QuickLinks
 -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

 
 

Exhibit 10.9    
    


TELSTRA EUROPE LIMITED  


 And  


 VISTULA LIMITED  


 
 

PREFERRED PARTNER AGREEMENT    
    


Ref:
MG/13.11.01

Telstra Europe Limited

7th Floor

3 Finsbury Square

London, EC2A 1AE 








AGREEMENT



DATE:
16/DEC/2003 


PARTIES




	TELSTRA EUROPE LIMITED

7th Floor

3 Finsbury Square

London

EC2A 1AE	 	("Telstra")
	

VISTULA LIMITED

40 Portman Square

London

W1H 9LT	
 	

("Vistula")





Introduction  



	A.
	Vistula
is a provider of telecommunications consultancy services to corporate customers.



	B.
	Telstra
is an electronic communications provider serving corporate customers.



	C.
	Vistula
and Telstra have agreed to enter into a strategic partnership for Vistula to introduce potential new customers to Telstra on the terms and conditions set out herein. 



 
 

Agreement Terms    
    


1      Interpretation  


In
this Agreement: 


	1.1
	a
reference to this Agreement includes all its parts described in clause 1.1, and includes any amendment to or replacement of them;



	(a)
	a
reference to a statute, code or other law includes regulations and other instruments under it and consolidations, amendments, re-enactments or replacements of any of
them;



	(b)
	the
singular includes the plural, and vice versa;



	(c)
	"includes",
"including", "for example", "such as" and similar terms are not used, and are not to be interpreted as, words of limitation;



	(d)
	unless
otherwise indicated, a reference to a day is to a calendar day. 








2      Definitions  



Business Day—means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or recognised public holiday in England and Wales. 


Customer—a person introduced by Vistula to Telstra who enters into an Agreement with Telstra for the provision by Telstra of Telstra
Services. 


Start Date—means the date hereof. 


Telstra Services—means telecommunication services offered by Telstra from time to time. 




3      Appointment  


	3.1
	Telstra
hereby appoints Vistula as its agent with the non-exclusive right to market and offer Telstra Services to persons with effect from the Start Date. 







	3.2
	It
is the party's intention that this should be an exclusive arrangement in relation to the types of customers and the fee structure set out herein. Therefore, in the event that not
less than three Customers enter into contracts with Telstra for Telstra Services as anticipated within 180 days of the date hereof, and during such time, the parties agree the collateral
required to enable Vistula to offer Telstra Services to potential customers, Telstra shall not appoint any other "Preferred Partners" nor offer to appoint agents on similar terms to the terms set out
herein for a period of 12 months from the date on which the third of the three prospects required within the period set out above enters into an agreement with Telstra. 



4      Duties of Vistula  


During
the continuance of this Agreement, Vistula will: 


	(a)
	act
diligently and in good faith in all its dealings with Telstra and any Customer or potential Customer;



	(b)
	use
its reasonable endeavours to promote and market Telstra Services;



	(c)
	observe
all directions and instructions given by Telstra relating to the promotion and marketing of Telstra Services;



	(d)
	provide
such information as Telstra may reasonably require;



	(e)
	comply
with all relevant laws relating to the promotion and marketing of telecommunication services



	(f)
	always
give Telstra the first opportunity to provide telecommunication services to any potential Customer and Vistula explicitly acknowledges that in the event that it acts as an
introductory agent for any other telecommunications provider, no further commissions will be due hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, this provision does not prevent Vistula providing its own
switched telecommunication services via its own apparatus. 



5      Prohibitions on Vistula  


During
the continuance of this Agreement, Vistula will not: 


	(a)
	pledge
the credit of Telstra in any way or bind or attempt to bind it by contract or otherwise, or make any promises, representations, warranties or guarantees in respect of the
Telstra Services except those expressly authorised by Telstra in writing;



	(b)
	hold
itself out as being Telstra or having the authority to commit Telstra to enter into any agreement of any kind with anyone on its behalf;



	(c)
	make
any representation, guarantee, warranty or promises about the terms of the supply of service to Customers by Telstra;



	(d)
	make
any warranty or representation about Telstra unless authorised to do so in writing;



	(e)
	conduct
itself in such a manner or do anything which may in Telstra's opinion be detrimental to the reputation of Telstra;



	(f)
	use
any advertising, promotional or selling materials in relation to the Telstra Services save for those supplied or approved by Telstra. 



6      Telstra's duties and rights  


	6.1
	Telstra
shall act diligently and in good faith in its dealings with Vistula.



	6.2
	The
entering into of a contract with a Customer to supply Service shall be solely at the discretion of Telstra. 







	6.3
	Telstra
shall provide Vistula with such commercial, technical and marketing collateral and other support and materials as may be reasonably requested by Vistula in order to assist
Vistula in its marketing of the Telstra Services.



	6.4
	Telstra
shall act diligently and in good faith in its dealings with any potential Customers introduced to Telstra by Vistula. 



7      Intellectual Property  


Telstra
shall have no right to use any intellectual property of Telstra, save in materials agreed in writing with Telstra. 



8      Fees  


	8.1
	Vistula
shall be entitled to receive fees based on sums invoiced and received by Telstra from Customers. The fees payable shall calculated and payable as set out in Schedule 1.



	8.2
	All
amounts invoiced by the Agent shall include VAT as relevant.



	8.3
	Without
prejudice to any other rights and remedies Telstra may have, Telstra shall be entitled to deduct from or set off against any debts or other sums whatsoever owed by Vistula to
Telstra.



	8.4
	It
is the parties' intention to negotiate a "buy-out" arrangement whereby at certain periods in time, if certain targets have been met Telstra may offer to acquire or
Vistula may compel Telstra to acquire future commissions otherwise payable in accordance with an agreed formula. 



9      Liability  


	9.1
	Each
party's liability to the other shall be limited to £500,000 for any event or series of connected events or £1,000,000 in any twelve (12) month
period. This limitation shall not apply to any obligation to pay for Services provided or to be provided hereunder.



	9.2
	Neither
party shall have any liability to the other in contract, tort, including negligence or breach of statutory duty or otherwise for loss of revenue, profits, anticipated savings,
business or otherwise for consequential or indirect loss.



	9.3
	Nothing
shall serve to limit Telstra's liability in respect of death or personal injury.



	9.4
	The
provisions of this Clause 8 shall continue to apply notwithstanding termination of this Agreement. 




10    Term and Termination  


	10.1
	This
Agreement shall continue from Start Date for a minimum period of 5 years and thereafter unless terminated by either party on not less than 1 year's written notice
to the other provided that any such notice shall not expire until the expiry of any minimum 5 year terms as referred to in Schedule 1.



	10.2
	Either
party may terminate this Agreement forthwith in the event of a material breach of the terms of this Agreement, such breach being capable of remedy, which breach remains
unremedied 14 days after notice has been given of such breach.



	10.3
	Either
party may terminate this Agreement forthwith in the event of a material breach of the terms of this Agreement relating to the provision of such Service, where such breach is
incapable of remedy.



	10.4
	Either
party may terminate this Agreement in the event that the other is unable to pay its debts, has a receiver, manager, administrator, administrative receiver or similar appointed
in respect of any of its assets, undertakings or income, has passed a resolution for its winding-up or has a petition presented to any court for its winding up or for an administration
order, or ceases or threatens to cease to trade. 







	10.5
	Any
termination of this Agreement will be without prejudice to the accrued rights of the parties up to the date of termination and to the continuation in force of all provisions of
this Agreement which expressly or implicitly survive such termination.



	10.6
	Following
termination of this Agreement, no further fees shall be due and payable hereunder. 



11    Confidentiality  


Confidential Information  


	11.1
	The
Agent and Telstra must treat as confidential information:



	(a)
	the
provisions of this Agreement; and



	(b)
	all
information provided by the other party under this Agreement, including without limitation in the case of the Reseller, Telstra's invoices. 






Disclosure  


	11.2
	A
party must not disclose the other party's confidential information to any person except:



	(a)
	to
employees (which for Telstra includes its' sub-contractors) on a "need-to-know' basis provided those persons first agree to observe the
confidentiality of the information;



	(b)
	to
legal and financial advisers;



	(c)
	with
the other party's prior written consent;



	(d)
	if
required by law or the rules of any relevant any stock exchange; or



	(e)
	if
it is in the public domain. 






12    General  


Notices  


	12.1
	All
notices, approvals consents and other communications must be in writing and sent to the addresses or fax numbers for notices specified in the Agreement Details. Notices must not
be sent by email unless otherwise provided in this Agreement.



	12.2
	Notices
sent



	(a)
	by
hand are deemed to be received when delivered;



	(b)
	by
post to an address in the UK are deemed to be received by the third Business Day after posting;



	(c)
	by
post to an address outside the UK are deemed to be received by the seventh Business Day after posting;



	(d)
	by
fax are deemed to be received when the sender's fax machine issues a successful transmission report. 






Severability  


	12.3
	If
any clause or part of any clause is held by the court to be invalid or unenforceable, that clause or part of a clause is to be regarded as having been deleted from this Agreement
and this Agreement otherwise remains in full force and effect. 



No partnership  


	12.4
	This
Agreement is not intended to and does not constitute a partnership or joint venture. 








Waiver of rights  


	12.5
	A
condition of this Agreement, or a right created by it, may only be waived by a party by giving notice.



	12.6
	A
waiver of a breach of this Agreement does not waive any other breach. 



Assignment  


	12.7
	Neither
party may assign its rights under this Agreement without the consent in writing of the other, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. 



Force majeure  


	12.8
	Neither
party is liable for not performing an obligation in whole or in part, or for not performing it on time (except an obligation to pay money), because of an event beyond that
party's reasonable control.



	12.9
	If
an event beyond a party's reasonable control occurs, that party must:



	(a)
	give
the other party notice of the event promptly and an estimate of the non-performance and delay;



	(b)
	take
all reasonable steps to overcome the effects of the event (but this does not require the settlement of industrial disputes or other claims on unreasonable terms); and



	(c)
	resume
compliance as soon as practicable after the event no longer affects either party. 






Entire Agreement  


	12.10
	This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement relating to the matters set out herein between Vistula and Telstra. 



Governing law  


	12.11
	This
Agreement is governed by the laws of England. The parties submit to the non exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England. 



EXECUTED
BY THE PARTIES ON THE DAY AND DATE SET OUT ABOVE 



	Executed	 	}	 	 
	For and on behalf of	 	} /s/	 	Dave Thorne
	TELSTRA EUROPE LIMITED	 	}	 	 
	

Executed	
 	

}	
 	

 
	For and on behalf of	 	} /s/	 	Adam Bishop
	VISTULA LIMITED	 	}	 	Adam Bishop

Director









SCHEDULE 1 


CALCULATION
OF FEES DUE AND PAYABLE TO VISTULA LIMITED 


The
Fees due to Vistula hereunder shall be calculated as follows: 


50%
of the net-margin generated by each Customer, where margin is calculated is calculated as follows: 



(Number
of minutes conveyed × agreed retail price to Customer)

less

(Number of minutes conveyed × Telstra wholesale conveyance costs) 




The
expectation is that all agreements with Customer shall result in not less than a 35% net-margin. In the event that the anticipated margin is less than 35%, Telstra may retain 17.5% of
the anticipated margin with the balance being payable to Vistula. 



Telstra
will calculate the net-margin and thus the fees due within 10 days of the end of each month. Fees will be payable within 20 days (subject to receipt from Vistula of
an appropriate VAT invoice). 


Deducted
from each amount payable will be 3% of the Fees otherwise due as a withholding against bad-debt. At the end of each period of 6 months, the parties will
re-calculate the Fees otherwise due, incorporating into the calculation any bad-debt and either the balance will be paid to Vistula within 30 days of the end of each
6 month period, or Vistula will re-imburse Telstra as applicable. 



In respect of each Customer, Fees will cease after 5 years and Vistula agrees not to approach or offer to sell telecommunication services (directly or via a third party)
any such Customer for a minimum of two years thereafter.











QuickLinks



Exhibit 10.9


PREFERRED PARTNER AGREEMENT

Agreement Terms