SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC
8-K, 1997-07-22
TELEPHONE INTERCONNECT SYSTEMS
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                UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


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

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 16, 1997

                       SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    Delaware
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

0-17366                                                  87-0424558
(Commission                                           (IRS Employer
File Number)                                         Identification
                                                               No.)

100 Great Meadow Road, Suite 104, Wethersfield,
  Connecticut                                                      06109
(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (860) 258-2400

                                      N.A.
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


<PAGE>


                                      -2-

Item 5.           Other Events

     On July 16, 1997, Shared Technologies Fairchild Inc. (the "Company"),
Tel-Save Holdings Inc. ("Tel-Save"), and TSHCo, Inc. ("Merger Sub"), a wholly
owned subsidiary of Tel-Save, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"Merger Agreement"). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement the Company shall be
merged (the "Merger") with and into Merger Sub and each common stock holder of
the Company shall receive for each share of the Company's common stock $11.25
worth of shares of common stock of Tel-Save based upon the average closing price
of Tel-Save common stock for the 15 trading days ending on the third business
day prior to the closing of the Merger. Holders of Series C and Series D
preferred stock of the Company will receive preferred stock in Tel-Save with
substantially identical terms to the series C and D preferred stock of the
Company. The Merger is intended to be a tax-free exchange of shares and is
expected to qualify for pooling of interests accounting treatment. The Merger is
subject to approval of stockholders of both companies and other customary
closing conditions.

     In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company has entered into a
Stock Option Agreement with Tel-Save pursuant to which Tel-Save has the option
(the "Option") to acquire 3,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company upon
the termination of the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances (a "Purchase
Event"). The Option expires on the earlier of (a) consummation of the Merger,
(b) January 15, 1998 or (c) the termination of the Merger Agreement other than
pursuant to a Purchase Event (as such term is defined in the Stock Option
Agreement). In addition, the Company has entered into a Voting Agreement with
Daniel Borislow, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tel-Save, pursuant
to which Mr. Borislow has agreed to vote his shares of Tel-Save common stock in
favor of the Merger and the Merger Agreement.

     Copies of the Merger Agreement, Stock Option Agreement, Voting Agreement
and press release announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement are attached
as exhibits to this Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.           Financial Statements and Exhibits

                  (a)      Exhibits



<PAGE>


                                      -2-


     (1) Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Shared Technologies Fairchild
Inc., Tel-Save Holdings, Inc., and TSHCo, Inc., dated July 16, 1997

     (2) Stock Option Agreement dated July 16, 1997 between the Company and
Tel-Save Holdings, Inc.

     (3) Voting Agreement between the Company and Daniel Borislow dated July 16,
1997

     (4) Press Release dated July 17, 1997




<PAGE>


                                      -4-


                                   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.

Date:  July 21, 1997                SHARED TECHNOLOGIES
                                      FAIRCHILD INC.


                                    By:/s/ Kenneth Dorros
                                       Name:  Kenneth Dorros
                                       Title: Senior Vice President,
                                               General Counsel & Secretary


<PAGE>


                                      -5-


                                  Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.                                               Description

(1)  Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Shared Technologies Fairchild
     Inc., Tel-Save Holdings, Inc., and TSHCo, Inc., dated July 16, 1997

(2)  Stock Option Agreement between Shared Technologies Fairchild Inc. and
     Tel-Save Holdings, Inc. dated July 16, 1997

(3)  Voting Agreement between Shared Technologies Fairchild Inc. and Daniel
     Borislow dated July 16, 1997

(4)  Press Release dated July 17, 1997






                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                            Dated as of July 16, 1997


                                      Among


                            TEL-SAVE HOLDINGS, INC.,


                                   TSHCo, INC.


                                       and


                       SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD, INC.


<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                          PAGE
                                                                          ----

                                    ARTICLE I

                                     MERGER

1.1.   The Merger.......................................................  1
1.2.   Filing...........................................................  2
1.3.   Effective Time of the Merger.....................................  2

                                   ARTICLE II

                   CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION; BY-LAWS; ETC.

2.1.   Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of Surviving Corporation  2
2.2.   Directors of Surviving Corporation...............................  2
2.3.   Board of Directors of Acquiror...................................  2
2.4.   Shareholders Agreement...........................................  3

                                   ARTICLE III

                MERGER CONSIDERATION; CONVERSION OR CANCELLATION
                             OF SHARES IN THE MERGER

3.1.   Share Consideration; Conversion or Cancellation of
         Shares in the Merger...........................................  3
3.2.   Payment for Shares in the Merger.................................  8
3.3.   Fractional Shares................................................ 11
3.4.   Transfer of Shares After the Effective Time...................... 12

                                   ARTICLE IV

                          CERTAIN EFFECTS OF THE MERGER

4.1.   Effect of the Merger............................................. 12
4.2.   Further Assurances............................................... 13

                                    ARTICLE V

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

5.1.   Organization and Qualification.................................... 13
5.2.   Capital Stock of Subsidiaries..................................... 13
5.3.   Capitalization.................................................... 14
5.4.   Authority Relative to This Agreement.............................. 14
5.5.   No Violations, etc................................................ 15
5.6.   Commission Filings; Financial Statements.......................... 17
5.7.   Absence of Changes or Events...................................... 18
5.8.   Joint Proxy Statement............................................. 18
5.9.   Litigation........................................................ 19
5.10.  Title to and Condition of Properties.............................. 19
5.11.  Contracts and Commitments......................................... 19
5.12.  Labor Matters..................................................... 20
5.13.  Compliance with Law............................................... 20
5.14.  Board Recommendation.............................................. 21
5.15.  Patents and Trademarks............................................ 21
5.16.  Taxes............................................................. 21
5.17.  Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA..................................... 22
5.18.  Environmental Matters............................................. 26
5.19.  Disclosure........................................................ 28
5.20.  Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities................................ 28
5.21.  Finders or Brokers................................................ 28
5.22.  State Antitakeover Statutes....................................... 28
5.23.  Opinion of Financial Advisor...................................... 29
5.24.  Insurance......................................................... 29
5.25.  Employment and Labor Contracts.................................... 29
5.26.  Pending Transactions.............................................. 29
5.27.  Indemnification Agreements........................................ 29
5.28.  Indemnified Liabilities........................................... 30

                                       -i-

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VI

            REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB

6.1.     Organization and Qualification.................................. 30
6.2.     Capital Stock of Subsidiaries................................... 31
6.3.     Capitalization.................................................. 31
6.4.     Authority Relative to This Agreement............................ 31
6.5.     No Violations, etc.............................................. 32
6.6.     Commission Filings; Financial Statements........................ 34
6.7.     Absence of Changes or Events.................................... 34
6.8.     Joint Proxy Statement........................................... 34
6.9.     Board Recommendation............................................ 35
6.10.    Disclosure...................................................... 35
6.11.    Finders or Brokers.............................................. 35
6.12.    Opinion of Financial Advisor.................................... 36

                                   ARTICLE VII

            CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF ACQUIROR AND THE COMPANY PENDING THE MERGER

7.1.     Conduct of Business of the Company Pending the Merger........... 36
7.2.     Conduct of Business of Acquiror Pending the Merger.............. 39
7.3.     Permitted Conduct of the Company................................ 40

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                            COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

8.1.     Preparation of the Form S-4 and the Joint Proxy Statement; Stockholders
             Meetings.................................................... 40
8.2.     Letters of the Company's Accountants............................ 42
8.3.     Letters of Acquiror's Accountants............................... 42
8.4.     Additional Agreements; Cooperation.............................. 43
8.5.     Publicity....................................................... 43
8.6.     No Solicitation................................................. 43
8.7.     Access to Information........................................... 46
8.8.     Notification of Certain Matters................................. 46
8.9.     Resignation of Directors........................................ 47
8.10.    Indemnification................................................. 47
8.11.    Fees and Expenses............................................... 48
8.12.    Affiliates...................................................... 48
8.13.    NASDAQ Listing.................................................. 49
8.14.    Stockholder Litigation.......................................... 49
8.15.    Tax Treatment................................................... 49
8.16.    Pooling of Interests............................................ 49
8.17.    Fairness Opinion................................................ 50

                                      -ii-

<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE IX

                              CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

9.1.     Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger...... 50
9.2.     Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror........................... 51
9.3.     Conditions to Obligations of the Company........................ 52

                                    ARTICLE X

                                   TERMINATION

10.1.    Termination..................................................... 53
10.2.    Effect of Termination........................................... 55

                                   ARTICLE XI

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

11.1.    Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties................... 55
11.2.    Closing and Waiver.............................................. 56
11.3.    Notices......................................................... 56
11.4.    Counterparts.................................................... 57
11.5.    Interpretation.................................................. 57
11.6.    Certain Definitions............................................. 58
11.7.    Amendment....................................................... 59
11.8.    No Third Party Beneficiaries.................................... 59
11.9.    Governing Law................................................... 59
11.10.   Entire Agreement................................................ 59
11.11.   Validity........................................................ 59

EXHIBIT A - Form of Company Affiliate Letter



                                     -iii-
<PAGE>


                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                  AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of July 16, 1997, by
and among TEL-SAVE HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Acquiror"), TSHCo,
INC., a Delaware corporation ("Merger Sub"), a Delaware corporation ("Merger
Sub") and a wholly owned subsidiary of Acquiror, and SHARED TECHNOLOGIES
FAIRCHILD, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company" and, together with Merger
Sub, the "Constituent Corporations").


                              W I T N E S S E T H :
                              - - - - - - - - - - -

                  WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Acquiror and the Company
have approved the merger of the Company with and into Merger Sub, with Merger
Sub being the survivor (the "Merger"), upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein and in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware;

                  WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that
the Merger shall qualify as a tax free reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); and

                  WHEREAS, for accounting purposes it is intended that the
Merger shall be accounted for as a pooling-of-interests.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the
mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto, intending
to be legally bound, agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I

                                     MERGER


                  1.1. THE MERGER. At the Effective Time (as hereinafter
defined), the Company shall be merged with and into Merger Sub as provided
herein. Thereupon, the corporate existence of Merger Sub, with all its purposes,
powers and objects, shall continue unaffected and unimpaired by the Merger, and
the corporate identity and existence, with all the purposes, powers and objects,
of the Company shall be merged with and into Merger Sub and Merger Sub as the
corporation surviving the Merger (hereinafter sometimes called the "Surviving
Corporation") shall continue its corporate existence under the laws of the State
of Delaware.

<PAGE>

                                       -2-


                  1.2. FILING. As soon as practicable after the fulfillment or
waiver of the conditions set forth in Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 or on such later
date as may be mutually agreed to between Acquiror and the Company, the parties
hereto will cause to be filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware, a certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger"), in
such form as required by, and executed in accordance with, the relevant
provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL").

                  1.3. EFFECTIVE TIME OF THE MERGER. The Merger shall be
effective at the time of the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the office
of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at such later time
specified in such Certificate of Merger, which time is herein sometimes referred
to as the "Effective Time" and the date thereof is herein sometimes referred to
as the "Effective Date."


                                   ARTICLE II

                   CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION; BY-LAWS; ETC.


                  2.1. CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS OF SURVIVING
CORPORATION. The Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of Merger Sub, as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Certificate of
Incorporation and By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended
as provided by law.

                  2.2. DIRECTORS OF SURVIVING CORPORATION. The directors of
Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall continue as the
directors of the Surviving Corporation, in each case until their successors are
elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.

                  2.3. BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ACQUIROR. At or prior to the
Effective Time, Jeffrey J. Steiner, as designee of The Fairchild Corporation
("TFC"), and Anthony D. Autorino shall be elected to the Board of Directors of
Acquiror, each to serve for a term of three years or until the earlier death,
resignation or removal of such person, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if Mr. Steiner is
unable to be a director for the full 3-year term due to his death or
incapacitation, then the Board of Directors of the Company shall fill such
vacancy by electing to the Board of Directors such member of Mr. Steiner's
immediate family as is designated by TFC; provided that such family member is
reasonably acceptable to Acquiror and provided further that it is expressly
agreed to and accepted that Eric Steiner and Natalia Steiner Hercot are
acceptable designees.

<PAGE>

                                       -3-



                  2.4. SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT. At the Effective Time, the
Shareholders Agreement dated as of March 13, 1996 by and among RHI Holdings,
Inc. ("RHI"), Mr. Autorino and the Company shall be terminated and such
agreement shall be of no further force or effect from and after the Effective
Time. To the extent necessary, each such party shall waive its respective rights
under the Shareholders Agreement in favor of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE III

                       MERGER CONSIDERATION; CONVERSION OR
                      CANCELLATION OF SHARES IN THE MERGER


                  3.1. SHARE CONSIDERATION; CONVERSION OR CANCELLATION OF SHARES
IN THE MERGER. Subject to the provisions of this Article III, at the Effective
Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holders
thereof, the shares of the Constituent Corporations shall be converted as
follows:

                  (a) Each share of common stock, par value $.004 per share, of
         the Company (the "Company Common Stock") issued and outstanding
         immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares owned by the
         Company or Acquiror) shall be converted into the right to receive the
         number of duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
         shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Acquiror Common
         Stock"), of Acquiror (the "Merger Consideration"), calculated by
         dividing (x) $11.25 plus the product of (i) .3 and (ii) the amount by
         which the Closing Date Market Price exceeds $20 by (y) the Closing Date
         Market Price (as hereinafter defined), rounded to four decimal places
         (such fraction being referred to herein as the "Exchange Ratio");
         provided, however, that the Exchange Ratio shall in no event be greater
         than 1.125. If, prior to the Effective Time, Acquiror should split or
         combine the Acquiror Common Stock, or pay a stock dividend or other
         stock distribution in shares of Acquiror Common Stock, or otherwise
         change the Acquiror Common Stock into any other securities, or make any
         other dividend or distribution on the Acquiror Common Stock (other than
         normal quarterly dividends as the same may be adjusted from time to
         time in the ordinary course), then the Exchange Ratio will be
         appropriately adjusted to reflect such split, combination, dividend or
         other distribution or change. For purposes of this Agreement, "Closing
         Date Market Price" means, with respect to one share of Acquiror Common
         Stock, the average closing price for such share as reported on the
         National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation
         System ("NASDAQ") for the 15 most recent trading days ending on the
         third business day prior to the Closing Date.

<PAGE>

                                       -4-

                  (b) All shares of Company Common Stock to be converted into
         shares of Acquiror Common Stock pursuant to this Section 3.1 shall
         cease to be outstanding, shall be canceled and retired and shall cease
         to exist, and each holder of a certificate representing any such shares
         shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such shares,
         except the right to receive for each of such shares, upon the surrender
         of such certificate in accordance with Section 3.2, the Merger
         Consideration and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Acquiror Common
         Stock as contemplated by Section 3.3.

                  (c) Each share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of
         Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
         Time shall remain outstanding and shall represent one share of common
         stock of the Surviving Corporation.

                  (d) Each share of Series C Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per
         share, of the Company (the "Series C Stock") and each share of Series D
         Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Series
         D Stock" and together with the Series C Stock, the "Series Preferred
         Stock") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
         (other than shares owned by Acquiror or the Company and except for
         shares held by persons who demand appraisal in compliance with all
         provisions of the DGCL concerning the right of such holders to dissent
         from the Merger and demand appraisal of their shares ("Dissenting
         Holders") but only if holders of such shares are then entitled to so
         dissent and demand appraisal rights pursuant to the DGCL) shall, at the
         Effective Time, be converted into the right to receive shares of a
         series of preferred stock of Acquiror (the "Acquiror Preferred Stock")
         having terms substantially identical to the terms of the Series
         Preferred Stock, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Acquiror Preferred Stock
         shall be convertible into the number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock
         equal to the product of the Exchange Ratio and the respective number of
         shares of Company Common Stock into which such shares of Series
         Preferred Stock were convertible immediately prior to the Effective
         Time.

<PAGE>

                                       -5-


                  (e) If holders of shares of Series Preferred Stock are
         entitled to dissent from the Merger and demand appraisal of their
         shares under the DGCL, any issued and outstanding shares of Series
         Preferred Stock held by a Dissenting Holder shall not be converted as
         described in Section 3.1(d) but shall from and after the Effective Time
         represent only the right to receive such consideration as may be
         determined to be due to such Dissenting Holder pursuant to Section 262
         of the DGCL; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that each share of Series Preferred
         Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a
         Dissenting Holder who shall, after the Effective Time, withdraw his or
         her demand for appraisal or lose his or her right of appraisal in
         either case pursuant to the DGCL, shall be deemed to be converted, as
         of the Effective Time, pursuant to Section 3.1(d) hereof.

                  (f) Each share of Series I 6% Cumulative Convertible Preferred
         Stock, par value $100.00 per share, of the Company (the "Convertible
         Preferred Stock") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
         Effective Time (other than shares owned by Acquiror or the Company)
         shall, at the Effective Time, be converted into the right to receive
         the Merger Consideration that would be deliverable in respect of the
         shares of the Company Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
         Convertible Preferred Stock in accordance with the certificate of
         designation of the Convertible Preferred Stock, which shares of
         Acquiror Common Stock into which such Convertible Preferred Stock is
         converted shall be subject to the Pledge Agreement, dated March 13,
         1996 (the "Pledge Agreement").

                  (g) Each share of Series J Redeemable Special Preferred Stock,
         par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Special Preferred
         Stock") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
         (other than shares owned by Acquiror or the Company) shall, at the
         Effective Time, be converted into the right to receive an amount in
         cash from Acquiror (the "Special Preferred Consideration"), the amount
         of which shall be determined in accordance with Section 5 of the
         certificate of designation of the Special Preferred Stock, which amount
         shall be pledged collateral under and subject to the Pledge Agreement,
         and RHI shall deliver to the pledge agent under the Pledge Agreement
         shares of Acquiror Common Stock (valued at the Closing Date Market
         Price) equal to the Special Preferred Consideration and in substitution
         therefor (it being agreed that such shares are at least equal to the
         fair market value of the Special Preferred Consideration for purposes
         of the terms of the Pledge Agreement).

                  (h) All shares of Company Common Stock, Series C Stock, Series
         D Stock, Convertible Preferred Stock and Special Preferred Stock which
         are owned by Acquiror or the Company in each case shall be canceled and
         shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in
         exchange therefor.

                  (i) Each option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock
         (each an "Option") issued by the Company pursuant to the Company's 1996
         Equity Incentive Plan or its 1994 Director Option Plan (collectively,
         the "Stock Option Plans"), outstanding and unexercised as of the
         Effective Date whether or not vested or exercisable, shall be assumed
         by Acquiror, and each such Option shall constitute an option to
         acquire, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under such
         assumed Option (giving effect to any accelerated vesting pursuant to an
         applicable agreement), the number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock
         equal to the product of the Exchange Ratio and the number of shares of
         Company Common Stock subject to such Option, at a price per share equal
         to the aggregate exercise price for the shares of Company Common Stock
         subject to such Option divided by the number of full shares of Acquiror
         Common Stock deemed, as provided above, to be purchasable pursuant to
         such Option; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) subject to the provisions of


<PAGE>

                                       -6-

         clause (ii) below, the number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock that
         may be purchased upon exercise of such Option shall not include any
         fractional shares and, upon the last such exercise of such Option, a
         cash payment shall be made for any fractional share based upon the per
         share average of the highest and lowest sale price of shares of
         Acquiror Common Stock as reported on NASDAQ on the date of such
         exercise and (ii) in the case of any Option to which Section 421 of the
         Code applies by reason of its qualification under Section 422 or
         Section 423 of the Code ("qualified stock options"), the option price,
         the number of shares purchasable pursuant to such Option and the terms
         and conditions of exercise of such Option shall be determined in order
         to comply with Section 424 of the Code. At the Effective Time, Acquiror
         shall deliver to holders of Options appropriate option agreements
         representing the right to acquire shares of Acquiror Common Stock on
         the terms and conditions set forth above, upon surrender of the
         outstanding Options, or Acquiror shall comply with the terms of the
         Stock Option Plans as they apply to the Options assumed as set forth
         above.

                  Pursuant to the Shared Technologies Inc. 1987 Stock Option
         Plan (the "1987 Option Plan") all options (the "1987 Options")
         outstanding under the 1987 Option Plan shall terminate at the Effective
         Time and each holder of a 1987 Option shall have the right immediately
         prior to the Effective Time to exercise his or her 1987 Options in
         whole or in part, notwithstanding that such 1987 Options are not
         otherwise exercisable.

                  The Stock Option Plans and the 1987 Option Plan shall
         terminate as of the Effective Time, and the provisions in any other
         benefit plan of the Company providing for the issuance, transfer or

<PAGE>

                                       -7-


         grant of any capital stock of the Company or any interest in respect of
         any capital stock of the Company shall be terminated as of the
         Effective Time, and the Company shall ensure that following the
         Effective Time no holder of an Option or a 1987 Option, and no
         participant in any Stock Option Plan, the 1987 Option Plan or other
         benefit plan, shall have any right thereunder to acquire any capital
         stock of the Company or the Surviving Corporation.

                  (j) Each Warrant to purchase shares of Company Common Stock
         issued by the Company and outstanding and unexercised as of the
         Effective Time (each a "Warrant"), whether or not exercisable shall be
         assumed by Acquiror, and shall constitute a right to acquire on the
         same terms and conditions as were applicable under such assumed
         Warrants, the number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock equal to the
         product of the Exchange Ratio and the number of shares of Company
         Common Stock subject to such Warrant at a price per share equal to the
         aggregate exercise price for the shares of Company Common Stock for
         which such Warrant is exercisable divided by the number of full shares
         of Acquiror Common Stock deemed to be purchasable pursuant to such
         Warrant; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the number of shares of Acquiror
         Common Stock that may be purchased upon exercise of such Warrant shall
         not include any fractional shares and, upon the last such exercise of
         such Warrant, a cash payment shall be made for any fractional share
         based upon the per share average of the highest and lowest sale price
         of shares of Acquiror Common Stock as reported on NASDAQ on the date of
         such exercise. At the Effective Time, Acquiror shall deliver to holders
         of Warrants appropriate warrants representing the right to acquire
         shares of Acquiror Common Stock on the same terms and conditions as
         contained in the outstanding Warrants (subject to any adjustments
         required by the preceding sentence), upon surrender of the outstanding
         Warrants.

                  (k) Acquiror shall take all corporate action necessary to
         reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock
         for delivery upon exercise of the Options and the Warrants assumed in
         accordance with this Section 3.1. Acquiror shall file a registration
         statement on Form S-8 (or any successor form) or another appropriate
         form, effective as of the Effective Time, with respect to Acquiror
         Common Stock subject to such Options and shall use all reasonable
         efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement or
         registration statements (and maintain the current status of the
         prospectuses contained therein) for so long as such Options remain
         outstanding. With respect to those individuals who subsequent to the
         Merger will be subject to the reporting requirements under Section
         16(a) of the Exchange Act, Acquiror shall administer the Options of
         such persons pursuant to this Section 3.1(d) in a manner that complies
         with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act to the extent the
         applicable Stock Option Plan complied with such rule prior to the
         Merger.

<PAGE>

                                      -8-

                  3.2.  PAYMENT FOR SHARES IN THE  MERGER.  The manner of making
         payment for shares in the Merger shall be as follows:

                  (a) At the Effective Time, Acquiror shall make available to an
         exchange agent selected by Acquiror and reasonably acceptable to the
         Company (the "Exchange Agent"), for the benefit of those persons who
         immediately prior to the Effective Time were the holders of Company
         Common Stock, Series C Stock, Series D Stock, or Convertible Preferred
         Stock, a sufficient number of certificates representing Acquiror Common
         Stock required to effect the delivery of the aggregate Merger
         Consideration required to be issued pursuant to Section 3.1 (the
         certificates representing Acquiror Common Stock comprising such
         aggregate Merger Consideration being hereinafter referred to as the
         "Exchange Fund"). The Exchange Agent shall, pursuant to irrevocable
         instructions from the Acquiror, deliver the Acquiror Common Stock
         contemplated to be issued pursuant to Section 3.1 and effect the sales
         provided for in Section 3.3 out of the Exchange Fund. The Exchange Fund
         shall not be used for any other purpose.

                  (b) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent
         shall mail to each holder of record (other than Acquiror and the
         Company) of a certificate or certificates (which immediately prior to
         the Effective Time represented outstanding shares of Company Common
         Stock, Series C Stock, Series D Stock or Convertible Preferred Stock
         (the "Certificates")) (i) a form of letter of transmittal (which shall
         specify that delivery shall be effected, and the risk of loss and title
         to the Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the
         Certificates to the Exchange Agent) and (ii) instructions for use in
         effecting the surrender of the Certificates for payment therefor. Upon
         surrender of Certificates for cancellation to the Exchange Agent,
         together with such letter of transmittal duly executed and any other
         required documents, the holder of such Certificates shall be entitled
         to receive for each of the shares of Company Common Stock, Series C
         Stock, Series D Stock and Convertible Preferred Stock formerly
         represented by such Certificates the Merger Consideration and the
         Certificates so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled; provided that
         for holders of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock, the Merger
<PAGE>
                                       -9-



         Consideration shall be delivered directly to the pledge agent under the
         Pledge Agreement, and provided further that, of the Merger
         Consideration deliverable to RHI in respect of shares of Company Common
         Stock held by RHI, a certificate for such number of shares of Acquiror
         Common Stock as equals the result of the Special Preferred
         Consideration divided by the Closing Date Market Price shall be
         delivered to RHI by delivery thereof directly to the pledge agent under
         the Pledge Agreement in substitution for the Special Preferred
         Consideration then held by such pledge agent, and, upon receipt by the
         pledge agent of such certificate to be held thereafter as pledged
         collateral under the Pledge Agreement, such Special Preferred
         Consideration will be released by such pledge agent to RHI. Until so
         surrendered, Certificates shall represent solely the right to receive
         the Merger Consideration or the Special Preferred Consideration, as the
         case may be, and any cash in lieu of fractional Acquiror Common Stock
         as contemplated by Section 3.3 with respect to each of the shares
         formerly represented thereby. No dividends or other distributions that
         are declared after the Effective Time on Acquiror Common Stock and
         payable to the holders of record thereof after the Effective Time will
         be paid to persons entitled by reason of the Merger to receive Acquiror
         Common Stock until such persons surrender their Certificates. Upon such
         surrender, there shall be paid to the Person in whose name the shares
         of the Acquiror Common Stock are issued any dividends or other
         distributions on such Acquiror Common Stock that shall have a record
         date after the Effective Time and prior to such surrender and a payment
         date after such surrender and such payment shall be made on such
         payment date. In no event shall the persons entitled to receive such
         dividends or other distributions be entitled to receive interest on
         such dividends or other distributions, except to the extent so paid to
         all stockholders of Acquiror. If any cash or any certificate
         representing Acquiror Common Stock is to be paid to or issued in a name
         other than that in which the Certificate surrendered in exchange
         therefor is registered, it shall be a condition of such exchange that
         the Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed and otherwise
         in proper form for transfer and that the Person requesting such
         exchange shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other taxes

<PAGE>
                                      -10-


         required by reason of the issuance of certificates for such Acquiror
         Common Stock in a name other than that of the registered holder of the
         Certificate surrendered, or shall establish to the satisfaction of the
         Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid or is not applicable.
         Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Exchange Agent nor any party
         hereto shall be liable to a holder of shares of Company Common Stock,
         Series C Stock, Series D Stock or Convertible Preferred Stock for any
         Acquiror Common Stock or dividends thereon or, in accordance with
         Section 3.3, proceeds of the sale of fractional interests, delivered to
         a public official pursuant to applicable escheat law. The Exchange
         Agent shall not be entitled to vote or exercise any rights of ownership
         with respect to Acquiror Common Stock held by it from time to time
         hereunder, except that it shall receive and hold all dividends or other
         distributions paid or distributed with respect to such Acquiror Common
         Stock for the account of the persons entitled thereto.

                  (c) Certificates surrendered for exchange by any person
         constituting an affiliate of the Company for purposes of Rule 145 under
         the Securities Act shall not be exchanged for certificates representing
         Acquiror Common Stock until Acquiror has received a written agreement
         from such person as provided in Section 8.12.

                  (d) Any portion of the Exchange Fund and the Fractional
         Securities Fund (as hereinafter defined) which remains unclaimed by the
         former stockholders of the Company for one year after the Effective
         Time shall be delivered by the Exchange Agent to Acquiror, upon demand
         of Acquiror, and any former stockholders of the Company shall
         thereafter look only to Acquiror for payment of their claim for the
         Merger Consideration in respect of Company Common Stock or for any cash
         in lieu of fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock.

                  (e) At the Effective Time, Acquiror shall deliver to RHI, as
         the holder of the Special Preferred Stock, by wire transfer to the
         pledge agent under the Pledge Agreement, as pledged collateral
         thereunder, the Special Preferred Consideration upon surrender of the
         certificates evidencing the Special Preferred Stock.

<PAGE>
                                      -11-


                  3.3. FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fraction of Acquiror Common Stock
shall be issued in the Merger. In lieu of any such fractional securities, each
holder of Company Common Stock, Series C Stock, Series D Stock or Convertible
Preferred Stock who would otherwise have been entitled to a fraction of Acquiror
Common Stock upon surrender of Certificates for exchange pursuant to this
Article III will be paid an amount in cash (without interest) equal to such
holder's proportionate interest in the net proceeds from the sale or sales in
the open market by the Exchange Agent on behalf of all such holders, of the
aggregate shares of fractional Acquiror Common Stock issued pursuant to this
Article III. As soon as practicable following the Effective Time, the Exchange
Agent shall determine the excess of (i) the number of full shares of Acquiror
Common Stock delivered to the Exchange Agent by Acquiror over (ii) the aggregate
number of full shares of Acquiror Common Stock to be distributed (such excess
being herein called the "Excess Shares"), and the Exchange Agent, as agent for
the former holders of shares, shall sell the Excess Shares at the prevailing
prices on the NASDAQ. The sale of the Excess Shares by the Exchange Agent shall
be executed on the NASDAQ through one or more member firms of the NASDAQ and
shall be executed in round lots to the extent practicable. Acquiror shall pay
all commissions, transfer taxes and other out-of-pocket transaction costs,
including the expenses and compensation of the Exchange Agent, incurred in
connection with such sale of Excess Shares. Until the net proceeds of such sale
have been distributed to the former stockholders of the Company, the Exchange
Agent will hold such proceeds in trust for such former stockholders (the
"Fractional Securities Fund"). As soon as practicable after the determination of
the amount of cash to be paid to former stockholders of the Company in lieu of
any fractional interest, the Exchange Agent shall make available in accordance
with this Agreement such amounts to such former stockholders.

<PAGE>
                                      -12-


                  3.4. TRANSFER OF SHARES AFTER THE EFFECTIVE TIME. No transfers
of Company Common Stock, Series C Stock, Series D Stock, Convertible Preferred
Stock, or Special Preferred Stock shall be made on the stock transfer books of
the Company after the close of business on the day prior to the date of the
Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, certificates are presented to the
Surviving Corporation, they shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this
Article II.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                          CERTAIN EFFECTS OF THE MERGER


                  4.1. EFFECT OF THE MERGER. On and after the Effective Time and
pursuant to the DGCL, the Surviving Corporation shall possess all the rights,
privileges, immunities, powers, and purposes of each of Merger Sub and the
Company; all the property, real and personal, including subscriptions to shares,
causes of action and every other asset (including books and records) of Merger
Sub and the Company, shall vest in the Surviving Corporation without further act
or deed; and the Surviving Corporation shall assume and be liable for all the
liabilities, obligations and penalties of Merger Sub and the Company. No
liability or obligation due or to become due and no claim or demand for any
cause existing against either Merger Sub or the Company, or any stockholder,
officer or director thereof, shall be released or impaired by the Merger, and no
action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, then pending by or against
Merger Sub or the Company, or any stockholder, officer or director thereof,
shall abate or be discontinued by the Merger, but may be enforced, prosecuted,
settled or compromised as if the Merger had not occurred, and the Surviving
Corporation may be substituted in any such action or proceeding in place of
Merger Sub or the Company.

<PAGE>
                                      -13-


                  4.2. FURTHER ASSURANCES. If at any time after the Effective
Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of
this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with full right, title and
possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of
either of Merger Sub or the Company, the officers of such corporation are fully
authorized in the name of their corporation or otherwise to take, and shall
take, all such further action.


                                    ARTICLE V

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY


                  The Company represents and warrants to Acquiror and Merger Sub
as follows:

                  5.1. ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. Each of the Company and
its subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has all
requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each of the Company and its
subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and is
in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties
owned or leased or the nature of its activities makes such qualification
necessary, except for failures to be so qualified or in good standing which
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on
the general affairs, management, business, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a
"Company Material Adverse Effect"). Section 5.1 of the Disclosure Statement sets
forth, with respect to the Company and each of its subsidiaries, the
jurisdiction in which they are qualified or otherwise licensed as a foreign
corporation to do business. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is
in violation of any of the provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation (or
other applicable charter document) or By-Laws. The Company has delivered to
Acquiror accurate and complete copies of the Certificate of Incorporation (or
other applicable charter document) and By-Laws, as currently in effect, of each
of the Company and its subsidiaries.

                  5.2. CAPITAL STOCK OF SUBSIDIARIES. The only direct or
indirect subsidiaries of the Company are those listed in Section 5.2 of the
Disclosure Statement previously delivered by the Company to Acquiror (the
"Disclosure Statement"). The Company is directly or indirectly the record
(except for directors' qualifying shares) and beneficial owner (including all
qualifying shares owned by directors of such subsidiaries as reflected in
Section 5.2 of the Disclosure Statement) of all of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each of its subsidiaries, there are no proxies with respect to
such shares, and no equity securities of any of such subsidiaries are or may be
required to be issued by reason of any options, warrants, scrip, rights to

<PAGE>
                                      -14-


subscribe for, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or
securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of any capital
stock of any such subsidiary, and there are no contracts, commitments,
understandings or arrangements by which any such subsidiary is bound to issue
additional shares of its capital stock or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for such shares. Other than as set forth in Section 5.2 of the
Disclosure Statement, all of such shares so owned by the Company are validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by it free and clear of any
claim, lien or encumbrance of any kind with respect thereto. Except as disclosed
in Section 5.2 of the Disclosure Statement, the Company does not directly or
indirectly own any interest in any corporation, partnership, joint venture or
other business association or entity.

                  5.3. CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of 50,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, par value $.004
per share, and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value per share,
of which 5,000,000 shares have been designated Series C Stock, 1,000,000 shares
have been designated Series D Stock, 250,000 shares have been designated Series
I Convertible Preferred Stock and 200,000 shares have been designated Series J
Special Preferred Stock. As of the date hereof, 15,904,146 shares of Company
Common Stock were issued and outstanding and 1,318,950 shares of preferred stock
were issued and outstanding. All of such issued and outstanding shares are
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. As
of the date hereof (x) 2,255,920 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved
for issuance upon exercise of outstanding options and 4,619,319 shares of
Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding
convertible preferred securities and (y) 2,653,381 shares of Company Common
Stock were reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Warrants, all of which
warrants, options and Stock Option Plans are listed and described in Section 5.3
of the Disclosure Statement. Other than the Stock Option Plans and the Warrants,
the Company has no other plan which provides for the grant of options or
warrants to purchase shares of capital stock, stock appreciation or similar
rights or stock awards. Except as set forth above, there are not now, and at the
Effective Time, except for shares of Company Common Stock issued after the date
hereof upon the conversion of convertible securities and the exercise of
Warrants and Options outstanding on the date hereof or pursuant to the Company's
401(k) Plan, there will not be, any shares of capital stock of the Company
issued or outstanding or any subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, claims,
rights (including without limitation any stock appreciation or similar rights),
convertible securities or other agreements or commitments of any character
obligating the Company to issue, transfer or sell any of its securities. The
Company has paid all dividends payable through June 30, 1997 in respect of each
of the Series C Preferred Stock, the Series D Preferred Stock and the
Convertible Preferred Stock.

<PAGE>
                                      -15-


                  5.4. AUTHORITY RELATIVE TO THIS AGREEMENT. The Company is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of Delaware. The Company has full corporate power and authority to execute and
deliver each of this Agreement and the STFI Agreement and to consummate the
Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the STFI Agreement and the consummation of the
Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and
validly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company and no other
corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this
Agreement and the STFI Agreement or to consummate the Merger or other
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (other than, with respect to the
Merger, the approval of the Company's stockholders pursuant to Section 251(c) of
the DGCL). Each of this Agreement or the STFI Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery hereof by Acquiror and Merger Sub and
thereof by Acquiror, constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the
extent that its enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting the enforcement
of creditors' rights generally or by general equitable or fiduciary principles.

                  5.5.  NO VIOLATIONS, ETC.

                  (a) Assuming that all filings, permits, authorizations,
         consents and approvals or waivers thereof have been duly made or
         obtained as contemplated by Section 5.5(b) hereof, except as listed in
         Section 5.5 of the Disclosure Statement, neither the execution and
         delivery of this Agreement or the STFI Agreement by the Company nor the
         consummation of the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby or
         thereby nor compliance by the Company with any of the provisions hereof
         will (i) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision
         of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of
         time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the
         termination or suspension of, or accelerate the performance required
         by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration under, or
         result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or
         encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any
         of its subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions
         of (x) their respective charters or by-laws, (y) except as set forth in
         Section 5.5 of the Disclosure Statement, any note, bond, mortgage,

<PAGE>
                                      -16-


         indenture or deed of trust, or (z) any license, lease, agreement or
         other instrument or obligation to which the Company or any such
         subsidiary is a party or to which they or any of their respective
         properties or assets may be subject, or (ii) subject to compliance with
         the statutes and regulations referred to in the next paragraph, violate
         any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or
         regulation applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
         of their respective properties or assets, except, in the case of
         clauses (i)(z) and (ii) above, for such violations, conflicts,
         breaches, defaults, terminations, suspensions, accelerations, rights of
         termination or acceleration or creations of liens, security interests,
         charges or encumbrances which would not, individually or in the
         aggregate, either have a Company Material Adverse Effect or materially
         impair the Company's ability to consummate the Merger or other
         transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (b) No filing or registration with, notification to and no
         permit, authorization, consent or approval of any governmental entity
         (including, without limitation, any federal, state or local regulatory
         authority or agency) is required by the Company in connection with the
         execution and delivery of this Agreement or the STFI Agreement or the
         consummation by the Company of the Merger or other transactions
         contemplated hereby or thereby, except (i) in connection with the
         applicable requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements
         Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), (ii) the filing of the
         Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of
         Delaware, (iii) the approval of the Company's stockholders pursuant to
         the DGCL, (iv) filings with applicable state public utility commissions
         identified in Section 5.5 of the Disclosure Statement, (v) filings with
         the SEC and (vi) such other filings, registrations, notifications,
         permits, authorizations, consents or approvals the failure of which to
         be obtained, made or given would not, individually or in the aggregate,
         either have a Company Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the
         Company's ability to consummate the Merger or other transactions
         contemplated hereby or thereby.

                  (c) The Company and its subsidiaries are not in violation of
         or default under, except as set forth in Section 5.5 of the Disclosure
         Statement, (x) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture or deed of trust, or
         (y) any license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to
         which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or to which they or
         any of their respective properties or assets may be subject, except, in
         the case of clauses (x) and (y) above, for such violations or defaults
         which would not, individually or in the aggregate, either have a
         Company Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the Company's
         ability to consummate the Merger or other transactions contemplated

<PAGE>
                                      -17-


         hereby. It is understood that the Company has certain covenants in its
         bank facilities which the Company from time to time may violate and
         that such violations shall not be deemed a breach so long as the
         Company promptly seeks, and in a reasonable period of time obtains,
         waivers of such violations from the lenders under such facilities
         (unless such lenders have accelerated the indebtedness under such
         facilities).

                  5.6. COMMISSION FILINGS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Company has
filed all forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required to
be filed by it since December 31, 1994 (as supplemented and amended since the
time of filing collectively, the "SEC Reports") with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"), each of which complied when filed in all material
respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Securities
Act") and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Exchange Act"). The audited
consolidated financial statements and unaudited consolidated interim financial
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by
reference in such SEC Reports have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods
involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and
cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at the
respective dates and for the respective periods indicated (and in the case of
all such financial statements that are interim financial statements, contain all
adjustments so to present fairly). None of the SEC Reports contained at the time
filed any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any 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.

<PAGE>
                                      -18-


                  5.7. ABSENCE OF CHANGES OR EVENTS. Except as set forth in
Section 5.7 of the Disclosure Statement and in the Company's Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, as filed with the SEC, since December 31,
1996, the Company and its subsidiaries have not incurred any material liability,
except in the ordinary course of their businesses consistent with their past
practices, and there has not been any change, or any event involving a
prospective change, in the business, financial condition or results of
operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries which has had, or is
reasonably likely to have, a Company Material Adverse Effect and the Company and
its subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in the ordinary
course consistent with their past practices.

                  5.8. JOINT PROXY STATEMENT. None of the information supplied
or to be supplied by or on behalf of the Company for inclusion or incorporation
by reference in the registration statement to be filed with the SEC by Acquiror
in connection with the issuance of shares of Acquiror Common Stock in the Merger
(the "Form S-4") will, at the time the Form S-4 becomes effective under the
Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on
behalf of the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the joint
proxy statement, in definitive form, relating to the Company Stockholder Meeting
(as hereinafter defined) and the Acquiror Stockholder Meeting (as hereinafter
defined), or in the related proxy and notice of meeting, or soliciting material
used in connection therewith (referred to herein collectively as the "Joint
Proxy Statement") will, at the dates mailed to stockholders and at the times of
the Company Stockholder Meeting and the Acquiror Stockholder Meeting, contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. The Form S-4 and the Joint Proxy Statement (except for information
relating solely to Acquiror and Merger Sub) will comply as to form in all
material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

<PAGE>
                                      -19-


                  5.9. LITIGATION. Except as set forth in Section 5.9 of the
Disclosure Statement, there is no (i) claim, action, suit or proceeding pending
or, to the best knowledge of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, threatened
against or relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries before any court
or governmental or regulatory authority or body or arbitration tribunal, or (ii)
outstanding judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree, or application, request
or motion therefor, of any court, governmental agency or arbitration tribunal in
a proceeding to which the Company, any subsidiary of the Company or any of their
respective assets was or is a party except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii)
above, such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, either have a
Company Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the Company's ability to
consummate the Merger.

                  5.10. TITLE TO AND CONDITION OF PROPERTIES. Except as set
forth in Section 5.10 of the Disclosure Statement, the Company and its
subsidiaries have good title to all of the real property and own outright all of
the personal property (except for leased property or assets) which is reflected
on the Company's and its subsidiaries' December 31, 1996 audited consolidated
balance sheet contained in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996 filed with the SEC (the "Balance Sheet") except for property
since sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice.

                  5.11. CONTRACTS AND COMMITMENTS. Other than as disclosed in
Section 5.11 of the Disclosure Statement, no existing material contract or
material commitment of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or as to which
any thereof is a party or their respective assets are bound, contains an
agreement with respect to any change of control that would be triggered by the
Merger. Other than as set forth in Section 5.11 of the Disclosure Statement,
neither this Agreement, the Merger nor the other transactions contemplated
hereby will result in any outstanding loans or borrowings by the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company becoming due, going into default or giving the lenders
or other holders of debt instruments the right to require the Company or any of
its subsidiaries to repay all or a portion of such loans or borrowings; PROVIDED
that it is expressly understood and agreed that the Company is not making any
representations or warranties with respect to the effect of the financial
condition or results of operation of Acquiror and Merger Sub.

<PAGE>
                                      -20-


                  5.12. LABOR MATTERS. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries
is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws respecting
employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and
wages and hours, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is engaged
in any unfair labor practice. There is no labor strike, slowdown or stoppage
pending (or, to the best knowledge of the Company, any labor strike or stoppage
threatened) against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries. No
petition for certification has been filed and is pending before the National
Labor Relations Board with respect to any employees of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries who are not currently organized.

                  5.13. COMPLIANCE WITH LAW. Except for matters set forth in the
Disclosure Statement, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
violated or failed to comply with any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule
or order of any foreign, federal, state or local government or any other
governmental department or agency, or any judgment, decree or order of any
court, applicable to its business or operations, except where any such violation
or failure to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company
Material Adverse Effect; the conduct of the business of the Company and its
subsidiaries is in conformity with all foreign, federal, state and local energy,
public utility and health requirements, and all other foreign, federal, state
and local governmental and regulatory requirements, except where such
nonconformities would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries have all permits,
licenses and franchises from governmental agencies required to conduct their
businesses as now being conducted, except for such permits, licenses and
franchises the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

<PAGE>
                                      -21-


                  5.14. BOARD RECOMMENDATION. The Board of Directors of the
Company has, by a majority vote at a meeting of such Board duly held on July 16,
1997, approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby, determined that the Merger is fair to the stockholders of
the Company and recommended that the stockholders of the Company approve and
adopt this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

                  5.15. PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS. The Company and its subsidiaries
own or have the right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks,
trademark applications, trade names, inventions, processes, know-how and trade
secrets necessary to the conduct of their respective businesses, except for
those which the failure to own or have the right to use would not, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect ("Proprietary
Rights").

                  5.16. TAXES. "Tax" or "Taxes" shall mean all federal, state,
local and foreign taxes, duties, levies, charges and assessments of any nature,
including social security payments and deductibles relating to wages, salaries
and benefits and payments to subcontractors (to the extent required under
applicable Tax law), and also including all interest, penalties and additions
imposed with respect to such amounts. Except as set forth in Section 5.16 of the
Disclosure Statement: (i) the Company and its subsidiaries have prepared and
timely filed or will timely file with the appropriate governmental agencies all
franchise, income and all other material Tax returns and reports required to be
filed for any period ending on or before the Effective Time, taking into account
any extension of time to file granted to or obtained on behalf of the Company
and/or its subsidiaries; (ii) all material Taxes of the Company and its
subsidiaries in respect of the pre-Merger period have been paid in full to the
proper authorities, other than such Taxes as are being contested in good faith
by appropriate proceedings and/or are adequately reserved for in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles; (iii) all deficiencies resulting from
Tax examinations of federal, state and foreign income, sales and franchise and
all other material Tax returns filed by the Company and its subsidiaries have
either been paid or are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings; (iv) to the best knowledge of the Company, no deficiency has been
asserted or assessed against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and no
examination of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is pending or threatened
for any material amount of Tax by any taxing authority; (v) no extension of the
period for assessment or collection of any material Tax is currently in effect
and no extension of time within which to file any material Tax return has been
requested, which Tax return has not since been filed; (vi) no material Tax liens
have been filed with respect to any Taxes; (vii) the Company and each of its
subsidiaries will not make any voluntary adjustment by reason of a change in
their accounting methods for any pre-Merger period that would affect the taxable
income or deductions of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for any period
ending after the Effective Date; (viii) the Company and its subsidiaries have
made timely payments of the Taxes required to be deducted and withheld from the
wages paid to their employees; and (ix) the Company and its subsidiaries are not
parties to any tax sharing or tax matters agreement other than the tax sharing
agreement dated March 13, 1996 by and among TFC, RHI and the Company.

<PAGE>
                                      -22-


                  5.17.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS;  ERISA.  Except as set forth in
Section 5.17 of the Disclosure Statement:

                  (a) There are no "employee pension benefit plans" as defined
in Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("ERISA"), maintained or contributed to by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, or with respect to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
contributes or is obligated to make payments thereunder or otherwise may have
any liability ("Pension Benefits Plans").

                  (b) The Company has furnished Acquiror with a true and
complete schedule of all "welfare benefit plans" (as defined in Section 3(1) of
ERISA), maintained or contributed to by the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or with respect to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries otherwise may
have any liability ("Welfare Plans"), all multiemployer plans as defined in
Section 3(37) of ERISA covering employees employed in the United States to which
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is required to make contributions or
otherwise may have any liability, all stock bonus, stock option, restricted
stock, stock appreciation right, stock purchase, bonus, incentive, deferred
compensation, severance and vacation or other employee benefit plans, programs
or arrangements that are not Pension Benefit Plans or Welfare Plans maintained
or contributed to by the Company or a subsidiary or with respect to which the
Company or any subsidiary otherwise may have any liability ("Other Plans").

                  (c) The Company and each of its subsidiaries, and each of the
Pension Benefit Plans, Welfare Plans and Other Plans (collectively, the
"Plans"), are in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code
and other applicable laws except where the failure to comply would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                  (d) All contributions to, and payments from, the Plans which
are required to have been made in accordance with the Plans and, when
applicable, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code have been timely
made except where the failure to make such contributions or payments on a timely
basis would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. All contributions required to have been made in accordance with
Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code to any employee pension benefit
plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) maintained by the Company or any
ERISA Affiliate have been timely made except where the failure to make such
contributions on a timely basis would not individually or in the aggregate have
a Company Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, "ERISA
Affiliate" shall mean any person (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that is a
member of any group of persons described in Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of
the Code of which the Company or a subsidiary of the Company is a member.

<PAGE>
                                      -23-


                  (e) The Pension Benefit Plans intended to qualify under
Section 401 of the Code are so qualified and have been determined by the
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") to be so qualified and nothing has occurred
with respect to the operation of such Pension Benefit Plans which would cause
the loss of such qualification or exemption or the imposition of any material
liability, penalty or tax under ERISA or the Code. Such plans have been or will
be, on a timely basis, (i) amended to comply with changes to the Code made by
the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992,
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, and other applicable legislative,
regulatory or administrative requirements; and (ii) submitted to the Internal
Revenue Service for a determination of their tax qualification, as so amended;
and no such amendment will adversely affect the qualification of such plans.

                  (f) Each Welfare Plan that is intended to qualify for
exclusion of benefits thereunder from the income of participants or for any
other tax-favored treatment under any provisions of the Code (including, without
limitation, Sections 79, 105, 106, 125 or 129 of the Code) is and has been
maintained in compliance in all material respects with all pertinent provisions
of the Code and Treasury Regulations thereunder.

                  (g) Except as disclosed in the Company's Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, there are (i) no investigations, audits or
examinations pending, or to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened by any
governmental entity involving any of the Plans, (ii) no termination proceedings
involving the Plans and (iii) no pending or, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, threatened claims (other than routine claims for benefits), suits or
proceedings against any Plan, against the assets of any of the trusts under any
Plan or against any fiduciary of any Plan with respect to the operation of such
plan or asserting any rights or claims to benefits under any Plan or against the
assets of any trust under such plan, which would, in the case of clause (i),
(ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (g), give rise to any liability which would,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, nor,
to the best of the Company's knowledge, are there any facts which would give
rise to any liability which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Company Material Adverse Effect in the event of any such investigation, audit,
examination, claim, suit or proceeding.

                  (h) None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any
employee of the foregoing, nor any trustee, administrator, other fiduciary or
any other "party in interest" or "disqualified person" with respect to the
Pension Benefit Plans or Welfare Plans, has engaged in a "prohibited
transaction" (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of
ERISA) which presents a material risk of resulting in a tax or penalty on the
Company or any of its subsidiaries under Section 4975 of the Code or Section
502(i) of ERISA which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.

                  (i) Neither the Pension Benefit Plans subject to Title IV of
ERISA nor any trust created thereunder has been terminated nor have there been
any "reportable events" (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations
thereunder) with respect to either thereof which would, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect nor has there been any event
with respect to any Pension Benefit Plan requiring disclosure under Section
4063(a) of ERISA or any event with respect to any Pension Benefit Plan requiring
disclosure under Section 4041(c)(3)(C) of ERISA which would, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

<PAGE>
                                      -24-


                  (j) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate of the Company
has incurred any currently outstanding liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation (the "PBGC") or to a trustee appointed under Section 4042(b) or (c)
of ERISA other than for the payment of premiums, all of which have been paid
when due. No Pension Benefit Plan has applied for, or received, a waiver of the
minimum funding standards imposed by Section 412 of the Code. The information
supplied to the actuary by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for use in
preparing the most recent actuarial report for Pension Benefit Plans is complete
and accurate in all material respects.

                  (k) Neither the Company, any of its subsidiaries nor any of
their ERISA Affiliates has any liability (including any contingent liability
under Section 4204 of ERISA) with respect to any multiemployer plan, within the
meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA (a "Multiemployer Plan"), covering employees
employed in the United States.

                  (l) With respect to each of the Plans, true, correct and
complete copies of the following documents have been made available to Acquiror:
(i) the current plans and related trust documents, including amendments thereto,
(ii) any current summary plan descriptions, (iii) the most recent Forms 5500 (if
any) filed with respect to each such Plan, (iv) the three recent financial
statements and actuarial reports, if applicable, (v) the most recent IRS
determination letter, if applicable; (vi) if any application for an IRS
determination letter is pending, copies of all such applications for
determination including attachments, exhibits and schedules thereto, (vii) all
material agreements (including settlement agreements or other similar agreements
relating to any Plan); and (viii) all material correspondence between the
Company and any of its subsidiaries and the IRS, PBGC, Department of Labor or
any other governmental entity relating to any of the Plans.

<PAGE>
                                      -25-


                  (m) Neither the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any
organization to which the Company is a successor or parent corporation, within
the meaning of Section 4069(b) of ERISA, nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has
engaged in any transaction described in Section 4069(a) of ERISA, the liability
for which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material
Adverse Effect.

                  (n) Except as disclosed in Section 5.17 of the Disclosure
Statement, none of the Welfare Plans maintained by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries are retiree life or retiree health insurance plans which provide
for continuing benefits or coverage for any participant or any beneficiary of a
participant following termination of employment, except as may be required under
the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended
("COBRA"), or except where the full expense of such coverage or benefits is paid
by the participant or the participant's beneficiary. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries which maintain a "group health plan" within the meaning of Section
5000(b)(1) of the Code have complied with the notice and continuation
requirements of Section 4980B of the Code, COBRA, Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title
I of ERISA and the regulations thereunder except where the failure to comply
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.

                  (o) No liability under any Plan has been funded nor has any
such obligation been satisfied with the purchase of a contract from an insurance
company as to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries has received notice
that such insurance company is in rehabilitation.

                  (p) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will not either alone or in connection with an employee's termination
of employment or other event result in an increase in the amount of compensation
or benefits or accelerate the vesting or timing of payment of any benefits or
compensation payable to or in respect of any employee of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries.

<PAGE>
                                      -26-


                  5.18.  ENVIRONMENTAL  MATTERS.  Except as set forth in Section
5.18 of the  Disclosure  Statement  and  except  for such  matters as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

                  (a) The Company and its subsidiaries have obtained all
         Environmental Permits and all licenses and other authorizations and
         have made all registrations and given all notifications that are
         required under any applicable Environmental Law.

                  (b) Except as set forth in Section 5.18 of the Disclosure
         Statement, there is no Environmental Claim pending against the Company
         and its subsidiaries under an Environmental Law.

                  (c) Except as set forth in Section 5.18 of the Disclosure
         Statement, the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all
         terms and conditions of their Environmental Permits, and are in
         compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws.

                  (d) Except as set forth in Section 5.18 of the Disclosure
         Statement, the Company and its subsidiaries did not generate, treat,
         store, transport, discharge, dispose of or release any Hazardous
         Materials on or from any property now or previously owned, leased or
         used by the Company and its subsidiaries.

                  (e)  For purposes of Section 5.18(a):

<PAGE>
                                      -27-


                            (i) "Environment" shall mean any surface water,
                  ground water, or drinking water supply, land surface or
                  subsurface strata, or ambient air and includes, without
                  limitation, any indoor location;

                           (ii) "Environmental Claim" means any written notice
                  or written claim by any person alleging potential liability
                  (including, without limitation, potential liability for
                  investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental costs, or
                  harm, injuries or damages to any person, property or natural
                  resources, and any fines or penalties) arising out of, based
                  upon, resulting from or relating to (1) the emission,
                  discharge, disposal or other release or threatened release in
                  or into the Environment of any Hazardous Materials or (2)
                  circumstances forming the basis of any violation, or alleged
                  violation, of any applicable Environmental Law;

                          (iii) "Environmental Laws" means any federal, state,
                  and local laws, codes, and regulations as now or previously in
                  effect relating to pollution, the protection of human health,
                  the protection of the Environment or the emission, discharge,
                  disposal or other release or threatened release of Hazardous
                  Materials in or into the Environment;

                           (iv) "Environmental Permit" shall mean a permit,
                  identification number, license or other written authorization
                  required under any applicable Environmental Law; and

                            (v) "Hazardous Materials" shall mean all pollutants,
                  contaminants, or chemical, hazardous or toxic materials,
                  substances, constituents or wastes, including, without
                  limitation, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials,
                  polychlorinated biphenyls and petroleum, oil, or petroleum or
                  oil derivatives or constituents, including, without
                  limitation, crude oil or any fraction thereof.

<PAGE>
                                      -28-


                  5.19. DISCLOSURE. All of the facts and circumstances not
required to be disclosed as exceptions under or to any of the foregoing
representations and warranties made by the Company, in this Article V by reason
of any minimum disclosure requirement in any such representation and warranty
would not, in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                  5.20. ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except as set forth
in Section 5.20 of the Disclosure Statement, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether absolute,
accrued, unmatured, contingent or otherwise, or any unsatisfied judgments or any
leases of personalty or realty or unusual or extraordinary commitments, except
the liabilities recorded on the Company's consolidated balance sheet at December
31, 1996 included in the financial statements referred in Section 5.6 and the
notes thereto, and except for liabilities or obligations incurred in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice since December 31,
1996 that would not individually or in the aggregate have a Company Material
Adverse Effect.

                  5.21. FINDERS OR BROKERS. Except as set forth in Section 5.21
of the Disclosure Statement, none of the Company, the subsidiaries of the
Company, the Board of Directors or any member of the Board of Directors has
employed any investment banker, broker, finder or intermediary in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby who might be entitled to a fee or any
commission in connection with the Merger, and Section 5.21 of the Disclosure
Statement sets forth the maximum consideration (present and future) agreed to be
paid to each such party.

                  5.22. STATE ANTITAKEOVER STATUTES. The Company has granted all
approvals and taken all other steps necessary to exempt the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby from the requirements and provisions of Section
203 of the DGCL and any other applicable state antitakeover statute or
regulation such that none of the provisions of such Section 203 or any other
"business combination," "moratorium," "control share" or other state
antitakeover statute or regulation (x) prohibits or restricts the Company's
ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or its ability to
consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (y) would
have the effect of invalidating or voiding this Agreement any provision hereof,
or (z) would subject Acquiror to any material impediment or condition in
connection with the exercise of any of its rights under this Agreement.

<PAGE>
                                      -29-


                  5.23. OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR. The Company has received
the opinion of Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Inc. dated the date of this Agreement,
to the effect that, as of such date, the Exchange Ratio is fair from a financial
point of view to the holders of shares of Company Common Stock and to holders of
shares of any series of Preferred Stock of the Company.

                  5.24.  INSURANCE.  Section  5.24 of the  Disclosure  Statement
lists  all  insurance  policies  in  force  on  the  date  hereof  covering  the
businesses,  properties and assets of the Company and its subsidiaries,  and all
such policies are currently in effect.

                  5.25. EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR CONTRACTS. Neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries is a party to any employment contract or other similar
contract or any other contract for the provision of management or consulting
services to the Company or any of its subsidiaries with any past or present
officer, director, employee or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, any
entity affiliated with any past or present officer, director or employee other
than those set forth in Section 5.25 of the Disclosure Statement and other than
the agreements executed by employees generally, the forms of which have been
delivered to Acquiror.

                  5.26. PENDING TRANSACTIONS. Section 5.26 of the Disclosure
Statement lists the status of the Pending Transactions.

                  5.27. INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS. Each of the RHI
Indemnification Agreement, the FHC Indemnification Agreement and the Pledge
Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of the Company and, to the knowledge
of the Company, each of such agreements is enforceable against RHI and TFC, FHC,
and RHI, respectively, except to the extent that such enforceability may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by
general equitable or fiduciary principles. Each of the RHI Indemnification
Agreement, the FHC Indemnification Agreement and the Pledge Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of the Surviving Corporation and shall be enforceable by
the Surviving Corporation except to the extent that such enforceability may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by
general equitable or fiduciary principles. As of the date hereof, the Company
has no knowledge of any liabilities or claims for which the Company is
indemnified under the RHI Indemnification Agreement and FHI Indemnification
Agreement (other than the (i) contingent liabilities related to a dispute with
the United States Government under government contract accounts rules concerning
potential liability arising out of the use of and accounting for approximately
$50.0 million in excess pension funds relating to certain government contracts
in the discontinued aerospace business of FII; (ii) all non-telecommunications
environmental liabilities of FII; and (iii) approximately $50.0 million (at June
30, 1995 of costs associated with post-retirement healthcare benefits of FII) as
such items are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1996) that would (were the indemnification under the RHI
Indemnification Agreement and FHI Indemnification Agreement not available),
individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

<PAGE>
                                      -30-


                  5.28. INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES. Notwithstanding all of the
representations and warranties contained in this Article V (except for Section
5.27), it is hereby agreed that the Company need not disclose as exceptions to
any of the foregoing representations and warranties any losses, liabilities and
damages or actions or claims for which the Company is indemnified under each of
the FHI Indemnification Agreement and the RHI Indemnification Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE VI

            REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB


                  Each of Acquiror and Merger Sub jointly and severally
represents and warrants to the Company that:

                  6.1. ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. Each of Acquiror, Merger
Sub and Acquiror's subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
Each of Acquiror, Merger Sub and Acquiror's subsidiaries is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to do business, and is in good standing, in each
jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or leased or the nature
of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for failures to be
so qualified or in good standing which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the general affairs, management,
business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of
Acquiror and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (an "Acquiror Material Adverse
Effect"). Except as set forth in Section 6.1 of the Disclosure Statement,
neither Acquiror, Merger Sub nor any of Acquiror's subsidiaries is in violation
of any of the provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation (or other
applicable charter document) or By-Laws. Acquiror has delivered to the Company
accurate and complete copies of the Certificate of Incorporation (or other
applicable charter document) and By-Laws, as currently in effect, of each of
Acquiror and its subsidiaries.

<PAGE>
                                      -31-


                  6.2. CAPITAL STOCK OF SUBSIDIARIES. The only direct or
indirect subsidiaries of Acquiror as of the date hereof are those listed in
Section 6.2 of the Disclosure Statement previously delivered by Acquiror to the
Company. As of the date hereof, Acquiror is directly or indirectly the record
(except for directors' qualifying shares) and beneficial owner (including all
qualifying shares owned by directors of such subsidiaries as reflected in
Section 6.2 of the Disclosure Statement) of all of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each of its subsidiaries. All of the capital stock of Merger
Sub will at all times be owned directly by Acquiror, free and clear of any
liens, claims or encumbrances.

                  6.3. CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of Acquiror
consists of 100,000,000 shares of Acquiror Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share, and 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share. As of
July 15, 1997, 64,353,823 shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding and
no shares of preferred stock are issued and outstanding. All of such issued and
outstanding shares are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of
preemptive rights. Except as set forth above and except as disclosed in Section
6.3 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are not as of the date hereof any shares
of capital stock of Acquiror issued or outstanding or any subscriptions,
options, warrants, calls, claims, rights (including without limitation any stock
appreciation or similar rights), convertible securities or other agreements or
commitments of any character obligating Acquiror to issue, transfer or sell any
of its securities.

                  6.4. AUTHORITY RELATIVE TO THIS AGREEMENT. Each of Acquiror
and Merger Sub has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and to consummate the Merger and other transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
authorized by the Board of Directors of Acquiror and Merger Sub and no other
corporate proceedings on the part of Acquiror and Merger Sub are necessary to
authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Merger or other transactions
contemplated hereby (other than the approval of Acquiror's stockholders with
respect to the issuance of the Acquiror Common Stock in connection with the
Merger as required by the rules of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. and the amendment of Acquiror's certificate of incorporation to
increase the number of authorized Shares of Acquiror Common Stock). This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Acquiror and,
assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Company,
constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Acquiror, enforceable against
Acquiror in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that its
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally or by general equitable or fiduciary principles.

<PAGE>
                                      -32-


                  6.5.  NO VIOLATIONS, ETC.

                  (a) Assuming that all filings, permits, authorizations,
consents and approvals or waivers thereof have been duly made or obtained as
contemplated by Section 6.5(b) hereof, neither the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Acquiror and Merger Sub nor the consummation of the Merger or
other transactions contemplated hereby nor compliance by Acquiror and Merger Sub
with any of the provisions hereof will (i) violate, conflict with, or result in
a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with
notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in
the termination or suspension of, or accelerate the performance required by, or
result in a right of termination or acceleration under, or result in the
creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the
properties or assets of Acquiror and Merger Sub or any of Acquiror's
subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (x) their
respective charters or by-laws, (y) except as set forth in Section 6.5 of the
Disclosure Statement, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture or deed of trust, or
(z) any license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation, to which
Acquiror, Merger Sub or any such subsidiary is a party or to which they or any
of their respective properties or assets may be subject, or (ii) subject to
compliance with the statutes and regulations referred to in the next paragraph,
violate any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or
regulation applicable to Acquiror, Merger Sub or any of Acquiror's subsidiaries
or any of their respective properties or assets, except, in the case of clauses
(i)(z) and (ii) above, for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults,
terminations, suspensions, accelerations, rights of termination or acceleration
or creations of liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances which would
not, individually or in the aggregate, either have an Acquiror Material Adverse
Effect or materially impair Merger Sub's ability to consummate the Merger or
other transactions contemplated hereby.

<PAGE>
                                      -33-


                  (b) No filing or registration with, notification to and no
permit, authorization, consent or approval of any governmental entity is
required by Acquiror, Merger Sub or any of Acquiror's subsidiaries in connection
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by
Acquiror of the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby, except (i) in
connection with the applicable requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), (ii) the filing of the
Certificate of Merger and the certificate of amendment of Acquiror's certificate
of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (iii)
filings with the Federal Communications Commission or any applicable state
public utility commissions or applicable state or local regulatory agency or
authority, (iv) filings with NASDAQ, (v) filings with the SEC and state
securities administrators, (vi) the approval of Acquiror's stockholders as
required by NASDAQ rules, and (vii) such other filings, registrations,
notifications, permits, authorizations, consents or approvals the failure of
which to be obtained, made or given would not, individually or in the aggregate,
either have an Acquiror Material Adverse Effect or materially impair Merger
Sub's ability to consummate the Merger or other transactions contemplated
hereby.

                  (c) As of the date hereof except as set forth in Sections 6.5
of the Disclosure Statement (x) Acquiror, Merger Sub and Acquiror's subsidiaries
are not in violation of or default under any note, bond, mortgage, indenture or
deed of trust, or (y) any license, lease, agreement or other instrument or
obligation to which Acquiror or any such subsidiary is a party or to which they
or any of their respective properties or assets may be subject, except, in the
case of clauses (x) and (y) above, for such violations or defaults which would
not, individually or in the aggregate, either have an Acquiror Material Adverse
Effect or materially impair Merger Sub's ability to consummate the Merger or
other transactions contemplated hereby.

<PAGE>
                                      -34-


                  6.6. COMMISSION FILINGS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Except as set
forth in Section 6.6 of the Disclosure Schedule: (a) Acquiror has filed all
required forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required to
be filed by it since December 31, 1994 to the date hereof (as supplemented and
amended since the time of filing, collectively, the "Acquiror SEC Reports") with
the SEC, all of which complied when filed in all material respects with all
applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; (b) the
audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited consolidated interim
financial statements of Acquiror and its subsidiaries included or incorporated
by reference in such Acquiror SEC Reports were prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during
the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of
operations and cash flows of the Acquiror and its subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis at the respective dates and for the respective periods indicated (and in
the case of all such financial statements that are interim financial statements,
contain all adjustments so to present fairly); and (c) none of the Acquiror SEC
Reports contained at the time filed any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state any 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.

                  6.7. ABSENCE OF CHANGES OR EVENTS. Except as set forth in
Acquiror's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, as filed with
the SEC, or except as set forth in Section 6.6 of the Disclosure Schedule, since
December 31, 1996 to the date hereof, Acquiror and its subsidiaries have not
incurred any material liability, except in the ordinary course of their
businesses consistent with their past practices, and there has not been any
change, or any event involving a prospective change, in the business, financial
condition or results of operations of Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries which
has had, or is reasonably likely to have, an Acquiror Material Adverse Effect
and Acquiror and its subsidiaries have conducted their respective business in
the ordinary course consistent with their past practices.

                  6.8. JOINT PROXY STATEMENT. None of the information supplied
or to be supplied by or on behalf of Acquiror and Merger Sub for inclusion or
incorporation by reference in the Form S-4 will, at the time the Form S-4
becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. None of the information supplied or to be
supplied by or on behalf of Acquiror and Merger Sub for inclusion or
incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement will, at the dates
mailed to stockholders and at the times of the Company Stockholder Meeting and
the Acquiror Stockholder Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they are made, not misleading. The Form S-4 and the Joint Proxy
Statement (except for information relating solely to the Company) will comply as
to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

<PAGE>
                                      -35-


                  6.9. BOARD RECOMMENDATION. The Board of Directors of Acquiror
has, by a majority vote at a meeting of such Board duly held on July 15, 1997,
approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of Acquiror
Common Stock as a result of the Merger), and recommended that the holders of
shares of Acquiror Common Stock approve and adopt this Agreement, the Merger,
the issuance of Acquiror Common Stock as a result of the Merger as required by
NASDAQ and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

                  6.10. DISCLOSURE. All of the facts and circumstances not
required to be disclosed as exceptions under or to any of the foregoing
representations and warranties made by Acquiror by reason of any minimum
disclosure requirement in any such representation and warranty would not, in the
aggregate, have an Acquiror Material Adverse Effect.

                  6.11. FINDERS OR BROKERS. Except as set forth in Section 6.11
of the Disclosure Statement, none of Acquiror, the subsidiaries of Acquiror, the
Board of Directors of Acquiror or any member of the Board of Directors of
Acquiror has employed any investment banker, broker, finder or intermediary in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby who might be entitled to a
fee or any commission in connection with of the Merger, and Section 6.12 of the
Disclosure Statement sets forth the maximum consideration (present and future)
agreed to be paid to each such party.

<PAGE>
                                      -36-


                  6.12. OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR. Acquiror has received the
opinion (the "Fairness Opinion") of Salomon Brothers Inc dated the date of this
Agreement, to the effect that as of such date, the Exchange Ratio is fair from a
financial point of view to Acquiror.


                                   ARTICLE VII

                       CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF ACQUIROR AND
                         THE COMPANY PENDING THE MERGER


                  7.1. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY PENDING THE MERGER.
Except as contemplated by this Agreement or as expressly agreed to in writing by
Acquiror, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective
Time, each of the Company and its subsidiaries will conduct their respective
operations according to its ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, and will use all commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact
its business organization, to keep available the services of its officers and
employees and to maintain satisfactory relationships with suppliers,
distributors, customers and others having business relationships with it and
will take no action which would materially adversely affect the ability of the
parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as otherwise expressly
provided in this Agreement, prior to the Effective Time, the Company will not
nor will it permit any of its subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent
of Acquiror, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld:

                  (a)  amend its certificate of incorporation or by-laws;

                  (b) authorize for issuance, issue, sell, deliver, grant any
         options for, or otherwise agree or commit to issue, sell or deliver any
         shares of any class of its capital stock or any securities convertible
         into shares of any class of its capital stock, except (i) pursuant to
         and in accordance with the terms of currently outstanding convertible
         securities, warrants and options, and (ii) shares granted to employees
         as matching contributions pursuant to the Company's 401(k) Plan in an
         aggregate amount not to exceed 40,000 shares;

                  (c) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital
         stock, declare, set aside or pay any dividend (other than a dividend of
         stock of Shared Technologies Cellular, Inc. owned by the Company) or
         other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any
         combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock or purchase,
         redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its own capital stock or of
         any of its subsidiaries, except as otherwise expressly provided in this
         Agreement;

<PAGE>
                                      -37-


                  (d) (i) create, incur, assume, maintain or permit to exist any
         debt for borrowed money other than under existing lines of credit in
         the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (ii)
         assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible
         (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of
         any other person except for (a) its wholly owned subsidiaries, and (b)
         STF Canada, Inc. in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
         past practices; or (iii) make any loans, advances or capital
         contributions to, or investments in, any other person except for STF
         Canada, Inc. in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000;

                  (e) (i) increase in any manner the compensation of (x) any
         employee except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
         practice or (y) any of its directors or officers; (ii) pay or agree to
         pay any pension, retirement allowance or other employee benefit not
         required, or enter into or agree to enter into any agreement or
         arrangement with such director or officer or employee, whether past or
         present, relating to any such pension, retirement allowance or other
         employee benefit, except as required under currently existing
         agreements, plans or arrangements; (iii) grant any severance or
         termination pay to, or enter into any employment or severance agreement
         with, (x) any employee except in the ordinary course of business
         consistent with past practice or (y) any of its directors or officers
         except for honorarium payments to outside directors of the Company in
         an amount not to exceed $300,000 in the aggregate; or (iv) except as
         may be required to comply with applicable law, become obligated (other
         than pursuant to any new or renewed collective bargaining agreement)
         under any new pension plan, welfare plan, multiemployer plan, employee
         benefit plan, benefit arrangement, or similar plan or arrangement,
         which was not in existence on the date hereof, including any bonus,
         incentive, deferred compensation, stock purchase, stock option, stock
         appreciation right, group insurance, severance pay, retirement or other
         benefit plan, agreement or arrangement, or employment or consulting
         agreement with or for the benefit of any person, or amend any of such
         plans or any of such agreements in existence on the date hereof;
         PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this clause (iv) shall not prohibit the Company
         from renewing any such plan, agreement or arrangement already in
         existence on terms no more favorable to the parties to such plan,
         agreement or arrangement;

<PAGE>
                                      -38-


                  (f) except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this
         Agreement, enter into any other agreements, commitments or contracts,
         except agreements, commitments or contracts for the purchase, sale or
         lease of goods or services involving payments or receipts by the
         Company or its subsidiaries in excess of $50,000, other than (i)
         customer agreements, (ii) leases for rental space in an amount not to
         exceed $250,000 for any lease or (iii) developer agreements in an
         amount not to exceed $250,000 for any agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
         that the Company will not enter into agreements with any local exchange
         carriers, competitive local exchange carriers or incumbent local
         exchange companies which require a financial commitment by the Company
         or any of its subsidiaries or which limit the ability of the Company or
         any of its subsidiaries to conduct their respective business;

                  (g) authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to
         authorize, recommend or propose, or enter into any agreement in
         principle or an agreement with respect to, any plan of liquidation or
         dissolution, any acquisition of a material amount of assets or
         securities, any sale, transfer, lease, license, pledge, mortgage, or
         other disposition or encumbrance of a material amount of assets or
         securities or any material change in its capitalization, or any entry
         into a material contract or any amendment or modification of any
         material contract or any release or relinquishment of any material
         contract rights;

                  (h) authorize or commit to make capital expenditures in excess
         of $200,000 for any one order in the Company's service business (other
         than purchases by the Company's systems business in the ordinary course
         of business consistent with past practice);

                  (i) make any change in the  accounting  methods or  accounting
         practices followed by the Company;

                  (j) settle any action, suit, claim, investigation or
         proceeding (legal, administrative or arbitrative) in excess of $50,000
         without the consent of the Acquiror; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
         Company may settle the matter set forth in item 2 of Section 5.9 of the
         Disclosure Statement as previously discussed with Acquiror;

<PAGE>
                                      -39-


                  (k) make  any  election  under  the Code  which  would  have a
         Company Material Adverse Effect;

                  (l) amend, change or alter in any respect any of the RHI
         Indemnification Agreement, the FHC Indemnification Agreement or the
         Pledge Agreement (except as specifically contemplated by this
         Agreement);

                  (m) take or cause to be taken, whether before or after the
         Effective Time, any action that would disqualify the Merger as a
         "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code; or

                  (n)  agree to do any of the foregoing.

                  7.2. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF ACQUIROR PENDING THE MERGER.
Except as contemplated by this Agreement or as expressly agreed to in writing by
the Company, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective
Time, each of Acquiror and its subsidiaries will use all commercially reasonable
efforts to keep substantially intact its business, properties and business
relationships and will take no action which would materially adversely affect
the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, prior to the Effective Time,
Acquiror will not nor will it permit any of its subsidiaries to, without the
prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld:

                  (a) amend its certificate of  incorporation  or by-laws except
         as set forth in this Agreement;

<PAGE>
                                      -40-



                  (b) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital
         stock, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution
         (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in
         respect of its capital stock or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
         any shares of its own capital stock or of any of its subsidiaries,
         except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement;

                  (c) authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to
         authorize, recommend or propose, or enter into any agreement in
         principle or an agreement with respect to, any plan of liquidation or
         dissolution;

                  (d) take or cause to be taken, whether before or after the
         Effective Time, any action that would disqualify the Merger as a
         "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code; or

                  (e)  agree to do any of the foregoing.

                  7.3. PERMITTED CONDUCT OF THE COMPANY. Notwithstanding
anything contained in Section 7.1, this Agreement shall not restrict the
Company's ability to (i) consummate the Pending Transactions or take any action
in furtherance thereof or (ii) sell, assign or transfer its interest in Shared
Technologies Cellular, Inc.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                            COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS


                  8.1.   PREPARATION  OF  THE  FORM  S-4  AND  THE  JOINT  PROXY
STATEMENT; STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS.

                  (a) As soon as practicable following the date of this
Agreement, the Company and Acquiror shall prepare and file with the SEC the
Joint Proxy Statement and Acquiror thereafter shall prepare and file with the
SEC the Form S-4, in which the Joint Proxy Statement will be included as a
prospectus. Each of the Company and Acquiror shall use their respective best
efforts to have the Form S-4 declared effective under the Securities Act as
promptly as practicable after such filing. The Company will use all best efforts
to cause the Joint Proxy Statement to be mailed to the Company's stockholders,
and Acquiror will use all best efforts to cause the Joint Proxy Statement to be
mailed to Acquiror's stockholders in each case as promptly as practicable after
the Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities Act. Acquiror shall also
take any action required to be taken under any applicable state securities laws
in connection with the issuance of Acquiror Common Stock in the Merger. No
filing of, or amendment or supplement to, the Form S-4 or the Joint Proxy
Statement will be made by Acquiror without providing the Company the opportunity
to review and comment thereon. Acquiror will advise the Company, promptly after
it receives notice thereof, of the time when the Form S-4 has become effective
or any supplement or amendment has been filed, the issuance of any stop order,
the suspension of the qualification of the Acquiror Common Stock issuable in
connection with the Merger for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or any
request by the SEC for amendment of the Joint Proxy Statement or the Form S-4 or

<PAGE>
                                      -41-


comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional
information. If at any time prior to the Effective Time any information relating
to the Company or Acquiror, or any of their respective affiliates, officers or
directors, should be discovered by the Company or Acquiror which should be set
forth in an amendment or supplement to any of the Form S-4 or the Joint Proxy
Statement, so that any of such documents would not include any misstatement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, the party which discovers such information shall promptly notify
the other parties hereto and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing
such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent
required by law, disseminated to the stockholders of the Company and Acquiror.

                  (b) The Company shall, as soon as practicable following the
date of this Agreement, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of
its stockholders (the "Company Stockholder Meeting") for the purpose of
obtaining the approval (the "Company Stockholder Approval") of a majority of the
stockholders of the Company of this Agreement and shall, through its Board of
Directors, recommend to its stockholders the approval and adoption of this
Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, and shall
use all commercially reasonable efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies
in favor of approval and adoption of this Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
such recommendation is subject to any action required by the fiduciary duties of
the Board of Directors.

<PAGE>
                                      -42-


                  (c) Acquiror shall, as soon as practicable following the date
of this Agreement, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its
stockholders (the "Acquiror Stockholder Meeting") for the purpose of obtaining
the approval (the "Acquiror Stockholder Approval") of a majority of the
stockholders of Acquiror of an increase in the authorized common stock of
Acquiror, the issuance of the Acquiror Common Stock in connection with the
Merger (the "Issuance") and shall, through its Board of Directors, recommend to
its stockholders the approval and adoption of this Agreement, the Merger, the
Issuance and the other transactions contemplated hereby, and shall use all
commercially reasonable efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies in
favor of approval and adoption of this Agreement.

                  (d) Acquiror and the Company will use best efforts to hold the
Company Stockholder Meeting and the Acquiror Stockholder Meeting on the same
date and as soon as practicable after the date hereof.

                  8.2.  LETTERS OF THE COMPANY'S ACCOUNTANTS.

                  (a) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause to be
delivered to Acquiror two letters from the Company's independent accountants,
one dated the date of effectiveness of Form S-4 and one dated the Closing Date,
each addressed to Acquiror, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Acquiror and customary in scope and substance for comfort letters delivered by
independent public accountants in connection with registration statements
similar to the Form S-4.

                  (b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause to be
delivered to Acquiror a letter from the Company's independent accountants
addressed to the Company and Acquiror, dated as of the Closing Date, stating
that the Merger will qualify as a pooling of interests transaction under Opinion
16 of the Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations.

<PAGE>
                                      -43-


                  8.3.  LETTERS OF ACQUIROR'S ACCOUNTANTS.

                  (a) Acquiror shall use its best efforts to cause to be
delivered to the Company two letters from Acquiror's independent accountants,
one dated the date of effectiveness of Form S-4 and one dated the Closing Date,
each addressed to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Company and customary in scope and substance for comfort letters delivered
by independent public accountants in connection with registration statements
similar to the Form S-4.

                  (b) Acquiror shall use its best efforts to cause to be
delivered to the Company a letter from Acquiror's independent accountants,
addressed to the Company and Acquiror, dated as of the Closing Date, stating
that the Merger will qualify as a pooling of interests transaction under Opinion
16 of the Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations.

                  8.4.  ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS; COOPERATION.

                  (a) Subject to the terms and conditions herein provided, each
of the parties hereto agrees to use its best efforts to take, or cause to be
taken, all action and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper
or advisable to consummate and make effective as promptly as practicable the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and to cooperate with each other in
connection with the foregoing, including using its best efforts (i) to obtain
all necessary waivers, consents and approvals from other parties to loan
agreements, material leases and other material contracts that are specified on
Schedule 8.4 to the Disclosure Statement, (ii) to obtain all necessary consents,
approvals and authorizations as are required to be obtained under any federal,
state or foreign law or regulations, (iii) to defend all lawsuits or other legal
proceedings challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, (iv) to lift or rescind any injunction or restraining order
or other order adversely affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, (v) to effect all necessary registrations and
filings, including, but not limited to, filings under the HSR Act and
submissions of information requested by governmental authorities, (vi) provide
all necessary information for the Joint Proxy Statement and the Form S-4 and
(vii) to fulfill all conditions to this Agreement.

                  (b) Each of the parties hereto agrees to furnish to the other
party hereto such necessary information and reasonable assistance as such other
party may request in connection with its preparation of necessary filings or
submissions to any regulatory or governmental agency or authority, including,
without limitation, any filing necessary under the provisions of the HSR Act or
any other applicable Federal or state statute. At any time upon the written
request of Acquiror, the Company shall advise Acquiror of the number of shares
of Company Common Stock outstanding on such date.

                  8.5. PUBLICITY. The Company, Acquiror and Merger Sub agree to
consult with each other in issuing any press release and with respect to the
general content of other public statements with respect to the transactions
contemplated hereby, and shall not issue any such press release prior to such
consultation, except as may be required by law.

                  8.6. NO SOLICITATION. (a) The Company shall not, nor shall it
permit any of its subsidiaries to, nor shall it authorize or permit any of its
officers, directors or employees or any investment banker, financial advisor,
attorney, accountant or other representative retained by it or any of its
subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit any Company Takeover
Proposal (as hereinafter defined) or (ii) participate in any discussions or
negotiations regarding any Company Takeover Proposal; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
if, at any time prior to Company Stockholders Meeting, the Board of Directors of
the Company determines in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel,
that it is necessary to do so in order to comply with its fiduciary duties to
the Company's stockholders under applicable law, the Company may, in response to
a Company Takeover Proposal that was not solicited, and subject to compliance
with Section 8.6(c), (x) furnish information with respect to the Company to any
person pursuant to a customary confidentiality agreement (as determined by the
Company after consultation with its outside counsel) and (y) participate in
negotiations regarding such Company Takeover Proposal. Without limiting the
foregoing, it is understood that any violation of the restrictions set forth in
the preceding sentence by any director or executive officer of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, whether or not such person is purporting to act on
behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise, shall be deemed
to be a breach of this Section 8.6(a) by the Company. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Company Takeover Proposal" means any inquiry, proposal or offer from
any person relating to any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of 20% or

<PAGE>
                                      -44-


more of the assets of the Company or its subsidiaries or 20% or more of any
class of equity securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any tender
offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any person
beneficially owning 20% or more of any class of equity securities of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, any merger, consolidation, business combination,
recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, or any other transaction the consummation of which would
reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with, prevent or materially delay
the Merger or which would reasonably be expected to dilute materially the
benefits to Acquiror of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (b) Except as set forth in this Section 8.6, neither the Board
of Directors of the Company nor any committee thereof shall (i) withdraw or
modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to
Acquiror, the approval or recommendation by such Board of Directors or such
committee of the Merger or this Agreement, (ii) approve or recommend, or propose
publicly to approve or recommend, any Company Takeover Proposal or (iii) cause
the Company to enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle,
acquisition agreement or other similar agreement (each, a "Company Acquisition
Agreement") related to any Company Takeover Proposal. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event that prior to the Company Stockholders Meeting the Board
of Directors of the Company determines in good faith, after consultation with
outside counsel, that it is necessary to do so in order to comply with its
fiduciary duties to the Company's stockholders under applicable law, the Board
of Directors of the Company may (subject to this and the following sentences)
(x) withdraw or modify its approval or recommendation of the Merger and this

<PAGE>
                                      -45-


Agreement or (y) approve or recommend a Company Superior Proposal (as defined
below) or terminate this Agreement (and concurrently with or after such
termination, if it so chooses, cause the Company to enter into any Company
Acquisition Agreement with respect to any Company Superior Proposal), but in
each of the cases set forth in this clause (y), no action shall be taken by the
Company pursuant to clause (y) until a time that is after the fifth business day
following Acquiror's receipt of written notice advising Acquiror that the Board
of Directors of the Company has received a Company Superior Proposal, specifying
the material terms and conditions of such Company Superior Proposal and
identifying the person making such Company Superior Proposal, to the extent such
identification of the person making such proposal does not breach the fiduciary
duties of the Board of Directors as advised by outside legal counsel. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Company Superior Proposal" means any bona fide
proposal made by a third party to acquire, directly or indirectly, for
consideration consisting of cash and/or securities, more than 50% of the
combined voting power of the shares of Company Common Stock and Company
Preferred Stock then outstanding or all or substantially all the assets of the
Company and otherwise on terms that the Board of Directors of the Company
determines in its good faith judgment (based on the advice of a financial
advisor of nationally recognized reputation) to be more favorable to the
Company's stockholders than the Merger.

                  (c) In addition to the obligations of the Company set forth in
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 8.6, the Company shall immediately advise
Acquiror orally and in writing of any request for information or of any Company
Takeover Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such request or Company
Takeover Proposal, and to the extent such disclosure is not a breach of the
fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors as advised by outside legal counsel,
the identity of the person making such request or Company Takeover Proposal.

                  (d) Nothing contained in this Section 8.6 shall prohibit the
Company from taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated
by Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act, or from making any
disclosure to the Company's stockholders if, in the good faith judgment of the
Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with outside counsel,
failure so to disclose would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to the
Company's stockholders under applicable law; provided, however, neither the
Company nor its Board of Directors nor any committee thereof shall, except as
permitted by Section 8.6(b), withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw
or modify, its position with respect to this Agreement or the Merger or approve
or recommend, or propose publicly to approve or recommend, a Company Takeover
Proposal.

<PAGE>
                                      -46-


                  8.7.  ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

                  (a) From the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time,
each of the Company and Acquiror will give the other party and its authorized
representatives (including counsel, environmental and other consultants,
accountants and auditors) full access during normal business hours to all
facilities, personnel and operations and to all books and records of it and its
subsidiaries, will permit the other party to make such inspections as it may
reasonably require and will cause its officers and those of its subsidiaries to
furnish the other party with such financial and operating data and other
information with respect to its business and properties as such party may from
time to time reasonably request.

                  (b) Each of the parties hereto will hold and will cause its
consultants and advisors to hold in strict confidence on the terms and
conditions set forth in the Confidentiality Agreement dated July 11, 1997
between Acquiror and the Company (the "Confidentiality Agreement") all documents
and information furnished to the other in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement as if each of the parties hereto and such
consultant or advisor was a party thereto, and this provision shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.

                  8.8. NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS. The Company or Acquiror,
as the case may be, shall promptly notify the other of (i) its obtaining of
actual knowledge as to the matters set forth in clauses (x) and (y) below, or
(ii) the occurrence, or failure to occur, of any event, which occurrence or
failure to occur would be likely to cause (x) any representation or warranty
contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect
at any time from the date hereof to the Effective Time, or (y) any material
failure of the Company or Acquiror, as the case may be, or of any officer,
director, employee or agent thereof, to comply with or satisfy 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 or warranties of the parties or the conditions to the
obligations of the parties hereunder.

<PAGE>
                                      -47-


                  8.9. RESIGNATION OF DIRECTORS. At or prior to the Effective
Time, the Company shall take all commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to
Acquiror the resignations of such directors of its Subsidiaries as Acquiror
shall specify, effective at the Effective Time.

                  8.10.  INDEMNIFICATION.

                  (a) As of the date of this Agreement and for a period of six
years following the Effective Time of the Merger, the Surviving Corporation will
indemnify and hold harmless any persons who were directors or officers of the
Company or a subsidiary of the Company prior to the Effective Time of the Merger
(the "Indemnified Persons") to the fullest extent such person could have been
indemnified under the DGCL or under the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws
of the Company or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of any subsidiary
of the Company in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger,
with respect to any act or failure to act by any such Indemnified Person prior
to the Effective Time of the Merger.

                  (b) Any determination required to be made with respect to
whether an Indemnified Person's conduct complies with the standards set forth
under the DGCL or other applicable corporate law shall be made by independent
counsel selected by the Indemnified Persons and reasonably acceptable to the
Surviving Corporation. The Surviving Corporation shall pay such counsel's fees
and expenses (it being agreed that neither the Indemnified Persons, Acquiror nor
the Surviving Corporation shall challenge any such determination by such
independent counsel).

<PAGE>
                                      -48-


                  (c) The provisions of this Section 8.10 are for the benefit of
the Indemnified Persons, any of whom shall have all rights at law and in equity
to enforce the rights hereunder.

                  (d) In the event that the Surviving Corporation or any of its
successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person, the
Surviving Corporation or such successor or assign is not the continuing or
surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, or (ii)
transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person,
then, and in each case, proper provision shall be made so that such person or
the continuing or surviving corporation assumes the obligations set forth in
this Section 8.10.

                  (e) Acquiror shall cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain
in effect for not less than five years from the Effective Time the current
polices of directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by the
Company and its subsidiaries (provided that Acquiror may substitute therefor
policies of at least the same coverage containing terms and conditions which are
no less advantageous to the Indemnified Parties in all material respects so long
as no lapse in coverage occurs as a result of such substitution) with respect to
all matters, including the transactions contemplated hereby, occurring prior to,
and including the Effective Time, provided that, in the event that any Claim is
asserted or made within such five year period, such insurance shall be continued
in respect of any such Claim until final disposition of any and all such Claims,
provided, further, that Acquiror shall not be obligated to make annual premium
payments for such insurance to the extent such premiums exceed 200% of the
premiums paid as of the date hereof by the Company for such insurance.

                  8.11. FEES AND EXPENSES. Whether or not the Merger is
consummated, the Company and Acquiror shall bear their respective expenses
incurred in connection with the Merger, including, without limitation, the
preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, and all fees and expenses of investment bankers, finders,
brokers, agents, representatives, counsel and accountants, except that each of
Acquiror and the Company shall bear and pay one-half of the costs and expenses
incurred in connection with (1) the filing, printing and mailing of the Form S-4
and the Joint Proxy Statement (including SEC filing fees) and (2) the filings of
the premerger notification and report forms under the HSR Act (including filing
fees).

                  8.12. AFFILIATES. As soon as practicable after the date
hereof, the Company shall deliver to Acquiror a letter identifying all persons
who are, at the time this Agreement is submitted for adoption by the
stockholders of the Company, "affiliates" of the Company for purposes of Rule
145 under the Securities Act or for purposes of qualifying the Merger for
pooling of interests accounting treatment under Opinion 16 of the Accounting
Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations. The Company shall use
its reasonable efforts to cause each such person to deliver to Acquiror as of
the Closing Date, a written agreement substantially in the form attached as
Exhibit A hereto. Acquiror shall use its reasonable efforts to cause all persons
who are "affiliates" of Acquiror for purposes of qualifying the Merger for
pooling of interests accounting treatment under Opinion 16 of the Accounting
Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations to comply with the
fourth paragraph of Exhibit A hereto.

<PAGE>
                                      -49-


                  8.13. NASDAQ LISTING. Acquiror shall use its reasonable best
efforts to cause the Acquiror Common Stock to be issued in connection with the
Merger to be approved for listing on NASDAQ, subject to official notice of
issuance, as promptly as practicable after the date hereof, and in any event
prior to the Closing Date.

                  8.14. STOCKHOLDER LITIGATION. Each of the Company and Acquiror
shall give the other the reasonable opportunity to participate in the defense of
any stockholder litigation against or in the name of the Company or Acquiror, as
applicable, and/or their respective directors relating to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

                  8.15. TAX TREATMENT. Each of Acquiror and the Company shall
use its respective best efforts (including, without limitation, providing
information and providing for itself and obtaining from its affiliates
reasonable and necessary representations and covenants in connection with the
tax opinions required by Article IX) and Acquiror shall cause the Surviving
Corporation to use its best efforts to cause the Merger to qualify as a
reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code and shall
treat the Merger as a tax free reorganization on its tax returns.

                  8.16. POOLING OF INTERESTS. Each of the Company and Acquiror
shall use its respective best efforts to cause the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement to be accounted for as a pooling of interests under Opinion 16 of
the Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations, and
such accounting treatment to be accepted by each of the Company's and Acquiror's
independent certified public accountants, respectively, and each of the Company
and Acquiror agrees that it shall voluntarily take no action (including, without
limitation, any action by the Company with respect to Shared Technologies
Cellular, Inc.) that would cause such accounting treatment not to be obtained.


<PAGE>
                                      -50-


                  8.17.  FAIRNESS OPINION.  Each of the Acquiror and the Company
shall use their  respective  best  efforts to cause to be  delivered  to each of
their  respective  stockholders  a fairness  opinion dated the date of the Joint
Proxy Statement.


                                   ARTICLE IX

                              CONDITIONS TO CLOSING


                  9.1.  CONDITIONS  TO EACH  PARTY'S  OBLIGATION  TO EFFECT  THE
MERGER. The respective  obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject
to the  satisfaction  or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:

                  (a) STOCKHOLDER APPROVALS. Each of the Company Stockholder
         Approval and the Acquiror Stockholder Approval shall have been
         obtained.

                  (b) HSR ACT. The waiting period (and any extension thereof)
         applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act shall have been terminated
         or shall have expired.

                  (c) NO INJUNCTIONS OR RESTRAINTS. No judgment, order, decree,
         statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation entered, enacted,
         promulgated, enforced or issued by any court or other governmental
         entity of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or
         prohibition (collectively, "Restraints") shall be in effect preventing
         the consummation of the Merger.

                  (d) GOVERNMENTAL ACTION. No action or proceeding shall be
         instituted by any governmental authority seeking to prevent
         consummation of the Merger or seeking material damages in connection
         with the transactions contemplated hereby which continues to be
         outstanding.

                  (e) FORM S-4. The Form S-4 shall have become effective under
         the Securities Act and shall not be the subject of any stop order or
         proceedings seeking a stop order and no stop order or similar
         restraining order shall be threatened or entered by the SEC or any
         state securities administration preventing the Merger.

                  (f) NASDAQ LISTING. The shares of Acquiror Common Stock
         issuable to the Company's stockholders as contemplated by this
         Agreement shall have been approved for listing on NASDAQ, subject to
         official notice of issuance.

                  (g) POOLING LETTERS. The Company and Acquiror shall have
         received a letter from the Acquiror's independent accountants, dated as
         of the Closing Date, addressed to the Company and Acquiror, stating in
         substance that the Merger will qualify as a pooling of interests
         transaction under Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board and
         applicable SEC rules and regulations.

                  (h) BANK CREDIT FACILITY. The lenders under the existing
         credit facility of the Company shall have delivered their written
         consent to the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby or a new
         credit facility shall have been entered into and the existing facility
         terminated.

<PAGE>
                                      -51-


                  9.2. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF ACQUIROR.  The obligation of
Acquiror to effect the Merger is further  subject to  satisfaction  or waiver of
the following conditions:

                  (a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and
         warranties of the Company set forth herein shall be true and correct
         both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as
         of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier
         date, in which case as of such date), except where the failure of such
         representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without
         giving effect to any limitation as to "materiality" or "material
         adverse effect" set forth therein) does not have, and is not likely to
         have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
         Effect.

                  (b) PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY. The Company
         shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required
         to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing
         Date.

                  (c) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. At any time after December 31,
         1996, there shall not have occurred any material adverse change in the
         general affairs, management, business, operations, assets, condition
         (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (d) AFFILIATE LETTERS. Acquiror shall have received a written
         agreement substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto from
         each of the persons specified pursuant to Section 8.12.

                  (e) GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS. All necessary consents and
         approvals of any federal, state or local governmental authority or any
         other third party required for the consummation of the transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained except for such
         consents and approvals the failure to obtain which individually or in
         the aggregate would not have a material adverse effect on the Surviving
         Corporation.

                  (f) TAX OPINION. Acquiror shall have received an opinion of
         Arnold & Porter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it,
         to the effect that the Merger will qualify as a reorganization within
         the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinion,
         such counsel may receive and rely on representations of fact contained
         in certificates provided by Acquiror and the Company.

<PAGE>
                                      -52-


                  9.3. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY. The obligation
of the Company to effect the Merger is further subject to satisfaction or waiver
of the following conditions:

                  (a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and
         warranties of Acquiror and Merger Sub set forth herein shall be true
         and correct both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if
         made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of
         an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except where the
         failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and
         correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to "materiality" or
         "material adverse effect" set forth therein) does not have, and is not
         likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, an Acquiror Material
         Adverse Effect.
                  (b) PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB.
         Acquiror and Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects
         all obligations required to be performed by them under this Agreement
         at or prior to the Closing Date.

                  (c) SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES. Acquiror shall have obtained a
         standby underwriting commitment to enable it to make an offer to
         purchase the 12 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 of Shared
         Technologies Fairchild Communications Corp. pursuant to the indenture
         governing such notes.

                  (d) TAX OPINION. The Company shall have received an opinion of
         Cahill Gordon & Reindel, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
         to it, to the effect that the Merger will qualify as a reorganization
         within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such
         opinion, such counsel may receive and rely on representations of fact
         contained in certificates provided by Acquiror and the Company.

<PAGE>
                                      -53-



                                    ARTICLE X

                                   TERMINATION


                  10.1.  TERMINATION.  This  Agreement  may be terminated at any
time prior to the Effective  Time,  whether before or after and approval of this
Agreement by either the Company's stockholders or the Acquiror's stockholders:

                  (a)  by mutual written consent of the Company and Acquiror;

                  (b)  by either the Company or Acquiror;

                            (i) if the Merger shall not have been consummated by
                  December 15, 1997 unless the Merger has not occurred by such
                  time solely by reason of the failure by the SEC to give timely
                  approval to the Joint Proxy Statement or the Form S-4 or by
                  reason of the conditions set forth in Section 9.1(b) or 9.2(e)
                  having not yet been satisfied, in which case January 15, 1997
                  if consented to by the Company (such consent not to be
                  unreasonably withheld); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the right to
                  terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(b)(i)
                  shall not be available to any party whose failure to perform
                  any of its obligations under this Agreement results in the
                  failure of the Merger to be consummated by such time;

                           (ii) if the Acquiror Stockholder Approval shall not
                  have been obtained at an Acquiror Stockholder Meeting duly
                  convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement
                  thereof;

                          (iii) if the Company Stockholder Approval shall not
                  have been obtained at a Company Stockholder Meeting duly
                  convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement
                  thereof; or

                           (iv) if any Restraint having any of the effects set
                  forth in Section 9.1(c) shall be in effect and shall have
                  become final and nonappealable;

                  (c) by the Company, if Acquiror shall have breached or failed
         to perform in any material respect any of its representations,
         warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement;

                  (d)  by the Company if the Closing Date Market Price  is  less
         than $10.00;

<PAGE>
                                      -54-


                  (e) by the Company if the Form S-4 is not declared effective
         by November 20, 1997 (it being understood that the Acquiror may request
         the Company to consent to the extension of such date to December 20,
         1997 (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld));

                  (f) by Acquiror, if the Company shall have breached or failed
         to perform in any material respect any of its representations,
         warranties, covenants or other agreements (other than Section 8.6)
         contained in this Agreement;

                  (g) by the Company if the average closing price for shares of
         Acquiror Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ for any period of 20
         consecutive trading days after the date hereof is less than $10 per
         share;

                  (h) by Acquiror, if Section 8.6 shall be breached by the
         Company or any of its officers, directors or employees or any
         investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other
         representative of the Company, in any material respect and the Company
         shall have failed promptly to terminate the activity giving rise to
         such breach and use best efforts to cure such breach upon notice
         thereof from Acquiror, or the Company shall breach Section 8.6 by
         failing to promptly notify Acquiror as required thereunder;

                  (i) by Acquiror if (i) the Board of Directors of the Company
         or any committee thereof shall have withdrawn or modified in a manner
         adverse to Acquiror its approval or recommendation of the Merger or
         this Agreement, or failed to reconfirm its recommendation within
         fifteen business days after a written request to do so, or approved or
         recommended any Company Takeover Proposal or (ii) the Board of
         Directors of the Company or any committee thereof shall have resolved
         to take any of the foregoing actions; or

<PAGE>
                                      -55-


                  (j) by the Company if it elects to terminate this Agreement in
         accordance with Section 8.6(b); PROVIDED that it has complied with all
         provisions thereof, including the notice provisions therein, and that
         it complies with applicable requirements relating to the payment
         (including the timing of any payment) of the termination fee required
         by Section 10.2(b).

                  10.2.  EFFECT OF TERMINATION.

                  (a) The termination of this Agreement shall become effective
upon delivery to the other party of written notice thereof. In the event of the
termination of this Agreement pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
Article X, this Agreement shall become void and have no effect, with no
liability on the part of any party (except as provided in paragraph (b) below)
or its stockholders or directors or officers in respect thereof except for
agreements which survive the termination of this Agreement and except for
liability that Acquiror or the Company might have arising from a breach of this
Agreement.

                  (b) In the event of a termination of this Agreement by the
Company pursuant to Section 10.1(j), then the Company shall within two business
days of such termination pay Acquiror by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to an account specified by Acquiror a termination fee of $15.0 million,
which includes reimbursement for expenses.


                                   ARTICLE XI

                                  MISCELLANEOUS


                  11.1. NONSURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. None of
the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time. This
Section 11.1 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties which by
its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time.


<PAGE>
                                      -56-


                  11.2.  CLOSING AND WAIVER.

                  (a) Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in
accordance with the provisions of Section 10.1 hereof, a closing (the "Closing"
and the date and time thereof being the "Closing Date") will be held as soon as
practicable after the conditions set forth in Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 shall
have been satisfied or waived. The Closing will be held at the offices of Cahill
Gordon & Reindel, 80 Pine Street, New York, New York or at such other places as
the parties may agree. Simultaneously therewith, the Certificate of Merger will
be filed.

                  (b) At any time prior to the Effective Date, any party hereto
may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other
acts of any other party hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties of the other party contained herein or in any
document delivered pursuant hereto, and (iii) waive compliance with any of the
agreements of any other party or with any conditions to its own obligations
contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such
extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing
duly authorized by and signed on behalf of such party.

                  11.3.  NOTICES.

                  (a) Any notice or communication to any party hereto shall be
duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile or overnight air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to such other party's address.

                  If to Acquiror or Merger Sub:

                           6805 Route 202
                           New Hope, Pennsylvania  18938
                           Facsimile No.:  (215) 862-1083
                           Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

                           with a copy to:

                           Arnold & Porter
                           399 Park Avenue
                           New York, New York  10022
                           Facsimile No.:  (212) 713-1399
                           Attention:  Jonathan C. Stapleton

                           and

                           Aloysius T. Lawn, IV, Esq.
                           General Counsel
                           Tel-Sav Holdings, Inc.
                           6805 Route 202
                           New Hope, Pennsylvania  18938
                           Facsimile No.:  (215) 862-1083
<PAGE>
                                      -57-


                  If to the Company:

                           100 Great Meadow Road, Suite 104
                           Wethersfield, CT  06109
                           Facsimile No.:  (860) 258-2455
                           Attention:  Kenneth M. Dorros, Esq.

                           with a copy to:

                           James J. Clark, Esq.
                           Cahill Gordon & Reindel
                           80 Pine Street
                           New York, NY  10005
                           Facsimile No.:  (212) 269-5420

                                         and

                           Donald E. Miller, Esq.
                           The Fairchild Corporation
                           300 West Service Road
                           P.O. Box 10803
                           Chantilly, Virginia  22021-0803
                           Facsimile No.:  (703) 478-5775

                  (b) All notices and communications will be deemed to have been
duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
business days after being deposited in the mail, if mailed; when sent, if sent
by facsimile; and the next business day after timely delivery to the courier, if
sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

                  11.4.  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an original,  but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                  11.5. INTERPRETATION. The headings of articles and sections
herein are for convenience of reference, do not constitute a part of this
Agreement, and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions
hereof. As used in this Agreement, "person" means any individual, corporation,
limited or general partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company,
trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political
subdivision thereof; "subsidiary" of any person means (i) a corporation more
than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or
indirectly, by such person or by one or more other subsidiaries of such person
or by such person and one or more subsidiaries thereof or (ii) any other person
(other than a corporation) in which such person, or one or more other
subsidiaries of such person or such person and one or more other subsidiaries
thereof, directly or indirectly, have at least a majority ownership and voting
power relating to the policies, management and affairs thereof; and "voting
stock" of any person means capital stock of such person which ordinarily has
voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar
functions) of such person, whether at all times or only so long as no senior
class of securities has such voting power by reason of any contingency.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in no event will Shared Technologies
Cellular, Inc. be considered a subsidiary of the Company for any purpose.

<PAGE>
                                      -58-


                  11.6.  CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
                         --------------------

                  "FII" means Fairchild Industries, Inc., the non-surviving
constituent corporation in the merger of March 13, 1996 with Shared
Technologies, Inc.

                  "FHC  Indemnification  Agreement"  means  the  Indemnification
Agreement, between Fairchild Holding Corp. and the Company dated March 13, 1996.

                  "RHI Indemnification Agreement" means the Indemnification
Agreement dated March 13, 1996 by and among TFC, RHI and the Company.

                  "Pending   Transactions"   means  the   pending   transactions
regarding ICS Communications, Inc. and GE Capital-Rescom, L.L.P.

                  "Pledge Agreement" means the Pledge Agreement dated as of
March 13, 1996 by RHI in favor of Gadsby & Hannah as pledge agent.

                  "STFI Agreement" means the Agreement dated the date hereof
between the Company and Acquiror.

<PAGE>
                                      -59-


                  11.7. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
at any time before or after any required approval of matters presented in
connection with the Merger by each of the stockholders of the Company and
Acquiror; provided, however, that after any such approval, there shall not be
made any amendment that by law requires further approval by such stockholders
without the further approval of such stockholders. This Agreement may not be
amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the
parties.

                  11.8. NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Except for the provisions
of Section 8.10 (which is intended to be for the benefit of the persons referred
to therein, and may be enforced by such persons) nothing in this Agreement shall
confer any rights upon any person or entity which is not a party or permitted
assignee of a party to this Agreement.

                  11.9. GOVERNING LAW. Except as the laws of the State of
Delaware are by their terms applicable, this Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard
to principles of conflicts of laws.

                  11.10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral,
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

                  11.11. VALIDITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect.

<PAGE>
                                      -60-


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Merger
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers all as of the day and
year first above written.

                                       TEL SAVE HOLDINGS, INC.

                                       By:/s/ Edward Meyercord
                                          -----------------------
                                          Name:  Edward Meyercord
                         Title: Executive Vice President


                                       TSHCo, INC.

                                       By:/s/ Edward Meyercord
                                          ---------------------
                                       Name:  Edward Meyercord
                         Title: Executive Vice President


                       SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD, INC.

                                       By:/s/ Anthony Autorino
                                          ---------------------
                                       Name:  Anthony Autorino
                       Title: Chairman and Chief Executive
                                              Officer



<PAGE>



                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                       ---------


                        FORM OF COMPANY AFFILIATE LETTER
                        --------------------------------


[ADDRESS]


Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  The undersigned, a holder of shares of common stock, par value
$.004 per share ("Company Common Stock"), of Shared Technologies Fairchild Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is entitled to receive in connection
with the merger (the "Merger") between the Company and a direct wholly owned
subsidiary of Tel-Save Holdings, Inc. ("Acquiror") shares of common stock, par
value $.01 per share, ("Acquiror Common Stock") of Acquiror. The undersigned
acknowledges that the undersigned may be deemed an "affiliate" of the Company
within the meaning of Rule 145 ("Rule 145") promulgated under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), although nothing contained herein should be
construed as an admission of such fact.

                  If in fact the undersigned is an affiliate under the Act, the
undersigned's ability to sell, assign or transfer the Shares received by the
undersigned pursuant to the Merger may be restricted unless such transaction is
registered under the Act or an exemption from such registration is available.
The undersigned understands that such exemptions are limited and the undersigned
has obtained advice of counsel as to the nature and conditions of such
exemptions, including information with respect to the applicability to the sale
of such securities of Rules 144 and 145(d) promulgated under the Act.

                  The undersigned hereby represents to and covenants with
Acquiror that the undersigned will not sell, assign or transfer any of the
Acquiror Common Stock received by the undersigned pursuant to the Merger except
(i) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Act, (ii) in
conformity with the limitations specified by Rules 144 and Rule 145(d) or (iii)
in a transaction that, in the opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to
Acquiror or as described in a "no-action" or interpretive letter from the Staff
of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), is not required to be
registered under the Act.

<PAGE>
                                       -2-



                  It is understood that the undersigned has no present intention
to sell the Acquiror Common Stock acquired by the undersigned pursuant to the
Merger. The undersigned agrees that the undersigned will not sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose of any Company Common Stock for 30 days prior to the effective
date of the Merger or any Acquiror Common Stock received by the undersigned in
the Merger until after such time as results covering at least 30 days of
combined operations of the Company and Acquiror have been published by Acquiror,
in the form of a quarterly earnings report, a report to the SEC on Form 10-K,
10-Q or 8-K, or any other public filing or announcement which includes such
combined results of operations.

                  In the event of a sale or other disposition by the undersigned
of Acquiror Common Stock pursuant to Rule 145(d)(1), the undersigned will supply
Acquiror with evidence of compliance with such Rule, in the form of a letter in
the form of Annex I hereto. The undersigned understands that Acquiror may
instruct its transfer agent to withhold the transfer of any Acquiror Common
Stock disposed of by the undersigned, but that upon receipt of such evidence of
compliance the transfer agent shall effectuate the transfer of the Shares sold
as indicated in the letter.

                  The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that appropriate
legends will be placed on certificates representing the Acquiror Common Stock
received by the undersigned pursuant to the Merger or held by a transferee
thereof, which legends will be removed by delivery of substitute certificates
upon receipt of an opinion in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Acquiror from independent counsel reasonably satisfactory to Acquiror to the
effect that such legends are no longer required for the purposes of the Act or
the fourth paragraph of this letter.

                  The undersigned acknowledges that (i) the undersigned has
carefully read this letter and understands the requirements hereof and the
limitations imposed upon the distribution, sale, transfer or other disposition
of the Acquiror Common Stock and (ii) the receipt by Acquiror of this letter is
an inducement and a condition to Acquiror's obligations to consummate the
Merger.

                                                              Very truly yours,





<PAGE>

                                                                     ANNEX I
                                                                 TO EXHIBIT A
                                                                 ------------



                                                                     [Date]


[Name]


                  On _____________ the undersigned sold _____________ shares of
common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Tel-Save Holdings, Inc. ("Acquiror").
The shares were received by the undersigned in connection with the merger of
Shared Technologies Fairchild Inc. with and into a direct wholly owned
subsidiary of Acquiror.

                  Based upon the most recent report or statement filed by
Acquiror with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the shares sold by the
undersigned were within the prescribed limitations set forth in paragraph (e) of
Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act").

                  The undersigned hereby represents that the shares were sold in
"brokers' transactions" within the meaning of Section 4(4) of the Act or in
transactions directly with a "market maker" as that term is defined in Section
3(a)(38) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The undersigned
further represents that the undersigned has not solicited or arranged for the
solicitation of orders to buy the shares, and that the undersigned has not made
any payment in connection with the offer or sale of the shares to any person
other than to the broker who executed the order in respect of such sale.

                                                        Very truly yours,



                                    AGREEMENT

     THIS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of July 16, 1997, is by and
between TEL-SAVE HOLDINGS, INC. ("Acquiror"), a Delaware corporation, and SHARED
TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD, INC. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation.

                                   WITNESSETH

     WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of the Acquiror and the Company
have approved the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), and
certain other agreements contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the "Transaction
Documents"), providing for certain transactions pursuant to which the Company
would be merged with and into TSHCo, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Acquiror (collectively, the "Transactions");

     WHEREAS, as a condition to Acquiror's entry into the Transaction Documents
and the Transactions, and to induce such entry, the Company has agreed to grant
Acquiror the option set forth herein to purchase authorized but unissued shares
of the common stock of the Company, par value .004 per share ("Company Common
Stock");

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises herein contained, the
parties agree as follows:

     1. Certain Definitions.

     (a) Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same
meanings as in the Transaction Documents.

     (b) The term "Effective Date" shall have the meaning specified in the
Merger Agreement.

     (c) The term "Purchase Event" shall mean any event, pursuant to Section
10.2(b) of the Merger Agreement, which would, by the terms of such section,
require the Company to pay a Termination Fee (as defined in the Merger
Agreement).

     2. Grant of Option. Effective on the date of any Purchase Event, Acquiror
shall have, and the Company hereby grants to Acquiror, the right and option to
purchase (the "Option") from the Company, at a price of $11.25 per share of
Company Common Stock (the "Exercise Price"), 3,000,000 shares of Company Common
Stock (the "Option Shares"). The Option shall be exercisable by Acquiror, in
whole at any time and in part from time to time, within one (1) year after the
effective date of such grant, by tender to the Company of the cash in payment of
the exercise price therefor, whereupon the Company shall promptly issue to
Acquiror the number of shares of Company Common Stock for which the Option is
being exercised and the exercise price for which is so tendered, such shares to
be deemed for all purposes to be


<PAGE>



issued and outstanding as of and after such tender of cash to the Company in
payment of such exercise price.

     3. Exercise of Option.

     In the event Acquiror wishes to exercise the Option, it shall send to the
Company a written notice (the date of which being herein referred to as the
"Notice Date") specifying (i) the total number of shares it will purchase
pursuant to such exercise, and (ii) a place and date not earlier than three
business days nor later than 30 business days from the Notice Date for the
closing of such purchase (the "Closing Date"); provided that, if prior
notification to or approval of any federal or state regulatory agency is
required in connection with such purchase, the Acquiror shall promptly file the
required notice or application for approval and shall expeditiously process the
same and the period of time that otherwise would run pursuant to this sentence
shall run instead from the date on which any required notification period has
expired or been terminated or such approval has been obtained and any requisite
waiting period shall have passed.

     4. Payment and Delivery of Certificates.

     (a) At the closing referred to in Section 3 hereof, Acquiror shall pay to
the Company the aggregate purchase price for the shares of the Company Common
Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in immediately available
funds by a wire transfer to a bank account designated by the Company.

     (b) At such closing, simultaneously with the delivery of cash as provided
in subsection (a), the Company shall deliver to Acquiror a certificate or
certificates representing the number of shares of the Company Common Stock
purchased by Acquiror, and Acquiror shall deliver to the Company a letter
agreeing that Acquiror will not offer to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of
such shares in violation of applicable law or the provisions of this Agreement.

     (c) Certificates for the Company Common Stock delivered at a closing
hereunder may be endorsed with a restrictive legend which shall read
substantially as follows:

         "The shares represented by this certificate have not been registered
         under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
         and the regulations promulgated thereunder and may not be sold without
         registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from
         registration thereunder."

It is understood and agreed that the above legend shall be removed by delivery
of substitute certificate(s) without such

                                      - 2 -

<PAGE>



legend if Acquiror shall have delivered to the Company a copy of a letter from
the staff of the SEC, or an opinion of counsel, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such legend is not required for
purposes of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws and this
Agreement.

     5. Representations. The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants
to the Acquiror as follows:

     (a) The Company shall at all times maintain sufficient authorized but
unissued shares of the Acquiror Common Stock so that the Option may be exercised
without authorization of additional shares of the Company Common Stock.

     (b) The shares to be issued upon due exercise, in whole or in part, of the
Option, when paid for as provided herein, will be duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     6. Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any change in
the Company Common Stock by reason of stock dividends, split-ups,
recapitalizations, combinations, exchanges of shares or the like, the type and
number of shares subject to the Option, and the purchase price per share, as the
case may be, shall be adjusted appropriately. Nothing contained in this Section
6 shall be deemed to authorize the Company to breach any provision of the
Transaction Documents.

     7. Registration Rights. The Company shall, if requested by the Acquiror, as
expeditiously as possible file a registration statement on a form of general use
and available for use by the Company under the Securities Act if necessary in
order to permit or assist the sale or other disposition of the shares of the
Company Common Stock that have been acquired upon exercise of the Option in
accordance with the intended method of sale or other disposition requested by
the Acquiror. The Acquiror shall provide all information reasonably requested by
the Company for inclusion in any registration statement to be filed hereunder.
The Company will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement first
to become effective and then to remain effective for such period not in excess
of 270 days from the day such registration statement first becomes effective as
may be reasonably necessary to effect such sales or other dispositions. The
obligations of the Company hereunder to file a registration statement and to
maintain its effectiveness may be suspended for one or more periods of time not
exceeding 60 days in the aggregate if the Board of Directors of the Company
shall have determined that the filing of such registration statement or the
maintenance of its effectiveness would require disclosure of non-public
information that would materially and adversely affect the Company. The first
registration statement prepared under this Section 7 shall be at the Company's
expense except for

                                      - 3 -

<PAGE>



underwriting commissions and the fees and disbursements of the Acquiror's
counsel attributable to the offering of the Company Common Stock by the
Acquiror. The preparation of a second registration statement may be requested
and effected hereunder at the Acquiror's sole expense. In no event shall the
Company be required to effect more than two registrations hereunder. The filing
of any registration statement hereunder may be delayed for such period of time
as may reasonably be required to facilitate any public distribution by the
Company of the Company Common Stock. If requested by the Acquiror in connection
with any registration, the Company will become a party to any underwriting
agreement relating to the sale of such shares, but only to the extent of
obligating itself in respect of representations, warranties, indemnities and
other agreements customarily included in such underwriting agreements for
parties similarly situated. In any such transaction the Company and the Acquiror
will also agree to indemnify each other on customary terms with respect to any
information provided by such party.

     8. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained
in this Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state regulatory agency of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of
the terms, provisions and covenants and restrictions contained in this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated. If for any reason such court or regulatory agency determines
that the Option will not permit the holder to acquire the full number of shares
of the Company Common Stock provided in Section 2 hereof (as adjusted pursuant
to Section 6 hereof), it is the express intention of the Company to allow the
holder to acquire such lesser number of shares as may be permissible, without
any amendment or modification hereof.

     9. Miscellaneous.

     (a) Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein, each of the parties
hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder, including fees and
expenses of its own financial consultants, investment bankers, accountants and
counsel.

     (b) Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this
Agreement and the Transaction Documents contain the entire agreement between the
parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereunder and supersedes
all prior arrangements or understandings with respect thereto, written or oral.
The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer
upon any

                                      - 4 -

<PAGE>



party, other than the parties hereto, and their respective successors and
assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of
this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.

     (c) Assignment. Other than as provided in Section 7 hereof, neither of the
parties hereto may assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement
or the Option created hereunder to any other person, without the express written
consent of the other party.

     (d) Notices. All notices or other communications which are required or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered personally
or sent by overnight express or by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid, addressed as provided in the Merger Agreement. A party may change its
address for notice purposes by written notice to the other party hereto.

     (e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original
instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one
agreement.

     (f) Specific Performance. The parties agree that damages would be an
inadequate remedy for a breach of the provisions of this Agreement by either
party hereto and that this Agreement may be enforced by either party hereto
through injunctive or other equitable relief.

     (g) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of Delaware applicable to agreements made and entirely
to be performed within such state and such federal laws as may be applicable.

     (h) Termination. This Agreement, and all rights and obligations of the
parties hereunder, shall terminate upon the first to occur of (a) the
consummation of the Merger, (b) January 15, 1998, or (c) the date of termination
of the Merger Agreement by any of the parties thereto other than pursuant to a
Purchase Event.


                                      - 5 -

<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has executed this Agreement
as of the day and year first written above.

                                 TEL-SAVE HOLDINGS, INC.



                                 By:/s/ Edward Meyercord
                                    --------------------------
                                    Name:  Edward Meyercord
                                    Title: Executive Vice President



                                 SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD, INC.



                                 By:/s/ Kenneth Dorros
                                    ------------------------------
                                    Name:  Kenneth Dorros
                                    Title: Senior Vice President,
                          General Counsel and Secretary


                                      - 6 -








                                VOTING AGREEMENT


                  This Voting Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of July
16, 1997 by and between Daniel Borislow (the "Stockholder") and Shared
Technologies Fairchild Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") .

                  WHEREAS, Tel-Save Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Acquiror"), and TSHCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Acquiror ("Merger Sub"), and the Company are parties to an
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of July 16, 1997 (the "Merger Agreement"),
which provides, among other things, for the merger of the Company with and into
Merger Sub (the "Merger"), with Merger Sub as the surviving corporation and a
wholly owned subsidiary of Acquiror, and for the issuance (the "Issuance") of
shares of common stock of Acquiror, par value $.01 per share, which must be
approved by holders of the requisite percentages of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Acquiror entitled to vote upon the Merger and the Issuance
(such shares of capital stock, the "Acquiror Common Stock") at a special meeting
of the Acquiror's stockholders (the "Special Meeting") called for the purpose of
approving the Merger and the Issuance, all in accordance with the requirements
of the Delaware General Corporation Law, Acquiror's Certificate of Incorporation
and Acquiror's By-Laws;

                  WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Stockholder owns (either
beneficially or of record) the number of shares (the "Shares") of Acquiror
Common Stock set forth opposite such Stockholder's name on SCHEDULE A hereto;
and

                  WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of the Company to
enter into the Merger Agreement, the Company has requested that the Stockholder
execute and deliver to the Company this Agreement;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

                  1. AGREEMENT TO VOTE SHARES. The Stockholder agrees to vote
the Shares and any other shares of Acquiror Common Stock which he, directly or
indirectly, controls at the Special Meeting or at any other meeting of the
stockholders of Acquiror, however called, and in any action by consent of the
stockholders of Acquiror (a) in favor of the Merger and the Issuance, (b) in
favor of the Merger Agreement, and (c) against any amendment of Acquiror's
Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or other proposal or transaction
involving Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries which amendment or other proposal
or transaction would in any manner impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify, or
result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other
obligation or agreement of Acquiror under or with respect to, the Merger, the
Merger Agreement or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement.

                  2. COVENANTS. The Stockholder agrees with respect to himself
and the Shares he owns that:

<PAGE>

                                       -2-

                  (a) He shall not, except consistent with the terms of this
         Agreement, (i) transfer (which term shall include, without limitation,
         for the purposes of this Agreement, any sale, gift, pledge or other
         disposition), or consent to any transfer of, any or all of the Shares
         or any interest therein, (ii) enter into any contract, option or other
         agreement or understanding with respect to any transfer of any or all
         of the Shares or any interest therein, (iii) take any other action that
         would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of
         his or its obligations hereunder or the transactions contemplated
         hereby, or (iv) grant any proxies or powers of attorney with respect to
         any of the Shares, deposit any Shares into a voting trust or enter into
         a voting agreement with respect to such Shares. Notwithstanding the
         foregoing, the Stockholder may transfer his or its Shares if such
         transferee becomes a party to and bound by all of the terms of this
         Agreement.

                  (b) He will not enter into any transaction, take any action,
         or directly or indirectly cause any event to occur that would result in
         any of the representations or warranties of the Stockholder herein
         contained not being true and correct at and as of the time immediately
         after the occurrence of such transaction, action or event.

<PAGE>

                                       -3-

                  3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Stockholder represents
and warrants with respect to himself and the Shares he owns that:

                  (a) He is the record or beneficial owner of the number of
         Shares set forth on Schedule A opposite his name and, except for the
         Shares, he is not the record or beneficial owner of any shares of the
         Acquiror Common Stock.

                  (b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
         Stockholder and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of
         the Stockholder, enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with
         its terms. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the
         consummation by the Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby
         will result in a violation of, or a default under, or conflict with,
         any contract, trust, commitment, agreement, understanding, arrangement
         or restriction of any kind to which the Stockholder is a party or bound
         or to which the Shares are subject which would materially impair the
         ability of the Stockholder to perform hereunder. Consummation by the
         Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby will not violate,
         or require any consent, approval, or notice under, any provision of any
         judgment, order, decree, statute, law, rule or regulation applicable to
         the Stockholder or the Shares, except for any filing under the
         Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and
         the filing of an amendment to the Schedules 13D, if any, filed by the
         Stockholder with respect to the Acquiror Common Stock.

                  (c) The Shares owned by him and the certificates representing
         such Shares are now and at all times during the term hereof will be
         held by the Stockholder or by a nominee or custodian for his benefit,
         free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, proxies,
         voting trusts or agreements, understandings or arrangements or any
         other encumbrances whatsoever, except for any such encumbrances or
         proxies arising hereunder.

                  (d) No broker, investment banker, financial adviser or other
         person is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial adviser's or
         other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions
         contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of
         such Stockholder.

<PAGE>

                                       -4-

                  4. CERTAIN EVENTS. The Stockholder agrees that this Agreement
and the obligations hereunder shall attach to the Shares owned by him and shall
be binding upon any person or entity to which legal or beneficial ownership of
such Shares shall pass, whether by operation of law or otherwise, including
without limitation such person's heirs, guardians, administrators or successors.
In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, merger, reorganization,
recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company
affecting the Acquiror Common Stock, or the acquisition of additional shares of
Acquiror Common Stock by the Stockholder, this Agreement and the obligations
hereunder shall attach to any additional shares of Acquiror Common Stock or
other voting securities of the Company issued to or acquired by the Stockholder.
In the event of a stock dividend or distribution, or any change in Acquiror
Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend, split-up, recapitalization,
combination, exchange of shares or the like, the term "Shares" shall be deemed
to refer to and include the Shares as well as all such stock dividends and
distributions and any shares into which or for which any or all of the Shares
may be changed or exchanged.

                  5. SPECIFIC ENFORCEMENT OF VOTING AGREEMENT. The Stockholder
expressly acknowledges that damages alone will not be adequate remedy for any
breach by the Stockholder of this Agreement and that Acquiror, in addition to
any other remedies it may have, will be entitled as a matter of right, to
injunctive relief, including specific performance, in any court of competent
jurisdiction with respect to any actual or threatened breach by the Stockholder
of the provisions of this Agreement.

                  6. TERMINATION. This Agreement, and all rights and obligations
of the parties hereunder, shall terminate upon the first to occur of (a) the
consummation of the Merger, (b) January 15, 1998, or (c) the date of termination
of the Merger Agreement by any of the parties thereto.


<PAGE>

                                       -5-

                  7. MISCELLANEOUS.

                  (a) All communication under this Agreement shall be in writing
         and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or sent by overnight
         courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties at the following
         addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified
         by like notice):

                           If to Stockholder:
                           c/o  Tel-Save Holdings, Inc.
                           6805 Route 202
                           New Hope, Pennsylvania  18938
                           Attention:  Daniel Borislow
                           Telecopy:  (215) 862-1083

                           with a copy to:
                           Arnold & Porter
                           399 Park Avenue
                           New York, New York  10022
                           Attention:  Jonathan C. Stapleton

                           If to the Company:
                           Shared Technologies Fairchild Inc.
                           100 Great Meadow Road
                           Wethersfield, CT  06109
                           Attention:  Kenneth Dorros
                           Telecopy:  (860) 258-2455

                           with a copy to:
                           Cahill Gordon & Reindel
                           80 Pine Street
                           New York, New York  10005
                           Attention:  James J. Clark, Esq.
                           Telecopy:  (212) 269-5420

                  (b) The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
         purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
         interpretation of this Agreement.

                  (c) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement relating
         to the subject matter covered herein, and supersedes all prior
         agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties
         with respect to the subject matter hereof.

                  (d) Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or
         obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in
         part, by operation of law or otherwise, by any of the parties without
         the prior written consent of the other parties, except that this
         Agreement shall be binding upon the Stockholder and his successors and
         assigns and except as provided in Section 2(a).

<PAGE>

                                       -6-


                  (e) The construction and performance of this Agreement will be
         governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws
         that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of
         laws thereof.

                  (f) If any term, provision, covenant or restriction herein, or
         the application thereof to any circumstance, shall, to any extent, be
         held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or
         unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
         restrictions herein and the application thereof to any other
         circumstances, shall remain in full force and effect, shall not in any
         way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and shall be enforced to the
         fullest extent permitted by law.

                  (g) The Stockholder agrees that irreparable damage would occur
         and that Acquiror would not have any adequate remedy at law in the
         event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed
         in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It
         is accordingly agreed that Acquiror shall be entitled to an injunction
         or injunctions to prevent breaches by any Stockholder of this Agreement
         and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement
         in any court, in addition to any other remedy to which it is entitled
         at law or in equity. In addition, each of the parties hereto (i)
         consents to submit such party to the personal jurisdiction of any
         Federal court located in the State of Delaware or any Delaware state
         court in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of
         the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that such party will
         not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or
         other request for leave from any such court and (iii) agrees that such
         party will not bring any action relating to this Agreement of any of
         the transactions contemplated hereby in any court other than a Federal
         court sitting in the State of Delaware or a Delaware state court.

                  (h) No amendment, modification or waiver in respect of this
         Agreement shall be effective against any party unless is shall be in
         writing and signed by such party.

<PAGE>

                                       -7-

                  (i) This Agreement may be executed in one or more
         counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same
         agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts
         have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other
         parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same
         counterpart.


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
agreement to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.



                               /s/ Daniel Borislow
                                              ------------------------------
                              Name: Daniel Borislow
                            Title: Chairman and Chief
                                                     Executive Officer

                                              SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.


                            By: /s/ Anthony Autorino
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                   Name:  Anthony Autorino
                                                   Title: Chairman and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer


<PAGE>




                                   SCHEDULE A
                                   ----------


STOCKHOLDER                                               NUMBER OF SHARES OWNED
- -----------                                               ----------------------
Daniel Borislow                                           15,249,000







              SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD TO MERGE INTO TEL-SAVE

WETHERSFIELD,  CONNECTICUT,  July 17, 1997 - Shared Technologies  Fairchild Inc.
(the "Company")  (Nasdaq:  STCH) today announced that it has signed an agreement
to merge into Tel-Save Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: TALK).

Pursuant to the agreement, the Company will merge into a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Tel-Save, and the Company's stockholders will receive shares of Tel-Save
stock, having a value of $11.25 per share for each share of common stock of the
Company, subject to upward adjustment in certain circumstances based on the
market price of Tel-Save's stock at the time of the merger. It is expected that
the merger will be completed in December. The merger is subject to the approval
of the shareholders of the Company and Tel-Save, as well as antitrust and
regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions.

"We view this as a powerful combination with strong synergies and exciting
growth prospects," said Anthony D. Autorino, the Company's chairman and chief
executive officer. "Our years of hard work in building a premier
telecommunications services company have culminated in this unique opportunity
to join with Tel-Save and achieve enhanced value for our stockholders," Autorino
said. "I'm impressed by the innovation and energy that Tel-Save has shown during
its rapid and successful development, and I believe that our quality customer
base is a perfect fit for Tel-Save."

Tel-Save is among the nation's ten largest providers of long-distance services,
utilizing state-of- the-art network technology.

Company Contact:

Anthony D. Autorino
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(860) 258-2400


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