SMARTALK TELESERVICES INC
8-K, 1999-01-25
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, NEC
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                       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): January 19, 1999



                           SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



          CALIFORNIA                      0-21579                95-4502740
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (State or Other Jurisdiction           (Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
      of Incorporation)                 File Number)        Identification No.)



5080 TUTTLE CROSSING BOULEVARD                                   
         DUBLIN, OHIO                                            43016-3566
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Address of Principal                                       (Zip Code)
      Executive Offices)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (614) 789-8500


                                    No Change
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


<PAGE>

ITEM 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS


                  On  January  19,  1999,  SmarTalk   TeleServices,   Inc.  (the
"Company") entered into a definitive  agreement (the "Asset Purchase Agreement")
to sell  substantially all its assets (the "Assets") to AT&T Corp.  ("AT&T") for
up to $192.5  million,  subject to downward  adjustment  at  closing.  The Asset
Purchase Agreement is filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto.


                  The  consideration  to be paid for the Assets  was  determined
upon arms-length  negotiations  between the Company and AT&T. To the best of the
Company's  knowledge,  prior to the execution of the Asset  Purchase  Agreement,
there  was  no  material  relationship  between  the  Company  and  AT&T  or any
affiliates  of the  Company,  any  director  or  officer  of the  Company or any
associate of any director or officer of the Company.


                  In addition,  on January 19, 1999,  the Company issued a press
release  announcing the execution of the Asset Purchase  Agreement,  which press
release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.


ITEM 3. BANKRUPTCY OR RECEIVERSHIP


                  On January 19,  1999,  the Company  and its  subsidiaries  and
affiliates filed voluntary petitions for protection under chapter 11 of title 11
of the United States Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District
of Delaware in  Wilmington  (the  "Bankruptcy  Court"),  cases  numbered  99-108
through 99-127 (MFW) (the "Bankruptcy Filing").


                  As a result of the chapter 11 filing,  the Company is managing
its business as a debtor-in-possession  subject to Bankruptcy Court approval for
certain actions of the Company.  The Company's daily operations will continue in
accordance with its customary practice.


                  On January 20, 1999, the Bankruptcy Court approved a number of
motions filed on January 19,1999, including motions relating to cash collateral,
the payment of  prepetition  salaries,  wages and  benefits,  and the payment of
prepetitition  sales and use taxes.  On January 25, 1999, the  Bankruptcy  Court
will   consider   whether  to  approve  on  an  interim   basis  a  $10  million
debtor-in-possession  ("DIP")  financing  facility with AT&T. A final hearing to
consider approval of the DIP facility will take place in the future.


                                       2


<PAGE>

                  In addition,  on January 19, 1999,  the Company issued a press
release  announcing  the  Bankruptcy  Filing,  which  press  release is filed as
Exhibit 99.1 hereto.


ITEM 7. EXHIBITS


Exhibit No.       Description

2.1               Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 19, 1999, by and
                  among the  Company,  certain  subsidiaries  of the Company and
                  AT&T (without schedules). (1)

99.1              Press Release:  SmarTalk Signs  Definitive Sale Agreement with
                  AT&T, dated January 19, 1999.

- -------------------------

(1)  The Company shall supplementally  furnish a copy of any omitted schedule to
     the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.


                                       3


<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE


                  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.

                                            SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.

                                              (Registrant)





                 Date: January 25, 1999       /s/ Thaddeus Bereday
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              (Signature)



                                              Thaddeus Bereday

                                              Vice President and General Counsel





================================================================================



                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                  by and among

                          SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.,

               certain SUBSIDIARIES of SmarTalk TeleServices, Inc.

                                       and

                                   AT&T CORP.


                                ----------------

                                   Dated as of

                                January 19, 1999



================================================================================


<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



                                   ARTICLE 1

                                  Definitions

                                                                          Page
                                                                          Number
                                                                          ------

Section 1.1 Specific Definitions ..........................................    2
Section 1.2 Other Terms ...................................................   16
Section 1.3 Knowledge Qualifiers ..........................................   16


                                    ARTICLE 2

                             Sale of Assets; Closing

Section 2.1 Assets to Be Acquired .........................................   16
Section 2.2 Excluded Assets ...............................................   18
Section 2.3 Assumption of Liabilities .....................................   19
Section 2.4 No Other Liabilities Assumed ..................................   20
Section 2.5 Tax Treatment .................................................   20
Section 2.6 Consideration .................................................   21
Section 2.7 Time and Place of Closing .....................................   21
Section 2.8 Designation of Affiliates by Buyer ............................   21


                                    ARTICLE 3

                   Representations and Warranties of Sellers

Section 3.1 Incorporation .................................................   22
Section 3.2 Authorization .................................................   22
Section 3.3 Financial Statements ..........................................   23
Section 3.4 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities ............................   24
Section 3.5 Assets ........................................................   24
Section 3.6 Absence of Certain Changes ....................................   25
Section 3.7 Litigation; Orders ............................................   28
Section 3.8 Intellectual Property .........................................   28
Section 3.9 Licenses, Approvals, Other
            Authorizations, Consents, Reports,
            Etc ...........................................................   29
Section 3.10 Labor Matters ................................................   30
Section 3.11 Compliance with Laws .........................................   31
Section 3.12 Contracts ....................................................   31


                                       -i-


<PAGE>

                                                                          Page
                                                                          Number
                                                                          ------

Section 3.13 Real Property ................................................   33
Section 3.14 Employee Benefit Plans and Related
             Matters ......................................................   34
Section 3.15 Customers ....................................................   35
Section 3.16 Product Warranties ...........................................   35
Section 3.17 Year 2000 Problems ...........................................   35
Section 3.18 Environmental and Safety Matters .............................   36
Section 3.19 Fees and Expenses ............................................   36
Section 3.20 Interested Party Transactions ................................   37
Section 3.21 Fairness Opinion .............................................   37
Section 3.22 Board Approval and Recommendation ............................   37
Section 3.23 Applicability of State Takeover
             Laws .........................................................   37
Section 3.24 Disclosure ...................................................   37


                                    ARTICLE 4

                     Representations and Warranties of Buyer

Section 4.1 Incorporation; Authorization; Etc .............................   39
Section 4.2 Licenses, Approvals, Other
            Authorizations, Consents, Reports,
            Etc ...........................................................   39
Section 4.3 Brokers, Finders, Etc .........................................   39
Section 4.4 Financing .....................................................   39


                                    ARTICLE 5

                         Covenants of Sellers and Buyer

Section 5.1 Conduct of Business ...........................................   40
Section 5.2 Access to Information .........................................   43
Section 5.3 HSR Act Filings and Other .....................................   45
            Regulatory Approvals; Reasonable
            Efforts; Notification; Consents ...............................   45
Section 5.4 Cure of Defaults ..............................................   48
Section 5.5 Bankruptcy Filings, Covenants and
            Agreements ....................................................   48
Section 5.6 New Contracts .................................................   49
Section 5.7 Sellers' Use of SmarTalk Name .................................   49
Section 5.8 Public Announcements ..........................................   50
Section 5.9 Further Assurances ............................................   50
Section 5.10 Company Board Determination ..................................   50


                                      -ii-


<PAGE>

                                                                          Page
                                                                          Number
                                                                          ------

                                    ARTICLE 6

                         Employers and Employee Benefits

Section 6.1 Employment of Sellers' Employees ..............................   50
Section 6.2 Employee Benefits Generally for
            Transitioned Employees ........................................   52
Section 6.3 Welfare and Fringe Benefit Plans ..............................   53
Section 6.4 Workers' Compensation .........................................   53
Section 6.5 Employment Taxes ..............................................   54
Section 6.6 Stock Options and Stock Plans .................................   54


                                    ARTICLE 7

                                   Tax Matters

Section 7.1 Tax Representations ...........................................   55
Section 7.2 Tax Matters ...................................................   55


                                    ARTICLE 8

                    Conditions of Buyer's Obligation to Close

Section 8.1 Representations, Warranties and
            Covenants of Sellers ..........................................   56
Section 8.2 Filings; Consents; Waiting Periods ............................   56
Section 8.3 No Material Adverse Effect ....................................   57
Section 8.4 No Injunction .................................................   57
Section 8.5 Legal Opinion .................................................   57
Section 8.6 Bankruptcy Court Related Conditions ...........................   57
Section 8.7 Assumed Contracts .............................................   58
Section 8.8 Minimum Purchase Price ........................................   58


                                    ARTICLE 9

                   Conditions of Sellers' Obligation to Close

Section 9.1 Representations, Warranties and
            Covenants of Buyer ............................................   59
Section 9.2 Filings; Consents; Waiting Periods ............................   59
Section 9.3 No Injunction .................................................   59
Section 9.4 Bankruptcy Court Approval .....................................   59
Section 9.5 Minimum Purchase Price ........................................   59


                                     -iii-


<PAGE>

                                                                          Page
                                                                          Number
                                                                          ------


                                   ARTICLE 10

                            Survival; Indemnification

Section 10.1 Indemnification by Sellers ...................................   60
Section 10.2 Indemnification by Buyer .....................................   61
Section 10.3 Losses Net of Insurance, Etc .................................   61
Section 10.4 Termination of Indemnification ...............................   61
Section 10.5 Indemnification Procedures ...................................   62
Section 10.6 Indemnity Payments ...........................................   64


                                   ARTICLE 11

                              Deliveries at Closing

Section 11.1 Sellers' Deliveries at Closing ...............................   64
Section 11.2 Buyer's Deliveries at Closing ................................   65
Section 11.3 Required Documents ...........................................   66


                                   ARTICLE 12

                                   Termination

Section 12.1 Termination ..................................................   66
Section 12.2 Procedure and Effect of Termination ..........................   68


                               ARTICLE 13

                       Purchase Price Adjustments

Section 13.1 Estimated Purchase Price Adjustment ..........................   68
Section 13.2 Post-Closing Purchase Price
             Adjustment ...................................................   69


                                   ARTICLE 14

                                  Miscellaneous

Section 14.1 Survival of Representations and
             Warranties, Etc ..............................................   71
Section 14.2 Survival of Covenants ........................................   71
Section 14.3 Higher and Better Offers .....................................   71
Section 14.4 Bankruptcy Court Approval ....................................   72
Section 14.5 Company as Agent and Representative ..........................   72


                                      -iv-


<PAGE>

                                                                          Page
                                                                          Number
                                                                          ------


Section 14.6  Notices .....................................................   72
Section 14.7  Amendments; No Waivers ......................................   74
Section 14.8  Successors and Assigns ......................................   74
Section 14.9  Entire Agreement; No Third Party
              Beneficiaries ...............................................   74
Section 14.10 Counterparts ................................................   74
Section 14.11 Interpretation; Absence of
              Presumption .................................................   75
Section 14.12 Severability ................................................   75
Section 14.13 Remedies Cumulative .........................................   75
Section 14.14 Specific Performance ........................................   75
Section 14.15 Governing Law ...............................................   75
Section 14.16 Arbitration .................................................   76


                                      -v-


<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBITS

Exhibit 1                 Letter Agreement
Exhibit 2                 DIP Credit Agreement
Exhibit 2.6               Form of Holdback Note
Exhibit 5.5(a)            Forms of Bankruptcy Court Petitions and
                          Filings:
                          Interim Financing Order
                          Final Financing Order
                          Sale Procedures Order
Exhibit 8.6               Form of Bankruptcy Court Approval Order
Exhibit 12.1(i)           Third Quarter Performance Baseline
Exhibit 13.1              Purchase Price Adjustment Computation
                          Procedures


                                      -vi-


<PAGE>

                         SCHEDULES

Schedule 1             Additional Signatories
Schedule 2             Pending Litigation
Schedule 2.1(n)        Retained Guarantees, Warranties, Indemnities
Schedule 2.1(o)        Retained Rights to Cause of Action, Lawsuits, Judgments,
                       Claims and Demands
Schedule 2.1(p)        Insurance Policies
Schedule 2.2           Excluded Assets
Schedule 2.3(e)        SSB Engagement Letter
Schedule 2.4           Certain Excluded Liabilities
Schedule 3.1(a)        Deficiencies in Business Licenses, Qualifications and 
                       Good Standing Certification
Schedule 3.1(b)        Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures
Schedule 3.2           Consents
Schedule 3.3           Deviations from GAAP; Historically Reflected Assets and 
                       Liabilities
Schedule 3.4           Undisclosed Liabilities
Schedule 3.5           Encumbrances on Assets
Schedule 3.6           Certain Changes
Schedule 3.7           Litigation
Schedule 3.8(a)        Intellectual Property
Schedule 3.8(d)        Due Registration of Intellectual Property
Schedule 3.9(a)(i)     FCC Licenses
Schedule 3.9(a)(ii)    Other Licenses
Schedule 3.9(b)(i)     FCC Tariffs
Schedule 3.9(b)(ii)    Other Tariffs
Schedule 3.9(b)(iii)   Services Offered Without Tariffs
Schedule 3.9(d)        Telecommunications Facilities
Schedule 3.10          Labor Disputes
Schedule 3.11          Compliance with Laws
Schedule 3.12          Contracts
Schedule 3.12(c)       Notices, Defaults and Consents
Schedule 3.13(b)(i)    Leased Real Estate
Schedule 3.13(b)(ii)   Compliance with Real Estate Laws
Schedule 3.13(b)(iii)  Encumbrances on Leased Real Estate
Schedule 3.15          Customers
Schedule 3.16          Product Warranties
Schedule 3.20          Interested Parties
Schedule 4.2           Governmental Filings and Consents by Buyer
Schedule 5.1           Conduct of Business
Schedule 6.1(b)        Employees
Schedule 6.1(d)        Severance Benefits for Transitioned Employees Who are 
                       Regular Employees



                                     -vii-


<PAGE>

                  THIS ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"),  dated as of
January 19,  1999,  is by and among  SmarTalk  TeleServices,  Inc., a California
corporation  (the  "Company"),  the subsidiaries of the Company set forth on the
signature  page  hereto  and in  Schedule  1  (collectively,  with the  Company,
"Sellers"), and AT&T Corp., a New York corporation (together with any designated
affiliates, "Buyer").

                  WHEREAS,  the Company,  directly and through its subsidiaries,
is in  the  business  of  developing,  manufacturing,  distributing,  servicing,
marketing,   selling  and  providing  prepaid  telecommunications  products  and
services,  including prepaid local and  long-distance  calling cards and prepaid
wireless telephones and services (the "Business");

                  WHEREAS,  Sellers wish to sell to Buyer  substantially  all of
the assets,  business and goodwill of the Business, and Buyer wishes to purchase
such assets,  properties,  business and goodwill and to assume those liabilities
relating  to the  Business  as are  specified  herein,  excluding  all  Excluded
Liabilities  (as  defined  herein),  all  upon  the  terms  and  subject  to the
conditions set forth herein;

                  WHEREAS,  the senior  management and the Board of Directors of
the  Company  have  determined  that,  in light of the  Company's  deteriorating
financial and operating  condition,  it is necessary and urgent that the Company
and its  subsidiaries  file petitions for relief under the  Bankruptcy  Code (as
defined  herein),  and that an immediate sale of the Assets (as defined  herein)
pursuant to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy  Code is necessary and urgent in order
to preserve the value ultimately  available to the creditors and shareholders of
the Company and its subsidiaries;

                  WHEREAS,  concurrently herewith each Filing Seller (as defined
herein) is filing  with the  Bankruptcy  Court a petition  for relief  under the
Section 301 of the Bankruptcy  Code and a motion for  authorization  to sell the
Assets to Buyer pursuant to Section 363(b) of the Bankruptcy Code;

                  WHEREAS,   Buyer  and  Sellers  have  entered  into  a  letter
agreement dated as of the date hereof (the "Letter Agreement"),  providing among
other things, for payments to Buyer in certain circumstances;

                  NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  the
representations,  warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and for
other good and valuable  consideration,  the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree
as follows:


<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE 1

                                   Definitions


Section 1.1. Specific Definitions. As used in this Agreement the following terms
shall have the following respective meanings:

                  "Accounting Firm" has the meaning set forth in 13.2(c).

                  "Action"  means  any  action,  suit,   arbitration,   inquiry,
proceeding  or  investigation  by or before any  Governmental  Authority  of any
nature, civil, criminal, regulatory or otherwise, in law or in equity.

                  "Adjustment  Consent"  has the  meaning  set forth in  Exhibit
13.1.

                  "Affiliate"  (and, with a correlative  meaning,  "affiliated")
means,  with respect to any person,  any direct or indirect  subsidiary  of such
person,   and  any  other  person  that   directly,   or  through  one  or  more
intermediaries,  controls or is  controlled  by or is under common  control with
such first  person,  and, if such a person is an  individual,  any member of the
immediate family (including parents, spouse and children) of such individual and
any trust whose principal  beneficiary is such individual or one or more members
of such immediate  family and any person who is controlled by any such member or
trust.  As used in  this  definition,  "control"  (including,  with  correlative
meanings,  "controlled  by" and "under common control  with") means  possession,
directly or indirectly,  of power to direct or cause the direction of management
or policies  (whether  through  ownership of securities or  partnership or other
ownership interests, by contract or otherwise).

                  "Agreement"  has the meaning set forth in the first  paragraph
hereof.

                  "Allocation" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

                  "Antitrust  Laws"  means and  includes  the  Sherman  Act,  as
amended,  the Clayton Act, as amended, the HSR Act, the Federal Trade Commission
Act,  as  amended,  and all other  federal,  state,  foreign  and  multinational
(including European Community) statutes,  rules,  regulations,  orders, decrees,
administrative  and  judicial  doctrines,  and other laws that are  designed  or
intended to prohibit,  restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect
of monopolization or restraint of trade.

                  "Applicable  Law" means all  applicable  provisions of all (a)
constitutions,  treaties,  statutes,  laws  (including  the common law),  rules,
regulations,  ordinances,  codes or orders of any  Governmental  Authority,  (b)
Governmental Approvals and (c) orders, decisions, writs, injunctions, judgments,
awards and decrees of or agreements with any Governmental Authority.

                  "Assets" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.


                                      -2-


<PAGE>

                  "Asset  Purchase" means the  consummation of the  transactions
described in Section 2.1.

                  "Assignment  and Assumption  Agreement"  means a Bill of Sale,
Assignment  and  Assumption  Agreement in such form as may be agreed to by Buyer
and the Company.

                  "Associate" or "associate"  has the meaning  ascribed to it in
Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act.

                  "Assumed  Contracts" means,  except as otherwise  indicated on
Schedule  2.2,  every (1) Customer  Agreement,  (2) Contract that is of the type
referred to in clauses (ii), (iii),  (iv), (vi), (ix) and (x) of Section 3.12(a)
and is set forth and  indicated as such on Schedule  3.12(a),  (3) Important New
Contract for which an Important  New Contract  Consent is received in accordance
with Section 5.6, and (4) executory  agreement,  contract,  commitment and other
instrument and arrangement  (whether written or oral) to which any Seller or any
Affiliate is a party or by which it is bound or affected in  connection  with or
Related to the Business that (x) is not an Important New Contract and (y) is not
required to be disclosed on Schedule 3.12 pursuant to clauses (ii),  (iii), (iv)
and (vi) of Section  3.12(a)  solely  because of the minimum  dollar  values set
forth in such clauses, as applicable.

                  "Assumed   Intellectual   Property"  means  any   Intellectual
Property,  and shall include the name "SmarTalk," all names, marks, trade names,
trademarks, trade dress, and service marks, or rights to use such, incorporating
the name  "SmarTalk," and any logos or  representations  based thereon,  derived
therefrom or used in conjunction therewith.

                  "Assumed Leases" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(b).

                  "Assumed  Liabilities"  has the  meaning  set forth in Section
2.3.

                  "Audited 1998 Financial  Statements" has the meaning set forth
in Section 5.11.

                  "Balance  Sheet" means the balance  sheet as at September  30,
1998 included in the Recent 10-Q.

                  "Balance Sheet Date" means September 30, 1998.

                  "Bankruptcy  Cases"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in  Section
5.5(a).

                  "Bankruptcy Code" means Title 11 of the United States Code, as
amended.

                  "Bankruptcy  Court" means the United States  Bankruptcy  Court
for the  District  of  Delaware  or any other  court  having  jurisdiction  over
Bankruptcy Cases from time to time.

                  "Bankruptcy  Court  Approval"  has the  meaning  set  forth in
Section 8.6(a).

                  "Bankruptcy  Filings"  has the  meaning  set forth in  Section
5.5(a).


                                      -3-


<PAGE>

                  "Bankruptcy  Plan  Confirmation  Date" means the date that the
order  of the  Bankruptcy  Court  confirming  a plan of  reorganization  for the
Sellers in  accordance  with Chapter 11 of the  Bankruptcy  Code becomes a Final
Order.

                  "Business" has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

                  "Business  Day" means a day other than a  Saturday,  Sunday or
other day on which  commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required
by law to close. Any event the scheduled occurrence of which would fall on a day
that is not a Business Day shall be deferred until the next succeeding  Business
Day.

                  "Buyer"  has the  meaning  set  forth in the  first  paragraph
hereof.

                  "Buyer Indemnitees" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.

                  "Buyer Minimum  Amount" means the Purchase Price (prior to any
adjustment pursuant to Article 13) minus $70,000,000.

                  "Buyer's  Welfare  Plans" has the meaning set forth in Section
6.3(a).

                  "Cardinal/CTN  Service" means the call processing  service for
Sellers'  Canadian traffic which accounted for  approximately  13,662,300 of the
decremented minutes processed in the third fiscal quarter of 1998.

                  "CERCLA"  means  the  Comprehensive   Environmental  Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. ss. 9601 et seq.

                  "CGCL" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.23.

                  "Claims" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(d).

                  "Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.

                  "Closing  Balance  Sheet" has the meaning set forth in Section
13.2(b).

                  "Closing  Cash Flow  Statement"  has the  meaning set forth in
Section 13.2(b).

                  "Closing Date" means the date on which the Closing occurs.

                  "Closing  Minutes and Revenues  Statement" has the meaning set
forth in Section 13.2(b).

                  "Closing Statements" has the meaning set forth in 13.2(b).

                  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.


                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                  "Communications Laws" means the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, the  Telecommunications act of 1996, as amended, and, in each case, the
rules, precedents and policies of the FCC promulgated thereunder.

                  "Company"  has the  meaning  set forth in the first  paragraph
hereof.

                  "Company  Board  Determination"  has the  meaning set forth in
Section 3.22.

                  "Company Option" means every option,  warrant or similar right
to purchase Company Shares (or securities or debt  instruments  convertible into
Company  Shares)  issued or granted by the  Company or any of its  subsidiaries,
including, without limitation, Company Plan Options.

                  "Company  Plan  Options"  has the meaning set forth in Section
6.6.

                  "Company  Shares"  means shares of common  stock,  without par
value, of the Company.

                  "Confidentiality  Agreement"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in
Section 14.9(a).

                  "Conquest Platform" means the call processing platform located
in  Columbus,  Ohio  owned  and  operated  by  Sellers  on  which  approximately
151,320,181 minutes were processed in the third fiscal quarter of 1998.

                  "Consent" means any consent, approval, authorization,  waiver,
permit, grant, franchise, concession, agreement, license, exemption or order of,
registration,  certificate,  declaration or filing with, or report or notice to,
any person, including but not limited to any Governmental Authority.

                  "Consultant" means an individual or entity performing services
for any  Seller  or any of  their  Affiliates  as a  consultant  or  independent
contractor.

                  "Contracts" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(a).

                  "Current Assets" has the meaning set forth in Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Current  Liabilities"  has the  meaning  set forth in Exhibit
13.1.

                  "Customer  Agreements"  means any written or oral  contract or
agreement pursuant to which any Seller provides or sells products or services of
the Business,  other than,  unless an Important New Contract Consent is received
with respect  thereto,  any such  contract or  agreement  which would also be an
Important New Contract.

                  "Decremented  Minutes"  means  the  sum of  (A) US  Equivalent
Minutes for the Long Distance Segment from the GTI Platform,  Conquest Platform,
West/Voice  Choice and  Cardinal/CTN  Service and (B) Link/ODC  Decremented Unit
Equivalents,  but  specifically  excludes any amounts  relating to the following
relationships or Customer Agreements: (i) New 


                                      -5-


<PAGE>

Media Pass-Through,  oral agreement with West Teleservices described in Schedule
3.12  and the MCI  Services  Agreement;  and (ii)  any new  Customer  Agreements
entered into between the date hereof and Closing.

                  "DIP Credit  Agreement" means the credit agreement and related
documentation set forth as Exhibit 2.

                  "Disclosure" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.24.

                  "Domestic  Corporation"  has the  meaning set forth in Section
7.2(b).

                  "EBITDA"  means  earnings   before  interest  and  taxes  plus
depreciation  and amortization  determined in accordance with GAAP  consistently
applied,  except that it shall exclude any accrual reversals and shall be net of
any marketing  development  fund,  co-op fund or advertising or similar retailer
incentive  capitalized  for  reporting  purposes  pursuant to GAAP  consistently
applied (i.e., as if any such capitalized amounts had been fully expensed in the
relevant period).

                  "Effective  Time of  Employment"  has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.1(b).

                  "Employee" means any person employed by Sellers,  whether in a
full-time,  part-time,  or temporary capacity,  in the operation of the Business
pursuant to any contract, agreement or other arrangement.

                  "Employee  Benefit  Plan"  means any  employee  benefit  plan,
program,  policy,  practices,  or other  arrangement  providing  benefits to any
current or former  employee,  officer or  director  of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries  or any  beneficiary  or  dependent  thereof  that is  sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any of its  subsidiaries or to which the Company or
any of its  subsidiaries  contributes or is obligated to contribute,  whether or
not written,  including  without  limitation any employee  welfare  benefit plan
within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA,  any employee  pension benefit plan
within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA (whether or not such plan is subject
to ERISA) and any  bonus,  incentive,  deferred  compensation,  vacation,  stock
purchase,  stock  option,  severance,  employment,  change of  control or fringe
benefit plan, program or agreement.

                  "Encumbrances"   means   mortgages,    liens,    encumbrances,
restrictions upon voting or transfer, security interests, covenants, conditions,
restrictions,  claims, charges,  options, rights of first refusal, rights of use
or  occupancy  or other legal or equitable  encumbrances  and any other  matters
affecting  title  (including,  in the  case  of  real  property,  rights-of-way,
easements and encroachments) or any other interest in property.

                  "Environmental Laws" means all Applicable Laws relating to the
protection of the environment,  to human health and safety,  or to any emission,
discharge,  generation,  processing,  storage,  holding,  abatement,  existence,
Release,  threatened  release or  transportation  of any  Hazardous  Substances,
including  (a) CERCLA,  the  Resource  Conservation  and  Recovery  Act, and the
Occupational  Safety and Health Act, (b) all other  requirements  pertaining  to
reporting,  


                                      -6-


<PAGE>

licensing,  permitting,  investigation or remediation of emissions,  discharges,
Releases or threatened  Releases of Hazardous  Substances into the air,  surface
water,  groundwater  or  land,  or  relating  to  the  manufacture,  processing,
distribution,  use, sale, treatment,  receipt, storage,  disposal,  transport or
handling of Hazardous Substances,  and (c) all other requirements  pertaining to
the protection of the health and safety of employees or the public.

                  "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of
1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "ERISA Affiliate" means, with respect to any entity,  trade or
business,  any  other  entity,  trade or  business  that is a member  of a group
described in Section 414(b),  (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section  4001(b)(1)
of ERISA that includes the first entity, trade or business,  or that is a member
of the same "controlled  group" as the first entity,  trade or business pursuant
to Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA.

                  "Estimated  Adjustments"  has the meaning set forth in Exhibit
13.1.

                  "Estimated  Purchase  Price  Adjustment"  has the  meaning set
forth in Section 13.1.

                  "Exchange Act" means the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "Excluded Assets" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

                  "Excluded  Liabilities"  has the  meaning set forth in Section
2.4.

                  "Excluded Taxes" means (a) any Nonincome Taxes relating to the
Business,  the Assets or the Assumed  Liabilities for any Pre-Closing Tax Period
and (b) any  Income  Taxes  of any of the  Sellers  or any of  their  respective
Affiliates for any period.  For purposes of this  Agreement,  in the case of any
Straddle  Period,  (i) Property  Taxes for the  Pre-Closing  Tax Period shall be
equal to the  amount of such  Property  Taxes  for the  entire  Straddle  Period
multiplied  by a fraction,  the  numerator of which is the number of days during
the Straddle  Period that are in the  Pre-Closing Tax Period and the denominator
of which is the number of days in the  entire  Straddle  Period,  and (ii) Taxes
(other than Property  Taxes) for the Pre-Closing Tax Period shall be computed as
if such taxable period ended as of the close of business on the Closing Date.

                  "FCC" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a).

                  "FCC Section 214 Authority" means the authorization granted by
the FCC authorizing the Company to resell international services.

                  "FICA" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).

                  "Filing Date" means January 19, 1999.

                  "Filing  Sellers"  means the Sellers other than, to the extent
it is  impracticable  or  inadvisable to include such entities in the Bankruptcy
Cases, the Foreign Subs.


                                      -7-


<PAGE>

                  "Foreign  Subs" means Canada  Telecom  Network Inc.,  ConQuest
Operator Services (U.K.) Ltd., CTN Interactive,  Inc., SmarTalk Canada Inc., and
SmarTalk TeleServices (U.K.) Ltd.

                  "Final  Determination"  means (a) in respect  of U.S.  Federal
income taxes, a "determination" as defined in Section 1313(a) of the Code or the
execution  of an IRS Form  870-AD,  and (b) in respect of Taxes  other than U.S.
Federal income taxes,  any final  determination of liability in respect of a Tax
that,  under  applicable  law,  is not  subject  to  further  appeal,  review or
modification  through  proceedings  or otherwise  (including the expiration of a
statute of limitations or a period for the filing of claims for refunds, amended
returns or appeals from adverse determinations).

                  "Final   Financing   Order"  means  a  final  financing  order
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 5.5(a)

                  "Final  Order"  means an order or judgment  of the  Bankruptcy
Court (a) that is not the subject of a pending appeal,  petition for certiorari,
or other proceedings for review, rehearing, or reargument, (b) that has not been
reversed,  stayed,  modified or amended,  and (c)  respecting  which the time to
appeal,  to petition for  certiorari or to seek review,  rehearing or reargument
shall have  expired,  as a result of which such order shall have become final in
accordance with Rule 8002 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and other
Applicable Laws.

                  "FIRPTA  Affidavit"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in  Section
7.2(b).

                  "FUTA" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).

                  "GAAP" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(b).

                  "Governmental  Approval"  means any Consent of, with or to any
Governmental Authority.

                  "Governmental  Authority" means any nation or government,  any
state or other political  subdivision thereof, any entity exercising  executive,
legislative,  judicial,  regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government,  including any government authority,  agency, department,  board,
commission  or  instrumentality  of the United  States,  any state of the United
States or any political  subdivision  thereof, and any tribunal or arbitrator(s)
of  competent  jurisdiction,  and any  self-regulatory  organization,  and shall
include, without limitation, the Bankruptcy Court.

                  "GTI Platform" means the call processing  platform  located in
Orlando, Florida owned and operated by Sellers on which approximately 29,617,737
decremented minutes were processed in the third fiscal quarter of 1998.

                  "Hazardous  Substances"  means any substance  that:  (a) is or
contains asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls,
petroleum  or  petroleum  derived  


                                      -8-


<PAGE>

substances   or  wastes,   radon  gas  or  related   materials;   (b)   requires
investigation,  removal, containment or remediation under any Environmental Law,
or is  defined,  listed or  identified  as a  "hazardous  waste"  or  "hazardous
substance" (or any similar designation) thereunder;  or (c) is toxic, explosive,
corrosive,  flammable,  infectious,  radioactive,  carcinogenic,  mutagenic,  or
otherwise   hazardous  and  is  regulated  by  any  Governmental   Authority  or
Environmental Law.

                  "Holdback Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(b).

                  "Holdback Note" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(b).

                  "HSR Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements
Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "Impaired  Customer  Adjustment"  has the meaning set forth in
Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Important  New Contract" has the meaning set forth in Section
5.6(b).

                  "Important New Contract  Consent" has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.6(b).

                  "Inactive  Employee"  means an Employee who is not actively at
work due to approved leave of absence,  short-term  disability leave or military
leave.

                  "Income Tax" means any  franchise  Tax and any Tax based on or
measured  by  gross or net  income  or  profits  (including  any and all  fines,
penalties and additions  attributable to or otherwise imposed on or with respect
to any such Tax).

                  "Intellectual  Property"  means such of the  following  as are
Related to the Business or otherwise  necessary for the ordinary  conduct of the
Business:  all domestic and foreign  patents,  industrial  designs,  mask works,
copyrights,  names, marks, trade names,  trademarks,  trade dress, service marks
(whether or not registered) and  registrations,  and applications for any of the
foregoing  (together  with  the  goodwill  associated  with  such  trade  names,
trademarks and service marks),  trade secrets,  inventions and other proprietary
information and licenses from third persons granting the right to use any of the
foregoing.

                  "Interim  Financing  Order" means an interim  financing  order
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 5.5(a).

                  "Inventories"  shall  have the  meaning  set forth in  Section
2.1(c).

                  "IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

                  "Joint Venture Documents" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.1(a).

                  "Joint Ventures" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a).

                  "Leased  Real  Estate"  has the  meaning  set forth in Section
3.13(b).


                                      -9-


<PAGE>

                  "Letter  Agreement"  has the meaning set forth in the recitals
hereto.

                  "Liabilities"  means any and all debts,  losses,  liabilities,
claims  (including claims as defined in the Bankruptcy  Code),  damages,  fines,
costs,  royalties,  proceedings,  deficiencies or obligations  (including  those
arising out of any  Action,  such as any  settlement  or  compromise  thereof or
judgment or award therein), of any nature,  whether known or unknown,  absolute,
accrued,  contingent  or otherwise and whether due or to become due, and whether
or not  resulting  from  third-party  claims,  and any  out-of-pocket  costs and
expenses  (including  attorneys',  accountants',  or  other  fees  and  expenses
incurred  in  defending  any  Action or in  investigating  any of the same or in
asserting any rights hereunder).

                  "Licenses" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a).

                  "Link/ODC Decremented Unit Equivalents" means Link/ODC Revenue
for the relevant period divided by 0.125.

                  "Link/ODC Revenue" means 63% of the Retail Decremented Dollars
(other than Retail  Decremented  Dollars  relating to "Campaign  180", for which
25%, rather than 63%, shall apply).

                  "Link/ODC Service" means the call processing  platform located
in  Rochester,  New York owned and  operated  by Sellers on which  approximately
28,000,000  decremented  minutes were  processed in the third fiscal  quarter of
1998.

                  "Long Distance  Segment" means the portion of the Business and
revenues of the Business  relating to or derived  from  pre-paid  long  distance
telecommunications services.

                  "Loss" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.3.

                  "Lost  Customer  Adjustment"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in
Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Material Adverse Effect" means any effect, event,  occurrence
or state of facts that,  individually or aggregated with other effects,  events,
occurrences  or states of facts,  (a) is  materially  adverse  to or  materially
impairs (i) the value, condition (financial or otherwise),  prospects, business,
assets, Liabilities or results of operations of the Business taken as a whole or
(ii) the  ability of any party  hereto to  perform  its  obligations  under this
Agreement  or (b)  prevents  or  materially  delays  consummation  of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, any
effect, event or occurrence that, individually or aggregated with other effects,
events or  occurrences,  would  reasonably  be expected to (i) reduce  quarterly
Service  Revenues by more than  $5,500,000,  (ii) reduce  quarterly  Decremented
Minutes by more than 36,500,000 minutes, (iii) reduce net value of the assets to
be included in the Assets by more than  $40,000,000,  or (iv)  otherwise have an
adverse impact on the Business of more than $40,000,000, shall be deemed to be a
Material Adverse Effect; provided that nothing in this sentence shall create any
implication  that any effect,  event or occurrence  having and adverse effect of
less than $40,000,000 is or is not material.


                                      -10-


<PAGE>

                  "Maximum Estimated Adjustment" means $45,000,000.

                  "MCI Services Agreement" means that certain Services Agreement
between  MCI  Telecommunications  Corporation  and  ConQuest  Telecommunications
Services dated July 15, 1996 as amended by Amendment Number Two, dated September
1, 1997.

                  "Minimum  Amount"  means  the  Purchase  Price  (prior  to any
adjustment pursuant to Article 13) minus $45,000,000.

                  "Multiemployer Plan" means any "multiemployer plan" within the
meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

                  "Multiple  Employer  Plan"  means a plan  that has two or more
contributing sponsors at least two of whom are not under common control,  within
the meaning of Section 4063 of ERISA.

                  "Net  Trade   Accounts   Receivable"   means  Trade   Accounts
Receivable minus the Trade Accounts Receivable Reserves.

                  "New Media Pass-Through" means the arrangement pursuant to the
Business   serves   as  an   intermediary   for  call   traffic   of  New  Media
Telecommuncations,  Inc. and its  Affiliates  but for which traffic New Media is
directly  responsible for the cost of the carrier  service;  provided,  however,
that the term "New  Media  Pass-Through"  shall not  include  sales to New Media
Telecommunications,  Inc. and its  Affiliates  under any  wholesale  and prepaid
calling card sales agreements between New Media  Telecommuncations,  Inc. and/or
its Affiliates and the Company or its subsidiaries.

                  "New  Media  Shares"  has the  meaning  set  forth in  Section
2.1(s).

                  "New Millennium  Letter  Agreement"  means that certain letter
agreement,  dated as of January 19, 1999, by and among New  Millennium  ConQuest
Service  Corporation  (for itself and its affiliates) and the Company  providing
for use of and access to leased space for  telecommunications  facilities at the
Borden Building 180 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio.

                  "Non-Bankruptcy  Asset" has the  meaning  set forth in Section
5.3(h).

                  "Nonincome  Tax"  means any Tax  (other  than an Income  Tax),
including  any  and  all  fines,  penalties  and  additions  attributable  to or
otherwise imposed on or with respect to any such Tax.

                  "Nonqualified  Stock  Option  Plan" means the  Company's  1996
Nonqualified  Stock  Option  Plan,  as filed as Exhibit  10.10 to the  Company's
Registration  Statement on Form S-1,  registration number 333-10391,  filed with
the SEC on September 26, 1996.

                  "Notice of Disagreement"  has the meaning set forth in Section
13.2(b).

                  "OSHA" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.18.


                                      -11-


<PAGE>

                  "Pending  Litigation"  means the Actions set forth in Schedule
2.

                  "Person"  or  "person"  means and  includes  natural  persons,
corporations,   limited  partnerships,   limited  liability  companies,  general
partnerships,  joint stock companies, joint ventures,  associations,  companies,
trusts,  banks,  trust  companies,   land  trusts,   business  trusts  or  other
organizations, whether or not legal entities, and all Governmental Authorities.

                  "Plan of  Correction"  has the  meaning  set forth in  Section
3.17(a).

                  "Pre-Closing  Tax  Period"  means any tax period  (or  portion
thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date.

                  "Prepaid Calling Cards" means all cards sold or distributed by
Sellers  prior to the  Closing  Date  entitling  the holder of such card to make
local,  long  distance or  international  telephone  calls  having an  aggregate
duration not in excess of a pre-existing amount of calling time (without further
payment), but excluding any such cards first activated (or last recharged in the
case of cards for which a recharge was  purchased)  earlier than two years prior
to the Closing Date.

                  "Prepaid  Minutes  Liability"  has the  meaning  set  forth in
Section 2.3(d).

                  "Prepaid  Wireless  Obligations"  means obligations to provide
prepaid  units of wireless  calling time to any end-use  customer in  connection
with  products,  utilizing the Company's  Debit  Cellular  Network  switch-based
platform,  sold or  distributed  by  Sellers  prior  to the  Closing  Date,  but
excluding  any such  obligations  for  prepaid  cards or  prepaid  phones  first
activated earlier than three months prior to the Closing Date.

                  "Prior Service" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(b).

                  "Projected  Disclosure"  has the  meaning set forth in Section
3.24.

                  "Projections" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(d).

                  "Property  Taxes"  means  real,  personal  and  intangible  ad
valorem property taxes.

                  "Purchase Price" means  $195,000,000.00  minus the SSB Payment
Obligation, as adjusted pursuant to Article 13.

                  "Purchase  Price  Adjustment"  has the  meaning  set  forth in
Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Purchase  Price  Adjustment  Statement"  has the  meaning set
forth in Section 13.2(a).

                  "Recent  10-Q" means the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998, as filed with the SEC on November
16, 1998.


                                      -12-


<PAGE>

                  "Related to the Business"  means  relating to, used in or held
for use in connection  with or otherwise  necessary to the Business as conducted
immediately prior to the date hereof.

                  "Remaining  Estate" means an office  suitable for two persons,
located at 5080 Tuttle Crossing Blvd., Dublin, Ohio 43016-3566,  or at any other
location in close proximity to the principal  place of the Business,  for use by
the Sellers'  Representative from Closing until the Bankruptcy Plan Confirmation
Date. Additionally,  the office shall include such office equipment,  furniture,
computers  and  other  incidental   tangible   personal   property  as  Seller's
Representative shall reasonably require.

                  "Retail   Decremented   Dollars"  means,   for  each  Customer
Agreement,  Decremented  Minutes of Prepaid  Calling  Cards sold to the customer
under  such  Customer  Agreement  multiplied  by the  dollar  face value (to the
consumer/end-user)  per  minute  of  long-distance  calling  time on all of such
Prepaid Calling Cards.

                  "Return"  means  any  return,   statement,   report  or  form,
including  in each case any  amendments  thereto,  required to be filed with any
Taxing Authority by or with respect to Taxes of the Company.

                  "Sale  Procedures  Order" means an order seeking approval of a
sale under  Section 363 of the  Bankruptcy  Code to occur not later than 30 days
from the Filing Date and establishing procedures for such sale, substantially in
the form set forth in Exhibit 5.5(a).

                  "SEC"  means  the  United  States   Securities   and  Exchange
Commission.

                  "SEC Documents" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).

                  "Section 1060 Forms" has the meaning specified in Section 2.5.

                  "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "Sellers"  has the  meaning  set forth in the first  paragraph
hereof.

                  "Seller  Indemnitees"  has the  meaning  set forth in  Section
10.2.

                  "Sellers'  Representative"  means the Chief Executive Officer,
the Chief  Financial  Officer,  the  General  Counsel and the  Directors  of the
Company or such  person(s)  charged by the Bankruptcy  Court with  administering
Sellers'  estate from the Closing  until such time as the  Bankruptcy  Cases are
closed.

                  "Service  Revenue"  or  "Service   Revenues"  means  Wholesale
Service  Revenue for the Long Distance  Segment from the GTI Platform,  Conquest
Platform,  West/Voice  Choice,  Cardinal/CTN  Service and  Link/ODC  Service but
specifically  excludes any amounts  relating to the following  relationships  or
Customer  Agreements:  (i) New  Media  Pass-Through,  oral  agreement  with West
Teleservices described in Schedule 3.12 and the MCI Services Agreement; and (ii)
any Important New Contracts entered into between the date hereof and Closing.


                                      -13-


<PAGE>

                  "SSB Payment  Obligation" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(e).

                  "Stock   Incentive   Plan"  means  the  Company's  1996  Stock
Incentive  Plan,  as  filed  as  Exhibit  10.10  to the  Company's  Registration
Statement  on Form S-1,  registration  number  333-10391,  filed with the SEC on
September 26, 1996.

                  "Straddle  Period"  means any  period  beginning  prior to and
ending after the Closing Date.

                  "Subsidiary"  or  "subsidiary"  means,  with  respect  to  any
Person, any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or partnership
of  which  such  Person  beneficially  owns,  either  directly  or  through  its
subsidiaries,  (a) more than 30% of (i) the total  combined  voting power of all
classes of voting  securities  of such entity,  (ii) the total  combined  equity
interests therein, or (iii) the capital or profit interests therein, in the case
of a partnership; or (b) otherwise has the power to vote or direct the voting of
sufficient  securities  to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar
governing body of such entity.

                  "Supply  Agreements"  means any  written or oral  contract  or
agreement  pursuant  to which any  Seller  purchases  or  acquires  products  or
services used in the Business (other than office equipment,  office supplies and
furniture),  other than,  unless an Important  New Contract  Consent is received
with respect  thereto,  any such agreement  which would also be an Important New
Contract.

                  "Systems"  means  hardware,   firmware  or  software   systems
associated  with  information  processing  and  delivery,   billing,   payables,
management  and  tracking,  operations or services  (e.g.,  security and alarms,
elevators,  communications,  and HVAC), including, without limitation, equipment
containing embedded microchips, operated by, provided to or otherwise reasonably
necessary to the business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries.

                  "Tariffs" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(b).

                  "Tax" means all income,  profits,  franchise,  gross receipts,
capital, net worth, sales, use, withholding,  turnover, value added, ad valorem,
registration,   general  business,   employment,  social  security,  disability,
occupation, real property,  personal property (tangible and intangible),  stamp,
transfer,   conveyance,   severance,   production,   excise  and  other   taxes,
withholdings,  duties, levies, imposts and other similar charges and assessments
(including  any  and all  fines,  penalties  and  additions  attributable  to or
otherwise imposed on or with respect to any such taxes, charges, fees, levies or
other  assessments,  and interest thereon) imposed by or on behalf of any Taxing
Authority.

                  "Taxing   Authority"  means  any  governmental  or  regulatory
authority, body or instrumentality  exercising any authority to impose, regulate
or administer the imposition of Taxes.

                  "Telecommunications   Facilities"   means   telecommunications
equipment  and  facilities  used in, in  connection  with or by the  Business to
provide  telecommunications  service,  


                                      -14-


<PAGE>

and includes  software  integral to such  equipment  and  facilities  (including
upgrades).    For    purposes    of   this    definition,    telecommunications,
telecommunications  equipment, and telecommunications  service have the meanings
given such terms in the Communications Laws.

                  "Third Party Claim" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.5.

                  "Three Month Measurement  Period" has the meaning set forth in
Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Trade Accounts  Receivable"  means trade accounts  receivable
determined in accordance with GAAP applied  consistently  with the balance sheet
included in the Recent 10-Q  (except to the extent  such  balance  sheet was not
prepared in accordance with GAAP, in which case GAAP shall control).

                  "Trade Accounts Receivable Reserves" has the meaning set forth
in Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Transfer Taxes" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).

                  "Transitioned  Employees" has the meaning set forth in Section
6.1(b).

                  "US  Equivalent  Minutes"  means the base  measuring  unit for
calculating by which a Prepaid  Calling Card is decremented for usage on prepaid
long distance platforms and services of the Business. For example, one minute of
long distance service in the United States equals one US Equivalent  Minute; one
minute  of long  distance  service  from  the  United  States  to  India  equals
approximately 5.7 U.S. Equivalent Minutes.

                  "USTs" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.18.

                  "Welfare  Benefits"  means  any and  all  benefits  under  any
"employee welfare benefit plan" within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA.

                  "West/Voice Choice" means the Voice Choice platform located in
San  Francisco  and the call  processing  services  provided  to Sellers by West
Teleservices  which  together  accounted  for  approximately  20,599,430  of the
decremented minutes processed in the third fiscal quarter of 1998.

                  "Wholesale   Service   Revenue"   means,   for  each  Customer
Agreement,  Decremented  Minutes of Prepaid  Calling  Cards sold to the customer
under  such  Customer  Agreement  multiplied  by  Flag's  applicable  contracted
wholesale rate specific to the usage under such Customer Agreement.

                  "Wholesale  Margin" means Retail  Decremented  Dollars for the
relevant period less Wholesale Service Revenue for the same period.

                   "Withdrawal  Liability"  means  liability to a  Multiemployer
Plan as a result of a complete  or partial  withdrawal  from such  Multiemployer
Plan, as those terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.


                                      -15-


<PAGE>

                  "Working Capital" has the meaning set forth on Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Working  Capital  Adjustment"  has the  meaning  set forth in
Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Year 2000  Problems"  means  limitations  in the  capacity or
readiness   to  handle  date   information   (including,   without   limitation,
calculations  based on date  information)  for the year 1999 or years  beginning
January 1, 2000 of any of the Systems.


                                      -16-


<PAGE>

Section 1.2. Other Terms. Other terms may be defined elsewhere in this Agreement
and,  unless  otherwise  indicated,  shall  have such  meaning  throughout  this
Agreement.

Section 1.3. Knowledge Qualifiers. References to "Sellers' knowledge" or "to the
knowledge of the Sellers" and similar terms shall refer to the actual  knowledge
of (a) any officer of the  Company or its  subsidiaries,  or (b) Robert  Lorsch,
Erich Spangenberg, Wayne V. Wooddell, Thaddeus Bereday or Joseph Borocz. 

                                   ARTICLE 2

                            Sale of Assets; Closing


Section 2.1.  Assets to Be Acquired.  Subject to the  satisfaction  or waiver in
writing of the  conditions  set forth herein and to the other terms,  conditions
and  provisions  hereof,  at the Closing,  Sellers shall sell,  convey,  assign,
transfer  and  deliver  to  Buyer  or  cause  to be  sold,  conveyed,  assigned,
transferred  and  delivered  to  Buyer,  as the case  may be,  and  Buyer  shall
purchase,  acquire,  accept and pay for, all of the right,  title and  interest,
free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than Assumed Liabilities),  of Sellers
in the following  properties,  assets and rights of every  nature,  tangible and
intangible  (including  goodwill),  whether  real,  personal or mixed,  wherever
located,  whether now existing or  hereafter  acquired  (excluding  the Excluded
Assets) that are Related to the Business (collectively, the "Assets"):

(a) the Assumed Leases;

(b) all apparatus,  computers and other  electronic data  processing  equipment,
fixtures,  machinery,  equipment,  furniture,  office equipment, motor vehicles,
tools and other  tangible  personal  property,  other than those relating to the
Remaining  Estate,  which  shall  be  assigned  to and  assumed  by Buyer on the
Bankruptcy Plan Confirmation Date;

(c) all inventories of raw materials, work in process, finished products, goods,
spare parts,  replacement  and component  parts,  and office and other  supplies
(collectively,  the "Inventories"),  including  Inventories held at any location
controlled by any Seller or any Affiliate,  Inventories previously purchased and
in transit to any Seller or any  Affiliate,  Inventories  consigned  to vendors,
resellers or customers, and Inventories in transit to such vendors, resellers or
customers;

(d) all rights in and to products of the Business sold or leased (including, but
not limited to, products  hereafter returned or repossessed and unpaid rights of
rescission, replevin, reclamation and rights to stoppage in transit);

(e) the Assumed Contracts;

(f) all  written  technical  information,  data,  specifications,  research  and
development  information,  engineering  drawings and operating  and  maintenance
manuals;


                                      -17-


<PAGE>

(g) the Assumed  Intellectual  Property and all rights  thereunder or in respect
thereof,  including,  but not  limited  to,  rights to sue and  collect  for and
remedies against past, present and future  infringements  thereof, and rights of
priority and protection of interests  therein under the laws of any jurisdiction
worldwide and all tangible embodiments thereof; provided, however, that Sellers'
Representative  may continue to use the SmarTalk name to the extent provided for
in Section 5.7;

(h) all computer  applications,  programs and other software,  including systems
documentation and instructions;

(i) all  accounting  and other books and records,  cost  information,  sales and
pricing data, customer lists,  quality records and reports, and all other books,
records, studies, surveys, reports, plans and documents;

(j) other than as relate solely to Excluded Assets, all expenses and payments of
the Business prepaid or advanced for periods after the Closing Date;

(k) other than as set forth on Schedule 2.2, all accounts and notes  receivable,
and all  notes,  bonds and other  evidences  of  indebtedness  of and  rights to
receive payments from any person;

(l) all Telecommunications Facilities other than those used solely in connection
with assets set forth on Schedule 2.2;

(m) all cash and cash  equivalents  held by any Seller as of the Closing  (other
than any cash delivered by Buyer in respect of the Purchase Price);

(n)  except  as set  forth  on  Schedule  2.1(n),  all  guarantees,  warranties,
indemnities  and  similar  rights in favor of any Seller or any  Affiliate  with
respect  to any Asset and all  letters of credit and  performance  bonds  issued
pursuant to which the Business is a beneficiary;

(o)  except as set forth on  Schedule  2.1(o),  all  rights to causes of action,
lawsuits,  judgments,  claims and  demands of any nature  available  to or being
pursued by any Seller or any  Affiliate  with  respect  to the  Business  or the
ownership,  use,  function  or value of any  Asset,  whether  arising  by way of
counterclaim  or  otherwise   (except  arising   pursuant  to  the  transactions
contemplated hereby);

(p) proceeds,  reserves,  benefits or claims  related to any insurance  coverage
arising out of the insurance  policies set forth in Schedule 2.1(p) with respect
to Claims arising out of or in connection  with the Assets or the Business after
the Closing Date or the Assumed Liabilities;


                                      -18-


<PAGE>

(q) all  Licenses  and Tariffs  relating  to the  Business or any of the Assets,
other than the FCC Section 214 Authority;

(r) all stationery,  purchase order and other forms, labels, shipping materials,
brochures,  art work,  photographs,  advertising materials and any similar items
related to the Assets or the Business;

(s) all shares of stock in New Media Telecommunications, Inc. held by any Seller
(the "New Media Shares"); and

(t) all Current Assets as of the Closing Date.

Section 2.2. Excluded Assets.  Anything to the contrary herein  notwithstanding,
all  Sellers'  and their  Affiliates'  right,  title and  interest in all of the
following  properties,  assets and other rights (the "Excluded Assets") shall be
excluded from the Assets:

(a) the assets and contracts set forth on Schedule 2.2;

(b)  shares of  capital  stock of any  Seller or  securities  convertible  into,
exchangeable or exercisable for shares of capital stock of any Seller;

(c) any assets of any  Employee  Benefit  Plan and any rights under any Employee
Benefit Plan or any contract,  agreement or arrangement  between any Employee or
Consultant and the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

(d) all  rights,  demands,  claims,  Actions and causes of action  (whether  for
personal  injuries  or  property,  consequential  or other  damages of any kind)
(collectively,  "Claims") that any Seller,  any  Affiliate,  or the Business may
have, on or after the date hereof, against any Governmental Authority for refund
or credit of any type with  respect to Sellers'  Taxes for the  Pre-Closing  Tax
Period or Income Taxes of the Sellers for any period;

(e) all Claims that any Seller, any Affiliate,  or the Business may have against
any person  with  respect  to or that are  exclusively  related to any  Excluded
Liabilities or Excluded Assets;

(f) proceeds,  reserves,  benefits or claims  related to any insurance  coverage
arising out of the insurance  policies set forth in Schedule 2.1(p) with respect
to Claims arising out of or in connection with any Excluded Liabilities; and

(g) to the extent that a Working Capital Adjustment actually  contributes to the
Estimated  Purchase Price  Adjustment,  the lesser of (i) 50% of the proceeds of
all Trade  Accounts  Receivable  as of the Closing Date that are  collected  and
received  by Buyer after the Closing  Date that (net of  collection  expenses or
discounts) in the aggregate are in 


                                      -19-


<PAGE>

excess of the Net Trade Accounts  Receivable as of the Closing Date, or (ii) the
amount of the Working Capital Adjustment.

Section 2.3. Assumption of Liabilities.  At the Closing,  Buyer will assume only
the following obligations of Sellers (the "Assumed Liabilities"):

(a) all Liabilities  and obligations of any Seller under the Assumed  Contracts,
provided that Seller shall have  satisfied (or, with respect to any Liability or
obligation that cannot be rendered  non-contingent  and liquidated  prior to the
Closing Date, made effective provision reasonably  satisfactory to Buyer and the
Bankruptcy  Court for  satisfaction  from funds of Seller of) any  Liability  or
obligation  thereunder  arising from or relating to any Seller's  operations  or
conduct prior to the Closing Date (including,  without limitation,  liability or
obligation  for breach,  misfeasance  or under any other theory  relating to any
Seller's conduct, performance or non-performance);

(b) all  other  Liabilities  and  obligations  of any  Seller  arising  from the
operation or use of the Assets by Buyer from and after the Closing Date;

(c) the Current  Liabilities  as of the Closing  Date (other than any  Liability
related to curing  breaches or defaults under the Assumed  Contracts that are to
be paid by any Seller pursuant to Section 5.4 or the Assumption Order);

(d) the unused minutes on all Prepaid Calling Cards and for all Prepaid Wireless
Obligations of the Business (the "Prepaid Minutes Liability"); and

(e) the  obligation to pay any fees that are or become  payable to Salomon Smith
Barney Inc.  pursuant to the engagement letter referred to in Schedule 2.3(e) as
a  result  of the  consummation  of the  Asset  Purchase  (up  to a  maximum  of
$2,500,000),  as determined not less than two Business Days prior to the Closing
Date  (the  "SSB  Payment  Obligation");   provided,  however,  that  all  other
Liabilities  or  obligations  of any Seller to Salomon  Smith Barney Inc. or any
other person  pursuant to such engagement  letter,  including any obligations to
indemnify  any  person  for any  reason,  shall  not be part of the SSB  Payment
Obligation and shall be Excluded Liabilities.

Section 2.4. No Other Liabilities  Assumed.  Anything to the contrary  contained
herein  notwithstanding,  except as provided in Section 2.3, the parties  hereto
agree that Buyer shall not and does not assume any other Liability or obligation
whatsoever  (including without limitation,  Liabilities and obligations relating
to the conduct of the Business or to the Assets (and use thereof) at any time on
or prior  to the  Closing  Date),  whether  relating  to or  arising  out of the
Business or Assets or otherwise,  fixed or contingent,  disclosed or undisclosed
(collectively, the "Excluded Liabilities").  Without limiting the foregoing, and
anything in Section  2.3 to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  Buyer shall not and
does not assume any of the following (each of which shall be included within the
definition of "Excluded  Liability"):  (i) Excluded  Taxes,  (ii) litigation and
related claims and Liabilities,  tax liabilities or any other 


                                      -20-


<PAGE>

Claims  (including  the  Pending  Litigation)  against any Seller of any kind or
nature  whatsoever  involving  or  relating  to facts,  events or  circumstances
arising,  relating to or occurring  prior to the Closing,  no matter when raised
(including, without limitation,  Liability or obligation for breach, misfeasance
or  under  any  other  theory  relating  to  Sellers'  conduct,  performance  or
non-performance),   (iii)  Company  Options,   (iv)   Liabilities   specifically
identified  as the  responsibility  of  Sellers  in  Article  6,  including  any
Liabilities  relating to any  contract,  agreement  or  arrangement  between any
Employee  or  Consultant  and the  Company or any of its  subsidiaries,  (v) any
reserve for  discontinued  operations,  (vi) any note, bond or other evidence of
indebtedness of any Seller,  (vii) any Liabilities relating to or arising out of
any Excluded  Assets,  (viii) any  Liability or  obligation  for fraud,  breach,
misfeasance  or  under  any  other  theory  relating  to any  Seller's  conduct,
performance or  non-performance,  and (ix) any Liabilities set forth on Schedule
2.4.

Section 2.5. Tax  Treatment.  Buyer and each Seller shall agree on an allocation
of the  Purchase  Price  (the  "Allocation");  provided,  however,  that (a) the
Allocation shall be reasonable, based on fair market values, consistent with the
Code and based on an initial  proposal  by Buyer,  and (b) any  dispute  between
Buyer and the Sellers in determining  such  allocation  shall be resolved by the
Accounting Firm. Except as otherwise required pursuant to a Final Determination,
Buyer and each Seller agree to act in accordance with the Allocation for all Tax
purposes,  including  for purposes of any Returns  (such as IRS Form 8594 or any
other forms or reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 1060 of the Code
or any  comparable  provisions  of local,  state or foreign law  ("Section  1060
Forms")),  and to  refrain  from  taking  any  position  inconsistent  with  the
Allocation.  Buyer and Sellers agree to cooperate in the preparation of any such
Section  1060  Forms and to timely  file such  Section  1060 Forms in the manner
required by  applicable  law. The parties agree to treat all payments made under
any  indemnity  provision  contained  in this  Agreement as  adjustments  to the
Purchase Price for Tax purposes,  unless otherwise  required pursuant to a Final
Determination.

Section 2.6.  Consideration.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, at the
Closing, Buyer shall:

(a) pay to the  Company,  by wire  transfer  of same day funds to the account or
accounts  specified  in writing not less than three  Business  Days prior to the
Closing by the Sellers, an amount equal to the Purchase Price minus the Holdback
Amount minus the amount of the Estimated Purchase Price Adjustment;

(b) deliver, directly to the Company, a non-negotiable promissory note of Buyer,
substantially  in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 2.6 (the "Holdback  Note")
having an  aggregate  initial  principal  amount  equal to  $40,000,000.00  (the
"Holdback  Amount"),  subject to  adjustment as provided for herein and therein;
and

(c) assume the Assumed  Liabilities  pursuant to the  Assignment  and Assumption
Agreement.


                                      -21-


<PAGE>

Section 2.7. Time and Place of Closing.  The closing of the Asset  Purchase (the
"Closing") shall take place at the offices of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, 51
West 52nd Street,  New York, New York, at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the
11th Business Day after (a) the Bankruptcy  Court Approval has been received and
(b) the conditions to Closing set forth in Articles 8 and 9 (other than those to
be satisfied at the Closing,  which shall be satisfied or waived at the Closing,
and other than receipt of the Bankruptcy Court Approval) have been satisfied (or
waived by the party entitled to waive such condition), or such other place, date
and time as the parties may agree.

Section 2.8.  Designation of Affiliates by Buyer. Prior to the Closing,  upon at
least one day's  written  notice to  Sellers,  Buyer may  designate  one or more
Affiliates  to acquire at the Closing all or part of the Assets,  in which event
all references herein to "Buyer" shall be deemed to refer to such Affiliates, as
appropriate;  provided,  however,  that no such  designation  shall in any event
limit or affect the  obligations of Buyer under this Agreement to the extent not
performed by such Affiliates.

                                    ARTICLE 3

                    Representations and Warranties of Sellers

                  Sellers,  jointly and severally,  hereby represent and warrant
to Buyer as follows:


Section 3.1. Incorporation. (a) Each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the  jurisdiction  in which  it is  incorporated  and has the  requisite
corporate  power and authority to carry on its business as now being  conducted.
Each of the Company and,  except as disclosed  in Schedule  3.1(a),  each of its
subsidiaries  is  duly  qualified  or  licensed  to do  business  and is in good
standing  in each  jurisdiction  in which  the  nature  of its  business  or the
ownership or leasing of its  properties  makes such  qualification  or licensing
necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified
or licensed  (individually or in the aggregate) could not reasonably be expected
to have a Material  Adverse Effect.  The Company has delivered or made available
to Buyer  complete  and  correct  copies of its  articles of  incorporation  and
bylaws,  the articles of incorporation and bylaws of its  subsidiaries,  and the
joint venture,  partnership and other governing agreements and documents ("Joint
Venture  Documents") of any such partnership,  joint venture or similar business
or  entity in which the  Company,  directly  or  indirectly,  has any  ownership
interests  (the "Joint  Ventures"),  in each case as amended to the date of this
Agreement.

(b)  Schedule  3.1(b)  lists  each  subsidiary  of  the  Company,  its  form  of
organization,  its respective  jurisdiction of  incorporation  or formation,  if
applicable,  and the holders of the  outstanding  capital  stock or other equity
interests of such  subsidiaries.  Schedule  3.1(b) also lists all Joint  Venture
Documents  to  which  the  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  is a  party  or
otherwise  governing any such subsidiary.  All the outstanding shares of capital
stock or other  ownership  interests of each such subsidiary of the Company have
been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and all such shares or
ownership  


                                      -22-


<PAGE>

interests indicated as being owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries are
owned by the Company, by another subsidiary of the Company or by the Company and
another  such  subsidiary,  free and clear of all  Encumbrances  and free of any
other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote,
sell or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or equity interests).  Except as
set  forth  on  Schedule  3.1(b),  and  except  for  the  capital  stock  of its
subsidiaries,  the Company does not own,  directly or  indirectly,  and does not
have the right to acquire any capital stock or other  ownership  interest in any
person.

Section 3.2.  Authorization.  (a) Each Seller has the requisite  corporate power
and authority to enter into this  Agreement and to consummate  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
each Seller and the consummation by each Seller of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the part of each Seller.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
each Seller and, assuming due execution and delivery by the Buyer and receipt of
Bankruptcy  Court Approval,  constitutes a valid and binding  obligation of each
Seller,  enforceable  against  each  Seller in  accordance  with its terms.  The
execution and delivery of this Agreement does not, and the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and compliance with the provisions
of this Agreement will not, after giving effect to the Assumption  Order and the
Bankruptcy  Court  Approval,  conflict  with,  or result in any violation of, or
default (with or without  notice or lapse of time, or both) under,  or give rise
to a right of  termination,  cancellation,  modification  or acceleration of any
obligation  or to a loss of a benefit  under,  or result in the  creation of any
Encumbrance  upon any of the  properties  or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries  under,  (i) the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company
or  the  comparable   charter  or   organizational   documents  of  any  of  its
subsidiaries,   (ii)  any  loan  or  credit  agreement,  note,  bond,  mortgage,
indenture,  lien, lease or any other contract,  agreement,  instrument,  permit,
commitment, concession, franchise or license applicable to the Company or any of
its  subsidiaries or their  respective  properties or assets or (iii) subject to
the  governmental  filings  and  other  matters  referred  to in  the  following
sentence,  any  judgment,  order,  decree,  statute,  law,  ordinance,  rule  or
regulation  applicable  to the  Company  or any of  its  subsidiaries  or  their
respective  properties  or assets.  No  consent,  approval,  grant,  concession,
agreement,  franchise,  order,  license,  permit, waiver or authorization of, or
registration,  declaration or filing with or exemption,  notice, application, or
certification by or to any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect
to the Company or any of its  subsidiaries  in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Sellers or the  consummation by the Sellers of
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  except for (A) receipt of the
Bankruptcy Court Approval and the Assumption  Order,  (B) the required  Consents
listed on  Schedule  3.2,  and (C) the filing of a  premerger  notification  and
report form by the Company under the HSR Act. Assuming receipt of the Bankruptcy
Court  Approval  from the  Bankruptcy  Court,  neither the entering into of this
Agreement nor the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or
performance  of any  obligations  provided for herein  requires the  affirmative
vote,  consent  or  approval  of or by holders of any class or series of capital
stock 


                                      -23-


<PAGE>

(or securities  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for capital stock) or voting
debt of the Company.

(b) Subject to receipt of Bankruptcy Court Approval,  Sellers have all requisite
power to  transfer  to Buyer good and  marketable  title to the Assets  free and
clear of all Encumbrances.

Section 3.3.  Financial  Statements.  (a) As of the date hereof, the Company has
filed  with the SEC and  delivered  to Buyer  true and  complete  copies of, all
required reports,  schedules,  forms,  statements,  exhibits and other documents
filed  with the SEC since  January  1, 1996 (the "SEC  Documents").  As of their
respective  dates  (except as amended in  corrective  filings filed prior to the
date of this  Agreement,  and,  with respect to the Recent  10-Q,  except as set
forth in the first and second  sentence of the first  paragraph of the Company's
Current  Report on Form 8-K filed  with the SEC on  January  7,  1999),  the SEC
Documents  complied  in all  material  respects  with  the  requirements  of the
Securities  Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be,  applicable to such SEC
Documents,  and none of the SEC Documents  contained  any untrue  statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated  therein
or  necessary  in  order  to  make  the  statements  therein,  in  light  of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(b) Except as  amended in  corrective  filings  filed  prior to the date of this
Agreement  (and,  with  respect to the Recent  10-Q,  except as set forth in the
first and second sentence of the first paragraph of the Company's Current Report
on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 7, 1999), the financial  statements of
the Company included in the SEC Documents  comply in all material  respects with
applicable  accounting  requirements  and the published rules and regulations of
the SEC with  respect  thereto,  have been  prepared in  accordance  with United
States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent
basis  throughout the periods  involved (except as may be indicated in the notes
thereto) and fairly present the consolidated  financial  position of the Company
and its  consolidated  subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated
results of their  operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject,
in the case of unaudited  statements,  only to normal year-end audit adjustments
which were not expected to be material in an amount or effect).

Section 3.4. Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.  Neither the Company nor any of
its  subsidiaries  has any  Liabilities or  obligations  of any nature  (whether
accrued,  absolute,  contingent  or  otherwise)  arising out of the  Business or
Assets or  Related to the  Business,  except  for (i)  Liabilities  that will be
Excluded Liabilities and will not be Assumed Liabilities as of the Closing, (ii)
Liabilities  and  obligations  set forth in Schedule 3.4,  (iii)  Liabilities or
obligations reflected in, reserved against or otherwise disclosed in the Balance
Sheet,  (iv) Current  Liabilities  arising  after the Balance  Sheet Date to the
extent  such  Current  Liabilities  actually  contribute  to a  Working  Capital
Adjustment,  (v) Liabilities and obligations arising under or in connection with
the Assumed  Contracts in accordance with the terms of such Assumed Contracts as
in effect on the date hereof; and (vi) Prepaid Minutes Liability the 


                                      -24-


<PAGE>

actual  cost of  service to the owner of the  Business  of which does not exceed
$12,000,000 on the date hereof or $14,000,000 on the Closing Date.

(b) As of the Closing Date, the total Prepaid Minutes Liability shall not exceed
185,000,000 US Equivalent Minutes.

Section 3.5.  Assets.  Except for valid  reclamation  claims and as set forth on
Schedule 3.5, Sellers (i) have good and valid title to all the tangible personal
property  material to the Business and  reflected in the Balance  Sheet as being
owned by the Company and its  subsidiaries  or acquired  after the date  thereof
(except Inventory sold, cash disposed of, accounts receivable collected, prepaid
expenses realized,  contracts fully performed,  properties or assets replaced by
equivalent  or  superior  properties  or assets (in each case,  in the  ordinary
course  of  business)),  free and  clear  of all  Encumbrances  except  for such
imperfections  or  irregularities  of title or Encumbrances as do not affect the
use of the properties or assets subject thereto or affected thereby or otherwise
impair business operations at such properties,  in either case, in such a manner
as to have a Material  Adverse Effect,  and (ii) are  collectively the lessee of
all tangible  personal property material to the Business and reflected as leased
in the Balance Sheet or leased after the date thereof (except for Assumed Leases
that have  expired by their  terms as a result of the passage of time and are in
possession of the properties  purported to be leased  thereunder,  and each such
lease is valid and in full force and effect without  default  thereunder) by the
lessee or the lessor, other than defaults that would not have a Material Adverse
Effect. The Assets, taken as a whole, constitute all the properties,  assets and
rights  necessary  for Buyer to conduct and operate  the  Business as  conducted
currently or at any time within the past six months (except Inventory sold, cash
disposed of, accounts receivable collected, prepaid expenses realized, contracts
fully  performed,  properties  or assets  replaced  by  equivalent  or  superior
properties or assets (in each case, in the ordinary course of business)). To the
knowledge of the Sellers,  there are no facts or conditions affecting them which
could, individually or in the aggregate,  interfere in any material respect with
the use,  occupancy or operation of the Assets,  taken as a whole,  as currently
used, occupied or operated, or their adequacy for such use.

Section 3.6.  Absence of Certain  Changes.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.6,
since the Balance Sheet Date,  Sellers and their  Affiliates  have conducted the
Business only in the ordinary course consistent with prior practice and, without
limiting the foregoing, have not:

(a) suffered any Material Adverse Effect;

(b) mortgaged,  pledged or subjected to Encumbrances,  any property, business or
assets, tangible or intangible, held in connection with the Business, other than
any such mortgage,  pledge or Encumbrance  (i) in favor of Lender (as defined in
the DIP Credit Agreement) under the DIP Credit  Agreement,  or (ii) as would not
be an Assumed Liability as of or subsequent to the Closing Date;


                                      -25-


<PAGE>

(c) sold,  transferred,  leased to others or  otherwise  disposed  of any of the
Assets, except for inventory sold in the ordinary course of business;

(d)  canceled or  compromised  any debts or claims,  or waived or  released  any
rights individually or in the aggregate having substantial value, other than (i)
as would not reduce the value of any Asset or result in any Liability that would
be or increase any Assumed Liability as of or subsequent to the Closing, or (ii)
as actually contributes to a Working Capital Adjustment;

(e) (i) as of the date of this  Agreement (A) received any notice of termination
(written or, to the knowledge of Sellers or Stacey Borocz, oral) of any Customer
Agreement, Supply Agreement, License, or other material contract, lease or other
agreement,  or (B)  received  any  notice  of  termination  (written  or, to the
knowledge of Sellers or Stacey  Borocz,  oral) of any other  contract,  lease or
agreement  the  termination  of which  could  reasonably  be  expected to have a
Material  Adverse  Effect;  or (ii) subsequent to the date of this Agreement (A)
received any notice of  termination  (written or, to the knowledge of Sellers or
Stacey Borocz, oral) of any Customer Agreement,  Supplier Agreement, License, or
other material contract, lease or other agreement, or (B) received any notice of
termination  (written or, to the knowledge of Sellers or Stacey Borocz, oral) of
any other contract lease or agreement the termination of which could  reasonably
be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect,  other than, in the case of this
clause (ii), (x) for which no termination has occurred as of the Closing and any
defaults  under  such  contract,  lease or  agreement  have been cured as of the
Closing,  or (y) notices relating to terminations which actually contribute to a
Lost Customer Adjustment;

(f)  transferred  or granted any rights  under,  or entered into any  settlement
regarding the breach or infringement of, any Assumed Intellectual  Property,  or
modified any existing rights with respect thereto;

(g) (i)  declared,  set  aside or paid  any  dividends  or other  distributions,
directly or indirectly, in respect of its capital stock or partnership interests
(ii)  repurchased,  redeemed or  otherwise  acquired any  outstanding  shares of
capital  stock or other  securities  of the Company or any of its  subsidiaries,
(iii) adjusted, split, combined or reclassified any of its capital stock or (iv)
issued or authorized the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu
of or in  substitution  for shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries;

(h) (i) other than as required by Applicable Law or contracts entered into on or
before the date hereof, made any change in the rate of compensation, commission,
bonus or other  direct or indirect  remuneration  payable,  or paid or agreed or
orally  promised  to pay,  conditionally  or  otherwise,  any bonus,  incentive,
retention  or other  compensation,  retirement,  welfare,  fringe  or  severance
benefit or vacation pay, to or in respect of any shareholder, director, officer,
employee,  distributor  or sales  representative  of any Seller  relating to the
Business or (ii) entered into any employment,  deferred compensation,  


                                      -26-


<PAGE>

severance or  termination  agreement or  arrangement  with or for the benefit of
such  current or former  director,  officer or employee of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries;

(i)  encountered  any labor  union  organizing  activity,  had any actual or, to
Sellers' knowledge,  threatened employee strikes,  work stoppages,  slowdowns or
lockouts,  or had any  material  change  in its  relations  with its  employees,
agents, customers or suppliers;

(j) failed to replenish the Businesses' Inventories and supplies in a normal and
customary  manner  consistent  with its  prior  practice,  or made any  purchase
commitment  in excess of the  normal,  ordinary  and usual  requirements  of its
business or, to the knowledge of the Sellers, at any price in excess of the then
current market price or upon terms and conditions  more onerous than those usual
and  customary  in the  industry,  or made any change in its  selling,  pricing,
advertising or personnel practices inconsistent with its prior practice;

(k) made,  during the  period  from the  Balance  Sheet Date to the date of this
Agreement,  any capital  expenditures  or capital  additions or  improvements in
excess of $300,000 in the aggregate or, after the date of this  Agreement,  made
any capital  expenditures or capital  additions that exceed $25,000 per calendar
month;

(l) (i) prior to the date of this Agreement incurred or capitalized any costs or
expenses related to marketing,  advertising, co-op or similar funds in excess of
$350,000 in the  aggregate;  or (ii)  subsequent to the date of this  Agreement,
incurred or capitalized any costs or expenses related to marketing, advertising,
co-op or similar  funds  other than any such costs or  expenses  which  actually
contribute to Impaired Customer Adjustment or for which an Adjustment Consent is
given;

(m) instituted, settled or agreed to settle any litigation, Action or proceeding
before any court or  governmental  body  relating to the  Business,  the Assets,
other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices but
not in any case  involving  amounts  in excess of  $50,000  or  $200,000  in the
aggregate other than (i) as would not reduce the value of any Asset or result in
any  Liability  that  would  be  or  increase  any  Assumed  Liability  as of or
subsequent to the Closing, or (ii) as actually  contributes to a Working Capital
Adjustment;

(n)  entered  into any  transaction,  contract or  commitment  other than in the
ordinary  course of  business  or paid or agreed to pay any  legal,  accounting,
brokerage, finder's fee, Taxes or other expenses in connection with, or incurred
any severance pay  obligations by reason of, this Agreement or the  transactions
contemplated hereby other than (i) as would not reduce the value of any Asset or
result in any Liability that would be or increase any Assumed Liability as of or
subsequent to the Closing, or (ii) as actually  contributes to a Working Capital
Adjustment;


                                      -27-


<PAGE>

(o) (i) prior to the date of this  Agreement,  entered into any  transaction  or
made any  commitment,  or entered into any contract or agreement  Related to the
Business of more than $50,000 for any  transaction or $200,000 for any series of
transactions;  or (ii) on or after the date of this Agreement,  entered into any
transaction  or made any  commitment,  or entered into any contract or agreement
Related to the Business of more than $50,000 for any transaction or $200,000 for
any series of transactions other than, in the case of this clause (ii) Important
New  Contracts  with respect to which  Sellers have complied with Section 5.6 of
this Agreement in all respects;

(p) taken any  action or omitted  to take any  action  that would  result in the
occurrence of any of the foregoing; or

(q) entered into any agreement to do any of the foregoing.

Section 3.7. Litigation;  Orders.  Except for Pending Litigation or as disclosed
in  Schedule  3.7,  there are no Actions,  pending  or, to  Sellers'  knowledge,
threatened against Seller or any of its Affiliates in connection with the Assets
or the Business or which could give rise to or increase an Assumed Liability, or
against or relating to the  transactions  contemplated by this  Agreement,  and,
with respect to Actions in  connection  with or affecting  the Assets or Assumed
Liabilities,  no Seller knows of any basis for the same.  Except as disclosed in
Schedule  3.7,  there  are no  judgments  or  outstanding  orders,  injunctions,
decrees,  stipulations or awards (whether  rendered by a court or administrative
agency, or by arbitration) against any Seller or any of its Affiliates or any of
their respective  properties or businesses that would reasonably be expected to,
individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse Effect or that could
prohibit or make unlawful the Asset Purchase.

Section 3.8. Intellectual Property. (a) Assumed Intellectual Property.  Schedule
3.8(a)  lists the  Intellectual  Property of  Sellers.  Except as  disclosed  in
Schedule 3.8(a), no notices have been given nor claims have been asserted by any
person  (i) to the  effect  that the  manufacture,  use or sale of any  product,
invention,   design,  machine,  process,  technology,   know-how,   information,
literature,  copyright table work, name, trade name, trademark,  service mark or
trade dress as now manufactured,  sold or used by any Seller or any Affiliate in
connection with the Business infringes on any patents,  intellectual property or
other right or (ii)  challenging  the ownership,  validity,  transferability  or
effectiveness of any of the Assumed Intellectual  Property.  Except as set forth
on Schedule  3.8(a),  Sellers own or have the exclusive right to use pursuant to
license, sublicense,  agreement or permission all Assumed Intellectual Property,
free from any Encumbrances and free from any requirement of any past, present or
future royalty payments,  license fees, charges or other payments, or conditions
or restrictions  whatsoever.  The Assumed Intellectual Property comprises all of
the  intellectual  property  necessary  for Buyer to  conduct  and  operate  the
Business as now being conducted.

(b) Transfer.  Subject to Bankruptcy Court Approval,  Sellers have all requisite
power to transfer ownership of or rights to use (as the case may be) the Assumed
Intellectual  


                                      -28-


<PAGE>

Property to Buyer,  free from any  Encumbrances  and on terms and  conditions no
less favorable than as in effect as of the date hereof.

(c) No Infringement.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.8(a), the conduct of the
Business  does not infringe or otherwise  conflict with any rights of any person
in respect of any patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights or
other Intellectual  Property.  To the knowledge of Sellers,  none of the Assumed
Intellectual Property is being infringed or, to the knowledge of Sellers (except
as to intellectual  property licensed by any of the Sellers),  otherwise used or
available for use, by any other person.

(d) Due Registration,  Etc. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.8(d),  the Assumed
Intellectual  Property has been duly registered  with, filed in or issued by, as
the case may be, the United States Patent and  Trademark  Office,  United States
Copyright Office or such other filing offices,  domestic or foreign. Each Seller
and its  Affiliates  have taken  such other  actions,  and to the  knowledge  of
Sellers, no other actions will be required to be taken within the 180-day period
commencing the date hereof,  to ensure full protection under any Applicable Laws
or regulations,  and such  registrations,  filings,  issuances and other actions
remain in full  force and  effect,  in each case,  to the extent  Related to the
Business.

Section 3.9. Licenses, Approvals, Other Authorizations,  Consents, Reports, Etc.
(a) Except as otherwise  indicated in the relevant Schedule hereto:  the Company
is the holder of the Licenses  issued by the Federal  Communications  Commission
(the "FCC") listed on Schedule  3.9(a)(i),  and of the other Licenses  issued by
any  Governmental   Authority  listed  on  Schedule  3.9(a)(ii)   (collectively,
"Licenses").  The  Licenses  so listed  constitute  all of the  Licenses  by any
Governmental  Authority that are required for and/or used in and are material to
the  operation of the Business as currently  conducted.  Each of the Licenses so
listed is in full  force and  effect and the  Company  is in  compliance  in all
material  respects  with  the  terms  and  requirements   thereof  and  all  the
Communications Laws and other rules and regulations pertaining thereto. There is
not  pending  or,  to  the  knowledge  of  Sellers,   threatened,   any  Action,
investigation,   complaint  or  other   proceeding  by  the  FCC  or  any  other
Governmental  Authority  to  revoke,  cancel,  suspend,  modify in any  material
respect or refuse to renew any of the  Licenses so listed.  There is not issued,
pending, or, to the knowledge of Sellers, threatened, any notice of violation or
complaint  by the FCC or any other  Governmental  Authority  against the Company
with respect to the Business or the transactions contemplated hereby, except for
violations  or  complaints  that  could not  reasonably  be  expected  to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Except as otherwise  indicated in the relevant Schedule hereto:  the Company
has filed the tariffs, price lists, or other regulatory filings submitted by the
Company  to the FCC,  or any  state,  local  and/or  other  relevant  government
agencies  (including  pending  submissions  for any of the  foregoing),  for the
construction  and  operation  of  the  Business,   including  all  renewals  and
extensions  thereof,  listed in Schedule  3.9(b)(i)  with the FCC, and the other
tariffs listed on Schedule  3.9(b)(ii)  with state,  local and/or other relevant


                                      -29-


<PAGE>

government  agencies  (collectively,  the  "Tariffs").  The  Tariffs  so  listed
constitute  all of such tariffs,  price lists or other such  regulatory  filings
necessary or required by the FCC and any other governmental agency of the United
States Government or of any state or local government for and/or used in and are
material  to the  provision  by  Company  of  telecommunications  service to its
customers  as  currently  provisioned.  Each of the Tariffs so listed is in full
force and effect and the Company is in compliance in all material  respects with
the terms and  requirements  thereof and all the  Communications  Laws and other
governmental  regulations  pertaining  thereto.  There  is not  pending  or,  to
knowledge of Sellers, threatened, any action, investigation,  complaint or other
proceeding  by the FCC or any other  Governmental  Authority to revoke,  cancel,
suspend, modify in any material respect or refuse to renew any of the Tariffs so
listed.  To the extent  certain  telecommunications  services are offered by the
Business  to its  customers  without a Tariff,  such  services  are  listed  and
described in Schedule 3.9(b)(iii).

(c) Accurate  and  complete  copies of all of the Licenses and Tariffs have been
delivered or made available to Buyer. All of the Licenses and Tariffs previously
delivered or made available to Buyer contain no defect which could reasonably be
expected  to cause a Material  Adverse  Effect.  No  present or former  officer,
manager, member or employee of Company or any of their affiliates,  or any other
Person, owns material interest in any of the Licenses or Tariffs so listed.

(d)  All  Telecommunications  Facilities  that  the  Company  owns,  leases,  or
otherwise  has  rights  to use or access  are  listed in  Schedule  3.9(d).  The
Business  is  in  compliance  in  all  material  respects  with  the  terms  and
requirements of the FCC and any other Governmental Authority with respect to its
ownership, lease, or other rights in and to such Telecommunications  Facilities.
None of the  Telecommunications  Facilities set forth in Schedule 3.9(d) contain
any defect that could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect.
No present or former  officer,  manager,  member or  employee  of Company or any
Affiliate  thereof,  or any other Person,  owns material  interest in any of the
Telecommunications Facilities so listed.

(e) To the  knowledge  of Sellers and of outside  legal  counsel to the Company,
other than as set forth in clauses (i),  (ii) and (iii) of the last  sentence of
Section 3.2(a), the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  including the
transfer of any Licenses,  Tariffs, or  Telecommunications  Facilities described
above,  are  not  subject  to  the  prior  approval  of the  FCC  or  any  other
Governmental Authority.

Section 3.10. Labor Matters.  There are no collective  bargaining  agreements or
similar   agreements  or   arrangements   with  labor  unions  or   associations
representing  Employees  of  the  Business  and no  such  agreements  are  being
negotiated. No work stoppage against the Business is pending or, to the Sellers'
knowledge, threatened. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.10, the Business is not
a party to or,  to the  knowledge  of the  Sellers,  threatened  with any  labor
dispute,  arbitration,  lawsuit or administrative  proceeding  relating to labor
matters (excluding routine workers' compensation claims) involving the Employees
of the 


                                      -30-


<PAGE>

Business.  No labor  organization or group of employees of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries has made a pending demand for recognition or certification, and
there are no representation or certification  proceedings or petitions seeking a
representation  proceeding  presently  pending  or  threatened  to be brought or
filed,  with the National  Labor  Relations  Board or any other labor  relations
tribunal or authority.

Section 3.11.  Compliance  with Laws.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.11, the
Assets and conduct by the Company and its  subsidiaries of the Business are and,
to the  knowledge of Sellers,  have been in compliance  with all statutes,  laws
(including  Communications Laws),  regulations,  ordinances,  rules,  judgments,
orders or decrees,  applicable thereto,  except for violations or failures so to
comply, if any, that, individually or in the aggregate,  could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect or give rise to  material  fines or
other material civil penalties or any criminal liabilities.  Except as set forth
on Schedule 3.11, neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice
or other communications  relating to any alleged violation of any statute,  law,
regulation,  ordinance,  rule,  judgment,  order or decree from any Governmental
Authority,  or of any  investigation  with respect  thereto,  applicable  to the
Business or any Asset  which has not been  satisfactorily  addressed  except for
violations, if any, that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably
be  expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect and could not  reasonably  be
expected to give rise to material fines or other material civil penalties or any
criminal liabilities.  The transactions  contemplated by this Agreement will not
result in a material  default under, or a material breach or material  violation
of, or materially adversely affect the rights and benefits afforded to or by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries under the Licenses and Tariffs.

Section 3.12. Contracts.  (a) Schedule 3.12 contains a complete and correct list
of all agreements, contracts, commitments and other instruments and arrangements
(whether  written  or oral) of the types  described  below  (1) by which,  after
giving effect to the  transactions  contemplated by this  Agreement,  any of the
Assets are bound or  affected or (2) to which any Seller or any  Affiliate  is a
party or by which it is bound or affected in connection with the Business or the
Assets,  other than any which relate solely to Excluded  Liabilities or Employee
Benefit Plans (collectively, "Contracts"):

(i) any  employment,  consulting,  severance,  termination,  or  indemnification
agreement, contract or arrangement,  written or oral, with any current or former
officer, consultant, director or employee;

(ii) any joint venture  contract or arrangement or any other  agreement that has
involved or is  expected to involve a sharing of revenues of $100,000  per annum
or more with other persons;

(iii) any lease for personal  property in which the amount of payments  that the
Company is required to make,  or is  expected  to  receive,  on an annual  basis
exceeds $50,000;


                                      -31-


<PAGE>

(iv) any  contract  or  agreement  for the  purchase  by Sellers of  products or
services  that either (A) has a term of one year or longer or (B) is  reasonably
expected to result in purchases or sales in excess of $100,000  over the term of
such contract or agreement (assuming all renewals and extensions are taken), any
Customer Agreement and any Supply Agreement;

(v) any agreement, contract, policy, license, document, instrument,  arrangement
or commitment  that  materially  limits the freedom of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries  or any of its employees to compete in any line of business or with
any  person or in any  geographic  area or that  would so  materially  limit the
freedom of the  Business or Buyer or any of its  subsidiaries  after the Closing
Date;

(vi) any  agreement  or contract  relating  to any  outstanding  commitment  for
capital  expenditures  in excess of  $50,000  individually  or  $200,000  in the
aggregate, or any partially or fully executory agreement or contract relating to
the  acquisition  or disposition of rights or assets having a value of in excess
of $50,000 individually or $200,000 in the aggregate;

(vii)  any  agreement  or  contract  pursuant  to which  any  Seller  incurs  or
capitalizes  any costs or expenses  related to marketing  funds,  co-op funds or
similar retailer incentives in excess of $25,000;

(viii) any  sale-leaseback,  conditional  sale,  exclusive  dealing,  brokerage,
finder's fee or take-or-pay contract or agreement;

(ix) any agreement, contract, policy, license, document, instrument, arrangement
or  commitment  pursuant  to which any  Seller  owns or has the right to use any
Intellectual Property; or

(x) any  other  agreement,  contract,  policy,  license,  document,  instrument,
arrangement or commitment (A) having a term of one year or longer, (B) providing
for aggregate  payments by or to the Company and/or its subsidiaries  (singly or
together  with other  related  agreements)  of $150,000 or more,  or (C) that is
material to the Business.

(a) Sellers  have  delivered to Buyer true,  complete and correct  copies of all
written  Contracts (and accurate and complete  written  descriptions of all oral
Contracts) that are of the type referred to in clauses (ii), (iii),  (iv), (vi),
(ix) and (x) of Section  3.12(a),  and have delivered or made available to Buyer
true,  complete and correct  copies of all written  Contracts  (and accurate and
complete written descriptions of all other oral Contracts) that are set forth or
required  to be set forth in  Schedule  3.12,  in every case  together  with all
amendments thereto.

(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12(c), (i) all Contracts are in full force
and effect and  enforceable  against  each Seller and (ii) to the  knowledge  of
Sellers,  all Contracts are (as of the date hereof) and, assuming the Assumption
Order is  entered,  shall be (as of the  


                                      -32-


<PAGE>

Closing)  in full force and  effect and  enforceable  against  each other  party
thereto.  There does not exist under any  Contract any event of default or event
or condition  that,  after notice or lapse of time or both,  would  constitute a
violation,  breach or event of default  thereunder  on the part of any Seller or
any of its Affiliates  or, to the knowledge of Sellers,  any other party thereto
except as set forth in Schedule 3.12(c) and except for such events or conditions
that,  individually  and in the aggregate,  (1) have not had or resulted in, and
could not reasonably be expected to have or result in, a Material Adverse Effect
and (2) have not and could not  reasonably  be expected to impair the ability of
any Seller to perform its obligations under this Agreement.  Except as set forth
in Schedule  3.12(c),  neither the Company nor any  subsidiary  has received any
oral or written notice of a material default (which has not been cured),  offset
or counterclaim under any Contract,  or any other communication  calling upon it
to  comply  with  any  provision  of any  Contract  or  asserting  noncompliance
therewith or asserting the Company or any  subsidiary  has waived or altered its
rights thereunder. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12, if the Assumption Order
is entered,  no Consent of any third party is required  under any  Contract as a
result of or in connection  with, and the  enforceability  of each Contract will
not be affected in any manner by, the  execution,  delivery and  performance  of
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 3.13. Real Property. (a) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
owns any real property.

(b)  Schedule  3.13(b)(i)  lists  all  real  property  (including  all  land and
buildings)  which is leased by the Company or any of its  subsidiaries as lessee
or sublessee (the "Leased Real Estate").  The Company has delivered or caused to
be delivered to Buyer  complete  and accurate  copies of the written  leases and
sub-leases thereto, including all amendments and modifications pursuant to which
the  Company or its  subsidiaries  lease the Leased  Real  Estate,  all of which
leases and subleases and amendments and  modifications  thereto are described in
Schedule  3.13(b)(i)  (the  "Assumed  Leases").  Except as disclosed in Schedule
3.13(b)(ii), neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice
of, or has knowledge of,  condemnation or eminent domain proceedings  pending or
threatened  against  any Leased Real  Estate.  Except as  disclosed  in Schedule
3.13(b)(ii),  neither the Company nor any of its  subsidiaries  has received any
notice from any city, village or other  Governmental  Authority of, or otherwise
has any knowledge of, any zoning,  ordinance,  building,  fire or health code or
other  legal  violation  in  respect  of any  Leased  Real  Estate,  other  than
violations which have been corrected or which, individually or in the aggregate,
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect.  Other than
for exceptions to the following which are set forth in Schedule 3.13(b)(iii):

(i) the Company or its subsidiaries has good,  marketable and insurable title to
the Leased Real Estate  pursuant to the Assumed  Leases,  and the Assumed Leases
are in full  force  and  effect  and  are  valid,  binding  and  enforceable  in
accordance with their respective terms;

(ii) no amount payable under any Assumed Lease is past due;


                                      -33-


<PAGE>

(iii) the Company or the relevant  subsidiary  is in  compliance in all material
respects with all  commitments  and  obligations  on its part to be performed or
observed  under such Assumed  Lease and is not aware of the failure by any other
party to such Assumed Leases to comply in all material  respects with all of its
commitments and obligations;

(iv) neither the Company nor any  subsidiary has received any written notice (A)
of a material default (which has not been cured),  offset or counterclaim  under
any Assumed Lease, or any other communication calling upon it to comply with any
provision of any Assumed Lease or asserting noncompliance therewith or asserting
that the Company or any subsidiary has waived or altered its rights  thereunder,
and no event or condition has happened or presently  exists which  constitutes a
default or,  after notice or lapse of time or both,  would  constitute a default
under any Assumed Lease on the part of the Company,  its  subsidiaries or on the
part of any other  party,  or (B) of any  Action  against  any  party  under any
Assumed Lease which if adversely  determined  would result in such Assumed Lease
being terminated or cut off; and

(v) neither the Company nor any subsidiary has assigned,  mortgaged,  pledged or
otherwise  encumbered  its interest  under any Assumed Lease or entered into any
sublease with respect to any Leased Real Estate,  nor has any such party entered
into any agreement or commitment to take any such action.

(c) The  Leased  Real  Estate  constitutes,  in the  aggregate,  all of the real
property  used to conduct the  Business in the manner  conducted  subsequent  to
September 30, 1998.  Each Leased Real Estate (i) is in good operating  condition
and repair and is structurally  sound,  with no material  alterations or repairs
being required thereto under applicable law or insurance  company  requirements;
(ii)  consists  of  sufficient   land,   parking  areas,   driveways  and  other
improvements  and lawful  means of access and utility  service to permit the use
thereof in the manner and for the  material  purposes  to which it is  presently
devoted;  and (iii) is otherwise  suitable and adequate in all material respects
for its current use,  operation and  occupancy.  Except as set forth in Schedule
3.13(c),  the Company and its  subsidiaries  are in exclusive  possession of the
Leased  Real  Estate and no Leased  Real  Estate is  subject to any third  party
rights or  encumbrances  other than the rights of the lessors  under the Assumed
Leases.  There  are no  pending  or,  to  the  Company's  knowledge,  threatened
proceedings  regarding the amount of the Taxes on, or the assessed valuation of,
the Leased Real Estate,  or relating to  condemnation  of any portion thereof or
impact fees,  special  assessments or similar matters with respect  thereto.  No
work is  required  to be  performed  on any Leased Real Estate in order to bring
such property into compliance with any Assumed Lease,  law or insurance  company
requirement.

Section 3.14.  Employee Benefit Plans and Related  Matters.  No Employee Benefit
Plan is subject to Title IV or  Section  302 of ERISA or Section  412 or 4971 of
the Code.  None of the  Sellers,  the Company and its  subsidiaries,  nor any of
their  respective  ERISA  Affiliates has, at any time during the last six years,
contributed  to or been  obligated to  contribute to any  Multiemployer  Plan or
Multiple  Employer  Plan,  and  none  of  the  Sellers,   the  Company  and  


                                      -34-


<PAGE>

its  subsidiaries  nor any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has incurred any
Withdrawal Liability that has not been satisfied in full.

Section  3.15.  Customers.  Schedule  3.15  sets  forth  (a) the names of the 20
largest customers of the Business during the six-month period ended December 31,
1998 and (b) the amount for which each such  customer was  invoiced  during such
period.  To Sellers'  knowledge,  except as set forth in Schedule 3.15,  neither
Seller nor any of its Affiliates has received any notice  (written or oral) that
any such customer of the Business (i) has ceased, or will cease, to purchase the
products, goods or services of the Business, (ii) has reduced or will reduce the
purchase of products,  goods or services of the Business or (iii) has sought, or
is seeking,  in writing to reduce the price it will pay for  products,  goods or
services of the Business, including, in each case, after the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 3.16. Product  Warranties.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.16 and for
warranties under Applicable Law, (a) there are no warranties express or implied,
written or oral,  with respect to the products of the Business and (b) there are
no pending or threatened claims with respect to any such warranty, and no Seller
has any liability with respect to any such  warranty,  whether known or unknown,
absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due.

Section  3.17.  Year 2000  Problems.  Sellers  have (a)  engaged in a process of
assessment of the existence of the Year 2000 Problems reasonably  appropriate to
the scope and complexity of their  respective  Systems;  and (b) adopted and are
successfully implementing a plan of correction ("Plan of Correction") which, the
Sellers reasonably believe will result in a substantial elimination of Year 2000
Problems (and, in any event,  all Year 2000 Problems  which could  reasonably be
expected  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect)  and,  in the case of all Systems
critical to the  business  or  operations  of the Company and its  subsidiaries,
elimination  in all  material  respects  of  Year  2000  Problems  prior  to any
processing  failure of a System or Systems due to Year 2000 Problems which might
have a Material Adverse Effect. The Sellers reasonably believe that, as relating
to the  Business,  individually  and taken as a whole,  (i) the  assessment  and
correction of Year 2000 Problems,  including,  without  limitation,  the Plan of
Correction,  and the  testing of all  Systems  and the  correction  of Year 2000
Problems,  in  each  case,  which,  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  if not
corrected could reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect,  will
be completed on or prior to June 30, 1999,  (ii) a Material  Adverse Effect will
not occur as a result of any Year 2000 Problem,  and (iii) the  aggregate  costs
and expenses incurred and reasonably  expected to be incurred in connection with
the  assessment  and  correction  of  Year  2000  Problems,  including,  without
limitation,  the Plan of  Correction,  and the  testing  and  monitoring  of all
Systems  and the  correction  of Year 2000  Problems,  could not  reasonably  be
expected to materially exceed the amounts estimated in the Plan of Correction.

Section 3.18.  Environmental and Safety Matters. The Business of the Sellers has
been  operated,  and the Assets and the property  subject to the Assumed  Leases
are, in compliance in all material  respects with all  applicable  Environmental
Laws (which  compliance  includes,  


                                      -35-


<PAGE>

but is not  limited to, the  possession  by the Sellers of all permits and other
Governmental  Authorizations  required under applicable  Environmental Laws, and
compliance with the terms and conditions thereof), except where failure to be in
compliance  would not have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  To Sellers'  knowledge,
Sellers  are not  liable  for  any  costs,  obligations,  penalties,  fines,  or
forfeitures for failure to comply with any  Environmental  Laws, or with respect
to any  environmental  conditions  or any release or  presence of any  Hazardous
Substances,  nor are they required to remedy or remove any existing condition or
substance  from any real property  rented or used by them relating to any Assets
or the  Business.  Sellers  have not  received  any notice or  warning  from any
Government  Authority with respect to any failure or alleged  failure by Sellers
to comply with any  Environmental  Laws or from any third party with  respect to
any claims based on  environmental  conditions or the release or presence of any
Hazardous  Substances on any property subject to the Assumed Leases,  or related
to any Assets or the Business.  To Seller's knowledge,  there are no underground
storage tanks ("USTs"), active or abandoned,  including petroleum storage tanks,
on or under any of the Leased  Real  Estate.  Sellers are in  compliance  in all
material  respects with the requirements of the  Occupational  Safety and Health
Act  and  the  regulations  promulgated  thereunder  and  any  similar  laws  or
regulations  of any  state  or  local  jurisdiction  ("OSHA"),  except  for  any
non-compliance which would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the
aggregate,  have a Material Adverse Effect.  No Seller has received any material
citation  from  the  Occupational  Safety  and  Health   Administration  or  any
comparable  Government  Authority or any Government  Authority inspector setting
forth any respect in which the facilities or operations of such Seller  relating
to the Assets or the  Business are not in  compliance  with OSHA in any material
respect,  or the regulations under such act, which  non-compliance  has not been
corrected  or remedied  to the  satisfaction  of such  Government  Authority  or
inspector. Each Seller has heretofore provided Buyer with copies of all material
citations heretofore issued to such Seller under OSHA and copies of all material
correspondence  from and to the Occupational  Safety and Health  Administration,
any comparable Government Authority and any inspectors therefrom during the past
three (3) years relating to the Assets or the Business.

Section 3.19. Fees and Expenses. Other than the SSB Payment Obligation and other
than as is  payable  by the  Company  and not by  Buyer  and is not and will not
result in any or increase any Assumed Liability,  no broker,  investment banker,
financial  advisor  or other  person  is  entitled  to any  broker's,  finder's,
financial  advisor's or other similar fee or  commission in connection  with the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement based upon  arrangements made by or
on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  No such engagement letters
obligate the Business or the owner of the Assets to continue to use the services
of any broker,  investment banker, financial advisor or other person or pay fees
or expenses in connection with any future transaction.

Section 3.20.  Interested  Party  Transactions.  Except as disclosed in Schedule
3.20, no officer or director of the Company or any Affiliate or associate of any
such person has,  either  directly or indirectly,  any interest in any contract,
arrangement  or property (real or personal,  tangible or intangible)  used in or
pertaining to the Assets or Assumed Liabilities, 


                                      -36-


<PAGE>

or in any  supplier,  distributor  or customer of the  Business,  except for the
normal rights of a shareholder and rights under the Employee  Benefit Plans, the
Stock Incentive Plan and the Nonqualified Stock Option Plan.

Section  3.21.  Fairness  Opinion.  The Board of  Directors  of the  Company has
received an opinion as of the date hereof from  Salomon  Smith  Barney Inc.  and
Credit  Suisse  First  Boston to the effect  that,  as of the date  hereof,  the
Purchase Price is fair to the Sellers from a financial point of view.

Section 3.22. Board Approval and  Recommendation.  The Board of Directors of the
Company  unanimously has (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, including the Asset Purchase, are advisable, fair to and in
the best  interests of those persons to whom the directors owe fiduciary  duties
under   applicable  law,  (ii)  determined  that,  in  light  of  the  Company's
deteriorating financial and operating condition, it is necessary and urgent that
the Company and its subsidiaries  file petitions for relief under the Bankruptcy
Code,  (iii) determined that an immediate sale of the Assets pursuant to Section
363 of the  Bankruptcy  Code is necessary and urgent as the value of the Assets,
and, therefore, the value ultimately available to the creditors and stockholders
of the Company and its subsidiaries, is rapidly deteriorating, and (iv) approved
this  Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby (the "Company  Board
Determination").

Section 3.23. Applicability of State Takeover Laws. The Company and its Board of
Directors  have taken all such  action as may be  necessary  to ensure  that any
otherwise applicable  provisions of Chapters 10 and 12 of the California General
Corporation  Law (the  "CGCL")  that  would have the  effect of  prohibiting  or
preventing the Asset Purchase or any of the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement shall be inapplicable to the Asset Purchase, this Agreement, or any of
the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 3.24.  Disclosure.  No Disclosure  contains,  after giving effect to any
updated  or  corrective  disclosure  made in  writing  prior to the date of this
Agreement, any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements or facts  contained  herein or therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances  under which they were furnished.  Each
Projected Disclosure, when made, represented the good faith belief of the person
making  such  Projected  Disclosure,   and  the  person  making  such  Projected
Disclosure had a reasonable  basis therefor.  For purposes of this Section 3.24,
the term  "Disclosure"  means (i) any  representation  or  warranty  made by any
Seller in this Agreement and (ii) any document, written information,  statement,
financial  statement,  certificate  or exhibit  prepared and  furnished or to be
prepared  and  furnished  by the  Company  or their  respective  representatives
pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, when
taken together,  other than, in the case of clause (ii) of this  definition,  to
the extent any such document, statement or information relates to projections as
to future performance or future events ("Projected Disclosure").


                                      -37-


<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE 4

                     Representations and Warranties of Buyer

           Buyer hereby represents and warrants to Sellers as follows:


Section 4.1.  Incorporation;  Authorization;  Etc.  Buyer is duly  incorporated,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of New York. Buyer has full
corporate  power to execute  and  deliver  this  Agreement  and to  perform  its
obligations  hereunder.  The  execution  and delivery of this  Agreement and the
performance  of  Buyer's  obligations  hereunder  have  been  duly  and  validly
authorized by all necessary  corporate  proceedings  on the part of Buyer and no
other  corporate or  stockholder  proceedings or actions on the part of Buyer or
its Affiliates,  or any of their partners,  boards of directors or stockholders,
as the  case  may be,  are  necessary  therefor.  The  execution,  delivery  and
performance  of this Agreement will not (a) violate any provision of the charter
or  bylaws  or  similar  organizational  instrument  of  Buyer  or  any  of  its
Affiliates,  or (b) violate or conflict  with any  statute,  rule or  regulation
applicable to Buyer,  any of its Affiliates or any of their properties or assets
or any other material restriction of any kind or character to which Buyer or any
of its  Affiliates  is subject  that would  prohibit or make  unlawful the Asset
Purchase.  This  Agreement has been duly  executed and delivered by Buyer,  and,
assuming the due execution  hereof by Sellers,  this Agreement  constitutes  the
legal,  valid and binding  obligation  of Buyer,  enforceable  against  Buyer in
accordance with its terms.

Section 4.2. Licenses, Approvals, Other Authorizations,  Consents, Reports, Etc.
Schedule  4.2  contains  a list  of all  registrations,  filings,  applications,
Consents  or  qualifications  required to be made,  filed,  given or obtained by
Buyer or any of its  Affiliates  with, to or from any person in connection  with
the  consummation of the Asset Purchase except for (a) the filing of a premerger
notification  and report form by Buyer under the HSR Act,  (b) those that become
applicable solely as a result of the specific regulatory status of any Seller or
any of its  Affiliates,  or (c) where the failure to make,  file, give or obtain
any of them would not prohibit or make  unlawful the  consummation  of the Asset
Purchase.

Section 4.3. Brokers,  Finders,  Etc. No broker,  investment  banker,  financial
advisor  or other  person  is  entitled  to any  broker's,  finder's,  financial
advisor's or other similar fee or commission from the Company in connection with
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by
or on behalf of Buyer.

Section 4.4. Financing.  Buyer has available  sufficient financing to consummate
the Asset Purchase in accordance with its terms and the terms of this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE 5

                         Covenants of Sellers and Buyer


Section  5.1.  Conduct of  Business.  During  the  period  from the date of this
Agreement to and through the  Closing,  the Company  shall,  and shall cause its
subsidiaries to, carry on the


                                      -38-


<PAGE>

Business in the ordinary  course of business in conformity  with all  Applicable
Laws and, to the extent  consistent  therewith,  use all  reasonable  efforts to
preserve the  Business  intact,  keep  available  the services of their  current
officers and  employees,  and preserve the good will of and  relationships  with
customers,  suppliers,  licensors,  licensees,  distributors  and others  having
business  dealings with the  Business.  Without  limiting the  generality of the
foregoing,  during the period from the date of this Agreement to and through the
Closing,  except as disclosed on Schedule  5.1, the Company shall not, and shall
not permit any of its  subsidiaries  to,  without the prior written  approval of
Buyer:

(a) (i)  declare,  set  aside  or pay  any  dividends  on,  or  make  any  other
distributions  (whether in cash,  stock or  property)  in respect of, any of its
capital stock,  other than dividends and distributions by any direct or indirect
wholly-owned  subsidiary  of the  Company to its  parent,  (ii)  adjust,  split,
combine  or  reclassify  any of its  capital  stock or issue  or  authorize  the
issuance of any other  securities  in respect of, in lieu of or in  substitution
for shares of its capital stock or (iii) purchase,  redeem or otherwise  acquire
any shares of capital  stock of the  Company or any of its  subsidiaries  or any
other securities thereof or any rights,  warrants or options to acquire any such
shares or other  securities  (other  than in  connection  with the  exercise  of
Company  Options in  accordance  with the terms thereof as in effect on the date
hereof, as contemplated by Section 6.6);

(b) except with respect to the securities of the Company,  issue, deliver, sell,
dispose,  pledge or encumber,  or authorize or propose the  issuance,  delivery,
sale, disposition,  pledge or encumbrance of, any shares of its capital stock of
any class or other securities or any securities  convertible into or exercisable
or exchangeable for, or any rights,  warrants,  calls, commitments or options to
acquire, any such shares or securities, or enter into any agreement with respect
to any of the  foregoing  and shall not amend any  equity-related  awards issued
pursuant to any Employee Benefit Plan, other than the issuance of Company Shares
upon the exercise of Company Options;

(c) amend its articles of incorporation,  bylaws or other comparable  charter or
organizational  documents  in  any  manner  that  is  inconsistent  with  prompt
consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby in accordance  with the
terms hereof or that could  otherwise  reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect;

(d) amend,  modify or waive any provision of any of the Joint Venture  Documents
or make any material change to the operations or financial arrangements relating
to any of the Joint Ventures;

(e) amend,  modify or waive any  provision of the Customer  Agreements or Supply
Agreements or make any material change to the operations,  services, or policies
relating to customers or suppliers, other than as would be fully reflected in an
Estimated Purchase Price Adjustment;


                                      -39-


<PAGE>

(f)  other  than as would  not  reduce  the  value of any Asset or result in any
Liability that would be or increase any Assumed Liability, mortgage or otherwise
encumber or subject to any  Encumbrance  or,  except in the  ordinary  course of
business  consistent  with past  practice and pursuant to existing  contracts or
commitments, sell, lease, license, transfer or otherwise dispose of any material
properties or assets;

(g) (i)  incur,  assume,  guarantee  or become  obligated  with  respect  to any
indebtedness  other than (A) borrowings  under the DIP Credit  Agreement and (B)
ordinary  course  payables  incurred in the ordinary  course of  business;  (ii)
incur, assume,  guarantee or become obligated with respect to any other material
obligations  other than in the ordinary  course of business and consistent  with
past practice;  (iii) make any loans,  advances or capital  contributions to, or
investments  in,  any other  Person,  other  than by the  Company  or any of its
subsidiaries to or in the Company or any of its  wholly-owned  subsidiaries;  or
(iv) pay, discharge or satisfy any claims, Liabilities or obligations (absolute,
accrued,  asserted or unasserted,  contingent or  otherwise),  other than in the
case of this clause (iv), (A) in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice,  and (B) as does not, and, in the  reasonable  judgment of Buyer,
could not be  expected  to,  impair the value of any Asset  (including,  without
limitation,  any  Assumed  Contract)  or  result  in  or  increase  any  Assumed
Liability;

(h) make or agree to make any capital  expenditures  or capital  additions  that
exceed $25,000 per calendar month;

(i) incur or capitalize any cost or expense  related to marketing  funds,  co-op
funds or similar  retailer  other than any such costs or expenses which actually
contribute to an Impaired Customer Adjustment or for which an Adjustment Consent
is given;

(j) permit its  inventory of Prepaid  Calling Cards at any time to fall below an
amount adequate to supply reasonably  anticipated demand for the Prepaid Calling
Cards for the 30 day period  beginning at such time  (assuming  the Company were
continuing  its  operations  and no Closing  would occur  during any such 30-day
period);

(k) fail to comply in any material respect with the DIP Credit Agreement;

(l) make or rescind any  material tax election or take any material tax position
(unless  required  by law) or file any  Return  or  change  its  fiscal  year or
financial or tax accounting  methods,  policies or practices (except as required
by changes in GAAP) or settle or compromise  any material  income tax liability,
except,  in the  case of any  such  tax  election,  tax  position,  Return,  tax
accounting  method,  tax  accounting  policy or tax  accounting  practice or tax
liability, as would not reasonably be expected to affect the Buyer;

(m) make any loan,  advance or capital  contributions  to or  investment  in any
person other than in any subsidiary;


                                      -40-


<PAGE>

(n) (i) other  than (A) as would not  reduce the value of any Asset or result in
any  Liability  that  would  be  or  increase  any  Assumed  Liability  as of or
subsequent to the Closing,  or (B) as actually  contributes  to a Purchase Price
Adjustment,  modify,  amend or terminate  any material  contract or agreement to
which it is a party (including any lease), or (ii) release or waive any material
rights or claims,  or, subject to the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors
of the  Company  under  the CGCL as  determined  by the  Board of  Directors  in
accordance  with the advice of outside  counsel to the  Company,  and upon prior
written  notice  to  Buyer,  waive  the  benefits  of, or agree to modify in any
manner,  any  confidentiality,  standstill  or  similar  agreement  to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party;

(o)  (i)  grant  any  increases  in the  compensation  of any of its  directors,
officers or  employees,  except  increases  in the  ordinary  course of business
consistent with past practice that are not material,  (ii) pay or award or agree
to pay or award any pension,  retirement allowance, or other nonequity incentive
awards,  or other employee  benefit,  not required by any  outstanding  employee
benefit  plans or  arrangements  to any current or former  director,  officer or
employees,  whether past or present, or to any other Person, except for payments
or awards that are in the  ordinary  course of  business,  consistent  with past
practice,  and that are not  material,  (iii)  enter  into any new or amend  any
existing employment agreement with any director, officer or employee, except for
employment  agreements with new employees entered into in the ordinary course of
business  consistent  with past  practice and, with respect to employees who are
not officers, executives or directors of the Company or its subsidiaries, except
for  amendments  in the  ordinary  course  of  business,  consistent  with  past
practice,  that do not materially increase benefits or payments, (iv) enter into
any new or amend any  existing  severance  agreement  with any current or former
director,  officer or employee,  except,  with respect to employees  who are not
officers,  executives  or  directors  of the  Company or its  subsidiaries,  for
agreements  or amendments in the ordinary  course of business,  consistent  with
past practice,  that do not provide for materially increased benefits, (v) other
than the acceleration of outstanding Company Options pursuant to Section 6.6 and
other than as could not be  expected  to impair the value of any Asset or result
in any Liability that would be or increase any Assumed Liability, enter into any
agreement or exercise any discretion  providing for  acceleration  of payment or
performance  as  a  result  of a  change  of  control  of  the  Company  or  its
subsidiaries  or (vi) become  obligated  under any new employee  benefit plan or
arrangement,  which was not in existence on the date hereof or amend or exercise
discretion  pursuant  to any  such  employee  benefit  plan  or  arrangement  in
existence on the date hereof,  except for any such amendment  applicable only to
employees  who are not  officers,  executives or directors of the Company or its
subsidiaries  or exercise of  discretion  in the  ordinary  course of  business,
consistent with past practice (that does not disproportionately effect officers,
executives or directors as opposed to other employees);

(p)  adopt a plan of  complete  or  partial  liquidation,  dissolution,  merger,
consolidation,  restructuring,  recapitalization or other  reorganization of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries that is inconsistent with prompt consummation
of the transactions  


                                      -41-


<PAGE>

contemplated  hereby  in  accordance  with the terms  hereof or could  otherwise
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(q) make any acquisition, by means of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of (i)
any direct or indirect  ownership  interest in or assets comprising any business
enterprise  or operation or (ii) except in the  ordinary  course and  consistent
with past practice, any other assets;

(r) enter into any agreement  containing any provision or covenant  limiting the
ability of the Company or any of its  subsidiaries  to (i) sell any  products or
services of or to any other person, (ii) engage in any line of business or (iii)
compete with or to obtain  products or services  from any person or limiting the
ability of any person to provide  products  or services to the Company or any of
its subsidiaries;

(s) (i)  take or  agree  or  commit  to take  any  action  that  would  make any
representation or warranty of the Company  hereunder  inaccurate in any material
respect at, or as of any time prior to,  Closing or (ii) omit or agree or commit
to omit to take any action  necessary  to  prevent  any such  representation  or
warranty from being inaccurate in any material respect at any such time;

(t)  fail to pay any  premiums  when due with  respect  to any of the  insurance
policies set forth in Schedule 2.1(p);

(u) fail to maintain any Leased Real Estate in its current  condition,  ordinary
wear and tear excepted; or

(v) authorize any of, or commit or agree to take any of, the foregoing actions.

Section 5.2. Access to Information.  (a) From the date hereof to and through the
Closing, Sellers shall give Buyer, its counsel, financial advisors, auditors and
other authorized  representatives  full access (during normal business hours and
upon  reasonable  notice)  to  the  offices,  properties,  officers,  employees,
accountants,  auditors, counsel and other representatives,  books and records of
the Company and its subsidiaries,  will furnish to Buyer, its counsel, financial
advisors,   auditors  and  other  authorized   representatives  such  financial,
operating and property  related data and other  information  as such persons may
request,  and will  instruct  the  Company's  and its  subsidiaries'  employees,
counsel and financial  advisors to cooperate with Buyer in its  investigation of
the business of the Company and the subsidiaries including,  without limitation,
in connection  with Buyer's  obtaining  title  reports,  surveys,  environmental
reports and similar  reports or studies  with respect to the Leased Real Estate,
and will exercise all reasonable  efforts to obtain from landlords such estoppel
certificates as Buyer may request;  provided that no  investigation  pursuant to
this  Section  5.2 shall  affect any  representation  or  warranty  given by the
Company hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, the access and information to
be  afforded to Buyer  pursuant  to the  immediately  preceding  sentence  shall
include all such access and  information  as may 


                                      -42-


<PAGE>

be  necessary  or  desirable  from time to time to enable Buyer (i) to determine
promptly  whether the termination  rights referred to in Section 12.1(i) will be
or are  available  to Buyer  and  (ii) to  review  and  consider  the  Estimated
Adjustments and the bases therefor. Information obtained in accordance with this
paragraph (a) shall be held in confidence in accordance with the Confidentiality
Agreement.

(b) From the  Closing  Date  through the date the  Bankruptcy  Cases are closed,
Buyer  shall  give  to  the  Seller's  Representative,  its  counsel,  financial
advisors,  auditors and other  authorized  representatives  full access  (during
normal  business hours and upon  reasonable  notice) to the books and records of
the Business to the extent such books and records relate to pre-Closing periods,
and will furnish to Seller's  Representative,  its counsel,  financial advisors,
auditors and other  authorized  representatives  such  financial,  operating and
property-related  data and  other  information  relating  to the  Business,  and
relating solely to pre-Closing  periods,  as may be necessary for administration
of the Bankruptcy Cases.  Information obtained in accordance with this paragraph
(b)  shall  be  held  in  confidence  in  accordance  with  the  Confidentiality
Agreement.

(c) From the date  hereof to the Closing  Date,  the  Company  shall  deliver to
Buyer:

(i) Regulatory Notices: promptly upon receipt,  notification of any non-renewal,
cancellation,   termination,  revocation,  suspension,  impairment  or  material
modification of, or of any hearing,  proceeding or investigation  regarding, any
License  held by the  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  which is  reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ii)  Material  Contracts:  promptly  after (A) any  Contract is  terminated  or
expires or is  renewed or is,  amended or  otherwise  modified  in any  material
manner, (B) any new contract that would have been a Contract had it been entered
into as of the date hereof is entered into, or (C) any material  notice or other
communication  is delivered by any party to any Contract  pursuant thereto or in
respect thereof, notice and a copy thereof and, in the case of any such renewal,
amendment,  other  modification  or new Contract,  a  description  in reasonable
detail of the material terms thereof; and

(iii) Other Information:  with reasonable promptness, such other information and
data with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries as from time to time
may be reasonably requested by Buyer.

(d) From the period from the date hereof  until the Closing  Date,  in the event
that  the DIP  Credit  Agreement  is  terminated  or the  Lender  thereunder  is
otherwise  not entitled to receive the  information  and reports  referred to in
Section 5.1 of the DIP Credit  Agreement  and/or  entitled to the inspection and
meeting  rights  referred  to in Section 5.5 of the DIP Credit  Agreement,  then
Buyer shall be entitled to, and the Company  shall be obligated to provide,  all
of the rights of Lender  referred to in  Sections  5.1 and 5.5 of the DIP Credit
Agreement as if such sections were fully set forth in this  Agreement,  with all
references therein to "Lender" being deemed to be references to "Buyer".


                                      -43-


<PAGE>

Section 5.3. HSR Act Filings and Other Regulatory Approvals; Reasonable Efforts;
Notification;  Consents.  (a) Each of Buyer and the Company  shall (i)  promptly
make or  cause  to be made  the  filings  required  of such  party or any of its
subsidiaries under the HSR Act with respect to the transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement,  (ii) comply at the earliest  practicable  date with any request
under  the HSR Act for  additional  information,  documents,  or other  material
received by such party or any of its subsidiaries from the United States Federal
Trade  Commission  or the  United  States  Department  of  Justice  or any other
Governmental  Authority  in respect of such  filings or such  transactions,  and
(iii) cooperate with the other party in connection with any such filing,  and in
connection with resolving any  investigation or other inquiry of any such agency
or other  Governmental  Authority  under the  Antitrust  Laws.  Each party shall
promptly  inform the other party of any  communication  with,  and any  proposed
understanding,   undertaking,  or  agreement  with  any  Governmental  Authority
regarding  any  such  filings  or any  such  transaction.  Neither  party  shall
participate  in any meeting  with any  Governmental  Authority in respect of any
such  filings,  investigation  or other inquiry  without  giving the other party
notice  of the  meeting  and,  to the  extent  permitted  by  such  Governmental
Authority, the opportunity to attend and participate.

(b) Each of Buyer and the Company shall use all reasonable  efforts to take such
action as may be required to cause the  expiration  of the notice  periods under
the HSR Act or any state statutes,  rules,  regulations,  orders or decrees that
are designed to  prohibit,  restrict or regulate  actions  having the purpose or
effect of  monopolization or restraint of trade with respect to the transactions
contemplated  hereby  as  promptly  as  possible  after  the  execution  of this
Agreement.

(c) Each of the parties agrees to use all  reasonable  efforts to take, or cause
to be taken,  all  actions,  and to do, or cause to be done,  and to assist  and
cooperate  with the other  parties  in doing,  all things  necessary,  proper or
advisable to  consummate  and make  effective,  in the most  expeditious  manner
practicable,  the Asset Purchase and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement,  including  (i) the  obtaining  of all  other  necessary  actions  or
nonactions,  waivers,  Consents and approvals from Governmental  Authorities and
the making of all other necessary  registrations  and filings  (including  other
filings  with  Governmental  Authorities,  if any),  (ii) the  obtaining  of all
necessary Consents, approvals or waivers from third parties (including,  without
limitation, delivery of a notice of assignment of the AudioFAX patent license to
AudioFAX  IP LLC  within  10 days of the date of this  Agreement  and  including
seeking Consents required for the transfer of Non-Bankruptcy  Assets), (iii) the
preparation of the Bankruptcy Filings, any and all petitions,  filings, notices,
motions,  certificates  as may be necessary or desirable in connection  with the
Bankruptcy  Cases,  and  (iv)  the  execution  and  delivery  of any  additional
certificates, agreements, instruments, reports, schedules, statements, consents,
documents and information necessary to consummate the transactions  contemplated
by, and to fully carry out the purposes of, this Agreement. Without limiting the
foregoing,  the Board of Directors of the Company  unanimously agrees, if called
upon to do so for any  reason  during  the  period  from the date  hereof to the
earlier of (x) the date this  Agreement is  


                                      -44-


<PAGE>

terminated in accordance with its terms and (y) the date a Successful Bidder (as
defined  in  the  Sale  Procedures   Order)  is  selected,   to  recommend  that
shareholders,  or, if appropriate,  other  stakeholders,  of the Company vote in
favor  of  approval  and  adoption  of  this  Agreement  and  the   transactions
contemplated   hereby.  If  such  recommendation  is  made  at  any  time,  such
recommendation  shall  be  deemed  to be  included  in and to form a part of the
Company Board Determination.

(d) Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in Section 5.2(a), (b) or (c), (i)
neither Buyer nor any of its  subsidiaries  shall be required to (A) divest,  or
cause or permit the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates to divest,  any of
their respective businesses, product lines or assets, or (B) to take or agree to
take any other  action  or agree to any  limitation  that  could  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect or an adverse  effect on the value,
condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, business or results of operations
or prospects of Buyer or its pre-Closing  subsidiaries that would be material to
an entity having assets, liabilities, revenues and earnings similar in amount to
those of the  Company,  and (ii) Buyer shall not be required to waive any of the
conditions to this Agreement set forth in Article 8.

(e) The Company shall give prompt notice to Buyer of (i) any  representation  or
warranty made by any of the Sellers contained in this Agreement  becoming untrue
or inaccurate in any respect or (ii) the failure by any of the Sellers to comply
with or satisfy in any  respect  any  covenant,  condition  or  agreement  to be
complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement;  provided,  however, that
no such notification shall affect the representations,  warranties, covenants or
agreements of the parties or the  conditions to the  obligations  of the parties
under this  Agreement.  Buyer shall give prompt notice to the Company of (A) any
representation  or warranty made by Buyer  contained in this Agreement  becoming
untrue or  inaccurate  in any respect or (B) the failure by it to comply with or
satisfy in any respect any covenant,  condition or agreement to be complied with
or  satisfied  by it  under  this  Agreement;  provided,  however,  that no such
notification  shall  affect  the  representations,   warranties,   covenants  or
agreements of the parties or the  conditions to the  obligations  of the parties
under this Agreement.

(f) The Company shall give prompt  notice to Buyer,  and Buyer shall give prompt
notice to the Company, of:

                  (i) any notice or other communication from any person alleging
that the consent of such person is or may be  required  in  connection  with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

                  (ii) any notice or other  communication  from any Governmental
Authority in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement;
and

                  (iii)  any   Actions,   suits,   claims,   investigations   or
proceedings  commenced  or,  to the best of its  knowledge  threatened  against,
relating to or involving or otherwise affecting


                                      -45-


<PAGE>

it or any of its  subsidiaries  which, if pending on the date of this Agreement,
would have been  required to have been  disclosed  pursuant to any  provision of
Article 3 or which relate to the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement.

(g) At any time  prior to the second  Business  Day prior to the  Closing  Date,
Buyer may cause  any  contract  referred  to in part (b) of  Schedule  2.2 to be
removed  from such  schedule  of Excluded  Assets and to cause such  contract to
thereafter be deemed to be an Assumed Contract.

(h) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement  notwithstanding,  this Agreement
shall not  constitute  an agreement to assign or transfer any  contract,  lease,
permit or other agreement or arrangement or any claim,  right or benefit arising
thereunder  or  resulting  therefrom of a Foreign Sub that is not a party to the
Bankruptcy Cases that would otherwise be an Asset ("Non-Bankruptcy Asset") if an
assignment  or  transfer  or an attempt to make such an  assignment  or transfer
without  the Consent of a third party  would  constitute  a breach or  violation
thereof or affect materially and adversely the rights of Buyer  thereunder;  and
any  transfer or  assignment  to Buyer by any Seller of any  interest  under any
Non-Bankruptcy  Asset that  requires  the Consent of a third party shall be made
subject to such  Consent  being  obtained.  In the event any such Consent is not
obtained on or prior to the Closing Date, the relevant  Seller shall, at its own
expense,  use its  reasonable  best efforts to obtain any such Consent after the
Closing  Date until such time as such  Consent has been  obtained,  and, if such
Consent has not been  obtained  prior to the  Closing  Date,  such Seller  shall
cooperate  with Buyer in any lawful  arrangement  to  provide  that Buyer  shall
receive the interest of such Seller or the relevant  Affiliate,  as the case may
be, in the benefits under any such Non-Bankruptcy  Asset,  including performance
by such Seller or the relevant Affiliate, as the case may be, as agent, provided
that Buyer shall undertake to pay or satisfy the  corresponding  liabilities for
the  enjoyment  of such  benefit  only  to the  extent  Buyer  would  have  been
responsible  therefor  hereunder if such Consent had been  obtained.  Nothing in
this  Section  5.3(h)  shall be  deemed a waiver  by Buyer of its  right to have
received on or before the Closing an effective  assignment of all of the Assets,
nor shall this  paragraph be deemed to  constitute  an agreement to exclude from
the Assets any properties, assets or rights described under Section 2.1.

Section 5.4. Cure of Defaults. Subject to Bankruptcy Court Approval, the Sellers
shall, on or prior to the Closing,  cure any and all defaults and breaches under
and satisfy (or,  with respect to any  Liability  or  obligation  that cannot be
rendered non-contingent and liquidated prior to the Closing Date, made effective
provision  reasonably  satisfactory  to  Buyer  and  the  Bankruptcy  Court  for
satisfaction  from funds of Seller of) any Liability or obligation  arising from
or relating to  pre-Closing  periods  under the Assumed  Contracts  so that such
Assumed Contracts may be assumed by the Filing Sellers and assigned to the Buyer
in accordance with the provisions of Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code and this
Agreement  (including,  without limitation,  Section 2.3(a) hereof). Each Filing
Seller  agrees  that  it will  promptly  take  such  actions  as are  reasonably
necessary or desirable to obtain a Final Order of the Bankruptcy  


                                      -46-


<PAGE>

Court  assuming  and  assigning  to Buyer the  contracts to be assigned to Buyer
pursuant hereto.

Section 5.5.  Bankruptcy Filings,  Covenants and Agreements.  (a) Not later than
the close of business on the day following  the date hereof,  each of the Filing
Sellers  shall file with the  Bankruptcy  Court (i) a petition  for relief under
Section  301 of the  Bankruptcy  Code,  (ii)  applications  or  motions  seeking
approval of the Sale Procedures  Order,  the Interim  Financing Order, the Final
Financing  Order and an  assumption  order  and  seeking  hearings  on the Final
Financing  Order,  the assumption  order and the Sale Procedures Order not later
than the date 25 days after the Filing Date, each such  application or motion to
be  reasonably  satisfactory  in form and  substance  to Buyer.  The  petitions,
motions  and  filings  referred  to in  this  Section  5.5(a),  the  "Bankruptcy
Filings," and the proceedings initiated by the filing of the Bankruptcy Filings,
together with all related proceedings, the "Bankruptcy Cases."

(b) Buyer  agrees  that it will  promptly  take such  actions as are  reasonably
requested  by Filing  Sellers,  on behalf of the  Filing  Sellers,  to assist in
obtaining  Bankruptcy Court Approval,  including without limitation,  furnishing
affidavits  or other  documents or  information  for filing with the  Bankruptcy
Court  for  purposes,   among  others,  of  providing  necessary  assurances  of
performance  by Buyer under the  Agreements  and  demonstrating  that Buyer is a
"good faith" purchaser under section 363(m) of the Bankruptcy Code. In the event
the order granting  Bankruptcy Court Approval shall be appealed,  Filing Sellers
shall use all reasonable efforts to defend such appeal.

(c) Other than in connection with the  solicitation  of, and  discussions  with,
bidders,  and the  acknowledgment of bids in the Auction (in accordance with the
terms governing such Auction set forth in the Sale Procedures  Order  (including
Paragraphs  5-12  thereof)),  Sellers  agree  that  prior to the  earlier of the
Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms,  none
of them or any of their officers, directors,  employees,  attorneys,  investment
bankers,  accountants  or other  agents or  representatives  shall  solicit  any
inquiries,  proposals, offers or bids from any person or entity other than Buyer
relating to the  Assets,  the  Business  or the  capital  stock of any Seller or
otherwise take any affirmative action (including,  without limitation,  entering
into any agreement or letter-of-intent  with respect thereto or recommending any
such transaction to the Company's  shareholders or other stakeholders) to cause,
promote or assist the purchase of the Assets,  Business or such capital stock by
a third party or the  recapitalization  or  restructuring  of the Company or the
Business as an alternative to the Auction.

(d) Sellers agree that until  termination of this  Agreement in accordance  with
its terms,  Sellers will not  negotiate or enter into any agreement for the sale
of all or any portion of the Assets, Business or capital stock of any Seller.

(e)  Sellers  agree to take all such  actions  and to make all such  filings and
petitions as may be necessary to ensure that no plan of  reorganization  for the
Sellers in accordance  with Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code is confirmed as of
a date prior to the date that 


                                      -47-


<PAGE>

the  Purchase  Price  Adjustment  Statement  becomes  final and binding upon the
parties hereto in accordance with Section 13.2 hereof.

Section 5.6. New  Contracts.  From the date of this  Agreement  through the date
Bankruptcy Court Approval is received,  no Seller shall enter into any Important
New Contract  unless such  Important New Contract  would not be, give rise to or
increase  an Asset or  Assumed  Liability  as of or  subsequent  to the  Closing
without the express  written  Consent of Buyer in accordance with the provisions
of this Section 5.6. In the event any Seller shall enter into any  Important New
Contract,  such Seller shall  deliver a copy of such  Important  New Contract to
Buyer not later than the second  Business Day following the date such  Important
New  Contract is entered  into.  Any such  Important  New  Contract  shall be an
Excluded Asset (and any Liability or  obligations  arising  thereunder  shall be
Excluded  Liabilities),  unless prior to the Closing Buyer shall have  delivered
written  notice to the Company  (each,  an  "Important  New  Contract  Consent")
stating that such Important New Contract shall be an Assumed Contract  (assuming
Sellers have complied with Section 5.4 with respect  thereto as of the Closing).
From the date  Bankruptcy  Court Approval is received  through the Closing Date,
without  the prior  written  Consent of Buyer,  no Seller  shall  enter into any
Important New Contract.  The term  "Important  New Contract"  means any Customer
Agreement or Supply Agreement  entered after the date of this Agreement,  or any
other agreement entered after the date of this Agreement that is material to the
Business  or the  entering  into of  which,  or the  loss  of  which  after  its
execution, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.7.  Sellers' Use of SmarTalk Name.  Each Seller  covenants that at the
Closing, or as soon thereafter as is practicable (but in no event later than the
tenth day after the Closing Date), it will not use any name,  mark,  logo, trade
name or trademark incorporating  "SmarTalk TeleServices,  Inc." or "SmarTalk" in
any  business   activity   except  as  is  necessary  or   convenient   for  the
administration of the Bankruptcy Cases.

Section 5.8. Public Announcements.  Buyer and the Company will consult with each
other  before  issuing,  and provide  each other the  opportunity  to review and
comment  upon,  any press  release,  court  filing or pleading  or other  public
statements  with respect to the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,
including the Asset Purchase and the Bankruptcy  Cases,  and shall not issue any
such press release or make any such public statement prior to such  consultation
and, in the case of  statements  by the Company,  without the prior  approval of
Buyer,  in each case except as may be required by applicable  law, court process
or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities
exchange or with The Nasdaq  Stock  Market.  The parties  agree that the initial
press release to be issued with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will be in the form previously agreed to by the parties. The Buyer and
each Seller shall cause its  employees,  officers  and  directors to comply with
this Section 5.8.

Section  5.9.  Further  Assurances.  Sellers and Buyer agree that,  from time to
time,  whether before, at or after the Closing Date, each of them will, and will
cause their respective


                                      -48-


<PAGE>

Affiliates  to,  execute and deliver such further  instruments of conveyance and
transfer  and take  such  other  action  as may be  necessary  to carry  out the
purposes and intents hereof.

Section 5.10. Company Board  Determination.  From the date hereof to the earlier
of (x) the date this  Agreement is terminated  in accordance  with its terms and
(y) the date a Successful  Bidder (as defined in the Sale  Procedures  Order) is
selected,  the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  shall not (i)  withdraw  or
modify, or disclosed its intention to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to
Buyer, the Company Board Determination, or (ii) approve or recommend, or propose
publicly to approve or recommend,  any transaction with any other party pursuant
to which it is proposed  that any such other party or parties  shall acquire any
substantial  portion of the Assets,  whether  directly or  indirectly,  or shall
acquire 20% or more (by voting power or economic  interest)  of the  outstanding
capital stock of any Seller.

                                   ARTICLE 6

                        Employers and Employee Benefits


Section 6.1.  Employment  of Sellers'  Employees.  (a) Each Seller shall use its
best  efforts,  and shall cause its  Affiliates  to use their best  efforts,  to
retain all Employees,  and to maintain in good standing  through the Closing all
relationships and agreements with Consultants, in each case from the date hereof
through the Closing  Date and to assist  Buyer in hiring the  Employees  offered
employment  pursuant to Section 6.1(b);  provided,  that the foregoing shall not
require that the Seller or any of its Affiliates offer any compensation or other
incentives  in addition  to the  compensation  and  benefits  being  provided or
required to be provided as of the date of this Agreement.

(b) Buyer shall offer, or shall cause one of its Affiliates to offer, employment
to each  Employee  listed on Schedule  6.1(b) at a base salary not less than the
base salary such Employee was  receiving  from the Seller as of the date of such
offer of  employment,  and on such other  terms and  conditions  as Buyer  shall
determine  (subject to the  provisions of this Article 6). The time at which the
employment  by the Buyer or one of its  Affiliates  of each such Employee who is
not an  Inactive  Employee  as of the  Closing  and who  accepts  such  offer of
employment shall become effective (the "Effective Time of Employment")  shall be
the Closing.  The Effective Time of Employment or of any such Employee who is an
Inactive  Employee as of the Closing shall such time (if any) within one hundred
eighty (180) days following the Closing Date when such Inactive Employee returns
to active status and reports to work with Buyer or its Affiliate, as applicable,
and  Buyer and its  Affiliates  shall  have no  obligation  to  employ  any such
Inactive Employee who fails to return to active status or to report to work with
Buyer or its Affiliate, as applicable,  within such one hundred eighty (180) day
period.  Each  Employee who becomes  employed by Buyer or one of its  Affiliates
pursuant  to  one  of  the  two  preceding   sentences  shall  be  considered  a
"Transitioned Employee" from and after his or her Effective Time of Employment.


                                      -49-


<PAGE>

(c) From the date hereof  through the  Closing,  Sellers  shall  permit Buyer to
communicate  with the Employees and  Consultants,  at reasonable  times and upon
reasonable notice,  concerning  Buyer's plans,  operations,  business,  customer
relations  and general  personnel  matters and to interview  the  Employees  and
Consultants  and  review  the  personnel  records  and  such  other  information
concerning  the  Employees  and  Consultants  as Buyer  may  reasonably  request
(subject to obtaining any legally  required  written  permission of any affected
Employee or Consultant and to other applicable law), provided that such contacts
shall be conducted in a manner that is reasonably acceptable to Sellers.

(d) In the  event  the  employment  with the  Buyer  and its  Affiliates  of any
Transitioned  Employee is involuntarily  terminated (other than for cause) prior
to the first  anniversary  of the  Closing,  such  Transitioned  Employee  shall
receive a severance  benefit equal to a number of weeks' base pay  calculated in
accordance  with the schedule of benefits set forth in Schedule  6.1(d),  taking
into account such  Transitioned  Employee's Prior Service and service with Buyer
and its Affiliates  from and after the Closing.  Thereafter,  each  Transitioned
Employee  who remains  employed by the Buyer or any of its  Affiliates  shall be
eligible to participate  in the  applicable  severance pay plan of Buyer and its
Affiliates,  and benefits payable under the terms of such plan shall be based on
such  Transitioned  Employee's  actual service with the Buyer from and after the
Closing.  Except as specifically provided above in this Section 6.1(d),  Sellers
shall be solely  responsible for any and all Liabilities  relating to or arising
in connection with any actual,  constructive or deemed termination of employment
(including without  limitation  severance or separation pay or benefits or other
similar  compensation  or  benefits  under any  applicable  law,  regulation  or
Employee  Benefit  Plan) (i) to or with  respect  to any  Employee  other than a
Transitioned  Employee,   whether  as  a  result  of  the  consummation  of  the
transactions  contemplated hereby or otherwise,  and whether before, on or after
the Closing  Date, or (ii) to any  Transitioned  Employee as a result of (A) the
consummation of the  transaction  contemplated  hereby,  (B) any event occurring
before the  Closing or (C) any  action or failure to act of  Sellers.  Except as
provided  in this  Section  6.1(d) and  Section  6.2(c),  Buyer  shall be solely
responsible  for any and all  Liabilities  relating to or arising in  connection
with any  actual,  constructive  or  deemed  termination  of  employment  of any
Transitioned  Employee  with Buyer and its  Affiliates  after such  Transitioned
Employee's Effective Time of Employment.

Section 6.2. Employee Benefits Generally for Transitioned Employees.  (a) Except
as specifically  provided in Section  6.1(d),  for a period of not less than one
year following the Closing,  Buyer shall provide, and shall cause its Affiliates
to provide,  employee benefit plans and  arrangements to Transitioned  Employees
that are  substantially  comparable in the aggregate to the benefits provided to
similarly situated employees of Buyer and its Affiliates.

(b) As soon as practicable  after the date of this  Agreement,  but in any event
before the Closing,  Sellers shall prepare,  subject to Buyer's  approval (which
shall not be unreasonably withheld), a schedule setting forth, for each Employee
listed on Schedule  6.1(b),  such Employee's  length of service with Sellers and
their Affiliates before the


                                      -50-


<PAGE>

Closing  ("Prior  Service").  Following  the  Closing,  except  as  specifically
provided  in the next  sentence,  Buyer  shall  recognize,  and shall  cause its
Affiliates to recognize,  each Transitioned Employee's Prior Service, solely for
purposes of determining  eligibility to participate  in, but not for purposes of
the schedule of benefits or benefit  accrual,  under any  employee  benefit plan
sponsored by Buyer or any of its Affiliates in which such Transitioned  Employee
participates after the Closing Date.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing:  (i) Buyer
and its Affiliates shall recognize Prior Service of each  Transitioned  Employee
for purposes of determining the amount of such Transitioned  Employee's vacation
and such Transitioned  Employee's vesting in defined contribution plan benefits;
and (ii) Buyer and its  Affiliates  shall not be  obligated  as a result of this
Agreement to recognize  any Prior  Service for  purposes of  eligibility  for or
vesting in retiree welfare or defined  benefit pension plan benefits  (including
without limitation any early retirement subsidies or programs).

(c) Without  limiting the  generality of any other  provision of this Article 6,
Sellers shall remain solely responsible for any and all Liabilities  relating to
or arising in  connection  with the  Employee  Benefit  Plans,  whether  arising
before, on or after the Closing Date.

Section 6.3. Welfare and Fringe Benefit Plans. (a) Buyer shall provide, or cause
its Affiliates to provide, the Transitioned  Employees,  during their employment
by Buyer or its  Affiliates,  and their eligible  dependents and  beneficiaries,
Welfare Benefits under any plans, programs, policies or arrangements established
or maintained  by Buyer for such persons  ("Buyer's  Welfare  Plans") for claims
incurred after the Closing Date,  subject to the terms of Buyer's  Welfare Plans
maintained in accordance with Section 6.2(a).

(b) From and after the Closing Date, Sellers shall remain solely responsible for
any and all  Liabilities  relating  to or  arising  in  connection  with (i) the
requirements of Section 4980B of the Code to provide continuation of health care
coverage  under any Plan in respect of (A)  Employees  who are not  Transitioned
Employees,  and  their  beneficiaries  and  dependents,   and  (B)  Transitioned
Employees  and  their  beneficiaries  and  dependents  arising  as a  result  of
qualifying events that occur on or before the Transitioned  Employee's Effective
Time  of  Employment,   and  (ii)  claims  for  Welfare  Benefits   incurred  by
Transitioned  Employees  and  their  beneficiaries  and  dependents  before  the
Transitioned   Employee's   Effective   Time  of   Employment.   The   foregoing
notwithstanding, Buyer shall be responsible for any and all Liabilities relating
to or arising in connection  with (i) the  requirements  of Section 4980B of the
Code to provide  continuation of health care coverage in respect of Transitioned
Employees  and  their  beneficiaries  and  dependents  arising  as a  result  of
qualifying  events after the Employee's  Effective Time of Employment,  and (ii)
claims  for  Welfare  Benefits  incurred  by  Transitioned  Employees  and their
beneficiaries and dependents after the Transitioned Employee's Effective Time of
Employment.

(c) For purposes of this Agreement,  the following claims and Liabilities  shall
be  deemed  to  be  incurred  as  follows:   (i)  life,   accidental  death  and
dismemberment and business travel accident insurance  benefits,  upon the death,
disability or accident giving 


                                      -51-


<PAGE>

rise to such benefits;  (ii) salary continuation or other short-term  disability
benefits,  or  long-term  disability,  upon  the  event or  commencement  of the
condition  resulting  in the  disability  giving  rise  to such  benefit;  (iii)
hospital-provided  health,  dental,  prescription drug or other benefits,  which
become payable with respect to any hospital  confinement,  upon  commencement of
such  confinement;  and (iv) health,  dental and/or  prescription drug benefits,
upon provision of such services, materials or supplies.

Section 6.4.  Workers'  Compensation.  (a) From and after the Closing Date:  (i)
Sellers shall remain solely responsible for any and all Liabilities  relating to
or arising in  connection  with any and all  claims  for  workers'  compensation
benefits (A) incurred by or in respect of any Employee who is not a Transitioned
Employee  on,  prior to or after the  Closing  Date,  and (B)  incurred by or in
respect of  Transitioned  Employees on or before the Closing Date and (ii) Buyer
shall be solely  responsible for any and all Liabilities to or in respect of any
Transitioned  Employee  relating  to or arising in  connection  with any and all
claims for workers' compensation benefits incurred after the Closing Date.

(b) For purposes of this Section 6.4, a claim for workers' compensation benefits
shall be deemed to be  incurred  when the first  event  giving rise to the claim
occurs.

Section 6.5.  Employment  Taxes. (a) Sellers and Buyer shall (i) treat Buyer and
its  Affiliates as a "successor  employer"  and each Seller as a  "predecessor,"
within the meaning of  Sections  3121(a)(1)  and  3306(b)(1)  of the Code,  with
respect to  Transitioned  Employees who are employed by Buyer and its Affiliates
for purposes of Taxes imposed under the United States Federal  Unemployment  Tax
Act ("FUTA") or the United States Federal Insurance  Contributions Act ("FICA"),
and (ii) cooperate with each other to avoid, to the extent possible,  the filing
of more than one IRS Form W-2 with  respect to each such  Transitioned  Employee
for the calendar year within which the Closing Date occurs.

(b) At the request of Buyer with respect to any  particular  applicable  Tax Law
relating to employment,  unemployment  insurance,  social security,  disability,
workers'  compensation,  payroll,  health  care or other  similar Tax other than
Taxes imposed under FICA and FUTA, Sellers shall and Buyer shall (i) treat Buyer
and its  Affiliates  as a successor  employer  and each Seller as a  predecessor
employer,  within the meaning of the relevant  provisions  of such Tax Law, with
respect to Transitioned  Employees who are employed by Buyer and its Affiliates,
and (ii) cooperate with each other to avoid, to the extent possible,  the filing
of more than one individual information reporting form pursuant to each such Tax
Law with respect to each such Transitioned Employee for the calendar year within
which the Closing Date occurs.

Section 6.6. Stock Options and Stock Plans. Pursuant to Section 6.3 of the Stock
Incentive Plan and Section 6.4 of the  Nonqualified  Stock Option Plan,  Sellers
and Buyer agree that neither  Buyer nor any of its  Affiliates  shall assume the
options to  purchase  Company  Shares  issued or granted  pursuant to either the
Stock Incentive Plan or the Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (the
"Company Plan Options").


                                      -52-


<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 7

                                  Tax Matters


Section  7.1.  Tax  Representations.  None  of the  Assets  is "tax  exempt  use
property"  within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code.  None of the Assets
is a lease made  pursuant to Section  168(f)(8) of the Internal  Revenue Code of
1954.  No liens for Taxes  (except  liens for Taxes not yet due) have been filed
and no claims  for Taxes  have been  asserted  in  writing  with  respect to the
Assets, the Assumed Liabilities or the Business.  Each Seller has paid all Taxes
required  to be paid by them with  respect  to the  Business,  the Assets or the
Assumed Liabilities.

Section  7.2.  Tax  Matters.  (a)  All  real  and  personal  property  transfer,
documentary,  sales,  use,  registration,  value-added  and other  similar Taxes
(including interest, penalties and additions to Tax) incurred in connection with
the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement  ("Transfer  Taxes") shall be
borne by Sellers, and Sellers, jointly and severally,  shall indemnify Buyer for
any such Taxes  incurred by Buyer as a result of Seller's  failure to timely pay
such Taxes.

(b) Each Seller that is a "domestic  corporation" within the meaning of Sections
7701(a)(3) and (4) of the Code and Section 1.897-1(j) of the applicable Treasury
regulations  (a  "Domestic  Corporation")  shall  deliver to Buyer at Closing an
affidavit (a "FIRPTA Affidavit"),  in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to Buyer,  duly  executed  and  acknowledged,  certifying  that such Seller is a
Domestic Corporation. Sellers shall deliver to Buyer at Closing an affidavit, in
form  and  substance  reasonably   satisfactory  to  Buyer,  duly  executed  and
acknowledged,  certifying,  for  purposes of Section 897 of the Code,  that each
Asset that is a United  States  real  property  interest  within the  meaning of
Section  897(c) of the Code is and has been held by, and will be  transferred to
the Buyer by, a Domestic Corporation.

(c) Buyer and Sellers  shall,  and shall cause their  respective  Affiliates to,
cooperate with respect to Tax matters.

(d) In the case of any Return with respect to a Straddle  Period  required to be
filed by Buyer after the Closing Date, Sellers shall pay Buyer the amount of any
Excluded  Tax that is or would be payable  with  respect to such Return at least
five  Business  Days prior to the earlier of the date such Return is required to
be filed or payment is due.

                                   ARTICLE 8

                   Conditions of Buyer's Obligation to Close

                  Buyer's  obligation to consummate  the Asset Purchase shall be
subject  to the  satisfaction  on or  prior  to the  Closing  Date of all of the
following  conditions  (each of which  may 


                                      -53-


<PAGE>

be waived, in whole or in part, by Buyer, in its sole discretion,  to the extent
permitted by Applicable Law):

Section 8.1.  Representations,  Warranties and Covenants of Sellers. Each Seller
shall have performed in all material respects its covenants and agreements under
this Agreement,  and the representations and warranties of such Seller set forth
in this  Agreement  that are qualified as to  "materiality,"  "Material  Adverse
Effect" or similar term shall be true and correct when made and at and as of the
Closing  as if made at and as of  such  time  (except  for  representations  and
warranties  that are expressly made as of a specific  time,  which shall be true
and correct only as of such time),  and the  representations  and warranties set
forth in this Agreement  that are not so qualified  shall be true and correct in
all material  respects  when made and at and as of the Closing as if made at and
as of such time (except for  representations  and warranties  that are expressly
made as of a specific  time,  which  shall be true and  correct in all  material
respects only as of such time);  and Buyer shall have received a certificate  of
the Chief  Executive  Officer or a Vice  President  of each such  Seller to that
effect.

Section  8.2.  Filings;  Consents;  Waiting  Periods.  (a)  Any  waiting  period
applicable to the Asset  Purchase  under the HSR Act shall have expired or early
termination thereof shall have been granted without  limitation,  restriction or
condition  that has or would  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect (or an effect on
Buyer and its subsidiaries that, were such effect applied to the Company and its
subsidiaries, would constitute a Material Adverse Effect).

(b) Sellers shall have obtained and shall have  delivered to Buyer copies of (i)
all Governmental Approvals required to be obtained by Sellers in connection with
the  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  and the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and (ii) all  Consents as are  necessary in
order to consummate the Asset  Purchase,  including all those as may be material
and  necessary  in order to obtain the  benefit of the  Assumed  Contracts,  the
Assumed Intellectual Property, the Licenses and the Assumed Leases.

(c) All Governmental Approvals required for Buyer to consummate the transactions
contemplated  hereby  shall  have  been  made  or  granted  without  limitation,
restriction  or  condition,  except  where the  failure  to have  obtained  such
Governmental  Approval,  or  where  any  limitation,  restriction  or  condition
thereon, would not have a Material Adverse Effect (or an effect on Buyer and its
subsidiaries that, were such effect applied to the Company and its subsidiaries,
would constitute a Material Adverse Effect).

Section 8.3. No Material Adverse Effect. No event, occurrence,  fact, condition,
change,  development or effect shall have occurred, exist or come to exist since
the date hereof that,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  has  constituted  or
resulted  in, or would  reasonably  be  expected to  constitute  or result in, a
Material Adverse Effect;  provided,  however, that neither the initiation of the
Bankruptcy  Cases nor the fact that any Seller is involved in proceedings


                                      -54-


<PAGE>

under the Bankruptcy  Code shall,  in and of itself,  be deemed to be a Material
Adverse Effect.

Section  8.4. No  Injunction.  There shall not (a) be in effect any  injunction,
order or decree, restraining,  enjoining or otherwise preventing consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or permitting such consummation
only  subject to any  condition or  restriction  unacceptable  to Buyer,  in its
reasonable  judgment,  or (b) be any Actions  pending,  or to the  knowledge  of
Sellers,  threatened,  which  could  reasonably  be  expected to have any of the
effects set forth in clause (a).

Section 8.5.  Legal  Opinion.  Buyer shall have  received the legal  opinion of,
outside counsel to the Company,  dated the Closing Date,  addressed to Buyer, in
substance and form reasonably  acceptable to Buyer, and covering such matters as
shall be customary in the circumstances..

Section 8.6. Bankruptcy Court Related Conditions. (a) The Bankruptcy Court shall
have entered an order or orders (the "Bankruptcy Court Approval")  substantially
in the form set forth in Exhibit  8.6 hereto  which,  among  other  things,  (i)
approves,  pursuant to Section 363(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, (A) the execution,
delivery and performance by Sellers of this Agreement,  including each and every
term and condition hereof, and the other instruments and agreements contemplated
hereby,  (B) the sale of the  Assets to Buyer on the terms set forth  herein and
(C) the  performance  by  Sellers  of their  respective  obligations  under this
Agreement; (ii) authorizes and directs the Sellers to assume and assign to Buyer
the Assumed  Contracts to be assigned to Buyer pursuant hereto,  and (iii) finds
that Buyer is a "good faith"  purchaser  within the meaning of Section 363(m) of
the Bankruptcy  Code.  The  Bankruptcy  Court Approval shall have become a Final
Order.

(b) Sellers  shall have  delivered  to Buyer (i) a  certified  copy of the order
providing for Bankruptcy  Court  Approval,  and (ii) copies of all affidavits of
service of Sellers' motion seeking  Bankruptcy  Court Approval or notice of such
motion filed by or on behalf of Sellers in the Bankruptcy Cases.

(c) The Maturity  Date (as defined in the DIP Credit  Agreement)  shall not have
occurred  and there shall have  occurred no Default or Event of Default (as such
terms are defined in the DIP Credit Agreement) under the DIP Credit Agreement.

(d) The Interim Financing Order, the Final Financing Order, the Sales Procedures
Order and the Assumption Order shall each be entered by the Bankruptcy Court and
shall have become Final Orders.

Section 8.7. Assumed Contracts. (a) All of the Assumed Contracts shall (i) be in
full force and effect,  (ii) be  assignable  to and  assumable to Buyer  without
Consent of any other party  thereto,  or consent to assignment to and assumption
by Buyer  shall have been  obtained  with  respect  thereto,  and (iii) have had
breaches and defaults thereunder cured, if necessary, in 


                                      -55-


<PAGE>

accordance  with  Section 5.4 hereof,  other than,  in the cases of clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) of this paragraph,  (1) with respect to Customer Agreements,  for
failures with respect to agreements  representing in the aggregate not more than
7% of the number of Decremented  Minutes for the third fiscal quarter of 1998 as
set forth in Exhibit 12.1(i) or 7% of the Service  Revenues for the third fiscal
quarter of 1998 as set forth in Exhibit 12.1(i), and (2) with respect to Assumed
Contracts other than Customer  Agreements,  for such failures as would not have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The New Millennium Letter Agreement shall be in full force and effect, shall
be  assignable  to and  assumable  by  Buyer  as of the  Closing,  and  shall be
sufficient to ensure Buyer the right,  for a period ending not prior to December
31, 1999, to unfettered  access and use of the equipment related to the Business
(and the leased space in which such equipment is located)  located at the Borden
Building, 180 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio.

Section 8.8.  Minimum  Purchase  Price.  The Purchase  Price minus the Estimated
Purchase  Price  Adjustment  (calculated  without giving effect to clause (1) of
part A.1.(b) of Exhibit 13.1) shall not be less than the Buyer  Minimum  Amount.

                                    ARTICLE 9

                   Conditions of Sellers' Obligation to Close

                  The obligation of the Sellers to consummate the Asset Purchase
shall be subject to the  satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date, of all of
the  following  conditions  (each of which may be  waived,  in whole or in part,
solely by the  Company,  in its sole  discretion,  to the  extent  permitted  by
Applicable Law):


Section 9.1.  Representations,  Warranties  and Covenants of Buyer.  Buyer shall
have performed in all material  respects its covenants and agreements under this
Agreement,  and the  representations  and  warranties of Buyer set forth in this
Agreement that are qualified as to  "materiality",  "Material Adverse Effect" or
similar  term shall be true and correct when made at and as of the Closing as if
made as at and as of such time, and the representations and warranties set forth
in this  Agreement  that are not so  qualified  shall be true and correct in all
material  respects when made as at and as of the closing as if made at and as of
such time; and the Company shall have received  certificates of a Vice President
of Buyer to that effect.

Section  9.2.  Filings;  Consents;  Waiting  Periods.  (a)  Any  waiting  period
applicable to the Asset  Purchase  under the HSR Act shall have expired or early
termination thereof shall have been granted.

(b) Buyer shall have obtained and shall have  delivered to Sellers copies of all
Governmental  Approvals  required to be obtained by Buyer in connection with the


                                      -56-


<PAGE>

execution  and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and  the   consummation   of  the
transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 9.3. No Injunction.  There shall not be in effect any injunction,  order
or decree,  restraining,  enjoining or otherwise preventing  consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 9.4. Bankruptcy Court Approval.  The Bankruptcy Court shall have entered
the Bankruptcy Court Approval.

Section  9.5.  Minimum  Purchase  Price.  If (i) the  Purchase  Price  minus the
Estimated  Purchase Price  Adjustment  would  otherwise be less than the Minimum
Amount, (ii) after the date Bankruptcy Court Approval is received, no Seller has
voluntarily  taken  any  action  (including  by  incurring   additional  Current
Liabilities or allowing the compromise or reduction of Current  Assets) that has
caused the Estimated  Purchase  Price  Adjustment to be equal to or greater than
the Maximum  Estimated  Adjustment,  (iii) the Board of Directors of the Company
(or any trustee  appointed by the Bankruptcy  Court to manage the affairs of the
Company in lieu of the Board of Directors) shall have resolved,  on or after the
date the Estimated  Purchase Price  Adjustment is delivered  pursuant to Section
13.1, that it would not be advisable and in the best interests of the Company to
consummate  the Asset  Purchase at a purchase  price equal to the Purchase Price
minus the Estimated Purchase Price Adjustment, and (iv) Buyer, upon two Business
Days' notice of such action by the Board of Directors of the Company, shall have
failed to agree to a final  and  binding  Purchase  Price  equal to the  Minimum
Amount, then Sellers shall not be obligated to consummate the Asset Purchase.

                                   ARTICLE 10

                            Survival; Indemnification


Section  10.1.  Indemnification  by Sellers.  Sellers,  jointly  and  severally,
covenant  and  agree  to  indemnify  and  hold  harmless  Buyer,  its  officers,
directors,   employees,   agents,   advisers,   representatives  and  Affiliates
(collectively,  the "Buyer  Indemnitees") from and against, and pay or reimburse
the Buyer  Indemnitees  for, any and all Losses,  (a) as provided for in Section
7.2 and (b) resulting from or arising out of:

(i) except to the extent  actually  reflected in the Purchase Price  Adjustment,
any  inaccuracy of any  representation  or warranty made by any Seller herein or
any  certificate  delivered  pursuant to this  Agreement  and which  survive the
Closing;

(ii) except to the extent actually  reflected in the Purchase Price  Adjustment,
any failure of any Seller to perform  any  covenant or  agreement  hereunder  or
fulfill any other  obligation in respect  hereof,  including the obligations set
forth in Sections 13.1 and 13.2;

(iii) any Excluded Liabilities or Excluded Assets;


                                      -57-


<PAGE>

(iv) any failure of any Seller to comply with any applicable  bulk sales laws in
connection  with the  transfer  of Assets of  Foreign  Subs  (unless  any Losses
thereunder  arise  as a  result  of  Buyer's  failure  to  satisfy  the  Assumed
Liabilities); and

(v) any Excluded Taxes.

                  As to indemnification  for inaccuracies in the representations
and warranties contained in this Agreement (other than those in Sections 3.1 and
3.2, as to which the following  limitations shall not apply),  Sellers shall not
be required to indemnify  the Buyer  Indemnitees  with respect to any  unrelated
claims which  individually do not exceed $50,000,  and in any event shall not be
required  to  indemnify  the Buyer  Indemnitees  unless and until the  aggregate
amount of all claims against the Sellers with respect thereto  exceeds  $500,000
in the aggregate;  provided,  however,  that, if such  aggregate  amount of such
claims  exceeds  $500,000,  Sellers  shall be obligated to pay the entire amount
thereof.


Section 10.2.  Indemnification by Buyer. Buyer covenants and agrees to indemnify
and hold  harmless  each Seller,  its officers,  directors,  employees,  agents,
advisers,    representatives   and   Affiliates   (collectively,   the   "Seller
Indemnitees") from and against, and pay or reimburse the Seller Indemnitees for,
any and all Losses resulting from or arising out of:

(i) any inaccuracy in any  representation or warranty by Buyer made or contained
in this Agreement;

(ii) any failure of Buyer to perform any covenant or agreement made or contained
in this Agreement or fulfill any other obligation in respect thereof;

(iii) the Assumed Liabilities;

(iv) the operation of the Business by Buyer or Buyer's  ownership,  operation or
use of the Assets on or after the Closing Date;  except,  in the case of clauses
(iii)  and (iv),  to the  extent  such  Losses  result  from or arise out of the
Excluded  Liabilities  or  constitute  Losses for which  Sellers are required to
indemnify the Buyer Indemnitees under Section 10.1.

                  As to indemnification  for inaccuracies in the representations
and  warranties  contained  in this  Agreement  Buyer  shall not be  required to
indemnify  the Seller  Indemnitees  with respect to any  unrelated  claims which
individually  do not exceed  $50,000,  and in any event shall not be required to
indemnify the Seller  Indemnitees  unless and until the aggregate  amount of all
claims  against Buyer with respect  thereto  exceeds  $500,000 in the aggregate;
provided,  however,  that,  if such  aggregate  amount  of such  claims  exceeds
$500,000, Buyer shall be obligated to pay the entire amount thereof.


Section 10.3. Losses Net of Insurance,  Etc. The amount of any loss,  Liability,
cost or  expense  ("Loss")  for which  indemnification  is  provided  under this
Article 10 shall be net of 


                                      -58-


<PAGE>

any amounts  actually  recovered or recoverable by the  indemnified  party under
insurance  policies  with respect to such Loss,  but shall not be net of any tax
benefit or cost with respect thereto.

Section 10.4.  Termination of Indemnification.  The obligations to indemnify and
hold  harmless any party (a) pursuant to clause (i) of each of Sections 10.1 and
10.2, shall terminate when the applicable  representation or warranty terminates
pursuant to Section 14.1 and (b)  pursuant to the other  clauses of Section 10.1
and  10.2  shall  terminate  at the  expiration  of the  applicable  statute  of
limitations;  provided that the foregoing  notwithstanding,  all indemnification
obligations  pursuant to this Article 10 shall  terminate on the Bankruptcy Plan
Confirmation  Date;  provided,  however,  that no  termination  pursuant to this
sentence,  nor any termination of any survival period set forth in Section 14.1,
shall affect, bar or limit any claim asserted prior to such termination, and any
plan of  reorganization  for the Sellers in  accordance  with  Chapter 11 of the
Bankruptcy  Code shall provide for the  satisfaction  of any such claim asserted
prior to such  termination  that is  ultimately  determined to be a Loss that is
indemnifiable by any Seller to any Buyer Indemnitee.  Buyer agrees not to oppose
the confirmation of any Chapter 11 plan of reorganization on the basis that such
plan does not  provide  for  payment  of  claims  of Buyer  for  indemnification
pursuant to Section 10.1 which have not been  asserted  prior to the  Bankruptcy
Plan Confirmation Date.

Section 10.5.  Indemnification  Procedures.  (a) Any Buyer  Indemnitee or Seller
Indemnitee  entitled  to  indemnification  under  this  Agreement  shall  notify
promptly the indemnifying  party in writing of the commencement of any action or
proceeding  by any third party (a "Third  Party  Claim") with respect to which a
claim for  indemnification  may be made  pursuant  to this  Article  10, but the
failure of any  indemnified  party to provide  such notice shall not relieve the
indemnifying  party of its  obligations  under the preceding  paragraphs of this
Article 10, except to the extent the indemnifying  party is actually  materially
prejudiced  thereby,  and shall not  relieve  the  indemnifying  party  from any
liability which it may have to any  indemnified  party otherwise than under this
Article  10. In case any Third  Party  Claim is brought  against an  indemnified
party and it shall notify the indemnifying  party of the  commencement  thereof,
the indemnifying  party shall be entitled to participate  therein and, unless in
the reasonable opinion of outside counsel to the indemnified party a conflict of
interest between such indemnified and indemnifying  parties may exist in respect
of such claim, to assume the defense thereof jointly with any other indemnifying
party similarly notified, to the extent that it chooses, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such  indemnified  party, and after notice from the indemnifying
party to such indemnified party that it so chooses, the indemnifying party shall
not be  liable  to such  indemnified  party  for any  legal  or  other  expenses
subsequently  incurred by such indemnified  party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation;  provided,  however,  that
(i) if the indemnifying party fails to take reasonable steps necessary to defend
diligently  the action or  proceeding  within  twenty (20) days after  receiving
notice from such  indemnified  party that the indemnified  party believes it has
failed to do so; or (ii) if such  indemnified  party who is a  defendant  in any
Third  Party  Claim  which  is  also  brought  against  the  


                                      -59-


<PAGE>

indemnifying party reasonably shall have concluded that there may be one or more
legal defenses  available to such  indemnified  party which are not available to
the indemnifying  party; or (iii) if  representation of both parties by the same
counsel is otherwise  inappropriate  under applicable  standards of professional
conduct,  then, in any such case, the indemnified  party shall have the right to
assume or continue its own defense as set forth above (but with no more than one
firm of counsel for all indemnified parties in each jurisdiction, except, in the
case of Buyer  Indemnitees  only,  to the extent any such  indemnified  party or
parties  reasonably  shall  have  concluded  that  there  may be legal  defenses
available  to such  party  or  parties  which  are not  available  to the  other
indemnified  parties or to the extent  representation of all indemnified parties
by the same counsel is otherwise  inappropriate  under  applicable  standards of
professional  conduct)  and the  indemnifying  party  shall  be  liable  for any
expenses therefor.  No indemnifying party shall,  without the written consent of
the indemnified party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,  effect
the  settlement or  compromise  of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect  to,  any  pending  or  threatened  action or claim in  respect of which
indemnification  or  contribution  may be sought  hereunder  (whether or not the
indemnified  party is an  actual  or  potential  party to such  action or claim)
unless such  settlement,  compromise  or judgment (i) includes an  unconditional
release of the indemnified  party from all liability  arising out of such action
or claim,  (ii) does not include a  statement  as to or an  admission  of fault,
culpability  or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any  indemnified  party and
(iii) does not include any injunctive or other non-monetary relief.  Anything in
the foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding,  (1) notice given by Buyer to the
Company shall  constitute valid notice to all Seller  Indemnitees,  and (2) with
respect  to any Third  Party  Claim  with  respect to which more than one Seller
Indemnitee is an  indemnified  party or potential  indemnified  party,  all such
Seller   Indemnitees   shall  select  a  single  Seller  Indemnitee  to  act  as
representative  for all such Seller Indemnitees with respect to such Third Party
Claim, and (x) such  representative  shall be authorized to make  authorizations
and consents on behalf of each such Seller Indemnitee, and (y) Buyer shall, with
respect to all matters  relating to such Third Party Claim,  be entitled to rely
on the statements,  authorizations and consents of such  representative as being
the statement, authorization or consent of each such Seller Indemnitee.

(b) Anything to the contrary in this  Section  10.5  notwithstanding:  (i) Buyer
shall be entitled to assume and control the defense in all  respects,  including
with respect to  settlement,  with counsel  selected by Buyer of any Third Party
Claim for Taxes,  which Third Party Claim for Taxes includes or could reasonably
be  expected  to  include a claim  for both  Excluded  Taxes and Taxes  that are
Assumed  Liabilities,  (ii) Sellers shall facilitate such assumption and control
by Buyer, which facilitation shall include the prompt delivery, and in any event
the delivery  within five Business Days after receipt by any Seller or Affiliate
thereof of a request  therefor,  copies of all notices and documents  (including
court papers) received by any Seller or Affiliate thereof to the extent relating
to the Third Party Claim and any power of attorney reasonably requested by Buyer
Indemnitee with respect to such Third Party Claim, (iii) Sellers shall reimburse
Buyer  Indemnitee for any fees and expenses  attributable to the defense of such
Third Party 


                                      -60-


<PAGE>

Claim to the extent such fees and  expenses are  attributable  to the portion of
such claim for which Sellers are required to indemnify  Buyer and its Affiliates
hereunder.

(c) In the event any  indemnified  party  should have an  indemnification  claim
against any indemnifying party under the Agreement that does not involve a Third
Party  Claim  being  asserted  against  or  sought  to be  collected  from  such
indemnified party, the indemnified party shall deliver notice of such claim with
reasonable  promptness to the indemnifying party. The failure by any indemnified
party so to notify the  indemnifying  party shall not  relieve the  indemnifying
party from any liability that it may have to such indemnified  party,  except to
the extent that the  indemnifying  party has been  actually  prejudiced  by such
failure.  If the indemnifying  party disputes its liability with respect to such
claim,  the indemnifying  party and the indemnified  party shall proceed in good
faith to  negotiate a resolution  of such  dispute and, if not resolved  through
negotiations,  such dispute shall be resolved by  litigation  in the  Bankruptcy
Court or, if the Bankruptcy Court declines to resolve or take  jurisdiction over
such dispute in an appropriate court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 10.6. Indemnity Payments.  In the event Buyer agrees to or is determined
to have any  obligation  to  indemnify  any Seller  Indemnitee  pursuant to this
Article 10, the  principal  amount of the Holdback Note shall  automatically  be
increased by the amount of the Loss relating to such obligation, and as a result
of such increase,  Buyer shall be deemed to have  satisfied  such  obligation in
full and shall have no further  Liability  with  respect  thereto.  In the event
Sellers,  or any of them,  agree to or are  determined to have any obligation to
indemnify  any Buyer  Indemnitee  pursuant to this  Article 10, the  outstanding
principal  balance of the Holdback Note shall  automatically be decreased by the
amount  of the  Loss  relating  to  such  obligation,  and as a  result  of such
decrease,  Sellers,  or any such Seller,  as the case may be, shall be deemed to
have satisfied such obligation in full and shall have no further  Liability with
respect  thereto,  provided that if as a result of such decrease the outstanding
principal  balance of the  Holdback  Note would  otherwise  be zero or less than
zero, then (i) the outstanding  principal  balance of the Holdback Note shall be
reduced to zero and (ii) the  Seller or Sellers  having  such  obligation  shall
immediately  pay  to the  Buyer  Indemnitee  an  amount  in  cash  equal  to the
difference between (x) the amount of the Loss related to such obligation and (y)
the outstanding principal balance of the Holdback Note immediately prior to such
decrease,  and only upon such payment shall such Seller or Sellers,  as the case
may be, be deemed to have satisfied such obligation in full.

                                   ARTICLE 11

                              Deliveries at Closing


Section 11.1.  Sellers'  Deliveries at Closing.  In addition to the other things
required to be done hereby, at the Closing,  Sellers shall deliver,  or cause to
be delivered, to Buyer the following:


                                      -61-


<PAGE>

(a) a certificate  dated the Closing Date and validly executed on behalf of each
Seller to the effect that the  conditions  set forth in Sections  8.1 and 8.2(b)
have been satisfied;

(b) a copy of the  resolutions  of the Board of  Directors  of each  Seller,  or
similar enabling document,  authorizing the execution,  delivery and performance
hereof by each  Seller,  and  adopting  the Company  Board  Determination  and a
certificate  of  its  secretary,  dated  as  of  the  Closing  Date,  that  such
resolutions were duly adopted and are in full force and effect;

(c) evidence or copies of any Consents required pursuant to Section 8.2;

(d) an opinion,  addressed to the Buyer and dated the Closing Date, from outside
counsel to Sellers, in substance and form reasonably satisfactory to Buyer;

(e) all documents,  certificates  and agreements  necessary to transfer to Buyer
good  and  marketable  title  to the  Assets,  free  and  clear  of any  and all
Encumbrances thereon, including:

(i) a duly executed Assignment and Assumption Agreement;

(ii) assignments of all Assumed Contracts, Assumed Intellectual Property and any
other agreements and instruments  constituting  Assets,  dated the Closing Date,
assigning  to Buyer all of  Sellers'  right,  title  and  interest  therein  and
thereto, with any required Consent endorsed thereon;

(iii) an assignment of lease, dated as of the Closing Date, with respect to each
Assumed  Lease,  in form  reasonably  acceptable  to  Buyer,  together  with any
necessary  transfer  declarations  or other filings (and in  recordable  form if
required by Buyer); and

(iv)  certificates  of title to all motor vehicles  included in the Assets to be
transferred  to Buyer  hereunder,  duly endorsed for transfer to Buyer as of the
Closing Date;

(f) all  documents  necessary  to  transfer  to Buyer the  Assumed  Intellectual
Property;

(g) certified copies of all orders of the Bankruptcy Court; and

(h) the FIRPTA Affidavits described in Section 7.2(b).

Section 11.2.  Buyer's  Deliveries  at Closing.  In addition to the other things
required to be done hereby, at the Closing,  Buyer shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered, to Sellers the following:

(a) a certificate dated the Closing Date and validly executed on behalf of Buyer
to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 9.1 and 9.2(b) have been
satisfied;


                                      -62-


<PAGE>

(b) a copy of the  resolutions  of the Board of Directors  of Buyer,  or similar
enabling document, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance hereof by
Buyer,  and a certificate of its secretary or assistant  secretary,  dated as of
the Closing Date, that such  resolutions were duly adopted and are in full force
and effect;

(c) evidence or copies of any Consents required pursuant to Section 9.2;

(d) a duly executed Holdback Note; and

(e) a duly executed Assignment and Assumption Agreement.

Section 11.3. Required Documents. All documents to be delivered by Sellers or to
be entered  into by Sellers and Buyer  necessary  to carry out the  transactions
contemplated  by this Agreement or  contemplated  by the terms of this Agreement
shall be  satisfactory  in form and  substance to Buyer and counsel to Buyer and
all documents to be delivered by Buyer  necessary to carry out the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement  or to be  entered  into by  Sellers  and Buyer
necessary to carry out the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement shall be
satisfactory in form and substance to Sellers and counsel to Sellers.

                                   ARTICLE 12

                                   Termination


Section 12.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions
contemplated hereby abandoned at any time prior to the Closing by:

(a) written agreement of the Company and Buyer;

(b)  by  Buyer  or  the  Company  if  the  Closing  has  not   occurred  by  the
seventy-second calendar day after the date of this Agreement,  provided that the
terminating  party is not in material breach of any of its  representations  and
warranties  contained  in this  Agreement  and has not  failed  in any  material
respect to perform any of its obligations hereunder;

(c) by either the Company or Buyer, if there shall be any law or regulation that
makes  consummation of the Asset Purchase illegal or otherwise  prohibited or if
any judgment,  injunction, order or decree permanently restraining,  prohibiting
or  enjoining  Buyer or the  Company  from  consummating  the Asset  Purchase is
entered and such  judgment,  injunction,  order or decree shall become final and
applicable;

(d) the  Company,  if there  shall  have  been a  breach  by Buyer of any of its
representations,   warranties,   covenants  or  agreements   contained  in  this
Agreement,  which  breach  would result in the failure to satisfy one or more of
the  conditions  set forth in Article 9 and such breach  shall be  incapable  of
being cured or, if capable of being cured,


                                      -63-


<PAGE>

shall not have been cured within 15 days after written notice thereof shall have
been  received  by Buyer,  or Buyer  shall be in  material  breach of any of its
material obligations under the DIP Credit Agreement which breach is incapable of
being cured or, if capable of being  cured,  shall not have been cured within 15
days after written notice thereof shall have been received by the Buyer;

(e) by Buyer,  if there  shall  have  been a breach by any  Seller of any of its
representations,   warranties,   covenants  or  agreements   contained  in  this
Agreement,  which  breach  would result in the failure to satisfy one or more of
the  conditions  set forth in Article 8, and such breach  shall be  incapable of
being cured or, if capable of being  cured,  shall not have been cured within 15
days after written notice thereof shall have been received by the Company;

(f) by Buyer,  if the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  shall have taken any
action in violation or breach of Section 5.10;

(g) by Buyer,  if (i) within three days of the Filing Date the Bankruptcy  Court
does not (A) enter the  Interim  Financing  Order and (B)  schedule a hearing to
occur not  later  than the date 25 days  after the  Filing  Date on  motions  or
applications  submitted  by the  Sellers  on the  Filing  Date  as  part  of the
Bankruptcy  Filings  seeking  approval of the Final  Financing  Order,  the Sale
Procedures Order and the Assumption  Order, or (ii) the Bankruptcy Court has not
approved the Final Financing Order, the Sale Procedures Order and the Assumption
Order on or before the date that is 30 days after the Filing Date,  or (iii) the
Maturity Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) shall have occurred,  or (iv)
any of the  Interim  Financing  Order,  the  Final  Financing  Order,  the Sales
Procedures  Order or the  Assumption  Order  shall  fail to be in full force and
effect or shall have been stayed,  reversed,  modified or amended in any respect
without the prior written consent of Buyer;

(h) by Buyer,  if Default or Event of Default  (as such terms are defined in the
DIP Credit Agreement) has occurred under the DIP Credit Agreement; or

(i) by Buyer, if:

(i)  Decremented  Minutes for any single  calendar  month during the Three Month
Measurement Period are less than 85% of the monthly average for the third fiscal
quarter of 1998 as set forth in Exhibit 12.1(i) hereto;

(ii) Decremented  Minutes for the Three Month  Measurement  Period are less than
90% of those  reported  for the  third  fiscal  quarter  of 1998 as set forth in
Exhibit 12.1(i) hereto;

(iii)  Service  Revenues  for any single  calendar  month during the Three Month
Measurement Period are less than 85% of the monthly average for the third fiscal
quarter of 1998 as set forth in Exhibit 12.1(i) hereto.


                                      -64-


<PAGE>

(iv) Service Revenues for the Three Month  Measurement  Period are less than 90%
of Service Revenues for the third fiscal quarter of 1998 as set forth in
Exhibit 12.1(i) hereto;

(v) total EBITDA for the Business  for the Three Month  Measurement  Period is a
loss of $8,500,000 or more;

(vi) at any time there are one or more Lost Customer  Agreements and/or Adjusted
Contracts and the  aggregate  Lost Customer  Adjustments  and Impaired  Customer
Adjustments  associated with such contracts  would exceed the Maximum  Estimated
Adjustment if such adjustments were taken on any such date; or

(vii) as of the last day of any calendar  month  occurring  prior to the Closing
the sum of Working Capital as of such date and cash and cash equivalents on hand
of all of the Sellers is less than negative $16,000,000.

Section 12.2.  Procedure and Effect of Termination.  In the event of termination
of this Agreement by either or both of the Sellers and Buyer pursuant to Section
12.1,  written notice thereof shall forthwith be given by the terminating  party
to the other party hereto,  and this  Agreement  shall  thereupon  terminate and
become void and have no effect, and the transactions  contemplated  hereby shall
be abandoned  without further action by the parties hereto;  provided,  however,
that such  termination  shall not relieve any party hereto of any  liability for
any breach of this Agreement; and provided, further, that in connection with any
such  termination  each party shall be and shall remain  liable for any payments
owed or that  become  owed  pursuant  to, or that  arise as a result of any such
termination pursuant to, the Sale Procedures Order or the Letter Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE 13

                           Purchase Price Adjustments


Section 13.1.  Estimated  Purchase Price  Adjustment.  Not later than the second
Business Day prior to the Closing  Date,  the Company  shall  deliver to Buyer a
statement certified by an officer of the Company setting forth (i) the Estimated
Adjustments  (as defined on Exhibit  13.1),  each as computed  as  indicated  on
Exhibit 13.1 based on the good faith  estimates of the chief  executive  officer
and chief financial officer of the Company and (ii) the estimated Purchase Price
Adjustment  computed  as  indicated  on  Exhibit  13.1  based  on the  Estimated
Adjustments (the "Estimated Purchase Price Adjustment").

Section 13.2.  Post-Closing  Purchase Price  Adjustment.  (a) Not later than the
fifteenth day following the end of the Two Month Measurement  Period (as defined
in Exhibit 13.1), Buyer shall prepare and deliver to the Company (i) a statement
of assets and liabilities of the Business as of the close of business on the day
prior to the Closing Date (the  "Closing  Balance  Sheet"),  (ii) a statement of
Decremented  Minutes and Service Revenues for the six-month period ending at the
conclusion  of the Two  Month  Measurement  Period  (the  "Closing  


                                      -65-


<PAGE>

Minutes  and  Revenues  Statement"),  (iii) a  statement  of cash  flows for the
six-month  period ending on the day prior to the Closing Date (the "Closing Cash
Flow  Statement",  and,  together with the Closing Balance Sheet and the Closing
Minutes and Revenues Statement,  the "Closing  Statements") and (iv) a statement
(the "Purchase  Price  Adjustment  Statement")  setting forth the Purchase Price
Adjustment computed as indicated on Exhibit 13.1 based on the Actual Adjustments
(as defined in Exhibit 13.1),  in each case  determined  pursuant to the results
indicated on the Closing  Statements.  The Closing  Statements  and the Purchase
Price  Adjustment  Statement shall be prepared from the books and records of the
Company  and its  subsidiaries  and shall be prepared  in  accordance  with GAAP
applied on a basis  consistent with the preparation of the financial  statements
included  in  the  Recent  10-Q;  provided,  however,  GAAP  shall  control  the
preparation  of  the  Closing  Statements  and  the  Purchase  Price  Adjustment
Statement (x) to the extent the preparation of the financial statements included
in the Recent 10-Q were not in accordance  with GAAP in any respect,  and (y) in
any event,  with  respect to the matters  referred to in the  Company's  Current
Report on Form 8-K filed  with the SEC on  January 7,  1999.  In  addition,  the
Purchase  Price  Adjustment  Statement  shall be accompanied by a certificate of
Buyer's  independent  auditor  confirming the amounts and adjustments  indicated
therein. Each Seller shall provide reasonable cooperation,  including reasonable
access to books, records, employees and former employees, in connection with the
preparation  of  the  Closing  Statements  and  the  Purchase  Price  Adjustment
Statement.

(b) During the 30-day  period  following  the  Company's  receipt of the Closing
Statements  and the Purchase  Price  Adjustment  Statement,  the Company and its
independent auditors shall be permitted to review the relevant books and records
of the Company  and its  subsidiaries  as well as the working  papers of Buyer's
independent  auditors relating to the Closing  Statements and the Purchase Price
Adjustment  Statement.  The Closing Statements and the Purchase Price Adjustment
Statement  shall become final and binding upon the all of the parties  hereto on
the 30th day following the Company's  receipt  thereof  unless the Company gives
written notice of its disagreement with the Purchase Price Adjustment  Statement
(a  "Notice  of  Disagreement")  to Buyer  prior to such  date.  Any  Notice  of
Disagreement  shall specify in reasonable  detail the nature of any disagreement
so  asserted.  If a Notice  of  Disagreement  is  received  by Buyer in a timely
manner, then the Closing Statements and the Purchase Price Adjustment  Statement
(as revised in accordance  with clauses (A) or (B) below) shall become final and
binding on the earlier of (A) the date Buyer and the Company  resolve in writing
any differences they have with respect to the matters specified in the Notice of
Disagreement  or (B) the date any  disputed  matters  are  finally  resolved  in
writing by the Accounting Firm.

(c) During the 30-day  period  following  delivery  of a Notice of  Disagreement
Buyer and the  Company  shall  seek in good  faith to  resolve  in  writing  any
differences  which they may have with  respect to the matters  specified  in the
Notice of Disagreement.  At the end of such 30-day period (or such longer period
as the  parties  may  agree),  Buyer and the  Company  shall  select a  mutually
acceptable public accounting firm with nationally recognized auditing experience
(the  "Accounting  Firm") or if they are unable to agree on 


                                      -66-


<PAGE>

an  Accounting  Firm,  either may petition the  Bankruptcy  Court to select such
Accounting  Firm. No firm shall be selected to act as the Accounting Firm unless
it has available to serve as the lead arbitrator at least three  partners,  each
of whom  has (i) at  least  15  years  of  public  accounting  experience,  (ii)
substantial  experience  as an arbitrator  (or similar role) in connection  with
disagreements  over  purchase  price  adjustments  arising out of  purchase/sale
transactions,   and  (iii)   substantial   expertise   or   experience   in  the
telecommunications  industry.  Any and all matters  which  remain in dispute and
which were  included  in the Notice of  Disagreement  shall be  resolved  by the
Accounting Firm. Buyer and the Company shall jointly use all reasonable  efforts
to cause the  Accounting  Firm to  render a  decision  within 30 days  following
submission.  Buyer and the Company  agree that  judgment may be entered upon the
determination of the Accounting Firm in any court having  jurisdiction  over the
party against which such  determination  is to be enforced.  Each of the parties
shall bear their own costs of dispute resolution hereunder,  and costs, fees and
expenses of the Accounting  Firm pursuant to this Section 13.2 shall be borne by
equally by Buyer and the Company.

(d)  If  the  Purchase  Price  Adjustment  shown  on the  final  Purchase  Price
Adjustment  Statement is greater than the Estimated  Purchase Price  Adjustment,
then the outstanding  principal  balance of the Holdback Note shall  immediately
and automatically be reduced by the amount of such difference; provided, that if
as a result of such reduction the outstanding  principal balance of the Holdback
Note  would  otherwise  be zero or less  than  zero,  then  (i) the  outstanding
principal  balance  shall  be  reduced  to  zero  and  (ii)  the  Sellers  shall
immediately  pay to Buyer an amount in cash equal to the difference  between (x)
the amount of the difference  between the Purchase Price Adjustment shown on the
final  Purchase  Price  Adjustment  Statement and the Estimated  Purchase  Price
Adjustment  and (y) the  outstanding  principal  balance  of the  Holdback  Note
immediately prior to such reduction, and only upon such payment shall Sellers be
deemed to have satisfied their  obligations  pursuant to this Article 13. If the
Estimated   Purchase  Price  Adjustment  is  greater  than  the  Purchase  Price
Adjustment  shown on the final Purchase  Price  Adjustment  Statement,  then the
outstanding  principal  balance  of the  Holdback  Note  shall  immediately  and
automatically  be increased by the amount of the  difference  between  Estimated
Purchase Price  Adjustment and the Purchase Price  Adjustment shown on the final
Purchase Price Adjustment Statement.

                                   ARTICLE 14

                                  Miscellaneous


Section   14.1.   Survival  of   Representations   and   Warranties,   Etc.  The
representations  and warranties  contained in this  Agreement  shall survive the
execution and delivery of this Agreement,  the  consummation of the transactions
contemplated  hereby, any examination by or on behalf of the parties hereto, and
the completion of the transactions contemplated herein, until the earlier of (a)
the Bankruptcy Plan  Confirmation  Date and (b) the applicable date set forth in
the following clauses:


                                      -67-


<PAGE>

(i)  except  as set  forth in  clause  (ii) and  (iii)  below,  until  the third
anniversary of the Closing Date;

(ii) with respect to the  representations  and warranties  contained in Sections
3.1, 3.2, and 4.1, survive without limitation;

(iii) with respect to the  representations  and warranties  contained in Section
7.1, survive as to any Tax covered by such representations and warranties for so
long as the  applicable  statute of  limitations  for such Tax remains  open, in
whole or in part, including by reason of waiver of such statute of limitations.

Section 14.2. Survival of Covenants. The covenants and agreements of the parties
contained in this  Agreement  shall survive the Closing in  accordance  with the
terms hereof.  Any and all covenants  relating to Taxes shall survive so long as
the  applicable  statute  of  limitations  remains  open,  in  whole or in part,
including by reason of waiver of such statute of limitations.

Section 14.3. Higher and Better Offers.  Notwithstanding  anything herein to the
contrary, this Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder
are  subject  to  offers  from  third   parties  for  the  purchase  of  all  or
substantially  all of the Assets that are  received,  accepted  and  approved as
higher and better  offers by the  Bankruptcy  Court or  pursuant  to  procedures
established  by the  Bankruptcy  Court.  In the event that, at any time prior to
Bankruptcy  Court  Approval,  any such offer or offers from third parties are so
approved by the Bankruptcy Court, this Agreement shall terminate with the effect
set forth in Section 12.2.

Section  14.4.  Bankruptcy  Court  Approval.  Sellers'  obligations  under  this
Agreement  are subject to Bankruptcy  Court  Approval to the extent (and only to
the extent) required by law.

Section 14.5.  Company as Agent and  Representative.  Any obligation by Buyer to
make payment or  deliveries  to all or any Sellers shall be satisfied by payment
or delivery,  as the case may be, to the Company.  The Company is  authorized by
this Agreement, as a specific term of the Asset Purchase provided for herein, to
act on behalf of and as representative of the Sellers and their successors under
this Agreement.

Section 14.6.  Notices.  All notices,  requests and other  communications to any
party hereunder shall be in writing (including  telecopy or similar writing) and
shall be given, if to Buyer, to:

                                                     AT&T Corp.
                                                     295 North Maple Avenue
                                                     Basking Ridge, New
                                                     Jersey  07920
                                                     Telecopy:  (908) 221-5791
                                                     Attn:  Steven Garfinkel


                                      -68-


<PAGE>

                  with a copy to:

                                                     Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen &
                                                     Katz
                                                     51 West 52nd Street
                                                     New York, NY  10019
                                                     Telecopy:  (212) 403-2000
                                                     Attn:  Mark Gordon

                  if to the Company
                  or to any Seller, to:

                                                     SmarTalk TeleServices,
                                                     Inc.
                                                     5080 Tuttle Crossing Blvd.
                                                     Dublin, Ohio  43016
                                                     Telecopy:  (614) 789-8999
                                                     Attn:  General Counsel
                  with a copy to:

                                                     Dewey Ballantine LLP
                                                     333 South Hope Street
                                                     Suite 3000
                                                     Los Angeles, CA  90071
                                                     Telecopy:  (213) 625-0562
                                                     Attn:  Robert M. Smith

                                                     and

                                                     Hennigan, Mercer & Bennett
                                                     661 South Figueroa Street
                                                     Los Angeles, CA  90017
                                                     Telecopy:  (213) 694-1234
                                                     Attn: Bruce Bennett


or such other address or telecopy number as such party may hereafter specify for
the purpose by notice to the other parties hereto. Each such notice,  request or
other  communication  shall be effective when delivered at the address specified
in this Section.


Section 14.7. Amendments; No Waivers. (a) Any provision of this Agreement may be
amended or waived prior to the Effective Time if, and only if, such amendment or
waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and
Buyer,  or, in the case of a waiver,  by the party against whom the waiver is to
be effective.

(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege
hereunder  shall  operate  as a waiver  thereof  nor shall any single or partial
exercise  thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other right, power or


                                      -69-


<PAGE>

privilege.  The rights and remedies  herein provided shall be cumulative and not
exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

Section 14.8.  Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
binding,  upon  and  inure  to the  benefit  of the  parties  hereto  and  their
respective successors and assigns,  provided that no party may assign,  delegate
or otherwise  transfer  any of its rights or  obligations  under this  Agreement
without the consent of the other  parties  hereto except that Buyer may transfer
or  assign,  in whole or from  time to time in part,  to one or more of  Buyer's
wholly-owned subsidiaries, any or all of its rights or obligations, but any such
transfer or  assignment  will not relieve  Buyer of its  obligations  under this
Agreement.

Section 14.9. Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. (a) This Agreement
constitutes  the  entire  agreement  and  supersedes  all prior  agreements  and
understandings,  both  written and oral,  among the parties  with respect to the
subject matter hereof, other than that certain Confidentiality  Agreement, dated
September  24,  1998,  between  Buyer  and  the  Company  (the  "Confidentiality
Agreement"),  by Buyer  and the  Company  in  connection  with the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  which shall  survive the  execution  and delivery of this
Agreement.

(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each
party hereto, and nothing in this Agreement,  express or implied, is intended to
or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature
whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

Section  14.10.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be signed in any  number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures  thereto and hereto  were upon the same  instrument.  This  Agreement
shall become  effective when each party hereto shall have received  counterparts
hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.

Section  14.11.  Interpretation;  Absence of  Presumption.  (a) For the purposes
hereof,  (i) words in the singular  shall be held to include the plural and vice
versa and words of one gender shall be held to include the other  genders as the
context requires, (ii) the terms "hereof," "herein," and "herewith" and words of
similar import shall,  unless  otherwise  stated,  be construed to refer to this
Agreement as a whole  (including  all of the Schedules and Exhibits  hereto) and
not to any  particular  provision  of  this  Agreement,  and  Article,  Section,
paragraph,  Exhibit  and  Schedule  references  are to the  Articles,  Sections,
paragraphs, Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement unless otherwise specified,
(iii)  the word  "including"  and  words of  similar  import  when  used in this
Agreement  shall  mean  "including,  without  limitation,"  unless  the  context
otherwise requires or unless otherwise  specified,  (iv) the word "or" shall not
be exclusive,  and (v) provisions shall apply, when  appropriate,  to successive
events and transactions.


                                      -70-


<PAGE>

(b) This Agreement shall be construed  without regard to any presumption or rule
requiring  construction or interpretation  against the party drafting or causing
any instrument to be drafted.

Section  14.12.   Severability.   Any  provision  hereof  which  is  invalid  or
unenforceable  shall  be  ineffective  to  the  extent  of  such  invalidity  or
unenforceability, without affecting in any way the remaining provisions hereof.

Section 14.13.  Remedies  Cumulative.  All rights,  powers and remedies provided
under this  Agreement  or  otherwise  available  in respect  hereof at law or in
equity shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise or beginning of
the exercise of any thereof by any party shall not preclude the  simultaneous or
later exercise of any other such right, power or remedy by such party.

Section 14.14. Specific  Performance.  The parties hereto each acknowledge that,
in view of the  uniqueness  of the subject  matter  hereof,  each of the parties
would not have an  adequate  remedy at law for money  damages  in the event that
this  Agreement were not performed in accordance  with its terms,  and therefore
agree that each party shall be entitled  to  specific  enforcement  of the terms
hereof in  addition  to any other  remedy to which  the  parties  hereto  may be
entitled at law or in equity.

Section 14.15.  Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in  accordance  with the laws of the  State of New York,  without  regard to the
conflicts of law principles  thereof which would require the  application of the
laws of another state.

Section 14.16. Arbitration. (a) Dispute Resolution. Except as otherwise provided
in Section 13.2, all controversies, disputes or claims arising among the parties
in connection  with, or with respect to, any provision of this  Agreement  which
has not been resolved  within  twenty (20) days after either  Buyer,  on the one
hand, or Sellers,  on the other hand, have notified the other in writing of such
controversy,  dispute or claim, shall be submitted for arbitration in accordance
with the rules of the American Arbitration Association or any successor thereof.
Arbitration  shall take place at an  appointed  time and place in New York,  New
York.

(b) Selection of Arbitrators.  Buyer, on the one hand, and Sellers, on the other
hand each shall select one arbitrator (who shall not be counsel for such party),
and the two so designated shall select a third arbitrator. If either party shall
fail to designate an arbitrator  within seven calendar days after arbitration is
requested,  or if the two  arbitrators  shall fail to select a third  arbitrator
within 14 calendar days after  arbitration  is requested,  then such  arbitrator
shall be selected  by the  American  Arbitration  Association  or any  successor
thereto  upon  application  of  either  party.  Judgment  upon any  award of the
majority  of  arbitrators  shall be  binding  and shall be entered in a court of
competent jurisdiction.  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement,  the award
of the arbitrators may grant any relief that a court of general jurisdiction has
authority to grant,  


                                      -71-


<PAGE>

including, without limitation, an award of damages and/or injunctive relief, and
shall assess, in addition, the cost of the arbitration, including the reasonable
fees of the arbitrator,  reasonable  attorneys' fees and costs of all prevailing
parties, against all non-prevailing parties.

(c) Temporary Injunctive Relief. Nothing herein contained shall bar the right of
any of the parties to seek and obtain temporary  injunctive  relief from a court
of competent  jurisdiction in accordance with applicable law against  threatened
conduct that will cause loss or damage,  pending  completion of the arbitration,
and the prevailing party therein shall be entitled to an award of its reasonable
attorneys' fees and costs.

(d)  Arbitration   Rules.  All  disputes  and  claims  shall  be  determined  by
arbitration in accordance with the Commercial  Arbitration Rules of the American
Arbitration  Association (the "Rules") in effect on the date hereof, except that
such Rules shall be modified by this Agreement.

(e)  Arbitration  Proceedings.  All arbitral  proceedings  arising under,  or in
connection  with, this Agreement shall be governed by the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure.  Notwithstanding the previous sentence,  the arbitrators' award shall
be made no later than ninety (90) days after their  appointment.  Subject to the
parties' right to be treated fairly,  the arbitrators may shorten the periods of
time  otherwise  applicable to the arbitral  proceedings  under the Rules or the
Federal Rules of Civil  Procedure to permit the award to be made within the time
limitation set forth in the previous sentence.


                                      -72-


<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  this  Agreement has been signed by or on
behalf of each of the parties as of the day first above written.

BUYER:                                      AT&T CORP.


                                            By: /s/ Howard E. McNally
                                                ---------------------
                                                Name:  Howard E. McNally
                                                Title:   Vice President


SELLERS:                                    SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.


                                            By: /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                ---------------------
                                                Name:  Erich Spangenberg
                                                Title:   President and Chief
                                                         Executive Officer


                                            CANADA TELECOM NETWORK INC.

                                            By: /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                ---------------------
                                                Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                Title:   President and Chief
                                                         Executive Officer


                                            CONQUEST COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

                                            By: /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                ---------------------
                                                Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                Title:   President and Chief
                                                         Executive Officer


                                            CONQUEST LONG DISTANCE CORP.

                                            By: /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                ---------------------
                                                Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                Title:   President and Chief
                                                         Executive Officer



                  [Signature Page to Asset Purchase Agreement]


<PAGE>

                                            CONQUEST OPERATOR SERVICES, CORP.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            CQ OPERATOR SERVICES, L.P.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            CONQUEST OPERATOR SERVICES (U.K.)
                                            LTD.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            CONQUEST TELECOMMUNICATION
                                            SERVICES CORP.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            CREATIVE NETWORK MARKETING, INC.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            CTN INTERACTIVE, INC.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            GTI TELECOM, INC.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer


                  [Signature Page to Asset Purchase Agreement]


<PAGE>

                                            SMARTALK (DELAWARE) CORPORATION

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            SMARTALK ACQUISITION CORP.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            SMARTALK CANADA INC.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            SMARTALK HOLDINGS CORPORATION

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            SMARTALK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            SMARTALK TELESERVICES (U.K.) LTD.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            SMARTALK USPS SALES CO.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer


                  [Signature Page to Asset Purchase Agreement]


<PAGE>

                                            SMARTEL COMMUNICATIONS INC.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            SMARTEL COMMUNICATIONS OF
                                            VIRGINIA, INC.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                                 SMARTEL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                                 SMARTEL, INC.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            SMTK ACQUISITION CORP.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            SMTK ACQUISITION CORP. III

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            SMTK NY-1 CORP.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer


                  [Signature Page to Asset Purchase Agreement]


<PAGE>

                                            USA TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES,
                                            INC.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

                                            WORLDWIDE DIRECT, INC.

                                            By:  /s/ Erich Spangenberg
                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Name: Erich Spangenberg
                                                 Title:   President and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer


                  [Signature Page to Asset Purchase Agreement]


<PAGE>

                                    Exhibit 1

                                Letter Agreement


<PAGE>


                                    Exhibit 2

                              DIP Credit Agreement


<PAGE>

                                   Exhibit 2.6

                [FORM OF FACE OF NON-NEGOTIABLE FIXED RATE NOTE]

                                Promissory Note

                                                        Dated: __________, 1999

Principal Amount:     Denominated Below
Interest Rate:        _____  %

                  This  Note  is  a  duly  authorized,  non-negotiable  Note  of
__________,  a ___________  corporation (the "Company"),  issued pursuant to and
subject to the  provisions of an Asset  Purchase  Agreement  dated as of _______
___,  1999 (the  "Asset  Purchase  Agreement"),  between the  Company,  SmarTalk
Teleservices,   Inc.,  a  California  corporation   ("SmarTalk"),   and  certain
subsidiaries  of  SmarTalk.  Capitalized  terms used  herein  and not  otherwise
defined shall have the meanings specified in the Asset Purchase Agreement.

                  Subject to the provisions hereof and as set forth in the Asset
Purchase  Agreement,  the Company for value received,  hereby promises to pay to
the order of  SmarTalk  at such  account as it shall  designate,  the  Principal
Amount,  described in the  following  section,  on the Payment  Date, as defined
below,  or, if such day is not a Business  Day,  as defined  below,  on the next
succeeding  Business  Day,  and to pay simple  interest at the three month LIBOR
rate as of the last fixing on or prior to the Closing Date (the "Interest Rate")
on the Principal  Amount  outstanding at the Payment Date.  "Business Day" means
any day other  than a  Saturday,  Sunday  or other  day that is  neither a legal
holiday  nor a day on  which  banking  institutions  in the City of New York are
authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to be closed.

Principal.  The principal  amount of this Note shall  initially be Forty Million
Dollars and No Cents  ($40,000,000.00)  but shall  automatically be decreased or
increased, as the case may be, from time to time pursuant to and as provided for
in Sections 10.6 and 13.2(d) of the Asset Purchase Agreement (such amount, as so
increased or decreased,  when finally  determined  pursuant to and in accordance
with said Sections 10.6 and 13.2(d), the "Principal Amount"); provided, however,
that in no event shall the Principal  Amount be increased above  $80,000,000.00.
If the Principal  Amount shall be equal to zero, this Note shall  immediately be
deemed void,  canceled and satisfied,  and Company shall not be required for any
reason to make any further  payments  thereon except with respect to any accrued
interest that remains outstanding.  Any principal,  interest or other obligation
outstanding under a credit facility, if any, extended by the Company to SmarTalk
while SmarTalk was a debtor in possession  under Section 1101 of Title 11 of the
United  States  Code,  as  amended,  may be  applied  as a set off to reduce the
Principal Amount at the Company's election.

Interest. Simple interest shall accrue on this Note from the date hereof through
the Payment Date at the Interest  Rate.  The amount of interest due on this Note
shall be based on the  Principal  


<PAGE>

Amount as of the Payment  Date and based on the number of days  elapsed from the
Closing Date through the Payment Date.

Payment Date. The Principal  Amount together with any accrued  interest  thereon
shall become  immediately  due and payable upon the tenth Business Day following
the later of (a) the date on which  the  Company  shall  have  received  written
notice from  SmarTalk  that the  Bankruptcy  Plan  Confirmation  Date shall have
occurred  and (b) the date upon  which all  claims,  disputes  or  disagreements
outstanding  under Sections 10.6 and 13.2 of the Asset Purchase  Agreement as of
the Bankruptcy Plan Confirmation Date have been finally  determined and resolved
in accordance  with the Asset Purchase  Agreement  (such tenth Business Day, the
"Payment Date").

Prepayment.  The  undersigned  may  prepay  all but  not  less  than  all of the
Principal  Amount of this Note at any time and from time to time without premium
or penalty.

Default.  If any  amount  owing  under  this  Note is not  paid  when  due,  the
outstanding  principal  balance  of this Note  together  with  accrued  interest
thereon  shall,  on demand by  SmarTalk,  be due and  payable.  The  outstanding
balance  of any  amount  owing  under this Note which is not paid when due shall
bear interest at the rate of 12% per annum.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  if
for any  reason the  effective  interest  payable  hereunder  should  exceed the
maximum lawful interest,  the effective interest shall be deemed reduced to, and
shall be, such  maximum  lawful  interest;  and if any amount is paid under this
Note as interest in excess of such  maximum  rate,  then the amount so paid will
not  constitute  interest but will  constitute a prepayment  of the  outstanding
Principal Amount of this Note.

Offset Rights.  Any other  provision  contained  herein or in the Asset Purchase
Agreement  notwithstanding,  the Company's obligations hereunder are subject to,
and the Company shall have the benefit of, all defenses,  counterclaims,  rights
of offset or recoupment or other claims and rights (collectively, "Offsets") the
Company may have at any time against  SmarTalk or any  transferee or assignee of
the Company's  obligations or any part thereof or interest therein,  whether the
claim or the Company relied upon for such purpose is matured or unmatured,  this
and no transfer or assignment  of this Note or other  obligation of the Company,
or of any rights in respect thereof,  pursuant to any plan of  reorganization or
liquidation or otherwise shall affect or impair the  availability to the Company
of the Offsets.

Governing Law.  This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of New York.

                  [Signature Page to Asset Purchase Agreement]


<PAGE>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  __________,  has caused this Note to be duly executed under
its corporate seal.

Dated: __________________, 19__               [COMPANY]

[SEAL]

Attest



- ----------------------------                   By:----------------------------

                  [Signature Page to Asset Purchase Agreement]


<PAGE>

                                 Exhibit 5.5(a)

                Forms of Bankruptcy Court Petitions and Filings:
                             Interim Financing Order
                              Final Financing Order
                              Sale Procedures Order


<PAGE>

                                   Exhibit 8.6

                     Form of Bankruptcy Court Approval Order


<PAGE>

                                 Exhibit 12.1(i)



Schedule A - Q3 1998 Decremented Minutes

GTI                                                                29,617,737
CQ                                                                151,320,181
Cardinal/CTN                                                       13,662,300
Voice Choice/West                                                  20,599,430
Link/ODC (see calculation below)                                   27,979,216
                                                            -----------------
                                                 Total            243,178,864

Link/ODC Decremented Units
Link ODC Service Revenue                                            3,497,402
Wholesale Rate per Link/ODC Decremented Minute                          0.125
                                                            -----------------
Link ODC Decremented Minutes                                       27,979,216


<PAGE>

                           Exhibit 12.1(i) (continued)


Schedule B - Q3 1998 Wholesale Decremented Revenue

GTI                                                                 4,704,885
CQ                                                                 22,297,418
Cardinal/CTN                                                        2,732,460
Voice Choice/West                                                   3,758,147
Link/ODC                                                            3,497,402
                                                                -------------
                                                 Total             36,990,312


                                      -2-


<PAGE>

                           Exhibit 12.1(i) (continued)



Schedule C - Q3 1998 Non-Recurring Expenses

Moving Expenses                                                         637,000

Salaries and Benefit Cut                                              1,100,000

Relocation Bonuses                                                      100,000

Rent Termination                                                        101,000

CO-OP Staples and Bergen Brunswick                                    1,091,000

Tax Fees Related to Reorganization                                      100,000

Eckerd MDF                                                            1,000,000

Consulting Bills                                                      1,300,000

Travel                                                                  300,000

Excess Delivery Expenses                                                500,000

Supplies                                                                100,000

Telephone Expenses                                                      200,000
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                                      6,529,000

EBITDA                                                              (10,609,405)

   EBITDA Adjustments                                                 6,529,000

   Link ODC Adjustment                                               (3,600,000)
                                                  -----------------------------
Adjusted EBITDA                                                      (7,680,405)
  Cushion                                                              (800,000)
                                                  -----------------------------
EBITDA Covenant                                                      (8,480,405)


                                      -3-


<PAGE>

                                  Exhibit 13.1


A.       COMPONENTS OF PURCHASE PRICE ADJUSTMENT

         1.       The  "Purchase  Price  Adjustment"  shall be the lesser of (x)
                  $70,000,001 and (y) the sum of the following components (after
                  giving effect to any Duplication Adjustment):

                  a)       the Working Capital Adjustment;

                  b)       the lesser of (1) $45,000,001 and (2) the sum of
                           the following components:

                           (i)      the Lost Customer Adjustment;

                           (ii)     the Impaired Customer Adjustment;

                           (iii)    whichever is greater of:
                                    (A)     the First Decremented Minutes
                                            Adjustment; or
                                    (B      the First Revenue Adjustment; and

                           (iv)     whichever is greater of:
                                    (A)     the Second Decremented Minutes
                                            Adjustment; or
                                    (B)     the Second Revenue Adjustment.

         2.       The First Decremented Minutes Adjustment shall be, as follows:

                      If the total number of  Decremented  Minutes for the Three
                      Month Measurement Period is less than 243,000,000, then:

                      (a)  243,000,000  minus  the total  number of  Decremented
                      Minutes for the Three Month Measurement Period, multiplied
                      by (b) 2.5,  multiplied by (c) 4 (in order to  annualize),
                      multiplied by (d) $0.18 (the blended wholesale rate).

         3.       The First Revenue Adjustment shall be as follows:

                      If  the  total  Service   Revenues  for  the  Three  Month
                      Measurement Period is less than $36,900,000 then:

                      (a) $36,900,000 minus total Service Revenues for the Three
                      Month   Measurement   Period,   multiplied   by  (b)  2.5,
                      multiplied by (c) 4 (in order to annualize).

         4.       The Second Decremented Minutes Adjustment shall be, as 
                  follows:

                                      -4-


<PAGE>

                      If the total  number of  Decremented  Minutes  for the Two
                      Month  Measurement  Period  is less  than 2/3 of the total
                      number  of   Decremented   Minutes  for  the  Three  Month
                      Measurement Period, then:

                      (a) 2/3 of the total number of Decremented Minutes for the
                      Three Month  Measurement  Period minus the total number of
                      Decremented  Minutes for the Two Month Measurement Period,
                      multiplied  by (b) 2.5,  multiplied  by (c) 6 (in order to
                      annualize), multiplied by (d) $0.18 (the blended wholesale
                      rate);

                      provided, however, that if the weekly rate of accumulation
                      of Decremented  Minutes relating to any Customer Agreement
                      during the period from the Closing  Date to the end of the
                      Two Month Measurement  Period is less than the weekly rate
                      for  the  period  from  the  beginning  of the  Two  Month
                      Measurement  Period to the Closing  Date,  and the primary
                      cause of such  decrease is an action  taken by Buyer after
                      the Closing Date with  respect to the customer  under such
                      Customer  Agreement,  then  for  purposes  of  the  Second
                      Decremented  Minutes  Adjustment,  Decremented Minutes for
                      the Two Month  Measurement  Period for each such  contract
                      shall be the number of Decremented  Minutes  arising under
                      such  Customer  Agreement  from the  beginning  of the Two
                      Month Measurement Period to the Closing Date multiplied by
                      a fraction,  the numerator of which shall be the number of
                      days  in  the  Two  Month   Measurement   Period  and  the
                      denominator  of which  shall be the  number of days in the
                      Two  Month  Measurement  Period  that  occur  prior to the
                      Closing Date.

         5.       The Second Revenue Adjustment shall be as follows:

                      If total  Service  Revenues for the Two Month  Measurement
                      Period is less than 2/3 of total Service  Revenues for the
                      Three Month Measurement Period, then:

                      (a) 2/3 of total  Service  Revenues  for the  Three  Month
                      Measurement  Period minus total  Service  Revenues for the
                      Two  Month  Measurement  Period,  multiplied  by (b)  2.5,
                      multiplied by (c) 6 (in order to annualize).

                      provided, however, that if the weekly rate of accumulation
                      of Service  Revenues  relating to any  Customer  Agreement
                      during the period from the Closing  Date to the end of the
                      Two Month Measurement  Period is less than the weekly rate
                      for  the  period  from  the  beginning  of the  Two  Month
                      Measurement  Period to the Closing  Date,  and the primary
                      cause of such  decrease is an action  taken by Buyer after
                      the Closing Date with  respect to the customer  under such
                      Customer  Agreement,  then  for  purposes  of  the  Second
                      Revenue  Adjustment,  Service  Revenues  for the Two Month
                      Measurement  Period  for each such  contract  shall be the
                      amount of Service  Revenue  arising  under  such  Customer
                      Agreement from the beginning of the Two Month  

                                      -5-


<PAGE>

                      Measurement  Period to the Closing  Date  multiplied  by a
                      fraction,  the  numerator  of which shall be the number of
                      days  in  the  Two  Month   Measurement   Period  and  the
                      denominator  of which  shall be the  number of days in the
                      Two  Month  Measurement  Period  that  occur  prior to the
                      Closing Date.                                             

         6.       The Lost Customer Adjustment shall be as follows:

                      With respect to each  Customer  Agreement in effect on the
                      date  of  this  Agreement,  in the  event  that  as of the
                      Closing  such  Customer  Agreement  has  expired  or  been
                      terminated,  or assumption thereof by the relevant Sellers
                      and  assignment  thereof to Buyer has not been approved by
                      the Assumption  Order,  or the  Assumption  Order has been
                      entered with respect such  Customer  Agreement but has not
                      become  a  Final  Order  with  respect  to  such  Customer
                      Agreement as of the Closing Date (each,  a "Lost  Customer
                      Agreement"), then:

                      (a)  2.5,  multiplied  by (b)  12,  multiplied  by (c) the
                      average  monthly  Decremented  Minutes under such Customer
                      Agreement for the third fiscal quarter of 1998, multiplied
                      by (d) the average  contractual  wholesale rate under such
                      Customer Agreement for the third fiscal quarter of 1998.

         7.       The Impaired Customer Adjustment shall be as follows:

                      With respect to each  Customer  Agreement in effect on the
                      date  of  this  Agreement,  in the  event  that  as of the
                      Closing such  Customer  Agreement  is not a Lost  Customer
                      Agreement but (i) is the subject of any breach, violation,
                      default,  non-compliance  or  nonperformance  by any party
                      thereto, or (ii) is the subject of any change,  amendment,
                      modification or adjustment (whether written or oral) that,
                      in  either  case,  has  the  effect  of (A)  creating  any
                      Incremental   Marketing  Costs  (as  defined  below),  (B)
                      changing the effective  wholesale rate under such Customer
                      Agreement  at any time at or  after  the  Closing,  or (C)
                      giving  rise to any Reduced  Minutes  (as  defined  below)
                      (each such  agreement,  an  "Adjusted  Contract",  and the
                      customer  associated  with  such  Adjusted  Contract,   an
                      "Impaired  Customer"),  then the  Purchase  Price  will be
                      reduced by an amount equal to the sum of (1), (2) and (3),
                      where (1), (2) and (3) are as follows:

                      (1)  the Adjusted Rate multiplied by 4, multiplied by 2.5,
                           multiplied  by  3.1075,   multiplied  by  the  actual
                           Decremented  Minutes  for such  Customer  during  the
                           third fiscal quarter of 1998,  where  "Adjusted Rate"
                           means  (A) the  average  contractual  wholesale  rate
                           under such  Customer  Agreement  for the third fiscal
                           quarter  of 1998  minus (B) the  revised  contractual
                           wholesale  rate under  such  Customer  Agreement  for
                           post-Closing periods (the "New Rate").

                      (2)  the  New  Rate  multiplied  by  2.5  multiplied  by 4
                           multiplied  by the Reduced  Minutes,  where  "Reduced
                           Minutes" means actual  Decremented  Minutes under the
                           applicable  contract for the third fiscal  quarter of
                           1998 minus the

                                      -6-


<PAGE>

                           Expected  Minutes for such  contract,  and  "Expected
                           Minutes" means (i) if the relevant adjustment reduces
                           the number of retail  outlets at which the  Company's
                           Prepaid Calling Cards are offered for sale ("Adjusted
                           Stores"),  then (x) the ratio of  Adjusted  Stores to
                           originally contracted stores multiplied by (y) actual
                           Decremented Minutes under such contract for the third
                           fiscal  quarter of 1998;  plus,  (ii) if the relevant
                           adjustment  reduces  the  required  minimum  purchase
                           commitment under such Adjusted Contract, then (x) the
                           ratio of the new required minimum purchase commitment
                           for  the  remaining  life  of  the  contract  to  the
                           pre-adjustment  minimum  purchase  commitment for the
                           remaining  life of the  contract,  multiplied  by (y)
                           actual  Decremented  Minutes  under such contract for
                           the third fiscal quarter of 1998.
                           
                      (3)  Annualized  Incremental Marketing Costs multiplied by
                           2.5   multiplied   by   3.1075,   where   "Annualized
                           Incremental  Marketing Costs" means the amount of any
                           Incremental  Marketing  Costs  multiplied  by 365 and
                           divided by the number of days  remaining  in the life
                           of  the  relevant   Adjusted   Contract,   and  where
                           "Incremental  Marketing  Costs" means any MDF, Co-op,
                           Advertising  or  similar  costs  or  expenses  to  be
                           incurred in  connection  with the  relevant  Adjusted
                           Contract  over the  remaining  life of such  contract
                           that (i) is additional to any such amounts that would
                           otherwise   have  been  incurred  had  such  Adjusted
                           Contract  not been  changed,  adjusted or amended and
                           (ii) is not expended prior to the Closing Date;

                      provided,  however,  that if the Adjusted Contract relates
                      to a  Customer  Agreement  in  effect  on the date of this
                      Agreement with any of the customers  referred to in clause
                      (i) of the  definition of "Service  Revenues" set forth in
                      Article I of the Agreement,  then the adjustment  referred
                      to in (1) above shall not be  included in the  calculation
                      of any Impaired  Customer  Adjustment with respect to such
                      Adjusted Contract.

                      If (i) Sellers have a  reasonable,  good faith belief that
                      such  Adjusted  Contract is or will be more  beneficial on
                      the whole to the  Business  on an ongoing  basis after the
                      Closing  than the  Customer  Agreement  which it replaces,
                      (ii) based on such belief  Sellers shall have requested in
                      writing  that  Buyer  consent  to such  Adjusted  Contract
                      without any Impaired Customer Adjustment, and (iii) Buyer,
                      in its sole discretion, consents (an "Adjustment Consent")
                      to the  existence of such  Adjusted  Contract  without any
                      Impaired  Customer  Adjustment  being  taken with  respect
                      thereto,  then no Impaired  Customer  Adjustment  shall be
                      made with respect to such Adjusted Contract.

         8.       Working Capital Adjustment

                      If the amount of Working  Capital as of the  Closing  Date
                      shall be less than negative $5,000,000, then:

                                      -7-


<PAGE>

                      Negative $5,000,000 minus the amount of Working Capital as
                      of the day prior to the Closing Date.

         9.       Duplication Adjustments

                      If any change,  amendment  or  adjustment  to any Customer
                      Agreement  results  in a Lost  Customer  Adjustment  or an
                      Impaired  Customer   Adjustment  and  also  results  in  a
                      contractual  reduction in  Decremented  Minutes or Service
                      Revenue   for   either   Measurement   Period,   then  the
                      appropriate Lost Customer  Adjustment or Impaired Customer
                      Adjustment   will  be   taken   and  (x)  the   calculated
                      Decremented  Minutes  for the  First  Decremented  Minutes
                      Adjustment or Second Decremented  Minutes  Adjustment,  as
                      applicable,  will  be  increased  by the  number  of  Lost
                      Minutes,  if any, for the applicable  Measurement  Period;
                      and (y) the  calculated  Service  Revenues  for the  First
                      Service  Revenue  Adjustment  or  Second  Service  Revenue
                      Adjustment, as applicable, will be increased by the amount
                      of  Lost  Service  Revenues,  if any,  for the  applicable
                      Measurement Period.

B.       DEFINITIONS

                  "Adjusted  Contract"  has the  meaning set forth above in this
Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Adjustment  Consent"  has the meaning set forth above in this
Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Adjusted  Rate"  has the  meaning  set  forth  above  in this
Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Adjusted  Stores"  has the  meaning  set forth  above in this
Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Annualized  Incremental  Marketing Costs" has the meaning set
forth above in this Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Current  Assets" means (i) all of the balance sheet  accounts
that would be included in the Current Asset account on a balance sheet  prepared
in accordance with GAAP, plus (ii) the Allowance for Doubtful  Accounts  balance
as at September 30, 1998, minus (iii) cash and cash equivalents,  minus (iv) the
New Millennium Note, minus (v) current portion of any Excluded Asset, minus (vi)
Trade Accounts Receivable Reserves, which shall be calculated with the following
baskets:

                       Age of Account                       Reserve %
                       --------------                       ---------
                       0-30 days                                  5%
                       31-60 days                                15%
                       61-90 days                                50%
                       90-120 days                               90%
                       Over 120 days                            100%


                                      -8-

<PAGE>

                      and for  receivables  existing on the Closing Date related
                      to Adjusted  Contracts:  100%  (provided that in the event
                      any amounts are  subsequently  collected  pursuant to such
                      Adjusted  Contract  receivables,  such  amounts  shall  be
                      remitted  by  Buyer  to the  Company  in  accordance  with
                      Section 2.2(g)).

                  "Current  Liabilities"  means  (a)  all of the  balance  sheet
accounts that would be included in the Current  Liabilities account on a balance
sheet prepared in accordance  with GAAP other than the following  accounts:  (i)
Accrued  Interest  Payable,  (ii)  Current  Portion  of  Long-Term  Debt,  (iii)
Liability  for  Discontinued  Operations,  and (iv) the  following  sub-accounts
included in Other Accrued  Expenses:  Other,  Legal and  Professional  Fees, and
Unidentified, minus (b) current portion of Excluded Liabilities.

                  "Expected  Minutes"  has the  meaning  set forth above in this
Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Impaired  Customer"  has the  meaning set forth above in this
Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Incremental  Marketing Costs" has the meaning set forth above
in this Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Lost  Customer  Agreement" has the meaning set forth above in
this Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Lost  Minutes"  means,  for each  Adjusted  Contract for each
relevant  Measurement  Period,  the  difference  between (A) actual  Decremented
Minutes for the third fiscal quarter of 1998 and (B) actual Decremented  Minutes
in the relevant  Measurement  Period,  but only to the extent such difference is
the result of the  adjustment  that  resulted in such  Adjusted  Contract  being
deemed an Adjusted Contract.

                  "Lost  Revenues"  means,  for each Adjusted  Contract for each
relevant  Measurement Period, the difference between (A) actual Service Revenues
for the third  fiscal  quarter of 1998 and (B) actual  Service  Revenues  in the
Three Month  Measurement  Period or 150% of actual  Service  Revenues in the Two
Month  Measurement  Period,  as the case may be,  but  only to the  extent  such
difference  is the  result of the  adjustment  that  resulted  in such  Adjusted
Contract being deemed an Adjusted Contract.

                  "New Millennium  Note" means,  collectively,  (i) that certain
12.5% Senior Secured Note due 1999 issued by New Millennium Communications Corp.
in favor of SmarTalk TeleServices,  Inc. for $572,039.85,  dated as of September
16,  1998;  (ii) that  certain  12% Senior  Secured  Note due 1999 issued by New
Millennium  Communications  Corp.  in favor of SmarTalk  TeleServices,  Inc. for
$19,067,995,  dated as of June 12, 1998; (iii) that certain 12.5% Senior Secured
Note due 1999 issued by New Millennium Communications Corp. in favor of SmarTalk
TeleServices,  Inc. for $613,751.09, dated as of December 12, 1998, and (iv) any
other  note  of  New  Millenium   Communications  Corp.  in  favor  of  SmarTalk
TeleServices, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries that is not an Asset.

                  "New Rate" has the  meaning  set forth  above in this  Exhibit
13.1.

                                      -9-


<PAGE>

                  "Reduced  Minutes"  has the  meaning  set forth  above in this
Exhibit 13.1.

                  "Three  Month  Measurement  Period"  means the three  calendar
month period  concluding at the end of the calendar month preceding the month in
which the Closing occurs.

                  "Two Month  Measurement  Period" means the two calendar  month
period  concluding  at the end of the  calendar  month that follows the calendar
month in which the Closing occurs.

                  "Measurement Period" means either of the Two Month Measurement
Period and the Three Month measurement Period.

                  "Working  Capital" means, as of any date,  Currents Assets (as
defined herein) as of such date minus Current Liabilities (as defined herein) as
of such date.

C.       ESTIMATED AND ACTUAL ADJUSTMENTS

                  "Good Faith  Estimate"  means an estimate that is made in good
faith, with the concurrence of the Company's independent auditors,  and is based
upon a review of any monthly, weekly or other operating or financial information
made available from time to time to or prepared by the Chief Executive  Officer,
Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel or Controller of the Company.

                  "Estimated First Decremented  Minutes Adjustment" means a Good
Faith  Estimate  of the First  Decremented  Adjustment  based  upon a Good Faith
Estimate  of the  total  number  of  Decremented  Minutes  for the  Three  Month
Measurement Period.

                  "Estimated  First  Revenue  Adjustment"  means  a  Good  Faith
Estimate of the First  Revenue  Adjustment  based upon a Good Faith  Estimate of
total Service Revenues for the Three Month Measurement Period.

                  "Estimated Second Decremented Minutes Adjustment" means a Good
Faith  Estimate  of the Second  Decremented  Adjustment  based upon a Good Faith
Estimate  of the  total  number  of  Decremented  Minutes  for the  Three  Month
Measurement Period and the Two Month Measurement Period.

                  "Estimated  Second  Revenue  Adjustment"  means  a Good  Faith
Estimate of the Second  Revenue  Adjustment  based upon a Good Faith Estimate of
total Service Revenues for the Three Month Measurement  Period and the Two Month
Measurement Period.

                  "Estimated  Impaired  Customer  Adjustment" means a Good Faith
Estimate of the Impaired Customer Adjustment based upon a Good Faith Estimate of
the Assumed Contracts that will be Adjusted Contracts as of the Closing Date and
the Adjusted Rate, New Rate,  Reduced  Minutes,  Expected Minutes and Annualized
Incremental  Marketing  Costs (in each case, if any)  associated  with each such
Adjusted Contract.

                                      -10-


<PAGE>

                  "Estimated  Lost  Customer  Adjustment"  means  a  Good  Faith
Estimate of the Lost Customer Adjustment based upon a Good Faith Estimate of the
Assumed  Contracts that will be Lost Customer  Agreements as of the Closing Date
and the value and  Decremented  Minutes  associated with each such Lost Customer
Agreement.

                  "Estimated  Working  Capital  Adjustment"  means a Good  Faith
Estimate of the Working Capital  Adjustment  based upon a Good Faith Estimate of
the amount of Working Capital as of the day prior to the Closing Date.

                  "Estimated  Adjustments" means the Estimated First Decremented
Minutes Adjustment,  the Estimated Second Decremented  Minutes  Adjustment,  the
Estimated First Revenue Adjustment, the Estimated Second Revenue Adjustment, the
Estimated Lost Customer Adjustment,  the Estimated Impaired Customer Adjustment,
and the Estimated Working Capital Adjustment.

                  "Actual First Decremented  Minutes Adjustment" means the First
Decremented Adjustment based upon the actual total number of Decremented Minutes
for the Three Month  Measurement  Period as indicated in the Closing  Statements
delivered pursuant to Section 13.2.

                  "Actual  First  Revenue  Adjustment"  means the First  Revenue
Adjustment  based upon the actual  total  Service  Revenues  for the Three Month
Measurement Period as indicated in the Closing Statements  delivered pursuant to
Section 13.2.

                  "Actual  Second  Decremented  Minutes  Adjustment"  means  the
Second Decremented  Adjustment based upon the actual total number of Decremented
Minutes  for the Two  Month  Measurement  Period  as  indicated  in the  Closing
Statements delivered pursuant to Section 13.2.

                  "Actual  Second Revenue  Adjustment"  means the Second Revenue
Adjustment  based upon the actual  total  Service  Revenues  for the Three Month
Measurement Period as indicated in the Closing Statements  delivered pursuant to
Section 13.2.

                  "Actual  Impaired  Customer  Adjustment"  means  the  Customer
Adjustment based upon the actual Assumed  Contracts that are Adjusted  Contracts
as of the  Closing  Date and the  Adjusted  Rate,  New  Rate,  Reduced  Minutes,
Expected  Minutes and Annualized  Incremental  Marketing Costs (in each case, if
any) associated with each such Adjusted Contract.

                  "Actual   Lost   Customer   Adjustment"   means  the  Customer
Adjustment  based  on the  actual  Assumed  Contracts  that  are  Lost  Customer
Agreements  as of the  Closing  Date  and  the  value  and  Decremented  Minutes
associated with each such Lost Customer Agreement.

                  "Actual Working Capital  Adjustment" means the Working Capital
Adjustment  based upon the actual amount of Working  Capital as of the day prior
to the Closing Date as indicated in the Closing Statements delivered pursuant to
Section 13.2.

                                      -11-


<PAGE>

                  "Actual   Adjustments"  means  the  Actual  First  Decremented
Minutes Adjustment, the Actual Second Decremented Minutes Adjustment, the Actual
First Revenue Adjustment,  the Actual Second Revenue Adjustment, the Actual Lost
Customer  Adjustment,  the Actual Impaired Customer  Adjustment,  and the Actual
Working Capital Adjustment.

                                      -12-




Pamela Bennett                              Eileen M. Connolly
SmarTalk                                    AT&T
Manager Investor Relations                  Director Financial Communications
614-789-8650                                908-221-6731



SMARTALK SIGNS DEFINITIVE SALE AGREEMENT WITH AT&T


FOR RELEASE: January 19, 1999

     DUBLIN,  Ohio  & NEW  YORK  -  SmarTalk  TeleServices,  Inc.  (NASDAQ:SMTK)
announced today that it has signed a definitive  agreement to sell substantially
all of its assets to AT&T for up to $192.5 million in cash,  subject to downward
adjustment  at closing.  Separately  today,  SmarTalk has commenced a Chapter 11
reorganization case in the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware.

     AT&T said  SmarTalk's  assets  will  enable it to expand its  prepaid  card
retail distribution capability.

     The  boards  of  directors  of both AT&T and  SmarTalk  have  approved  the
transaction.  The companies expect the transaction to close in the first quarter
of 1999, prior to the conclusion of the bankruptcy proceedings.  The transaction
is subject  to  bankruptcy  court and  regulatory  approval  and  certain  other
conditions.

     At  signing,  AT&T  has  made  debtor-in-possession  financing  immediately
available to SmarTalk.

     SmarTalk's  Chief  Executive  Officer Erich  Spangenberg  said,  "The Board
determined  that  this   transaction   provides  the  best  means  for  insuring
uninterrupted  prepaid  calling card  service to its  customers,  retailers  and
distributors and maximizes the value of its corporate assets."

     SmarTalk was advised on the  transaction  by Salomon Smith  Barney,  Credit
Suisse  First  Boston and  Hennigan,  Mercer & Bennett.  AT&T was  advised by TD
Securities, a subsidiary of Toronto Dominion Bank, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen &
Katz.


                                   -- more --

<PAGE>

     SmarTalk  is a leading  provider  of  prepaid  calling  cards  and  prepaid
wireless  services.   Based  in  Dublin,  OH,  SmarTalk  maintains  distribution
agreements with the U.S. Postal Service and leading mass merchandisers, consumer
electronics  retailers,   supermarkets,  hotels,  home  office  superstores  and
convenience stores throughout North America and the U.K.

     AT&T  is  the  world's  premier  communications  and  information  services
company, serving more than 90 million customers, including consumers, businesses
and  government.  The company  has annual  revenues of more than $52 billion and
119,000   employees.   It  runs  the   world's   largest,   most   sophisticated
communications network and is the leading provider of long-distance and wireless
services.  AT&T operates in more than 200 countries and  territories  around the
world.


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