US Dollars are denoted herein by “USD”, New Israeli Shekels are denoted herein by “NIS”, and the Pound Sterling is denoted herein by “GBP.”
OVERVIEW
We were incorporated in Nevada, US in September 2000. We are a holding and managing company providing international voice, video and data communications services with operations in the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel offering a wide range of services, including: local, long distance and international telephony services; video; prepaid and postpaid calling cards; cellular services; Internet services; messaging services (Email/Fax Broadcast, Email2Fax and Cyber-Number); and reselling opportunities. We serve customers worldwide.
Our principal executive offices are located in Lubbock, Texas.
Divestitures
As reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2009, our board of directors made a strategic decision to concentrate on our operations in the U.S. As a result of this decision, we decided to divest our operations in the United Kingdom (“UK”), and Israel. The assets, liabilities and results of operations of the U.K. and Israel operations have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
Detailed discussions of each of these divestitures follow:
Discontinued operations in the UK. On January 29, 2010, we entered into an agreement (the “Agreement”) with Abraham Keinan, a significant shareholder and Chairman of our Board (“Keinan”), and AMIT K LTD, a company registered in England & Wales which is wholly owned and controlled by Keinan (“Buyer”), for the sale of Swiftnet, Auracall, Equitalk and Story Telecom (the “UK Subsidiaries”), which we owns (the “Transaction”). Pursuant to the Agreement, the consideration to be paid by Buyer and/or Keinan to us shall be comprised of the following three components:
1. | Our release from the repayment of the loan from Iddo Keinan, the son of Mr. Keinan and an employee of Swiftnet dated December 10, 2009, pursuant to which Iddo Keinan extended to Swiftnet a loan of £860,044 ($1,292,353);. |
2. | Release from our obligation to Bank Leumi (UK) Plc. for of £150,000 ($228,375), thereby releasing us from our obligation to Bank Leumi (UK) Plc.; and |
3. | An annual earn-out payment over the following years beginning on the consummation of the Transaction. The aggregate Earn-Out Payments shall be equal to but shall not exceed $1,858,325 in the aggregate. |
4. | Release of intercompany balances between us and the UK Subsidiaries. |
Following an approval of the Transaction in a special meeting of our stockholders on July 14, 2010, we completed our disposition of the UK Subsidiaries on July 29, 2010.
As a result of the Agreement to sell our holdings in the UK Subsidiaries, the assets and liabilities related to UK Subsidiaries have been classified as “held for sale” in our financial statements in accordance with ASC 360, (formerly SFAS No. 144), Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. Furthermore, it has also triggered the need to test the goodwill related to the operations in the UK. Using an estimate of proceeds to be received upon sale as an indicator of the UK operation’s fair value, we determined that $800,000 of UK operation’s goodwill had become impaired, and was, therefore, written off during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 as a component of discontinued operations in the consolidated statement of operations.
The results of discontinued operations in the UK for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
| | Three months ended | | | Six months ended | |
| | June 30, | | | June 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues | | $ | 2,556,886 | | | $ | 4,049,266 | | | $ | 5,864,395 | | | $ | 7,699,806 | |
Cost of revenues | | | 729,777 | | | | 1,786,164 | | | | 2,084,363 | | | | 3,652,462 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross profit | | | 1,827,109 | | | | 2,263,102 | | | | 3,780,032 | | | | 4,047,344 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Marketing and selling | | | 1,088,986 | | | | 1,198,678 | | | | 2,226,053 | | | | 2,315,155 | |
General and administrative | | | 696,278 | | | | 754,953 | | | | 1,295,059 | | | | 998,618 | |
Impairment of goodwill | | | - | | | | - | | | | 800,000 | | | | - | |
Total operating expenses | | | 1,785,264 | | | | 1,953,631 | | | | 4,321,112 | | | | 3,313,773 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating profit (loss) | | | 41,845 | | | | 309,471 | | | | (541,080 | ) | | | 733,571 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financing expenses, net | | | (17,424 | ) | | | (13,531 | ) | | | (67,609 | ) | | | (30,169 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income (loss) before taxes | | | 24,421 | | | | 295,940 | | | | (608,689 | ) | | | 703,402 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income tax benefit (expense) | | | | | | | (4,960 | ) | | | - | | | | (2,529 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss) from discontinued operation in the United Kingdom | | | | | | | | | | $ | (608,689 | ) | | $ | 700,873 | |
Discontinued operations in Israel On May 14, 2010, we entered into an agreement (the “Agreement”) with our 31% minority interest partners (the “Minority Partners”) in Xfone 018 Ltd. ("Xfone 018"), and Marathon Telecom Ltd. (“Marathon Telecom”), for the sale by us of our 69% interest in Xfone 018, and the sale by the Minority Partners of their 31% interest in Xfone 018 (collectively, the “Holdings”) to Marathon Telecom (the “Transaction”). The entry into the Agreement follows the non-binding memorandum of understanding (the “MoU”) which the parties had entered into on March 2, 2010. The aggregate purchase price to be paid by Marathon Telecom in exchange for the interests in Xfone 018 is approximately $7,850,000, which represents the price for 100% of the interests in Xfone 018 free of any financial debt. The financial debt of Xfone 018 on the date of the Agreement, excluding debt due to us, is approximately $1,100,000. In connection with the Transaction, we will be repaid our debt, and will receive 69% of the net proceeds after all other financial debt of Xfone 018 has been paid. Pursuant to the Agreement, the consummation of the Transaction was subject to certain conditions and approvals, including, receipt of the approval of the Minister of Communications in Israel which was received on August 11, 2010.
As a result of the Agreement to sell the holdings in Xfone 018, the assets and liabilities related to Xfone 018 have been classified as “held for sale” in our financial statements.
The results of discontinued operations in Israel for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
| | Three months ended | | | Six months ended | |
| | June 30, | | | June 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues | | $ | 2,280,029 | | | $ | 1,915,598 | | | $ | 4,535,430 | | | $ | 4,089,480 | |
Cost of revenues | | | | | | | 1,090,503 | | | | 2,406,916 | | | | 2,346,846 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross profit | | | 1,025,201 | | | | 825,095 | | | | 2,128,514 | | | | 1,742,634 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Marketing and selling | | | 205,358 | | | | 394,731 | | | | 447,931 | | | | 802,130 | |
General and administrative | | | 440,205 | | | | 477,306 | | | | 882,959 | | | | 819,536 | |
Non-recurring loss | | | - | | | | 506,176 | | | | - | | | | 506,176 | |
Total operating expenses | | | 645,563 | | | | 1,378,213 | | | | 1,330,890 | | | | 2,127,842 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating profit (loss) | | | 379,638 | | | | (553,118 | ) | | | 797,624 | | | | (385,208 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financing expenses, net | | | (40,476 | ) | | | (103,663 | ) | | | (85,016 | ) | | | (170,985 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income (loss) before taxes | | | 339,162 | | | | (656,781 | ) | | | 712,608 | | | | (556,193 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income tax expense | | | (92,162 | ) | | | (142,522 | ) | | | (185,256 | ) | | | (171,638 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss) | | | 247,000 | | | | (799,303 | ) | | | 527,352 | | | | (727,831 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income attributed to non-controlling interest | | | (66,339 | ) | | | 138,716 | | | | (163,479 | ) | | | 119,162 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss) from discontinued operation in the Israel | | $ | 180,661 | | | $ | (660,587 | ) | | $ | 363,873 | | | $ | (608,669 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Financial Information - Percentage of Revenues
| | Three months ended June 30, | | | Six months ended June 30, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
Revenues | | | 100.0 | % | | | 100.0 | % | | | 100.0 | % | | | 100.0 | % |
Cost of Revenues | | | 52.6 | % | | | 54.4 | % | | | 52.8 | % | | | 54.9 | % |
Gross Profit | | | 47.4 | % | | | 45.6 | % | | | 47.2.0 | % | | | 45.1 | % |
Operating Expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Marketing and Selling | | | 7.4 | % | | | 7.3 | % | | | 7.5 | % | | | 7.5 | % |
General and Administrative | | | 36.4 | % | | | 32.7 | % | | | 36.9 | % | | | 33.7 | % |
Total Operating Expenses | | | 43.8 | % | | | 40.1 | % | | | 44.4 | % | | | 41.2 | % |
Income (loss) from continued operations before taxes and non-controlling interest | | | 1.4 | % | | | (11.5) | % | | | (2.5) | % | | | 0.1 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Income (loss) from continued operations | | | 0.9 | % | | | (9.7) | % | | | (1.6) | % | | | 1.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Income (loss) attributed to shareholders | | | 2.3 | % | | | (12.1) | % | | | (2.5) | % | | | 1.5 | % |
COMPARISON OF THE SIX MONTHS PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2010 AND JUNE 30, 2009
Revenues. Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2010 decreased 6.8% to $28,986,997 from $31,105,422 for the same period in 2009. Revenues from our fiber based products ("Fiber-To-The-Premise revenues" or "FTTP revenues") in the six months ended June 30, 2010 increased 17.9% to approximately $4,650,000 from approximately $3,950,000 for the same period in 2009. As percentage of total sales, FTTP revenues in the six months ended June 30, 2010 increased to 16.1% from 12.7% for the same period in 2009. Revenues from our legacy copper network includes revenues from Wholesale, other carriers and other non-FTTP customers. Revenues from our legacy copper network in the six months ended June 30, 2010 decreased 10.4% to approximately $24,330,000 from approximately $27,160,000 in th e same period in 2009. As percentage of total sales, non-FTTP revenues in the six months ended June 30, 2010 decreased to 83.9% from 87.3% for the same period in 2009. The increase in our FTTP revenues mainly resulted from the completion of the build out of the FTTP network in Levelland in April 2010 while the decrease in the non-FTTP revenues is resulted from the continuous attrition of non-FTTP residential customers and wholesale customers.
Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues consists primarily of traffic time purchased from telephone companies and other related charges. Cost of revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2010 decreased 10.4% to $15,296,524 from $17,064,790 for the same period in 2009. Cost of revenues, as a percentage of revenues in the six months ended June 30, 2010, decreased to 52.8% from 54.9% for the same period in 2009. The decrease in the cost of revenues, as a percentage of revenues, is the result of an increase in high-margin FTTP revenues and a decrease in low-margin revenues from wholesale and non-FTTP residential customers.
Marketing and Selling Expenses. Marketing and selling expenses are primarily related to compensation attributed to employees engaged in marketing and selling activities, promotion, advertising and related expenses. Marketing and selling expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2010 decreased 6.2% to $2,180,798 from $2,324,805 for the same period in 2009. The decrease is the result of a decrease in payroll and sales commission.
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses consists primarily of compensation costs for administration, finance and general management personnel and consulting fees. General and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2010, increased 1.9% to $10,683,349 from $10,486,731 for the same period in 2009. General and administrative expenses include stock options compensation which relates to stock options that were granted to our employees and vest during the reported period. Total stock option compensation in the six months ended June 30, 2010 increased by $147,349 (or 48%) to $451,383 from $304,034 for the same period in 2009. In addition, the continuous growth of the operation in Levelland increases our general and ad ministrative expenses by approximately $150,000.
Financing Expenses, net. Financing expenses, net, for the six months ended June 30, 2010 increased by $259,822 to $1,257,116 from $997,294 for the same period in 2009. Financing expenses consist of interest payable on our Bonds, the measurement of the Bonds which are stated in NIS and linkage to the CPI based on the exchange rate fluctuation in the USD\NIS. It also includes interest expenses on our interest bearing obligations and the effect of the currency exchange rate on intercompany balances with our subsidiaries which report in NIS and GBP as their functional currencies, which is of a temporary nature under the determination of SFAS 52. The increase in financing expenses is a result of expenses related to warrants that were granted to a lender on March 2010 and amor tization of fair value of loan that we borrowed on March 2010. The increase in financing expenses was offset against a decrease in the interest accumulated on the Bonds’ outstanding principal during the six months ended June 30, 2010 and the same period in 2009 and the evaluation of 7.2% in the USD against the GBP during the first six months of 2010 versus a devaluation of 13.8% in the USD against the GBP in the same period in 2009.
COMPARISON OF THE THREE MONTHS PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2010 AND JUNE 30, 2009
Revenues. Revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 decreased 6.6% to $14,429,559 from $15,455,409 for the same period in 2009. FTTP revenues in the quarter ended June 30, 2010 increased 23.2% to approximately $2,440,000 from approximately $1,980,000 for the same period in 2009. As percentage of total sales, FTTP revenues in the quarter ended June 30, 2010 increased to 16.9% from 12.8% for the same period in 2009. Revenues from our legacy copper network include revenues from Wholesale, other carriers and other non-FTTP customers. Revenues from our legacy copper network in the quarter ended June 30, 2010 decreased 11.0% to approximately $11,972,000 from approximately $13,480,000 in the same period in 2009. As percentage of total sales, non-FTTP revenues in the quarter ended June 30, 2010 decreased to 83.1% from 87.2% for the same period in 2009. The increase in our FTTP revenues is mainly resulted from the completion of the build out of the FTTP network in Levelland in April 2010 while the decrease in the non-FTTP revenues resulted from the continuous attrition of non-FTTP residential customers and wholesale customers.
Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues consists primarily of traffic time purchased from telephone companies and other related charges. Cost of revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 decreased 9.7% to $7,592,359 from $8,408,974 for the same period in 2009. Cost of revenues, as a percentage of revenues in the quarter ended June 30, 2010, decreased to 52.6% from 54.4% for the same period in 2009. The decrease in the cost of revenues, as a percentage of revenues, is the result of an increase in high margin FTTP revenues and a decrease in low-margin revenues from wholesale and non-FTTP residential customers.
Marketing and Selling Expenses. Marketing and selling expenses are primarily related to compensation attributed to employees engaged in marketing and selling activities, promotion, advertising and related expenses. Marketing and selling expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 decreased 5.4% to $1,072,906 from $1,134,071 for the same period in 2009. The decrease is the result of a decrease in payroll and sales commission.
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses consists primarily of compensation costs for administration, finance and general management personnel and consulting fees. General and administrative expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, increased 3.8% to $5,251,349 from $5,057,631 for the same period in 2009. The increase in the general and administrative expenses resulted mainly from additional expenses of approximately $90,000 related to the growth of the FTTP network in Levelland.
Financing Expenses, net. Financing expenses, net, for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 decreased by $2,380,936 to $162,390 from $2,543,326 for the same period in 2009. Financing expenses consist of interest payable on our Bonds, the measurement of the Bonds which are stated in NIS and linkage to the CPI based on the exchange rate fluctuation in the USD\NIS. It also includes interest expenses on our interest bearing obligations and the effect of the currency exchange rate on intercompany balances with our subsidiaries which report in NIS and GBP as their functional currencies, which is of a temporary nature under the determination of SFAS 52. The decrease in financing expenses is the result of the accumulated interest on the Bonds’ outstanding principal during the qu arter ended June 30, 2010 and the same period in 2009 and the evaluation of 4.4% in the USD against the NIS during the first quarter of 2010 versus a devaluation of 6.4% in the USD against the GBP in the same period in 2009.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2010, amounted to $3,760,271 compared to $2,467,028 as of December 31, 2009, an increase of $1,293,243. Net cash provided by operating activities in the six months ended June 30, 2010 was $1,340,521, a decrease of $813,393 compared to a net cash flow of $2,153,914 in the same period of 2009. The decrease in cash flow from operating activities is mostly related to changes in our working capital in the six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Cash used for investing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2010 was $4,601,238. Out of that amount, $2,457,290 is attributable to the build out of the project under the United States Department of Agriculture in Levelland, TX and $2,143 ,948 to the purchase of other equipment. Net cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was $4,585,392, and is primarily attributable to proceeds from the issuance of promissory note, stocks and warrants to Burlingame Equity Investors, LP and the issuance of stocks to Gagnon Securities LLC for a total proceeds of $6,575,000.
Our capital investments are primarily related to the build-out of our fiber network, the purchase of equipment and software for services that we provide or intend to provide in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Capital lease obligations: We are the lessee of switching and other telecom equipment and motor vehicles under capital leases expiring on various dates from 2010 through 2014.
As of June 30, 2010, our continued operation reported a working capital deficit of $8,256,607 compared to a deficit of $13,449,727 on December 31, 2009. We expect that the proceeds from the divestiture of the UK and the Israeli operations together with the renegotiation of our short-term debt to a commercial bank will cure the deficit in our working capital.
The following table represents our contractual obligations and commercial commitments, excluding interest expense, as of June 30, 2010.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Payments Due by Period | |
Contractual Obligations | | Total | | | Less than 1 Year | | | 1-3 Years | | | 4-5 Years | | | More than 5 Years | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Domestic credit facility | | $ | 1,380,204 | | | $ | 1,380,204 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | |
Domestic Note Payable | | | 2,041,354 | | | | 1,994,878 | | | | 33,596 | | | | 12,880 | | | | - | |
Foreign credit facility | | | 228,375 | | | | 228,375 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Other notes payable | | | 4,934,606 | | | | 1,756,505 | | | | 2923900 | | | | - | | | | 254,201 | |
Notes Payable from the United States Department of Agriculture | | | 7,143,976 | | | | 358,177 | | | | 716,353 | | | | 716,353 | | | | 5,353,093 | |
Bonds | | | 20,716,053 | | | | 3,546,808 | | | | 7,093,615 | | | | 7,093,615 | | | | 2,982,015 | |
Capital leases | | | 325,257 | | | | 178, 747 | | | | 146,510 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Operating leases | | | 5,923,400 | | | | 2,257,257 | | | | 3,507,328 | | | | 158,816 | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total contractual cash obligations | | $ | 42,693,225 | | | $ | 11,522,204 | | | $ | 14,421,302 | | | $ | 7,981,664 | | | $ | 8,589,309 | |
We believe that funds expected to be generated from operations, proceeds from the divestiture of our operations in the UK and Israel and the control of capital spending will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash requirements for operating needs for at least the next 12 months.
XFONE, INC.
The Bonds
On December 13, 2007 (the “Date of Issuance”), we accepted offers, for the issuance of securities to Israeli institutional investors, for total gross proceeds of NIS 100,382,100 (approximately $25,562,032, based on the exchange rate as of December 13, 2007) par value non-convertible bonds (Series A) (the “Bonds”). The Bonds were issued for an amount equal to their par value.
The Bonds accrue annual interest that is paid semi-annually on the 1st of June and on the 1st of December of every year from 2008 until 2015 (inclusive). The principal of the Bonds is repaid in eight equal annual payments on the 1st of December of every year from 2008 until 2015 (inclusive). The principal and interest of the Bonds are linked to the Israeli Consumer Price Index.
On November 4, 2008, we filed a public prospectus (the “Prospectus”) with the Israel Securities Authority (the “ISA”) and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange ("TASE") for listing of the Bonds for trading on the TASE. On November 11, 2008 (the “Date of Listing”), the Bonds commenced trading on the TASE. From the Date of Issuance until the Date of Listing, the Bonds accrued annual interest at a rate of 9%. As of the Date of Listing, the interest rate for the unpaid balance of the Bonds was reduced by 1% to an annual interest rate of 8%.
The Bonds may only be traded in Israel. The Bonds were rated A3 by Midroog Limited, an Israeli rating company which is a subsidiary of Moody’s Investor Services. On February 19, 2009, Midroog filed its annual monitoring report (the “Monitoring Report”) with the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange. According to the Monitoring Report, Midroog’s rating committee reaffirmed the A3 rating assigned to the Bonds. However, the rating committee decided on a negative outlook on the rating of the Bonds, largely, but not exclusively, due to the increase of the risk level in the business environment in which we operate, resulting from the increasing recession in the United States and the threat it poses on our business, since our core activity is based in the U.S. While the Monitoring Report recognizes that we show relative stability in our financial results and adherence to our expected cash flow coverage ratios, it cites our currency exposure resulting from the NIS index-linked bonds in relation to the USD, which is our major activity currency. On October 26, 2009, Midroog announced a rating downgrade to our series A bonds from A3 to Baa1 and is maintaining the negative outlook. According to the rating report, the rating downgrade reflects a continued downtrend in our revenues, erosion in operating cash flow and coverage ratios, and a significant discrepancy between the level of cash flow and coverage ratios observed at the time of the initial rating and those presently observed. Midroog is maintaining the negative outlook on the rating due to our relatively low liquidity, weak free cash flow and lack of a substantial volume of unused credit facilities. On December 30, 2009, Midroog filed a monitoring report with the TASE announcing the inclusion of the rating of the bond in its watch list with a negative outlo ok. According to the report Midroog will examine the rating with respect to our ability to repay the full payment due on December 1, 2009, and our future liquidity. On July 1, 2010, Midroog filed with the TASE a rating action report (the “Report”) downgrading the rating of the Bonds from Baa1 to Baa3, announcing that the negative outlook on the rating of the Bonds is replaced with a stable outlook, and removing the rating of the Bonds from Midroog’s watch list.
On March 25, 2008, we issued the holders of the Bonds, for no additional consideration, 956,020 (non-tradable) warrants, each exercisable at an exercise price of $3.50 with a term of 4 years, commencing on September 2, 2008.
Credit Facility
We have a credit facility from Bank Leumi (UK) plc (“Bank Leumi”), of up to £150,000 ($228,375), which we obtained on November 26, 2008 for general working capital purposes (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility is secured by a bank guarantee given to Bank Leumi by FIBI London. The guarantee is based upon a £150,000 deposit by Iddo Keinan, son of Abraham Keinan, our Chairman of the Board, and employee of our wholly-owned UK based subsidiary, Swiftnet Limited, with FIBI London. The Credit Facility bears interest at a rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), plus one percent per annum, payable at the end of each three-month interest period. If we were to draw funds in excess of the agreed £150,000 amount without prior consent of Bank Leumi, we will be charge d interest at the Base Rate, which is currently 5.5% plus 5% per annum for Sterling balances. On January 29, 2010, we entered into an agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Mr. Keinan and AMIT K LTD, a company registered in England & Wales which is wholly owned and controlled by Mr. Keinan (“Buyer”), pursuant to which Mr. Keinan, through Buyer, agreed to purchase from us, and we agreed to sell, 100% of the entire issued share capital of Swiftnet Limited, Auracall Limited, Equitalk.co.uk Limited, Story Telecom, Inc. and Story Telecom Limited (the “UK Subsidiaries”), which we own (the “Transaction”). The consideration of the Transaction includes, among other things, full redemption by Buyer and/or Mr. Keinan of the Credit Facility thereby releasing us from our obligation to Bank Leumi (UK) Plc. The Transaction was closed on July 29, 2010 and the Credit Facility was fully redeemed pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
Promissory Notes
On December 1, 2009, we issued a series of promissory notes in the aggregate amount of approximately $875,000 to various lenders who are either affiliates of ours or people related to certain affiliates and/or business partners of ours. The notes bear interest at rates between 0% and 10% and mature between one month and one year from issuance. Certain of the notes are prepayable and contain no prepayment penalties. A one month note in the amount of approximately $133,000 bears no interest unless it is not paid at maturity and then such loan bears interest at 2% per month until repaid. The notes are guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries. The proceeds of the notes were utilized to repay obligations under our Series A Bonds. As of March 31, 2010, the outstanding balance of th ese notes was $176,390 which mature on December 2010.
Loan Agreement
On December 10, 2009, we entered into a Loan Agreement as guarantor, with (i) Swiftnet Limited, our wholly owned United Kingdom subsidiary, as borrower; (ii) Iddo Keinan, as lender; and (iii) our other wholly owned UK Subsidiaries: (a) Auracall Limited, (b) Equitalk.co.uk Limited, and (c) Story Telecom Limited. Pursuant to the Agreement, Iddo Keinan agreed to extend to the Swiftnet Limited a loan in the amount of £860,045 ($1,292,353) no later than December 10, 2009. The loan was advanced as bridge funding of the payment of amounts due on our Series A Bonds. The loan had an initial maturity date of May 30, 2010, which was extended by mutual agreement to July 31, 2010. The loan shall bear interest of 1.3% per month charged on the total amount of the Iddo Keinan’s loan. In consideration for the loan, the following was gra nted as security in favor of the lender:
| 1. Security interest in: (i) 51% of each of the Class A shares and Class B shares of the Swiftnet; (ii) 51% of the issued share capital of Equitalk; (iii) 100% of the issued share capital of Auracall; (iv) 100% of the issued share capital of Story Telecom; |
| 2. Debentures over the entire assets of the Swiftnet and each UK Subsidiary. |
| 3. Security interest in any proceeds of a sale of our interest in the capital stock of Xfone 018, Ltd., in an amount equal to the amount of the Loan. |
Upon the closing of the Transaction we were released from our obligation as a guarantor for the loan.
Securities Purchase Agreement
On March 23, 2010, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with an existing shareholder, Burlingame Equity Investors, LP (“Burlingame”), for the issuance of our following securities for an aggregate purchase price of $6,000,000:
| 1. A senior promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $3,500,000, maturing on March 22, 2012. Interest accrues at an annual rate of 10% and is payable quarterly. The note ranks pari passu in rights of liquidation with our Series A Bonds. |
| 2. 2,173,913 shares of our common stock at a price of $1.15 per share for a total purchase price of $2,500,000. |
| 3. A warrant to purchase 950,000 shares of our Common Stock, which shall be exercisable at a price of $2.00 per share for a period of 5 years. The number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant, and/or the applicable exercise price, may be proportionately adjusted in the event of a stock dividend, distribution, subdivision, combination, merger, consolidation, sale of assets, spin-off or similar transactions. |
Following the execution of the Purchase Agreement, the transaction was consummated, and Burlingame paid the Purchase Price and we delivered the Note to Burlingame. We intend to use the net proceeds from the transaction for working capital purposes.
Subscription Agreement
On March 23, 2010, we entered into a Subscription Agreement with certain investors affiliated with Gagnon Securities LLC, an existing shareholder (collectively, “Gagnon”), for the issuance of 500,000 Common Stock at a purchase price of $1.15 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $575,000. We intend to use the net proceeds from the transaction for working capital purposes.
US SUBSIDIARIES
Revolving Line of Credit
Our U.S subsidiary, NTS Communications, Inc., has a $2,000,000 revolving line of credit with a commercial bank. The facility is secured by an assignment of all NTS's trade accounts receivable. The credit line bears interest at a rate equivalent to Wall Street Journal Prime. The credit line was repaid on April 27, 2010. A related installment note in the original amount of $2,000,000 was executed on April 27, 2009. This note reduced the nominal and funded balance of the previous $4,000,000 line of credit. The installment note, which matures September 25, 2010, bears interest at Wall Street Journal Prime rate and is payable in monthly installments of $61,212. As of June 30, 2010, the outstanding balance of the installment note is $1,380,204.
Secured Loan
Our U.S subsidiary, NTS Communications, Inc., has secured a loan from a commercial bank on September 18, 2007 in the original amount of $2,500,000 which was to be repaid on the following terms: 12 monthly payments of accrued interest only beginning October 18, 2007, followed by 23 monthly payments of $29,762 plus any accrued interest and a 24th and final payment of all unpaid principal and accrued interest due, on or before September 18, 2010. The loan bears interest at a rate equivalent to Wall Street Journal Prime. The loan is secured by fixed assets. The total aggregate amount of these loans as of June 30, 2010 is $1,909,312.
Rural Utilities Service Debt Facility
NTS Telephone Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NTS Communications, Inc., has received approval from the Rural Utilities Service (“RUS”), a division of the United States Department of Agriculture, for an $11.8 million debt facility to complete a telecommunications overbuild project in Levelland, Texas. The principal of the RUS loan is repaid monthly starting one year from the initial advance date until full repayment after 17 years. The loan bears interest at the average yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States having the final maturity comparable to the final maturity of the advance. Advances are provided as the construction progresses, and the interest rate is set based upon the prevailing rate at the time of each individual advance. The note is non-recourse t o NTS and all other NTS subsidiaries and is secured by NTS Telephones assets which were $9.7 million at June 30, 2010. As of June 30, 2010, the annual average weighted interest rate on the outstanding advances was 3.20%. The total aggregate amount of these loans as of June 30, 2010 is $7,143,976.
IMPACT OF INFLATION AND CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS
Our revenues and costs of revenues from continued operation are in USD.
Most of our assets, liabilities (except the Bonds), revenues and expenditures are in USD. The remainder of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenditures are in GBP and NIS. We anticipate that the portion of USD will continue to grow and the portion of GBP and NIS will decline.
Notwithstanding having our Bonds stated in NIS and linked to the Israeli Consumer Price Index, during the six months ended June 30, 2010, our outstanding liability was decreased by approximately $566,000 as a result of the revaluation of the NIS in relation with the USD.