PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY INC
8-K, 1997-12-30
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, NEC
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 15, 1997



                         PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



           New York                       1-12443               13-2626435
  (State or other jurisdiction     (Commission File Number)  (I.R.S. Employer
 of incorporation or organization)                          Identification No.)


2300 N.W. 89th Place, Miami, Florida                               33172
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)


                                  
                                 (305) 593-9667
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                  
                                 Not applicable
             (Former name, former address, and former fiscal year,
                         if changed since last report)

<PAGE>


Item 2.  Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

     On December 19, 1997,  Peoples  Telephone  Company,  Inc.  (the  "Company")
entered into an Asset Purchase  Agreement  ("Agreement")  with Talton  Holdings,
Inc. ("Talton"), pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell, and Talton agreed
to purchase,  the operating  assets of the Company's  inmate phone division (the
"Inmate  Division") for an initial  purchase price of $10,625,000  (the "Initial
Purchase  Price") plus additional  contingent  consideration  described below. A
copy of the Agreement is being filed as Exhibit 2 to this Current Report on Form
8-K. The transaction was also consummated on December 19, 1997.

     The  Initial  Purchase  Price was paid in cash at closing.  The  contingent
consideration  price is payable  within 18 months after the closing based upon a
formula which generally provides for the sharing of (a) incremental profits from
revenue  increases on certain contracts sold to Talton pursuant to the Agreement
and (b) profits resulting from Talton's closing on pending bids initiated by the
Company  which  result in new  contracts.  The  purchase  price  was  determined
pursuant to arms-length negotiations between the Company and Talton.

     The Company  expects to report a gain on the disposition in its 1997 fourth
quarter  results.  The  proceeds  from the  transaction  will be  applied to the
purchase of pay telephone assets from Indiana Telcom Corporation, Inc. ("Indiana
Telcom"), described in Item 5 below.

Item 5. Other Events.

     On  December  15,  1997,  the  Company  announced  that  it had  reached  a
definitive agreement to acquire the pay telephone assets of Indiana Telcom for a
cash purchase price of approximately $11,200,000,  subject to adjustment for the
actual  number  of  phones  acquired.  Indiana  Telcom,  based in  Indianapolis,
Indiana,  operates approximately 2,600 public pay telephones,  located primarily
in Indiana and adjacent  Midwestern states. The transaction is anticipated to be
completed in January of 1998.
     
     Statements  in this Form 8-K  relating to matters  that are not  historical
facts are forward-looking  statements.  Such forward-looking  statements involve
known and unknown risks,  uncertainties  and other factors,  which may cause the
actual results,  performance or achievements of Peoples Telephone Company,  Inc.
to be materially different from any future results,  performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking  statements. Such known and unknown
risks,  uncertainties  and other factors  include,  but are not limited to, the
following: (i) the impact of competition especially in a deregulated environment
(including the ability of the Company to implement higher market-based rates for
local coin calls);  (ii)  uncertainties  with respect to the  implementation and
effect of the  Telecommunications  Act of 1996  including any new rule making by
the Federal  Communications  Commission  ("FCC") or litigation which may seek to
modify or overturn the FCC's orders  implementing  such act or portions thereof;
(iii) the  ongoing  ability  of the  Company  to deploy its public pay phones in
favorable  locations,  (iv) the  Company's  ability  to  continue  to  implement
operational  improvements,  and (v) the  ability of the  Company to  efficiently

<PAGE>

integrate acquisitions of other telecommunications  companies.  Such factors and
others are set forth in greater  detail in the  Company's  Annual Report on Form
10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other Current Reports on Form 8-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (a)  Financial statements of business acquired.

          Not required

     (b)  Pro forma financial information.

          The required pro forma financial information  (unaudited) with respect
          to sale set forth in Item 2 above is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and
          is incorporated herein by reference.

     (c)  Exhibits.

          2.   Asset Purchase  Agreement  dated December 19, 1997 by and between
               Peoples  Telephone  Company,  Inc. and Talton Holdings,  Inc. The
               Company  hereby  agrees to  furnish  supplementally  any  omitted
               schedules  described  in such  agreement  to the  Securities  and
               Exchange Commission upon request.

          99.  Pro  forma  financial  statements  reflecting  divestment  of the
               Inmate Division.

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized, as of December 30, 1997.

     
                                      PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC.
                              

Date: December 30, 1997               By: /s/ William A. Baum       
                                      William A. Baum
                                      Chief Financial Officer



                                   EXHIBIT 2

                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                                          
                                          
                                 by and between




                             TALTON HOLDINGS, INC.,
                             a Delaware corporation
                                          
                                       and
                                          
                        PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC.,
                             a New York corporation,
                         for itself and the Subsidiaries
                                          




                             Dated December 19, 1997


<PAGE>

                                      INDEX


1. DEFINITIONS                                                          1

2. PURCHASE AND SALE OF ASSETS, CLOSING AND OTHER AGREEMENTS            8

   2.1   Assets.                                                        8

   2.2   Purchase Price.                                                8

   2.3   Closing.                                                      11

   2.4   Closing Obligations.                                          12

   2.5   Treatment of Certain Matters and Adjustments.                 13

3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER                            14

   3.1   Organization and Good Standing.                               15

   3.2   Authority.                                                    15

   3.3   No Conflict.                                                  15

   3.4   Options.                                                      16

   3.5   Books and Records.                                            16

   3.6   Inmate Assets.                                                16

   3.7   No Material Adverse Change.                                   17

   3.8   Compliance with Legal Requirements; 
         Governmental Authorizations and Orders.                       17

   3.9   Legal Proceedings.                                            17
<PAGE>

   3.10  Absence of Certain Changes and Events.                        18

   3.11  Contracts; No Defaults.                                       18

   3.12  Insurance.                                                    19

   3.13  Environmental Matters.                                        20

   3.14  Intellectual Property.                                        20

   3.15  Certain Payments.                                             21

   3.16  Disclosure.                                                   21

   3.17  Brokers or Finders.                                           21

4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER                             21

   4.1   Organization and Good Standing.                               22

   4.2   Authority; No Conflict                                        22
     
   4.3   Certain Proceedings.                                          23

   4.4   Brokers or Finders.                                           23

5. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BUYER'S OBLIGATION TO CLOSE                 23

   5.1   Accuracy of Representations.                                  23

   5.2   Performance.                                                  23

   5.3   No Prohibition.                                               24

6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO SELLER'S OBLIGATION TO CLOSE                24

   6.1   Accuracy of Representations.                                  24

<PAGE>

   6.2   Buyer's Performance.                                          24

7. INDEMNIFICATION; REMEDIES                                           25

   7.1   Survival.                                                     25

   7.2   Indemnification and Payment of Damages by Seller.             25

   7.3   Indemnification and Payment of Damages by Buyer.              26

   7.4   Procedure for Indemnification--Third Party Claims.            26

   7.5   Procedure for Indemnification--Other Claims.                  28

   7.6   Payments.                                                     28

8. GENERAL PROVISIONS                                                  29

   8.1   Expenses.                                                     29
 
   8.2   Confidentiality.                                              29

   8.3   Notices.                                                      29

   8.4   Dispute Resolution Procedures.                                30
 
   8.5   Further Assurances.                                           31

   8.6   Waiver.                                                       31

   8.7   Entire Agreement and Modification.                            32

   8.8   Assignments, Successors and No Third-Party Rights.            32

   8.9   Severability.                                                 32

   8.10  Section Headings, Construction.                               32
<PAGE>

   8.11  Time of Essence.                                              33

   8.12  Governing Law.                                                33

   8.13  Counterparts.                                                 33

   8.14  Performance Bond.                                             33

   8.15  License of Rating Software.                                   34

<PAGE>

                                
                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT


     THIS ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made this December 19, 1997,
by and between TALTON  HOLDINGS,  INC., a Delaware  corporation  ("Buyer"),  and
PEOPLES  TELEPHONE  COMPANY,  INC., a New York corporation (the "Company" or the
"Seller").  For purposes  hereof,  the terms the "Seller" or the "Company" shall
also include  subsidiaries of Peoples Telephone Company,  Inc., which own any of
the assets and contracts to be assigned hereunder (the "Subsidiaries").

                                    RECITALS

     WHEREAS,  the  Seller  is  engaged  in the  business  of  providing  inmate
telephone service and related and/or ancillary  services or systems to jails and
other inmate or correctional facilities (the "Inmate Telephone Business").

     WHEREAS,  for  the  consideration  and on  the  terms  set  forth  in  this
Agreement, the Seller desires to sell, and Buyer desires to purchase, all of the
assets,  rights and  contracts  of the Seller  referred to in Section 3.6 hereof
(the "Inmate Assets").

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  for and in consideration of the mutual promises contained
herein, and for other good and valuable consideration,  the receipt, sufficiency
and  adequacy  of which are hereby  acknowledged,  the parties  intending  to be
legally bound do hereby agree as follows:

1.  DEFINITIONS

     For  purposes of this  Agreement,  the  following  terms have the  meanings
specified or referred to in this Section 1:

     "Accommodation Services": the provision of staff pursuant to the Transition
Agreement, the provision of reasonable office space and equipment, the provision
of local exchange  company service and the provision of long distance  telephone
service in order to permit the Buyer to operate the Inmate Assets.

     "Administrative Fee": as set forth in Section 2.5(b) of this Agreement.

     "Agreement": as set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.


<PAGE>

     "Assumed Liabilities": as set forth in Section 2.2(a) of this Agreement.

     "Average  Base  Revenues":  as set  forth  in  Section  2.2(b)(i)  of  this
Agreement.

     "Average New Contract Revenues":  as set forth in Section 2.2(b)(i) of this
Agreement.

     "Bids": as set forth in Section 2.2(b)(i) of this Agreement.

     "Bid Contracts": as set forth in Section 2.2(b)(iii) of this Agreement.

     "Bill of Sale":  as set forth in Section  2.4(a)(i) of this  Agreement  and
Exhibit 2.4(a)(i)(A).

     "Breach": a "Breach" of a representation,  warranty, covenant,  obligation,
or other  provision of this  Agreement or any instrument  delivered  pursuant to
this  Agreement  will be deemed to have  occurred if there is or has been in any
material  respect,  any inaccuracy in or breach of, or any failure to perform or
comply with,  such  representation,  warranty,  covenant,  obligation,  or other
provision.

     "Buyer": as set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

     "Buyer's Closing Certificate":  as set forth in Section 2.4(b)(iii) of this
Agreement.

     "Buyer's  Closing  Documents":  as  set  forth  in  Section 4.2(a) of  this
Agreement.

     "Cash Flow": as set forth in Section 7.7(a) of this Agreement.

     "Claim": as set forth in Section 8.4 of this Agreement.

     "Closing": as set forth in Section 2.3 of this Agreement.

     "Closing Consideration": as set forth in Section 2.2(a) of this Agreement.

     "Closing Date": as set forth in Section 2.3 of this Agreement.

     "Company": as set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

     "Confidentiality Agreement": as set forth in Section 8.2 of this Agreement.

     "Consent":   any  approval,   consent,   ratification,   waiver,  or  other
authorization (including any Governmental Authorization).

<PAGE>

     "Contemplated Transactions":  all of the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement,  including: (a) the sale by the Seller to Buyer and the purchase (and
payment  therefor)  by Buyer  from the  Seller  of the  Inmate  Assets;  (b) the
execution,   delivery  and   performance  of  the  Management   Agreement,   the
Non-Competition   Agreement,   the  Transition   Agreement  and  the  Conveyance
Documents;  and (c) the performance by Buyer and the Seller of their  respective
covenants and obligations under this Agreement,  including,  without limitation,
their obligations under Section 2 hereof.

     "Contract":  any  agreement,  contract,  license,  obligation,  promise  or
undertaking:  (a) under  which the Seller  has or may  acquire  any rights  with
respect to the Inmate Telephone Business,  (b) under which the Seller has or may
become  subject  to any  obligation  or  liability  with  respect  to the Inmate
Telephone  Business,  or (c) by which the Seller or any of the  assets  owned or
used by it is or may become bound with respect to the Inmate Telephone Business.

     "Conveyance  Documents":   as  set  forth  in   Section 2.4(a)(i) of   this
Agreement.

     "Damages": as set forth in Section 7.2(a) of this Agreement.

     "Deferred Calculation Notice": as set forth in  Section 2.2(b)(ii) of  this
Agreement.

     "Deferred  Purchase  Price":  as  set  forth  in   Section 2.2(b) of   this
Agreement.

     "Effective Date": December 1, 1997

     "Encumbrance": any charge, claim, equitable interest, lien, option, pledge,
security interest, right of first refusal, or restriction of any kind, including
any restriction on use, transfer or receipt of income.

     "Existing Agreements": as set forth in Section 2.2(b)(i) of this Agreement.

     "Governmental Authorization":   any  approval,  consent,  license,  permit,
waiver,  tariff  or  other  written  authorization  issued,  granted,  given  or
otherwise made available by or under the authority of any  Governmental  Body or
pursuant to any Legal Requirement.

     "Governmental Body":  any (a) nation,  state,  county, city, town, village,
district or other properly  constituted  local government;  (b) federal,  state,

<PAGE>

local, municipal, foreign or other government; (c) governmental authority of any
nature  (including any  governmental  agency,  branch,  department,  official or
entity  and any  court or other  tribunal);  (d) any  properly  constituted  and
authorized  body  exercising,  or  entitled  to  exercise,  any  administrative,
executive,  judicial,  legislative,  police,  regulatory or taxing  authority or
power of any nature in the United States.

     "Hazardous Activities": as set forth in Section 3.13(b) of this Agreement.

     "Hazardous Substances": as set forth in Section 3.13(b) of this Agreement.

     "Incremental  Revenues":  as  set  forth  in   Section 2.2(b)(ii) of   this
Agreement.

     "Indemnified Persons": as set forth in Section 7.2(a) of this Agreement.

     "Indemnity Cap": as set forth in Section 7.2 of this Agreement.

     "Initial  Bid  Revenues":  as  set  forth  in  Section 2.2(b)(iii) of  this
Agreement.

     "Inmate Assets": as set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

     "Inmate Telephone Agreements":  all  written  lease  agreements,  telephone
location agreements,  telephone service agreements,  license agreements, royalty
agreements or other contracts relating to Installed Inmate Telephones located in
jails or other inmate or correctional  facilities,  which  agreements  grant the
right to the Seller to install and operate the Installed Inmate  Telephones upon
the premises set forth within any such document.

     "Inmate  Telephone  Business":  as  set  forth  in  the  Recitals  of  this
Agreement.

     "Inmate Telephones":  any of the  collect  call  only  telephones  owned or
operated  by  the  Seller  in  its  Inmate  Telephone  Business,  including  any
proprietary hardware, software or any other personal property installed with any
Inmate Telephone.

     "Installed Inmate  Telephone":  an Inmate  Telephone  that is subject to an
Inmate Telephone  Agreement and is installed at the location provided for in its
related Inmate Telephone Agreement.

     "Installed Line":  any  telephone  lines  (other  than  lines  and  related
facilities owned or operated by a local exchange  carrier)  providing  telephone
service  to  Installed  Inmate  Telephones,   including  those  telephone  lines
identified by installation, location and telephone number in Exhibit 3.6(a)(ii).
<PAGE>

     "Intellectual Property Assets":    any   patents,    patent   applications,
inventions,  trademarks,  tradenames, business names, service marks, copyrights,
trade secrets, know-how, customer lists, software, software licenses,  technical
information,  plans,  drawings,  blue prints or other intellectual property used
solely in the operation of the Seller's Inmate  Telephone  Business,  including,
without limitation, the Telink System and related good-will.

     "Knowledge": information known to a party without independent investigation
beyond such party's executive officers.

     "Legal Requirement":   any  federal,  state,  local,  municipal,   foreign,
international,  multinational or other administrative order, constitution,  law,
ordinance,  ruling,  regulation or statute (as to representations and warranties
set forth in this  Agreement,  such  orders,  constitutions,  laws,  ordinances,
rulings, regulations or statutes in effect as of the date such representation or
warranty is made).

     "Management  Agreement":  as  set  forth  in  Section  2.4(a)(ii)  of  this
Agreement and Exhibit 2.4(a)(ii)(A).

     "Measurement Period": as set forth in Section 2.2(b)(ii) of this Agreement.

     "Measurement  Revenues":  as  set  forth  in   Section 2.2(b)(ii) of   this
Agreement.

     "Miscellaneous Inmate Agreement":  any agreement or other Contract directly
relating to the  provision  of parts,  equipment or services to or by the Seller
with respect to its Inmate Telephone Business.

     "New Contracts": as set forth in Section 2.2(b)(i) of this Agreement.

     "Non-Competition  Agreement":  as set forth in  Section 2.4(a)(ii) of  this
Agreement and Exhibit 2.4(a)(ii)(B).

     "Order": any award, decision, injunction, judgment, order, ruling, subpoena
or verdict entered, issued, made or rendered by any court, administrative agency
or other Governmental Body or by any arbitrator.

     "Ordinary  Course of Business":  an action taken by a Person will be deemed
to have been taken in the "Ordinary Course of Business" only if: (a) such action

<PAGE>

is  consistent  with  the  past  practices  of such  Person  and is taken in the
ordinary course of the normal day-to-day operations of such Person; and (b) such
action  is not  required  (based  upon  such  Person's  normal  policies)  to be
authorized  by the board of  directors of such Person (or by any Person or group
of Persons exercising similar authority).

     "Organizational Documents":    (a)   the   articles   or   certificate   of
incorporation and the bylaws of a corporation; (b) the partnership agreement and
any  statement  of  partnership  of  a  general  partnership;   (c) the  limited
partnership  agreement and the  certificate of limited  partnership of a limited
partnership; (d) any charter, articles of organization,  shareholders agreement,
operating  agreement or similar document adopted or filed in connection with the
creation, formation or organization of a Person; and (e) any amendment to any of
the foregoing.

     "Performance Bond": as set forth in Section 8.14 of this Agreement.

     "Permitted Encumbrances":

     (i)Statutory  Encumbrances or  Encumbrances  for taxes not yet due or which
are being contested in good faith by proper proceedings  promptly instituted and
diligently   conducted  (for  which  adequate   reserves  or  other  appropriate
provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made therefor);

     (ii)Easements,  rights-of-way,  restrictions and other similar Encumbrances
incurred in the ordinary  course of business  which,  in the aggregate,  are not
substantial in amounts and which do not in any case materially  detract from the
value of the property  subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary conduct of
the Inmate Telephone Business; and

     (iii) Such minor defects,  irregularities  and  encumbrances  which do not,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  materially  affect  the value or use of the
property.

     "Person":   any   individual,   corporation   (including   any   non-profit
corporation),  general or limited partnership,  limited liability company, joint
venture, estate, trust, association,  organization,  labor union or other entity
or Governmental Body.

     "Proceeding": any action, arbitration,  hearing, investigation,  litigation
or suit (whether civil,  criminal,  administrative or investigative)  commenced,
brought,   conducted  or  heard  by  or  before,  or  otherwise  involving,  any
Governmental Body or arbitrator.

<PAGE>

     "Purchase Price": as set forth in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

     "Reimbursement Payment": as set forth in Section 2.5(b) of this Agreement.

     "Remaining Inmate Telephone Agreements":  as set forth in Section 2.5(e) of
this Agreement.

     "Representative":  with  respect  to a  particular  Person,  any  director,
officer,  employee, agent, consultant,  advisor, partner or other representative
of such Person, including legal counsel, accountants and financial advisors.

     "Securities Act":  the  Securities  Act of 1933 or any  successor  law, and
regulations and rules issued pursuant to that Act or any successor law.

     "Seller": as set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

     "Seller's Closing Certificate": as set forth in Section 2.4(a)(iii) of this
Agreement.

     "Seller's  Closing   Documents":   as  set  forth  in  Section 3.2 of  this
Agreement.

     "Seller's  Indemnified  Persons":  as set  forth  in  Section  7.3 of  this
Agreement.

     "Subsidiaries": as set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

     "Survival Period": as set forth in Section 7.1 of this Agreement.

     "Telink  System":  Seller's  proprietary  call processor and  communication
control system designed to facilitate  inmate  communications  from correctional
facilities, and all related software and non-proprietary hardware.

     "Threatened":  a claim, Proceeding,  dispute or other matter will be deemed
to have been  "Threatened" if any demand or statement has been made (in writing)
or any notice has been given (in writing), or if any other event has occurred or
any other  circumstances  exist that would lead a reasonably  prudent  Person to
conclude that such a claim, Proceeding,  dispute or other matter is likely to be
asserted, commenced, taken or otherwise pursued in the future.

     "Threshold": as set forth in Section 1.2 of this Agreement.
<PAGE>

     "Transition  Agreement":  as set  forth  in  Exhibit 2.4(a)(ii)(C)  of this
Agreement.

2. PURCHASE AND SALE OF ASSETS, CLOSING AND OTHER AGREEMENTS

     2.1 Assets.

     (a) Inmate Assets.  Effective as of the Effective  Date, and subject to the
terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement,  Seller  shall grant,  sell,  convey,
assign,  transfer and deliver to the Buyer (and/or,  at Buyer's election,  to an
affiliate or  subsidiary  of Buyer),  and the Buyer  (and/or  such  affiliate or
subsidiary)  shall  purchase  and  acquire  from the Seller,  the Inmate  Assets
itemized in Section 3.6 of this  Agreement.  The Buyer  acknowledges  and agrees
that the  Inmate  Telephone  Business  constitutes  only a part of the  business
conducted by the Seller, and that the Contemplated  Transactions  relate only to
the Inmate  Telephone  Business  and not the other  businesses  conducted by the
Seller.

     (b) Excluded Assets.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary provided in
Section  2.1(a)  hereof,  none of the assets set forth on Exhibit  2.1(b) hereto
shall be included in the Inmate Assets to be purchased and sold hereunder.

     2.2 Purchase Price.

     (a) The  aggregate  purchase  price (the  "Purchase  Price") for the Inmate
Assets will be (i) $10,625,000.00 cash (the "Closing Consideration"),  plus (ii)
Buyer's assumption or payment of certain  liabilities,  as expressly provided in
Section 2.5 below, including,  without limitation, all liabilities,  obligations
and commitments of the Seller relating to the period commencing on and after the
Effective  Date under any and all  Inmate  Telephone  Agreements,  Miscellaneous
Inmate  Agreements  and with  respect to any leased  real or  personal  property
constituting  a portion of the Inmate  Assets (the "Assumed  Liabilities");  and
(iii) the Deferred Purchase Price (as hereinafter defined).

     (b) In addition to the Closing  Consideration,  the Buyer hereby  agrees to
pay certain deferred compensation (the "Deferred Purchase Price"), in accordance
with the terms and conditions of this Section 2.2(b), based upon the incremental
gross revenues  relating to the Inmate Telephone  Business which have had tariff
rate increases on or after August 1,  1997, for the Measurement  Period compared
to the Base Period (as both such terms are  hereinafter  defined).  The Deferred
Purchase Price shall be calculated and payable as follows:

<PAGE>
          (i)  The  Seller  shall,  prior  to  the  Closing  Date,  provide  two
     schedules.  The first schedule ("Schedule 2.2(b)-1") shall consist of (A) a
     list  of each  Inmate  Telephone  Agreement  (collectively,  the  "Existing
     Agreements")  under which the Seller has been  providing  service  and, for
     each such Existing  Agreement,  the gross billed revenues for each month in
     the Base Period (as  hereinafter  defined)  as well as the average  monthly
     gross billed  revenues for the Base Period (the  "Average  Base Revenues");
     and (B) a list of Inmate Telephone  Agreements recently entered into by the
     Seller or entered  into prior to the Closing  Date and as to which  service
     has not been  provided  for at least the full three  calendar  month period
     ending on October 31, 1997 (the "New Contracts"),  provided that, as to any
     such New  Contracts,  Schedule  2.2(b)-1  shall  include  the gross  billed
     revenues  for any full  calendar  month  ending on or prior to October  31,
     1997,  for which  such data is  available.  For  purposes  of the  Existing
     Agreements, the Base Period shall mean the three-month period ended October
     31, 1997;  and, for  purposes of the New  Contracts,  the Base Period shall
     mean the first three full calendar  months after service is commenced under
     the  particular  New  Contract.  After the  Closing  Date,  the Buyer shall
     provide to the Seller in writing on a quarterly basis a list of the monthly
     gross billed revenues for each New Contract for which service has commenced
     with respect to the Base Period  applicable to such New Contracts.  At such
     time as the  Seller  has  received  the  gross  billed  revenues  for a New
     Contract  for the  applicable  Base  Period,  it shall  compute the average
     monthly  gross  billed  revenue for such New  Contract  (the  "Average  New
     Contract  Revenues")  and provide  such  calculations  to the Buyer,  which
     Average New Contract  Revenues shall be used for  calculating  the Deferred
     Purchase Price  attributable  to such new Contracts  under  subsection (ii)
     below. The second schedule ("Schedule 2.2(b)-2") shall consist of a list of
     the bids or proposals  made by the Seller which are currently  outstanding,
     and any sales commissions which may become due with respect thereto,  which
     schedule shall be updated through the Closing Date (the "Bids").

          (ii) On or before June 1, 1999,  the Buyer shall deliver to the Seller
     in writing (the "Deferred Calculation Notice") a listing, for each Existing
     Agreement and New Contract which has had a tariff rate increase on or after
     August 1, 1997,  through  March 31, 1999,  of (A) the monthly  gross billed
     revenues  separately  derived  under each such  Existing  Agreement and New
     Contract  for  the  threemonth   period   commencing  on  January  1,  1999
     (the "Measurement Period"),  (B) the average  of the  monthly  gross billed
     revenues for the Measurement  Period for each  such Existing  Agreement and
     New Contract (the "Measurement Revenues"),  and (C) a column indicating the
     increases  between  the  Average  Base  Revenues  or Average  New  Contract
     Revenues,  as the  case  may be,  and the  Measurement  Revenues  per  such
     Existing  Agreement and New Contract  attributable  to the tariff  increase
     (the "Incremental  Revenues").  The Deferred  Calculation Notice shall also
     include the Buyer's calculation of the Deferred Purchase Price, which shall
     be  equal to the  product  of (x) 35%,  multiplied  by (y) the  Incremental
     Revenue per each Existing Agreement and New Contract, multiplied by (z) the
<PAGE>
     
number of months  remaining of the term of each such Existing  Agreement and New
Contract  from the later of the Effective  Date or the date the tariff  increase
occurs  (as set  forth on  Schedule 2.2(b)3  hereto)  as to each  such  Existing
Agreement  and  New  Contract.  Simultaneously  with  delivery  of the  Deferred
Calculation Notice, the Buyer shall also deliver to the Seller, by wire transfer
to an account  designated  by the Seller,  the amount of the  Deferred  Purchase
Price, as calculated by the Buyer.

          (iii) In  addition,  with  respect  to the Bids,  in the  event  that,
     subsequent to the Effective Date but prior to the first anniversary date of
     the Effective  Date, the Buyer obtains an Inmate  Telephone  Agreement as a
     result of the Bids initiated by the Seller (the "Bid Contracts"),  then the
     Buyer shall  provide to the Seller on a quarterly  basis,  no later than 30
     days after  expiration of each calendar  quarter,  a listing of the monthly
     gross  billed  revenues for each such Bid Contract for the first full three
     months of service  under the Bid Contract,  commencing  with the first full
     calendar month after service is commenced (the "Initial Bid Revenues").  In
     this  regard,  Buyer has the right to reject any Bid,  but Buyer  covenants
     that it will not reject a Bid where the result  would be the winning of the
     contract  subject to the Bid by Buyer  pursuant to its bid or where the Bid
     is irrevocable. With respect to each of the Bid Contracts, the Seller shall
     be entitled to additional  Deferred  Purchase  Price based upon the average
     monthly gross billed  revenues  calculated as follows:  (A) the Initial Bid
     Revenues  shall  be  divided  by  three,  and  the  quotient  thereof,  (B)
     multiplied by twelve, and the product thereof (C) multiplied  by 0.8,  less
     (D)  sales  commissions  actually  paid  by  the  Buyer  to  employees  and
     reasonable installation costs (which shall include capital equipment).  The
     portion of the  Deferred  Purchase  Price  payable  with respect to the Bid
     Contracts  shall  be paid to the  Seller  by wire  transfer  to an  account
     designated  by the  Seller  within 30 days  after the end of each  calendar
     quarter  with respect to those Bid  Contracts  which have  generated  gross
     billed  revenues for at least three full months prior to  expiration of the
     particular calendar quarter.  With each payment, the Buyer shall provide to
     the Seller the monthly gross billed revenues for each such Bid Contract for
     the first full three  calendar  months of service  under the Bid  Contract,
     commencing  with the first full calendar  month after service is commenced.
     The  Seller   shall  have  the  right  to  review  and  audit  the  Buyer's
     calculations and the underlying books and records with respect thereto.
                                
          (iv) The  Seller  shall have 90 days to review  the  calculations  set
     forth in the  Deferred  Calculation  Notice  and the  underlying  books and
     records and to request additional information or clarification with respect
     to the  Deferred  Purchase  Price  or any  portion  thereof  payable  under
     subsection (ii)  or (iii),  to the extent  not  previously  reviewed  under
     subsection  (iii)  above.  In  the  event  that  the  Seller  disputes  the
     calculation of the Deferred Purchase Price or any portion thereof, it shall
     give written  notice to the Buyer  thereof on or before  expiration of such
     90-day  period,  and the  parties  shall in good faith  thereafter  seek to
     resolve  such  dispute.  If such  dispute is not  resolved  by the  parties
     within 20  days from the date of such written  notice from the Seller,  the
     parties agree that the Orlando office of Arthur  Andersen,  a national firm
     of independent  certified public  accountants  (which accountants shall not
     
<PAGE>

currently  be  providing  services  to either  the  Buyer,  the  Seller or their
respective  affiliates),  shall  resolve  such  dispute,  and such  accountant's
determination  shall be final and binding on the parties.  The costs and fees of
such  accountants  shall be borne by the  applicable  Seller and/or the Buyer in
proportion  to the amount by which the  determination  of such  accounting  firm
differs from the respective  determinations of the parties. The Buyer shall make
appropriate  payment to the Seller of such final Deferred  Purchase Price amount
(plus interest thereon from the date the Deferred  Purchase Price was originally
due  calculated at the prime rate plus one percent as published in the Southeast
Edition of the Wall Street  Journal) and  accountant's  costs and  expenses,  if
applicable,  by  cashier's  or  certified  check  or by wire  transfer  within 5
business days after receipt of the accountant's final determination.

     (c) Seller  has  prepaid  certain  commissions  under the inmate  telephone
contracts set forth on Exhibit  2.2(c),  which  contracts allow Seller to recoup
such prepaid  commissions out of revenues received under such contracts.  Seller
represents that the column  entitled  "Balance at November 30, 1997" is true and
correct as of such date.  Buyer  agrees to pay  Seller the  monthly  commissions
attributable  to all periods after the Effective Date and which would  otherwise
have been paid to the customers under each such contract, but only from revenues
actually received by Buyer from each such contract, until all prepaid commission
balances under said contracts have been paid to Seller.  Payments to Seller will
be due on or before the 15th day of the month  following the month in respect of
which  payments  are  actually  received by Buyer with  respect to a  particular
contract,  beginning  January  15,  1998.  If any of the said  inmate  telephone
contracts are  terminated due to Buyer's  default,  Buyer will, on or before the
15th day of the month  following  the month of  termination,  pay to Seller  the
remaining  balance  under such  terminated  contract.  If any of the said inmate
telephone  contracts are  terminated by the customer  without  Buyer's  default,
Buyer  will not be  obligated  to pay  Seller  any  further  amounts  under said
contract.

     2.3 Closing.

     The  closing  of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement  (the
"Closing")  will take place at the offices of Buyer's  counsel in Dallas,  Texas
(or such other location within or outside of Dallas,  Texas, as Buyer and Seller
shall mutually designate), at 10:00 a.m. (local time), on or before December 19,
1997 (the "Closing Date").

     2.4 Closing Obligations.

     At the Closing:

     (a) Seller will deliver or cause to be delivered to Buyer:

<PAGE>

     (i) the Bill of Sale and such other bills of sale, endorsements, consents,
assignments  and  other  good  and  sufficient  instruments  of  conveyance  and
assignment  (collectively,  the "Conveyance  Documents")  as shall be reasonably
required by the Buyer and its counsel and as shall be  effective  to vest in the
Buyer good and marketable  title in and to all the Inmate Assets,  together with
copies of all the contracts,  agreements,  commitments,  books, records,  files,
computer data, computer disks,  electronic storage media, documents and the like
relating solely to the Inmate Assets;

     (ii) the  Management  Agreement,  the  NonCompetition  Agreement  and  the
Transition Agreement, all executed by Seller;

     (iii) a  certificate  executed by Seller  representing  and  warranting to
Buyer that each of Seller's representations and warranties in this Agreement was
accurate  in all  material  respects  as of the  date of this  Agreement  and is
accurate  in all  material  respects  as of the  Closing  Date as if made on the
Closing Date (other than those  representations and warranties which are made as
of a specific  date which shall be deemed to have been made only as of such date
(the "Seller's Closing Certificate");

     (iv) opinions  of counsel,  dated the Closing Date, in the form of Exhibit
2.4(a)(iv); and

     (v) such other  documents as Buyer may reasonably  request for the purpose
of (1)  enabling  its  counsel to provide  the  opinion  referred  to in Section
2.4(b),  (2)  evidencing  the  accuracy of any of Seller's  representations  and
warranties,  (3) evidencing  the  performance by Seller of, or the compliance by
Seller  with,  any covenant or  obligation  required to be performed or complied
with  by  the  Seller,   or (4) otherwise   facilitating   the  consummation  or
performance of any of the Contemplated Transactions.

(b) Buyer  will  deliver to the  Seller  (or to such  other  Persons  designated
below):

     (i) the Closing  Consideration and appropriate  agreements  evidencing the
assumption of the Assumed Liabilities as contemplated in Section 2.5(b) below;

     (ii) the  Management  Agreement,  the  NonCompetition  Agreement  and  the
Transition Agreement, all executed by Buyer;

<PAGE>

     (iii) a  certificate  executed by Buyer representing and warranting to the
Seller that each of Buyer's representations and warranties in this Agreement was
accurate  in all  material  respects  as of the  date of this  Agreement  and is
accurate  in all  material  respects  as of the  Closing  Date as if made on the
Closing Date (other than those  representations and warranties which are made as
of a specific  date which shall be deemed to have been made only as of such date
(the "Buyer's Closing Certificate");

     (iv) opinions  of counsel,  dated the Closing Date, in the form of Exhibit
2.4(b)(iv); and

     (v) such other documents as Seller may reasonably  request for the purpose
of  (1)  enabling   its  counsel  to  provide  the   opinions   referred  to  in
Section 2.4(a), (2) evidencing the accuracy of any representation or warranty of
Buyer,  (3) evidencing  the  performance by Buyer of, or the compliance by Buyer
with,  any covenant or  obligation  required to be performed or complied with by
Buyer,  or  (4) otherwise  facilitating  the  consummation  of the  Contemplated
Transactions.

     2.5 Treatment of Certain Matters and Adjustments.

     (a) Seller  shall,  on or at Closing,  deliver  the Inmate  Assets free and
clear  of  all  Encumbrances  other  than  the  Assumed  Liabilities,  Permitted
Encumbrances and except as otherwise set forth on Exhibit 2.5(a) hereto.

     (b) The parties  agree that,  within 60 days after the Closing  Date,  they
will settle all prorations of revenues, liabilities,  receipts, taxes, costs and
expenses  applicable to the Inmate Assets prior to the  Effective  Date.  Seller
shall  be  responsible  for and  entitled  to all  such  revenues,  liabilities,
receipts,  deposits,  taxes, costs and expenses  applicable to the Inmate Assets
for the period prior to the Effective Date, and Buyer shall assume,  be entitled
to and be responsible for all such revenues,  receipts,  deposits, taxes, costs,
obligations,  duties,  liabilities,  trade  payables and  expenses  incurred and
applicable  to the  Inmate  Assets  or the  operation  of the  Inmate  Telephone
Business  or the  operation  of the Inmate  Telephone  Business on and after the
Effective   Date,   including   the   cost   of   the   Accommodation   Services
(the "Accommodation  Services") (but Buyer shall not be responsible for Seller's
internal expenses (being those expenses of Seller's general  operations)  except
as set forth below).  All of such amounts shall be determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting  principles applied on a basis consistent with the
Seller's conduct of the Inmate Telephone Business. In addition,  Buyer shall pay
the Seller an administrative fee equal to $15,000 per month (or pro rata portion
thereof)  from the Effective  Date until the  termination  of the  Accommodation
<PAGE>

Services (the "Administrative  Fee"). The Seller shall provide the Accommodation
Services,  or such lesser portion thereof as the Buyer may request, for a period
ending  not later  than the 30th day after the  Closing  Date.  The Buyer  shall
reimburse the Seller in full for the cost of such Accommodation Services and the
Administrative Fee  (the "Reimbursement  Payment") (to the extent not covered by
the  Transition  Agreement).  The cost of the  Accommodation  Services  shall be
determined  based upon the  Seller's  historical  practices in  determining  the
financial results of the Inmate Telephone  Business prior to the Effective Date.
The Reimbursement Payment shall be paid by the Buyer not later than February 15,
1998.

     (c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,  except for
the Assumed  Liabilities and as expressly  provided in Section 2.5(b), the Buyer
shall not assume any, and the Seller shall retain and be responsible for all, of
the liabilities and obligations of the Seller and its affiliates.

     (d) The Purchase  Price shall be allocated  among the Inmate Assets in such
manner  as shall  be  agreed  upon by  Seller  and  Buyer  prior to the  Closing
consistent  with  Section  1060 of the IRS Code of 1986 as amended.  The parties
agree to use such  allocations  with all  filings  with the IRS  relating to the
purchase and sale of Inmate Assets on IRS Form 8594.

     (e) After the  Closing,  each of the Buyer and the  Seller  shall use their
respective  reasonable best efforts to obtain all Consents reasonably  necessary
to permit the transfer of the Inmate Telephone  Agreements as to which a consent
to  assignment  is  necessary.  Until the  necessary  Consents  are  obtained as
aforesaid, the "Remaining Inmate Telephone Agreements" (as set forth in Schedule
1 of the Management Agreement) shall continue to be owned by Seller but operated
under a Management Agreement, which the parties will enter into at Closing.

     3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

     Seller represents and warrants to Buyer as follows:

     3.1  Organization and Good Standing.  The  Company  is a  corporation  duly
organized,  validly  existing  and  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of its
jurisdiction  of  incorporation,  with full  corporate  power and  authority  to
conduct the Inmate Telephone  Business as it is now being  conducted,  to own or
use the Inmate  Assets  that it purports to own or use and to perform all of its
obligations under its Inmate Telephone Agreements. The Company is duly qualified
to do business as a foreign  corporation  and is in good standing under the laws
of the states in which the nature of the  activities  conducted  by it  requires
such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a
material adverse effect on the Inmate Telephone Business.
<PAGE>

     3.2 Authority.  This  Agreement  constitutes  the legal,  valid and binding
obligation of the Seller,  enforceable against the Seller in accordance with its
terms  except as such  enforcement  may be  limited  by  applicable  bankruptcy,
insolvency,  moratorium and other laws affecting creditors' rights generally and
general equitable principles.  Upon the execution and delivery of the Conveyance
Documents,   Management  Agreement,   the  Non-Competition   Agreement  and  the
Transition  Agreement  (collectively,  the "Seller's  Closing  Documents"),  the
Seller's  Closing  Documents  will  constitute  the  legal,  valid  and  binding
obligations of Seller  enforceable  against the Seller in accordance  with their
respective  terms,  except as such  enforcement  may be  limited  by  applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  moratorium and other laws affecting  creditors' rights
generally  and  general  equitable  principles.  Except as set forth in  Exhibit
2.5(a), the Seller has the absolute and unrestricted right, power, authority and
capacity  to  execute  and  deliver  this  Agreement  and the  Seller's  Closing
Documents and to perform its  obligations  under this Agreement and the Seller's
Closing Certificate.

     3.3 No  Conflict.  Except as set forth on Exhibit  2.5(a) and Exhibit  3.3,
neither the execution,  delivery or performance of this Agreement, nor any other
consummation  or  performance  of any of the  Contemplated  Transactions,  will,
directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time):

          (i) result in a violation of (A) any  provision of, or cause a default
     under,  the  Organizational  Documents of the Company,  (B) any  resolution
     adopted by the board of directors or the  stockholders of the Company;  (C)
     any duty owed by the Company to any Person;  or (D) any Legal  Requirement,
     any Governmental  Authorization or any Order to which the Seller, or any of
     the Inmate Assets, may be subject; or

          (ii) result in a violation,  default or breach of any provision of, or
     give any  Person  the right to  declare a default  or  exercise  any remedy
     under,  or to  accelerate  the  maturity or  performance  of, or to cancel,
     terminate or modify,  any Contract or other  agreement to which Seller is a
     party,  which violation,  default or breach,  in the case of clause (i) and
     (ii) above, would have a material adverse effect on the value or use of the
     Inmate Assets to or by the Buyer.

     3.4  Options.  Except as set forth on Exhibit  3.4,  there are no  options,
warrants,  rights of first refusal or other rights to acquire all or any portion
of the Inmate Assets.

     3.5 Books and Records.  The books of account,  ledgers,  financial data and
other records of the Company  relating solely to its Inmate  Telephone  Business
and/or  Inmate  Assets,  all of which  have been made  available  to Buyer,  are
complete and correct in all material respects. At the Closing, all of such books
of account and records will be delivered to Buyer to the extent that they relate
solely to the Seller's Inmate Telephone Business and/or Inmate Assets.
<PAGE>

     3.6  Inmate Assets.  On the Closing Date, the Company shall convey, and the
Buyer shall own and have, good and marketable title,  without  Encumbrance (with
the exception of Assumed Liabilities, Permitted Encumbrances and as set forth on
Exhibit 2.5(a)),  to all of the following Inmate Assets,  which,  except for the
Excluded Assets and as otherwise set forth on Exhibit  2.5(a),  will allow Buyer
to operate  the Inmate  Assets on an  on-going  basis  without  the need for the
Company to transfer any other property to Buyer:

          (i) all  rights and  interests of the Company in and under the Inmate
     Telephone Agreements listed on  Exhibit 3.6(a)(i)  and any Inmate Telephone
     Agreements entered into by the Company after the date hereof;

          (ii) all Installed Lines listed on Exhibit 3.6(a)(ii);

          (iii) all  rights  and  interests  of the  Company  in and  under the
     Miscellaneous Inmate Agreements listed on Exhibit 3.6(a)(iii);

          (iv) all  Installed  Inmate  Telephones  and all  uninstalled  Inmate
     Telephones   and  parts,   hardware  and  equipment   therefor   listed  on
     Exhibit 3.6(a)(iv)  (subject  to turn  over of  inventory  in the  Ordinary
     Course of Business);

          (v) all Intellectual Property Assets, equipment and personalty of any
     kind used by the Company  solely in the  operation of its Inmate  Telephone
     Business, including the Telink System; and

          (vi) all tariffs and Governmental Authorizations, if any, that relate
     to  the  Seller's  Inmate  Telephone  Business  and  which  are  listed  on
     Exhibit 3.6(viii),  but  only to the  extent  conveyance  is  permitted  by
     applicable law or regulation.
     
     3.7  No Material Adverse Change.  Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.7, since
January 1, 1997, there has not been any material adverse change in the Company's
Inmate Telephone Business,  and to Seller's Knowledge,  no event has occurred or
circumstance  exists that may result in such a material adverse change.  Without
in any way limiting the generality of the  foregoing,  there exists no actual or
threatened  terminations,  cancellations  or  limitations  of,  or  any  adverse
modification or change in (i) the current  business  relationship of the Company
with any material  customer or group of customers  whose business is material to

<PAGE>

the operation of the Company's  Inmate Telephone  Business;  or (ii) the current
business  relationship of the Company with any supplier for the Company's Inmate
Telephone  Business,  and the  Company  has no reason to  believe  that any such
customers or suppliers  shall not  continue a business  relationship  with Buyer
subsequent  to the  Closing  on a basis no less  favorable  to Buyer  than  that
heretofore conducted (except where such change would not have a material adverse
effect on the Buyer);  and (iii) to Seller's  Knowledge,  there  exists no other
condition  or  statement  of  facts  or  circumstances  which  would  materially
adversely affect the Company's  Inmate Telephone  Business or prevent Buyer from
conducting  such business after the Closing on a basis not materially  adversely
less favorable to Buyer than that of which it has  heretofore  been conducted by
the Company,  other than those  affecting  the telephone  industry  generally or
arising with respect to general economic conditions.

     3.8 Compliance with Legal  Requirements;  Governmental  Authorizations  and
Orders.  To  the  Knowledge  of the  Seller:  (i)  the  Company  is in  material
compliance with each Legal  Requirement,  Governmental  Authorization  and Order
that is or was  applicable  to the conduct or operation of its Inmate  Telephone
Business or the ownership or use of any of the Inmate Assets;  and (ii) no event
has  occurred or  circumstance  exists that (with or without  notice or lapse of
time) would  constitute or result in a violation by the Company of, or a failure
on the  part  of the  Company  to  comply  with,  any  such  Legal  Requirement,
Governmental  Authorization  or Order,  other than those, in any such case under
clauses  (i) and (ii)  which  would not have a  material  adverse  effect on the
Inmate Telephone Business.

     3.9  Legal Proceedings.  Except  as set forth on  Exhibit 3.9,  there is no
pending  Proceeding:  (i) that has been  commenced by or against the Company and
which,  after the Closing,  would  materially  and  adversely  affect the Inmate
Telephone Business or any of the Inmate Assets; or (ii) that challenges, or that
may have the  effect of  preventing,  delaying,  making  illegal,  or  otherwise
interfering with, any of the Contemplated Transactions.  To the Knowledge of the
Seller,  no such  Proceeding has been  Threatened,  and no event has occurred or
circumstance  exists that may reasonably be expected to give rise to or serve as
a basis for the  commencement  of any such  Proceeding,  other than  Proceedings
affecting the telephone or inmate telecom industry generally.

     3.10   Absence of Certain Changes and Events.   Except   as  set  forth  in
Exhibit 3.10 hereof, since January 1, 1997, the Company has conducted its Inmate
Telephone  Business  only in the  Ordinary  Course of Business and there has not
been any:

     (a) damage to or  destruction  or loss of any Inmate Assets of the Company,
whether or not covered by  insurance,  materially  and  adversely  affecting the
Company's  Inmate  Telephone  Business or the  financial  condition or prospects
thereof;
<PAGE>

     (b)  termination  of, or receipt of notice of termination  of, any material
Inmate Telephone Agreement;

     (c) sale (other than sales in the Ordinary  Course of Business) or lease of
any material Inmate Assets used in the Company's Inmate Telephone Business;

     (d) material change in the accounting methods used by the Company;

     (e) change in the method of collecting  accounts receivable or acceleration
in the collection of accounts receivable; or

     (f) failure to pay  expenses  incurred  in  connection  with the  Company's
Inmate Telephone Business on a timely basis consistent with past practices.

     3.11  Contracts; No Defaults.  Seller has made  available to Buyer true and
complete copies of the Contracts  referred to in Section  3.6(i).  Except as set
forth in Exhibit 3.11, with respect to each such Contract:

          (i) such  Contract  is in full  force  and  effect  and is valid  and
     enforceable   in  accordance   with  its  terms  (except  for   bankruptcy,
     insolvency, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors' rights generally
     and  general  equitable   principles)  and  is  fully  transferable  and/or
     assignable to Buyer without the consent of any Person;

          (ii) the  Company is, and at all times since the later of 1994 or the
     Contract's  date of inception has been, in substantial  compliance with all
     material applicable terms and requirements of such Contract or has resolved
     or settled any such  non-compliance  to the satisfaction of the other party
     to such Contract;

          (iii) to the Seller's Knowledge, each other Person that is a party to
     such Contract is in  substantial  compliance  with all material  applicable
     terms and requirements of such Contract;

          (iv) to  the  Knowledge  of the  Seller,  no event  has  occurred  or
     circumstance  exists  (including,   without  limitation,  the  Contemplated
     Transaction) that (with or without notice or lapse of time) would result in
     a material  violation or breach of, or give the Company or other Person the
     right to declare a default or exercise any remedy  under,  or to accelerate
     the maturity or performance of, or to cancel, terminate or modify, any such
     Contract;
<PAGE>

          (v) the  Company has not given to or received  from any other Person,
     at any time since the later of 1994 or such  Contract's  date of inception,
     any written  notice  regarding  any actual,  alleged or potential  material
     violation  or breach by the Company of, or material  default by the Company
     under, such Contract which has not been resolved or settled;

          (vi)  to  the   Knowledge  of  the  Company,   there  are  no  pending
     renegotiations  or outstanding  rights to renegotiate any material  amounts
     paid or payable to the Company under such Contracts with any Person (and no
     such  Person  has made  written  demand for such  renegotiation)  where the
     effect of such  renegotiation  would have a material  adverse effect on the
     Company's Inmate Telephone Business;

          (vii) such Contracts have been entered into in the Ordinary Course of
     Business,  and to Seller's  Knowledge,  have been  entered into without the
     commission  of any act by Seller alone or in concert with any other Person,
     or any consideration  having been paid or promised,  that is or would be in
     violation of any Legal Requirement; and

          (viii) such  Contracts constitute the sole and entire agreement among
     the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter  thereof,  and there
     are no other  agreements or  understandings  among the parties which in any
     way would materially affect such Contracts.

     3.12 Insurance.  The insurance policies maintained by the Company:  (i) are
valid, outstanding and enforceable; (ii) taken together, provide in the judgment
of the Company adequate  insurance  coverage for the Inmate Telephone  Business;
(iii) are sufficient for compliance with all Legal Requirements and Contracts to
which the  Company is a party or by which any of them is bound  relating  to the
Inmate Telephone Business;  and (iv) will continue to cover all losses or claims
accruing or arising prior to the Closing Date.

     3.13 Environmental Matters.

     (a) The Inmate  Assets and the Inmate  Telephone  Business  are, and at all
times have been, in material  compliance  with, and have not been and are not in
violation of or liable under, any Environmental Laws.

     (b)  The  Company  has not  generated,  handled,  manufactured,  processed,
treated, stored, used, transferred, released, disposed of or otherwise conducted
any  hazardous  process or activity  with respect to  (collectively,  "Hazardous
Activities")  any  hazardous  substances,  hazardous  wastes,  hazardous  wastes
constituents and reaction by-products,  hazardous materials, pesticides, oil and
other petroleum products, pollutants and/or toxic substances, including asbestos
and   polychlorinated   biphenyls  as  those  terms  are  defined   pursuant  to
<PAGE>

Environmental  Laws  (collectively,   "Hazardous   Substances")  in  the  Inmate
Telephone  Business,  except in compliance with Environmental Laws, or where any
alleged noncompliance is not material.

     (c) To the Company's Knowledge,  the Company has not received any actual or
Threatened  Order,  notice or other written  communication  from any Person that
alleges   actual  or   potential   violation  or  failure  to  comply  with  any
Environmental  Law with  respect to Inmate  Assets  (whether  real,  personal or
mixed).

     (d)  For  purposes  hereof,   Environmental   Laws  shall  mean  all  Legal
Requirements  relating  to  pollution  or  protection  of  human  health  or the
environment,  including,  without  limitation,  the  Resource  Conservation  and
Recovery  Act  (42  U.S.C.   6901  et seq.),   as  amended;   the  Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et_seq.),
as amended;  the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C.  1251 et_seq.),  as amended;
and state and federal environmental clean up programs.

     3.14 Intellectual_Property.

     (a) The Intellectual  Property Assets are set forth on Exhibit 3.14 and are
all those necessary for the operation of the Company's Inmate Telephone Business
as it is currently  conducted  (other than "shrink wrap"  programs  commercially
available). The Company is the owner of (and at Closing, Buyer will be the owner
of) all right,  title, and interest in and to each of the Intellectual  Property
Assets  owned  by it,  free  and  clear of all  Encumbrances  (except  Permitted
Encumbrances  or as otherwise  disclosed on Exhibit  3.14),  and the Company has
(and at  Closing  the Buyer will  have) the right to use,  without  payment to a
third party, all of the Intellectual  Property Assets owned by the Company. With
respect to non-owned Intellectual  Property, to Seller's Knowledge,  the Company
has  the  right  to use and  practice  under  all  such  non-owned  Intellectual
Property.

     (b) The proprietary  Intellectual  Property Assets and the use thereof does
not nor does the subject matter of any of the proprietary  Intellectual Property
Assets  infringe or is alleged to infringe any rights of any third party or is a
derivative work based on the work of a third party.

     (c) Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.14, the  Intellectual  Property Assets
are fully  transferable  to the Buyer  without  the  Consent  of any  Person and
without  creating a  default,  violation  of or  requiring  a payment  under any
Contract relating to any Intellectual Property Asset.

     3.15  Certain_Payments.  Since January 1, 1997, neither the Company nor any
director, officer, agent or employee of the Company, nor any Representative, has
directly or indirectly (a) made any contribution,  gift, bribe, rebate,  payoff,
<PAGE>

influence payment,  kickback or other payment to any Person,  private or public,
regardless  of form,  whether  in  money,  property  or  services  (i) to obtain
favorable treatment in securing business for the Inmate Telephone Business, (ii)
to pay for  favorable  treatment for business  secured for the Inmate  Telephone
Business, (iii) to obtain special concessions or for special concessions already
obtained,  for or in  respect  of the  Inmate  Telephone  Business,  or  (iv) in
violation of any Legal Requirement  applicable to the Inmate Telephone Business,
and/or_(b)  established  or  maintained  any  fund or  asset  that  has not been
recorded  in the  books  and  records  of the  Company  relating  to the  Inmate
Telephone Business.

     3.16 Disclosure.  No representation or warranty of Seller in this Agreement
omits to state a  material  fact  necessary  to make the  statements  herein  or
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

     3.17  Brokers_or_Finders.  Except as set forth in Exhibit_3.17,  Seller and
its agents have incurred no  obligation  or liability,  contingent or otherwise,
for brokerage or finders' fees or agents'  commissions or other similar payments
in connection with this Agreement.

4.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

     Buyer represents and warrants to Seller as follows:

     4.1 Organization_and_Good_Standing.  Buyer is a corporation duly organized,
validly  existing  and in good  standing  under  the  laws of the  state  of its
incorporation.  Buyer is duly qualified to do business as a foreign  corporation
and is in good standing  under the laws of the states in which the nature of the
activities conducted by it requires such qualification.

     4.2 Authority;_No_Conflict

     (a) This Agreement  constitutes the legal,  valid and binding obligation of
Buyer  enforceable  against Buyer in accordance  with its terms,  except as such
enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,  insolvency, moratorium and
other  laws  affecting   creditors'   rights  generally  and  general  equitable
principals.  Upon  the  execution  and  delivery  by  Buyer  of  the  Conveyance
Documents,  Management  Agreement,  NonCompetition  Agreement and the Transition
Agreement (collectively,  the "Buyer's Closing Documents"),  the Buyer's Closing
Documents  will  constitute the legal,  valid and binding  obligations of Buyer,
enforceable  against Buyer in accordance with their respective terms,  except as
such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium
and other laws  affecting  creditors'  rights  generally  and general  equitable
<PAGE>

principals.  Buyer has the absolute and unrestricted  right, power and authority
to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Buyer's  Closing  Documents and to
perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Buyer's Closing Documents.

     (b)  Except  for any  filings or  approvals  in order to comply  with Legal
Requirements,  including obtaining appropriate  Governmental  Authorizations (as
contemplated  in  Section_3.6(vi)),  neither the  execution and delivery of this
Agreement  by  Buyer  nor  the   consummation  or  performance  of  any  of  the
Contemplated  Transactions  by Buyer will give any Person the right to  prevent,
delay or otherwise interfere with any of the Contemplated  Transactions pursuant
to:

     (i)__any provision of Buyer's Organizational Documents;

     (ii)__any  resolution adopted by the board of directors or the stockholders
of Buyer;

     (iii)__any Order to which Buyer may be subject; or

     (iv)__any  contract  to which  Buyer  is a party  or by which  Buyer or its
assets may be bound.

     Except  for any  filings  or  approvals  in  order  to  comply  with  Legal
Requirements,  including obtaining appropriate  Governmental  Authorizations (as
contemplated  in  Section  3.6(vi)),  Buyer is not and will not be  required  to
obtain any Consent from any Person in connection with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement or the  consummation or performance of any of the Contemplated
Transactions.

     4.3 Certain_Proceedings.  There is no pending or Threatened Proceeding that
has been commenced against Buyer and that challenges,  or may have the effect of
preventing,  delaying,  making illegal or otherwise interfering with, any of the
Contemplated Transactions.

     4.4 Brokers_or_Finders.  Except as set forth in Exhibit_4.4,  Buyer and its
officers and agents have  incurred no  obligation  or  liability,  contingent or
otherwise,  for  brokerage  or  finders'  fees or agents'  commissions  or other
similar  payment in connection  with this  Agreement and will indemnify and hold
Seller harmless from any such payment alleged to be due by or through Buyer as a
result of the action of Buyer or its officers or agents.

5.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BUYER'S OBLIGATION TO CLOSE

     Buyer's  obligation  to  purchase  the Inmate  Assets and to take the other
actions  required  to be  taken  by  Buyer at the  Closing  are  subject  to the
satisfaction,  at or prior to the Closing,  of each of the following  conditions
(any of which may be waived by Buyer, in whole or in part):
<PAGE>

     5.1 Accuracy_of_Representations.  All of the representations and warranties
of the Seller in this  Agreement  (considered  collectively),  and each of these
representations  and  warranties  (considered  individually),   must  have  been
materially  accurate as of the date of this  Agreement,  and must be  materially
accurate as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date (other than those
representations  and warranties which are made as of a specific date which shall
be true as of such date). If a representation and warranty was conditioned as to
materiality,  the phrase  "materially  accurate"  in this  Section_5.1  shall be
applied as "accurate" with respect to each such representation and warranty.

     5.2 Performance.

     (a) All of the  covenants  and  obligations  that the Seller is required to
perform or to comply with pursuant to this  Agreement at or prior to the Closing
(considered   collectively),   and  each  of  these  covenants  and  obligations
(considered  individually),  must have been duly  performed and complied with in
all material respects.

     (b)  Each  document   required  to  be  delivered  by  Seller  pursuant  to
Section_2.4 must have been delivered.

     5.3 No Prohibition.  Neither the consummation nor the performance of any of
the  Contemplated  Transactions  will,  directly or indirectly  (with or without
notice or lapse of time), materially contravene or conflict with, or result in a
material  violation  of, or cause Buyer or any Person  affiliated  with Buyer to
suffer  any  material  adverse   consequence  under  (a)  any  applicable  Legal
Requirement  or  Order,  or (b) any  Legal  Requirement  or Order  that has been
published,   introduced  or  otherwise   formally  proposed  by  or  before  any
Governmental Body.

     In the event that each and every one of these  conditions  precedent to the
obligations of Buyer shall not have been  satisfied  prior to or at the Closing,
then Buyer may (but shall not be obligated to) waive such unsatisfied  condition
or extend the Closing  Date to allow  additional  time for such  condition to be
satisfied.  Any such waiver or extension shall be without prejudice to any other
rights and remedies Buyer may have hereunder or at law or in equity.

<PAGE>

6.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO SELLER'S OBLIGATION TO CLOSE

     Seller's obligation to sell the Inmate Assets and to take the other actions
required to be taken by Seller at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at
or prior to the Closing,  of each of the following  conditions (any of which may
be waived by Seller, in whole or in part):

     6.1   Accuracy_of_Representations.   All  of  Buyer's  representations  and
warranties  in this  Agreement  (considered  collectively),  and  each of  these
representations  and  warranties  (considered  individually),   must  have  been
materially  accurate  as of the date of this  Agreement  and must be  materially
accurate as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date.

     6.2 Buyer's_Performance.

     (a)__All of the covenants and obligations that Buyer is required to perform
or to  comply  with  pursuant  to this  Agreement  at or  prior  to the  Closing
(considered   collectively),   and  each  of  these  covenants  and  obligations
(considered  individually),  must have been  performed  and complied with in all
material respects.

     (b)__Each of the  documents  required to be delivered by Buyer  pursuant to
Section 2.4 must have been  delivered  and Buyer must have made the  payments of
the Closing Consideration required to be made by Buyer pursuant to Section 2.4.

     (c)__Buyer  shall have  delivered  to Seller a letter of  termination  from
AmeriTel, terminating the option set forth on Exhibit 3.4.

7. INDEMNIFICATION; REMEDIES

     7.1 Survival.  All representations and warranties in this Agreement and the
certificates  delivered  pursuant to  Sections_2.4(a)(iii)  and  (b)(iii)  shall
survive_the  Closing  through  the  close  of  business  on  December  31,  1998
(the_"Survival_Period"),  and the covenants of the Buyer and Seller contained in
Section  2.2(b),  Sections  2.5(b),(d) and (e) and Section 8.14 shall survive in
accordance with their respective terms and conditions.  No indemnity  proceeding
under this Article 7 may be brought  with respect to any of the  representations
and  warranties of the parties  unless  written  notice  thereof shall have been
delivered  to the  Buyer  or the  Seller,  as the  case  may  be,  prior  to the
expiration of the Survival Period.

     7.2 Indemnification and Payment of Damages by Seller.

     (a)  Subject  to  expiration  of the  Survival  Period,  the  Company  will
indemnify and hold harmless Buyer and its stockholders,  controlling persons and
affiliates  (collectively,  the_"Buyer's Indemnified Persons") for, and will pay
to the Indemnified  Persons the amount of, any loss,  liability,  claim,  damage

<PAGE>

(including  incidental and consequential  damages),  expense (including costs of
investigation  and defense and  reasonable  attorneys'  fees) or  diminution  of
value, whether or not involving a third-party claim  (collectively,  "Damages"),
arising or resulting, directly or indirectly, from or in connection with:

          (i)__any Breach of any  representation or warranty made by the Company
     in this  Agreement or any other  certificate  or document  delivered by the
     Company pursuant to this Agreement;

          (ii)__any  Breach by the Company of any covenant or  obligation of the
     Company in this Agreement or in any Seller's Closing Documents or any other
     document delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement; and

          (iii)__the  failure of the Seller to pay any liability relating to the
     Inmate Assets not constituting Assumed Liabilities.

     (b)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  Seller  shall  not be  liable to the
Buyer's  Indemnified  Persons  or any of them  for  any  Damages  until  Damages
exceed_$100,000 in the aggregate  (the_"Threshold") and in no event shall Seller
be liable to the Buyer and the Buyer's Indemnified Persons_for Damages in excess
of the  Purchase  Price  (the_"Indemnity_Cap");  provided,  however,  if Damages
exceed the Threshold, Seller shall be liable for all Damages up to the Indemnity
Cap, including the $100,000 Threshold amount.

     7.3 Indemnification_and_Payment_of_Damages_by_Buyer.

     Subject to  expiration  of the Survival  Period with respect to (a) and (b)
below,  Buyer will indemnify and hold harmless the Seller and its  stockholders,
controlling    persons,    and   affiliates    (collectively,    the   "Seller's
Indemnified_Persons"),  and will pay to Seller's  Indemnified Persons the amount
of any Damages arising, directly or_indirectly, from or in connection with:

          (a) any Breach of any representation or warranty made by Buyer in this
     Agreement  or in any  certificate  delivered  by  Buyer  pursuant  to  this
     Agreement;

          (b) any Breach by Buyer of any covenant or obligation of Buyer in this
     Agreement;

          (c) the Assumed Liabilities; or

          (d) the Management Agreement,  including,  without limitation, any act
     or omission to act by the Buyer or its  Representatives  thereunder and the
     Transition Agreement.
<PAGE>

          (e) any draw by Clark  County  under  the  Performance  Bond,  for any
     action or failure to take action by Buyer,  any related  draw by the issuer
     of  the  Performance  Bond  against  the  letter  of  credit  securing  the
     obligations  of  the  Seller  thereunder  and  the  execution  against  the
     collateral securing the repayment of such letter of credit.

     Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  Buyer shall not be liable to the Seller's
Indemnified  Persons or any of them for any  Damages  until  Damages  exceed the
Threshold  and in no event shall  Buyer be liable to the Seller or the  Seller's
Indemnified  Persons  for  Damages in excess of the  Indemnity  Cap.  If Damages
exceed the Threshold,  Buyer shall be liable for all Damages up to the Indemnity
Cap, including the $100,000 Threshold amount.

     7.4 Procedure_for_Indemnification--Third_Party_Claims.

     (a) Promptly  after receipt by an  indemnified  party under Sections 7.2 or
7.3 of notice of the  commencement  of any  Proceeding  against it, or of notice
that such  Proceeding has been  Threatened  against it, such  indemnified  party
will, if a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party under such Section,
give written notice to the indemnifying  party of the commencement of such claim
or threatened  Proceeding  (including with such notice a reasonable  description
thereof  as well as copies of all  relevant  documentation  to the  extent  then
available),  but the failure to notify the  indemnifying  party will not relieve
the  indemnifying  party of any  liability  that it may have to any  indemnified
party,  except to the extent that the indemnifying  party  demonstrates that the
defense  of such  action  or the  ability  of the  indemnifying  party to obtain
otherwise  available   insurance  proceeds  is  materially   prejudiced  by  the
indemnified party's failure to give such notice.

     (b) If any Proceeding  referred to in Section 7.4(a) is brought  against an
indemnified  party  and  it  gives  notice  to  the  indemnifying  party  of the
commencement  of such  Proceeding,  the  indemnifying  party will be entitled to
participate in such Proceeding and, to the extent that it wishes (unless (i) the
named parties to any such Proceeding include both the indemnifying party and the
indemnified  party and  representation of both parties by the same counsel would
be inappropriate  due to actual differing  interests  between them,  or_(ii) the
indemnifying  party fails to provide  reasonable  assurance  to the  indemnified
party  of  its  financial   capacity  to  defend  such  Proceeding  and  provide
indemnification with respect to such Proceeding),  to assume the defense of such
Proceeding with counsel  reasonably  satisfactory to the indemnified  party and,
after  notice  from  the  indemnifying  party  to the  indemnified  party of its
election to assume the defense of such Proceeding,  the indemnifying  party will
not,  as  long  as it  diligently  conducts  such  defense,  be  liable  to  the
indemnified  party  under  this  Section 7 for any fees of other  counsel or any
other  expenses  with  respect to the defense of such  Proceeding,  in each case
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense of
<PAGE>

such Proceeding.  If the indemnifying party assumes the defense of a Proceeding,
(i)  no  compromise  or  settlement  of  such  claims  may  be  effected  by the
indemnifying  party without the indemnified  party's consent (which shall not be
unreasonably  withheld)  unless  (A) there is no  finding  or  admission  of any
violation of Legal Requirements or any violation of the rights of any Person and
no effect on any other  claims that may be made against the  indemnified  party,
and (B) the sole relief  provided is monetary  damages  that are paid in full by
the indemnifying  party;  and (ii) the indemnified  party will have no liability
with respect to any compromise or settlement of such claims effected without its
consent.  If notice is given to an indemnifying party of the commencement of any
Proceeding  and the  indemnifying  party  does  not,  within  10 days  after the
indemnified party's notice is given, give notice to the indemnified party of its
election to assume the defense of such Proceeding,  the indemnifying  party will
be bound by any  determination  made in such  Proceeding  or any  compromise  or
settlement effected by the indemnified party.

     (c)  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  if an indemnified party determines in
good  faith  that  there  is a  reasonable  probability  that a  Proceeding  may
materially  adversely  affect  it or its  affiliates  other  than as a result of
monetary  damages for which it would be entitled to  indemnification  under this
Agreement,  the  indemnified  party may, by written  notice to the  indemnifying
party given no later than 10 days after the indemnified party receives notice of
the  Proceeding  and  following  a  good  faith  attempt  to  consult  with  the
indemnifying party,  assume the exclusive right to defend,  compromise or settle
such  Proceeding,   but  the  indemnifying  party  will  not  be  bound  by  any
determination  of a  Proceeding  so defended  or any  compromise  or  settlement
effected without its consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld).

     7.5     Procedure_for_Indemnification--Other_Claims.     A    claim     for
indemnification for any matter not involving a third-party claim may be asserted
by notice to the party from whom  indemnification is sought,  given prior to the
expiration of the Survival Period.

     7.6   Payments.   With  regard  to  claims  of  third   parties  for  which
indemnification is payable hereunder,  such indemnification  shall be paid upon:
(a) the entry of a judgment against the indemnified  party and the expiration of
any applicable appeal period; (b) the entry of an unappealable judgment or final
appellate  decision against the indemnified  party; or (c) a settlement with the
consent of the  indemnifying  party  (unless not otherwise  required  under this
Article 7).

     7.7 Big Spring,  Texas Contract.  Attached as Exhibit 3.7 to this Agreement
are disclosures  regarding a Southwest Pay Telephone  Agreement,  dated December
27,  1991,  relating to the Big Spring  Complex  (the "Big  Spring  Agreement").
Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  in this  Agreement,  Buyer  and the
Company agree as follows:

<PAGE>

          (a)  The   termination   of  the  Big  Spring   Agreement  by  Cornell
     Corrections,  Inc. prior to its scheduled expiration  of_December 27, 1998,
     due to any of the items  listed in the letters  from  Cornell  Corrections,
     dated  November 18, 1997, and  November_25,  1997  (the_"Cornell  Letters")
     which are not  susceptible  to cure (but,  with respect to service  issues,
     Buyer will use its best efforts to affect such cure),  shall  entitle Buyer
     to Damages equal to the diminution in value of the Big Spring  Agreement as
     follows:  the  expected  cash flow (as  defined  below) from the Big Spring
     Agreement from the date of loss of the Big Spring Agreement to December 27,
     1998,  reduced to present  value by a discount rate of 10%. For purposes of
     this  Section 7.7,  "cash flow" shall mean,  with respect to the Big Spring
     Agreement,  revenues less local  exchange  company  charges,  interexchange
     carrier charges,  commissions,  billing, collection and validation charges,
     bad debt expense and direct service costs.

          (b)  If  the  Big  Spring  Agreement  is  not  terminated,  but  it is
     determined  that the  allegations  set forth in the Cornell Letters entitle
     Cornell  Corrections  either to damages or to an increase  in  commissions,
     then the Company will  indemnify the Buyer  (without  duplication)  for (i)
     such  damages (to the extent that such  damages are  required to be paid by
     the Buyer) and (ii) the difference  between the  commissions  being paid by
     the  Buyer on a "gross  received"  basis  and the  commission  demanded  by
     Cornell Corrections on a "gross billed" basis.

          (c) Any  liability of the Company  under this  Section_7.7  is without
     regard to the Threshold.

8.  GENERAL PROVISIONS

     8.1 Expenses.  Except as otherwise  expressly  provided in this  Agreement,
each party to this  Agreement  will bear its  respective  expenses  incurred  in
connection with the preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement and
the   Contemplated   Transactions,   including   all   fees  and   expenses   of
Representatives.

     8.2 Confidentiality.  All information and documentation  furnished to Buyer
shall  be  covered  by  that  certain   agreement   dated  June  27,  1997  (the
"Confidentiality Agreement"). Prior to Closing, no party or affiliate of a party
hereto or to the  Confidentiality  Agreement will issue or cause  publication of
any press release or other announcement or public communications with respect to
the  Contemplated  Transactions,   including,   without  limitation,  a  general
announcement to such party's  employees,  without the prior consent of the other
parties  hereto,  which  consent will not be  unreasonably  withheld;  provided,
however, that nothing herein will prohibit any party (or affiliate) from issuing
or  causing  publication  of any such  press  release,  announcement  or  public
communication to the extent that such party (or affiliate) reasonably determines

<PAGE>

such  action to be required by law,  any  regulatory  agency or the rules of any
national  stock  exchange or  association  applicable to it, in which case,  the
party (or affiliate) making such  determination  will use reasonable  efforts to
allow the other party reasonable time to comment on such release or announcement
in advance of its  issuance or to make any  disclosure  necessary  to obtain any
consents required or deemed appropriate by such party.

     8.3 Notices. All notices,  consents, waivers and other communications under
this  Agreement  must be in  writing  and will be deemed to have been duly given
when (a) delivered by hand (with written  confirmation of receipt),  (b) sent by
facsimile (with written confirmation of receipt), provided that a copy is mailed
by registered mail, return receipt  requested,  or (c) received by the addressee
the next  business day if sent by a  nationally  recognized  overnight  delivery
service  (receipt  requested),  in each case to the  appropriate  addresses  and
facsimile  numbers set forth  below (or to such other  addresses  and  facsimile
numbers as a party may designate by notice to the other parties):

If to Buyer:

    Talton Holdings, Inc. 
    3811 Turtle Creek Boulevard
    Suite 1300
    Dallas, Texas 75219
    Telephone:  (214) 528-7247
    Facsimile:  (214) 528-9929
    Attention:  Todd W. Follmer

With a copy to:

    Stutzman & Bromberg, a Professional Corporation
    2323 Bryan Street
    Suite 2200
    Dallas, Texas 75201
    Telephone:  (214) 969-4900
    Facsimile:  (214) 969-4999
    Attention:  Carl C. Christoff

If to the Company:

    Peoples Telephone Company, Inc.
    2300 Northwest 89th Place
    Miami, Florida 33172
    Telephone:  (305) 593-9667, Ext. 170
    Facsimile:  (305) 477-9890
    Attention:  Bruce W. Renard

<PAGE>

With a copy to:

    Steel Hector & Davis LLP
    200 S. Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 4000
    Miami, Florida 33131-2398
    Telephone: (305) 577-2916
    Facsimile: (305) 577-7001
    Attention:  Ira N. Rosner, P.A.

     8.4 Dispute Resolution Procedures.

          (a) The parties  hereby  agree to submit any claim,  demand,  dispute,
     charge or cause of action (in any such  case,_a_"Claim")  arising out of or
     relating to this  Agreement_to_binding  arbitration in conformance with the
     J*A*M*S/ENDISPUTE    Streamlined    Arbitration    Rules   and   Procedures
     (the_"Streamlined_Rules")    or   the    J*A*M*S/ENDISPUTE    Comprehensive
     Arbitration   Rules   and   Procedures   (the    "Comprehensive    Rules"),
     as_applicable, but expressly excluding Rule 28 of the Streamlined Rules and
     Rule 32 of the  Comprehensive  Rules,  as the case may be. All  arbitration
     proceedings shall be held in Orlando,  Florida, and shall be subject to the
     choice of law provisions set forth in Section_8.12 of this Agreement.

          (b)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  in the event  that any party is
     suffering irreparable harm for which monetary damages are inadequate due to
     a breach or threatened breach or default or threatened  default, or a party
     is otherwise  solely seeking  injunctive  relief,  specific  performance or
     other equitable relief, such issue shall be resolved by litigation. In this
     connection,  the parties hereby  irrevocably  submit in any suit, action or
     proceeding solely seeking injunctive relief,  specific performance or other
     equitable  relief  arising  out of or  relating  to this  Agreement  or any
     transactions contemplated hereby (whether during the term hereof, after its
     termination or expiration or in connection  with its  negotiation),  to the
     exclusive  jurisdiction  of the United States District Court for the Middle
     District of Florida, Orlando Division, or, if jurisdiction is not available
     therein,  the jurisdiction of any court located in Orange County,  Florida,
     and waive any and all  objections to such  jurisdiction  or venue that they
     may  have  under  the  laws of any  state or  country,  including,  without
     limitation,  any  argument  that  jurisdiction,   situs  and/or  venue  are

<PAGE>

inconvenient or otherwise  improper.  Each party further agrees that process may
be served upon such party in any manner  authorized under the laws of the United
States or Texas, and waives any objections that such party may otherwise have to
such process.

     8.5  Further_Assurances.  The parties agree (a)_to  furnish upon request to
each other such further  information,  (b)_to  execute and deliver to each other
such other documents,  and_(c)_to do such other commercially reasonable acts and
things,  all as the other  party  may  reasonably  request  for the  purpose  of
carrying out the intent of this Agreement and the documents  referred to in this
Agreement.

     8.6 Waiver.  The rights and remedies of the parties to this  Agreement  are
cumulative and not  alternative.  Neither the failure nor any delay by any party
in  exercising  any  right,  power or  privilege  under  this  Agreement  or the
documents  referred to in this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right,
power or privilege,  and no single or partial exercise of any such right,  power
or privilege will preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power or
privilege or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. To the maximum
extent  permitted by applicable  law, (a)_no claim or right of one party arising
out of this  Agreement or the  documents  referred to in this  Agreement  can be
discharged by the other party,  in whole or in part, by a waiver or renunciation
of the claim or right  unless in writing  signed by the other party  entitled to
such  claims  or  right;  (b)_no  waiver  that may be  given by a party  will be
applicable  except in the specific  instance  for which it is given;  and (c)_no
notice to or demand on one party will be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation
of such party or of the right of the party  giving such notice or demand to take
further  action  without  notice or demand as provided in this  Agreement or the
documents referred to in this Agreement.

     8.7 Entire Agreement and Modification.  The  Confidentiality  Agreement and
this Agreement  supersede all prior agreements  between the parties with respect
to its subject  matter and constitute  (along with the documents  referred to in
this Agreement) a complete and exclusive statement of the terms of the agreement
between the parties with respect to its subject  matter.  This Agreement may not
be amended except by a written agreement executed by all parties.

     8.8 Assignments, Successors and No Third-Party_Rights.  No party may assign
any of its rights under this  Agreement  without the prior  consent of the other
parties,  except that Buyer may assign this  Agreement  and/or any of its rights
under  this  Agreement  to (i)  any  affiliate  of  Buyer,  provided  that  such
assignment shall not release the Buyer, or (ii) any bank, financial  institution
and/or other party  providing  any loans or  financing to Buyer.  Subject to the
preceding  sentence,  this  Agreement  will apply to, be binding in all respects
upon and inure to the benefit of the  successors  and  permitted  assigns of the
parties. Nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be construed to

<PAGE>

give any Person other than the parties to this  Agreement any legal or equitable
right,  remedy or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision
of this  Agreement.  This Agreement and all of its provisions and conditions are
for the sole and  exclusive  benefit of the parties to this  Agreement and their
successors and assigns.

     8.9  Severability.  If any  provision of this  Agreement is held invalid or
unenforceable  by any court of competent  jurisdiction,  the other provisions of
this  Agreement  will remain in full force and  effect.  Any  provision  of this
Agreement  held invalid or  unenforceable  only in part or degree will remain in
full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable.

     8.10  Section_Headings,_Construction.  The  headings  of  Sections  in this
Agreement are provided for convenience only and will not affect its construction
or  interpretation.  All  references  to  "Article,"  "Articles,"  "Section"  or
"Sections" refer to the corresponding Article,  Articles, Section or Sections of
this Agreement. All words used in this Agreement will be construed to be of such
gender  or number  as the  circumstances  require.  Unless  otherwise  expressly
provided,  the word "including" does not limit the preceding words or terms. The
parties, in acknowledgment that all of them have been represented by counsel and
that this Agreement has been carefully  negotiated,  agree that the construction
and  interpretation  of this  Agreement  and  other  documents  entered  into in
connection  herewith  shall  not be  affected  by the  identity  of the party or
parties  under whose  direction  or at whose  expense  this  Agreement  and such
documents were prepared or drafted.

     8.11  Time_of_Essence.  With regard to all dates and time periods set forth
or referred to in this Agreement, time is of the essence.

     8.12  Governing_Law.  This  Agreement  will be  governed by the laws of the
State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of laws principles.

     8.13  Counterparts.   This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  one  or  more
counterparts,  all of which,  when taken together,  will be deemed to constitute
one and the same  agreement.  Delivery of  executed  signature  pages  hereof by
facsimile  transmission  shall  constitute  effective and binding  execution and
delivery thereof.

     8.14 Performance Bond.

          (a) The Seller  presently has  delivered a  performance  bond to Clark
     County,  Nevada,  to insure the Seller's  performance  under its  contract,
     dated  June  1,  1997,  with  Clark  County  (the_"Performance  Bond").  In
     connection  with  the   Performance   Bond,  the  Seller  has  secured  its
     obligations  with a letter of credit issued by First Union National Bank of
     Florida.  The Seller covenants and agrees to maintain the Performance Bond,
<PAGE>

     the letter of credit and all  deposits  securing  the letter of credit,  or
     such substitute  collateral as shall be satisfactory to Clark County, until
     the later of December 31, 1998,  or the date the Buyer  replaces such bond,
     but in no event  shall the Seller be  required  to  maintain  such bond and
     related  collateral  after June 1, 1999.  If Clark  County  draws upon said
     performance  bond on or after the Closing Date for any action or failure to
     take action by Buyer, Buyer will indemnify and hold harmless the Seller and
     Seller's  Indemnified  Persons in accordance with Sections 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5
     of this Agreement, except that the Threshold provisions shall not apply.

          (b) The Seller  shall have no  obligation  to replace the  Performance
     Bond or any portion thereof in the event Clark County draws upon such bond.

          (c) To the extent  that the  Performance  Bond  needs to be  increased
     pursuant to the terms of the Clark County, NV contract,  Buyer will provide
     any additional funds required for such increase.

     8.15 License of Rating Software.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary
contained  herein,  the Buyer hereby agrees that the Seller shall be entitled to
retain a copy of the "rating"  software which is part of the Inmate Assets being
sold and hereby grants to the Seller a royalty-free,  assignable, sublicenseable
license to use such "rating" software in perpetuity.


                           [SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]
<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement
as of the date first written above.

                        BUYER:

                        Talton Holdings, Inc.,
                        a Delaware corporation


                        By: /s/ Todd W. Follmer                        
                        Todd W. Follmer,
                        Vice President


                        SELLER:

                        PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC.,
                        a New York corporation, for
                        itself and the Subsidiaries


                        By: /s/ William A. Baum                          
                        Name:William A. Baum
                        Title: Senior Vice President & CFO
<PAGE>

                        LIST OF EXHIBITS
                                
Exhibit 2.1(b):        Excluded Assets
Exhibit 2.2(c)         Inmate Telephone Contracts
Exhibit 2.4(a)(i)(A):  Bill of Sale
Exhibit 2.4(a)(ii)(A): Management Agreement
Exhibit 2.4(a)(ii)(B): Non-Competition Agreement
Exhibit 2.4(a)(ii)(C): Transition Agreement
Exhibit 2.4(a)(iii)    Seller's Closing Certificate
Exhibit 2.4(a)(iv):    Legal Opinion - Seller's counsel
Exhibit 2.4(b)(iii)    Buyer's Closing Certificate
Exhibit 2.4(b)(iii):   Legal Opinion - Buyer's counsel
Exhibit 2.5(a):        Matters Affecting Title
Exhibit 3.3:           Conflict
Exhibit 3.4:           Options, Rights
Exhibit 3.6(a)(i):     Inmate Telephone Agreements
Exhibit 3.6(a)(ii):    Installed Lines
Exhibit 3.6(a)(iii):   Miscellaneous Inmate Agreements
Exhibit 3.6(a)(iv):    Inventory
Exhibit 3.6(a)(viii):  Tariffs
Exhibit 3.7:           Material Adverse Changes
Exhibit 3.9:           Legal Proceedings
Exhibit 3.10:          Events Outside the Ordinary Course of
                       Business

Exhibit 3.11:          Contract Defaults
Exhibit 3.14:          Intellectual Property Assets
Exhibit 3.17:          Seller's Brokers
Exhibit 4.4:           Buyer's Brokers
Schedule 2.2(b)-1:     Existing Agreements
Schedule 2.2(b)-2:     The Bids
Schedule 2.2(b)-3:     Calculation of Deferred Purchase Price



                                   EXHIBIT 99
                        PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC.
                  PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following  unaudited pro forma financial  statements give effect to the sale
by Peoples Telephone  Company,  Inc. of the operating assets of its inmate phone
division for $10,625,000 in cash. The unaudited pro forma balance sheet reflects
the  disposition  of these assets as of September  30, 1997.  The  unaudited pro
forma  statements  of income  reflect  the  results  of  operations  of  Peoples
Telephone  Company,  Inc.  after  giving  effect to the  operations  which  were
generated  by the assets sold for the nine months ended  September  30, 1997 and
the years ended  December 31, 1996,  1995,  and 1994 as if the  disposition  had
occurred on January 1, 1997, 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively.




<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC.
                                           CONSOLIDATED PRO FORMA BALANCE SHEET
                                                    September 30, 1997
                                                        (UNAUDITED)
                                                       (in thousands)


                                                                   (a)
                                                                  Inmate
                                            Peoples Telephone    Division      Pro Forma
                                              Company, Inc.    Assets Sold    Adjustments   Pro Forma
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------
                      Assets
<S>                                         <C>               <C>            <C>           <C>  
Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents ...........     $        7,330   $     --       $   10,625 (c) $ 17,955
    Accounts and notes receivable, net...             15,735         --             --         15,735
    Inventory............................              2,340         --             --          2,340
    Prepaid expenses and other current 
     assets..............................              2,832         307  (b)       --          2,525
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------
       Total current assets..............             28,237         307          10,625       38,555

    Property and equipment, net..........             55,353       4,505  (b)       --         50,848
    Intangible assets, net...............             31,412       1,162  (b)       --         30,250
    Other assets, net....................              8,998         108  (b)       --          8,890
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

       Total assets......................    $       124,000   $   6,082      $   10,625    $ 128,543
                                             ================  ===========    ===========   ==========

       Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Current liabilities:
    Notes payable and current 
     maturities of long term debt........     $         599    $    --        $     --       $    599
    Other current liabilities............            24,232         --               500  (d)  24,732
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------
        Total current liabilities........            24,831         --               500       25,331

    Notes payable and long term debt.....           100,180         --              --        100,180
    Other long term liabilities..........               196         --              --            196
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

        Total liabilities................           125,207         --               500      125,707
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

    Convertible preferred stock..........            15,982         --               --        15,982

    Common stock.........................               162         --               --           162
    Capital in excess of par value.......            59,551         --               --        59,551
    Accumulated deficit..................           (75,197)        --             4,043  (e) (71,154)
    Unrealized loss on investment........            (1,705)        --               --        (1,705)
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

       Total shareholders' deficit.......           (17,189)        --             4,043      (13,146)
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------
       Total liabilities and shareholders'
         equity..........................    $      124,000    $    --        $    4,543    $ 128,543
                                             ================  ============   ===========   ==========

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                            PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC.
                                     PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                          Nine Months Ended September 30, 1997
                                                      (UNAUDITED)
                                         (in thousands, except per share data)

                                                                  Inmate
                                            Peoples Telephone    Division      Pro Forma
                                              Company, Inc.    Assets Sold    Adjustments   Pro Forma
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------
<S>                                        <C>                <C>            <C>           <C> 
Revenues:
    Coin calls ...........................   $        57,029   $    --        $     --      $  57,029
    Non-coin calls .......................            39,595      10,026            --         29,569
    Service and other ....................              --          --              --           --
    Gain on sale of assets ...............              --          --              --           --
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------
      Total revenues......................            96,624      10,026            --         86,598
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

Costs and expenses:
    Telephone charges.....................            26,882       4,658            --         22,224
    Commissions...........................            25,550       3,429            --         22,121
    Field service  and collection.........            15,414         795            --         14,619
    Depreciation and amortization.........            18,705       2,721            --         15,984
    Selling, general, and administrative..             9,896         443            --          9,453
    Loss from impairment of inmate assets.              --          --              --           --
    Provision for dial-around compensation 
     adjustment...........................             2,116        --              --          2,116
    Other (income) expense................              --          --              --           --
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

       Total costs and expenses...........            98,563      12,046            --         86,517
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------
Operating income (loss)...................            (1,939)     (2,020)           --             81
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

Other (income) and expenses:
    Interest expense, net.................             9,820        --              --          9,820
    (Gain) loss on disposal/operations of 
      prepaid calling card and international 
      telephone centers...................              --          --              --           --
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

     Total other (income) and expenses, net           9,820         --              --          9,820
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

Income (loss)from continuing operations  
 before income taxes......................          (11,759)     (2,020)            --         (9,739)

Benefit from (provision for) income 
 taxes....................................             --           --              --           --
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

Net income (loss) from continuing operations 
 before extraordinary item................   $      (11,759)   $ (2,020)            --      $  (9,739)
                                             ================  ===========    ============  ==========

Primary and fully diluted earnings per share
   Loss from continuing operations........   $        (0.77)                                $   (0.65)
                                             ================                               ==========

Weighted average of common and common 
 equivalent shares outstanding............           16,195                                    16,195
                                             ================                               ========== 



<PAGE>

</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC.
                                    PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                        For The Year Ended December 31, 1996
                                                     (UNAUDITED)
                                        (in thousands, except per share data)


                                                                  Inmate
                                            Peoples Telephone    Division      Pro Forma
                                              Company, Inc.    Assets Sold    Adjustments   Pro Forma
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------
<S>                                          <C>               <C>            <C>           <C>   
Revenues:
    Coin calls ...........................   $       77,389    $     --       $     --       $  77,389
    Non-coin calls .......................           47,568         17,951          --          29,617
    Service and other ....................             --            --             --           --
    Gain on sale of assets ...............             --            --             --           --
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------    ----------
      Total revenues .....................          124,957         17,951          --         107,006
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------    ----------
Costs and expenses:
    Telephone charges ....................           39,091          8,983           --        30,108
    Commissions ..........................           33,942          5,692           --        28,250
    Field service and collection ..,......           20,204          1,074           --        19,130
    Depreciation and amortization ........           23,965          3,499           --        20,466
    Selling, general, and administrative .           12,367            427           --        11,940
    Loss from impairment of inmate assets.             --             --             --          --
    Provision for dial-around compensation
     adjustment ..........................             --             --             --          --
    Other (income) expense ...............             (950)          --             --          (950)
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------    ---------- 

       Total costs and expenses ..........          128,619         19,675           --       108,944
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------    ---------- 
Operating income (loss) ..................           (3,662)        (1,724)          --        (1,938)
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------    ---------- 

Other (income) and expenses:
    Interest expense, net ................           12,875           --             --        12,875
    (Gain) loss on disposal/operations of 
      prepaid calling card and inter-
      national telephone centers .........             (545)          --             --          (545)
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------    ---------- 

     Total other (income) and expenses, net          12,330           --             --        12,330
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------    ---------- 

Income (loss) from continuing operations  
  before income taxes ....................          (15,992)        (1,724)          --       (14,268)

Benefit from (provision for) income 
  taxes ..................................             --             --             --          --
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------    ----------  

Net income (loss) from continuing operations
  before extraordinary item ..............   $      (15,992)   $    (1,724)          --      $(14,268)
                                             ===============   ============   ===========    ========== 

Primary and fully diluted earnings per share
     Loss from continuing operations .....   $        (1.05)                                 $  (0.95)
                                             ===============                                 ==========

Weighted average of common and common 
 equivalent shares outstanding ...........           16,188                                    16,188
                                             ===============                                 ==========
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC.
                                    PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                         For The Year Ended December 31, 1995
                                                      (UNAUDITED)
                                         (in thousands, except per share data)

                                                                  Inmate
                                            Peoples Telephone    Division      Pro Forma
                                              Company, Inc.    Assets Sold    Adjustments   Pro Forma
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------
<S>                                         <C>                <C>            <C>           <C>  
Revenues:
    Coin calls ...........................   $        78,353   $     --        $     --      $  78,353
    Non-coin calls .......................            59,916       26,029            --         33,887
    Service and other ....................               122         --              --            122
    Gain on sale of assets ...............              --           --              --           --
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------
      Total revenues                                 138,391       26,029            --        112,362
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------
Costs and expenses:
    Telephone charges ....................            48,716       13,134            --         35,582
    Commissions ..........................            34,740        7,141            --         27,599
    Field service and collection .........            23,382        2,248            --         21,134
    Depreciation and amortization ........            22,061        2,881            --         19,180
    Selling, general, and administrative..            11,859          699            --         11,160
    Loss from impairment of inmate assets.             4,740        4,740            --           --
    Provision for dial-around compensation
     adjustment ..........................              --           --              --           --
    Other (income) expense ...............             6,177         --              --          6,177
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

       Total costs and expenses ..........           151,675       30,843            --        120,832
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------
Operating income (loss) ..................           (13,284)      (4,814)           --         (8,470)
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

Other (income) and expenses:
    Interest expense, net ................            10,355          --             --         10,355
    (Gain) loss on disposal/operations of 
      prepaid calling card and international
      telephone centers ..................               566          --             --            566
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

      Total other (income) and expenses, net          10,921          --             --         10,921
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

Income (loss) from continuing operations 
 before income taxes .....................           (24,205)      (4,814)           --        (19,391)

Benefit from (provision for) income 
 taxes ...................................             1,738        1,521            --            217
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------

Net income (loss) from continuing operations
  before extraordinary item ..............   $       (22,467)  $   (3,293)           --     $  (19,174)
                                             ================  ============   ===========   ===========

Primary and fully diluted earnings per share
   Loss from continuing operations .......   $         (1.43)                               $    (1.22)
                                             ================                               ===========

Weighted average of common and common 
 equivalent shares outstanding ...........            16,091                                    16,091
                                             ================                               ===========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC.
                                    PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                        For The Year Ended December 31, 1994
                                                     (UNAUDITED)
                                        (in thousands, except per share data)
  


                                                                  Inmate
                                            Peoples Telephone    Division      Pro Forma
                                              Company, Inc.    Assets Sold    Adjustments   Pro Forma
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ---------- 
<S>                                         <C>                <C>            <C>           <C>  
Revenues:
    Coin calls ...........................   $        79,392   $    --        $    --       $   79,392
    Non-coin calls .......................            77,994      42,428           --           35,566
    Service and other ....................             1,615        --             --            1,615
    Gain on sale of assets ...............               441         441           --             --
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------  
      Total revenues .....................           159,442      42,869           --          116,573
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------  
Costs and expenses:
    Telephone charges ....................            67,656      23,940           --           43,716
    Commissions ..........................            32,693       9,128           --           23,565
    Field service and collection .........            21,334       2,726           --           18,608
    Depreciation and amortization ........            21,674       3,337           --           18,337
    Selling, general, and administrative .            14,580       1,536           --           13,044
    Loss from impairment of inmate assets.              --          --             --             --
    Provision for dial-around compensation 
     adjustment ..........................              --          --             --             --
    Other (income) expense ...............              --          --             --             --
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------  
       Total costs and expenses ..........           157,937     40,667            --          117,270
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------  

Operating income (loss) ..................             1,505      2,202            --             (697)
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------  

Other (income) and expenses:
    Interest expense, net ................             7,516       --              --            7,516
    (Gain) loss on disposal/operations of 
      prepaid calling card and international 
      telephone centers ..................             5,506       --              --            5,506
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------  

     Total other (income) and expenses, net           13,022       --              --           13,022
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------  

Income (loss) from continuing operations
   before income taxes ...................           (11,517)      2,202           --          (13,719)

Benefit from (provision for) income taxes.             4,405        (840)          --            5,245
                                             ----------------  -----------    -----------   ----------  

Net income (loss) from continuing operations
   before extraordinary item .............    $       (7,112)  $   1,362           --       $   (8,474)
                                             ================  ===========    ===========   ===========

Primary and fully diluted earnings per share
   Loss from continuing operations .......   $         (0.45)                               $    (0.54)
                                             ================                               ===========

Weighted average of common and common 
  equivalent shares outstanding ..........            15,713                                    15,713
                                             ================                               ===========
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                         PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC.
                   FOOTNOTES TO PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (UNAUDITED)
                                 (in thousands)


(a)  Does not include accounts receivable, not sold or liabilities,  not assumed
     of approximately $1.0 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

(b)  Represents  assets of  Peoples  Telephone  Company,  Inc.  inmate  division
     acquired or assumed by Talton Holdings, Inc. ("Talton").

(c)  Represents the cash proceeds from the sales transaction with Talton.

(d)  Estimated costs related to the disposition of assets.

(e)  The gain on the disposal of the inmate division results from the difference
     between proceeds from the transaction,  less estimated costs related to the
     transaction, and the net book value of the assets sold.






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