SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

                                  $163,637,000
                   12 1/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED DISCOUNT NOTES
                                    DUE 2006


                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                                                   March 8, 1996



CS First Boston Corporation
Citicorp Securities Inc.
   c/o CS First Boston Corporation
      Park Avenue Plaza
         New York, NY 10055


Ladies and Gentlemen:

          1. Introductory. Shared Technologies Fairchild Communications Corp., a
Delaware  corporation (the "Issuer"),  proposes to issue and sell to the initial
purchasers named in Schedule A  hereto (the "Initial  Purchasers")  $163,637,000
principal amount of its 12 1/4% Senior Subordinated Discount Notes Due 2006 (the
"Notes") to be unconditionally  guaranteed on a senior  subordinated basis ("the
Guaranties")  by Shared  Technologies  Inc.  to be renamed  Shared  Technologies
Fairchild  Inc.  ("STFI")  and by each  subsidiary  of the Issuer  listed on the
signature pages hereto (each a "Subsidiary";  collectively,  the  "Subsidiaries"
and,  together with STFI,  the  "Guarantors").  The Notes and the Guaranties are
collectively referred to as the "Offered Securities". The Offered Securities are
to  be  issued  under  an  Indenture,  to be  dated  as of  March 1,  1996  (the
"Indenture"),  between the Issuer,  the Guarantors  named therein and the United
States Trust Company of New York as trustee (the "Trustee").

          Pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger,  dated as of  November 9,
1995, as amended on February 2 and 23, 1996 (the "Merger Agreement"),  among the
Issuer, Shared Technologies Inc. ("STI"),  Fairchild  Industries,  Inc. ("FII"),
RHI Holdings,  Inc. ("RHI") and The Fairchild  Corporation  ("TFC"), FII will be
merged with and into STI (the  "Merger") and STI, as the surviving  corporation,
will be renamed Shared Technologies Fairchild Inc. ("STFI"). As preconditions to
the Merger, (i) FII will undergo a recapitalization (the "FII 



Recapitalization") pursuant to which FII will transfer all of its assets to, and
cause all of its  liabilities  to be assumed by, its  immediate  parent,  RHI or
RHI's  affiliates  except for the assets and  liabilities  of the  communication
services  business of FII and certain other  specified  liabilities and (ii) STI
will cause the Issuer to be  incorporated.  As part of the Merger,  RHI, TFC and
Fairchild  Holding  Corp.  will  enter  into  indemnification   agreements  (the
"Indemnification  Agreements")  pursuant to which they will  indemnify STFI with
respect to the liabilities assumed by RHI as part of the FII Recapitalization.

          The  Offered  Securities  will be  offered  and  sold  to the  Initial
Purchasers  without  being  registered  under  the  Securities  Act of 1933 (the
"Securities  Act"),  in  reliance  on an  exemption  therefrom.  The  Issuer has
prepared  a  preliminary   offering  circular  dated  February 17,   1966  (such
preliminary  offering circular being hereinafter referred to as the "Preliminary
Offering Circular"), and an offering circular dated March 8, 1996 (such offering
circular,  in the form first  furnished  to the  Initial  Purchasers  for use in
connection with the offering of the Securities, being hereinafter referred to as
the "Offering  Circular"),  setting forth information  regarding the Issuer, the
Guarantors and the Offered  Securities.  The Issuer and each Guarantor,  jointly
and  severally,  hereby  confirm  that  they  have  authorized  the  use  of the
Preliminary  Offering  Circular and the Offering Circular in connection with the
offering and sale of the Securities.

          Holders (including  subsequent  transferees) of the Offered Securities
will have the  registration  rights set forth in the Exchange  and  Registration
Rights Agreement of even date herewith (the  "Registration  Rights  Agreement"),
between the Issuer and the  Initial  Purchasers.  Pursuant  to the  Registration
Rights Agreement, the Issuer has agreed to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") (i) a registration  statement (the "Exchange Offer
Registration  Statement")  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the
"Securities  Act"),  registering  an issue  of a series  of  senior  notes  (the
"Exchange  Securities")  identical  in all  material  respects  to  the  Offered
Securities  (except that the  Exchange  Securities  will not contain  terms with
respect to  transfer  restrictions)  to be offered in  exchange  for the Offered
Securities (the "Exchange Offer") and (ii) under certain circumstances specified
in the Registration Rights Agreement, a shelf registration statement pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act (the "Shelf Registration Statement").

          This Agreement,  the Indenture,  the Registration Rights Agreement and
each Guaranty are referred to herein collectively as the "Operative  Documents".
The Issuer and each Guarantor are referred to herein individually as a "Relevant
Company" and collectively as the "Relevant Companies".

                                       2


          The Issuer,  each  Subsidiary and STFI,  jointly and severally,  agree
with the several Initial Purchasers as follows:

          2.  Representations  and  Warranties  of the  Issuer.  As used in this
Section 2,  references  to the  "Issuer"  or "its  subsidiaries"  shall mean the
Issuer or its  subsidiaries  prior to the  consummation  of the Merger and shall
mean the Issuer or its  subsidiaries,  effective  upon the  consummation  of the
Merger. The Issuer,  STFI and the Subsidiaries  jointly and severally  represent
and warrant to, and agree with,  the several  Initial  Purchasers as of the date
hereof and as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof) that:

          (a)  Each  of the  Preliminary  Offering  Circular  and  the  Offering
         Circular  has been  prepared  by the Issuer and STI.  Such  Preliminary
         Offering Circular and Offering Circular, as supplemented as of the date
         of this Agreement and any other document approved by the Issuer for use
         in connection with the contemplated  resale of the Offered  Securities,
         are hereinafter  collectively  referred to as the "Offering Documents".
         As of their respective dates and, in the case of the Offering Circular,
         as of the date of this  Agreement,  no Offering  Document  includes any
         untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
         necessary in order to make the statements  therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding
         sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions  from an Offering
         Document based upon written information  furnished to the Issuer by any
         Initial  Purchaser  through  CS First  Boston   Corporation   ("CSFBC")
         specifically  for use therein,  it being understood and agreed that the
         only such information is that described as such in Section 7(b). Except
         disclosed in the Offering Documents, on the date of this Agreement each
         of FII's and STI's Annual Report on Form 10-K  most recently filed with
         the Commission  and all  subsequent  reports which have been filed with
         the  Commission  or sent to  stockholders  pursuant  to the  Securities
         Exchange  Act of 1934 (the  "Exchange  Act") do not  include any untrue
         statement  of a  material  fact or  omit to  state  any  material  fact
         required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  to make the  statements
         therein not misleading.  Such documents,  when they were filed with the
         Commission,  conformed in all material  respects to the requirements of
         the  Exchange  Act and the  rules  and  regulations  of the  Commission
         thereunder.

          (b)  Each of STFI and the Issuer has been duly  incorporated and is an
         existing  corporation  in good standing  under the laws of the State of
         Delaware,  with power and  authority  (corporate  and other) to own its
         properties  and  conduct  its  business as  described  in the  Offering
         Documents;  and each of STFI and the  Issuer  is duly  qualified  to do
         business  as a  foreign  corporation  in  good  standing  in all  

                                       3


         other  jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the
         conduct of its business requires such  qualification,  except where the
         failure to so qualify would not have a material  adverse effect on STFI
         and the Issuer.

          (c)  Each of the Issuer and STFI has an authorized  capitalization  as
         set forth in the  Offering  Documents  and all of the issued  shares of
         capital stock of each of the Issuer and STFI have been duly  authorized
         and validly  issued and are fully paid and  nonassessable.  The Capital
         Stock of each of the Issuer and STFI conforms in all material  respects
         to the description thereof contained in the Offering Documents.

          (d)  Each  subsidiary of the Issuer that is a  corporation  or limited
         partnership has been duly  incorporated and is an existing  corporation
         or  limited  partnership  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of  the
         jurisdiction  of its  incorporation  or  organization,  with  power and
         authority  (corporate  and other) to own its properties and conduct its
         business as described in the Offering Documents; and each subsidiary of
         the  Issuer  that  is a  corporation  or  limited  partnership  is duly
         qualified  to  do  business  as  a  foreign   corporation   or  limited
         partnership  in good standing in all other  jurisdictions  in which its
         ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business  requires
         such  qualification,  except where the failure to so qualify  would not
         have a material adverse effect on such subsidiaries,  taken as a whole;
         all of the issued and  outstanding  capital stock of each subsidiary of
         the Issuer has been duly  authorized  and  validly  issued and is fully
         paid and nonassessable;  and the capital stock of each subsidiary owned
         by the  Issuer,  directly or through  subsidiaries,  is owned free from
         liens,  encumbrances  and defects,  except that (1) STI owns 99% of the
         interests  in  Financial  Place  Communications  Company,  an  Illinois
         general   partnership,   (2) STI's   interests   in  its   wholly-owned
         subsidiary,   Access   Telemanagement,   Inc.,   a  Texas   corporation
         ("Access"),  have been pledged in favor of Martnet  Inc.  pursuant to a
         Pledge  Agreement dated as of June 27,  1994 (the "Pledge  Agreement"),
         (3) STI's 99% limited partnership interest in Access  Telecommunication
         Group L.P., a Texas  limited  partnership  ("Access  L.P."),  have been
         pledged  pursuant to the Pledge  Agreement  and  (4) Access  L.P.,  all
         interests in which have been pledged pursuant to the Pledge  Agreement,
         is the holder of 100% of the common stock of Access  Network  Services,
         Inc.

          (e)  STFI owns all of the issued and outstanding  capital stock of the
         Issuer and the Issuer  owns all of the issued and  outstanding  capital
         stock or equity interests of the  Subsidiaries,  except as described in
         paragraph (d)   above,  and  all  such  capital  stock  has  been  duly
         authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; and,
         except as described in paragraph (d) above, the capital stock or equity
         interests of each subsidiary owned by a Subsidiary, 

                                       4


         directly   or  through   subsidiaries,   is  owned  free  from   liens,
         encumbrances  and  defects;  there  are no  outstanding  subscriptions,
         rights, warrants,  calls, commitments of sale or options to acquire, or
         instruments  convertible  into or exchangeable  for, any such shares of
         capital stock or other equity interest of the Subsidiaries.

          (f)  The Notes have been duly authorized by the Issuer;  the Indenture
         has  been  duly  authorized  by the  Issuer  and the  Guarantors;  each
         Guaranty has been duly  authorized by each  Guarantor  party to it; and
         when the Offered Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to this
         Agreement on the Closing Date (as defined below) and  authenticated  by
         the Trustee,  the Indenture  will have been duly executed and delivered
         by the Issuer,  STFI and the Subsidiaries  and such Offered  Securities
         will have been duly executed,  authenticated,  issued and delivered and
         will  conform  in all  material  respects  to the  description  thereof
         contained in the Offering Documents; and when the Merger is consummated
         each  Guaranty  will have  been duly  executed  and  delivered  by each
         Guarantor party to it. The Indenture  conforms in all material respects
         to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
         "Trust Indenture Act"), and the rules and regulations of the Commission
         applicable  to an  indenture  which is  qualified  thereunder;  and the
         Indenture,  each Guaranty and such Offered  Securities  will constitute
         valid and legally binding  obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors
         and each of the  Indenture,  each Guaranty and such Offered  Securities
         will be  enforceable  in  accordance  with their  terms  subject to (i)
         bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium
         or  similar  laws  relating  to  creditors'   rights  and  (ii) general
         principles  of equity  (regardless  of whether such  enforceability  is
         considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

          (g)  The  Registration  Rights  Agreement  has been  duly  authorized,
         executed  and  delivered by each of the Issuer and the  Guarantors  and
         conforms in all material respects to the description  thereof contained
         in  the  Offering   Documents.   The   Registration   Rights  Agreement
         constitutes  a valid and legally  binding  obligation of the Issuer and
         each Guarantor and is enforceable in accordance with its terms.

          (h)  This  Agreement has been duly authorized,  executed and delivered
         by the Issuer, STFI and the Subsidiaries.

          (i)  Except  as  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or disclosed in the
         Offering Documents,  there is no broker,  finder or other party that is
         entitled to receive  from the Issuer,  any of its  subsidiaries  or any
         Initial  Purchaser  any  brokerage  or  finder's  fee or  other  fee or
         commission  as a  result  of  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
         Agreement.

                                       5


          (j)  Assuming  the accuracy of the  representations  and warranties of
         the Initial  Purchasers  contained in Section 4 of this  Agreement,  no
         consent,  approval,  authorization  or order of, or  filing  with,  any
         governmental   agency  or  body  or  any  court  is  required  for  the
         consummation   of  the   transactions,   other  than  the  Merger,   as
         contemplated  by the  Operative  Documents  or in  connection  with the
         issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the Issuer,  except such
         as  have  been  obtained  or  made  or as may  be  required  under  the
         Securities  Act  and  the  Rules  and  Regulations  of  the  Commission
         thereunder  with  respect to the  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  the
         Exchange Offer and the transactions contemplated thereunder or state or
         foreign   securities  laws  or  by  the  regulations  of  the  National
         Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

          (k)  The  execution,  delivery and  performance by each of the Issuer,
         STFI and the  Subsidiaries of the Operative  Documents to which it is a
         party  and  the  issuance  and  sale  of  the  Offered  Securities  and
         compliance with the terms and provisions of the Operative Documents and
         the Offered  Securities will not result in a breach or violation of any
         of the terms and  provisions  of, or constitute a default under (i) any
         material statute,  rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency
         or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over any
         Relevant  Company or any  subsidiary of any Relevant  Company or any of
         their respective properties;  (ii) any material agreement or instrument
         relating to borrowed  money to which any  Relevant  Company or any such
         subsidiary  is a party or by which  any  Relevant  Company  or any such
         subsidiary  is bound or to which any of the  properties of any Relevant
         Company or any such  subsidiary is subject;  (iii) any  other  material
         agreement  or  instrument  to which any  Relevant  Company  or any such
         subsidiary  is a party or by which  any  Relevant  Company  or any such
         subsidiary  is bound or to which any of the  properties of any Relevant
         Company or any such  subsidiary is subject which would  individually or
         in the  aggregate  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  condition
         (financial or other),  results of operations,  business or prospects of
         STFI,  the Issuer and its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole (a  "Material
         Adverse  Effect");  or  (iv) the  charter or  by-laws  of any  Relevant
         Company or any such subsidiary.  The Issuer and each Guarantor has full
         power  and  authority  to  authorize,  issue and sell the Notes and the
         Guaranties respectively, as contemplated by this Agreement.

          (l)  The  Merger  Agreement  has been duly  authorized,  executed  and
         delivered  by each of the parties  thereto and conforms in all material
         respects to the  description  thereof in the  Offering  Documents.  The
         Merger Agreement  constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of
         each of the parties  thereto and is enforceable in accordance  with its
         terms  subject  to  (i) bankruptcy,  insolvency,  fraudulent  transfer,
         reorganization,  moratorium  or similar  laws  relating  to  

                                       6


         creditors' rights and (ii) general  principles of equity (regardless of
         whether such  enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in
         equity).

          (m)  Each Indemnification Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
         and  delivered  by each of the  parties  thereto  and  conforms  in all
         material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Documents.
         Each Indemnification  Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding
         obligation  of  each  of the  parties  thereto  and is  enforceable  in
         accordance  with  its  terms  subject  to  (i) bankruptcy,  insolvency,
         fraudulent  transfer,   reorganization,   moratorium  or  similar  laws
         relating to  creditors'  rights and  (ii) general  principles of equity
         (regardless  of  whether  such   enforceability   is  considered  in  a
         proceeding at law or in equity).

          (n)  The execution,  delivery and performance by each of STI, FII and,
         to the best of the Issuer's knowledge after due inquiry, by RHI and TFC
         of the Merger Agreement and compliance with the terms and provisions of
         the Merger Agreement will not result in a breach or violation of any of
         the terms and  provisions  of, or  constitute a default  under  (i) any
         material statute,  rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency
         or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the
         Issuer,  STI, FII, RHI, TFC or any of their respective  subsidiaries or
         any of their  properties;  (ii) any  material  agreement or  instrument
         relating to borrowed  money to which the Issuer,  STI, FII, RHI, TFC or
         any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer,
         STI, FII, RHI, TFC or any of their respective  subsidiaries is bound or
         to which any of the properties of the Issuer, STI, FII, RHI, TFC or any
         of their respective  subsidiaries is subject;  (iii) any other material
         agreement or instrument to which the Issuer,  STI, FII, RHI, TFC or any
         of their  respective  subsidiaries  is a party or by which the  Issuer,
         STI, FII, RHI, TFC or any of their respective  subsidiaries is bound or
         to which any of the properties of the Issuer, STI, FII, RHI, TFC or any
         of their respective  subsidiaries is subject,  which would individually
         or in the  aggregate  have a material  adverse  effect on the condition
         (financial  or other)  business  or  results of  operations  of (A) the
         Issuer  and  its  subsidiaries   taken  as  a  whole  (B) STI  and  its
         subsidiaries  taken as a whole;  or (iv) the  charter or by-laws of the
         Issuer, STI, FII, RHI, TFC or any of their respective subsidiaries.

          (o)  Each   Relevant   Company  and  its  subsidiaries  has  good  and
         marketable  title to all real  properties and all other  properties and
         assets owned by them,  in each case free from liens,  encumbrances  and
         defects that would materially interfere with the use made or to be made
         thereof by them; and each Relevant  Company and its  Subsidiaries  hold
         any leased real or personal property under valid and enforceable leases

                                       7


         with no exceptions that would materially interfere with the use made or
         to be made thereof by them.

          (p)  Each  Relevant  Company  and its  subsidiaries  possess  adequate
         certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental
         agencies or bodies  necessary  to conduct the  business now operated by
         them and have not  received any notice of  proceedings  relating to the
         revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit
         that,  if  determined  adversely to any Relevant  Company or any of its
         subsidiaries,  would  individually  or in the aggregate have a Material
         Adverse Effect.

          (q)  No labor  dispute with the  employees of any Relevant  Company or
         any subsidiary  exists or, to the knowledge of the Issuer,  is imminent
         that might have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (r)  Each Relevant Company and its subsidiaries owns, possesses or can
         acquire on reasonable terms adequate trademarks,  trade names and other
         rights  to  inventions,  know-how,  patents,  copyrights,  confidential
         information   and   other    intellectual    property    (collectively,
         "intellectual  property rights")  necessary to conduct the business now
         operated by them, or presently  employed by them, and have not received
         any notice of  infringement  of or  conflict  with  asserted  rights of
         others  with  respect to any  intellectual  property  rights  that,  if
         determined   adversely   to  any   Relevant   Company  or  any  of  its
         subsidiaries,  would  individually  or in the aggregate have a Material
         Adverse Effect.

          (s)  Except  as  disclosed  in the  Offering  Documents,  no  Relevant
         Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, any
         rule, regulation,  decision or order of any governmental agency or body
         or any court,  domestic  or foreign,  relating to the use,  disposal or
         release of hazardous or toxic  substances or relating to the protection
         or  restoration  of the  environment  or human exposure to hazardous or
         toxic substances (collectively, "environmental laws"), owns or operates
         any real property  contaminated  with any substance  that is subject to
         any  environmental  laws,  is  liable  for  any  off-site  disposal  or
         contamination  pursuant to any environmental laws, or is subject to any
         claim   relating   to  any   environmental   laws,   which   violation,
         contamination,   liability  or  claim  would  individually  or  in  the
         aggregate have a Material  Adverse Effect;  and no Relevant  Company is
         aware of any pending investigation which might lead to such a claim.

          (t)  Except  as  disclosed  in the  Offering  Documents,  there are no
         pending  nor  threatened  actions,  suits  or  proceedings  against  or
         affecting any Relevant Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their
         respective properties that are reasonably likely to have,  individually
         or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and

                                       8


         adversely  affect the  ability of any  Relevant  Company to perform its
         obligations under the Operative Documents to which it is a party or the
         Merger Agreement or which are otherwise  material in the context of the
         sale  of  the  Offered  Securities;  and  no  such  actions,  suits  or
         proceedings  are  threatened  or,  to  STFI's  or  Issuer's  knowledge,
         contemplated.

          (u)  The  Issuer has  delivered  to the  Initial  Purchasers  true and
         correct  copies  of  the  Merger  Agreement,   the  Indenture  and  the
         Registration Rights Agreement,  in the form as originally executed, and
         there have been no amendments,  alterations,  modifications  or waivers
         thereto or in the exhibits or schedules  thereto other than those as to
         which the  Initial  Purchasers  shall  have been  advised.  The  Merger
         Agreement,  the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement conform
         in all material  respects to the  descriptions  thereof in the Offering
         Documents.

          (v)  The historical financial statements  (including the related notes
         and supporting schedules,  if any) included in the Preliminary Offering
         Circular and the Offering Circular comply in all material respects with
         the requirements applicable to a Registration Statement on Form S-1.

          (w)  The  financial  statements with respect to the Issuer included in
         the Offering  Documents  present  fairly the financial  position of the
         Issuer  and its  consolidated  subsidiaries  as of the dates  shown and
         their results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown,  and,
         except as otherwise  stated in the Offering  Documents,  such financial
         statements have been prepared in conformity with the generally accepted
         accounting  principles  in the United  States  applied on a  consistent
         basis.

          (x)  The  financial  statements  with respect to STFI  included in the
         Offering Document present fairly the financial position of STFI and its
         consolidated  subsidiaries  as of the dates shown and their  results of
         operations  and cash  flows  for the  periods  shown,  and,  except  as
         otherwise stated in the Offering Documents,  such financial  statements
         have been prepared in conformity with the generally accepted accounting
         principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis.

          (y)  The  financial  statements  with  respect to STI  included in the
         Offering Documents present fairly the financial position of STI and its
         consolidated  subsidiaries  as of the dates shown and their  results of
         operations  and cash  flows  for the  periods  shown,  and,  except  as
         otherwise stated in the Offering Documents,  such financial  statements
         have been prepared in conformity with the generally accepted accounting
         principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis.

          (z)  The  financial  statements  with  respect to FII  included in the
         Offering Documents present fairly the 

                                       9


         financial  position of FII and its consolidated  subsidiaries as of the
         dates  shown and their  results  of  operations  and cash flows for the
         periods  shown,  and,  except  as  otherwise  stated  in  the  Offering
         Documents,  such financial  statements have been prepared in conformity
         with the generally accepted accounting  principles in the United States
         applied on a consistent basis.

          (aa)  Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular,  since the date of
         the latest audited consolidated financial statements of each of STI and
         FII  included  in the  Offering  Documents  there has been no  material
         adverse  change,  nor any  development or event involving a prospective
         material  adverse  change,  in  the  condition  (financial  or  other),
         business,  properties or results of operations of either STI or FII and
         their  respective  subsidiaries  taken  as  a  whole,  and,  except  as
         disclosed in or contemplated by the Offering Documents,  there has been
         no  dividend  or  distribution  of any kind  declared,  paid or made by
         either STI or FII on any class of its respective capital stock.

          (bb)  No  Relevant  Company is an open-end  investment  company,  unit
         investment  trust  or  face-amount  certificate  company  that is or is
         required  to  be  registered  under  Section 8  of  the  United  States
         Investment  Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment  Company Act"), nor is
         it a closed-end  investment company required to be registered,  but not
         registered,  thereunder;  and no Relevant  Company is, and after giving
         effect  to the  offering  and sale of the  Offered  Securities  and the
         application  of the  proceeds  thereof  as  described  in the  Offering
         Documents,  will  not be an  "investment  company"  as  defined  in the
         Investment Company Act.

          (cc)  No   securities  of  the  same  class  (within  the  meaning  of
         Rule 144A(d)(3) under the Securities Act) as the Offered Securities are
         listed on any national  securities  exchange registered under Section 6
         of the Exchange Act or quoted in a U.S. automated interdealer quotation
         system.  The  Issuer  and STFI  have  been  advised  that  the  Offered
         Securities  have been  designated  as  Private  Offerings,  Resale  and
         Trading through Automated Linkages ("PORTAL")  securities in accordance
         with the rules and regulations of NASD.

          (dd)  Assuming  the  accuracy of the  representations,  of the Initial
         Purchasers  contained  herein,  the  offer  and  sale  of  the  Offered
         Securities in the manner  contemplated by this Agreement will be exempt
         from the  registration  requirements of the Securities Act by reason of
         Section 4(2)   thereof,   Regulation D   thereunder  and   Regulation S
         thereunder;  and it is not necessary to qualify an indenture in respect
         of the Offered  Securities  under the United States Trust Indenture Act
         of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act").

          (ee)  No Relevant Company, no affiliate of a Relevant Company, nor any
         person  acting on their behalf  
                                       10


         (i) has,  within the six-month period prior to the date hereof, offered
         or sold in the United  States or to any U.S.  person (as such terms are
         defined  in   Regulation S   under  the  Securities  Act)  the  Offered
         Securities,  or any security of the same class or series as the Offered
         Securities  or  (ii) has  offered  or will  offer or sell  the  Offered
         Securities  (A) in  the  United  States by means of any form of general
         solicitation or general  advertising  within the meaning of Rule 502(c)
         under the  Securities  Act or (B) with  respect to any such  securities
         sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S ("Regulation S") under the
         Securities  Act, by means of any directed  selling  efforts  within the
         meaning of Rule 902(b) of Regulation S.  The Relevant Companies,  their
         affiliates and any person acting on their behalf have complied and will
         comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S.  The
         Issuer  has not  entered  and  will  not  enter  into  any  contractual
         arrangement with respect to the distribution of the Offered  Securities
         except for this Agreement.

          (ff)  No Relevant Company owns any "margin securities" as that term is
         defined in Regulations G and U of the Board of Governors of the Federal
         Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board"),  and none of the proceeds
         of the  sale of the  Offered  Securities  will  be  used,  directly  or
         indirectly,  for the  purpose  of  purchasing  or  carrying  any margin
         security,  for the purpose of reducing  or  retiring  any  indebtedness
         which was originally  incurred to purchase or carry any margin security
         or for  any  other  purpose  which  might  cause  any  of  the  Offered
         Securities to be considered a "purpose  credit"  within the meanings of
         Regulation G, T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board.

          (gg)  The Offered Securities  satisfy the eligibility  requirements of
         Rule 144A(d)(3) under the Securities Act.

          (hh)  The  Issuer has not taken nor has any Guarantor  taken, nor will
         they take, directly or indirectly,  any action prohibited by Rule 10b-6
         under the Exchange Act in  connection  with the offering of the Offered
         Securities.

          (ii)  STFI is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

          (jj)  There is no  "substantial  U.S.  market  interest" as defined in
         Rule 902(n) of Regulation S in the Issuer's debt securities.

          3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities.  On the basis of
the representations,  warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to
the terms and  conditions  herein  set forth,  the Issuer  agrees to sell to the
Initial Purchasers, and the Initial Purchasers agree, severally and not jointly,
to  purchase  from the  Issuer  the  respective  principal  amounts  of  Offered
Securities set forth 

                                       11


opposite the names of the Initial Purchasers in Schedule A hereto, at a purchase
price of 67.817% of the  principal  amount  thereof plus accrued  interest  from
March 13, 1996 to the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined).

          The Issuer will  deliver  against  payment of the  purchase  price the
Offered  Securities in the form of one or more  permanent  global  Securities in
definitive  form  (the  "Global  Securities")  deposited  with  the  Trustee  as
custodian for The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and registered in the name of
Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC.  Interests in any  permanent  global  Securities
will  be held  only in  book-entry  form  through  DTC,  except  in the  limited
circumstances  described  in the  Offering  Document.  Payment  for the  Offered
Securities shall be made by the Initial  Purchasers in Federal  (same-day) funds
by wire transfer to an account in New York previously designated to CSFBC by the
Issuer at a bank acceptable to CSFBC at the office of Cravath, SwaineE& Moore at
10:00 a.m.  (New York  time), on March 13, 1996, or at such other time not later
than seven full business days thereafter as CSFBC and the Issuer determine, such
time being herein  referred to as the "Closing  Date",  against  delivery to the
Trustee as custodian for DTC of the Global  Securities  representing  all of the
Offered Securities. The Global Securities will be made available for checking at
the above  office of  Cravath,  SwaineE&  Moore at least  24Ehours  prior to the
Closing Date.

          Notwithstanding   the  foregoing,   any  Offered  Securities  sold  to
Institutional   Accredited   Investors  (as  hereinafter  defined)  pursuant  to
Section 4(c) shall be issued in definitive, fully registered form and shall bear
the legend  relating  thereto set forth  under  "Transfer  Restrictions"  in the
Offering  Documents,  but shall be paid for in the same  manner  as any  Offered
Securities to be purchased by the Initial Purchasers hereunder and to be offered
and sold by them in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

          4.   Representations   by  Initial   Purchasers;   Resale  by  Initial
Purchasers.  (a)  Each Initial  Purchaser  represents and warrants to the Issuer
that it is an "accredited investor" within the meaning of Regulation D under the
Securities Act.

          (b)  Each  Initial Purchaser  severally  acknowledges that the Offered
Securities  have not been  registered  under the  Securities  Act and may not be
offered or sold  within the United  States or to, or for the  account or benefit
of,  U.S.  persons  except in  accordance  with  Regulation S  or pursuant to an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Each Initial
Purchaser  severally  represents  and agrees  that it has  offered  and sold the
Offered  Securities  and will  offer  and sell the  Offered  Securities  only in
accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("Rule 144A") or,
in the case of CSFBC or any other Initial  

                                       12


Purchaser  authorized by CSFBC, to a limited number of Institutional  Accredited
Investors (as  hereinafter  defined) in  accordance  with  subsectionE(c).  Each
Initial Purchaser  severally  represents,  warrants and agrees that neither such
Initial  Purchaser nor its  affiliates,  nor any persons  acting on its or their
behalf, have engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts with respect
to the Offered  Securities,  and such Initial Purchaser,  its affiliates and all
persons  acting on its or their  behalf have  complied  and will comply with the
offering  restrictions  requirement of Regulation S  and any applicable  foreign
securities laws, regulations or restrictions, in connection with the offering of
the  Offered  Securities  outside  the United  States.  Each  Initial  Purchaser
severally  agrees  that,  at or prior  to  confirmation  of sale of the  Offered
Securities,   other  than  a  sale  pursuant  to  Rule 144A  or  a  sale  to  an
Institutional  Accredited  Investor  in  accordance  with  subsectionE(c),  such
Initial Purchaser will have sent to each distributor, dealer or person receiving
a selling  concession,  fee or other  remuneration  that  purchases  the Offered
Securities  from it during the  restricted  period a  confirmation  or notice to
substantially the following effect:

                  "The Securities  covered hereby have not been registered under
                  the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the 'Securities Act') and may
                  not be offered or sold within the United  States or to, or for
                  the account or benefit of, U.S.  persons  (i) as part of their
                  distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after
                  the later of the date of the  commencement of the offering and
                  the closing  date,  except in either case in  accordance  with
                  Regulation S  (or Rule 144A if available) under the Securities
                  Act.  Terms  used  above  have the  meanings  given to them by
                  Regulation S."

          Unless  otherwise  defined herein,  terms used in this  subsectionE(b)
have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.

          (c)  CSFBC  and any other  Initial  Purchaser  authorized by CSFBC may
offer and sell Offered  Securities in  definitive,  fully  registered  form to a
limited  number of  institutions,  each of which is  reasonably  believed by the
applicable  Initial Purchaser to be an "accredited  investor" within the meaning
of  Rule 501(a)(1),  (2),  (3) or (7) under the  Securities  Act or an entity in
which all of the equity owners are  accredited  investors  within the meaning of
Rule 501(a)(1),   (2),  (3)  or  (7)  under  the   Securities   Act  (each,   an
"Institutional  Accredited  Investor");   provided,   however,  that  each  such
Institutional   Accredited  Investor  executes  and  delivers  to  such  Initial
Purchaser  and the  Issuer,  prior to the  consummation  of any sale of  Offered
Securities to such Institutional  Accredited  Investor,  an Initial  Purchaser's
Letter in  substantially  the form attached 

                                       13


as Annex A to the Offering Circular (an "Initial Purchaser's Letter").

          (d)  Each Initial  Purchaser  severally agrees that it and each of its
affiliates has not entered and will not enter into any  contractual  arrangement
with respect to the distribution of the Offered  Securities  except for any such
arrangements  with the  other  Initial  Purchasers  or  affiliates  of the other
Initial Purchasers or with the prior written consent of the Issuer.

          (e)  Each Initial  Purchaser  severally agrees that it and each of its
affiliates  or any one acting in its behalf  will not offer or sell the  Offered
Securities purchased hereby in the United States by means of any form of general
solicitation or general  advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the
Securities Act, including,  but not limited to (i) any  advertisement,  article,
notice or other  communication  published in any newspaper,  magazine or similar
media or broadcast over television or radio or (ii) any seminar or meeting whose
attendees have been invited by any general  solicitation or general advertising.
Each  Initial  Purchaser  severally  agrees,  with  respect to  resales  made in
reliance on Rule 144A of any of the Offered  Securities,  to deliver either with
the  confirmation of such resale or otherwise prior to settlement of such resale
a notice to the effect that the resale of such Offered  Securities has been made
in  reliance  upon the  exemption  from  the  registration  requirements  of the
Securities Act provided by Rule 144A.

          (f)  Each of the Initial  Purchasers  severally  represents and agrees
that (i) it has not  offered or sold and prior to the date six months  after the
date of issue of the  Offered  Securities  will  not  offer or sell any  Offered
Securities to persons in the United  Kingdom  except to persons  whose  ordinary
activities  involve  them  in  acquiring,  holding,  managing  or  disposing  of
investments  (as  principal  or agent) for the purposes of their  businesses  or
otherwise  in  circumstances  which have not  resulted and will not result in an
offer to the  public in the  United  Kingdom  within  the  meaning of the Public
Offers of Securities Regulations 1995; (ii) it has complied and will comply with
all  applicable  provisions of the  Financial  Services Act 1986 with respect to
anything done by it in relation to the Offered  Securities in, from or otherwise
involving the United Kingdom and (iii) it has only issued or passed on, and will
only issue or pass on, in the United  Kingdom,  any  document  received by it in
connection with the issue of the Offered Securities to a person who is of a kind
described  in  ArticleE11(3)  of the  Financial  Services  Act 1986  (Investment
Advertisements) (Exemptions) OrderE1995 or is a person to whom such document may
otherwise lawfully be issued or passed on.

                                       14


          (g)  Each Initial Purchaser  represents and agrees that (i) it has not
solicited,  and  will  not  solicit,  offers  to  purchase  any of  the  Offered
Securities  from,  (ii) it has not sold,  and will not sell,  any of the Offered
Securities to, and (iii) it has not  distributed,  and will not distribute,  the
Preliminary  Offering Circular or the Offering Circular to, any person or entity
in any  jurisdiction  outside  of the United  States  except,  in each case,  in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws. For the purpose of
this  Agreement,  "United  States"  means  the  United  States of  America,  its
territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

          5. Certain  Agreements of the Issuer. The Issuer and, unless otherwise
specified,  the Guarantors  jointly and severally agree with the several Initial
Purchasers that:

          (a)  The Issuer will advise CSFBC promptly of any proposal to amend or
supplement  the  Offering  Documents  and  will not  effect  such  amendment  or
supplementation without CSFBC's consent. If, at any time prior to the completion
of the initial resale of the Offered Securities by the Initial  Purchasers,  any
event  occurs as a result of which the  Offering  Documents  as then  amended or
supplemented  would  include an untrue  statement of a material  fact or omit to
state any material fact  necessary in order to make the statements  therein,  in
the light of the circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading,  the
Issuer  promptly will notify CSFBC of such event and promptly  will prepare,  at
its own expense, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or
omission.  Neither CSFBC's consent to, nor the Initial  Purchasers'  delivery to
offerees or investors of, any such  amendment or supplement  shall  constitute a
waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.

          (b)  The  Issuer  will  furnish  to CSFBC  copies  of the  Preliminary
Offering Circular,  the Offering Documents and all amendments and supplements to
such  documents,  in each case as soon as available  and in such  quantities  as
CSFBC  reasonably  requests,  and the Issuer  will  furnish to CSFBC on the date
hereof  three  copies of the  Offering  Documents  signed  by a duly  authorized
officer of the Issuer,  one of which will include the  independent  accountants'
reports therein  manually signed by such  independent  accountants.  At any time
when the Issuer is not subject to  Section 13  or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the
Issuer  will  promptly  furnish or cause to be  furnished  to CSFBC  (and,  upon
request,  to each of the other Initial  Purchasers) and, upon request of holders
and  prospective  purchasers  of the  Offered  Securities,  to such  holders and
purchasers,  a  reasonable  number of copies of the  information  required to be
delivered  to holders  and  prospective  purchasers  of the  Offered  Securities
pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act (or any successor provision
thereto) in order to permit compliance with Rule 144A in connection with resales
by such 

                                       15


holders of the Offered Securities.  The Issuer will pay the expenses of printing
and distributing to the Initial Purchasers all such documents.

          (c)  The  Issuer  will  arrange for the  qualification  of the Offered
Securities for sale and the  determination  of their  eligibility for investment
under the laws of such  jurisdictions  in the United  States and Canada as CSFBC
designates and will continue such  qualifications  in effect so long as required
for the resale of the Offered  Securities by the Initial  Purchasers;  provided,
however,  that neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor  will be required to qualify
as a foreign  corporation or to file a general  consent to service of process in
any such jurisdiction.

          (d)  During  the period of five years after the Closing Date,  each of
STFI and the Issuer  will  furnish to CSFBC and,  upon  request,  to each of the
other Initial  Purchasers,  as soon as practicable  after the end of each fiscal
year, a copy of its annual report to stockholders  for such year; and the Issuer
will furnish to CSFBC and upon request,  to each of the other Initial Purchasers
(i) as  soon as  available,  a copy  of each  report  and any  definitive  proxy
statement of STFI or the Issuer (as applicable)  filed with the Commission under
the Exchange Act or mailed to  stockholders  and  (ii) from  time to time,  such
other  information  concerning  the  Issuer  and the  Guarantors  as  CSFBC  may
reasonably request.

          (e)  During  the period of three  years after the  Closing  Date,  the
Issuer  will,  upon  request,  furnish  to  CSFBC,  each  of the  other  Initial
Purchasers and any holder of Offered  Securities a copy of the  restrictions  on
transfer applicable to the Offered Securities.

          (f)  During  the period of three  years after the  Closing  Date,  the
Issuer  will not,  and will not  permit  any of its  affiliates  (as  defined in
Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to, resell any of the Offered Securities that
have been reacquired by any of them.

          (g)  During  the period of three  years after the  Closing  Date,  the
Issuer will not be or become an open-end  investment  company,  unit  investment
trust or face-amount certificate company that is or is required to be registered
under  Section 8  of the  Investment  Issuer Act and is not,  and will not be or
become,  a closed-end  investment  company  required to be  registered,  but not
registered, under the Investment Issuer Act.

          (h)  Except following the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer or Shelf
Registration  Statement,  as the case may be, the Issuer will not,  and will not
permit  any  affiliate  (as  such  term is  defined  in  Rule 501(b)  under  the
Securities Act) of the Issuer or authorize or knowingly permit any person 

                                       16


acting on its or their behalf to,  solicit any offer to buy or offer to sell the
Securities by means of any form of general  solicitation or general  advertising
(as such  terms are used in  Regulation D  under the  Securities  Act) or in any
manner  involving a public  offering  within the meaning of  Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act.

          (i)  The Issuer will pay all expenses incidental to the performance of
the  Issuer's  and  each  Guarantors'  obligations  (as  applicable)  under  the
Operative  Documents,  including  (i) the  fees  and  expenses  of the  Trustee;
(ii) all  expenses in  connection  with the  execution,  issue,  authentication,
packaging and initial  delivery of the Offered  Securities,  the preparation and
printing of this  Agreement,  the  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  the Offered
Securities, the Indenture, the Guaranties, the Offering Documents and amendments
and supplements thereto, and any other document relating to the issuance, offer,
sale and delivery of the Offered  Securities;  (iii) the  cost of qualifying the
Offered Securities for trading in the PORTAL market and any expenses  incidental
thereto;  and  (iv) the  cost  of any  advertising  approved  by the  Issuer  in
connection with the issue of the Offered Securities. The Issuer will also pay or
reimburse  the  Initial  Purchasers  (to the  extent  incurred  by them) for any
reasonable expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel)
incurred in connection  with  qualification  of the Offered  Securities for sale
under the laws of such  jurisdictions  in the United  States and Canada as CSFBC
designates and the printing of memoranda relating thereto,  for any fees charged
by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Offered Securities,  for all
reasonable  travel expenses of the Issuer's officers and employees and any other
reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses of the Issuer in connection  with  attending
meetings with prospective  purchasers of the Offered Securities from the Initial
Purchasers and for expenses  incurred in distributing  the Preliminary  Offering
Circular and the Offering  Documents  (including any amendments and  supplements
thereto).

          (j)  In connection with the offering,  until CSFBC shall have notified
the Issuer and the other Initial  Purchasers of the  completion of the resale of
the  Offered  Securities,  neither the Issuer nor any of its  affiliates  has or
will,  either alone or with one or more other  persons,  bid for or purchase for
any account in which it or any of its affiliates  has a beneficial  interest any
Offered  Securities  or attempt to induce any  person to  purchase  any  Offered
Securities; and neither it nor any of its affiliates will make bids or purchases
for the  purpose of  creating  actual,  or  apparent,  active  trading in, or of
raising the price of, the Offered Securities.

          (k)  For a period of 180 days after the date of the Offering Circular,
none of STFI, the Issuer or any of its 

                                       17


subsidiaries will offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of,
directly or indirectly,  except to an affiliate  which agrees to be bound by the
provisions of this Section, any United States dollar-denominated debt securities
issued or guaranteed by STFI, the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries and having a
maturity of more than one year from the date of issue or publicly  disclose  the
intention to make any such offer,  sale,  pledge or disposal,  without the prior
written  consent of CSFBC.  None of STFI, the Issuer or any of its  subsidiaries
will at any time offer, sell,  contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of,
directly or indirectly,  any securities  under  circumstances  where such offer,
sale,  pledge,  contract or  disposition  would cause the exemption  afforded by
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act or the safe harbor of Regulation S thereunder
to cease to be  applicable  to the  offer  and sale of the  Offered  Securities.
(l)  The  Issuer will apply the net proceeds of the offering and the sale of the
Offered  Securities in the manner set forth in the Offering  Documents under the
caption "Use of Proceeds".

          (m)  The  Issuer  will  use its best  efforts  to  cause  the  Offered
Securities  to be  eligible  for  the  PORTAL  trading  system  of the  National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

          (n)  The  Issuer  will cause each Note to bear the legend set forth in
the form of Note attached as ExhibitEA to the Indenture  until such legend shall
no longer be necessary or advisable because the Offered Securities are no longer
subject to the restrictions on transfer described therein.

          (o)  The Issuer will comply with the Registration Rights Agreement and
all  agreements  set forth in the  representation  letter  of the  Issuer to The
Depository  Trust Issuer relating to the approval of the Offered  Securities for
"book-entry" transfer.

          6.  Conditions  of the  Obligations  of the  Initial  Purchasers.  The
obligations  of the  several  Initial  Purchasers  to  purchase  and pay for the
Offered  Securities will be subject to the accuracy of the  representations  and
warranties on the part of the Issuer and the Guarantors  herein, to the accuracy
of the statements of officers of the Issuer and the Guarantors  made pursuant to
the provisions  hereof,  to the  performance by the Issuer and the Guarantors of
their  obligations   hereunder  and  to  the  following  additional   conditions
precedent:

          (a)  The Initial Purchasers shall have received:

                  (i) a  letter,  dated  the date of this  Agreement,  of Arthur
                  Andersen  LLP  confirming  that  they are  independent  public
                  accountants  within the meaning of the  Securities Act 

                                       18


                  and the applicable published rules and regulations  thereunder
                  ("Rules and Regulations") and to the effect that:

                            (A) in their  opinion the financial  statements  and
                           schedules  examined  by  them  and  included  in  the
                           Offering  Documents comply as to form in all material
                           respects with the applicable accounting  requirements
                           of the Securities Act and the related published Rules
                           and  Regulations  that  would  apply to the  Offering
                           Documents if the Offering Documents were prospectuses
                           included  in a  registration  statement  on  FormES-1
                           under the Securities Act;

                            (B) they have performed the procedures  specified by
                           the   American    Institute   of   Certified   Public
                           Accountants   for  a  review  of  interim   financial
                           information  as  described  in  Statement of Auditing
                           Standards No.E71, Interim Financial  Information,  on
                           the unaudited  financial  statements  with respect to
                           FII included in the Offering Documents;

                            (C) on  the  basis  of  the  review  referred  to in
                           clauseE(B)  above, a reading of the latest  available
                           interim  financial  statements  of FII,  inquiries of
                           officials   of  FII  who  have   responsibility   for
                           financial and accounting  matters and other specified
                           procedures,  nothing  came to  their  attention  that
                           caused them to believe that:

                                    (1) the unaudited financial  statements with
                                    respect  to FII  included  in  the  Offering
                                    Documents  do not  comply  as to form in all
                                    material   respects   with  the   applicable
                                    accounting  requirements  of the  Securities
                                    Act  and the  related  published  Rules  and
                                    Regulations that would apply to the Offering
                                    Documents  if the  Offering  Documents  were
                                    prospectuses   included  in  a  registration
                                    statement on FormES-1  under the  Securities
                                    Act or any material  modifications should be
                                    made to such unaudited financial  statements
                                    for them to be in conformity  with generally
                                    accepted accounting principles;

                                    (2) at  the  date  of the  latest  available
                                    balance   sheet   of  FII   read   by   such
                                    accountants,  or at a  subsequent  specified
                                    date not more than  five  days  prior to the
                                    date of this Agreement, there was any change
                                    in the  capital  stock  or any  increase  in
                                    short-term indebtedness or long-term debt of
                                    FII and its consolidated subsidiaries or, at
                                    the  date of the  latest  available  balance
                                    sheet  read by such  accountants,  there was
                                    any  decrease  in  consolidated  net current
                                    assets  (working  capital)  or net assets as
                                    compared  with  amounts  shown on the latest
                                    balance  sheet   included  in  the  Offering
                                    Documents; or

                                    (3) for the period from the closing  date of
                                    the latest income  statement with respect to
                                    FII included in the Offering  Documents to a
                                    subsequent  date not  more  than  five  days
                                    prior  to the  date  of this  agreement  the
                                    closing date of the latest  available income
                                    statement  read  by such  

                                       19


                                    accountants  there  were any  decreases,  as
                                    compared  with the  corresponding  period of
                                    the  previous  year,  in  consolidated   net
                                    sales,     consolidated     income    before
                                    extraordinary items or net income,

                           except in all cases set forth in clausesE(2)  and (3)
                           above for changes,  increases or decreases  which the
                           Offering  Documents  disclose  have  occurred  or may
                           occur and which  are fully  described  and set out in
                           such letter;

                            (D) on the basis of an  examination of the unaudited
                           pro  forma  financial   statements  included  in  the
                           Offering  Documents and inquiries of officials of the
                           Issuer and FII respectively,  who have responsibility
                           for financial and accounting matters, nothing came to
                           their  attention that caused them to believe that the
                           pro  forma  financial   statements  included  in  the
                           Offering  Documents  do not  comply  in all  material
                           respects with the applicable accounting  requirements
                           of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X or that the pro forma
                           adjustments  have not been  properly  applied  to the
                           historical   amounts  in  the   compilation  of  such
                           financial  statements  or  on  the  pro  forma  basis
                           described in the notes thereto; and

                            (E) they have compared  specified dollar amounts (or
                           percentages  derived  from such dollar  amounts)  and
                           other financial information contained in the Offering
                           Documents  (in  each  case to the  extent  that  such
                           dollar  amounts,   percentages  and  other  financial
                           information  are derived from the general  accounting
                           records  of FII and its  subsidiaries  subject to the
                           internal  controls of FII's accounting  system or are
                           derived  directly  from such  records by  analysis or
                           computation)   with   the   results   obtained   from
                           inquiries,  a  reading  of  such  general  accounting
                           records and other procedures specified in such letter
                           and have found such dollar  amounts,  percentages and
                           other  financial  information to be in agreement with
                           such results,  except as otherwise  specifically  set
                           forth in such letter.

                  (ii) a letter, dated the date of this Agreement, of Rothstein,
                  KassE&  Company,  P.C.  confirming  that they are  independent
                  public  accountants  within the meaning of the  Securities Act
                  and the Rules and  Regulations  and confirming each matter set
                  forth in  subsectionsEa(i)(A),  (B), (C), (D) and (E) above as
                  if each reference to FII was to STI.

          (b)  Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there
         shall  not  have  occurred  (i) a  change  in  U.S.  or   international
         financial,  political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates
         or exchange controls that would, in the judgment of CSFBC, be likely to
         prejudice  materially  the  success  of the  proposed  issue,  sale  or
         distribution of the Offered  Securities,  whether in the primary market
         or in respect of  dealings  in the  secondary  market,  or  (ii)(A) any
         change, or any development or event involving a 

                                       20


         prospective  change, in the condition  (financial or other),  business,
         properties or results of  operations of the Issuer or its  subsidiaries
         which,  in the  judgment  of a  majority  in  interest  of the  Initial
         Purchasers  including  CSFBC,  is  material  and  adverse  and makes it
         impractical or  inadvisable to proceed with  completion of the offering
         or  the  sale  of and  payment  for  the  Offered  Securities;  (B) any
         downgrading  in the rating of any debt  securities of the Issuer by any
         "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined for
         purposes  of  Rule 436(g)  under  the  Securities  Act)  or any  public
         announcement  that any such  organization  has  under  surveillance  or
         review its rating of any debt  securities  of the Issuer (other than an
         announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no
         implication  of  a  possible  downgrading,  of  such  rating);  (C) any
         suspension  or  limitation  of trading in  securities  generally on the
         New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market, the
         American Stock Exchange or any setting of minimum prices for trading on
         such  exchange,  or any  suspension of trading of any securities of the
         Issuer, STI or FII on any exchange or in the  over-the-counter  market;
         (D) any  banking  moratorium  declared  by  U.S.  Federal  or  New York
         authorities;  or (E) any outbreak or escalation of major hostilities in
         which the United States is involved, any declaration of war by Congress
         or  any  other  substantial  national  or  international   calamity  or
         emergency  if, in the judgment of a majority in interest of the Initial
         Purchasers   including   CSFBC,   the  effect  of  any  such  outbreak,
         escalation,  declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or
         inadvisable  to proceed with  completion of the offering or sale of and
         payment for the Offered Securities.

          (c)  Each  condition  (other than the issuance and sale of the Offered
         Securities) to the closing  contemplated by the Merger  Agreement shall
         have been  satisfied  or  waived.  There  shall  exist at and as of the
         Closing Date (after giving effect to the  transactions  contemplated by
         this  Agreement)  no condition  that would  constitute a default (or an
         event that with notice or the lapse of time, or both,  would constitute
         a  default)  under the  Merger  Agreement,  which has not been  waived.
         Concurrently  with the issue and sale of the  Offered  Securities,  the
         Merger  shall be  consummated  on terms that  conform  in all  material
         respects to the description  thereof in the Offering  Documents and the
         Initial  Purchasers  shall have received true and correct copies of all
         documents  pertaining thereto and evidence  satisfactory to the Initial
         Purchasers of the consummation thereof.

          (d)  The  offer to purchase for cash the 12 1/4% Senior  Secured Notes
         due 1999 of FII and the solicitation of consents to an amendment of the
         indenture  relating  to such  notes  by FII,  pursuant  to an  Offer to
         Purchase and Consent Solicitation  Statement,  the "Debt Tender Offer")
         shall have expired and the supplemental indenture related thereto shall
         have been executed and remain in full force and effect.

                                       21


          (e)  The Issuer and the Guarantors  shall have entered into the Credit
         Facility ("Credit Facility") with Credit Suisse, Citicorp USA, Inc. and
         NationsBank providing for up to $160.0 million of loans and the closing
         thereunder  shall have  occurred  no later than the Closing  Date.  The
         Initial  Purchasers  shall have  received  counterparts,  conformed and
         executed,  thereof and all other documents and agreements  entered into
         and received  thereunder in  connection  with the closing of the Credit
         Facility. There shall exist at and as of the Closing Date (after giving
         effect  to the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  and the
         Merger) no condition that would  constitute a default (or an event that
         with  notice or lapse of time,  or both,  would  constitute  a default)
         under the Credit Facility.

          (f)  The Initial Purchasers shall have received an opinion,  dated the
         Closing  Date, of GadsbyE&  Hannah  counsel for STI, the Issuer and the
         Guarantors, to the effect that:

                  (i)  Each  of the Issuer  and STFI has been duly  incorporated
                  and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws
                  of the State of Delaware,  with power and authority (corporate
                  and other) to own its properties and conduct its businesses as
                  described in the Offering  Documents and is duly  qualified to
                  do business as a foreign  corporation  and is in good standing
                  in all  jurisdictions  in which it owns or leases  substantial
                  properties  or in which the conduct of its  business  requires
                  such  qualification,  except  where the  failure to so qualify
                  would not have a  material  adverse  effect on the  Issuer and
                  STFI and their consolidated subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

                  (ii)  Each  subsidiary of the Issuer is duly  incorporated  or
                  organized   and  is  an   existing   corporation   or  limited
                  partnership   in  good   standing   under   the  laws  of  the
                  jurisdiction of its  incorporation or  organization;  and each
                  such  subsidiary is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
                  corporation or limited  partnership and is in good standing in
                  each  jurisdiction  in  which  it owns or  leases  substantial
                  properties  or in which the conduct of its  business  requires
                  such  qualification,  except  where the  failure to so quality
                  would not have a  material  adverse  effect on the  Issuer and
                  STFI and such subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

                  (iii)  The descriptions in the Offering Documents of statutes,
                  legal and  governmental  proceedings  and of contracts as they
                  relate  to STI  before  the  Merger  are  accurate  and to our
                  knowledge  fairly  present,  as to  such  statutes,  legal  or
                  governmental  proceedings and contracts described therein, the
                  descriptions  that  would be  required  to be  presented  with
                  respect  thereto if the Offering  Documents were  prospectuses
                  included in registration statements on FormES-1 under the Act;
                  as of its date and at the date hereof,  




                  the Offering  Circular complies (with respect to form only) in
                  all material  respects with the  requirements of PartEI (other
                  than in relation to the outside front cover) of FormES-1 under
                  the Act, as such  provisions  are  applicable  to a prospectus
                  forming part of a registration statement on FormES-1 under the
                  Act (it being understood that such counsel express no opinions
                  as to the  sufficiency of the content  thereof,  the financial
                  statements or other  financial  data contained in the Offering
                  Circular  or  as  to  whether  independent   comments  of  the
                  Securities and Exchange Commission would be received and would
                  need to be  accommodated).  Nothing in such  opinion  shall be
                  construed  to  be  an  opinion  that  there  are  no  material
                  omissions  with  respect to statutes,  legal and  governmental
                  proceedings or of contracts;

                  (iv)  STFI owns all of the capital stock of the Issuer and the
                  Issuer owns all of the issued and  outstanding  capital  stock
                  of, or equity  interests  in,  the  Subsidiaries  and all such
                  capital stock has been duly  authorized and validly issued and
                  is fully paid and  nonassessable;  and such  capital  stock or
                  equity  interests are owned free from liens,  encumbrances and
                  defects,  except that  (1) STI  owns 99% of the  interests  in
                  Financial Place  Communications  Company,  an Illinois general
                  partnership,   (2) STI's   interests   in   its   wholly-owned
                  subsidiary,  Access Telemanagement,  Inc., a Texas corporation
                  ("Access"),  have  been  pledged  in  favor  of  Martnet  Inc.
                  pursuant to a Pledge Agreement dated as of JuneE27,  1994 (the
                  "Pledge   Agreement"),   (3) STI's  99%  limited   partnership
                  interest  in  Access  Telecommunication  Group  L.P.,  a Texas
                  limited   partnership   ("Access  L.P."),  have  been  pledged
                  pursuant to the Pledge  Agreement  and  (4) Access  L.P.,  all
                  interests  in which have been  pledged  pursuant to the Pledge
                  Agreement, is the holder of 100% of the common stock of Access
                  Network Services,  Inc.; and to such counsel's knowledge there
                  are no outstanding  subscriptions,  rights,  warrants,  calls,
                  commitments  of sale or options  to  acquire,  or  instruments
                  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for,  any such  shares  of
                  capital stock or other equity interest of the Subsidiaries;
                   (v)  The  Issuer and each  Guarantor  has full  legal  right,
                  power and  authority  to execute  and  deliver  the  Operative
                  Documents and to perform its respective  obligations hereunder
                  and thereunder;  and all corporate or other action required to
                  be taken for the due and proper  authorization,  execution and
                  delivery of the Operative  Documents and the  consummation  of
                  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby  have been
                  duly and validly taken;

                   (vi)  The  Operative  Documents  and the  Offered  Securities
                  constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer
                  and the  Guarantors;  and  each  Operative  Document  and such
                  Offered  Securities  will be  enforceable  in accordance  with
                  their terms;

                                       23


                   (vii)  Assuming  the  accuracy  of  the  representations  and
                  warranties of the Initial Purchasers contained in Section 4 of
                  this Agreement, no consent,  approval,  authorization or order
                  of, or filing  with,  any  governmental  agency or body or any
                  court is required  for the  consummation  of the  transactions
                  contemplated by the Operative  Documents or in connection with
                  the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the Issuer,
                  except  such  as  have  been  obtained  or  made  or as may be
                  required  under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and the
                  Rules  and  Regulations  of  the  Commission  thereunder  with
                  respect to the  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  the Exchange
                  Offer and the transactions contemplated thereunder or state or
                  foreign  securities laws or by the regulations of the National
                  Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.;

                   (viii)  The execution, delivery and performance by the Issuer
                  and each Guarantor of the Operative Documents to which it is a
                  party and the issuance and sale of the Offered  Securities and
                  compliance  with the terms  and  provisions  of the  Operative
                  Documents  and the  Offered  Securities  will not  result in a
                  breach or violation of any of the terms and  provisions of, or
                  constitute a default under  (i) any  material  statute,  rule,
                  regulation or order of any governmental  agency or body or any
                  court,  domestic or  foreign,  having  jurisdiction  over such
                  Relevant  Company or any subsidiary of any Relevant Company or
                  any of their properties;  (ii) any  agreement or instrument to
                  which any Relevant  Company or any such  subsidiary is a party
                  or by which any  Relevant  Company or any such  subsidiary  is
                  bound  or to  which  any of  the  properties  of any  Relevant
                  Company or any such subsidiary is subject,  which agreement or
                  instruments have been filed by STI under the Securities Act or
                  the Exchange Act which would  individually or in the aggregate
                  have a material adverse effect on the condition  (financial or
                  other),  business  or results of  operations  of any  Relevant
                  Company and its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole;  or (iii) the
                  charter  or  by-laws  of any  Relevant  Company  or  any  such
                  subsidiary;

                   (ix)  The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  by STI and
                  compliance  with  the  terms  and  provisions  of  the  Merger
                  Agreement  will not result in a breach or  violation of any of
                  the terms and  provisions  of, or  constitute a default  under
                  (i) any  material  statute,  rule,  regulation or order of any
                  governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign,
                  having jurisdiction over STI or any of its subsidiaries or any
                  of their properties; (ii) any agreement or instrument to which
                  the STI or any of its  subsidiaries is a party or by which STI
                  or any of its  subsidiaries  is bound  or to which  any of the
                  properties of the STI or any of its  subsidiaries  is subject,
                  which  agreement or  instruments  have been filed by STI under
                  the   Securities   Act  or  the   Exchange   Act  which  would
                  individually  or in  the  aggregate  have a  material  adverse
                  effect  on  the  condition   (financial  or  other)  business,

                                       24


                  properties   or   results  of   operations   of  STI  and  its
                  subsidiaries taken as a whole; or (iii) the charter or by-laws
                  of STI or any of its subsidiaries;

                   (x)  Except  for the filing of the Certificate of Merger with
                  the   Secretary   of  State   of   Delaware,   each   consent,
                  authorization,   order  and   approval   of,  and  filing  and
                  registration with, any governmental commission, board or other
                  regulatory body required to be made or obtained by STI for the
                  execution  and delivery of the Merger  Agreement by the Issuer
                  of the  transactions  contemplated  thereby  has been  made or
                  obtained;

                   (xi)  Upon  the filing of the  Certificate of Merger with the
                  Secretary of State of Delaware in  accordance  with the Merger
                  Agreement,  the Merger became effective in accordance with the
                  General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

                   (xii)  Except as disclosed in the Offering  Documents,  there
                  are,  to  the  knowledge  of  such  counsel,   no  pending  or
                  threatened actions,  suits or proceedings against or affecting
                  the Issuer, the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries or any
                  of their  respective  properties that if determined  adversely
                  would be  reasonably  likely to have,  individually  or in the
                  aggregate,   a  material   adverse  effect  on  the  condition
                  (financial or other), business or results of operations of the
                  Issuer and the  Guarantors and their  respective  subsidiaries
                  taken as a whole, or would materially and adversely affect the
                  ability  of the  Issuer or the  Guarantors  to  perform  their
                  obligations   under  the  Operative   Documents,   the  Merger
                  Agreement  or which are  otherwise  material in the context of
                  the sale of the Offered Securities;

                   (xiii)  Neither  the Issuer nor any  Guarantor is an open-end
                  investment  company,  unit  investment  trust  or  face-amount
                  certificate  company  that is or is required to be  registered
                  under Section 8 of the United States Investment Company Act of
                  1940 (the  "Investment  Company Act"),  nor is it a closed-end
                  investment   company  required  to  be  registered,   but  not
                  registered,  thereunder;  and  each  of the  Issuer  and  each
                  Guarantor is not and,  after giving effect to the offering and
                  sale of the  Offered  Securities  and the  application  of the
                  proceeds thereof as described in the Offering Documents,  will
                  not be an  "investment  company" as defined in the  Investment
                  Company Act;

                   (xiv)  The  Indenture  conforms  as to form  in all  material
                  respects with the  requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and
                  the rules and  regulations of the Commission  applicable to an
                  indenture which is qualified thereunder;

                   (xv)  Assuming  the  accuracy  of  the   representations  and
                  warranties of the Initial Purchasers 

                                       25


                  contained in Section 4 of this  Agreement,  the offer and sale
                  of the Offered  Securities in the manner  contemplated by this
                  Agreement will be exempt from the registration requirements of
                  the  Securities  Act;  and it is not  necessary to qualify the
                  Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

                   (xvi)  In  addition,  such counsel shall state that they have
                  participated in conferences with representatives of the Issuer
                  and the Guarantors,  at which  conferences the contents of the
                  Offering  Documents,  any  amendment  thereof  and  supplement
                  thereto and related  matters were  discussed,  and nothing has
                  come to the attention of such counsel to cause such counsel to
                  believe that the Offering  Documents or any amendment  thereof
                  or  supplement  thereto  contains  any untrue  statement  of a
                  material fact or omits to state a material  fact  necessary to
                  make the  statements  therein,  in light of the  circumstances
                  under which they were made, not misleading, provided that such
                  counsel  need  not  express  any  view  with  respect  to  the
                  financial  statements  and schedules or other  financial  data
                  included therein;  and further provided that the statement set
                  forth in this  clauseE(xvi)  may be set  forth  in a  separate
                  statement  in such  counsel's  opinion  and not in a  numbered
                  paragraph therein.

          In  rendering  such  opinion,  such  counsel  may  rely as to  matters
governed  by  the  law  of any  jurisdiction  other  than  the  Commonwealth  of
Massachusetts,  the State of Delaware  or the United  States of America on local
counsel in such jurisdictions;  provided, however, that such counsel shall state
that they believe that they and the Initial  Purchasers are justified in relying
on such other counsel.

          Such  opinion  shall  also  state  that it is being  delivered  to the
Initial Purchasers at the request of the Issuer and the Guarantors.

          (g)  At the Closing Date, the Initial  Purchasers  shall have received
         an opinion of Cahill GordonE& Reindel and Stuart Meister,EEsq., counsel
         for  FII,  RHI,  TFC  and  Fairchild  Communications  Services  Company
         ("FCSC")  (divided  between  such  counsel  as they  deem  appropriate,
         subject to the  reasonable  satisfaction  of the  Initial  Purchasers),
         dated as of the Closing  Date, in form and  substance  satisfactory  to
         counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to the effect that:

                   (i)  ach of TFC,  RHI, FII and Fairchild  Holding  Corp.  are
                  corporations organized,  validly existing and in good standing
                  under the laws of the State of Delaware;

                   (ii)  ach  of TFC, RHI and FII has full  corporate  power and
                  authority to execute and deliver the Merger  Agreement  and to
                  perform  its  respective  obligations   thereunder;   and  all
                  necessary  corporate action has been taken by TFC, RHI and FII
                  for the due and proper  authorization,  

                                       26


                  execution  and  delivery  of  the  Merger  Agreement  and  the
                  consummation  of  the   transactions   contemplated   thereby,
                  including but not limited to the Fairchild Reorganization; the
                  Merger  Agreement  and  all  agreements  and  other  documents
                  executed  by  TFC  and  its   affiliates  to  effect  the  FII
                  Reorganization (the "Reorganization Documents") have been duly
                  and validly executed;

                   (iii)  ach  of  the  Merger   Agreement  and   Reorganization
                  Documents  constitutes a valid and legally binding  obligation
                  of each of TFC,  RHI and FII and  their  affiliates  who are a
                  party  thereto and is  enforceable  against them in accordance
                  with  its  terms   subject  to   (i) bankruptcy,   insolvency,
                  fraudulent  transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium  or similar
                  laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors'  rights
                  generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of
                  whether such  enforceability  is considered in a proceeding at
                  law or in equity);

                   (iv)  ach of TFC, RHI and Fairchild  Holding  Corp.  has full
                  corporate  power and  authority  to execute  and  deliver  the
                  Indemnification  Agreement to which it is a party,  the Pledge
                  Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and to perform
                  its  respective  obligations  thereunder;  and  all  necessary
                  corporate  action  has been  taken by TFC,  RHI and  Fairchild
                  Holding Corp. for the due and proper authorization,  execution
                  and delivery of the Indemnification  Agreement to be signed by
                  them and the  Pledge  Agreement  and the  Registration  Rights
                  Agreement;

                   (v)  ach of the Indemnification Agreements,  Pledge Agreement
                  and  Registration  Rights  Agreement  constitute  a valid  and
                  legally binding  obligation of TFC, RHI and Fairchild  Holding
                  Corp., as the case may be, and are enforceable against them in
                  accordance   with   their    respective   terms   subject   to
                  (i) bankruptcy,      insolvency,      fraudulent     transfer,
                  reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in
                  effect   relating   to   creditors'   rights   generally   and
                  (ii) general  principles of equity (regardless of whether such
                  enforceability  is  considered  in a  proceeding  at law or in
                  equity);

                   (vi)  Prior   to  the  Closing   Date,   FCSC  is  a  general
                  partnership  duly  organized  and  validly  existing  in  good
                  standing  under  the laws of the  State of  Delaware,  is duly
                  qualified to do business and is in good standing in each other
                  jurisdiction  in which its  ownership  or lease of property or
                  the conduct of the FII  Telecommunications  Business  requires
                  such qualification;

                   (vii)  With  respect to FCSC,  the  execution,  delivery  and
                  performance  by  FII  and   compliance   with  the  terms  and
                  provisions of the Merger Agreement will not result in a breach
                  or  violation  of any of  the  terms  and  provisions  of,  or

                                       27


                  constitute a default under  (a) any  material  statute,  rule,
                  regulation or order of any governmental  agency or body or any
                  court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction of FCSC or any
                  of  their  properties  which  would  individually  or  in  the
                  aggregate  have a  material  adverse  effect on the  condition
                  (financial  or  other),  business,  properties  or  results of
                  operation of FCSC taken as a whole,  except as provided in the
                  Offering Circular under the caption "Risk Factors", subheading
                  "Government  Regulation"  and  in  paragraphsE3  and 6 of  the
                  opinion  of Swidler & Berlin  addressed  to FCSC  ("Swidler  &
                  Berlin  OpinionEI") and  paragraphsE5  and 6 of the opinion of
                  Swidler & Berlin  addressed  to the  Lenders  and the  Initial
                  Purchasers ("Swidler & Berlin OpinionEII");  (b) any agreement
                  or instrument to which FCSC is a party or by which FCSC or any
                  of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the properties
                  of  FCSC  is  subject,  which  would  individually  or in  the
                  aggregate  have a  material  adverse  effect on the  condition
                  (financial  or  other),  business,  properties  or  results of
                  operations  of FCSC taken as a whole,  except as  provided  in
                  Section 6.13 of the Merger  Agreement and  Section 6.13 of the
                  Disclosure  Statement;  or (c) the  partnership  agreement  of
                  FCSC;

                   (viii)  With  respect to FCSC,  the  execution,  delivery and
                  performance  by each of TFC, RHI and  Fairchild  Holding Corp.
                  and   compliance   with  the  terms  and   provisions  of  the
                  Indemnification  Agreements  will not  result  in a breach  or
                  violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute
                  a default or conflict under (a) any  material  statute,  rule,
                  regulation or order of any governmental  agency or body or any
                  court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction of FCSC or any
                  of  their  properties  which  would  individually  or  in  the
                  aggregate  have a  material  adverse  effect on the  condition
                  (financial  or  other),  business,  properties  or  results of
                  operations of FCSC taken as a whole, except as provided in the
                  Offering Circular under the caption "Risk Factors", subheading
                  "Government Regulation" and in paragraphsE3 and 6 of Swidler &
                  Berlin  OpinionEI and  paragraphsE5  and 6 of Swidler & Berlin
                  OpinionEII;   (b) any  agreement  or  instrument  relating  to
                  borrowed  money to which  FCSC is a party or by which  FCSC is
                  bound or to which any of the  properties  of FCSC is  subject,
                  except as provided in Section 6.13 of the Merger Agreement and
                  Section 6.13  of the  Disclosure  Statement;  or (c) any other
                  agreement or instrument to which FCSC is bound or to which any
                  of the properties of FCSC is subject, which would individually
                  or in the  aggregate  have a  material  adverse  effect on the
                  condition  (financial  or  other),  business,   properties  or
                  results  of  operations  of FCSC  taken as a whole,  except as
                  provided  in   Section 6.13   of  the  Merger   Agreement  and
                  Section 6.13   of  the   Disclosure   Statement;   or  (d) the
                  partnership agreement of FCSC;

                  (ix) With respect to FCSC (or  directors of officers of FCSC),
                  statements  in  the  Offering   Circular  under  

                                       28


                  the  captions  (a) "Offering  Circular  Summary",  subheadings
                  "General"  and  "Business   Strategy",   (b) "Risk   Factors",
                  subheadings     "Business     Integration",     "Competition",
                  "Operational  Demands  Resulting  from Growth",  "Governmental
                  Regulation",  "Reliance on Third  Parties for  Equipment"  and
                  "Dependence on Key Personnel", and (c) "Business", subheadings
                  "General",   "Business  Strategy",   "Historical   Information
                  Regarding  STI and  FII",  "Description  of  Business"  fairly
                  summarize the matters  described  therein with respect to FCSC
                  in all material respects.

          In  rendering  such  opinion,  such  counsel  may  rely as to  matters
governed  by the law of any  jurisdiction  other  than the  State  of  New York,
Delaware or the United States of America on local counsel in such jurisdictions;
provided, however, that such counsel shall state that they believe that they and
the Initial Purchasers are justified in relying on such other counsel.

          Such  opinion  shall  also  state  that it is being  delivered  to the
Initial Purchasers at the request of the Issuer and the Guarantors.

          (h)  The Initial Purchasers shall have received from Cravath, SwaineE&
         Moore,  counsel for the Initial  Purchasers,  such opinion or opinions,
         dated the  Closing  Date,  with  respect  to the  incorporation  of the
         Issuer, the validity of the Offered Securities, the Offering Documents,
         the exemption from  registration  for the offer and sale of the Offered
         Securities  by the Issuer to the  several  Initial  Purchasers  and the
         resales by the several Initial  Purchasers as  contemplated  hereby and
         other related  matters as CSFBC may require,  and the Issuer shall have
         furnished  to such  counsel  such  documents  as they  request  for the
         purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

          (i)  The Initial  Purchasers  shall have received a certificate  dated
the Closing Date:

                  (i) of the  President  or any Vice  President  and a principal
                  financial  or  accounting  officer of the Issuer in which such
                  officers,  to the best of  their  knowledge  after  reasonable
                  investigation,   shall  state  that  the  representations  and
                  warranties  of  the  Issuer  and  its   subsidiaries  in  this
                  Agreement  are  true and  correct,  that  the  Issuer  and its
                  subsidiaries  have complied with all  agreements and satisfied
                  all  conditions  on their part to be  performed  or  satisfied
                  hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date and that, subsequent
                  to the  date of the  most  recent  financial  statements  with
                  respect  to the Issuer and its  subsidiaries  in the  Offering
                  Circular  there has been no  material  adverse  change nor any
                  development or event involving a prospective  material adverse
                  change,  in the  condition  (financial  or  other),  business,
                  properties or results of  operations  of any Relevant  Company

                                       29


                  and its subsidiaries taken as a whole,  except as set forth in
                  or  contemplated  by the Offering  Circular or as described in
                  such certificate.

                  (ii)  execution of the Guaranties,  dated the Closing Date, of
                  the President or any Vice President and a principal  financial
                  or accounting  officer of STFI  confirming each of the matters
                  referred to in sub-paragraphE(i).

          (j)  The Initial Purchasers shall have received:

                  (i) a letter,  dated the Closing Date, of Arthur  Andersen LLP
                  which  meets the  requirements  of  subsectionE(a)(i) of  this
                  Section; and

                   (ii) a letter,  dated the Closing Date, of Rothstein,  KassE&
                  Company,    P.C.    which    meets   the    requirements    of
                  subsectionE(a)(ii) of this Section;

         except  that,  in each case,  the  specified  date  referred to in such
         subsection  will be a date not more than  five  days  prior to such the
         Closing Date for the purposes of this subsection.

          The Issuer will  furnish the Initial  Purchasers  with such  conformed
copies of such  opinions,  certificates,  letters and  documents  as the Initial
Purchasers reasonably request.  CSFBC may in its sole discretion waive on behalf
of the Initial  Purchasers  compliance with any conditions to the obligations of
the Initial  Purchasers  hereunder,  whether in respect of the  Closing  Date or
otherwise.

          Any certificate of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries signed by any
officer  thereof and  delivered to the Initial  Purchasers or to counsel for the
Initial  Purchasers shall be deemed a representation  and warranty by the Issuer
or such  subsidiary to the Initial  Purchasers as to the matters covered thereby
and not the representation and warranty of any such officer.

          7.  Indemnification  and  Contribution.  (a) The Issuer,  STFI and the
Subsidiaries,  jointly and  severally,  will  indemnify  and hold  harmless each
Initial Purchaser against any losses, claims,  damages or liabilities,  joint or
several,  to  which  such  Initial  Purchaser  may  become  subject,  under  the
Securities  Act or the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange  Act") or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect  thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue  statement of any material fact contained in the Offering  Documents,  or
any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto,  or any  related  preliminary  offering
circular,  or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the 

                                       30


statements  therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under  which they were
made, not misleading and will reimburse each Initial  Purchaser for any legal or
other expenses  reasonably incurred by such Initial Purchaser in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,  liability or action as
such expenses are incurred;  provided,  however,  that the Issuer,  STFI and the
Subsidiaries  will not be liable in any such  case to the  extent  that any such
loss,  claim,  damage  or  liability  arises  out of or is based  upon an untrue
statement or alleged  untrue  statement in or omission or alleged  omission from
any  of  such  documents  in  reliance  upon  and  in  conformity  with  written
information  furnished to the Issuer,  STIF and the Subsidiaries by such Initial
Purchaser  through CSFBC  specifically for use therein,  it being understood and
agreed that the such information  only consists of the information  described as
such in subsectionE(b)  below; and provided further,  however, that with respect
to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made
in any preliminary  offering circular the indemnity  agreement contained in this
subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Initial Purchaser that sold
the  Offered  Securities  concerned  to the person  asserting  any such  losses,
claims,  damages or  liabilities,  to the  extent  that such sale was an initial
resale by such Initial Purchaser and any such loss,  claim,  damage or liability
of such Initial Purchaser results from the fact that there was not sent or given
to such  person,  at or prior to the  written  confirmation  of the sale of such
Offered Securities to such person, a copy of the Offering  Documents  (exclusive
of any material  included  therein but not  attached  thereto) if the Issuer had
previously furnished copies thereof to such Initial Purchaser.

          (b) Each Initial Purchaser,  severally and not jointly, will indemnify
and hold  harmless  the Issuer,  STFI and the  Subsidiaries  against any losses,
claims,  damages or liabilities to which the Issuer,  STFI and the  Subsidiaries
may become  subject,  under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities  (or actions in respect
thereof)  arise out of or are based upon any untrue  statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material  fact  contained  in the  Offering  Documents,  or any
amendment or supplement thereto,  or any related preliminary  offering circular,
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged  omission to state
therein a material fact  necessary in order to make the statements  therein,  in
the light of the  circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading,  in
each case to the extent,  but only to the extent,  that such untrue statement or
alleged  untrue  statement or omission or alleged  omission was made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written  information  furnished to the Issuer,  STFI
and the Subsidiaries by such Initial  Purchaser  through CSFBC  specifically for
use therein,  and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by the Issuer,  STFI and the  Subsidiaries 

                                       31


in connection  with  investigating  or defending any such loss,  claim,  damage,
liability  or action as such  expenses are  incurred,  it being  understood  and
agreed  that  the only  such  information  furnished  by any  Initial  Purchaser
consists of the following  information  in the Offering  Documents  furnished on
behalf of each Initial Purchaser:  the last paragraph at the bottom of the cover
page concerning the terms of the offering by the Initial Purchasers;  the legend
concerning  over-allotments  and stabilizing on the inside front cover page; and
the fifth paragraph, the third and fourth sentences of the seventh paragraph and
the eighth paragraph under the caption "Plan of Distribution."

          (c)  Promptly  after  receipt  by  an  indemnified  party  under  this
Section of  notice of the  commencement of any action,  such  indemnified  party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under  subsectionE(a)  or  (b)  above,  notify  the  indemnifying  party  of the
commencement  thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will
not relieve it from any  liability  which it may have to any  indemnified  party
otherwise than under  subsectionE(a)  or (b) above except to the extent that the
indemnifying party is prejudiced by the failure to give such notice. In case any
such  action is  brought  against  any  indemnified  party and it  notifies  the
indemnifying party of the commencement  thereof,  the indemnifying party will be
entitled to  participate  therein  and, to the extent that it may wish,  jointly
with any other  indemnifying  party  similarly  notified,  to assume the defense
thereof,  with counsel  reasonably  satisfactory to such indemnified  party (who
shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, which consent shall
not  unreasonably  be  withheld,  be counsel to the  indemnifying  party if such
representation  of both the  indemnifying  and the  indemnified  party  would be
inappropriate due to an actual or potential  conflict of interest between them),
and after notice from the indemnifying  party to such  indemnified  party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof,  the  indemnifying  party will not be
liable to such  indemnified  party  under  this  Section for  any legal or other
expenses  subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable  costs of  investigation.  No indemnifying
party shall,  without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect
any  settlement  of any  pending  or  threatened  action in respect of which any
indemnified  party is or could have been a party and  indemnity  could have been
sought  hereunder by such indemnified  party unless such settlement  includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims
that are the  subject  matter of such  action.  No  indemnifying  party shall be
liable for any amounts  paid in  settlement  of any action or claim  without its
written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

                                       32


          (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified  party under  subsectionE(a)  or
(b) above, then each  indemnifying  party shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,  claims, damages or
liabilities referred to in subsectionE(a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuer, STFI and
the  Subsidiaries  on the one hand and the Initial  Purchasers on the other from
the offering of the Offered  Securities  or (ii) if the  allocation  provided by
clauseE(i)  above is not permitted by applicable  law, in such  proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative  benefits referred to in clauseE(i)
above but also the relative fault of the Issuer,  STFI and the  Subsidiaries  on
the one hand and the  Initial  Purchasers  on the other in  connection  with the
statements  or  omissions  which  resulted in such  losses,  claims,  damages or
liabilities,  as  well  as any  other  relevant  equitable  considerations.  The
relative benefits  received by the Issuer,  STFI and the Subsidiaries on the one
hand and the Initial  Purchasers  on the other shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Offered Securities
(before deducting  expenses)  received by the Issuer,  STIF and the Subsidiaries
bear to the total discounts and commissions  received by the Initial  Purchasers
under this  Agreement.  The relative  fault shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the  omission or alleged  omission to state a material  fact  relates to
information  supplied by the Issuer,  STFI and the  Subsidiaries  or the Initial
Purchasers and the parties'  relative intent,  knowledge,  access to information
and  opportunity  to correct or prevent such untrue  statement or omission.  The
amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,  claims,  damages
or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsectionE(d) shall be
deemed  to  include  any legal or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by such
indemnified  party in connection with  investigating  or defending any action or
claim  which  is  the  subject  of  this  subsectionE(d).   Notwithstanding  the
provisions of this  subsectionE(d),  no Initial  Purchaser  shall be required to
contribute  any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which
the Offered  Securities  purchased  by it were resold  exceeds the amount of any
damages  which such Initial  Purchaser  has  otherwise  been  required to pay by
reason of such  untrue or  alleged  untrue  statement  or  omission  or  alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to  contribution  from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Initial
Purchasers'  obligations  in this  subsectionE(d)  to contribute  are several in
proportion to their respective purchase obligations and not joint.

                                       33


          (e) The  obligations of the Issuer,  STIF and the  Subsidiaries  under
this  Section shall  be in addition to any liability which the Issuer,  STFI and
the  Subsidiaries  may otherwise have and shall extend,  upon the same terms and
conditions,  to each person,  if any, who controls any Initial  Purchaser within
the meaning of the  Securities  Act or the Exchange Act; and the  obligations of
the Initial  Purchasers under this Section shall be in addition to any liability
which the  respective  Initial  Purchasers  may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and  conditions,  to each  person,  if any, who controls the
Issuer,  STIF and the  Subsidiaries  within the meaning of the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act.

          8. Default of Initial Purchasers.  If any Initial Purchaser or Initial
Purchasers default in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder
and  arrangements  satisfactory to CSFBC and the Issuer for the purchase of such
Offered  Securities  by other  persons are not made within  36Ehours  after such
default,  this  Agreement will  terminate  without  liability on the part of any
nondefaulting Initial Purchaser or the Issuer, STIF and the Subsidiaries, except
as  provided  in  Section 9.  As used  in  this  Agreement,  the  term  "Initial
Purchaser"  includes any person  substituted for a Initial  Purchaser under this
Section.  Nothing  herein  will  relieve a  defaulting  Initial  Purchaser  from
liability for its default.

          9. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the
Issuer  and  the  Guarantors  or  their  officers  and  of the  several  Initial
Purchasers  set forth in or made pursuant to this  Agreement will remain in full
force and  effect,  regardless  of any  investigation,  or  statement  as to the
results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser,  the Issuer, the
Guarantors or any of their respective representatives,  officers or directors or
any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered
Securities.  If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8 or if for any
reason the purchase of the Offered  Securities by the Initial  Purchasers is not
consummated,  the Issuer and the  Guarantors  shall remain  responsible  for the
expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section 5 and the respective
obligations of the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers pursuant to
Section 7 shall remain in effect.  If the purchase of the Offered  Securities by
the  Initial  Purchasers  is not  consummated  for any reason  other than solely
because of the  termination  of this  Agreement  pursuant  to  Section 8  or the
occurrence of any event specified in clauseE(C), (D) or (E) of Section 6(b)(ii),
the Issuer will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for all out-of-pocket  expenses
(including fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them (x) as
Initial Purchasers in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities and

                                       34


(y) as  Dealer  Managers and  Solicitation  Agents in  connection  with the Debt
Tender Offer.

          10. Notices.  All communications  hereunder will be in writing and, if
sent to the Initial  Purchasers  will be mailed,  delivered or  telegraphed  and
confirmed  to the Initial  Purchasers,  c/o CS First  Boston  Corporation,  Park
Avenue Plaza,  New York, NY 10055,  Attention:  Investment Banking DepartmentE--
Transactions  Advisory  Group,  or,  if sent  to the  Issuer,  will  be  mailed,
delivered  or  telegraphed  and  confirmed  to  it  at  100 Great  Meadow  Road,
Wethersfield,  CTE06109, Attention:  [KennethEM. Dorros, Esq., General Counsel];
provided,  however, that any notice to a Initial Purchaser pursuant to Section 7
will  be  mailed,  delivered  or  telegraphed  and  confirmed  to  such  Initial
Purchaser.
          11.  Successors.  This  Agreement  will inure to the benefit of and be
binding  upon  the  parties  hereto  and  their  respective  successors  and the
controlling persons referred to in Section 7,  and no other person will have any
right or obligation  hereunder,  except that holders of Offered Securities shall
be entitled to enforce the agreements for their benefit  contained in the second
and third sentences of Section 5(b) hereof against the Issuer as if such holders
were parties thereto.

          12.  Representation  of  Initial  Purchasers.  CSFBC  will act for the
several  Initial  Purchasers in connection  with this  purchase,  and any action
under  this  Agreement  taken  by CSFBC  will be  binding  upon all the  Initial
Purchasers.

          13.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed in any number of
counterparts,  each of which  shall be  deemed to be an  original,  but all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

          14. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH,  THE  LAWS OF THE  STATE OF  NEWEYORK  WITHOUT  REGARD  TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

          The Issuer  hereby  submits to the  nonexclusive  jurisdiction  of the
Federal and state  courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in
any suit or  proceeding  arising  out of or relating  to this  Agreement  or the
transactions contemplated hereby.

                       If  the  foregoing  is in  accordance  with  the  Initial
      Purchaser's  understanding of our agreement,  kindly sign and return to us
      one of the  counterparts  hereof,  whereupon  it  will  become  a  binding
      agreement  between  the  Issuer  and the  several  Initial  Purchasers  in
      accordance with its terms.

                                                   Very truly yours,
                                       35


                                                   SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD
                                                   COMMUNICATIONS CORP.


                                                    by: /s/ Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                       -----------------------
                                                       Name: Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                       Title: Treasurer

                                                    SHARED TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                                                    as Guarantor


                                                    by: /s/ Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                       -----------------------
                                                       Name: Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                       Title: Treasurer

                                                    MULTI-TENANT SERVICES, INC.,
                                                    as Guarantor

                                                    by: /s/ Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                       -----------------------
                                                       Name: Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                       Title: Treasurer

                                                    BOSTON TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
                                                    GROUP, INC.,
                                                    as Guarantor

                                                    by: /s/ Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                       -----------------------
                                                       Name: Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                       Title: Treasurer


                                                    OFFICE TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT,
                                                    as Guarantor

                                                    by: /s/ Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                       -----------------------
                                                       Name: Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                       Title: Treasurer

                                       36


                                                     STI INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
                                                     as Guarantor

                                                     by: /s/ Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                        ---------------------
                                                        Name: Vincent DiVincenzo
                                                        Title: Treasurer


The foregoing Purchase Agreement 
is hereby confirmed
and accepted as of the date first 
above written.

CS FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
CITICORP SECURITIES, INC.

     by:  CS FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION




     By: /s/ Richard H. Ivers
        --------------------------
         Name: Richard H. Ivers
         Title: Managing Director


                                       37



                                   Schedule A



                                                    Principal Amount
               Initial Purchaser                  of Offered Securities

      CS First Boston                                 $130,909,600

      Citicorp Securities, Inc.                         32,727,400

                                                      ------------
                                Total                  163,637,000