SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC
8-K, 1997-11-24
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)
                                November 20, 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>


Item 5.  Other Events


     On November 20, 1997, Shared Technologies Fairchild Inc. (the "Company"),
Intermedia Communications Inc. ("Intermedia") and Moonlight Acquisition Corp.,
("Purchaser") a wholly owned subsidiary of Intermedia, entered into an Agreement
and Plan of Merger dated November 20, 1997 (the "Merger Agreement"). Pursuant to
the Merger Agreement, Purchaser will be merged with and into the Company and
holders of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock, Series D preferred
stock, Series I 6% convertible preferred stock and the Series J redeemable
special preferred stock will receive in cash $15.00, $15.00, $251.21 and
$109.44, respectively. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Intermedia has agreed
to commence a tender offer for 4,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company
no later than November 28, 1997.

     In connection with the Merger Agreement, Intermedia has entered into a
stock option agreement with certain shareholders of the Company, pursuant to
which Intermedia was granted irrevocable stock options to purchase approximately
50% of the outstanding common stock of the Company, which together with shares
owned directly by Intermedia gives Intermedia control of approximately 52.8% of
the Company's outstanding shares of common stock on a fully diluted basis.

     Immediately prior to entering into the Merger Agreement, the Company
terminated (the "Termination") the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Tel-Save
Merger Agreement") dated as of July 16, 1997 among the Company, Tel-Save
Holdings, Inc. ("Tel-Save") and TSCHo, Inc. and accordingly the Company's
special meeting of stockholders scheduled for December 1, 1997 has been
cancelled. Pursuant to the terms of the Tel-Save Merger Agreement, the Company
paid Tel-Save a termination fee of $15 million and paid Tel-Save $11.25 million
as an extinguishement of certain stock options granted to Tel-Save in connection
with the Tel-Save Merger Agreement.

     In connection with the Termination and entering into the Merger Agreement,
the Company, Intermedia, Purchaser, Tel-Save and TSHCo, Inc., have entered into
a Settlement Agreement which provides, among other things, for (i) a dismissal
of the litigation commenced by Intermedia in Chancery Court of Delaware, New
Castle County seeking to enjoin the Tel-Save merger; (ii) releases and covenants
not to sue in connection with the Merger Agreement and the Termination; and
(iii) an agreement by Tel-Save that for a period


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

of one year or the earlier termination of the Merger Agreement Tel-Save will not
acquire or make any attempts to acquire the Company.

     On November 21, 1997, the Company and Intermedia issued a joint press
release announcing, among other things, the execution of the Merger Agreement.

     A copy of the Merger Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement, the Settlement
Agreement and the press release are attached as exhibits hereto.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits


     (c) Exhibits. The following is a list of the Exhibits attached hereto.

Exhibit No. 99.1         Agreement and Plan of Merger among Shared
                         Technologies Fairchild Inc., Intermedia Communications
                         Inc. and Moonlight Acquisition Corp., dated as of
                         November 20, 1997.

Exhibit No. 99.2         Stock Option Agreement

Exhibit No. 99.3         Settlement Agreement between Shared
                         Technologies Fairchild and Tel-Save Holdings, Inc.
                         dated November 21, 1997

Exhibit No. 99.4         Press release issued by Shared Technologies
                         Fairchild Inc. and Intermedia Communications Inc. dated
                         November 21, 1997



                                      -3-
<PAGE>


                                    SIGNATURE


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

Date:  November 24, 1997


                                SHARED TECHNOLOGIES
                                  FAIRCHILD INC.


                                By: /s/  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Name:  Vincent DiVincenzo
                                    Title: Senior Vice President
                           Administration and Finance






                                      -4-
<PAGE>



                                  Exhibit Index


Exhibit No.                       Description

  (99.1)                 Agreement and Plan of Merger among Shared
                         Technologies Fairchild Inc., Intermedia Communications
                         Inc. and Moonlight Acquisition Corp., dated as of
                         November 20, 1997.

  (99.2)                 Stock Option Agreement

  (99.3)                 Settlement Agreement between Shared
                         Technologies Fairchild and Tel-Save Holdings, Inc.
                         dated November 21, 1997

  (99.4)                 Press release issued by Shared Technologies
                         Fairchild Inc. and Intermedia Communications Inc. dated
                         November 21, 1997












===============================================================================
                           PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER



                                      Among



                         INTERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS INC.,



                           MOONLIGHT ACQUISITION CORP.



                                       and



                       SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.



                             Dated November 20, 1997



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



<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                            Page

I.      THE OFFER.............................................................1
        I.1. The Offer........................................................1
        I.2. Company Action...................................................2
        I.3. Voting of Shares Acquired by Purchaser...........................4
II.     THE MERGER............................................................4
        II.1.  Merger; Surviving Corporation..................................4
        II.2.  Certificate of Incorporation...................................4
        II.3.  Bylaws.........................................................5
        II.4.  Directors and Officers.........................................5
        II.5.  Effective Time.................................................5
        II.6.  Conversion of Shares...........................................5
        II.7.  Purchaser Common Stock.........................................7
        II.8.  Surrender of Shares............................................7
        II.9.  Company Stock Options and Warrants.............................9
        II.10. Good Faith Deposit.............................................9
        II.11. Termination of the Pledge Agreement............................9
III.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY..............................9
       III.1.  Organization and Qualification.................................9
       III.2.  Capital Stock of Subsidiaries.................................10
       III.3.  Capitalization................................................10
       III.4.  Authority Relative to This Agreement..........................11
       III.5.  No Violations, etc............................................12
       III.6.  Commission Filings; Financial Statements......................13
       III.7.  Absence of Changes or Events..................................13
       III.8.  Proxy Statement...............................................14
       III.9.  Litigation....................................................14
       III.10. Title to and Condition of Properties..........................14
       III.11. Contracts and Commitments.....................................15
       III.12. Labor Matters.................................................15
       III.13. Compliance with Law...........................................15
       III.14. Board Recommendation..........................................16
       III.15. Patents and Trademarks........................................16
       III.16. Taxes.........................................................16
       III.17. Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA.................................17
       III.18. Environmental Matters.........................................21
       III.19. Disclosure....................................................22
       III.20. Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities............................22
       III.21. Finders or Brokers............................................22
       III.22. State Antitakeover Statutes...................................22
       III.23. Opinion of Financial Advisor..................................23
       III.24. Insurance.....................................................23
       III.25. Employment and Labor Contracts................................23
       III.26. Pending Transactions..........................................23
       III.27. Indemnification Agreements....................................23
       III.28. Indemnified Liabilities.......................................24
       III.29. Commercial Arrangements with Tel-Save Holdings, Inc...........24


                                      -i-
<PAGE>
                                                                            Page


IV.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND PURCHASER................24
       IV.1.  Organization and Qualification.................................24
       IV.2.  Authority Relative to This Agreement...........................25
       IV.3.  No Violations, etc.  ..........................................25
       IV.4.  Proxy Statement................................................26
       IV.5.  Finders or Brokers.............................................26
       IV.6.  Offer Documents................................................27
V.     COVENANTS.............................................................27
       V.1.   Conduct of Business of Company Pending the Merger..............27
       V.2.   Preparation of the Proxy Statement; Stockholders Meetings......30
       V.3.   Additional Agreements; Cooperation.............................31
       V.4.   Publicity......................................................32
       V.5.   No Solicitation................................................32
       V.6.   Access to Information..........................................34
       V.7.   Notification of Certain Matters................................34
       V.8.   Resignation of Directors.......................................35
       V.9.   Indemnification................................................35
       V.10.  Fees and Expenses..............................................36
       V.11.  Stockholder Litigation.........................................36
VI.    CONDITIONS............................................................36
       VI.1.  Conditions to the Merger.......................................36
       VI.2.  Conditions to Obligations of Parent............................37
       VI.3.  Conditions to Obligations of Company...........................37
VII.   TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.....................................38
       VII.1. Termination....................................................38
       VII.2. Effect of Termination..........................................39
       VII.3. Termination Payment.  .........................................39
       VII.4  Proceeds of the Good Faith Deposit.............................40
       VII.5  Amendment......................................................40
       VII.6  Waiver.........................................................41
VIII.  GENERAL PROVISIONS....................................................41
       VIII.1. Definitions...................................................41
       VIII.2. Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements....44
       VIII.3. Notices.......................................................44
       VIII.4. Severability..................................................45
       VIII.5. Miscellaneous.................................................46
       VIII.6. Specific Performance..........................................46
       VIII.7. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL..........................................46



                                      -ii-
<PAGE>

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


     AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (the "Agreement") being made and entered into
as of this 20th day of November, 1997 by and among INTERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
INC., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), MOONLIGHT ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware
corporation which is wholly owned by Parent ("Purchaser"), and SHARED
TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC., a Delaware corporation ("Company").

     WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Parent, Purchaser and Company have each
determined that it is in the best interests of their respective stockholders for
Parent to acquire Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein; and

     WHEREAS, in furtherance of such acquisition, it is proposed that Purchaser
shall make a cash tender offer (the "Offer") to acquire 4,000,000 of the issued
and outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $.004 per share, of Company
("Company Common Stock") (shares of Company Common Stock being hereinafter
collectively referred to as "Shares") for $15.00 per Share (such amount being
hereinafter referred to as the "Per Share Offer Amount") net to the seller in
cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and the
Offer; and

     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Company (the "Board") has unanimously
approved the making of the Offer and resolved and agreed to recommend that
holders of Shares tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer; and

     WHEREAS, also in furtherance of such acquisition, the Boards of Directors
of Parent, Purchaser and Company have each approved the merger (the "Merger") of
Purchaser with and into Company in accordance with the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware (the "GCL") and upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                  I. THE OFFER

     I.1. The Offer. (a) Provided that this Agreement shall not have been
terminated in accordance with Section 7.1 and none of the events set forth in
Annex A hereto shall have occurred or be existing, Purchaser shall commence the
Offer as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date hereof, but in no
event later than five business days after the initial public announcement of
Purchaser's intention to commence the Offer. The Offer shall, unless extended as
provided below, expire 20 business days after the commencement of the Offer. The

<PAGE>

obligation of Purchaser to accept for payment and pay for Shares tendered
pursuant to the Offer shall be subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set
forth in Annex A hereto. The number of Shares that Purchaser will accept in the
Offer shall be 4,000,000 Shares. Purchaser expressly reserves the right to waive
any such condition, to increase the price per Share payable in the Offer, to
increase the maximum number of Shares to be purchased in the Offer and to make
any other changes in the terms and conditions of the Offer; provided, however,
that, without the consent of Company, no change may be made which decreases the
price per Share payable in the Offer, which reduces the maximum number of Shares
to be purchased in the Offer or which imposes conditions to the Offer in
addition to those set forth in Annex A hereto or modifies such conditions, or
which changes the form of consideration payable in the Offer. The Per Share
Offer Amount shall, subject to applicable withholding of taxes, be net to the
seller in cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer, Purchaser shall pay, as
promptly as practicable after expiration of the Offer, for all Shares validly
tendered and not withdrawn. The Offer may not be extended for more than 20 days
beyond its original scheduled expiration date unless any of the conditions to
the Offer shall not have been satisfied, in which case the Offer shall remain
open until such time as all of the conditions to the Offer have been satisfied;
provided, however, in no event will Purchaser be required to extend the Offer
beyond February 28, 1998.

     (b) As soon as reasonably practicable on the date of commencement of the
Offer, Purchaser shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1 (together with all amendments
and supplements thereto, the "Schedule 14D-1") with respect to the Offer. The
Schedule 14D-1 shall contain or shall incorporate by reference an offer to
purchase (the "Offer to Purchase") and forms of the related letter of
transmittal and any related summary advertisement (the Schedule 14D-1, the Offer
to Purchase and such other documents, together with all supplements and
amendments thereto, being referred to herein collectively as the "Offer
Documents"). Company and its counsel shall be given an opportunity to review the
Offer Documents prior to their filing with the SEC. Parent, Purchaser and
Company agree to correct promptly any information provided by any of them for
use in the Offer Documents which shall have become false or misleading, and
Parent and Purchaser further agree to take all steps necessary to cause the
Schedule 14D-1 as so corrected to be filed with the SEC and the other Offer
Documents as so corrected to be disseminated to holders of Shares, in each case
as and to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws.



                                      -2-
<PAGE>

     I.2. Company Action. (a) Company hereby approves of and consents to the
Offer and represents that (i) the Board, at a meeting duly called and held on
November 20, 1997, has unanimously (A) determined that this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, including each of the Offer and the Merger,
are fair to and in the best interests of the holders of Shares, (B) approved and
adopted this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and (C)
recommended that the stockholders of Company accept the Offer and approve and
adopt this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and (ii) Credit
Suisse First Boston Corporation ("First Boston") has rendered to the Board its
opinion that the consideration to be received by the holders of Shares pursuant
to each of the Offer and the Merger is fair to the holders of Shares from a
financial point of view, subject to the assumptions and qualifications contained
in such opinion, and which shall be confirmed promptly in writing. Company
hereby consents to the inclusion in the Offer Documents of the recommendation of
the Board described in the immediately preceding sentence. Assuming that neither
Parent nor Purchaser are Interested Stockholders (as such term is defined in
Section 203 of the GCL) immediately prior to the Board taking the action
described in this Section 1.2, the approval set forth in clause (a)(i) shall,
among other things, satisfy the restrictions on business combinations contained
in Section 203 of the GCL with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.
Company has been advised by each of its directors and executive officers that
they intend to vote all Shares beneficially owned by them in favor of the
approval and adoption by the stockholders of Company of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby.

     (b) As soon as reasonably practicable on or after the date of commencement
of the Offer, Company shall file with the SEC a Solicitation/Recommendation
Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (together with all amendments and supplements
thereto, the "Schedule 14D-9") containing the recommendation of the Board
described in Section 1.2(a) and shall disseminate the Schedule 14D-9 to the
extent required by Rule 14d-9 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and any other applicable federal
securities laws. Company, Parent and Purchaser agree to correct promptly any
information provided by any of them for use in the Schedule 14D-9 which shall
have become false or misleading, and Company further agrees to take all steps
reasonably necessary to cause the Schedule 14D-9 as so corrected to be filed
with the SEC and disseminated to holders of Shares, in each case as and to the
extent required by applicable federal securities laws.

     (c) Company shall promptly furnish Purchaser with mailing labels containing
the names and addresses of all record holders of Shares and with security
position listings of Shares held in stock depositories, each as of a recent
date, together



                                      -3-
<PAGE>

with all other available listings and computer files containing names, addresses
and security position listings of record holders and beneficial owners of
Shares. Company shall furnish Purchaser with such additional information,
including, without limitation, updated listings and computer files of
stockholders, mailing labels and security position listings, and such other
assistance as Parent, Purchaser or their agents may reasonably request. Subject
to the requirements of applicable law, and except for such steps as are
necessary to disseminate the Offer Documents and any other documents necessary
to consummate the Offer or the Merger, Parent and Purchaser shall hold in
confidence the information contained in such labels, listings and files, shall
use such information only in connection with the Offer and the Merger, and, if
this Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with Section 7.1, shall deliver
to Company all copies of such information then in their or their agents'
possession.

     I.3. Voting of Shares Acquired by Purchaser. During the period beginning on
the date on which the Offer is consummated and ending on the later of (a) the
date on which this Agreement is terminated, and (b) the date on which Purchaser
receives any regulatory approvals necessary to consummate the Merger (as more
fully described in Section 6.2(c)), Purchaser hereby agrees to exercise its
voting rights in respect of any Shares it owns for the election of directors to
the Board in the same proportion as the voting rights of any Shares not owned by
Purchaser have been exercised.

                                 II. THE MERGER

     II.1. Merger; Surviving Corporation. In accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement and the GCL, at the Effective Time (as such term is defined in
Section 2.5; other capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined
in Section 8.1), Purchaser shall be merged with and into Company, and Company
shall be the surviving corporation (hereinafter sometimes called the "Surviving
Corporation") and shall continue its corporate existence under the laws of the
State of Delaware. At the Effective Time the separate corporate existence of
Purchaser shall cease. All properties, franchises and rights belonging to
Company and Purchaser, by virtue of the Merger and without further act or deed,
shall be deemed to be vested in the Surviving Corporation, which shall
thenceforth be responsible for all the liabilities and obligations of each of
Purchaser and Company.

     II.2. Certificate of Incorporation. At the Effective Time, the Certificate
of Incorporation of Company shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation; provided, however, that, at the Effective Time, the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended



                                      -4-
<PAGE>

in its entirety so that it will read as Purchaser's Certificate of
Incorporation, except that the name of the Surviving Corporation shall be
"SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.". As so amended, the Certificate of
Incorporation of Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall thereafter continue in full force and effect as the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until further altered or amended as
provided therein or by law.

     II.3. Bylaws. The Bylaws of Purchaser in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until altered,
amended or repealed as provided therein and in the Certificate of Incorporation
of the Surviving Corporation.

     II.4. Directors and Officers. The Directors of Purchaser prior to the
Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation. The officers
of Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the
Surviving Corporation. Each of such directors and officers shall hold office in
accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation.

     II.5. Effective Time. The Merger shall become effective at the time of
filing of a certificate of merger with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware in accordance with the provisions of Sections 251 or 253, as the case
may be, of the GCL (the "Certificate of Merger"), or at a later time specified
as the effective time in the Certificate of Merger, which Certificate of Merger
shall be so filed as soon as practicable after the meeting of stockholders
contemplated in Section 5.2 and the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of
the conditions set forth in Article VI. The date and time when the Merger shall
become effective are referred to herein as the "Effective Time."
Contemporaneously with such filing, a closing shall be held at the offices of
Kronish, Lieb, Weiner & Hellman LLP, 1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New
York 10036, or such other place as shall be agreed to by the parties, for the
purpose of confirming the satisfaction or waiver, as the case may be, of the
conditions set forth in Article VI.

     II.6. Conversion of Shares. (a) Each issued and outstanding share of
Company Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares
of Company Common Stock to be cancelled as set forth in Section 2.6(b) and
2.6(c)) shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the
holder thereof, be converted into, exchanged for and represent the right to
receive an amount equal to $15.00 per Share (the "Per Share Amount") in cash
(the "Shares Consideration"), payable, without interest, to the holder of such
Share, upon surrender, in the manner described below, of the certificate that
formerly evidenced such Share.



                                      -5-
<PAGE>

     (b) Each Share and Preferred Share (as defined below) issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time which is then owned
beneficially or of record by Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent shall, by virtue
of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be
cancelled and retired and cease to exist, without any conversion thereof.

     (c) Each Share and Preferred Share (as defined below) held in Company's
treasury immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, by virtue of the Merger,
be cancelled and retired and cease to exist, without any conversion thereof.

     (d) Each issued and outstanding share of Series D Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Series D Stock"), Series I 6% Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Convertible Preferred Stock"),
and Series J Special Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Special
Preferred Stock"), of Company (all such shares of Preferred Stock being
hereafter collectively referred to as the "Preferred Shares") immediately prior
to the Effective Time (other than the Preferred Shares to be cancelled as set
forth in Section 2.6(b) and 2.6(c)) shall, by virtue of the Merger and without
any action on the part of the holder thereof, be converted into, exchanged for
and represent the right to receive an amount equal to $15.00 per share of the
Series D Stock, $251.21 per share of the Convertible Preferred Stock and $109.44
per share of the Special Preferred Stock (all such amounts collectively, the
"Preferred Per Share Amount") in cash (the "Preferred Shares Consideration"; the
Shares Consideration and the Preferred Shares Consideration collectively, the
"Merger Consideration"), payable, without interest, to the holder of such
Preferred Share, upon surrender in the manner described above of the certificate
that formerly evidenced such Preferred Share.

     (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.6 to the contrary, Shares
which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and
which are held by any stockholder of Company who has not voted such shares in
favor of the Merger and who shall have properly exercised its rights of
appraisal for such shares in the manner provided by the GCL (the "Dissenting
Shares") shall not be converted into or be exchangeable for the right to receive
the Merger Consideration, unless and until such holder shall have failed to
perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost his right to appraisal and
payment, as the case may be. If such holder shall have so failed to perfect or
shall have effectively withdrawn or lost such right, his shares shall thereupon
be deemed to have been converted into and to have become exchangeable for, at
the Effective Time, the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without any
interest thereon. Company shall give Parent prompt



                                      -6-
<PAGE>

notice of any Dissenting Shares (and shall also give Parent prompt notice of any
withdrawals of such demands for appraisal rights) and Parent shall have the
right to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to any such
demands. Neither Company nor the Surviving Corporation shall, except with the
prior written consent of Parent, voluntarily make any payment with respect to,
or settle or offer to settle, any such demand for appraisal rights. Stockholders
of Company who shall have perfected their right of appraisal and not withdrawn
or otherwise lost such right of appraisal, shall be entitled to receive payment
of the appraised value of the shares of Company Common Stock held by them in
accordance with the provisions of Section 262 of the GCL.

     II.7. Purchaser Common Stock. Each share of common stock of Purchaser
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, by virtue
of the Merger and without any action on the part of Purchaser or the holder
thereof, be converted into and become one fully paid and nonassessable share of
common stock of the Surviving Corporation. From and after the Effective Time,
each outstanding certificate theretofore representing shares of Purchaser common
stock shall be deemed for all purposes to evidence ownership of and to represent
the number of shares of Surviving Corporation common stock into which such
shares of Purchaser common stock shall have been converted. Promptly after the
Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall issue to Parent a stock
certificate or certificates representing 100 shares of Surviving Corporation
common stock in exchange for the certificate or certificates that formerly
represented shares of Purchaser common stock, which shall be surrendered by
Parent and cancelled.

     II.8. Surrender of Shares. (a) Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall
make available, by transferring to the Exchange Agent for the benefit of the
stockholders of Company, such amount of cash as shall be payable in exchange for
outstanding Shares or Preferred Shares pursuant to Section 2.6 hereof. Such
funds shall be invested by the Exchange Agent as directed by Parent, provided
that such investments shall be in obligations of or guaranteed by the United
States of America or of any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States of America, or in deposit accounts, certificates of
deposit or banker's acceptances of, repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements
with, or Eurodollar time deposits purchased from, commercial banks with capital,
surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $50 million (based on the
most recent financial statements of such bank which are then publicly available
at the SEC or otherwise).

     (b) As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent
shall mail to each holder of record (other than to holders of Shares or
Preferred Shares to be cancelled



                                      -7-
<PAGE>

as set forth in Section 2.6(b) or 2.6(c) or Dissenting Shares) of a certificate
or certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented
outstanding Shares or Preferred Shares (the "Certificates") (i) a form letter of
transmittal (which shall be in customary form and shall specify that delivery
shall be effected, and 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 effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the
Merger Consideration.

     (c) Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent,
together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, and such other
agreements as the Exchange Agent shall reasonably request, the holder of such
Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the Merger
Consideration, and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled.
Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.8, each Certificate shall be
deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to
receive the Merger Consideration with respect to the Shares or Preferred Shares
formerly represented thereby. No interest shall accrue or be paid on the Merger
Consideration payable upon the surrender of any Certificate.

     (d) Any amounts of cash delivered or made available to the Exchange Agent
pursuant to this Section 2.8 and not exchanged for Certificates within six
months after the Effective Time pursuant to this Section 2.8 shall be returned
by the Exchange Agent to Parent, which thereafter shall act as Exchange Agent
subject to the rights of holders of unsurrendered Certificates under this
Article II. Thereafter such holders shall be entitled to look to the Surviving
Corporation (subject to abandoned property, escheat and other similar laws) only
as general creditors thereof with respect to any Merger Consideration that may
be payable upon due surrender of the Certificates held by them. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, neither the Surviving Corporation nor the Exchange Agent shall be
liable to any holder of Shares or Preferred Shares for any Merger Consideration
delivered in respect of such Share or Preferred Share to a public official
pursuant to any abandoned property, escheat or other similar law.

     (e) If any payment of the Merger Consideration is to be made to a person
other than that in which the Certificate surrendered is registered, it shall be
a condition of payment that the Certificate so surrendered shall be properly
endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting
such payment shall pay any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the
payment to a person other than the registered holder of the Certificate
surrendered or establish



                                      -8-
<PAGE>

to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such tax has been paid or
is not applicable.

     (f) After the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of
transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the Shares
or Preferred Shares which were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates representing such shares are
presented to the Surviving Corporation, they shall be cancelled and exchanged
for the Merger Consideration as provided in this Article II.

     II.9. Company Stock Options and Warrants. Prior to the Effective Time,
Company shall take all actions necessary (and Parent and Purchaser consent to
the taking of such actions) so that all options and warrants outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time under any option plan or warrant
including, without limitation, the 1994 Director's Option Plan (with respect to
which the term of office of each director shall be deemed to have been
terminated on May 1, 1998), the 1996 Equity Incentive Plan and Shared
Technologies, Inc.'s 1987 Stock Option Plan (all such warrants and options
collectively, the "Company Stock Option Plans") shall be cancelled and
terminated at the Effective Time and that each holder of such options and
warrants shall receive in the Merger a cash payment equal to the difference
between (A) the Per Share Amount times the number of Shares subject to such
outstanding options or warrants (to the extent then exercisable at prices not in
excess of the Per Share Amount) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such
outstanding options and warrants. From and after the date hereof, no additional
options or warrants shall be granted under the Company Stock Option Plans.

     II.10. Good Faith Deposit. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, Purchaser shall pay to Company $26,250,000 (the "Good Faith
Deposit"). The proceeds of the Good Faith Deposit shall be disbursed in
accordance with Section 7.4.

     II.11. Termination of the Pledge Agreement. If the Merger is consummated,
then Parent and Purchaser shall terminate the Pledge Agreement, and the Pledge
Agent shall return to RHI any collateral which has been pledged pursuant to the
Pledge Agreement.

                 III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY

     Company hereby makes the following representations and warranties to Parent
and Purchaser, which representations and warranties (except for those contained
in Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.10, 3.14, 3.21, 3.22, 3.23 and 3.29) shall be
deemed to have been made on July 16, 1997:



                                      -9-
<PAGE>

     III.1. Organization and Qualification. Each of 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 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 Company
and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a "Company Material Adverse Effect").
Section 3.1 of the Disclosure Statement sets forth, with respect to Company and
each of its subsidiaries, the jurisdictions in which they are qualified or
otherwise licensed as a foreign corporation to do business. Neither 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 Bylaws.
Company has delivered to Parent accurate and complete copies of the Certificate
of Incorporation (or other applicable charter document) and Bylaws, as currently
in effect, of each of Company and its subsidiaries.

     III.2. Capital Stock of Subsidiaries. The only direct or indirect
subsidiaries of Company are those listed in Section 3.2 of the Disclosure
Statement previously delivered by Company to Parent (the "Disclosure
Statement"). 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 3.2 of the Disclosure
Statement) of all 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 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 3.2 of the Disclosure Statement, all
of such shares so owned by 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 3.2
of the Disclosure Statement, Company does not directly or indirectly own any
interest in any



                                      -10-
<PAGE>

corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business association or entity.

     III.3. Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of Company consists of
50,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, and 25,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, $.01 par value per share, of which 1,000,000 shares have been designated
Series D Stock, 250,000 shares have been designated Convertible Preferred Stock,
and 200,000 shares have been designated Special Preferred Stock. As of the close
of business on November 20, 1997, 17,187,605 shares of Company Common 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
November 20, 1997, (x) 2,051,364 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved
for issuance upon exercise of outstanding options and 4,244,740 shares of
Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding
convertible preferred securities and (y) 1,873,550 shares of Company Common
Stock were reserved for issuance upon exercise of the warrants, all of which
warrants, options and Company Stock Option Plans are listed and described in
Section 3.3 of the Disclosure Statement. Other than the Company Stock Option
Plans and the warrants, 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
Company's 401(k) Plan, there will not be, any shares of capital stock of 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 Company to issue, transfer or sell any of its securities. Company has
paid all dividends payable through November 28, 1997 in respect of each of the
Series D Preferred Stock and the Convertible Preferred Stock.

     III.4. Authority Relative to This Agreement. Company is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware.
Company has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the Merger and other transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this 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
Company and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Company are necessary
to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Merger or other transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby (other than,



                                      -11-
<PAGE>

with respect to the Merger, the approval of Company's stockholders pursuant to
Section 251(c) of the GCL). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed
and delivered by Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery hereof by Parent and Purchaser, constitutes a valid and binding
agreement of Company, enforceable against 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.

     III.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 3.5(b) hereof, except as listed in Section
3.5 of the Disclosure Statement, neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Company nor the consummation of the Merger or other transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby nor compliance by Company with any of the
provisions hereof will (i) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any
provisions 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 Company or any of its subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions
or provisions of (x) their respective charters or bylaws, (y) except as set
forth in Section 3.5 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 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 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, securities interests, charges or encumbrances which would
not, individually or in the aggregate, either have a Company Material Adverse
Effect or materially impair 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



                                      -12-
<PAGE>

Company in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the
consummation by 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 Company's stockholders pursuant
to the GCL, (iv) filings with applicable state public utility commissions
identified in Section 2.5 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 Company's ability to consummate the
Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

     (c) Company and its subsidiaries are not in violation of or default under,
except as set forth in Section 3.5 of the Disclosure Statement, (x) any note,
bond, mortgage, indenture or deed of trust, or (y) and license, lease, agreement
or other instrument or obligation to which 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 Company's ability to
consummate the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby. It is
understood that Company has certain covenants in its bank facilities which
Company from time to time may violate and that such violations shall not be
deemed a breach so long as Company promptly seeks, and in a reasonable period
time obtains, waivers of such violations from the lenders under such facilities
(unless such lenders have accelerated the indebtedness under such facilities).

     III.6. Commission Filings; Financial Statements. 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 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 Exchange Act. The audited consolidated
financial statements and unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of
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 opera-



                                      -13-
<PAGE>

tions and cash flows of 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.

     III.7. Absence of Changes or Events. Except as set forth in Section 3.7 of
the Disclosure Statement and in Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996, as filed with the SEC, since December 31, 1996, 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 Company or any of
its subsidiaries which has had, or is reasonably likely to have, a Company
Material Adverse Effect and Company and its subsidiaries have conducted their
respective businesses in the ordinary course consistent with their past
practices.

     III.8. Proxy Statement. None of the information supplied or to be supplied
by or on behalf of Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the
proxy statement, in definitive form, relating to Company 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 "Proxy Statement") will, at the dates mailed to stockholders
and at the time of Company 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 Proxy Statement
(except for information relating solely to Parent and Purchaser) 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.

     III.9. Litigation. Except as set forth in Section 3.9 of the Disclosure
Statement, there is no (i) claim, action, suit or proceeding pending or, to the
best knowledge of Company or any of its subsidiaries, threatened against or
relating to 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



                                      -14-
<PAGE>

which Company, any subsidiary of 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 Company's ability to consummate the Merger.

     III.10. Title to and Condition of Properties. Except as set forth in
Section 3.10 of the Disclosure Statement, 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 Company's and its
subsidiaries' December 31, 1996 audited consolidated balance sheet contained in
Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 filed with the
SEC except for property since sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past practice.

     III.11. Contracts and Commitments. Other than as disclosed in Section 3.11
of the Disclosure Statement, no existing material contract or material
commitment of 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 3.11 of the Disclosure Statement, neither this Agreement,
the Merger nor the other transactions contemplated hereby will result in any
outstanding loans or borrowings by Company or any subsidiary of Company becoming
due, going into default or giving the lenders or other holders of debt
instruments the right to require 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 Company is not making any representations or
warranties with respect to the effect of the financial condition or results of
operation of Parent and Purchaser.

     III.12. Labor Matters. Each of 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 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 Company, any labor strike or stoppage
threatened) against or affecting 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 Company or any of its
subsidiaries who are not currently organized.

     III.13. Compliance with Law. Except for matters set forth in Section 3.13
of the Disclosure Statement, neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
violated or failed to com-



                                      -15-
<PAGE>

ply 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 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 non-conformities would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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.

     III.14. Board Recommendation. The Board of Directors of Company has, by a
majority vote at a meeting of such Board duly held on November 20, 1997,
approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby, determined that the Merger is fair to the stockholders of
Company and recommended that the stockholders of Company approve and adopt this
Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

     III.15. Patents and Trademarks. 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.

     III.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 3.16 of the Disclosure
Statement: (i) 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 Company and/or its
subsidiaries; (ii) all material Taxes of Company and its sub-



                                      -16-
<PAGE>

sidiaries 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 Company and its subsidiaries have either
been paid or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (iv)
to the best knowledge of Company, no deficiency has been asserted or assessed
against Company or any of its subsidiaries, and no examination of 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) 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
Company or any of its subsidiaries for any period ending after the Effective
Date; (viii) 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) 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 Company.

     III.17. Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA. Except as set forth in Section 3.17
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 Company or any of its subsidiaries,
or with respect to which Company or any of its subsidiaries contributes or is
obligated to make payments thereunder or otherwise may have any liability
("Pension Benefits Plans").

     (b) Company has furnished Purchaser with a true and complete schedule of
all "welfare benefit plans" (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), maintained or
contributed to by Company or any of its subsidiaries or with respect to which
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 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,



                                      -17-
<PAGE>

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 Company or a subsidiary or with respect to which Company or any subsidiary
otherwise may have any liability ("Other Plans").

     (c) 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 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 Company or a
subsidiary of Company is a member.

     (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 pro-



                                      -18-
<PAGE>

visions 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 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 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 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
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 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 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.



                                      -19-
<PAGE>

     (j) Neither Company nor any ERISA Affiliate of 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 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 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 Parent (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 most 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 Company and any of its
subsidiaries and the IRS, PBGC, Department of Labor or any other governmental
entity relating to any of the Plans.

     (m) Neither Company, any of its subsidiaries, any organization to which
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 2.17 of the Disclosure Statement, none
of the Welfare Plans maintained by 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



                                      -20-
<PAGE>

of such coverage or benefits is paid by the participant or the participant's
beneficiary. 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 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 Company or any of its
subsidiaries.

     III.18. Environmental Matters. Except as set forth in Section 3.18 of the
Disclosure Statement and except for such matters as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

     (a) 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 3.18 of the Disclosure Statement, there
is no Environmental Claim pending against Company and its subsidiaries under an
Environmental Law.

     (c) Except as set forth in Section 3.18 of the Disclosure Statement,
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 3.18 of the Disclosure Statement,
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 Company and its subsidiaries.

     (e) For purposes of Section 3.18(a):



                                      -21-
<PAGE>

     (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.

     III.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 Company, in this Article III by reason of any minimum
disclosure requirement in any such representation and warranty would not, in the
aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     III.20. Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth in Section
3.20 of the Disclosure Statement, neither 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 personality or realty or unusual or extraordinary commitments, except the
liabilities recorded on Company's consolidated balance sheet at December 31,
1996 included in the financial statements referred in Section 3.6 and the notes

                                      -22-
<PAGE>


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.

     III.21. Finders or Brokers. Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the
Disclosure Statement, none of Company, the subsidiaries of Company, the Board of
Directors of Company or any member of the Board of Directors of Company 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 3.21 of the Disclosure
Statement sets forth the maximum consideration (present and future) agreed to be
paid to each such party.

     III.22. State Antitakeover Statutes. 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
GCL 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 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 or any provision hereof, or (z) would subject Parent to
any material impediment or condition in connection with the exercise of any of
its rights under this Agreement.

     III.23. Opinion of Financial Advisor. Company has received the opinion of
First Boston dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, as of such
date, the Merger Consideration is fair from a financial point of view to the
holders of shares of Company Common Stock.

     III.24. Insurance. Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Statement lists all
insurance policies in force on the date hereof covering the businesses,
properties and assets of Company and its subsidiaries, and all such policies are
currently in effect.

     III.25. Employment and Labor Contracts. Neither 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
Company or any of its subsidiaries with any past or present officer, director,
employee or, to the best of Company's knowledge, any entity affiliated with any
past or present officer, direc-



                                      -23-
<PAGE>

tor or employee other than the agreements executed by employees generally, the
forms of which have been delivered to Parent.

     III.26. Pending Transactions. Section 3.26 of the Disclosure Statement
lists the status of the Pending Transactions.

     III.27. Indemnification Agreements. Each of the RHI Indemnification
Agreement, the FHC Indemnification Agreement and the Pledge Agreement is a valid
and binding agreement of Company and, to the knowledge of Company, each of such
agreements is enforceable against RHI Holdings, Inc. ("RHI") and The Fairchild
Corporation ("TFC"), Fairchild Holding Corp. ("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, Company has no knowledge of any liabilities or claims for
which Company is indemnified under the RHI Indemnification Agreement and FHI
Indemnification Agreement (other than (i) the 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 Fairchild
Industries, Inc. ("FII"), the nonsurviving constituent corporation in their
merger of March 13, 1996, with Shared Technologies, Inc.; (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 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.

     III.28. Indemnified Liabilities. Notwithstanding all of the representations
and warranties contained in this Article III (except for Section 3.27), it is
hereby agreed that 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 Company is indemnified un-



                                      -24-
<PAGE>

der each of the FHI Indemnification Agreement and the RHI Indemnification
Agreement.

     III.29. Commercial Arrangements with Tel-Save Holdings, Inc. Except as
disclosed in Schedule A attached hereto, neither Company nor any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates has entered into, or is a party to, any commercial
contracts, agreements, leases, plans, instruments, registrations, licenses,
permits, commitments, arrangements or undertakings with Tel-Save Holdings, Inc.
or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, whether written or oral.

           IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND PURCHASER

     Each of Parent and Purchaser jointly and severally represents and warrants
to Company as follows:

     IV.1. Organization and Qualification. Each of Parent and Purchaser 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 Parent and Purchaser 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 Parent's or Purchaser's ability to
consummate the Offer, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby
(a "Parent Material Adverse Effect"). Neither Parent nor Purchaser is in
violation of any of the provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation (or other
applicable charter document) or Bylaws.

     IV.2. Authority Relative to This Agreement. Each of Parent and Purchaser
has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and
to consummate the Offer, the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Offer,
the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
authorized by the Board of Directors of Parent and Purchaser and no other
corporate proceedings on the part of Parent and Purchaser are necessary to
authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Offer, the Merger or other
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by each of Parent and Purchaser and, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery hereof by Company, constitutes a valid and
binding agreement of Parent and Purchaser, enforceable against Parent and
Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except to the ex-



                                      -25-
<PAGE>

tent 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.

     IV.3. 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 4.3(b) hereof, neither the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser nor the consummation of the
Offer, the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby nor compliance by
Parent and Purchaser 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 Parent and
Purchaser under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (x) their
respective charters or bylaws or (y) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture or deed
of trust, 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 Parent or
Purchaser or any of their respective properties or assets, except, in the case
of clause (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, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) No filing or registration with, notification to and no permit,
authorization, consent or approval of any governmental entity is required by
Parent or Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or the consummation by Parent and Purchaser of the Offer, the Merger
or other transactions contemplated hereby, except (i) in connection with the
applicable requirements of the HSR Act, (ii) the filing of the Certificate of
Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (iii) filings with
the SEC and state securities administrators, (iv) filings with the Federal
Communications Commission or any applicable state public utility commissions or
applicable state or local regulatory agency or authority, and (v) 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, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.



                                      -26-
<PAGE>

     (c) As of the date hereof (x) Parent and Purchaser 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 Parent
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, have a
Parent Material Adverse Effect.

     IV.4. Proxy Statement. None of the information supplied or to be supplied
by or on behalf of Parent and Purchaser for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in the Proxy Statement will, at the dates mailed to stockholders and
at the time of Company 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.

     IV.5. Finders or Brokers. None of Parent, Purchaser, the Board of Directors
of Parent or Purchaser or any member of the Board of Directors of Parent or
Purchaser 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 Offer or the Merger other than
Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., whose fees shall be paid by Parent.

     IV.6. Offer Documents. The Offer Documents will not, at the time the Offer
Documents are filed with the SEC or are first published, sent or given to
stockholders of Company, as the case may be, 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 made therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Parent and Purchaser make no representation or warranty with respect
to any information supplied by Company or any of its representatives which is
contained in any of the foregoing documents or the Offer Documents. The Offer
Documents shall comply in all material respects as to form with the requirements
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

                                  V. COVENANTS

     V.1. Conduct of Business of Company Pending the Merger. Except as
contemplated by this Agreement or as expressly agreed to in writing by Parent,
during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, each of
Company and its subsidiaries will conduct their respective operations according
to its ordinary course of business consistent



                                      -27-
<PAGE>

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, Company will not, nor
will it permit any of its subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of
Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld:

     (a) amend its certificate of incorporation or bylaws;

     (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 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 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;

     (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 offi-



                                      -28-
<PAGE>

cers; (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 any 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 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 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;

     (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 Company or its subsidiaries not 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 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 Company or any of its subsidiaries or which limit the
ability of 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



                                      -29-
<PAGE>

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 Company's service business (other than purchases by
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 Company;

     (j) settle any action, suit, claim, investigation or proceeding (legal,
administrative or arbitrative) in excess of $50,000 without the consent of the
Parent; provided, however, that Company may settle the matter set forth in item
2 of Section 3.9 of the Disclosure Statement as previously discussed with
Parent;

     (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); or

     (m) agree to do any of the foregoing.

     Promptly following execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent shall
appoint a senior executive (the "Consultant") to act as a management consultant
and advisor to the Company relative to the conduct of its business in the
ordinary course, including the activities described in clauses (d)-(j) of this
Section 5.1. The Consultant shall liaise directly with the chief executive
officer and chief operating officer of the Company and shall be informed of, and
participate as a consultant in, all management decisions made by such officers.
In the event that the Company determines to implement management decisions
contrary to the advice of the Consultant, and the Consultant determines in his
good faith judgment, that such management decisions either alone or taken
together with other management decisions implemented against the advice of the
Consultant, could lead to a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Consultant
shall promptly notify the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company in writing of his determination and his contrary recommendation (the
"Consultant Notice"). In the event the Executive Committee of the Board of
Directors does not cause management of the Company to act in accordance with the
recommendations of the Consultant set forth in the Consultant Notice by
directing management so



                                      -30-
<PAGE>

to act in writing within five days of receipt of the Consultant Notice, Parent
and Purchaser may, by delivery of written notice to the Company within 30 days
following the expiration of such five day period, terminate this Agreement in
accordance with the provisions of Section 7.1(i) hereof. The written consent or
recommendation of the Consultant with respect to any matter shall be deemed to
be the consent of Parent thereto.

     V.2. Preparation of the Proxy Statement; Stockholders Meetings. (a) As soon
as practicable following the date hereof, Company shall prepare and file the
Proxy Statement with the SEC under the Exchange Act, and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to have the Proxy Statement cleared by the SEC. Parent,
Purchaser and Company shall cooperate with each other in the preparation of the
Proxy Statement, and Company shall notify Parent of the receipt of any comments
of the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement and of any requests by the SEC
for any amendment or supplement thereto or for additional information and shall
provide to Parent promptly copies of all correspondence between Company or any
representative of Company and the SEC. Company shall give Parent and its counsel
the opportunity to review the Proxy Statement prior to its being filed with the
SEC and shall give Parent and its counsel the opportunity to review all
amendments and supplements to the Proxy Statement and all responses to requests
for additional information and replies to comments prior to their being filed
with, or sent to, the SEC, and prior to the filing of the Proxy Statement, any
amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement or any other correspondence to
the SEC (collectively, the "Proxy Filings"), the Proxy Filings shall be
reasonably satisfactory to Parent. Each of Company, Parent and Purchaser agrees
to use its reasonable best efforts, after consultation with the other parties
hereto, to respond promptly to all such comments of and requests by the SEC and
to cause the Proxy Statement and all required amendments and supplements thereto
to be mailed to the holders of Shares entitled to vote at the Stockholders'
Meeting at the earliest practicable time.

     (b) Company shall, as soon as practicable after the date hereof, duly call,
give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the "Company
Stockholder Meeting"), as promptly as practicable after the date hereof, for the
purpose of obtaining the approval (the "Company Stockholder Approval") of a
majority of the stockholders of 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 recom-




                                      -31-
<PAGE>

mendation is subject to any action required by the fiduciary duties of the Board
of Directors.

     V.3. 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 5.3 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 Proxy
Statement 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 Parent, Company shall advise Parent of the number of shares of Company Common
Stock or any series of Preferred Stock outstanding on such date.

     V.4. Publicity. Company, Parent and Purchaser 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.

     V.5. No Solicitation. (a) 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, account-



                                      -32-
<PAGE>

ant 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 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 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
5.5(c), (x) furnish information with respect to Company to any person pursuant
to a customary confidentiality agreement (as determined by 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 Company or any of its
subsidiaries, whether or not such person is purporting to act on behalf of
Company or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a breach
of this Section 5.5(a) by 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 more of the assets
of Company or its subsidiaries or 20% or more of any class of equity securities
of 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 Company or any of its subsidiaries, any merger,
consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution
or similar transaction involving 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 Parent of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.

     (b) Except as set forth in this Section 5.5, neither the Board of Directors
of Company nor any committee thereof shall (i) withdraw or modify, or propose
publicly to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent, 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 to
recommend, any Company Takeover Proposal or (iii) cause 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 Company
determines in good faith, after



                                      -33-
<PAGE>

consultation with outside counsel, that it is necessary to do so in order to
comply with its fiduciary duties to Company's stockholders under applicable law,
the Board of Directors of Company may (subject to this and the following
sentences) (x) withdraw or modify its approval or recommendation of the Merger
and this 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 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 Company
pursuant to clause (y) until a time that is after the fifth business day
following Parent's receipt of written notice advising Parent that the Board of
Directors of 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
Company and otherwise on terms that the Board of Directors of Company determines
in its good faith judgment (based on the advice of a financial advisor of
nationally recognized reputation) to be more favorable to Company's stockholders
than the Merger.

     (c) In addition to the obligations of Company set forth in paragraphs (a)
and (b) of this Section 5.5, Company shall immediately advise Parent 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 5.5 shall prohibit 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
Company's stockholders if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors
of Company, after consultation with outside counsel, failure so to disclose
would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to Company's stockholders under
applicable law; provided, however, neither Company nor its Board of Directors
nor any committee thereof shall, except as permitted by Section 5.5(b),



                                      -34-
<PAGE>

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.

     V.6. Access to Information. From the date of this Agreement until the
Effective Time, Company shall provide Parent 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 Parent to make such inspections as it may reasonably require and will
cause its officers and those of its subsidiaries to furnish Parent with such
financial and operating data and with respect to its business and properties as
Parent may from time to time reasonably request.

     V.7. Notification of Certain Matters. Company or Parent, 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 Section 3.2,
3.3, 3.4, 3.10, 3.14, 3.21, 3.22, 3.23 or 3.29 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 Company or Parent, 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 its 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.

     V.8. Resignation of Directors. At or prior to the Effective Time, Company
shall take all commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Parent the
resignations of such directors of Company and its subsidiaries as Parent shall
specify, effective at the Effective Time.

     V.9. Indemnification. (a) As of the date of this Agreement and for a period
of six years following the Effective Time of the Merger, Parent and the
Surviving Corporation will indemnify and hold harmless any persons who were
directors or officers of Company or a subsidiary of Company prior to the
Effective Time of the Merger (the "Indemnified Persons") to the fullest extent
such person could have been indemnified under the GCL or under the certificate
of incorporation or bylaws of Company or the certificate of incorporation or
bylaws of any subsidiary of Company in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time of the Merger, with respect to any act or failure to



                                      -35-
<PAGE>

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 GCL
or other applicable corporate law shall be made by independent counsel selected
by the Indemnified Persons and reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Surviving
Corporation. Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall pay such counsel's fees
and expenses (it being agreed that neither the Indemnified Persons, Parent nor
the Surviving Corporation shall challenge any such determination by such
independent counsel).

     (c) The provisions of this Section 5.9 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 Parent or the Surviving Corporation or any of its
successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person and
Parent or 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 5.9.

     (e) Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain in effect for
not less than five years from the Effective Time the current policies of
directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by Company and its
subsidiaries (provided that Parent 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 Parent 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 Company for such insurance.

     V.10. Fees and Expenses. Whether or not the Merger is consummated, Company
and Parent shall bear their respective expenses incurred in connection with the
Merger, including, without limitation, the preparation, execution and
performance



                                      -36-
<PAGE>

of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and all fees and
expenses of investment bankers, finders, brokers, agents, representatives,
counsel and accountants.

     V.11. Stockholder Litigation. Each of Company and Parent shall give the
other the reasonable opportunity to participate in the defense of any
stockholder litigation against or in the name of Company or Parent, as
applicable, and/or their respective directors relating to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

                                 VI. CONDITIONS

     VI.1. Conditions to the Merger. The obligations of each party to effect the
Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver, at or prior to the
Effective Time, of each of the following conditions: (a) The Merger and this
Agreement shall have been validly approved and adopted by the affirmative votes
of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock
entitled to vote thereon.

     (b) 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 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 shall be in effect preventing the consummation of the Offer or the
Merger.

     VI.2. Conditions to Obligations of Parent. The obligation of Parent to
effect the Merger is further subject to satisfaction or waiver of the following
conditions:

     (a) All of the representations and warranties of Company set forth herein
shall be true and correct as of July 16, 1997, and the representations and
warranties set forth in Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.10, 3.14, 3.21, 3.22, 3.23 and
3.29 shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and the Closing Date, as if
made at and as of such time, 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 or cause any material increase in the
consideration required to be paid by Parent and Purchaser effectively to
consummate the Merger.



                                      -37-
<PAGE>

     (b) 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) 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 material adverse effect on the Surviving
Corporation or a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

     VI.3. Conditions to Obligations of Company. The obligation of Company to
effect the Merger is further subject to satisfaction or waiver of the following
conditions:

     (a) The representations and warranties of Parent and Purchaser 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 date, except whether 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 Parent Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) Parent and Purchaser 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.

                     VII. TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     VII.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to
the Effective Time, whether before or after approval by the stockholders of
Company:

     (a) by consent of the Boards of Directors of Company, Parent and Purchaser;

     (b) by Parent and Purchaser upon notice to Company if any material default
under or material breach of any covenant or agreement in this Agreement by
Company shall have occurred and shall not have been cured within ten days after
receipt of such notice, or any representation or warranty contained herein on
the part of Company shall not have been true and correct in any material respect
at and as of the date made;

     (c) by Company upon notice to Parent and Purchaser if any material default
under or material breach of any covenant or agreement in this Agreement by
Parent or Purchaser shall have occurred and shall not have been cured within ten


                                      -38-
<PAGE>

days after receipt of such notice, or any representation or warranty contained
herein on the part of Parent or Purchaser shall not have been true and correct
in any material respect at and as of the date made;

     (d) by Parent and Purchaser, on the one hand, or Company, on the other,
upon notice to the other if the Merger shall not have become effective on or
before September 30, 1998, unless such date is extended by the consent of the
Boards of Directors of Company, Parent and Purchaser evidenced by appropriate
resolutions; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under
this Section 7.1(d) shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill
any obligation under this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the
failure of the Effective Time to occur on or before such date;

     (e) by any of Parent, Purchaser and Company if the approval of the
stockholders of Company required for consummation of the Merger shall not have
been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at a duly
held meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof;

     (f) by Parent or Purchaser, if Section 5.5 shall be breached by Company or
any of its officers, directors or employees or any investment banker, financial
advisor, attorney, accountant or other representative of Company, in any
material respect and 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 Parent or Purchaser, or Company shall breach Section
5.5 by failing to promptly notify Parent or Purchaser as required thereunder;

     (g) by Parent or Purchaser if, at any time, (i) Company shall have
withdrawn or modified in any manner adverse to Parent or Purchaser its approval
or recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger or failed to reconfirm its
recommendation within 15 business days after a written request to do so, or
recommended any Company Takeover Proposal or (ii) the Board of Directors of
Company or any committee thereof shall have resolved to take any of the
foregoing actions;

     (h) by the Company if it elects to terminate this Agreement in accordance
with Section 5.5(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 the payment) of
the termination fee required by Section 7.3; or

     (i) by Parent or Purchaser in accordance with the provisions of the last
paragraph of Section 5.1 of this Agreement; provided that it has complied with
all provisions thereof, including the notice provisions therein.



                                      -39-
<PAGE>

     VII.2. Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.1, the provisions of this
Agreement (other than Sections 5.10, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 hereof) shall become void
and have no effect, with no liability on the part of any party hereto or its
stockholders or directors or officers in respect thereof, except as set forth in
Sections 7.3 and 7.4, provided that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to
relieve any party of any liability it may have to any other party with respect
to a breach of its obligations under this Agreement.

     VII.3. Termination Payment. As compensation for entering into this
Agreement, taking action to consummate the transactions hereunder and incurring
the costs and expenses related thereto and other losses and damages, including
the foregoing of other opportunities, Company and Parent agree as follows:

     (a) Company shall pay to Parent the sum of $10.0 million plus all
reasonably documented out-of-pocket expenses (including, but not limited to, the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and its other advisers) of Parent and
Purchaser incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (including the preparation and negotiation of this Agreement) promptly
after, but in no event later than two days following, whichever of the following
first occurs:

          (i) Parent or Purchaser shall have exercised its right to terminate
     this Agreement pursuant to Sections 7.1(b), 7.1(f), 7.1(g) or 7.1(i)
     hereof.

          (ii) Company shall have exercised its right to terminate this
     Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(e) or Section 7.1(h).

     (c) Company shall not be obligated to make any payment pursuant to this
Section 7.3, if at the time such payment becomes due Parent or Purchaser is in
material breach of its obligations under this Agreement.

     VII.4. Proceeds of the Good Faith Deposit. (a) Subject to Section 7.4(c),
Company shall pay out from the proceeds of the Good Faith Deposit an amount
equal to $15,000,000 (the "Termination Fee") to Tel-Save Holdings, Inc.
("Tel-Save") to satisfy termination fees arising from Company's termination of
that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of July 16, 1997 among
Tel-Save, TSHCo, Inc. and Company.

     (b) Subject to Section 7.4(c), Company shall pay the Good Faith Deposit
(less the Termination Fee) to Tel-Save in exchange for the termination of any
options to purchase Company



                                      -40-
<PAGE>

Common Stock held by Tel-Save under that certain Option Agreement dated as of
July 16, 1997 by and between Tel-Save and Company.

     (c) In the event that Parent or Purchaser terminates this Agreement
pursuant to Section 7.1(a), 7.1(b), 7.1(f), 7.1(g) or 7.1(i) or Company
terminates this Agreement other than pursuant to Section 7.1(c) or Section
7.1(d), then Company must repay to Purchaser the Good Faith Deposit (including
any Termination Fee which has been paid to Tel-Save).

     VII.5. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto only
in a writing signed on behalf of each of them, at any time before or after
approval of the Agreement by the stockholders of Company, but after such
approval no amendment shall be made which alters the Merger Consideration
without the further approval of the stockholders of Company other than Parent;
provided that no amendment or consent given or made on behalf of Company shall
be effective unless approved by a majority of the members of the Board as
constituted as of the date hereof (or of any successor directors duly elected by
such members).

     VII.6. Waiver. Any term or provision of this Agreement (other than the
requirements for approval by the stockholders of Company) may be waived in
writing at any time by the party which is, or whose stockholders are, entitled
to the benefits thereof.

                            VIII. GENERAL PROVISIONS

     VIII.1. Definitions. As used in the Agreement, the following terms have the
following respective meanings:

     Agreement: as defined in the recitals.

     Board: as defined in the recitals.

     Certificate of Merger: as defined in Section 2.5.

     Certificates: as defined in Section 2.8(b).

     Closing Date: means the date on which the Effective Time occurs.

     COBRA: as defined in Section 3.17(n).

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

     Company: as defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.



                                      -41-
<PAGE>

     Company Acquisition Agreement: as defined in Section 5.5(b).

     Company Common Stock: means issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock,
par value $.004 per share, of Company.

     Company Material Adverse Effect: as defined in Section 3.1.

     Company Stockholder Approval: as defined in Section 5.2(b).

     Company Stockholder Meeting: as defined in Section 5.2(b).

     Company Stock Option Plans: as defined in Section 2.9.

     Company Superior Proposal: as defined in Section 5.5(b).

     Company Takeover Proposal: as defined in Section 5.5(a).

     Consultant: as defined in Section 5.1.

     Consultant Notice: as defined in Section 5.1.

     Convertible Preferred Stock: as defined in Section 2.6(d).

     Disclosure Statement: as defined in Section 3.2.

     Dissenting Shares: as defined in Section 2.6(e).

     Effective Time: as defined in Section 2.5.

     ERISA: the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

     ERISA Affiliate: as defined in Section 3.17(d).

     Exchange Act: as defined in Section 1.2(b).

     Exchange Agent: Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company or such other a
bank or trust company to be designated by Parent prior to the Effective Time to
act as exchange agent.

     FHC: means Fairchild Holding Corp.

     FHC Indemnification Agreement: means the Indemnification Agreement between
FHC and Company dated March 13, 1996.



                                      -42-
<PAGE>

     FII: as defined in Section 3.27.

     First Boston: as defined in Section 1.2(a).

     GCL: as defined in the recitals.

     Good Faith Deposit: as defined in Section 2.10.

     HSR Act: as defined in Section 3.5(b).

     Indemnified Persons: as defined in Section 5.9(a).

     IRS: as defined in Section 3.17(e).

     Merger: as defined in the recitals.

     Merger Consideration: as defined in Section 2.6(d).

     Multiemployer Plan: as defined in Section 3.17(k).

     Offer Documents: as defined in Section 1.1(b).

     Offer to Purchase: as defined in Section 1.1(b).

     Other Plans: as defined in Section 3.17(b).

     Parent: as defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

     Parent Material Adverse Event: as defined in Section 4.1.

     PBGC: as defined in Section 3.17(j).

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

     Pension Benefit Plans: as defined in Section 3.17(a).

     Per Share Amount: as defined in Section 2.6(a).

     Per Share Offer Amount: as defined in the recitals.

     Person: an individual, partnership, joint venture, corporation, trust,
unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency
thereof.

     Plans: as defined in Section 3.17(c).



                                      -43-
<PAGE>

     Pledge Agent: shall mean Gadsby & Hannah.

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

     Preferred Per Share Amount: as defined in Section 2.6(d).

     Preferred Shares: as defined in Section 2.6(d).

     Proxy Filings: as defined in Section 5.2(a).

     Proxy Statement: as defined in Section 3.8.

     Purchaser: as defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

     RHI: means RHI Holdings, Inc.

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

     Schedule 14D-1: as defined in Section 1.1(b).

     Schedule 14D-9: as defined in Section 1.2(b).

     SEC: as defined in Section 1.1(b).

     SEC Reports: as defined in Section 3.6.

     Securities Act: as defined in Section 3.6.

     Series D Stock: as defined in Section 2.6(d).

     Shares: means collectively, all shares of Company Common Stock.

     Shares Consideration: as defined in Section 2.6(a).

     Special Preferred Stock: as defined in Section 2.6(d).

     Subsidiary: with respect to any Person, any corporation or other business
entity, a majority (by number of votes) of the shares of capital stock (or other
voting interests) of which at the time outstanding is owned by such Person
directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries.

     Surviving Corporation: as defined in Section 2.1.



                                      -44-
<PAGE>

     Tel-Save: as defined in Section 7.4(a).

     Termination Fee: as defined in Section 7.4(a).

     TFC: means The Fairchild Corporation.

     Tax or Taxes: as defined in Section 3.16.

     Welfare Plans: as defined in Section 3.17(b).

     VIII.2. Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. No
representations, warranties or agreements in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered by Parent, Purchaser or Company pursuant to this Agreement shall
survive the Merger.

     VIII.3. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands, consents and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if
delivered personally or by fax or mailed by registered or certified mail (return
receipt requested) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other
address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

                  if to Parent or Purchaser, a copy to:

                           Intermedia Communications Inc.
                           3625 Queen Palm Drive
                           Tampa, Florida 33619
                           Attention: Chief Financial Officer
                           Telecopy: (813) 829-2470

                  with a copy to:

                           Kronish, Lieb, Weiner & Hellman LLP
                           1114 Avenue of the Americas
                           New York, NY 10036
                           Attention:  Ralph J. Sutcliffe, Esq.
                           Telecopy: (212) 479-6275

                  if to Company, a copy to:

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

                  with a copy to:

                           Cahill Gordon & Reindel
                           80 Pine Street


                                      -45-
<PAGE>

                           New York, NY  10005
                           Telecopy No.: (212) 269-5420
                           Attention: James J. Clark, Esq..

                  and

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

     VIII.4. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is
invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or public
policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless
remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of
the transactions contemplated thereby is not affected in any manner materially
adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision
is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original
intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in
order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement including the Merger,
be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

     VIII.5. Miscellaneous. This Agreement (including the exhibits, documents
and instruments referred to herein or therein) (a) constitutes the entire
agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both
written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject
matter hereof and thereof; (b) is not intended to confer upon any other person
other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder; (c) shall not be
assigned by operation of law or otherwise, except that each of Parent and
Purchaser may assign its rights and obligations hereunder without the consent of
Company to one or more direct or indirect Subsidiaries of Parent (it being
recognized that such an assignment shall not release or discharge the assignor
from its obligations under this Agreement); and (d) shall be governed in all
respects, including validity, interpretation and effect, by the laws of the
State of Delaware. The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are
included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts which together shall constitute a single instrument.



                                      -46-
<PAGE>

     VIII.6. Specific Performance. The parties agree that due to the unique
subject matter of this transaction, monetary damages will be insufficient to
compensate the non-breaching party in the event of a breach of any part of this
Agreement. Accordingly, the parties agree that the non-breaching party shall be
entitled (without prejudice to any other right or remedy to which it may be
entitled) to an appropriate decree of specific performance, or an injunction
restraining any violation of this Agreement or other equitable remedies to
enforce this Agreement (without establishing the likelihood of irreparable
injury or posting bond or other security), and the breaching party waives in any
action or proceeding brought to enforce this Agreement the defense that there
exists an adequate remedy at law.

     VIII.7. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY OR AGAINST IT
ON ANY MATTERS WHATSOEVER, IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY
CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT.

                  [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Purchaser and Company have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers on the
date first above written.

                                    INTERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS INC.


                                       By:
                                          ------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:


                                     MOONLIGHT ACQUISITION CORP.


                                       By:
                                          ------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:


                       SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.


                                       By:
                                          ------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                               ------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                               ------------------------------



                                      -47-
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A


     Long Distance Services Agreement, dated November 13, 1997, between Company
and Tel-Save Holdings, Inc.



<PAGE>


                                                                         ANNEX A

                             Conditions to the Offer


     Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, Purchaser shall not be
required to accept for payment or pay for any Shares tendered pursuant to the
Offer, and may terminate or amend the Offer and may postpone the acceptance for
payment of and payment for Shares tendered, if (i) any applicable waiting period
under the HSR Act shall not have expired or been terminated prior to the
expiration of the Offer, or (ii) at any time on or after the date of this
Agreement, and prior to the acceptance for payment of Shares, any of the
following conditions shall exist:

          (a) any 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 shall be in effect preventing the consummation of
     the Offer;

          (b) all necessary consents and approvals of any federal, state or
     local governmental authority or any other third party required for the
     consummation of the Offer and the transactions contemplated by this
     Agreement shall not 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 or a
     Parent Material Adverse Effect;

          (c) any of the representations and warranties of Company set forth in
     the Agreement shall not be true and correct as of July 16, 1997 or any of
     the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4,
     3.10, 3.14, 3.21, 3.22, 3.23 and 3.29 of the Agreement shall not be true as
     of the date Parent shall first accept Shares for payment, 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) has, or is likely to have, individually or in
     the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect or cause any material
     increase in the consideration required to be paid by Parent and Purchaser
     effectively to consummate the Offer or the Merger;



                                       -2-
<PAGE>

          (d) Company shall not have performed any obligation required to be
     performed by it under this Agreement as of the date Parent shall first
     accept Shares for payment, where the non-performance of such obligation
     has, or is likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
     Material Adverse Effect or cause any material increase in the consideration
     required to be paid by Parent and Purchaser effectively to consummate the
     Offer;

          (e) the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with
     its terms; or

          (f) Purchaser and Company shall have agreed that Purchaser shall
     terminate the Offer or postpone the acceptance for payment of or payment
     for Shares thereunder;

which, in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser in any such case, and regardless
of the circumstances (including any action or inaction by Parent or any of its
affiliates) giving rise to any such condition, makes it inadvisable to proceed
with such acceptance for payment or payment.

     The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Purchaser and Parent
and may be asserted by Purchaser or Parent regardless of the circumstances
giving rise to any such condition or may be waived by Purchaser or Parent in
whole or in part at any time and from time to time in their sole discretion. The
failure by Parent or Purchaser at any time to exercise any of the foregoing
rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right; the waiver of any such
right with respect to particular facts and other circumstances shall not be
deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts and circumstances; and each such
right shall be deemed an ongoing right that may be asserted at any time and from
time to time.






                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


     STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of November 20, 1997 (this "Agreement"),
among INTERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation ("Purchaser"), and
the individuals and entities whose names and addresses are set forth at the foot
of this Agreement (collectively, the "Stockholders", and each, individually, a
"Stockholder"), it being understood that the Stockholders are executing this
Agreement in their capacity as stockholders of the Company (as defined below)
and not in their capacity as directors or officers of the Company.

     WHEREAS, Purchaser and its wholly owned subsidiary, Moonlight Acquisition
Corp. (the "Subsidiary"), propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of the date hereof (the "Merger Agreement"), with Shared Technologies
Fairchild, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), which Merger Agreement
provides, among other things, for the acquisition of the Company by Subsidiary
through a merger pursuant to which Subsidiary will merge with and into the
Company (the "Merger") and all outstanding shares of Common Stock of the
Company, par value $.01 per share ("Company Common Stock") other than shares
held by Purchaser and Subsidiary will be converted into the right to receive
$15.00 per share (the "Per Share Amount") and each outstanding share of
Preferred Stock of the Company, par value, $.01 per share ("Company Preferred
Stock") which is convertible into Common Stock and is not owned by Purchaser
will be converted into the right to receive the Per Share Amount multiplied by
the number of shares of Company Common Stock into which such share of Company
Preferred Stock is convertible which would have been received had such share of
Preferred Stock been converted immediately prior to the Merger (the "Preferred
Stock Per Share Amount"), in each case, net to the holder thereof in cash; and

     WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Stockholders own (both beneficially and
of record) the number of shares of Company Common Stock, options to purchase
Company Common Stock ("Options") and Company Preferred Stock set forth opposite
their respective names at the foot of this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of Purchaser and the Subsidiary
to enter into the Merger Agreement, Purchaser and the Subsidiary have required
that the Stockhold-


<PAGE>

ers agree, and in order to induce Purchaser and the Subsidiary to enter into the
Merger Agreement, the Stockholders have agreed, to enter into this Agreement
governing the voting and disposition of the shares of Company Common Stock,
Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Options and Company Preferred
Stock now owned and which may hereafter be acquired by any of the Stockholders
(the "Shares").

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

1.   Grant of Option. Each Stockholder hereby grants to Purchaser an exclusive
     and irrevocable option (each an "Option", and together the "Options") to
     purchase from such Stockholder any and all Shares held by such Stockholder
     (the "Option Shares") at a price equal to the Per Share Amount, net to the
     Seller in cash, for each Share which is a share of Company Common Stock and
     a price equal to the Preferred Stock Per Share Amount, net to the Seller in
     cash, for each Share which is a share of Company Preferred Stock. Purchaser
     may assign to any subsidiary or affiliate of Purchaser (including
     Subsidiary) the right to exercise the Options. Each Option may be exercised
     individually from each Stockholder, in whole or in part, at any time or
     from time to time, on or after the date hereof and prior to the Termination
     Date (as defined below). No Stockholder shall, prior to the termination of
     the Option, take, or refrain from taking, any action which would have the
     effect of preventing or disabling such Stockholder from delivering the
     Option Shares or otherwise performing its obligations under this Agreement.
     In the event Purchaser wishes to exercise any Option, in whole or in part,
     the following procedures shall be followed:

     (a)  Purchaser shall send a written notice to such Stockholder specifying
          the number and kind of Option Shares Purchaser will purchase and the
          place and date on or before the later of (x) ten business days from
          the date such notice is mailed, (y) two days after the date of
          expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under Title
          II of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the
          "HSR Act") and (z) two days after 



                                       2
<PAGE>

          the receipt of any necessary approvals from the Federal Communications
          Commission (the "FCC") or any applicable State regulatory authority
          for the closing of such purchase. If such closing is to occur sooner
          than ten business days from the date such notice is mailed, notice
          shall also be given at the time such written notice is given by
          telephone or telecopy. To the extent such notice provides for the
          purchase of Option Shares issuable upon exercise of Options, the
          Stockholder hereby agrees to exercise the option relating to such
          Option Shares sufficiently prior to such closing to permit
          certificates for such Option Shares to be delivered at such closing.

     (b)  At the closing of such purchase, (i) Purchaser (or any affiliate or
          subsidiary of Purchaser) shall pay to such Stockholder the aggregate
          price for the Option Shares so purchased by certified or cashier's
          check or wire transfer of immediately available funds and (ii) such
          Stockholder shall deliver to Purchaser (or, at the option of
          Purchaser, an affiliate or subsidiary of Purchaser) a certificate or
          certificates, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by stock powers
          duly executed in blank, representing the number of Option Shares
          purchased.

     (c)  To the extent any Stockholder has sold any Option Shares to Purchaser
          pursuant to that certain purchase agreement dated the date hereof or
          pursuant to the Lender offer to be made pursuant to the Merger
          Agreement prior to the exercise of the Option, such Option Shares
          shall cease to be Option Shares subject to this Agreement.

2.   Voting of Shares. Each Stockholder, until the Termination Date, shall cause
     the Shares owned by such Stockholder to be voted at any meeting of the
     stockholders of the Company or in any consent in lieu of such a meeting in
     favor of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger
     Agreement, against any transactions inconsistent therewith, and as
     otherwise reasonably requested by Purchaser in or-



                                       3
<PAGE>

     der to carry out the purposes of the Merger Agreement. For the purposes of
     this Agreement, "Termination Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) two days
     after the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms,
     (ii) the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), and (iii) the
     termination of this Agreement by the mutual written agreement of the
     parties hereto or pursuant to the terms of Section 9 of this Agreement.

3.   Irrevocable Proxy. Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably appoints Purchaser,
     until the Termination Date, as its attorney and proxy pursuant to the
     provisions of Section 212 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
     Delaware, with full power of substitution, to vote and take other actions
     (by written consent or otherwise) in favor of the consummation of the
     transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, against any transactions
     inconsistent therewith, and as otherwise reasonably required in order to
     carry out the purposes of the Merger Agreement, with respect to the Shares
     (and all other securities issued to the Stockholder in respect of the
     Shares) which each Stockholder is entitled to vote at any meeting of
     stockholders of the Company (whether annual or special and whether or not
     an adjourned or postponed meeting) or in respect of any consent in lieu of
     any such meeting or otherwise. This proxy and power of attorney is
     irrevocable and coupled with an interest in favor of Purchaser. Each
     Stockholder hereby revokes all other proxies and powers of attorney with
     respect to the Shares (and all other securities issued to the Stockholder
     in respect of the Shares) which it may have heretofore appointed or
     granted, and no subsequent proxy or power of attorney shall be given or
     written consent executed (and if given or executed, shall not be effective)
     by the Stockholder with respect thereto.

4.   No Disposition or Encumbrance of Shares. Each Stockholder hereby covenants
     and agrees that, until the expiration of the Options as provided in Section
     1 of this Agreement, except as contemplated by this Agreement, the
     Stockholder shall not, and shall not offer or agree to, sell, transfer,
     tender, assign, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of, or create or permit to
     exist any security interest, lien, claim, pledge, option, right of first
     refusal, agreement, limitation 



                                       4
<PAGE>

     on the Stockholder's voting rights, charge or other encumbrance of any
     nature whatsoever with respect to the Shares, except for the security
     interest arising from that certain Pledge Agreement dated as of March 13,
     1996 between RHI Holdings, Inc. and Gadsby & Hannah (the "Pledge Agent")
     and except for the security interest arising from that certain Amended and
     Restated Pledge Agreement dated as of July 18, 1997 between RHI Holdings,
     Inc. and Citicorp USA, Inc. (the "Citicorp Pledge Agreement").

5.   No Solicitation of Transactions. Each Stockholder shall not, directly or
     indirectly, through any agent or representative or otherwise, (i) solicit,
     initiate or encourage the submission of any proposal or offer from any
     individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, syndicate,
     person (including, without limitation, a "person" as defined in Section
     13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended), trust,
     association or entity or government, political subdivision, agency or
     instrumentality of a government (collectively, other than Purchaser and any
     affiliate of Purchaser, a "Person") relating to (a) any acquisition or
     purchase of all or any of the Shares or (b) any acquisition or purchase of
     all or any portion of the assets of, or any equity interest in, the Company
     or any subsidiary of the Company or any business combination with the
     Company or any subsidiary of the Company or (ii) participate in any
     negotiations regarding, or furnish to any Person any information with
     respect to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or
     participate or facilitate or encourage, any effort or attempt by any Person
     to do or seek any of the foregoing. Each Stockholder immediately shall
     cease and cause to be terminated all existing discussions or negotiations
     of the Stockholder and its agents or other representatives with any Person
     conducted heretofore with respect to any of the foregoing. Each Stockholder
     shall notify Purchaser promptly if any such proposal or offer, or any
     inquiry or contact with any Person with respect thereto, is made and shall,
     in any such notice to Purchaser, indicate in reasonable detail the identity
     of the Person making such proposal, offer, inquiry or contact and the terms
     and conditions of such proposal, offer, inquiry or contact. The provisions
     of this Section 3 shall not apply to or restrict any ac-



                                       5
<PAGE>

     tion that may be taken by the Stockholder in its capacity as an officer or
     director of the Company.

6.   Legend on Certificates. The certificate(s) evidencing the Shares and the
     agreements evidencing the Options shall be endorsed with a restrictive
     legend substantially as follows:

          The shares [options] evidenced by this certificate [agreement] are
          subject to a stock option agreement dated as of November 20, 1997
          between the registered holder hereof and Intermedia Communications
          Inc., a copy of which is on file at the principal office of the
          Company. The holder of this certificate [agreement], by his acceptance
          hereof, agrees to be bound by all the terms of such agreement, as the
          same is in effect from time to time.

7.   Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders. Each Stockholder hereby
     severally represents and warrants with respect to itself and its ownership
     of the Shares to Purchaser and the Subsidiary as follows:

     (a)  Authority Relative to this Agreement. The Stockholder has all
          necessary power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement,
          to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the
          transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this
          Agreement by the Stockholder and the consummation by the Stockholder
          of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
          authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Stockholder.
          This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
          Stockholder and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
          delivery by Purchaser, constitutes a legal, valid and binding
          obligation of the Stockholder, enforceable against the Stockholder in
          accordance with its terms, except that such enforceability may be
          limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors'
          rights generally.



                                       6
<PAGE>

     (b)  No Conflict. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
          Stockholder does not, and the performance of this Agreement by the
          Stockholder will not, (i) require any consent, approval, authorization
          or permit of, or filing with or notification to (other than pursuant
          to the HSR Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
          "Exchange Act") and the Other Regulatory Approvals), any governmental
          or regulatory authority, domestic or foreign, (ii) conflict with or
          violate the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws (or comparable
          organizational documents) of the Stockholder, (iii) conflict with or
          violate any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree
          applicable to the Stockholder or by which any property or asset of the
          Stockholder is bound, or (iv) result in any breach of or constitute a
          default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would
          become a default) under, or give to others any right of termination,
          amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation
          of a lien or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever on any
          property or asset of the Stockholder pursuant to, any note, bond,
          mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit,
          franchise or other instrument or obligation to which the Stockholder
          is a party or by which the Stockholder or any property or asset of the
          Stockholder is bound except that a consent pursuant to that certain
          Shareholders' Agreement dated March 13, 1996 by and among Shared
          Technologies Inc., RHI Holdings Inc. and Anthony D. Autorino (the
          "Shareholders Agreement") may be required and have been obtained.

     (c)  Title to the Shares. The Shares and Options owned by the Stockholder
          (as set forth on the signature pages hereto) are all the Shares and
          Options of the Company owned, either of record or beneficially, by the
          Stockholder. The Stockholder owns all such Shares free and clear of
          all security interests, liens, claims, pledges, options, rights of
          first refusal, agreements, limitations on the Stock-



                                       7
<PAGE>

          holder's voting rights, charges and other encumbrances of any nature
          whatsoever (except for the liens granted to the Pledge Agent and
          pursuant to the Citicorp Pledge Agreement), and, except as provided in
          this Agreement, other than the Shareholders Agreement, the Pledge
          Agreement and the Citicorp Pledge Agreement, the Stockholder has not
          appointed or granted any proxy, which appointment or grant is still
          effective, with respect to the Shares. RHI hereby agrees to obtain a
          release from their limitation on voting rights in the Citicorp Pledge
          Agreement within 10 days after the date of this Agreement.

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

8.   Representations and Warranties of Purchaser. Purchaser hereby represents
     and warrants to the Stockholders as follows:

     (a)  Purchaser has all necessary power and authority to execute and deliver
          this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate
          the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and
          performance of this Agreement by Purchaser and the consummation of the
          transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all
          necessary action on the part of Purchaser. This Agreement has been
          duly and validly executed and delivered by Purchaser and, assuming the
          due authorization, execution and delivery by the Stockholders,
          constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Purchaser,
          enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except
          that such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
          similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally.

     (b)  No Conflict. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Purchaser
          does not, and the performance of this Agreement by Purchaser 



                                       8
<PAGE>

          will not, (i) require any consent, approval, authorization or permit
          of, or filing with or notification to (other than pursuant to the HSR
          Act, the Exchange Act and the Other Regulatory Approvals), any
          governmental or regulatory authority, domestic or foreign, (ii)
          conflict with or violate the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws
          of Purchaser, (iii) conflict with or violate any law, rule,
          regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to Purchaser or by
          which any property or asset of Purchaser is bound, or (iv) result in
          any breach of or constitute a default (or an event which with notice
          or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to
          others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or
          cancellation of, or result in the creation of a lien or other
          encumbrance of any nature whatsoever on any property or asset of
          Purchaser pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract,
          agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or
          obligation to which Purchaser is a party or by which Purchaser or any
          property or asset of Purchaser is bound.

     (c)  Brokers. Other than Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., no broker, finder or
          investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee
          or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
          based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Purchaser.

9.   Termination of Agreement. Purchaser reserves the right in its sole
     discretion at any time hereafter to terminate this Agreement, the Options
     and all irrevocable proxies granted to it hereunder.

10.  Miscellaneous.

     (a)  Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Merger
          Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
          transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party
          incurring such expenses.



                                       9
<PAGE>

     (b)  Further Assurances. Purchaser and the Stockholders will execute and
          deliver all such further documents and instruments and take all such
          further action as may be necessary in order to consummate the
          transactions contemplated hereby.

     (c)  Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage
          would occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were
          not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties
          shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof (without
          establishing the likelihood of irreparable injury or posting bond or
          other security) in addition to any other remedy to which they may be
          entitled at law or in equity.

     (d)  Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
          between Purchaser and the Stockholders with respect to the subject
          matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings,
          both written and oral, between Purchaser and the Stockholders with
          respect to the subject matter hereof.

     (e)  Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of law
          or otherwise, except that Purchaser may assign all or any of its
          rights and obligations hereunder to any affiliate of Purchaser,
          provided that no such assignment shall relieve Purchaser of its
          obligations hereunder if such assignee does not perform such
          obligations.

     (f)  Obligations of Successors; Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall
          be binding upon, inure solely to the benefit of, and be enforceable
          by, the successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.
          Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall
          confer upon any other person any rights, benefits or remedies of any
          nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.



                                       10
<PAGE>

     (g)  Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may not be amended or changed except
          by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto. Any party
          hereto may (i) extend the time for the performance of any obligation
          or other act of the other party hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracy in
          the representations and warranties contained herein or in any document
          delivered pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance with any
          agreement or condition contained herein. Any such extension or waiver
          shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the
          party or parties to be bound thereby.

     (h)  Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of
          this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any
          other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force
          and effect.

     (i)  Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
          communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and
          shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in
          person, by cable, telecopy, telegram or telex or by registered or
          certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the
          respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other
          address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in
          accordance with this Section 7(i)):

                  if to Purchaser:

                           Intermedia Communications Inc.
                           3625 Queen Palm Drive
                           Tampa, Florida 33619
                           Attention: Chief Financial Officer
                           Telecopy:        (813) 829-2470

                  with a copy to:

                           Kronish, Lieb, Weiner & Hellman LLP
                           1114 Avenue of the Americas
                           New York, New York 10036
                           Attention: Ralph J. Sutcliffe, Esq.


                                       11
<PAGE>

                           Telecopy:  (212) 997-3527

                  if to any Stockholder:

     at   the respective addresses of such Stockholder set forth at the foot of
          this Agreement.

     (j)  Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
          accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
          contracts executed in and to be performed in that State.

     (k)  Headings. The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are
          included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any
          way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

     (l)  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
          counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate
          counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an
          original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
          same agreement.

     (m)  The obligations of the Stockholders hereunder are several and no
          Stockholder shall be liable for any breach by any other Stockholder if
          his or its obligations hereunder.

     (n)  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MIGHT HAVE
          TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY DISPUTE ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
          AGREEMENT.

11.  Consents. Each of the Stockholders, the Company and RHI Holdings, Inc.
     hereby consents to the execution and delivery of this Agreement by all
     parties hereto and the grants of voting rights and Options pursuant hereto
     and agrees that all Option Shares purchased by Purchasers pursuant hereto
     shall be acquired free and clear of any obligation under the Shareholders
     Agreement.





                                       12
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Purchaser has caused this Agreement to be executed by
its officers thereunto duly authorized and the Stockholders and the Company have
duly executed or caused this Agreement to be executed by its officers thereunto
duly authorized as of the date first written above.

PURCHASER:

INTERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS INC.


By:
     -------------------------------------
      Name: Robert M. Manning
      Title: Senior Vice President and
                  Chief Financial Officer

SHAREHOLDERS:                    NUMBER OF SHARES OWNED:
 RHI HOLDINGS, INC.              6,225,000 Company Common Stock
                                 250,000 Company Preferred Stock

By:
    -------------------------------
      Name:
      Title:
Address:  c/o The Fairchild Corporation
          300 West Service
          PO Box 10803
          Chantilly, Virginia
Attention: Donald Miller, Esq.
Telecopy: (703) 478-5775

                     [Signature Pages Continue on Next Page]

Anthony D. Autorino                     870,416 Company Common Stock
                                        Options to purchase 296,667
                                        shares of Company Common Stock

Address:  c/o Shared Technologies Fairchild, Inc.
          100 Great Meadow Road
          Wethersfield, Connecticut 06109
Attention: Kenneth Doros
Telecopy: (860) 258-2455


Jeffrey J. Steiner                      up to 47,500 Company Common Stock
                                        Options to purchase 116,667 shares
                                        of Company Common Stock



<PAGE>
_________________________________

Address:  c/o The Fairchild Corporation
          300 West Service
          PO Box 10803
          Chantilly, Virginia
Attention: Donald Miller, Esq.
Telecopy: (703) 478-5775

SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.

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












                                       2





     This Settlement Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as of November 20, 1997,
by and among Intermedia Communications, Inc. ("ICI"), Moonlight Acquisition
Corp. ("Moonlight"), Tel-Save Holdings, Inc. ("Tel-Save"), Shared Technologies
Fairchild Inc., ("STF") and TSHCo, Inc. ("TSH") (collectively, the "Parties").

                                 R E C I T A L S


     WHEREAS, on July 16, 1997, Tel-Save, TSH and STF entered into an Agreement
and Plan of Merger (the "Tel-Save Merger Agreement") and certain other
agreements and arrangements;

     WHEREAS, on November 17, 1997, ICI and Moonlight commenced a litigation
against Tel-Save, STF and certain other parties, styled Intermedia
Communications, Inc. and Moonlight Acquisition Corp. v. Shared Technologies
Fairchild, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 16038, Del. Ch. 1997 (the "Litigation") and
offered to acquire STF (the "ICI Proposal"); and

     WHEREAS, the Parties desire to terminate the Litigation and settle all
disputes among them arising from, or relating in any way to, the Tel-Save Merger
Agreement (and all agreements and arrangements contemplated therein or relating
thereto) and the ICI Proposal, and to enter into certain other arrangements
among them, including, but not limited to, an Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated the date hereof, by and among STF, ICI and Moonlight (the "ICI Merger
Agreement");

     NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, including the mutual
promises, releases, representations, covenants and obligations contained herein
or contemplated hereby, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Parties hereby agree as follows:

     1. Settlement of Dispute.

     1.1 Promptly after the execution and delivery hereof, each of the Parties
hereto shall cause their respective attorneys to execute a stipulation of
dismissal, in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A, dismissing the Litigation
with prejudice. Immediately upon execution of said stipulation of dismissal, ICI
and Moonlight shall cause their attorneys to file said stipulation of dismissal
with the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, in and for New Castle
County. Each party to the Litigation shall take all steps necessary to
effectuate the dismissal with prejudice of the Litigation, and shall pay its own
expenses, including attorneys' fees, incident to the Litigation and to the
preparation and performance of this Agreement.



<PAGE>

     1.2 (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 1.2(c) hereof, each of the
Parties, for itself and its respective officers, directors, affiliates, parent
and subsidiary corporations, partners, agents, attorneys, successors, assigns,
and anyone claiming any right through it or under it, mutually, irrevocably and
unconditionally releases and forever discharges each of the other Parties and
their present and former officers, directors, affiliates, parent and subsidiary
corporations, partners, agents, representatives, employees, controlling persons,
and their respective successors and assigns (collectively, the "Releasees"),
from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, suits, debts, dues, rights,
offsets, demands, sums of money, accounts, damages, judgments, reckonings,
bonds, bonuses, charges, bills, specialties, covenants, contracts,
controversies, agreements, promises, variances, trespasses, extents, executions,
and complaints whatsoever, in law, equity or otherwise, under federal law, state
law or otherwise, whether known or unknown, which such Party and/or its
officers, directors, affiliates, parent and subsidiary corporations, partners,
agents, attorneys, successors, assigns, and anyone claiming any right through it
or under it, ever had, now has, or hereafter may have, for, upon, or by any
matter, cause or thing whatsoever, from the beginning of the world to the day of
this Agreement, based on, relating or with respect to, or arising out of:

          (i) the facts, underlying claims, or affirmative defenses that were
     asserted, or could have been asserted, in the Litigation;

          (ii) the filing or prosecution of the Litigation, or any process or
     proceedings therein;

          (iii) the Tel-Save Merger Agreement, the STF Voting Agreements (as
     defined below), the Option (as defined below), the ICI Proposal or the LD
     Agreement, as originally executed and delivered (as defined below), or the
     negotiation or execution of any thereof;

          (iv) the negotiation or execution of this Agreement, the ICI Merger
     Agreement, the Amended LD Agreement (as defined below), the Option
     Agreement, of even date herewith, among ICI and certain stockholders of STF
     (the "Option Agreement"), the Stock Purchase Agreement to be entered,
     between ICI and RHI (the "Stock Purchase Agreement"), the Loan Agreement to
     be entered between ICI and STF (the "Loan Agreement"), or any other
     agreement contemplated by such agreements to be executed on or after the
     date hereof; or

          (v) any acts, facts, transactions, occurrences, conduct, statements or
     representations on the part of the



                                      -2-
<PAGE>

     Parties or their respective present or former officers, directors,
     affiliates, parent and subsidiary corporations, partners, agents,
     representatives, employees or controlling persons with regard to, or
     directly or indirectly related to, the merger or sale of, or failure to
     merge or sell, or any offer or proposal to merge or sell, or failure to
     include any particular term in any agreement to merge or sell, STF, or any
     statement or omission in the Joint Proxy Statement of Tel-Save and STF of
     October 30, 1997.

     (b) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 1.2(c) hereof, each of the
Parties, for itself and its respective officers, directors, affiliates, parent
and subsidiary corporations, partners, agents, attorneys, successors, assigns,
and anyone claiming any right through it or under it, covenants not to sue or
bring any claim or action, of any nature whatsoever, against the Releasees, or
any one or more of them, in any forum, based on, relating to or arising out of:

          (i) the facts, underlying claims, or affirmative defenses that were
     asserted, or could have been asserted, in the Litigation;

          (ii) the filing or prosecution of the Litigation, or any proceedings
     therein;

          (iii) the Tel-Save Merger Agreement, the STF Voting Agreements (as
     defined below), the Option (as defined below), the ICI Proposal or the LD
     Agreement, as originally executed and delivered (as defined below);

          (iv) the negotiation or execution of this Agreement, the ICI Merger
     Agreement, the Amended LD Agreement (as defined below), the Option
     Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Loan Agreement, or any other
     agreement contemplated by such agreements to be executed on or after the
     date hereof; or

          (v) any acts, facts, transactions, occurrences, conduct, statements or
     representations on the part of the Parties or their respective present or
     former officers, directors, affiliates, parent and subsidiary corporations,
     partners, agents, representatives, employees or controlling persons with
     regard to, or directly or indirectly related to, the merger or sale of, or
     failure to merge or sell, or any offer or proposal to merge or sell, or
     failure to include any particular term in any agreement to merge or sell,
     STF, or any statement or omission in the Joint Proxy Statement of Tel-Save
     and STF of October 30, 1997.



                                      -3-
<PAGE>

     (c) Nothing in paragraphs 1.2(a) or 1.2(b) hereof shall alter, modify,
release or apply to:

          (i) the rights, obligations, covenants, representations or warranties
     of the Parties under or in this Agreement;

          (ii) the rights, obligations, covenants, representations or warranties
     of STF, ICI and Moonlight under or in the ICI Merger Agreement, the Option
     Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Loan Agreement, or any other
     agreement contemplated by such agreements to be executed on or after the
     date hereof;

          (iii) the rights, obligations, consents, representations or warranties
     of STF and Tel-Save, Inc. under or in the Amended LD Agreement (as defined
     below); or

          (iv) the rights, obligations, covenants, representations, or
     warranties of STF and ICI under or in the Notes (as defined below).

     (d) Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, ICI, Moonlight,
STF, RHI Holdings, Inc. ("RHI") and The Fairchild Corporation ("TFC") are
executing and delivering a release in favor of Daniel Borislow ("Borislow"), and
Borislow is executing and delivering a release in favor of ICI, Moonlight, STF,
RHI, and TFC, in each case in the forms attached as Exhibit B and Exhibit C,
respectively. Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, ICI,
Moonlight, Tel-Save and TSH are executing and delivering a release in favor of
RHI and TFC, and RHI and TFC are executing and delivering a release in favor of
ICI, Moonlight, Tel-Save and TSH, in each case in the forms attached as Exhibit
D and Exhibit E, respectively.

     1.3 Neither this Agreement nor any of the terms hereof nor any
negotiations, proceedings or agreements in connection herewith shall constitute,
or be construed as or be deemed to be evidence of, an admission on the part of
any Party of any liability or wrongdoing whatsoever, or of the truth or untruth
of any of the claims made by any party in the Litigation, or of the merit or any
lack of merit of any of the defenses thereto; nor shall this Agreement, or any
of the terms hereof, or any negotiations or proceedings in connection herewith,
be offered or received in evidence, or used in any proceeding against any of the
Parties, or used in any proceeding for any purpose whatsoever, except with
respect to the effectuation and enforcement of this Agreement, the ICI Merger
Agreement, the Option Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Loan
Agreement, the Amended LD Agreement (as defined below), the Notes (as defined
below), any other agreement contemplated by such agreement to be executed on or
after the date



                                      -4-
<PAGE>

hereof, the discontinuance with prejudice of the Litigation, or the releases
referred to in paragraph 1.2(d) hereof.

     2. Termination of the Tel-Save Merger Agreement and Certain Related
Agreements. (a) (i) Tel-Save, TSH and STF hereby terminate the Tel-Save Merger
Agreement, (ii) Tel-Save and STF hereby terminate the Option Agreement, dated as
of July 16, 1997 (the "Option"), between Tel-Save and STF, (iii) the agreements,
dated as of July 16, 1997 (the "STF Voting Agreements"), by Tel-Save with each
of RHI Holdings, Inc., J.J. Cramer & Co., Mentor Partners, L.P. and Anthony D.
Autorino, and the voting agreement, dated as of July 16, 1997, between STF and
Borislow (the "Borislow Voting Agreement") by their own terms shall be
terminated upon termination of the Tel-Save Merger Agreement, and Tel-Save
hereby agrees and confirms that it shall have no rights under the STF Voting
Agreements, and STF hereby agrees and confirms that it shall have no rights
under the Borislow Voting Agreement, and (iv) except for the Long Distance
Agreement, dated as of November 13, 1997 (the "LD Agreement"), between Tel-Save,
Inc. and STF, as amended as described herein, and except for this Agreement (and
the releases and other instruments contemplated herein), each of Tel-Save, TSH
and STF hereby terminates all other agreements and arrangements of any kind
arising from or relating to the Tel-Save Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby (the Tel-Save Merger Agreement, the Option, the STF Voting
Agreements, the Borislow Voting Agreement and such other agreements,
collectively, the "Terminated Agreements")). Except as expressly provided
herein, the termination of the Terminated Agreements shall be without liability
to any party to any such Terminated Agreement and shall release each party
thereto from any and all further obligations thereunder, including, but not
limited to, any obligation to pay any termination fees described in the Tel-Save
Merger Agreement.

     (b) In consideration for the termination of the Tel-Save Merger Agreement,
the Option and the STF Voting Agreements, STF hereby pays to Tel-Save $26.250
million by certified check drawn on a bank reasonably acceptable to Tel-Save or
wire transfer of immediately available funds.

     3. Additional Transactions. (a) ICI hereby transfers to Tel-Save $211
million by certified check drawn on a bank reasonably acceptable to Tel-Save or
wire transfer of immediately available funds.

     (b) Tel-Save hereby sells, assigns and transfers to ICI all of its right,
title and interest in and to all of the $163,637,000 face amount of the 12 1/4%
Senior Subordinated Discount Notes Due 2006 of STF (the "Notes") held by it on
the date hereof. Tel-Save represents and warrants to ICI that: (i) Tel-Save owns
the Notes, free and clear of all liens, encum-



                                      -5-
<PAGE>

brances, restrictions and defects of title of any kind ("Liens") imposed or
incurred by it and, to Tel-Save's knowledge, Tel-Save owns the Notes free and
clear of all Liens whatsoever; (ii) Tel-Save has the right to transfer such
Notes to ICI without (x) violating any contract, agreement or arrangement to
which it is a party or by which it or its assets may be bound, and (y) the
imposition of any Lien on the Notes arising from such transfer; and (iii)
Tel-Save paid approximately $167 million to acquire the Notes. From time to time
after the date hereof, at the request of ICI, and without any additional
consideration therefor, Tel-Save shall execute and deliver to ICI such
instruments and documents of conveyance and transfer, and do and cause to be
done such acts or things, as ICI may reasonably request in order to more
effectively transfer and assign to ICI, or perfect or record, ICI's interest in
or title to, the Notes.

     (c) Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, Tel-Save, Inc. and
STF are amending the LD Agreement by executing and delivering an amendment in
the form attached as Exhibit F (the LD Agreement as so amended, the "Amended LD
Agreement").

     4. Standstill. For a period from the date hereof to the earlier of the
first anniversary of the date hereof and the date the ICI Merger Agreement shall
have been terminated, none of Tel-Save nor any of its affiliates (as defined in
Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act")) will (and none will assist or encourage others to), directly or
indirectly:

          (i) acquire or agree, offer, seek or propose to acquire (or request
     permission to do so), ownership (including, but not limited to, beneficial
     ownership as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of all or
     substantially all of the assets or businesses of STF, or any securities
     issued by STF, or any rights or options to acquire such ownership
     (including from a third party), or

          (ii) seek or propose to acquire control of the management or policies
     of STF (or request permission to do so), or

          (iii) enter into any discussions, negotiations, arrangements or
     understandings with any third party with respect to any of the foregoing.

     5. Representations and Warranties. Each of the Parties hereby represents
and warrants to each other Party hereto as follows:



                                      -6-
<PAGE>

     (a) It has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and any agreements and documents contemplated hereunder (the "Related
Agreements") to which it is a party and to perform its obligations hereunder and
thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement and
the Related Agreements to which it is a party have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on its part, and this Agreement and each of the
Related Agreements to which it is a party constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of it, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

     (b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Related
Agreements to which it is a party nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby constitutes a violation or breach of the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or other governing instrument) of it or
any provision of any contract, license or franchise or other instrument to which
it is a party or by which it may be bound.

     6. Notices. All notices, requests, demands, consents and other
communications required or permitted under this Agreement (collectively,
"Notice") shall be effective only if given in writing and shall be considered to
have been duly given when (i) delivered by hand, (ii) sent by telecopier (with
receipt confirmed), provided that a copy is mailed (on the same date) by
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or
(iii) received by the addressee, if sent by Express Mail, Federal Express or
other reputable express delivery service (receipt requested), or by first class
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Notice
shall be sent in each case to the appropriate addresses or telecopier numbers
set forth below (or to such other addresses and telecopier numbers as a Party
may from time to time designate as to itself by notice similarly given to the
other Parties in accordance herewith, which shall not be deemed given until
received by the addressee). Notice shall be given:

                  (i)      to ICI and Moonlight at:
                           Intermedia Communications Inc.
                           3625 Queen Palm Drive
                           Tampa, Florida  33619
                           Attn:  Chief Financial Officer
                           Telecopier:  (813) 829-2470

         copy to:          Kronish, Lieb, Weiner & Hellman LLP
                           1114 Avenue of the Americas
                           New York, New York 10036-7798
                           Attn:  Ralph J. Sutcliffe, Esq.
                           Telecopier:  (212) 479-6275



                                      -7-
<PAGE>

                  (ii)     to STF at:

                           Shared Technologies, Inc.
                           100 Great Meadow Road, Suite 104
                           Wethersfield, CT  06109
                           Attn:  Kenneth M. Dorros, Esq.
                           Telecopier:  (860) 258-2455

         copy to:          Cahill Gordon & Reindel

                           80 Pine Street
                           New York, New York  10005
                           Attn:  James J. Clark, Esq.
                           Telecopier:  (212) 269-5420

                  and

                           The Fairchild Corporation
                           300 West Service Road
                           P.O. Box 10803
                           Chantilly, VA  22021
                           Attn:  Donald E. Miller, Esq.
                           Telecopier:  (703) 478-5775

              (iii)        to Tel-Save and TSH at:
                           6805 Route 202
                           New Hope, Pennsylvania  18938
                           Attn:  Chief Executive Officer
                           Telecopier:  (215) 862-1083

         copy to:          Arnold & Porter
                           399 Park Avenue
                           New York, New York  10022
                           Attn:  Jonathan C. Stapleton, Esq.
                           Telecopier:  (212) 715-1399

                  and

                           Aloysius T. Lawn, IV, Esq.
                           General Counsel
                           Tel-Save Holdings, Inc.
                           6805 Route 202
                           New Hope, Pennsylvania  18938
                           Telecopier:  (215) 862-1083

     7. Further Assurances. Each of the Parties shall, at any time and from time
to time after the date hereof, fairly and in good faith, do, execute,
acknowledge and deliver, or cause to be done, executed, acknowledged and
delivered, all such further acts, deeds, assignments, transfers, conveyances,
powers of attorney, receipts, acknowledgments, acceptances and assurances as may
be reasonably required to procure for each of



                                      -8-
<PAGE>

the Parties and their respective successors and assigns, the consideration to be
delivered to them as provided for herein or otherwise to carry out the intent
and purposes of this Agreement or to consummate any of the transactions
contemplated hereby.

     8. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.

     9. Miscellaneous Provisions.

     9.1 This Agreement may not be amended, modified, discharged or terminated,
nor may the rights of any Party hereunder be waived, except by a written
document that is executed by each Party hereto. No waiver of any provision of
this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of any other provision
hereof, nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

     9.2 This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which when executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     9.3 The Exhibits referred to herein are a part of this Agreement for all
purposes. Terms used in this Agreement shall have the same meanings when used in
such Exhibits.

     9.4 Captions and headings are employed herein for convenience of reference
only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of any provision
hereof.

     9.5 This Agreement is made under and shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the substantive laws of the State of New York applicable to
contracts made and to be performed entirely within that state.

     9.6 This Agreement and the agreements and instruments contemplated herein
constitute the entire agreement between Tel-Save and TSH, on the one hand, and
the other Parties hereto, on the other hand, with respect to the subject matter
hereof.



                                      -9-
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first above written.

                         INTERMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS INC.


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

                                       MOONLIGHT ACQUISITION CORP.


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

                                       TEL-SAVE HOLDINGS, INC.


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

                       SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.


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

                                       TSHCO. INC.


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






                  Intermedia and Shared Technologies Fairchild
                           Sign Cash Merger Agreement


TAMPA, Fla. & WETHERSFIELD, Conn.-(BUSINESS WIRE) Nov. 21,1997


Transaction Would Create Nation's Second Largest CLEC

Expected to Close in First Quarter 1998

     Intermedia Communications (Nasdaq/NM: ICIX - news) and Shared Technologies
Fairchild, Inc. ("Shared Technologies") (Nasdaq/NM: STCH - news) today announced
that they have signed a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which holders of
Shared Technologies' common stock would receive $15.00 per share in cash upon
consummation of the merger. In connection with the merger agreement, Intermedia
was granted irrevocable stock options to purchase stock from various holders of
Shared Technologies' stock which, together with common stock purchased from
another shareholder of Shared Technologies gives Intermedia control over
approximately 52.8% of the outstanding common stock of Shared Technologies,
calculated on a fully diluted basis.

         "The business that the board and management of Shared has built is a
         valuable asset, one whose potential is on the verge of realization. I
         believe this transaction is very timely," commented David C. Ruberg,
         Intermedia's Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. "Though
         the process over the last several days has at times been awkward, I
         have nothing but appreciation for the efforts of Jeffrey Steiner and
         Dan Borislow, who have worked diligently with us to find the best
         resolution for all parties involved."

         "The combination of these two well positioned telecommunications
         companies creates maximum value for our stockholders and greatly
         enhances Intermedia's position in this dynamic industry," said Anthony
         D. Autorino, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Shared
         Technologies Fairchild, Incorporated.

     As part of the agreement, Intermedia agreed to commence promptly a cash
tender for 4 million additional shares of Shared Technologies at $15 per share.
Intermedia also agreed to purchase all of Shared Technologies' Series I
Convertible Preferred Stock from a subsidiary of Fairchild Incorporated for


<PAGE>

a cash price equal to approximately $63 million. These securities are
convertible into approximately 4.2 million shares of Shared Technologies common
stock. Intermedia also agreed to lend Shared Technologies approximately $22
million to be used by Shared Technologies to redeem, at its redemption price,
its outstanding Special Preferred Stock, owned by a subsidiary of Fairchild
Incorporated.

     The total implied enterprise value for the transaction is an estimated $640
million, including an equity value of approximately $366 million on a fully
diluted basis. In connection with the proposed transaction, Intermedia paid $237
million to Tel-Save Holdings, Inc. ("Tel-Save"), including approximately $174
million for the purchase of the Shared Technologies 12, % subordinated discount
notes plus accrued interest which were owned by Tel-Save, to terminate the
merger and related agreements between Tel-Save and Shared Technologies, to amend
the long distance agreement between Tel-Save and Shared Technologies in various
respects to, among other things, make it terminable without penalty by either
party after February 28. 1998. In addition Intermedia settled the litigation
- -brought by Intermedia against Shared Technologies, its directors and Tel-Save.

     The merger agreement is expected to be consummated during the first quarter
of Intermedia's 1998 fiscal year. Consummation of the merger agreement is
subject to various customary conditions, including approval by Shared
Technologies' shareholders and receipt of necessary regulatory approvals.

     Intermedia Communications is one of the nation's fastest growing
telecommunications companies, providing integrated telecommunications solutions
to business and government customers. These solutions include voice and data,
local and long distance, and advanced network access services in major U.S.
markets. Intermedia's enhanced data portfolio, including frame relay networking,
ATM, and a full range of business Internet connectivity and web hosting
services, offers seamless end-to-end service virtually anywhere in the world.

     Intermedia is headquartered in Tampa with sales offices in over 40 cities.
Intermedia is on the World Wide Web at http://www.intermedia.com.

     Headquartered in Wethersfield, Connecticut, Shared Technologies Fairchild
Inc. is the nation's largest provider of shared telecommunications services and
systems. Through its technical infrastructure and 800 employees, Shared
Technologies


<PAGE>

Fairchild acts as a single point of contact for business telecommunications
services at more than 465 buildings throughout the United States and Canada.

                                    Contact:

Intermedia                                   Shared Technologies
                                             Fairchild, Inc
Robert M. Manning                            Anthony D. Autorino
Senior Vice President and                    Chairman and Chief
  Chief Financial Officer                    Executive Officer
(813) 829-2403                               (860)-258-2100

         or
Chris Brown
Senior Vice President,
Investor Relations
(813) 829-2408





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