of
the
interests of the Purchaser but if any such restriction shall be held to be
void
but would be valid if deleted in part or reduced in application, such
restriction shall apply with such deletion or modification as may be necessary
to make it valid and enforceable.
-25-
12.4. Purchaser
Warranties
The
Purchaser warrants to the Warrantors that the Purchaser Warranties are true
and
accurate in all material respects.
13.
|
ASSIGNMENT
|
No
party
shall without the prior written consent of the other parties assign, transfer
or
otherwise delegate (in whole or in part) the benefit of or the rights or the
obligations under this Agreement.
14.
|
SUCCESSORS
AND
ASSIGNS
|
This
Agreement shall be binding on and enure for the benefit of the successors and
permitted assigns of the parties.
The
Vendors shall take all necessary steps and co-operate fully with the Purchaser
(at the Purchaser's expense) to ensure that it obtains the full benefit of
this
Agreement and shall execute such documents and take such other steps (or procure
other necessary parties to take such steps) as are necessary or appropriate
for
vesting in the Purchaser all its rights and interests in the Shares and the
full
benefit of this Agreement and in such regard, agree to execute the Power of
Attorney set out in Schedule 14.
16.
|
TIME
OF THE
ESSENCE
|
Time
shall be of the essence in this Agreement.
17.
|
CONFIDENTIALITY
|
17.1. Prohibition
on disclosure
Each
of
the parties hereby undertakes with the others, that it shall preserve the
confidentiality of, and not directly or indirectly use, otherwise than for
the
purposes of this Agreement, or disclose, details of the provisions or subject
matter of this Agreement or any information obtained by such party about the
other parties as a result of negotiating, entering into or performing its
obligations under this Agreement except:
-26-
17.1.1. in
the
circumstances set out in clause 17.2
below;
or
17.1.2. with
the
prior written consent of the party to whose affairs such confidential
information relates.
17.2. Permitted
disclosures
The
circumstances referred to in clause 17.1.1
above
are:
17.2.1. where
the
confidential information enters the public domain otherwise than as a result
of
a breach by any of the parties of its obligations in this clause 17;
17.2.2. if
and to
the extent that disclosure is made:
(a) in
compliance with any requirement of law or regulation or pursuant to the order
of
a court of competent jurisdiction; or
(b) in
response to a requirement of the rules and/or regulations of the SEC, AMEX
or
any other recognised stock exchange or applicable regulatory authority or
regulatory or governmental or fiscal body (including any self-regulatory
organisation);
(c) required
by contractual obligations existing at the date hereof;
(d) required
to vest the full benefit of this Agreement and any document to be executed
pursuant to this Agreement in either party;
(e) disclosed
only to the professional advisers, auditors, insurers or bankers of each party
under suitable conditions of confidentiality; or
(f) the
information was lawfully in that party’s possession prior to its disclosure to
such party by the other party;
provided
that any such information used or disclosable pursuant to this clause
17.2.2
(save
for clauses 17.2.2 (a) and 17.2.2 (b)) shall, so far as reasonably practicable,
be used or disclosed only after consultation with the non-disclosing parties.
-27-
17.3. No
time limit
The
restrictions contained in this clause 17 shall continue to apply after
Completion without limit of time.
18.
|
ANNOUNCEMENTS
|
18.1. Prohibition
on announcements
Subject
to clause 18.2,
and
whether or not any restriction contained in clause 17
applies,
no announcement or disclosure concerning the matters provided for in this
Agreement shall be made or issued by or on behalf of the Vendors without the
prior written approval of the Purchaser.
18.2. Exceptions
The
provisions of clause 18.1
shall
not apply to any matters required to be made:
18.2.1. in
compliance with any requirement of law or regulation or pursuant to the order
of
a court of competent jurisdiction; or
18.2.2. in
response to a requirement of the regulations of a recognised stock exchange
or
other applicable regulatory authority or regulatory or governmental or fiscal
body (including any self-regulatory organisation).
18.3. No
time limit
The
restriction contained in this clause 18 shall continue to apply after Completion
without limit of time.
19.
|
COSTS
|
All
expenses incurred by or on behalf of the parties, including all fees of
professional advisers employed by either of the parties in connection with
the
negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement shall be borne solely
by the party which incurred them.
-28-
20.
|
TAX
|
20.1. Stamp
duty
The
Purchaser will be responsible for the payment of all stamp duty in respect
of
this Agreement and the carrying into effect of this Agreement.
21.
|
AMENDMENTS
|
21.1. Amendments
No
amendment or variation of this Agreement or any of the documents referred to
in
it shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by or on behalf of
each
of the parties. References in this Agreement to documents “in the agreed form”
shall, where appropriate, be construed as references to such documents as so
amended.
21.2. Waivers
and remedies
21.2.1. The
rights of each party under this Agreement:-
(a)
|
are
in addition to and not exclusive of rights or remedies under any
applicable law; and
|
(b)
|
may
be waived only in writing and
specifically.
|
21.2.2. Delay
in
exercising or non-exercise of any right or remedy under this Agreement is not
a
waiver of that right or remedy.
21.2.3. Partial
exercise of any right or remedy under this Agreement shall not preclude any
further or other exercise of that right or remedy or any other right or remedy
under this Agreement.
21.2.4. Waiver
of
a breach shall not operate as a waiver of any subsequent breach.
-29-
22.
|
ENTIRE
AGREEMENT
|
22.1. Entire
agreement
This
Agreement (together with the documents referred to herein):
22.1.1. shall
constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter of this Agreement; and
22.1.2. supersedes
and extinguishes any prior drafts, agreements and undertakings between the
parties relating to such subject matter.
22.2. Fraud
This
clause shall not exclude any liability which any party would otherwise have
to
the other or any right which either of them may have to rescind this Agreement
in respect of any statements made fraudulently by the other prior to the
execution of this Agreement or any rights which either of them may have in
respect of fraudulent concealment by the other.
23.
|
SURVIVAL
OF
OBLIGATIONS
|
Notwithstanding
Completion each and every right and obligation of the Purchaser and the Vendors
under this Agreement shall, except in so far as fully performed at Completion,
continue in full force and effect.
24.
|
RIGHTS
OF THIRD
PARTIES
|
24.1. No
third party rights
A
person
who is not a party to this Agreement has no rights under the Contracts (Rights
of Third Parties) Xxx 0000 to enforce, or to enjoy the benefit of, any term
of
this Agreement.
25.
|
NOTICES
|
25.1. Writing
All
notices between the parties with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing
and signed by the party giving it.
-30-
25.2. Service
Any
notice referred in clause 25.1,
shall
be served by delivering it:
25.2.1. by
hand;
25.2.2. by
sending it by first-class pre-paid post, recorded delivery, registered delivery
or air mail; or
25.2.3. by
fax,
to
the
address of the addressee set out below, or to such other address as the
addressee may from time to time have notified for the purpose of this
clause.
25.3. Deemed
delivery
A
notice
shall take effect from the time received or, if earlier, the time of deemed
receipt in accordance with this clause, unless a later time is specified in
it.
Notices shall be deemed to have been received:
25.3.1. if
delivered by hand, on the day of delivery;
25.3.2. if
sent
by first-class pre-paid post, recorded or registered delivery two (2) business
days after posting exclusive of the day of posting;
25.3.3. if
delivered by air mail, five (5) business days after posting exclusive of the
day
of posting;
25.3.4. if
sent
by fax, at the time of transmission unless received after normal office hours
in
the place of receipt in which case it shall be deemed to have been received
on
the next business day in the place of receipt.
25.4. Proof
of service
In
proving service:
25.4.1. of
delivery by hand, it shall be necessary only to produce a receipt for the
communication signed by or on behalf of the addressee;
-31-
25.4.2. by
post,
it shall be necessary only to prove that the communication was contained in
an
envelope which was duly addressed and posted in accordance with this clause;
and
25.4.3. by
fax,
it shall be necessary only to produce the sender’s transmission slip bearing the
addressee’s fax number showing the fax received by the addressee.
25.5. Addresses
for notices
The
addresses and fax numbers of the parties for the purposes of this clause
are:
The
Vendors
Address:
c/o the Vendors’ Solicitors
For
the
attention of: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Fax
Number: 000
0000
0000
The
Purchaser
Address:
c/o Swiftnet, Britannia
House 000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx X00 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
For
the
attention of: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Fax
number: -020 0000 0000
With
a
copy to the Purchaser's Solicitors
25.6. Electronic
transmission
25.6.1. Any
notice given under this Agreement shall not be validly served if only sent
by
electronic mail, by text messaging via mobile phone or other electronic means
other than fax.
25.6.2. The
Vendors hereby acknowledge their consent to receive from Xfone materials which
are sent from time to time to shareholders, such as Annual Report and Proxy
Statement, via electronic mail. The E-mail addresses of the Vendors are set
out
in Schedule 1.
-32-
26.
|
COUNTERPARTS
|
26.1. Execution
in counterparts
This
Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts and by the parties on
separate counterparts, but shall not be effective until each party has signed
at
least one counterpart.
26.2. One
Agreement
Each
counterpart shall constitute an original of this Agreement but all counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same agreement.
27.
|
GOVERNING
LAW
|
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
England, without regard to conflicts of laws.
28.
|
JURISDICTION
|
In
relation to any legal action or proceedings arising out of or in connection
with
this Agreement, each of the parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the English courts and the parties agree to only serve
proceedings in the High Courts of Justice, Strand, London and waives any
objection to proceedings in such courts on the grounds of venue or on the
grounds that proceedings have been brought in an inappropriate
forum.
IN
WITNESS whereof
this Agreement has been duly entered into as a deed on the date first above
written
-33-
SCHEDULE 1
THE
VENDORS
Equitalk
Shareholders (Feb 06)
|
||||||
Name
|
Address
|
Number
of Equitalk Shares
|
Value
of Xfone Shares
|
Value
of Xfone Warrants
|
Total
|
%
|
Xxxx-Xxxxx,
Xxxxx
|
Quenington
Old Rectory, Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx XX0 0XX
|
996
|
$21,018.30
|
$10,509.15
|
$31,527.45
|
1.91
|
Xxxx,
Xxxxx
|
Grange
Farm, Evenlode, Moreton in Xxxxx, Xxxx XX00 ONT
|
187
|
$3,946.21
|
$1,973.10
|
$5,919.31
|
0.36
|
Xxxx,
Lady M
|
Grange
Farm, Evenlode, Moreton in Xxxxx, Xxxx XX00 ONT
|
312
|
$6,584.05
|
$3,292.02
|
$9,876.07
|
0.60
|
Xxxx,
Xxxxxxx
|
Grange
Farm, Evenlode, Moreton in Xxxxx, Xxxx XX00 ONT
|
125
|
$2,637.84
|
$1,318.92
|
$3,956.76
|
0.24
|
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx
|
Xxxxxx
Farm, Evenlode, Moreton in Xxxxx, Xxxx XX00 ONT
|
2,075
|
$43,788.13
|
$21,894.06
|
$65,682.19
|
3.98
|
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx
|
0
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx XX00 OBD
|
621
|
$13,104.78
|
$6,552.39
|
$19,657.18
|
1.19
|
Xxxx
Group Pension Scheme
|
0
X
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX00 0Xx
|
1,087
|
$22,938.65
|
$11,469.32
|
$34,407.97
|
2.09
|
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
|
00
Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx XX0 0XX
|
621
|
$13,104.78
|
$6,552.39
|
$19,657.18
|
1.19
|
Xxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxx
|
00
Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx XX0 0XX
|
4,105
|
$86,626.64
|
$43,313.32
|
$129,939.95
|
7.88
|
Cantay
Investments Limited
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0 0XX
|
498
|
$10,509.15
|
$5,254.58
|
$15,763.73
|
0.96
|
Xxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
c/o
Seed Capital, Magdalen Centre, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxx XX0
0XX
|
2
|
$42.21
|
$21.10
|
$63.31
|
0.00
|
Xxxxx,
Xxxxxx
|
00
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
|
1,039
|
$21,925.72
|
$10,962.86
|
$32,888.58
|
1.99
|
Xxxxx,
JJT
|
Nutfield
House, 00 Xxx Xxxx, Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx XX00 0XX
|
325
|
$6,858.38
|
$3,429.19
|
$10,287.57
|
0.62
|
Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxx AJ
|
00
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
|
3,601
|
$75,990.87
|
$37,995.43
|
$113,986.30
|
6.91
|
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
|
Donnington
Manor, Moreton in Xxxxx Glos 56 OY3
|
375
|
$7,913.52
|
$3,956.76
|
$11,870.28
|
0.72
|
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx Xxxx
|
Donnington
Manor, Moreton in Xxxxx Glos 56 OY3
|
375
|
$7,913.52
|
$3,956.76
|
$11,870.28
|
0.72
|
Fast
Guides Limited
|
XX
Xxx 00, 00 Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xx Xxxxxxx, Eire
|
1,423
|
$30,029.16
|
$15,014.58
|
$45,043.74
|
2.73
|
Xxxx,
Xxxxx
|
00
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx, Xxxxxx XX0 0XX
|
62
|
$1,308.37
|
$654.18
|
$1,962.55
|
0.12
|
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
|
00
Xxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Bucks HP9
|
27
|
$569.77
|
$284.89
|
$854.66
|
0.05
|
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx
|
0
X
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX00 0Xx
|
26
|
$548.67
|
$274.34
|
$823.01
|
0.05
|
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxx BH
|
c/o
Mischcon de Reya, 00 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
|
364
|
$7,681.39
|
$3,840.69
|
$11,522.08
|
0.70
|
Larpent
Xxxxxx Holdings Ltd
|
Steane
Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx XX00 0XX
|
414
|
$8,736.52
|
$4,368.26
|
$13,104.78
|
0.79
|
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
|
00
Xxxxxxxxx Xx., Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx
|
1,130
|
$23,846.07
|
$11,923.03
|
$35,769.10
|
2.17
|
Mint
House Nominees Limited
|
Mansion
Court, 00 Xxxxxxx Xx., Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
|
686
|
$14,476.46
|
$7,238.23
|
$21,714.69
|
1.32
|
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx & Xxxxx
|
00
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxx XX0 0XX
|
6
|
$126.62
|
$63.31
|
$189.92
|
0.01
|
Omnicom
|
Abacus
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0 Xxxxxxxxx Xx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx. XX0 0XX
|
435
|
$9,179.68
|
$4,589.84
|
$13,769.52
|
0.83
|
Oxford
Technology 2 VCT plc
|
x/x
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxx XX0
0XX
|
10,461
|
$220,755.48
|
$110,377.74
|
$331,133.22
|
20.07
|
Oxford
Technology 3 VCT plc
|
x/x
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxx XX0
0XX
|
6,995
|
$147,613.48
|
$73,806.74
|
$221,420.21
|
13.42
|
Oxford
Technology VCT plc
|
x/x
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxx XX0
0XX
|
2,731
|
$57,631.51
|
$28,815.75
|
$86,447.26
|
5.24
|
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx
|
00
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX0 0XX.
|
200
|
$4,220.54
|
$2,110.27
|
$6,330.81
|
0.38
|
Price,
Xxxx Xxxxxx
|
00
Xxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX0 0XX
|
544
|
$11,479.88
|
$5,739.94
|
$17,219.81
|
1.04
|
Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx
|
00
Xxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX0 0XX
|
885
|
$18,675.90
|
$9,337.95
|
$28,013.85
|
1.70
|
Xxxxx,
Xxxxxx
|
00
Xxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX0 0XX
|
885
|
$18,675.90
|
$9,337.95
|
$28,013.85
|
1.70
|
QTP
(General Partner) Limited
|
St
John's Innovation Centre, Xxxxxx Xx, Xxxxxxxxx XX0 0XX
|
517
|
$10,910.10
|
$5,455.05
|
$16,365.15
|
0.99
|
Xxxxx,
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
|
0
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx XX00 OBD
|
4,076
|
$86,014.66
|
$43,007.33
|
$129,021.99
|
7.82
|
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx
|
0
X
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX00 0Xx
|
3,915
|
$82,617.12
|
$41,308.56
|
$123,925.68
|
7.51
|
Total
|
52,126
|
$1,100,000
|
$550,000
|
$1,650,000
|
100
|
-34-
SCHEDULE 2
PART
1
THE
COMPANY
(i) Directors:
|
The
Key Employees, Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
|
|
(ii) Secretary:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
(iii) Registered
Office:
|
00
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
|
|
(iv) Date
of Incorporation:
|
15
December 1999
|
|
(v) Country
of Incorporation:
|
England
& Wales
|
|
(vi) Registered
Number:
|
389
4765
|
|
(vii) Auditors:
|
Hazlewoods
|
|
(viii) Accounting
Reference Date:
|
31
March
|
|
(ix) Charges:
|
In
favour of Barclays Bank plc dated 10 April 2003 and 2 June
2003
|
|
(x) Authorised
Share Capital:
|
1,000,000
|
|
(xi) Issued
Share Capital:
|
52,126
shares of 10 xxxxx
|
|
-35-
Part
2
The
Warrantors warrant that the Company has no subsidiaries
-36-
SCHEDULE 3
THE
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Part
1
[NOTE:
THIS SHOULD LIST ALL KEY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE
COMPANY]"
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY OWNED
BY
THE COMPANY
Registered
Trade Xxxx 224 5490 for "Equitalk" in classes 38 and 41
The
rights to the xxx.xxxxxxxx.xx.xx
domain
name registration.
Part
2
ALL
KEY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY WHICH IS LICENSED
TO
THE COMPANY
MS
Word
-37-
SCHEDULE 4
THE
PENSION SCHEMES
The
Warrantors represent that there are no occupational pension schemes nor personal
pension plans in operation that relate to the Company’s officers or employees
other than an annual contribution of £4,500 contributed to personal pensions of
Xxxxx Xxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxx, such contributions to terminate with immediate
effect at Completion.
-38-
SCHEDULE 5
THE
PROPERTIES
Part
1
Freehold
Properties and Leasehold Properties
There
are
no freehold properties nor leasehold properties.
Part
2
Properties
Subject to Leases and Licences
The
Warrantors warrant that the Company only has one licence in relation to a
property and that licence is to use serviced offices, subject to termination
on
one month’s notice.
-39-
SCHEDULE 6
COMPLETION
DOCUMENTS
1
|
Duly
executed transfers of the Shares in favour of the Purchaser together
with
the relative share certificates.
|
2
|
Such
waivers or consents as the Purchaser may require to enable the Purchaser
to be registered as holder of the
Shares.
|
3.
|
Power
of attorney in the agreed form and the Tax Deed duly executed by
the
Warrantors.
|
4.
|
The
resignations as deeds of each of (a) the Warrantors and Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx as
employees and (b) Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx,and Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
as
directors of the Company in which each of them shall acknowledge
in the
agreed terms set out in Schedule 18 that he or she has no claims
against
the Company for compensation for loss of employment or office or
otherwise.
|
5.
|
The
resignation as a deed of Xxxxx Xxxxxx set out in Schedule 18 as the
secretary of the Company in which he shall acknowledge in the agreed
terms
that he has no claims against the Company for compensation for loss
of
office or otherwise.
|
6.
|
All
the statutory and other books of the Company (which shall be written
up to
date) together with its certificate of incorporation (and any certificate
of incorporation on change of name) and common
seals.
|
7.
|
The
licence of serviced office space at The Innovation Centre,77 Xxxxxxx
Xxxx,
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx XX00 0XX
|
8. The
Service Agreements duly executed by Xxxx Xxxxxx (in the case of the Service
Agreement in which he is named as a party) and by Xxxxx Xxxxx (in the case
of
the Service Agreement in which he is named as a party).
9.
|
A
copy of a new bank mandate of the Company drafted in accordance with
Clause 7.2.2(g) revoking previous mandates and copies of statements
of
each bank account of the Company made up to a date not earlier than
two
business days before Completion.
|
10.
|
Certified
copies of the board minutes of the Company in respect of the board
meetings held pursuant to clause 7.2.2.
|
11.
|
Evidence
of the due fulfilment of the conditions specified at clause 4.1.
|
-40-
SCHEDULE 7
THE
WARRANTIES
1
|
AUTHORITY,
CAPACITY AND TITLE
|
1.1. Authority
and Capacity of the Warrantors
1.1.1. Each
of
the Warrantors has full power and authority to enter into and perform this
Agreement and the Tax Deed and this Agreement and the Tax Deed when executed
will constitute valid and binding obligations on each Warrantor, in accordance
with their respective terms.
1.2. Ownership
of the Shares
1.2.1. The
Warrantors are entitled to negotiate and sell and transfer to the Purchaser
the
full legal and beneficial ownership of their Shares without the further consent
of any third party.
1.2.2. No
person
has the right (whether exercisable now or in the future and whether contingent
or not) to call for the allotment, issue, sale or transfer of any share or
loan
capital of the Company under any option or other agreement (including conversion
rights and rights of pre-emption) and there are no claims, charges, liens,
equities or encumbrances on the shares of the Company.
2.
|
SUPPLY
OF INFORMATION
|
2.1. Accuracy
and adequacy of information disclosed to the Purchaser
All
information contained in this Agreement and the Disclosure Letter was when
given
true, complete and accurate in all material respects and none of the Warrantors
is aware of any fact or matter or circumstances not disclosed in writing to
the
Purchaser which renders any such information materially untrue, inaccurate
or
misleading.
-41-
2.2.
|
Copies
of Abbreviated Accounts, the Management Accounts and Memorandum and
Articles of Association
|
The
copies of the Abbreviated Accounts, the Management Accounts and the memorandum
and articles of association of the Company delivered to the Purchaser are
complete and accurate copies of the originals thereof and, in the case of the
memorandum and articles of association, contain full details of the rights
and
restrictions attaching to the share capital of the Company and have attached
to
them copies of all such resolutions and agreements as are required by law to
be
delivered to the Registrar of Companies for registration and all other
resolutions passed by the Company or any class of members, other than
resolutions relating to ordinary business at any annual general meeting of
the
Company.
3.
|
ACCOUNTS
AND RECORDS
|
3.1. Latest
Accounts
The
Abbreviated Accounts have been prepared in accordance with the law and on a
basis consistent with that adopted in preparing the Abbreviated Accounts for
the
previous two financial periods and in accordance with accounting principles,
standards and practices generally accepted at the date of this Agreement in
the
United Kingdom so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of
the
Company at the Balance Sheet Date and of the profits or losses for the period
concerned and as at that date make:
3.1.1. appropriate
provision for all actual liabilities;
3.1.2. proper
provision (or note in accordance with good accountancy practice) for all
contingent liabilities; and
3.1.3. provision
reasonably regarded as adequate for all bad and doubtful debts.
3.2. Extraordinary
Items
The
profits of the Company for the two years ended on the Balance Sheet Date as
shown by the Abbreviated Accounts and the trend of profits thereby shown have
not (except as disclosed in such accounts) been affected by inconsistencies
in
accounting practices, by the inclusion of non-recurring items of income or
expenditure, by transactions entered into otherwise than on normal commercial
terms or by any other factors or extraordinary items rendering such profits
for
all or any of such periods exceptionally high or low.
-42-
3.3. Book
Debts
None
of
the book debts which were included in the Abbreviated Accounts or which have
subsequently arisen have been outstanding for more than three months from their
due dates for payment or have been released on terms that the debtor has paid
less than the full value of his debt and all such debts have realised or will
realise in the normal course of collection their full value as indicated in
the
Abbreviated Accounts or in the books of the Company after taking into account
the provision for bad and doubtful debts made in the Abbreviated Accounts.
For
the avoidance of doubt, a debt shall not be regarded as realising its full
value
to the extent that it is paid, received or otherwise recovered in circumstances
in which such payment, receipt or recovery is or may be void, voidable or
otherwise liable to be reclaimed or set aside.
3.4. Accounting
and Other Records
The
statutory books, books of account and other records of whatsoever kind of the
Company are up-to-date and maintained in accordance with all applicable legal
requirements on a proper and consistent basis and contain adequate records
of
all matters required to be dealt with in such books and all such books and
records. All accounts, documents and returns required by law to be delivered
or
made to the Registrar of Companies have been delivered or made.
3.5. The
Management Accounts
The
Management Accounts:
3.5.1. have
been
prepared in good faith with reasonable skill and care and on bases and
principles which are consistent with those used in the preparation of the
unaudited management accounts of the Company for the financial year ended on
the
Balance Sheet Date;
3.6. Changes
since the Balance Sheet Date
Since
the
Balance Sheet Date:
3.6.1. the
Company’s business has been carried on in the ordinary course, without any
interruption or alteration in its nature, scope or manner, and so as to maintain
the same as a going concern;
3.6.2. the
Company has not entered into any transaction or assumed or incurred any
liabilities (including contingent liabilities) or made any payment not provided
for in the Abbreviated Accounts otherwise than in the ordinary course of
carrying on its business;
-43-
3.6.3. the
Company’s profits have not been affected by inconsistencies in accounting
practices, by the inclusion of non-recurring items of income or expenditure,
by
transactions entered into otherwise than on normal commercial terms or by any
other factors;
3.6.4. the
Company has not entered into any unusual, long term or onerous commitments
or
contracts;
3.6.5. the
Company’s business has not been materially and adversely affected by
fluctuations in monthly sales figures in excess of £10,000 per month and the
Warrantors have not received any notice of any facts which are likely to give
rise to any such effects;
3.6.6. no
dividend or other distribution has been declared, made or paid to the Company’s
members;
3.6.7. the
Company has not allotted or issued or agreed to issue any share or loan
capital;
3.6.8. the
Company has not made or received any surrender relating to group relief or
the
benefit of advance corporation tax; and
3.6.9. there
has
been no unusual increase or decrease in the level of the Company’s
stock.
FINANCE
3.7. Borrowings
3.7.1. The
amounts borrowed by the Company (as determined in accordance with the provisions
of the relevant instrument) do not exceed any limitation on its borrowing
contained in its Articles of Association or in any debenture or other deed
or
document binding upon it.
3.7.2. The
Company has no outstanding loan capital, nor has it factored any of its debts,
or engaged in financing of a type which would not require to be shown or
reflected in the Abbreviated Accounts or borrowed any money which it has not
repaid, save for borrowings disclosed in the Disclosure Letter.
3.7.3. Full
particulars of all bank accounts of the Company are contained in the Disclosure
Letter including the credit or debit balances (reconciled to show all
unpresented cheques) as of a date not more than two days prior to the date
of
this Agreement since which no payment has been made or instructed to be made
out
of, or cheques drawn on, such accounts.
-44-
3.7.4. Full
particulars of all debentures, acceptance credits, overdraft, loans or other
financial facilities outstanding or available to the Company are contained
in
the Disclosure Letter and there are attached to it accurate copies of all
documents relating to such facilities and neither the Vendors nor the Company
has done anything whereby the continuance of any such facilities in full force
and effect might be affected or prejudiced.
3.8. Liabilities
There
are
no liabilities (including contingent liabilities) which are outstanding on
the
part of the Company, other than those liabilities disclosed in the Abbreviated
Accounts or which have arisen in the ordinary course of business since the
date
to which such accounts were prepared.
4.
|
BANK
ACCOUNTS
|
Full
written details of all bank accounts of the Company are contained in the
Disclosure Letter, including copy statements of each account being not more
than
two days old, to Completion and together with details of all current outgoing
standing orders, direct debits or similar instructions.
5.
|
INSURANCE
|
Full
particulars of the insurances of the Company are contained in the Disclosure
Letter and in respect of all such insurances:
5.1. all
premiums have been duly paid to date;
5.2. full
details of all claims outstanding or expected have been disclosed to the
Purchaser.
6.
|
CONTRACTS
|
Full
written details of all material current contracts of the Company (that is ones
representing £10,000 per annum) and the standard terms and conditions for
customers have been supplied to the Purchaser. All such contracts are on arms
length terms and in the ordinary course of business and do not contain any
change of control or similar provisions.
7.
|
CUSTOMERS
|
The
entry
into this Agreement will not result in the loss by the Company of any customer
or supplier representing 5% or more of such company’s sales or
purchases.
-45-
8.
|
LEGAL
MATTERS
|
8.1. Litigation
Full
details of all current claims made by or against the Company have been fully
disclosed to the Purchaser. There are no circumstances likely to lead to any
such claim which have not been disclosed to the Purchaser in
writing.
8.2. Avoidable
Transactions
The
Company has not been party to any transactions which in the event of the
insolvency of the Company could lead to such transaction being voidable or
otherwise set aside.
8.3. Warranties
and Indemnities
Full
details of the Company’s terms and conditions of sale or warranty have been
supplied to the Purchaser and no product has been supplied or sold or service
provided on any other terms.
8.4. Directors
and Officers
Details
of the Company’s directors and other officers appear in Schedule 2 and none of
such persons has at any time been bankrupt in any jurisdiction or subject to
a
disqualification order.
9.
|
EMPLOYEES,
ETC
|
9.1. Full
Particulars
Particulars
of the start dates, notice periods, remuneration, benefits and other
entitlements of all current employment or consultancy arrangements of the
Company with any person are contained in the Disclosure Letter.
9.2. Pensions
There
are
no pension or similar schemes operated or proposed by the Company for any
current or former employee and details of any sickness, accident, life cover,
permanent health or other scheme currently available or offered to employees
have been disclosed in writing to the Purchaser. There are no proposals to
create any new, or enhance the current, such benefits for employees
-46-
9.3. Recent
Terminations
No
employment or consultancy arrangement of the Company has been terminated or
become the subject of notice in the last six months.
10.
|
TAXATION
MATTERS
|
10.1. Tax
returns and compliance
10.1.1. The
Company has submitted to all relevant Tax authorities by the requisite dates
every computation return and all information for the purpose of Tax howsoever
required and each such computation return and information was and remains true
complete and accurate and leaves no material matter unresolved regarding the
Tax
affairs of the Company.
10.1.2. The
Company has discharged every liability of or in respect of Tax (“Tax liability”)
whether or not a primary liability of such company, due from such company
directly or indirectly in connection with any event (which includes, without
limitation, any act, omission, transaction or occurrence) occurring on or before
Completion and the Company has sufficient cash resources to discharge any such
Tax liability which has not been discharged before Completion and there is
no
Tax liability or potential Tax liability in respect of which the date for
payment has been postponed by agreement with the relevant Tax authority or
by
virtue of any right under any Tax statute or the practice of any Tax
authority.
10.1.3. The
Company has properly made all deductions withholdings and retentions required
to
be made in respect of any actual or deemed payment made or benefit provided
on
or before Completion and has accounted for all such deductions withholdings
and
retentions to each relevant Tax authority and complied with all its obligations
under Tax statutes in connection therewith and without prejudice to the
generality of the foregoing the Company has properly operated PAYE under Part
II
of the Income Tax (Earnings & Xxxxxxxx) Xxx 0000 or any regulations made
thereunder.
10.2. General
provisions for tax
Full
provision or reserve was made in the Abbreviated Accounts in respect of every
Tax liability (including without limitation deferred Tax) for which the Company
at the Balance Sheet Date was or may have been liable or accountable whether
or
not such Tax liability was or is a primary liability of such company and whether
or not such company had has or may have any right of reimbursement against
any
other person.
10.3. Value
Added Tax
10.3.1. The
Company is registered as a taxable person for the purposes of VAT.
-47-
10.3.2. The
Company:
(a) has
complied in all material respects with all Tax statutes relevant to VAT and
guidance published by all relevant Tax authorities in any form whatsoever and
has made and maintained records and other documents appropriate or requisite
for
the purposes of such Tax statutes and guidance; and
(b) is
not in
arrears with any payment and has not failed to submit any return (fully and
properly completed) or information required in respect of VAT and is not liable
to any abnormal or non-routine payment or default surcharge or any forfeiture
or
penalty or subject to the operation of any penal provision.
10.4. Tax
avoidance
The
Company has never knowingly:
10.4.1. entered
into, been party to or otherwise been concerned with any event as a result
of
which any provision of Part XVII Taxes Act applied applies or may
apply;
10.4.2. been
party to or concerned with any scheme or arrangement of which the main purpose
or one of the main purposes was the avoidance of or a reduction in liability
to
Tax.
10.5. Overseas
dealings
10.5.1. The
Company has always exclusively been resident in the UK for tax purposes and
no
circumstance or arrangement exists which would or may cause such company to
cease to be resident in the UK for Tax purposes.
10.5.2. The
Company does not have any subsidiary in the UK and has not at any time had
any
branch agency or establishment outside the UK or any interest in any
non-resident body corporate or entity.
11.
|
ASSETS
|
11.1. Title
to
the Assets
All
of
the assets of the Company including all debts due to such company which are
either included in the Abbreviated Accounts or have been acquired or become
due
since the Balance Sheet Date are the absolute property of the Company free
from
any Encumbrances.
-48-
11.2. Plant,
Machinery and Computer Systems
The
plant
and machinery used by the Company and the computer systems operated by the
Company have been regularly and properly maintained and are believed by the
Warrantors to be adequate for the requirements of its business as presently
carried on.
11.3. Intellectual
Property
Details
of any intellectual property or know-how rights which is owned by the Company
have been fully disclosed in writing to the Purchaser and all such rights
(including the rights to any domain names used and any software used in the
computer systems) are either
fully owned by the Company or are available for use pursuant to a written
licence from a third party for an unlimited time without any requirement for
the
payment of fees.
12.
|
FREEHOLD
AND LEASEHOLD PROPERTY
The Company does not hold any leasehold property nor freehold property
and
the only property related rights and obligations are those set out
in
Schedule 5 in relation to a lease for serviced offices that can be
terminated at no cost to the Company, subject to service of one month’s
notice.
|
13.
|
Effect
of Sale of the Shares
|
13.1.1. Compliance
with this Agreement does not and will not conflict with or result in the breach
of or constitute a default under any agreement or instrument to which the
Company is now a party or relieve any other party to a contract with the Company
of its obligations under such contract or entitle such party to terminate such
contract, whether summarily or by notice.
14.
|
Dependence
on Individual Suppliers or
Customers
|
Neither
more than 10% per cent of the aggregate amount of all the purchases, nor more
than ten per cent of the aggregate amount of all the sales, of the Company
are
obtained or made from or to the same supplier or customer (including any person,
firm or company in any way connected with such supplier or customer) nor is
any
material source of supply to the Company, or any material outlet for the sales
of the Company, in jeopardy or likely to be in jeopardy.
15.
|
Commissions
and Finder’s Fees
|
No
one is
entitled to receive from the Company any finder’s fee, brokerage or other
commission in connection with the purchase of shares in the
Company.
-49-
16.
|
Joint
Venture, Partnerships etc
|
The
Company is not, and has not agreed to become, a member of any joint venture,
consortium, partnership or other unincorporated association and the Company
is
not and has not agreed to become a party to any agreement or arrangement for
participating with others in any business sharing commissions or other
income.
17.
|
Agency
Agreements and Agreements Restricting
Business
|
The
Company is not a party to any agency, distributorship, marketing, purchasing,
manufacturing or licensing agreement or arrangement or any agreement or
arrangement which restricts its freedom to carry on its business in any part
of
the world in such manner as it thinks fit.
-50-
SCHEDULE 8
WARRANTY
LIMITATIONS
1
|
LIMIT
ON INDIVIDUAL RELEVANT CLAIMS
|
The
Warrantors shall have no liability whatsoever in respect of any individual
claim
arising under the Warranties (a “Relevant Claim”) unless:
1.1.
|
the
amount that would otherwise be recoverable from the Warrantors in
respect
of that Relevant Claim (the “Claim Amount”) exceeds £10,000 in which case
the Warrantors shall be liable for the whole of the Claim Amount
and not
just the excess
|
1.2.
|
notice
of the Relevant Claim (stating in reasonable detail, so far as known
to
the Purchaser, the nature of the Relevant Claim and, so far as
practicable, the Claim Amount) has been given to the
Warrantors:
|
1.2.1. on
or
before the first anniversary of Completion in the case of a Relevant Claim
under
the Warranties (other than the Tax Warranties);or
1.2.2. on
or
before the seventh anniversary of Completion in respect of any Relevant Claim
under the Tax Deed or the Tax Warranties.
2.
|
MAXIMUM
LIMIT FOR ALL RELEVANT CLAIMS
|
The
aggregate liability each Warrantor in respect of all Relevant Claims shall
not
exceed the value of the Consideration Shares and Consideration Warrants received
by him, such value to be measured at the date that a claim is admitted by the
Warrantors or determined by a court.
To
the
extent that a Relevant Claim is validly made, the Warrantors may satisfy the
obligation to pay the Purchaser by (i) forfeiting Consideration Warrants to
the
value of the claim (calculated on the Black Scholes method on the date a
Relevant Claim is agreed or determined) and/or (ii) forfeiting the Consideration
Shares or transferring the same to the Purchaser or as it may direct for no
consideration.
3.
|
OTHER
LIMITATIONS ON RELEVANT CLAIMS
|
The
Purchaser shall not be entitled to make any Relevant Claim:
(a)
|
to
the extent that provision or allowance for the matter or liability
which
would otherwise give rise to the claim in question has been taken
into
account in the Abbreviated Accounts and/or the Management Accounts;
or
|
-51-
(b)
|
in
respect of any matter fairly disclosed in any document specifically
referenced in the Disclosure Letter;
or
|
(c)
|
to
the extent that the claim arises as a result of any changes made
after
Completion in the accounting policies or practices upon which the
Company
values its assets; or
|
(d)
|
to
the extent that the claim arises directly or indirectly as a result
of any
voluntary act or omission by the Purchaser or any member of the
Purchaser's Group; or
|
(e)
|
in
respect of anything arising from any matter or thing of which any
member
of the Purchaser has received written notification that it could
lead to a
claim being made at the date of this Agreement; or
|
(f)
|
to
the extent that any loss or liability is caused or increased by a
failure
to mitigate any loss suffered by it;
or
|
(g)
|
it
arises directly or indirectly as a result
of:
|
(i)
|
the
payment after the Completion Date of any unusual or abnormal dividend
by
the Company;
|
(ii)
|
the
change after the Completion Date of the date to which Company makes
up its
accounts; or
|
(iii)
|
the
cessation of any business carried on by the Company;
or
|
(h)
|
it
would not have arisen but for a change in legislation made after
the date
of this Agreement (whether relating to taxation, rates of taxation
or
otherwise) or any amendment to or the
withdrawal of any practice previously published by the HM Revenue
&
Customs or other taxation authority,
in either case occurring after Completion,
whether or not that change, amendment or
withdrawal purports
to be effective retrospectively in whole or in part;
or
|
(j)
|
to
the extent that the claim would have been recoverable under a policy
of
insurance had the Purchaser or the Company maintained in force insurance
cover similar to that current for the business at the Completion
Date;
or
|
(k)
|
to
the extent that the claim arises from the Purchaser's failure to
perform
its obligations under this
Agreement,
|
and
to
the extent that any claim is increased as a result of any of the matters set
out
in this sub-clause, the Warrantors shall not be liable in respect of the amount
by which any claim is so increased.
-52-
SCHEDULE 9
POSITIVE
UNDERTAKINGS
The
Warrantors shall:-
1
|
Maintenance
of trade:
use all reasonable endeavours to maintain the trade and trade connections
of the Company;
|
2.
|
Notice
to Purchaser:
promptly give to the Purchaser full details of any material changes
in the
Business, financial position and/or assets of the Company or event,
matter, thing or circumstances which may or does result in any breach
of
any of the provisions of clause 5
(Conduct of business pending
Completion);
|
3.
|
Insurances:
maintain in force policies of insurance with limits of indemnity
at least
equal to, and otherwise on terms no less favourable than, those policies
of insurance currently maintained by the Company, full details of
which
are attached to the Disclosure
Letter;
|
4.
|
Intellectual
Property Rights:
maintain all Intellectual Property Rights including by the payment
of all
renewal, application and registration fees and diligently prosecute
all
applications comprised in the Intellectual Property Rights and take
all
necessary steps and action to defend the Intellectual Property Rights
and
the interests of the Company therein and provide details thereof
to the
Purchaser and notify the Purchaser of any third party claim of which
the
Company becomes aware in relation to the Intellectual Property
Rights;
|
5.
|
Estimated
Working Capital Deficit as at the date of this
Agreement:
provide the Purchaser with the Warrantors' reasonable estimate of
the
Working Capital Deficit as at the date of this Agreement and sufficient
information on a weekly basis so that the Purchaser may form a reasonable
view as to the likely change in the Working Capital Deficit between
the
date of this Agreement and the Completion
Date.
|
-53-
SCHEDULE 10
NEGATIVE
UNDERTAKINGS
The
Company shall not:
1
|
Capital
expenditure:
incur any expenditure exceeding £5,000 in aggregate on capital account or
enter into any commitments so to
do;
|
2.
|
Borrowings:
take or agree to take any loans, borrowings or other form of funding
or
financial facility or assistance, or enter into or agree to enter
into any
foreign exchange contracts, interest rate swaps, collars, guarantees
or
agreements or other interest rate
instruments;
|
3.
|
Grant
of loans:
grant or agree to grant any loans or other financial facilities or
assistance to or any guarantees or indemnities for the benefit of
any
person;
|
4.
|
Repayment
of facilities:
prematurely repay or prepay any loans, borrowings or other financial
facilities or assistance made available to
it;
|
5.
|
Banking
transactions:
make any payments out of or drawings on its bank account(s) other
than
routine payments made in the ordinary and usual course of
business;
|
6.
|
Negative
pledge:
create or allow to subsist any Encumbrance other than in favour of
Barclays Bank plc over any of its assets or its undertaking (otherwise
than in the ordinary and usual course of its business) or grant or
issue
or agree to grant or issue any mortgages, charges, debentures or
other
securities for money or redeem or agree to redeem any such securities
or
give or agree to give any guarantees or
indemnities;
|
7.
|
Contracts:
make or agree to any amendment, variation, deletion, addition, renewal
or
extension to or of, or terminate or give any notice or intimation
of
termination of, or breach or fail to comply with the material terms
of any
contract or arrangement having a value of greater than £5,000 enter into
any unusual or abnormal contract or commitment or enter into any
contract
other than on arms length terms and for full and proper
consideration;
|
8.
|
Leasing
and hire purchase:
enter into any leasing, hire purchase or other agreement or arrangement
for payment on deferred terms;
|
9.
|
Joint
ventures and partnerships:
enter into or agree to enter into any joint venture, partnership
or
agreement or arrangement for the sharing of profits or
assets;
|
10.
|
Property:
grant or agree to grant any lease or third party right, or vary the
same,
in respect of the Property or dispose of or agree to dispose of the
same;
|
11.
|
Acquisitions:
acquire or enter into any agreement to acquire (whether by one transaction
or by a series of transactions) the whole or a substantial or material
part of the business, undertaking or assets of any other person or
enter
into any agreement or arrangement or permit any action whereby another
company becomes its subsidiary or subsidiary
undertaking;
|
-54-
12.
|
Disposal
of assets:
dispose of or agree to dispose of or grant any option in respect
of or
remove from the Property any of its assets, business or undertaking
other
than stock in the ordinary course of normal day to day
trading;
|
13.
|
Insurances:
permit any of its insurances to lapse or do any thing which would
make any
policy of insurance void or
voidable;
|
14.
|
Litigation
and Arbitration:
institute, compromise, discontinue settle or agree to settle any
legal or
arbitration proceedings relating to the Business, save for debt collection
in the ordinary course of business;
|
15.
|
Intellectual
Property Rights:
grant or modify or agree to terminate any rights or enter into any
agreement relating to the Intellectual Property Rights or otherwise
permit
any of its rights relating to the Intellectual Property Rights to
lapse;
|
16.
|
Liabilities
to/from Company:
incur any liabilities other than trading liabilities incurred in
the
ordinary course of business;
|
17.
|
Payments
to Directors and Associates:
save in respect of payment of a sum in aggregate of no more than
£10,000
(exclusive of VAT) that does not cause the Company to exceed the
Working
Capital Deficit limit specified at Clause 8.2.1, pay or agree to
pay any
remuneration, management charge, fee or other sum to any Key Employee
or
any other person (other than remuneration properly accrued due or
reimbursement of business expenses properly incurred, in each case
as
disclosed in the Disclosure Letter);
or
|
18.
|
Policies
and practices:
manage its business otherwise than in accordance with its business
and
trading policies and practice to date as disclosed to the Purchaser
in the
Disclosure Letter, except as may be necessary to comply with any
legislative changes or in any other way, depart from the ordinary
and
normal course of its day to day business either as regards the nature
or
scope or the manner of conducting the
same.
|
-55-
SCHEDULE 11
BASIS
FOR
PREPARATION OF THE COMPLETION ACCOUNTS
The
Abbreviated Accounts shall be prepared in accordance with UK General Accepted
Accounting Practices (GAAP) standards.
-56-
SCHEDULE 12
TAX
DEED
1.
|
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
|
1.1
|
In
this Schedule 12 the following words and expressions have the following
meanings:-
|
“Accounting
Period”
|
has
the meaning ascribed to it in section 12 of ICTA;
|
“Accounting
Standards”
|
SSAPs,
FRSs, UITF Abstracts, SORPs and all other generally accepted accounting
principles applicable to a United Kingdom company;
|
“Actual
Taxation Liability”
|
in
relation to any person, a liability of that person to make a payment
of or
of an amount in respect of, Taxation, whether or not such Taxation
is also
or alternatively chargeable against or attributable to any other
person
and whether or not such Taxation has been discharged on or before
Completion;
|
“Claim”
|
any
assessment, notice, demand or other document issued or action taken
by, or
on behalf of, any Taxation Authority, or any self-assessment return,
from
which it appears that the Company is subject to, is sought to be
made
subject to, or might become subject to, any Taxation Liability;
|
“Customs”
|
H
M
Revenue & Customs;
|
“Default
Rate”
|
4%
above the base rate of HSBC Bank plc from time to time;
|
“Event”
|
any
event, occurrence, transaction, act or omission (or any event, occurrence,
transaction, act or omission which is deemed to take place for the
purposes of any Taxation) including the sale and purchase of the
Shares
pursuant to this Agreement;
|
“Relief”
|
any
loss, allowance, exemption, set-off, deduction, credit or other relief
relating to any Taxation or to the computation of income, profits
or
chargeable gains for the purposes of any Taxation which has been
or is
(with the consent of the Warrantors) taken into account in the production
of the Abbreviated Accounts, the Management Accounts and/or the Completion
Accounts;
|
-57-
“Tax”
and “Taxation”
|
(a)
all
forms of tax, levy, duty, charge, impost, withholding or other amount
whenever created or imposed and whether of the United Kingdom or
elsewhere, payable to or imposed by any Taxation Authority; and
(b)
all
charges, interest, penalties and fines incidental or relating to
any
Taxation falling within (a) above or to any failure to submit, or
timely
to submit, or to fail fully or accurately to complete any return,
form,
account or computation required by any Taxation Authority;
|
“Taxation
Authority”
|
the
Inland Revenue, Customs, the Inland Revenue National Insurance
Contributions Office or any other revenue, customs, fiscal, governmental,
statutory, state, provincial, local governmental or municipal authority,
body or person, whether of the United Kingdom or elsewhere competent
to
impose, assess or collect any Taxation;
|
“Taxation
Liability”
|
in
relation to any person, any Actual Taxation Liability or Deemed Taxation
Liability of that person or any other liability of, or amount incurred
by,
or charged against, that person, in each case falling within any
of
paragraphs 2.1.1
to
2.1.6;
and
|
“unavailability”
|
in
relation to a Relief, the reduction, modification, claw- back,
counteraction, disallowance or cancellation of, or failure to obtain,
that
Relief, and “unavailable” shall be construed accordingly.
|
1.2
|
In
determining for the purposes of this part 1 of this Schedule 12 whether
a
charge on, or power to sell, mortgage or charge, any share or asset
exists
at any time, the fact that any Taxation has not become payable or
may be
paid by instalments shall be disregarded, and such Taxation shall
be
treated as becoming due, and the charge on, or power to sell, mortgage
or
charge as arising, on the date of the transfer of value or other
Event as
a result of, in respect of, or by reference to, which it becomes
payable
or arises.
|
1.3
|
For
the purposes of paragraphs 1.5.2
and 3.1.4
the following Taxation Liabilities of any person shall be treated
as
arising otherwise than, or as a result of an act, omission or transaction
otherwise than, in the ordinary course of trading of that person:-
|
1.3.1
|
any
Taxation Liability of that person which is payable by or otherwise
recoverable from that person by reason of the failure by any other
person
to pay or otherwise discharge any liability to Taxation;
|
1.3.2
|
any
Taxation Liability of that person either arising under Part XVII
of ICTA
or arising in respect of any transaction or arrangement which includes
any
step having no commercial or business purpose apart from the reduction,
avoidance or deferral of a liability to Taxation;
|
-58-
1.3.3
|
any
Taxation Liability of that person arising in respect of any distribution
(as defined in Part VI of ICTA) or deemed distribution made by that
person, the creation, cancellation or re-organisation of any share
or loan
capital by that person, the making of any loan or advance by that
person,
the creation, cancellation, satisfaction, waiver or repayment of
any
intra-group indebtedness by that person or, in the case of a company,
that
company being, becoming or ceasing to be, or being treated as ceasing
to
be, related to any other person for the purposes of any Taxation;
|
1.3.4
|
any
Taxation Liability of that person arising as a result of the application
of any of the provisions of Schedule 28AA to ICTA;
|
1.3.5
|
any
Taxation Liability of that person which arises by reason of, or is
attributable to, the failure by that person to deduct or withhold
any
Taxation from any payment or, if due, to account to any Taxation
Authority
for any such Taxation;
|
1.3.6
|
any
Taxation Liability of that person arising from any cessation, closure,
rationalisation or reorganisation of any material part of any trade
or
business carried on by that person;
|
1.3.7
|
any
Taxation Liability of that person which arises by reason of, or is
attributable to, the disposal by that person of any asset in circumstances
where the amount of the gain by reference to which that person is
subject
to Taxation exceeds the actual consideration received by that person
for
that disposal less the value attributed to that asset in the Accounts,
in
which case, the amount of that excess shall be treated as arising
otherwise than, or as a result of an act, omission or transaction
otherwise than, in the ordinary course of trading of that person;
and
|
1.3.8
|
any
Taxation Liability of that person arising by reason of any change
in the
date to which that person makes up its accounts.
|
1.4
|
Each
of the following shall be treated, for the purposes of this part
1 of this
Schedule 12, as arising as a result of an Event occurring on Completion
otherwise than in the ordinary course of
trading:-
|
1.4.1
|
any
liability of the Company to income tax and/or national insurance
contributions under the PAYE system either as a result of the disposal
(or
any thing leading to the disposal) of the Shares or the exercise
of any
options which are exercisable on or before Completion or become
exercisable as a result of, or by reason of, the sale of the
Company.
|
1.5
|
References
in this part 1 of this Schedule 12 to any Event shall include any
combination of two or more Events, and references to any Event occurring
or being deemed for the purposes of any Taxation to occur on or before
Completion shall include any combination of two or more Events, provided
that, in that case, one or more of those Events shall occur or be
so
deemed to occur on or before Completion and those Events which shall
occur
after Completion shall have occurred:-
|
1.5.1
|
pursuant
to a legally binding commitment entered into by, or on behalf of,
the
Company on or before Completion;
and
|
1.5.2
|
otherwise
than in the ordinary course of trading of the Company as carried
on
immediately before Completion.
|
-59-
1.6
|
References
in this part 1 of this Schedule 12 to any person being related to
any
other person for the purposes of any Taxation shall include:-
|
1.6.1
|
that
person having control (within the meaning of any of sections 416
(or any
one or more subsections of that section), 767B(4) and 840 of ICTA)
of that
other person;
|
1.6.2
|
that
person being connected (within the meaning of section 839 of ICTA)
with
that other person;
|
1.6.3
|
any
other person having control (as defined in paragraph 1.6.1)
of, or being connected (as defined in paragraph 1.6.2)
with, that person and that other person;
|
1.6.4
|
that
person being the holding company of that other person or being a
subsidiary of either that other person or any other person of which
that
other person is also a subsidiary;
|
1.6.5
|
that
person being a direct or indirect participant in the management,
control
or capital of that other person (for the purposes of schedule 28AA
to
ICTA), and so that where one person is related to another person
each
shall be regarded as being related to the other.
|
2.
|
Covenant
|
2.1
|
Subject
to the limitations in Schedule 8, the Warrantors covenant with the
Purchaser to forfeit Consideration Warrants and/or Consideration
Shares to
the Purchaser to a value equal to each of the following:-
|
2.1.1
|
any
Actual Taxation Liability (not being inheritance tax nor any charges,
interest, penalties and fines incidental or relating to inheritance
tax)
of the Company arising as a result of, in respect of, or by reference
to:-
|
(a)
|
any
Event occurring, or deemed for the purposes of any Taxation to occur,
on
or before Completion; or
|
(b)
|
any
income, profits or chargeable gains (not falling within paragraph
2.1.1(a)) earned, accrued or received, or deemed for the purposes
of any
Taxation to be earned, accrued or received, on or before, or in respect
of
any period ending on or before, Completion (excluding any latent
gain
based on a re-valuation of the Company's goodwill);
|
2.1.2
|
any
liability of the Company to pay or repay any other person (other
than any
Taxation Authority any amount under any agreement or other arrangement
entered
into on or before Completion relating to
corporation tax and/or value added
tax;
|
2.1.3
|
any
Actual Taxation Liability of the Company (not otherwise falling within
paragraph 2.1.1)
which is the liability to Taxation of any other person and for which
the
Company is liable by reason of having been, at any time on or before
Completion, related to:-
|
-60-
(a)
|
that
other person for the purposes of any Taxation;
|
(b)
|
any
person which is or has been at any time related to that other person
for
the purposes of any Taxation;;
|
2.1.4
|
any
Taxation Liability of the Company in respect of PAYE and NICs in
respect
of the period prior to Completion.
|
2.1.5
|
all
charges, interest, penalties and fines (not otherwise falling within
paragraphs 2.1.1
to
2.1.5) incurred by or charged against the Company (whether in respect
of
periods before or after Completion) in respect of:-
|
(a)
|
any
Taxation Liability (whether or not such Taxation Liability has been
paid
or otherwise extinguished) either arising on or before Completion
or
arising after Completion in the circumstances falling within paragraph
2.1.3;
and
|
(b)
|
any
default in relation to Taxation incurred or committed on or before
Completion;
|
2.1.6
|
any
reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Purchaser or the Company
(or
any of them) (other than costs of any employee or officer of the
Purchaser
and/or the Company spending time on such matters) in connection with
any
such liability or amount as is referred to in any of paragraphs
2.1.1
to
2.1.6, or with any claim in respect thereof.
|
2.2
|
Any
payments made pursuant to the Tax Covenant shall, so far as possible,
be
treated, as an adjustment to the consideration paid or payable for
the
Shares.
|
3.
|
Limitations
|
3.1
|
The
Warrantors shall not be liable under the Tax Covenant in respect
of any
Taxation Liability of any person to the extent that:-
|
3.1.1
|
provision
(not being a provision for deferred taxation) has been made for such
Taxation Liability in the Abbreviated Accounts (including the notes
to
such Accounts) or in the Management Accounts or in the Completion
Accounts; or
|
3.1.2
|
such
Taxation Liability was paid or is shown in the Management Accounts
as
having been discharged or accrued; or
|
3.1.3
|
such
Taxation Liability arises or is increased as a result of:-
|
-61-
(a)
|
the
coming into force after Completion of, or any introduction or change
after
Completion in, any law, rule, regulation or published practice of
any
Taxation Authority of general application; or
|
(b)
|
any
change after Completion in the rates of Taxation; or
|
3.1.4
|
such
Taxation Liability would not have arisen but for any act, omission
or
transaction done, made or carried out by the Purchaser and the Company
(or
any of them) or any of their respective directors, employees or
agents:-
|
(a)
|
on
or before Completion, at the written request of the Purchaser; or
|
(b)
|
after
Completion, where such act, omission or transaction was done, made
or
carried out:-
|
(i)
|
otherwise
than as required by law or pursuant to a legally binding commitment
of
that person created on or before Completion; or
|
(ii)
|
otherwise
than in the ordinary course of trading of that person as carried
on
immediately before Completion; or
|
3.1.5
|
the
Purchaser or that person has received from any other person (other
than
the Company) a payment in respect of such Taxation Liability;
or
|
3.1.6
|
such
Taxation Liability would not have arisen but for a change in the
accounting reference date or a change in the accounting policies
or
practices applying to, or in any way affecting, that person, introduced
or
having effect after Completion, other than a change which is required
in
order to comply with the Accounting Standards
applying to that person;
|
3.2
|
The
provisions of Schedule 8 shall apply to the Tax
Covenant.
|
4.
|
Withholdings
and Gross-Up
|
4.1
|
If,
at any time, any applicable law, regulation or regulatory requirement
requires the Vendors to make any deduction or withholding from any
sums
payable to the Purchaser under the Tax Covenant, the amount so due
(and
therefore the number of Consideration Warrants and/or Consideration
Shares
to be forfeited) shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure
that, after the making of such deduction or withholding, the Purchaser
receives, on the due date for such payment, a net sum equal to the
sum
which it would have received had no such deduction or withholding
been
required to be made.
|
-62-
SCHEDULE
13
TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS RELATING TO THE CONSIDERATION SHARES AND CONSIDERATION
WARRANTS
1.01 Investment
Representation
(a)
|
The
Vendors understand that the Consideration Shares and the Consideration
Warrants to be issued pursuant to the terms of this Agreement have
not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the
"Securities Act") and the Purchaser Common Stock and Purchaser Stock
Warrants are "restricted securities" as the term is defined in Rule
144
promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act ("Rule 144") and
the
Vendors cannot resale any of the Consideration Shares and the Purchaser
Common Stock underlying the Consideration Warrants before the first
anniversary of the Completion Date, unless such shares are being
registered under the Securities Act. In the absence of such registration,
as of the first anniversary of the Completion Date and until the
second
anniversary of the Completion Date, the resale by the Vendors of
the
Consideration Shares and the Purchaser Common Stock underlying the
Consideration Warrants will be permitted pursuant and subject to
the
conditions of Rule 144.
|
(b)
|
Each
Vendor has been advised that the Consideration Shares and the
Consideration Warrants (including the underlying Purchaser Common
Stock)
issued hereunder have not been and are not being registered under
the
Securities Act or under the Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction, and
that
Purchaser in issuing such shares is relying upon, among other things,
the
representations and warranties of the Vendors contained in this Agreement
including that such issuance is a "private offering" and does not
require
compliance with the registration provisions of the Securities
Act.
|
(c)
|
The
Purchaser undertakes to comply with its periodic reporting requirements
under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
|
(d)
|
If
after the first anniversary of the issuance of the Consideration
Shares
and the Consideration Warrants, the consent of the Purchaser is required
to remove the legend referred to in 1.02 of this Schedule in accordance
with Rule 144, the Purchaser hereby agrees that in such circumstances
consistent with the application of Rule 144, it shall not unreasonably
withhold its consent.
|
1.02 Restrictions
on Transfer
The
Consideration Shares and the Consideration Warrants to be issued as
consideration shall be characterized as "restricted securities" for purposes
of
Rule 144, and each certificate representing any of such securities shall bear
a
legend identical or similar in effect to the following legend (together with
any
other legend or legends required by applicable state securities laws or
otherwise):
THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS,
AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR
HYPOTHECATED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT AND SUCH LAWS OR IN
COMPLIANCE WITH AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.
-63-
1.03
|
Without
prejudice to the conditions of Rule 144, save for transactions pursuant
to
paragraph 1.05 below, each Vendor agrees that the total number of
Purchaser Common Stock sold by him/her in any one month period shall
not
exceed 2.5% of the average monthly trading volume of the Purchaser
Common
Stock for the month prior to the date in which sale takes place.
Each
Vendor agrees that this resale restriction shall apply to any Purchaser
Common Stock owned by him or her, whether owned as part of the
Consideration Shares or thereafter acquired for as long as either
owns any
Consideration Shares.
|
1.04
|
Irrevocable
Proxy from Vendors.
Each of the Vendors hereby agree to enter into an Irrevocable Proxy
in the
agreed form set out in Schedule 16.
|
1.05
|
Subject
to clause 3.2 of the Agreement and notwithstanding paragraph 1.03
above, a
Vendor shall be entitled to sell its Consideration Shares and/or
Purchaser
Common Stock underlying the Consideration Warrants on a matched bargain
basis outside of AMEX.
|
-64-
Schedule
14
POWER
OF
ATTORNEY
The
Vendors hereby irrevocably appoint the Purchaser as their attorney to sign,
execute and deliver on its behalf all deeds and documents and to do all acts
and
things necessary to give effect to the terms of this Agreement and for vesting
in the Purchaser the Shares and the full benefit of the
Agreement.
Ratification
of the attorney’s acts
The
Vendors hereby ratify and confirm and undertake to ratify everything the
Purchaser shall lawfully do or cause to be done in pursuance of the power of
attorney granted above.
Executed
as a Deed by:
The
Vendors }
}
In
the
presence of }
DATE:
-65-
SCHEDULE
15
PURCHASER
WARRANTIES TO THE WARRANTORS
1. The
Purchaser
(a)
|
The
Purchaser was incorporated in the state of Nevada on 1 September
2000 and
was
admitted to trading on AMEX on 8 June
2005.
|
(b)
|
At
the date of this Agreement, the Purchaser has an authorised share
capital
of 25,000,000 shares of common stock, US$ .001 par value of which
9,195,568 have
been issued and fully paid.
|
2. SEC
Material
(a)
|
The
Annual Report on Form 10-KSB dated 31 March 2006 filed with the SEC
(the
"SEC Material") is true and accurate in all material respects and
not
misleading in any material respect, and all statements, forecasts,
estimates so supplied and all expressions of opinion, intention and
expectation made in the SEC Material have been made on reasonable
grounds
after due and careful enquiry and are truly and honestly held and
fairly
based.
|
(b)
|
The
SEC Material complies with the requirements of, and contains all
information required by, the SEC, the AMEX or any other regulator
to which
the Purchaser is subject (collectively the
"Regulations").
|
3. Litigation
Save
as
disclosed in the SEC Material, the Purchaser is not engaged in any pending
legal
or arbitration proceedings which are material or which may have or have had
during the twelve months preceding the date hereof a material effect on the
financial or trading position of the Purchaser and no such legal or arbitration
proceedings are threatened against the Purchaser.
4 The
Consideration
Shares and the Consideration Warrants
(a)
|
Subject
to the approval of AMEX, the Purchaser has power to allot and issue
the
Consideration Shares and Consideration Warrants to the Vendors.
|
(b)
|
The
creation, allotment and issue of the Consideration Shares and
Consideration Warrants in accordance with this Agreement will comply
with
the rules and regulations of the AMEX and all regulations made thereunder
and all other relevant laws and regulations of the United States
of
America and elsewhere and all agreements or arrangements to which
the
Purchaser is a party or by which the Purchaser or its property is
bound.
|
-66-
(c)
|
The
creation, allotment and issue of the Consideration Shares and
Consideration Warrants and the entering into and completion of this
Agreement will not infringe or exceed any limits, powers or restrictions
or the terms of any contract, obligation or commitment whatsoever
of the
Purchaser and/or its board of
directors.
|
(e)
|
The
Consideration Shares and Consideration Warrants will be allotted
and
issued free from all Encumbrances and will rank pari passu in all
respects
with the existing common stock in the share capital of the
Purchaser.
|
5 Limitation
on Purchaser Warranties
The
Purchaser Warranties provided in this Agreement are subject to the limitations
set out in Schedule 17.
-67-
SCHEDULE
16
IRREVOCABLE
PROXY
KNOW
ALL
PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned does hereby make, constitute
and
appoint Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
its
true and lawful attorney, for it and in its name, place and stead, to act as
its
proxy in respect of all of the shares of common stock of Xfone, Inc. a Nevada
based company (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), which it now or
hereafter may own or hold, including, without limitation, the right, on its
behalf, to demand the call by any proper officer of the Company pursuant to
the
provisions of its by-laws, articles of association, memorandum of association
or
other organizational documents and as permitted by law of a meeting of its
shareholders and at any meeting of shareholders, annual, general or special,
to
vote for the transaction of any and all business that may come before such
meeting, or at any adjournment thereof, including, without limitation, the
right
to vote for the sale of all or any part of the assets of the Company and/or
the
liquidation and dissolution of the Company; giving and granting to his said
attorney full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing
whether necessary or desirable to be done in and about the premises, as fully
as
it might or could do if personally present with full power of substitution,
appointment and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that its said
attorneys shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
This
Proxy is given to Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
in
consideration of the performance of the Agreement dated ________, 2006, by
and
between the undersigned and the Company, and this Proxy shall not be revocable
or revoked by the undersigned and shall be binding upon his successors and
assigns, provided,
however, that
this
Proxy shall be null and void and shall have no force and effect, in respect
of
such shares (and no other securities) so sold by the undersigned in
an
arm’s length sale (in good faith) of the shares to a third party that is not an
Affiliate (as defined below) or related party of the Company.
An
“Affiliate” means (A)
an
entity in which the undersigned owns or has the right to own directly or
indirectly equity and voting share or any other kind of interest or acts as
an
officer thereof, or has the right and power to direct the policy and management
of such company; or (B) a trust or living will or trust in which the undersigned
is a beneficiary thereof; or (C) the spouse, children, parents, and any other
family members up to a fourth degree of the undersigned; or (D) any trustee
of
the undersigned; or (E) any other person or entity which will be subject to
the
undersigned instructions in connection with the ordinary shares so purchased
by
such person or entity.
THE
UNDERSIGNED SHALL EXECUTE AND DELIVER SUCH ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS AND INSTRUMENTS
AS THE COMPANY OR XXXXXXX XXXXXX MAY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THE GRANT HEREBY,
INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, SUCH INSTRUMENTS AS MAY BE NECESSARY OR
APPROPRIATE UNDER ANY APPLICABLE LAW.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Irrevocable Proxy this ___
day of May, 2006.
Name:
______________________
By:____________________________
Name:
Title:
-00-
XXXXXXXX
00
XXXXXXXXXXX
XX PURCHASER WARRANTIES
19
|
LIMIT
ON INDIVIDUAL RELEVANT
CLAIMS
|
The
Purchaser shall have no liability whatsoever in respect of any individual claim
arising under the Purchaser Warranties (a “Relevant Claim”) unless:
19.1.
|
the
amount that would otherwise be recoverable from the Purchaser in
respect
of that Relevant Claim (the “Claim Amount”) exceeds £10,000 in which case
the Purchaser shall be liable for the whole of the Claim Amount and
not
just the excess.
|
19.2.
|
notice
of the Relevant Claim (stating in reasonable detail, so far as known
to
the Warrantor, the nature of the Relevant Claim and, so far as
practicable, the Claim Amount) has been given to the Purchaser on
or
before the first anniversary of
Completion.
|
20.
|
MAXIMUM
LIMIT FOR ALL RELEVANT
CLAIMS
|
The
aggregate liability of the Purchaser to a Warrantor in respect of all Relevant
Claims shall not exceed the value of the Consideration Shares and Consideration
Warrants received by such Warrantor on Completion, such value to be measured
at
the date that a claim is admitted by the Purchaser or determined by a
court.
To
the
extent that a Relevant Claim is validly made, the Purchaser may satisfy the
obligation to pay the Warrantor by (i) granting further Consideration Warrants
to the value of the claim (calculated on the Black Scholes option - pricing
model on the date a Relevant Claim is agreed or determined) and/or (ii) issuing
Purchaser Common Stock to the Warrantor, as the Purchaser may elect, for no
consideration.
21.
|
OTHER
LIMITATIONS ON RELEVANT
CLAIMS
|
The
Warrantors shall not be entitled to make any Relevant Claim:
(c)
|
to
the extent that provision or allowance for the matter or liability
which
would otherwise give rise to the claim in question has been filed
with the
SEC or AMEX; or
|
-69-
(d)
|
to
the extent that the claim arises directly or indirectly as a result
of any
voluntary act or omission by the Warrantors;
or
|
(e)
|
in
respect of anything arising from any matter or thing of which any
Warrantor has received written notification that it could lead to
a claim
being made at the date of this Agreement; or
|
(f)
|
to
the extent that any loss or liability is caused or increased by a
failure
to mitigate any loss suffered by it;
or
|
(h)
|
it
would not have arisen but for a change in legislation made after
the date
of this Agreement (whether relating to taxation, rates of taxation
or
otherwise) or any amendment to or the
withdrawal of any practice previously published by the HM Revenue
&
Customs or other taxation authority,
in either case occurring after Completion,
whether or not that change, amendment or
withdrawal purports
to be effective retrospectively in whole or in part;
or
|
(j)
|
to
the extent that the claim arises from the Warrantors’ failure to perform
its obligations under this Agreement, and
to the extent that any claim is increased as a result of any of the
matters set out in this sub-clause, the Purchaser shall not be liable
in
respect of the amount by which any claim is so increased.
|
-70-
Schedule
18
AGREED
FORM RESIGNATION LETTERS FOR DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
A.
XXXX XXXXXX and Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx FORM OF RESIGNATION LETTER
Dear
Sirs
I,
Xxxx
Xxxxxx:
1. resign
my
employment with Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx Limited with immediate effect;
2. acknowledge
that:
2.1 I
have no
claim whatsoever against Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx Limited, Xfone, Inc. or Swiftnet Limited
for breach of contract, compensation for loss of office or employment, loss
of
pension rights which I acknowledge shall terminate with immediate effect,
redundancy, unfair dismissal or retirement or on any other account;
and
2.2 there
is
no agreement or arrangement outstanding under which Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx has or could
have an obligation to me whether now or in the future in each case up to and
including the date of this letter; and
3. waive,
release and forever discharge Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx Limited, Xfone, Inc.
and
Swiftnet Limited against all actions, proceedings, claims, demands and costs
which I may now have or would have had but for the execution of this
deed.
Signed
as
a deed by )
Xxxx
Xxxxxx ) ___________________________________
in
the
presence of: )
________________________ Signature
of the Witness
________________________ Name
of
the Witness
________________________ Address
of the Witness
________________________
________________________
________________________ Occupation
of the Witness
-71-
Dear
Sirs
I,
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx:
1. resign
my
employment with Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx Limited with immediate effect;
2. acknowledge
that:
2.1 I
have no
claim whatsoever against the Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx Limited, Xfone, Inc. or Swiftnet
Limited for breach of contract, compensation for loss of office or employment,
loss of pension rights which I acknowledge shall terminate with immediate
effect, redundancy, unfair dismissal or retirement or on any other account;
and
2.2 there
is
no agreement or arrangement outstanding under which Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx has or could
have an obligation to me whether now or in the future in each case up to and
including the date of this letter; and
3. waive,
release and forever discharge Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx Limited, Xfone, Inc. and Swiftnet
Limited against all actions, proceedings, claims, demands and costs which I
may
now have or would have had but for the execution of this deed.
Signed
as
a deed by )
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx ) ___________________________________
in
the
presence of: )
________________________ Signature
of the Witness
________________________ Name
of
the Witness
________________________ Address
of the Witness
________________________
________________________
________________________ Occupation
of the Witness
-72-
B.
AGREED FORM OF RESIGNATION LETTER FOR XXXXX XXXXX,XXXXXXX XXXXX, XXXXX XXXX
XXXXX AND XXXXX XXXXXX (subject to the latter’s referring to resignation as
Company secretary)
Dear
Sirs
I,
Xxxxx
Xxxxx:
1. resign
my
office as director of Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx Limited with immediate effect and resign
my
employment with Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx Limited with immediate effect;
2. acknowledge
that:
2.1 I
have no
claim whatsoever against Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx Limited, Xfone, Inc. or Swiftnet Limited
for breach of contract, compensation for loss of office or employment, loss
of
pension rights which I acknowledge shall terminate with immediate effect,
redundancy, unfair dismissal or retirement or on any other account;
and
2.2 there
is
no agreement or arrangement outstanding under which Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx has or could
have an obligation to me whether now or in the future in each case up to and
including the date of this letter; and
3. waive,
release and forever discharge the Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx Limited, Xfone, Inc. and
Swiftnet Limited against all actions, proceedings, claims, demands and costs
which I may now have or would have had but for the execution of this
deed.
Signed
as
a deed by )
Xxxxx
Xxxxx ) ___________________________________
in
the
presence of: )
________________________ Signature
of the Witness
________________________ Name
of
the Witness
________________________ Address
of the Witness
________________________
________________________
________________________ Occupation
of the Witness
-73-
IN
WITNESS
whereof
this Agreement has been duly entered into as a Deed on the date first above
written
SIGNED
and delivered on the date hereof as a Deed by Xfone, Inc. acting
by:
|
|
|
By:
/S/
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx
Name:
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title:
President and CEO
|
||
INDIVIDUAL
VENDORS
(please
place a tick against your own name if your signature is hard to
decipher)
Signed
and delivered as a Deed by:
Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxx
Lady
Xxxx
Xxx
Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
JJT
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
& Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
& Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
In
the presence of
|
-74-
CORPORATE
VENDORS
(please
place a tick against your corporate name)
Signed
and delivered as a Deed by:
Xxxx
Group Pension Scheme
Cantay
Investments Limited
Fast
Guides Limited
Larpent
Xxxxxx Holdings Ltd
Mint
House Nominees Ltd
Omnicom
Limited
Oxford
Technology VCT plc
Oxford
Technology 2 VCT plc
Oxford
Technology 3 VCT plc
QTP
General Partner Limited
Acting
By
Director
Director/Secretary
|
|
-75-
***********************************************************************************
Service
Agreements with Xxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxx
Xxxxx
***********************************************************************************
DATED
2006
And
XFONE,
INC.
And
XXXX
XXXX XXXXXX
Preiskel
&
CO
LLP.
0-00
Xxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
XX0X 0XX
Tel:
x00
(0) 00 0000 0000
Fax:
x00
(0) 00 0000 0000
e-mail:
xxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Ref:
RP/AB/20043012
-76-
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
1
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
|
2
TERM OF EMPLOYMENT
|
3
DUTIES
|
4
HOURS OF WORK
|
5
GRATUITIES AND CODES OF CONDUCT
|
6
REMUNERATION
|
7
PENSIONS
|
8
MEDICAL
INSURANCE4
|
9
COMPANY
CAR/CAR ALLOWANCE
|
10
EXPENSES
|
11
HOLIDAYS
|
12
ILLNESS
|
13
RESTRICTIONS DURING EMPLOYMENT
|
14
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
|
15
CONFIDENTIALITY
|
16
DATA PROTECTION
|
17
MONITORING
|
18
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
|
19
SUSPENSION AND GARDEN LEAVE
|
20
RESIGNATION
AND RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY
|
21
RECONSTRUCTION
OR AMALGAMATION
|
22
RESTRICTIONS
|
23
SEVERABILITY
|
24
THIRD PARTIES
|
25
NOTICES
|
26
STATUTORY
INFORMATION
|
27
MISCELLANEOUS
|
Schedule
1 - Statement Of Particulars Pursuant To The Employment Rights Xxx
0000
|
Schedule
2 - Bonus
|
-77-
THIS
AGREEMENT is
made
on 2006
BETWEEN:
(1)
|
SWIFTNET
LIMITED (the
“Company”) whose registered office is at Britannia House 000 Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx X00 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx;
|
(2)
|
XFONE,
INC.
of
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000, XXX (the "Parent");
and
|
(3)
|
XXXX
XXXX XXXXXX of
14
Distons Lane,
Chipping
Norton,
Xxxx XX0
0XX, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx (the
“Executive”).
|
RECITAL
The
Company shall employ the Executive and the Executive shall serve the Company
as
Managing Director of the Company on the following terms and subject to the
following conditions (the “Agreement”):
IT
IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1
|
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
|
1.1
|
In
this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires the following
expressions shall have the following
meanings:
|
“Associated
Company”
(a)
|
a
company which is not a Subsidiary of the Parent but whose issued
equity
share capital (as defined in s744 of the Companies Act 1985) is owned
as
to at least twenty per cent (20%) by the Parent or one of its
Subsidiaries; or
|
(b)
|
a
Subsidiary
|
“Board”
the
board
of directors for the time being of the Company
-78-
"Equitalk"
Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx
Limited, a Subsidiary of the Parent
“Group”
the
Parent and its Associated
Companies
for the
time being and “Group
Company”
means
any one of them
“Group
Policy”
such
reasonable policies and/or procedures of the Parent or Company as may be in
force from time to time in the future and which do not amount to a material
change in the Executive's terms of employment, including without limitation
the
Parent's Code of Conduct and Ethics, Whistleblower Policy and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Policy
“Parent”
Xfone,
Inc. and any other company which is for the time being the ultimate holding
company of the Company within the meaning of s736 of the Companies Xxx
0000
“Regulations”
the
Working Time Regulations 1998
“Subsidiary”
a
Subsidiary within the meaning of s736 of the Companies Xxx 0000
“Works”
any
discoveries, designs, inventions, research and development, formulas and
technology, topography, techniques or improvements in each case provided that
it
relates to the business of the Company and/or any Group Company.
-79-
1.2
|
Any
reference to a statutory provision shall be deemed to include a reference
to any statutory modification or re-enactment of
it.
|
1.3
|
Words
importing the singular only shall include the plural and vice
versa.
|
1.4
|
The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not
affect
its construction or interpretation.
|
1.5
|
References
in this Agreement to a person include a body corporate and an incorporated
association of persons and references to a company include any body
corporate.
|
1.6
|
Where
appropriate, references to the Executive include his personal
representatives.
|
2
|
TERM
OF EMPLOYMENT
|
The
employment of the Executive shall be deemed to have commenced on ______ 2006,
but the Executive's employment with Equitalk shall count towards his continuous
employment and (subject to termination as provided below) shall be for an
indefinite period terminable by either party giving to the other three (3)
months notice in writing
if
served during the first six (6) months since the date of this Agreement and
thereafter the Company shall provide the Executive with no less than six (6)
months notice and the Executive shall provide the Company with no less than
three (3) months written notice.
3
|
DUTIES
|
3.1
|
The
Executive shall during his employment under this
Agreement:
|
3.1.1
|
perform
the duties and exercise the powers which the Board may from time
to time
properly assign to him consistent with the Executive being Managing
Director in connection with the conduct and management of the business
of
the Company or the business of any Group Company (including serving
on the
board of such Group Company or on any other executive body or any
committee of such a company); and
|
3.1.2
|
promote,
develop and protect the business of the Company and
any Group Company
and at all times and in all respects conform to and comply with the
proper
and reasonable directions and regulations of the Board
and/or the Parent.
|
3.2
|
The
Executive shall give to the Board
such information regarding the affairs of the Company as it shall
require,
and in any event, report regularly and keep the Board
informed.
|
-80-
3.3
|
The
Executive shall carry out his duties in accordance with Group Policy
and
exercise his powers jointly with any other executives appointed by
the
Board
and/or the Parent
to
act jointly with him and the Board
and/or the Parent
may at any time require the Executive to cease performing or exercising
the said or any duties or powers.
|
3.4
|
Without
prejudice to clause 3.3, the Executive shall sign up to all Group
Policies
that other directors or officers of the Group have agreed to sign
up to or
where this is a requirement of the rules, regulations or recommended
good
practice of the SEC, the American Stock Exchange, or any other recognised
stock exchange.
|
3.5
|
The
Executive shall be based at the Company's office at the address shown
above or in any place at which the Company maintains an office within
a
similar distance of his home which the Board may require. The Executive
may be required to travel on business trips abroad when required
by the
Company for the proper performance of his duties.
|
4
|
HOURS
OF WORK
|
4.1
|
The
Executive shall have no normal hours of work and is required to devote
such reasonable amount of time to his work as is reasonably necessary
for
the proper performance of his duties.
|
Without
prejudice to the above, it's hereby noted that Company's standard office hours
are 09:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday with an hour's break for lunch each day.
4.2
|
In
addition to time in which the Executive is working at the Company’s
disposal and carrying out his activities or duties the following
will be
included as working time:
|
4.2.1
|
travelling
time whilst in work e.g. to visit the Parent, clients and suppliers
or to
attend meetings. For the avoidance of doubt this does not include
travel
to and from work; and
|
4.2.2
|
entertaining
of clients and suppliers after office hours provided it has been
authorised by a member of the Board other than the
Executive.
|
5
|
GRATUITIES
AND CODES OF CONDUCT
|
5.1
|
The
Executive shall not directly or indirectly accept any commission,
rebate,
discount or gratuity in cash or in kind from any person who has or
is
having a business relationship with the Company or any Group
Company.
|
5.2
|
The
Executive shall comply (and procure that his spouse and minor children
shall comply) with all applicable rules and regulations of the American
Stock Exchange, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the
rules and regulations of any other relevant stock exchange and any
other
relevant regulatory authority.
|
-81-
6
|
REMUNERATION
|
6.1
|
The
Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at the rate of seventy
thousand pounds (£70,000) per year inclusive of any directors’ fees
payable to him.
|
6.2
|
The
Executive’s salary shall accrue from day to day and be payable by equal
monthly instalments in arrears on the last day of each
month.
|
6.3
|
The
Executive shall be entitled to receive a bonus whilst employed by
the
Company as indicated in Schedule 2.
|
7
|
PENSIONS
|
The
Company shall pay a further sum equal to 7.5% of the Executive’s salary by way
of a contribution to his personal pension scheme as notified to the Company
in
writing. For the avoidance of doubt, such payment shall be additional to the
Executive's salary
8
|
MEDICAL
INSURANCE
|
The
Company shall pay for medical insurance to cover the Executive and his immediate
family and the Company shall take out life insurance of up to four (4) times
his
basic salary.
The
Company shall ensure that the Executive is covered by travel insurance on terms
reasonably acceptable to the Executive, and by the Parent's directors &
officers' insurance.
9
|
COMPANY
CAR/CAR
ALLOWANCE
|
9.1 The
Company shall provide the Executive with a leased car of his choice to a value
of £600 plus VAT per month. The Executive may add to this value, through salary
sacrifice if he so wishes.
9.2 In
addition, the Company will pay for insurance for the car for the Executive
and
which will include his wife as a named driver. The Company will pay for personal
and business fuel for travel within the UK (which will be charged to the
Executive's Company credit card as per Clause 10.2).
9.3 The
Company will provide a free car parking space at the Company's offices or shall
pay for parking if no space is available.
-82-
10
|
EXPENSES
|
10.1 The
Company shall reimburse or procure that the Executive is reimbursed all
reasonable travelling, hotel and other expenses wholly and necessarily incurred
by him in the performance of his duties under this Agreement.
10.2 The
Company will provide the Executive with a company credit card and the Executive
shall only use such credit card for the types of expense indicated above and
in
accordance with any Group Policies in place from time to time.
11
|
HOLIDAYS
|
11.1
|
The
Executive is entitled to twenty five (25) days’ holiday with pay every
calendar year in addition to bank and other public holidays. The
Company’s
holiday year runs from 1st
January to 31st
December. The Executive shall be entitled to carry forward not more
than
five (5) days holiday each year without needing to seek the permission
of
the Board.
|
11.2
|
The
Executive’s holiday entitlement is inclusive of his statutory entitlement
which is twenty (20) days per annum. When calculating the Executive’s
statutory entitlement bank and public holidays are taken into account.
The
statutory entitlement cannot be carried over from one holiday year
to the
next and no pay in lieu can be made to the
Executive.
|
11.3
|
During
the first year of the Executive’s employment, the Executive may use six
(6) days of accrued but unused holiday earned whilst working with
Equitalk. The Executive’s statutory holiday entitlement will accrue pro
rata monthly in advance. Where this calculation results in fractions
of
days the amount of leave which can be taken is rounded up to the
next half
day. Any rounded up element is deducted from the leave
remaining.
|
11.4
|
Save
as provided for in clause 11.3 above, the Executive’s entitlement to
holiday accrues pro rata throughout each holiday year (disregarding
fractions of days). The Executive will be deemed to have taken statutory
holiday first.
|
11.5
|
Any
entitlement to holiday over and above any statutory entitlement remaining
at the end of any holiday year shall lapse and no payment in lieu
will be
made for accrued untaken holiday.
|
11.6
|
11.6.1
|
If
the Executive has taken holiday in excess of his entitlement on
termination of employment he will be required to give account for
it and
the Company will make a deduction from his final salary payment
accordingly. If the Executive has accrued holiday owing to him, the
Company may at its discretion, require him to take the outstanding
holiday
during any notice period or make a payment in lieu of
it.
|
-83-
11.6.2
|
For
the purposes of clause 11.6.1
above, a day’s pay will be calculated on the following basis: 1/260 of the
Executive’s annual salary.
|
11.7
|
If
the Executive’s employment is lawfully terminated without notice, he will
not be entitled to holiday pay for holiday which would have accrued
during
the notice period, had he continued to be employed throughout that
time.
|
11.8
|
There
are no formal notice requirements for taking holiday but the Executive
is
expected to take his holiday at a time or times convenient to the
Company.
|
12
|
ILLNESS
|
12.1
|
The
Executive shall continue to be paid during sickness absence (such
payment
to be inclusive of any statutory sick pay or social security benefits
to
which he may be entitled) for a total of up to twelve (12) weeks
in any
twelve (12) consecutive calendar
months.
|
12.2
|
Thereafter
the Executive shall continue to be paid salary at the discretion
of the
Company provided that if such absence shall aggregate twenty six
(26)
weeks in any twelve (12) consecutive calendar months the Company
may
terminate the employment of the Executive with immediate effect at
any
time and in that event the Company shall pay to the Executive a sum
equal
to one (1) month salary in full and final settlement of all and any
claims
the Executive may have against the Company arising from the termination
of
this Agreement.
|
12.3
|
The
Executive will cease to accrue holiday, subject to any entitlement
under
the Working Time Regulations if he has been absent due to sickness,
for
five (5) consecutive weeks or more.
|
12.4
|
If
the Executive is incapable of performing his duties by reason of
injury
sustained wholly or partly as a result of negligence, nuisance or
breach
of any statutory duty on the part of a third party and the Executive
recovers an amount by way of compensation for loss of earnings from
that
third party, he shall immediately pay that amount to the
Company.
|
12.5
|
The
Company shall be entitled to require the Executive to undergo examinations
by a medical adviser appointed or approved by the Company and the
Executive authorises the medical adviser and/or will provide such
consents
as are necessary to disclose to the Company and the Parent the results
of
such examinations.
|
13
|
RESTRICTIONS
DURING EMPLOYMENT
|
13.1
|
During
the continuance of his employment under this Agreement the Executive
shall
unless prevented by incapacity devote the whole of his working time
to the
business of the Company and shall not without the prior written consent
of
the Board:
|
-84-
13.1.1
|
engage
in any other business; or
|
13.1.2
|
be
concerned or interested in any other business which is or shall be
of a
similar nature to or competitive with that carried on by the Company
or
any Group Company or which is a supplier or customer of the Company
or
Group Company in relation to their goods or services;
or
|
13.1.3
|
solicit
the custom of, canvass, approach or deal with, in competition with
the
Company or any Group Company, any person (including any company,
firm,
organisation or other entity) to whom the Company or any Group Company
supplies services or goods or with whom the Company or any Group
Company
is in negotiations or discussions regarding the possible supply of
services or goods; or
|
13.1.4
|
discourage
any such person referred to in clause 13.1.3
above from conducting or continuing to conduct business with the
Company
or any Group Company on the best terms available to the Company or
any
Group Company; or
|
13.1.5
|
induce
or attempt to induce any director or senior employee of the Company
or any
Group Company and with whom the Executive has material dealings in
the
course of his employment, to leave the employment of the Company
or any
Group Company; or
|
13.1.6
|
take
any steps which impair or might reasonably be thought by the Company,
to
impair the Executive’s ability to act at all times in the best interests
of the Company.
|
13.2
|
If
the Executive does, with the Board’s written consent, carry out other
work, he must notify the Board and the Parent of the number of additional
hours he is working.
|
14
|
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
|
14.1
|
The
Executive acknowledges and agrees that all Works created by the Executive
during the course of his employment are, and shall remain, the exclusive
property of the Company and/or any Group Company. The Executive
specifically acknowledges and agrees that he has no interest whatsoever
in
such Works, including without limitation any interest in know-how,
copyrights, patents, trade marks, topographies or trade names,
notwithstanding the fact that the Executive may have created or
contributed to the creation of
same.
|
14.2
|
The
Executive hereby wholly, unequivocally, and irrevocably assigns to
the
Company and/or any Group Company any and all rights, title, and interest
which the Executive has in and to any Works made, created, or improved
during the course of employment of the Executive by the Company and/or
any
Group Company or using the equipment or other resources of the Company
and/or any Group Company (collectively referred to in this clause
14 as
“Intellectual Property”).
|
-85-
14.3
|
The
Executive will, if so requested by the Company (and at the Company’s
expense), execute all such documents as may be necessary to confirm
the
title of the Company to any rights, interests or other property which
belong to the Company by virtue of this clause
14.
|
14.4
|
The
Executive hereby waives any moral rights which the Executive may
have in
any Intellectual Property in the
Works.
|
14.5
|
The
Executive further agrees to disclose to the Company, and preserve
as
strictly confidential, full particulars of any Intellectual Property,
and
undertakes and agrees to maintain at all times written records pertaining
thereto, which records shall be, and shall remain, the sole and exclusive
property of the Company.
|
14.6
|
All
notes, data, tapes, reference items, sketches, drawings, memoranda,
records, diskettes and other materials in any way relating to any
of the
Confidential Information, Intellectual Property, or to the Company’s
and/or any Group Company’s business produced by the Executive or coming
into the Executive’s possession by or through the Executive’s employment,
shall belong exclusively to the Company and/or any Group Company
and the
Executive agrees to turn over to the Company and/or any Group Company
all
copies of any such materials in the Executive’s possession or under the
Executive’s control, forthwith, at the request of the Company and/or any
Group Company or, in the absence of a request, on the termination
of the
Executive’s employment with the
Company.
|
14.7
|
The
Executive further understands that the provisions of this clause
14 and
the Executive’s agreement to same, are of the essence of this Agreement
and constitute a material inducement to the Company to enter into
this
Agreement and that the Company would not have employed the Executive
without such inducement.
|
14.8
|
The
Executive agrees that the provisions of this clause 14 shall be construed
independently of any other provision of this Agreement, and the existence
of any claim or cause of action the Executive may have against the
Company
and/or any Group Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or
otherwise, shall not constitute a defence to the enforcement by the
Company and/or any Group Company of the provisions of this clause
14.
|
14.9
|
The
Executive acknowledges and agrees that, in the event of his violation
of
any of the provisions this clause 14, the Company and/or any Group
Company
shall be entitled to obtain, from an authority of competent jurisdiction,
interim and permanent injunctive relief and an account of all profits
and
benefits that arise out of such violation, which rights and remedies
shall
be cumulative in addition to any other rights or remedies to which
the
Company and/or any Group Company may be entitled in law.
|
14.10
|
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement this clause 14 shall survive
the
termination of this Agreement, howsoever
caused.
|
15
|
CONFIDENTIALITY
|
15.1
|
During
the course of the Executive’s employment with the Company the Executive
has access to information, documentation and associated material
which is
confidential to the Company and/or any Group Company and customers
of the
Company and/or Group Company including, but not limited to information
which is provided to the Executive in confidence by the Company and/or
Group Company including any information relating to the internal
affairs
of the Company and/or any Group Company. In particular, such information
includes, but is not limited to, the
following:
|
-86-
15.1.1
trade
secrets;
15.1.2
existing
and target customer lists and buying habits;
15.1.3
purchase
requirements;
15.1.4
pricing
and sales information, policies and concepts;
15.1.5
financial
information;
15.1.6
business
plans, forecasts and market strategies; and
15.1.7
inventions
and intellectual property.
Such
information is referred to as “Confidential Information”.
15.2
|
The
Executive agrees that he will not (except in the proper course of
his
duties or where otherwise authorised by the Company in writing) either
during or at any time after the termination of his employment reveal
or
disclose to any person any Confidential
Information.
|
15.3
|
The
Executive agrees that he shall use all reasonable endeavours to prevent
the unauthorised publication or disclosure of any Confidential
Information.
|
15.4
|
The
Executive agrees that he shall not use for his own purposes or for
any
purposes other than those of the Company and its Associated Companies,
any
Confidential Information.
|
15.5
|
The
restrictions contained in this clause 15 shall not apply to any
Confidential Information which is available to the public generally
(other
than through a prior disclosure which was itself unauthorised) or
to any
disclosure required by law to be made, or to any “qualifying disclosure”
within the meaning of the Public Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx 0000.
|
15.6
|
The
Executive further understands that the provisions of this clause
15 and
the Executive’s agreement to same, are of the essence of this Agreement
and constitute a material inducement to the Company to enter into
this
Agreement and that the Company would not have employed the Executive
without such inducement.
|
-87-
15.7
|
The
Executive agrees that the provisions of this clause 15 shall be construed
independently of any other provision of this Agreement, and the existence
of any claim or cause of action the Executive may have against the
Company
and/or any Group Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or
otherwise, shall not constitute a defence to the enforcement by the
Company and/or any Group Company of the provisions of this clause
15.
|
15.8
|
The
Executive acknowledges and agrees that, in the event of his violation
of
any of the provisions this clause 15, the Company and/or any Group
Company
shall be entitled to obtain, from an authority of competent jurisdiction,
interim and permanent injunctive relief and an account of all profits
and
benefits that arise out of such violation, which rights and remedies
shall
be cumulative in addition to any other rights or remedies to which the
Company and/or any Group Company may be entitled in law.
|
15.9
|
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement this clause 15 shall survive
the
termination of this Agreement, howsoever
caused.
|
16
|
DATA
PROTECTION
|
16.1
|
The
Executive acknowledges that the Company will hold personal data relating
to the Executive such data will include the Executive’s employment
application, address, references, bank details, performance appraisals,
work, holiday and sickness records, next of kin, salary reviews,
remuneration details and other records (which may, where necessary,
include sensitive personal data relating to the Executive’s health, and
data held for equal opportunities purposes). The Company will hold
such
personal data for personnel administration and management purposes
and to
comply with the obligations regarding the retention of Executive/worker
records. The Executive’s right of access to such data is as prescribed by
law.
|
16.2
|
The
Executive hereby undertakes and agrees that the Company may process
personal data relating to personnel administration and management
purposes, and may, when necessary for those purposes, make such data
available to its advisers, to third parties providing products and/or
services to the Company, (such as IT systems suppliers, pensions,
benefits
and payroll administrators) and as required by law. Further, the
Executive
hereby agrees that the Company may transfer such data to and from
any
Group Company and may be required to disclose such data by the SEC
or the
American Stock Exchange. By signing this Agreement, the Executive
expressly consents to the collection, transfer and use of such data
in
accordance with this Clause 16.
|
17
|
MONITORING
|
17.1
|
The
Executive acknowledges that the Company may monitor messages sent
and
received via email, the Internet and voicemail systems to ensure
that the
Executive is complying with the Company’s policy for use by its employees
of these systems.
|
18
|
TERMINATION
OF EMPLOYMENT
|
18.1
|
The
Company may at any time and in its absolute discretion (whether or
not any
notice of termination has been given by the Company or the Executive
under
clause 2
above) terminate the Agreement with immediate effect and make a payment
in
lieu of notice. This payment shall comprise the Executive’s basic salary
(at the rate payable when this option is exercised) and any bonus,
pension
contributions or any other benefits and shall be subject to deductions
for
income tax and national insurance contributions as appropriate (the
“Payment
in Lieu”).
The Executive will not, under any circumstances, have any right to
payment
in lieu unless the Company has exercised its option to pay in lieu
of
notice.
|
-88-
18.2
|
The
Payment in Lieu may, at the Company’s sole discretion, be made at the date
that the termination of the Executive's employment is effected by
the
Company. During any such period the Executive is required to keep
the
Company informed on a monthly basis as to his earnings and the Executive
agrees that the Company may deduct any monies he earns as a consultant
or
employee during that period from the Payment in
Lieu.
|
18.3
|
The
employment of the Executive may be terminated by the Company without
notice or payment in lieu of notice if the
Executive:
|
18.3.1
|
is
guilty of any serious misconduct or any other conduct which gives
the
Company the right to dismiss the Executive summarily;
or
|
18.3.2
|
commits
any serious or repeated breach or non-observance of any of the provisions
contained in this Agreement; or
|
18.3.3
|
has
an interim receiving order made against him, becomes bankrupt or
makes any
composition or enters into any deed of arrangement with his creditors;
or
|
18.3.4
|
is
charged
with
any arrestable criminal offence (other than an offence under road
traffic
legislation in the United Kingdom or elsewhere for which a fine or
non-custodial penalty is imposed);
or
|
18.3.5
|
is
disqualified from holding office in another company by reason of
an order
of a court of competent
jurisdiction
|
18.3.6
|
is
suspended or disqualified from driving for a period of over a month;
or
|
18.3.7
|
shall
become of unsound mind or become a patient under the Mental Health
Xxx
0000; or
|
18.3.8
|
is
convicted of an offence under the Criminal Justice Xxx 0000 in relation
to
insider dealings or under any other present or future statutory enactment
or regulations relating to insider dealings;
or
|
18.3.9
|
is
in breach of the Model Code on directors’ dealings in listed securities,
including securities dealt on the OFEX trading facility and securities
dealt on the Alternative Investment Market published by the London
Stock
Exchange Limited or in breach of the rules or regulations of the
SEC, the
American Stock Exchange or any other relevant stock
exchange.
|
18.3.10
|
is
in breach or violation of the Parent's Code of Conduct and Ethics,
Whistleblower Policy or Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Policy.
|
18.4
|
Any
delay by the Company in exercising the right to terminate without
notice
is not a waiver thereof.
|
-89-
19
|
SUSPENSION
AND GARDEN LEAVE
|
19.1
|
The
Company may suspend the Executive for up to ninety (90) days on full
pay
to allow the Company to investigate any complaint made against the
Executive in relation to his employment with the
Company.
|
19.2
|
Provided
the Executive continues to enjoy his full contractual benefits and
receive
his pay in accordance with this Agreement, the Company may in its
absolute
discretion do all or any of the following during the notice period
or any
part of the notice period, after the Executive or the Company has
given
notice of termination to the other, without breaching this Agreement
or
incurring any liability or giving rise to any claim against
it:
|
19.2.1
|
exclude
the Executive from the premises of the Company and/or the
Group;
|
19.2.2
|
require
the Executive to carry out only specified duties (consistent with
his
status, role and experience) or to carry out no
duties;
|
19.2.3
|
announce
to any or all of its employees, suppliers, customers and business
partners
that the Executive has been given notice of termination or has resigned
(as the case may be);
|
19.2.4
|
prohibit
the Executive from communicating in any way with any or all of the
suppliers, customers, business partners, employees, agents or
representatives of the Company or the Group until his employment
has
terminated except to the extent he is authorised to do so by the
Board in
writing;
|
19.2.5
|
require
the Executive to resign his directorship of any Group
Company;
|
19.2.6
|
require
the Executive to comply with any other reasonable conditions imposed
by
the Company.
|
The
Executive will continue to be bound by all obligations (whether express or
implied) owed to the Company under the terms of the Agreement or as an employee
of the Company.
20
|
RESIGNATION
AND RETURN OF COMPANY
PROPERTY
|
20.1
|
Upon
the termination by whatever means of this Agreement the Executive
shall:
|
20.1.1
|
promptly
resign from his office as a director of the Company and from such
offices
held by him in any Group Company without claim for compensation;
and
|
20.1.2
|
promptly
deliver to the Company all credit cards, motor-cars, keys, computer
media
and other property, in whatever form, of or relating to the business
of
the Company or of any Group Company which may be in his possession
or
under his power or control.
|
-90-
20.2
|
If
the Executive fails to comply with clause 19.2.5
and 20.1.1
the Company is hereby irrevocably authorised to appoint some person
in his
name and on his behalf to sign and complete any documents or do any
thing
necessary to give effect to this
clause.
|
20.3
|
The
Executive shall not without the consent of the Company at any time
after
the termination of this Agreement represent himself still to be connected
with the Company or any Group Company (save, if applicable, as shareholder
in the Parent).
|
21
|
RECONSTRUCTION
OR AMALGAMATION
|
If
the
employment of the Executive under this Agreement is terminated by reason of
the
liquidation of the Company for the purpose of reconstruction or amalgamation
and
the Executive is offered employment with any concern or undertaking resulting
from the reconstruction or amalgamation on terms and conditions not less
favourable than the terms of this Agreement then the Executive shall have no
claim against the Company or any Group Company in respect of the termination
of
his employment under this Agreement.
22
|
RESTRICTIONS
|
22.1.1
|
The
Executive shall not;
|
22.1.2
|
for
a period of six (6) months following termination either on his own
account
or through any other person, so as to compete with the business of
the
Company or any Group Company, directly or indirectly solicit, interfere
with, or endeavour to entice away from the Company or any Group Company,
any person who is immediately prior to Completion or has, during
the two
(2) years preceding termination, been a customer of the Company or
any
Group Company;
|
22.1.3
|
for
a period of twelve (12) months following termination, either on his
own
account or through any other person, directly or indirectly solicit,
interfere with, or endeavour to entice away from the Company or any
Group
Company, any person who is immediately prior to termination or has,
during
the two (2) years preceding termination, been an employee of the
Company
or any Group Company.
|
22.1.4
|
The
restrictions in this clause are considered by the parties to be reasonable
and the validity of each sub-clause shall not be affected if any
of the
others is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid.
If any
of the restrictions is void but would be valid if some part of the
restriction were deleted, the restriction in question shall apply
with
such modification as may be necessary to make it
valid.
|
22.2
|
The
Executive acknowledges that the provisions of this clause are no
more
extensive than is reasonable to protect the Company or the
Group.
|
-91-
22.3
|
If
the Executive is suspended from work under the provisions of
clause 19.2,
the Company may, at its sole discretion, agree that the period of
time
during which the non-competition restriction contained in clause 22
is enforceable, starts to run from the date of the suspension and
not from
the Termination Date.
|
22.4
|
The
restrictions contained in Clauses 22. 1.1. and 22.2.2 shall not apply
to
the Executive where the Termination Date is before 1st
January 2008.
|
23
|
SEVERABILITY
|
If
any of
the provisions of this Agreement become invalid or unenforceable for any reason
by virtue of applicable law the remaining provisions shall continue in full
force and effect and the Company and the Executive hereby undertake to use
all
reasonable endeavours to replace any legally invalid or unenforceable provision
with a provision which will promise to the parties (as far as practicable)
the
same commercial results as were intended or contemplated by the original
provision.
24
|
THIRD
PARTIES
|
Unless
the right of enforcement is expressly granted, it is not intended that a third
party other than a Group Company should have the right to enforce the provisions
of this Agreement pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000.
25
|
NOTICES
|
25.1
|
Any
notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall
be
given in writing delivered personally or sent by first class post
pre-paid
recorded delivery (air mail if overseas) or by facsimile to the party
due
to receive such notice at, in the case of the Company, its registered
office from time to time and, in the case of the Executive, his address
as
set out in this Agreement (or such address as he may have notified
to the
Company in accordance with this
clause).
|
25.2
|
Any
notice delivered personally shall be deemed to be received when delivered
to the address provided in this Agreement and any notice sent by
pre-paid
recorded delivery post shall be deemed (in the absence of evidence
of
earlier receipt) to be received three (3) days after posting and
in
proving the time of despatch it shall be sufficient to show that
the
envelope containing such notice was properly addressed, stamped and
posted. A notice sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been received
on receipt by the sender of confirmation in the transmission report
that
the facsimile had been sent.
|
26
|
STATUTORY
INFORMATION
|
The
Schedule 1 to this Agreement sets out information required to be given to the
Executive by the Employment Rights Xxx 0000.
-92-
27
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
27.1
|
This
Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with
the
laws of England, without regard to conflicts of
law.
|
27.2
|
The
parties to this Agreement submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of
the
English courts and agree to only serve proceedings in the High Courts
of
Justice, Strand London.
|
27.3
|
This
Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties and
supersedes all previous agreements and arrangements (if any) relating
to
the employment of the Executive by the Company (which shall be deemed
to
have been terminated by mutual
consent).
|
27.4
|
Nothing
in this Agreement shall require the Executive to be or remain a director
of the Company or any Associated Company and the Company shall not
be
entitled to terminate the employment of the Executive on the grounds
that
he has resigned as a director of any such
company.
|
27.5
|
For
a period of twelve (12) months from the date of this Agreement, the
Parent
undertakes that it will use reasonable endeavours that, save with
the
Executive's consent, it will procure that the Company is not insolvent
(as
that term is used in s123 Insolvency Act
1986).
|
-93-
SCHEDULE 1
Statement
Of Particulars Pursuant To The Employment Rights Xxx 0000
1
|
The
Executive’s period of continuous employment commences on 26 January
2000.
|
2
|
The
Company operates disciplinary and grievance procedures in accordance
with
the Employment Xxx 0000.
|
3
|
The
Company is not a party to any collective agreement which affects
the
Executive’s employment.
|
-94-
SCHEDULE
2
Bonus
Arrangements
1
|
Within
fourteen (14) days from the date of this Agreement, the Parent will
grant
the Executive, under the Parent's 2004 Stock Option Plan, 300,000
options
for restricted shares of its common stock, at a strike price of $3.50
per
share. Such options shall vest as follows: 75,000 options on the
first
anniversary of this agreement and 18,750 each quarter thereafter
during
which he is employed by the Company. Such options may be exercised
at any
time before the tenth anniversary of the date of this
Agreement.
|
2
|
On
or before 31 August 2006, the Executive will be paid a bonus of £4,000 if
he has produced a business plan that the Board approves for execution
in
writing.
|
3
|
On
or before 31 October 2006, the Executive will be paid a bonus equal
to
twelve per cent (12%) of the revenues referable for the month of
September
2006 from former customers of Equitalk, which have transferred to
the
Company and whose CLIs and other details have been entered into the
Company’ system and
set up so as to ensure that their calls are routed by means of the
Company’s switch by 30 September 2006.
If
such former customers have not paid in relation to such revenues
by 31
December 2006, then the Executive shall repay to the Company within
thirty
(30) days, the portion of the bonus that relates to the non-collected
revenues.
|
4
|
If
the share capital of the Company, the Parent or any Associated Company
of
either are admitted to a recognised investment exchange in the United
Kingdom (a "Listing") at any time during the course of the Executive's
employment, the Executive will be paid a bonus of one point thirty
three
per cent (1.33%) of the amount raised on such a Listing. Such bonus
will
be subject to any applicable law and appropriate approvals from the
American Stock Exchange, SEC and/or UK Recognised Stock Exchange
and shall
be paid as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of the
Listing by way of the grant of options or warrants (exercisable at
any
time within 5 years of the date of grant subject to any lock-in periods
agreed as part of the Listing process) exercisable into restricted
shares
of common stock of the Parent. Such options or warrants will be priced
at
the issue price of the Listing, according to the Black Scholes option
-
pricing model, with a volatility of ninety per cent
(90%).
|
5
|
If
the Company, the Parent or any Associated Company acquires the shares,
assets of undertaking of any company or business in the United Kingdom
(an
"Acquisition") at any time during the course of the Executive's
employment, the Executive will be paid a bonus of one point thirty
three
per cent (1.33%) of the value of the Acquisition. Such bonus will
be
subject to any applicable law and appropriate approvals from the
American
Stock Exchange and/or SEC and shall be paid as soon as reasonably
practicable following the date of the Acquisition and may be satisfied
by
the Company by procuring that the Parent allots restricted shares
of
common stock to the Executive to the value of such bonus.
|
6
|
On
or before 31 August 2006, the Executive and the Company will agree
a bonus
scheme linked to his individual performance. An on-target bonus of
£4,000 per month will be payable for each month, such targets to be
set so
as to reward the
Executive
for improving the profitability and revenue of the Company, whilst
giving
him
a
realistic chance of reaching them. The bonus will be paid monthly in
arrears and there shall be no entitlement to receive any bonus once
the
Executive’s
employment has terminated. The Executive and the Company will agree
a
formula to pay the Executive a reduced bonus if targets are not met
and an
increased bonus if targets are
exceeded.
|
7
|
Piggyback
Registration Rights
|
The
obligations on Parent in Clause 3.5 and Schedule 13 of the Share Purchase
Agreement between the parties (entered into on or about the date of this
Agreement) shall be deemed repeated in this agreement, mutatis mutandis, in
respect of any securities allotted by the Parent to the Executive under this
Schedule.
-95-
Signed
as a Deed by Swiftnet Limited acting by:
|
|
Director
|
|
Company
Secretary
|
|
Signed
as a Deed by Xfone, Inc. acting by:
|
|
Director
|
|
Signed
by XXXX XXXX XXXXXX in the presence of:
|
|
Witness
signature:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Address:
|
|
Occupation:
|
-96-
DATED
2006
And
XXXXX
XXXXX
SERVICE
AGREEMENT
|
Preiskel
&
CO
LLP.
0-00 Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
0-00 Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
XX0X 0XX
Tel:
x00
(0) 00 0000 0000
Fax:
x00
(0) 00 0000 0000
e-mail:
xxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Ref:
RP/AB/20043012
-97-
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
1
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
|
2
TERM
OF EMPLOYMENT
|
3
DUTIES
|
4
HOURS
OF WORK
|
5
GRATUITIES
AND CODES OF CONDUCT
|
6
REMUNERATION
|
7
PENSIONS
|
8
MEDICAL
INSURANCE3
|
9
COMPANY CAR / CAR ALLOWANCE
|
10 EXPENSES
|
11 HOLIDAYS
|
12 ILLNESS
|
13 RESTRICTIONS
DURING EMPLOYMENT
|
14 INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
|
15 CONFIDENTIALITY
|
16 DATA
PROTECTION
|
17 MONITORING
|
18 TERMINATION
OF EMPLOYMENT
|
19 SUSPENSION
AND GARDEN LEAVE
|
20 RESIGNATION
AND RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY
|
21 RECONSTRUCTION
OR AMALGAMATION
|
22 RESTRICTIONS
|
23 SEVERABILITY
|
24 THIRD
PARTIES
|
25 NOTICES
|
26 STATUTORY
INFORMATION
|
27 MISCELLANEOUS
|
Schedule
1 - Statement Of Particulars Pursuant To The Employment Rights Xxx
0000
|
Schedule
1 - Statement Of Particulars Pursuant To The Employment Rights
Act 19962 -
Bonus
|
-98-
THIS
AGREEMENT is
made
on 2006
BETWEEN:
(1)
|
SWIFTNET
LIMITED (the
“Company”) whose registered office is at Britannia House 000 Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx X00 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx; and
|
(2)
|
XXXXX
XXXXX
of 3
Aylesbury Road, Cuddington, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx XX00 XXX,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx (the
“Employee”).
|
recital
The
Company shall employ the Employee and the Employee shall serve the Company
as a
project manager for the Company on the following terms and subject to the
following conditions (the “Agreement”):
IT
IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1
|
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
|
1.1
|
In
this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires the following
expressions shall have the following
meanings:
|
“Associated
Company”
(a)
|
a
company which is not a Subsidiary of the Parent but whose issued
equity
share capital (as defined in s744 of the Companies Act 1985) is owned
as
to at least twenty per cent (20%) by the Parent or one of its
Subsidiaries; or
|
(b)
|
a
Subsidiary
|
“Board”
the
board
of directors for the time being of the Company
-99-
"Equitalk"
Xxxxxxxx.xx.xx
Limited, a Subsidiary
“Group”
the
Parent and its Associated
Companies
for the
time being and “Group
Company”
means
any one of them
“Group
Policy”
such
reasonable policies and/or procedures of the Parent or Company as may be in
force from time to time in the future and which do not amount to a material
change in the Employee's terms of employment including without limitation the
Parent's Code of Conduct and Ethics, Whistleblower Policy and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Policy
“Parent”
Xfone,
Inc. of 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000, XXX and any other
company which is for the time being the ultimate holding company of the Company
within the meaning of s736 of the Companies Xxx 0000
“Regulations”
the
Working Time Regulations 1998
“Subsidiary”
a
Subsidiary within the meaning of s736 of the Companies Xxx 0000
“Works”
any
discoveries, designs, inventions, research and development, formulas and
technology, topography, techniques or improvements in each case provided that
it
relates to the business of the Company and/or any Group Company.
-100-
1.2
|
Any
reference to a statutory provision shall be deemed to include a reference
to any statutory modification or re-enactment of
it.
|
1.3
|
Words
importing the singular only shall include the plural and vice
versa.
|
1.4
|
The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not
affect
its construction or interpretation.
|
1.5
|
References
in this Agreement to a person include a body corporate and an incorporated
association of persons and references to a company include any body
corporate.
|
1.6
|
Where
appropriate, references to the Employee include his personal
representatives.
|
2
|
TERM
OF EMPLOYMENT
|
The
employment of the Employee shall be deemed to have commenced on [ ]May 2006,
but
the Employee's employment with Equitalk shall count towards his continuous
employment and (subject to termination as provided below) shall be for an
indefinite period terminable by either party giving to the other three (3)
months notice in writing if served during the first six (6) months since the
date of this Agreement and thereafter the Company shall provide the Employee
with no less than six (6) months notice and the Employee shall provide the
Company with no less than three (3) months written notice.
3
|
DUTIES
|
3.1
|
The
Employee shall during his employment under this
Agreement:
|
3.1.1
|
perform
the duties and exercise the powers which the Board may from time
to time
properly assign to him; and
|
3.1.2
|
promote,
develop and protect the business of the Company and
any Group Company
and at all times and in all respects conform to and comply with the
proper
and reasonable directions and regulations of the Board
and/or the Parent.
|
3.2
|
The
Employee shall give to the Board
such information regarding the affairs of the Company as it shall
require,
and in any event, report regularly and keep the Board
informed.
|
3.3
|
The
Employee shall carry out his duties in accordance with any applicable
Group Policy.
|
3.4
|
The
Employee shall be based at the Company's office at the address shown
above
or in any place at which the Company maintains an office within a
similar
distance of his home which the Board may require. The Employee may
be
required to travel on business trips abroad when required by the
Company
for the proper performance of his duties.
|
-101-
4
|
HOURS
OF WORK
|
4.1
|
The
Employee is required to be in the Company's office during standard
office
hours and outside standard office hours as reasonably required to
perform
his duties. The Employee will not qualify for overtime payments.
Standard
office hours are 09:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday with an hour's break
for
lunch each day.
|
4.2
|
In
addition to time in which the Employee is working at the Company’s
disposal and carrying out his activities or duties the following
will be
included as working time:
|
4.2.1
|
travelling
time whilst in work e.g. to visit the Parent, clients and suppliers
or to
attend meetings. For the avoidance of doubt this does not include
travel
to and from work; and
|
4.2.2
|
entertaining
of clients and suppliers after office hours provided it has been
authorised by a member of the Board other than the
Employee.
|
4.3
|
The
Employee agrees that, notwithstanding the provisions of Regulation
4 of
the Working Time Regulations 1998 relating to maximum weekly working
time
of 48 hours, the limit on maximum working time shall not apply to
the
Employee's employment. The Employee's agreement set out in this clause
is
given for an indefinite period, but shall be terminable on the Employee
giving six months' prior written notice to the
Employer.
|
5
|
GRATUITIES
AND CODES OF CONDUCT
|
5.1
|
The
Employee shall not directly or indirectly accept any commission,
rebate,
discount or gratuity in cash or in kind from any person who has or
is
having a business relationship with the Company or any Group
Company.
|
5.2
|
The
Employee shall comply (and procure that his spouse and minor children
shall comply) with all applicable rules and regulations of the American
Stock Exchange, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the
rules and regulations of any other relevant stock exchange and any
other
relevant regulatory authority.
|
6
|
REMUNERATION
|
6.1
|
The
Company shall pay to the Employee a salary at the rate of fifty five
thousand pounds (£55,000) per year.
|
6.2
|
The
Employee’s salary shall accrue from day to day and be payable by equal
monthly instalments in arrears on the last day of each
month.
|
6.3
|
The
Employee shall be entitled to receive a bonus whilst employed by
the
Company as indicated in Schedule 2.
|
-102-
7
|
PENSIONS
|
The
Company shall pay a further sum equal to 7.5% of the Employee’s salary by way of
a contribution to his personal pension scheme as notified to the Company in
writing. For the avoidance of doubt, such payment shall be additional to the
Employee's salary
8
|
MEDICAL
INSURANCE
|
The
Company shall pay for medical insurance to cover the Employee. The Employee
may
elect for a cash alternative of £35 per month.
9
|
COMPANY
CAR/CAR ALLOWANCE
|
9.1 The
Company shall provide the Employee with a leased car of his choice to a value
of
£500 plus VAT per month. The Employee may add to this value, through salary
sacrifice if he so wishes. The Company will pay for business fuel and personal
fuel for the trip between the Employee's home and the Company's
office.
9.2 In
addition, the Company will pay for insurance for the car for the Employee and
his wife as a named driver, provided that the addition of his wife costs no
more
than £200 + VAT per year.
9.3 The
Company will provide a free car parking space at the Company's offices or shall
pay for parking if no space is available.
10
|
EXPENSES
|
10.1 The
Company shall reimburse or procure that the Employee is reimbursed all
reasonable travelling, hotel and other expenses wholly and necessarily incurred
by him in the performance of his duties under this Agreement that have been
pre-approved by the Board.
11
|
HOLIDAYS
|
11.1
|
The
Employee is entitled to twenty five (25) days’ holiday with pay every
calendar year in addition to bank and other public holidays. The
Company’s
holiday year runs from 1st
January to 31st
December. The Employee shall be entitled to carry forward not more
than
five (5) days holiday each year without needing to seek the permission
of
the Board.
|
11.2
|
The
Employee’s holiday entitlement is inclusive of his statutory entitlement
which is twenty (20) days per annum. When calculating the Employee’s
statutory entitlement bank and public holidays are taken into account.
The
statutory entitlement cannot be carried over from one holiday year
to the
next and no pay in lieu can be made to the
Employee.
|
-103-
11.3
|
During
the first year of the Employee's employment, the Employee may use
four (4)
days of accrued but unused holiday earned whilst working with Equitalk.
The Employee’s statutory holiday entitlement will accrue pro rata monthly
in advance. Where this calculation results in fractions of days the
amount
of leave which can be taken is rounded up to the next half day. Any
rounded up element is deducted from the leave
remaining.
|
11.4
|
Save
as provided for in clause 11.3 above, the Employee’s entitlement to
holiday accrues pro rata throughout each holiday year (disregarding
fractions of days). The Employee will be deemed to have taken statutory
holiday first.
|
11.5
|
Any
entitlement to holiday over and above any statutory entitlement remaining
at the end of any holiday year shall lapse and no payment in lieu
will be
made for accrued untaken holiday.
|
11.6
|
11.6.1
|
If
the Employee has taken holiday in excess of his entitlement on termination
of employment he will be required to give account for it and the
Company
will make a deduction from his final salary payment accordingly.
If the
Employee has accrued holiday owing to him, the Company may at its
discretion, require him to take the outstanding holiday during any
notice
period or make a payment in lieu of
it.
|
11.6.2
|
For
the purposes of clause 11.6.1
above, a day’s pay will be calculated on the following basis: 1/260 of the
Employee’s annual salary.
|
11.7
|
If
the Employee’s employment is lawfully terminated without notice, he will
not be entitled to holiday pay for holiday which would have accrued
during
the notice period, had he continued to be employed throughout that
time.
|
11.8
|
There
are no formal notice requirements for taking holiday but the Employee
is
expected to take his holiday at a time or times convenient to the
Company.
|
12
|
ILLNESS
|
12.1
|
The
Employee shall continue to be paid during sickness absence (such
payment
to be inclusive of any statutory sick pay or social security benefits
to
which he may be entitled) for a total of up to twelve (12) weeks
in any
twelve (12) consecutive calendar
months.
|
12.2
|
Thereafter
the Employee shall continue to be paid salary at the discretion of
the
Company provided that if such absence shall aggregate twenty six
(26)
weeks in any twelve (12) consecutive calendar months the Company
may
terminate the employment of the Employee with immediate effect at
any time
and in that event the Company shall pay to the Employee a sum equal
to one
(1) month salary in full and final settlement of all and any claims
the
Employee may have against the Company arising from the termination
of this
Agreement.
|
12.3
|
The
Employee will cease to accrue holiday, subject to any entitlement
under
the Working Time Regulations if he has been absent due to sickness,
for
five (5) consecutive weeks or more.
|
-104-
12.4
|
If
the Employee is incapable of performing his duties by reason of injury
sustained wholly or partly as a result of negligence, nuisance or
breach
of any statutory duty on the part of a third party and the Employee
recovers an amount by way of compensation for loss of earnings from
that
third party, he shall immediately pay that amount to the
Company.
|
12.5
|
The
Company shall be entitled to require the Employee to undergo examinations
by a medical adviser appointed or approved by the Company and the
Employee
authorises the medical adviser and/or will provide such consents
as are
necessary to disclose to the Company and the Parent the results of
such
examinations.
|
13
|
RESTRICTIONS
DURING EMPLOYMENT
|
13.1
|
During
the continuance of his employment under this Agreement the Employee
shall
unless prevented by incapacity devote the whole of his working time
to the
business of the Company and shall not without the prior written consent
of
the Board:
|
13.1.1
|
engage
in any other business; or
|
13.1.2
|
be
concerned or interested in any other business which is or shall be
of a
similar nature to or competitive with that carried on by the Company
or
any Group Company or which is a supplier or customer of the Company
or
Group Company in relation to their goods or services;
or
|
13.1.3
|
solicit
the custom of, canvass, approach or deal with, in competition with
the
Company or any Group Company, any person (including any company,
firm,
organisation or other entity) to whom the Company or any Group Company
supplies services or goods or with whom the Company or any Group
Company
is in negotiations or discussions regarding the possible supply of
services or goods; or
|
13.1.4
|
discourage
any such person referred to in clause 13.1.3
above from conducting or continuing to conduct business with the
Company
or any Group Company on the best terms available to the Company or
any
Group Company; or
|
13.1.5
|
induce
or attempt to induce any director or senior employee of the Company
or any
Group Company and with whom the Employee has material dealings in
the
course of his employment, to leave the employment of the Company
or any
Group Company; or
|
13.1.6
|
take
any steps which impair or might reasonably be thought by the Company,
to
impair the Employee’s ability to act at all times in the best interests of
the Company.
|
13.2
|
If
the Employee does, with the Board’s written consent, carry out other work,
he must notify the Board and the Parent of the number of additional
hours
he is working.
|
-105-
14
|
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
|
14.1
|
The
Employee acknowledges and agrees that all Works created by the Employee
during the course of his employment are, and shall remain, the exclusive
property of the Company and/or any Group Company. The Employee
specifically acknowledges and agrees that he has no interest whatsoever
in
such Works, including without limitation any interest in know-how,
copyrights, patents, trade marks, topographies or trade names,
notwithstanding the fact that the Employee may have created or contributed
to the creation of same.
|
14.2
|
The
Employee hereby wholly, unequivocally, and irrevocably assigns to
the
Company and/or any Group Company any and all rights, title, and interest
which the Employee has in and to any Works made, created, or improved
during the course of employment of the Employee by the Company and/or
any
Group Company or using the equipment or other resources of the Company
and/or any Group Company (collectively referred to in this clause
14 as
“Intellectual Property”).
|
14.3
|
The
Employee will, if so requested by the Company (and at the Company’s
expense), execute all such documents as may be necessary to confirm
the
title of the Company to any rights, interests or other property which
belong to the Company by virtue of this clause
14.
|
14.4
|
The
Employee hereby waives any moral rights which the Employee may have
in any
Intellectual Property in the Works.
|
14.5
|
The
Employee further agrees to disclose to the Company, and preserve
as
strictly confidential, full particulars of any Intellectual Property,
and
undertakes and agrees to maintain at all times written records pertaining
thereto, which records shall be, and shall remain, the sole and exclusive
property of the Company.
|
14.6
|
All
notes, data, tapes, reference items, sketches, drawings, memoranda,
records, diskettes and other materials in any way relating to any
of the
Confidential Information, Intellectual Property, or to the Company’s
and/or any Group Company’s business produced by the Employee or coming
into the Employee’s possession by or through the Employee’s employment,
shall belong exclusively to the Company and/or any Group Company
and the
Employee agrees to turn over to the Company and/or any Group Company
all
copies of any such materials in the Employee’s possession or under the
Employee’s control, forthwith, at the request of the Company and/or any
Group Company or, in the absence of a request, on the termination
of the
Employee’s employment with the
Company.
|
14.7
|
The
Employee further understands that the provisions of this clause 14
and the
Employee’s agreement to same, are of the essence of this Agreement and
constitute a material inducement to the Company to enter into this
Agreement and that the Company would not have employed the Employee
without such inducement.
|
14.8
|
The
Employee agrees that the provisions of this clause 14 shall be construed
independently of any other provision of this Agreement, and the existence
of any claim or cause of action the Employee may have against the
Company
and/or any Group Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or
otherwise, shall not constitute a defence to the enforcement by the
Company and/or any Group Company of the provisions of this clause
14.
|
-106-
14.9
|
The
Employee acknowledges and agrees that, in the event of his violation
of
any of the provisions this clause 14, the Company and/or any Group
Company
shall be entitled to obtain, from an authority of competent jurisdiction,
interim and permanent injunctive relief and an account of all profits
and
benefits that arise out of such violation, which rights and remedies
shall
be cumulative in addition to any other rights or remedies to which
the
Company and/or any Group Company may be entitled in law.
|
14.10
|
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement this clause 14 shall survive
the
termination of this Agreement, howsoever
caused.
|
15
|
CONFIDENTIALITY
|
15.1
|
During
the course of the Employee’s employment with the Company the Employee has
access to information, documentation and associated material which
is
confidential to the Company and/or any Group Company and customers
of the
Company and/or Group Company including, but not limited to information
which is provided to the Employee in confidence by the Company and/or
Group Company including any information relating to the internal
affairs
of the Company and/or any Group Company. In particular, such information
includes, but is not limited to, the
following:
|
15.1.1
trade
secrets;
15.1.2
existing
and target customer lists and buying habits;
15.1.3
purchase
requirements;
15.1.4
pricing
and sales information, policies and concepts;
15.1.5
financial
information;
15.1.6
business
plans, forecasts and market strategies; and
15.1.7
inventions
and intellectual property.
Such
information is referred to as “Confidential Information”.
15.2
|
The
Employee agrees that he will not (except in the proper course of
his
duties or where otherwise authorised by the Company in writing) either
during or at any time after the termination of his employment reveal
or
disclose to any person any Confidential
Information.
|
-107-
15.3
|
The
Employee agrees that he shall use all reasonable endeavours to prevent
the
unauthorised publication or disclosure of any Confidential
Information.
|
15.4
|
The
Employee agrees that he shall not use for his own purposes or for
any
purposes other than those of the Company and its Associated Companies,
any
Confidential Information.
|
15.5
|
The
restrictions contained in this clause 16 shall not apply to any
Confidential Information which is available to the public generally
(other
than through a prior disclosure which was itself unauthorised) or
to any
disclosure required by law to be made, or to any “qualifying disclosure”
within the meaning of the Public Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx 0000.
|
15.6
|
The
Employee further understands that the provisions of this clause 15
and the
Employee’s agreement to same, are of the essence of this Agreement and
constitute a material inducement to the Company to enter into this
Agreement and that the Company would not have employed the Employee
without such inducement.
|
15.7
|
The
Employee agrees that the provisions of this clause 15 shall be construed
independently of any other provision of this Agreement, and the existence
of any claim or cause of action the Employee may have against the
Company
and/or any Group Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or
otherwise, shall not constitute a defence to the enforcement by the
Company and/or any Group Company of the provisions of this clause
15.
|
15.8
|
The
Employee acknowledges and agrees that, in the event of his violation
of
any of the provisions this clause 15, the Company and/or any Group
Company
shall be entitled to obtain, from an authority of competent jurisdiction,
interim and permanent injunctive relief and an account of all profits
and
benefits that arise out of such violation, which rights and remedies
shall
be cumulative in addition to any other rights or remedies to which
the
Company and/or any Group Company may be entitled in law.
|
15.9
|
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement this clause 15 shall survive
the
termination of this Agreement, howsoever
caused.
|
16
|
DATA
PROTECTION
|
16.1
|
The
Employee acknowledges that the Company will hold personal data relating
to
the Employee such data will include the Employee’s employment application,
address, references, bank details, performance appraisals, work,
holiday
and sickness records, next of kin, salary reviews, remuneration details
and other records (which may, where necessary, include sensitive
personal
data relating to the Employee’s health, and data held for equal
opportunities purposes). The Company will hold such personal data
for
personnel administration and management purposes and to comply with
the
obligations regarding the retention of Employee/worker records. The
Employee’s right of access to such data is as prescribed by
law.
|
-108-
16.2
|
The
Employee hereby undertakes and agrees that the Company may process
personal data relating to personnel administration and management
purposes, and may, when necessary for those purposes, make such data
available to its advisers, to third parties providing products and/or
services to the Company, (such as IT systems suppliers, pensions,
benefits
and payroll administrators) and as required by law. Further, the
Employee
hereby agrees that the Company may transfer such data to and from
any
Group Company and may be required to disclose such data by the SEC
or the
American Stock Exchange. By signing this Agreement, the Employee
expressly
consents to the collection, transfer and use of such data in accordance
with this Clause 16.
|
17
|
MONITORING
|
17.1
|
The
Employee acknowledges that the Company may monitor messages sent
and
received via email, the Internet and voicemail systems to ensure
that the
Employee is complying with the Company’s policy for use by its employees
of these systems.
|
18
|
TERMINATION
OF EMPLOYMENT
|
18.1
|
The
Company may at any time and in its absolute discretion (whether or
not any
notice of termination has been given by the Company or the Employee
under
clause 2
above) terminate the Agreement with immediate effect and make a payment
in
lieu of notice. This payment shall comprise the Employee’s basic salary
(at the rate payable when this option is exercised) and any bonus,
pension
contributions or any other benefits and shall be subject to deductions
for
income tax and national insurance contributions as appropriate (the
“Payment
in Lieu”).
The Employee will not, under any circumstances, have any right to
payment
in lieu unless the Company has exercised its option to pay in lieu
of
notice.
|
18.2
|
The
Payment in Lieu may, at the Company’s sole discretion, be made at the date
that the termination of the Employee's employment is effected by
the
Company. During any such period the Employee is required to keep
the
Company informed on a monthly basis as to his earnings and the Employee
agrees that the Company may deduct any monies he earns as a consultant
or
employee during that period from the Payment in
Lieu.
|
18.3
|
The
employment of the Employee may be terminated by the Company without
notice
or payment in lieu of notice if the
Employee:
|
18.3.1
|
is
guilty of any serious misconduct or any other conduct which gives
the
Company the right to dismiss the Employee summarily;
or
|
18.3.2
|
commits
any serious or repeated breach or non-observance of any of the provisions
contained in this Agreement; or
|
18.3.3
|
has
an interim receiving order made against him, becomes bankrupt or
makes any
composition or enters into any deed of arrangement with his creditors;
or
|
18.3.4
|
is
charged
with
any arrestable criminal offence (other than an offence under road
traffic
legislation in the United Kingdom or elsewhere for which a fine or
non-custodial penalty is imposed);
or
|
-109-
18.3.5
|
is
disqualified from holding office in another company by reason of
an order
of a court of competent jurisdiction;
or
|
18.3.6
|
shall
become of unsound mind or become a patient under the Mental Health
Xxx
0000; or
|
18.3.7
|
is
convicted of an offence under the Criminal Justice Xxx 0000 in relation
to
insider dealings or under any other present or future statutory enactment
or regulations relating to insider dealings;
or
|
18.3.8
|
is
in breach or violation of the Parent's Code of Conduct and Ethics,
Whistleblower Policy or Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Policy.
|
18.4
|
Any
delay by the Company in exercising the right to terminate without
notice
is not a waiver thereof.
|
19
|
SUSPENSION
AND GARDEN LEAVE
|
19.1
|
The
Company may suspend the Employee for up to ninety (90) days on full
pay to
allow the Company to investigate any complaint made against the Employee
in relation to his employment with the
Company.
|
19.2
|
Provided
the Employee continues to enjoy his full contractual benefits and
receive
his pay in accordance with this Agreement, the Company may in its
absolute
discretion do all or any of the following during the notice period
or any
part of the notice period, after the Employee or the Company has
given
notice of termination to the other, without breaching this Agreement
or
incurring any liability or giving rise to any claim against
it:
|
19.2.1
|
exclude
the Employee from the premises of the Company and/or the
Group;
|
19.2.2
|
require
the Employee to carry out only specified duties (consistent with
his
status, role and experience) or to carry out no
duties;
|
19.2.3
|
announce
to any or all of its employees, suppliers, customers and business
partners
that the Employee has been given notice of termination or has resigned
(as
the case may be);
|
19.2.4
|
prohibit
the Employee from communicating in any way with any or all of the
suppliers, customers, business partners, employees, agents or
representatives of the Company or the Group until his employment
has
terminated except to the extent he is authorised to do so by the
Board in
writing;
|
19.2.5
|
require
the Employee to resign any directorship of any Group Company to which
he
may have been appointed by such
time;
|
-110-
19.2.6
|
require
the Employee to comply with any other reasonable conditions imposed
by the
Company.
|
The
Employee will continue to be bound by all obligations (whether express or
implied) owed to the Company under the terms of the Agreement or as an employee
of the Company.
20
|
RESIGNATION
AND RETURN OF COMPANY
PROPERTY
|
20.1
|
Upon
the termination by whatever means of this Agreement the Employee
shall:
|
20.1.1
|
promptly
resign from any offices that may be held by him in any Group Company
without claim for compensation; and
|
20.1.2
|
promptly
deliver to the Company all credit cards, motor-cars, keys, computer
media
and other property, in whatever form, of or relating to the business
of
the Company or of any Group Company which may be in his possession
or
under his power or control.
|
20.2
|
If
the Employee fails to comply with clause 19.2.5
and 20.1.1
the Company is hereby irrevocably authorised to appoint some person
in his
name and on his behalf to sign and complete any documents or do any
thing
necessary to give effect to this
clause.
|
20.3
|
The
Employee shall not without the consent of the Company at any time
after
the termination of this Agreement represent himself still to be connected
with the Company or any Group Company (save, if applicable, as shareholder
in the Parent).
|
21
|
RECONSTRUCTION
OR AMALGAMATION
|
If
the
employment of the Employee under this Agreement is terminated by reason of
the
liquidation of the Company for the purpose of reconstruction or amalgamation
and
the Employee is offered employment with any concern or undertaking resulting
from the reconstruction or amalgamation on terms and conditions not less
favourable than the terms of this Agreement then the Employee shall have no
claim against the Company or any Group Company in respect of the termination
of
his employment under this Agreement.
22
|
RESTRICTIONS
|
22.1.1
|
The
Employee shall not;
|
-111-
22.1.2
|
for
a period of six (6) months following termination either on his own
account
or through any other person, so as to compete with the business of
the
Company or any Group Company, directly or indirectly solicit, interfere
with, or endeavour to entice away from the Company or any Group Company,
any person who is immediately prior to Completion or has, during
the two
(2) years preceding termination, been a customer of the Company or
any
Group Company;
|
22.1.3
|
for
a period of twelve (12) months following termination, either on his
own
account or through any other person, directly or indirectly solicit,
interfere with, or endeavour to entice away from the Company or any
Group
Company, any person who is immediately prior to termination or has,
during
the two (2) years preceding termination, been an employee of the
Company
or any Group Company.
|
22.1.4
|
The
restrictions in this clause are considered by the parties to be reasonable
and the validity of each sub-clause shall not be affected if any
of the
others is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid.
If any
of the restrictions is void but would be valid if some part of the
restriction were deleted, the restriction in question shall apply
with
such modification as may be necessary to make it
valid.
|
22.2
|
The
Employee acknowledges that the provisions of this clause are no more
extensive than is reasonable to protect the Company or the
Group.
|
22.3
|
If
the Employee is suspended from work under the provisions of
clause 19.2,
the Company may, at its sole discretion, agree that the period of
time
during which the non-competition restriction contained in clause 22
is enforceable, starts to run from the date of the suspension and
not from
the Termination Date.
|
23
|
SEVERABILITY
|
If
any of
the provisions of this Agreement become invalid or unenforceable for any reason
by virtue of applicable law the remaining provisions shall continue in full
force and effect and the Company and the Employee hereby undertake to use all
reasonable endeavours to replace any legally invalid or unenforceable provision
with a provision which will promise to the parties (as far as practicable)
the
same commercial results as were intended or contemplated by the original
provision.
24
|
THIRD
PARTIES
|
Unless
the right of enforcement is expressly granted, it is not intended that a third
party other than a Group Company should have the right to enforce the provisions
of this Agreement pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000.
25
|
NOTICES
|
25.1
|
Any
notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall
be
given in writing delivered personally or sent by first class post
pre-paid
recorded delivery (air mail if overseas) or by facsimile to the party
due
to receive such notice at, in the case of the Company, its registered
office from time to time and, in the case of the Employee, his address
as
set out in this Agreement (or such address as he may have notified
to the
Company in accordance with this
clause).
|
25.2
|
Any
notice delivered personally shall be deemed to be received when delivered
to the address provided in this Agreement and any notice sent by
pre-paid
recorded delivery post shall be deemed (in the absence of evidence
of
earlier receipt) to be received three (3) days after posting and
in
proving the time of despatch it shall be sufficient to show that
the
envelope containing such notice was properly addressed, stamped and
posted. A notice sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been received
on receipt by the sender of confirmation in the transmission report
that
the facsimile had been sent.
|
-112-
26
|
STATUTORY
INFORMATION
|
The
Schedule 1 to this Agreement sets out information required to be given to the
Employee by the Employment Rights Xxx 0000.
27
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
27.1
|
This
Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with
the
laws of England, without regard to conflicts of
law.
|
27.2
|
The
parties to this Agreement submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of
the
English courts and agree to only serve proceedings in the High Courts
of
Justice, Strand London.
|
27.3
|
This
Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties and
supersedes all previous agreements and arrangements (if any) relating
to
the employment of the Employee by the Company (which shall be deemed
to
have been terminated by mutual
consent).
|
-113-
SCHEDULE
1
Statement
Of Particulars Pursuant To The Employment Rights Xxx 0000
1
|
The
Employee’s period of continuous employment commences on 26 January
2000.
|
2
|
The
Company operates disciplinary and grievance procedures in accordance
with
the Employment Xxx 0000.
|
3
|
The
Company is not a party to any collective agreement which affects
the
Employee’s employment.
|
-114-
SCHEDULE
2
Bonus
Arrangement
On
or
before 31 July 2006, the Employee and the Company will agree a bonus scheme
linked to his individual performance that will apply as from 1 August
2006. An on-target bonus of £1,500 per month will be payable for each
month, such targets to be set so as to reward the
Employee
for
improving the profitability and revenue of the Company, whilst giving
him
a
realistic chance of reaching them. Such fixed bonus will be paid monthly
in arrears and there shall be no entitlement to receive any bonus once
the
Employee’s
employment has terminated. The Employee and the Company will agree a formula
to
pay the Employee a reduced bonus if targets are not met and an increased bonus
if targets are exceeded.
Signed
as a Deed by Swiftnet Limited acting by:
|
|
Director
|
|
Company
Secretary
|
Signed
by XXXXX XXXXX in the presence of:
|
|
Witness
signature:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Address:
|
|
Occupation:
|
-115-