Pledge Agreement Cornell Capital Partners, LP and Paul Arena



 Exhibit 10.8 
  
 INSIDER PLEDGE AND ESCROW AGREEMENT 
  
 THIS INSIDER PLEDGE AND ESCROW AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of
January 9, 2006 (the “Effective Date”) by and among PAUL ARENA (the “Pledgor”), CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP (the “Pledgee”), i2 TELECOM INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Washington
corporation (the “Company”), and DAVID GONZALEZ, ESQ., as escrow agent (“Escrow Agent”). 
  
 RECITALS: 
  
 WHEREAS, the Company shall issue and sell to the Pledgee, as provided in the Securities Purchase Agreement of even date herewith between the
Company and the Pledgee (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), and the Pledgee shall purchase up to One Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,750,000) of secured convertible debentures (the “Convertible
Debentures”), which shall be convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, no par value per share (the “Common Stock”) (as converted, the “Conversion Shares”); 
  
 WHEREAS, to induce the Pledgee to enter into the transaction
contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Convertible Debentures, the Investor Registration Rights Agreement of even date herewith between the Company and the Pledgee (the “Investor Registration Rights Agreement”), the
Pledge and Escrow Agreement of even date herewith among the Company, the Pledgee and the Escrow Agent (the “Pledge Agreement”), the Escrow Agreement of even date herewith among the Company, the Pledgee, and the Escrow Agent (the
“Escrow Agreement”), and the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions among the Company, the Pledgee, the Transfer Agent, and the Escrow Agent (the “Transfer Agent Instructions”) (collectively referred to as the
“Transaction Documents”), the Pledgor has agreed to irrevocably pledge to the Pledgee three million one hundred twelve thousand three hundred thirty three (3,112,333) shares (the “Pledged Shares”) of Common
Stock beneficially owned by the Pledgor in accordance with this Agreement. 
  
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, agreements, warranties, and representations herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows: 
  
 TERMS AND CONDITIONS 
  
 1. Obligations
Secured. The obligations secured hereby are any and all obligations of the Company now existing or hereinafter incurred to the Pledgee, whether oral or written and whether arising before, on or after the date hereof including, without
limitation, those obligations of the Company to the Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and any other amounts now or hereafter owed to the Pledgee by the Company thereunder (collectively, the “Obligations”). 
  
 2. Pledge and Transfer of Pledged Shares. The Pledgor hereby grants to Pledgee
an irrevocable, first priority security interest in all Pledged Shares as security for the Company’s Obligations. Simultaneously with the execution of the Transaction Documents, the Pledgor shall deliver to the Escrow Agent stock certificates
made out in favor of the Pledgor representing the 







 Pledged Shares, together with duly executed stock powers or other appropriate transfer documents with medallion bank
guarantees and executed in blank by the Pledgor (the “Transfer Documents”), and such stock certificates and Transfer Documents shall be held by the Escrow Agent until the full payment of all Obligations due to the Pledgee, including
the repayment of all amounts owed by the Company to the Pledgee under the Convertible Debentures (whether outstanding principal, interest, legal fees, or any other amounts owed to the Pledgee by the Company). 
  
 3. Rights Relating to Pledged Shares. Upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default (as defined herein), the Pledgee shall be entitled to vote the Pledged Shares, receive dividends and other distributions thereon, and enjoy all other rights and privileges incident to the ownership of the number of Pledged Shares actually
released from escrow in accordance with Section 6.1 hereof. 
  
 4.
Release of Pledged Shares from Pledge. Upon the Company’s increase of its authorized shares of common stock to two hundred fifty million (250,000,000) and the delivery of one hundred million (100,000,000) shares of
Common Stock by the Company to the Escrow Agent pursuant to that certain Pledge and Escrow Agreement dated January 9, 2006 by an among the Company, the Pledgee and the Escrow Agent, the Escrow Agent shall return to the Pledgor the Transfer
Documents and the certificates representing the Pledged Shares (collectively the “Pledged Materials”), whereupon any and all rights of the Pledgee in the Pledged Materials shall terminate. 
  
 5. Event of Default. An “Event of Default” shall be deemed to
have occurred under this Agreement upon an Event of Default under the Convertible Debentures. 
  
 6. Remedies. 
  
 a.
Upon and anytime after the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Pledgee shall have the right to provide written notice of such Event of Default (the “Default Notice”) to the Escrow Agent, with a copy to the Pledgor. As soon as
practicable after receipt of the Default Notice, the Escrow Agent shall deliver to Pledgee the Pledged Materials held by the Escrow Agent hereunder. Upon receipt of the Pledged Materials, the Pledgee shall have the right to (i) sell the Pledged
Shares and to apply the proceeds of such sales, net of any selling commissions, to the Obligations owed to the Pledgor by the Company under the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, outstanding principal, interest, legal fees, and
any other amounts owed to the Pledgee, and exercise all other rights and (ii) any and all remedies of a secured party with respect to such property as may be available under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New Jersey.
To the extent that the net proceeds received by the Pledgee are insufficient to satisfy the Obligations in full, the Pledgee shall be entitled to a deficiency judgment against the Pledgor or the Company for such amount. The Pledgee shall have the
absolute right to sell or dispose of the Pledged Shares in any manner it sees fit and shall have no liability to the Pledgor, the Company or any other party for selling or disposing of such Pledged Shares even if other methods of sales or
dispositions would or allegedly would result in greater proceeds than the method actually used. The Escrow Agent shall have the absolute right to disburse the Pledged Shares to the Pledgee in batches not to exceed 9.9% of the outstanding capital of
the Company (which limit may be waived by the Pledgee providing not less than 65 
  

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 days’ prior written notice to the Escrow Agent). The Pledgee shall return any Pledged Shares released to it and
remaining after the Pledgee has applied the net proceeds to all amounts owed to the Pledgee. 
  
 b. Each right, power and remedy of the Pledgee provided for in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall be cumulative and concurrent and shall be in addition to every other such right, power or remedy.
The exercise or beginning of the exercise by the Pledgee of any one or more of the rights, powers or remedies provided for in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or
otherwise shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise by the Pledgee of all such other rights, powers or remedies, and no failure or delay on the part of the Pledgee to exercise any such right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver
thereof. No notice to or demand on the Pledgor in any case shall entitle it to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of any of the rights of the Pledgee to any other further action in any
circumstances without demand or notice. The Pledgee shall have the full power to enforce or to assign or contract is rights under this Agreement to a third party. 
  
 7. Representations, Warranties and Covenants. 
  
 a. The Pledgor represents, warrants and covenants that: 
  
 (i) Pledgor is, and at the time when pledged hereunder will be, the legal, beneficial and record owner of, and has (and
will have) good and valid title to, all Pledged Shares pledged hereunder, subject to no pledge, lien, mortgage, hypothecation, security interest, charge, option or other encumbrance whatsoever; 
  
 (ii) Pledgor has full power, authority and legal right to pledge all the
Pledged Shares pledged pursuant to this Agreement; and 
  
 (iii)
all the Pledged Shares have been duly and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are subject to no options to purchase or similar rights. 
  
 b. The Pledgor covenants and agrees to take all reasonable steps to defend the Pledgee’s right, title and security interest in and to the Pledged
Shares and the proceeds thereof against the claims and demands of all persons whomsoever (other than the Pledgee and the Escrow Agent); and the Pledgor covenants and agrees that it will have like title to and right to pledge any other property at
any time hereafter pledged to the Pledgee as Collateral hereunder and will likewise take all reasonable steps to defend the right thereto and security interest therein of the Pledgee. 
  
 c. The Pledgor covenants and agrees to take no action which would violate or be inconsistent with any of the terms of any
Transaction Document, or which would have the effect of impairing the position or interests of the Pledgee under any Transaction Document. 
  
 d. The Pledgor represents, warrants and covenants that (i) the Pledgor has been the beneficial owner of the Pledged Shares since February 28,
2004 and (ii) this Agreement is made with recourse. Upon an Event of Default, the Pledgee shall be deemed to have acquired the Pledged Shares on the date they were acquired by the Pledgor. The Pledgor is an “affiliate” of the Company,
as such term is defined in Rule 144(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 
  

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 8. Concerning the Escrow Agent. 
  
 a. The Escrow Agent undertakes to perform only such duties as are expressly set forth herein and no implied duties or
obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Escrow Agent. 
  
 b. The Escrow Agent may act in reliance upon any writing or instrument or signature which it, in good faith, believes to be genuine, may assume the validity and accuracy of any statement or assertion contained in such a writing or
instrument, and may assume that any person purporting to give any writing, notice, advice or instructions in connection with the provisions hereof has been duly authorized to do so. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable in any manner for the
sufficiency or correctness as to form, manner, and execution, or validity of any instrument deposited in this escrow, nor as to the identity, authority, or right of any person executing the same; and its duties hereunder shall be limited to the
safekeeping of such certificates, monies, instruments, or other document received by it as such escrow holder, and for the disposition of the same in accordance with the written instruments accepted by it in the escrow. 
  
 c. Pledgee and the Pledgor hereby agree, to defend and indemnify the Escrow
Agent and hold it harmless from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, actions, suits, or proceedings at law or in equity, or any other expenses, fees, or charges of any character or nature which it may incur or with which it may be threatened by
reason of its acting as Escrow Agent under this Agreement; and in connection therewith, to indemnify the Escrow Agent against any and all expenses, including attorneys’ fees and costs of defending any action, suit, or proceeding or resisting
any claim (and any costs incurred by the Escrow Agent pursuant to Sections 6.4 or 6.5 hereof). The Escrow Agent shall be vested with a lien on all property deposited hereunder, for indemnification of attorneys’ fees and court costs regarding
any suit, proceeding or otherwise, or any other expenses, fees, or charges of any character or nature, which may be incurred by the Escrow Agent by reason of disputes arising between the makers of this escrow as to the correct interpretation of this
Agreement and instructions given to the Escrow Agent hereunder, or otherwise, with the right of the Escrow Agent, regardless of the instructions aforesaid, to hold said property until and unless said additional expenses, fees, and charges shall be
fully paid. Any fees and costs charged by the Escrow Agent for serving hereunder shall be paid by the Pledgor. 
  
 d. If any of the parties shall be in disagreement about the interpretation of this Agreement, or about the rights and obligations, or the propriety of any
action contemplated by the Escrow Agent hereunder, the Escrow Agent may, at its sole discretion deposit the Pledged Materials with the Clerk of the United States District Court of New Jersey, sitting in Newark, New Jersey, and, upon notifying all
parties concerned of such action, all liability on the part of the Escrow Agent shall fully cease and terminate. The Escrow Agent shall be indemnified by the Pledgor, the Company and Pledgee for all costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees
in connection with the aforesaid proceeding, and shall be fully protected in suspending all or a part of its activities under this Agreement until a final decision or other settlement in the proceeding is received. 
  

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 e. The Escrow Agent may consult with counsel of its own choice (and the costs of such counsel shall be
paid by the Pledgor and Pledgee) and shall have full and complete authorization and protection for any action taken or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the opinion of such counsel. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable
for any mistakes of fact or error of judgment, or for any actions or omissions of any kind, unless caused by its willful misconduct or gross negligence. 
  
 f. The Escrow Agent may resign upon ten (10) days’ written notice to the parties in this Agreement. If a successor Escrow Agent is not appointed
within this ten (10) day period, the Escrow Agent may petition a court of competent jurisdiction to name a successor. 
  
 9. Conflict Waiver. The Pledgor hereby acknowledges that the Escrow Agent is general counsel to the Pledgee, a partner in the general partner of the
Pledgee, and counsel to the Pledgee in connection with the transactions contemplated and referred herein. The Pledgor agrees that in the event of any dispute arising in connection with this Agreement or otherwise in connection with any transaction
or agreement contemplated and referred herein, the Escrow Agent shall be permitted to continue to represent the Pledgee and the Pledgor will not seek to disqualify such counsel and waives any objection Pledgor might have with respect to the Escrow
Agent acting as the Escrow Agent pursuant to this Agreement. 
  
 10.
Notices. Unless otherwise provided herein, all demands, notices, consents, service of process, requests and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person or by overnight courier service, or mailed
by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed: 
  

			
	If to the Company, to:	  	i2 Telecom International, Inc.
	 	  	1200 Abernathy Road, Suite 1800
	 	  	Atlanta, Georgia 30328
	 	  	Attention: Paul Arena
	 	  	Telephone: (770) 512-7174
	 	  	Facsimile:  (770) 844-9427
		
	With a copy to:	  	Richardson & Patel, LLP
	 	  	10900 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500
	 	  	Los Angeles, California 90024
	 	  	Attention: Peter Hogan
	 	  	Telephone: (310) 208-1182
	 	  	Facsimile:  (310) 208-1154
		
	If to the Pledgee:	  	Cornell Capital Partners, LP
	 	  	101 Hudson Street, Suite 3700
	 	  	Jersey City, NJ 07302
	 	  	Attention: Mark A. Angelo
	 	  	Telephone: (201) 985-8300
	 	  	Facsimile:  (201) 985-8744

  

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	With copy to:	  	David Gonzalez, Esq.
	 	  	101 Hudson Street, Suite 3700
	 	  	Jersey City, NJ 07302
	 	  	Telephone: (201) 985-8300
	 	  	Facsimile:  (201) 985-1964
		
	If to the Pledgee, to:	  	Paul Arena
	 	  	1200 Abernathy Road, Suite 1800
	 	  	Atlanta, GA 30328
	 	  	Telephone: (770) 512-7174
	 	  	Facsimile:  (770) 512-7199

  
 Any such notice shall be effective
(a) when delivered, if delivered by hand delivery or overnight courier service, or (b) five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail, as applicable. 
  
 11. Binding Effect. All of the covenants and obligations contained herein shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit
of the respective parties, their successors and assigns. 
  
 12. Governing
Law; Venue; Service of Process. The validity, interpretation and performance of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly within that
state except to the extent that Federal law applies. The parties hereto agree that any disputes, claims, disagreements, lawsuits, actions or controversies of any type or nature whatsoever that, directly or indirectly, arise from or relate to this
Agreement, including, without limitation, claims relating to the inducement, construction, performance or termination of this Agreement, shall be brought in the state superior courts located in Hudson County, New Jersey or Federal district courts
located in Newark, New Jersey, and the parties hereto agree not to challenge the selection of that venue in any such proceeding for any reason, including, without limitation, on the grounds that such venue is an inconvenient forum. The parties
hereto specifically agree that service of process may be made, and such service of process shall be effective if made, pursuant to Section 8 hereto. 
  
 13. Enforcement Costs. If any legal action or other proceeding is brought for the enforcement of this Agreement, or because of an alleged dispute, breach,
default or misrepresentation in connection with any provisions of this Agreement, the successful or prevailing party or parties shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs and all expenses even if not taxable as court
costs (including, without limitation, all such fees, costs and expenses incident to appeals), incurred in that action or proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which such party or parties may be entitled. 
  
 14. Remedies Cumulative. No remedy herein conferred upon any party is intended
to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law, in equity, by statute, or otherwise. No single or partial
exercise by any party of any right, power or remedy hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof. 
  

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 15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
an original, but all of which together shall constitute the same instrument. 
  
 16. No Penalties. No provision of this Agreement is to be interpreted as a penalty upon any party to this Agreement. 
  
 17. JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PLEDGEE AND THE PLEDGOR HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT WHICH IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY OF
ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE DEALINGS BETWEEN PLEDGEE AND PLEDGOR, THIS PLEDGE AND ESCROW AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH, OR ANY
COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF ANY PARTY HERETO OR THERETO IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. 
  
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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Insider Pledge and Escrow Agreement
as of the date first above written. 
  

			
	CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP
		
	By:	 	Yorkville Advisors, LLC
	Its:	 	General Partner
		
	By:	 	  


	Name:	 	Mark Angelo
	Title:	 	Portfolio Manager
	
	INSIDER
		
	By:	 	  


	Name:	 	Paul Arena
	
	I2 TELECOM INTERNATIONAL, INC.
		
	By:	 	  


	Name:	 	Paul Arena
	Title:	 	Chief Executive Officer
	
	ESCROW AGENT
		
	By:	 	  


	Name:	 	David Gonzalez, Esq.


  
 FOR VALUE
RECEIVED, the Pledgor hereby unconditionally and absolutely guarantees the Company’s Obligations (as defined above). This Agreement is made with recourse. 
  

					
	 	 	By:	 	  


	 	 	Name:	 	Paul Arena

  

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